Saturday, December 22, 2007

No diving

The kiddie pool is gone. The hum of the dehydrator and air movers (why don't they call them fans?) fill the house 24 hours a day. My tinnitus rings clearly that I've heard enough of that tune. When I empty the bucket there is always a little water, but not much. I will let the equipment run the prescribed amount of time to ensure full recovery from the flood.

Joey says there are now two people interested in the house. I doubt I'll hear anything until the new year.

I love to hunt for bargains. Prowling the thrift shops is an almost daily regimen. I have filled my son's closet with new or nearly new upscale clothes. A North Face jacket, Kevlar lined Draggin' Jeans (specifically made for motorcycle riding), a regulation Navy pea coat, many Halloween costume accoutrement. Sometimes I find a bargain for myself. Yesterday I thought I hit the goldmine - a BOSE Wave radio for only $24.99. I tested it at the store (no return on electronic items), but when I got home - nothing. I guess I'll see if BOSE will help me out even though I didn't pay $300 for it. Got any ideas?

Friday, December 14, 2007

Once more

As the family gathered in the great room of the apartment building in which my Mother lives, I received a phone call from my favorite realtor - Joey. He stated that he was going to show my house at 1 p.m. and wanted to ensure that this was acceptable. I replied that as my son and I were in Everett and wouldn't be home anytime soon, feel free to sell my house.

I did not hear from Joey right away, so I assumed that the prospective buyer was not interested, or unable to accept the fact that basements sometimes flood. A few days later Joey did call to let me know that Zacharia was indeed interested in my house - and maybe my truck as well. Of course Zacharia had already made plans to fly home to the east coast for the holidays, so I won't hear more until the new year arrives. Although financing was arranged before he left town.......

I didn't even bury a St. Joseph icon in my yard.

My son Thom bought a new (to him) motorcycle. It is a red, 2005 Suzuki V-Strom (weestrom) DL650 that previously belonged to the maintenance department manager of Aurora Suzuki in Seattle. As such it is outfitted with lots of bells and whistles like a Givi monokey trunk, Leo Vince exhaust, Givi crash bars, skid plate, high performance disc brakes, hand guards and heated grips. His only complaint is that it goes too fast, too easily.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

December blues

It's that time of year. I don't have a bubbly/perky persona in the best of times and the holiday season brings out the worst. I really dislike the forced friendliness and well wishes, the required gifting and the once a year need to help others. There is no regulated time period for these things.

Ten inches of rain in twelve hours following a couple inches of snow the previous day have left the area a quagmire. My basement is a kiddie pool - no diving allowed. Water from the storm drains was gushing up through the floor drains of my basement. Others had it much worse and I count myself among the lucky. All I lost were some photographs and childhood mementos.

Adding to my sour attitude is the fact that I wasn't supposed to be here for another winter. The housing market is dead and I fear that my house won't get sold until spring and at a substantial discount. Perhaps I am fated to stay put.