June 8, 2007 | Haven't been hit by lightning yet!

Today is Colonial Day at school, otherwise known as the day after the day when I realize I’m supposed to buy full colonial garb for my child and settle for something with a long flowy skirt and maybe stay up until midnight attempting to make a bonnet out of a napkin and some lace.

Hooray!

One of the perks of today is that parents are invited to join the children for a picnic lunch. At breakfast (while I was braiding her hair, Laura Ingalls-style) Chickadee casually mentioned that lunch needs to be authentic.

“Authentic?”

“Yeah! No processed foods, no plastic… pack it in a basket!” (more…)

June 6, 2007 | The Year of Living Changerously, What do I do all day?

I may have sort of kind of forgotten what a colossal pain in the ass it is to move. Perhaps I blocked it out, much like labor. (”See, I have a beautiful child here! I know nothing of this searing pain and ruined anatomy of which you speak!”) Like that.

The phone has become my constant companion. I need to talk to lots of people. They are not interested in my pool or my gazebo, but they would very much like to make sure that their bills follow me wherever I may go, so we’re spending a lot of time making sure that that can happen.

Also Otto and I need to talk approximately twenty times a day to go over important matters such as WHOSE SILVERWARE SHALL REIGN SUPREME (mine) and SHOULD WE GET NEW DINING ROOM FURNITURE RATHER THAN MOVE MINE (yes) and WHAT COLOR IS THE PAINT IN THERE (beige). Already our marriage is all about timeless romance. (more…)

June 5, 2007 | The Year of Living Changerously, Woohoo!

Let’s review, shall we? Last week we made an offer on our first choice house and were turned down, and then made an offer on a second house. (Second Choice House is conveniently located next door to First Choice House.) And after a bit of kerfuffle—not to mention the entire weekend—we were also turned down for Second Choice House.

At this point, Otto and I hit the real estate listings and we hit them hard. We found ONE more house that we thought might meet our needs. Otto called his realtor and arranged to see it on Monday afternoon (that’s yesterday).

My phone rang yesterday afternoon. I saw Otto’s number on the caller ID and picked up, full of hope. (more…)

June 4, 2007 | It's not a regret, it's an "experience", The Year of Living Changerously

Oh, my pretties. The stories I will tell you. The things I’ll be able to spill, once this is all over and done. The tales with which I’ll be able to regale anyone who might be thinking about trying to sell a couple of houses and buy a new one… well, it’ll make you go home and kiss the floor in gratitude, I’m sure.

But right now, a good portion of it will have to wait. Fingers are crossed and prayers are being said and once we are all settled in and I am no longer waiting for the sky to fall—assuming that point ever comes, that is—I will say more.

For right now, I can tell you two things: First, We are not buying Second Choice House. Second, I think the lady who owns it should seek professional help. (more…)

June 3, 2007 | Job? Huh?

Hey! Know what would be funny? If the “I need a night to sleep on it” from the homeowner turned into a full 24 hours that ended with “Gee, I need another day.” That would be HYSTERICAL. Oh. Wait. Actually, THAT wouldn’t be hysterical so much as that it would cause ME to be hysterical. Small matter of nuance, I suppose.

To offset the sheer joy of being me right now, you may have noticed I’ve been working a lot. Well, there’s another place to find me up and running, now, and I swear not to talk houses over there at all. Well, not unless they’re dollhouses.

June 2, 2007 | The Year of Living Changerously

Otto and I thought it would be really fun to spend the the last week playing “let’s pretend the housing market makes any sense at all.”

I could tell you the rules, but it’s pretty complicated and involves a lot of invective about Otto’s realtor, who has become—unfairly or not—the main target of all of my angst about our current situation. It doesn’t help that she is very! enthusiastic! all the time! even though half of what she says never actually, you know, HAPPENS.

After spending the week playing our delightful new game (or just, you know, freaking out and crying a lot about how we’re going to be broke and homeless) (yeah, that was me, not Otto), we made an offer on a house. This house, actually.

They turned us down. (more…)