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I am all over this mess. I loves me some Saved By The Bell.

Me and The Golden Gate Bridge

I originally had this big post to talk about my San Fran trip, but really it wasn’t all that much to write home about. The main reason I was out there was for the Gilbane CMS conference. I was to be a speaker and…I spoke. It didn’t go over as well as I had anticipated, but I got the message across and got a good bit of questions and a great reception. There was some good feedback from the company I was there speaking with and I think there are a lot of opportunities opening up as a result of the past week. I’m looking forward to a good partnership between AutoTrader.com and Percussion. We’ll just have to see how things pan out over the next week or so.

Other than that San Fran was a lot of walking for me. I went and saw the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street and I got to see Alcatraz from a distance, but that was really it. I want to go back out there for a vacation and really take in a lot of the sights and see what else the city has to offer. The weather was great, the food was fantastic and I had a good time, but I want to experience it when I don’t have 3 days of conferencing to attend to and a presentation to prepare.

So there’s my San Fran summary. Nothing major, but it definitely made me want to go back. I’m sure I’ll be back soon enough. I think it would be fun with a group of people. Who’s going with me?

That is if everything goes according to plan. Today I was going through all the stuff I needed to do and actually pulled up a calendar and it hit me, I will be moving into my very own apartment in 18 days! That kinda blew my mind a bit. The closing on the house is 23 days away, but there will be a time when I am no longer living here before the end of the month.

After the initial overwhelmation hit, I started trying to figure out what all I need to do. I’ve got a lot of stuff already done or at least in the works, but the more and more I get done the more and more I uncover that I need to do. For example, I got the list of things the buyer wants fixed and have already had the contractor out to the house to get an estimate, but that’s 3 days worth of work right there. I’m now down to 15 days to get packed up and outta here. I still have to pack, change utilities, clean, figure out what I’m going to keep vs. what I’m going to sell, watch So You Think You Can Dance, and all the other things that go on with selling a house.

This weekend will be mad packing weekend for me. I am going to try and have most of the stuff I don’t use on a daily basis sorted into keep, sell, and toss piles. It will be like that garage sale show on TLC only with a less attractive host (me). If anyone is interested in showing up to my house this weekend to clean or help pack or help sort or just show up, come on by. I’ll be here for the most part.

So yeah, it’s really happening. I’ve waited over 2 years for this moment and after nearly 7 years in this house; I’m ready to move on. I’m sure I’ll have some separation anxiety, but for the most part, I’m ready.

Ok, here’s the situation (and no, my parents didn’t go away for a week’s vacation). Last night I met up with Scott and Jessica in Hiram for some drinks and catching up. It was good to hang out with some friends I hadn’t seen in a while and just see how everyone was doing. After that Scott and I went to see The Hangover (review to come later). I see a spot near the theater and I pull in noticing that some jackass has pulled his huge truck through into the spot in front of him, therefore taking up 2 spots. Well, there was enough room to get my car in so I pull up, park my car, get out and go see the movie.

The movie was great and I’m in a good mood. I get out and notice there is a cop and some people standing around my car. I say to Scott “man, I hope this cop moves so I can get out of my spot.” Well, when I get over there, they say “There you are!” to which I reply “Yep, here I am?!” The gentleman says informs me that I have run into his truck and that he has called the cops to file an incident report. I take a look and sure enough my bumper is touching his…barely. Some words were exchanged and a property damage report was filed by the cops and away I went.

So basically, this fucknut pulls his truck into a spot that is clearly too small for him and takes up 2 spots at the front of the parking lot. I seize and opportunity to get a close spot and pull in the other part of the one he’s taking up. It is on a slight downward slope and I reckon when I put my car in park it rolled forward an inch or 2. Since he had a 90 majillion ton truck I didn’t notice that I was touching his bumper. When he gets back, he takes a look, decides that his “$50k truck” has been hit and it is his civic duty to call Hiram’s finest out there to file a report. While the police were jotting information down they ask the guy to back his truck up and see if there is any damage…there isn’t. His nice shiny bumper is just fine and the steel hooks he has on the front of the truck are steel there (had to throw a pun in). My bumper is in the same condition and everything is as it was prior to the “accident”. So there was no harm to any one’s vehicle and everything was fine, but instead of just pulling back and checking he decided to call the cops.

This just goes to show that people in Hiram suck ass. I seriously can’t wait to get out of that place. I know it was a long drawn out explanation to the details of last night, but I just kinda felt like writing this morning.

Ok, so here’s the details:
My house is currently on the market for $150k
The offer is for $149,999 / I pay $5300 at closing / I leave my wrought iron patio furniture / I leave my TV and TV stand / fix a few cosmetic issues around the house / leave blinds and window treatments and hardware.

• The furniture is old, rusted, and the seats are warped…. Read More
• The TV is an 8yr old DLP that has never had the bulb replaced.
• The stand is nice, but eh..I’ll get a new one for my new tv.
• I have 2 curtains in my whole house.
• The blinds are old and some of the hardware is missing.
• The cosmetic issues are uber easy to fix.

They want to close no later than July 1st. So basically, I’ve got 1 month to fix all this stuff up, find a place, and get on up outta there. I have until tomorrow at noon to accept or come back with something since their agent is going on vacation. As it stands right this moment, my house is as good as sold.

Ok, now who all have I helped move in the past……

Let’s try this again…

Friday: Saw Star Trek with Meghann and Brad. It was amazing. I really like the story and coming from a non-Trekkie I really enjoyed it. They threw in enough one-liners that if you’ve ever seen an episode of Star Trek or any of the movies you could follow along. All around it was a pretty good movie. Friday night I got a text from a friend reminding me of something I had kinda started to lose sight of. It could not have come at a better time.

Saturday: Went working out with my trainer Joey and my sister’s best friend Jo, This was the first time I had been to the gym and had a trainer and I have to tell ya, it was worth it. It was one of the better work outs I’ve had and I can’t wait to get back to the gym. The rest of the day was fairly good. Just some laying around and cleaning. There was talks of going to the drive in to see Star Trek and I figured what the heck. So off I went and after getting there I realized I should’ve brought a chair. I brought my cooler of beer, but everyone else hand their camping chairs and food and all kinds of stuff. Luckily there was plenty of food to go around and I got my eat on. Since I had already seen Trek I decided to take a little nap in the bed of one of the trucks. I watched a good deal of the movie, but for the most part I laid there watching the shooting/falling stars and enjoying just being outside. After the movie, I headed home and called it a night.

Sunday: Mother’s Day rolls around and it was up to me to cook the lunch. I kinda misjudged how long it would take and ended up being late. It was a great lunch and it was good to get to hang out with the family. We ate and chatted and just had a good time. Heather and Jason are going to be such great parents. I’m super excited for them and am looking forward to even more babies in the family. One of these days I’ll start a family and have one of my own, but until then I’ll enjoy the endless supply that seems to be popping out everywhere. After lunch it was a pretty lazy afternoon. Around 7 I got a call from a friend who needed some help with a few things. Me, being me, I rushed over and helped out. After that we hung out and watched TV for a while then I headed home. It was good to have a quiet night watching TV with someone, something I don’t get to do that often. Back home and into the bed.

So that was it. Just an all around good weekend. Sometimes when you least expect it you get a surprise from someone. It brightens your day and reminds you that there are people out there that care. Living alone these past few months has been pretty rough and I really do appreciate the little things.

A lot went on this weekend. Beginning with Friday I was given a welcome reminder of something that I had not heard in a long time. My spirits were lifted. Saturday brought my first session with a personal trainer. I was surprised at myself and am now eager to get back in the gym and finish what I’ve started. To be honest, Saturday night didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but that’s ok. It’s only one night out of countless others. Sunday, Mother’s Day rolls around and despite my best efforts I was late getting to lunch. It was one that I prepared and everyone had to wait on me. I was late because I went for a run. It wasn’t my best run, but I went. The lunch was amazing and consisted of Rib Roast with horseradish and bacon crust, roasted red potatoes, stir fry green beans, and roasted corn on the cob. Sunday afternoon was spent on the couch. Sunday evening I got an unexpected and again, welcome request to help out. Me, being me, I swooped into action and accomplished what needed to be done. I then offered to a helping hand at other things and happiness was had all around. However, against my better judgment, I crossed a line. It was ok because on the other side was what needed to be there and though I left disappointed in myself, all was forgiven. Back at home, I feel a bit relieved but at the same time, my hands bring back thoughts of tonight.

I said what I needed to say and the words reached their intended recipient. No one got hurt but myself, but that was more of a self inflicted wound. One that I will recover from tomorrow.

I do also want to say that I am glad to be a friend of Jessica Canning. She inspires and I am grateful to have her in my life. I am proud of her and I admire the strength she possesses. Against everything, she has done what she needed to do, for her and for Chase, not for anyone else. Thank you Jess for letting me be a part of your life.

Yep, it's still there

So if you’ve known me for more than 2 years, you know that I have a house that just will not sell. I’ve owned this home for nearly 7 years and for the first few months it was pretty fantastic. It was a dream home, but then things went south.

Quickly this house turned into a money pit, then into the Amityville House. Despite the good times I’ve had in this house, there were many more moments of dread and dispair. From 2 failed relationships (one being a marriage) to 3 floods caused by a demented washing machine, this house had it out for me. Maggie and I did what we thought we needed to do to get it ready to sell. We (she) put in a fence and we kept it clean and were SO looking forward to it selling, but the house would not let us go. We thought we had a great agent that could get this house sold, and 22 months ago when the thing went on the market, I feel it could have sold had we put just a bit more into it.

However, the house didn’t sell (and still hasn’t as of this writing). Shortly after everyone had moved out I took it upon myself to make sure that I was rid of this house, once and for all. I started painting things, fixing little things here and there, changing hinges, putting in new switches and lighting fixtures. I cleaned the garage and put everything in storage I hired a maid service and eventually I switched agents. I have to say that going with a new agent was probably the best move I could have made. In just under 4 weeks we had gotten an offer on the house.

That looks about right

Now I had said for the longest time that I would simply take the first offer that came at me and be done with it. But due to the fact that I was already going to lose a lot of money when the house sold, I couldn’t accept the one I got. It was a terrible offer, but it was something. My agent and I talked and we got a good counter and sent it in. Now we’re simply waiting to hear if they accept or come back with something else. Either way, I am elated. I couldn’t be happier at the traction and activity that we’ve gotten over the past few weeks. I should’ve made this move a long time ago.

So that’s where things are at with my house. It’s still on the market, but at least there is interest in it. Someone out there will find it and want to buy it. I will lose money, but it will be a part of my life that I can finally let go. There is simply too much weight on me that is brought on by this house and I can’t live here any longer. This is not a home, it is a house that I simply survive in. I can’t say that I am “living” here, but it is where I get up and go to sleep every day.

So here’s to a quick(ish) sell on this house and then on to more happy and prosperous times.