Our Open House is Cancelled

I suppose our open house being cancelled might mean something to you out there in Internet land had I been up to date and told you about it in the first place. Our realtor was going to have an open house at our house on Sunday. She's not going to do that now. I can see why not, it's her birthday, she doesn't want to work, that, and we had an offer last night that we accepted.

I'm trying very hard not to get excited or count my chickens before they hatch kind of thing, but I think this sale will go through. The price is ok, and we split closing. That's all good. My only down side is closing is a month off. As I've mentioned earlier, patience is not my best quality, but I'll wait if I must. It looks like October could be a very good month. I hope I can explain more of that later.

The house was officially on the market one week before we had an offer. That's pretty good. I'm so much happier that things are falling into place.

On a side note, they are progressing very nicely on our new house. We have crown molding, baseboards, and doors on the inside of the house. They should be painting very soon. After that floors and such, and we are in the house. Life is good.

The Dyslexic's Big Anagram Book

It's morning again. That seems to happen everyday now. I remember back in college, some days didn't have a morning. If they did, it was at least closer to lunch than it is now.

The realtor showed our house yesterday. I'm so anxious for it to sell. There's not really a big rush, I just want it over with. Patience is not my best quality. It looks very good in the pictures and in the MLS listing. I hope it's gets lots of interest soon. One good thing for us, in our large subdivision that normally has at least 5 houses for sale, there is now 2, ours, and one not even built yet. I think there may be one by owner, but that's all it. I think that does make our odds much better or getting a quick sale. Anyone looking for a house, let me know.

I must get back to work, I'm as busy as ever.

Will There Be A Cover Charge?

Think the Supreme Court will have a 2 drink minimum and put up a brass pole to hear this case?

Speaking of Death

I saw a sign yesterday, it said "Buy 3, Get 1 Free". No big deal right? If we are talking about shoes, dishes, anything like that, it's no big deal. We are talking about cemetery plots, and right outside the cemetery they have a big yellow sign with the advertisement. Do you really want to know that you got your cemetery plot 25% off, and is the free space like in the bad part of cemetery? I bet there is a root that will poke you in the back for all eternity.

Who Died?

With everyone in the office dressed up today for a visitor, it looks like someone died. I'm not used to working in an office dressed this nice. It's kind of scary.

Sad Sad News

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week.

Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey," died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

Shut up. You know it's funny.

We Have Bricks and a Realtor

We have a new house with bricks and an old house with a for sale sign in the yard. I still have not received a phone call from the nut that put me through such torture. I had a missed call on my phone yesterday from his wife, but no message. I'm not even sure if I'd answer if I did catch the call. What do we have to talk about? They agony they caused for 2 weeks, only to back out an hour before closing. I'm not really in the mood to relive those memories quite yet. I do still have his earnest money. I'm thinking I should keep that. He backed out, I paid for a pest inspection, found an apartment, plus whatever the lawyer charges. I'm just waiting for the phone call begging for that back. Wait, I mean demanding. That's all he does is demand things.

My favorite phone call is where he accused me of running a scam. I was trying to sell my house and cheating people out of earnest money. He knew I'd done it several times. I have no clue where he got his made up information. He then threatened to serve papers on me. "For what?" I asked. His brilliant response, "I don't have to tell you!". You know, with logic like that, how do fight it.

I could go on for hours about the crazy stuff he pulled. Things like accusing me of taping his phone calls, avoiding the draft, hiring a crooked lawyer, and several other wild things with not a shred of truth to them. Oh yeah, be warned, I have it on his authority, the draft is coming back. Remember you heard it here first.

Thank Goodness I am Free at Last

Today is a liberating day. It's a very strange day. My old house didn't sell and I could not be happier. Let me explain. He was a nut. For the past two weeks this man that had wanted to buy our house has made my life a nightmare.

It all started 2 weeks ago, right after Sara got home from the hospital. He came by the house and wanted to see it. No big deal, although he really didn't get the hint that she was sick, and it wasn't the best time to sell the house. I could live with that. We really wanted to sell the house and he seemed to be very interested.

He made an offer, we accepted, we signed a contract, and set the process into motion to close, in a short two weeks. In those 2 weeks Sara and I moved from our home to an apartment, cleaned up our old house, and moved all of our things either into storage or to my parents house. It was lots and lots of work. Many long hours of labor, but it was worth it to get a quick sale and to get the extra money because we didn't use a realtor.

Well over the last week, he's started to argue about the price, after he signed the contract. I don't think he quite got that the negotiations were usually done before signing a contract, but hey, as I said, he's nuts. After the appraisal we reached a price we could live with, although in hind sight I should have never budged.

Then after all of that, he decides last Thursday that he can not afford the house, he doesn't have the down payment. Ok, fine, deals off, forget the whole thing. Guess what, on Friday, deals back on, he now has the money and wants the house. He supposedly drove several hours to the nearest branch of his back to get a check for closing.

That brings us to today, closing day. Want to guess what happened today, less than one hour before the scheduled closing? He backed out. This time because he said that now he can't afford the payment. Never mind he had already signed a contract for a higher price, had it reduced, and got me to pay more of the closing cost. He decided that now he couldn't make the payment. What!?!

I almost forget one. Last Thursday when he had decided that he did not want the house for the second time he wanted his earnest money back. I'm under no legal obligation to give it back to him if he's the one that backed out of the deal. It was only $500, so I figured it was more than worth $500 to never have to deal with him again, so I said I'd give it to him. Well, after that he then said you're giving me $800 right? Uhhh no, popped immediately to mind. Not only did he want his earnest money back, he wanted me to pay him for the appraisal his mortgage company had him pay for. What a nice guy he must think I am. Did I say nice, I mean stupid. I have already paid for a termite inspection, plus I'm sure I'll owe the lawyer money and he wants me to pay for his appraisal for his mortgage company? Forget it.

The only thing I find surprising about the events today is that he has not called me to demand his money back. I'm amazed by that. He loves to call and annoy me, talk for hours, be insulting and just generally waste my time. I'm truly amazed that he didn't call today. I'm thinking either he's too ashamed to call, or he's just waiting. I'm certain I'll hear from him. He's border line stalker.

He's walked up and down the streets in the neighborhood, talking to the neighbors, which I could sort of understand, I mean if you are buying a house, you want to know more about the neighborhood, but he was creepy about it, driving by the house several times a day, parking out front and watching the house. I was a few short steps away from calling the police and having him arrested for stalking. I think I'd have a fairly good case.

So, after all that, I'm happy the deal fell through, and that as of close of business today our contract is now null and void. I'm certain he's the type I would still have to deal with after the sale and I don't ever want to deal with him. If nothing else I've learned a lesson. I usually have a very short tolerance for stupid, in this case I was blinded by greed and it got the better of me. I should have kicked him out of my house the first time he was insulting, but he was old and it meant lots more money for me to deal with him. I know now that no amount of money is worth dealing with him. If you're involved in real estate in the Huntsville, AL area let me know, I'll be happy to tell you all about him, and to be sure to avoid him. He said he wanted to move to Michigan if he didn't buy a house here, so if you are in Michigan, warn your friends.

I'm listing the house with a realtor tomorrow. I've had enough of dealing with people.

It's Not unusual

Here it is, Monday, I'm busy at work. I've had far too much coffee, I'm listening to Tom Jones (my mother would be so happy), and there is a chance Sara and I might sell our house today. I say chance. I'll explain that tomorrow, after the 19th is over. I'll also explain that tomorrow.

Oh yes, and as soon as we find our digital camera we'll post some pictures of our new house. It's almost fully bricked. As long as the weather holds they should be done this week. They already have all the drywall up on the inside. It's really starting to look like a house.

Taking a Line...

Taking a line from Sara's and VJ's pages, happiness is, fresh hot doughnuts and coffee on a Monday morning.

Morning Drive

I saw a car tag this morning that I am sure Sara would love. It was "LUVPRPLE". I'm pretty sure I can figure that out, they love purple. The thing that made me notice, was it was on a green car.

I Write to Prove I Am Alive

Well I write for that, and while I wait for a GPIB driver to download. 102 MB, efficient code you say? Never heard of it.

Sara and I have now moved, not to the new house, but rather an apartment.

Our new house has brick and sheetrock, and is showing lots and lots of progress.

That reminds me we need to take some pictures.

Download done, I must run.

You Didn't Get a Jacket?

I am in shock. I missed a loyal reader. I thought for sure all of my loyal fans have the official readership jacket, tie, shirt, socks, boxers, matching cuff links, derby, garter belt, wing tip shoes, over coat, and umbrella case. All with the official logo, made 100% natural mock fibers only. I am stunned at my shipping department for not taking care of that.

I've Been Reduced to Mumbles

I'm that tired. All I have left are mumbles. It's been a very busy couple of weeks. Let me explain, no there is no time to explain, let me sum up.

• Sara's been sick, in, and thankfully now out, of the hospital after surgery.
• We have an offer and contract on our house. I'll say more here after I have money in my hand and I believe it's the real deal.
• We've found an apartment to move into for 3 months until our house is complete. That's a nifty trick when your area has several people from New Orleans also looking for housing. It's also expensive with a short term lease.
• We did our pre-sheetrock walk through of our house this morning. They put in the wall insulation today. They should begin bricking soon.
• We dropped off the contract on our current house with an attorney to setup closing.
• We finalized and paid for our lighting selections for a new house. When you have time, stop and count the total number of light bulbs in your house, it's a lot of money.

So, now we have two weeks to get out of our house and into an apartment. I'm sad about that. Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited about the new house, but I like this house also and I think I'll miss it. It's been a very good home. There are lots of things I'd like to change and to do different, but all in all, I'll miss the place. I have lots of fond memories and it was my first house.

One good note, the apartment did let us keep all three pets. They sort of bent a rule a little for us. I'm very thankful for that. It does mean we will end up walking the dog lots and lots, but that's good for him and us. Rainy night just will not be much fun.

I think that is all the house new. The next two weeks will be very busy. We have 7 years of clutter and things to get out of this house. It's hard to pack 7 years of memories in two weeks.

Awwwwwwwww

Sad Day.

Loyal Readership

I say loyal readership, I know most all of the people who read my page. Unfortunately half of my loyal readers are on vacation in sunny Florida, another is sick in bed, and the last is writing this update. I never said it was a huge following.

Sara is still recovering. She's getting better, but it is going very slow. Hopefully soon she will feel good enough to post an update herself.

Her being sick has put a slowdown on out house selling efforts. It's hard to give a tour from the hospital. I'm leaning more towards hiring a realtor so we don't have to deal with the people.

On a side note, I have a new HP keyboard here at home, and I must say I rather enjoy it. Nice key feel. Just in case you were wondering.

I have many, many rants I'd love go off on about gasoline and price gouging, but I'm certain most people know what's going on and feel about the same way. It just kind of caught my attention when the gas station on the corner went up 25 cents from breakfast to lunch. Especially when it is now 75 cents more per gallon than Costco. Needless to say, I shall, as before, continue to purchase my gas at Costco. Any station that does such huge price jumps will not have to worry about my business now, or ever.

Posting Again

I know it's been a while since an update. I've been very busy. Sara has been in the hospital since Saturday night. She just came home yesterday. I'll let her go into as much detail as she chooses about that on her page when she feels like it. She's still resting and trying to recover. Like I said, it's been a very rough week.

I'm tired of sleeping in the chair in the hospital room. I was very happy to have my own bed back last night. I think she was happy to be home also. Although being able to ask the nurse for ice cream at 9 at night and getting it right away did seem to appeal to her quite a bit. Imagine that. I'm busy doing my best to see to her and keep the house clean, plus get a few things done for work. I think mainly I need some rest also.

I have so many things that I've wanted to write about. It's hard to remember them all. Things like our TV starting to smoke and stop working right as we got home. That made for an interesting day. Right home from the hospital and into a TV on fire. I'm glad I was home for that one. I'm not sure Sara could have moved the TV to unplug it or made it the garage to flip the breaker. For sure, not the kind of excitement we needed after very sleep for the past few days.

On other notes, our house is still progressing. We now have our fireplace in. Hopefully we'll be able to go and take a picture of that soon. I have more to write, but I also have work to do. Hopefully I'll find some time soon.