Some time ago, we were told our construction loan would be approved and we'd close on it 'within the next week'. That was over a month ago. Turns out the person who was handling our loan was himself in the process of leaving the lending company, so he didn't put a lot of effort into getting our stuff through the system. So, despite our innumerable phone calls, emails and pleas to the dark powers of the universe to bring unbearable pain upon those responsible for the delay, our paperwork just kinda sat around - just like the builder, who understandably isn't going to do expensive work if he isn't guaranteed to be paid for it. I'd feel sorry for him, but his people recommended this lender to us.

We are assured by the new person handling our loan that we'll be good to go, as soon as we get an appraisal done. But who knows what the fuck kind of bureaucratic traps and ambushes we're going to encounter along that path...

Our original hope was that this house would be done by early fall. But that's four months away. Early winter is sounding more likely.

Was watching season three of The Wire this weekend. The scenes where budding businessman Stringer Bell has to deal with builders and inspectors and permits and delays really hit home. I wish we had a fresh-from-jail Avon Barksdale to go thump his chest at our cast of clowns - just for the giggles.