Lordy, Lordy!!!

The appraiser was a real flake and if we were looking for a break from THAT guy, good luck to us! We found somebody else to be on OUR SIDE and that's all that we can do. OMG, I SO would make a fantastic appraiser!! I SO would make a fantastic LPO (loan processing officer) because another gal we're working with is also flaky and quite incompetent. We're wondering is she even has her G.E.D!! She doesn't come over too well on the phone, and then I met her IN PERSON! If THESE PEOPLE are getting paid for what they do, I should be the executive who hires and fires! I swear!!

slight setback

We'll be spending most of our day trying to fix a problem we are having. I'm too busy to be disappointed, and we will know how long the setback will be by Friday. In short, we're working on clearing up the title to our property. As far as I know, our mortgage company has received our info and will send forms for us to fill out and call it good. On the other hand our neighbor's mortgage company wants a 2 paragraph letter of explanation as to why we swapped pieces of each others' property, they want an appraisal report (those are over $500) and they want $350 in processing fees.

Today at 10 the appraiser for OUR buyer will be here and we'll ask him for a copy of the appraisal at a negotiated price we can agree upon.

Years ago we bought our first house together. I'd just started in real estate and found a very cute and cottage-type home. A reporter contacted me to do a story on new real estate agents and they shot a picture of me in that house before we even thought of buying it. I remember standing there looking out of the picture window. a few months later we found there is a view of Dyes Inlet and Silverdale in the winter when the trees lose their leaves! It was touch and go getting into that house and we rented it for awhile as the sale of our mobile home took some time. We got there around Thanksgiving with no stove and no frige. We cooked our turkey at someone else's house and put our food in coolers on the porch. I know it won't be that bad this time, and hope that everyone hangs in on these transactions, including the buyers here, and the sellers in Federal Way (and US, of course!).

Back when we got that first house we realized if something is meant to be, it will happen, we just need to do what we can and leave the rest to the person above. We feel the same now. Everything we have gone through has never been just plocking down some cash to get what we want. It's always a longer process for us.

Pilipino joke

The other morning on the way to THE MOUNTAIN we stopped for breakfast at a McDonald's. Sitting in the kids' play area we were laughing and talking about Filipinos because most of the company were Filipino, except for Wes and me. This was one of the funniest things someone shared with the group:

A teacher asked her class to write a sentence using the words chicken, nut, and bread. Then she asked 3 students to share their sentences.
Johnny's sentence was: "We shopped for chicken, some nuts and a loaf of bread."
Mariann said, "Last night we had roast chicken with nut and bread stuffing for dinner."
Ignacio told the teacher, "Chicken nut bread."
"That's not a sentence, Ignacio, can you tell us more?"
"My girlpren she make me mad, so I put dah plastic bag ober her head till chicken nut bread (she cannot breathe)!"

Maybe you just hadda be there when the joke was told, but please tell me if this is funny to you or not. My eyes teared, I laughed so hard! Maybe this can brighten your day!!

I took a day off...

Need a month off! We took a bike ride to the mountain yesterday. The ride was nice, the mountain was crowded. We snapped one picture with our friends, then called it good and went to Cafe Hawai'i! It was a long day and now I need another few to rest!! Ha!

In other things, it doesn't feel like we're close to the end of packing but the house is beginning to look bare. This morning we're rounding up nic nacs and chachkis and trying to find the nail clippers and tweezers. I'm not down to BARE BONES (you know, just the stuff we need for the next 4 weeks.In about an hour I'll head to halau for practice and sewing. I want most things packed and cleaned by the time we leave for E HULA MAU in California because when I get back I'll only have a week to wrap things up here. The more I get done now, the less worry on the other end. Yeah, right!! I'd fuss and worry anyway. I just hate it when the moving truck is in the driveway and the last minute throw and go reveals mess and loose ends!!!

sorry your wife was upset...

"Here's what we'll do for you, Mr. Lueders"....

Wes is so DEEE-lighted with me we went to look at linens today! The Harley place is gonna change out a whole bunch of things--they gave Wes a list today when he went to the dealership. The manager took the bike out for a half hour ride yesterday and then took the bike in...to the tech guy who is the person that authorizes the work that is warranteed by Harley Davidson, the parent company. They are putting their MOST EXPERIENCED mechanic on the job to work on our bike, and "will sometime next week be convenient"..."we have bumped back some regular maintenance jobs to accomodate your schedule."

Hmmm--know a good place to pick out a Tahitian black pearl???

ulia means electric or electronic?

How did we live without computers and cell phones?? Our mortgage company for the Federal Way house is in Lynnwood. Our insurance guy is out of Seattle, but lives in Federal Way. Our realtor is in Federal Way but lives in Auburn. When we need something we call their cells. When we want to update them, we e-mail. When we need forms signed, they send them to our e-mail and mail a copy to our house here. We print from the computer and sign and mail back. They call us by cell or e-mail that they've received our copies. We faxed pictures of our driver's license. I sent house pictures to the insurance guy via e-mail. You cannot believe the deluge of paperwork for these transactions! We have been able to meet the deadlines, so far, without even meeting the mortgage guy, or the insurance guy! I find that miraculous! And yet, here in Silverdale, the title company needs something from the building across the street and they charge us a $30 courier fee!! That's what I call junk fees and I won't pay them. In fact, they can call me, and I'll pick up the file from one office and deliver it to the other!! Amazing!

I'm glad Wes is home for the next few days to field the phone calls and sign his own name to things! In fact, he's been doing paperwork for the last half hour! I can go back to searching for linen and drapes and paint colors and filling in my charts and lists for that. I also am running out of boxes (again) from packing. We will get on the road to run our errands (and Fridays are the worse!). We'll try and get boxes from Kitsap Sports (some church friends own that) and the recycle bin behind Barnes and Noble gets filled today as they unpack the new books.

I know a bunch of ladies who want to come and clean when we move, but I need to do the pre-cleaning! If I move the stove and fridge, washer and dryer, clean under the sinks and spray the oven cleaner, keep the bathrooms clean and shampoo the rugs, there won't by much for the cleaning gals to do--maybe wipe the shelves and baseboards so things sparkle when the next guys move in. If I give up before then, they can do what's left! Shampoo the carpets after everything is out of here and maybe spray down the windows. I just don't want my friends looking at the mess! However, if they truly ARE friends, when I'm worn out from all of this, they can take over!!!

We are planning the actual move--trucks, people for loading and unloading, but the biggest problem is we don't know an actual date, and it might be in the middle of the week!!! Is there always pain before pleasure, or do I have that confused with something else?

We dream of sitting and relaxing at the place in Federal Way, but we are a LONG WAY from being there!!!

Patience is a virtue

This is a recap of what's been happening while Wes was gone!!

As usual, when you begin to want something so badly, it comes with challenges. While Wes has been gone, the title company here found out that our property is encumbered. In 2005 we did a boundary line revision and swapped equal pieces of the pie with the neighbors. So, their mortgage shows up as a lien on our title and vise versa. We are on good terms and I called them right away and we both signed release of info forms and the title company will contact the mortgage holders and send the necessary plates, etc. They should be able to do this before closing day.

The guy buying this place brought a builder friend along for the inspections. The only thing they did was to go into the crawl space and check the wiring, etc. They found water!! I was panicked we'd need to dredge and do a curtain drain (cha ching, cha ching in the thousands of dollars) but after lengthy discussion he said he'll do a gulee (??). As I understand it, you take a plastic plant pot, cut the bottom out, dig a hole and install a pump with it's own dedicated power line. He's an electrician. He says our house is very sound. Then he asked for $500 off the agreed upon price. While waiting for that addendum I found that the gutter right in that corner is clogged and I've no idea where that drainage pipe drains out to. We tried to present that as the root of the problem but he wouldn't take the explanation. I didn't think $500 was too much to give and I signed the addendum yesterday. Hmmmm....

Other things have happened where I needed to power up and have some confrontational discussions. The first was at our bank. After 15 years of working out of our checking account, they claim that I'm not on the signature card and wouldn't release info to me to send to Mark. BUT when I gave them the mortgage company's fax number they sent the paperwork on to him. This business took a couple of hours. The woman wouldn't accept the power of attorney because apparently, they need the ORIGINAL and then made a snide remark about it expiring in 2 days, so, what's the rush? GO FIGURE.

Our motorcycle is in the shop and I went to check on it yesterday. They couldn't find the keys. They haven't done the work because the technician hasn't found the problem. We took the bike in after some traveling and 2 mechanics listened to and agreed on what the problem is. I'm guessing the tech is higher up than the mechanics. Their computer has us listed for work that was done several months ago, but not for the current job order. I asked for the manager and went ballistic on the man. Those people need to change something. Personnel at the front write up the job order and somehow the info is LOST when the mechanics in the back receive the bike. Once or twice they couldn't find the bike! We told them to look out front through the glass doors, where we left it. HELLO?!! They are only a few steps away through a doorway and I just don't get it. I could go on, but Wes will have to take care of it when he returns sometime today. His flight is delayed by a couple of hours!

I was shopping for insurance quotes on-line to send the lender agent info and to get a binder for the place in Federal Way. 6 agents called within hours of posting our info!

So that's what's going on in my sandbox except for people have been coming by in droves, visiting, asking how they can help, dropping off boxes and newspaper, feeding me, etc. Last night a church friend kidnapped me away from what I was doing (sewing) and we went to a garden dinner up the street. Good food! Nice people! It's a revelation to me. I don't think I realize the impact I've had on this community in the 21 years here (and the impact the community has had on me). I've painted in churches and parks and homes, I've pulled weeds, gardened and cleaned and decorated, been involved in church and schools and kids' sports and music and scouts and many other activities. Makes it harder on the move, but we are geared up and getting ready to load and unload boxes and furniture. In 2 weeks I'll go to California. I don't know if it will be a good break from all of this, or a point of being worried about all of this while I'm down there! It will be Wes' turn to handle the home front. One day we'll both go on vacation together!

This is OUR dream car--note it's not MY dream car!

another day, another trauma

So, if you happen to own property and have swapped a piece or two with your builder, and then your new neighbor, it is all well and fine that the surveying company has registered all the information with the county. However, when you want to sell your house, on the title search, you now have some lines on your property that maybe you haven't been aware of. Your mortgage is supposed to be on your title, but now you have your neighbor's mortgage attached also. This means, of course, that your mortgage is also attached to THEIR property--and this, they call, ENCUMBERED. This also means that you cannot sell until these things are cleared up. NOW, we have their permission, THEY have OUR permission to clean this up so we each can have UNENCUMBERED title to our own property. This may take awhile. GET ME OUTTA DODGE!!

I got the phone call, from a new gal in the office--she is actually FUZZY-- not much experience-- who told me she needs information in regards to why I have a 200K mortgage and I took a second mortgage out for another 200K in 2005 and all I need to do is give her my social security number and that of my husband. Oh no, not me, and not today! 10 minutes later dressed in my power suit I arrived at that office and was having a discussion with her superior. Ashley is the assistant who does all the calling, running and chasing for this superior.

Then too, I've already talked to Wes and asked him where this other wife and family are living that he bought another 200K house for. He laughed out loud and heartily. We both know that he can barely keep up with himself, that I just run along side him and drag him wherever he needs to be, and so, another home and family are just so outside of his performance level!

So, another day, another headache and I'm waiting for my friend Kili to come take me away and we'll need to find a mountain of chocolate somewhere!!!

unmentiaonables make a difference

One of the things I do through the years is to measure my life parallel to my mom's. What was she doing at my age and stage? There are just too many funny underwear stories, and now I can laugh at myself, because I am truly becoming MY MOTHER! When I was born she was super thin. Growing up I remember the fabulous clothes in her closet (from her single and then young married days) and how I really would have liked to play dress-up. The only problem was, I was NEVER a size ONE!! As she bore more children and was happy in her home life she started to gain weight. A few pounds here and there and soon she was pretty heavy. She began investing in HARD CORE underwear and I remember us kids laughing and rolling on the floor of her bedroom when she tried to ease and squeeze and pour and pull and push herself into those long line girdles! Once she got her legs in it was like watching a sumo wrestler as he gets ready for a match.

So, I have been thinking lately that it would be a good to invest in some new underwear. Mothers are very self sacrificing, but in my life I don't think it feasible to stay in the same bra for umpteen years--not any more, that is. Put on one of your oldies, choose a fitted sweater top and look at yourself first frontwards and then catch the side view and you will see what I mean. Since I'm cleaning closets and drawers, this is what I've done on one of my little breaks. I tried on one of the newbies and BOY OH BOY there is a difference. I feel a tad more confident. When I lift my shoulders and hold them up and back THE GIRLS just look so much better and they over-power that pooch thing that used to be my flat stomach!

If there is no hope of losing those 20-50 extra pounds, at least I can by good underwear so I feel a little better about my BOD!!!

time to vent

So I went to the bank where we've banked for the past 15 years. The lady printed out the checking account history without asking for I.D. After printing everything out she told me I'm not on our JOINT account. We had a little discussion. I came home for my power of attorney papers and the fax number for the mortgage loan company. She says they need the ORIGINAL of the power of attorney papers and told me, oh, by the way, it expires in 2 days. I told her the loan papers are time sensitive and need to be sent in NOW. I showed her the checkbook and she looked up the signature card and told me the checks were ordered in error of the information on the computer. I told her I had the fax number for the mortgage company. She said she would fax the records for me. OKAY, I don't get it?? Send my information to a stranger at a company she doesn't know, but don't release the information to me because something in the records is so screwed up. I was about to kill the messenger, she being a slow moving and slow talking little Filipino lady. By then I was hungry because I've spent a half a day on this paperwork. I called Wes and read him the riot act and then went to eat Filipino food--the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. Go figure!! Know of any good banks in Federal Way?

turtle's pace

I just finished sorting through the clothes in my closet. The GET RID OF pile of clothes that don't fit is way larger than the TO KEEP pile. I've grown a bra size in the past year, and I hesitate to confess about what's happened to the waist and below region! I want to feel comfortable in my own skin and my own clothes, so, it's like starting all over again! There are 2 choices when nothing seems to fit--do something about the physique ( know a good surgeon who specializes in lipo suction?) aka diet and exercise, OR buy bigger clothes!!! I haven't decided yet--too much going on in life just at the moment.

It's a slow-paced late morning here at the hale and I'm still debating what I'll do today besides practicing some hula and visiting with little Hayden and then heading out to halau. I'm really stuck on finding a color scheme for rooms at the new place and getting linen for the new master bedroom. We will be all mismatched at first, furniture-less in the living room and I don't know about you guys, but that is too far out of my comfort zone. I know my focus is more towards the packing and cleaning up to get out of here, but the other stuff hangs on the mind too!

I think I'll go out for an hour and look at clothes and linen--or surf the net right here at home I'd better check my account balances first, you know, in case I find something I just HAVE TO HAVE!! Have a FUN day! I'm glad it's starting out a little cooler!

the kdis are here

Whoever got a new computer and dropped the box off here--you're a saint! The padding inside is some kind of rubbery foam that doesn't shred all over. It makes nice castle walls and the kids are very busy in that space, and in and out of the box!

Wes is doing fine, has come to terms with some things in his past and is glad to be on the road to Tampa. He'll visit overnight with his brother and their family and then return the rental car and get to the hotel for his last 2 nights there. His workshop is on Wednesday and he'll head for home on Thursday. I'm glad for him, and so happy I didn't make the trip. The accident things are all settled.

I'm just lazing around, filling out loan papers and maybe I'll look into my closet and sort through some stuff--once I do that, I'll be needing some new clothes to fill the empty space!! The real estate agent will come in the afternoon and I'll sign off some more papers and call it good. Then I'll head to halau for peace and tranquility???? NOT!!!

All is going well here--oops, gotta see what those kids are getting into. Since I'm in my closet, we should play dress-up!!

wake me up when it's over!

Yesterday I spent about an hour and a half in the "new" place. It's old, but I knew that! Built in the 80's by Murray Franklin, he has a good reputation in the industry. Wes has changed his tune about the "man cave" (though he tried to mention the elephant couch again and I cut him off) and has smartly decided it will be more of a family/media room. Down there it's all concrete. We will work to make it warm and comfy.

Some of the good news involves the remodel job they did in and around 1998. The furnace is huge with several filters--excellent for people with allergies. They removed the cedar shake roof and replaced it with a forty year roof. Then they focused on both the kitchen and the master bedroom. The kitchen is smaller than I'm used to but I love the cabinets and appliances. Although I took my camera, unfortunately the power was on while it was in my purse so the battery had drained!

The master bath is very substantial, as they tore out a bedroom to add that in. The small 3/4 bath in the corner was turned into a large closet for Wes. In my mind I've already placed all of his stuff in there! The realtor said if it was her, her husband would have the closet in the other room and she'd take both closets in the master. I can see her doing that--she must have a huge wardrobe!

Although I'm excited to BE THERE, I don't like the work it's taking to GET THERE. I like thinking about LESS and MORE. Less yardwork, more square footage to work in, more space for family and friend visits, less time travelling to halau (we've been at this for nearly an entire year now!), more leisure time, soaking tub, hot tub, etc. I never thought I'd be a tub person, but with all the aches and pains, I'm gonna love those jets! The house feels homey and I think it likes me!

Well, I'm off to pack some more--gotta pick up more Little Nickel papers for packing

Things are going okay--but I'm a bit frazzled

So these guys came nosing around my house for the inspection. I had moved stuff away from the furnace and cleared things under the sinks, located the crawl space entry, etc. They walked around the house once, then went into the crawl space with a flashlight. When they came out we had this long discussion about the only problem they found and I was about to have a heart attack, because I dunno how to fix this problem. What does it do to the transaction? I just like to get to the point but they rattled on and on--I got the jist. There is water under my bedroom. It didn't leak from the tub because all the joists and insulation are dry. There is a waterline mark under there. We checked the downspot nearby and don't think that is the problem. I have a couple of suspicions but didn't voice my opinions just then. My question, again, what does it do to the transaction? This guy is an electrician. His inspector is a builder friend of his. It will take them a few hundred dollars to fix. I was envisioning tractors digging, and putting in a curtain drain and thousands of dollars.

I signed the paperwork for the back-up offer and it was a full price offer. I'm glad I agreed to the sale with the electric guy because I'd have been in deep stuff if it were someone else. He's a nice guy--probably close to 40, not married, work-a-holic and carries a lot of cash!! He is very picky and extremely eccentric, but he knows what he needs to fix things.

Wes was in a car accident in Florida. Just great. It was a fender bender in a parking lot and it was HIS fault. He's feeling bummed--caused front end damage to his dad's convertible, and scratched up a large Dodge Ram 4x4 truck. I'm glad he's not hurt.

So, in spite of a few things, we are just chugging along and I keep on packing and cleaning. If I'm not careful, we'll be down to paper plates and cups from now until the second week of September. I am SO looking forward to the California trip, though I still have a couple of things to finish by then! Oh, I got a really great massage today, I'm a little achy and should soak for awhile (thanks, Kanoe)!!

Potato

Ole and Sven were on vacation and having a holiday at the beach in Australia, but they couldn't seem to make it with any of the girls. So they asked the local lifeguard for some advice.

"Mate, it's obvious," says the lifeguard. "You're wearing them old, baggy Minnesota-style swimming trunks that make ya look like an old geezer. They're years outta style. Your best bet is to grab yourself a pair of Speedos - about two sizes too small - and drop a fist-sized potato down inside 'em. I'm tellin' ya ... you'll have all the babes ya want!"The following day, they hit the beach with their spanking new tight Speedos and their fist-sized potatoes. Everybody on the beach was disgusted as they walked by, covering their faces, turning away, laughing...looking sick! So they went back to the lifeguard again and Sven asked him "Vat's wrong now? We still aren't picking up babes.""JAHEESUS!" said the lifeguard. "The potato goes in front!"

oh MY! TMI

I need to introduce you to Nichole, Kahaikala's fianceeeeee--they've been together for so many years I consider her his WIFE. Someday, they'll get married. This is just another one of those apologies to all of you for my crazy kids, especially the YOUNGEST who decided to meet all of you by pressing the REPLY TO ALL button, and Nichole, who decided to do the same! I'm so embarrassed, but when they come to halau, you can tell them what YOU think. Right now they live out of reach in Surprise, AZ. If not for that, I'd strangle them.

TODAY and TOMORROW

I'm really tired today. I couldn't find my purse, thought it was in Konia's car after she came to help pack the kitchen and we went to breakfast. I was wracking my brain. Had to back up my whole day to find that purse. Needed to transfer money--can't go to the bank without I.D., can't transfer by phone, phone is in the purse. Eventually I remembered doing something near the potted plants, and the purse was on the hose rack.

Tomorrow will be more of the same? Oh no! Actually, I have another helper now, Kapua dropped Anisa off to earn some school shopping money. Lucky for me because Clay took the packed boxes out to the garage. Kapua went out to try out her new skateboard (DON'T ASK !). I told her I got her something equally as useless, and presented her with a cut glass cookie jar. I said whenever they have an arguement and feel sorry but the words don't come, fill the jar with the other person's favorite snack. When she asked why there wasn't something in it I told her it's because she and I haven't argued!

Meanwhile, Anisa packed the plastics cupboard already and if we remember to get more newspaper, we will be wrapping up packing the kitchen things besides what I'll need for the next few weeks (microwave and paper plates!). My g-friend Mel came to take us to Mongolian Grill for a healthy choice meal. We're taking it easy but still packing! When Mel came by she brought more boxes! I love a thoughtful friend!

Tomorrow we'll need to tidy up a little and head out to Federal Way for our home inspection. While we're doing that, someone is bringing another buyer through the house. I thought we were all pau with that! After inspection we'll need to hang out in Federal Way until hula. We'll pack some more on Friday, and then we'll need to disappear for awhile when the new buyer and his inspector come out. I guess we'll go shopping. I'm in a weird mood. Must be time for chocolate!

Oh, I didn't introduce you to my son, Kahaikala, but apparently, he felt free to write EVERYONE about his girlfriend and his new guitar! Sorry about the TMI (too much info). He comes by that honestly because, like mother, like son! Sometime you might meet him in person! Well I'm gonna go lay myself down. The soak in the tub was good!

getting busy

Anyone got any boxes?? I've gotta start packing. I told Wes that by the time he gets home most things would be packed and he just needs to worry about the big stuff and his "junk". I'm packing the kitchen but saving some things for LAST because then when we get to the "other side" they will be the FIRST things. Right now I'm off to Lowe's to pick up some colored tape: one color for "upstairs" boxes, another for "downstairs" boxes and a third color for "garage" boxes.

I think I'll just donate all clothes that don't fit and then start all over and just buy bigger!!

Kanoe will be here soon and we'll finish digging up the plants and maybe I can get a massage later today before dropping down into bed tonight. I should soak in the tub. I need to look at a calendar and write things in because I'm feeling really forgetful. Where's that gingko biloba and how long does it take before it actually starts working??

You know that fish Dorey in the Finding Nemo movie? I feel like I'm HER right now! FOCUS--I need a t-shirt that says that!!! Okay, enough of rattling on and on, gotta get into some ACTION mode!! Have a good day everybody!!

signed around

I just got word that the buyer accepted my counter offer and ordered the inspections. "Our" place in Federal Way has inspections on Thursday at 4. The two transactions are to close (crossed fingers) on Sept. 7 and 8 and if all goes according to plan, we should be moving out and then in, a day or so after that. Wes just called and is excited, plus he was surprised I got $7000 more than he thought!

real estate update--new buyer

I dunno how many of you know that people who list their house put in a cushion of a few thousand above their bottom line. In today's negotiation I finished at $7000 above that line and I hope Wes lets me spend some of what I got for the house!!! I'm waiting to hear an agreement and hope it doesn't go any longer than today or tomorrow because we're paying for an inspection on the new place on Thursday.

The agent for the guy buying our place says he's been searching for the right place for over a year and that the house needs to face east, which this one just happens to do that. He's also glad I didn't put in funky stuff in the house--odd light fixtures, etc. (though he MAY paint over the lei). In the paperwork he asked for my Martin guitar (I told them where they could buy one, and NO, it doesn't come with the house!--the nerve of some people!)!

It was fun to sign Wes' name on all the paperwork! Ha-ha!

a vote of confidence

Ahh--top of the mornin' to you all!! I'm just back from an early trip to the airport to drop Wes off on his trip to Florida. As he leaned into the window to give me a kiss g'bye Wes told me he has every confidence in my ability to negotiate a sale on the house in his absence. I haven't felt as confident until this morning. I just realized I am the best person for this task! He gave me the figures and the bottom line. My bottom line is higher. I mean, THIS GIRL HERE (me) will be needing money to shop for a couple of pieces of furniture, some light fixtures and flooring and maybe some plants (Japonica for hula, of course!). Also, negotiating this place is extremely personal. This home represents, to me, all of the struggle through all of the years to get to this point. In short, I am not inclined to just give it away! If it means that the buyer goes away and the offer on the house in Federal Way goes away (only temporarily, I hope), then that's how it will be. I know now that I want that place in Federal Way. It's not good to fall in love with a home too quickly while dealing in real estate, but it's too late for that. It is a nice place, at a good price for us. The next few choices (second and third) are easily 15K more expensive, and will greatly limit the home shopping funds (appliances, window coverings, etc.) so I'm not excited about making that go away. I'm crossing my fingers and saying a prayer and you know, there's more to come on this real estate story!

Well, I think I'll practice some chanting and hula and pot a few plants to kill time until the appointment at 11:30!--

here we go again

So, another offer will be presented tomorrow at 11:30. The buyers' agent wants to present it personally to me instead of to my agents. That means it will probably be a low offer and she'll tell me the violin/wah-wah version of the story of the buyers and how they would love to be here but they see a few problems with the house, and could I give in a few thousand dollars. I'm sharpening my claws and getting ready to send them "down the road" to buy someone else's house. Sometimes when a sale falls through they figure we are hard up for a REAL sale. I can't be in a rush. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow and if we're able to keep our offer in Federal Way going too!

In the meantime, I need to mow the lawn and trim around the plants and get a pickup load of bark and shovel it over the areas we weeded before those nasty things come back to haunt us.

the fat lady didn't sing

You know how it's not over till the fat lady sings. The people who put an offer on our house? Well, we excepted and then didn't hear from the agent all day long. I just got a call from Wes (down in the mouth voice) that the young couple got into a huge fight and then decided not to buy the house. So, if something doesn't happen sometime soon, like today or tomorrow, our offer on the Federal Way house goes down the toilet too. BUT, 4 more people saw our house and our agent will let them know it is back on the market again, and then we're still at the "wait and see" stage. Well, I'm gonna go to a wedding and see about drowning my sorrows in fake champagne (Mormon wedding!) ha! If it's right, it will happen!!

on my way...

Noe and I are potting up plants that we want before the move, which will eventually happen, so I'm off to Lowe's for potting soil. Wes is at work today, and tomorrow and on Monday he's on his way to Florida. I'm managing the homefront and real estate transactions while he's gone for 10 days.

In my mind I'm looking at furniture and thinking where things will go in the next place. I wish I could just wiggle my nose and have everything in place, but there isn't any fun in that! I'm still picturing the insides and outsides of houses we've seen. There was an absolute perfect one--in yard landscaping and interior design and decorating. Why didn't we get it? Road noise. Road noise and the fact that they turned one side of the garage into a hair salon. It would be a nice uke shop but there was no room for cars or a place to work on bikes! And besides, we figured we were in love with THEIR furniture and THEIR silk curtains and THEIR beautiful light fixtures and lamps and furniture. Well, THEIR stuff would be outta there and WE would be left with our plain jane everything. But that gives us so much in new ideas!!

I've gotta get moving, I think there are 2 appointments to show the house again. Until all the paperwork is signed around, we have to keep up with this traffic through our place. We've been afraid to soak in the tub, we take quick showers in case we missed a phone message and get caught in our altogether with an agent and clients going through our house! We made all appointments in Federal Way and still got people napping in their beds or hiding in the bathroom!! Scary, isn't it!!--Leona

whirlwind--no, more like cyclone!

The other day we listed our house. Yesterday somebody put an offer on it. We saw it tonight, it is a full offer and they want all the curtain rods and window treatments (blinds, shades, etc.) and appliances. Fine with me, I dont' mind getting everything all new! Knowing it would be a good offer we hit Federal Way and looked at about 20 houses. Small, large, old, new, in Adelaide, Dash Point, Auburn, NE Tacoma and Redondo. You know how when you're looking for a Christmas tree and you see a really nice one in the beginning, but decide you need to check the others out but an hour later you end up with the very first tree that you liked?? Okay, that's what happened in our long househunt. We narrowed it down to 3 or 4.

Our day started out with huge disappointment because the house on the pond with the large enclosed patio room was done up like a mobile home room was added to a gorgeous house! It took a couple of houses before we got over that because it would have been nice if it was done right!!

4th place was in NE Tacoma, past Dash Point. I'm a painter, but apple green walls next to baby poop mustard yellow is not my bag. It would take too long to get at all of those vaulted tall walls!! Wes said it wasn't us and he felt like he'd be a snob if we got that house!???? 3rd place, granite counters, tile entry, zebra wood hardwood floors and marble tiled fireplace--higher priced and we wouldn't have much left for furnishings, etc. Nice deck, nice master, teeny garage. 2nd place, nice rambler floorplan in nice neighborhood on a corner, larger garage, floors not that great, road noise, close to an elementary school. No tub in master, no hot tub. 1st choice? Split level entry. 2 decks and a hot tub. Downstairs family room, craft/sewing area, hydrangeas galore some roses and a 3rd bedroom. Master bedroom upstairs, they tore down a wall for the 4th bedroom and put in a huge glassed in shower and jetted tub. Another bedroom upstairs makes 3. Garage is larger than others we saw. The yard is nicely landscaped, it is a quieter neighborhood than others we saw. The kitchen is small, but has some glass front cabinets (for fancy things, I guess). We hope to change the stove, need a larger oven. Maybe we'll do wood floors later, we need to take out some trees to let in some light in the back yard area.

We looked at the house twice to make a decision. Both times the lady left us a plate of chocolate chip cookies. We discussed and debated and chose the quiet over the noisy other places. If all goes well, we'll be moving out and in the first part of September. Just think, in 2 days we sold a house for $330K and bought one for $338K--that is $668K in transaction monies. We both have a headache and are fatigued beyond the point of being tired! Look at MLS #26116772. The adress is 31601 41st Ave. SW. Driveby would be from 320th, head north on 42nd, becomes 317th, left on 41st to home on left. It's not signed, sealed and delivered yet, we get to sit on pins and needles and keep our fingers crossed till September 8th, closing day!! It's after 10 and I need a peanut butter sandwich and glass of milk - never had time for dinner!!

A neat idea!!!

I know some of you have loved ones and friends serving the country and although I don't agree with our politicians, I DO feel for the troops and their families.....and I think this is a great idea too!--
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one.
If you go to the web site at www.letssaythanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and the Xerox Corporation will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

excitement

Among other things I helped get Kanoe's car to the shop and then we took kids to the free movies. If you don't arrive early, you don't get to sit as a group! We were just in time! Nanny McPhee is a little strange, but a "feel good" movie. Our kiddos were pretty good and had a good time. On the way home I talked Kanoe into a drive through lunch pick up and then we went to a little known and less used kids park complete with gardens and a large pond. In the summer the place is staffed with a couple of master gardeners who volunteer their time to answer any questions about gardening in the Northwest. Aside from them and a county worker mowing the grass, we were the only people there. The kids ran around in the arbors and up and down the paths, hiding behind shrubs and giggling away!

We were close to home so Noe dropped me off, my car was still at her place. I came home and napped and then Wes and I went back to retrieve my car. As we were lazing on the deck and checking out her new hot tub and her flowers blooming, we noticed the traffic screeching to a halt as a beautiful speckled gray horse galloped past the house! A few minutes later we saw the horse again, going through the neighbor's yard, this time with a rope around its neck. A couple at the end of the rope were having a heated discussion, either about who's fault it was or about how to get the horse back home. Eventually they walked the horse up Kanoe's street and a guy in Ford Bronco came to turn around in the driveway twice, as the horse hadn't walked all the way up the hill. A little later a lady in a fancy car came up the hill asking after the horse. We told her people were walking it home. Kawailani and Lehua had quite the afternoon with all the excitement. We decided to meet for dinner and had an early celebration of probably having the house sold.

Now I'm taking care of the stuff I wouldn't want to see if I was moving into this place: paint spots on the carpet (not from me--Lehua did some fingerpainting while hiding under a desk sometime last year--periwinkle paint on beige carpet! Also I'll potting up some plants this morning before heading off to Federal Way to look at houses. Hmm...should I take the little Japonicas or buy larger ones when we get into a house there??

going coconuts!!

Today we received a call from our Silverdale realtor saying we got a "very nice" offer for our house (the paperwork and sign went in and up YESTERDAY!). We can't seem to schedule meeting him till later tomorrow night, after another turbo tour of more homes in Federal Way. We will need to make a selection soon so we can close both houses simultaneously AND factor in my E HULA MAU California trip. I don't want Wes moving all our stuff that week!! Number one, he shouldn't be doing it alone, number 2, our stuff may not be safe in his care!! I'll need to label things GARAGE, UPSTAIRS and DOWNSTAIRS depending on the house, but just to make sure I can find the stuff we need for him to get to work and back, and for me to set up house slowly. He'll just throw everything in a truck and dump it in the garage!!!

I'll need to give notice at the job too--and I'm trying to get my dental and eyecare appointments in before the end of summer too! It is a purely crazy time at our place, and Wes is looking like Rumplestiltskin jumping around and clapping his hands with glee (never thought I'd actually use that in a sentence)!

See you all soon, you'll recognize me as THE FRAZZLED ONE!

more non-clutter pics

I need to save these for posterity because our place never looks like this on a normal day!
Okay, I'm off the computer for the morning, and on my way for the day! Gotta make it a happy one!!--

apperances-judging a book by its cover

Woooo! Wednesday, hump day...I think it's August now, who knows? We've been too busy to notice!

I was wondering yesterday, "if there is a reason for everything, are we sometimes supposed to find out what the reason is?" Take for instance, I was standing in line at the bank, talking to a cute and young little Filipino gal with a gorgeous six year old daughter. We laughed and joked because the little one was talking about birthday parties. A man came in line behind us. He was weird looking and I couldn't help it, my skin had this creepy crawly feeling. He stared at the little girl, looking her up and down with a strange look on his face, and then to the woman in the same way. By then it was my turn to go to the teller. I rubbed up and down my arms to get the creepy feeling to go away, and when I was done at the teller, I just walked out the door, trying to forget it.

We were talking at halau last night about our escapades into the different hoods in Federal Way. I've got years of experience working with kids and teens. The ones I know already have tattoos, piercings, some do the Gothic all in black with white make up and red lipstick and hair dyed jet black or sag their pants and wear do-rags. When we go to the mall, kids that look like gangbangers come up to talk to me and Wes just wonders why. I try not to pre-judge by appearances because a lot of these kids are pretty nice. I find it's good to be good to them so after a day's work you don't go out to the parking lot and find your car keyed and your tires slashed! So when we go into a neighborhood and I get the creepy feeling it's not a good place because of the way kids hang out, then I guess it's profiling of a sort. Maybe they ARE nice as Hoku says, and just don't have much to do then sit in the roads looking trashy, I dunno.

Federal Way, like many communities these days, is nice overall. It has pockets of not so great places on the way to, or in the middle of, really nice areas of homes. Because I've experienced spending a lot of time at home working on projects, I need to feel safe in my neighborhood, call me paranoid, I don't wanna be sitting scared in my own house! On the other hand, being a motocycle person, they might perceive me as gun carrying or an Asian martial arts expert-Ha Ha--if they only know, I'm just a fledgling hula person and little old grandma of 7 little kids!

You all have a good day! I'm in the yard and taking g-kids to the movies later on today!!!

check these out

MLS numbers for the houses that we like:

26116772--top of our list
26088729--Filipino house, nice surround sound
26080418--Filipino house with Catholic statues
26107677--70's place, rec room/playroom
26106932--another one high on our list--Brick front
26120356--kimchee house
26071915--I just found this one and we'll look at it tomorrow.

go to a real estate site, John L. Scott, Windermere, etc. and plug in these MLS numbers to look at these houses. Just remember that there is no other house to compare to ours, and that's just the way it is!!

leaving your mark in the community

If you can believe, someone knocked on my neighbor's door last night to look at his house. They told him they were looking for a Hawaiian lady! when he pointed in the direction of our place, she came and rang the doorbell and knocked on the door. Then she went back to ask him where we were. He said, "They aren't at home." She came back to our house and snooped in the windows. The for sale sign wasn't even up yet! Today there has been extra traffic on our road. We'd like to think people want our house so BADLY. But, we know most of the cars in the neighborhood and these folks are pulling flyers out of the boxes at 2 other houses for sale. We don't have flyers yet.

We just weeded the entire front of the house. Mr. Man doesn't usually join in, but WOW, laulau, the work went by so fast! Tomorrow we shovel bark where we've weeded to keep the weeds down. Now, I wanna know how come we couldn't shell out the fifty bucks for this all the years we've been living here? We'll take the 4 garden boxes apart. Only 2 have dirt in them. Then we'll weed whack and make it look like the rest of the lawn. I still need to pot up the plants I'd like to take with me and hope for Mr. Man to want to invest further when we reach the next place. Antique roses and some hydrangeas would be nice!

That is the bulk of our BIG chores around here. After that is all packing and cleaning, and paint touch-ups. Keep your fingers crossed for us!! Oh, on Thursday we'll look at a few more houses. We can look in a slightly higher price range and offer less for homes that have been on the market over 3 months. That's considered a LONG time! Our neighbor? He listed his house LAST YEAR and is still waiting on a buyer. He admits to over-pricing it and says he's not in a rush to sell. If anyone is interested, I e-mail the MLS numbers and you guys can see pictures of what we're looking at. Oh, another lady is here to look at the house!-See Ya Soon!

Ponderisms

Some are repeats from stuff I've read before, but still funny again!

PONDERISMS
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until.I learned that most people die of natural causes.
Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.
Life is sexually transmitted.
Some people are like Slinkies.
Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see 'em tumble down the stairs.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here,
and drink whatever comes out?"
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he doesn't like it, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

house hunters--long hunt, long post

9 houses! This is how we keep them straight in our minds! The first house would be perfect for one of our kids, it has a lot of room, the kids in the neighborhood were playing outside pretending to have a gun battle. The second place was a driveby. It looks like a compound to me (Wes' thing) with brick walls all around it. When the agent tried to make an appointment the guy said he's having a family emergency. He put the house on the market the beginning of July, with no showings to be scheduled before July 29th, and then came this family emergency. I think he's not finished fixing it up. He also is a realtor.

Then we went to Redondo, an area where some houses have a nice view of the sound. Well, this lady doesn't trust realtors. She took us on a guided tour, describing to us, "here is a bathroom..." Hello? Are we retarded?? Although there are some nice places in the neighborhood, this wasn't one of them.

It was too cute when we arrived at the kimchee house. Grandpa and grandma were scurrying out to hang out in the backyard garden while we toured the place. I like the location, and the style of the house. They had daikon type radishes growing in a planter near the front entry and the place smelled like kimchee! The downstairs layout was nice, upstairs a little cramped, but do-able. No room for a motorcycle or woodshop.

Then we hit the two Filipino houses. Both were nice, they packed away some clutter into the garage, put a sign on the door saying not to enter because their fierce dog was out there. When we came in the entry there was a display area with two porcelain statues brightly painted of the Madonna and Jesus. The black Asian screen with abalone inlay, the jade bosai type tree, nic nacs all over. The yard was terraced in large stones with green grass and gorgeous plants. Yes, room for a shop, and access to it, but part of the landscaping would need to come out. Through the opened windows we could here the road noise from 21st Ave.

In the other one we noticed pictures of a young guy in the Navy with his wife--cute couple. There was a ice bucket with small bottles of water. They had surround sound and the radio was tuned to the jazz station--nice touch, nice house, upgraded appliances, soaking tub in masterbath--no jets. What's up with pergo? I've always thought it looks nice, but walking on it in bare feet you hear a slap slap like when your rubbah slippahs hit your feet when you walk? Did you know that pergo and that type of flooring is actually a copy--like Xerox--of a picture of wood, glued onto a backing???

The doorbell just rang. I've gotta remember to get dressed as soon as I get out of bed. The guy putting up the for sale sign had the wrong address and went to the neighbor's house first! Actually, someplace they have us recorded as the owners for both properties. Just great, isn't it?? We should sell both and buy a mansion--or a halau!!! I wonder if Wes would go for that idea?--don't think so!

Okay, so next was a brick faced house--my favorite for the day--the road noise is gonna be toned down when those trees get bigger! The hardwood floors are gorgeous, the floorplan is awesome--neighborhood is kinda like many houses in a line, street after street. Room for a shop. If there isn't a jetted tub in the master bath we could get a hot tub--yeah!

Close to Auntie Sweeties we drove through a neigborhood with some speed bumps and tagging but a little further on in a cul-de-sac we came to this older (70's) house. If it was just for us we would probably get it--the kitchen is painted a coral orange (gag me!) but it has a large downstairs rec room, an large upstairs playroom. The bedrooms are small, one painted in 2 shades of Barbie pink, almost fluourscent enough to light up the entire upper level. They re-did the fireplace white marble tiles. Problem with this one is we could get a nice newer house for the same as this one with the work we'd have to do to fix it.

The last house was a fantasy (for Wes) and a nightmare (for me). First off, these guys are do-it-yourself-ers. They do a nice job. The back is concreted in different colors to form paths around the side of the house and through the garden areas. They've put in a forever kind of deck that won't rot and covered it over too. Nice plants. The lady had a giant parrot on her shoulder and she was trimming an overgrown vine. Wes caught the 2 older guys in a compromising situation. They are enclosing the hot tub room off of a spare room downstairs. Hmmm...if they are gay, what's with the lady in the yard--she's been introduced as the wife. We don't ask! The bath off the hot tub room is strewn with dirty clothes, including men's flannel underwear. The bedrooms have bird cages, birdseed, bird toys, there is a scrawny scary looking cat wandering around, food in the kitchen all over the countertops and table, clutter and dirty stuff everywhere. In my mind I'm trying like heck to paint out the dirt and clutter and really see the house--they installed knotty pine wainscotting in every room--with high gloss varnish. I can't get over it! I think it's tacky and Wes thinks it's classy!!!!!!! There is a bright purple trike (goldwing motorcycle with 3 wheels) and the garage is completely separated into two rooms. Bottom line for me, there is no living room. There are several bedroom sized rooms, but none that could be a good sized rec room or living room.

That's what we did yesterday. We stopped for lunch/dinner at L&L and went to olelo/oli class and then home, arriving after 11 p.m., tired and worn!!!

camping pictures

Not that this little guy is my favorite, but his mom is really great about sending pictures of him!! We watched a slide show of these at family dinner last week and my favorite of the sand things was the octopus--and then Konohiki told me it was his, it took him 3 hours while they were sitting around watching the contestants.