Eventful

So, I ultimately never actually SPOKE to the HR person from my (thinking positively) future employer, but we DID manage to set up an interview appointment by leaving messages for eachother!

9/30 at 9:30!

WHEEEE!

The past few days at work have been completely exhausting. I felt like I was coming down with something, and had a sore throat and cough for a few days.

Feeling better today, though, despite being run ragged with training and delegating.

My sister and niece came over today, and we made a MAJOR dent in the packing. My sister was taking stuff off of the walls, and clearing shelves in the closet, and packing up dishes!

She even packed my living room clock, which I discovered when I went to look at it a little while ago!

That was pretty funny. I DO still have to live here for a few more weeks!

My niece helped get the boxes loaded into the storage closet, so that they're mostly out from under foot, and then she and I carried Grandma's antique sewing machine down to my sister's car and loaded it in.

I am going to be SORE tomorrow.

Also met with my new realtor this morning, BEFORE the packing frenzy began. The place goes back up on the market 9/1, for sale AND for rent.

I can't find a renter on my own, apparently, and I can't spend my energy worrying about it anymore. I need someone to take that job, so she did.

She lives a lot closer than my other realtor, and I have known her for years and years, from my days of going to the Buddhist temple.

I also FINALLY got a massage. The last time I got a massage was the day my old computer monitor started to change color and die. Whenever that was. July some time.

Too long ago.

So, this evening, I COULD go out and do my grocery shopping, but I really am very tired and don't want to go out.

Hopefully, tomorrow, after rehearsing dance for hours, I will have the will to go.

The dancers insist that I perform with them once more before I move. On the weekend of Labor day, when my friend J will be in from Michigan to visit me.

It's a mess, but I will see if I can talk J into coming out with us to the dance event. It's $20 she probably doesn't have, and that makes me feel bad.

I don't really need to spend it, either, and even performers have to pay. It's goofy.

We'll see what we can figure out.

I also suspect, pretty strongly, that there is something happening at the dance event around my going away. Both of the dancers have slipped up slightly in things they've said, so my guess is there's going to be a little presentation, or something.

Sigh....

Encouragement

Hmmm...the HR rep from the company I mentioned previously called me today.

I looked at their website after I heard back from the CEO on Sunday, and it said to fill out their on line applications, and don't bother calling or sending a resume....so I was not sure I'd hear anything else.

But today, the rep called me to schedule an INTERVIEW. He found my information on line, and said my qualifications look "awesome," and he wants to schedule something for the last week of September.

Unfortunately, I missed the call, and then when I called back, I had to leave a message...but this is VERY encouraging.

Also heard from my new realtor, and she wants to meet soon to discuss how to list the property through MLS for rental only.

Also have now confirmed all give-aways.

Sigh....at least some things seem to be going well.

The word is out

I gave notice at work yesterday, and by days' end today, everyone knew.

It's just such a tremendous relief to NOT have to keep secrets anymore!!

No further response from the company in OKC, but they know my ETA, so they may be waiting to contact me until closer to my arrival. Who knows?

I intend to send similar emails to all of the other billing companies on the list. All are affiliated with the HBMA, of which my boss is a board member.

I can drop his name to all of them, after all, not just the one he suggested.

Showed my condo to some possible renters tonight, but it was a no-go. They are recent immigrants, and they don't want to pay real money to rent a home. They also want it on 9/1 instead of 10/1.

So....onward to the next possibility.

Let's hope there IS ONE.

Surprise...

I sent a well worded email to the CEO of the medical billing company up the street from my new digs in OKC. I did this based on the suggestion of my boss.

This morning.

The guy already responded.

It's Sunday.

Anyway, his response was that he was going to have his HR department contact me, and he forwarded my email to two of his people, and he wants them to follow up with him after they've spoken to me.

So. That was a positive surprise.

I hope.

Wouldn't it be nice if one email was all it took for me to land a solid job lead? Wouldn't it be nice if SOMETHING about this process would go the way I want it to??

Yes.

Yes, it would.

Progressively

Dropped hints last week to the boss. He and the other upper management people now know that I have to move.

They just don't know WHEN yet.

The boss was not happy, but he suggested some billing companies in OKC that I should contact for the jobsearch, after I reminded him of his months-old "just in case" promise to do so.

I will give official notice next week, marking my last day at work as 9/11/09.

3 weeks' ought to be sufficient, in terms of being able to train out my work, and make arrangements to collect my profit sharing account.

It's unfortunate that I have to cash in my fund, but I think it's best to pay off my debts, and have some extra money on hand to pay my mortgage until I can get a regular paycheck down there.

In addition, 3 weeks is something I can survive, financially, if the boss tells me to go before it's over.
Even without that 3 weeks' pay, I will still be able to make my mortgage for October, due to the fact that I have been saving every possible penny for a while now.

I don't think the boss would do that, but one really, truly never knows with him. Which was specifically WHY I could not tell him that I have to move until NOW, even though I have known for a year and a half!

The release of tension upon finally telling him was TREMENDOUS. I was EXHAUSTED last night, from having that HUGE weight finally lifted off of me.

Went out (read: was kidnapped) last night with family to an old family-favorite bar, where my dad hung out when HE was a kid. Where my dad took ME when I was very little, and perched me on the deep window ledge, while he and his friend listened to Dixieland music.
Where my brother's various bands over the years have played.

The place is a family fixture.

So, last night, we had a few drinks, and watched the Cubs game. It was fun. Good to see my brother, whom I don't see very often. (*wave* i know you read this blog!!)

Today, I am going to try to focus on packing non-essential items. May even pack the winter clothes.

We'll see how much energy I have left, after I empty some cabinets and book cases.

Gawd, I hate moving, and packing, and living in the midst of it!

I know a few people who have moved so many times in their lives that they don't mind it all. I am not one of them!!!

I am a very home-based person, and living in the midst of chaos is very uncomfortable for me!!

Also, must go over to the pet store to look for a cat carrier, and a travel-type bird cage. If I can't get the bird cage at the store, I will have to order one off of the internet, so I have to know sooner, rather than later, about availability

Last weekend, I posted an offer on freecycle, and a sign in the laundry room here at home, offering up the furniture I need to get rid of.

Freecycle, I thought, would be my best bet.

Turned out, it was the sign in the laundry room that was effective!

I've found takers for everything. NOW they need to FOLLOW THROUGH....which, I know from experience, is questionable at best.

But, at least for the moment, that's something that's taken care of. I can slip notes of reminder under doors in a week or so, with the date of availability, and a PLEA to let me know if they've changed their minds!!! That way, I can try Freecycle AGAIN.

Barring the success of that, since no one has rented the place, I can just leave the shit here.

It's a nice, cool, fall-like weekend. Good for working hard!! (less sweat)

Grrr

So, I talked to my financial guy, and he said I can't refinance.
My loan amount is so small to begin with, that doing a refi to lower the payments would literally cost me THOUSANDS of dollars.

Plus, if the mortgage company finds out that I am no longer LIVING in the residence, that could get me in BIG trouble.

I don't know WHY...people who own rental properties probably refinance them. Why can't I refinance a vacant condo?

Crap.

He says my best alternative is to do a short sale.

I have been advised against this by some, and encouraged to do it by others. I have NO IDEA what is really best for me in this situation.

The real estate market is not going to support the sale of this condo, at the price I would NEED to sell it, for many YEARS to come.

Is it logical to just leave it empty, and keep paying and paying and paying?

No, not really.

Is it logical to ruin my credit temporarily, and do a short sale, and run the risk of having to pay multiple thousands in taxes on the "forgiven debt," when I have worked my ass off my whole life to live what USED to be the American dream???

No, not really.

It seems that the only truly logical thing is to rent the place out...and that's not been going very well, either.

I had hoped for better news from the financial guy.

I just want ONE THING to go my way!!!!

Hitting the wall over and over is getting very tiresome.

In other news, I will probably tell my boss before the weekend. Let's hope he doesn't fire me on the spot.

But if he does, he does. So be it. D says whatever happens, happens, we will "figure something out."

Ok!!

Square one

It really is now.

My contract with my realtor was canceled as of Aug. 1.

I don't have anyone to take the place.

I am now considering the consequences if I just move away and leave it vacant. Hoping that my sister can arrange to have the carpets cleaned after I vacate, and just leave it empty, and keep paying for it .... somehow.

If nothing else, that would be less to worry about, in terms of "what is that person doing to my property?" and "will I get the rent check in time to pay the mortgage and assessment this month?"

This has been an extremely stressful and trying year. The ongoing stress, and continuous flow of disappointments, has effected how I act, how I feel, how I sleep, how I eat, and how I think.

I have been accused of being self-centered, negative, and moronic, in the midst of merely trying to do what was right and best for my financial being.

Obviously, there are those out there who have NO IDEA of what it means to struggle. Or to worry. Or to have problems. Or to face the possibility of losing a long-fought-for investment that IS your financial future.

Or of what it means to try to do what's best, over what's most romantic.

I am really ready to have this situation all over with, one way or the other.

sheeee it

So I got H's paperwork, and I called my friend this morning with the deets.

My friend met me at lunch, and she was shaking her head and looking at me with a very troubled look on her face.

Turns out, not only does H have THE WORST credit score my friend (who searches people's credit records FOR A LIVING) has EVER SEEN, but she had a rap sheet the length of my forearm.

Apparently, H has been evicted and taken to court by ALL of her former land lords.

So...I have that going for me.


Fuckity.

not so dark as all that...

...The other day was dismal. I was sure that I was screwed. No sale, no LISTING, and no renter.

At that time, The Renter (H) had never called, and had never sent her paperwork, and I felt in my gut that she was backing out of the deal.

I talked to my friend J today. The one who referred H to me. I asked for a phone number, so I could at least get confirmation that the deal was broken, so I could move on.

She did not give it to me. She said she had asked H to call me, and thought that she had followed through.
When I told her there had been no phone call, all J did was apologize. She did not offer up the phone number, and said I should put my place back on the market.

Great.

A couple of hours later, however, H finally called me. She said that she had decided not to even try to rent my place, because she had freaked herself out when I gave her the credit and background check paperwork.

I asked why, and she said "I have horrible credit."

I said "That's ok. A lot of people have bad credit, but they still pay their rent on time, because it's about keeping a roof over their heads! I HAVE to do this as a formality, because I have to protect myself. Are you going to send me your paperwork, so we can move along with this process? Time is of the essence at this point."

And she said yes.

She still REALLY wants the place, and had thought about all of the PLUSES of moving in here, and convinced herself to give it a try.

I also offered to lower the rent $25 to start with. That was the clincher.

Dave booked his flight, and reserved the truck and car trailer.

By the end of September, I will have a new address. That's the only thing that's certain at this point, but other things are starting to look a bit better now.

must be...

... cursed.

Sometimes, I just can't help thinking that.

The potential renter who was so upbeat and saying "Yes, I want to rent this place" on Saturday has fallen off of the face of the earth.

No paperwork returned.

I texted my friend, who said she'd have the potential renter call me.

No phone call.

Fuck.

Square one.

Makin' Vitamin D

sun dappled dry creek bed in the spruce plot

portal

It was another perfect day for the woods.

I spent 2 hours out at the Morton Arboretum today, spending time on both the east and west sides of the park.
Unfortunately, it was very crowded, and there were few times during my visit that I was able to be alone with the woods.

I had the good fortune of spotting several varieties of birds, including a hawk that even my hawk expert on-line friend can't identify.

There was also an indigo bunting, eastern blue birds, cedar wax wings, goldfinches, some kind of prairie warbler, and a humming bird.

I spent the most time at the Schulenberg Prairie restoration project. That was the area that was the least crowded with people, and had the fewest mosquitoes!

It was also definitely the area that was the most abundant with life.

There's a creek that runs through the prairie, and down into the oak savannah that neighbors it.
I hiked out into the middle of the prairie, and stood in the high grass, near the water, and counted among my companions there big blue stem, bee balm, fox glove. There was also elecampane, blazing star, bundleflower, culver's root, prairie burdet, cup plant, snake root, butterfly weed, and several other plants that I know, but could not remember the names for.

As the creek bubbled past, I stood in silence, listening to the bees, which were huge, and abundant, and watching a squadron of dragon flies, hard at the hunt.

A tiny warbler sat atop a scrub bush of some kind, and sang and sang, not caring one whit that I was standing there, soaking up the sun, and listening to him with a smile on my face.

Once the sun got to be a bit too hot for me, I moved along and followed the creek into the shade.
There, the joe pye weed stands taller than me, swaying in the breeze.

I didn't know that humming birds like joe pye weed, but they do! I stood, again, for a long while, stock still, in the shade.

Male gold finches landed at the water's edge, down the slope at my feet, and bathed furiously, as I watched a hummer work the joe pye.

Oblivious hikers passed by, and scared everyone away but me.

I waited, and allowed the silence to return...and the finches came back, and continued to fluff and preen at the water's edge. They were SO cute!

The hummer came and landed only about 2 feet away from my face, preened for a moment, and then took off chasing another of the gold finches.

It was a lovely time...the funniest moment was in the car, when I felt as though there was something walking on my forehead, so I looked into the rear view mirror. There was a large beetle on my face! It startled me enough to reflexively sweep him away with my hand. He was not injured, though, and I laughed as we both regained composure, and he flew back out the window.

I didn't really want to come home, but I'd been there 2 hours, and I had spent a little too much time out in the direct sun, with only bug spray on my skin, and no sun screen.

Trying to relax today, after the excitement of yesterday. I accomplished a lot, finding a renter, and starting that process, and then cleaning out my closets and dresser, filling 3 large trash bags with donations for the Amvets drop box.

Walked the donations over to the drop last night, in the dark, and came back home. Exhaustion took me over then, and I took a bath and went to bed.

Insomnia was my fate, though....

SO...now that I'm home from the woods, and full of vitamin d, I am going to go take a nap!

Renter??

It's looking sort of cloudy all of a sudden, on this Saturday morning. If it gets to be a rainy day, that will make it easier for me to just stay home and try to relax.

AFTER I get this place up to "code," so to speak, for a showing I am doing myself.

This afternoon, my friend J. is bringing HER friend H. over to see the condo. H. is someone I met at J's house once. She's very sweet, and works with J.

H. is, for reasons as yet unknown to me, in need of a new place to live. She is very interested in renting my condo.

At least she sounded so when I spoke to her on the phone Thursday.

I went on line and found an application I could print out for free. My friend C. has said that she can help me with doing background and credit checks.

If it all works out, I could possibly find a renter ON MY OWN, without the help of my realtor, who has been completely out of touch for a couple of weeks now, due to her mother being ill.

I am pretty sure it's time to cancel my contract with her anyway. She's been my realtor now for a full year, and nothing has happened. She needs to focus on her family now anyway.

This potential renter idea is giving me the incentive to go ahead and fire her.

So, back to the cleaning yet to do. Wish me luck!

I will be doing this today, rather than going out to see that beautiful steam locomotive again, as it passes through this way.

My sister and brother in law may or may not go, depending on what the weather does.

Maybe later, after J. and H. leave, I will do errands and stuff, and get that overwith, so I have tomorrow off. Also depends on the weather.

UPDATE: J. and H. came early, because H. was really anxious to see the place. SHE LOVED IT! The place she's living in now is turning into a dump, and her land lady lives upstairs, and is the REASON it's turning into a dump. H. just wants out.

To her, this place was like heaven! Top floor, beautiful view, clean, everything works, no mold on the walls, no tile peeling away. The laundry room is right down the hall, instead of down the street. The rooms are nice and big. The closet is amazing.

She was thrilled. She took the paperwork with her, and will fill it out and send me a check next week for the credit and background check.

Let's hope the next part all goes well!