90% of the reason I have been so worried and stressed over this house is the financing. It was one of those things that you think you have a handle on and everything is taken care of MONTHS ahead of time… only to be blind-sided by something completely out in left field and utterly beyond your control. The only thing left to do was to become creative and search outside the box for answers in a very short amount of time.

I’ve probably gained ten pounds in the last three weeks alone and every ounce of chocolate was well worth the preservation of my sanity. There were even a few days that I couldn’t be excited anymore because I was so worried that the “fairy tale” was going to vanish right before my eyes.

There is something to be said for “digging your ditches” because even when I felt that all hope was lost I kept packing, planning, and window shopping. Some small part of me kept holding out that it was all going to be ok.
I went into the kitchen this morning to locate something chocolate to calm my nerves… I instead found myself making a peanut butter sandwich on sourdough. In a flash I was transported back to my grandma’s kitchen where the two of us would make peanut butter sandwiches on sourdough, in some strange way it was like she was there. I’m sure that everything is going to be ok now… we’ve come too far and worked too hard to have it conclude any other way.

So as I sit here waiting for THE phone call… my phone ringer is set to Dean Martin’s “Ain’t Love A Kick in the Head” because, it makes me feel good. The first line that plays when my phone rings is, “how lucky can one guy be…” which, while not gender correct, reminds me that I’m very blessed and very lucky.

Happy HNT!! Took this pic back on 04/07 on our day trip over to Pismo Beach, CA.

Summer is just a couple of months away so I thought a beach shot would be appropriate ;o)

Aw crap, Bonanza tagged me the other day. I’ve got to tell you that I have mixed feelings on the whole thing. After all, this is the second time she’s tagged me and I can only assume she either likes me or really hates me. ;o)

Either way, I’m cool with it because other than obsessing over the house or complaining about my stress over the house or complaining about FSBO’ing the old house… I’m dried up, I’ve got nothing but a pathetic diatribe over why I compulsively read the movie spoiler website.

So… like me or hate me… thanks Bonanza, you probably saved my rear. Just so you know, in my “positive thoughts and prayers for other people” moments I often think of you and sincerely wish that the universe will render Dutch Oven odorless. Hope it works.

Now, I admit that I have not been my usual chatty self lately, but I promise that I do lurk about my usual blogs even if I don’t actually comment. Sometimes, I just don’t want to bore the blog owner and other times I just can’t think of anything to say at all.

That said, I have to thank a few people who have been kind enough to write interesting things that actually take me out of my own head for a while. Loads of thanks to: Zube, Bonanza, MrsFortune, CrazyLady, Marti, 3T, Chickie and Kentucky Girl.

Now, on with the Meme (I have no clue how to pronounce that… in my head it’s always “meem” just like even though I KNOW that Zube is actually ZuBEE, I still just think of it as Zube rhyming with rube) I’m supposed to tell you 6 things that no one else knows about me, but since Mike (like Bonanza’s Dutch Oven) knows EVERYTHING about me whether he likes to or not, I’m going to have to pretend that he doesn’t exist.

Here goes:

1.) I hate returning things, anything, even if it doesn’t fit, match or is broken. I will THROW it AWAY or stuff it in a closet somewhere before I’ll return it. I don’t have the patience to stand at customer service and wait forever to deal with a dimbulb who has to talk to 6 different supervisors before she can give me my refund.

Mike, on the other hand, will stand in line to return something for a $2.00 refund. He is the household “returner.” In fact, he once orchestrated a double purchase and single return to thwart a bogus return policy and get the better sale price because he only wanted ONE of the items, but wanted the better price. Don’t ask me how it worked because, quite frankly, I didn’t understand it and he would have to explain it anyway.

2.) I’ve been a mom since I was 15. Although, many of you with the ability to do basic math have probably already figured this one out. It’s a long sordid story and part of my very strange past that I pretty much choose to pretend doesn’t exist.

3.) I have a very nasty temper. Although, I honestly have learned to keep it in check. My mom used to tell me I had a razor blade for a tongue (or something very much like that anyway). It typically only rears its’ ugly head when I am listening to right-wing morons who proclaim themselves to be “christian” and then act anything but. Well, that’s ONE of the things that sets it off in full force.

4.) I had planned to be an attorney. I even took pre-law courses… then life happened.

5.) I hate going to the post office or DMV. In fact, I will do absolutely almost anything to avoid doing either. 99% of my household business is done online.

6.) I’ve been told I’m a great mom and that I have wonderful kids. I do think I have wonderful kids but I have doubts as to my parenting abilities. I figure if these kids turn out to be awesome adults and productive members of society then they should be given 90% of the credit and I’ll take 10% for keeping them alive, fed, clothed and sheltered. ;o)

*sigh* well, there’s another meme finished. One day I might do a some sort of meme collection or category on here, that might be interesting.

Ok, so I’m supposed to tag some people… and today I feel obnoxious enough to do just that, so here goes:

• MrsFortune
• Chickie
• Marti
• 3T

Remember in “When Harry Met Sally” when Harry told Sally that he always reads the last page of a book first just in case he dies before he is able to finish it? My guilty pleasure isn’t that morbid, but it’s in the same ballpark.

I have a very long list of movies that I really can’t handle emotionally. This includes, prison movies, movies depicting scenes of torture, movies depicting realistic violent scenes, and movies like “Terms of Endearment” “Love Story” and “Beaches.” Now, I’ve seen Beaches, Terms and Love Story… and I sobbed for HOURS afterward and then was depressed for nearly a week. The same goes for “Ghost” as well.

I’ve also made the mistake of seeing “American Me” and “Shawshank Redemption.” I read the novella by Stephen King, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” - which was awesome… but there is something entirely different about actually SEEING it.

Other movies that fall into the “cannot see” category are, “The Patriot,” “We Were Soldiers,” and “Braveheart” Funny how all three of these are Mel Gibson movies as well, isn’t it?

That being said, I have a “thing” for ghost stories and suspense thrillers. I absolutely loved “What Lies Beneath” with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfieffer. Also loved “The Others” with Nicole Kidman. “The Sixth Sense” was great - but again, when I realized he was dead, there I was crying, because it was just sad.

So, my guilty pleasure is this great movie spoiler website. I love being able to read all about a movie that interests me without having to a.) waste two hours I don’t have watching it and b.) possibly end up traumatized. ;o)

I know, it’s really strange… so maybe I should call it “A Strange, Guilty Pleasure.”

This is pretty much the only way we have been able to see into our house, until this weekend that is. Even though we are only two and a half weeks away from our walk-through, none of us are able to contain our curiosity. Fortunately, only Ethan was dumb enough to get captured on camera not containing his curiosity.

You are supposed to get a guard pass anytime you go out to visit your lot or new home construction. I figure a suburban with a carseat containing a toddler, two kids, and a mom with a digital camera snapping pictures - is probably all the “guard pass” I actually require.

Besides… I don’t need proof on paper of how neurotic I am about this house.

We dropped by today, walked into the backyard and proceeded to check all the doors to see if any of the contractors had forgotten to lock-up. Not because we were worried about security, but because we wanted to get IN and have a look around. Yesterday they left the sliding glass door unlocked, today they left the garage door.

I actually get an evil little thrill when I get to break the rules. No guard pass AND I snuck into the house during the “lock down” phase. Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah!!!!

Want to see what I found?

I knew you did!

This is the house in all of its’ current glory. The garage door and front door still need to be painted, the roof tile still needs to be finished (see it stacked there?) and of course, they have to put up the lights, house number, etc. However, this IS the color of the house.

We were really worried when the color coat was finished because it looked gray, very gray. The good news is that color coat takes quite a while to dry completely. Today it looks like a lovely shade of silvery-sage. I’m really happy with it.

I originally had this great post done with several pictures… somehow, my browser window closed and I lost more than half of the freaking post. So, I invite you to step over to my flickr album and take a peek at the pictures of the inside which include the kitchen, fireplace, and master bathroom.

Let me know what you think!!!

I sort of liked this one… and I took it accidentally, funny how those things work out, isn’t it? Happy HNT!

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In other news… the weather is warm (low 80’s) and I’m really enjoying it. I love stormy weather but I’m awfully tired of all the chilly temps.

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My posts have been less frequent lately… after months of slow-paced packing and even less speedy construction, we are FINALLY in the home stretch. I’ll post pictures very soon of the current state of the house. They were color-coating it yesterday or whatever the appropriate construction term is.

I’ve spent this week arranging utilities, finalizing the loan and other financial crap, and getting the (old) house up on the local listing services.

I tried to buzz around a bit yesterday and say hello to as many of my blog buddies as I could… I miss the regular blog routine, I really do.

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Finally, for those of you looking for unique gifts for mom, grandma (or Nana and Granny), or graduates take a peek here!

I can’t do this anymore. Creatively I’m tapped out. I’d love to write something funny, but I just don’t have anything. As insane as it sounds moving and this whole “buying a new house” thing has me absolutely fried.

The house seems to consume everything, including Easter. After the egg hunts yesterday we actually hopped, pardon the bunny pun, into the car and drove from my mom’s house to the new house (a less than 5 minute drive, thank goodness) so that everyone could walk around and peep through the windows.

I swear this house is swallowing my life.

Within the next few minutes or so, I will actually find out what the exact closing date of the new house is. I’ll even have a date for the walk-through. It’s just that close to being over and done.

I don’t think I’m going to relax until we’ve moved in… and even then some tension will remain until we sell this house. After all, I can’t purchase the bulk of my new furniture until the old house is sold. I hate being grown-up and responsible.

The kids are on pins and needles as well. The tension is running through the entire family. In some ways, this is exactly like being pregnant and waiting for labor to start… today? tomorrow? next week? Maybe we should induce?

I look around at the other houses on the street and it is very much like sitting at the OB’s office and looking at the other women with your due date. Weeks later you say, “We had the same due date… why did SHE go first?”

Once the houses are finished I’ll stand out in my front yard and swear mine is the cutest/nicest/most well-behaved… much like women do with their first (and second, third, etc.) babies. In fact, I’ll probably be resentful that my house is having to share space on the same block with other houses that aren’t as cute/nice/well-behaved or have owners/parents that I like or approve of.

Up until this point, I’ve honestly stayed away from the sales office and I don’t harass anyone at the building company, unlike the annoying neighbors across the street. Did I happen to mention that we ended up speaking to the dork husband a couple of weekends ago?

He informed us that his wife was going to have a daycare at their house (auuugh, kids, other people’s kids… germs can’t cross asphalt, can they?) and that they are turning their backyard into a “playground.” Good for them, that’s fine… I half-listened until something caught my attention and internally my thoughts were, “Oh NO! He did NOT just say that!!!” But, yes… yes he did.

They chose the same color scheme for their house as we did… ok, fine. But, how exactly did they know what color scheme we chose? That’s because they snooped inquired at the office as to all the houses around them including which neighbors had opted for which upgrades and, most importantly, which neighbors had opted for a pool.

This officially makes them the nosiest neighbors I have ever met.

Hope they aren’t expecting us to join in on block parties… heck, I hope they aren’t expecting to be invited to any barbecues over at the Doran house, because it’s not going to happen.

In my more calm, insane moments, I imagine myself prancing down the stairs of the new house, dancing to “Come Fly With Me” by Sinatra or Michael Buble. Very much like Mel Gibson in “What Women Want.” Only far less graceful and without a hat. Scenes from our future life in the new house play in my imaginings like cheesy cruise line commercials, but with better music.

I may have finally lost it. This might very well be the last coherent post published on this blog and it isn’t exactly “all there” either.

Back in reality, our dishnetwork satellite link or connection has been blinking out up to 90 times in one hour (and I’m not exaggerating, it’s in my error record, honest!) - typically it goes out a crucial point in a show or movie. I’ve been reduced to wearing out my Seasons 1 & 2 of Seinfeld. I now know why cable companies make commercials that show people kicking the holy crap out of their stupid dishes. I’m 99.9% there myself.

It seems that somehow the house has realized that we are truly on our way out and is now puking up every little nasty thing it has as if to say, “Who the hell wants you here anyway? Go on… Get OUT!”

I’m sorry to continue obsessing over every little detail of the construction and move. It seems to be taking up every aspect of my life anyway.

Blaaaagh!

I may have no other choice than to take up basket weaving.

Kate turns eleven years old today. She had her very first slumber party last night at my mom’s house (because our house is not finished yet). She invited her three closest friends who are absolutely adorable and all very sweet. I could not believe the laughter and giggles coming from the tent in my mom’s back yard.

I called my mom this morning and apparently the girls went in to get my brother, GJ, last night (more than once) to come outside and make sure there wasn’t anyone sneaking around the tent (read: ghosts, etc.)

I talked to Kate this morning and she said that the girls got so scared they ended up sleeping two to a sleeping bag. Kate said that they would walk away from this adventure “very different friends.”

The tent they slept in last night was an 8 man tent that our family has used for years. My mom slept in it as a teenager up at Huntington Lake, then my cousins and I used it when we took our big family camping trips up to Shaver or Huntington Lake.

Later I would use it in the backyard with my girlfriends just the way Kate did last night. Late nights with junk food, ghost stories and giggles… wow, remembering that makes me really not like being a grown up. Being a teenager sucked but there are those rare, shining moments that made it all worthwhile. My goal is to make sure those moments are not so rare for my kids.

Aha! Finally… a little festivity and something other than feet and legs. A little pink, a pink bunny peep, jelly beans, colored eggs… oh, and a dash of cleavage. How’s that for HNT?

Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday and Happy Easter!