I'm Okay *smile*

Just stopped in to let you all know I am okay.

No news yet on the house. We are working on offer number 5,6,7...heck I can't even remember anymore. All I know is...I want to be pleased with my decision. 20 to 30 years is a long time to have to live with regrets. So, while I'm waiting on the outcome I've been checking out other listings 24/7, busying myself with work and life general bumps in the road.

I received an email from Glen over at Man-Over-Board yesterday. Apparently, he's been MIA as well. I hope all is well with him and all my "pallies".

Hopefully, I'll have more time to devote to the blogosphere again very soon.

Love you all and I'll catch ya later...

I'm Exhausted...

Still no decision about the house. I'm waiting on an FHA appraisal, home inspection...negotiations regarding whatever the home inspection turns up (hopefully nothing). Freakin' out over the amount that will be due at CLOSING and second guessing myself like a contestant on 'The Price Is Right'!

I haven't had a good night's sleep in days. My mind's racing a mile a millisecond every hour of the day. I'm over the initial excitement and just ready for this to be over.

Not to mention the stress of moving the rest of my furniture out of the house I shared with my ex-husband for 13 years of my life this weekend. He's so angry...but that's a whole 'nother story and to be perfectly honest.....not my problem.

Sorry I haven't been around more. As soon as all this is sorted out....I'll get back to my old routine. Thanks again for all the well wishes, support, prayers and advice!

Thursday Thunks

Great meme for making you think thunk.....well I guess I'm the one doing the thinking...and you get to find out just a little bit more about me. Visit Thursday Thunks to see what others are thunking...lol!

1. What is your favorite kind of cookie? Peanut Butter with little peanuts baked in...yum

2. If a birds wing falls asleep, does it hurt when it tries to flap it's wings or does that make it feel better? It probably hurts at first and gradually begins to feel better...or atleast that's what Big Bird told me O_O

3. Water - tab, bottle, filtered or....??? Bottle!

4. Would you (or do you) have a stripper pole installed in your home? Do not but have considered it...

5. Do you still have any Christmas decoration up? No

6. What brand of camera do you have? Olympus

7. Why do paint colors have weird names? Group of people somewhere with nothing better to do

8. Which toe is your favorite and which foot is it on? 2nd toe left foot because it's cute

9. What would you do if a celebrity sneezed in your face? Fake an allergic reaction and sue

10. If a stranger came to your door and asked for a glass of water, would you give it to them? Of course

11. The government has asked that you pick the newest national holiday - what is it? IRS Memorial Day - honoring the memory of the Internal Revenue - which I would have shut down in order for the holiday to make any sense!

12. How many toothpicks could you fit into a beer can? As many as it would hold

13. What's the weirdest excuse you ever gave for missing school or work...or heck, even a social function, date, whatever? Called in once and told the supervisor my father had passed away....which was true...he had died 3 years earlier O_o

14. Can we stop now? Please

Wordless Wednesday - If Only Life Were This Easy...

Monday Meme - Answer The Question

I'm really starting to like this meme stuff. I found another great one a few minutes ago....well I thought it would be kind of fun. The thing is everyone kind of has to play along to make it even worth the trouble of posting.

So, please.....indulge me

Here's how you play: The person before you has asked you a question. You’ll answer their question in the comments as well as ask the next person a question. The next person answers their question, and asks another, etc….....fun, right? (O_O)

Okay, I'll kick things off

Question:
What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Screw Stouffer's...It's Time For My Culinary Debut!

Oh my God...Oh my God...I think my house found me!

Many of my friends both real life and here in Blogsville told me I would know my house. Nobody ever told me how I'd know....but I imagine it's very similar to the feeling I had this morning when I walked into my future home.

It's almost like I could envision myself there. I saw early morning awakenings after a quiet and peaceful night's sleep. I saw myself lounging on the couch dozing while watching one of my favorite Turner Classic movies. I saw myself picking pecans up off the lawn...I think there were about thirteen pecan trees to choose from on that little acre God has designated just for me. I saw myself grilling for friends and family on the deck in the backyard that's strategically positioned facing the west so we can watch many many beautiful sunsets.

All of these visions were crystal clear. My house spoke to me. It was almost surreal. I knew it had to be the real thing when I saw my final vision.

It was me cooking in my kitchen. I've tried for the past hour to find a pic similar to the layout of my kitchen. The one above is the closest I came to it. In three words.....I LOVE IT!

I've never been much of a cook...guilt, necessity and a freezer void of any TV dinners are about the only reasons I've ever ventured into the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Well those days are over. This kitchen is one of the most inviting spaces in the house. Huge stainless steel appliances softly whispering their desire for me to ignite their flames....*giggling as I type*.

Saturday morning showings aren't very common around here. The realtor contacted me late Friday evening and made the appointment. This was my second time viewing the house my home.

We headed back to her office and I made an offer. I'll know by 5:00pm tomorrow whether the seller's have accepted or not that I'm officially a home owner.

Pray.....

Saturday Six Meme - Complete Randomness

Found this neat little meme over at The Daily Meme. It's a really cool site. They have some sort of meme for every frickin' day of the week. Several different ones were available for Saturday....but for some reason...I liked this one the best.

Just in case you haven't already figured it out it's called Saturday Six.

Six random questions, situations, tidbits of knowledge, etc. for everyone to play along with. Hope you're feeling kinda frisky and decide to join in!

Here we go! Six random situations. Tell what music/song you would listen to in that situation...

1. Music to make love to?
2. Painting a wall?
3. Driving to work?
4. Driving home from work?
5. Cleaning the house?
6. Sunbathing?

Pet Diaries - From a Dog and Cat's Perspective

Every now and then you run across something that is almost priceless...and this Pet Diary posted on FunnyJunk.com is definitely worth re-posting. I didn't realize just how 'spot on' this human interpretation of what dogs and cats might possibly be thinking was until I became the proud tormentor owner of two kittehs of my own.

Here's an excerpt from a dog's diary

8:00am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
13:00pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
15:00pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
17:00pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
19:00pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
20:00pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
23:00pm - Sleeping on my bed! My favorite thing!

Here's an excerpt from a cat's diary

Day 983 of my captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped it's headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I'm capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies'. I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He his regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.......

Being Mind Boggled Can Be Cool ....

Okay, I'm almost a week into this house "window" shopping thing. You know I've figured out that's exactly what it is...As a seller, you're not just selling a property...you're selling the idea of what I'll look like and what my things will look like in your property.

I guess that's why staging is so important...removing clutter, and decorating it just so...to appeal to the eye of the buyer...Checking for termites, screw-y piping, cracked foundations, and all the other extremely important crap...comes after you visually fall in love with your space...

What nutjob said "looks aren't everything". I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume he never purchased a house.

I've learned so much in this past week...phrases like recess lighting, subway tile, split floor plan, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, motivated seller, open spaces and yes...the big one CLOSING COSTS (queue the music from the Psycho shower scene)...I'm getting baptized by fire a real real estate crash course education.

I haven't had an opportunity to post very much or visit my pallies (I love that word Lin!). But as soon as this is over...I'll be back to my old self.

I'll post pics as soon as I know what I'm going to pick.

Miss you guys...but I'm really having a great time. You just don't know...well most of you do...how much I needed this. It's almost the icing on my independence cake!

Oh...BTW...if you're curious about the pic...it's a replication of my brain activity during the past week...induced by house-hunting crack!!!!

It's such a rush..........

What's The Return Policy

After endless worrying about my dental appointment last week, I was relieved to re-schedule for a day later this week due to insurance coverage issues. Wow, dodged that bullet (temporarily of course).

As if my day couldn't possibly get any better, I received a call from the bank informing me that I had been pre-qualified for a home mortgage loan. Are you serious...was the response I gave the mortgage loan officer when she told me the amount I'd qualified for.

I grabbed all my old property listing info guides, went on virtual tours of those that looked promising....I even hopped in my car and started roaming the city in hopes of finding a few hidden treasures that were for sale by owner.

Needless to say it's been a pretty busy weekend.

I've finally narrowed my "wish list" down to about 5 properties. I'll be viewing three of those later on today.

I just can't help but feel a teeny weeny bit of apprehension. I mean this is one of the most important decisions I'll make in my mortal life!

It isn't like falling in love with those to-die-for-pumps in my favorite department store...just to realize I'm not as crazy about them as I thought once I get 'em home...and turning around a week later and returning them to the store for a full refund or exchanging them for the other to-die-for pair I didn't notice the first time.

This will be a done deal...sealed with my blood, sweat and I'm sure....tears.

I'm taking my time and not falling into that trap I've been imprisoned by so many times before...leaping before I look. I imagine the return policy for a purchase of this magnitude isn't as simple as presenting a receipt and telling the lender...ummm...this isn't working for me.

Advice is coming out of the woodwork....HGTV has been rolling all weekend....I love that channel.

I'm feeling really good about the whole thing...and I somehow get the feeling that as soon as I see "my home" I'll know it.