April 28, 2008
Fingers, Toes, Arms and Legs
From our spy cove across the street and behind some forsythia bushes, we took note of the time, 6:02 p.m. That’s the time our potential buyers arrived at our house for the third time. At 6:40 p.m. they finally emerged from the house, walked over to the garage, talked and then took pictures. They took pictures of the garage. Either they are going to make an offer or they are cataloging our items so they can steal them. They stayed until approximately 6:50 p.m., 20 minutes past their scheduled showing time had ended.
I’m going with the first explanation, that an offer will be forthcoming. Won’t you join me in crossing your fingers, toes, arms and legs for luck? I am on pins and needles.
April 27, 2008
All Appendages Crossed Fool
We had our third open house today, and I am now collapsed in a heap on the sofa. I am exhausted, and I’m hoping that we’ll soon have an offer. We had four parties walk through today. One person stayed for 45 minutes; and all of the people who came through "loved it." Since our realtor is on vacation, he had another agent sit this open house. It was nice to hear feedback from another person in the know. She said that our house is gorgeous and that she thinks it will sell very soon. She said that the real estate market has really been picking up over the past week or so and it looks like that trend will continue (at least in our area).
Tomorrow night, we have a third showing. The people coming through are the same ones who were here the first week we were on the market and after their second showing, they were going to "write it up" when someone in their family got very ill. Now they’re coming back. They’ll see fresh paint, new flooring, new carpet and a deck that looks brand new. We are hoping that this week will be the week. If it is, then we’ll still be able to get into our new house before the school year starts in September. If I wasn’t so tired from all this cleaning and creating, I’d have every appendage crossed for luck. It just has to happen and soon.
There is always something that can be done around the house, so Mr. BBM and I made our own headboard yesterday. It cost us less than $60 and I think it looks pretty fabulous. We made it out of plywood, 1′ foam padding, that batting stuff you buy in fabric stores and an on-sale curtain from Pier 1. I think it was the final touch that our bedroom needed.
Besides touch-ups with the vacuum and keeping things flowing (like laundry and dish washing), I am so done. Martha needs a rest; I am one house seller who is seriously burnt out.
Because Miss Chris is a long-time reader and blogging buddy and she requested it, I had to take this picture before I sent back this hideous piece of jewelry. Just call me "Mrs. T."
I pity the fool who doesn’t offer full price for my house!
April 26, 2008
The Countdown Begins
I saw my surgeon yesterday and it was a good visit. In six weeks I will see him again and he will order me my custom acl brace that I’ll need to officially return to karate. As soon as I have my brace and as soon as I feel ready, I can return. The only limitations I will have are the ones I put on myself. My surgeon recommended a few: no sparring for a while (quite a while), and find another way to bow to the shinza. He said my kneecap will still feel "crunchy" for a while, possibly forever. Right now, there is absolutely no way I can be on my knees at all. I’m also very nervous about pivoting and kicking and will need to discuss these issues with my PT in the weeks to come. I need to build up my confidence and I want to do that in the PT room under a watchful eye, not in the dojo.
I found out yesterday that my surgeon is a black belt in Shotokan karate. He got his black belt when he was in college. I didn’t know I had a black belt for a surgeon, but knowing that made me feel really good about all the decisions that he has helped me to make. He knows what it’s all about and he understands the types of things I want to be able to do.
We talked for a bit about how all the knee replacement people come and go and I’m still there, busting my butt in the PT room. He said that the difference between them and me is that they have plateaued while I continue to improve. That made me feel good too.
I went to PT after my appointment and asked my PT about adding back into the routine the single leg press. I’m now pressing 100 lbs with both legs and 25 on the single leg press. The key to avoiding knee irritation with the leg press is to press with the heels, not the toes. I was able to make it through three sets of the single leg press without any issues. We also upped my weight on the leg extensions and on the pulley apparatus, where I get to walk away with the harness around my waist and then stand on my ACL leg for 5 seconds at a time.
I am more determined than ever to build up this leg muscle and get back to the dojo training floor. I will definitely need to start slow and my instructors will all need to know my limitations (because I am not tearing this ACL again and will not be doing anything I’m not completely comfortable doing); but I am counting down the days now until I can return. I can’t wait to put that gi back on.
April 24, 2008
The Chocolate Had to GO
This morning, Mr. BBM called me from work at around 10:30 a.m. and asked me what I was doing. "I’m cleaning," I told him "What else would I be doing?" We’re preparing for yet another Open House. "Oh yeah, well what have you done?" he asked me.
He expected it to be a short phone call.
By 10:30 a.m. I had washed, dried, folded and put away two loads of laundry. I also had all of the "showing" linens in the washer. I had also dusted and picked up both of the girls’ rooms, made all three beds, cleaned up two bathrooms, vacuumed, swept the front sidewalk twice (our tree is dropping all of its flowers and if I don’t they all end up in our house), put away dishes in the dishwasher, loaded up the breakfast dishes, reorganized three cabinets in the kitchen and was starting to reorganize the forever multiplying mounds of toys. I swear the stuffed animals and Barbie dolls are breeding.
It wasn’t all bad though. In order to make more room in the cabinets, I ate my body weight in chocolate. My chocolate stash that no one else knew about is now completely gone. That’s right, gone. I’m not apologizing for it either. I burnt those chocolates off by noon anyway.
April 23, 2008
Children’s Day
My sister always moans and groans when she hears my answer to the question, "What do you want for your birthday/Christmas?" I always tell her the same thing: "Get me an Ann Taylor Loft gift card." I love Ann Taylor Loft. Whatever size you are in real life, you’re a size smaller in Ann Taylor’s world. It’s a wonderful ego boosting thing. Plus, their sleeves are long enough, their pants are long enough, and it’s stylish but not hoochie-mama like most of the local mall is becoming. Seriously, my mall is now catering to a median age of 14, and 14 is not what it used to be when I was a kid. I shudder to think what it will be like when my girls are old enough to shop at some of those stores. I think I’ll take up sewing and hope that M.C. Hammer pants are still very much out.
My sister hates getting me the same old thing all the time, but that is what I truly appreciate. Aside from the fact that I love that store, it’s a store that doesn’t contain a single item for children. This year, for my birthday, my sister gave me a gift card and jewelry catalog. Her friend recently started selling Amway and convinced her it was a gift I would love. I’m not much of a jewelry person. I like it simple, and real (i.e. expensive), but it works because I really wear the jewelry I do have.
It took me weeks to finally decide what the lesser of two evils would be in the catalog and I ordered my gift. A few days later it arrived in the mail. If I wear it, you can and will call me "Mr. T". I’m not kidding; it really is that bad. I know because Mr. BBM laughed so hard I thought he would die from lack of oxygen, and when he caught his breath he kept repeating, "I pity the fool who. . . [insert whatever]". Next time, she can get me a Loft gift card; because now I have to call the number on the catalog (that I already threw away) and try to get them to send me the money. Yeah, that’s going to happen.
Another reason, I just want a Loft gift card. . . Tonight, I spent my Borders gift card (from my birthday) on Big I. I also spent my entire mall gift certificate (Christmas present from my Grammom) on Big I.
As we were checking out of the final store with colorful organizing baskets in hand for her closet, I jokingly told her that she owes me on Mother’s Day.
"Why is ‘Mother’s Day’ a holiday?" Big I asked.
"Because every other day of the year is Children’s Day" I told her.
"Oh," she said.
I think she got it loud and clear. So, to those out there who might decide to buy me a gift card. Let me repeat it so it’s clear: ANN TAYLOR LOFT.
If it kills you to do the same old thing, then change it up with Pier 1 or IKEA. I beg of you though, no more Mr. T jewelry and no more gift cards to places that carry things I can buy for the girls.
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