Tuesday, December 13, 2005

December 13

Our house sold in 10 hours......that must be some kind of record.  I showed the house myself to about 6 people on Tuesday morning and at 3:30 we accepted a full price offer.  They waived the home inspection too, SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!  Ok, so we're happy. 

THEN, of course something bad has to happen.

We lost the house we bid on.  I'm still too upset to discuss it. 

Ok, so...yesterday I went up by myself and looked at some new houses.  Brand new, in fact its still being built.  I found one that will work.  Its not the glorious house we lost but its ok.  So, tomorrow we go up again and meet with the builder to see if we can get some things changed to the inside.  We'll have to rent for about 2 months, its not going to be complete till Feb. Anyway, thats how things are going.  Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

Monday, December 5, 2005

December

Ok, so I havent written anything in a few months.  Been busy.  So, heres an update that should last until the new year.

Joe finally got a job with Dominion Va Power and its up in Hopewell.  Well, even though I wanted to stay in Newport News and have him commute (not forever) until we had time to scope out the area, noooooooooooooooooo....he wants to move right away.  I think its a bad idea but I'm out voted.  So, I start looking within a 30 mile radius from his work.  Not much, its slim pickins fer sure.  Well, we have some criteria to meet like it has to be on at least 5 acres......it has to be a ranch-style house and it must have bigger bathrooms than my current house.  Ok, no problem right?  (laughing hysterically)  The first one we saw looked great as we were driving up to it......once I got within 50 feet of the front door, all I could smell was cat piss...........not just a hint either........it was almost visible stench.  I smiled at the realtor and said "PASS".  And onward we drove to the next house which also looked fine from outside.  The inside was odd and disjointed and the bathrooms were like broom closets. <BUZZZZZZZ> next.  So, the next one was alittle bigger, not too bad, at least it was livable but it just wasnt giving me a good vibe.  Joe agreed and we moved on.  The next few had various things wrong with the insides...too small, too old, etc.  Then she says, oh by the way, lets go have a look at this one down the road, the house has a contract on it but the sellers and buyers are bickering and it will probably be back on the market in a few days.  Its close so we say ok.  Its a new construction, almost finished.  And of course it has everything we want. Its a 3 bed, 2 bath and has 10 acres.  We both love it and ask her to call the realtor and see if we can make a bid.  The contract is going forward with the other buyer, we're out of luck.  We leave dejected and pissed off.  I arrange for us to take a few days off while I gather more listings for us to view.  Ok, so we drive back up last Wednesday, its a long drive.  My agent is meeting us at the first house, I've lined up 7 properties to look at.  The first one is right across the street from active railroad tracks.......PASS.  The second one is nice...I like it....Joe doesnt....we argue and leave pissed.  The next twowere crap.  We drive up to the next one and the people are home.  Its very nice on the outside, on 5 acres and in a small town.  As soon as I walk into the front door I KNEW that this was my house.  I was estatic, it had everything and more.  The master bedroom is as big as our current living room and dining room put together.  The master bath is bigger than my garage.  I swear, I started crying.  The great thing is, the kids rooms are on the opposite side of the house.  The living room and kitchen are very open and big.  There is a utility room off the back door and enough room for everything I have plus more.  We write an offer the next day and they accept. Ok so enough about the house.

So, we're in the throes of getting our house ready to list, 4 days of painting and cleaning. The realtor calls.  Oh, by the way, it seems that house you guys loved......you know, the one that had the contract on it? Well, it may be coming available, we think the deal is falling through.  Joe is thrilled. I'm not so thrilled.  I love the house I picked.  It has 2000 square feet and a garden tub.  The other house had a garden tub but it was only 1500 square feet AND all the bedrooms were clumped on one end of the house.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.  So, let the arguing begin.  He thinks its closer to work so I look it up.  Its about 15 miles closer BUT that 15 miles is rural roads...some not paved.  The other house has an on-ramp for the highway only 1 mile from our house, which shoots him directly to the plant.  He's being difficult.  He says, but you loved this house first.  I say, yes, I did, before I saw the new house.  The first house costs 220,000, is smaller and has no sheds.  The new house is 159,000 and is huge and has sheds.  You do the math.  I know I'm right and I'm sticking to my guns.  So, anyway, we focus on other stuff for awhile to break the tension.  We get the house on the market and busy ourselves cleaning.  I log on and I have mail from my realtor.  Oh darn, she was wrong, the house sold. Yay!  I tell Joe in a semi-somber tone so he doesnt think I'm happy, even though he knows I am.  I mean, I cant go backwards.  Once I saw the new house, the first house looked like a shoebox. Anyway, I have my first showing of our house tomorrow at 6pm.  Wish us luck!  All I want for Christmas is full asking price!

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Almost Fall

Leaves are turning and my second busiest season is just about here.  Sydney and Mom got back Aug.31 and we were in a race to get the kids ready for school.  Mom left Sept. 16 and it was all downhill from there.  So, after she ties up some loose ends, she's coming down here to live with us.  Joe still hasnt decided on a job, so we dont know if we're moving yet or not.  Its very nerve-whracking.  Business is still very good and I work dusk to dawn.  I'm still determined to go back to school as soon as we're settled, I'm actually extremely excited.......I love school. 

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Hottest Days of Summer

Well, June flew by.........where did it go?!  Even though everyone is gone and its just me and Avery, time is sure flying.  Joe found out he'll be coming home around the middle of Aug., much earlier than we thought.  Yay.

Work has been crazy.  Right now the weather is forcing me to work only half days.  Yesterday it was 106, the heat index brought it up to 120.  I worked until 11 am and had to stop.  Its ruining my schedule.  Today is supposed to be cooler, only in the 90's.  August 1st is coming up fast and before you know it school will be starting again.  I'm so tired, I need a vacation.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

May is slipping away

Rain.   2 days of it.  Screws me allllllllllllllll up.  I'm going to try cutting tomorrow but my guess is that it will be gummy. 

Joe left on the 16th.  I'm feeling sad and disconnected.  My days are taken up with work and kids but from 8:30pm on I miss him.

It will be nice to have Mom here on the 14th.  I always feel more pulled together when she comes.  I'll take a few days off and get in some quality time before they leave.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

May

Oh my aching allergies.  Runny nose, itchy eyes, constant sneezing.  Claratin does not work on me.  Anyway, I'm still busy as a bee.  I'm trying to keep from using Denise as much as possible, it saves me so much.  Work is good, I'm content.

Joe leaves on the 16th.  I'm not happy  about it.  We dont know when they'll let him come back.  It could be as early as Sept. or as late as Oct.  Nerve wracking.

My Mom gets here June 14th and she'll be staying till the 22nd.  Then her and Syd fly up to Canada until August.  I'm excited for them.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

End of April

Well, I've worked every day (except for 1 rain day) since March.  I'm completely booked for next month and am still managing to squeeze in an extra job here and there. I'm exhausted. I decided to only have Denise work with me till June when the kids get out of school.  I'm losing too much money paying her. I've restricted myself to only using her when the jobs are over $150. and I need to get them done fast.  I used her this morning for 2 hours and it was worth it, we finished a 5 hour job in 2 hours and I had time to fit in another 2 jobs and an estimate. I'm doing well but I think if I could clone myself I'd be doing much better HA!

Friday, April 22, 2005

Averys b-day

Today my son is 11, it's so crazy to me.  He's gotten so big, he's almost as tall as me now.  We'll be celebrating his b-day tonight when Joe gets home.

Saturday, April 16, 2005

April is Madness

Wow.  One day the phone just started ringing and it hasnt stopped yet.  I've had to turn down over 2 dozen jobs so far, I just dont have the time.  I finished a job this week that was huge and hired 2 extra people to help me.  I also made enough money to buy a riding mower, YAY!, a John Deere.  Its so nice, I love it.  Anyway, I'm off today to do estimates. I'll try and write again before summers over!

Friday, March 11, 2005

March is here

Well, we're into march and the rain/snow/sleet,etc is here about every 2-3 days.  just when I think its safe to get out and work..........it snows. I've worked on and off the last 2 months but not nearly enough.  I also did my taxes, I was shitting my pants about that.  It turned out that I zeroed out and will not have to pay (YAY). The tax guy said I kept very good books, hehe.  Anyway, next month I'm expecting to get busy.  Until then I'm just trying to get by.

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

I'm still alive

Amazing that this much time can pass and it never once dawned on me to write an entry.  I was working every day up till X-mas, busy as hell.  As soon as the new year arrived business pretty much dried up.  I'm scratching for every job now and hating life.  I flew up to Canada to visit my Mom last weekend and got snowed in, it was fun.  Her new house is really nice and I had a great time letting her take care of me, no kids, no responsiblities...................ah.  Now I'm back and the stress continues.