BOO!!!! IT'S HALLOWEEN!!

Well - last night was the best night of Ryan's life and maybe the best night of his life - it was totally awesome.

Ryan was selected by the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame as the Special Olympian Athlete of the Year for 2006.  I cannot begin to tell you what this has meant to him.  He was so excited and so proud.

The BCSHOF inducted 10 people last night.  Ryan was the first to be honored.  We had talked about his acceptance speech and he decided what he wanted to say and I typed it out for him and put it on an index card for him to read.  Bless his heart - his voice quivered as he read it but he read it slow and pronounced his words and did a great job.  When he finished he received a STANDING OVATION - the ONLY one of the night.  There were over 400 people at the banquet and a LOT of them knew Ryan.  He received a lovely plaque and was just beaming when he left the platform.  My brother and sister-in-law were there and that made the night very special.  I did get some pictures and plan to post them here when I figure out how to print them off.

AND we (my boss, my boss's wife and I) have decided to move our office - a BIG undertaking.  The people in the front offices of our building have built a new building about 4 miles "down the road" and they invited us to move with them.  Now I have become very attached to these people - they are super nice and I just love them all.  We plan to be out of our old building by Dec 15.  I'm looking forward to it but so dreading the move.  The good news is we will be VERY close to the BRAND NEW SUPER WAL-MART being built in west Maryville AND just a stone's throw from my favorite Italian restaurant.  AND they are planning on building a new shopping center right across the road - so we will survive.

If we weren't moving with them, I would be in a MASSIVE depression - and I go through a depression every winter anyway - and this would have made it almost unbearable.

So - now all I have to do is "prepare the office to move" - God help me - I know He will.

More on this later

Peace.

THIS IS MY TOWN

There is wonderful country song that has been out for awhile - not sure who sings it but he talk about "this is my town" and how it is.

Well - Maryville is "my town" and the more I think about it - the better I like it.  It is a small town compared to places like Orlando, New York, Dallas, L.A., etc. but it is really "big" on other things.

This past weekend was the "Foothills Fall Festival" a yearly occurance now for the past 6 years.  It begins on Friday afternoon and ends on Sunday nights.  It is three days of music, fun, food and relaxation....to a point (more about the relaxation later).

Tickets for general admission is $35 for all three days.  For that this year we got to see Clay Walker, Little Big Town, Deanna Carter, Andy Griggs, the Wreckers, Buddy Guy, and Randy Travis and a lot more "local" talent.  Well worth the money.

General admission means it is a first come, first serve on seating - it's a big open park, you bring you chairs, and when it is 30 degree you bring heavy coats and blankets.  There is a "reserved" section that this year for the first time took over the entire center section from the stage to the sound booth.  Us "cheapers" got the sides and the back forty to sit in....which means if you want the side area (which are really good seats to see everything) you want to be one of the first 20 people to be in line.  Now for the uninformed, there may be only five people in front of you, but each of those five people are carrying 10 chairs for other members of their family and friends....get the drift??

Now Friday was no problem.  I got the day off because the court house was closed (no place for employees to park so what the heck - close it!). Gates opened at 5:00 p.m. with the first concert at 6:00.  I took my chair and plopped down about 15 people back at noon.  It was chilly but not too bad.  My friend Annette got there about 2:00 and we sat, and read, talked and "people watched".  Gates opened and it was a mad stampeed as everyone scattered and began throwing lawn chairs everywhere.  We managed to get about 6 rows back on the side which were good seats for Friday. 

Now Clay Walker was on Saturday night and I knew that it was going to be a challenge to get good seats for that so, old and stupid person that I am, I decided I was going to be one of the first five people in that gate on Saturday morning.  Gates opened at 11:00 a.m.  I got there at 4:30 a.m. - yes - you read it right - 4:30 a.m.  Believe it or not, there were four people already there.  Two had spent the night there and the other two had arrived just minutes before me.  We comisserated on our stupidity, they went back to sleep, and I proceeded to fix my chair and Annette's, button up my heavy coat, put on my hood, my earphones for my radio, mummify myself in my blanket and settled in to wait.  At about 8:30 Annette show up with a hot breakfast and I left our chairs and joined her in her nice warm car to eat and defrost.

Gates opened and we got in the 3rd row on the side - really great seats and proceeded to enjoy the day.  We took the shuttle up to the craft area and then had lunch and waited for the entertainment to begin.  Clay Walker was wonderful - I could just sit and look at him all night.  It was COLD.

Sunday we decided that we didn't worry too much about getting good seats and didn't get in line until 8:30.  The line was considerably longer because we had come later but we still ended up with fairly good seats for Randy Travis.  We had a wonderful weekend.

Unfortunately, I'm not as young as I used to be and I need to face the facts that I can't do the things I used to do.  The advantage of having "reserved seating" is obvious...you have the same seat for all three days and the seats are in the middle section.  The disadvantage is the price - $75 vs. $35.  Annette and I talked about it and depending on who is coming next year we have decided to save up and get reserved seating.  That way all we have to bring is our blanket/lap robe, perhaps a cushion to sit upon and our backpacks with our books, cards, etc. that we use to pass the time between acts.  Also, we can get there anytime we darn well please - no more lugging the chairs and rushing to get them set up and waiting in line forever.  NO MORE 4:30 A.M.!

So....next August when the line up is announced, and reserved seating is offered - we will do it!  Already something to look forward to.

By the way - do you realize that having something to look forward to can get you through some rough times and unpleasant things?  Right now I am looking forward to having my weekends off starting next month, and then of course being closing for Thanksgiving, and then there is being closed for Christmas and Christmas itself.  I always try to find SOMETHING to look forward too.... it works.

Peace

TODAY IS SUNDAY AND I HAVE THE DAY OFF!!!!

Yep - that's right - I have a day off - PRAISE THE LORD!!

I did work yesterday and believe me I am sooo grateful for the cooler weather we have now.  It's still in the mid-80's but that sure beats the high 90's we were having there for awhile.  I'm looking forward to fall and cooler temps but I'm still a little worried about winter.  I'm not planning on having my gas turned on again this winter - still can't afford those high prices so I'm really hoping that we won't have a bad (COLD) winter this year.  We survived last winter pretty well, but we wont' be able to spend any weekends away because the house just gets too cold.  I won't leave the large heater in the living room on while we are gone.  I do leave the small heater in the dining room on for the birds, but it sits up on a cabinet and the dogs can't turn it over.

BUT ANYWAY - enough of that.

On October 30, Ryan William Joseph Rahe will be inducted into the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame!  He is the only special olympic athlete to be inducted this year.  We are so pleased and excited, and Ryan is sooo proud!  I'll take pictures and post them here.

My Dollywood ride shuts down on the last Saturday in October, and I am not working this Christmas.  I really need the break, and we are looking forward to going to Dollywood as GUESTS and just enjoying it in November and December.  I didn't work that much last year and I want to be able to plan my weekends and not have to worry about being called in.

Well - got to go to Walmart and get some filters for my cental air - and I promised Ryan that we would see a movie today so bye for now and to everyone who visits here

Peace

OKAY BARB - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

Okay - some of my friends (Barb) are getting a little "pissy" at me for not posting and I don't really blame them.  I've just been soooo tired that I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this blog - sorry all.

Okay - the baby bird turned out to be a little girl, "Bonnie" and she is beige and white - a pied zebra finch like her Mama.  She is all grown up now and is working on nest building with her parents.  She is a cutie.

Cocoanut is NOT at my house - he remains here at my office - hands down the building favorite.  He plays ALL the time and I laugh every day and something this bird does.  I'm not at all keen on taking him home right now - he has settled in so well here.  We'll see.

Ryan turned 25 on August 20.  What a great young man he has turned out to be.  Still has that great memory about dates and figures.  Everyone as Dollywood knows Ryan.  He goes with me either Saturday or Sunday and I don't worry about him at all.  If he had a problem he could go to any host and get help.  We celebrated his birthday in the usual "Ryan" fashion - went to see some of his "girl" friends at two of the shows in Pigeon Forge.  Jill sings with her husband Charlie Bob at the Smith Family Theatre and then Jen, Tosha and Candice are  now at Black Bear Jamboree so we went there on Saturday night.  He had a ball and loved getting to see his friends again.

Work is going....well....it's going - on and on and on and on.  My Dollywood ride shuts down the end of October and before I had always remained "on call" for November and December, but this year I am so ready to be "off" and have my weekends back to rest and do laundry and clean house and just "be" that I think I'll just end it in October - until next March.  That will give me four good months off on weekends and maybe I'll can hang in there for another year at the Rampage next year.  I'm just taking it one year at a time now - can't really plan - just have to wait and see how the body holds up.

All the other animals are just fine....just doing their "thing".

Can't really think of anything else to blog about - it's taken me two days just to get this much done.  Until next time

Peace

 

OUR BABY IS GROWING - AND WE HAVE A NEW BIRD!

We have a new bird - a little blue and white parakeet named Cocoanut!  He is a sweetie - very playful and active and seems happy to be with other birds.  He is at my office right now but tomorrow - Friday - he's coming home and hopefully will take up residence with "Bluebird" a little blue parakeet that is alone in her cage.  We'll see if they can cohabit - if not they'll just be side by side on the table.

Our baby finch is fully feathered now but still in the nest and doesn't show any interest in coming out.  Beau and Becky continue to feed "it" and "it" continues to grow.  I can't see "it's" face enough to know whether "it" is a boy or a girl.  If "it" is a boy he will be "Ben" and if "it" is a girl, she will be "Bonnie" - both names compliments of Ryan.  "It" is a little light brown and white  pied zebra finch - like Becky the mother.  He/she is a cutie.  Can't wait for "it" to come out.

It's HOT here and HUMID and the weather forecast says it will be that way all weekend long - with just a "chance" of scattered thunder showers.  DW will be hot and miserable and I'm scheduled to work both days.  Yea rah.

One thing I hadn't really counted on (and who does) was bad health in my old age - and I AM old now - officially.  I know it's normal but I'm finding it harder and harder to get up and go to work every day.  Wish I could sleep an extra hour or two every day.  Wouldn't that be great? Yes it would.

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Peace

ANNOUNCING.....THE HATCHING OF AN EGG!!!!

Beau and Becky have a baby!!!  I first heard it on Wednesday morning - one of those quiet moments in my office (very rare) and I hear this "peep peep" - a new noise that I have never heard in my office.  I went over to their cage and Beau was in the nest (as usual).  I took the nest off the side of the cage and Becky went balistic on me...LOL  I took it out of the cage and tipped it back just a little and this little teenincy little ball of skin and fluff rolled into view.  I quickly put it back in the cage and Beau took up his vigil once again.  It is just a little bit bigger than a jelly bean!!  They are being such good parents.  I went to the pet store and found some supplements and will take them to the office tomorrow and get them fixed up for the weekend.  I hope it does okay - seems to be "peeping" very strongly.

Anyway - got to work DW on Saturday and as of today I'm scheduled to be OFF on Sunday and my boss is closing our law office Mon and Tues so I may have THREE DAYS OFF!!!  I am excited!!

Peace

POSTING EVERY DAY...HMMMM...THAT DIDN'T WORK HUH?

Well, my ambition to post something here every day went right down the tubes - why am I not surprised?

My life has gone on of course - nothing spectacular to report on - same old same old - yeah........

Ryan and I did take our yearly trip with our church's high school group.  This year it was a mission trip.  We went to Savannah, Georgia and worked through St. Mary's Neighborhood Center and did some work on three houses while we were down there.  This is in a very poor section of Savannah - from historic mansions on one street and three streets over there are houses that have been condemed which house whole families.  These people have cars - but no gas to drive them - lots of bicycles in Savannah.  These people have air conditioners - but no money to pay the electric bill - it's very hot in Savannah.  Our kids learned at lot - and they learned how very lucky they themselves are.  It was a good trip.  The people we helped just couldn't believe that we came all the way from Tennessee to do something for them and didn't expect anything in return.  What we got was worth more than any money we could have been paid.  These people were gracious, thankful, and always had a smile for us.

One of the highlights of our trip was the fact that we shared it with a 9 month old boy - Riley - son of our youth leader.  I give that kid a "10" for this trip.  90% of the time he was all smiles and happy - he had three "serious" meltdowns in the car - but who could blame him???  Strapped to a car seat, facing backwards, flat of his back with limited movement....he was entitled to those meltdowns.  But what a charmer..big blue eyes.. and that grin - I have had serious "Riley Withdrawal" this week.

We left Savannah on Thursday and traveled to Hilton Head Island where we stayed Thursday and Friday nights.  The kids got Friday on the beach as a reward for jobs well done - but they told us that their rewards were seeing the families that they got to help.  A good bunch of kids.

Came home Saturday to my pups who had been boarded at a local kennel while we were gone.  Annettte picked them up for me on Friday and they were at the door when we got home.  I thought Abby was going to have a heart attack - they were both sooo glad to see us and we were sooo glad to  see them.

Birds did fine - no problems.  Annette checked on them to make sure their water was holding out - it was fine.

Lunch time - will add more later.

Peace

 

I CAN EAT CORN ON THE COB AGAIN!!!!

Well - all is calm in my mouth again - pretty much so anyway.  Today was a breakthrough - I got the baked fish dinner at Long John Silver's and it comes with corn on the cob - I can eat it with no problem whatsoever!!!  That was the first corn "on the cob" that I have eaten in 30 years.  I always had to cut it off the cob to enjoy it.  I may stop on my way home and by a bag of frozen corn on the cob and just keep it to heat up as a snack...LOL  It was sooooo good.

Teeth are doing good now - I still can say my "s's" or "sh" or "ch" clearly but it is coming along.

No more on my teeth - I promise.....hehehe.

I'm officially "back" at Dollywood now.  I've worked two days so far - only one day per weekend.  This past Saturday April (a member of 3-D Mystery Shows with me) was married so I asked off so that we could go.  It was a lovely wedding.  I hope they will be happy - I think they will be.  Worked yesterday - beautiful day but really chilly so we didn't have a lot of people ride our ride (a water ride) so I got off early!  I was excited.  Ryan just happened to be on the dock when Jerry said I could go so I clocked out and got to see the Dragon Legend Acrobats (REALLY good) and the "sway poles" (interesting....very interesting).  So far those are the only two shows from Festival of Nations that I have seen and may be the ONLY shows I get to see.  Last year I only got to see one show....but that's how it goes.

We still are in the middle of "dogwood winter" here - lows in the upper 30's and low 40'2 and highs in the 60's.  I really ready for spring - COME ON SPRING!!!!  Doesn't seem like we've had it yet.

Oh well - welcome to all who visit here and

peace

 

WELL....I HAVE NEW TEETH

Okay - I have new teeth.  Got them on Friday.  Went back on Monday for an "adjustment".  They still hurt.  A lot.  All the time.  Ouch.

Now, I know that with new teeth comes some discomfort and "getting used" to, after all, I've been through this before.  Everyone says they look great....they better....'cause they hurt....a lot....all the time.

I feel like I have WAY too many teeth in my mouth.  This too shall pass - but until it does - it hurts....a lot....all the time.

peace

ANOTHER DAY - YEP - THAT'S WHAT IT IS - ANOTHER DAY

This has been a "lazy" sort of week so far - and today is what......Tuesday.  Not far into the week, but hey - I'll take it.

I had rehearsal last night with my theatre group and have rehearsal tonight with my kids for "Fairytale Courtroom".  I have 42 kids from grades 2nd through 6th and they are all really really good.

Went to a web site that I had heard about on the radio called "anysoldier.com".  Wow.  It lists soldiers, where they are stationed, how many are in their "platoons" and what they would like to get that they can't get wherever they are.

I found a medical unit in Iran of 3 women and 2 men.  They ask for so little.  They especially asked for cards and drawings from children.  I got my CCD (Sunday school) class of 2nd graders to make them Easter cards.  Now....we can't send anything over there that would "offend the muslam religion" so we couldn't put crosses on the cards, or Jesus, but I told the kids that these five people would know what Easter was if we just did bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs - so that's what we did and the kids loved doing them.  I took some pictures of them actually working on the cards and then a class photo with them holding the finished cards and I am sending this to Iran probably this week, along with some asked for items such as instant oatmeal, granola bars, chewing gum, Splenda, herbal tea and drink mixes.

Ryan wanted to send something so he chose to send five of his special olympic medals, one for each of them.  Sweet.

We are planning on spending the weekend in Pigeon Forge.  I have to be at Dollywood at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning for re-hire training (again) and I thought we might as well stay two nights and have a "mini" get-a-way".  I need one.  The motel has an indoor pool and a lazy river.  I'm taking my bathing suit.

The weather is supposed to "moderate" again this weekend with highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's, so the house, birds and dogs will be fine.

We are having supper with my brother and sister-in-law tonight - that's always a happy time - LOVE those people.

Hope everyone else is having a good week.  Stay strong, stay safe and find your inner

Peace

AN AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO MOMENT - STARRING ME!!!!

Okay - this morning I was in a hurry to get to work to re-set a court case before I went to my "once-a-year" beauty shop appointment to get my hair cut and my gray covered up (dropped 10 years in 20 minutes...lol).

I got to work, parked and set my purse on my car's trunk to get something out of the trunk.  I hear this "tickaty tickaty tickaty" noise and look up and there is this HUGE groundhog just "bookin" it down the middle of our parking lot, mouth open and headed straight for ME.  Now he is not vering to the left or right - not going between the other cars parked next to mine - oh no - he is headed straight for ME. 

Being the nimble and graceful person that I am (and vocal) I screamed and "lept" to the trunk of my car, lovingly grasping  either side of my car with my hands and kicking my feet "WAY" over my head in hopes he couldn't reach them to eat me alive.

"Phil" goes UNDER my car, down the drive and disappears behind our dumpster, making all kinds of racket and noise.

I then let go of the car, slid off the trunk and onto the ground, laughing so hard I almost peed my pants.  I hefted myself up, dusted myself off, gathered up my purse, got my drink from the back seat, locked my car and "gimped" into the building because my knees did not one bit appreciate being tossed over my head.  And they have complained about it all day long.  Luckily I have a new jar of "extra strength" blue emu which I shall rub into the poor ol' knees when I get home from rehearsal tonight.

Oh for a video of that - must have been a site.  I thought it was funny.  ha..ha..ha..OUCH!!!

Peace

I CAN SEE!!! I CAN SEE!!! LOL

Got my new glasses today and WOW - what a difference - I CAN SEE!!!!  I also was able to get the "transitional" lenses that turn dark when I am out in the sun so that should help this summer at DW.

Ryan's glasses should be in this week so we will both be looking at the world a little clearer....LOL

I put part of my "extra" money in a money market account so it wouldn't be so readily available for me to spend (yes, I would spend it).

I hope next week to be eating corn on the cob again.  And I'm getting a new microwave/convection oven (ours is over 20 years old and not cooking well any more).  this is mainly for Ryan as he is the one that uses it far more than I do.  He does very well with reading instructions and heating things up in a microwave.

Also got the glass replaced in the bottom half of my storm door on the front of the house - makes a big difference in how much air comes under that front door - AND it looks sooo much better also.

So you see I am slowly getting "back in the groove" again. 

Hope everyone is well and happy and don't forget to use your inner

Peace

WE HAVE A FRIEND ON SURVIVOR!!!!

WOW - we actually have a friend on the tv show Survivor!!  She is Melinda Hyder, a former Dollywood entertainer, and one of Ryan's favorites.  it was so much fun to watch her on tv tonight and she didn't get voted off the first thing!!!!  I don't know where she ended up of course - no one does, but we are sure keeping our fingers crossed for her.

I have been diligent in keeping the house picked up and cleaned up and Ryan has been so good to help me.  My bedroom is still a kinda  scary place, but the rest of the house is such that I would have anyone come in and "sit and talk awhile".  The only ones allowed in my bedroom are me, Ryan and the dogs.  hehehe

For the first time in I can't tell you when, I AM DEBT FREE, from all except the "essentials".  The only payments I have are the house payment, car payment, electric, cable, house phone and cell phone.  All other debts have been paid off!  What a feeling of relief.

Ryan went today and got his eye exam and they had a special of buy one pair and get a pair for half price, so I got him two pairs of glasses.  He is sort of rough on his glasses and this way we will have a "spare" for emergencies.

I go Monday to my eye doctor.  I can't wait to get new glasses.  My eyes have SOOOO left these lenses and the bi-focals are driving me NUTS.

Then next week (if I can take a morning off work) I will go to the dental office and come away with a brand new smile.

My life is turning around now.  I am ready to make my video for the Home Makeover as soon as Justin can come and film it for me.  Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

To all who visit this humble (and boring) site.....

Peace

I CLOSED ON MY RE-FINANCE TODAY!!!!

What a relief!!!!  It is over!!!! I hope I NEVER have to go through this again...LOL

I closed today and will have my "extra" money in my account on Monday.  NEW GLASSES FOR ME....NEW GLASSES FOR RYAN...NEW TEETH FOR ME....

OH HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!

I had to drive to Knoxville to close but hey - it was well worth the trip....AND I don't have a payment due until April 1st - that is February and March free from worry.  Thank you God and Thank you Jesus.

I hope EVERYONE who visits here finds happiness and of course....

Peace

OH HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!

MY RE-FINANCE LOAN HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!!!  Thank you God!!!!!

What a week it has been....my friend Deborah's husband, "wonderful Gary" as I now call him, came over last week and did the repair work on my back porch and arranged to have the guttering put on the house and THEN my wonderful new neighbors helped me paint the back porch ceiling and beams.  Roger, the wonderful man who does my yard for me in the summer, had come by and cleared out all the limbs and leaves from my front and back yard and my house really looks good.

This morning the appraiser came back and approved the work and the bank called and now we are just waiting for a closing date - I really hope it can be tomorrow.  WOW.  I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders right now.  I should be able to get the money the first of next week.  Then I will get new glasses and new teeth - oh happy happy day!!  Then I can breathe - the pressure will be off - we will make it just fine - oh happy happy day!!!!

Thanks to all my friends who prayed for me - God does listen.

Peace

DON'T EVER THINK GOD DOESN'T LISTEN

Okay....don't ever think that God doesn't listen.  He certainly heard all my prayers on Friday.  I was soooo stressed out Friday because of the appraiser wanting work done on the house before the re-finance could be approved.  Work I had intended to do with the extra money I was getting - but no...he wanted it done first....hard to do without money huh. 

But I asked Him to take away that stress and give me peace and He did.  I had such a peaceful feeling Friday night, all day yesterday and today - I slept well on Friday and Saturday nights and have every confidence that I'll sleep well tonight.  I have put this in His hands.  There isn't anything else I can personally do right now - I must depend on others to help me fix what needs to be fixed and then we shall go on from there.

I found a small plaque that my dear friend Annette had given me and it was "lost" amid the "stuff" in my living room and is now found....it says "Before you go to bed, give your troubles to GOD...He will be up all night anyway"...it now sits on the bed side table where is it the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see every morning.

God IS good all the time....all the time God is good!

Peace

 

IS MY LIFE EVER SIMPLE? THE ANSWER IS "NO".

Okay - let's see now....where to start....okay

Yesterday I called the bank to make sure that everything was okay and on track - oh sure he said.

Today he calls me and tells me that there is a problem with the appraisal on the house.  It appraised for $80,000 but the appraiser still wants me to replace the guttering on both sides of the house and repair the back porch ceiling....THEN the bank should approve my re-finance.

Well.....tears......prayers....more tears....more prayers....okay - suck it up and let's see what we can do.

First I called the appraiser and talked to him myself to find out exactly what he needs to approve this deal. 

then called my friend Debra who husband Gary does a lot of renovations on home (he built their house and ooo laaaa laaaa what a house) and he came by my house today to see what is going to be involved and he says he can fix what needs to be fixed and will start on it next week.  GOD BLESS GARY!

So it's a snag - but a snag that can be fixed - just means that the closing won't happen on the 26th as previously planned.  So as soon as the work is done, I'll let the bank know and the appraiser and hopefully by the 30th I'll have a new closing date.

I was so stressed out over this this afternoon, I would have been afraid to take my blood pressure - but tonight I'm putting this in God's hands and am asking Him to take away the stress and let me get everything done and IT WILL HAPPEN.

Roger, the man who does my lawn for me came yesterday and got all the leaves and branches out of the yard and put them up at the street for the city to pick up.  I'm going to put some other stuff up there too for pick up.

Oh - and I asked the appraiser if that would affect the house any - to have "stuff" at the street for pick up and he said "NO" - yea rah.

So - I'm going to calm down now and have faith and hope and

Peace

 

MORE ON "RECLAIMING"

Okay - to go on......

I cleaned and I do mean CLEANED up my house.  I started in the living room - you couldn't really call it that for the past five years as we did no "living" in it - just existing.  Carted out all the junk and stuff that just needed to be thrown away and packed away stuff in the basement that I wanted to keep but had no room for up stairs.  I had a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I could see the floor!

Then I tackled the "dining/bird room" and did the same thing, plus gave all the cages a good cleaning.  What a job!  But I did it!

Next - on to the kitchen.  Now this wasn't too bad - just needed to be "straightened and cleaned".  DONE!

Ryan is so pleased to have things in order again.  He is my neat freak so to speak - he loves things to be in order and where he can find them.  He is so happy to have the living room back again and is helping me to keep it all clean too!

This past Thursday the appraiser came and since I haven't heard any bad news, I'll consider it all good news.  We hope to close on this deal on the 23rd.  Then I'll have a payment that I can manage and I will owe NOTHING except the monthly bills, electric, phone, etc.  NO DEBT except the house payment.  WOW.  A fresh start - a new year - a new life.

Wow.

Peace

I AM "RECLAIMING" MY LIFE AND MY HOUSE!

Well it has been awhile since I have been able to post here.  My goal of posting SOMETHING everyday just did not pan out for me.  First this journal went through some problems and wouldn't LET me post (wouldn't save the posts to the journal) and then the holidays came about...

And then came the realization that I had to do something to take control of my life, my fianances and my house.  SO

First I went to my bank and tried to get a consoldation of my first and second mortgages.  Jennifer put in all the info and then told me that she didn't think the bank could do it.  Okay.

Then I went to Citifinancial where I have had loans for YEARS and they were willing to do it - for 9% interest rate.  Bummer - but better than nothing.

SO....I started preparing my house for an appraiser to do a "walk through" - dear God - what a job.  My house was.....well.....awful.  I had really let it go for the last 5 years - I know - I know - hard to believe huh....but working three jobs I was simply too tired to care.  I got up on the Saturday before Christmas and just walked through my house for 30 minutes crying because I had no idea where to start.  But I found a starting place and now - I have reclaimed my house.  My living room has been cleared out - new rugs down - the bird room has been cleaned out - new linolium (I can't spell that word) is down and my kitchen is once again my kitchen.  We have a home.  And it is livable.

I LOVE IT!!!!

More on this later today - got to fax something so have to clear this line.

Peace