on being awake

I just can not sleep. It started with my now normal having to use the bathroom, but it escalated into full fledged wakedom. The air is still tonight, so even with the bedroom windows open it is rather toasty in there. My brain is functioning at warp speed, but has nowhere to go so it keeps stalling out in the middle of thoughts.

I don't remember when I was last this exhausted. Thankfully I have the next two days off work, although searching this city for our next house, as fun as it will be, isn't going to be easy.

So I get myself out of bed and come to the computer. I peruse all my favorite knitting blogs, sad that 95% of my stash is bagged and boxed up at my dear Jill's house. Not that I'd knit anything tonight, but the fact that I can't see and touch it makes me sad. I am working on a couple of things. One still being one I can't talk about because that person sometimes reads this ol' blog. The other is a mystery. I don't know if it will turn into a scarf or a bag of some sort. I'm kind of leaning bag, but honestly...don't think I'd carry it. I love the yarn, it's pretty rad, but it's not a bag kind of yarn. I think more that it would be a cozy scarf, but I only have two balls of it at 50 grams a ball and it's about 10" wide. I suppose I could frog it and make it narrower, but it feels right at that width. I just don't know.

Maybe now I can sleep? I hope. Otherwise it is going to be a long day...

good better best

I just spoke with Charles (my other half at work). I told him how we were going with the thought that the house being so close to the train yards would probably be really loud and we were glad we didn't get it. He said, "Actually, it IS really loud. It's not just trains rushing through, it's the clanking of unhooking and hooking up the cars. People in that neighborhood have lodged complaints to the city about the noise. The city responded with 'the train yard has been there longer than your homes.' So yeah, it IS a good thing."

This makes us feel better than he knows.

So we'll see what IS out there that is the house for us!!! It's exciting all over again...

Thanks for the support, kids! It does not go un-felt!!!

not the one

Well, as much as we wanted that house, the seller went with the "first" offer she got (does she not realize we were the very first offer a month ago?) because she doesn't want to hurt the people who made it.

M'kay.

So, that just means it was not the house for us and we will find the one that is (all before we have to be out of our house). Thankfully Greg (buyer of our house) gave us the option to rent back for 2 weeks. I'm hoping that we don't have to go too far into that 2 weeks...

So, that's the news. Sucky as it is, we're doing well. Feeling like this really is what is supposed to happen.

this post brought to you by the letter a

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

This morning we got word that our house on Long already had an offer on the table. There had been a bit of countering between parties and was waiting for the seller to decide if she wanted to accept the last counter. She was meeting her agent at 12:30 this afternoon.

Alia called in a right state saying we needed to come in and offer full asking price (still well in our comfort zone). And we needed to do it NOW!

Without going into all the details, I was stressed beyond what I thought was possible.

We got the new offer off to Alia, who got it to the selling agent. We included a letter to the seller saying how much like home we felt in her house, among more things. Alia added her own.

We also had our house inspected by our buyer's guy. So that meant getting Diggity out of the house all day. I ended up meeting Greg (the buyer) and instantly liked him as much as I thought I would after reading the letter he wrote us about our house. He felt like someone we would even hang out with...

So I am sitting in the park with Josie, waiting to go home. I'm chatting with Alia. I ask her if it's bad to take J bird home when they are still there. She said I could go and tell them that I needed to get back to work and couldn't take her with me. The guys were all very nice and accommodating. We joked about Simon lounging all day.

However, while in the park, before going back to the house and meeting the guys, Alia tells me that there is a third offer coming in on our house on Long tonight. WTF?!?!?

So, we added an escalator clause saying we'd go to X number of dollars over the highest offer, but not to exceed X amount. We're still in our comfort zone if this has to happen. The good thing, the third offer is being made by a new, less experienced agent AND the lender is not someone the selling agent has ever even heard of. We are with Wells Fargo and considering many lenders have gone under recently...this is good. He tells us our offer is the strongest.

So there we have it. We are supposed to find out tomorrow if our offer will be the one accepted. I still feel like it's home. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm so tired.

boost

It was just yesterday morning when I was screaming into my phone to my friend Reagan that "the only way this *ing week will be any better is if I get a *ing offer on my house!!!"

Last evening, Chris brought his client back to look at the house again (they'd been by on Tuesday to look at it). Alia called right after Kev called to make sure I could get Digs out. We laughed about how the cats hated me (they both used the potty box RIGHT before I was heading out the door...Simon even pooped, the jerk). She kept saying, "just make it as cool as you can inside because it's HOT outside..." Yeah, that's not possible when it's 96 degrees out there and 83 inside.

Josie and I drove around, went to the park, called my parents. I was calm. I'd gotten worked up about second viewings in the past. I was tired and didn't want to waste the energy. Although deep down I think I knew this was the one.

Alia called about an hour or so after they left the house (they were here at least 20 minutes) saying they were at Chris's office and they were writing up an offer!!! My heart sang! But I responded with "cool."

This morning she dropped by with the offer. The money was spot on what we'd been planning. The time frame for the inspection, a little long (10 days). We countered with 7 days for the inspection. It's tomorrow at 1:30. Um yeah, I think Greg wants the house!

We are putting another offer in on the house we looooooove (you remember, the one we offered and they rejected and then lowered it by 15,000?!). So I am having to remember to stop and take deep breaths every so often.

Keep fingers crossed and thank St. Joseph for all he did!!! I loves me some St. Joe!!!

a good stiff drink

Last night I am beginning to do some laundry when my phone rings. It's the annoying ring. You know, the one that indicates it is someone from work?

One of our employees telling me she can no longer work for us. Effective immediately. Um, she was scheduled to work TODAY. I understand she's got health issues. I don't doubt that she's not been feeling great, however wouldn't you think she could work the following day? She called me at 7:20. Many hours after her shift ended yesterday.

So we are dealing with that fire. We've, thankfully, hired two more people. They both start training tomorrow. One with me, the other at another location. I ended up going in a bit today (which both of the newbies noted was supposed to be my day off). I'm tired. I'm going to be working 6 day weeks for the next month or so. Thankfully, my boss knows that we work hard for him (Chas and myself) and I don't think this is going un-noted in his mind.

Somebody kill me. OR get someone to buy my house because THAT is the one thing that could really give me a boost right now.

buried

I had originally nestled St. Joseph in a potted plant out front. In the "directions" that were included in the home selling kit it indicated you didn't have to bury him, as long as you believed it would help you.

After speaking with a few friends (both of whom are Jewish) they both buried him, facing away from the house, I decided this morning to go ahead and follow their lead. I said a little prayer and asked him to help sell my house.

The people who walked through yesterday loved it. It is on their short list (according to their agent). St. Joe...help me please.

diggity has lost her mind and other random orts

I'm sitting in the office (aka sewing/knitting room) and can hear Josie snorting and scratching her back along the bed. She is nuts. She's in the stage where if I look at her, even with a blank look, she gets nuts-o because she thinks we are going somewhere. Not unless someone calls to look at the house darlin'.

Speaking of the house (cuz when am I not these days?) Alia sent out an email to every agent who has brought someone through the place asking what they thought, what stood out as great and not so great. One agent has replied already. She said it has cute curb appeal, except for the old garage door and siding "cheapened" the look. I can totally understand. Two things we didn't love about it, but once we got inside we adored it. She did think that it was decorated wonderfully, though! :)

The agent who showed the house last night, last name is Butterworth. I kid you not.

I packed up eleventy billion pairs of shoes today to be sent back to a vendor on Monday. Okay, more like 13 cases, but it felt like eleventy billion by the time I'd taken price tags off and made sure each of the shoes in the box were friends and what the box said they were. Chas will be happy to know that we don't have to schlep all of them to our downtown store (where we do all the shipping from). Our UPS guy at the new store (where we have more space, ergo where the cases are) will check in on Monday to see if they are ready for pick up.

Josie is stalking me. Every time I turn around and look at her, she starts wiggling at me. I know if I get up, she's going to get a bit nuttier than she already is. Help me.

It is only 2:40 in the afternoon and I could go to sleep. I don't like the stress of selling a house. It makes me not able to get a good nights sleep. Somebody, buy my house!

when will i learn to listen?

I had just laid down with the 4th Harry Potter book (am starting from the beginning and rereading the whole series) and was happily reading away. It was about 4:30. My phone rang. My friend Rachel invited me to a cookout and then to watch her brother play kick ball. I was in!

I get to Rachel and Aaron's house before loading up into their car to head to her bro's house in NoPo (North Portland). I thought, before getting into their car, "I should really drive...might have to get the dog out." Did I listen? NO!

We are there not even five minutes when my phone rings. Of course I can get the dog out so you can take your clients in...give me 25/30 minutes to get my car so I can get my dog.

Aaron and I had a blast going back to their house so I could pick up my car and go get Josie out. I'd had a brilliant thought to call our friends who live around the corner, but then she remembered we'd taken their spare back...bah!

I got to the house, called the agent (as we'd agreed I would do once I got digs out) and told him I'd procured the dog. Josie and I walked around the park for a while and then jumped back in the car to go home. They were still in the house. Okay, wait down the block and watch the house. Drive by the house. See Timothy (buyers agent). Drive back down the block and park.

Finally they come out and they wave as they drive by.

Alia invited me to see The Breakfast Club in a park, but after kick ball I was tired, had to pee, and wasn't dressed for it (it's cold here!!!).

So when am I going to learn to listen to that inner guide?!

bah, once again

So I get a call last night from Kevin. I don't check the voice mail, instead I call him back. He says that someone wants to see the house between 7 and 7:30, could I be there? Jill and I say YES! We already know the bed wasn't made because we'd stopped by to feed the cats earlier so we leave her house at about 6:15. She makes the bed (best. friend. ever!) while I pick up stuff and run the vacuum a couple of places. We spray the hell out of the bathroom with the neutralizing spray Alia gave us. We open a few windows to air it a bit before shutting them and heading to the park with Josie.

We walk and walk and walk. It is finally about 7:20 and we decide to zip by the street to see if there are any cars out front. Nope. Jill runs inside to look for new business cards (the sign that they've come and gone). Nope. We go back to the park, load Josie in the car and park down the block facing our house so we can see if someone comes.

They never show.

We wait until about 7:45. By this time I've called Kevin and gotten what we think is the agents phone number. It is the office she works out of.

Jill and I get Josie back inside, feed her and give her the rest of her stick before heading back to Jill's house for the pizza that is now room temp (we'd ordered it right before heading to the house).

I am thankful for good friends like Jill who are willing and even excited about going to my house to help me pick up the few things that need to be. Even when there is pizza on its way to her house. I can not imagine life without my dear friend. I'm glad we followed her here so many years ago. :)

The thing that really annoys me? The agent didn't even call to say that they were A. running late, B. not coming, or C. needing to reschedule.

Common courtesy, where art thou?

manjam. really?

Got a resume this morning from someone with the surname Manjam. Yeah, after reading the things he's done, hoax. Has to be. I mean his objective is: "intensify and diversify my goal-driven procedures for actuating my definitive internal paradigm"

I have to say that on his list of jobs my favorite is:

"Nigiri Wrangler" which duties included "slicer, dicer, ricer" all as bullets.

However, I think it was the "personal physician to the President of Uganda" that really put it over the top.

If it's not a hoax, he may need to rethink his approach. If it is, he may want to rethink his mission in life. However it did give me a laugh. I can't want to show Chas.

another reason

I love my dog.

It is 3:00 AM. Sassy (dog next door who is outside most of the time) starts barking and barking and barking. She stops after about 5-10 minutes.

Josie gets up and lays by my side of the bed.

It is now 3:30 AM. Sassy starts up again. It's not an aggressive somebody is trying to get into my yard kind of bark. Just a bark for barks sake. I yell her name out the window. She lets one more out and then stops for the rest of the night.

Josie, just lays there looking at me.

I love my dog.

bah

I was told yesterday by an employee that she was quiting. No big deal, we can handle it. We understand...she's going back to school after she gets back from a fabulous European vacation. Today, I get told by a different employee that she, too, is quiting. Excuse my language Mom and Dad...but fuck me!

It was a day we were going to go get keys from someone, telling her that her time with us was coming to an end. Yeah, scratch that idea real quick...bah!!! I don't know when I will ever really have a "normal" schedule again. I've posted listings for three positions on craigslist. We've gotten three applicants already respond. I've got two interviews set up, the third failed to respond to my last email. Since we only posted two yesterday and one just today I feel pretty good about getting three responses thus far.

It will be interesting, how this all plays out. At least it happened after we got back from Vegas, right?

I've got an hour and a half left before heading to my friend's birthday party. I will be drinking wine tonight. I've already told Kevin this. Thankfully I am not working the floor tomorrow, but we are having an all staff meeting that I must attend. Hell, I'm leading part of it.

Give me strength, for everything in my life right now.

back

St. Joe is hanging out on our kitchen counter as I type. I got him when I was in Vegas. I will bury him tomorrow (my day off). It is interesting because the little leaflet that came with him says there are different beliefs when it comes to St. Joe. Bury him facing the house, facing away, upside down, in the East corner, or simply have him in the house. The most important thing, it reads, is to believe he will help you sell your home. :) That makes me smile. Kev says THAT is where he has a problem...the believing. I know I've said in the past that I'm not a superstitious person and here I am burying St. Joseph to help sell my home...it just makes me smile. I'll take any help I can right now.

I know that selling a house can take a long time. I'm okay with this. However, since we have found a home that we want very badly, it is making me anxious and nauseated.

But now onto my first day back from Vegas. Found a dead body in the store. Not a human, but not as small as a mouse...a rat. We got a call when we were standing in the lobby of the MGM before heading to the airport yesterday. Jessica informed us that there was rat activity, chewed napkins, poop, etc. She'd not seen the rat (which I told her we should name Roy). No, that was left for me.

I was coming around the counter to put some shoes back in the store room. I happened to look down at the floor and what should I see under a rack of shoes, Roy. Skin crawled. I freaked out, pulled in the sign saying we were open, turned the sign on the door to "shut" and called Ahmed. He came and was my knight in shining armor. I am hoping Roy (who we realized should have been named Rosetta) was a loner. But often times you don't have that luxury.

So today I will go into the store and work and just not think about it...instead I'll work on kids orders for spring/summer 08, read a bit of the first Harry Potter (I'm starting from the beginning now), and sell tons of clogs!

vegas blogging

7.29.2007

Blogging from Vegas, baby!

It is our first night in town. I’m down about $20. No biggie. I only brought $40 with to waste on the slots and the roulette wheel. I’ve walked far too far in newish shoes (I’ve walked all over Portland in my new sandals with no problem). I have blisters on the bottom of my feet. Thankfully I brought flip flops with that are really comfortable. I do believe that they will be fine tomorrow and the blisters will be gone (they aren’t huge). Sadly there has been chaffing where chaffing shouldn’t be. But I won’t discuss that…

It all stems from the flipping heat. But it IS a desert.

The house was shown both yesterday (twice) and today (once). It gives me hope that it will still go earlier than the average time on the market for SE Portland.

But I’m NOT going to write about that now. However, if internet connection cost less than $13 a DAY, I’d be blogging LIVE! from Vegas. Instead, I will blog when I feel like it and actually post it when I am home in cool, comfortable Portland.

We’ve got busy days coming up. I’ve got four meetings set up tomorrow. Two with kids companies, one with our local handbag maker and one with a clog company. It should be a tiring day. Hopefully the chaffing will not be a problem, nor the blisters.

Until tomorrow…

7.30.2007

Well, today was rather busy. Four appointments to view shoes and handbags. It went rather well, I would say. Between the first two and the last two I got a call from Alia. The people who toured the house yesterday supposedly want to see it again tomorrow. She sounded very positive (she always does). I was jumping around and looking like the complete fool, but making everyone in the VIB room smile (very important buyer). My companions all thought we’d gotten an offer. When I said that it was just a second viewing they all laughed about what my reaction to an offer will look like. We’ll see when that times comes.

So tonight we have the opening night show. Stevie Nicks and Hall and Oats. Not my favorite (Stevie) but it should prove to be fun. We’ll see if I can consume my weight in booze beforehand…okay, not really. Well, the group is waiting so off I go!

8.1.2007

Just in after an evening of great food and better booze. I had just gotten off the phone while in my room when Wendy, Ahmed’s wife, called me. I decided to meet her downstairs (assuming she and I would sit in front of a penny slot machine). I had half a margarita and was done. I’d already had three and a half. She and I had several moments where we talked about Ahmed and his kindness. I told her that I go mamma bear on new staff, warning them of taking advantage of his kindness. I think it gave her a sense of calm. I love my job. I love my boss. I love feeling secure.

I don’t want to talk of the gambling. I don’t want to think about the drink…in fact, I’m out.

8.1.2007---

later the same day:

It was a rough morning today. A bit rougher than I’d thought it would be. We made great time at the show and got in with our vendors earlier than our scheduled appointments. I ate the best burger for lunch and felt human again. I normally am not a heavy drinker. Hence the rough morning.

I don’t want to write about all that though. No fun. Wendy and I hit the roulette table again this afternoon and I am happy to say I’m leaving this town with more money than I came with. Nice feeling. My bags are also about 20 pounds heavier as well, but that’s from all the catalogs I have to take home with me. It’s the only thing about these events that is annoying to me. However I think my stack is smaller this go around.

We’re already thinking ahead to the next show in February. Wendy is planning our hotel (it won’t be the MGM again). She’s also said that if the opening night act isn’t good we’ll go see Ka (a Cirque du Soleil show). I’ve seen the “making of” documentary on the in house channel and it looks amazing.

So it’s 8:00 pm, I’m in my night shirt and I think I’m going to go crawl into bed and watch silly tv. I’m beat.

8.2.07

Just back from a lovely breakfast with Wendy and Chas. Finally, good coffee was found. This hotel has nothing but Staryucks on their premises. However the buffet was different. This made me happy. It’s the first morning I’ve woken and actually feel awake…kind of.

I am looking forward to getting home, showing Jessica what kids styles I saw and am interested in getting for the store. We’ll have an appointment with one of our vendors when back in Portland because their line sheet is the worst. It is simply drawings, not photographs. So I made notes on the styles I think are pretty great and we’ll get her opinion.

I guess the house showed three times when I was gone over the five days. Not bad, I’d say. Although I think Kev and I are ready for it to sell. The keeping it clean thing was tough on him. I think he now realizes all that I do around there to keep it show ready. Maybe he’ll pitch in even more to help me out. I’m not sure we were expecting the kind of foot traffic we’ve gotten. I’m not complaining, but it would be nice if one of the people who walked through would, oh I don’t know, want to buy it!?! I know it will happen. I know that we’ll be making another offer on our house soon. I’m feeling lucky.

coming home

No, this is not a post about a house. This is a post about work.

I've worked for my boss for almost six (!) years now. For five and a half of those I worked downtown, five days a week, on the sales floor. Now my job has changed and I'm more of a "girl of many hats and too many clogs." That will be the title on my next card, I swear it!

I'm covering for someone who is out of town. It's pretty nice, working in my former store. We had someone else working here for a while. He recently quit. He'd done all kinds of things to the shop (hanging things up, etc) trying to make it more hip and cool. Yeah, it didn't quite feel right (I mean hell, it's a clog store...hip and cool seem wrong). He's since gone and the current full timer and I agreed that certain things needed to come down. It's already feeling more like home again.

I'm just hoping that some of my regulars come in today!!

indeed

Alia wrote me that she got a "sign call" today.

In my imagination:

...a young couple are looking online to find their first home. They're approved up to 200,000. They go to the computer, excited to see what is out there for them. At the rmls site the enter 2 Bedrooms, 1 bath, 200,000.

In the many that pop up, the couple see a sweet little blue house with white trim and a red door. Their eyes widen and they turn to each other, smiling. They decide to do a drive by of the neighborhood to see if they like it as much in person from the street as they did in a little photo. They do. They stop the car in front of the house and call Alia.

She calls and leaves a message on the couple's phone. While I'm at work tomorrow, Kev will have to get the diggity out of the house because Alia has heard back and they want to see inside. We'll get a call on Saturday that we have an offer. I'll feel like the biggest winner of all times as I head off to Vegas.

if anything

We looked at eight houses today. One was nice, I could have easily seen living there. However, it didn't feel like all that much more home than what we have now. It was just renovated and beautiful. So, we hold out hope that our first love can become ours.

We've got yet another showing today. One of these days, the person who is supposed to live here, is going to come through and we'll get that call. Just cross those fingers that that one day is sooner than later.

In other news (what, there is other stuff happening besides just house stuff...even though that has been all consuming) we both finished the Harry Potter book. The last Harry Potter book. Don't worry, won't spill any beans here. I've already got emails out to four friends who read it saying "when you are done, let's chat" and Becky and I have already started doing just that.

It is sad to see the series end, but at the same time it feels right.

i ask forgiveness

During the past two weeks I've been on an emotional roller coaster. Mainly I've been up, with one day of really down.

And then, yesterday, I read my Dad's post...

I am a horrible daughter who is so caught up in her house selling that she forgot to acknowledge their anniversary.

My parents are so so special and dear to me. Not for the obvious reason of "they gave me life" but they gave me the tools to make it to where I am in life. They sometimes meddle, but it is with love and admiration. They often time applaud. Their love is almost palpable at times. They are truly amazing people. They want what is best for their family and friends. They enrich the lives they touch.

I am one of the luckiest people in the world. Because I LOVE my parents. I admire them. I miss them. So today, two days late...

Happy Anniversary to the two most amazing people I am lucky enough to call Mom and Dad!

went well

We just got back from lounging in the out of doors. We both had our Harry Potter books (Kev's reading the final one, I'm rereading the 6th). Josie was great (a bit of whining, but really good overall).

Alia said there were five groups that came through, not counting the two nosey neighbors and Jill and Mark. She said that the people we purchased it from came through. The only thing that upset the dad was the fact that the solar system mural had been painted over. Alia handled it great, though. Just said it didn't work with our decor...etc. He also wanted to know how we made the paint stick so nicely to the walls. What primer?!? Alia said she wasn't sure. He wouldn't let up so she finally said, "I'm pretty sure it was Benjamin Moore." That seemed to work for him.

So Wednesday we'll be looking at more houses. I sent her quite the list. We'll hit 7/8 she said, not all 12.

So, St. Joe may be bought in the near future...we shall see.

almost ready

I have vacuumed the majority of the house, with the exception being the bedroom. Kev's still in bed, sleeping. I've nudged him once, with about half an hour until Alia gets here. I will nudge him again, shortly, if I don't hear him getting up.

It's been easy, getting ready for open houses and other viewings. We've kept it cleaned up so all I ever have to do is run the vacuum. I dusted as well. Easier to do when you don't have a layer of clutter to pick up and put away before dusting/vacuuming. I'm sure my Mom was trying to explain this to us our whole lives.

So today, in about 40 minutes, our house will be open to people who want to come and look at it. I've got a list together of homes to look at on Wednesday with Alia. We're not giving up on our house (the one we love), but we figured we should have a plan B, just in case. And who knows, maybe we'll find a house we love even more?!

remembering to breathe

We still haven't heard from the original couple who we thought were interested in our little gem of a house. It's fine. Perhaps they couldn't get the loan. Perhaps they got more than they thought and got house hungry, wanting to see what else was out there. Perhaps they've had a hard time getting the pre-approval letter together and we'll still hear from them.

I still think our house will not be long on the market. However, the house we really love (remember, the one our offer got rejected on then they lowered their price LOWER than the offer, remember that one?) may or may not be there waiting. Alia has sent along a few other homes to check out next week. They are cute, but still a bit further out than we'd wanted. And, I noticed ones master is 9x9. That's tiny!

I'm really trying to keep in mind the positive things and be okay with whatever happens. It's just hard, waiting for the call that is going to make my heart sing and the adrenaline rush. Waiting isn't easy. But I will be patient. Because our next home is going to be worth the wait!

there are many things in life that make me smile.

The adoration of a big diggity dog. The disdain of two fabulous cats. The husband who accepts my nuttiness and rolls with it. Families who love and support us. Friends who chat online with you randomly and send you their quiets to help quiet your mind (thanks Mander).

we have stars, and they are lucky

No, no offer yet. But we do acknowledge and thank our lucky stars that we've now had two agents bring their clients through the house. Alia held the agents open house today and had two show. The agent who called me to set up a time for between 4 and 4:30 today was not one of those agents.

I expect to hear some feedback in the next day or so from Alia.

I am also expecting to receive an offer from the first couple by tomorrow. It would be fitting, to get the offer from the first couple who looked at the house exactly one week from the day we listed.

And thanks, stars...

kamikaze butterflies return

Our offer was rejected. (the word contingent scared the hell out of them, I suppose. Even with bumpable listed as well.)

Their price reduced. (lower than our offer)

We've got wind that the couple who viewed our house Sunday, love it and are getting their pre-approval letter together so they can make an offer. (which I joked about being what would happen, so color me stunned, excited, hopeful, guarded)

Wouldn't it be a gas if we got the house we offered on for at least 16,000 less than the original listing price?!?

Again, things happen when they are supposed to. Thank you Universe. :)

m'kay

So it's a bit confusing, but our offer was rejected. It's okay. It's supposed to happen this way.

We offered a certain amount with it being contingent on the sale of our house. We also wrote into the offer that we were bumpable. Meaning: if they got another offer, they could entertain it, let us know and give us 72 hours to come up with another offer/plan (getting more loan money so we could still get the house...not! what we would have done).

Their agent sat with them for almost two hours explaining that this was a good offer.

They rejected and lowered their price lower than what we had even offered, by quite a bit.

So, if it's supposed to be our house, it will be there when we can buy it. Alia has just said this means we have to sell our house faster. I could feel her shaking her head about this whole situation. I think she feels really bad (or is it badly), but extra motivated now (as if she wasn't motivated before).

they came and saw

Well, there was a business card left from the agent who showed the people our house. Alia is going to get feedback from the agent tomorrow (they both work for Remax). We made sure everything was spic and span for the walk through.

It's pretty exciting that someone wanted to see it PRIOR to the agent open house or a regular open house.

Anyway, Chuck is now here and we're hanging out. It's his last night in town so I'm out.

eleven on sunday

We have our first viewing. I'm pretty jazzed. Of course I joke we'll also have our first offer, but we'll just have to wait and see. :)

and the beat goes on

Well, nobody has asked to see our little gem yet, but since we've only had it on the market three days, I'm not too worried. :)

Alia is bringing by the agent to the house we...put an offer in on...to show him she's priced it right. Of course it is a contingent offer. Yes, we can afford to live in the house mom and dad. We've looked at numbers, we have discussed everything.

The weather is working with us again and it's been cooling down. From what Alia says, people don't like to look at houses in the heat. We did on Wednesday so I think everyone else are wimps. :) She had clients cancel on her Thursday because "it's too hot to go anywhere." I told her they were lightweights. She laughed.

Kev said to me last night, "She's really good." I agree. She's on top of her game. She's having us sign buyers agent contracts on a per house basis. Meaning we're not locked into her if this house doesn't work, she leaves her company, or we end up finding her incompetent. We won't, of course.

I post about the selling of our house, the offer being made on the other house and everything because I am not superstitious. If this house is meant to be ours, it will be. I can see us in it. I can see the cats loving the fireplaces. I can see Josie adoring the backyard. I can see the remodeled bathroom. I can see it.

I can also see our little gem selling quickly. I just can.

cheating on the neighbors

The sign went up yesterday morning. Last night as we were heading out to dinner at the coldest place in town (it hit 101 here yesterday) Kev and I talked about how weird it feels, having the sign up. It's almost like we are cheating on the neighbors. We're not saddened by it, though.

Today we went around and toured many homes. Some nice, some okay, one wonderful. We are now in the "thinking about our next move/option" phase. I mean, we seriously JUST LISTED. We could make an offer, but it would have to be contingent on the sale of this house. I do think, honestly, that our house will grab someones eye and sell quickly.

So tonight we sleep on it, talk about it, obsess on it. We think we know what we are going to do, but we have to wait for a couple of things to happen prior to any offers being made.

Trust me, when it all is said and done, and houses are sold and bought, you all will be the first to know.

campfire

My dear Chuck is in town for this week. He got in on Friday and is here until NEXT Monday. Right this very moment he and Kevin are out back sitting by a fire in our fire pit, drinking beer. I had been out there, but I figured they needed some "guy" time. And I had muffins in the oven that needed to be tended to. What?

It's been a little while since he left us here. I can't even tell you how much I miss having him around. I'm not entirely convinced that he is happy with the move, but he made it and it's what he has to do right now. I have no doubt he'll be back...soon (within two years at most)

We had him over for dinner, because that is what we do. We feed bachelors who appreciate a home cooked meal. We started a fire in the pit, because that is what we do. We burn all the wood that came off the cherry tree a while ago (I do not want to talk about how long it's been in a pile out back). We drink beer and share stores, because that is what we do. We catch up with friends who are more like family.

Josie was beside herself when he came through the door. She really acted the way I wanted to, wiggly and licking him. Okay, perhaps I didn't want to wiggle. :)

I have informed him that he is staying the night, I will go to work, come home to get them for lunch and then take him back to the other friends house he is staying at. He agreed. Isn't that sweet? He thought he had a choice.

I now smell like a campfire. The bedroom smells like a campfire.

Mmmm, campfire.

don't fence me in

Friday night Jill and I made plans. We were making these plans over drinks. We decided that when I woke up on Saturday morning (which I warned her could be as early as 7:00) that I would call her and pick her up.

7:30 came and I was up, dressed and ready. I gave her a call and set off to pick her and her wheelbarrow up. We dropped it off at home, took some measurements and were off to the Deep Hole for wood, cement, brackets, and screws. In no time Jill had the hole dug out. I was helping and something snapped in my left wrist (true story). She is an amazing friend and just kept on digging out the hole. We filled it with cement and set our post in. Taped it to the house and wedged it with a 2x4 before heading for lunch.

We have a beautiful bit of fence built and done. All by 2:30 yesterday afternoon! We'd originally planned of finishing it today, but because it was just moving so quickly and easily, we figured why not start and finish it all in one day?

Last night we sat around, drinking our margaritas and patting ourselves on our backs. It feels good to have this one last large item on MY list taken care of. Now Kev just has to paint the laundry space, finish the last details of the bathroom fan surround and help me hang the downspouts. I suppose I might wash a few windows while I'm at it as well...hush up Dad!! :)

Pictures are forth coming, but I have a horn that I just had to toot now! TOOT!!!



Updated: Now with picture! And guess what else is up (but you can't see)...the downspouts! Kev's currently finishing up the paint job in the laundry room.

It's happening kids...it's happening.

title free

need i say more?

Although this year we realized that Josie doesn't bark when we are not here. We snuck up on her, the neighbors setting off quite the arsenal outside. She didn't hear us, but wasn't barking either. So we've determined that she wants the attention we were lavishing her with. Even our initial attempts to ignore her leading up to today seemed to work. Although this night of nights will still give her pause and make her bark.

Which makes me play Radiohead once again.

today

It is the fourth and for many people here in the ol' USA that means exploding things and eating way too many hot dogs or hamburgers. For us it means (at least this year) getting the house cleaned to sparkling, having an electrician out to look at an outlet, and THEN going to our friends house for cooking out and enjoying the rest of the day. We will be home before the explosions start.

I've got about an hour before the electrician guy is supposed to come out with Steve, our contractor. Although I feel funny calling Steve OUR contractor since we've only ever used him for suggestions and ideas (something he says he is TOTALLY comfortable and happy doing since most of the work people have him come do is stuff they could easily do themselves...which he went on to say to call him anytime we had a project and if he could, he'd walk us through it). Anyway...they are coming around 9:00. Alia (realtor) will be here between 11 and noon to take photos and measure. If she doesn't have one of those digital ones that you hold up against the wall and point at the other wall, I'm going to get her one as a gift (and maybe paint a gnome on it...she collects gnomes).

The kitchen is ready. All I have to do is take the list off the fridge and the CostCo sized box of dog treats off the counter (Kev can do that because there is a CostCo sized spider living in it as well which ICKS me out!!).

We have to clean the rest of the house and clean up the front yard, but when Kev gets up (which should be soon if he keeps hearing me cleaning) it will take no time. We'll have it all done before our photo gal gets here. :) I can't wait to see Alia. She's such an amazingly energized and fun woman.

Okay, back to the cave. Must pick up clutter (and try not to throw anything away Kev might need).

not quite right

Looking at this house online, it was THE one. :) When we toured it, not so much. It was a sweet house, but it lacked something. The space was just a bit odd. The front right window (when looking at the house) is one of the bedrooms. It was not a bad size, but just a bit of an odd placement. The bathroom had over sized, kitchen, cabinetry and the second "bedroom" on the main level should really have been touted as a dining room (even though it really didn't have that feel).

The hardwoods were fir, old fir. They were gorgeous, except in the back part of the house (the kitchen, second bedroom, bathroom) they used the peel and stick tiles over it all. WHY?!?! I'm sure there was some damage, but someone would be willing to fix them up...

The basement had a usable space for me for a craft space, and was plenty light, but the space was cut up and the storage was a bit odd. The attic, which was converted into a third bedroom, had the odd ceilings and what not. It was paneled with wood (that fake 70's crap) and hot.

The backyard was almost all hardscaped with beds and ponds. So. many. ponds. There was no space for Josie to do her thang. We could have made it into a great yard, but at the price and the amount we'd have to put into it...nope.

So we continue to look.

kamikaze butterflies

Ever since our friend told us he knows a woman from work who might be interested in buying the house I've felt a weird knot in my stomach. Not the type of "no, this isn't right" knot. More like butterflies who are fitted with leg weights so they keep bouncing around rather than fluttering.

I sent our realtor an email about the person who might be interested. I've not heard back. I fear that with each day that passes the kamikaze butterflies are going to get even more out of control, leaving me to feel like they've broken through and are beating me up from the inside out.

I breath.

The whole sell our house/buy a new house dance is interesting. We have found a few homes (I've shared them with you, Mom) that we wouldn't mind seeing the inside of in person. We're blasting through our list of things to do before listing, quickly. However, I feel like time is standing in mud that is up to its calves.

I'm a RIGHT NOW girl. I try to not be, I try to know that NOW doesn't have to happen at the exact moment my mind feels it should. NOW could be in two months. But NOW I'm wanting things to move along quicker. A test in patience, which I don't always exhibit.

I breath.

I am working this whole weekend. I hope it keeps my mind off of house house house stuff. I hope that while I'm out of the house Kev will paint the laundry space (it's hardly a room) and finish the fan trim (exhaust fan in bathroom).

If (and it's a HUGE if, I understand) but IF this woman does happen to come by, tour the house, fall in love and make an offer prior to us listing...I would laugh and laugh and laugh. Not in the maniacal way, but in the "I can hardly believe our luck" as I thanked those lucky stars.

I breath.

the list

So much black, no?

Close...so close...

house

Well, the list we made at the beginning of this whole house selling thing is rapidly becoming nothing but a big black mark. I just took a photo of it but can't seem to email it from my phone. Oh well. It's pretty impressive.

Kev is rockin' the exhaust fan in the bathroom. He started the project yesterday before his double header basketball night. They lost the first game, won the second. I didn't go. Figured he could use some "him" time. Anyway, before he left he started cutting the wood surround for the fan. This week he'll finish caulking and then paint it.

Next week we get the pictures taken of the house. There will still be a few things we have to take care of before we list the 11th, but with an entire weekend off (me) things should be done before we know it.

Okay, must get ready for work. Boring post, I know...

r.i.p.

We've had another casualty here at the homestead. At around 1:30 I woke up (I honestly don't remember why/how, I just remember all of a sudden being awake). Kev came back saying, "I think they have one." I was not 100% sure what "one" he referring to, but I had a sinking suspicion.

Back track: Chloe, Simon and Josie had all been interested in something under my dresser all day today (I assume all day, but in reality I don't rightly know how long Mr. Mousie was under there). I suppose it was all day yesterday, because if you look at the time it is now the 27th...early.

Back to the story: So Kev is standing there, lights are all off (and seeing since I was in a rather deep sleep it's understandable as to why they would be off). He goes to get the dustpan and turn on the hall light. We're discussing if it is still alive and just playing 'possum when Simon grabs it and gives it a toss into the air. Discussion over, it's DEAD.

The thing is, we never know there is a mouse until we find (or smell) it's corpse. Normally it is surrounded by cats as well. And a big nosey dog. There isn't droppings in the house, that we see. There isn't holes in bags of food (thank the all mighty doG). There isn't any indication that we have mice.

The thing I wonder now...how in the world will I ever get back to sleep?!?

learning and other bits and bobs

I'm working the second half of the day at the kids store. I'm learning as I go. I'm not feeling quite like a fish out of water anymore.

This morning I started my day with driving out to our Hillsboro location (it's roughly a 25 minute drive from where our office is located). While driving and drinking my coffee a car rolled by with three people waving frantically at me. Huge smiles crossed their faces. I knew it was because the KU sticker we have on the window. My fellow Jayhawks. I smiled and waved back. It made me laugh all the rest of the way into the store.

Tomorrow I have a day where I'm not having to be at any of the stores to work on the floor. This makes me happy. I have much to do at the office and will be there most of the day. I'm hoping tomorrow night I will be able to run things with Kev over to Jill and Mark's garage. We have just the furniture to remove. Any boxes that I'm packing now will just go into our storage.

We drove around and looked at houses yesterday. Of the eight homes, four were marked off. One is soooo cute, but only about 500 sq/ft larger than what we have now and it's at the top of our price range. There is another really sweet one we loved and it's a great price, pretty good location, not a bad size. We're wanting to walk through both but are worried about looking too early and falling for a home before ours sells.

I've got Mahjong Monday tonight. I'm hoping a new friend will join me. Kev and I taught her and her boyfriend how to play a couple of weeks ago and they are hooked. They're getting ready to close on their house and so she's feeling a bit overwhelmed, but I'm hoping she will come with and just relax a bit. It'd be the first time she and I hung out alone. I'm kind of excited.

We had our friends over last night with her 13 and 14 year old. Josie wasn't so sure of them. I think they kids were just loud enough to make her nervous. She warmed up a bit, but wouldn't go near them if they called her.

Simon, on the other hand, is a lap whore. He will sit on anyone who makes a lap. He was smitten with the kids. Chloe even made an appearance, which surprised Kev. She loved the 14 year old girl quite a bit. It made me smile.

Okay, with an hour left I am going to get my things together and clean up the store...

my arms are cursing my very self

I did all of them. I stood, raised my arms, bent at the waist, raised my heart, and thanked the sun...all 108 times (without #9).

Now, my arms don't want to function. Lifting my beer to my lips is a trial. Eating my garden burger was almost torture.

I can't think what tomorrow will bring. Although I thank my body for allowing me to make it to the 108th salutation. I thank it for carrying me through each and every day. Some days more gracefully than others. Today, she was graceful.

not the end of the world...

I am currently working at the kids store. Kids. Shoes. Parents. Now I adore kids, don't get me wrong. And some parents are rockin'! However, the shoes...drive me batty! No two brands run the same in length, some are wider than others, while some run short, some just are dumb. Nothing different than at the regular stores I work at (selling shoes from ladies size 5 and up). It's just the combination and the unknown. I don't know kids feet. I am learning, though.

I have had two great kids/parents in today that I got to help. Both resulted in sales, one in a hug. I was smitten with the little girl. We'd been trying to get her to run in the shoes to see if she'd trip on the toes (a sure sign they are too long, I've learned). I knelt down and she bolted into my arms. OMG! It's like crack. I want more hugs from little ones. I think I need a Henry fix soon.

I had a woman tell me yesterday (when I was at one of the "regular" locations) that there is no way I could love Henry as though he were my own. I disagreed with her. She was adamant about nobody being able to love kids that are not theirs as though they were, it was just not possible. I pulled out the big guns of:

"well, when your body does not let you have the kids you so desperately want, and your close friends have babies, you can love them with every fiber of your being...I even have pictures of him on my phone...he lights up when I enter a room...I love him like no other child...I don't ever get tired of being with him..." the list continued. I came back around to the first part though. Her husband looked at me with sympathy in his eyes and annoyance at his wife.

I have decided when complete strangers ask when we are going to start having kids I am not going to sidestep the question anymore. I am going to be honest and tell them when my body lets me. And so far, it ain't letting me. It hurts more than anyone could know, well, anyone other than families who are going through this as well.

My friend and coworker Jessica agrees that you can love others kids as much as your own. And when you are the parent of the child in question, it warms your heart knowing your baby is loved so much.

So I will work at the kids store, play with my friends babies and children and be the best darn aunt I can be. Henry will be spoiled beyond belief!

the last bits

We only have a few more things to do around the house before July 11th. That is the Wednesday we'll be listing.

1. Build bit of fence on North side of the house.
2. Paint laundry room.
3. Finish off the exhaust fan in bathroom.
4. Move boxes to Jill and Mark's garage.

Other than that, we just have to keep the house clean. That could be the toughest part yet.

my dog doesn't like...

...throw pillows.

Just about every day we come home we find the two pillows from one of the sofas on the floor.

Just now, I went back to the bedroom and the two new pillows I just made were...on the floor. The bed was a bit disheveled looking as well.

She's sacked out on the floor herself, nowhere near the pillows. She must be tired after all that bed unmaking and pillow tossing.

Help me when we list this house!

my boys

I went into the bedroom this morning to give Kevin a kiss goodbye. I couldn't resist taking this picture (as well as two others). Simon was using Kev's head as his own pillow, which you can see.

I swear, that little (ahem) orange kitty makes my heart swell with love. He's the most annoying creature on the face of this planet and at the same time we can't imagine life without his ass (in our faces when we are going to bed, lying on the couch, or at any given time). I should say he's not always annoying, just anywhere from 5:30-7:00 on most mornings.

You look at that picture and think "him? annoying?" Trust me, the photos is AFTER he's been fed breakfast and the little bastard goes back to bed.

Simon has been ever so helpful when it comes to packing up things, as well. Making sure that the boxes are...boxes, I suppose. He has a thing for them. It's weird, taking photos off the walls, getting Kev's chest of drawers ready to go into storage, clearing everything off the counters in the kitchen. It's slowly hitting me that we are going to sell our house. The place that the trio and we have known for the last four years. We always knew that it wasn't the house we wanted to live in for more than that, but it's still a bit sad. However, I think when we find the right house for us (and trust me, I feel like I've seen one, but know at the price it is listed it will go faster than we would be ready for) I think I'll be okay. I'm looking forward to moving on and moving into a bigger place.

Tomorrow we might go to the open house at that house...you know, to make my heart cry. We will be listing after the weekend of July 7th. For that weekend I have both Saturday and Sunday off and Jill and I are building a fence (unless Kev and I do it sooner, but that is highly doubtful). It seems surreal to me, listing in three (!) weeks.

As for the knitting front, I've got some great 100% cotton that I am busy making dish clothes for various family members who at this time shall remain nameless. I'm playing with stitches and enjoying myself. As for the sewing, I bought some amazing blue and green striped fabric that I've started making into 20" pillow covers for our bed. Must make this place look amazing since strangers will be walking through and judging us. :)

Hope everyone has a good Wednesday. Think of us chopping wood and doing other random chores we must get done before listing. Let's hear it for cooler and cloudier days coupled with yard work!

brought to you by the letter C

Scattergories...it's harder than it looks!

Rules: Use the first letter of your last name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question... Now Go!


Your Last Name:
Clock

1. Famous singer/band:
Clash, the

2. 4 letter word:
Crap

3. Street name:
Couch (not pronounced like the thing you sit on)

4. Color:
Cream

5. Gifts/present:
CD

6. Vehicle:
Camry

7. Things in a Souvenir Shop:
Cards

8. Boy Name?
Carl

9. Girl Name:
Christine

10. Movie Title:
Clerks

11. Drink:
Cocoa

12. Occupation:
Cart driver (at the airport)

13. Flower:
Columbine

14. Celebrity:
Chris Rock

15. Magazine:
Cat Fancy

16. U.S. City:
Cleveland

17. Pro Sports Team:
Cavaliers

18. Fruit:
Cherry

19. Reason for Being Late for Work:
Car out of gas

20. Something You Throw Away:
Corks from wine

21. Things You Shout:
Crapdammit!!

told you so, dad

You are a PC

You're practical, thrifty, and able to do almost anything. Appearances and trends aren't important to you. You just like to get the job done.

Are You a Mac or a PC?

tonight i will soar

Change of plans. Originally, when I found out the Yarn Harlot herself was going to be back through town, I was going to go to Powell's tonight to listen to her speak, commune with knitterly people, and have a lovely evening (possibly even meeting up with Kat). However, the opportunity arose to take a partners yoga workshop. No, Kev's not going with me. Jill is. She's my partner in my practice, although I would have no objections to Kev getting more into it.

I'm excited, yet a bit nervous, about tonight's practice. I know to expect to be challenged. I know to expect to be sore tomorrow. I know to expect feeling amazing. I just don't know how scared I will be. Perhaps surrounding ourselves with the other people and their partners, as well as Diana and Lisa Mae will give me a sense of calm. Diana and Lisa Mae are my favorite two yoga teachers in town. Diana is our yoga teacher, Lisa Mae is one we have taken classes from WITH Diana.

I do not hold any expectations of how I will look tonight. Or how my practice will look, I should say. I will do my best and soar.

outbid

Got too rich for my blood.

Depression has set in.

Ah well.

ulcers and ebay

The bidding has commenced. I've got just about 4.5 hours left until I find out. Of course this means I am perched in front of the computer, hitting the refresh button every minute or so. Ugh, I need to stop. But I can't!!!

And Dad, it won't affect the purchase of our house. I know my limits and boundaries and know when too much is too much. However, I am confident I will be the winner of the beautiful RUBY clutch and you all will see an image of me holding it in the near future. Because face it, that's what you all really want to see.

In other news...

Kev is working for a little this morning. He is going up to Seattle tomorrow for work and so he only gets one day off. That day was Sunday (or will be Sunday, not sure). He is going to be getting off work early, however. He stayed about an hour late yesterday. When he gets home I think we are going to bust a few moves and clean this house more. Perhaps I can convince him of a trip to the Deep Hole to procure wood and the necessary fasteners so I can build me a fence. Hmmmm.

I suppose I should get my bootay ready for the day and get out of my jammies already. But it is just so hard to tear myself away from the computer and my dear, dear ebay...

note to self

Never again try to be "ahead of the game" by calling in your dogs prescription.

Scenario:

Wednesday I call in Josie's Proin script (for her weakened bladder...she leaks small amounts when she barks). She has 10 pills left. Enough to last her five days.

Thursday I drop by the vets office at 4:45 to pick it up, cuz it should be ready to pay and go. Am told that it will be a few minutes because it's not been pulled yet. I don't have a few minutes because I have yoga. Office gal wants to start talking yoga. I don't have time for that either. I tell her I have to go NOW in order to get my friend and then to practice. I have ten minutes left until I have to pick up my friend.

Thursday, during practice I get a message left on the voice mail saying "it's ready!"

Friday I have to work out in Tanasbourne and don't have time to run by to get it ever.

Sat/Sun they are closed.

Monday was the day for me to get it and my brain went fuzzy. By this time she is officially out of her pills.

Today I go in to pick them up. YEA! They are ready. I pay, I jet home. I pull the bottle out of my bag to give one to Josie. Bottle is already opened, foil gone. Call vet to vent about the entire situation. Tell them I love them and it must be something about me actually calling before she only had two pills left (which is my normal MO). Woman on phone sounds PISSED at the staff and tells me a full, unopened bottle is ready and I can come get it. I tell her that I am taking two pills out of this bottle (one for today and one for tomorrow morning) and I will get it tomorrow. There is a bottle of wine waiting and I've had a rather craptastic day.

That will teach me to try to be on top of my game...

common courtesy, where are thou?

I designed an ad for our kids shoe store combined with a toy store next door. I gave the toy store a proof to look at a full week ago. I told them I needed to know by the end of the week because it is due on the 5th. When do I hear back that they don't care for it? TODAY, THE 4th!

I'm not doing anymore ads with the toy store. My boss told me they can go...well, I can't write it here.

So I've changed it and am now sending it to the magazine. I just hope the fact it's the original, smaller, size they will not have a ton of space left over.

ebay is an illness

Which color?

I was outbid thus far on the lighter pink one. Although I could rally and still get it. However I've never seen the ruby pink before and I've always craved the celedon. ARG!!! The pink is the only one whose time is up tonight. The other two have a couple of days left.

I know, I know. But ebay really is evil...

dear trio

To my three loving and wonderful animals:

You bring such joy to my life. You three always make me smile. I can not remember a time when you were not all here, in our world.

Chloe, you have been lucky enough to know both Bob and Fred. They were two special kitties, weren't they? You cleaned Bob until the very end, when he'd given up. You owned Fred, which you particularly enjoyed. We have photos of you scowling down at him from atop the dresser. He has fear in his eyes. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the shelter. I can hardly believe we just celebrated your 10th birthday! I don't like to think of it, really. Even though people keep telling me "cats live long" I still don't like to think of it. Although we joke that you are going to outlive us all! We also warned Simon at the three year anniversary of when he became part of the pack to watch his back. You're a sneaky one, Chlortence Evelyn Jones.

Simon, my dear pudgy Simon. How much do I love you? You entered our lives shortly after we lost Freddie Lumpkins. I will never forget the day we picked you up at the shelter. Your right cheek shaved because you'd gotten into something they couldn't wash out...and by cheek, you know which I mean. ;) You came in and immediately took over. Something Chloe was not too thrilled about. You couldn't have cared less. You filled a big void in our hearts left by the sudden departure of Fred. I like to think he knew you needed us.

Josie...oh Josie. My first dog ever. I didn't think I could love another soul as much as I love you. You entered the house knowing that Simon was the king of the house (among you guys, that is). You have nibbled on his back doing that sweet little "flea biting" thing, making his eyes roll back in his head. I swear! I saw it! You persist in smelling Chloe and wiggling whenever she is near, winning her over. I promise you, she does love you. The two of you girls are so close to actually snuggling it kills me. You also have given the sweetest of kisses to a baby who is dear to my heart. You made Henry's Mom love you even more with your delicate, tip of your tongue, kiss. Then, you turned to me and slurped up my entire arm. Wiggling the whole time. Josephine Sassafras MacGillicuty MY dog. It still wows me to think you are all MINE! Well, I suppose you think Pops is pretty special seeing as he makes the sun and moon rise...

I can not imagine life without you three in it. I love you so much and am honored we are the family you live with. Thank you for your love.

old salmon river

We got up earlier than I thought we would yesterday. Normally I am the early riser. I wake with the animals as they start bugging me for breakfast. I sometimes think Kev is laying there awake, waiting for me to get them before he has to. If I tell him the night before that I'm sleeping in it works and he will get up to slop the pigs.

Yesterday he was up before the stomping even started by our middle child. I got up shortly after and suggested we use the gift certificate I'd won for a great breakfast place. His response was "don't you want to go hike?"

You can see what my answer was. We've not hiked together in quite sometime now. What with his changing his job from a Mon/Tues weekend, to a regular weekend, to a split weekend (Wed/Sun). We tried to go on Sundays because he was playing basketball on Wed nights for a little while. I figured he wouldn't want to hike in the morning and then go play ball in the evening. But there was always too many people out on the trails so we just sort of stopped going.

Because he is the manager of his shop he sometimes has to work crummy hours (and because of my status at work I can pick and choose my days off). He worked all day, open to close, on Wednesday (yes, that is a normal day off). I decided to put in a few hours on Wed so we could actually hang out on Thurs.

I digress...

I had found a hike that looked good, not too hard, and just long enough (5.2 miles, 100ft gain in elevation). It was about a 45 minute drive towards Mt Hood.

Josie was all knowing and having a conniption fit until we finally were all in the car and heading there. Even while in the car she was a wreck. She could hardly wait to get out and go. go. GO!

The weather here has been a bit on the warmer side so I am glad we chose a hike by the water. It was cool while we were close and just a few feet off the banks we could feel the difference. We saw amazing things, heard the water crashing over the rocks and just enjoyed spending the day together. It's been a long time...too long.

We spoke of the fact that he would possibly be playing basketball again on Wed nights, but if we did get up early enough and plan to do so, we could get a hike in in the morning as well.

I've missed my time with my husband and our dog. I know they have missed it just as much.

and it begins

For almost the entire month of June somebody at work is taking off on their normal days. This means what we can't get covered by other employees, Charles and I must work. Today I get to go out to the location furthest from where I live to work for five hours. It could be worse, I could be closing (that store closes at 9pm).

I don't want to sound like I am complaining. I'm not. I'm just preparing myself to be really tired. :)

I've not worked on the floor for more than one day a week in a long time. The next five days, I'll be working on the floor. Only Saturday is a full 8 hour shift, but I am sure I'll still be a whiny baby who is tired and blah blah blah. Yeah, tell me there are many worse things in the world to whine about and I'll tell you I know.

I suppose this is what I get for even thinking that I kind of missed working on the sales floor full time. I know, I know. I was just asking for it, wasn't I.

Lucky for me I have a bag full of goodies and fun things to keep me occupied while out there. It's a slower store in the mornings normally (yeah today will be a crazy day I am sure since I just put it out to the universe that I have things I can do, that I WANT to do). I have a dish cloth I am knitting. Some people knit copious amounts of socks, I knit dish clothes. I also have some embroidery to take along. Our dear realtor admired a small pillow I made with a carrot embroidered on it. The whole thing measures about 4" square. She loves it quite a bit. Because I love it quite a bit and I'm not wanting to give mine away I decided to make her her very own. I will have to take photos of it when it is done.

Okay, must go down a latte, make a second and get myself on the road to work. At least we filled up yesterday on our way out to hike Old Salmon River. I have photos of that to share too once I get them unloaded from the camera...oh so many things to share.

Latte!

hello, i'm shanny and i'm a purse addict

I just bid on this:

I've got two Hobo clutches that I love, but I borrowed Jill's (her Lauren is a bronze color) for Vegas last time and was in love with the Lauren clutch. It is a perfect traveling companion really. It's got a side for work and a side for personal (I'm always the one who gets handed the work receipts when we are in Vegas).

I hope I win it...please, send your good eBay mojo my way!!!

cuz i like bein' like jen!

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

the bird is the word

PICTURE TIME!!!

This is what used to be the side door into the garage (which is now a functioning cave)

The threshold into our home had been worn and rough. Now freshly painted.

The front of our home. The flowers planted a couple of weeks ago in the boxes have really taken off! The trim of the window (behind them) was painted just this morning. The eaves painted on Friday...

A trio of grasses.

This getting the house ready to list has been fun at times. Kev is still not 100% excited about the idea, but is starting to come around a bit more every day. I think as I continue to do more things around the house, to the house, he will really see what I'm so excited about. The unknown is scary and the whole selling of one house while trying to find and buy our next freaks him out. Normally it would freak me out as well but for some reason having Alia work for us has calmed my nerves. She's been doing this job for 10 years (this July) and LOVES it. I trust her and know she'll make everything happen.

I get to go squish on my favorite baby today. Henry is nearing 5 months old. I can hardly believe it! They do grow up really fast, even when they aren't your own.

happiness is

The sound of painters getting ready to paint your eaves.

A fat cat sitting on his pillow giving himself a bath.

Your faithful diggity dog at your feet, not barking at the painters.

The washing machine making the noises it makes as it cleans towels from all the guests you've had lately.

The feeling in your arms after a really amazing (read: tough) yoga practice the night before.

A completed ad sitting on the ottoman by your feet.

Knowing that in a couple of hours you will be heading to eat with good friends.

Having your husband tell you he's getting a little more comfortable with the idea of selling your house and buying a new home (getting there, but not quite there yet).

The twitching of your dogs toes as she dreams those dreams dogs do.

Birds singing outside (all except that blasted crow).

Having the windows open, letting the breeze flow through your house.

Being able to lean your head back and type while not looking at the keys (Mom would be proud).

Having good friends who will let you stash your stuff in their garage with NO for sure time of when you'll be getting it out of there.

A vacuum that makes you WANT to clean...speaking of which...

woke up dreaming

I've not dreamt and woken exhausted in quite some time. Last night broke that draught. I had a dream that I was back in college. It was the first day and I had looked at my schedule prior to leaving my dorm room. I left it there, sure I would remember all of my five (!) classes I was to go to. Between classes I realize this is not going to happen and I'm an idiot for not bringing my schedule. I have ten minutes between classes that are across campus from one another. To top it off I am wearing black patent high heels. I'm swearing to those around me that they are really comfortable as I am screaming through campus trying to make it to some Female African Art class.

I think I need a nap.

Thankfully there is nothing pressing to do at the office and so I am working most of the day from home (I went in to capture images of the clogs I had to list at our site today before coming home). The painters should be here soon to paint the eaves. I might bust out the sander and finish the door I started a couple of years ago. Yes, the front door. It's red, but splotchy. Sabo, the painter, offered to do it for me, but I told him I had started it so I had to finish it. I think it made him shake his head a little (we were on the phone so this is just a guess).

maybe baby

I'm kind of thinking that Dad likes Josie and she feels the same way. She's a funny one with him. In the beginning she was a bit unsure of him, keeping her head down but her eyes on him. And then he chucked her cheeks. Anytime he'd sit down, she'd be near.

I also had to laugh because I would catch Mom scritching on Josie's head as well. While talking to her in a sweet voice. Now my mom has not been a real dog person ever. They had guard dogs on the farm, but family pets...not so much. I grew up with cats, of which they still have one. I think, however, Josie is so much like a cat at times that she is growing on my mom.

It was a wonderful visit with them. We got a few things done around the house to get it ready to list. We're not super close to listing, as in next week, but we are getting things taken care of little by little. We've already gotten a pile started at our friends house in their garage. I've got a meeting with a guy in a few minutes to talk about painting our eaves. My boss set it up, it's a friend of his. I am sure we will get quite a deal...

what started out

Dyson DC17 how I love and hate thee...

James Dyson dropped the ball on part of his design. Or perhaps one of the junior designers who probably took on the accessory designs did. I am sure James is just too busy to come up with effective parts. I mean hell, he designed the thing that "doesn't lose suction" why would he feel the need to make all its parts just as fantastic.

The particular model we got (thanks Mom and Dad) has a smaller brush with rotating head (it's called the "mini turbine" and no, I am not making that up) to pick up all the animal fur on sofas and such. The concept is great and it really does a good job, however in those first moments of trying to figure out how the hell the thing attaches to the vacuum, we all almost blew a gasket.

There is a button that you would think clicks into something so it doesn't fall off the tube. You would be wrong in that assessment. I've been informed by no fewer than three employees of the Dyson help line (two via email, one phone) that that button is for an adaptor for another machine, so people can use the mini turbine on their model of Dyson...

So, you have to wedge this thing on the tube and if you vacuum too quickly, it might fall off. So, stop trying to vacuum at warp speed. Mom and Dad were all kinds of annoyed. I was getting there too. The thing was whipped out of each others hands as we all fought to make it work. Finally they left and I lived with the machine. I told myself if that is the way it was designed then maybe I should give it another go and see if I can make it work, without my parents around. I mean I love them (they are actually heading back my way as I type) and I adore the things they do for me, but every once in a while I have to step back and let them do their thing.

Mom said to take it back. It wasn't working like it should. It was inconvenient and hard to manage. At that time, I agreed. I even told the woman on the phone that James had totally missed the mark on the design of that attachment.

Dad agreed with Mom, I think. I was even on board. But then I started thinking about it. I love that little attachments abilities. I love knowing that the fur that is on my sofas will not be as difficult for me to remove (oh the things I would do to get rid of the fur...short of shaving the animals mind you). So this morning, I pulled the machine out of my sewing room. I closed the door to the bedroom because even I know it's rude to vacuum someone into wakefulness at 8:30. I stole away to the cave and I vacuumed. I moved the coffee table. I picked up the dog bed. And then, I attached the mini turbine and decided to just be with it and allow it to do its job.

Even though I still think there should be some way to affix it to the tube so you don't have to worry about it falling off, I found myself enjoying it. It's funny to me how a vacuum can really make you see your home in a different light.

but dove told me

Do you think my boss would buy this? I mean, Dove told me...

It's been fun getting my head back in the game of work. I got to create an ad for a group ad (I just did our spot) that is due tomorrow. I am going to be getting an order together for rain boots for the kiddies for fall. I have another ad due next week.

I thanked my boss for letting me have time off while family was here. He told me to take Monday and Tuesday this next week off to enjoy my parents visit. I can't tell you how much I love working for him. Words fail me over and over to describe it.

I will tell you he is kindness personified.

But even so, I don't think he'd buy this. :) Even if Dove did tell me I was allowed.

whirlwind

I love that word. Whirlwind. It conjures up thoughts of twirling in the yard on a warm summer night. Skirt flowing outward. It makes me think of being absolutely and completely exhausted from running and doing and going and being. It reminds me I need to slow down and enjoy.

This trip with my sister has been a whirlwind. We've done so many things, yet gotten to just sit and visit and catch up as well. I would say some of my favorite parts were the sitting and knitting/crocheting, playing Mah Jong, and going yarn shopping.

The flowers in the box will make me think of her as she stood there watching me plant, suggesting how to make the flower boxes look like they are secure to the house instead of ready to fall off with the heaviest of rains. The clacking of the Mah Jong tiles will make me think of her finally winning a hand last night and rejoicing. The yarns I purchased while she was with me ooohing and ahhhing will make me smile, remembering.

It's been a great visit.

look mom, something got done!

You can't really see, but there are two colors of pansies planted (purple and red) along the potato vine in each box. My sister and I got this done this morning, after making the boxes not look as though they are falling off the house. I realize as I write this they do kind of still look like that in the photo, but not in real life. The plants are perky now after a full day of sunshine.

The three pots to the left of the bushes got planted on Saturday by my dear Mom. She enjoys getting her hands dirty every once in a while.

Today was spent planting flowers and knitting things. A perfect day one might say. After a full day of making beautiful things out of yarn we headed over to my friends house for Mah Jong Monday. I was told to bring my set. I love my set! It plays well and is comfortable to use. I even one a hand!

Tomorrow Adrianne and I plan on going to my favorite yarn store, walking up and down Hawthorne, and out do dinner with some of our friends (Kev opens tomorrow so he'll be joining us for dinner...yea!).

Well, off to surf the web a bit before turning in. Just wanted to share with Mom that we did in fact do what we said we'd do! :)

goodbye

written yesterday...


How do you say goodbye to a feline? Do they really understand? We have to say our last goodbyes to Vladimir tonight. It brings me much sadness. He was the first cat I’ve met that reminded me soooo much of my beloved Bob. He went missing a little while ago, Vlad did, and we feared the worst. Luckily he was not lost forever. However, it is a bittersweet ending because cancer has taken over his once robust body.

It’s hitting me slowly that tonight is my final farewell. Tears well up in my eyes and I’m sure if I had to speak my voice would waver. I am still at work so I try to pull myself together, in case customers come in during these last 45 minutes.

I will thank Vlad for being my special little (ahem) guy whom let me snuggle, kiss, and love all over him whenever I felt the urge. I will tell him it was an honor just knowing him and being chosen (he would sit on me every so often). I will tell him I will remember him always. But will be sad that all I get to hold anymore are simple memories, and not him.

I am thankful that I got the time I did get with him, but feel it was too little. I will thank his human family for allowing me to care for him and his little “brother” while they were away on trips. For in those times, I got to be a little closer to Vladimir. He would meet me at the door and look up at me with his green eyes. Ready for a kiss and some food.

Life is so short for our animal friends. We only get what seems like a minute with them to learn all they were set out to teach us. Vlad taught me that snuggling is good, a purr can go a long way, and to not lose hope (I knew he wasn’t gone for good when he’d gone missing in November).


(I've now said my farewells, cried tears into his long beautiful fur, and thanked him for letting me love him...he will be missed by all who ever met him)

there are times

On Tuesday this week my coworker and I were talking about when I could cover for her (she's working Saturday for me so I can hang with the 'rents). She asked if I could possibly work this Thursday (today) but she also said she knew it was last minute, but she was just tired. She works two jobs, and doesn't normally have one full day off from both at the same time.

I had originally told her that I needed to get ready for the family who are coming to visit. I started thinking about this yesterday and realized that I was being selfish. I can clean in the evenings. I'm not exhausted like she is. I don't have to work two jobs. I get days off where I can do nothing at all if I like.

I called Chas yesterday to tell him I'd be working the floor today at our new store. Of course he answered the phone "Aren't you supposed to be off today?!" And when I told him of my plan he said no problem.

When I called my coworker yesterday to tell her she was absolutely surprised. She was so happy. I could feel the weight lift off her shoulders.

hard

It is a beautiful day outside. I am inside, sadly. I've created another ad for yet another publication and I have at least two more to do...soon.

I missed Mah Jong Monday at my friends house last night. Ah well. Our set arrived yesterday so we'll soon be able to host our own Mah Jong nights. It's much fun.

It's hard to concentrate with the sun in the sky. I hear the approach of my coworker...I must get back to work.

no dolls hurt, all releases signed