July 21, 2015

I have had enough...

We have been looking for a house since November.  EIGHT months.

As you know, we recently had a deal fall through; mainly due to the Seller's unwillingness to negotiate.

Since that time, our Realtor hadn't contacted us in WELL over a month.  When the Husband reached out last week to see what was up and asking for a copy of the contract we signed, she responded that "she was waiting until we got over this emotional time."  No response regarding his request for a copy of our contract. HA.

I was ready to fire her but the Husband counseled patience.  Despite my misgivings, I agreed.  And sent her an email on Friday asking if we could see two houses this past weekend.  No response.

Not even a quick, "I'm sorry, I'm out of town" or "I've had a death in the family" or "I dropped my phone in the toilet" or "I refuse to work with you picky people any more."

Nothing.

Talk about unprofessional.  Being completely fed up, I sent her an email on Sunday and told her we are done.

It's the first time I've ever fired anyone.  It kinda made me sick.  But I know in my heart, that as nice as she is, she isn't the agent for us.

This woman has wasted more than a month of our time during the very short "selling" season and now we have to start all over.

We won't even get into the fact that what I am seeing out there is beyond depressing.  So much so, that I've informed the Husband that despite my not wanting to choke ourselves with a huge mortgage that I'm beginning to think we might have to do so to find anything livable.

As I'm sure you've surmised, he's pulled me back down to reality...and the search continues.

After firing off the missive late Sunday evening that we were done, I FINALLY received a response yesterday afternoon.  No apology about her unresponsiveness.  Nothing.  Just saying she was sorry and asking what were our plans...as if that's any of her business at this point.

The Husband told me he emailed her again about the contract yesterday (wanting to be sure that we are in the free and clear to look without her)....with no response.  He emailed her AGAIN this morning and finally received a response that she was in Continuing Education today and would send it tonight.  As of right now, we've not received it.

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter any more whether or not we are still tied into the contract - SHE is obviously in breach of the contract and if we don't hear from her tonight, we will be bringing this matter up with her broker and explaining QUITE clearly that we are done.

So, to recap...we are still looking for a house but now we are going solo.  Wish us luck.  Because, honestly, this living on top of each other is getting OLD and someone is bound to get hurt (gives the Husband the side eye...)

Who knew that finding/buying a home would be THIS difficult?

July 14, 2015

Will there be a review? It depends.

As some long time readers may recall from this post, I am a HUGE fan of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.  So much so, that I have read and re-read this book many, many times.  I've seen the movie and the play, over and over.  I love it so much and think it should be required reading in every single high school that exists, period.

So, as you might imagine, I was beyond delighted - and a little apprehensive - when I learned that Harper Lee's publisher was putting out another book.  As we all know, To Kill a Mockingbird is the only book that Harper Lee has ever published.  And now, approximately fifty-four years later - AFTER her sister and attorney dies - all of a sudden this manuscript is found?  AND, she agrees to publish it?  After approximately fifty-four years of silence?

I'm sure you will agree, it looks fishy.

But, but...I knew I HAD to get it, because...HARPER LEE.




I knew it was coming out today - and was figuring I would try to fight the hordes of people that would surely be at Barnes and Noble to find a copy at lunch time...until, I read in the paper - this morning - that our local store was opening at 7:00 am just for this release.

Needless to say, I rushed through my morning routine and arrived at the store at 7:30 am expecting a crowd.  And kind of thrilled - because I've never been one to join in the release of anything; be it a book, a movie, or a piece of technology, NEVER.

 And...no one was there.  I walked in, picked up my copy, checked out without any wait.  I asked the guy behind the counter if anyone had been in yet.  He said that a few folks were there when they opened but that otherwise, no.  Apparently, most people pre-ordered the book and slept in.  I must admit, I was kind of disappointed.  My initial reaction was "don't people READ anymore?!" which I knew wasn't true...many of my friends and readers of this blog are "readers" (aka - people who read ACTUAL books).

As long time readers also know - I do reviews of books that I love.  In fact, there is a little tab up there at the top of the page that will show all the reviews of every book that I've written about.  But, as the tab so aptly describes, it's "Books I love Enough to Tell You About" - which means, if I don't like it, I won't tell you about it.

Now, although I have avoided all the spoilers that I can, I have heard a few things that are disappointing.  Things that allude to the tarnishing of a hero.  So it's entirely possible that this may be the last post about this book that you'll see from me.  But I hope not.

So tell me...are YOU planning to read this book?  And?  Like me, are you hoping for the best?

July 10, 2015

I left four minutes early...

Yesterday was my birthday (Why, thank you.  Yes, it was very nice...despite me working.  Read on...you'll see why) and I had planned to take the day off, as I normally do (because working on your birthday is simply INHUMANE!  It should definitely be a "free" day, don't you think?  Listen up HR people...it is INHUMANE to make people work on their birthdays...food for thought).  But I ended up going to work because of the whole "work thing."  Not because anyone insisted that I "needed" to be there.  No, it was more because, HOLY HELL, work has become INSANE!!!  I thought the waiting for all this was bad?!  No.  That was easy-peasy compared to what I'm dealing with now.

Being that three out of the four attorneys I am now dealing with were out this week, I grabbed at the chance to get a major portion of a HUGE project out of the way - even though it meant I had to work on my birthday.

But that did not stop me from skipping out of work a few minutes early yesterday...a whole four minutes early!  Yessiree Bob, I sure did leave FOUR minutes early!  (I'm sure HR is now docking my pay for those whole four minutes).

After I checked out and headed home (in what was an amazingly easy commute home - although, compared to my Houston commutes, ALL my commutes now are easy -but not as easy as this one.  Obviously, I need to duck out early more often!), I pulled up to my driveway and noticed that The Husband was home - which was odd.  I hit the remote for the garage door and navigated my way into the garage.  Whereupon, I hit the remote to close the garage.

As I was exiting the car, the garage door magically begin to go back up.  I was confused.  I thought maybe that Man-Child was returning early from his internship because, surely, The Husband was already in the house.  But no.

Apparently, The Husband had raced home, in an effort to beat me, so that he could stage a "grand entrance" for me on my birthday.  Apparently, I was supposed to walk in the door and be greeted with balloons and flowers and my gift.

All of which I ruined...by skipping out of work FOUR MINUTES early.

Oh my God, I love that man.  Even though I keep ruining his surprises, he keeps trying.  Could you ask for anything more?  I think not.


July 6, 2015

Getting rid of the uncomfortable....

I walked up to one of my friend's desk today and stated, "As soon as I get home, this dress is going  straight to Goodwill."

She looked up with a smile and told me that she liked the dress.  And that I looked good in it.  And you can see one of the reasons that I consider her a friend.  Then she asked what was wrong with it.

So I told her (and now, you.  You're welcome).

Now I know why I haven't worn this dress since last summer.

Because it's confining.  Not because it's too small.  It's not.  It's actually about a size bigger than what I normally wear.  I checked, of course.

But this morning, as I was trying to determine what to wear, I happened upon this dress and thought, "Oh yeah!  I love this dress.  WHY haven't I worn this lately?"

And in a very short time, I remembered why.  Of course, I remembered well AFTER I left the house and it was too late to go back and change.

It felt like I was stuck in a corset.  Seriously.

Apparently, this dress is cut in such a way as to cause the wearer as much misery as possible.  Throw in the heat and humidity - and I can tell you that I was miserable ALL DAY LONG.

And, yes...as soon as I got home I ripped that dress off, glared at it,  I may have possibly cursed it.  And determined that immediately after being cleaned that sucker is headed for the Goodwill box.

Now, I have turned my eye toward my closet; wondering what other items are lurking in there...waiting to betray me.  But I have vowed, that I will try on/wear EVERY SINGLE ITEM in there and ruthlessly toss those that make me miserable.

Because, I've determined that life is too short to be that miserable ever again.