SOLD

Yeppers.  My house SOLD.  I've been so busy and rushing these last few days that I never had time or energy to make the announcement.

ladies and gentleman:  MY HOUSE SOLD

Offer came.  We bickered about the price for a day.  Then buyers checked "BUY AS IS"  That was the clincher.  As is?  You want this house AS IS?  Well, guess what - SOLD.

Ironman and I held our breath until Monday, June 20 at 4pm.  By then the closing was over.  The papers were signed.  And we had our check.

Wow.  I was shocked.  And worn out.

Last night it poured down rain for hours.  Ironman and I laughed about the office area at our SOLD house and how the rain will seep under the door.  And flood the room.  We always had to put towels right there.  I guess the new owners found out about that on their first morning.

NOT OUR PROBLEM.  Sorry, but it's just not our problem.

Ironman, The Engineer, I.T. girl and Dancer Girl (and of course, me) packed up and loaded up all the rest of our belongings.  It took Dancer GIrl and I more than a day just to pack china and crystal!  Did you know you can learn just about anything on YouTube?

Things I have learned by watching YouTube:

1. How to remove a security tag from clothing when the store fails to remove it for you after purchase.  That story is a classic.  Watched the video.  Followed the directions.  WORKED like magic.

2.  How to pack crystal and china.  Follow the directions and you can drop the box out of an airplane and the dishes won't crack.

3.  How to pack and load a couch.

4.  How to lay tiles.

5.  How to remove an old toilet and install a new toilet.

I could go on.  But this blog has more announcements.

Ironman and I went to the attorney's office and signed the sellers documents.  We did not want to meet the buyers.  No offense.

The buyers were scheduled for the closing at 3:30.  So driving back to our new home we kept watching the clock.  And....... finally...... the closing was over.  The realtor called us.  All was well.  WOO HOO!

We SOLD that load of bricks.

Now this was on Monday.  The Friday before Ironman and I had toured 9 houses with our realtor here in our new city.  The very first house we went to........ SOLD.  I wanted it.  I even told our realtor there was no need to go see any other houses.  This was the house I wanted.  She just laughed.  And we went ahead and saw the other 8.  Nope.  None even came close.

So driving back after selling our home Ironman and I were talking about THE HOUSE.  We called the realtor.  Asked her to meet us there again on Tuesday.  Okay. 9:30am.  Meeting is set.

We arrive in the RAIN.  The bottom let out just as we were leaving to meet her.  I even slammed my finger in the door.  Happened so quick - not sure how I even did it.  But I did.  UGH

We arrive at THE HOUSE.  Realtor goes to the door, turns and tells me "It's being shown to another family right now"

WHAT??????!!!

Ugh.  She goes on in.  Tells them she has an appointment to show us the house at 9:30.  I didn't really pay attention to what she is telling the other realtor.  I'm just staring down the WOMEN that are touring.  DON'T YOU DARE

The children walked around the house.  Ironman walked around the house.  I didn't need to.  I just stood in the kitchen and talked to the realtor.  Then Ironman joined us.  We talked numbers.  (Hate numbers)  Settled on a number.

Realtor left to write up the contract.

We left and went to brunch.  WHO CAN EAT??

My kids can eat.  The got pancakes and eggs and sausage............ugh.

As we were leaving the realtor mentioned to me she was going to call the listing agent to make sure there wasn't a pending contract already on  the house.  WHAT?????!!
That's why I couldn't eat.

About 15 minutes into our brunch realtor texted me to say everything was clear.  She was writing the contract.  Meet us at her office in 30 minutes.

WOO HOO!!  I felt a little better.

So we met her.  She had typed out our offer.  We signed and initialed and I was so nervous.  UGH  Sellers had 24 hours to counter.

By 6pm realtor called back with their offer.  They didn't change one thing on the contract.  Specified that they were taking the television sets (?) and added 7K to our price and................... I couldn't sign that thing fast enough.

WE MADE A DEAL.  In one day!!!

WOO HOO

I wish I had taken photos.  I was just so nervous.

We are meeting the home inspector Friday.  I'll take photos!!

Congratulations to me!!!!!!!

Wednesday already?

I told myself I was going to keep up with this blog.  I said, "Self, you are going to keep up with that blog".

But it's way too hot to do anything.

I cleaned house, ran to Kroger, took Dancer Girl shopping, did some laundry, watched TV, read a new book (more about that later) and now I'm catching up on the blog.

Ironman called today.  The bank called him and wanted to confirm the closing on our house for Friday.  What?  Friday?  As in the day after tomorrow Friday?  I was shocked.  The contract states June 30.  And we had everything planned toward that date.  We have 2 more weeks.  There is really no way we can get the rest of our belongings out of the house tomorrow.

Here are a list of most of the things we have left in that house:
1 sofa - that is huge and HEAVY
2 queen mattresses
1 overstuffed chair and ottoman
1 coffee table
2 televison sets
1 chest of drawers
many many garden tools:  rakes, shovels, brooms, weedeater, etc
Many potted plants (more about that later)
Numerous boxes of kitchen items that have not been packed yet

I guess we could do it in one day........ but we don't want to be bossed around.  They said June 30.  We'll do it next week if they want to close sooner.  But not in 2 days.

I still can not believe the house has sold.  Or is about to sell.  Maybe I won't believe it until I have the money in my hand and I can smell it.  I may put it under my pillow and sleep with it.

Where does that leave us?  HOMELESS

We are still living in the rent house.  I am BEYOND ready to move out.

Ironman and I and all the children are meeting a realtor Friday afternoon to tour a dozen houses.  I am determined to find out.  I don't care if we spend the entire weekend, I will find one.   That will be the fun part of moving.

In July we are taking a trip to Nashville and I would like to have a contract on a house before we go.    I really want to.  So, let's do it.

Ironman told me that the family that is buying our house inquired about my clay pots and ceramic planters.  They do NOT go with the house.  Dang people!

I'm reading a new book.  It's not a new release.  I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon it.  But it is oh so clever.  I love me a clever book.

Here it is:  the sweet by and by
                  by Todd Johnson

The story of 5 women and how their lives wind around each other.  Each chapter is told from another woman's point of view and yet the story moves forward.  Just like another book:  The Help.  

I'm making chicken enchiladas for supper.  The 2 on the end will have less cheese.  Those 2 are for me.  Gotta watch the calories since I haven't been exercising and I've been stress eating.

Dancer Girl is asleep.

Books that you remember

 Why is this picture blurry?  I don't know.  Maybe I'll have time to remedy it later.
Confessions of a Fat Girl by Liza Palmer
Don't let the title throw you off.  This is the story of Maggie and her best friend from childhood, Olivia.  And what happens when one of them changes.  Was she always such a witch?  Do you tend to overlook that because you have so much history?  The ending is two-fold.  The story line of Maggie and Olivia is PERFECTO.  The storyline of Maggie and Domenico ends a  little too Lifetime Movie for me.  I've told more than one person about this book.  GO BUY IT.  DOWNLOAD IT.  It's easy to read.  Toni Morrison it is NOT.  Loved it.

I loved it so much that I immediately got her next book.  (This photo is not blurry.  Weird)
Seeing me Naked by Liza Palmer.  It has nothing to do with nudity.  This is the story of
Elizabeth Page, daughter of a well known celebrity-esque author.  Think Clive Cussler or somebody like that.  Her brother, Rascal, is also a best selling author. Her mother, Ballard, is the sole heir to a candy empire.  (Think Nestle)  So where does that leave Elizabeth?  The ending is, once again, a little too lifetime movie for me.
But that won't stop me from reading Liza's third book.  I hope she only has 3 written.
Review coming in a couple of days.

Did I get hit by a truck?

This weekend we made two trips between the house for sale and our rental.  And I am worn out.  I feel so tired I'm not sure I can make it to the coffee pot.  

Friday we loaded the heavy furniture.  It took all day.  The next morning we drove to the storage unit and unloaded the heavy furniture.  Ironman and I drove back to the 'house for sale' that night.  I barely made it.

Saturday Ironman and I loaded boxes.  Boxes and boxes and boxes.  And anything else that would fit securely.  Drove back to the storage unit.

I was asleep by 8:30pm.

And this morning I feel like I was hit by a truck.

Here are some photos.

Dining room at 11am

 Dining room at 3pm

 Dining room at 6pm

These photos do not indicate how much WORK it is to wrap all that china  and crystal  Individually.  Not to mention all those little VBS and Preschool things the children made.  And not to mention that the china cabinets had a lot of GLASS.  One of them has a solid glass front and glass shelves.  Add to that ....... they are H.E.A.V.Y.  Yes, a lot of work.

But let's back up.  My day began at 11 packing.  Why so late?  Because I had to have a mammogram.  I used my iphone to document my day.  First let me say, it's nothing.  Nothing to it.  The hardest part is getting from the parking garage to the actually imaging center inside the hospital.  There is no easy way.  Allow yourself 20 minutes of straight on full blast walking to get there. Here's how my typical appointment went:

I had to park on the 3rd level.  I prefer to park on the 2nd level.  Near the sky bridge.  Of course, so does everyone else.   This now means I'll have to take 2 elevators down to the first floor.  See?  20 minutes.

        First elevator - Out of Order.  Do you see a sign?  Neither do I.  I decide to return to the parking garage and just walk down one level.  More walking.

   Walk across the sky bridge that connects the main hospital with the women and children hospital.  Isn't it so clean and shiny!  Pass up Dr Tanner's office.  That's his waiting room right at the end of this bridge.  I did not take a photo of it.  That would be weird.  It was crowded.

There is an elevator but frankly, it's super slow.  And there were several women standing around waiting for it.  I'll take the stairs.

Pass the fountain.  

To Admissions.

I'm number 17.  The good news is....... there's no one else waiting.  

Now after the insurance and admitting papers and bracelet, WALK to the imaging center.  More waiting.  By now you need to sit and wait a while.

DO NOT STEAL THIS MAGAZINE

Inside the changing room.  I thought about taking more photos but the radiologist lady wasn't that friendly so I didn't chance it.

In and out in 20 minutes.  If you didn't have all that walking to do it really would be easy.

Now to just wait for my letter of clear health.  Last year I was called back.  Ugh.

Well loookey here.  An elevator repair man.  About time you showed up.

Good bye until next year.  

Storage Unit

I rented a temperature controlled storage room on Monday.  It is 10X25.  The lady said "Do you need one that large?" Yes!  I want one that large.  I made a list of all the heavy large furniture that we will be forced to place in storage until we buy a new large house.
Here's the photo.  I hope I can load it.

Good, the upload technique I used worked.  You just never know.  Anyway, this is the empty storage unit.  I will post another photo when it's filled.  Wow it felt nice in that building.  Constant temperature of 72 degrees.  It had to be 172 outside

Here's my list of things we are putting in our cool room:

3 armoires

2 queen size beds  and one is a pottery barn bed that I will watch like a hawk

2 queen size mattress sets

1 futon

1 sofa

2 china cabinets

1 breakfront

1 large pottery barn table that I guard with my life.  I will be nervous about moving it.

1 wooden bench

2 rocking chairs

1 treadmill

1 overstuffed chair with ottoman

2 wingback chairs

patio furniture set (rod iron)

3or 4 bicycles.  Honestly, I don't even know how many we have.

boxes and boxes and boxes of holiday decorations

boxes and boxes and boxes of classroom materials - and I've sorted and organized all these materials.  Still have SO much.

1 large open front bookcase.  I guarantee you Ironman will want to just leave it.

I may be missing a few things, but you see the conundrum.  All this has stayed at our House for Sale.  We just have nowhere to put it.  Because the Engineer is home from college, we're going to move this stuff into storage while we can use his strength and work horse muscles.  

When we find a new house, we are hiring a professional moving company to move us in. 

I'll take some photos of moving day.  It's going to be hot and sweaty but exciting.

I.T. girl told me twice yesterday that she did not want to move back.  Just out of the blue she said, "I just can't go back".   

In other news:  got my roots done yesterday.  Asked Katie to please color over the blond highlights.  I do not like being a blond.  I feel much better now.  It was wild in that salon yesterday.  Crowded and noisy.  I've never seen it that crowded.

Today I plan on packing more and more boxes.  Yesterday I packed up the sewing/craft/homework room.  Seemed like it took a couple of hours.  I ran out of bubble wrap.  Dancer Girl packed up several boxes worth of her things.  I think she's the one who used most of the bubble wrap.  

I need to run by PetSmart and get my free dog food. (yes, I still coupon)

I want to make the poppy seed chicken salad today.  I need chinese noodles.  And I'll check on the Minute Maid lemonade The Engineer enjoys.  Kroger has been selling it for $1.  

Yesterday I was in Brookshires and in their meat case they had armadillo eggs rolled in bacon.  YUCK.  I wanted to badly to take a photo even though I only had my phone but it was crowded.  I won't miss an opportunity like that again. Even if people are watching!

House Update:  20 days until closing.  

Offer still active

I really am going to try to get back to work on this blog.  The days are busy and the computer is occupied, but I can post in the early morning before anyone wakes up.

The contract on our house is still active.   I was there on Thursday and the home inspector was working.  He appeared by 8am and did not leave until close to 2pm.  He was thorough (I guess) and slow and talkative.

Our realtor received the report and all she saw on the negative side was that our chimney needs sweeping.  That's all?  I know one of the garage doors is not working properly and the home inspector even mentioned it to me.  But he didn't put that on his report.

Ironman called our realtor and she assured us that she did not expect these buyers to walk away.

And so we need to begin preparing to move our heavy furniture out of that house. But there is nowhere to put it in this tiny rent house.  So I rented a temperature controlled storage unit on Monday.

Blog? What blog....

Has it been that long since I've had time to post something?

Things have been busy.  And oh, so hot.  Dang, it's so so hot.  Yesterday my car temperature thingie read 103.

I don't have many photos, because as usual I don't have a good camera.  I need to work on that.

School is over for the summer.  We haven't received the final report cards yet.  We can check I.T. girl's grades online.  Dancer Girl's grades are still in transit.  I have no idea what to expect.  The Engineer got his grades several weeks ago.  He is officially a third year student.

Update on our house for sale:  we are still under contract.  Closing Date is set for June 30.  That is 27 days away.  So so so many things could go wrong.  

The home inspector came yesterday.  That guy talked and talked and talked.  And he was slow and slow and slow.  He was most definitely thorough.  And more than once he'd comment how hot it was outside and how cool it was inside.  That's good, right?  He only told Ironman and I two things:  our garage door is broken (we knew that.  Called a repairman.  He did not show. Yet.  Wanted it repaired before the inspection.  What happened to him?  The motor works, it just isn't "catching the chain".  )  Also, our fireplace needs cleaning.  Are those things dealbreakers?  No.  But that's what I thought about the other inspection we had.

This home inspector - heretofor referred to as "Jibber Jabber" - he said the other buyers were probably just looking for any reason to back out.  And so they took the yellow belly way out and sighted the inspection report.  But truth be told, they just got cold feet and maybe jumped in too soon.  Who knows.  That was a bad day.

And so Jibber Jabber arrived at 8:30am and left just before 2pm.  I told you he was thorough.  And slow.  Oh, so slow.

We are waiting for the inspection report.  He'll give it to the buyer's agent.  Who will give it to the buyers.  And a copy to our agent.  Who will email it to us.  I hope it's today.

We have 27 more days to go until closing.  Holding my breath.