<p>We are surviving the latest snow storm that hit last night. A new 10 inch layer of snow. D1’s dog can barely make it through the snow as her trails are all covered. H and both Ds ventured out and made it to work even though there were warnings to stay off the roads. H had to use my beast vehicle so I am stuck at home. I have a fire going and plan on reading my book club book that I am not enjoying. </p>
<p>Mold can be a tough thing to eradicate, shaw. Hope you have some success and ShawWife gets some relief. </p>
<p>NM, what are you reading? I am about ready to start The Goldfinch. I just finished Dave Eggars’ The Circle which I really enjoyed, perhaps a bit too much. </p>
<p>Oregon, I was just thinking about your son after reading some back posts - hope things are going okay for him. </p>
<p>I hate to say it but it is a balmy 54 degrees today and sunny. I had a terrific run OUTDOORS trying out my Garmin and some newer shoes that I have to say I like a lot more on the road than on the treadmill. Sun makes everything better. </p>
<p>NM, you will have to share your season snow totals, when they are available - in May? We had snow, sleet, rain, fog, and now, for over a day, howling winds. Some of my facia ripped away and banged against the house all night. Not sure where it eventually went. And now the polar vortex is coming back. This is one long winter! D is still plugging away at her degree. She is taking a maps class, and for their lab they sent them outside to pace off buildings in the freezing, howling winds. LOL.</p>
<p>I concur with NMN latest snow report. This winter has become ridiculous! And of course, not many folk out home shopping in this crap. According to one meterologist, coldest winter since 1978-79; 9th coldest overall. 55 subzero nights so far in the Twin Cities. 17 inches this month alone.</p>
<p>H left to visit D2 (and deliver her a car to use for her coaching jnob/etc) and I really needed to get back. Between the big east coast ice storm I dealt with on the 11th, flew home last night and while we were only running a little late, H had left my car at the dealership (when he picked up the one he’s taking to D). My car was encrusted with snow and ice to the point I almost couldnt open the door.</p>
<p>NMN - I agree with Sabaray re the dog. But I am so happy your D is having some good days. That is awesome AND empowering.<br>
Missy - Did I miss what’s transpired re Tattoo? And busy procrastinating is pretty much how we do things at our house.<br>
Shaw- Sorry about Mold hell. But at least it’s a space valued and very much used! And hopefully it will resolve.
Oregon - I hear you about not putting yourself in a position to be treated poorly. But I do think they eventually come around. </p>
<p>While I was at my Mom’s we got an offer on the house. Folks who are transferring have a lock right now mostly because they come to town when they come vs local buyers who don’t venture outside. Offer is much lower than we’d hope and a lot lower than what we had in hand last spring. H is kicking himself (I’d like to kick him too) but I just want to get it over with. I don’t like the buyers. But really just want to move on. So… after several back and forths that has us coming down a lot more than their going up, they are coming tomorrow for her H to see it (she’s the decision maker, which makes sense to me). Thing is, when it’s our time to answer, it’s all about how anxious they are to wrap this up etc. when I counter saying, I am really busy trying to arrange hospice for my Mom who will no longer do chemo after a three year battle, they sit for the day and send their response one hour before my flight leaves right as I am saying goodbye! I acted as if I had heard nothing since I said I was traveling. I find them completely inconsiderate and if they are willing to walk over 5K, I say good riddance - although I would like it to be over sooner vs later. </p>
<p>PS… S is a pig in mud. Sent me a pic of a laundry organizer he bought on clearance at “some store called Home Goods” (it as indeed an awesome find and works as closet/dresser/etc for now. Loving his job, the people, the task at hand. Says there is a lot to learn, but finds it very energizing. </p>
<p>Wow – lots been going on. The winds have been howling almost every night for the past ten days, but we’ve only had a dusting of snow. My sweet elderly neighbors have moved into a retirement community today, and I’m looking forward to meeting the new family that moves in at the end of March. </p>
<p>My sister outside Philly is having a miserable winter – endless snow, endless snow days, canceled spring break due to all the snow, and a brilliant Aspie kid who has completely and totally shut down in a deep depression. I’d like to send the bus for her. </p>
<p>I’ve got a busy week, and then we head out next weekend for So. Cal. for a quick vacation – D will meet us there. We’re flying back on an connecting flight, so she’ll be with us on the first leg of the flight home. Funny, but the closer I get to seeing her, the more I miss her. </p>
<p>We have five small flat (membrane) roofs, two of which are over porches. I’ve been told that there are only a couple of firms that should be entrusted with replacement since membrane roofs aren’t too common in our neck of the woods in residential projects. It just adds to the joy of the $20K roof replacement next year. </p>
<p>Woody – we most definitely need a picture of our virtual puppy, but I’m about as bad at on-line photographic grabs as I am at real life photography. (Well, I do have one very good picture of a bear right off my porch…but it is my only good wildlife photo.)</p>
<p>Shawbridge – I hope your wife never has to go back into that studio until it is purified. I’d be wary of stuff that was in there. Hope she feels better soon.</p>
<p>I know that I am going to forget to respond to all of you but know that I did read your post and thought about you.
NM, very happy for your D. She gives me hope as my D is miserable. I have decided today that I need to stop “talking” with her about things and just empathize and so on. I do not actually understand her thinking but she does have a right to her thinking. </p>
<p>Thanks all for asking about S. He actually called today and left a voice mail saying his lung is 100% and that the tests show that it is not genetic (good for G’son). He had a happy, relieved tone. I will have H call in a day or two.
I do know that S realized that I had with his attitude. So we shall see.</p>
<p>Right now I am posting as I wait for the H of “S” who is kind of my second D. She has become close to her dad and her stepmom and B the last years but her mother is a mini replica of my own–thus the kinship. We were her go to family before the new closeness.
I am so very happy that she is married to a wonderful young man and so will have her own family. He dad had a stroke or ?? the doc’s have been weird (she works in hospital admin) and the story has been odd, as even my H thinks. In any event, he will die this week. I just fed her, had her take a soaking tub bath, drink some bourbon and she is now sleeping on the couch with a soft fire. Her H will arrive soon.</p>
<p>Her B is a bit on the Asperger’s scale and so no one really knows what to do with him. He is appropriate much of the time but does not smile or laugh often. I took him an entrée from the restaurant H and I ate at tonight. The thing I do best in the world is feed people. I do it even if they don’t want it :).</p>
<p>As for the roofs! H and will always regret that we kept up with our low profile roof for 17 years instead of having it rebuilt with more significant pitch. We love really modern houses but would never buy or build a flat or even low profile again as cool as they look. Good luck to all on this. Ice dams are so time and anxiety consuming.</p>
<p>Mod, good luck on the sell. If you really really do not like them think long and hard and listen to your intuition. They could be that kind that comes back to complain and such.</p>
<p>oregon - my feeling exactly…. i have a feeling that even if they give us our final offer, they will nitpick over every thing at inspection to get it back down. They seem to move like every 2-3 years and so, it’s like they’re more renters who then sell. I’d like to think our house deserves better. After all, it raised some pretty good kids and while i am over it, I would like it to be loved again by someone.</p>
<p>H took the serviced car to D2 who will graciously give her father a ride to the airport Monday night. I am happy to have the quiet. </p>
<p>I bought fresh flowers, some fruit and an artichoke and small squash for my kitchen “decor”… the previous squash and some shriveled red peppers were what was remaining. Seriously? Did H really think he was to eat the perfectly placed edibles?? 
Kinda kidding, but he could have at least put some apples and pears from the fridge to fill in the gaping holes he leaves. Too, how could he not notice the very dead bowl of flowers behind the snk??? And finally (last one I promise), has he never put away the pans? They were perfectly organized in their drawers, he used them, so ostensibly he should note where they should be returned. One drawer completely packed and then topped by lids! And the other virtually empty. I still can’t figure out how he used so many!! But I didn’t find that till a few minutes ago, so that was it’s state during showing. According to my realtor, they are sitting down tonight to discuss it. While I’d definitely like to move on (and it’s a decent time as well because we’d be in a position to jump the minute we made a decision), I am not sure I want to continue down the nickel and dime road with these folks. We have a showing on Monday morn… wish it was tomorrow instead.</p>
<p>Good luck, Moda!
It’s unsurprising to me that your h ate the decorator food. Guys don’t generally get the whole decorator food thing. It’s like “oh look what my lovely wife left me…” doh. Delighted to hear your s is enjoying his new job, digs, and city!</p>
<p>Arabrab, can the puppy and I come to SoCal with you? We’ll behave, I promise. btw, I could post a pic if you really wanted, but I kinda lie the mystery and magic of happy a puppy none of us can identify. She can look different every day…like a mood ring :)</p>
<p>My gf out in Newfoundland sent me a pic of an “elder dog” Shecame across in MY neck of the woods through one of her rescue networks. Very cute Lhasa apso (sp?) who is 12, has lost her front teeth, and has cataracts. Is gf trying to tell me something ;)</p>
<p>In the “real world” I am not dog shopping just yet. I think my first step would be a trip to the allergist to see how reactive I am these days, and to see if they’ve had any breakthrough in shots. I did shots when I had my cats. My second step would be a study of the so-called hypo-allergenic breeds. I had poodles as a kid, but personality-wise, find a lot of them overbred. I like the demeanour of labs, but dont trust the labradoodle mix that’s supposed to be hypoallergetic, as many aren’t. </p>
<p>A cyber dog might end up being the only thing h and I agree upon Of course, h wants nothing other than a basset hound, and that’s just not happening unless the two of them move into the pool house :)</p>
<p>Sending the house selling luck to you, Moda. I hate the whole process! When we sold our house near Hartford the buyers were a PITA. BUT, after the 2nd time they “withdrew” their offer and then came back with another one, all it said to me was they really wanted the house. In spite of the fact that it was a lousy real estate market, we were ready to tell them to take a hike. It was unbelievable some of the things they wanted from us, but we just kept saying “no.” I guess from their perspective, it couldn’t hurt to ask. And, they apparently assumed we were completely desperate to sell the house and would give in to all their requests. Hope to never go through that much hassle again.</p>
<p>Yesterday was lovely and warm (relatively speaking) here – most of the snow has melted and we can see the grass. it’s just a tease, though – cold weather/snow returns later this week. </p>
<p>kmc - we’re getting a Wheaten Terrier, one of the hypo-allergenic breeds. We can send you videos for a virtual puppy fix …</p>
<p>Big weekend! Friday night was doing laundry (I know, a big night) and a horrible kerthunk. Thought a belt had broken in the washer. No such luck! Looks like I need a new washer. Saturday morning - heat pump is running - all of a sudden the blower in the air handler stops running and an electric smell fills the house. Can’t even get a repair person to call you back on the weekend. Shaping up to be a lovely week! </p>
<p>Moda, if it were me I’d tell those PITAs to take a hike. I’d have a hard time dealing with all of the back and forth that I’m sure will ensue. Perhaps I’m wrong but I like CBBB’s approach. </p>
<p>I’m looking forward to hearing about the puppy. Wheatens are adorable. KMC, Labradoodles are known as the first designer dog and I’m sure you know were bred for a very specific purpose - for a vision impaired woman and her allergic husband. The creator has quite a bit of regret over the cross given the melange of crosses that has followed. <a href=“Breaking News, Headlines and Stories | National Post”>Breaking News, Headlines and Stories | National Post;
<p>We can see grass again (okay, mud) - but cold and snow returns. I sure hope our heating system is functioning by that point. </p>
<p>They split the difference again AND asked for D2’s bedroom furniture, which isnt a set but part Ikea and one part hutch that we bought for D1 when she was about 7 or 8… so over 20 years ago. What is PITA besides a bread I use to make a chopped BLT? H is annoyed and I’m ticked too… but what I really don’t get is that everything I read says our area is up quite a bit over a year ago, but we end up being down? </p>
<p>Moda- gosh…I hope you are able to close the deal. Just keep your eyes on the prize.
I’m glad to hear that your S is thriving in the new environs. How did he ever find a place to live so quickly??? </p>
<p>Both D and S are apartment hunting this weekend. This process can’t be over soon enough!</p>
<p>Moda – PITA = pain in the a _ _. Everyone has his/her own limit, but, as I said, we just kept saying “no.” Just because the buyers are asking for something/everything doesn’t mean you have to agree. I’d tell the buyers, “Sure, you can have D2’s furniture – it will cost you $XXX.” Sometimes you just have to hang tough. If you don’t throw in the furniture, are they really going to walk away from the house?</p>
<p>Given that the IKEA furniture doesn’t always disassemble/reassemble too neatly, might not be a bad deal to offer it to them in lieu of the price drop. We have a desk that either will go that way or be chopped up like firewood since it will not fit through the doorframe or up the stairs. </p>
<p>On the husband front: yours ate the decorator food. Mine sent DD to preschool with hot chocolate dripped all down the front of her shirt – ON PICTURE DAY. With hair not really combed. I love him anyway, but you do not want to know what I said when I got the pictures from school a few weeks later and learned that it wasn’t an “oops” at school. </p>
<p>In my experience people will push push push and you just have to nicely say no. Ihave seen pics of your house on FB it is beautiful. CBBB has the right idea. I have gotten to an age where am just done with these idiots.</p>
<p>We gave them the furniture, held on the price. They agreed and then it was like “inspection at 2:30 - 5:30” Whatever… and then it was hurry up and sign the accepted counter. My realtor was out of town, coudn’t send docs via her cell, told me to fax - i don’t have one AND H is visiting D2 which I told them he was doing last Wednesday. Then she was like print, FORGE H’s name (since he was gone) and drive it to their office. That’s when I lost it. I agreed to send a copy of the pdf I had been sent saying we agreed and would sign when documents received via authentisign. I just think that for a fairly big chunk of change I should not be the one chasing documents to sign and surely not signing my H’s name!! I had his password to sign electronically because the doc program is not phone compatible in the least. I thought that was bad enough!!!</p>
<p>But I will say this… they got us so far down we won’t go lower and while I assume nothing major on inspection, I will not be offering any concessions. Amazing what you can learn from FB for people who don’t make their profile uber private. He’s a purchasing agent. H says he deals with them all the time… wishes he had an alternative because he thinks the guy is total dink. </p>
<p>Of course now H says he thinks we should wait to even look for a new house. I am seriously over everyone… want to pack up this place, take the good queen bed we have here and a few other things and head to the nook to lick my wounds. Mostly, I just want to everyone to stop hounding me because they aren’t around to do their part. So ticked at my realtor for her incessant MIA status.</p>
<p>Mod, trust yourself and hold firm and pay attention to you bottom line thought.</p>
<p>Hugs, Moda. Just remember, humans are delicious :)</p>
<p>CBB, I think I would love a wheaten terrier. I know they’re supposed to be a tad energetic and need an athletic lifestyle to be happy, but I’d be delighted to have a romping pal trek the woods with me and I have two separate fenced area for safe frolicking. </p>
<p>Sabaray, that article is basically what has my vet friend cautious about recommending labradoodles to me, she says the genetic odds can really be a crap shoot even for the hypoallergetic part. </p>
<p>I asked h yesterday what might be a compromise breed for him. He said he’s never met a dog he didn’t like better than most humans…so maybe he’ll agree to a wheaten He truly is alpha dog guy…he walks into a room and any dog, stranger or no, suddenly has a single prime directive of pleasing the man. People are amazed that their giant whatever rolls over and bears their stomachs to him It’s really quite odd.</p>
<p>I get it KMC. I have never met a dog I didn’t love - people not so much most of the time.</p>
<p>Mod - seems like these people are just a pain. Unbelievable. </p>
<p>S and DIL made it back from Hawaii okay - no issues and they had a great time. Got it late for me so no gym this morning for me – decided to sleep in although I SHOULD have gone to the gym.</p>
<p>D and her BF have started to look at houses. Went and saw 2 this weekend but didn’t see anything that they liked which is fine as their current lease doesn’t expire until Sept. :)</p>
<p>I’m sure that once the honeymoon is paid for S and DIL will also be in the househunting mode.</p>
<p>Back to cold and snowy here. I’m over it. Enough already!</p>