Binge and Purge.

I mailed a cheque to Yamaha for $2395, and another cheque to Moloch. I should clean out my safety deposit box and store stuff in my safe downstairs. And the BoA card, well, it can go into the freezer or something.

I bought wine and fish and chicken and meat. Going vegetarian was not fabulous for my blood, and sometimes having a bison burger or chicken paprikash, or a simply broiled salmon is superb.
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Some acquaintances of mine closed on a house. My banker friend said that they should have done so in 2004 (if we want to pick nits, why not July 2003?), but when I said something about a market top she said that interest rates were on their way up, and they would likely not see this rate again in fifteen years. I couldn't argue with that: it'll be forty-fifty years before 5% comes around again.
So, I figure I really do need to do work around the property, because if we move we're going to rent out the house. 5% is 5%!

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Does anyone actually know people who used their home as an automated teller machine, refinancing and cashing out for consumer purchases like cars, vacations?
How about for investments, like more university tuition or home renovations?
I wish I took out money for home renovations, but at the time I refinanced to reduce our term, figuring that with a toddler, I'd never have the time to handle renovating the house. Also, I find that as I get older I have less tolerance for debt.

I keep reading that the consumption party was going strong because of the refinancing of 2002-2005, but the people I know who refinanced did so arguably for better rates, and if they did take out larger amounts, they were larger only by $2K-$5K, possibly to roll the closing costs in.