It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Once upon a time...

Someone had a brilliant idea...

Lets Move to Idaho!

That was before the weatherman predicted snow...

Only 2-inches to 4-inches however...hehehe!

All I want to know is where did that weatherman get his training...

Or where did he get his ruler?

Approximately 8-inches to 10-inches later...It's still snowing!

By now...According to that same weatherman...

It's supposed to be raining...Ha!

Actually, it does appear to be a mixture of rain and snow...And Linda tells me that this storm is now moving into northern Utah...Now that's a shame!  Fortunately, I did have the foresight to buy a snow shovel and some of that ice/snow melts stuff...

Fear not...we have Security!


Pepe



Pepe In Front of the Fireplace!



A Visit From Jack River

Who’d thunk???




A Black Lab??? In this house??? YES!!!



Last week, we found ourselves adopted by a Black Lab. That’s right, in spite of the objections from Pepe and Chica he insisted on staying with us. On Thursday, November 4, a beautiful Black Lab spent the day wondering up and down our street. One time I loaned a leash to some children so that they could take him home; alas they were wrong and the dog returned. Later, some other children took him from door to door, trying to find his home and alas, he returned again. Somehow, he kept appearing at our front door!



Finally, as it was getting dark, we decided that we would take him in and put him in our back yard for the night. Then, realizing that it was going to be about 30 degrees (F) that night, we decided to make a bed for him in the garage for the night. Friday morning he was happy to see us and we sere happy to see no ‘accidents’ in the garage. I checked the newspaper and Craigslist for Lost Dog listings and there were none that fit the bill. So we decided to call him Black Jack and keep him on. If we could find his owner…good; if not, we would keep him. He was so sweet and gentle.



On Saturday morning, I checked the newspaper and Craigslist again…Still no success. It was apparent that Pepe and Chica were not real happy about this new arrangement…Especially Chica. So I decided that Chica needed quality time with Jack. Since they each enjoyed walks, I started taking them together for walks and the relationship started to warm.



Jack loved long walks, and I would walk him through the entire neighborhood…Nothing appeared familiar to him. I took him to the park and threw sticks for him. He would jump with glee and chase after them and bring them back for me to throw again.



On Monday, I again checked Craigslist, and there is was…



Lost or stolen male black lab. He's a slender build and goes by river. Last seen in Asbury Sub in Nampa around the corner of Midway and Moss Ln. Disappeared out of back yard. Has no collar. Part of the family and sorely missed. If you have seen or might know something please call.

So, there it was…Sad news for us, but happy news for Jack…Or is it River? I looked up from my computer and called out “River” and he came running to me. There you go, I had found Jack’s home. I called the number listed and found that he and his family had only just moved to the neighborhood and on his third day here, Jack/River had gotten out of his yard at the new house. Not being familiar with the new surroundings…Jack/River got lost!

His owner (Darius) came by our house Monday evening, after he got off work, and he and River had a grand reunion. River went home with Darius in the front seat of Darius’ Honda. We were sorry to see him go. But…we expect to see Jack/River again, as we told Darius that whenever he needs someone to look after River, when he goes on vacation, we will be happy to have him stay with us! (And don’t forget…River actually only lives a couple of blocks from our house!)

New Photos...9/15/10

I have been asked many times when will I post new pictures of the new house, so I have added a new page to my blog called "New Photos...9/15/10" (see the pages link at the left of the page).  The previous pictures of the house are still there ("Asbury Park Photos") so that you can compare.

As always, I must thank my cousin Todd for all of his help, especially with the painting.  Had it been left to me alone, it probably would not be done yet...And I know that it would not look as good as it does!

Unpacking is nearly complete...still working on odds and ends and trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

Now all I need id a job (lol)!

Good Golly...It's A Gusher!

I guess you've been wondering what I've been up to lately...aside from unpacking boxes, of course (lol). Well, I've turned into a city farmer; no horses, ducks, chickens or pigs...just a vegetable garden.

Well...The other evening as I was out turning the soil in my vegetable garden (making room for my fall crop) I broke the water line! First the hole started to fill with water, then as I moved my digging fork a bit it started to spray just a little, and when I removed the digging fork...It was a gusher!

Fortunately, it was not the household water line, but the pressurized irrigation line and I was able to close the valve to the water line. Fortunately (for me) Todd came over the next evening and showed me how to fix it.

End of story!

She's Singing...At Last!

The fat lady is singing...I finished the last of the touch-ups yesterday; mopped floors and vacuumed. The house is now finished and ready! (Of course I found more places needing touch-up today, and probably will for months to come...But it's done for now.)

No pictures, as I want it to be a surprise for Robert when he sees it.

Heading back to California today, so need to get going, as it is already a late start. Movers arrive next Saturday to take the furniture.

More later...

She Ain't Singing, But She's Warming Up...

The painting continues; I think it will go on forever. Todd and I spent the day at Blueberry today working on the paint...Still. He, doing the fine-line cutting in where the walls meet the ceiling (I don't have the patience for that); me painting trim. Of course we are still finding areas where the paint did not completely cover and re-touching them as we go. We will probably find these for a long time. Monday, I will continue to work at the trim.

On Tuesday morning, the carpet cleaner is coming to clean the carpets (so I want to have all of the baseboards done before he comes). I really do not think that the last people living in the house (renters) ever vacuumed. Each time that I vacuum I think that the carpets look a bit cleaner. Yet there are still the heavy foot traffic areas and the places where food has been spilt and not cleaned up properly. Hopefully I will see a big difference once they have had a good cleaning.

Yesterday (Saturday) evening I went to Home Depot and bought a new kitchen sink, faucet, garbage disposal and two ceiling fans...$$$$$. These are scheduled to be installed on Wednesday. I still need to buy a doggie door to have installed so the doggies can go out to their dog run any time they want.

I have ordered window coverings for the master bedroom and family room, which are due here on either Wednesday or Friday...I'm hoping that they arrive on Wednesday. I still want to go and buy window treatments for the living room and dinning area, and get them hung. I also need to get new towel bars and install them, (I threw out the old ones!) I also have new rods for the shower curtains...the fancy curved ones like they put in hotels...they give one a bit more room in the shower. Of course they need to be installed too.

Also, last night, I replaced three of the four mechanical sprinkler heads in the front lawn. The ones that were there were no longer moving; resulting in browning of the lawn. Now if I can just get some fertilizer on the lawn I should start seeing green.

And...The garden has grown this week, and not just in height but in size. I have added more cucumbers, beans and peppers, as well as another row of Roma tomatoes and a row of 45-day cabbage.

So I will not lack for things to do this week, and I want to get them all done, as next weekend I should be leaving to return to California to pack. The following weekend, the movers are scheduled to pick up the furniture and move it to Idaho. Then I will have some sense of completion!

It Ain't Over Til the Fat Lady Sings...

And I Wish She Would Start Singing!

I know that I said in my last post that the next time you hear from me the painting would be finished....Well it ain't! I just thought that I should post something before you all got the idea that I had fallen into the paint bucket and drowned!

Todd and I (well...mainly Todd) got quite a lot done over the weekend. In terms of area covered it is nearly done, but there is still a lot of cutting-in and touch-up work to be done and two bathrooms to be painted...At least a couple more days of work...maybe more at my speed. The family room has been a real problem; it seems as if the ceiling in there had maybe never been primed. It just kept sucking up the paint. Yesterday, I put the fourth coat of paint on the ceiling and I think that may be the final one. Everything is looking real good and I am very happy with the color choices.

So if you see the Fat Lady...Tell her that I am just waiting for her to start singing, so that I can stop painting!

My Little Tinny Garden

Progress at the house continues...

Yesterday, I planted my little tinny garden...And it looks really little when you see this tinny square area of plants inside of the previous garden's 10 or 12 feet by about 62 feet of space! But it is a little late to be planting anyway, although Fred Meyer is still getting new plants in. My next door neighbor said that the previous guy had a really awesome garden out there...Maybe that will give me a goal for next year! I did plant tomatoes, green beans, squash (yellow and zucchini) cucumbers and peppers...Not bad...And I have seeds for fall lettuces yet to go in!

I have finally finished washing all of the woodwork (I hope). When I think of how Mom used to wash all of the woodwork and window coverings in that big house on 18th, and then look at what a job it has been washing all of the woodwork in this comparatively small house, I wonder how she did it!

Today I will attempt to find the county dump, as I have the back of Todd's pickup full of yard debris...too much for the garbage (although they don't seem to care how much garbage you put out here!) Then, next on the project list is to buy the tape and plastic and start preparations for spray-painting the entire of the house; Todd is going to help me with that...Thank God! (And thank God Todd loves projects...He must, or he would never of bought that big old house he has!)

So wish me luck folks, and hope that the next time that you hear from me the painting is finished!

Back in the Land of Milk & Honey...and SPUDS!

After a brief visit back in Desert Hot Springs, I have returned to Idaho where the sun shines all of the time (at least for now) and the temperature is perfect.



I left DHS in July 4th and managed to drive as far as my favorite place in all of the world...Ely Nevada. I have to say that the people there are very nice and they must have been expecting me this time, because just as I arrived in town the most beautiful fireworks display was started; nicer than most I've seen in recent years. It lasted for about an hour and ended with an all out blow em out pyrotechnic showoff display. (I wonder what they will do for me next time I stop in town?)



As for Blueberry Avenue, I've been busy there since I arrived back in town; mostly pruning and yard work. The funnest part was pruning the pyracanthas bush outside of the front bedroom window. They say one should put those in to deter burglars, and it should work as they are also a good deterrent to pruning! Then there was the tree in the backyard, which looked more like a huge overgrown shrub than a tree! It is now pruned up about five feet off the ground and actually look like a real tree! I still don't have a clue as to what kind of tree it is though. With all of this pruning I've been doing I can see a trip to the dump in the near future.



Next up is to get back inside. I was reminded today that I never finished washing the woodwork (and no little ferries came in to do it while I was away!) Then there will be plastic and taping off all of the interior for painting. Todd said that this should take about two days...At the speed I move it will probably be more like a week! Where are all of my helpers?



Of course one must also squeeze in a little time for job searches, which are done mostly online these days. I had an interview today at the Boise Accountemps office. All of my records and test scores have been transferred from California and I'm ready to go to work...just as soon as they find me some work to do...

So if you find yourself with time on your hands, and don't know what to do...Come over and checkout my to-do list...I'm sure I can keep you busy!

What A Week It's Been...

Well...

After being down for the first few days of my week in California, I didn't get as much accomplished as I had planned to do, but I did get a few things packed...Mainly pictures.

I also got a few chores done around the house...Drained and cleaned the hot tub, mowed the doggy grass, took the dogs for grooming, did some weeding...the usual kind of 'around-the-house' chores.

So now it's time to head back to Idaho in the morning; I'm ready! There are chores to do there too! Primarily painting the interior of the house and getting the kitchen sink and disposal replaced. Oh...I guess the doggies want a doggy door installed too!

And if all goes as planned, my next trip back to California will be for the final move to Idaho...

Please God...Please God...Please God...

Perfect Health...

According to my doctor, I am in picture perfect health!

Blood pressure in the low range...slow even heart rate...oxygenation 95...couldn't be better.

Her best guess...Stress and anxiousness over the move.

Treatment Schedule...Slow down...Take it easy...And take some Xanax...

Well that could be fun...Don't know if I'll get anything done on Xanax though...

(It is true however, that most of this started on the drive to CA from ID...Maybe I should just head back to Idyho!)

A Special Treat...

Wish I Could Say I Was Accomplishing a Lot...But...

I have returned to California; the purpose being to do a whole lot more packing and try to get this place ready for 'the move' to Idaho.

Well...

As some of you already know, that just isn't happening. At least it is not happening at a very fast pace. Mother Nature...Or perhaps it is Father Time...is playing tricks on me. Actually, I think they have teamed up against me! I have been having breathing issues and my left thigh has been numb since I got back to California. It took over 12 hours to drive from Ely Nevada to DHS, because I had to keep stopping to take naps.

I go to the doctor today to see what she can tell me about what might be going on. Fortunately, aside from her specialty in internal medicine, she also specializes in pulmonary medicine.

I have experienced one very special treat since being back in California. Maybe it is fortunate that I had the time to take the time to enjoy the experience...

My friend and neighbor John, who is recovering from a recent illness, received a call from Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert, that their assistant organist had been taken ill with a potentially serious illness. They had discovered that they had John's resume (which he had sent to them a year ago) on file...And would he be able to fill in for them? Ironically, John, Rex and I had gone to an organ concert just a few months ago at this very church, dedicating the new ranks of pipes that had just been installed! What's more...This organ is the twin to the Rogers organ that John had played at 'Saint Joes' in Rhode Island.

Sooo, Robert, Lee and I went with John for one of his practice sessions at Hope. It was like having a private concert...And John is in Heaven!

Who knows? This Saturday, I may have to become a Lutheran for a day!

More Video...I Hope

OK...I tried before to post all three videos of the new house, but could only get the living area to post (?) So I am trying again with the other two...The guest bedroom & bath area, and the family room & master area...Hope this is working...

WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM CINDY...

There has been a request from Cindy for more pictures of the house. Of course I am going to be back in DHS in less than 24 hours and Cindy only lives two doors away...But what the heck...I'll share these with all of you! Please keep in mind that the operator is technology challenged. Why, on a good day, I might be able to walk and chew gum at the same time! This apparently was a bad day, as I found myself unable to walk and narrate at the same time...(These dang new-fangled digital cameras!) So...Get out the Gramophone and play a little background music...And enjoy!

Oh Lord - Ely NV...Again!

Shut Up Jack...

It has been a few days since my last post. I have been busy at the Blueberry House: scrubbing floors, woodwork, shelves, toilets, tubs...you name it. And making the phone calls to have the utilities turned on, etc. There is still so much to do!



I did manage to get the Idaho license plates for the car however...








But for now, I am on my way back to California to do more packing there...And then back to Idaho to finish cleaning and to paint. What a circus!



Today, on my drive home, I took the time to stop and take a picture or the Snake River (at Twin Falls ID)






Should be home sometime on Sunday afternoon..

Everything is now signed, sealed, funded and recorded. I am now the official owner of a home in Nampa, ID.

11796 W Blueberry Avenue
Nampa ID 83651

Now I get to start cleaning!

June 19 & 20, Boise Pride and Saturday Market

Another beautiful weekend in

Idaho's Treasure Valley...

The weekend is filled with festivities and activities...Beginning with Boise Pride on Saturday morning. We left the house a few minutes too late to take in the rally on the capital steps (just another rally, too bad). On the good side...While we were waiting for the parade to begin, we had time to take in a bit of Boise's Saturday Market...Not unlike Portland's, although it seemed bigger to me. Actually, it has been a few years since I have been to Portland's Saturday Market, so what do I know?

Once the parade began, we took our places at the curb to watch. Now I know that this pride parade is nowhere near as big as Portland's, but Portland's was not always big either and everyone appeared to be having fun!

After the parade ended, we returned to a few more minutes of Saturday Market before taking Todd to training for this summer's youth grief camp. While Todd trained, Victor and I...shopped! Just a quick trip to the Boise Mall (love that place!) and then we moved on to Ann Morrison Park to meet friends an take in a bit of the Pride Festival.

A call from Todd to let us know that his training was complete took us away from the festival to pick up Todd and grab a bite to eat at Sonic, and then we returned to the festival for a short time longer.

Home for a bit of R&R (at least for me) before meeting Jean at a downtown dance club...What did you say? My ears aren't hearing to well this morning. What a crowd they had at the club too. Off to Shari's for a quick bite to eat and then into bed...1:00 A.M.

Today is Father's Day, so what family is nearby will be gathering at Grandpa Todd's to celebrate; it sounds like there may be a few friends popping in as well.

So Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there...I've got work to do!

June 18, Inspection Day

Building Inspection Report
11796 W Blueberry Ave., Nampa, ID

Inspection Date:
June 18, 2010

Today was inspection day on Blueberry Avenue, and we past! Almost with flying colors. There are several minor maintenance related issues; however the only "major" repair issue is the garbage disposal in the kitchen, which is cracked. I have a home warranty, so I am checking to see if it will cover this problem. If not, I will just have to deal with it.

The lady from the insurance company is writing the policy to be in place by the time we close on Tuesday.

Next on my agenda is to start taking care of the minor repair issues; getting the locks changed and see about getting the carpets cleaned. I also am not sure if the garage door opener remotes were left at the house...Maybe I will have to see about replacing them. There will also be some painting to freshen up the place...Oh, I had better start making a list!

So, what else have I been doing?

Pitting cherries! And pitting cherries. And pitting cherries...Did I mention pitting cherries? All of those cherries that Victor and I picked in Emmett. Five quarts went into the freezer; Todd has made jam and Victor is making cherry pies.

Yum...Yum...

June 16, Cherry Festival

Welcome

to...

Emmett Idaho...

So today was supposed to be stormy and rainy, and the sky at 5:30 this morning certainly looked like the weather man's promise was going to be fulfilled. But...It turned out to be a beautiful day.

After lunch with Tony, Victor and I met Jackie (a lady Victor works with) and her two boys, at the Emmett Cherry Festival. We had a great time! The boys really liked it; there were craft and display booths, rides for the kids and food booths...of course.

When we were finished at the festival, we went to the Rancho Pinard Orchard, where we picked two large buckets of Cherries...One for Jackie and the boys, and one for Todd, Victor and me. At $12 per bucket it was not a bad deal when you consider that each bucket holds about 10 pounds (my guess) and cherries go for $4 to $5 per pound at the grocery stores!

Would someone please tell me what we are going to do with 10 pounds of cherries.

BTW...The Valley of Plenty Quilters is having their quilt show this Saturday in Emmett, if anyone is interested.

June 15, Reporting for Duty

Well...I am back off the injured list...wish I could say the same for my blisters! All the same, I did go out this afternoon and work some more in Todd's garden. (He needs all the help he can get!) As Dad would have said..."I have blisters on my blisters!" But just look at the difference...

Before

After

Todd's gonna kill me...hehehe!

This morning, I met Gens (Marilyn) in Boise so that she could introduce me to the Boise Co-op, sort of like Natures only better. http://www.boisecoop.com/ We did a bit of shopping (I was expecting Zoe to be with her, but she was still asleep...Oh the life!)

I did have word from Debbie this evening, regarding Asbury Park...If we can get the inspection done in the next couple of days, we may be able to close next week. Next week? This is the fastest home purchase that I have ever had!



And...If all goes as planned...I should be going to Emmett tomorrow for the Cherry Festival, so watch tomorrow's post...

June 14, We Have Lift-off!

I received word this afternoon that the offer for the house in Asbury Park has been accepted! So next we will have the inspection and then it's closing...Yes!

As for my plans for the weekend...It did not happen as planned. You will remember that I was going to take the weekend off. Well...I looked out of my bedroom window yesterday, and saw poor Todd working all alone in the garden and I took pitty on him. Sooo, I went down and offered to help. A few hours and two blisters later...I quit! (And since I am on the injured list, I did not report for gardening duty today.)

As for today...My plans were only to get the car registered in Idaho (I just can't wait to get those California plates off the car), but I found out that I have to fax a form to the Bank of America and have them send in the title to be re-issued in Idaho, before I can complete the registration.

That's when I got the message that the house offer had been accepted, and I've just been floating around ever since. No point in trying to accomplish anything now.

Oh...Just think of the shopping
possibilities!

June 12 & 13, Eagle Fun Days

I guess we will call this the Weekend Edition, Since I didn't post yesterday. Under the heading of Business (my business, not yours) I did send in an application and resume to the Idaho Department of Labor, regarding a job that they had posted on the web...That totaly wore me out, so I had to take the rest of the weekend off!

Todd and I went into Boise to visit Victor at his work, and from there...We Went Shopping! Todd's shopping, not mine...Okay, I did buy a small table, but I have a house to furnish (or at least I almost have a house to furnish.)

Once we had exhausted all of our shopping possibilities, we went on to Asbury Park to meet Debbie and have another look at the house (my second, Todd's first); there's so much one doesn't see the first time around. But no regrets...I totally love that house!

Back to Todd's house to meet up with Victor and then off to Eagle Fun Days http://www.eaglechamber.com/default.asp?pageName=Annual%20Events

I believe the remainder of the weekend will be devoted to some much needed R&R :) I will go out and buy the local Sunday newspaper and start planning next week...

June 11, At Todd's House

I really don't know how I ever found time to work! Who needs a job anyway?

This morning, I woke up way too early...3:30 AM!!! Don't know why...Just did! (And I couldn't go back to sleep.) I read for an hour, then tried sleep again and passed out for about an hour and then I was awake for good. (I am telling you that as a way of explaining why it was necessary for me to take a two hour nap this afternoon...while most of you were working:)

So today, you finally see just where it is that I have been hiding out while I should be looking for work. Not to suggest that I am not looking for work. I have already registered with the State of Idaho (makes me sound like a sex offender!) and I have three job referrals from the DOL; I have also (with Todd's assistance) updated my resume.

Where was I? Oh yes...The Hide Out...Just up and to the left of the front door (your left), the two upstairs windows...That's my room at Todd's house. (I finally have a Park Avenue address!) The house was built in the late 1930's and was owned by a doctor; it also served as Nampa's only (quasi) hospital. It was later converted into a group home and many of the rooms were either broken up or used for purposes other than the original intention. As a result, when Todd bought the house, there were walls to be knocked down and much renovation to do. He has one bedroom upstairs that he is still working on and a bit of finish work and he will be done. (Hehehehe...You're never done when you have a house that size; next on his list is to rip out the kitchen (I believe)). There are five bedrooms upstairs; the main level includes a separate mother-in-law apartment, formal living and dinning rooms, family room and kitchen. There is another bedroom and bath in the basement. There was a time when I coveted a house like this, but now that I am older...and much wiser...I'll be happy just to get into the 1250 sq ft Asbury Park house!

Oh my...Today I drove in the direction of Asbury Park (no, I didn't drive by the house), I was checking out the stores...OMG...Do you know how many stores there are in that part of Nampa? I found another shopping center with Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, World Market, Kohls, Michael's, Old Navy...yada, yada, yada. (Somebody will need to be keeping a eye on Robert...Do Not let him anywhere near this place!)

I showed constraint...I only spent $20 at World Market and $10 at Target, and all necessities for my room...Okay...After I left the mall, I just happened to go past the furniture store and I just happened to put a deposit in a new sofa for the new house...Wherever that house may be. (It was a bargain...What can I say?) Then I came home and took a nap; I was exhausted!

So...I hear movement downstairs, and it is about time for working people to be getting home from work...Maybe I'll go see how everyone's day was:)

June 10, Shoppin' & Restin'

After all of the business of the last two days, today seemed rather quiet. Debbie and I exchanged only one (non-business) email today. The house is sitting quietly and waiting. Debbie says that waiting is the key ingredient to short sales...

I did drive to Asbury Park today...I'm starting to learn my way there without the aid of the Tom Tom, and I even found a quick back way out of Asbury Park, as the normal way out involves a left turn onto a rather busy street.

Why did I go there? Because a lady that I used to work with once told me that her mother had told her to never buy a house facing east or west; always buy a house that faces north or south. Which direction does Asbury Park face? I didn't know...But I found out...South...Thank you Jesus! (If you haven't figured out all of the gibberish, it is because east and west facing house receive more hot sun. Of course being a corner lot, Asbury Park still has a side (west) exposed to the sun. Fortunately, this side has very little window coverage and shade trees to help block the sun.

With nothing else left to do...I went shopping. Only for odds and ends for my temporary quarters at Todd's house; although I did find a stunning black lacquered corner table, with oriental style painting on it...I bought it! I also found a very nice sofa...Maybe for Asbury Park?...We will wait a bit longer to see if we get the house...maybe.

And just for those of you who think that I should be concentrating on more important things...like looking for a job...I did go on line to Idaho Department of Labor and register and look for a job...So there!

To complete my day, I took a long walk all the way around the park. Don't know the distance, but it seemed quite long!..I used to walk quite a bit (on my lunch hour) and haven't been able to do much walking for the past year plus...I noticed this morning that my tummy is beginning to hang (just a teeny tiny bit) over my belt...Not a pretty sight!

Todd and Victor should be home soon, so I am going to post this and go see What's for Dinner!

Pictured above is the Historic Nampa Railroad Depot

(Now a museum)

June 9, on the Hunt - Day Two...

Well...

I had a very busy morning today! I am still somewhat in shock! You see, the realtor for the sellers' of the new house (which for now we will refer to as Asbury Park - as the is the subdivision where it is located) is starting out as a real go-getter. Starting first thing this morning...He sent over the contract signed by the sellers...the sellers property disclosure...He requested the HUD and proof of funding from Debbie (my realtor)...he uploaded everything into the system...he sent all of the paperwork to the sellers' mortgage company! I was having trouble keeping up with him.

Whew...
I finally took a shower at about noon and left the house! Where do you think I went? Well...first, I went to Asbury Park, just to look again (from the outside). You know, once you have left you start thing of things like, What color was the trim? Did I even check the condition of the roof? Can I even find my way back to the house? (Thank God for Tom Toms!)

Then there was more shopping to do...Yes, more shopping. I stopped at Shopko to pick up a few toiletries that I needed, and while I was there I found a floor lamp (on clearance sale, of course)for my room at Todd's (plus we will be able to use it at the new house). Then it was next door to Winco (I love that store!) for some grocery items; I was making dinner for Todd and Victor tonight. I also made a quick stop at Fred Meyer for some jewelry repair, and the in store Chase Bank. I was hitting all of my favorite 'up north' places!

Once back home, I found more emails from Debbie. I told her that there has already been more progress in just one morning on this house than there had been in six weeks on the previous house. I am very happy at how quickly things are happening with this so far...Let's just hope that the mortgage company for the sellers' doesn't drop the ball.

Tomorrow, there is a teeny, tiny bit more shopping to do :) and then I really have to start putting more serious effort into a job search...

While I am thinking about it, I had forgotten to remove the old About the House page (that deal is officially dead) and replace it with information about the new house...

So check out the new Asbury Park page. page...

June 8, On the Hunt in Nampa

Here We Go Again...

Well...Debbie and I met at 11:00 this morning to start the house search all over again. We reviewed the houses available in my price range; of course they were 99% short sales. We sorted them into No Go, Possibility, and Let's Have a Look.

From the Let's Have a Look group, I chose the house that I wanted to see first. Anyone who has spent much time house hunting will know that there is a moment when you first walk through the front door, before you have even seen the rest of the house, that the house just grabs you, this was the house! (Even better than the previous house that I had an offer on.)

This time we are looking at 1243 square feet...And this house has a family room...With a gas fireplace! The house has been on the market for approximately four months and has never had a single offer made on it (???) But then, I had never seen (or at least never noticed) it in the morning reports and MLS searches that I received...until this morning!

Needless to say, Debbie and I went to the nearest Starbucks and sat down and wrote out a full price offer, which she has already submitted. Now we wait...AGAIN!

To be on the safe side, I wanted to look at a few other houses, and maybe have a backup, just in case this house didn't work out. As it happens, after seeing the
This Is It House, nothing else had the right feel. Sooo...Once again, all of my hopes are placed one house...

If it helps any, after Debbie dropped me off at Todd's house I found a penny...Could it be a lucky penny?

(BTW...We also cancelled the offer on that previous house...That'll show 'em!)

June 7, A Room With A View

I'm Here...In Nampa!

I arrived in Nampa late Sunday afternoon. The drive from Ely, Nevada was pleasant and traffic moved right along. By the time I reached Mountain Home, Idaho it was raining quite hard. Gee, I had almost forgotten what rain was like! (For my desert rat friends, rain is that wet stuff that falls from the sky once or twice a year!) The sky was quite cloudy and the horizon very hazy; almost foggy. Thankfully, as I approached Boise the rain had stopped and the sky was clearing. A few more miles to Nampa and the sky was clear and sunny...It was even a bit warm.

I unpacked the car alone, as Todd and Victor were in Utah and nobody else was home, and after getting everything to my room...I proceeded to unpack again! My room is at the front of the house and has a wonderful view of the local park. Todd has done a great job restoring the bedroom and had a bed all made up and ready for me! I simply added a hand stitched quilt (Bow Tie pattern) that I had brought with me. (Thank you Doreen, you do beautiful quilting!)

Once I was sufficiently unpacked, I headed of to the local Walmart to pick up a few things for my room, and then across the street to the Panda Express for some Orange Chicken and some String Bean Chicken...yum...yum!

After a bit more unpacking it was off to bed. Today (Monday) is beautiful, sunny and about 70 degrees, with a breeze to blow the lace curtains in my room. I have explored the local antique shops a bit this morning and Todd and Victor should be home from Utah this evening.

Tuesday will bring a new round of house hunting!

June 6, On the Road in Nevada

Chex Mix...

Oh My Tummy!

After a late start, Saturday was spent on the road. Yes...A late start! I had to load the car...and load the car...and load the car...

I don't even know what I brought with me, or why I brought it. You know, there's casual clothes and good clothes (just in case I happen to get a job right away :) extra bedding, books, a stereo and CD's, the lap top, more clothes...the list just goes on and on...

I left home somewhere between 10:30 and 11:00; drove 535 miles to spend the night in Ely, Nevada. I would love to tell you about all of the wonderful tourist sites and points of interest in Ely, but there are none!

However...The drive to Ely is beautiful! I know people who say that Nevada is a very boring state to travel through, "Everything looks the same." Not true of The Great Basin Highway. (Hwy 93 out of Las Vegas) Beautiful scenery, open range, and wildlife refuges. It is not unusual to see large herds of deer; sometimes traffic must stop and wait for a deer herd to cross the highway! The skies are brilliant blue and the clouds are Clorox white...Far from boring!

Unfortunately, the only thing one has to do while driving is eat. And I brought a large bag of Chex Mix with me to nibble on...and nibble on...and nibble on...Ohhhhh My Tummy is screaming NO MORE...Please...

So, after finally arriving in Ely...I decided to dine on gourmet take-out from the local McDonalds; eaten at a table for one in my designer suite at the Ely Motel 6...Nothing but First Class for me when on the road.

Sunday should see me arriving in Nampa, and settling in at Todd's house...

June 5, On the Road

Okay...Today we're off to Nampa!

So let's jump in the car and go...

Check back later, I'll try to post tonight or in the morning with a progress report...

June 4, Here We Go...

Today is my last day in the desert (for a while). I've already been out in the storage shed looking through boxes to find things to take with me...You know...Just in case the day finally comes that we get that dream house in Nampa.

I've also been to the recycle depot to get rid of cans and plastics. I still have to make that trip to Angel View to drop off the donations.








And, the doggy grass needs to be mowed before I leave. Gotta keep those doggies happy...















Lastly, I have to start throwing clothes in boxes to take with me...

I'm trying to get all of this done early in the day, as the weather in the desert has already turned humid and hot. Even with a/c it is miserable to work in.

June 3, Gettin' Ready

The focus today has been on getting ready for my trip to Nampa. I'll be leaving on Saturday morning and should arrive in Nampa sometime on Sunday. So today was spent getting the car serviced for the trip, getting prescriptions filled (or ordered) and stocking up on the things that Robert will be able to prepare for himself to eat while I am away. (We spent the afternoon at Sam's Club stocking up!)I don't expect to return to California until the end of the month.

Todd asked me this morning if I knew what I was bringing with me and my response was, "Not a clue!" So I guess I need to start thinking about that. On my last trip to Nampa, I took bedding and towels with me, so that is already up in Nampa; I need to think about clothes, toiletries, small furniture and odds and ends like CD player or TV...That kind of stuff

And then I guess I better start packing...again!

So, short as this post is...

I need to get busy...

or take a nap...

whichever...

June 2, Poop!

Well...


Poop...




'The Bank' insists on raining on my parade...
That's right, they just are not co-operating at all. So far, they continue to insist on only Their revised price. Of course I'm not sure that 'The Other Realtor' is doing any good...Actually, I'm not sure that 'The Other Realtor' is doing anything!

Soooo...It is beginning to look more and more as if next week, when I get to Nampa, I will be going out with my agent again to look at houses. I already have several in my favorites list in Listingbook; of course, 99.9% of them are short sales...Yippy! My agent is encouraging me to look at listings other than short sales, which I am more than willing to do; it's just that in my price range and on my budget, most are short sales. And, houses in my price range that are not short sales are snapped up very quickly...So we will be burning up the streets of Nampa!

Today has been spent going through the closet. I know...Some people are in the closet, some people are out of the closet; me, I'm just passing through :) Anyway, I've tried on everything. (Somehow, clothes keep changing size...How does that happen? Many of my clothes have shrunk!)

So far, the count for Angel View...

Shirts 18

Jeans 2

Dress Shorts 3

Slacks 4

Shoes 2 pr

And I still have the armoir and dresser to go through...It's going to be a long day.
(Check out the new link to Angel View)

Tomorrow will be more packing and sorting, but also tomorrow will mark the beginning of my shopping to have everything on hand for Robert and the dogs so they wont go hungry while I'm in Idaho.

For now, I'm off to the pharmacy...

June 1 - At Lose Ends

Yesterday was quite a productive day (in my opinion). My goal was to pack at least four boxes. Well...I packed five and have two more ready to be boxed. By that, I mean that I sorted the kitchen towels; one bunch to go to Nampa, and one bunch to go to the Angel View Children's' Home thrift store. (That's right...We had enough kitchen towels to fill two boxes! Makes it sound like we wash a lot of dishes...NOT!!! I am just waiting for Robert to look at the stacks and see if there is something in the keep stacks that should go, or something in the to go stacks that he wants to keep.

I also met another goal yesterday...I took a nap:) And that's not all...I went shopping! I admit yesterday's shopping trip was really a distraction, to get me away from packing; I can only take so much!

Today, I am at lose ends. I don't quite know what to do or what I'm doing...Any suggestions? So far, I've done desk work; paid some bills and did some filing. I am trying to get that kind of stuff done before I leave for Nampa later in the week. I also want to start moving some of the packed boxes out of the house...They are starting to get a bit overwhelming. Then of course there's still the 200 or so CD's to be sorted and I want to go through my closet and see what else might be on its way to Angel View...

Maybe I'll go shopping...

Oh...And I'm still waiting to hear from the 'other realtor' and 'the bank' this deal still has not been officially blessed, ya know!

May 31 - Memorial Day

Memorial Day?

As I recall from the days when I used to work, Memorial Day is a holiday...Yes! A day off!

Hey...I can dream can't I?

Okay...I know you are all waiting to hear how many boxes I packed yesterday. Well, here it is...Four. That's twice as many as the day before. If I keep going at this rate, I will be at top speed by the end of the week! (Don't count on it!) And I managed that with several interruptions and yet another shopping trip! (Don't worry, it was only food and booze for a neighbor; the only thing going to Nampa are the little colored stickers to go on the boxes...Oooo...I'm getting soooo organized.)

For today (yes, I am going to try to get some work done) I have my entire dinning table already covered with glassware just waiting to be wrapped and packed. And I really am going to try to at least match yesterday's four boxes; with a nap tucked in for extra measure. That's right...A nap...It's a holiday, remember? Cut me some slack!

Now I know some of you don't know where Nampa is (Heck...I know people who don't know where Idaho is!) So I've attached a couple of links to my blog...Check them out...

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

May 30, Another Packing Day

Alright, Alright...So I didn't get so much done yesterday. Who's keeping track?

Actually, I feel like I did get a lot accomplished. Okay...It was only two boxes. But they are big boxes! And the items going into these boxes all had to come down from on top of the kitchen cupboards and be washed before packing them. (I do not pack dirty things...sorry, I just wont do it!)

Amazingly, I actually ran out of bubble wrap and tape. Boy that stuff goes fast! So that meant that I had to go out and buy more, and since Saturday is my usual shopping day there were several stops to make. I bought more boxes, tape, bubble wrap...Ooops...I forgot to buy more packing paper!

(Fortunately, I am still am using the packing paper that I saved from the last move. My mother taught me well - Save it, you might need it again. And we all know how often I move!)

So with the trip to the pharmacy in the morning and the shopping trip later in the day, I think I did more shopping than packing!

And don't go getting you hopes up for today...I'm going to Walmart...Who knows how long I might hide out there! (He-he-he-he)

Some of you have asked questions...

Check out my new Question & Answer Page...

May 29, Packing Day

Okay...Yesterday was my first day without a job, and I spent it doing whatever I felt like doing...Which was basically nothing! Today is the first serious packing day.

Up til now, I have done a little here and a little there and there is still a big stack of packing boxes just waiting to be filled. Soooo...I will take Robert to the pharmacy at 8:00 when they open, then when we get home I must hit the boxes.

There is also the storage shed to be gone through and about 200 mixed up CD's that need to be sorted and put back into the proper case. (CD's in this house are a bit like the old shell game...Which shell is the bean under? Just because the case says George Benson doesn't mean that's what is inside, because it's probably Etta James or Diane Schuur, or just about anyone other than George Benson.

So, here I go...Watch for my next post to see how I did on Packing Day One!

May 28, 2010

Day one of the blog and day one without a job.

Still waiting to hear from the other realtor and the bank regarding acceptance of the offer on the house in Nampa Idaho...Our future home.

Original offer...Full price cash.

Counter from bank...Full price, plus $7,100.00 (Who do they think they are???)

Response to counter from bank...Full price cash/Best and Final

Response from bank...Zip

Welcome to the world of Short Sales.