Tag Archives: moving

the house hunting diaries…

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Yesterday, Fishdog and I spent several hours with our real estate agent (whom I love, love, love) house hunting. I had seen one of the houses a couple of times and we kept coming back to it. So I needed to look at it once more to see if it was gonna stay on our list or be voted off.

I think we voted it off. We could make it work, but this being a buyer’s market, we have too many options.

The next house we went to see was technically perfect. It was totally remodeled and nicely done at that. All we would’ve had to do would be replace the ugly ass front door, fence in the backyard and build a deck. I liked the house a lot but for some reason, it left me cold. I kept thinking as we were looking at it, “I should love this house.” But I didn’t love it. I liked it. We kept it on the list but I knew this wasn’t going to be our house. We moved on.

The third house we went to see was very typical of us. We like the 50s-70s style ranch homes (my God, they are so sturdy) and this house was built in 1955. I actually expected not to like it. I had seen the pics and it just didn’t look like a place I wanted to live.

I was wrong. It was such a funky, fun little place. It needs quite a bit of work. (new countertops, remove cabinets from over the bar to open up the kitchen, refinishing floors and new lights) But the house has personality and character. It moved to the top of the list.

Then we went to see the Love Shack. This house is everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s in a neighborhood that was built around several lakes, it has a pool, hot tub, awesome alien looking dome pool house, decking all around that is in mint condition…and it still has the original 70s wall paper in the house. Totally cool. It needed a LOT of work (imagine that) but I loved it. And i wanted it. Bad.

But, I had to be practical. (That is so hard for me) And in the end, after I listed out the pros and the cons, we decided it was not the house for us. (I’m still a little in mourning, but honestly it really wasn’t the right house for us.)

We’ve made an offer on House #3 (but it’s #1 in our hearts) We’re taking the boys there today to look at it with them, sign the paperwork and hope that in a few weeks, we’ll have our own home in Little Rock, AR.

Now, if there’s anyone out there wanting a great deal on a beautiful home in Oxford, MS…let me know.

what time is it?

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It’s early, that’s for damn sure.

Too early to be up cleaning…which obviously I’m not doing since I’m blogging.

I can has procrastinashun.

Last night, after a full day of dusting, cleaning, sneezing and watching 2 movies (oops, I accidentally sat down with the TV on…that’ll show me!) I went to dinner with my friend Andrea. It was nice to just sit and chill…and sneeze. Damn those dusty blinds! where’s my claritin?

Now this morning I have to finish vacuuming the cat hair out of the air and off the furniture, mop the floor and hit the road. Fishdog was up all night working (I don’t know if getting this new Powerbook was such a good idea now) so he was coming to bed as I was making coffee. He’s gonna get up when the sun comes up, mow and clean the carport. Then we should be ready for this weekend’s open house.

We have to go back to Little Rock today because Ian’s first cross-country meet is this afternoon. It won’t be thrilling to sit at the finish line and wait, but it is thrilling that Ian is running. I hope he sticks it out.

Anyway, I think I’ve procrastinated enough. Must. Clean. (after another cup of coffee, of course…)

friday, part the 2nd…

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I volunteered at the school today and they worked me over like a cheap hooker. Okay, maybe not the best metaphor considering the fact this is a Catholic school, but you get the picture. It was 5 hours of hard labor–without an epidural. Trust me, drugs would’ve helped, tremendously.

I had a good time despite the fact I was wishing for a hit of pain killers. I hung out with a cool Egyptian chick (been in America since ’68 so really she’s more American than Egyptian now…) anyway, Maggie is the mother of 3 beautiful girls. You know, dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes…the kinda girls that will be called “exotic beauties” when they’re older. We had a great time. We spent the day moving and unpacking boxes and laughing at assisting the snooty other moms were also there to “help”.

So, this whole Catholic immersion thing is new to me. A: I’m protestant and a lapsed protestant at that. B: I think organized religion ruins spirituality C: What do you mean Mass doesn’t count except on Saturday’s after 4:00 pm and on Sundays? If it doesn’t count, why the hell are y’all going all the damn time? But I’m hanging in there and being as supportive as I can be for a heathen an uneducated protestant.

Sometimes I worry one of the parents will find my blog and my kids will be kicked out because their mom has had naughty thoughts about Steve from Blue’s Clues (honestly, can they forgive a naughty river?), has posted half nekkid pictures of hot guys, is writing a Vampire YA, and gets pretty hot and bothered when reading MMF. Could you imagine that conversation?

“But she’s in PTO. She can’t be all bad.”
“But she likes reading MMF sex! I bet she liked watching Queer as Folk… (I did. Hot naked guys for 1 hour a week. Duh.)
“She writes about the undead. She’s a sinner.”
“We could convert her…”
“Um. Do we really want to convert her?”
“Good point.”

Of course, this is my overactive imagination working overdrive ( I write fiction, you know?) The school takes our money and welcomes us into their fold. It’s been fabulous there. The kids like it tremendously and I’ve felt very welcome by the people who count. (actually, the majority of the school and administration has been more than welcoming. Just one or two moms have tried their best to make me feel uncomfortable. They didn’t realize I thrive on the challenge..)

Just because I feel like it, here’s one of my favorite scenes from Rush Hour (shut up, I like this movie). It’s not the scene I quote the most… (“Do you hear the words that are comin’ out of my mouf?”) But it is one of my favorite scenes. Enjoy, bitches.

happy thursday, friends.

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Well, I’m here in Arkansas. It took me longer to leave Oxford yesterday than I had planned. Of course, I don’t know why I bother planning anything cuz this always happens.

I had to see Bevan one more time and say goodbye to my friend Mitch Cohen. I had to take Ian back to the dentist to be refitted for his bottom retainer…since it only lasted a week before he broke it. I had to run by the gym and tell them to PLEASE stop drafting my account and say goodbye to Rose, Veda, and Millisa. And Fire Inspector Clarence. We can’t forget Clarence.

The niece and nephew were thrilled to have us back. They loved on us and wouldn’t let the boys out of their sights.

Mom and I had a great time catching up, but I can already tell there’s gonna be an adjustment period to me living here until our house sells in Oxford.

We’re headed to Lake Ouachita (prounounced Washitah). We’re planning to be there til Sunday. I’m looking forward to a few days of fun in the sun before next week..when I start my fulltime writing gig and the boys go back to school.

BTW, congratulations to Jenna Mayson, Blogging Sex Kitten for winning the prize. She’s the first person to write the word clit in my comments. Your gift is in the mail. You rock.

I miss you, Fishdog.

breaking up is hard to do…

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Since we’re relocating, we have to sell the house. So, we’re trying the FSBO route first. I know that a Realtor can get us an mls and get us listed on multiple sites, but frankly, I don’t care. FSBO is the way to go for us. At least right now.

Last night we popped our “First Showing” cherry. Great couple. We had met them both before (Oxford is a very incestuous town. We all know each other. It’s like 6 degrees from Kevin Bacon) They are definitely a couple I would like to sell our house to. I think they liked it. They stayed for a pretty good while, looked around, asked questions. They left us feeling optimistic. Maybe they’ll wanna come back? Maybe they’ll call with an offer? Maybe I’m getting my hopes up…

Yeah. This is the part of FSBO that nobody talks about. The fear of rejection. When a Realtor shows your house, you only know it because they leave a card. You don’t get face time with the people who might end up rejecting your home. But with FSBO, you meet your potential rejectors. And that’s a bitter pill to swallow. What is wrong with our house? Did we talk too much? Was it clean enough? Is it overpriced? What is wrong with them that they didn’t make an offer on the spot? Can’t they see how fucking awesome our house is? All the hard work we put into it? The bamboo flooring, the new lighting throughout, the open floorplan, the 8×10 Master Closet!?!?!?! Can’t they see this is the house for them?

Yeah, see, maybe FSBO isn’t the way to go…whether we mean to be attached to the house or not, we are. I’ve been trying to break-up with my house for a few weeks. It hasn’t been easy. I’m thinking an offer will make things much easier, though. I never said my love and loyalty couldn’t be bought…

preparation h…

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In which H stands for HAIRCUTS.

I have been dreading this moment since we decided to move back to Little Rock. We’ve decided the boys will be going to Catholic school and with that decision comes the realization they can’t be my long-haired-hippy-boys any longer.

I put off the hair cuts as long as possible. Today was d-day. I’m still not happy about it….

But here are my boys. Cute as they can possibly be…just missing a lot of hair. (ps: Rader does NOT have a bowl cut…he just refuses to do anything with it…so there ya go.)

Rader:


Is he a goofball or what?
Ian:


miss me?

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Yeah yeah, I know. Bad Mel.

Sorry.

I’ve been really busy. REALLY busy.

Mark had his 20 year reunion, so we were in Little Rock for that. We were busy all weekend long and frankly, I could’ve used another couple of days to recover.

The next weekend we drove the boys to camp, also in Arkansas. So we drove to Little Rock, spent the night, then drove to Subiaco to drop the boys off. Rader for 1 week, Ian for 2.

During the week without kids, we started working on the house…because we’ve decided to move and we want to put the house on the market by the middle of July. Where are we moving? you ask. Well, back to Arkansas, of course. It’s not like we’re not really living there already this summer.

Since Rader was only going to be at Camp for one week, we had to go back to pick him up the next weekend. Mark went so I could stay and paint trim and clean.

We had to clean because that next week, we were hosting the British Soccer Camp coaches again. Remember last year?

So, all last week we hosted Rob and Del. They were super great guys. I’ll be posting some pics soon. I faltered in my British Lad blogging this year. I feel like I failed our newest family members. Sorry, guys. There were 6 coaches this year, and one night, they all came over for pizza. (we were supposed to grill out but Mother Nature had other plans, so Papa Johns came through with some online ordering and pizza delivery…) The other guys were Blaine, Danny, Chris, and Eddie. A good lot, but not as rowdy as last year’s group. Probably a good thing since I never quite recovered from last year. LOL

I left early Friday to head back to Little Rock (seeing a pattern here?) I did a little shopping because I am one size smaller and don’t have a lot of clothes. (Yay me. Like how I worked that in?) On Saturday, I picked Ian up from camp and we had lunch with my BFF from high school and her son, then we went to the liquor store to pick up some economy size booze for my other friend here in Oxford (not good prices here in town) then drove the 6 hours home–where we proceeded to have a Die Hard movie marathon to prepare ourselves for hitting the late matinée today for Die Hard 4.

Next weekend I drive back to Little Rock for a baby shower for my college roommate and then fly to DFW for RWA’s National Conference. I will be blogging much more regularly, I promise.

So–if I have any readers left, tell me, what’s new?