Dad's:
Yes, train horror is the only way to describe it. The train on the tracks was not our train. So we waited and waited. At 5 minutes before our departure time the wrong train was still on our tracks. Wait, did we just hear that our train is on track #13? I screamed up the stairs to check, no our train is still supposed to be on Track #14. Then an announcement - our train is on time. Wait, where is it? I had checked this train and it was not our train, it had no first class car. Porter, quick where is our train. Oh so slowly he said right here sir. But this is the wrong train - it says 2306 not 2652. But it is the correct train sir. How can it be - where is the first class car? Oh so slowly and complacently he jerked his thumb over his shoulder. But I was all the way down there and there was no first class car, but wait, I didn't go all the way. I stopped when I saw the kitchen car and the baggage car, I assumed the next car was another baggage car and then the engine. You mean the second last car all the way down at the far end of the train, like 20 cars away? Oh so slowly he said yes sir but I know he didn't mean the sir part. He was enjoying our agony.I ran to get Jacky and we picked up our 5 bags and started running to the far end of the train. We got to car 15 or so and it started moving. Holy crap, we've missed the train. Wait. Jacky - can you jump? NO. Give me your bags, you've got to jump and bless her heart, she jumped like a pole vaulter and up she was. And for a fleeting moment I pictured her chugging off into the distance while I stayed on the platform with the bags. But no, one by one I ran and threw each bag on and then got on myself.But it wasn't over yet. Now we had to navigate down 19 inch aisle with 18 inch bags and feet and knees and elbows everywhere. It was horrible. The stench was unbearable. The train dumps all its raw sewage right on the tracks and let me tell you, pig shit is sweet odour from heaven compared to human shit. Oh it was awful. And no-one move out of the way. For the first time we saw the inhospitable side of Indians. They resented us moving through their cars and we had to fight every inch of the way and mum was first. I was so upset by the time I got to our car because I knew mum would be in tears. But it turned out to be me. I felt so sorry that I had put her though that experience. We were just stunned for a few hours and did nothing but lie there in our bunks. I can't even talk about the toilet. And this was first class. Four more train trips to go. It will be grim that's all I can say. We really hit a low point last night.But, today in Varanasi our hotel is superb. What a relief to have a wonderful boutique hotel that is clean and gorgeous. It will never make up for yesterday's grief, but it helps.Well, we expected the worst but this was really rather worse than I counted on even in my nightmares. The stench was really unbearable. We thought it was on the train and I really figured that we were done. There was no way we could sit on a train for 12 hours with that stench. But it did pass in time only to show up again at the next station. Oh well, variety is the spice of life.See you all soon, Love Dad.
Oh my poor parents! I didn't know whether to laugh or beg them to come home when I read this. I cannot believe there's raw sewage being dumped everywhere. I don't know if I'd go so far as to call the smell of sewage 'variety' though. Sheesh, Dad really has a way with words, huh?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Missing You
We received another email from each of my parents this morning again.
Mum's:
Hello again, Sorry to hear you're sick Michelle but hopefully everyone will be all better by the time you move. Your Dad has turned into a shopping machine, yesterday he bought a cabinet that he now has to lug around! He seems to be managing the Delhi Belly Ok but his meds are half done! I also got that bladder infection again! Not fun!!!!! This is our last morning at this site. By lunch time we will have a taxi for the rest of the day for some final site seeing/shopping and then the train at 8:30 tonight, which we are warned will most likely be late! It has been very comfortable here. The breakfasts are fabulous so usually we eat only twice a day. I do miss home more than usual. I was really overwhelmed the first 2 or 3 days. Too many open sewers, and poor, but yesterday we found a place that was green and fresh and we had a blast negotiating tut-tut fares. Every one is very friendly and as curious about us as we might be of them. At a craft museum yesterday just one girl of about ten mustered up enough courage to greet me and shake my hand then the whole school followed suit - I think your Dad got it on video, you'll see it later. I've often thought of Craig on this trip I think he'd be agast at the sights! So far we've had great success with the food very tasty. Our next stop will be even more difficult since it will be on the Ganges where there are funeral pyres. Not looking forward to this place and it will be difficult to leave our hosts which have guided us so well here. Well must go since Dad wants his turn. Say hi to Shaun. I tear up when I think of him, miss him so much, and Ian must be a pro at sitting on his own now! Love u Mom
Dad's:
Namaste to all!
Another glorious sunny day here in Delhi, which I have to throw in because the Hindustani Times says that the weather in NE States is terrible, some without power for a week. Got to gloat a little. And of course, power is never far from my mind. We're just waiting for the taxi to take us to our next stop - 12 hour overnight train trip to Varanasi. A little scary and exciting at the same time.
I'm getting used to the assault on the senses here - visual, olfactoral (real word?) and sensual - yes sensual. Everywhere you go, if you're not touching someone, you're not close enough. In the line at the bank I found that if you're not touching the guy in front and if the guy in back is not touching you, someone will assume you must not be in line. A six inch space is big enough for a rickshaw to squeeze, never mind a skinny Indian. All the sights that at first seemed so unreal (the tent cities, the filthy shops, the traffic) and that I tried to obsessively photograph are everywhere. No use rushing to get a picture, you'll see that crowded, dirty little store a hundred times before the week is out. But once you get used to it you start to see past it and you wonder what might be of interest inside. Before long it 'disappears' and you find yourself talking to them and trying to buy what's inside. The whole poverty thing is so complicated. There are so many levels of poverty here and I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and trying to understand it.
I'll have lots to say about it when I get back home so get the scotch ready. Most important is the question whether they or we are happier. The comraderie we see, especially among men, is so unusual, it really gives me pause for thought. Anyway, as you can see, Mum and I are writing separately and I have no idea what she has written so if there is duplication, it is what it is. Have thought a lot about your babies while we're here, especially because so many of the naked children we see are smaller even than Shaun - look forward to seeing them when we get back. We'll check in again to let you know we're alive. Love to all, Dad
I find it interesting that I miss my parents so much. It's not like I see them any more than every 3 or 4 weeks but just knowing that I can't even call them makes it feel like it's been longer. It's been hard trying to explain to Shaun why he can't call Gramma and talk to her. He tells people she's in India with Grampa and will be home in February but he told me last night that he's going to steal the keys for the van and drive to go see them. And then they're going to ride on scooters all the way home. My brother has an orange scooter and his wife has a blue one (I think it's blue, correct me if I'm wrong Tamrah!) and Shaun just loves them. His favourite mode of transportation lately is by scooter. Probably because he just saw Steve and Tamrah a couple of weeks ago and it jogged his memory. Anyway, back to the parents. Two more weeks can't pass soon enough. I can't wait to hear they're home safe from the airport and have them over to our new house for a long chat over a big bottle of scotch.
Mum's:
Hello again, Sorry to hear you're sick Michelle but hopefully everyone will be all better by the time you move. Your Dad has turned into a shopping machine, yesterday he bought a cabinet that he now has to lug around! He seems to be managing the Delhi Belly Ok but his meds are half done! I also got that bladder infection again! Not fun!!!!! This is our last morning at this site. By lunch time we will have a taxi for the rest of the day for some final site seeing/shopping and then the train at 8:30 tonight, which we are warned will most likely be late! It has been very comfortable here. The breakfasts are fabulous so usually we eat only twice a day. I do miss home more than usual. I was really overwhelmed the first 2 or 3 days. Too many open sewers, and poor, but yesterday we found a place that was green and fresh and we had a blast negotiating tut-tut fares. Every one is very friendly and as curious about us as we might be of them. At a craft museum yesterday just one girl of about ten mustered up enough courage to greet me and shake my hand then the whole school followed suit - I think your Dad got it on video, you'll see it later. I've often thought of Craig on this trip I think he'd be agast at the sights! So far we've had great success with the food very tasty. Our next stop will be even more difficult since it will be on the Ganges where there are funeral pyres. Not looking forward to this place and it will be difficult to leave our hosts which have guided us so well here. Well must go since Dad wants his turn. Say hi to Shaun. I tear up when I think of him, miss him so much, and Ian must be a pro at sitting on his own now! Love u Mom
Dad's:
Namaste to all!
Another glorious sunny day here in Delhi, which I have to throw in because the Hindustani Times says that the weather in NE States is terrible, some without power for a week. Got to gloat a little. And of course, power is never far from my mind. We're just waiting for the taxi to take us to our next stop - 12 hour overnight train trip to Varanasi. A little scary and exciting at the same time.
I'm getting used to the assault on the senses here - visual, olfactoral (real word?) and sensual - yes sensual. Everywhere you go, if you're not touching someone, you're not close enough. In the line at the bank I found that if you're not touching the guy in front and if the guy in back is not touching you, someone will assume you must not be in line. A six inch space is big enough for a rickshaw to squeeze, never mind a skinny Indian. All the sights that at first seemed so unreal (the tent cities, the filthy shops, the traffic) and that I tried to obsessively photograph are everywhere. No use rushing to get a picture, you'll see that crowded, dirty little store a hundred times before the week is out. But once you get used to it you start to see past it and you wonder what might be of interest inside. Before long it 'disappears' and you find yourself talking to them and trying to buy what's inside. The whole poverty thing is so complicated. There are so many levels of poverty here and I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and trying to understand it.
I'll have lots to say about it when I get back home so get the scotch ready. Most important is the question whether they or we are happier. The comraderie we see, especially among men, is so unusual, it really gives me pause for thought. Anyway, as you can see, Mum and I are writing separately and I have no idea what she has written so if there is duplication, it is what it is. Have thought a lot about your babies while we're here, especially because so many of the naked children we see are smaller even than Shaun - look forward to seeing them when we get back. We'll check in again to let you know we're alive. Love to all, Dad
I find it interesting that I miss my parents so much. It's not like I see them any more than every 3 or 4 weeks but just knowing that I can't even call them makes it feel like it's been longer. It's been hard trying to explain to Shaun why he can't call Gramma and talk to her. He tells people she's in India with Grampa and will be home in February but he told me last night that he's going to steal the keys for the van and drive to go see them. And then they're going to ride on scooters all the way home. My brother has an orange scooter and his wife has a blue one (I think it's blue, correct me if I'm wrong Tamrah!) and Shaun just loves them. His favourite mode of transportation lately is by scooter. Probably because he just saw Steve and Tamrah a couple of weeks ago and it jogged his memory. Anyway, back to the parents. Two more weeks can't pass soon enough. I can't wait to hear they're home safe from the airport and have them over to our new house for a long chat over a big bottle of scotch.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Parents
My Mum and Dad are celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary in India. They left Friday night and will return in three weeks. We got emails from them this morning.
Mum's:
Hello there everyone, well the going has been rough but I've survived the first three days. The poverty is more than I had feared but the people are very friendly, our hosts here are especially nice. But my first reaction is that I will never let Dad totally plan our vacation again. Today we went to see some typical tourist sights and it was comforting to see some familiar faces. Have seen lots of neat stuff to bring back home, of course Dad has bought first! I'm still deciding. We have been having some trouble with the different time change, and were surprised at how warm it is.We leave here on Fri on an over night train, now that will be something else. Talk to you later. Miss you all special hello to Shaun and kisses for my babies. Love Mum
Dad's:
Oh the chaos, the exhilaration, the sadness, and oh, the stress. Still suffering from jetlag and the stress of navigating, communicating and sorting everything out while keeping mum from having a heart attack is quite real. No one except high class people speaks English, so that means all the rickshaw, taxi and vendor people speak only Hindi. Try asking your rickshaw driver to stay while he's got his hand out trying to get paid and then finding out when you do want to pay him that he has no change. The rickshaw guys are more lost than we are and I have had to quickly learn Baayan! Daayan! Seeda! (left, right, and straight ahead my good man). A good cuff on the shoulder works wonders. And then trying to figure out which is the correct road on a roundabout while he screams his engine at top rev, honks his horn CONTINUOSLY, and while you see out of the corner of your eye naked children living in makeshift shacks at the side of the road and try to snap a picture without crying, is well, stressful. But exhilarating too. Wouldn't miss it for the world (Mum is having a harder time coping, but is a good trojan). Ate lunch today at the Taj Mahal hotel - best chinese restaurant in India (so says the guide book and now I agree) for $150 and yesterday we ate lunch at a muslim market (very freaky) for 20 cents. No kidding, the contrasts in India are mind boggling. Anyway, know we're safe (not a single bit of trouble yet, yes, we've been very nervous, but for no good reason it turns out - every single person has been wonderful and full of wonder (at us!)). So we'll write again (I didn't see mum's note and she isn't seeing mine - it will be fun to compare later!). Wishing you were here, Dad
While I'm wishing I was seeing all the things they are, I'm happy to be home snuggled up with Craig and my familiar bagels in the freezer. I think the stories will be enough for me.
Mum's:
Hello there everyone, well the going has been rough but I've survived the first three days. The poverty is more than I had feared but the people are very friendly, our hosts here are especially nice. But my first reaction is that I will never let Dad totally plan our vacation again. Today we went to see some typical tourist sights and it was comforting to see some familiar faces. Have seen lots of neat stuff to bring back home, of course Dad has bought first! I'm still deciding. We have been having some trouble with the different time change, and were surprised at how warm it is.We leave here on Fri on an over night train, now that will be something else. Talk to you later. Miss you all special hello to Shaun and kisses for my babies. Love Mum
Dad's:
Oh the chaos, the exhilaration, the sadness, and oh, the stress. Still suffering from jetlag and the stress of navigating, communicating and sorting everything out while keeping mum from having a heart attack is quite real. No one except high class people speaks English, so that means all the rickshaw, taxi and vendor people speak only Hindi. Try asking your rickshaw driver to stay while he's got his hand out trying to get paid and then finding out when you do want to pay him that he has no change. The rickshaw guys are more lost than we are and I have had to quickly learn Baayan! Daayan! Seeda! (left, right, and straight ahead my good man). A good cuff on the shoulder works wonders. And then trying to figure out which is the correct road on a roundabout while he screams his engine at top rev, honks his horn CONTINUOSLY, and while you see out of the corner of your eye naked children living in makeshift shacks at the side of the road and try to snap a picture without crying, is well, stressful. But exhilarating too. Wouldn't miss it for the world (Mum is having a harder time coping, but is a good trojan). Ate lunch today at the Taj Mahal hotel - best chinese restaurant in India (so says the guide book and now I agree) for $150 and yesterday we ate lunch at a muslim market (very freaky) for 20 cents. No kidding, the contrasts in India are mind boggling. Anyway, know we're safe (not a single bit of trouble yet, yes, we've been very nervous, but for no good reason it turns out - every single person has been wonderful and full of wonder (at us!)). So we'll write again (I didn't see mum's note and she isn't seeing mine - it will be fun to compare later!). Wishing you were here, Dad
While I'm wishing I was seeing all the things they are, I'm happy to be home snuggled up with Craig and my familiar bagels in the freezer. I think the stories will be enough for me.
Bovine Train
Oh my goodness, it was so great. It's been a long time and I almost forgot how wonderful it feels. Smooth. Wet. I was beyond satisfied and it was wonderful. It made me want more. Abstaining for so long was more difficult that I thought it would ever be. I tried other options but nothing substitutes the real thing. I want it every day, twice a day. Or more.
I grit my teeth at the next feeding waiting to see if my last experience would repeat itself. It doesn't and he is fine. Beyond fine actually. He goes through the rest of the day happier than he's been in a long time.
Seems like I can go back to drinking milk. Ian's been fine and I've added back in all the other dairy products that I love so much. Yogurt, cheese, milk, everything. Surprised? What did you think I was talking about?!
I grit my teeth at the next feeding waiting to see if my last experience would repeat itself. It doesn't and he is fine. Beyond fine actually. He goes through the rest of the day happier than he's been in a long time.
Seems like I can go back to drinking milk. Ian's been fine and I've added back in all the other dairy products that I love so much. Yogurt, cheese, milk, everything. Surprised? What did you think I was talking about?!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Growing Boys
He made himself a tea. Just now. He came up to me while I was working on the computer, announced that he was 'in the mood for a tea' and went upstairs and made one. Tea bag (peppermint), microwave, sugar, milk, the whole bit. We encourage him to be independent but my intention was to have him dress himself and put his own shoes on his feet. Not to make his own tea!
And Ian's sitting up on his own. My baby!Friday, January 23, 2009
Ted
"Don't worry Mum, I won't suck my thumb."
Shaun's a thumbsucker. I tried, honestly I did, to get him to love a suckie as a baby but that darn thumb kept finding its way into his little mouth. Now he's 3 1/2 and while he only uses the thumb briefly to fall asleep, it still bothers me. I'd hate for him to ruin his teeth because he's sucking on a body part. At our check-up in August with the dentist, Shaun allowed the doctor to get a really good look at his teeth and even clean them. We were told at that time that Shaun's teeth aren't affected at all from the thumbsucking. The doctor admitted that he wouldn't have known Shaun sucks his thumb if we hadn't told him. That's good news I suppose.
But today I caught Shaun with his only-love: his bear Ted. The house rules state that Ted and any of Ted's companions (there are many) must stay in Shaun's bed at all times. No exceptions. Okay, maybe a few... but most of the time there's no exceptions. Shaun managed to sneak Ted downstairs today while I was feeding Ian and when I caught Shaun with Ted later, he made that promise to me. No matter though, Ted found his way via air back upstairs.
With my oldest starting school in September I'd love to kick the thumb habit before then. Starting with his trigger: Ted.
Shaun's a thumbsucker. I tried, honestly I did, to get him to love a suckie as a baby but that darn thumb kept finding its way into his little mouth. Now he's 3 1/2 and while he only uses the thumb briefly to fall asleep, it still bothers me. I'd hate for him to ruin his teeth because he's sucking on a body part. At our check-up in August with the dentist, Shaun allowed the doctor to get a really good look at his teeth and even clean them. We were told at that time that Shaun's teeth aren't affected at all from the thumbsucking. The doctor admitted that he wouldn't have known Shaun sucks his thumb if we hadn't told him. That's good news I suppose.
But today I caught Shaun with his only-love: his bear Ted. The house rules state that Ted and any of Ted's companions (there are many) must stay in Shaun's bed at all times. No exceptions. Okay, maybe a few... but most of the time there's no exceptions. Shaun managed to sneak Ted downstairs today while I was feeding Ian and when I caught Shaun with Ted later, he made that promise to me. No matter though, Ted found his way via air back upstairs.
With my oldest starting school in September I'd love to kick the thumb habit before then. Starting with his trigger: Ted.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Labels
"Hmmm, batteries. I wonder what box they should go in." I struggled to determine a label for yet another odd thing that I found laying around the house. Things like self-adhesive velcro, a foot bath, a ceramic cookie jar. Where do these things belong? Do I even want to keep them?
I spend so much time thinking about the perfect label for boxes so I can summarize what's inside in one word. One glance and I know what's in there. Bathroom. Wheels. Dress-up. Puzzles. I'm nearing the end and now it's come down to: Ian's Room - soft toys, crib aquarium, extra wipes; Master Closet - memories, Craig's hockey trophies, photos to sort.
We'll eventually out grow this new house and have to move again. But for now I swear we're never moving again. Not ever.
I spend so much time thinking about the perfect label for boxes so I can summarize what's inside in one word. One glance and I know what's in there. Bathroom. Wheels. Dress-up. Puzzles. I'm nearing the end and now it's come down to: Ian's Room - soft toys, crib aquarium, extra wipes; Master Closet - memories, Craig's hockey trophies, photos to sort.
We'll eventually out grow this new house and have to move again. But for now I swear we're never moving again. Not ever.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Being Sick Sucks
I rarely get sick. Even a cold only briefly affects me for 3 or 4 days total in a year. I like to think it's because I have my hands in dish water 3 times a day and I compulsively wash them after doing all-things diaper related.
But my boys are sick. Ian had a fever all day yesterday that was only controlled with Tylenol. When the Tylenol would wear off his fever flew right back up to 102.5F. And he's not been very happy and is sleeping an awful lot too. Shaun's been fighting something all week and finally on Friday night it officially arrived. He's been waking up 3 or 4 times with a stuffy nose and cough for the past few nights. I'm not one to medicate my kids because I feel their bodies are fighting something so let the body do its job. But I hate to see such little bodies suffering. Especially Ian's. I want this cold gone fast. Thankfully I'm still healthy, knock on wood.
17 days!
But my boys are sick. Ian had a fever all day yesterday that was only controlled with Tylenol. When the Tylenol would wear off his fever flew right back up to 102.5F. And he's not been very happy and is sleeping an awful lot too. Shaun's been fighting something all week and finally on Friday night it officially arrived. He's been waking up 3 or 4 times with a stuffy nose and cough for the past few nights. I'm not one to medicate my kids because I feel their bodies are fighting something so let the body do its job. But I hate to see such little bodies suffering. Especially Ian's. I want this cold gone fast. Thankfully I'm still healthy, knock on wood.
17 days!
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Hungry Monster
I decided it's time to start giving Ian cereal. We started on Thursday last week with rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. Yesterday he tried barley and definitely likes it better than rice. Shaun was the same. Wheat was Shaun's favourite but I can't seem to find it anymore. Maybe due to all the wheat allergies that are surfacing these days.
This afternoon I whipped up some baby food for my hungry little monster. I steamed some carrots and acorn squash and blended each with some breastmilk and then simply froze them in ice cube trays. Once they're frozen I'll transfer the cubes into a Ziploc bag; one bag for each kind. I also roasted some beets in a low 
temperature oven and blended those up with some boob juice. I figure I can't go wrong adding milk to already wholesome veggies. When I get the chance again I'll make some peas and corn and sweet potatoes. I'd like to have a variety before we move so I don't have to worry about making all that stuff only days after we move in. I'd rather be able to focus on the boxes.25 days!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's DONE
It's officially official: our house is sold, sans any conditions. Our agents are coming by today and we'll crack open the bottle of bubbly. 26 days.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
2 Outta 3 Ain't Bad
Our agent called. Two out of 3 conditions have been waived. Our buyers got their mortgage and the status certificate (since it's a condo, a status certificate checks on the financial stability of the condo corporation) and faxed over a copy of their waiver this afternoon.
The last condition is that they have a firm deal to sell their condo. They have an offer which will be made firm by Friday (guess what, their buyer is waiting on a status certificate too!) and at that time will waive their last condition. Then we'll be Officially SOLD!
Again, hurry up and wait. At least we can sleep tonight knowing everything should turn out okay. I'll be honest, I was beginning to wonder about the reliability of our buyers when they asked for an extension on the deadline they set for their financing.
29 Days!
The last condition is that they have a firm deal to sell their condo. They have an offer which will be made firm by Friday (guess what, their buyer is waiting on a status certificate too!) and at that time will waive their last condition. Then we'll be Officially SOLD!
Again, hurry up and wait. At least we can sleep tonight knowing everything should turn out okay. I'll be honest, I was beginning to wonder about the reliability of our buyers when they asked for an extension on the deadline they set for their financing.
29 Days!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Randomness
I never got tagged with this but both the boys are sleeping and I'm trying to delay folding laundry.
Rules:
A. Link to the person who tagged you.
B. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about you.
C. Tag 7 random people at the end, and include links to their blogs. I'm not one to tag people - it feels too much like a chain letter. But I thought this was a neat idea.
1. I smell everything. Before I buy it, eat it, wear it, look at it; basically if it's something I will be in contact with, I smell it first. It's amazing how much you find out about something/one simply by smelling it.
2. I love bugs. The creepier and crawlier the better.
3. I discected a dead bird as a teenager and saved the eyeballs in the freezer, because they were cool and I wanted to show them to my dad.
4. Hands down my favourite food is garlic. It makes everything better.
5. Grocery day is the highlight of my week. Meal planning is a close second.
6. When I was little my greatest dream was to wear glasses and have a mouth full of metal braces.
7. I'm cheap. If it isn't on Sale, Special, Markdown, Deal, I don't buy it. No exceptions.
While I'm writing stuff: I'd like to get into a really good book. Mostly because there's crap on TV these days but I like the idea of sitting down at the end of the day, after the boys are in bed, with a hot tea and a really really great book. Any suggestions?
Rules:
A. Link to the person who tagged you.
B. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about you.
C. Tag 7 random people at the end, and include links to their blogs. I'm not one to tag people - it feels too much like a chain letter. But I thought this was a neat idea.
1. I smell everything. Before I buy it, eat it, wear it, look at it; basically if it's something I will be in contact with, I smell it first. It's amazing how much you find out about something/one simply by smelling it.
2. I love bugs. The creepier and crawlier the better.
3. I discected a dead bird as a teenager and saved the eyeballs in the freezer, because they were cool and I wanted to show them to my dad.
4. Hands down my favourite food is garlic. It makes everything better.
5. Grocery day is the highlight of my week. Meal planning is a close second.
6. When I was little my greatest dream was to wear glasses and have a mouth full of metal braces.
7. I'm cheap. If it isn't on Sale, Special, Markdown, Deal, I don't buy it. No exceptions.
While I'm writing stuff: I'd like to get into a really good book. Mostly because there's crap on TV these days but I like the idea of sitting down at the end of the day, after the boys are in bed, with a hot tea and a really really great book. Any suggestions?
Is it time to be Frustrated?
So the buyers asked for an extension of the condition because their bank would like to send an appraiser to the property. Because of the amount they have as a down payment (20%) the bank would like to make sure the mortgage is a sound investment for them. Normally if downpayments are less than 20% an independent insurance company is called in and the buyers are required to purchase mortgage insurance through that company. Without mortgage insurance, an appraisal is required.
Anyway...
The extension is until tomorrow at 8PM. We spoke at length with our agent this afternoon and he is very confident that all conditions will be fulfilled by Friday. Let's hurry up and wait some more.
Anyway...
The extension is until tomorrow at 8PM. We spoke at length with our agent this afternoon and he is very confident that all conditions will be fulfilled by Friday. Let's hurry up and wait some more.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Bump in the Road
I knew when we accepted a conditional offer on our house that there was the possibility of it falling through. 8:00PM today one of the conditions expires and we'll be back on the market; unless the buyers submit, in writing, that they waive the condition. I regret accepting their offer because the other one that was submitted at the same time was better. But that's in hindsight.
The other party is still interested in putting in an offer if the current one hiccups but I just want to sell my house! And get it all firm and final! Nine and a half hours to go...
The other party is still interested in putting in an offer if the current one hiccups but I just want to sell my house! And get it all firm and final! Nine and a half hours to go...
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