SOLD!

Feeling quite happy and proud of myself. My house is now 100% sold and I practically did it myself. Tonight the buyer waived all her conditions. I took her out for a drink to celebrate.

the old couple

I was moved today. In the grocery store. There was an older woman pushing a grocery cart. She looked as if she was on a mission--perhaps the same mission she'd been on every week of her life for the past 50 years. It's called grocery shopping.

She was forging ahead while leaning on the cart, a blank stare on her face. It's not her face that moved me. It was the face of her elderly partner who shuffled along behind her. He had a panicked and troubled look on his face as he raced to keep up with this woman on a mission. He was not in the best of health, a little dishevelled, a little disoriented.

I found it most disturbing that he was being ignored by his partner. I was worried for him. It really tugged at my heartstrings. I just wanted to hug him and take care of him. I have always felt great compassion for little old men. Sometimes for little old women too, but mostly men. Not sure why, other than I've always gravitated more toward men in general.

Why wouldn't she wait for him to catch up...or at least slow down? Was he now just a nuisance to her after all these years, especially now that he's in bad health? When did she stop loving him? Was he worried that she would abandon him? Was he afraid he would get lost in the store without her? Where was the love?

I turned down the next aisle and felt my eyes welling up with tears. How ridiculous I am, I thought. What is making me react this way? I have my theories--missing Andy, pms, wanting to be married and hoping that never happens to us. Or maybe I was just overtired and hungry.

I thought I'd shake it off on the drive home. But when I walked in the house and started telling Christie what I'd seen, I started crying. And she proceeded to laugh hilariously at me. I guess my dramatic indulgence came to a grinding halt. Leave it to a teenager, a drama queen in fact, to point out how ridiculous I was being.

!

a sense of sexual urgency

Some months come and go without my period even making a dent in my life. This is kind of nice, I guess, as I know plenty of women who seem to barely survive the monthly symptoms that have been duly named the curse.

So I go bumpity bump along at a pretty normal pace with no incapacitating pain or vicious moods or bloated belly. I am really grateful for that. But what does affect me every few cycles is an unsatiable appetite for sex and emotional attachment.

It happens during ovulation and this month it hit me like a tidal wave. I could not stop thinking about Andy--about my body being naked next to his under the sheets, going down on him in the middle of the night (or any time of day), having him explore me inside and out, fucking without a condom, the musky smell of him, tasting sex on him, looking into his eyes, hearing him tell me how much he loves me, talking about forever things, dreaming about Santorini and Paris with him, omg the list goes on...

Feeling these strong urges, I fantasized about them with Andy on Skype and I grew closer to him by the minute. All this made me realize that Mother Nature is working her magic through this thing called ovulation. Procreate! Procreate! she screams. These crazy feelings are exactly how women end up pregnant! (well, after fucking without a condom) And I would def be sooo tempted to act on my impulses if I were in the same room/house/state as Andy.

I breathed a big sigh of relief when this 3 day ovulation cycle ended. Of course, with 2,500 miles between us I did not get knocked up. Next month, and perhaps every month for the rest of my life, what am I gonna do?

I have to find some other reliable method to keep us from being parents again. Because we plan to be fucking like rabbits for a long time. As it stands now I am sure to be jumping his bones with reckless abandon on a regular basis. These feelings are just too damn delicious to deny...

the meeting

I'm glad I didn't call him a dickhead after all. Jeff, my ex, behaved himself yesterday when Christie and I went to meet him.

It was the first time in about 3 years that he has even set eyes on me. Pretty astounding that the 3 of us sat at a table and had a productive conversation. We talked about Christie and me moving to Los Angeles. He didn't bark, he didn't bite. Only one small snarl, when he spoke the word 'boyfriend' (referring to Andy).

I feel good about the way I handled myself. I started and ended the conversation, and got all my points covered. I supported Christie as she needed so that she could express herself in front of a dad she's pretty intimidated by. He now knows that she wants to move to LA and there's nothing he can do to convince her otherwise.

He has agreed to provide me with a notarized letter giving his permission. Of course, he wants my assurance that I won't ask him for child support once I'm there. Why would I, after having managed the last 2 years without it? I am proud of the fact that I can support her on my own.

We also talked about Maria. He said she is very hard to handle at times., and very hard on him. But he feels he is one of the only people who has any control over her. It could be that he can still yell louder than she can. Or it might be because he bought her the car she is driving.

I told him that I feel bad that I can't reach Maria, but I am very proud of her accomplishments. She's doing very well in university while holding down a part time job. He said he would tell her that I am proud of her. For that I am also thankful.

Before he left, we all agreed that Christie would spend some time living at his house during the month of June--as long as she is comfortable there. She can spend the remainder of the time with me, her best friend's family, or with other family members. But come mid-July she is getting on a plane for LA where she will live with me, and Andy. :)

daddy dearest

So the ex (I am not going to call him Dickhead) is trying his damnedest to get Christie to live with him for the summer. Not only that, but he wants her/us to consider having her finish high school here, or stay for at least the next year while I go on to California "to get settled".

WTF?! NO WAY.

Why he is changing his tune after telling her a month ago it was ok to move if that's what she wanted...I don't know. Father guilt? He's now sorry that he didn't get to know her in the last 15 years? Is he also sorry about every time he sat glued simultaneously to the tv and the couch while she visited him? Or that he called her a c*** 3 years ago, prompting her to move out of his house permanently?

He emailed me that he needs my cooperation on this. Right. Shall we join forces to convince her that it is in her best interest to stay in this little town and live with two people (him and Maria) who fly off the handle the minute they don't get their way, and who swear like sailors when so inclined? And live 2500 miles away from her mother who she is very close to and happy with?

Should she also pass up a chance to go to a high school that specializes in film and media arts which would give her a head start on a career she really wants? Not to mention the obvious opportunities that will present themselves living in Los Angeles...

All this so that Daddy can have his way. We'll see. I suggested the 3 of us sit and discuss this situation. I never thought he'd agree to physically be in the same room with me. He hasn't even seen me in the last 3 years, maybe closer to 4. But he called me this morning and made arrangements to meet at noon tomorrow.

This'll be interesting. Christie says she's gonna puke. I say bring along a bucket. Her dad has to hear her say how she wants to go. In the past she's been too scared to say much to his face. He tends to be pretty overpowering in conversations. The only way she's gotten through to him was through text conversations and some emails. I am hoping that she will be able to be heard in person. At the very least my presence should give her courage to tell him what she wants and doesn't want.

the war is over

This is the play by play on the bidding war on my house...

Offer #1 came in Friday night. The chick who was born with my name called me Friday as soon as I got home from work. She wanted to know when she could come over to present me with her offer. I said she could come soon, but I mentioned to her that I was getting a 2nd offer this weekend and that I would need to consider that one too.

She was stunned and said but we had a deal! I agreed that we had negotiated a price, but said that until I had written offers in front of me I wasn't going to turn anything down. She was clearly miffed, and a few minutes later she appeared at my door. I invited her to step inside, and she started again about us having a deal and was reluctant to give me the offer at all.

I said that I had not received the other offer yet, but I would like to consider both and get back to her early next week. She gave me the offer and I wished her a good weekend. I could tell she was pissed.

The other buyer emailed me this morning to say she had her offer ready and wanted to bring it to me tonight. We agreed on a time. She came over and handed me the papers. I was somewhat shocked and ecstatic when I saw the price. She offered me the full listing price--holy shit!!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any sweeter, I made another $6000 in 2 days. Plus we agreed on a closing date of June 27th date which suits me so much better than the June 1st that the chick with my name wanted.

Life is good. I sold my house in less than 3 weeks. I couldn't wait to tell Andy.

Then I called the chick with my name. I told her that I just had to accept the other offer. And before I could explain why she interrupted by blurting out well I wasn't going to go through with that offer anyway. I found another house that was way better.

Despite her snotty remark I told her I was very happy for her and wished her luck. The bidding war is over. And I killed her with kindness.

one house, two buyers

The greatest thing happened tonight! I got an email from the first woman who had looked at my house. She wanted me to know that she was able to arrange financing and could now give me an unconditional offer!

I seriously do not know how this situation could get any sweeter for me. Two unconditional offers to consider. When I told this woman I was supposed to be getting an offer from someone else on Friday, said she would try to present me her offer in writing by Monday.

I was cool with that. Plus I mentioned that I feel somewhat obligated to give the 1st offer a chance to counter...so in that case, she might want to offer what she truly feels she would want to pay for the house (just to increase her chances of getting it). I tried to be nice about it and not sound like a conniver, but it's the truth.

A bidding war is brewing. That means money in my pocket. And I LIKE that.

open house - weird and wonderful

My Open House was a success. Instead of the thunderstorms that were predicted, we had gorgeous sunny and warm weather...which made my deck look even more appealing than it already is.

It started slow. In fact for the first hour I only had one visitor. And it was the same woman who I showed the house to earlier this week. She'd come back with 2 girlfriends (good sign!). I talked to her quite a bit again and I know that she is interested, but her offer would be conditional on the sale of her house.

In the 2nd hour I had about 5 more visitors. One in particular seemed very enthusiastic about my house. Her first name was the same as mine, even spelled the same, which is a bit different than most. We joked that we wouldn't forget each other's name. Again, she was a woman about my same age and lived nearby, was splitting up with her boyfriend, and had 2 kids. Wow, is this kind of weird?

Oh, it only gets weirder. So as I hand her my brochure with all the house info and photos on it, I also jot down my email address and phone number. Later she called me. She was sort of slow to ask, but she said is your name (insert my 1st and last name here)?

I said yes, why? She said I saw it in your email address and do you know that that was my exact maiden name? I said you're kidding me! And they're even spelled the same...wow, that's really strange. And she further commented that it must be a sign that she is supposed to buy my house. (No argument from me.) And I dared go on to ask her what her middle name was. When she answered Maria I actually felt spooked. That is my middle name!

I have never experienced something quite as eerie as that in my life--at least that I can recall. How weird is that?? Imagine if she went back to her maiden name (she is divorced) and bought my house. Could you imagine how confusing the paperwork would be??

Yes, it's a little creepy, but mostly I am really happy because now I know I have 2 people that are really interested in my house! And this one said she would be able to give me an unconditional offer. Woohoo!

house week

OK, she's on the market. My house, that is. Two days after my listing hit the MLS, Craigslist and a number of other websites, I had an enquiry. Someone wanted to see my home. Wow, it's really happening. Can I do this myself?

Of course I can! To save $10,000+ on realtor commission I can do this myself. It was a bit nerve wracking I must admit. Having a teenager in the house was a wild card. I would have had to risk a new buyer seeing forgotten dirty underwear thrown in the corner of Christie's closet. At least she agreed to finally toss all the empty Vex bottles (teenage drinking trophies) from her closet shelf a few weeks before. But with a teenager, you just never know...

But on the brighter side of teenagedom, it was Christie who whipped the house into shape in the 3 hours notice I had for my first showing. I'd received the call while at work and they wanted to see the house 45 mins after the time I usually get home from work. Everything turned out just fine, thanks to Christie. I even had time to throw some Pillsbury crescent rolls into the oven to make the place smell yummy.

OK, so this woman wandered through my house for over a half hour. I thought that was a good sign. She was pleasant enough, and even seemed tickled to be exploring my house, each room like a treasure discovered. She obviously liked what she saw. We talked awhile and she asked a lot about the house.

I had a good feeling about her. Rob had told me before I listed that there's a 90% chance that the very first person interested is the one you end up selling to. I could definitely picture this woman living here. She lives in the same town and is splitting up with her husband, has 2 kids. The same as I was when I bought this house! I had a pretty strong inkling that my buyer would be a lot like me and I marketed it that way.

That was Tuesday. This Sunday will be my first Open House. So I pretty much have to keep my house clean all week. I am nervous, of course, but confident too. I would love to wrap up this sale before the end of April. Everything else seems to go my way, why wouldn't this?

goodbye memory lane

I decided to take a walk after dinner tonight. As I rounded the corner of my street I realized that I had not gone for a walk in months. This was something I used to do twice every day when I had Snoop. Since I gave him away the weather has sucked, and I've been so busy and tired at night.

So, as the sounds of the chirping birds lifted my spirits and my anticipation of spring, I was countered by feelings of loss. I miss my doggie. Well, really, maybe it's not so much that I miss him. It's more that I'm worried about him and what he thinks of me. Would you call that guilt?

I forged ahead and turned my thoughts to the good instead of the bad, which is my nature. I started to get some good fresh air in my lungs, breathed deep which I sometimes (OFTEN) forget to do. Decided to take a longer route than I normally would...

I approached a house where the sidewalk was covered in chalk drawings. Awwwww. My heart always opens when I see such things cuz it takes me right back to the early years when my girls would decorate my entire driveway and both sidewalks with their masterpieces. I absolutely loved giving them new buckets of colored chalk every spring. I secretly wanted one for myself, but I let my little budding artists go nuts with it. By late summer all that was left in the bucket were little colored nubs. The pink was always gone first.

Just as I started to get all nostalgic remembering Maria in her happier, carefree days I walked into a large I <3 MOM scrawled in bright pink chalk. Tears welled up in my eyes. I swallowed it away and forged ahead.

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I walked right into my old neighborhood--the one where we lived for over 10 years. I recognized old craggy trees, familiar gardens I used to admire and even the same crooked sidewalks. I'd maneuvered those sidewalks for all those years, whether pushing a stroller, pulling a wagon, or riding bikes with my little ones. Still not fixed, but full of character, just like the neighborhood.

I realized that I'd soon be saying goodbye to all these familiar places, forever. I doubt I'll ever see them again once I move to LA. It made me feel sad, mostly because I already miss Maria. The best memories I have of her were made in the years we lived in that neighborhood. I know she's no longer a part of it, but to me it's something tangible that reminds me of her. Though I have to leave the neighborhood behind, you know I'll hold on tight to all the memories that were made there.

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