So Many Things

Where does the time go? I just don't understand how fast time seems to fly by. First, many thanks to RG for a very yummy and entertaining Easter. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the food was scrumptious and also thanks very much for the furniture. Score! I have been wanting to get patio furniture for about 18 months now and have been putting it off and putting it off. I've been weary to spend a lot of money on the project as I don't know how much I will actually use it so this is a great compromise. Speaking of which, MM your furniture looks freaking amazing and I can't wait to plonk my butt on it one day :-)

My vacation is definitely turning out to be a slight bit exhausting. This is very sad as I was hoping to actually catch up on some rest. It's all good though as I'm so excited to see my family and spend some time with them. It started out a bit rough because after going home Sunday evening and submitting a contract for a client I did not get done with work until about 12:00A all said and done. It was then that I realized my flight left at 7 AM. Lovely. After packing, panicking, and all the rest 1:30A rolled around. Brilliant as I hear 3 hours of sleep is ample. The trip to Rochester was bumpy which of course freaked me out and did not allow for much napping. When did I become such a coward about flying? I remember the very first time I had to fly I cried and cried and cried because I was so scared. It was of course a very long flight (South Africa to England) and in the day took forever. For some reason my mind always assumes the worse and I can see my the plane hurtling through space and to be frank I'm just not ready to die yet. I just get so freaked out and it's getting worse as I get older instead of better. Lovely.

My first day in Rochester started at about 2PM and the rest of that day was a matter of errand running with Dad and visiting with Stephen. We met Victoria for dinner and it was fantastic to see her. The terrible part about the trip is that we have eaten out twice each day and I normally eat out twice a week. I know that I have gained so much weight because I can feel it in my clothes and everywhere. It is driving me crazy. Unfortunately I am just a bit tired to go work out and besides, what the hey, it's vacation. Day 2 we started out early (great, given the time difference) and had a breakfast out with some friends. After breakfast we started our road trip to Turning Stone.

Turning Stone turned out to be lovely. The accommodations were just fantastic as dad really spoilt us rotten. Here is a magazine cover that I took naming it the best place to stay for 2006

The resort was amazing and very well done. They mixed a contemporary and traditional in a very good way.

As for the poker we all had a fabulous time. They actually opened up a new poker room the day after we got there and their room now has about 30 tables. They had some good games but the sad part about poker here and everywhere is that the no limit games are eliminating the limit games. It was almost impossible to get a 5-10 game up so the choices were either 1-3 spread (fun but ugh) or a 3-6 or a no limit. Lord. It's frustrating to know that the game I really enjoy is becoming a dinosaur and no one is playing it anymore. Definitely a wake up call. In any event, to keep up with some tournament playing I played in 1 tournament. The field was 77 large and I came in about 28th. Pooey. It was disappointing and it really made me realize how good these guys are live. I've got a long freaking way to go.

Other than poker my brother and I ran, swam, and ate, ate, ate. Both Dad and SM are still learning poker so it was odd and painful to be in the role that RG once was. I don't know how she put up with me in the beginning. As I think about it though it's amazing that I've made it this far. I've got a lot of work to do still but she did a good job with what she had to work with. Overall I was up $160, Stephen up $72, and Dad..um..down probably $100.

I can't believe the trip is almost over. It went so fast. Later today I'm meeting Victoria for dinner, and then my return flight is 8:30A tomorrow! I feel like crying it all went so fast. I'm wishing so desperately that I had booked my trip to include the Easter weekend because which moron needs to work every freaking day. I mean, you only live once and family is family. Dammit! My family wants to throw away my cell phone because it is such a disturbance. Here is my brother strapping himself into the roll away bed while still upright. Excellent.

I guess the payoff for work is that should all the deals close that I have under contract I am at 45% of my yearly goal by the end of May. My concern now is to keep the pipeline fed and flowing. I guess I will think about that later. When did he get so big??

House, House!

So, it is true, Mike has bought a house. I wasn't going to mention it to you guys until we closed on it because we keep doing these types of things that don't materialize and then we seem like total flakes (as I assume we seem to most people anyway). I was biting my tongue and my urges to blabber about it but someone else, named Mike, told other people last night and now the news has come full circle. Good Lord. I'm very very excited for him as this really will be his baby and the start of, hopefully, his professional journey.

The house is in the Highlands on a 8700 sqft lot. This is significant because the typical lot for development is about 6250 big. The upside for this is we can build a much larger duplex than the standard duplex. Our goal is build 2 duplexes about 3000 sqft above ground with an unfinished basement that could be done at a later stage. The third story will have a roof top deck with great views (we imagine). The lot is large enough that each side will have a very reasonable yard. The house is about 4 blocks north of Highland Square so the location is prime. Our goal is sell one side and live in the other side. I've requested a main floor office with a separate entrance and I think I may just get it ;-)

Here are the bad parts about the project. We have to somehow get together 800K (or more) in financing. If we take a partner (we have one lined up) we have to cut the profits in 2. If we do it by ourselves we will have to put just about everything on the line. I'm a gambler and want to just go for it but it will be really hard to do. That is our goal and it looks like we will get there but will just mean huge amounts of pressure until the house is done next fall. We don't get possession of the house until August even though we close 4/28 as the sellers wanted to do a lease back for those months. We probably won't break ground until September and the project won't be done fro a year after that. Hmmm..that's like a lot of time to stress over 800K. I'm going to need to work on this one.

The other negative is that our personal needs can run our budget up significantly. It's very easy when we will be living in one side to rationalize putting in expensive items as, aside from the whole duplex issue, it will be close to everything we want in a house and we see ourselves there for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of forever. It sounds so odd to hear that it will be a duplex but these puppies really are amazing. In any event, budget control will be a huge factor and the fact that this will be Mike's first project and it is huge, huge, huge.

I'm so freaking happy for him though. This is really the direction he wants to go and I'm happy to support him in it. All I can do is give him the space and freedom to make it his own. No easy task when that much money is on the line and it will be our home. Ah well, what will be will be :-)

In other frustrating poker news I am 3-5 this week. I've been playing 2 at a time which is probably not where I should be right now but I realized yesterday that I hadn't played for the week so I figured it would be a quick way to get them out of the way. With the recent developments it is hard for me to concentrate too much on it now. Ach!

Running..What Running?

I sit here watching the clock slowly click by and I'm trying to think of ways to rationalize not running today. I'm tired: not a very good reason. I'm lazy:excellent reason! Unfortunately I will hate myself later for such nonsense but I just can't seem to get myself up and out of the door. This past week did bring a nice cooked meal on Saturday. I made lasagna which is one of Mike's favorite. I'm trying to think if I cooked any other night and I really cannot remember. I think our eating habits have gone to pot. Last night's dinner was Cadbury easter eggs and Cheetos. I can see red flashing lights but I just don't have the time/energy/inclination to change anything right now. The good news is that we are trying to still curb the eating out, which is very hard and is resulting in Cheeto dinners. Why I buy the Cheetos in the first place I don't know. Last week we ate out at Swing Thai and Red Robin. Not excellent selections by any means but at least it was only twice. We did sacrifice our Sunday Einstein's this week given that the stupid lasagna is so fattening. Damn, what a shame. March's grocery bill was a mere $232 which is a sure indication that we are not cooking enough. The dining out expense did not change from usual so I think we are currently grazing on my heavily stocked kitchen which is a good thing.

Work: What a mess. The stress is starting to be overwhelming. I cannot even begin to describe the crap that is involved day in and day out. Client is under contract on a house, sees another house online, wants the other house, client is a lawyer and wants to terminate the contract and is willing to sue seller. On and on. Client lives in California and doesn't understand the market. Doesn't take my advice and due to lowball offer and poor negotiations looses the house and now I'm to blame. On and on. The stress, and probably bad diet, has led to some health issues that led to the Doctor on Friday. The details are very gross but lets just say a trip to the loo had me crying hysterically on the phone with Mike. Thankfully it's just a common ailment that results from stress. Excellent. With Mom's history the incident had me primed for a minor breakdown. After our Friday date day got depleted with work and Doctor I tried to take Saturday off by not scheduling an Open House. The result was work but no prospecting which kills me too. Sunday's Open House was cancelled due to putting in a contract for lawyer client. Great. I'll try not to stress.

Poker. Frustrating, Frustrating, Frustrating. Record was in the money 5 for 13 tournaments. It was so frustrating because I came in 4th 3 times! GRRR. I kept trying to move up by playing 2 more tourneys with no luck. My record was 4-6, then it was 5-6, then it was 5-7, then it was 5-8 and then I just gave up. I need to figure out how to convert the 4th places into 3rd places and all will be good. Luck was definitely out this week so I guess this is more an indication of what's in store for me. Dammit! The playing time is very easy. It' s not hard to do 4 tournaments in about 3.5 hours or so. Last night I addressed envelopes and played and it was just dandy. I can fit in all the tourneys I need in about 2 nights which is how it worked out this week.

The Wheels are Long Gone

I feel like a big fat Cheshire cat with a full belly that can barely move. This is today's food intake: 2 eggs, 3 cookies, plate of chips, salad, chocolate. I think the wheels are long gone and the under carriage is about to fall off. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the train has left the station. I can see the steam in the distance. How do I get back to basics? Very tricky.

The weekend ended up well. I managed to get 18 people's contact information over the weekend whereas usually I manage to get on average 6! Buying is in the air for sure. I'm currently struggling with some buyers in California. How do you convey to them that this market is not the same as that market. I give up. Wish us luck. Last night I made a German dish in the slow cooker. Pork cooked with sauerkraut and beer. It was actually yummy! Miked loved it although the house smells slightly.

Okay, I have a problem. I have a new friend who's name is "Lunny". Mike's Mom gave it to me for Easter. It looks like a bunny crossed with a lamb so I call it Lunny. I've developed the habit of sleeping with Lunny because it is so warm and cuddly and soft. I am now attached to Lunny. I even talk to it before I go to bed. I think I am regressing. Either that or I am in desperate need of a puppy. I'm thinking big fuzzy, hairy, cuddly doggie. Oh lord, it's bad. I'm sure it's just spring that is messing with my head again. By the way, this is just between us. No mentioning Lunny to ANYONE. Shhhhh....

Poker: Placements this week on level 2: 2,4,2,8,1 The heads up play is killing me. It's terrible. I don't know where the skill comes into play vs. the luck because it seems so absolutely random.

Spring! Spring!

Spring is here. I can definitely feel it. For the first time this week I went running in a short sleeve shirt, no hat and no gloves and it was great. My ears were a bit chilly this morning though. But still..it's spring! I was very inspired by the weather and Mike and I did some gardening this morning. My strategy is to just a little bit a few days a week and then I won't feel overwhelmed. After doing some serious work last fall such as sodding, re-landscaping all the flower beds, and generally sprucing up the place it really shouldn't be too much work this spring/summer/fall. I would love to put a deck in the back. I have the remodeling bug right now. I'm just itching to do a project. I don't want to spend too much money as the house will probably become a rental soon enough once we move on in a year or two. Spring definitely messes with your head though. I've been cleaning, wanted to remodel, and now gardening! Unreal.

Yesterday was pure bliss. Only a little bit of work in the morning and then the rest of the day was Mike day. It was great to just spend time together and do some fun things. We went running, then ate at the Corner Bakery for lunch, and watched "The Inside Man". The day was topped off with a lovely dinner at RG and many rounds of this nutty game that encourages executions. It was fantastic but also dangerous because I had absolutely no desire to go to work this morning. I just wanted to be a bad girl and stay at home and cuddle on the couch. Not a good idea. Not at all. So here I sit at an Open House but there is no one here. I've not seen one person in the last hour. I'm not sure if everyone else is out "springing" as well or what the heck is going on. Not good at all.

Work: I'm actually feeling encouraged for the first time in a while. The pipeline looks great although I have to figure out a way to get listings. Listings, listings, listings. I've read every stupid book and spoken to everyone I can think of but still no great ideas. Very frustrating indeed. Oh well, it will come, it will come. I'm also excited because I had received a horrible notice from the IRS stating I owe 4K for 2004! I almost cried. Turns out I failed to report some information so in reality I'm fine and I don't owe it. I love having an accountant now because I just call her and she says "Send it to me, I'll take care of it". Yeeaah! I was stressing about this for a few weeks now and it's good to be over with. I found the documentation I had failed to report so all is well. I'm now worried about my desk as I do not seem to ever use it in the office, at least in the past 3 weeks or so. Does it stay or does it go? Hmmm...

Poker: Played my last 3 yesterday. My placements were 2, 5, 4 (something like that..I lost my data). If I could just do better at the regular ring games I would be happy. For some reason that stupid site kicks my butt every single time. Dammit!