Thursday, July 17, 2008

This & That, Or, As They Call It On Jeopardy, "Potpourri"

Yesterday there was a 40-minute pounding, full-bore, hailstorm out here in the west end. I mean, heavy downpouring rain and pea-to-bean-sized hail for the full 40 minutes. This went on from about 1640h to 1720h, and at 2130h there were still heaps of unmelted hailstones in the yard. I have seen a lot of storms both winter and summer in my 53 years here, but this one ranked right up there as an all-time STORM TO REMEMBER. The thunder & lightning, while sometimes really really too close for comfort, were spectacular, too - especially the booming thunderclaps.

My niece just got back from a trip to New York City with her two best friends from Kelowna. One of said BFFs works for Fairmont, and with her employee discount was able to get them all a room at the Plaza. Not bad for 23-year-old chicks in the biggest city on the continent! They went to MoMA, the Met, rode the subway & saw a rat (niece thought it was a prop for the tourists), took in a performance of "Rent" on Broadway, drank $20.00 martinis, and shopped their little hearts out. Niece brought me back a Betty Boop wallet (I <3 Betty Boop), a gorgeous pashmina, and the coolest puzzle cube that opens to different pictures of ancient artifacts - she got it in the gift shop at the Met.

No more nibbles on the condo, if you don't count the very pushy & shady dude who called me from the sidewalk right outside, bragged that he had already bought up 3 other units in this complex, and tried to intimidate me into lowering my asking price. No thanks, creepy dude, I'll pass. I am not discouraged, however - I know I'll sell the place eventually.

My honorary kid sister is coming for a visit next month! She'll be staying in my guest room, and we'll have a blast. I haven't seen her for five years, so I'm really looking forward to her visit. Note to the Divine Miss M - we will definitely, all three of us, go out for some kickass ethnic food if you're free. Maybe Lebanese or Turkish?

As of yesterday afternoon, my good, good, old and dear friend Groom Leader is no longer a resident of this city. He and his fiancee left by car (after she flew here to accompany him on the drive back) for her home in the States. He has his INS paperwork in order, and a week from Saturday they'll be married in a civil ceremony. While I know that he and his bride will be blissfully happy, I miss him already! (Yes, folks it IS all about me - after all, it's MY blog!)

Work continues to be stressful - both the duties and my issues with my supposed "leadership" persons - but as I don't want to blog myself out of a job, that's all I'm comfortable posting on that subject. Let's just say that I plan to take as many V and J days as I have in the bank - on the orders of one of my physicians who's on staff at the hospital. I have the advantage of being a very stubborn individual as well as a survivor, and for now my mantra is, "This, too, shall pass".

That's all for now. Hey, TB, any chance you can make it up here in August, specifically between the 12th & 17th?

Friday, July 04, 2008

Wow, almost five months since my last entry! Bad me! Maybe this post will make amends.

I just got a call from a lady who wants to look at my condo - since it's listed for sale on ComFree. Yes, I know I just bought it last year, but the enormous strain that living a good 45-minute drive apart has put on my relationship with the boyfriend makes the north side much more attractive. So, I listed the place.

The kitchen cupboards have doors now, thanks to my niece's boyfriend aka my student labor force. He did a really nice job repainting what were essentially junky, battered old pieces of chipboard, and the kitchen has a kind of Mediterranean/Mexican feel now. I also, in the interests of not startling prospective buyers, took down the sparklies that I had hanging in the loft window and put up nice, normal curtains in their place. And, as I'm a tad paranoid, I put away all of the non-antique family photos.

Now, I know that this is only the first call about the place, but I can't help but be excited. I'd rather sell it sooner than later, as I will then have to secure a place to live closer to my squeeze, and book the movers (I'm hoping for a closing date of August 31). Then, there's the packing. Oh dear gods, the packing. After moving a grand total of twice between 1977 and 2006, I find myself facing my second move in 18 months. I'll get through it, though, because I have to. I learned a lot from the move last year, so this one should be (marginally) easier. Plus, I have a lot of boxes still packed from the last move - bonus! (not to mention all of the empty boxes, which I flattened and stored in the crawl space - clever, no?)

So, please cross your fingers for me that I sell this place for the price I listed or close enough to it to give me some profit, that I find a rental on the north side quickly, and that the move goes well.

I'll update as things proceed..........