however, I do not think that time is here yet. We made it to Mississippi last night. Let me just say if there is anybody out there thinking of doing a cross country trip with two cars, four animals, two over-stressed parents, and one toddler, just think again. No, it was not fun.
The movers left our house around 6:30 pm on Monday. It was an extremely emotional day for me. I was doing fairly good until I went to pick up Jack at daycare and that is when I lost it. She gave me a photo album of all the pictures that she took over the past two years. It was so sweet with captions and all. It was very hard saying goodbye to her.
I came home with Jack and again lost it when all the neighbors kept coming over with cookies and such to say goodbye. We had really nice neighbors. And then I lost it at the end when Jim was taking Jack through the house saying goodbye. Jack said goodbye to his room, bathroom, Sissy's room. It was heartwrenching and I just had to get out of there.
We got on the road around 7:00 and about 15 minutes into the trip, I realized that I did not have the remote to the dvd player in the van. A big uh oh cause you basically can not play any dvd that has a menu. So we pull over and start to pull all the crap out of the van in search for the golden remote. We found it and was soon back on the road.
We made it to Phoenix after midnight. I think I can honestly say that I was exhausted. Probably in my top ten times of being exhausted. Tired.
The next day we stopped in Ft. Stockton, Texas. That was quite a fun time. There we were in the room at La Quinta (very pet friendly hotel chain). All the animals, Jack, and Jim and I were sleeping and it was around midnight. All of a sudden our door opens and another family is coming into our room! Jim, in all his glory, pops out of bed and instantly thinks about the cats who could run out the door any minute. He starts to yell at the people to close the door and the stunned people run out the door fast! And no animals were hurt in the process.
Yesterday we drove 950 miles to get here in time to get the cats into the boarding kennel. We were on the road at 4 am and got here with about 30 minutes to spare before the kennel closed. We had to drop the cats off in boarding because Jim's brother's dogs are allergic to cats. Go figure.
So here we are now in our new home. The past week or so has been a huge blur. We found out that our house closed escrow yesterday and we should have our money in our bank account sometime today. We stopped and saw the new house. It is looking almost all done. They just need to do the landscaping and that is it. And I have to talk to the mortgage company about the new loan today. And Jim just left to go to the police station to show up for all his new hire stuff.
I am so looking forward to just sitting down and doing absolutely nothing, especially if it has nothing to do with driving!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
This Is It
The boxes are packed. The cats are going to be drugged today and caged. The last night spent in our house is done. The day of goodbyes is done. The tears shed because of all the goodbyes are gone. Next step is Mississippi. "See Ya" in a few days.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
And Now...
Ya know there has been nothing easy about this move across the country. As if any move across the country is easy. But it just seems a bit harder.
And now the latest? A Huricane! Yes that is right folks, there is a huricane heading straight for our new home. And projected landfall? The day after we get there. The day Jim has to show up at his new job. Oh and the projected strength at this time? Category 3. Yay! My first huricane!
Because of this, we plan on taking the northern route and probably stay at Jim's mother's house for a bit before venturing into the huricane's path.
Fun. Fun. Fun.
And now the latest? A Huricane! Yes that is right folks, there is a huricane heading straight for our new home. And projected landfall? The day after we get there. The day Jim has to show up at his new job. Oh and the projected strength at this time? Category 3. Yay! My first huricane!
Because of this, we plan on taking the northern route and probably stay at Jim's mother's house for a bit before venturing into the huricane's path.
Fun. Fun. Fun.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Laws of Packing
There are certain undeniable laws of packing.
1. You can NEVER have too many boxes. We went to Home Depot two days ago and bought what we thought were the last of the boxes that we would need. HA! Jim is now as we speak running to Home Depot for another box run. I *think* that this will be it. But probably not.
2. Just when you think you are done packing a room, you find more. I hate all the small stuff that you just don't know what do with. Like the 7 bars of soap under the bathroom sink. We don't use bars of soap. We use body wash. So why keep the 7 bars? My solution? Keep 2 and throw the rest away.
3. You can never have enough bubble wrap or newspaper. We have gone through 3 giant rolls of bubble wrap and 2 smaller rolls. We also have gone through the equivalent of a month's worth of newspaper.
4. This side of packing is just one big pain. But hopefully the other side will be a little bit more fun. Maybe.
1. You can NEVER have too many boxes. We went to Home Depot two days ago and bought what we thought were the last of the boxes that we would need. HA! Jim is now as we speak running to Home Depot for another box run. I *think* that this will be it. But probably not.
2. Just when you think you are done packing a room, you find more. I hate all the small stuff that you just don't know what do with. Like the 7 bars of soap under the bathroom sink. We don't use bars of soap. We use body wash. So why keep the 7 bars? My solution? Keep 2 and throw the rest away.
3. You can never have enough bubble wrap or newspaper. We have gone through 3 giant rolls of bubble wrap and 2 smaller rolls. We also have gone through the equivalent of a month's worth of newspaper.
4. This side of packing is just one big pain. But hopefully the other side will be a little bit more fun. Maybe.
Friday, August 25, 2006
7:30 AM
It is 7:30 in the morning and Jim and I have been packing for 2 1/2 hours already. So far this morning, we have finished packing the kitchen, cleaned out the refrigerator and scrubbed it out, packed up the laundry room and most of Jack's room. I would say that we are about 97% packed. Yahoo! Starting to feel semi-in-control of the situation. Sorta.
Thank goodness for Jack's daycare lady, Pat. She has taken Jack all this week so that we can get stuff done. I bought Jack a new Thomas backpack last weekend and he is so proud to wear it to her house to "go to school." He talks all the time about going to school. "I go to school Mama. Sissy goes to her school. I go to MY school. Mama when do I go to school?" Ugh. He is growing up way too fast and in three very short years he will be going for real. No I am not ready for that! But I did promise Pat that I would put him in preschool when we get to MS. She said that he is one of the smartest little boys that she has ever had and we need to cultivate that. I am going to miss Pat. She has been a huge lifesaver to me. I found her when I was desperate for daycare and she turned out to be a gold mine. Jack loves her so much and it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to her on Monday.
There are a few people that we are going to miss so much. The L family, who adopted me when I first came to California. Janet is a sister to me and they bailed me out of a lot of hairy situations over the years. But I just keep telling myself that it is not like the other side of the world, only 1800 miles.
Alright, enough of nostalgia. I need to get back to packing. The home inspector comes in 3 hours and that makes me very nervous. Always afraid of what they are going to find.
Thank goodness for Jack's daycare lady, Pat. She has taken Jack all this week so that we can get stuff done. I bought Jack a new Thomas backpack last weekend and he is so proud to wear it to her house to "go to school." He talks all the time about going to school. "I go to school Mama. Sissy goes to her school. I go to MY school. Mama when do I go to school?" Ugh. He is growing up way too fast and in three very short years he will be going for real. No I am not ready for that! But I did promise Pat that I would put him in preschool when we get to MS. She said that he is one of the smartest little boys that she has ever had and we need to cultivate that. I am going to miss Pat. She has been a huge lifesaver to me. I found her when I was desperate for daycare and she turned out to be a gold mine. Jack loves her so much and it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to her on Monday.
There are a few people that we are going to miss so much. The L family, who adopted me when I first came to California. Janet is a sister to me and they bailed me out of a lot of hairy situations over the years. But I just keep telling myself that it is not like the other side of the world, only 1800 miles.
Alright, enough of nostalgia. I need to get back to packing. The home inspector comes in 3 hours and that makes me very nervous. Always afraid of what they are going to find.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Moving Sucks!
Okay. I am tired. Very tired. I think I slept maybe 3 whole hours last night. Why you ask? Cause I had roughly 3 million things running through my mind. Want to hear just a few? Alright here goes: Things to do: call utilities, call insurance about the dented van and transferring claim to MS, forward mail, find kennel in MS to put cats in while waiting for new house, pay bills, call builder in MS, call realtor about closing issues. Things to pack: all kitchen, bathrooms, Jack's room, clean out refrigerator. Just rambling thoughts include where to put my furniture in new house, are the cats going to freak out on trip - oh yeah call vet about getting kitty drugs, have to buy disposable kitty litter boxes, on the trip we are never going to be able to go into a restaurant because of the 4 animals in the car, pack a lot of snacks on the trip, buy a lot of snacks, need to buy laundry detergent - ran out the other day, man 1800 miles is a long way to drive with 4 animals and a toddler in the van, buy more kid videos to keep toddler happy, oh yeah can't forget the snacks. Wow it is 2:30 am and I am wide awake. I might as well get up and start packing.
That is basically my night last night. I am tired. Moving sucks. Do not let me do this for at least another decade. Seriously.
That is basically my night last night. I am tired. Moving sucks. Do not let me do this for at least another decade. Seriously.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I Think I Am Going To Throw Up
That is the phrase I used many many times today. After countless phone calls between us and our agent, our agent and their agent, and I think 3 different counter counter counter offers, we SOLD THE HOUSE! Of course they are getting one heck of a deal, but we are getting out of here in 7 days! Movers are scheduled to come on Monday and we are out of here late Monday or early Tuesday. As Quincy says on Little Einsteins "I can not belieeeeve it!!".
24 Hours
24 hours ago, I was feeling really down and melancholy. I was getting depressed because Jim was leaving in a few days, leaving Jack and I here to fend for ourselves for who knows how long. All because we could not sell this stupid house.
24 hours ago, we rejected the only offer that we had received in 6 weeks for the house. It was way too low with a contigency to sell their house first. I was beginning to think we were never going to sell this house. You know you hear horror stories of people trying to sell their house for over a year with no success. Ugh.
Then a bright sun came out. We got a phone call from our agent last night around 6 pm saying that the couple we rejected came back with another offer! They have money! Lots and lots of cash! Enough in fact to BUY our house with CASH. By the way who has that kind of money just laying around? Can I be adopted by them?
They offered $50K LOWER than their first offer, which was way low to begin with, but all cash with a SEVEN day CLOSE! That means we have to be out of this house in seven days! OH MY GOSH!!!!
Of course we countered back raising the price and we are now waiting here on pins and needles hoping they will either accept or come back with another counter with a higher price. At this point, I am just saying whatever you want to buy the house, buy it. But, I did feel like they were taking advantage of our desperate situation and offered $50K less. People $50,000 is a lot of money to be taken out of my pocket! I am just scared that they will walk away. I don't think they will because obviously they want the house very badly, but this waiting for a phone call is tearing us up. Can our realtor just call us NOW?????
The funny part about all of this is we were talking to the builder in Mississippi about 30 minutes prior to getting the last offer. We were telling her that it is not looking good for us and we were probably going to have to lose the house. In fact, I told her to just go ahead and send us the papers to sign telling them we were backing out. She is the one who said that we still have a couple more weeks and to just wait on that. She is really nice. At the end of the conversation, she told us that she will be praying for us. Then 30 minutes later, we get the phone call from our realtor with a cash offer, seven day close! Now I just want to know, does she have a direct link with the big man upstairs or what?
24 hours ago, we rejected the only offer that we had received in 6 weeks for the house. It was way too low with a contigency to sell their house first. I was beginning to think we were never going to sell this house. You know you hear horror stories of people trying to sell their house for over a year with no success. Ugh.
Then a bright sun came out. We got a phone call from our agent last night around 6 pm saying that the couple we rejected came back with another offer! They have money! Lots and lots of cash! Enough in fact to BUY our house with CASH. By the way who has that kind of money just laying around? Can I be adopted by them?
They offered $50K LOWER than their first offer, which was way low to begin with, but all cash with a SEVEN day CLOSE! That means we have to be out of this house in seven days! OH MY GOSH!!!!
Of course we countered back raising the price and we are now waiting here on pins and needles hoping they will either accept or come back with another counter with a higher price. At this point, I am just saying whatever you want to buy the house, buy it. But, I did feel like they were taking advantage of our desperate situation and offered $50K less. People $50,000 is a lot of money to be taken out of my pocket! I am just scared that they will walk away. I don't think they will because obviously they want the house very badly, but this waiting for a phone call is tearing us up. Can our realtor just call us NOW?????
The funny part about all of this is we were talking to the builder in Mississippi about 30 minutes prior to getting the last offer. We were telling her that it is not looking good for us and we were probably going to have to lose the house. In fact, I told her to just go ahead and send us the papers to sign telling them we were backing out. She is the one who said that we still have a couple more weeks and to just wait on that. She is really nice. At the end of the conversation, she told us that she will be praying for us. Then 30 minutes later, we get the phone call from our realtor with a cash offer, seven day close! Now I just want to know, does she have a direct link with the big man upstairs or what?
Monday, August 21, 2006
Dancing The Dance
Real Estate. It is basically all about dancing when you think about it. Picture yourself (house) at the high school dance and you are there up against the wall (on the market) watching all the other people (houses) dancing and having fun. You just wanna have fun like them.
Then, out of the blue, somebody walks up and looks you over (comes for a showing). You get yourself all pretty (clean the bathrooms) and put your best foot forward for them. They walk away and talk with their friends (agent) about you and if you are good enough for them. Most of them these days (in this market) don't come back to give you another look. But you get lucky that one day and they actually come back and ask you to dance (make an offer). You are thrilled. You start to pick out the wedding date (when to call the movers). But the light comes up and you actually take a look at the person you are dancing with and see that this person rides the short bus and has a drool cup (the offer stinks).
That is selling real estate in a nut shell.
To update those playing or dancing at home. We got an offer today from the couple who never showed up last week like they said they would. They came by today for a showing and their agent is THE rudest in three counties and very unprofessional. She was practically strong arming me at the showing, telling me that she didn't want our agent to present the offer to us, but her. Um no thank you lady. I don't like you and that is what I pay my agent for. Now kindly remove yourself my house, thank you.
The offer was basically a slap in our face. They came in at $20K below what we are asking (which is $55K below market to begin with) and they have a contigency on their house to sell. Our agent told us they have their house listed about $50K over market, which just went on the market TODAY. How fast can I say F*#@ YOU to that?
We are going to counter that they can have the house for either $10 or $15K below asking with absolutely no contingency and 30 day close. If they don't like it well there are about 3000 other houses on the market for them. They can slap those owners in their faces.
So we are kinda back to square one probably. But like our agent said, at least we are in the game, unlike 90% of the other houses on the market. At least we got an offer 6 weeks later, while the other houses in the neighborhood are not even getting showings. I guess that is something.
So if you are wondering what we in the Jackaroo house are doing, you can just be assured we are dancing the dance.
Then, out of the blue, somebody walks up and looks you over (comes for a showing). You get yourself all pretty (clean the bathrooms) and put your best foot forward for them. They walk away and talk with their friends (agent) about you and if you are good enough for them. Most of them these days (in this market) don't come back to give you another look. But you get lucky that one day and they actually come back and ask you to dance (make an offer). You are thrilled. You start to pick out the wedding date (when to call the movers). But the light comes up and you actually take a look at the person you are dancing with and see that this person rides the short bus and has a drool cup (the offer stinks).
That is selling real estate in a nut shell.
To update those playing or dancing at home. We got an offer today from the couple who never showed up last week like they said they would. They came by today for a showing and their agent is THE rudest in three counties and very unprofessional. She was practically strong arming me at the showing, telling me that she didn't want our agent to present the offer to us, but her. Um no thank you lady. I don't like you and that is what I pay my agent for. Now kindly remove yourself my house, thank you.
The offer was basically a slap in our face. They came in at $20K below what we are asking (which is $55K below market to begin with) and they have a contigency on their house to sell. Our agent told us they have their house listed about $50K over market, which just went on the market TODAY. How fast can I say F*#@ YOU to that?
We are going to counter that they can have the house for either $10 or $15K below asking with absolutely no contingency and 30 day close. If they don't like it well there are about 3000 other houses on the market for them. They can slap those owners in their faces.
So we are kinda back to square one probably. But like our agent said, at least we are in the game, unlike 90% of the other houses on the market. At least we got an offer 6 weeks later, while the other houses in the neighborhood are not even getting showings. I guess that is something.
So if you are wondering what we in the Jackaroo house are doing, you can just be assured we are dancing the dance.
What Are You Doing Mama?
I had no idea that a human being can ask the phrase "what are you doing Mama" 396 times in the span of a minute. But that is what my toddler can do. Quite some feat isn't it? And maddening? Oh yeah. Here is a typical 2 minute conversation between me and Jack lately:
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Changing your diaper.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Taking your pants off
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Taking your diaper off.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Wiping your butt
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Still wiping the poopies off your butt.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: putting new diaper on.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: putting your pants back on
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Going absolutely crazy!
You get the idea. Oh and not only is the what are you doing question going on constantly, it is now flavored with the Why question.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: washing the dishes
Jack: Why?
Me: because they are dirty
Jack: why?
Me: because you made them dirty
Jack: what are you doing Mama?
Yeah that is the main topic of conversation around here lately. Aren't you jealous?
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Changing your diaper.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Taking your pants off
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Taking your diaper off.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Wiping your butt
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Still wiping the poopies off your butt.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: putting new diaper on.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: putting your pants back on
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: Going absolutely crazy!
You get the idea. Oh and not only is the what are you doing question going on constantly, it is now flavored with the Why question.
Jack: What are you doing Mama?
Me: washing the dishes
Jack: Why?
Me: because they are dirty
Jack: why?
Me: because you made them dirty
Jack: what are you doing Mama?
Yeah that is the main topic of conversation around here lately. Aren't you jealous?
Friday, August 18, 2006
Well...
There was no offer forthcoming. There was no showing yesterday like they said. We spent 3 hours yesterday morning cleaning and doing yard work all for nothing, except now we don't have to do it today for the weekend. Don't know what is going on, but here we are on the roller coaster ride again. Today is the ride to the bottom. Who knows maybe tomorrow, we get to ride up to the top tomorrow?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Good News and Bad News
I have two items of good news and one bad news.
The first good news is that Jim's car came back from the body shop all pretty and shiny again. It looks like she never had a huge owie. So now he can leave on time to go to Mississippi, which is a good thing in order to report to work on time. Yay!
The other good news is that our realtor called yesterday and said that he thinks that we are maybe getting an offer today. And here is the bad news. He is not too sure we should take the offer. The gist of the long story is that it is the first couple who came through a month ago and the husband liked the house, but the wife didn't want to live in this town. Well it seems they listed their house yesterday and it wasn't with our realtor, even though he has been working with them for 3 months showing them properties. I guess they went with another realtor, which I normally wouldn't care. It is between them. But our realtor (formally known as Mr. Ahole and has become a nice guy to us in recent weeks), said that he has no idea whether their house is listed too high for their market or is it priced to sell. At least if he were doing the listing, he would have the control and be able to market the heck out of it like he is doing ours.
So long story short, if we take their offer, it will be contigent upon the sale of their house, which who knows how long it could be. It is in California, the land of no house sales. And if we do take the offer, our status on the mls will go from Active to Backup Offer, which means our listing basically drops off a lot of searches. Like our realtor said, it is kinda like shooting our foot. And he also doesn't trust this couple very well and it could come down to them backing out at some point and then we would be back to square one. Of course that is just his opinion and it could just be hurt feelings because he didn't get their listing.
Why can't this just be easy?
The first good news is that Jim's car came back from the body shop all pretty and shiny again. It looks like she never had a huge owie. So now he can leave on time to go to Mississippi, which is a good thing in order to report to work on time. Yay!
The other good news is that our realtor called yesterday and said that he thinks that we are maybe getting an offer today. And here is the bad news. He is not too sure we should take the offer. The gist of the long story is that it is the first couple who came through a month ago and the husband liked the house, but the wife didn't want to live in this town. Well it seems they listed their house yesterday and it wasn't with our realtor, even though he has been working with them for 3 months showing them properties. I guess they went with another realtor, which I normally wouldn't care. It is between them. But our realtor (formally known as Mr. Ahole and has become a nice guy to us in recent weeks), said that he has no idea whether their house is listed too high for their market or is it priced to sell. At least if he were doing the listing, he would have the control and be able to market the heck out of it like he is doing ours.
So long story short, if we take their offer, it will be contigent upon the sale of their house, which who knows how long it could be. It is in California, the land of no house sales. And if we do take the offer, our status on the mls will go from Active to Backup Offer, which means our listing basically drops off a lot of searches. Like our realtor said, it is kinda like shooting our foot. And he also doesn't trust this couple very well and it could come down to them backing out at some point and then we would be back to square one. Of course that is just his opinion and it could just be hurt feelings because he didn't get their listing.
Why can't this just be easy?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I Have Become One Of THOSE
You know the type of woman I am talking about. The one who constantly talks about her children and nothing else. Her life revolves around her children and have no other topics to talk about. I am afraid that I am turning into one of those.
We were invited to friend's house for dinner last night. It was a good-bye to us - well Jim anyway, since who knows when I will be leaving. They are good friends and I actually used to work with her a few years ago when I did taxes. She and I are both accountants and you would think we would have a lot to talk about.
After the usual preliminaries of how is work going, how was the tax season last year, yada yada yada, our topics just dried up! I mean after the preliminaries, it was back to the topic, my favorite topic, of Jack. And I caught myself saying "Jack this and Jack that and did you know that Jack did that the other day." And being a person who used to HATE hearing about other people's children, mainly because I was going through infertility at the time, I understand the blank stare and the nodding just to be polite. I guess the good thing was the men were nonstop talking about Navy stories and kept the conversation going. But now my question is, when did it happen? When did I become one of those women who only talk about their child? And the other question is, do I want to change it? I mean what other topic is better than Jack?
We were invited to friend's house for dinner last night. It was a good-bye to us - well Jim anyway, since who knows when I will be leaving. They are good friends and I actually used to work with her a few years ago when I did taxes. She and I are both accountants and you would think we would have a lot to talk about.
After the usual preliminaries of how is work going, how was the tax season last year, yada yada yada, our topics just dried up! I mean after the preliminaries, it was back to the topic, my favorite topic, of Jack. And I caught myself saying "Jack this and Jack that and did you know that Jack did that the other day." And being a person who used to HATE hearing about other people's children, mainly because I was going through infertility at the time, I understand the blank stare and the nodding just to be polite. I guess the good thing was the men were nonstop talking about Navy stories and kept the conversation going. But now my question is, when did it happen? When did I become one of those women who only talk about their child? And the other question is, do I want to change it? I mean what other topic is better than Jack?
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Just Like Daddy
Jack idolizes his father and wants to be just like him. Here are a few pictures that prove my point.
Jack wearing Daddy's shirt. He actually went to our closet and came out wearing the shirt. Just like Daddy.
Jack wearing Daddy's shirt. He actually went to our closet and came out wearing the shirt. Just like Daddy.
Jack and Daddy digging holes together and planting trees. He even had his own little shovel and was very proud to tell me "I digging holes"!
"I think the hole is big enough Daddy, what do you think?"
Dumping big shovel full of dirt into the wheelbarrow. Just like Daddy. Daddy's little "helper".
Doing a little bit of shaving. Just like Daddy. After this, Daddy put some after shave on him and proclaimed him a handsome boy. He came running to me saying "I am a handsome boy Mama!". P.S. Don't worry, we weren't trying to scar the child with a razor. It had a safety cap on it.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Little Boys
Tonight as I was getting Jack dressed in his jammies, he was standing there playing with himself with a big smile on his face (yes he IS a boy). I asked what he was doing and he yells back at me "playing with my woo woo!" and proceeds to giggle and laugh all over the place. Do ya think he will let me in on when he plays with his woo woo when he is oh say 16? Nah, I don't think so either. And yet another post to show him when he turns a teenager just to embarrass him to death. Hahahahaha.
Oh and I want to give a big ole shout out to Amy, my friend from high school days who sent me the nicest card in the mail. Thank you so much girl! You really did lift me up when I read that and just what I needed. If ya'll don't know Amy, she is like one of the nicest people around! Thanks Amy!
Oh and I want to give a big ole shout out to Amy, my friend from high school days who sent me the nicest card in the mail. Thank you so much girl! You really did lift me up when I read that and just what I needed. If ya'll don't know Amy, she is like one of the nicest people around! Thanks Amy!
Alright Alright
We held open house again for the third straight weekend in a row. That makes THREE weeks in a row where the house has to be immaculate and spotless. And like all the other weekends, no offers were incoming. Not even one. In fact, most of the feedback from the precious two showings we did have included that we have a "funky" backyard. To which, I exclaimed that at least it HAS a backyard, unlike 95% of the houses in California full of postage stamp lots. But I guess people just have to bitch about something. Oh yeah and one of the couples who came through, wanted the AC units moved to the OTHER side of the house!! Huh? It seems we can't even have AC units in the right place.
So in response to all the "lovely" feedback, Jim and I made an early morning trip to Home Depot this morning. We bought $600 worth of trees, plants, shrubs and roses in hopes that it will make our backyard a little less "funky". Of course now we have to dig 25 holes to plant the $600 into, of which we have planted exactly 8 trees until it became too unbearably hot outside. Only 17 more to go!
I really hate the selling-the-house process. Really. Really. Really.
So in response to all the "lovely" feedback, Jim and I made an early morning trip to Home Depot this morning. We bought $600 worth of trees, plants, shrubs and roses in hopes that it will make our backyard a little less "funky". Of course now we have to dig 25 holes to plant the $600 into, of which we have planted exactly 8 trees until it became too unbearably hot outside. Only 17 more to go!
I really hate the selling-the-house process. Really. Really. Really.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Roller Coaster
The whole home selling/buying process should be called The Roller Coaster Of Your Life and one that makes you puke during and after the ride. This is not fun folks. It seems like we get our hopes up about a potential person who will buy this house from us only to get dashed and kicked in the stomach. We have held open houses for two weekends straight and also during this week, we have put out the open house sign out front to tell people to "come on in and look at our stuff and then talk amongst yourself how you don't like the view in the back yard, or the awful and sinful slope in the back." And here I thought we had a nice house, but seems people just don't like looking at other people's houses that are in the middle of a total rebuilt. It is entertainment people, don't you get it? Geesh, you have no sense of humor at all. Oh and to the couple who thought that it "would take too much work to get it to their personal standards" I say screw off to you.
Yep I am getting to be bitter can you tell? It is coming down to the wire and there is about a 99% chance that Jim will be going to MS to start his job without Jack and I. We get to stay here and listen to all the lovely comments from the people walking through our house. And we get to do this until it sells! Sound like loads of fun, eh? We are probably looking at at LEAST two months separated from Jim. Don't you envy us?
Oh and that really nice house that we put a deposit on in MS? Yep probably going to lose that also. I give that about a 99% chance also.
So to sum up. No sale on house, even after dropping price that is $130K BELOW another identical house in the neighborhood. Snooty comments from potential buyers. Jim and I separating for a few months, and not by choice. We do still like each other. And the nice house on the lake that was perfect for us? Gone. Lost. Hope the new buyers like it.
Yep I am getting to be bitter can you tell? It is coming down to the wire and there is about a 99% chance that Jim will be going to MS to start his job without Jack and I. We get to stay here and listen to all the lovely comments from the people walking through our house. And we get to do this until it sells! Sound like loads of fun, eh? We are probably looking at at LEAST two months separated from Jim. Don't you envy us?
Oh and that really nice house that we put a deposit on in MS? Yep probably going to lose that also. I give that about a 99% chance also.
So to sum up. No sale on house, even after dropping price that is $130K BELOW another identical house in the neighborhood. Snooty comments from potential buyers. Jim and I separating for a few months, and not by choice. We do still like each other. And the nice house on the lake that was perfect for us? Gone. Lost. Hope the new buyers like it.
Goodnight Moon
The full moon has been absolutely gorgeous the past few nights and we have been going outside to look at the moon and ooh and ahh over it. Jack loves this as he brings up looking at the moon around noon everyday by saying "moot?" at which point I have to go over with him that the moon doesn't come out until it is dark outside. Then he will think about that for awhile then come back like he just discovered the whole sun rise and set thing himself. "Ohhhh sun goes down and moot goes up!" My little smart future astrophysicst there!
So everynight he loves to say "good night moot" and wave at the moon as we walk back inside. Hmmm do you think we have read that book just a few times?
So everynight he loves to say "good night moot" and wave at the moon as we walk back inside. Hmmm do you think we have read that book just a few times?
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Doggie Jack
Jack and his imagination are getting quite creative. The other day, I caught him pretending to fly while standing on his bed with his arms outstretched. And now he has been pretending to be a doggie. Alot. He will get down on all fours and say "I doggie" and woof woof. He then will come up to me and ask me to pet him. He also will pant just like a dog with his tongue hanging out. He even went so far as to start licking my leg just like the real doggies do all the time!
It makes me feel good to know that his imagination is alive and kicking. I feel sorry for him the last few days because we have packed up 95% of his toys and trying to keep the house clean all the time now that we have open houses everyday. So poor Jack is bored bored bored and watching way too much tv. I guess that is how his imagination and becoming a doggie has come about.
It makes me feel good to know that his imagination is alive and kicking. I feel sorry for him the last few days because we have packed up 95% of his toys and trying to keep the house clean all the time now that we have open houses everyday. So poor Jack is bored bored bored and watching way too much tv. I guess that is how his imagination and becoming a doggie has come about.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Laughing and a Crying
I wanted to make an uplifting and happy post today. I was going to title it "The Circus Came to Town". Because that is what happened. We went to the circus last night to get some much needed relief from the stress of the current Jackaroo House. It was much fun and saw some cool trapeez acts. Jack loved the doggie and kitty acts and we really need to talk to those people who were actually successful in training cats, cause our cats are in serious need. I do think Laura was a bit bored and she had the look of a typical pre-teen - "oh god I just hope nobody I know sees me here". But it was a good, fun night.
Jack eating cotton candy at the circus. Was quite amusing to watch him eat the stuff and the resulting stickiness everywhere.
BUT then today happened. We had another open house today so we needed to vacate for a few hours. We went to church, then to lunch and then did a little bit of shopping. Well not so much as shopping, but looking, because there is nothing like moving across the country that will put a stop to all buying. You just think that it is something that needs to be packed and you say no to whatever.
So, there we were, in the store walking around having a good time. Then some man walks up to Jim and says "excuse me Sir" as we were walking out. At first I thought was "uh oh what did Jack swipe". But nope, it was him confessing to backing into our van!!! Yep that is right, for the SECOND time this week, we have another car damaged! People, we only have two cars!
So we go outside and see this:
The ugly dent on my poor van. She has an owie!
Do we have a bad luck streak or what? Both Jim and I have gone years and years and years with no accidents and in a span of one week, both of our cars are hit, by no fault of our own. As if we just needed the stress meter to go up another notch. I actually started to laugh when I saw the van. Cause either you laugh or cry and after everything that has happened the last couple of weeks, if I didn't laugh, I would probably start sobbing for at least 3 days straight.
I do have to give kudos to the man who came back into the store to confess hitting the van. He was a nice guy, but I just have this to say. If you are going to be driving a huge pickup truck with a 50ft bed in back, learn how to navigate the thing in parking lots, or don't drive it at all!!!!
But I end the laughing and a crying post with some cute pictures of the kiddos:
Pretty Laura, who is getting prettier and prettier everyday, even though she hates it when we tell her she is pretty.
Jack after the long day today. He kinda collapsed on the couch. Couldn't even walk the distance to his room. This is EXACTLY how I felt also.
Jack eating cotton candy at the circus. Was quite amusing to watch him eat the stuff and the resulting stickiness everywhere.BUT then today happened. We had another open house today so we needed to vacate for a few hours. We went to church, then to lunch and then did a little bit of shopping. Well not so much as shopping, but looking, because there is nothing like moving across the country that will put a stop to all buying. You just think that it is something that needs to be packed and you say no to whatever.
So, there we were, in the store walking around having a good time. Then some man walks up to Jim and says "excuse me Sir" as we were walking out. At first I thought was "uh oh what did Jack swipe". But nope, it was him confessing to backing into our van!!! Yep that is right, for the SECOND time this week, we have another car damaged! People, we only have two cars!
So we go outside and see this:
The ugly dent on my poor van. She has an owie!Do we have a bad luck streak or what? Both Jim and I have gone years and years and years with no accidents and in a span of one week, both of our cars are hit, by no fault of our own. As if we just needed the stress meter to go up another notch. I actually started to laugh when I saw the van. Cause either you laugh or cry and after everything that has happened the last couple of weeks, if I didn't laugh, I would probably start sobbing for at least 3 days straight.
I do have to give kudos to the man who came back into the store to confess hitting the van. He was a nice guy, but I just have this to say. If you are going to be driving a huge pickup truck with a 50ft bed in back, learn how to navigate the thing in parking lots, or don't drive it at all!!!!
But I end the laughing and a crying post with some cute pictures of the kiddos:
Pretty Laura, who is getting prettier and prettier everyday, even though she hates it when we tell her she is pretty.
Jack after the long day today. He kinda collapsed on the couch. Couldn't even walk the distance to his room. This is EXACTLY how I felt also.
Friday, August 04, 2006
The Silver Lining
With all the stress of selling/buying/moving and all that is involved with that, there is one small little silver lining. My housekeeping has stepped up about a thousand notches! I have made my bed every single day! I have made sure the dirty dishes are out of the sink every day! I have vacuumed on a regular basis! I have cleaned the shower/sink out after every use! It is quite amazing and pleasant to live in a house that is all clean and shiny. Of course it doesn't hurt that half the house, including most of the toys, are packed up in boxes in the garage. But still, I am quite proud of myself. :)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Priorities and Perspectives
I have been for about the last month stressing about this big move to Mississippi. I have been pretty much thinking about just myself, the logistics of moving, and the huge question of whether we are going to sell this house in time in order to get the house we really want in Gulfport.
However, I just learned about a friend who is going through a bad time right now and maybe losing her pregnancy that she has wanted for a very long time. It puts all the other stuff in the background. It helps me be thankful for what I have and hopefully will help me learn to let go of it all and know it will work out one way or another. Funny how sometimes you just lose sight of what is really important in life.
My prayers to my friend in need.
However, I just learned about a friend who is going through a bad time right now and maybe losing her pregnancy that she has wanted for a very long time. It puts all the other stuff in the background. It helps me be thankful for what I have and hopefully will help me learn to let go of it all and know it will work out one way or another. Funny how sometimes you just lose sight of what is really important in life.
My prayers to my friend in need.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
$4300 !!
That is the amount of the estimate to fix Jim's car. Can you say Yikes? They also say it is going to be 20 work days which puts it about a week after we leave the state. Oh yay! Somebody gets to fly back here and drive the car back. Another Yay! The other guy's insurance is going to pay for it, which is nice and it won't make our insurance go up. Jim also got a PT Cruiser for a rental. I really do not like those. I guess you either love em or hate em.
The other things we have been doing today (besides running all over to auto body shops and car rental places and talking to insurance companies) are trying to do some real creative financing for our new house just in the (probable) case that our house doesn't sell in time. I mean I, who has a business degree, am getting confused over this huge fianancing deal. Confusing. Oh and we also got new insurance for the new house. Now get this, the house is located in a high-risk hurricane area, and it is $400 cheaper a year than our over-priced California house. Ha! I tell ya everything so far is so much cheaper in Mississippi.
Now if we can just get there and in the new house without this house hanging over our heads. Oh and without having a heart attack due to all the stress. Fun stuff.
The other things we have been doing today (besides running all over to auto body shops and car rental places and talking to insurance companies) are trying to do some real creative financing for our new house just in the (probable) case that our house doesn't sell in time. I mean I, who has a business degree, am getting confused over this huge fianancing deal. Confusing. Oh and we also got new insurance for the new house. Now get this, the house is located in a high-risk hurricane area, and it is $400 cheaper a year than our over-priced California house. Ha! I tell ya everything so far is so much cheaper in Mississippi.
Now if we can just get there and in the new house without this house hanging over our heads. Oh and without having a heart attack due to all the stress. Fun stuff.
As If There Isn't Enough Stress In Our Lives
Jim drives about 190 miles a day roundtrip to his current job. The job that is ending on Friday. He drives this one particular road that I hate with a passion because it is a mountain road (yes those gorgeous mountains that we have for a view). It is a shortcut from Orange County (yuck) to us. But because it is a mountain road with lots and lots of curves and dangerous spots, it has made me very nervous the last two years he has driven it. Many people die on that road every year.
So yesterday with 3 more days left to drive that stinking road, guess what happens? Yep, he got into an accident! Thank God he wasn't hurt (Thank You God!). But the car? Not so much. He was sideswiped by somebody who was not looking and plowed into the passenger side of his one-year-old car. And the entire passenger side is messed up, including the front fender being torn off halfway. And a huge scrap down the side of the car. So that means that the front and back fenders, along with the two doors on the right side need to be fixed/replaced. Big money and big amount of time.
He reported it to our insurance and then called the other guy's insurance. At least if he had to have an accident, he did with somebody who fessed up and put a claim in already to his insurance. It looks like the other guy's insurance is going to take care of everything. But now we have to wonder will it be done in the 3 1/2 weeks we still have in California? Something tells me no.
Like Jim said last night, "California is getting its last licks in". Ayep.
So yesterday with 3 more days left to drive that stinking road, guess what happens? Yep, he got into an accident! Thank God he wasn't hurt (Thank You God!). But the car? Not so much. He was sideswiped by somebody who was not looking and plowed into the passenger side of his one-year-old car. And the entire passenger side is messed up, including the front fender being torn off halfway. And a huge scrap down the side of the car. So that means that the front and back fenders, along with the two doors on the right side need to be fixed/replaced. Big money and big amount of time.
He reported it to our insurance and then called the other guy's insurance. At least if he had to have an accident, he did with somebody who fessed up and put a claim in already to his insurance. It looks like the other guy's insurance is going to take care of everything. But now we have to wonder will it be done in the 3 1/2 weeks we still have in California? Something tells me no.
Like Jim said last night, "California is getting its last licks in". Ayep.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Our Lakeway Hotel Kansas Friends are famous for a very stupid reason
I was noticing that I had a lot of hits that came from google searches of Lakeway Hotel in Meade Kansas and wondered why. After a little bit of a search, I found out that they are like famous now for a really stupid reason. Turns out they flew a rainbow flag outside their hotel. It was a flag that their son, Anthony, bought at the Dorothy museum (Wizard of Oz) and thought it was cool because it reminded him of the Over the Rainbow song.
Well, I guess that has caused a huge stir in the little town of Meade, Kansas. They do not like the pretty rainbow flag because of it's symbolism to gay pride. They have boycotted their hotel and restaurant and done everything to run them out of town, which started long before the stupid flag incident. One preacher came over and was yelling at Robin and said it was like putting a pair of panties up the flagpole. JR's response to that was "I just might do that" and the preacher threatened to arrest him. And they have cut the flag down, which in my opinion is against the law by tampering with private property.
Now for all those people who are googling my blog and don't know these people, let me just say that JR & Robing Knight are THE nicest people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I am proud to be among their friends. They took in my family when we had no place to live between houses and did so without any hesitation. When we were visiting them in June, they could not have been nicer to us. They were the most gracious hosts ever. And to those who are persecuting them because of some stupid flag, then all I have to say is that I pity you people. You obviously have no compassion in your tiny little hearts, especially the man who said the flag was just like a Nazi flag in a Jewish camp. Huh? You are equating the rainbow flag to the Nazi flag!!
Alright enough said. It doesn't matter what you think about gay people or gay rights, it just isn't right how these so called "Christians" are treating my very good friends.
Here is the news story.
Well, I guess that has caused a huge stir in the little town of Meade, Kansas. They do not like the pretty rainbow flag because of it's symbolism to gay pride. They have boycotted their hotel and restaurant and done everything to run them out of town, which started long before the stupid flag incident. One preacher came over and was yelling at Robin and said it was like putting a pair of panties up the flagpole. JR's response to that was "I just might do that" and the preacher threatened to arrest him. And they have cut the flag down, which in my opinion is against the law by tampering with private property.
Now for all those people who are googling my blog and don't know these people, let me just say that JR & Robing Knight are THE nicest people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I am proud to be among their friends. They took in my family when we had no place to live between houses and did so without any hesitation. When we were visiting them in June, they could not have been nicer to us. They were the most gracious hosts ever. And to those who are persecuting them because of some stupid flag, then all I have to say is that I pity you people. You obviously have no compassion in your tiny little hearts, especially the man who said the flag was just like a Nazi flag in a Jewish camp. Huh? You are equating the rainbow flag to the Nazi flag!!
Alright enough said. It doesn't matter what you think about gay people or gay rights, it just isn't right how these so called "Christians" are treating my very good friends.
Here is the news story.
August?!?
My goodness is it really August? How did that happen? Wasn't Christmas just a few weeks ago? Wow time does fly doesn't it?
I have decided not to stress (much) about the house situation (at least for today). Instead I will regale ya with stories about Jack.
When I went into his room this morning, I found him standing on his bed looking into his mirror and pretending to fly with his arms outstretched. He saw me and he yelled "I'm Flying Mama". Oy! What is next? Him trying to fly off something high, like oh the house! Boys. They are a different species I tell ya.
Yesterday, we went to the playgroup which was at the playland called Child's Play. We have been here a few times and Jack loves this place. He had a lot of fun seeing all his friends that he hasn't seen in a couple of months. And I had a lot of fun catching up with some of the other mothers. I am really going to miss this group when we move.
Jack has been expressing himself more and more these days. Which is great, seeing as about a month ago, he quit talking almost altogether. Thanks to Jane who reassured me that it was just a phase and NOT autistic behavior . After that little phase, he has pretty much started talking like all the time. Of his favorite sayings besides "NO" are "Chaaa", "oh my goodness" and "watch this" about a hundred times a day.
He is so expressive. He has the bike that has a seat which opens up and can store all kinds of goodies in. He is so funny because he will put some of his cars and trucks in the seat and ride the bike over to me. He gets up, opens his seat, and sucks his breath in while saying "Ohhhhhhhhh" like he forgot he put those cars and trucks in there only 30 seconds before. Such a funny boy.
He also loves to burp or pretend to burp and thinks it is the funniest thing in the world. He will do a pretend burp, say "excuse me" and then laugh and giggle for like 2 minutes. He cracks himself up all the time.
But the best thing is how lovable he is. He will walk up to us and give us a big hug and kiss just out of the blue. It is such a joy to know just how happy he is and how he gets so much enjoyment out of life. He gives his mother a lesson in not stressing over stupid stuff like money and houses that won't sell - at least for a few minutes.
I have decided not to stress (much) about the house situation (at least for today). Instead I will regale ya with stories about Jack.
When I went into his room this morning, I found him standing on his bed looking into his mirror and pretending to fly with his arms outstretched. He saw me and he yelled "I'm Flying Mama". Oy! What is next? Him trying to fly off something high, like oh the house! Boys. They are a different species I tell ya.
Yesterday, we went to the playgroup which was at the playland called Child's Play. We have been here a few times and Jack loves this place. He had a lot of fun seeing all his friends that he hasn't seen in a couple of months. And I had a lot of fun catching up with some of the other mothers. I am really going to miss this group when we move.
Jack has been expressing himself more and more these days. Which is great, seeing as about a month ago, he quit talking almost altogether. Thanks to Jane who reassured me that it was just a phase and NOT autistic behavior . After that little phase, he has pretty much started talking like all the time. Of his favorite sayings besides "NO" are "Chaaa", "oh my goodness" and "watch this" about a hundred times a day.
He is so expressive. He has the bike that has a seat which opens up and can store all kinds of goodies in. He is so funny because he will put some of his cars and trucks in the seat and ride the bike over to me. He gets up, opens his seat, and sucks his breath in while saying "Ohhhhhhhhh" like he forgot he put those cars and trucks in there only 30 seconds before. Such a funny boy.
He also loves to burp or pretend to burp and thinks it is the funniest thing in the world. He will do a pretend burp, say "excuse me" and then laugh and giggle for like 2 minutes. He cracks himself up all the time.
But the best thing is how lovable he is. He will walk up to us and give us a big hug and kiss just out of the blue. It is such a joy to know just how happy he is and how he gets so much enjoyment out of life. He gives his mother a lesson in not stressing over stupid stuff like money and houses that won't sell - at least for a few minutes.
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