So, I've been doing everything I can in order to prepare for my move to Mexico. I've asked my employers (they said yes or this wouldn't have been possible), I put the townhouse up for sale, I got rid of ALOT of clothes and shoes not to mention ALL of my winter clothes, re-homed one of my cats, re-discovered this blog to keep my friend and family informed, made an appointment with the dentist (and since cancelled...but I'll get there), and got all my necessary shots.
Evidently, the Universe thought I was over prepared. And is now playing games with me. Because there haven't been any good offers on the house, yet. Hey, I even buried St. Joe in the yard!!!
So, in an attempt to get my house to sell, I've decided that I'm going to play a little reverse psychology on the Universe. Trying to jinx the jinx by doing things that don't scream "I wanna move".
So today, instead of planning for a move to Mexico. I planned for a vacation in Mexico with a full intent on going there and coming back.
I'm a sly one...aren't I???
Anyone have suggestions on how to fool the Universe?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Open My House to You
It's a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon here in Wisconsin and I've been cleaning all morning and now I'm sitting on the couch waiting for the hordes of people, who are dying to buy my house, show up.
I did manage a little bit of outdoor time today. I went to my favorite greenhouse, Ebert's, which is just up the road from me and bought these beautiful mums!! Aren't they gorgeous? I had a $20 gift certificate, plus they had a discount if I bought 3 and then gave me a free one on the way out. All in all, it cost my $10 for these beauties. I just hope I don't killthem in the next week.
So...I did promise to post before and after pics of my newly painted bedroom.
Before is was a 'Sexy Boudoir.
And now..it's the boringest of beige. We repositioned the bed a bit and it makes the room look a lot larger. The comforter is on loaner from my Mom, so please don't think that is my taste. Too country for me.
Okay...I'm bored. Somebody entertain me for the next 2 1/2 hours!!
I did manage a little bit of outdoor time today. I went to my favorite greenhouse, Ebert's, which is just up the road from me and bought these beautiful mums!! Aren't they gorgeous? I had a $20 gift certificate, plus they had a discount if I bought 3 and then gave me a free one on the way out. All in all, it cost my $10 for these beauties. I just hope I don't killthem in the next week.
So...I did promise to post before and after pics of my newly painted bedroom.
Before is was a 'Sexy Boudoir.
And now..it's the boringest of beige. We repositioned the bed a bit and it makes the room look a lot larger. The comforter is on loaner from my Mom, so please don't think that is my taste. Too country for me.
Okay...I'm bored. Somebody entertain me for the next 2 1/2 hours!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A weekend Away from Home
Yes, I know I promised pictures of my newly painted room, but I’m just not feeling the love for it at the moment. None of my room accessories match the Boring Beige walls.
But, I did have a rather nice weekend away from home as I took an overnight trip to Chicago to see friends and family.
My Saturday afternoon started off with what was supposed to be a quick trip to Mayfair Mall. I’ve been having problems with my DVR and the cable company has a store at the mall where one can quickly exchange hardware. I’ve been putting this off for a few months as I am really not a mall shopper. Okay…I HATE going to the mall. *gasp* I know. I don’t know when my hatred for the mall started or why, but I’m just not a mall shopper. I shop only when I need to and usually it’s at Kohl’s or Marshall’s which are right up the street from where I work. I also do a lot of online shopping as well.
Anyway, I arrive at the mall around 2pm and quickly find that they’ve added new restaurants and stand alone stores in the parking lot, which greatly reduces the amount of parking spaces available. After about a ½ hour of driving endlessly up and down isles and just missing empty spots by thismuch, I’m ready to call it a day. And then finally, the heaven’s open up and shine a bright light down a parking spot I can call my own. Phew. Into the store I go and the whole exchange process takes me 5 minutes. No lie. With new DVR in hand, I made my way back through the mall and suddenly discovered that I DID want to shop. Sephora, J.Jill and others were beckoning. But, I had to keep walking as I had a huge piece of hardware in my hand.
I was soon back on the highway and headed south into Illinois were I got to spend time with my Playa friend, Heather, and her friends and family. Heather was home from Mexico for a few weeks for various events including her birthday. It was a pleasant time visiting with her family and a few of her friends. Michael was there too, her bf. Good food…delish brownies…and the funniest book every written was read aloud by Heather. Wing Chop to the Neck!! LOL!!! After a few hours, we decided to hit a tavern to meet up with Heather’s Aunts. But sadly, I had to cut my evening short due very bad indigestion from all the yummy food, sweets, and beer that I consumed. My tummy just wasn’t having it anymore. Here are a few pics:
Heather and me with her gfriends, Amy and Beth
Indiana Michael and his boozer sidekick Heather.
Heather has a demon child. Didn't you know?
After saying goodbye to Heather with promises of seeing her in Mexico soon, I was on my way south again to my great deal of a hotel that I bid on Priceline. A bid of $45 got me a fantastic room at the Hyatt in Deerfield. It was actually two rooms (a sitting are with desk and an oversized chair and a bedroom area with a king size bed).
6am, Sunday morning, I woke up to rain, rain, and more rain. I had about a 40 minute drive south to Lakeshore Drive in Chicago for the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. I was walking with my dad, aunt, uncles, and cousins in honor of my Grandfather who passed away nearly 3 years ago and suffered from the disease. I had great difficulty getting to the Lakefront as many streets were blocked off due to flooding. After an 1 ½ of driving, I FINALLY made it to the Lakefront and was so happy to see my family. We walked in the rain…which was sometimes a whipping blinding downpour, but it was fun and it was for a worthy cause. Afterwards, I drove to my cousin’s house in Brookfield for lunch and then made the 2 hour drive home (which took me nearly 3 hours due to the heavy rain and heavy Chicago construction) where I crashed out and had myself a 2 hour nap.
My dad and me before the walk.
Still nothing new on the house. I’m just going to be doing one Open House a month now. My listing agent told me that only 3% of sold houses come from someone attending an Open House. In December, my contract is up with this agent and I’ll think I’ll move onto a bigger company. That is, if my house hasn’t sold yet. Please keep these positive thoughts coming my way!!
But, I did have a rather nice weekend away from home as I took an overnight trip to Chicago to see friends and family.
My Saturday afternoon started off with what was supposed to be a quick trip to Mayfair Mall. I’ve been having problems with my DVR and the cable company has a store at the mall where one can quickly exchange hardware. I’ve been putting this off for a few months as I am really not a mall shopper. Okay…I HATE going to the mall. *gasp* I know. I don’t know when my hatred for the mall started or why, but I’m just not a mall shopper. I shop only when I need to and usually it’s at Kohl’s or Marshall’s which are right up the street from where I work. I also do a lot of online shopping as well.
Anyway, I arrive at the mall around 2pm and quickly find that they’ve added new restaurants and stand alone stores in the parking lot, which greatly reduces the amount of parking spaces available. After about a ½ hour of driving endlessly up and down isles and just missing empty spots by thismuch, I’m ready to call it a day. And then finally, the heaven’s open up and shine a bright light down a parking spot I can call my own. Phew. Into the store I go and the whole exchange process takes me 5 minutes. No lie. With new DVR in hand, I made my way back through the mall and suddenly discovered that I DID want to shop. Sephora, J.Jill and others were beckoning. But, I had to keep walking as I had a huge piece of hardware in my hand.
I was soon back on the highway and headed south into Illinois were I got to spend time with my Playa friend, Heather, and her friends and family. Heather was home from Mexico for a few weeks for various events including her birthday. It was a pleasant time visiting with her family and a few of her friends. Michael was there too, her bf. Good food…delish brownies…and the funniest book every written was read aloud by Heather. Wing Chop to the Neck!! LOL!!! After a few hours, we decided to hit a tavern to meet up with Heather’s Aunts. But sadly, I had to cut my evening short due very bad indigestion from all the yummy food, sweets, and beer that I consumed. My tummy just wasn’t having it anymore. Here are a few pics:
Heather and me with her gfriends, Amy and Beth
Indiana Michael and his boozer sidekick Heather.
Heather has a demon child. Didn't you know?
After saying goodbye to Heather with promises of seeing her in Mexico soon, I was on my way south again to my great deal of a hotel that I bid on Priceline. A bid of $45 got me a fantastic room at the Hyatt in Deerfield. It was actually two rooms (a sitting are with desk and an oversized chair and a bedroom area with a king size bed).
6am, Sunday morning, I woke up to rain, rain, and more rain. I had about a 40 minute drive south to Lakeshore Drive in Chicago for the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. I was walking with my dad, aunt, uncles, and cousins in honor of my Grandfather who passed away nearly 3 years ago and suffered from the disease. I had great difficulty getting to the Lakefront as many streets were blocked off due to flooding. After an 1 ½ of driving, I FINALLY made it to the Lakefront and was so happy to see my family. We walked in the rain…which was sometimes a whipping blinding downpour, but it was fun and it was for a worthy cause. Afterwards, I drove to my cousin’s house in Brookfield for lunch and then made the 2 hour drive home (which took me nearly 3 hours due to the heavy rain and heavy Chicago construction) where I crashed out and had myself a 2 hour nap.
My dad and me before the walk.
Still nothing new on the house. I’m just going to be doing one Open House a month now. My listing agent told me that only 3% of sold houses come from someone attending an Open House. In December, my contract is up with this agent and I’ll think I’ll move onto a bigger company. That is, if my house hasn’t sold yet. Please keep these positive thoughts coming my way!!
High Five Me!!!!
I'm an Advanced Open Water diver!! It's official!!!
I received my card in the mail over the weekend. This may not mean much to you, but for me it's certainly a huge accomplishment considering I wasn't even going to complete my Open Water course almost a year ago.
Yay me!!
Now...where do I go from here?
I received my card in the mail over the weekend. This may not mean much to you, but for me it's certainly a huge accomplishment considering I wasn't even going to complete my Open Water course almost a year ago.
Yay me!!
Now...where do I go from here?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Painting Party...just me and Nan.
Yesterday, my most beautiful and gracious mother, Nan, came over and helped me turn my purple and red bedroom into a borish beige room. Mom had a catering function the night before and didn't get home until well after 2am. She was tired, but she was a trooper and I'm just VERY lucky to have her as my Mom and friend.
The room actually looks okay. Very neutral and I think much more saleable then the sexy boudoir that I had going (deep jewel tones, overstuffed pillows, gorgeous satin fabrics and sconces on the walls). Some of these Midwest type buyers are a bit uptight.
Naturally, we ran out of paint. I knew I should have listened to my gut feeling when the guy at Walmart told me that one coat would be enough (over Purple and Red??). So, Nan is coming back on Wednesday night to help me finish up the paint and move my furniture back.
I was joking that I feared someone would want to come and see the house between now and Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call from a gal asking if she and her friend could come in and see the place. I looked out the window and asked her if she already in my driveway and she laughed 'yes'. I, of course, panicked and said that the condo wasn't showable because I was in the process of painting but I'd run a fact sheet out to her and I hung up. Nan was yelling about me to just let them in and see the place because I might not get another chance. I took a quick look around and realized that the condo was clean, but just a bit disheveled. I ran out and invited them in with a warning about the condition.
There first words upon entering was that my color scheme was beautiful!! The gal that was interested recently moved back to Wisconsin from Okie with her daughter. I smelled 'divorce' but didn't ask. She was sweet but seemed kind of young. She didn't ask many questions, but I sent her off with a fact sheet, my number, and told her to call if she wanted to see the place 'put together'.
I don't think this is the buyer, but I laugh at the irony of the situation. I can go days...weeks without interest but the one day that the place isn't showable is the day that someone wants in.
Joe...keep doing your job!!
I'll post before and after pictures after the room is done.
The room actually looks okay. Very neutral and I think much more saleable then the sexy boudoir that I had going (deep jewel tones, overstuffed pillows, gorgeous satin fabrics and sconces on the walls). Some of these Midwest type buyers are a bit uptight.
Naturally, we ran out of paint. I knew I should have listened to my gut feeling when the guy at Walmart told me that one coat would be enough (over Purple and Red??). So, Nan is coming back on Wednesday night to help me finish up the paint and move my furniture back.
I was joking that I feared someone would want to come and see the house between now and Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call from a gal asking if she and her friend could come in and see the place. I looked out the window and asked her if she already in my driveway and she laughed 'yes'. I, of course, panicked and said that the condo wasn't showable because I was in the process of painting but I'd run a fact sheet out to her and I hung up. Nan was yelling about me to just let them in and see the place because I might not get another chance. I took a quick look around and realized that the condo was clean, but just a bit disheveled. I ran out and invited them in with a warning about the condition.
There first words upon entering was that my color scheme was beautiful!! The gal that was interested recently moved back to Wisconsin from Okie with her daughter. I smelled 'divorce' but didn't ask. She was sweet but seemed kind of young. She didn't ask many questions, but I sent her off with a fact sheet, my number, and told her to call if she wanted to see the place 'put together'.
I don't think this is the buyer, but I laugh at the irony of the situation. I can go days...weeks without interest but the one day that the place isn't showable is the day that someone wants in.
Joe...keep doing your job!!
I'll post before and after pictures after the room is done.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Summer Lovin Had Me a Blast....
..and summer lovin happened so fast. And it's gone. My summer loving days are gone!!
It's freezing in Wisconsin today!! Okay, technically, not freezing, but I am wearing long pants, long sleeves, and shoes with socks! Closed toed and closed heeled shoes!! The horror!! I left my flip flops laying on the bedroom floor where my cat can attack them. I'm not sure what his obession is with my flip flops, but he LOVES to hug them, sniff them and crazily back kick them. I've had a great and expensive pair of Reef flip flops destroyed by Reese.
Anyway, I cannot remember the last day I was all bundled up like this. It's depressing as it's only the beginning of September and summer is supposed to last until September 21st. On top of the cold, it's also raining. I know I shouldn't complain given the freaky weather of hurricanes and and the hailstorm in Kenya, but I thought my ass would be in Mexico by now.
I need the universe to work with me a bit here. Either find me a buyer...TODAY...or keep summer lasting just a tad bit longer. I'm not asking for much, am I?
And what? No comments from anyone about how I buried a saint in my backyard???
more animals
It's freezing in Wisconsin today!! Okay, technically, not freezing, but I am wearing long pants, long sleeves, and shoes with socks! Closed toed and closed heeled shoes!! The horror!! I left my flip flops laying on the bedroom floor where my cat can attack them. I'm not sure what his obession is with my flip flops, but he LOVES to hug them, sniff them and crazily back kick them. I've had a great and expensive pair of Reef flip flops destroyed by Reese.
Anyway, I cannot remember the last day I was all bundled up like this. It's depressing as it's only the beginning of September and summer is supposed to last until September 21st. On top of the cold, it's also raining. I know I shouldn't complain given the freaky weather of hurricanes and and the hailstorm in Kenya, but I thought my ass would be in Mexico by now.
I need the universe to work with me a bit here. Either find me a buyer...TODAY...or keep summer lasting just a tad bit longer. I'm not asking for much, am I?
And what? No comments from anyone about how I buried a saint in my backyard???
more animals
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Burial of St Joe
A few days back I wrote my 'Need Prozac Now' blog and I received some very supportive comments from some wonderful people. Thank you all for the support I receive through here, facebook, and myspace when I get impatient and whiney!
One of the comments I received was from Mike, a friend from high school. He suggested I bury a St. Joseph statue in the backyard in order to bring me a buyer. He said that his wife did the same thing and within 4 days, she had a buyer for her house. Because I have never heard of the St. Joseph statue, I sort of laughed and dismissed it.
Realizing I was running out of tangible new ideas, I researched the St. Joseph statue and found several sites devoted to St. Joe. I also went onlilne and asked a question about this to my fellow Playa Addicts and friends and had a very funny conversation about this. After another friend of mine verified that she too buried a statue and had a buyer within a week, I was sold. Sort of. Not really truly believing but saying 'what the hey', I ordered an 8" Joe from the internet.
On Sunday afternoon, I arrived home from a day of boating and found St. Joe at my doorstep.
I invited Joe in, we had a bit of a chat about how he was going to find a buyer for me and then I showed him his burial spot amongst the Black Eyed Susans.
I located a shovel, dug the hole, and put St. Joseph in the ground headfirst.
I said the prayer and covered him up. I must admit that in that moment, while saying the prayer, I believed.
I know I still must push ahead, plan another Open House and keep getting the word out. I'll do my part and I hope Joe does his as well. Stay tuned!!
One of the comments I received was from Mike, a friend from high school. He suggested I bury a St. Joseph statue in the backyard in order to bring me a buyer. He said that his wife did the same thing and within 4 days, she had a buyer for her house. Because I have never heard of the St. Joseph statue, I sort of laughed and dismissed it.
Realizing I was running out of tangible new ideas, I researched the St. Joseph statue and found several sites devoted to St. Joe. I also went onlilne and asked a question about this to my fellow Playa Addicts and friends and had a very funny conversation about this. After another friend of mine verified that she too buried a statue and had a buyer within a week, I was sold. Sort of. Not really truly believing but saying 'what the hey', I ordered an 8" Joe from the internet.
On Sunday afternoon, I arrived home from a day of boating and found St. Joe at my doorstep.
I invited Joe in, we had a bit of a chat about how he was going to find a buyer for me and then I showed him his burial spot amongst the Black Eyed Susans.
I located a shovel, dug the hole, and put St. Joseph in the ground headfirst.
I said the prayer and covered him up. I must admit that in that moment, while saying the prayer, I believed.
I know I still must push ahead, plan another Open House and keep getting the word out. I'll do my part and I hope Joe does his as well. Stay tuned!!
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