It's a Wonderful Life!!

Courtin', Etc........

Well the big day is coming up, October 1st. That is the day we go to court. The A.F. owes a huge debt to the business and I am suing him for the unpaid debt. Now bear in mind this has nothing to do with child support, which I have not seen one dime since June 07. This is just business money. I am just trying to collect money owed to the business. It is over 10K......enough to worry about and try and collect. My able attorney says not to worry and I am really not worried. The thing I worry most about is the people that I have to call as witnesses. My ever funny and able bookkeeper Trish has to come to court and the M.U. along with the A/R guru A.J. I just hate dragging those people thru all this.

It would be so much better if the A.F. would just pay what is owed and go on with life as he should. But we all know he ain't gonna do what he is supposed to do. Never has and never will. Why should I be the least bit surprised???? Because I am one that lives life with my glass half full as opposed to half empty. The big shit........

The thing that gets my goat is Mr. Man thinks he hung the moon, and I am certainly not the one to tell him otherwise. That is not my place. He will one day figure it out on his own. But one day when he asks and is of an age of understanding, I just may let him know what a big shit the A.F. is really like. I mean, if a man can leave a family on his son's first birthday, the DAY OF SAM'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, then that should be a big clue that something is just amiss with him. But for now, my lips are sealed as they should be. I will step very lightly around the issue and agree with Mr. Man that his father is the best in the world and go on and bite my lip.

Mr. Man is in the throws of football. He loves it and is thriving. We have a scrimmage game against North Forrest this Saturday. He is playing either center or guard. Which I have no idea what position either one of those are. I just nod my head and say that is great. I have finally mastered all the gear that goes along with football. It is amazing all the pads and stuff they have to have. I know the coaches had to be laughing at me at first showing up with my pads in one hand and pants on Mr. Man. Lucky for me we have very patient coaches.

We went over the the Motherly Units for lunch on Sunday and Andrew came over with his room mate and we had the big sit down with them. Considering I paid the last month's rent along with the last 3 months electric and water bill. What in the hell are they doing with their money. Well come to find out the room mate doesn't have a job and Andrew must be spending his money on drug fines and other various and sundry things. Well, I laid the law down and said NO MORE. I have my own bills and they need to be responsible for their bills. Enough said.

Allen flipped his Jeep in Montana, so he is without a ride. I told him a bike would sure be nice in that Montana air and he better get one fast. He lost his job because he couldn't get to work. So he has his a rough spot. He has been calling asking me and mom for money. I know he needs money. He spent a couple of nights in the hospital. His jeep flipped over a mountain side and he is lucky to be alive. He moved into an efficiency apartment in downtown Missoula, so he is walking distance to alot of stuff. Bless his heart, I think a black cloud is following his around. I am thankful he is clean, but I think he is on the brown water and I just bet the flipping of the jeep had something to do with a little brown water. The straight and narrow path is sometimes hard to follow. I find that true in my life, but I am such a chicken, that any curve in the road, I tend to stick to the straight and narrow. I like straight and narrow, it keeps me grounded and guilt free.

I have been kicking up my heels a bit. And it has been fun. All in the name of fun. Nothing serious, just some serious fun. That only happens when Mr. Man is with the A.F. and that is only once a month, so fear not, the straight and narrow is the rule rather than the exception.

I had some blood work done at the request of one of my doctors and some of my values came back funky. He recommended I go see my internal medicine doctor - who I consider the best in the world - he diagnosed my West Nile Virus even before the Spinal Tap confirmed the diagnosis. He said since I had lost some 45 lbs that I needed to flush it out with water rather than Diet Cokes (which I drink about 3 a day). He complimented my weight loss and I was proud of that. He just said I was a bit dehydrated and my Hemoglobin A1C was a little high, but nothing to be concerned about. So I left there with a smile that nothing was medically wrong with me. I feel like I have seen enough of doctors for a lifetime.

Mr. Man has had a little trouble with Walker on the football field - imagine that??????? Walker shot Mr. Man the bird a couple of times and it pissed Mr. Man off. Then the next day, after Mr. Man tackled Walker, Walker took a punch at Mr. Man and the coaches saw it. So, the coaches came up to Leisa and told her about what happened. On the way home, Sam announced that Walker would soon be going to "Juvie" I said how do you know about "Juvie"? He said his brother told him about if a boy is bad and his mother can't control him that he goes to Juvenile Detention. I guess kids know more than we think.

I think I will close on that note.

It's a Wonderful Life and I Love Every Minute of It!!

Peace!

A Month of Sundays

I am fully aware it has been a month of Sundays since I have posted. I was out of the groove, and when I am out of my groove, the normalcy of life suddenly is interrupted. Sometimes I like those interruptions, sometimes it is because life is just too hectic and there are only 24 hours in a day. God gives us all the same amount of time and it is how we choose to use it.

Life has slowed a bit and I am grateful for the reprieve. Things on all fronts are settling down. Now I dare not boast and brag too much, because I have seen my time of troubles friends and I am ready for a break. It comes at such a lovely time of the year. Things slow down in the summer, our calanders are not so jammed and we have time to relax and choose what we want to do, not what we really should do. Stuff like going thru backpacks, making Mr. Man go to bed at a certain hour, getting up at a certain time.

You see, I am not a big fan of time. I don't particularly like clocks. They are a necessary evil in my opinion. I don't like to be late or anything like that, I just like to take life at a more leisurly pace. I really believe no business or school should be conducted before 10am. It's just too early...

This is why I love this time of year. We can stay up till 11pm if we choose and sleep till 8:30 - heck, let the phone go to the answering machine. A phone is a necessary evil as well. I let my phone go to the machine all the time.

So anyway, I am blogging again. It feels good to ramble. I am on my way to La Fiesta Brava for SISTERS and a margarita.

My Blog friends, I love you so.......

It's a Wonderful Life - and other lovely things.

Peace!

A Lovely End of the Week

Mr. Man had a basketball game Friday night. He scored zip and I swear he just about cried. Mr. Man is a competitor and wants to excel, but his shooting was off, bless his heart. The coach was sympathetic and told him he played a good team game, which he did. The Absent Father showed up middle way thru the 3rd quarter. Bear in mind that the quarters are all of 5 minutes, with a 5 minute halftime. Not much game play, but plenty for 1st graders. So the A.F. enjoyed about 7 minutes of play, and I am being generous. Unbelievable. What else can a mom say.

It crossed my mind, a mere fleeting thought, of going out on the town. I did make myself presentable and felt like having a cocktail - so it would have been the perfect opportunity, but decided to go home and pack a few boxes and have a bottle of wine to myself. I enjoyed the whole thing, it was simply marvelous. I am not one of those that HAS to enjoy an adult beverage with anyone, I am not shy, I can do that alone. I even slept late, real late on Saturday morning. With about one million things to do, but opted to let the clock tick away till 10:57 - thinking I could not dare sleep till 11:00.

The Nephew had a friends spend the night, Gentry, who is a nice young man. We all got up and I made coffee and we sat out on the back porch and talked about THEIR night - which was much more entertaining than my own. But they still showed interest and asked - what gentlemen......they agreed to help me move some things today. So the big mission was to move the piano - which we had to recruit 2 more big burly boys for help. Where I was sitting, it wasn't a bad view, if you know what I mean. But I was nervous as a jackrabbit. Speaking of nervous:

Don't you like the segway - I just about had a nervous breakdown this week. I am a lucky, girl my doctor thinks I need help with anxiety and I had some medication. The drama between AT&T and Comcast just about sent me over the edge. The upshot is I am getting phone service with Comcast March 11th, because AT&T had to dig a trench under Walthall, under the sidewalk, and under the street for me to have service and "we are looking at a time frame of about 3 weeks". I responded that was impossible. I could have a damn ditch dug in one week - tops. Now understand that I have no business without a phone. I don't meet these contacts face to face, I talk to them on the phone and they fax orders and bills to me. I can't operate without a phone, it is the lifeblood of my business. My nervous breakdown came after 1 hour on the phone with AT&T and another 45 minutes with Comcast. This was just after spending 2 hours at our local drivers license bureau getting a replacement license since mine was stolen - again.

Holding on the phone is not my gig, furthermore it takes 15 minutes to talk to a real person, who is actually quite nice and you hate to be a real bitch. And I wasn't, oh no, I am much too nice for all that nonsense - I just prefer to have nervous breakdowns.

Saturday I spent at the condo cleaning up and wiping out shelves and moving and organizing the boxes I have already brought over. The dining room is set up along with about 1/10th of the kitchen. The piano and the buffet are in. There is still much more, but it will come.

My plans are to have a House Blessing for my close friends! I am excited about getting in. I have alot of stuff to get rid of - out with the old and in with the new. I am selling most of my stuff - taking some furniture. But I am having to scale down considerably!

I've been thinking about Alex, my 15 year old dachshund. He will be going to dog heaven very soon. He has been with me for so long I can hardly remember a time when I didn't have Alex. But I know it is for the best, and probably overdue, but it is hard. I will go and hold him like a baby, just like he likes for me to do. I have been buying his favorite canned food - Fillet Minion by Alpo. He only has 4 teeth, so he has to eat canned food.

I have been lazy again today, I have been happy, in my little bliss. I only packed 3 boxes and that was enough today...

It's a Wonderful Life, and other great and sundry things...

Peace!

The Pick of the Crop

I have some rather good news to share - I have a contract on my house. The miracle of the whole thing is that one offer came in on Wednesday, the other came in on Friday.

OFFER ONE: I was on a business trip to none other than the fine town of Jasper, Alabama. My Sweet Baby Julie (my Realtor) phoned me at dinner. I excused myself and she gave me the offer - we discussed things and decided to place a counter offer. Now this guy did not set well with me from the beginning. He was looking for a home for his daughter, who had just finished grad school. He told me he was "a land developer" and familiar with these things. I said fine. I promptly told him I was a real estate paralegal for 10 years and I was as well. He said fine. They meandered around, asked lots of questions. I would not normally be there, but they had made an appointment from 4-5 on Tuesday and as usual I left. Mr. Man and I got home at 5:30 and I had made his dinner and he was eating when a knock came at the door. It was the Realtor and she said "her people wanted to take a second look" - So Mr. Man and I went on the back porch. By the time I answered his questions Mr. Man had wandered into the 1st parlor to have more Hamburger Helper. The man sat down and said he wanted my chandelier, and what was my bottom line price. I told him the chandelier was going with me because it was an anniversary gift from my deceased husband. And, I told him he was putting me on the spot, to make an offer through his agent - that was the way things are done. Period. He wanted to bring "the wife" to see it. She saw it on Wednesday and they made the offer Wednesday night. The offer was $8K below listing price AND stated the chandelier stayed with the house. Can you believe that after I told him my sentiments about the dang thing.

OFFER TWO: So, I am still back and forth with the Chandelier Guy. Sweet Baby Julie brought another couple to see the house on Thursday (while I was still out of town). And my A/R Guru AJ and the M.U. had the pleasure of meeting the two. This was their description: The guy had long hair and a bushy beard and tattoos everywhere, and the wife had long stringy dark hair with tattoos everywhere. They had 2 children. And said they were very nice and the wife just loved it. And we all know when Mama ain't happy, there ain't nobody happy. So that was a good thing that wife loved the colors and the bearded man claimed to be an "artist", so he loved the back sun porch. Well come to find out he is an artist - he owns a tattoo shop. I have learned thru Sweet Baby Julie that they are actually called Tattoo Parlors. Well, I thought that would be good, he owns his own business. Their offer came in at $2K ABOVE listing price. They knew another offer was on the table.

I accepted the Tattoo Parlor couple's offer yesterday, signed, sealed and delivered. It was a good day for Tattoo lady, because it was her birthday. The only hitch in the whole deal, which may be a HUGE hitch, is that they are not pre-approved for a loan yet - but that should come the middle of next week. So - I am still in the woods right now, but they claim it will all be well.

On the home front - all is not well. I have lost my temper in the worst way. I have said some things that haven't come from my mouth in about 20 years or longer. Sports fans, I lost my composure and it was UGLY. Friday night Mr. Man fell asleep early and Andrew asked if he and 3 of his buddies could sit on the back porch. I saw no harm, so I said OK, but just don't make alot of noise. I worked late and went to bed. The next morning, my billfold was missing with about $300+ cash and 3 credit cards and my drivers license, which I just had to replace because my billfold was stolen on Superbowl Sunday mysteriously.

Sweet Leisa showed up about that time and quickly whisked Mr. Man away from the scene. But I was so distraught I missed one of my bestest buds in the world birthday celebration. Sneakin Sallie Thru the Alley! We bought her a house for her birthday - aren't we the best! Sallie, you really are the bomb of all bombs, my dear friend, the PICK OF THE CROP.

After my hissy fit the rules are that Andrew can't drive the van anymore and he can have NO ONE enter my home. I am still furious, and don't know how to solve this mystery except to put it on the other side and go forward. But I do have a lead from the first thief, he/she used my credit card at a local hotel, which I have called and they have surveillance cameras at the front desk. I am going to view the tape one day next week.

I'm kinda freaking out about the moving - my days are full to overflowing now. But I figure everyone moves, and they just get it done....I will miss my now balanced days, full of serenity and peace.

Our Lord is Good and Provides for us Abundantly, each and every day!

What a blessing!

It's a Wonderful Life, isn't it??

Peace Out........

The American Beauty Farce

What can I say about a large Saturday ahead of me. I am enjoying my first cup of coffee for the day, and since it is peaceful and quite around here, which is uncommon, I will sit a spell and enjoy the moment.

Any day, nonetheless, Saturday, is not a great start when awakened by a bail bondsman at 5:14 in the morning, but this is how this Saturday began. So the charge is "DUI, other" what the dickens is that?, I ask. Details are still hazy,but the nephew, the boarder, not paying board, was picked up in the wee hours of the morning for DUI, OTHER. Now isn't that a strange charge?? I just really could not get into the details. You know how it goes, you can't see the forest from the trees. I'm not into details at this point.

So, I close on the condo next Friday. I will not move until I get packed - which may be a month of Sundays. But I press forward, packing my boxes and going thru my stuff of some 17 years in my home. Some is the on-going garage sale, some charity, and some packed and put at my warehouse. I hope to be in my new pad end of the month or beginning of March. I am thinking about contacting one of these estate sale merchants and just liquidating all my worldly possessions and starting afresh. I have a few pieces of furniture I will keep, but much of it is on the way out. The plan is to make this move as easy as possible and with not much fanfare.

Mr. Man's first basketball game was last night. Now if you don't think it a riot to see 1st and 2nd graders playing 1/2 court basketball - then please join me for the next 4 Friday nights. Yes, my Friday nights are full and fun, sportsfans. He thinks he is quite the athlete - a big boy who wants to grow up to be a professional basketball player. He is quite aggressive on the court, it's all out game time for him. Those little rosy checks and eager spirit make this mother proud! He was fouled twice......did I say aggressive? He is a shooter as well, but he doesn't hog the ball or anything - if someone has an opening, he passes the ball. I hate to burst his bubble, but I prefer the baseball - and the season is right around the corner......and I am so excited. He will be the youngest player on the team this year - but he will still get some action. My son, the athlete. He definitely gets that from the A.F., not me. Of course he gets his sweet spirit and winning smile from me. The athlete and gift of gab come from the "Y" chromosome.

Speaking of which, and can I rant a moment........digressing, the A.F. still owes me a substantial amount of money, and hasn't paid one dime for child support since June, 2007. That is a crying shame in my humble opinion. What the heck is he thinking?? Or could it be he is not.......thinking. What could possible be strolling thru his mind? The M.U. used to have a saying and I think it now appropriate.......He has a fart in his brain. Nuff said.

The contractors, Preacher Paul and and son are finished - they came and rolled some plastic liquid stuff on my roll roof where is was still leaking (with our torrential rains lately, I have not been happy) yesterday. There is still a glitch in the 2nd bathroom light switch. Sometimes it wants to come on and then there are days when it doesn't want to come on. Preacher Paul asked me how my St. Joseph was working. I said not very good....But in all reality, I have not diligently prayed over my St. Joseph as instructed. My friend, Becky, did, and her house sold after being on the market for 8 months. My time will come, but really, I hope it is not until I can get most of my stuff moved. I hate time pressure, and want everything to fall into place gracefully.

I have not blogged in forever. It feels good to write again. It is my therapy - among many. Two weeks ago plus, I had strep throat, and I swear it took me two weeks to get over it. I went to the doctor for the second time last Tuesday and he said the combination of recovering from West Nile and Strep were taking some time to get over. I did not bounce back as expected. I don't particularly like to complain about symptoms I still have, but that damn West Nile is serious stuff. I still get the all over burning sensation that nothing but rest seems to help. I require plenty of sleep. It is something I simply have to accept and deal with. It's OK, because I like to sleep and feel rested. But good grief - I get 10 hours in almost every night. Sometimes I feel lazy, but I guess that is OK also - but the panic has sort of set in what with a move looming over me.

I've lost my wallet. I prayed to St. Anthony, that little prayer about something is lost and cannot be found, turn around and you'll find it there. Well I have been turning flips. I lost it on Superbowl Sunday. Now I have to go to the trouble of getting a new drivers license and new credit cards. I really feel it is simply lost in some deep cave somewhere, because I have been watching my credit cards and there is no action. Not to mention the cash I had in there, which I have no idea how much. But I will not fret anymore about it - I will go to the dang Highway Patrol Drivers License office (which I dispise) and get a new one.

I will dedicate this blog to my all time favorite movie American Beauty, for every character in this wonderful, academy award winning flick is flawed, but still finds the beauty in the most obscure everyday happenings. And some are pretty extreme, friends. You gotta see this one. You really owe it to yourself if you think you are converging on the normalcy side of life. It will surely open your eyes on how WE others live.

We also have Big Love here, and it is all good.    

It's a Wonderful Life, isn't it???

Peace Out.

Big Love

My Contractors are finished, for the most part. I have a punch list, which includes a leaky roof and a broken kitchen cabinet. Mr. Man decided to climb up on the counter for something......so he used the cabinet door like a ladder. It broke. Brad and Preacher Paul made a brief appearance to pick up the door and survey the leak. I have used these guys for all my renovations: bathroom, sun porch, they even built my patio, which I love. I will suffice it to say that their work ethic has slacked off a tad. But all is well, they are ever attentive to my demands, no matter how great they be. They are fairly entertaining - especially if you wish to debate religion - which should really not be a debate at all - and I told Preacher Paul just that. But he is literalistic, and things are black and white to him.

You see, I am more of a gray type individual. I have the blessing of seeing both sides to most things. I do have my opinions, you see, but over the years I have mellowed and simmered some. On the other hand, this has gotten me in a shit-pile from time to time.

The Motherly Unit and myself drove Allen to the airport last Friday. It was a tearful departure. I have mixed feeling about this, but the only thing I can come up with is HALLELUJAH JESUS! He will do better out of Swan City. This is not a good place for him. It was quite the fiasco at the airport - what with the poundage limitation on checked bags. So, I stood dutifully with my arms out lifted as he puttered through his bags to expel 26 pounds. Now can I just mention that he has boo-hooed beginning at Wiggins and was still wailing away...... The M.U. and I just stood there in awe, dumbfounded. He was making quite the spectacle of himself, my friends. I could have crawled under the baggage cart and sucked my thumb until his plane took off. But I remained calm, and resolute. I really thought he wasn't going to make the flight to begin with. The check in attendant gently said you better hurry to your gate. So he bear hugged the M.U. first, and that was a big to-do. Then he bear hugged me, and that was a bigger to-do. He hurried off to the escalator and the M.U. and I ran to our car........., not looking back........... and carefully opened our bottle of the finest Champagne the Blue Moon Liquor Store carried.... and sipped our way home. My friends, it was a glorious moment, that Friday morning.

Well, that was all fine and good. Then Saturday came and I had to face the music. Once again, it is left up to me and mom to clean up his mess. I hired painters (not my contractors) and the work has begun. Sweet Leisa is helping me, well, she is actually doing most of the work while I tend to the office. Then I go over to scrub walls and wash windows, mop floors and wonder how in the world I am going to rent this house. The pool is algae green and looks more like a duck pond. I will take a sample to the pool doctor very soon. As of today - the house looks pretty darn good. The 3" crack down the living room wall is filled, sanded and painted. The Red Room is going Green. My plan is to scrape the walls in the kitchen and prepare them so the painters can finish. I will leave the sanding to them.

My painter's name is Mr. Leotha - I like him. He is a jolly fellow with 2 sons that help. I like saying his name. I was singing the old Hee Haw song - remember this: "Gloom, Despair, Agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery" - well Mr. Leotha started howling, just like they did on Hee Haw. You should've heard that, my friends.

Can you believe I just admitted to watching Hee Haw, oh my Lord. I really may be losing my composure.

I am having a garage/yard/house sale next weekend. We are preparing this weekend, along with my preparing the kitchen walls. It should be a lovely time - I really can't wait till the weekend rolls around. Come by if you like "stuff" you may even find something you like. A girl has to do what a girl has to do to pay the bills, right?

Garage/yard/house sales are not really a comfortable thing for me. I may have attended a couple my whole life. My former mother in law lived for a garage sale. She would arise bright and early every Saturday morning to make the rounds. I thought it CRAZY, and a tad obcessive. Did you know garage sales are listed in the paper? This will be great. Maybe I'll become addicted or something like that. My friends, if my prescence can't be found on a Saturday morning, you have my complete permission to seek medical/psychiatric help for me. Well come to think of it, I already have that covered, just ask them to increase my dosages, OK??

But all is well with the world. Mr. Man is doing great and I have Big Love.

Let me just take the opportunity to say that God is excessively good.

It's a Wonderful Life - And Another Worthy Tale.......

Peace Out!

Contractors Make Me Crazy!

When I first put my house on the market, I had several small things around the house that needed updating and fixed. Here is my punch list:

1. Install new cabinet sink and toilet in spare bathroom.

2. Install vinyl flooring in small hallway between my office and Mr. Man's bedroom.

3. Fill in mortar in brick where century old oak tree skimmed my house.

4. Install shoe molding in hallway and both bedrooms.

5. Jack up SE corner of house where it had settled.

6. Fix cracks in office where that side of house had settled.

7. Paint office, Mr. Man's ceiling and ceiling in 1st parlor.

Now this list doesn't seem overwhelming or even monstrous to me. Probably the jacking up SE corner of house was the most demanding - but this only took them (2 men working) 1 day.

So, this is their schedule: Arrive between 10 and 11. Work a couple of hours and then take an hour lunch break. They did not work Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas. They did not work New Years Eve or the day after New Years. And they leave about 30 minutes before dark.

Heck that is better than bankers hours!

So, it is 11:31 as I look at my clock and no show yet. Before they left, Brad told me "we'll be here between 8 and 8:30, so we won't have to work so long on Saturday".

I gave them a deadline of FINISH NO LATER THAN MONDAY - REALTORS WILL BE HERE TUESDAY MORNING!

End of Week 3 that should have taken 1 week to complete.....

My beef with them and anyone else for that matter is DO WHAT YOU SAY WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL DO IT. This is not so difficult. This is no new idea or new way of thinking. It is your honor at stake here.

Like my Mother used to tell me - your word is your honor. Period.

It really is a Wonderful Life, I'm just aggravated right now, and this is MY FORUM TO BITCH!

Peace Out!

Times are a Changin'

It's funny how life changes and evolves. Don't you just love that? It truly keeps our often mundane lives, once again full of vigor and optimism. One month ago, there was not one person in the world that could have convinced me that things will be much different very soon. I tend to like things to go smooth, as we all do. Just the thought of starting afresh excites me.

There is alot of change in the air, here at my humble abode. I have fallen in love. Love is a magical thing - it makes things new, blossom and bud. Oh, by the way, my Christmas Cactus is just about to come into full bloom - it will be beautiful.

I have considered a move for some time. First it was to Dallas to be close to my brother. But God had something else in store for me. West Nile Virus came along and thwarted my eagerly awaited plans. I had to scratch all that I had dreamed and planned for. I found that there were many people here that loved me. I quickly learned I could not easily leave my church, nor could I easily leave my beloved hometown.

I put a contract on a condo in the Historic District of Swan City today. It was a leap of faith. I prayed that if this was where God wanted me, then things would fall into place easily. I talked to the builders and they were willing to make a few changes and additions. I fell in love with the space. When walking into the condo, I had this warm feeling, like this would be my new home one day.

This was last weekend - during the open house and the annual lighting of the Historic District. You know, carriage rides thru the district, open houses, tours, gallery openings, downtown streets blocked off for us walkers. It was magical. When I was growing up, my church was Bay St. Pres. and we would sing on the steps of the church and put out the candles in sand bags. I have been going downtown for as long as I can remember for this event. It has been written about in all the magazines as "places to see at Christmas".

Thinks have been going so smoothly that my head is spinning. I would have never dreamed I could get a contractor over here so quickly to make a few minor repairs. Or a yard man to do a basic clean up job, for the curb appeal. Everyone is supposed to begin on Monday and finished by Thursday or Friday. Amazing - no problems yet. I contacted a lender to start the loan process. The developer/builder recommended someone that was familiar with the project and condo lending. When he said her name, I said "MY LORD, I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A HUNDRED YEARS"!! I closed a million loans for Lori when I was a real estate paralegal. So I contacted her and got the ball rolling there.

In one week, my life has the prospect of changing quickly. In all reality, my house could sell quickly and I will be packing up/selling my beloved belongings. I am getting rid of lots of stuff, because I am scaling down considerably. Going from at 1900 square foot home to a 1550 square foot condo.

This is all quite exciting! Sam and I will be happy in this new home. It is 2 blocks from his school and there are 14 kids on a 3 block street just beside the building. Sidewalks are on every street and everyone rides their bikes and plays outside. Sam will thrive. On a side note, he will miss his neighborhood alot. I will miss my neighborhood alot. I have fabulous neighbors and I love each family around me very much. But I have to do what I think is in our best interest. Not to mention the fact that I bought this house in 1991 from my Great Aunt's estate. It is a family home and I am sure that someone wonderful will surely buy and love this house as much as I have. I told my realtor/friend that she will be holding my hand through all this.

But, life is good! I have a renewed energy that surely will lead to exhaustion! I just can't think about packing up right now, but I better start real fast. As soon as the financing is complete - I am getting out the boxes.

It's a Wonderful Life!

What a truly magical Advent this is, my dear friends!

Peace!

Flylady has had me Busy!

I am on track with Flylady. I am a few days behind, but for the most part, things are going as scheduled. Did I say I love Flylady?? I had no one to jump on board, so me being the rebel, I pressed forward.

All the shopping is completed - I did every last single bit on the computer. I have not walked into one store. I decided that the hustle and bustle of retail did not fit my mood this year. Sometimes I like to fall up into the crowds in December, but not this year. I am far too busy to deal with long lines and grumpy patrons and tired and overworked clerks.

The house is decorated - done - finished. The only thing left is wrapping gifts, and by golly, that will be completed by the end of the day tomorrow. I feel relaxed and not rushed. I feel like I am on the other side of preparations. I have done all this in increments of 15 minutes. I have two egg timers, and they have been used quite frequently lately.

I have not blogged in forever, I have been busy.

I joined a group of folks tonight and we went to Bellingrath Gardens. It was really amazing. The attention to detail and the magnitude of preparation that was put into this is really mind bending. I really wonder what the electric bill will be for this place. There were hundreds and thousands of lights. If you have never seen Bellingrath Gardens at Christmas, please try and go. It was a lovely stroll thru the gardens.

I will surely post pics later, but I was quite tempted to throw the camera in the lake a few times. It was so foggy, that the lens would fog and make terrible pics. I am disappointed, but I will post soon.

So, I will rest easy tonight. Mr. Man is with the A.F. this weekend. I can have my bed to myself!

What simple pleasures in life make me smile.

Peace!

Fly Baby

Did I mention I LOVE this site. I am absolutely positive that anyone that clicks this will experience a life changing phenomenon, a purely amazing transformation, just 15 minutes at a time.

It will take me many 15 minutes' to achieve Fly Baby Status, so I decided to start out slow. I am attending flight school getting ready for Christmas. OK, so here is the plan.

Pretend you are going on a 3 week cruise.......AHEMMMM. OK, so we are getting ready to go on the cruise. This is the week before we sail. We (and I say that very loosely), will (even looser), have all of our gifts bought, ordered, whatever - and wrapped promptly upon delivery, house decorated and food bought (well, not!). Now we are ready to cruise through the holiday.

There is alot to do in preparation for Christmas. This is a special time of year, especially for kids. As parents we want our children to have fond memories of Christmas and to instill the real reason we celebrate this special holiday. I am one of those natured folk that likes a bit of preparation and planning in life. I don't fly by the seat of my pants very well.

Peace is a very meaningful state of mind for me. I haven't had just bunches of peace lately and I find myself these days craving peacefulness to surround me. I believe one way I can achieve this is to take flying lessons.

So this past week I have been flying around, very unpeaceful-like, getting ready for my cruise. My house is almost decorated, the Christmas dishes are down and washed, the tree is up, mantle decorated. Mr. Man has helped every inch of the way.

In and amongst all this we have played about 3 backgammon tournaments (I always beat him, but I had to let him win a few times) and 1 very long scrabble game. He told me this weekend that he was too "mature" for Scrabble Jr., and he wanted to start playing the "adult Scrabble game". At first I was skeptical, but by darn, he is pretty good.

Oh, by the way if you know that Santa may be looking for your little one a Wii Console - well, just tell him that his chances are 0% to find one in stock at a store and e-bay is his best bet at this late juncture. And another hint about online shopping - don't settle for paying shipping - there are too many places that have free shipping. You can shop and never leave your home - I just love it!!

***RED ALERT - NO PICS ARE POSTED ON THIS SITE BECAUSE MY CAMERA HAS MALFUNCTIONED. FOR SOME STRANGE MYSTERIOUS REASON, SOME UNSIGHTLY PHOTOS CAME UP ON MY MEMORY CARD, IT WAS WHITE AT EITHER SIDE AND A BIG CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO. IT IS BEING REPAIRED AT THE PHOTO SHOP AS WE SPEAK (WRITE). **

**ACTUAL DAMAGES AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES WILL BE LEVIED AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS **

FLYBABY, FLY.......

DOES ANYONE WANT TO TAKE FLYING LESSONS WITH ME????????

PEACE AND LOVE!