Working, Packing, and...

...Barfing! Sorry, it's gross but all I'm doing anymore! For the last 4 weeks, I have felt just awful! I know it's temporary but it's seriously getting in the way. At the appointment for the ultrasound the doctor asked how I was doing and assumed I'd say a little sick for some of the day but didn't like that it was 24 hours, and keeping me awake at night, especially with the buying/selling/moving stresses on top of that so instead of offering some meds that would help with the nausea - he asked me to take them, if nothing else at least at night, so I could get some sleep. He started off immediately at the top with 'the good stuff' Zofran... The same stuff my Papa took while going through chemo! I was excited at the thought of getting some relief but unfortunately they really don't work  for me! :o(   Such a bummer!

We've finally started packing around here though! Due to all this attorney letter garbage and really, really poor property management (they've been fired and will be replaced on the first - too late for us but good for our neighbors!) we've had to push back the closing on the condo from this Friday to the next. This meant that we could've had our own bed, and furniture for an additional week, spending only one week on an inflatable mattress up in the backyard shop apartment of my in-laws... but we're not! Ben is so done with this place, he wants out now! So the POD gets dropped off in a little less than 36 hours and we'll be loading little bits all week. I should say Ben will be with the help of whomever we can scrounge up. It's so hard packing a box and then having to leave it or not being 'able' to move the dressers because it's all 'too heavy' for me right now - I'm not used to being so useless! Especially during moving time - I'm a pro at moving!

Letting the cat out...

Today went really well! My Grandpa awoke from his procedure, they weren't able to 'fix' anything but cleared him for his neck surgery that will hopefully help him feel a lot better soon. Ben's appointment went well, he's got more tests in 4 weeks and then we'll know more but for now, we were told not to freak out... And as far as the one-year anniversary of Papa passing - we tried to lighten up the day a bit! Tomorrow is Chris and Jill's birthday (talk about bad timing for their Dad to pass) and Chris was at Gramma's house along with Aunt Cathy, Uncle Jim, Aunt Gayle and Uncle Les. I knew my Dad was at the house so we stopped there to pick him up first. Unfortunately he had to log into work so he couldn't come - but I had him check out Chris' birthday gift first... We headed up the hill and to Gramma's where we had Chris open her gift for herself and this is what she saw: 

Meet the little Blueberry... To appear in late March!

Where's the remote?

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a day I'd like to just fast forward over... It marks the one year of my Papa's passing. Which in and of itself is just really weird, doesn't seem like that long ago. I am however blown away at my Gramma, her strength this year has impressed me!
We also had to make Ben an appointment for tomorrow based off of some concerning results from a blood test last week regarding his liver... And to top off the cake: my Grandpa is going in for some tests on his heart. His heart is absolutely incredible! He's had issues for years with it, and a concerned (or stubborn knowing him) decision 25+ years ago to 'wait' to correct blocked arteries forced his body to take care of it on it's own! Pictures of his heart show that 3 arteries, are just pretty much gone - instead his body has completely re-routed it's own blood supply to support the heart. Good news for the last 20 years, not so hot now that they need to do surgery on his neck - but his heart can't pass the test. The 4th artery is got quite a bit of blockage and they'll go in tomorrow to see if they can open it up at all. Due to the fact that they really aren't certain how his heart works... they've got no clue how to fix it if something happens while he's on the table. They actually told him that it's very possible he may not wake up... I get they have to tell the all the possible risks, but I also understand why he's at a greater risk than most others.
Tonight Ben and I are going out to have dinner with him and Grammy... The pause function would be nice to have then!

Wednesday

I took yesterday off, primarily because I had to... I'm working Saturday to upgrade a few programs on our servers and because we're not really supposed to be getting overtime this time of the year, I had to take a day out. Why Wednesday you ask? Only because the other chick that would cover for me has had today through next Tuesday off.

Anyway, it was probably really good that it worked out like that. We've hit another fairly decent road block in the sale of the condo. Apparently with all the bad loans, Fannie Mac and Walter Mac have decided to REALLY tighten down on their loan restrictions. There is a piece of documentation that must be part of EVERY condo association's paperwork (as of August 1st) and of course - we don't have it! It's called an 'Attorney Opinion Letter' and the kicker is that, up until yesterday, we couldn't find a single person who knew what it was or why we would need it - NOR a single attorney that would even touch it! Talk about stress! Thankfully yesterday morning (after sleeping in just a little) I got on the phones and finally found someone who would write it - now the trick is finding out who's responsible for paying for this $1,200 piece of paper? A piece of paper, mind you that will contain only the information that can already be found on the Public Offering Statement and the Resale Certificate, to which our buyer's lender already has! GRRR!

We've got conflicting info, because it's SO NEW for answering this question. Our agent and the lender think that it's the HOA's responsibility because it needs to be a part of the Condo Docs now. I and the attorney (that hasn't written one for this purpose, but has for ligation's) think it's the buyers responsibility as it's a condition of her loan. However, the buyer and her agent believe that it's our responsibility because it's 'like' the resale cert - and we had to pay for that as just a cost of selling a condo. Ben was confused and on his work computer looking for overtime shifts, just in case :o) Bottom line, if no one wants to pay for it - we gotta sell the condo so we're going to have to figure it out! Ben's pretty much going to walk into the HOA meeting tonight and tell them that if we pay for this, when the other guy in the development comes asking for it (he's close to selling his unit as well)... Don't even think of asking for a copy!

And if you think this is a gripe fest - look above again... I FOUND SOMEONE TO WRITE IT! I'm merely setting up the scene of how ridiculous the last week has been! While the whole $$($$) deal is still up in the air, the fact that someone is willing to write this darn thing was answered prayer for the day. We ran some errands and then ended up at the store where we decided to treat ourselves for lunch and bought these yummy looking (already packaged) kabobs!

A little olive oil, garlic, pepper, and of course Johnny's... threw them on the BBQ and YUM! I cut up some other veggies we had in the fridge and got out our Costco Ranch for dipping, set it all out and before I could take a picture of the spread, Ben was already chowing down :o)

All in all, I'm chalking yesterday up as a success :o)

4 weeks from today

We have to be completely out of the condo (and into the POD) in 4 weeks! We're set to close on the 29th of August! Ben's parents have been gracious enough to let us bring our cats and stay in the apartment above the shop for the 2 weeks until our house is done. We decided on a POD instead of storage. It's going to be so much easier! No moving trucks and a few days to load/unload at each place... Score!

Now I just have to get up the motivation to pack! This weekend is my only available (full)weekend - that also just hit me - before the move. Unfortunately, I have a huge workbook for some continuing ed class that I have to complete before my license expires this month. Though I'm not practicing, I'd still like to stay licensed (still paying the loans - might as well). I chose a prenatal class with an intro into pediatrics. If I ever go back to massage, in any capacity, that's where I've always wanted to be.

'Cause sometimes it's fun!

Aubrey posted this a while ago, and then posted pictures of her cute kids... so I completely missed it assuming I'd already seen it... Here it is, Aubrey. I'm sorry it took so long!
I'm tagging everyone else that reads this to do it and then let me know so I can see it!! :o)


1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:30 am, I snoozed a bit

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds :o) But I love my pearls!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Dark Knight on Sunday

4. What is your favorite TV show? SVU

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Crackers or toast

6. What is your middle name? Lee

7. What food do you dislike? Coconut! Most seafood

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? My random iTunes burns

9. What kind of car do you drive? Chevy

10. What is your favorite sandwich? The yummy Panini's Aubrey's sister makes!

12. Favorite item of clothing? My Soma yoga capri's - I'm all about comfort!

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Oohh, that's hard! I'd love to see the history and architecture of Greece, Rome, & Italy. The countryside of Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland. The beaches of Spain, South Africa, Fiji & the British Virgin Islands (Baths of Virgin Gorda to be specific!) There's a list just as long for my nation wide wishes too!

14. Are you an organized person? I try… but my husband loves 'things'… there's always 'things' everywhere!

15. Where would you retire to? I'd love to say somewhere warm and sunny so that I could slither around like a lizard on my beach - but I really do love the green here! I'd really just want to be as near as possible to my family (with the means to be a travel lizard!)

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Most recent memorable? I remember the last one - which was actually pretty great! Orcas Island with my boy. Flying in a biplane, watching the moon eclipse over the beach, getting my beautiful pearls… So yes, last year!

17. What are you going to do when you finish this? Finish my lunch break

18. Furthest place you are sending this? Going on the blog - everywhere baby!

19. Person you expect to send it back first? I'm posting it on the blog, not emailing it… So no one! (Aubrey blogged it already)

20. When is your birthday? August 28th!

21. Morning person or a night person? NIGHT! I love when I can get up early in the morning on a weekend and just have the entire day… but I really am a night owl!

22. What is your shoe size? 9.5 - 10! I share shoes with my big-footed buddy Aubrey (when we don't buy the same pair!)

23. Pets? 2 cats and a 'Ben' … with all his 'things'

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Sold our condo and building a house!

25. What did you want to be when you were little? A stable person… In love, a good marriage, great loving family. A good person with wonderful people to call friends. The job was never the focus for me - what ever I can stand to enable me to be there for my family.

26. How are you today? Sleepy!

27. What is your favorite flower? Deep purple tulips, dark red cala lillies, bright pink gerbera daisy's, and bluish-purply hydrangeas!!! (Not together)

28. What are you listening to right now? 105.3 streaming to my workstation

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Friday… Every one of them!

30. What was the last thing you ate? Turkey, jack cheese, lettuce and sprout sandwich on 9 grain.

31. Do you wish on stars? Nope, but I like to watch them!

32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple… not sure why

33. How is the weather right now? It’s a bit gray and drizzly :o) It's a nice break (for one day!)

34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? The Dell guy, I just ordered a bunch of new computers for the office.

35. Favorite soft drink? Diet Coke

36. Favorite restaurant? Olive Garden, Chopsticks (little Chinese spot in Kent), and The Nordy's café :0)

37. Hair color? blondish

38. What was your favorite toy as a child? My cousins ;o)

39. Summer or Winter? I like just about every season… I'm ready for the change by the time it comes… but my very very favorite is the end of Summer/1st of Fall. Not freezing cold, but still really clear skies and beautiful orangy-red leaves!

40. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

41. Coffee or tea? No thanks!

42. Do you want your friends to email you back? When I email them yes, I'd like to see some other post this on their blogs though :o)

43. When was the last time you cried? Last week

44. What is under your bed? A tupperware of wrapping paper, probably some socks…. And Ben's shoes

45. What did you do last night? Had dinner with my in-laws

46. What are you afraid of? The usual… Ben not making it home from work, a sick family member, loosing someone I love…. Oh and snakes!

47. Salty or sweet? Salty

48. How many keys on your key ring? 4

49. How many years at your current job? 2

50. Favorite day of the week? Which ever one I get to spend the most time with my husband.

51. Do you make friends easily? I think so... Though I only have a couple close ones. It's too hard to have a one sided friendship - I let all those ones go!

53. How many will respond? I don’t know… I hope I get some comments

54. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Of course!

Framewalk!

Ben and I had our framewalk for the house this morning! It was just a bunch of information walking through every room with the Superintendent pointing out every wire, pipe, fan, connection, etc. and giving us the low down on why it's all there. I learned about truss expansion and slides attached to the framework (for earthquakes)... I hope Ben remembered it all! The exterior is pretty much done (minus the concrete work) and they'll start insulation today with the interior!

The condo had it's inspection yesterday, so we'll find out today if we still have our buyer. I don't know what they could possibly find 'wrong' with it. The sucker was gutted and completely new last June. It passed city codes for permits and loans... so we're praying!!

Here's the house progress as of this morning:

The shake on top is actually a dark brown (it's looking a little plumish from this picture) and the front door will be RED!

Living room

With my 'super powers' I can see Ben in the hall from inside the laundry room! :o)

From my bedroom looking into the master bath (right) and master closet (left)

What a Guy!

Most of the time I've got Ben pegged! He'll start to giggle about something and all I have to do is look around his area to see what sparked the wheels to turn and I can almost always tell what he's thinking or about to say. Today he surprised me! We were down in the West Valley Highway/Industrial area when we saw a restaurant we'd heard about in one of the newer strips. Obviously closed on the weekends, we still drove in to see the hours. As we were sitting at the light to get back out of the parking lot, Ben opened his door reached out, snagged this flower and with a cheesy grin gave it to me, "I got you something! It's technically malicious mischief, but I got you a pretty flower!" I've had a hard last few days, and was spacing out a bit when he did it so it was an even sweeter gesture. As our light turned green he said "If they didn't want me to do it - there would be a sign 'please don't pick the flowers' !" Man, it sure is a good thing there wasn't a cop around!! :o)

E-Cards

I was searching for ecards today looking for one to send to Tiffany and found the funniest cards ever!! A few of them use 'big-boy' language, but the rest of them are too funny to let that get in the way. They all remind me of things Ben would say if he could get away with it! Dry, sarcastic humor.... Enjoy!

Some ecards

Offer Accepted!

So, we did get an offer in on Wednesday night! We signed our papers yesterday morning to officially accept it! It's such a relief! Ben celebrated yesterday by not making the bed! Because he sleeps until the afternoon, he's been responsible for getting up and making the bed every afternoon... When I got home yesterday, I walked into the bedroom and the blankets and sheets were all messy, I tried to make it before we went to meet my family to celebrate Jake and Grandpa's birthday and Ben said, "Nope, we're celebrating"!!

Hopefully he makes it today... we don't know yet when her inspector is coming!