We were obviously very excited on election night. By 9:00 CST, the election was called for Obama, although as soon as they called PA and Ohio, we knew. I went to bed thrilled that the election went as we wanted it to. But, I kept asking- where is the prop 8 bill vote? Being in CA, I didn't know until the morning what had happened. And I am extremely disappointed by it. I had faith that liberal California of all places, would be a national leader in protecting one of the few groups that institutinalized government bigotry is still tolerated. I have no doubt that the next generation will look at our policies towards gay marriage much like my generation looks at the polcies in place regarding interracial marriage in the 50s and 60s- with horror.
Last night on his show, Keith Olbermann made a special comment regarding this and I think its worth a read:
A Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.
Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.
And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics.
This is about the... human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.
If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not... understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want -- a chance to be a little less alone in the world.
Only now you are saying to them -- no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights -- even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?
I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage.
If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal... in 1967. 1967.
The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry...black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.
You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are... gay.
And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing -- centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children... All because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage. How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?
What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.
It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.
And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?
With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness -- this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness -- share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
---
You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of...love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate. You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know...It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow **person...
Just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.
This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.
But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:
"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge.
"It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all:
"So I be written in the Book of Love;
"I do not care about that Book above.
"Erase my name, or write it as you will,
"So I be written in the Book of Love."
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Nervous
After a long hiatus, we are back and nervous...
I am not sure I can make it through work today. All I want to do is hole up in a room with election return coverage. I want to see it all.
People don't understand why I am nervous, but I don't have a good track record. I have yet to get to vote for a winner (2000 was the first year I could vote for president).
GO OBAMA!
I am not sure I can make it through work today. All I want to do is hole up in a room with election return coverage. I want to see it all.
People don't understand why I am nervous, but I don't have a good track record. I have yet to get to vote for a winner (2000 was the first year I could vote for president).
GO OBAMA!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Naughty Roary
Roary has been exploring our house more throughly than even our home inspector. She has been up in our drop ceiling in our basement twice (and had to be rescued). We also had quite a scare when she pushed the cardboard over that we had put in front of our heating vents after removing them for painting. She then proceeded to explore our heating vents. After a few tense minutes, and frantically calling her, she reappeared- in a different room from a different vent, dusty, but no worse for the wear.
We are in, tired, and the kitties have returned
On Sunday, August 3rd my parents came down with the truck and trailer. My cousins Warren and Karl, my Uncle Jeff and John emptied the trailer. Sarah (Karl's girlfriend) also came to help. My Dad got back on the road, and my mom stayed to begin her long week of painting. John and I had spent the entire weekend trying to get wallpaper border off. Each layer we removed brought a surprise second, third and sometimes fourth layer of the old homeowner's bad taste. We were ready to begin painting- or so we thought.
We started to try to get the outlet plates off the walls. The old homeowner painted with them in place, so there was years and years of paint gluing them onto the walls. They are all also very odd colors, so we get to buy new outlet, phone and cable plates. John also gets to rewire all the outlets because she painted that part too. In some cases, you can't even plug anything in because of the amount of paint that is in the outlet. ARGH! She also painted all the registers over and over again. Years of caked on paint. We painted them white, so if we ever get crazy enough to paint again at least the registers don't have to be done again.
It took the better part of the week to paint the living and dining room. It had been burgundy and forest green. Its now a much more livable light blue.
We had rented a truck in Wausau on Friday. Our plan was to finish the painting, and on Thursday take my mom home, stay with my grandparents and then go up to load the truck on Friday. By Thursday morning, we had pretty much finished the living dining room, the half bath was done (we had painted over yet another burgundy color, with a light gray. Although we though this room would be cake because 2/3rds of the wall is tiled, after removing some shelves the old homeowners left we discovered that this room too had been wallpapered, and when removing the old paper they had done a crappy job and then just painted over it. The whole room had to be sanded. And the half bath has a blue tile floor with walls that are white tiled with blue and gray specks in them. Who thinks burgundy goes with that?!? But I digress....) and the accent wall in the den was also finished (the wall was originally, wait for it, burgundy, and is now a rust color).
But, we hadn't even hit the master bed or bath, and one of the extra bedrooms which had wallpaper in it needed to be addressed because where the wallpaper had been removed was a different color.
So, my mom volunteered to return and continue painting. The plan was that john would drive the truck back to Milwaukee from Wausau after we loaded up our stuff from the storage unit, and my mom and I would follow in our car. So we stayed over night with my grandparents, and then drove up to Wausau to get the truck. My Uncle Darcy and Grandpa met us up in Wausau to help load (I still can't carry much). So we start loading up the stuff from the unit. It suddenly become obvious that we aren't going to get everything in the unit into our 24 foot truck. So we got rent another one. By about 5:30 pm we finally get everything loaded, and start our caravan back to Milwaukee- John leading in his 24 footer, me behind in my 15 footer, and my mom bringing up the rear in our highlander. We are really lucky that my grandpa and Uncle Darcy were there or we never would have gotten the trucks loaded.
We get in at 9pm, we all take a shower, eat some dinner, and crash.
Saturday morning at 9, Jen Shaun and Sarah come to help us unload what is now two trucks full of stuff. About 9:30 Warren, Karl and Sarah come. By noon, both trucks are unloaded and the stuff in strewn about in the basement. What a mess. But we are able to keep painting. John then stayed up most of Saturday night, and reorganizes the basement so you can walk around down there, and get organized.
Sunday my Uncle Jeff and Aunt Nancy come back over. While my mom continues to paint, Uncle Jeff helps john move stuff in the basement and garage. My Aunt Nancy washes all of my kitchen stuff, and we get it put away. Suddenly, things aren't looking so bad. Our living room and dining room have furniture, and not too much clutter. Our kitchen is usable. We can eat in the kitchen.
Monday, I return to work. John and I come home early, because the man is coming to install cable, and I have a CT scan on my leg. My mom is still painting. After the CT scan, we get the smaller bedroom painted and done.
Tuesday, my mom continues with the master bedroom and bathroom. Tuesday evening my Grandma and Aunt Sherri come down to pick my mom up. They along with Jeff and Nancy, Karl, Warren and Sara (Yes, Warren's girlfriend is also named Sara) come over for dinner. We have pizza, and hang out for awhile.
That evening my mom finished edging all of the rooms we have to paint. All that is left for us to do now is roll.
I really hate moving. Nothing is really put away or anything right now. But we'll get there.
We also got the cats back. They, look like they are doing ok:
We started to try to get the outlet plates off the walls. The old homeowner painted with them in place, so there was years and years of paint gluing them onto the walls. They are all also very odd colors, so we get to buy new outlet, phone and cable plates. John also gets to rewire all the outlets because she painted that part too. In some cases, you can't even plug anything in because of the amount of paint that is in the outlet. ARGH! She also painted all the registers over and over again. Years of caked on paint. We painted them white, so if we ever get crazy enough to paint again at least the registers don't have to be done again.
It took the better part of the week to paint the living and dining room. It had been burgundy and forest green. Its now a much more livable light blue.
We had rented a truck in Wausau on Friday. Our plan was to finish the painting, and on Thursday take my mom home, stay with my grandparents and then go up to load the truck on Friday. By Thursday morning, we had pretty much finished the living dining room, the half bath was done (we had painted over yet another burgundy color, with a light gray. Although we though this room would be cake because 2/3rds of the wall is tiled, after removing some shelves the old homeowners left we discovered that this room too had been wallpapered, and when removing the old paper they had done a crappy job and then just painted over it. The whole room had to be sanded. And the half bath has a blue tile floor with walls that are white tiled with blue and gray specks in them. Who thinks burgundy goes with that?!? But I digress....) and the accent wall in the den was also finished (the wall was originally, wait for it, burgundy, and is now a rust color).
But, we hadn't even hit the master bed or bath, and one of the extra bedrooms which had wallpaper in it needed to be addressed because where the wallpaper had been removed was a different color.
So, my mom volunteered to return and continue painting. The plan was that john would drive the truck back to Milwaukee from Wausau after we loaded up our stuff from the storage unit, and my mom and I would follow in our car. So we stayed over night with my grandparents, and then drove up to Wausau to get the truck. My Uncle Darcy and Grandpa met us up in Wausau to help load (I still can't carry much). So we start loading up the stuff from the unit. It suddenly become obvious that we aren't going to get everything in the unit into our 24 foot truck. So we got rent another one. By about 5:30 pm we finally get everything loaded, and start our caravan back to Milwaukee- John leading in his 24 footer, me behind in my 15 footer, and my mom bringing up the rear in our highlander. We are really lucky that my grandpa and Uncle Darcy were there or we never would have gotten the trucks loaded.
We get in at 9pm, we all take a shower, eat some dinner, and crash.
Saturday morning at 9, Jen Shaun and Sarah come to help us unload what is now two trucks full of stuff. About 9:30 Warren, Karl and Sarah come. By noon, both trucks are unloaded and the stuff in strewn about in the basement. What a mess. But we are able to keep painting. John then stayed up most of Saturday night, and reorganizes the basement so you can walk around down there, and get organized.
Sunday my Uncle Jeff and Aunt Nancy come back over. While my mom continues to paint, Uncle Jeff helps john move stuff in the basement and garage. My Aunt Nancy washes all of my kitchen stuff, and we get it put away. Suddenly, things aren't looking so bad. Our living room and dining room have furniture, and not too much clutter. Our kitchen is usable. We can eat in the kitchen.
Monday, I return to work. John and I come home early, because the man is coming to install cable, and I have a CT scan on my leg. My mom is still painting. After the CT scan, we get the smaller bedroom painted and done.
Tuesday, my mom continues with the master bedroom and bathroom. Tuesday evening my Grandma and Aunt Sherri come down to pick my mom up. They along with Jeff and Nancy, Karl, Warren and Sara (Yes, Warren's girlfriend is also named Sara) come over for dinner. We have pizza, and hang out for awhile.
That evening my mom finished edging all of the rooms we have to paint. All that is left for us to do now is roll.
I really hate moving. Nothing is really put away or anything right now. But we'll get there.
We also got the cats back. They, look like they are doing ok:
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Starting to come together....
Well, we closed on our house today. We can't get in until Friday, but we are one step closer!
A full color more interesting blog will make its reappearance after August 11th. That is the day the man is coming to hook us back up to the internet.
A full color more interesting blog will make its reappearance after August 11th. That is the day the man is coming to hook us back up to the internet.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Why we don't post on here anymore...
Ok, I am sorry about that. Nothing has been updated on here for quite a while. First, we don't have a home computer. This means that pictures are difficult to get onto the system (I guess neither office anticipated their employees may need to upload personal photos into their blog during work hours). And posts without pictures are dull. So, until we move in, I will give you a brief update as to what we have been up to:
1. I bought a Wii. Thats fun. I am quite good at boxing. I recently purchased guitar hero:aerosmith, as well, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
2. The weekend of June 29-30 we went to Madison to visit Kathryn, Jarrod and Myron. We had a nice time. Baby #2 for them is due anytime now.
3. We had a nice 4th of July. We went to a picnic at Jen and Shauns, and then John pretty much worked the rest of the week. And he left the picnic and went to work too. Ok, in all honesty the 4th of July wasn't great. John just worked. But I guess thats what happenes when you start at a new firm. Oh well.
4. The weekend of the 11th-13th we went to eagle river. We went boating and relaxed. That was acutally fun, and john didn't work too much there.
5. Last weekend on Friday night, we hung out with Kyle and Melissa and their boys. We wiied (is that a verb?) and just had fun. Donovan and I bonded, whereas Hayden wasn't too sure about us. Saturday, I took a fun trip to urgent care (my back finally couldn't take limping around anymore after months and months of this broken ankle thing). There I was given some good drugs, and spent the rest of Saturday very sleepy. Sunday morning we met Drew and Katie and celebrated their good news. If you know Drew and Katie, and don't know their good news, well, you better call them, huh?
6. This weekend we are going down to Chicago to visit John's parent and hear Jen sing in the Symphony and Ravinia.
Thats whats up with us right now. We close next Wednesday and can get into the house on Thursday at midnight (so maybe we'll wait til friday?) I think my parents are then coming down with a load of our stuff and my mom will stay awhile and help us paint (good bye green and burgandy walls!). We will take pictures and try to do a before and after thing.
1. I bought a Wii. Thats fun. I am quite good at boxing. I recently purchased guitar hero:aerosmith, as well, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
2. The weekend of June 29-30 we went to Madison to visit Kathryn, Jarrod and Myron. We had a nice time. Baby #2 for them is due anytime now.
3. We had a nice 4th of July. We went to a picnic at Jen and Shauns, and then John pretty much worked the rest of the week. And he left the picnic and went to work too. Ok, in all honesty the 4th of July wasn't great. John just worked. But I guess thats what happenes when you start at a new firm. Oh well.
4. The weekend of the 11th-13th we went to eagle river. We went boating and relaxed. That was acutally fun, and john didn't work too much there.
5. Last weekend on Friday night, we hung out with Kyle and Melissa and their boys. We wiied (is that a verb?) and just had fun. Donovan and I bonded, whereas Hayden wasn't too sure about us. Saturday, I took a fun trip to urgent care (my back finally couldn't take limping around anymore after months and months of this broken ankle thing). There I was given some good drugs, and spent the rest of Saturday very sleepy. Sunday morning we met Drew and Katie and celebrated their good news. If you know Drew and Katie, and don't know their good news, well, you better call them, huh?
6. This weekend we are going down to Chicago to visit John's parent and hear Jen sing in the Symphony and Ravinia.
Thats whats up with us right now. We close next Wednesday and can get into the house on Thursday at midnight (so maybe we'll wait til friday?) I think my parents are then coming down with a load of our stuff and my mom will stay awhile and help us paint (good bye green and burgandy walls!). We will take pictures and try to do a before and after thing.
Monday, June 23, 2008
What to do on a weekend when you don't have to look at a million houses.
This weekend was our first in many weekends where we weren't dealing with housing stuff. It was nice.
On Saturday, our long awaited weekend with Jason and Nicki visiting came. We haven't really seen them at all since Drew's wedding, and we have had this on our calendar forever. I am happy we had nice weather and were able to spend sometime with them, Drew, Jen and their GB friends.
We went to the Sprecher tour and had a nice time afterwards just hanging out by their campsite.
Sunday came and went without much interesting. John had to get up, pack and head over to the airport to catch a flight to California for work. He got to spend A LOT of time in the wonderful Milwaukee airport because all the storms in the area and out east delayed his flight. He is scheduled to come back on Thursday...
On Saturday, our long awaited weekend with Jason and Nicki visiting came. We haven't really seen them at all since Drew's wedding, and we have had this on our calendar forever. I am happy we had nice weather and were able to spend sometime with them, Drew, Jen and their GB friends.
We went to the Sprecher tour and had a nice time afterwards just hanging out by their campsite.
Sunday came and went without much interesting. John had to get up, pack and head over to the airport to catch a flight to California for work. He got to spend A LOT of time in the wonderful Milwaukee airport because all the storms in the area and out east delayed his flight. He is scheduled to come back on Thursday...
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
A Turn-around in the House Drama Also known as “ we are in es-c-row”**
So, if you are keeping up with the drama that is “Marmets need a house in Milwaukee”, last we left of we had a very sad call from our realtor Sunday night regarding a house we had put an offer in.
Every night at 1am, we get a new listing from our realtor of what went on the market in the past 24 hours. Although we really want a house, that email would remain unread until 7:30, when I would open it and look through the houses.
On Monday, I got to work around 7:30 and opened the email. I wasn’t really expecting too much to have come on the market- remember Milwaukee had hardcore rain almost all weekend. 5 houses had come onto the market. I looked through them and noticed that one of them was only a block north of the house we had the battle over the day before. I called our realtor, and asked if we could get into the house. She said, what about after work tonight? So we met her at the house at 6:00.
We were actually a little early, so we got out and wondered around the house before Colleen got there. The front is cute, with trees and a basketball hoop. We wondered around the side and noticed that there was some really nice landscaping that had been done- nice perennials. Having spent a small fortune on plants at our old house, I appreciate having nothing to do with that in the future.
We get around to the back of the house, and there is a huge deck, and a hot tub on the deck. We are impressed with the yard. Our realtor comes as we are walking around the other side, and we go into the house. The first thing I notice is it is clean. REALLY REALLY clean. Not a I cleaned for this open house clean, but a I keep my house open house clean all the time and then I cleaned again after that.
It’s a nice house- the paint colors aren’t something we would choose ourselves, but its done well, and clean. We walk through- its spotless, it’s a decent space, and has just about everything we are looking for. Despite the monsoon Milwaukee had over the last 3 days or so, the basement is totally dry. We spend an hour there, and then tell our agent, I think we may want to make an offer on this one. She says she’ll draw up the paperwork and get it to us tomorrow.
Monday night, I don’t sleep at all. I am tossing and turning. I am wide awake. I am worried that this house is going to turn out just like the last one. Tuesday, I get up. I am tired. I go to work and look through the email of new houses. They all suck. Big time. This reinvigorates me- I want that house we looked at last night. I call our agent and say- Lets get the offer in. She tells us that they have 3 more showings set up for the next 24 hours. John drives over to my office, and we meet her there and we sign the offer. It’s a good offer, but it is less than asking. Its also been on the market for 48 hours. I am nervous. John goes back to work, and we wait.
At 8:00, we get a call- the sellers have accepted our offer as is! No renegotiating, no counter- just signed it! We close on the house on July 31!
We have an inspection next week, and I will take my camera along and get some pictures up. There are some pictures online, but they aren’t so great. For once, the house actually looks better in person that in the pictures (instead of the opposite, which we saw a lot of before.)
http://www.shorewest.com/vp/ListingServlet?SITE=SHOREW&ScreenID=LISTING_DETAIL_P&EXCEEDLIMIT=null&totalFound=0&cd_MLS=1097141
** Please don’t write me and tell me we don’t have escrow in Wisconsin. I know that. It is an obscure reference to an episode of “the Gilmore Girls”
Every night at 1am, we get a new listing from our realtor of what went on the market in the past 24 hours. Although we really want a house, that email would remain unread until 7:30, when I would open it and look through the houses.
On Monday, I got to work around 7:30 and opened the email. I wasn’t really expecting too much to have come on the market- remember Milwaukee had hardcore rain almost all weekend. 5 houses had come onto the market. I looked through them and noticed that one of them was only a block north of the house we had the battle over the day before. I called our realtor, and asked if we could get into the house. She said, what about after work tonight? So we met her at the house at 6:00.
We were actually a little early, so we got out and wondered around the house before Colleen got there. The front is cute, with trees and a basketball hoop. We wondered around the side and noticed that there was some really nice landscaping that had been done- nice perennials. Having spent a small fortune on plants at our old house, I appreciate having nothing to do with that in the future.
We get around to the back of the house, and there is a huge deck, and a hot tub on the deck. We are impressed with the yard. Our realtor comes as we are walking around the other side, and we go into the house. The first thing I notice is it is clean. REALLY REALLY clean. Not a I cleaned for this open house clean, but a I keep my house open house clean all the time and then I cleaned again after that.
It’s a nice house- the paint colors aren’t something we would choose ourselves, but its done well, and clean. We walk through- its spotless, it’s a decent space, and has just about everything we are looking for. Despite the monsoon Milwaukee had over the last 3 days or so, the basement is totally dry. We spend an hour there, and then tell our agent, I think we may want to make an offer on this one. She says she’ll draw up the paperwork and get it to us tomorrow.
Monday night, I don’t sleep at all. I am tossing and turning. I am wide awake. I am worried that this house is going to turn out just like the last one. Tuesday, I get up. I am tired. I go to work and look through the email of new houses. They all suck. Big time. This reinvigorates me- I want that house we looked at last night. I call our agent and say- Lets get the offer in. She tells us that they have 3 more showings set up for the next 24 hours. John drives over to my office, and we meet her there and we sign the offer. It’s a good offer, but it is less than asking. Its also been on the market for 48 hours. I am nervous. John goes back to work, and we wait.
At 8:00, we get a call- the sellers have accepted our offer as is! No renegotiating, no counter- just signed it! We close on the house on July 31!
We have an inspection next week, and I will take my camera along and get some pictures up. There are some pictures online, but they aren’t so great. For once, the house actually looks better in person that in the pictures (instead of the opposite, which we saw a lot of before.)
http://www.shorewest.com/vp/ListingServlet?SITE=SHOREW&ScreenID=LISTING_DETAIL_P&EXCEEDLIMIT=null&totalFound=0&cd_MLS=1097141
** Please don’t write me and tell me we don’t have escrow in Wisconsin. I know that. It is an obscure reference to an episode of “the Gilmore Girls”
Monday, June 9, 2008
Our latest house Failure
So, we finally found a house that we liked. Last week, we put in an offer. The offer was about 94% of purchase price. We figured he would counter us and we would end up somewhere in the middle. Nothing out of the ordinary besides that- the offer had a financing contingency, an inspection contingency, a radon test contingency, and a well test contingency.
There was a broken window in the house when we looked at it, so we asked him to repair that. There was also a door that leads to no where. Our realtor asked him about it, and he said, oh, I plan to put a 3X3stoop in. So we included that in out offer. The appliances he put into the house are very very bad, but he flips houses for a living. Our realtor asked him if he could use those in another house, and give us credit for them, since we would replace them. He said sure.
We also asked him to get a land survey done at his expense. Reason being, that one hasn’t been done since the 50s and the village where this house is requires a survey to be done to do any concrete work. Since he has put a new patio in back and plans on pouring this stoop (which would be visible from the road) we thought it was important so the village wouldn’t require it of us.
Finally, our offer included that he needed to get final permits from the village for occupancy prior to close.
We put that offer in last week and waited. And waited some more. We didn’t hear from him. Finally he called our realtor and said, the offer isn’t enough. I want X for the house. X was 4k under asking price- or 99%.
John and I talked about it, and decided that it was worth it to us to have the house, and put an offer in that was X. We didn’t do a new offer, we just did an amendment. All we changed was that we changed the price to X, and since that didn’t include the appliance discount (since he was taking them), we asked him to give us a 2k credit at closing for that.
So we brave the rainstorms in Milwaukee yesterday to drop off this offer. We drop it off at his place. Its what he wanted, so while we are nervous but happy because why wouldn’t we get the house?
So we wait again. Our realtor calls around 5:30. We figure, that hes getting back to us so fast since its exactly what he wanted. She calls and says:
The owner/flipper left a message. Hes very angry in it. He says he doesn’t want to deal with you anymore. He says it obvious you don’t appreciate the craftsmanship he has put into his house.
So after a bit of talk, I ask her to call him back and apologize. That we gave him that offer (the 99% offer) because he said that’s what he wanted, and try to figure out whats going on.
So we wait and she calls us back:
He said we are bad people. He doesn’t want to deal with us. We have way too many contingencies (financing, inspection, radon test, etc?). We put these things like the window in and we are obviously very picky. (yeah, why should a seller replace a broken window?- and I mean the GLASS is broken in it). Our realtor was on the phone with him for 15 minutes. He was ranting. His wife was yelling in the background. He actually said we were bad people.
So, today we are very sad. I never expected that a person selling a house would say he wanted X, we give it to him, and somehow that makes us bad people. I was a house that we really liked, in a location we really liked, but I guess we will have to find something else.
After looking at 50 houses, and only finding 1 possibility, its probably going to take us a long long time to get a house =(.
There was a broken window in the house when we looked at it, so we asked him to repair that. There was also a door that leads to no where. Our realtor asked him about it, and he said, oh, I plan to put a 3X3stoop in. So we included that in out offer. The appliances he put into the house are very very bad, but he flips houses for a living. Our realtor asked him if he could use those in another house, and give us credit for them, since we would replace them. He said sure.
We also asked him to get a land survey done at his expense. Reason being, that one hasn’t been done since the 50s and the village where this house is requires a survey to be done to do any concrete work. Since he has put a new patio in back and plans on pouring this stoop (which would be visible from the road) we thought it was important so the village wouldn’t require it of us.
Finally, our offer included that he needed to get final permits from the village for occupancy prior to close.
We put that offer in last week and waited. And waited some more. We didn’t hear from him. Finally he called our realtor and said, the offer isn’t enough. I want X for the house. X was 4k under asking price- or 99%.
John and I talked about it, and decided that it was worth it to us to have the house, and put an offer in that was X. We didn’t do a new offer, we just did an amendment. All we changed was that we changed the price to X, and since that didn’t include the appliance discount (since he was taking them), we asked him to give us a 2k credit at closing for that.
So we brave the rainstorms in Milwaukee yesterday to drop off this offer. We drop it off at his place. Its what he wanted, so while we are nervous but happy because why wouldn’t we get the house?
So we wait again. Our realtor calls around 5:30. We figure, that hes getting back to us so fast since its exactly what he wanted. She calls and says:
The owner/flipper left a message. Hes very angry in it. He says he doesn’t want to deal with you anymore. He says it obvious you don’t appreciate the craftsmanship he has put into his house.
So after a bit of talk, I ask her to call him back and apologize. That we gave him that offer (the 99% offer) because he said that’s what he wanted, and try to figure out whats going on.
So we wait and she calls us back:
He said we are bad people. He doesn’t want to deal with us. We have way too many contingencies (financing, inspection, radon test, etc?). We put these things like the window in and we are obviously very picky. (yeah, why should a seller replace a broken window?- and I mean the GLASS is broken in it). Our realtor was on the phone with him for 15 minutes. He was ranting. His wife was yelling in the background. He actually said we were bad people.
So, today we are very sad. I never expected that a person selling a house would say he wanted X, we give it to him, and somehow that makes us bad people. I was a house that we really liked, in a location we really liked, but I guess we will have to find something else.
After looking at 50 houses, and only finding 1 possibility, its probably going to take us a long long time to get a house =(.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Housing
Looking for a new house sucks.
I am so sick of looking at other people's nasty houses. I mean come on people- if you know someone is coming to look at your house, someone who you are asking to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for your house- get a broom out, buy some windex and get to work. Put your laundry away, don't make me have to step over things and if you play hockey don't stick all your dirty stuff into each closet of your house- heres a hint-- that makes the whole house smell like BO.
Sorry Bucky and Roary- it looks like you guys are going to have to stay at Jen and Shaun's kitty hotel a little longer!
I am so sick of looking at other people's nasty houses. I mean come on people- if you know someone is coming to look at your house, someone who you are asking to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for your house- get a broom out, buy some windex and get to work. Put your laundry away, don't make me have to step over things and if you play hockey don't stick all your dirty stuff into each closet of your house- heres a hint-- that makes the whole house smell like BO.
Sorry Bucky and Roary- it looks like you guys are going to have to stay at Jen and Shaun's kitty hotel a little longer!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Another Update
Sorry its been so long since I have posted. Its been pretty crazy with everything, but I will try to update you!
We closed as expected on our house in Wausau on May 9th. It was a very long week trying to get out of the house on time. I almost had a major disaster with work which would have prevented me from getting to the closing, but the wonderful staff and Judge at Langlade County averted my crisis. (Major Thank you Shoutout!!!!) Bridget, John and I went out to dinner to celebrate everything going though without too much of a problem, and off John and I went to Milwaukee.
We got to Milwaukee about 10 on Friday night. We brought some of our stuff in, and hit the sack, because we had a busy day scheduled. On Saturday, we looked at about 25 houses, nothing that we were too excitied about.
Sunday was Mother's Day. We went out to a wonderful brunch with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff, Warren and Karl, and Warren's girlfriend Sara. (For those of you who don't know, Warren and Karl are my cousins. Warren is 19 and Karl is 17). We then headed over to a few open house, and found a gorgeous house we were actually interested in. We talked about it on Monday, and called Tuesday to see if we could get back in, and potentially make and offer.
Tuesday we went over to our friends Jen and Shaun's. They have the cats right now. We stopped by and said hi. The cats were not impressed with us. I think they are a little miffed that we took them on a long car ride and then dropped them off somewhere else.
We finally got a call back regarding the house we liked- they already had an offer. Back to the drawing board.
The next weekend we again looked at 10 houses or so. A few that were ok, but everything seems to have major drawbacks (too close to highway, too far, too much work). Saturday night we hung out at Jen and Shaun's and Sarah Meyer came over too. It was a fun night, and that cats seemed to forgive us somewhat for abandoning them. I miss them a lot, but I know they are in good hands and Jen and Shaun's. Sunday was open house day and we saw some stuff we couldn't afford, but liked, and some stuff we could afford, and didn't like. Go figure.
I spend the Monday-Thursday out in Waukesha County observing a trial which was nice- not nearly as far to drive. Today we are heading out of town early to go to Lance and Kate's wedding in green bay. (and celebrate our wedding anniversary which was yesterday, but John has been gone all week on depositions in California, so we have to celebrate late).
Ok, I think thats the speedy update to our lives. It has been a totally chaotic and stressful time, but we have been very lucky to have so many people willing to help. We have a free place to live (thanks Uncle Jeff and Aunt Nancy), our cats are well cared for (thanks Jen and Shaun) and I didn't miss my house closing (thanks Judge and Barb!)
We closed as expected on our house in Wausau on May 9th. It was a very long week trying to get out of the house on time. I almost had a major disaster with work which would have prevented me from getting to the closing, but the wonderful staff and Judge at Langlade County averted my crisis. (Major Thank you Shoutout!!!!) Bridget, John and I went out to dinner to celebrate everything going though without too much of a problem, and off John and I went to Milwaukee.
We got to Milwaukee about 10 on Friday night. We brought some of our stuff in, and hit the sack, because we had a busy day scheduled. On Saturday, we looked at about 25 houses, nothing that we were too excitied about.
Sunday was Mother's Day. We went out to a wonderful brunch with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff, Warren and Karl, and Warren's girlfriend Sara. (For those of you who don't know, Warren and Karl are my cousins. Warren is 19 and Karl is 17). We then headed over to a few open house, and found a gorgeous house we were actually interested in. We talked about it on Monday, and called Tuesday to see if we could get back in, and potentially make and offer.
Tuesday we went over to our friends Jen and Shaun's. They have the cats right now. We stopped by and said hi. The cats were not impressed with us. I think they are a little miffed that we took them on a long car ride and then dropped them off somewhere else.
We finally got a call back regarding the house we liked- they already had an offer. Back to the drawing board.
The next weekend we again looked at 10 houses or so. A few that were ok, but everything seems to have major drawbacks (too close to highway, too far, too much work). Saturday night we hung out at Jen and Shaun's and Sarah Meyer came over too. It was a fun night, and that cats seemed to forgive us somewhat for abandoning them. I miss them a lot, but I know they are in good hands and Jen and Shaun's. Sunday was open house day and we saw some stuff we couldn't afford, but liked, and some stuff we could afford, and didn't like. Go figure.
I spend the Monday-Thursday out in Waukesha County observing a trial which was nice- not nearly as far to drive. Today we are heading out of town early to go to Lance and Kate's wedding in green bay. (and celebrate our wedding anniversary which was yesterday, but John has been gone all week on depositions in California, so we have to celebrate late).
Ok, I think thats the speedy update to our lives. It has been a totally chaotic and stressful time, but we have been very lucky to have so many people willing to help. We have a free place to live (thanks Uncle Jeff and Aunt Nancy), our cats are well cared for (thanks Jen and Shaun) and I didn't miss my house closing (thanks Judge and Barb!)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Nothing too new to post...
Well, I am back at work. I returned last Monday. So its my 9th day back, and I have 6 days left until my transfer to Milwaukee. We are still packing up the house, and taking care of all the last minute things you need to do when you move. The poor kitties are very scared with all the changes in the house- this hasn't been an easy process on them. When we have new contact info- I will let everyone know, but for now we will still be using out Wausau cell numbers.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A very Busy Week or Two
So, whats new in the Marmet household? Well, we have an accepted offer on the house! The owner of our favorite restaraunt here in Wausau, the Eagle's Nest, put an offer in last week which we accepted! We have 3 more weekends to be out of our house (or 6 days). I count the time like that because people with broken legs make bad movers, so most of our work gets done when the able-bodied member of our family returns on the weekends. The cats, as usual, do nothing to help us.
John reports that he is enjoying his new job and the people he works with. In the evenings, he drives around Milwaukee, trying to see where we should live- a very scientific approach to moving.
My transfer to Milwaukee has gone through, and I will start down there on either May 5 or May 11th, depending on when I am able to get back to work. I go back to the doctor tomorrow for follow up with my leg.
It has been a very crazy time, and very stressful, but we have been very blessed with how smoothly this process has gone. It was early March when John got the offer, so in less than 6 weeks I have gotten a job in Milwaukee as well, and we have sold the house. As sad as it is to leave our friends in Wausau, having my family so close, and our first house, we are very excited for this new chapter in our lives.
Now all we need is me to be a little more mobile =).
John reports that he is enjoying his new job and the people he works with. In the evenings, he drives around Milwaukee, trying to see where we should live- a very scientific approach to moving.
My transfer to Milwaukee has gone through, and I will start down there on either May 5 or May 11th, depending on when I am able to get back to work. I go back to the doctor tomorrow for follow up with my leg.
It has been a very crazy time, and very stressful, but we have been very blessed with how smoothly this process has gone. It was early March when John got the offer, so in less than 6 weeks I have gotten a job in Milwaukee as well, and we have sold the house. As sad as it is to leave our friends in Wausau, having my family so close, and our first house, we are very excited for this new chapter in our lives.
Now all we need is me to be a little more mobile =).
Monday, April 7, 2008
Todays the day!!
John started his new job in Milwaukee today! Good luck to him! Hopefully I will be up and walking soon, and then be able to join him in Milwaukee.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Sorry....
Ok, our blog has been very boring lately. There just isn't a whole lot to post about when you aren't leaving the house that much. Although, I am becoming more mobile everyday. I have been weight bearing for about two weeks now, and the doctor is hopeful that I will return to work in a little under two weeks. I walk around the house pretty well in my special walking boot, but can't do it without it yet, which is what they want me to do before my return.
So, moving while you can't walk is really hard. Poor John is stuck doing just about everything, unless if involves sorting things. I am good at that because its a sitting activity. I can also pack a box, but once its packed I can't move it.
John leaves to go to Milwaukee on Sunday and starts his new job on Monday. It sounds hopeful that I am be able to transfer to Milwaukee myself after I am cleared to return to work.
Although we are very excited about our new opportunities, we are very very sad to be leaving our friends and home in Wausau.
So, moving while you can't walk is really hard. Poor John is stuck doing just about everything, unless if involves sorting things. I am good at that because its a sitting activity. I can also pack a box, but once its packed I can't move it.
John leaves to go to Milwaukee on Sunday and starts his new job on Monday. It sounds hopeful that I am be able to transfer to Milwaukee myself after I am cleared to return to work.
Although we are very excited about our new opportunities, we are very very sad to be leaving our friends and home in Wausau.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Marmet Update
What a crazy few months it has been. I still cannot walk- still no weight bearing at all on the left leg- which means no work, no driving, etc. I really feel like I am an internet guru since surfing the web, reading and watching tv is all that I seem to do. Oddly, its a rather stressful exsistence because being cooped up makes me nuts.
To multiply by leaps and bounds the stress. John has accepted a new job. Its a great position for him and will be a great career move. Unfourtunatly, its also in Milwaukee. So a move is coming for the Marmet family.
John starts in Milwaukee on April 7th, but I won't join him until we sell the house and I hopefully get a transfer to a Milwaukee area Public Defender Office.
If you know anyone who might want a house in the Wausau area, please send them to our website- www.244windtree.com
We have a lot of organizing and packing to do, which is very hard in a wheelchair. So we are really hoping that I get back on my feet soon, both so that I can return to work and so that I can work around the house again!
To multiply by leaps and bounds the stress. John has accepted a new job. Its a great position for him and will be a great career move. Unfourtunatly, its also in Milwaukee. So a move is coming for the Marmet family.
John starts in Milwaukee on April 7th, but I won't join him until we sell the house and I hopefully get a transfer to a Milwaukee area Public Defender Office.
If you know anyone who might want a house in the Wausau area, please send them to our website- www.244windtree.com
We have a lot of organizing and packing to do, which is very hard in a wheelchair. So we are really hoping that I get back on my feet soon, both so that I can return to work and so that I can work around the house again!
Monday, February 18, 2008
For our Wisconsin friends, please remember to vote tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the Wisconsin primary, please remember to vote.
People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. ~Walter H. Judd
Voting is a great privilege. Please cast your vote wisely (if you need an opinion on that subject I am available by phone all day tomorrow for consultation). =)
People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. ~Walter H. Judd
Voting is a great privilege. Please cast your vote wisely (if you need an opinion on that subject I am available by phone all day tomorrow for consultation). =)
The Hillary Event!!
The Clinton event scheduled for yesterday, but cancelled due to the snow was moved to today. My wonderful husband loaded up the wheelchair and away we went. We had wonderful seats due to the fact that my leg was in a cast. In fact, because we got to go in through a different door because of the chair we actually got in. I don't think we would have otherwise. She is an awesome woman- very powerful speaker and very quick on her feet. She answered a lot of questions and it was obvious the crowd has behind her. I will have to wait until John can get some of our personal photos loaded on since I can't get to our desktop right now, but here is one from the newspaper.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Soooo SICK of snow....
The Hillary event in Wausau got cancelled due to the snow. I am so sick of winter. Darn you ice- you have broken my ankle. Darn you snow- you have made travel this winter horrible, and if we get much more our mailbox will disappear.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Update
I am still in the cast. I had a red one first, next I got purple, and now I have pink. My last cast was changed on valentine's day, so pink seemed fitting. Since breaking my ankle, I have left the house 5 times- 3 times to go to the doctor, once to go to Sam's club in my wheelchair- just to get out, and once last nignt to celebrate Valentine's day.
We had a nice time last night, we went to dinner down in Point at Christian's and then went to see a movie. It was really nice to get out of the house, but it takes a lot of work.
Tomorrow, I think we will try to go to church, and then to see Hillary Clinton who is stopping by to do a town meeting in Wausau. I am very excited to see her, and will try to take a few photos if we are allowed.
We had a nice time last night, we went to dinner down in Point at Christian's and then went to see a movie. It was really nice to get out of the house, but it takes a lot of work.
Tomorrow, I think we will try to go to church, and then to see Hillary Clinton who is stopping by to do a town meeting in Wausau. I am very excited to see her, and will try to take a few photos if we are allowed.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Not such a good Thursday
So, I was hoping to tell you all about what a great time we had at the Badger Basketball game tonight. Instead, we spent the day in the hospital, because I broke my left ankle today. Not such a great day, but I did get a red cast to root on the Badgers from home.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Busy Weekend
Tom spent the night, and on Sunday, Lisa's parents and grandparents came over for Lisa's Mom's birthday dinner. We had a nice dinner....
But did not enjoy the end of the evening- the Packers loss.
Busy Weekend
We had a very busy weekend last weekend. On Friday, our friends Marco and Jessica and their little girl Eva came over for dinner. Its good to see that the cat tree john built is mulit-functional!
Then on Saturday, John's brother Tom came over. We had a nice time with him, and he hasn't been to our house since we first moved in! He also got to meet Bucky for the first time.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
My Proud Cousin
So, for those of you who may remember my cousin Karl, he's not so little anymore- but he is an up and coming star on YouTube. Enjoy his work!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Roary and the Aerogarden
Currently, Roary and I are having a bit of a disagreement. I think that I went to bed bath and beyond and purchased an Aerogarden- allowing us to have fresh herbs in only 5 weeks. She thinks I went to bed bath and beyond and found a brand new kitty sized tanning bed.
A rough night for Bucky
As you can see from this picture, Bucky has been having a rough time lately. The primary season heating up has him stressed, and he is sick of all the reality TV thats on because of the writers strike. We have asked him to cut down on the boozing when we are not at home.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year!!
We hope everyone had a very nice New Years! We had a very busy but fun weekend! On Saturday our friends Kathryn, Jarrod and Myron and Kathryn's sister Lauryn came over. It was very nice to see them and we had a nice lunch at home. Later that day our friend Bridget came over and spent the night. We went out for Chinese and watched a movie. The next day Bridget left early to go to the Packers game- (go Pack!!)
Monday we went to a New Year's Eve party at John's coworkers Dan's house. It was a lot of fun and we met some new people.
Tuesday we dragged ourselves out of bed after a late night and watched the Badger game. We both wished maybe we would have just stayed in bed after the loss =(
We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2008!
Monday we went to a New Year's Eve party at John's coworkers Dan's house. It was a lot of fun and we met some new people.
Tuesday we dragged ourselves out of bed after a late night and watched the Badger game. We both wished maybe we would have just stayed in bed after the loss =(
We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2008!
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