Celebrating EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!!!

I AM A NEW HOME OWNER!!!

Finally, after 3 offers on other houses that fell through, and 8 weeks of negotiating on the 4th, all the signed paperwork came through today and WE ARE MOVING.

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is looking like we are aiming for a closing date of May 19 - so just over a month from now. I am meeting with the Wells Fargo mortgage person tomorrow. I have met with my contractor to start the plans for all the renovation work needed.

Because there is a lot of work needed. Here are some pictures, to give you an idea.

Here's the living room (I am standing in the dining area to take the picture.) The walls will be painted, the fireplace resurfaced (it's hard to see, but the brick is painted a glossy pale green. Not much to be done with that.) The lovely stained carpet will be replaced - no hardwood under the carpet, unfortunately.
And here is the kitchen. Take a moment and think about the paint color here, combined with the paint color in the living & dining rooms. Christmas, all year round! The kitchen is a complete do-over. I contemplated keeping the cupboards, but the layout is not efficient, there is no place for a dishwasher, and everyone tells me I will regret it if I don't do it ... so do it, I will. (and yes, that countertop is pink.)
Here's my bedroom. Some wall issues to be addressed. But mainly just paint and refinishing of the floor to make this room perfect. Oh, and maybe new lights on the ceiling fan.

Here, on the other hand, is Ty's room - for now, anyway, eventually the boys will both be moving to new rooms in the basement. This room has the most interesting use of combination sponge-painting/wallpaper borders I have ever seen! It's much, much worse in person.The main bathroom is not too bad. The countertop - a totally artificial substance which scares me a little - has a lovely shell-shaped sink, and the toilet has a delightful padded seat with the signs of the zodiac on it. Both will be replaced. Oh - and the lighting in here? Two recessed bulbs, nicely done. But these people spatterpainted the bulbs - I can only assume for ambiance. Weird.

This is the back entry way - one door goes to the garage, one to the back patio. The red (ceiling and all!) is the same paint as in the kitchen. This will eventually be made into one big mudroom with built-in cubbies, closets, recharging station, mail station, etc. The organizational hub!

When you head downstairs, this is the first thing you see. The plan is to gut the basement as close to 100% as possible and just start over. So this will eventually be a welcoming area to what we refer to as "boy land" - the entire basement will be made into a place where teenage boys can hang out and have fun.

Here's the basement fireplace, eventually there will be a big-screen TV above it, and the walls will not be mustard-colored. In fact, some of the walls will not even be there anymore.

I don't have any pictures of the downstairs bathroom - I'll try to get some but I don't think my camera can adequately show the horribleness that is that room. We are moving the bathroom and starting completely over. Ditto for the boys' bedrooms. We will put in two egress windows and end up with 2 great rooms. Where currently there is a mess.

LOTS of work - but it will be SO GREAT when it's all done!!!

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebrating

YAY!!!! I went for a walk in the park today - barefoot!

Gratitude

Can you see the holiness in those things you take

for granted--a paved road or a washing machine?

If you concentrate on finding what is good in every

situation, you will discover that your life

will suddenly be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul.

~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

Today I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

As I walked with the dogs in the park this morning, I appreciated the park, the other dogs & owners, the beautiful weather, my shoes, kleenex, the city I live in, technology, warm air, blue skies, and so much more.

Last night I got together with two friends and it was almost a magical evening. We just sat at the kitchen table, none of us were dressed up or feeling fancy, we drank questionable wine (and laughed a lot about that), we talked and shared and laughed and commiserated. We listened to what is going on in each others' lives, we offered advice when it was needed, empathy when it was needed, and perspective when it was needed. Several times during the evening I found myself thinking about how much I value the friendships of women - these two women in particular, but others, as well. The women I have collected in my life - strong, intelligent, fun, supportive, caring - each one with her own special talents and appeal, each one filling a niche in my life to help keep me healthy, happy, and moving forward - these are the pillars of my life, and I appreciate them all so very much.

This is really not a very complete way for me to say this, somehow the words are not coming easily for me today. If you are a woman, and you are reading this, you are somehow a part of my life - even you internet women whom I've never met in person - and I thank you for being who you are, and for giving what you give to my life, to make me who I am today.

I would thank you from the bottom of my heart,

but for you my heart has no bottom.

~ Anonymous

I have a new job

I have written before about my friend Jodi, founder/president of PLAY it Forward Adventures - well, not so much about her, per se, as the company. It's a wonderful international travel company which focuses on combining adventure travel (which means doing active stuff like sea kayaking, or mountain biking, or hefty hiking ... none of which have, in the past, really been high on my list of vacation activities ... I tend to like things like beach lying, shop visiting, and the perennial favorite, pretty drink imbibing) with meaningful volunteer opportunities within the host culture.

The first time I met Jodi, I thought to myself "SHE GETS IT!" and I have never stopped thinking that. We clicked immediately, and have stayed in touch for the past few years, albeit infrequently, but earlier this year something had changed when we got together for coffee. We both must have felt the same thing, as I offered to work with her almost exactly the same time as she asked me to work with her. Thus began our professional relationship. Part time for now, hopefully full time very soon.

If you haven't looked at the PIF website, I strongly encourage you to do so now. One of the projects I am working on right now is writing trip descriptions ... and though my physical prowess is not something I brag about, I find myself really wanting to go on each and every one of these trips! I am hoping to be able to go on one very soon ... Machu Picchu in June would be #1 on my list, but since I am still hoping to be moving that month, I'm not sure I can swing it ... though I am still trying to find a way.

And if you want to do a trip but are also worried about how, let me know - we have ways you can earn trip credits!

YAY VERMONT!!!!!

As of yesterday, 4/7/09, Vermont is the fourth state to recognize the right of all adults to marry the person they love.

YAY!

Who are you people???

I just checked Google Analytics to see who's visiting me here lately. I have a pretty steady number of visitors on a daily basis, not big enough to swell my head by any means, but a number that makes me happy.

Two days ago that number more than doubled. Biggest peak I have had in memorable history.

WHY??? WHO??? WELCOME!!!

Huh. Guess I better be a good hostess (however you do that??)

Please - introduce yourself! We're a small but friendly group here! Come again soon!

House Stuff

OK, this house stuff is KILLING me. I am going out for drinks tonight to try and forget. I had hoped to give a big update with photos and everything tonight, but no, that's not going to happen.

I can't even go into it. Hopefully this latest glitch will blow over and I will be able to just pretend it never even happened.

I have to go now before I SCREAM.

Laugh for the day...

Was just blog-browsing, and found these two quotes - made me hoot!

" If everyone on "24" followed Jack Bauer's

instructions, it would be called "12".

People with amnesia still remember Jack Bauer. "

Goodbye to an old friend!

Is it crazy to cry over the end of a TV series? I just watched the final episode of ER. Fifteen years this show has been on, and honestly, I haven't watched it for the past 7 or 8 - the characters changed, the plots got strange, my life got busy ...

I didn't watch the finale on Thursday when it aired, figuring I had lost interest in the show long enough ago that I wouldn't get that much out of it, anyway. But then I noticed NBC was replaying it tonight, and since I was sitting here at home anyway, I decided to watch.

I am so glad I did. I saw pieces of the show I had loved for so many years, a decade ago. I saw old cast members who were back, I saw a few characters who had stayed the entire run of the show (and hey, they were all nurses. Very realistic, that - docs come and go but the nurses are the ones who stay and keep things running!) It was like a reunion of old friends, and I felt like I was right there in the thick of things.

They did a wonderful thing with the plot, too. Those of you who watch will know, those of you who don't watch - it would take too long to explain, but I just absolutely loved having Rachel there to bring things full circle. I loved it.

So, when the show was ending, my tears started welling up, and by the time that familiar theme song started playing, they spilled over, down my cheeks, and I was so happy that I had watched this final episode. It was a good way to end a good show.

Facebook Dilemma

Well, it's happened. This morning I found a friend request on my Facebook wall, from someone I really am not inclined to be friends with. It's someone I was once close to, many years ago, but we parted on less than civil terms, and frankly, I still get a bad taste in my mouth when I think of her.

But the Minnesotan in me agonizes over being so rude as to turn down her request to be my FB friend!

Could she be trying to reconcile? Could she have different (more positive) memories of those years?

Have you ever turned down a friend request? And, since we are sort of on the topic, have you ever "unfriended" someone? There is someone who I am already friends with who I really want to unfriend - but that makes me nervous, too! I think that they don't receive any notification of anything, so it's not obvious, but ????? (and it's none of YOU, don't worry!)

I need advice - please let me know!

YAY IOWA!!!

We have to come up with a new meaning for IOWA. Previously it was "Idiots Out Wandering Around." Now, how about "Iowa Offers Weddings for All"

The Iowa Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY voted to legalize gay marriage in their state!

I am so pleased to hear this - for so many reasons. One is that it happened in the midwest, close to home. Two is that it was unanimous. Three is that I believe it's the first of many (or third, if you consider Massachusetts and Connecticut which already accept same sex marriages.)

I'm doing a happy dance here today!

Blah, blah, blah

Dang, this weather is getting to me. I woke up yesterday with a scratchy throat and today when I woke up the cold was worse and the weather was horrid and my mood (as well as my energy level) plummeted. Of course the house stress doesn't help, either. And the other thing that is getting me down is that I actually have a new man in my life (that's the good news!) but he is out of town for 8 weeks (that's the part that is hard to handle.) So today I am feeling quite sorry for myself, on so many levels. I'm just going to whine here for a minute and then maybe I'll feel better.

Ya think?

Housing Depression

Harrumph. Apparently I am not updating my blog frequently enough for some. Well, I guess that's a valid complaint, it has been quite a while. For whatever reason, I am just not feeling "in to" blogging these days - there have been times in the past when I have written more than once a day, so I guess now I am feeling the reverse of that. Sorry, my enthusiasm will probably return eventually.

Anyway, perhaps a large part of why I haven't been writing is due to my housing woes. Four houses. Four offers. And still no house. The first house I was outbid on, that was quick and easy. The second house is the one in the perfect location and weird owners - who accepted my offer but refused to do their legal duty to get the house into foreclosure so that I (or anyone) could buy it. My offer is still sitting on the table for that house, but a few days ago the house went off the market, and we are unable to determine why. The third house is the one with all the inspection-revealed issues and the uncompromising owners which I walked away from. Then, the fourth one - the one which has been empty for 2 years, the one which I said "the only reason I would walk from this house is if, when they turn the water back on, all the pipes burst" .... you got it, they turned the water back on and all the pipes burst. This just happened a couple of days ago. The listing agent here (in Minneapolis) is supposed to be talking to the bank which owns the property (located in Chicago) to see what their response is, but I don't expect anything as they have been clear in the listing as an "as is" property. But who knows - if they can make me a good offer, they won't have to start completely over.

But then this suddenly becomes a bigger job than I was thinking of. And I am not sure I am ready to take that on.

And please, don't even ask me about the sale of my townhouse. Because then I would be forced to say there is NOTHING happening, and then I might have to hurt you.

So this is the type of thing occupying my mind, keeping me from blogging.

Sorry!

Mexico!

I am very excited. My college roommate Alice, who now lives in Denver with her husband and 3 daughters, called the other day with an offer I couldn't refuse. She has access to a house in Mexico later this spring where we can stay for free - all we have to do is get there! A few hours spent checking frequent flier balances, flight information, and I booked my flights - going through Denver so I will get to do the international part with Alice - and hooray, a vacation is in my future!

We will be staying in the town of Sayulita, which apparently is known for its surfing conditions. So maybe we'll get to see some great surfing while we lounge on the beach! I also read that they get a lot of whales nearby, and that in the spring you often see moms & babies frolicking in the water. We are going to be there a bit after the peak season, but there's always hope!

But frankly, what I am looking most forward to is baking in the sun. This winter has been long, and with all the house stuff it's been stressful, and the thought of lying in the sun with a book that I will pretend to read, with no children needing attention or dogs needing to be walked ... now, that's heaven on earth!

Bizarre Mystery???

Somehow I seem to have gotten subscribed to the magazine Bazaar.

Clueless as to how this may have happened.

I don't even like this type of magazine. I have never looked at a Bazaar in my life. I don't even bring them into the house because of the perfume sample inserts.

Anyone have any ideas where this might have come from??? Anyone want them???

Yay T-Mobile!

Someone posted this link on Facebook and I watched it, totally entranced. Then I found another Youtube piece about how this was made ... watch them both, and enjoy!

Just for Fun

DWTS!!

Last night was the premier of Dancing With The Stars, pretty much my favorite TV show these days. I was not in a very good mood yesterday for a variety of reasons, but when the first couple went out on the dance floor (Lil Kim & Derek) I found myself grinning from ear to ear and responding to the music and just feeling oh-so-much better. I am not overly impressed with the lineup of stars this season, many of them I have never heard of (or don't care about) but I am very excited to see Shawn Johnson, the Olympic gymnast, there, and after last night I am really going to have fun watching Gilles Marini. WOW. Umm, yeah. OK then.

(sigh)

Yeah, this season promises to be a good one.

Monday Morning

Well, it's Monday morning and I got nuthin'. No showings (our house is looking a little more "normal" - i.e., messy!!), no news on the new house. I'm feeling just a teensy bit dejected. Of course I have been battling a nasty cold all week which may have something to do with it, too.

Wish I had some witty or provocative or inspiring message to post here.

But nope, I got nuthin'. Happy Monday to you.

Things I am not doing

I have no books to review for you. Well, I did read the latest Spenser novel, which Carla abhors, but it's fluff and not worth really writing about. Entertaining quick read but no substance at all.

I have not picked up my knitting needles in weeks. I have a 2/3-finished baby sweater and the baby it is for was born 3 weeks ago ... but it's big (the sweater, not the child), so I still have time.

I have no creative projects going of any type, no home decorating efforts underway, no work projects that have been interesting or are completed.

I *do* however have a made bed every single day (which for me is BIG news), I *do* have 3 clean bathrooms, I *do* have empty kitchen counters. As Ty said, this does NOT look like our house.

It better not be our house much longer. I don't know how much longer I can not do stuff.

This week in California

Not a whole lot is going on in my life right now, I am just kind of in a holding pattern. Waiting to find out if I get the new house, waiting to find out who will buy my townhouse. There is no news on either front; I will certainly update here as soon as there is. Thank you for not asking!

Tonight I am going to see the movie "Milk." Sean Penn won best actor for his role as the title character. I am especially excited to see it as this week in California, Prop 8 is being re-looked at, and the California Supreme Court will decide whether or not to hear the case regarding the constitutionality of the vote last fall. Because they had previously determined marriage between any two consenting adults was legal, it is expected that they will open the door for Prop 8 to be rescinded.

Last fall I spent a lot - really a lot - of time thinking about this issue, and really working to read and learn about the positions of those who promote the legal division of which adults can marry and which cannot. I really tried to grasp their arguments and see both sides of the issue.

But you know what? After all that time, despite the fact that there are people I respect who are on the other side of this argument, I just cannot get past the fact that people who oppose gay marriage are saying that they are in favor of legally discriminating against people who have different opinions than they do. I have challenged people to convince me otherwise, but no one has been able to.

So I continue to sign petitions, and send money, to help the cause in California - in hopes that some day soon, any two adult Americans will be able to marry one another, any where in this nation of ours. Freedom will ring.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming

I hope you enjoyed that brief interlude. Now, back to the news.

The bank which owns the white rambler likes me :-)

They have accepted my offer; now I have to get the house inspected. I've been down this route before, so I am not getting my hopes up. Yet.

They will turn the water & furnace on within the next few days, then I will have it inspected. Hopefully when everything gets turned back on, the house won't collapse or explode or anything similar. If it doesn't, and everything passes (or is close enough to passing that I am OK with it) we will close on the sale in about 4 or 5 weeks.

Maybe the snow will be gone by then?

Size TEN!

I AM WEARING SIZE 10 JEANS!

Oh, MAN, does it feel good.

I haven't fit into 10s for I-don't-know-how-long.

Dancing here. Grinning here. Giving high-5s to the dogs here.

Yippee Skippy!

Size 10. That's Tee - Eee - Enn.

And NOBODY, but NOBODY, better burst my bubble with the information on how sizes have grown over recent years.

Some day I'll have something other than housing to write about

OK, here is the latest and greatest.

I have just basically ignored the request for the inspection report on the house I withdrew my offer on. I have it kind of in the back of my mind that should I decide to go back to them to try to work a deal, I will have it as a leveraging tool. Right now I am not seeing that happening, but you never know.

The white house - the rambler - I put in my offer Monday morning, and that afternoon got a response that there were multiple offers in and I had 24 hours to submit my "best and highest offer." So I changed my offer by a small amount, and re-submitted it yesterday afternoon. So I expect to hear sometime today, as this is a bank which is motivated to sell their property. My suspicion is that I am bidding against someone who wants to tear down the house and then divide the lot into two. Which could mean that they are going to bid high to be sure to get it, or could mean that they are going to bid low to try and get the best deal possible. And they, of course, have no idea who they are bidding against, either. And none of us know if there are just 2, or if there are more bidders in the game - just that there are "multiple offers."

But I am not stressed about it. Heck, this makes 4 houses I have made offers on in 6 weeks, so I am pretty confident that there will continue to be more houses coming on the market that will be appealing to me, if this one falls through, too.

In the meantime, my townhouse is on the market now and I haven't had a single request to show it. At least 4 people have told me townhouses are 'impossible' to sell right now, and 2 people have asked if I would/could rent it out instead of sell it. Which might be a possibility, depending on what I end up buying.

Lots of options.

PLEASE WEIGH IN!

Last night I sent the "withdrawal of offer" to the sellers of that house, and today their realtor called mine and suddenly they want to negotiate. In fact, they wonder if I might email over the inspection report and the estimates I have for the repairs so they can see just what needs fixing.

My first reaction was to be pleased that they are taking the issues seriously now, but then I thought, I paid $400 for that inspection report, and I gave up several hours of my time to get the estimates, and why should I let them reap the benefit from all that I had to buy?

Then I wondered if I am being petty, I have paid the money and it's over and done with.

Please vote - do I send them a copy of the report, or do I refuse? Or something in between?

Housing Update (are you ready?!)

The other house is out. I decided the work needed was more than I wanted to take on, since the sellers were not too keen on negotiating with me.

So today I found this one instead:
And I think I am going to make an offer on it first thing Monday morning. And my townhouse is officially ON the market - they came to take pictures this morning and this place has never looked better.

The roller coaster ride continues!!!

House Update

Well, this morning was the inspection, and it did unearth a few surprises. My realtor & I need to do some research now and figure out what our next step is going to be.

When I walked through it again this morning, it was weird - I hadn't been there since I made the offer, and I noticed different details today than I did before (or perhaps I had noticed before, but forgotten.) I still like it. PHEW.

More later, I just wanted to give a quick note for those of you with nothing else exciting going on in your lives .... (HA! kidding...)

Cupcake Mosaic - Art to Eat!!!

Wow. This is the final photo, for a photo series of putting this together, go here.

5900 cupcakes.

Wow.

Nutritional Weight and Wellness

A few weeks ago, I attended a one-night seminar put on by Nutritional Weight and Wellness. I heard of this group on the radio (where else?) because every Saturday Darlene Kvist, the founder, does a talk show/infomercial on some nutritionally-focused topic, and I really like her style, her matterer-of-factness, her expertise. And I knew (have known) that I really, really need to focus on my health this year, as the extra weight just isn't going any where, and the years are not disappearing from my age, and the heart - well, it needs any help I can give it.

So I signed up for this one-night info session, and am absolutely going to do the 6-week series, as soon as I have 6 weeks to do it in.

The primary focus of everything they teach is based on glucose. Glucose levels affect pretty much everything else in the body, and by controlling glucose, you can head off a pretty hefty list of ailments. So they advocate limiting carbs, especially sugars, watching the origin of fats and proteins, and focusing on fresh, natural, and organic whenever possible. As in non-processed.

Sounds pretty easy. So I am doing it. I am not dieting, nor do I feel like I am dieting, but I am trying to cut out unnecessary carbs, I am trying to buy more organic foods, and I even have the boys on the bandwagon of reading labels and limiting unpronounceable ingredients.

I have more energy, I am less tired, and I have dropped nearly 15 pounds. UNBELIEVABLE. All those things they say will happen? They are happening! Who'd-a-thunk?

I actually have re-discovered something that I think many Americans don't experience on a regular basis ... the feeling of hunger. I mean, I actually wait until I need food to eat it, as opposed to my usual graze-all-day-and-it's-time-for-a-meal-and-I'm-not-hungry-but-I-eat-anyway.

I have done Weight Watchers several times, Atkins several times, and self-designed diets several times. Never worked. Well, they sometimes worked for a while but then the weight eventually all came back. And obviously it's too soon to say if that will happen now, too. But I am definitely going back for that 6-week class. If one evening could motivate me this much, imagine what the whole class will do for me!

And if this sounds good to you, they give a tuition discount if two or more friends sign up together.

6:55 PM, Sunday February 15, 2009:

I GOT IT !!!!!!!!!

No word yet so we went to the play

The boys & I went to the matinee performance of The Miracle Worker this afternoon at The History Theater in St. Paul. (Sorry, Matron, that I somehow conveyed to you we were going last night.) It was amazing.

I know the story, have seen the play, had to deal with fidgety kids, but still I cried at the end. I always do, I'm such a sucker.

Matron's daughter, Scarlett, was so darn believable as a blind and deaf child - she simply stole the show. My boys & I talked on the way there about the infamous dining room table scene - arguably the play's most memorable - and we discussed how hard it must be not to give any indication that you know what's coming, performance after performance after performance. She was perfect. I had remembered the climbing all over, but completely forgotten about water being thrown - how can you NOT flinch when you know you are about to be soaked??? She didn't. All without ever focusing on her fellow actors, the audience, or really anything else. Amazing.

We do have one question for you, Matron - what was the yellow food?????

So glad we went! For the rest of you - it runs one more week!

House News ...

Sunday morning, about 9:55 ---

The offer was faxed in at 12:30 yesterday. The listing agent of the house called it in to the owners about an hour later. Now we wait for them to talk about it, call their agent who will then call my agent who will then call me ....

And I will then blog :-)


Sunday morning, about 10:10 ---

My realtor just called with the counter offer. It's just about exactly what I expected. I decided to accept IF they pay all closing costs.

WILL LET YOU KNOW !!!!!!!!!!!

Housing Update

Today I found a house to make an offer on. It's got some fixer-upper needs, but it is airy (in the metaphysical sense, not actual-feel-the-wind-blowing-through-the-rooms-airy) and feels open and spacious, it's not a cookie-cutter suburban rambler, it's got a nice fenced-in yard, it's got the right number and layout of rooms (well, there is no formal dining room but I can live without that.) It's been on the market nearly 7 months, and is not a foreclosure so my offer will go to a live, breathing HUMAN who will respond right away! Woo-Hoo! I am making a very low-ball offer just to see what they say.

We still have heard nothing on the first house, and I doubt we will. That one would still be my first choice, but it just doesn't appear that anything will happen with it for a long time.

The thing I like about this new house is that it has personality and character. It kind of has a "grandma's house" feel to it, which to me, means that when you walk in you imagine you smell freshly-baked cookies, and you feel a sense of comfort, and you know that you are cozy and safe there. I am totally imagining the second floor as total "boy land" - it's basically one huge open space - with cool IKEA furnishings to make it almost like a college dorm atmosphere, sleeping and studying and playing all in one. On the main floor there are two bedrooms, one would be mine and the other would be an office. There is a fireplace in the living room (and another in the basement) and the kitchen is spacious but does need updating - I think the cupboards are original from 1954.

The exterior could really use the "Curb Appeal" team to come work on it ... maybe I should apply to be on the show if I get it ... but there is nothing that has to be done immediately. Well, I think - it's hard to tell with the snow and ice - that there is no driveway, just a dirt & gravel pathway, so I may choose to put that in right away.

So think good thoughts and I will keep you updated as anything happens!

Going to the The-a-tah

This weekend I am hoping to get tickets to see The Miracle Worker, which is being staged at The History Theater in St. Paul. I have seen the movie, read the book, and a few years ago my dad was in a production at the Duluth Playhouse as Helen's father. Now it's being done locally, and I have a cool "virtual connection" to this production. A blogger I follow regularly, Minnesota Matron, is the mom of the girl who plays Helen! So I have been reading about the rehearsals, opening night, and the reviews. It's almost like being a stage mom myself.

If you want to join the boys & me, let me know! We could do dinner before or dessert after.

(photo from The History Theater website. That's Scarlett, being hugged!)

House Hunting Update

Thought I should probably take a moment and let you all in on what's happening with the hunt for a new house ... in short, not much!

You may recall I made an offer on a house that I thought would be perfect for our family of 3 humans + 2 canines. That was over 3 weeks ago ... it'll be 4 on Friday ... and still no word. Because of the legalities of the foreclosure process, there is absolutely no way for me to know anything until I either hear I got it or I didn't. Some days this is extremely frustrating for me, other days I am able to achieve a Zen-like state of tranquility, trusting that what is meant to happen will happen. Today is a Zen day.

In the meantime, I have continued looking at other houses now & again when something catches my eye. You might call it obsessive, the way I watch the online listings, checking 2 or 3 times every day just in case something new pops up in the hours I was away, I prefer to think of it as being thorough.

Yesterday the boys & I went to look at one of interest, but they were less than impressed. Ty just wanted to wait in the car, and Ben kept finding things wrong with the house (he didn't like the family room panelling, he noted that the trim on one kitchen cabinet was slightly crooked. That level of detail.) So I think we will pass on that house (honestly, it was a very nice house but it didn't grab me, either.) And I think I will go back to looking at houses without them along.

I just sent a note to my realtor about another one that I want to see. He's probably getting tired of me, but hey, it's not my fault that the bank is ignoring my offer, thereby giving me all this time to wonder about other houses ...!! I drove by it today before picking the boys up from school, and I still like it (sometimes that's the killer, if the street isn't nice or the house doesn't look as good in person from the exterior.) So I'll let you know .....

Thanks for all your words of encouragement! I appreciate knowing there are people rooting for us out there.

Ding, Dong, the Painting's DONE

I DID IT.

The FINAL BRUSH STROKES were taken earlier today. Final as in DONE. Final as in second coats done. Touch-ups done.

Oh damn. I just remembered I patched some nicks in the living room wall and have to touch-up over the spackling.

Well, the NEW painting is done. THE KITCHEN IS DONE.

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!

Good diet plan

After all that thinking about cake, I am here to testify to a new diet plan that seems to really work.

Stay out of grocery stores.

As in all the time.

As in, no food in the house. Seriously, no food.

The boys clamor for milk and bread. Wimps.

Food Glorious Food!

Oh boy, I was planning on coming to my blog to complain and express discouragement about life in general and throw myself on your mercy, hoping to get some reassurance and pep talks and "you can do it!"s.

But then, before I started writing, I glanced at Cake Wrecks, because it almost always can bring a smile to my face, which, as you are all probably aware, is the first step towards improving your outlook on life (that whole "fake it til you make it" thing.) And this is what I found:

That's not a box of candy, folks, that's a CAKE! How COOL IS THAT?

So I had to follow the link to the baker's site, where she oh-so-generously provides the recipe and instructions on how to make this masterpiece.

Now, I don't see myself doing the whole red-fondant thing in the near future, although maybe someday, but the cake balls? TOTALLY DOING THAT SOON.

And you know what? Suddenly the whole get-the-townhouse-ready-to-sell and find-a-new-house-to-buy-because-it-is-looking-like-my-offer-is-going-to-be-ignored-FOREVER thing seems more manageable.

It's all the power of chocolate. Apparently you don't have to even have it in hand to eat for it to work its magic.

Don't divorce them

As was easily predictable , the marriages between same-sex couples that were performed in California during that brief window of legality are being challenged. Please take a moment, watch the video, think about the love that these people share, think about the history of our nation protecting civil rights, and then think about telling them their love doesn't count ...


Then please consider acting on it. You can go here to learn more and sign on to a petition, make a donation (I did already this morning), or to get ideas for what else you could do to help.

Smile for the Day

I think I saw this a few years ago, but it's worth posting again as I just re-read it and laughed a lot ... I especially like the last two points!

Things I have learned from my boys

1) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3) A 3 - year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant. (ed. note: I know the same goes for girls).
4) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It IS strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 x 20 ft. room.
5) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6) The glass in windows (even double pane) does not stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh-oh", it's already too late.
8) Brake Fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9) A 6-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10) Certain Lego’s will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11) Play-do and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12) Super-glue is forever.
13) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool, you still can’t walk on water.
14) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15) VCR’s do not eject PB & J sandwiches even though they do in TV shows.
16) Garbage bags do not make good Parachutes.
17) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18) You probably DO NOT want to know what that smell is.
19) Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.
20) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5 minute response time.
21) The spin cycle in the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy.
22) The spin cycle in the washing machine does, however, make cats dizzy.
23) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24) 80% of women who read this will pass this on to almost all of their friends; with or without kids.
25) 80% of the men who read this will try mixing brake fluid with Clorox (do it outside, guys).

Random thoughts

On Tuesday this week, I chaperoned Ben's 8th grade class to Welch Village for a day of skiing and snowboarding. My job was helping the beginners learn how to go up the "magic carpet" lift on the bunniest of bunny hills. The kids all did great, but one of the ski instructors tried to be a hot-shot and step on to the carpet from the side, part-way up, and he nearly fell off and then **I** got in trouble for "letting" him, and for not immediately pushing the emergency stop button. Had it been anyone BUT a ski instructor, I would have , but I kind of figured he knew what he was doing. Geesh. I gave him grief the rest of the day.

Driving home, we went through New Trier. Technically we should have gone through it on the way there, too, but somehow we missed that turn ... Anyway, here's my impression of New Trier. Small, cute, isolated. They have three cross streets over the main road we were on. The names of the streets are Holt St, Hogan St, and Hinton St. If you only have 3 streets in your whole town, don't you think you would NOT pick the same initial letter for each? It's like having kids whose names all start with the same letter. You would constantly be starting to say the wrong one. OTOH - it just occurred to me, in a town that size, how often do you need to tell someone where you live? Maybe it's a moot point. Or maybe everyone is bothered by it but no one says anything, making it a mute point.

Today I woke up discouraged about the whole housing thing. It'll be 3 weeks tomorrow since I made my offer, and still nothing. I have been working so hard on getting the townhouse ready to show, but it's not quite done - I feel like I have just lost steam and the will to continue. It just seems too overwhelming. And now it's getting warmer out which is great for people but that means my dogs will, by necessity, be walking in slush and mud and slop, and I will have to be extra-careful-obsessively vigilant about cleaning their feet before letting them into the house and onto the new carpet. YUCK.

On the upside, yesterday I had a great meeting with Jodi Nelson, founder of Play it Forward Adventures, and we are trying to figure out a way I can work with her. We are both thrilled at the prospect, but right now there is just no money ... so I am trying to figure out how to get some money to grow the business so she can hire me. Anyone got a few spare dollars they would like to invest in a worthy business? I will tell you more about her vision in another post - it's fascinating and inspiring.

OK, gotta get the boys to school now. Hopefully the day will go well ...

Housing Update

This weekend the boys are with their dad and I am really going to work to finish all the projects on the house so it can be listed early next week. Might not make my self-imposed February first deadline, but will be awfully close. My parents are stopping by on Monday at some point en route to Texas, so I want to wow them.

Am still waiting on word regarding the offer I put in a while ago. I think it's two weeks now ... wow, that seems like a really long time! The offer is sitting with the bankers now, and there really is no way to predict what they will do or when. I am hoping they will tell me one way or the other soon, though, because being in limbo like this is excruciating.

I haven't been going to look at other houses during this time (well, I did go see one) but I have been following listings online. Another new one came on the market yesterday & I think I will arrange to visit it as it looks very promising. It's not in the location I would mark as best for our family personally (farther away from their dad & school) but it's in a good neighborhood and the backyard walks out to a pond which would be way cool. And it's NOT a foreclosure house which is a big plus in my book. Who knows, if I see it and love it, I can withdraw my other offer and move on.

On the other hand, really I am not in any hurry. Every single week that I have been looking at houses there has been at least one that I would be happy to buy, so I can safely assume that trend will continue, and safely hold off until my current house sells. Or until I hear back on the one I made the offer on. Or until hell freezes over. Because who knows, that may just be what happens first.

Reconnecting with an old friend

I just re-discovered the Cake Wrecks blog and I had absolutely forgotten how much fun it is to browse through the archives there. Laughter like few other blogs can create!

For convenience, I'm adding it to my blog roll over there --->

Carpet

Well, the carpet is in and I already know that the stain guard works.

Aack. The children were not even in the house, it's just ME and ME alone to blame.

Thank goodness for today's technological genius that makes carpet repel stains ... because salsa on beige carpet SHOULD spell trouble, but tonight it was just a minor, and short-lived, annoyance.

Phew.

House Photos

As promised ... some pictures of the fixer-upper projects:

Kitchen area -- before:

Kitchen area - after (only one coat is done here, streaks will disappear with second coat):My brother working on stripping kitchen eating area wallpaper: And my Dad doing the same:

And Ben getting into the fun, too:

Here is the finished kitchen area, all the wallpaper is gone (well, there is still some in the area behind where I am standing, but never mind...) The walls are a pale, creamy peachy-off white and they look fabulous!Here is my S-I-L Mary cleaning off the boarder wallpaper in the upstairs hallway. (The hallway is now a beautiful pale tan.)
Here is my favorite re-do yet, the upstairs bathroom:

Random tidbits

There have been a number of things that have happened lately to me or around me or that I have noticed and thought "that would make a good blog post." But then I get lured (dragged) back to the kitchen to work on wallpaper removal, or something like hungry children distracts me, and then I forget.

At one point I did start making a list, though, to remind myself - but now it just seems like way too much work to actually develop each of them into individual posts, so instead I am going to just share this list with a few pithy comments.

1. Dick Cheney attending the inauguration in a wheelchair. KARMA, buddy, it's starting.

2. Inkheart, the movie -- Ty won 4 free tickets to a preview showing of the movie starring Brendan Fraser, and the 4 of us went (yes, Steve, too) and we all really enjoyed the film. It's a fantasy-suspense-little bit of love-story with a strong young girl, a dashing young boy, a cute animal, and 2 separate married couples who are trying desperately to get back together with one another through the magic of books. Oh, and Helen Mirren is in it - so you know it has to be good.

3. Missionaries -- two strangers knocked on my door last Wednesday; an older man and a youngish woman (who clearly was the mentee as she said basically nothing, but smiled a lot.) He had a Bible in his hand and after greeting me, he visibly contorted his face into a sorrowful one and said, "with all the happenings in our world right now, do you ever find yourself thinking God is mad at us and is punishing us?" I could not help myself from laughing and I responded "NO WAY! After yesterday, I believe God is BEAMING down at us with pride and joy!!!" It clearly took him aback to have me respond so forcefully and cheerily, and he valiantly tried again to bring me down "but there are bad things happening, don't you think He is angry?" "Nope," I said with a big smile, "I don't think that at all!" He realized the futility of his effort and told me to have a nice day, and they left.

4. Around the inauguration I read incredible testimonies from Democrats and Republicans alike who were caught up in the hope and promise of a new era for our country. I was amazed at how many people wrote about the positive feelings they were having, whether they had voted for Obama or not. My heart was warm, and full, and both excited and content. But I did find a couple of nay-sayers, as well, but what struck me was even those who professed NOT to be caught up in all the hoopla were hard-pressed to find something to complain about. A couple said the enthusiasm would wane after the fun of the parties, one tried to dismiss the inauguration speech because a professional writer assisted the President in composing it, and one complained that "all those jobs" Obama was talking about creating "might not be the sorts of jobs" she was interested in having. I just have to giggle a little. That's the worst I saw! And that ain't much :-)

5. Seat Heaters -- oh wait, that was important enough in my life to make me sit down and write an entire post already!

6. Kitchen progress. I promise to find my camera cable today and post some pictures!

There, now you are all caught up with my life. Have a good day!

Do you feel Obama tonight?

I just came across a video made by Emily Troutman, who is a professional photographer. She made signs of 26 words:

Alive, Angry, Anxious, Awed, Believe, Curious,

Dancer, Excited, Grateful, Happy, Hopeful,

Human, Humble, Jealous, Joyful, Love, Obama,

Patient, Proud, Ready, Scared, Skeptical,

Tired, Together, Wonder, Worried

And then invited people to pick the one they felt expressed their feelings about the state of our nation following the inauguration. She took their portraits, set it to music, and here it is:


I found it very interesting to see which words were chosen most often, and which were all but ignored. If I had to choose just one, I would take ready. Or maybe hopeful. Or maybe, as one of the people she talked to, Obama. Obama, of course, isn't a feeling word. But as the man said, "don't you just kind of feel Obama right now?"

Yeah, I kind of do!

Truth in Advertising

It says on the back Servings: 4, but we all know

it's a single serving package, right?

House Update

I have been silent about house news lately because I don't want to jinx anything. I put in an offer over a week ago, and am waiting to hear. It's a bit of a complicated situation as the owners still technically own the property, but it's on its way to foreclosure -- so both the owner and the bank have to approve my offer, and for the offer to be approved by the bank I have to have proof of pre-approved financing, and to have that - since I am self-employed - I have to have my taxes done, so I have been scrambling to get all my financial paperwork in order and I met with my tax guy - whom I adore, if anyone is looking for tax help in the Twin Cities call Bill at Bergstrom Tax - and now the status is that I should be able to pick up my tax paperwork on Monday, get it to the mortgage company - another group I adore, please call them if you need mortgage anything (though I don't know if they have a website, I don't see one, so just let me know and I will give you their info) - who will then send the letter of approval to my realtor, who will forward it to the bank, who may or may not take time to actually read it, and if they do, may or may not approve the offer, because the owner has already accepted it but they are truly the minor players in this whole scheme.

So. If you were able to follow that brilliantly constructed sentence, give yourself a gold star.

The upshot is, I still don't know anything. Rumor has it there is at least one other offer in place, I am told that banks tend to drag their feet, and heck, the color of ink used to sign the papers may affect the outcome, too.

I'll let you all know when I know more!

And PS, can I say again for the record, I am LOVING my seat heater.

Great news! (not about a house)

Yesterday I made an amazing discovery. Well, actually I didn't make the discovery. It was sort of a joint-effort between my mom and my dad.

Before I go any farther with this story, though, let me just say for the record that with all the cold weather we have had lately, one thing I have truly envied others is a car with a driver's seat that heats up. How luxurious would that be? In Minnesota it's really not even a luxury, it should be mandatory on all vehicles.

So anyway. My mom just celebrated a birthday (on inauguration day!) and I know she doesn't really want me talking about her age here. But I can safely say that menopause is not a daily issue for her any more. So we are driving ... um, well, somewhere, I can't remember where. Oh yeah, we were out looking at another house (more on that later.) And on the drive home she starts saying she is getting really hot. Specifically, a certain part of her anatomy is getting really hot.

She asks how to turn off the seat heater but I tell her I do not have seat heaters in my car. She insists I must, I insist I don't - I have had this car for quite a while now, and given my envy of those whose cars have that feature, I think I would know. My dad, acting as negotiator, asked for the car manual. He triumphantly reads, on page 42, that the controls for the SEAT HEATERS are on the lower level of the center part of the dashboard. We all look to the designated location, and sure enough, NO controls on my car.

HA. I knew I didn't have seat heaters.

So when we stop later, my mom says she has to trade seats with my dad (in the backseat) because she can't stand the heat any more. I roll my eyes and tell her since the heat is INTERNAL, switching seats is not going to help anything.

(fast forward a bit) My now-sitting-in-the-front-seat dad, tinkerer that he is, starts poking around and feeling under the seat, by the side of the seat, on the door, the dashboard, the glove compartment, etc.

And. He finds a switch. He tells me where it is, and sure enough, I have one on my seat, too.

I push it.

My seat heats up.

I HAVE SEAT HEATERS IN MY CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And my mom isn't even mad at me.

Received in an email; it made me smile ...

60 above zero: Floridians turn on the heat. Minnesotans plant gardens.

50 above zero: Californians shiver uncontrollably. People are sunbathing in Duluth.

40 above zero: Import cars won't start. Minnesotans drive with the sunroof open.

32 above zero: Distilled water freezes. The water in Bemidji gets thicker.

20 above zero: New Mexicans don long johns, parkas and wool hats & mittens. Minnesotans throw on a flannel shirt.

15 above zero: New York landlords finally turn on the heat. People in Minnesota have one last cookout before it gets cold.

Zero: People in Miami all die. Minnesotans close the windows.

10 below zero: Californians fly away to Mexico. Minnesotans dig their winter coats out of storage.

25 below zero: Hollywood disintegrates. Girl Scouts in Minnesota still selling cookies door to door.

40 below zero: Washington, D.C. finally runs out of hot air. People in Minnesota let their dogs sleep indoors.

100 below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Minnesotans get upset because the Mini-Van won't start.

460 below zero: ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the Kelvin scale). People in Minnesota can be heard to say, "Cold 'nuff fer ya?"

500 below zero: Hell freezes over. Minnesota public schools open 2 hours late.

The beginning of a new era

Maybe later I will have some words to express

all the feelings I have today,

but right now I am feeling - not thinking.

Something other than the house

I have been working really hard on coming up with a topic to write about that does not revolve around houses, moving, or painting, and I got nothing.

Sorry for my one-track-mindedness lately, but hey, that's my life these days.

Hopefully something will inspire me soon.

(like maybe the inauguration?)

Another Offer

I think I am about to make an offer on another house. My realtor is doing a bit more research this afternoon, but if all goes as planned we will submit the offer first thing tomorrow morning.

This house is in a great location and does need some work done on it, but it's a bit hinky in that it's in the beginning stages of foreclosure and as such there are all kinds of things to be taken into consideration, as well as a lot of (hopefully just for now) unanswered questions. I'm feeling quite hopeful, but am tempering my optimism with the realistic knowledge that this is not the last house that will ever look this good to me.

So ... more news (maybe) tomorrow!

UPDATE Friday: I put in my offer this morning. Because of the unique situation (not quite in foreclosure but almost), the offer goes to the actual owners first and then to the bank and they both have to sign off on it. So it may take a week or two for me to hear back. Plenty of time for me to pull all my hair out in impatience.

Details!

People have been emailing me asking what, exactly, I have been working on this week on the house to prep it for the market. So here goes:

Kitchen: Removal of the blue flowered wallpaper that my mother thought was pretty. Found out when we started scraping that my father wallpapered OVER the previous owner's ivy wallpaper (because he did not want the job of removing it) so we had to remove two layers of very professionally (and thoroughly) glued-on paper. I still have to finish up above one door, and then all the walls need a final washing to get the glue residue off, but then it'll be ready -- to paint. The kitchen part will be painted a rich terracotta burnt red, and the eating area a corresponding lighter color (the top of the same paint sample swatch.)

Basement: Total and thorough cleaning of the laundry area (who cleans all that dust and dryer lint from behind the washer & dryer on a regular basis? I bet this is the first time it's been done here in a long time.) Removal (and lawful disposal) of the leftover paint from 2+ owners ago. Repair of nail holes in bathroom walls in preparation for full bathroom repainting (ceiling - nice white, walls, a kind of light khaki-ish green.) Family room & office - general decluttering.

Living & Dining room - new carpet, yet to be selected.

Upstairs: Bathroom - new faucets, new light fixture, total new painting (cover up the peachy-orange my mom liked with celery green walls, and chocolate brown for the vanity cabinet), then new towels, window covering, and shower curtain (going for a spa-like feel!) Bedrooms -- Ty & I need to switch, so that I have the biggest bedroom. I was going to repaint, but my mom talked me out of it (perhaps, given the fact that much of the work I am doing to the house is to cover up her decorating choices, I ought not to have allowed myself to be persuaded. But, one less room to paint -- that's a powerful argument for agreeing with her.) Instead, I went to TJ Maxx and am SO excited about the linens I found on clearance (one of the things I had in my cart was $39.99 -- until I saw a second, identical one behind it for $29.99 - SCORE!!) In Ben's room the only (ha! understatement) thing that has to be done is PICK UP THE LEGOS. I may have to bring up the snow shovel.

My parents left this morning, and are returning on the 24th - so that gives me 10 days to WOW them with all the changes and clean-up. Then, hopefully, the house will be listed right around that same time. Anyone who knows anyone looking for a terrific townhouse in a high-quality community in a desirable neighborhood -- give me a call!

Fun new website ...

http://www.cuteoverload.com/

House Update

This week has been a flurry of house-prepping activity. I have had family here to help rip out wallpaper, replace light switches that were faulty, replace faucets and light fixtures that were old and/or faulty, and generally spruce up the place. The problem is that in order to spruce it up, you have to make a pretty big mess initially .... which is where we are right now. It looks horrific inside my house, like a tornado went through selectively pulling finishes off some walls, throwing boxes randomly in several rooms, and leaving tools all over in its wake.

But - the end is in sight and it's going to look so spiffy that I am certain the first people who walk in will want to buy it and place an offer for asking price immediately (please, whatever you do, don't burst my bubble.)

In the meantime on the other end of this moving equation, I have looked at several more houses and have found one that I think I will make an offer on within the next day or so. It's not a foreclosure house, but it does still need quite a bit of work, but the location is absolutely perfect for the boys & me, so I am hoping it all works out.

Will post more as more happens! And I will have some photos, too, as soon as I figure out where the camera cable is ... I know where it used to be, but it got moved in the chaos ...

More from Dreamland

The last two nights I have had quite a few short dreams that have been rather vivid. I even had one dream where I was worrying about remembering my dreams so I could blog about them.

Here's last night's drama ...

It was winter, with a little snow on the ground, and I was with a group of people - parents and children - where the children were going to have their first duck-hunting experience. One set of parents brought along an already shot duck so that when their daughter shot randomly into the sky, the dad then threw the duck out and she found it, certain that she had shot it. [picture the scene, though - about a dozen kids with rifles shooting straight up into the air, then running madly around looking to see if any birds fell on the ground.] She picked it up and brought it back to her parents who praised her aim with the rifle profusely. The duck was most certainly not dead, and in fact looked quite lively, then suddenly we were in a hospital and the duck was a baby-sized woman [a la Benjamin Button] and the nursing staff was sneaking it away from the family so that someone else could adopt it and let it live. Then suddenly Paul & Jamie Buchman [of Mad About You, one of my favorite TV shows of its era] were there talking about their likes and dislikes, and I assumed they were the ones who were going to take this orphan. And I realized that I was actually on the set of Grey's Anatomy, and it hit me -- none of this was real after all, I was just somehow on TV.

Phew.

And now for your dining pleasure

My dreams were creative last night, as well. This whole moving thing has my imagination running wild! Last night I was in New York City, with my friend Diane. We had to "run over there" for an hour or so to accomplish some errand of hers. Since we were going to be there such a short amount of time, I didn't tell my friend Jessica, who lives there, that I was in town. Of course, as fate would have it, we literally ran into her on the sidewalk. She looked terrific, wasn't mad at me for not calling, and had cut her hair really, really short (which in real life she would never do.)

Turned out that we were on the sidewalk just outside her family's restaurant. Her 7 brothers and 3 sisters (IRL she has a large family, but I don't know the number of her siblings, nor do I think any of them are chefs) ran the restaurant, which was trying to make a name for itself with its authentic, hand-made pasta. (for the record this family is from the Dominican Republic. I haven't ever heard that Dominican pasta is superb, but maybe?) The restaurant, unfortunately, wasn't doing too well, so there was plenty of time for me (I don't know what happened to Diane) to flirt with all of Jessica's cute brothers.

Until.

I was lounging on the couch, talking with her sister, when suddenly I noticed (A) I was wearing a very short denim mini-skirt, and (B) I apparently had not shaved my legs in about 2 years.

The dream ended with my feelings of embarrassment and complete mortification.

Anyone out there who can tell me what this all means?

Coming soon to a theater near you

Last night I slept well, thank you very much. I was in bed before 11 so Chamaco was happy, and I promptly fell into a deep and quite restful slumber.

While my body rested, my mind went on vacation. I "went home" to "my house" (which resembled a house in a commercial I watched shortly before retiring) and I was feeling so happy to be home where I could relax. I made my way to the bedroom where I planned to change into more comfortable clothing, and who should be waiting for me there (most natural thing in the world), but Steven Spielberg. I greeted him warmly, as befitting our friendship, and he asked if I had a few free hours. For Steven? Of course! He was filming something which focused on ironing (this, clearly because I watched "On the Road with Jason Davis" last week and he interviewed a couple who collect irons - they had nearly 1000.) Steven just knew that I was the gal to be ironing in his new project. I reminded him that I, actually, had been on the air with an iron before (no clue what that was about but I was very confident - it impressed both him, and my waking self) and so off we went. I drove, he navigated, the iron was in the back seat, and then ...

Well, that was it. Perhaps the actual filming will come tomorrow night? (Oh, and just for the record? I rarely iron. I pile up anything that needs ironing - and I am pretty darn tolerant of a lot of wrinkles, so it's not much - and keep it here for my mom, who actually enjoys ironing when she visits me. I better not tell Steven about her.)

House Update

4:21 PM ... not looking good ...

9:30 PM ... nope, didn't get it. Though my offer was the second one in, they went on to get 3 more offers and apparently I was simply outbid. So ... back to the drawing board, looking for the next good deal!

What the ....?

I am watching the early morning news as I sit here ... they just announced that a baby boy was born in Florida and his mom got to pick his first name, his dad picked his middle name.

The boy will go through life known as

Logan Tivo Bradley

Yes, Tivo. THAT Tivo. Dad-apparently-spends-a-lot-of-time-in-the-BarcaLounger-with-a-beer-and-the-remote TIVO.

The roller coaster continues

Well, no sleep last night. I dutifully lay in my bed for the requisite 8 hours, but I don't think Mr. REM visited me. I gave up at 4:30 and got up, totally confusing the dogs (Chamaco is a dog who rivals babies in his need for routine. He starts whimpering and fussing around 11:00 each night, going up to the bedroom and circling back to me - sitting at my computer, most likely - clearly saying 'MOM! It's time for BED!' So getting up 2 hours early was not a welcome change in routine for him. He's still giving me confused glances.)

Anyway, until I hear if my offer was accepted, I know I will be on pins and needles. And just between you and me, I can see benefits to either outcome. If I get it, it will be the bargain of the decade. The house is a foreclosure house [an aside which will probably evolve into its own post; I have been looking almost exclusively at foreclosure houses and while some of them are in terrible shape and it's easy to walk through them without thinking too much, some of them are really nice and my heart goes out to the former owners who had to leave.] so it is much more house for the money than I could normally hope to afford. If I get it, though, I am committing to quite a bit of work -- first the move, which I guess is coming regardless of whether it's to this house or another -- and then the move IN, which will involve some work done quickly (the room that would be Ty's is pink right now, I promised him that would be the very first room we paint.) (If we get it.) and then some work done more slowly, after serious consideration.

On the one hand, I get to design a kitchen!

On the other hand, I have to design a kitchen!

You see why I couldn't sleep?

I am planning a very full day today to hopefully keep me from obsessing on what could be happening in those offices behind-whose-doors-I-cannot-see, amongst those people who make these decisions. I'll keep you informed!

Send Good Energy, Please!!!

AAAGGGHHH!!!!! I just made an offer on a house!!!! I will hear in 24-48 hours whether it is accepted!!!

Please send any good vibes or energy you have my way for success here ... and if it works I will tell you all about it when it's accepted!!!

Also thoughts of serenity for me would be helpful ... I'm a little crazed right now with nervousness.

Oh, and while you're at it, thoughts of finding a buyer for my current home would be REALLY helpful.

What kind of 1930's wife are you?

41 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

Freaking out here

This coming Monday is high school orientation. I am really not ready for this. I mean, I am ok with my oldest entering high school next year. What I am not prepared for is the level of analysis which seemingly is to be done prior to course selection. It appears from everything I am frantically trying to read RIGHT NOW that the choices we make on Monday will affect the absolute rest of his life. Now, I know that is not true - but I am seriously concerned about the system which is perpetuating this idea, because it sounds like if we back off and refuse to buy into the game, we may have some options removed - or significantly difficultized (you know what I mean) in the future which could make things more complicated. So I either have to QUICKLY get up to speed on the game NOW, or pay the piper later. And I just don't have time right now!!! Why must they set their schedule based on their own convenience instead of realizing that some of us parents out here have other things going on in our lives and frankly would prefer to do this in the middle of the night maybe in June after the townhouse is sold and the new house in bought and moved into and the painting and bathroom remodels are done and everyone is calmer and has more time to think about these things yeah, why don't they do THAT for us?!?

Work in Progress

For my birthday, the Knitting Queen [an aside - I include her blog link as a courtesy but she hasn't updated it in about 17 years.] gave me an amazing mitten pattern and some yarn. I started it after Christmas (before Christmas I was focused on gift knitting, but these are for me, baby!)

Here's mitten #1, sans thumb. The next step is to knit a lining out of angora wool to make them extra cozy and super warm.

I am loving them already and can't wait to be done! If only life wouldn't keep interrupting my knitting time.

Where my mind's at

I haven't been posting much lately ... haven't even been tempted, because I have been obsessed with looking at houses. The boys & I decided we are ready to move to a single-family dwelling complete with a fenced-in yard for dogs and children to run and play in. Since I have one friend who is a realtor and another who owns a mortgage company, I have been in contact with both and hopefully we will be moving soon!

We will stay in the same community for ease of access to family, friends, and school, and we are all a bit giddy at the thought of not sharing walls with neighbors.

Tomorrow morning I am going to go look at a couple more houses - both are foreclosure houses, so priced low - but I won't know until I go inside how much neglect occurred prior to the bank taking over. I'm not afraid of working on the house, though, if the structure is good and I like everything else about it.

And - just in case you are thinking ahead, all you wonderful friends who helped us move last time - this time I am hiring a company to move the big stuff. Promise!

Recount

I seem to recall Mr. Coleman saying something along the lines of "the votes are counted, Mr. Franken should accept the count and gracefully bow out, rather than drag this out at taxpayer expense."

Will he follow his own advice? Somehow, I am not expecting he will.