Sorry for abandoning the blog for the last few days. We got to close on Friday after all. We were told that there was no way it would happen since the mortgage company was flooded out thanks to the hurricane in Jacksonville. (It's a small world after all.) Then, they sent a skeleton crew in through the floods to retrieve the paperwork of everyone who was trying to close on Friday. We went from wait-and-see to "Can you make it to closing in the next 20 minutes?" faster than you could blink your eye.
So we closed. The house is wonderful. It's bright during the day and dark and quiet at night with a floor plan so great that it could have been designed just for us. Except that it was built the same year my husband was born, and I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddy's eye at that point.
Some friends of the Computer Guy showed up on Saturday morning at 8:30 to help us move. By 2:00 the U-Haul was unloaded and the big stuff and boxes were in the house and the garage. As I looked at our "hired help", I couldn't help but think about how things have changed. When I met these guys they were all hourly employees working temp jobs for the state. They are now all executives in their respective companies. Then it hit me. We're grown-ups now. Funny that the 5 kids don't make me feel old, but the success of our friends and their lofty sounding job titles made me realize that we're no longer the crazy kids just starting out. These guys train those kids we used to be. And they're great guys. Heck, for all their lofty stature they still showed up to help us move.
Four days after moving in and we've started school for the year. I was having heart palpitations about not educating my children properly and they would end up ignorant and living at home when they were 30....I love them, but someday they need to get out. We're already behind where we normally would be at this time of the year. We should be on week 3 instead of day 1. We'll get there, it just means no Christmas vacation so we can catch up. The kids won't mind that, will they?
Bottom line is: we're here. Home at last. In a house that feels like us. I can't remember a house making me feel this peaceful since...well, ever really. We swam in the neighborhood pool today. It was great as a bribe for reluctant scholars. No math, no swimming. Tomorrow is another day of unpacking more boxes. Tonight....tonight I will curl up in bed and watch the Democratic Convention and yell and throw things at the screen. My beloved Computer Guy is out of town for two days so there's no one to tell me turn it off. Politics all night...bliss.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Welcome Back to Haiku Friday!
Still closing today?
Your guess is as good as mine
we'll know pretty soon
All packed up and boxed
ready to be loaded up
sitting by the door
Please can it happen?
Really tired of waiting
want to have those keys
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Packing-Day #..I've lost count
Still packing today. We're supposed to close tomorrow on the house. Say a prayer and cross your fingers that it all works out, you know how these things can go.
I hate packing, I hate boxes, and I just want to throw all this stuff away.
I hate packing, I hate boxes, and I just want to throw all this stuff away.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Proof God has a Sense of Humor
Don't you know that God gets a giggle every time he looks at this little fellow? I think we was just made up out of spare parts He had lying around. He's a little smaller than I thought, about the size of a man's hand, and the egg's are thumbnail size.
I don't know why I always pictured him as being the size of a badger.Oh, and we googled him just to hear what kind of noise he makes. It sounds like a coo followed by a gargly growl to me, but I bet to girl platypi (platypods?, platypuses? platypeople?) he sounds like heaven. Go here to hear him. (scroll about halfway down the page)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Legos, a Camera, and Too Much Time
Empty hands are the devil's playthings, or something... These people have to be homeschoolers. No one else could be so weird and so "smrt" at the same time. It's only four minutes long. What else were you planning to do today?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Sorting
The more of our possessions go into boxes, the more I realize we can do without things. More than half of all we own is packed away and we still are doing quite well.
That has me thinking.
We my husband's family came across the country in a covered wagon, all their household goods fit into a single wooden chest which now sits in his grandmother's garage. The rest of the wagon was filled with farm tools and foodstuffs.
How is it that in 3 generations we have gone from one wooden chest to piles of boxes, and how much is enough? Do I really need all of the serving platter that I have? Wouldn't extra dinner plates do the job just as well? I only use them once or twice a year anyway, so maybe the extended family should pool resources and share what they have on holidays instead of trying to impress each other by having the prettiest table. Wouldn't that make more sense?
I can't help but feel as though these giant piles of stuff are just getting in the way of my relationships with my husband, my children, and most importantly my God. I spend so much time taking care of these things that I have less time to spend with those who should have the majority of my attention.
Instead of having to do 8 loads of laundry all at once, wouldn't it be better to have fewer clothes and have to do one load of laundry daily or people would be naked? The one load would take less of my time to do and wouldn't be nearly as exhausting. So what if we wear the same clothes over and over. My grandmother had a church dress and 2 school dresses. Guess what? She lived. She grew up to be pretty well adjusted. While that 's a bit more spartan of an existence than I advocate, there has to be a place between my grandmother's wardrobe and my eldest daughter's which over flows 2 large closets that makes sense.
I am hoping that all of the packing and purging of moving to the new house will lead us to a place where we can live with fewer of the material things of this world and more of the things that really matter
That has me thinking.
We my husband's family came across the country in a covered wagon, all their household goods fit into a single wooden chest which now sits in his grandmother's garage. The rest of the wagon was filled with farm tools and foodstuffs.
How is it that in 3 generations we have gone from one wooden chest to piles of boxes, and how much is enough? Do I really need all of the serving platter that I have? Wouldn't extra dinner plates do the job just as well? I only use them once or twice a year anyway, so maybe the extended family should pool resources and share what they have on holidays instead of trying to impress each other by having the prettiest table. Wouldn't that make more sense?
I can't help but feel as though these giant piles of stuff are just getting in the way of my relationships with my husband, my children, and most importantly my God. I spend so much time taking care of these things that I have less time to spend with those who should have the majority of my attention.
Instead of having to do 8 loads of laundry all at once, wouldn't it be better to have fewer clothes and have to do one load of laundry daily or people would be naked? The one load would take less of my time to do and wouldn't be nearly as exhausting. So what if we wear the same clothes over and over. My grandmother had a church dress and 2 school dresses. Guess what? She lived. She grew up to be pretty well adjusted. While that 's a bit more spartan of an existence than I advocate, there has to be a place between my grandmother's wardrobe and my eldest daughter's which over flows 2 large closets that makes sense.
I am hoping that all of the packing and purging of moving to the new house will lead us to a place where we can live with fewer of the material things of this world and more of the things that really matter
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Quote of the Day
Alright, we all know that I'm not going to do this everyday, but "Quote of Whenever the Heck I Feel Like It" just isn't as catchy.
If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
- Abraham Lincoln
If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
- Abraham Lincoln
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I love you, Brazil!
Everyday some loyal reader from Sao Paolo, Brazil (man, I hope I spelled that right) stops by to check on me. I just want to say "Thanks!" I would think you'd be at the beach instead of reading the marvelous, mad mental meanderings of an Oklahoma housewife, but that just makes me even more thrilled to see you here.
I also see people from Ireland, Sweden, France and England on a regular basis. I'm honored that you keep coming back in spite of my semi-hiatus. Thank you all, and I promise to write more and post house pics as we move in.
As for today, well...my brain is not working. While speaking to the realtor last night, I literally stopped being able to make coherent sentences. And it's only thanks to spell check that y'all can read this at all. I don't know what people did when they had to actually know how to spell or even worse look things up in this big book called a dictionary. Weird! I'll bet those were the same people who walked with my grandpa five miles to and from school, uphill both ways. The olden days sure sound funny. Did you know that they used to have to get up and walk across the room to change the channel on the TV? and that they only had 4 channels? The Wizard of Oz was a once a year treat and...why don't you people stop me when I go off on a totally random tangent? My mind just takes turns and wanders away on its own and you people just follow along watching the freak show and wondering "How the hell did she get here from there?" Stop me when I do this, will you?
All I wanted to say was that I see that you are here everyday. I'm glad you are. I don't say that often enough. I need a stiff drink.
I also see people from Ireland, Sweden, France and England on a regular basis. I'm honored that you keep coming back in spite of my semi-hiatus. Thank you all, and I promise to write more and post house pics as we move in.
As for today, well...my brain is not working. While speaking to the realtor last night, I literally stopped being able to make coherent sentences. And it's only thanks to spell check that y'all can read this at all. I don't know what people did when they had to actually know how to spell or even worse look things up in this big book called a dictionary. Weird! I'll bet those were the same people who walked with my grandpa five miles to and from school, uphill both ways. The olden days sure sound funny. Did you know that they used to have to get up and walk across the room to change the channel on the TV? and that they only had 4 channels? The Wizard of Oz was a once a year treat and...why don't you people stop me when I go off on a totally random tangent? My mind just takes turns and wanders away on its own and you people just follow along watching the freak show and wondering "How the hell did she get here from there?" Stop me when I do this, will you?
All I wanted to say was that I see that you are here everyday. I'm glad you are. I don't say that often enough. I need a stiff drink.
Recommendations
Everything with our house purchase has gone so smoothly (please knock wood for me)that I just have to crow about the good people who are helping us meander our way through this maze of legal forms, paperwork and inspections. If you live in the Oklahoma City area, or are moving here, you should call them for help.
Elizabeth Boland-our excellent realtor who gives us her "platinum service" and shows up for everything, calls me to check on my mental health status, and make sure my ducks are in a row. If you are moving, give her a call at 405-420-6568 and tell her "the Mom" sent you.*
Cody McCollom of Grand Mark Mortgage-the money man. Spent an hour last night walking us page by page through 27 pages of loan documents and explaining how an extra half or whole payment would effect the amortization schedule. He was more teacher and adviser than salesman, something we truly appreciate. Need a home loan? there's no one better 405-285-2661*
*I have not been paid for either one of these endorsements, but if they're reading them, I will accept a free lunch.
Elizabeth Boland-our excellent realtor who gives us her "platinum service" and shows up for everything, calls me to check on my mental health status, and make sure my ducks are in a row. If you are moving, give her a call at 405-420-6568 and tell her "the Mom" sent you.*
Cody McCollom of Grand Mark Mortgage-the money man. Spent an hour last night walking us page by page through 27 pages of loan documents and explaining how an extra half or whole payment would effect the amortization schedule. He was more teacher and adviser than salesman, something we truly appreciate. Need a home loan? there's no one better 405-285-2661*
*I have not been paid for either one of these endorsements, but if they're reading them, I will accept a free lunch.
Friday, August 8, 2008
#2 is #1 with us
We made an offer on our second choice today. To be perfectly honest, it was the Computer Guy's favorite, but we all know who got to make this decision. Don't we?
They countered and we accepted their counter offer. Bing bang boom, and we are buying a house. We close in two weeks.
Two weeks!!! We must be crazy. That's crazy fast, right? But I hate long drawn out good-byes, and I hate moving by myself. I'm funny that way. As far as I'm concerned, the sooner we leave our old neighborhood, and my husband's 45 minute commutes behind us the better. As for the Computer Guy, he leaves for Morocco at the end of the month. Last time I checked my map, Morocco is a long way from Oklahoma. His new job includes travel, did I mention that?
The kids are excited. Computer Guy is checking and rechecking numbers to convince himself that we really can afford it, and I am standing here like a deer in the headlights. What have I gotten myself into? If house hunting turned my formerly brilliant brain to mush, what will speed packing do? It's a frightening prospect. If I were you, I'd hang around and see what happens. It will either be extremely impressive or the funniest darn thing you've ever seen. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on comical. I'm not a man at all, so I guess I'll just wait and see.
They countered and we accepted their counter offer. Bing bang boom, and we are buying a house. We close in two weeks.
Two weeks!!! We must be crazy. That's crazy fast, right? But I hate long drawn out good-byes, and I hate moving by myself. I'm funny that way. As far as I'm concerned, the sooner we leave our old neighborhood, and my husband's 45 minute commutes behind us the better. As for the Computer Guy, he leaves for Morocco at the end of the month. Last time I checked my map, Morocco is a long way from Oklahoma. His new job includes travel, did I mention that?
The kids are excited. Computer Guy is checking and rechecking numbers to convince himself that we really can afford it, and I am standing here like a deer in the headlights. What have I gotten myself into? If house hunting turned my formerly brilliant brain to mush, what will speed packing do? It's a frightening prospect. If I were you, I'd hang around and see what happens. It will either be extremely impressive or the funniest darn thing you've ever seen. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on comical. I'm not a man at all, so I guess I'll just wait and see.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Confusion
Buying a house is the most confusing thing ever. (I promise to never write about it again once we're done, but until then this is pretty much going to be it. Sorry.) We made an offer on the stinky house.
They said, "It doesn't smell that bad. Nothing for carpet or cleaning, and please pay more money."
We said, "We can't take it the way it smells, so it must not be the house for us. Thank you for looking at our offer we'll make an offer on our second choice. My husband liked it better anyway."
Suddenly they will pay for everything we want if we only pay them $5000 more. Now I'm in a muddle. I hate people who play games. Just tell me what you want and I'll tell you what I want and see if there is common ground. Don't tell me you will never do something and then turn around and say you will. I know it's a negotiation blah, blah, blah and that this is how things are done, but should it be?
The bottom line is that I just want a nice house in a good neighborhood. I want my children to have friends to play with and parks to play in. I want my home to be a safe place for them to grow up. Anything that is less than safe is unacceptable.
It was a clear decision yesterday when they said "nothing for flooring or cleaning". We knew exactly what to do. Then they reversed themselves and now we're confused. Can someone make this obvious please? Can God just send a little note and let me know which way to go? I'm very good at taking directions. He can call any time. My cell phone is always on. If He prefers it, I have the email...a little note, a sentence, just the one word name of the street. Something?
I'm usually very good at making decisions, but at this point I can't even think. Does anyone know where I can rent a spare brain for the day? It would be a huge help.
They said, "It doesn't smell that bad. Nothing for carpet or cleaning, and please pay more money."
We said, "We can't take it the way it smells, so it must not be the house for us. Thank you for looking at our offer we'll make an offer on our second choice. My husband liked it better anyway."
Suddenly they will pay for everything we want if we only pay them $5000 more. Now I'm in a muddle. I hate people who play games. Just tell me what you want and I'll tell you what I want and see if there is common ground. Don't tell me you will never do something and then turn around and say you will. I know it's a negotiation blah, blah, blah and that this is how things are done, but should it be?
The bottom line is that I just want a nice house in a good neighborhood. I want my children to have friends to play with and parks to play in. I want my home to be a safe place for them to grow up. Anything that is less than safe is unacceptable.
It was a clear decision yesterday when they said "nothing for flooring or cleaning". We knew exactly what to do. Then they reversed themselves and now we're confused. Can someone make this obvious please? Can God just send a little note and let me know which way to go? I'm very good at taking directions. He can call any time. My cell phone is always on. If He prefers it, I have the email...a little note, a sentence, just the one word name of the street. Something?
I'm usually very good at making decisions, but at this point I can't even think. Does anyone know where I can rent a spare brain for the day? It would be a huge help.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Stench of Home
People get very attached to their homes. That's kind of an understatement. People fall in love with their homes, especially when they've lived there a long time. Their houses become a labor of love and a reflection of themselves. So how do you tell someone that you like their house...but....it stinks. It reeks.
We've found a great house. Nice floor plan. Excellent neighborhood. Close to the new job. Less than we wanted to spend. A bargain. Except for the stench of cigarettes that permeates the entire house.
The seller has to know it. How do you live in a house with 3 chain smokers and no one tells you? We had to keep walking out of the showing for fresh air because we couldn't breathe. They have to know...don't they? Surely they have friends who politely ask them to open the windows, or an honest real estate agent who tells them to air the place out. I hope.
That way our offer won't offend them so badly that they don't sell the house to us. All the carpet that they put in will have to come out. The scent lingers forever in the fibers, we need a flooring allowance. The air ducts are coated with smoke and the gunk cigarettes leave behind, they'll have to be professionally cleaned. How do they not take it personally when we tell them that their house smells so badly that we can't buy it any other way? I would be hurt and offended. I would take it as a personal judgment against me. I hope they don't.
I'm sure they are very nice people. They're in their 70's and were really nice the one time we met them in passing. Maybe they were faking it just to sell their house...but I don't think so.
I want to write them a note. "Dear sellers, You house is exactly what we're looking for. We can see why you love it so very much. It's a great house. I know you built it and take great pride in it and I can easily see why. The thing is...as much as we like your house, we like breathing just a bit more. It's kind of necessary. If you can help make the house 'lung-friendly' then we'd like to buy it. And would it be too much to ask for y'all to smoke outside from now 'til closing? Thanks, the Mom and Co."
Say a prayer and cross your fingers, we're making an offer tonight....
We've found a great house. Nice floor plan. Excellent neighborhood. Close to the new job. Less than we wanted to spend. A bargain. Except for the stench of cigarettes that permeates the entire house.
The seller has to know it. How do you live in a house with 3 chain smokers and no one tells you? We had to keep walking out of the showing for fresh air because we couldn't breathe. They have to know...don't they? Surely they have friends who politely ask them to open the windows, or an honest real estate agent who tells them to air the place out. I hope.
That way our offer won't offend them so badly that they don't sell the house to us. All the carpet that they put in will have to come out. The scent lingers forever in the fibers, we need a flooring allowance. The air ducts are coated with smoke and the gunk cigarettes leave behind, they'll have to be professionally cleaned. How do they not take it personally when we tell them that their house smells so badly that we can't buy it any other way? I would be hurt and offended. I would take it as a personal judgment against me. I hope they don't.
I'm sure they are very nice people. They're in their 70's and were really nice the one time we met them in passing. Maybe they were faking it just to sell their house...but I don't think so.
I want to write them a note. "Dear sellers, You house is exactly what we're looking for. We can see why you love it so very much. It's a great house. I know you built it and take great pride in it and I can easily see why. The thing is...as much as we like your house, we like breathing just a bit more. It's kind of necessary. If you can help make the house 'lung-friendly' then we'd like to buy it. And would it be too much to ask for y'all to smoke outside from now 'til closing? Thanks, the Mom and Co."
Say a prayer and cross your fingers, we're making an offer tonight....
Friday, August 1, 2008
It's Haiku Friday!!!!!!!
House hunting boredom
they all start to look alike
floor plans a big blur
Brain has turned to mush
I stopped thinking days ago
On autopilot
That about sums it up. Between FICO scores, and mortgage points, interest rates, floor plans and amenities, my brain has locked up and stopped working. I have lost the power of intelligent thought, not that it was ever high-voltage to begin with. I just want to wave a magic wand and be a month down the road and all moved in to our new house. Does anyone have a wand I can borrow?
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