Listing to one side

Well, we have finally done it.  The house is listed for sale and on the internet.  You can do a search and find it.  Then tell someone to buy it.

It took more work than I imagined.  I am sure that most readers know all the ins and outs of house preparation.  I did not going in.  Like most things, doing this made us have to do that.  Hopefully, we will get the price we are asking for.  In this area, our asking price is not bad.  It should meet the in-between market.

A few people have talked to us about the house.  Mostly that they know someone who is interested in a house.  As Wendy has said, "It is all talk, until they bring the money."

So pray we sell our house quickly and close to want we are asking.  Then the pray we find a house that meets our needs and budget.

Tickled pink

Over the weekend Wendy and I took the girls to see a live musical of Pinkalicious.  Ava and Joy love the book the musical was adapted from.  I think Wendy has read that book so much she knows the words, Joy knows the words, and Ava knows the words.  It is always "Read, read."

So when I saw that the musical was being performed I told Wendy we had to get tickets.  So the big day arrived and we all wore our pink.  We did not tell the girls what we were doing until the morning of.  And only then to get them moving so we could leave.

It was a pretty good auditorium.  We found reasonable parking.  Five dollars instead of seven and it was close enough for the girls to walk.  Joy and Ava did better than we expected.  They seemed to enjoy the performance.

Of course we had to get a souvenir.  I bought Joy a tiara and Ava some kind of headwear with attachments. I am sure there is a proper term, but I do not know it.  Joy wanted a Pinkalicious doll, but that was $50.  Too much for me. 

Along with a ticket, there was the opportunity to get a VIP package.  This was a front row seat and goodie bag.  I did not opt for the VIP package, but I thought hey it is the last day of the show I will check and see if they have they want to get rid of.  I did not get a goodie bag for the girls, but I did score some swag.  I saw some people walking around with wands after the show.  A mom whose child had one said they were handing them out.  Apparently that was part of the VIP package.  While we standing around two extremely nice ladies working the desk called us over and gave Joy and Ava each a wand.  They were thrilled.

Then we went to lunch at Cracker Barrel.

Perhaps we can do more activities like that since the girls enjoyed the show.

Delay on the delay

First let me say that the decision of the county school system does not really affect me.  It might have a small factor in my employer's decision.  Second, I am glad that I am not the one in charge to make the decision.  However, that being stated I have some comments and questions about it.

Wake county was ready to let students go early before the snow, yet with snow on the ground they dragged their feet.  I know that everyone will not be happy.   There are those who say in a blizzard, "Oh the kids can go."  Then others who want nothing to do with the snow.

I never understood the makeup days and having to go for a required amount of days.  I thought makeup days were already in the calendar or there was a grace period of three days.  I can show to something every day and not do a thing.

Why wait until nine at night to make a decision?  What difference is there between five in the afternoon and ten at night?  Odds are it will only get colder.

My main point is make the decision early.  If you goof and there is no severe weather, which has happened, so what.  It is a school system, it is supposed to be hated.

Feeling flaky

Well it did happen.  The snow that is.  I am not sure if it is as much as the weather forecasters were anticipating.  It started sometime last night.  Most of the schools and my place of work were looking for it earlier.  It did snow enough to give me the day off.  I wanted it all or nothing.  I did not want to see any precipitation or I wanted enough to close the building for the day.  I do not like the delays because I have to get out in it.

Early this morning everything was covered in white powder.  The moon made it look bright outside because of the reflection.  That is the snow to enjoy.  I am not much on snow.  I have played in it some when I was young.  Now as an adult I would rather not see it.  It only becomes a complication.

I enjoy the snow when I am not affected by it.

If you have to get out, then be careful.  Or at least send me some snow cream.

Bi polar doors

We have throughout the house bi-fold doors to the closets.  I really despise those doors.  It is so easy to get them off track.  I do not want any in the next house.  Fixing them is always beyond my ability.  I usually have to rely on someone else's expertise.  I think recently we had three that were not working right.  One was fixed by the floor installers.  I am not sure how they did it.  The other the handle was loose.  I did figure that one out.  The last door is still not working properly.

The door I referenced is our coat closet door by the front door.  Awhile back, I guess it is called the top pivot came out.  I noticed the piece on the floor.  I tried a momentarily repair, but was not successful.  So I put the piece aside.  Now I cannot find it.  So I have been to Lowes several times to get the piece.  I cannot get it right.  The first piece seemed too small.  It would not stay in the door.  Plus I had trouble get the cap on it.  I wonder now if it would have worked.  Currently the bi-fold door opens like a regular door.  There is nothing keeping one side in the track.  So I got a bigger piece.  Too big.  It barely fits after several minutes of forcing it in.  However, it will not slide, one of the main functions I need.  So I will have to take that piece back to Lowes.  Hopefully the third time is the charm and it will be just right.

At this point I am ready to get back on track and have it adored again.  If I do not get it this time I may have to fold and hope someone with more knowledge will be available.

Hi Handsome

My hands seem to always been in a rough condition.  During the cold weather especially.  My knuckles dry out and will crack.  Of course there is discoloration. It looks like I have been in a fight.  I always seem to get nicks from something I doing.  I know I have washed and scrubbed my hands plenty of times, yet I still have some paint residue right on the knuckles.  I guess in seeing all the trouble I am having, it is my knuckles.

I have always marveled how people can have such soft hands.  Even most men.  My hands looks scaly and dry.  Yesterday I was putting on a tie for church and could hear the scratching as my hands were moving along the material.

Lotion would help.  I think about putting some on, but often do not.  It would benefit me to grab some and then I would not have such a touchy situation.

Where did it go?

This has been a bizarre week.  Monday was a holiday.  Tuesday early dismissal.  Wednesday a delay.  Thursday was staff days.  Friday was a somewhat normal day.  I am glad the week is over.  Now I have really work.

The main thing that made it a bizarre week was the home improvement.  We had the floor installation guys here Monday installing carpet.  Then back on Tuesday installing the laminate flooring.  I had to lit the pilot light for the furnace two days in a row.

Thursday morning I get up and try to get online.  No connection.  I creep into Ava's room where the router is to reset it.  Nothing happens at the computer.  I try again.  Nothing.  I check the phone.  No dialtone.  I turn on the tv.  I am met with a blank screen.  Of course without the internet I have no way of contacting my cable company.  I know I have a bill somewhere with the information, but it is early in the morning and I do not want to wake anyone up.

I head to the Y and use the internet to find the phone number.  I finally track it down.  Note to companies who provide service, how about putting your contact information on the home page or readily accessible so I do not have to spend ten minutes looking for it?  I call the cable company and get an automated female voice tell me there is a service disruption in my area and engineers are working on it.  OK, I think, that will be resolved.

I tell Wendy when I get home the cable, internet, and phone are out.  The woes of bundling.  The positive news is that Wendy is working that morning and then heading to an eye appointment.  So she will not be home all day.  I am at work myself and think not much of the lack of contact to the outside world.  The problem is that no one was home to call service and get the problem fixed earlier.  I get home that afternoon before Wendy.  Problem, still no phone, no internet, no cable.  I call and get the automated reply the modem needs to be reset and if still nothing call back.  I reset and nothing.  So I call service.  The service tech tells me to completely unplug, which I have done, and that in case she will set up a service request.  The options 10-11, which no one will be home and 2-3, usually nap time.  I take the 2-3 because at least Wendy will be home.  This of course will be on the following day.  And of course I am on the cell phone and the reception cuts out and drops the call.  So I call back.  Fortunately the service call is set.  I am told this time that the signal from the outside is not getting to the equipment, so rebooting will not help.

I report this back to Wendy, who had a long day of her own.  Without the interaction of outside world our house is dull and chaotic at the same time.  After the girls were sent to bed, I pass out and Wendy even goes to bed earlier.

Friday morning, Wendy goes to work and the technician comes in the afternoon.  I get a text from Wendy saying she is "back on the grid."   Apparently an amp from the outside burned out and was not providing the power to the boxes.  Problem solved.  Thankfully.

So after a day and half or more of no internet, phone, or cable we have returned to the land of the electronically living.  I am grateful it happened at a time when we were all away from the house for the most part.

Blowing hot air

Yesterday the floor installers were at the house to install the new laminate floor.  It does look very nice.  Hopefully we can keep it that way.  Kudos to Wendy for entertaining the girls.  There was no place to go in our house because the work was being done in the living room.  So Wendy and the girls were in Joy's room.  All day.  You would have to ask Wendy how that was, but I am sure you can guess with two girls under three trapped in a small bedroom.

The workers had to leave the back door open because they were back and forth sawing the pieces for the floor.  When I came home for lunch the thermostat was reading 69  and the heat was blowing.  I am thinking oh no our gas bill is going to go crazy.  Then we I get home from work the thermostat was reading even lower.  The installers were finishing up and Wendy had to go to work.  So around 5:30 the workers leave and the doors get shut.   I think now the temperature will go back up to normal.  I took the girls grocery shopping because we needed some items.

We came back and the thermostat temperature had not moved.  The heat was still on.  I thought this is not right.  I felt the air out of the vents.  It was chilly.  Nothing gets me more hot than something not working right.  I go into the crawl space where the furnace is kept.  The pilot light is not light.  So I have to find a way to get the panel off using a tool I need but do not have.  I get the panel off.  I have flashlight that works when it wants to.  So I stick a match in and it lights, but does not stay lit.  It took a few attempts to get it to stay lit, but success.  At this point I am in a horrible mood.  The girls have no idea what is going on and are wanting to run around because they have been cooped up all day.

Soon after I get the furnace going and the heat turned back on Wendy comes home from work.  I say we might have a problem with the heat.  She puts her hand to the vent and reports that warm air is coming out.  The temperature on the thermostat does start to climb and regulate.  I am thankful for that.

It is good that the air is working properly.  I was pretty steamed by the time the ordeal was finished.

Floored

Well Wendy will finally have here hardwood/laminate flooring.  After seven years and us trying to leave the house.   All good things come to those who wait?  Even better things come to those who do something.

The other day we were going to have some pros come and clean the carpet.  After seven years of living and almost two years of little girl activity, the carpet could use some help.  Wendy's dad owns a carpet shampoo machine which we had used previously, but there were still some spots.  We figured with trying to sell the house a professional job would be in order.  So we call and make the appointment.

At the scheduled time, Wendy texts me and says the cleaners are at the house.  A few minutes later she calls me.  Her words, "We need to talk."  Apparently our carpet is so old and worn it would not be worth the cleaning.  The carpet has a life of five years and we have been in the house seven.  The previous owners put in the carpet, but even when we moved in we knew it was cheap quality.  That says something when carpet cleaners do not even want to clean the carpet!  As Wendy mentioned, "Thank God those cleaners were honest and did not take our money."  The cleaners said they could clean the carpet, but it would not really look good.  So we decided to put down new carpet...and hardwood/laminate floors.

It would be a little cheaper to put carpet throughout the house, but hopefully the hardwood floors will sell the house faster and at a higher price.  We are putting the hardwood in the living area and the carpet in the bedrooms.  The carpet will be one neutral color.  Not like at present where the master bedroom has mauve carpet that the guy who will be installing the flooring says is not made anymore.

So tomorrow a crew is coming by to make magic happen.  Our flooring will be transformed.  The good news is I am off work already so I do not need to take time off.  The better news is that they were able to work us in so quickly.  The great news is that this is the last major project we have to before putting the house on the market.  So hopefully and with a lot of prayers this house will be on the market soon. As the parody song goes, "Soon and very soon, I am going to see cha-ching!"  That is the plan.

If you know anyone who wants to buy a reasonably priced home in Cary, let me know.  Send that person our way.

Family values

Why is it easier to be nicer to a complete stranger than someone in my own family?  I wonder if it is that way because I only see the person once.  I have the brief interaction with the person and then done.  The rough spots of the relationship are not seen.

I have been accused and convicted of being impatient and frustrated with the girls.  Most of the time with others it is no big deal.  Is it because I fall into the parent trap.  No, not the movie.  The trap where the parent wants better for the child.  I will admit that I do want the girls and future boy to turn out better than me.  It is frustrating when they do not perform to my expectations.  That is the problem there, I want them to perform to my expectations.  Wendy is right, as she most often is.  The only way my children are going to grow is in a loving environment.  If I trap them in a circle of insanity, then they have nowhere to go.

It is hard to love the ones we are close to.  Because there are more opportunities for failure.  Yet there are more opportunities to love.

Remember the family values.  They are worth more than the money it costs you.

Quick Results

I am sure you have experienced the anticipation factor.  You wait or work hard for a long period of time.  Then, finally, the goal is achieved or it is the day of the date.  And it passes quickly.  You think, "What happened?!"

The Christmas rush is a lot like that.  I remember Wendy mentioning that there is so much building up prior to Christmas and then on Christmas day it is over.  I told her sometimes it only lasts three hours and then it is over.  People beginning planning for next Christmas.

The process to get a result is often long.  With our concept of time it seems longer to get there than to enjoy the reward.  I wonder if it is the rewards we set.  Or are we not supposed to just sit around and enjoy the rewards?

Our opportunities are made up of moments.  There are moments in the challenges and there are moments in the reward.  We cannot live off our past rewards.  Residual income works for some, but they still have to update the product.  We cannot get too bogged down in the present.  Sometimes it feels there is too much to do in a short amount of time.  We should not look so much to the future that we do not enjoy the present opportunities.

It can be a tough cycle.  Work, reward, celebrate, work.  At least there is some reward.  You know what no one says, "A journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step.  And ends with tired and cranky passengers, countless potty breaks, and traffic."  At least the scenery can be nice.

Hurry up and wait

I spend today hoping what comes tomorrow was there yesterday.

For most that know me, know that I like to do most things right then.  If I know something  is coming in three weeks my mind thinks it should be that week.  I like to joke that if it cannot be done in two minutes, is it worth doing?

A lot of times I go through life doing things simply to get them done.  Then I have to wait for the next thing.  I try to do something and then when it is over, I think now what?  However, as I type this I think that in some things I wait to hurry up.  There are things that I put off or I want the easy outcome.  To be honest I have never had to work hard in my life.  I would say the hard times in my life have not been a struggle, but more stupidity.

I guess the thing to do is do what needs to be done.  The speed is up to the person.  The timing is up to God and events.

Might as well jump

Joy loves to jump on her bed.  No matter how many times we tell her not to.  She will stop for a moment, but then continue.

It is a fine line because we want our kids to be obedient.  If children are not obedient in the little things, then what about the big things?  Then on the other hand children get so excited.

What is a parent to do?!  I know that I am not one to give parenting advice.  I think children are like controlled burns.  One has to have that fire to clear some off brush.  Yet the fire is contained to a manageable area.  Raising children is like that.  There are moments when they have to be somewhat controlled or at least contained.  They also have to be able to burn.  Let children be passionate about what they want.  Of course if it is sitting in front of the television all day, then you might have to direct force some interest elsewhere.

Too often parents see themselves as firefighters putting out fires.  With good reason, I might add.  This argument needs to be stopped.  This dinner needs to be cooked.  This pile of clothes has to be washed and put away.  These children must stop acting like wild animals.  However, what if as parents we in those moments of supervision let our children burn with the energy they have.  Of course, be ready to contain it.  Yet have the marshmallows on hand too.

That jumping child may one day be in the Olympics, when jumping up and down is recognized as a sport.

Hanging around or enjoyed

Yesterday the worship leader of a church service I attended used the phrase "live is not meant to be peachy."  It was in reference to life not being easy or everything always being great and wonderful.

Of course my mind start pondering on how one could have a "peachy life" and how it relates to a Christian's life.  This might be too much of a stretch or great crazy.  Now granted I am not too familiar with the peach process.  So forgive me if I get everything I write wrong.  A peach grows on a tree.  I believe there is something in the Bible about being part of God's branches and producing fruit.  There is not just one peach per tree.  We live in a community.  Peaches can hang around too long and rot.  Then they just fall to the ground useless.  I know that peaches in a can have the extra syrup.  This might be the stretch part.  Could that be the Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit should cover a Christian and make the life better.

Here is the part that got me thinking about the phrase.  When I heard peachy life, my though was that the whole purpose of a peach is to be eaten and enjoyed.  I know, and am thankful, that as Christians we are not literally eaten.  As Christians, we are to provide service.  Along with providing nourishment, spiritually speaking.  Perhaps enjoyment.  It does require a bit sacrifice and giving of self.  I think the example of Jesus shows that.

Something to thing about or not.  Could I have produced fruit or just plain nuts?

Clean enough to eat off of

It is always easier to put something off, until you are forced to do it.

Yesterday we spent most of the day cleaning our kitchen.  Granted it is a small kitchen, but it took us longer than expected.  Cleaning is scheduled around other aspects of life.  Most of the time when it is needed.  Of course it would be easier to do a little bit at a time.  Which is what we say everything we have to perform a marathon cleaning.

In our quest to put the house on the market, we started with the kitchen.  Nothing major just cleaning.  Wiping the counters and shelves, reorganizing the shelves, including throwing out of date items (It is amazing how long something can sit in a cabinet.), and cleaning the oven.  Eye covers on an oven are very hard to clean once that gunk settles on them.

It took longer than expected, but the results are better than expected.  One more thing off the list.  Now just several more.

For our listening pleasure

I have heard the saying "God created one mouth and two ears.  So one can listen more than talk."  In our girls' case it is so our directions go in one ear and out the other.

Our girls are getting into the stage of development where we have to tell them something multiple times.  I know you seasoned parents are saying well children never leave that stage.  We have to constantly tell Joy not to do something, usually about three times.  I think of my frequent phrases is stop means quit doing it.

It is a struggle.  With each time I try to get their attention, my voice has to get louder.  Then I think back why am I always yelling.  It would be nice if I was listened to the first time.   If my parental wisdom was followed.

Not going to happen.  I sometimes struggle to listen.

So I guess the phrase should be God gave us two ears to listen on the second time, or third time, or however many it takes.  Maybe the ear is round because it is like a basketball circling a rim.  Words of wisdom roll around until ready to fall in.  You hope for nothing but net, but take any points on the board.

Down in the dumps

Yesterday and today are clean up day at my place of employment.  We begin a new restructure at the first of the year.  What better way to make the needed space than to get rid of some old materials.  So a big dumpster was delivered and people were encouraged to throw everything away that is out of date or not needed.

The dumpster is nearly full.  Hopefully there are just a couple of departments that need to place items in.  I think some people were excited to get rid of some things.  Most of the items were printed materials.  Probably too much was printed the first time.  Several boxes had not even been opened.  Of course there were the stories with the items.  One had been a collection for over 20 years, but was in cassette form.  Apparently not listened to in the past five years, because who has a tape player anymore?

A coworker and I were the ones throwing the boxes into the dumpster.  Then we had to get into the dumpster to shift things around to put more items inside.  Paper is heavy!  We got a pretty good workout in I imagine.  Toward the end of the day we had to take the things out of the boxes.  The boxes were taking up too much room.  So we had to dump the content of the boxes and then flatten the boxes.  Our large box collection unit is getting full.  So I had to climb into that to rearrange.  I spent more time yesterday in dumpsters than I did at my desk.

We try to take the phrase "just chunk it" literally.  I admit it was fun throwing those items.  We will see what today brings.

Oh, and Wendy, I did not bring anything home that was thrown away.

Rote awakening

As I took Joy to go potty this morning, I noticed how much of what we do in the morning is habit.  Her eyes were still shut, but she still knew what to do.  That got me thinking about how I do basically the same thing every morning.

It seems like the morning flies by.  Once we hop or fall out of bed, the routine starts.  Then we look back and do not remember what we did or where the morning went.  Most of the time everything gets done.  That is why when the routine gets thrown off it feels like the morning was wasted.

Now you may not be that regimented, but I am sure you do some things the same way every morning.  Of course there is a variation here or there.

I guess the next question is why do we need to get up when as the phrase goes we can "do it in our sleep"?

Look both ways

At red lights I spend most of my time watching the traffic coming from the opposite direction.  Especially if I need to make a right hand turn.  So sometimes I will be so concentrated on seeing when I could go that I miss the light turn green.

The other day I had two bad stopped at red light experiences.  Maybe more annoying than anything.  The first was in the morning.  I was stopped at red light about three cars back.  The left lane was clear I should have gotten over there, but did not.  A car came up behind me and looked like he contemplated getting in the left lane.  By then the light turns green.  I am not sure if he honked at me or the car in front of me, but he honks then zooms into the left lane.

Later that day I get stopped a red light before I can make a left turn.  As I watching traffic and waiting for the light to turn, the light does turn.  In the time it takes me to register the light has changed and move my foot from the brake to the gas pedal somebody has honked at me.

I admit there have been times that I should have honked at someone sitting at a green light.  I try not use my horn that often.  Wendy thinks I should use it a little bit more.

You can ask Wendy, I am not a noise person though.

So yes, remember the safety advice of looking both ways, but also look straight too.

Thank you ma'am

I must have a bizarre voice.  It must seem timid and not carry well.  Most of the phone calls I make the person on the other end thinks I am female.  It is possible that I am calling a company that has Wendy's name on file.  More often than not when making a regular call the person calls me "ma'am."

The weird thing is just when the person calls me ma'am and then asks for my name.  I can hear the slight pause.  To the credit of the person at the other end of the call, the conversation moves forward.

At least it is not a video call and the person thinks I am woman.

Blow the dust off

It has been awhile since I have written a post.  I have thought about a couple of posts, but then have not written them.   You know how something sounds good in your mind, but then never comes out right.  This is probably a good example.  It must have been awhile because blogger was so slow to open.

So what have I been up to?  Not much.  Work in the morning and bed at night.  We will have another addition to our family in May.  A boy this time.  I have joked that we need at least seven so I can get passed around the children when older.  However, not going to happen.  The children will not want me.  Only kidding.

We are trying to get our house on the market.  It is time for a change of scenery.  Something with a little more space.  More amenities.  Preferably one level.  I know they are hard to find.  If you know something affordable, for me, let me know.  I admit I am jealous of people and their couple of thousand square feet.

It is a new year filled with possible opportunities.