HGTV Junkie

Ever since I started house hunting, I've turned into a HGTV junkie. I preface all statements with "Well, when I was watching HGTV I saw..." It's so sad.

Yet, HGTV really speaks to me now. I used to watch it before. I'd pop in to watch the occasional decorating show, or something about people looking for a house to buy. It was entertaining but held no real meaning for me.

Now, I watch almost any show on HGTV and I think to myself, hmmmm could I do that when I find a house I want to buy? Would it be hard to paint? Could I build that...whatever it is?

I think my friends have started to want to tape my mouth shut. But they're my friends, so they haven't done it yet but it's only a matter of time. Help! I think I need an intervention...

Buyer's Remorse

I offered for a house on Friday. I was in low level panic all afternoon, because I began to realize it wasn't the right house for me. There's nothing scarier than hoping someone WON'T accept your offer!

It's a really cute house at a very good price, but it just wasn't right for me. The tough thing was that there was another offer on the property. I felt internal pressure to make an offer or lose the house. My realtor didn't pressure me at all and she has been SO great in all of this.

But I have some tips for other house hunters:

• Do NOT let yourself fall into the "Me, too" feeling if you're not sure about a house.


• Do NOT talk yourself into a house because it's cheaper than another house you'd looked at. Not good.


• DO set a short deadline if there's another offer. It may save your life.

How does a short deadline save your life? Let me explain. Because there was another offer, my realtor set an 8pm the same day deadline for the offer. If the sellers hadn't responded by then my offer was off the table unless I CHOSE to keep it there. The sellers decided they needed to consult a lawyer but couldn't talk to him until Monday. I was off the hook. I've never felt so relieved as when 8pm passed on Friday evening. I thought about my decision and let the seller know today that I wanted to pull my offer. This gave them the opportunity to accept the other offer if they chose to, but I was clear of the deal.

I may still be house hunting, but I survived the weekend.

Still House Hunting

I've been house hunting. And hunting... and hunting.

Now, I'm a bit limited because I want to buy a house local to where I work. I have NO desire to commute. Also, I am looking only at homes under $70,000. So yes, we are talking some smaller homes. Some of the houses I've been seeing are really awful. In my town there are TONS of foreclosures. Almost uniformly, the foreclosed homes have been trashed. It's pretty bad.

It's so frustrating because I can see beyond the repairs needed to the houses that they could be. If only I had money, I'd have bought a home by now. However, anything I buy has to be almost move in ready. I can pull out carpets to get to hardwood (or wood) floors, but I can't gut a kitchen or bathroom. No money for it. Grrrrr.

I know the right house is out there. I just have to FIND it. Or wait to come onto the market. Keep your fingers crossed for me...

House Hunting

Well, I received some less than happy news from my landlord at the end of last month. He decided to list the house I'd been renting. In other words, it's for sale. Between my lack of house keeping and hate for housework, and the fact that I could be homeless or scrambling for housing any time...well, I'm a bit scattered.

I'd chosen to rent a house when I got my library job because I could change my location at will, however I forgot that also meant my landlord could change my location at will too. I don't like strangers coming into my home - unless I invite them - and I don't like worrying about having to make a sudden move.

I contacted the realtor my landlord was using because I liked her. We checked into financing and low and behold, I qualified. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I'm thrilled. But I'm also now embarking on one of the scariest things I've ever done.

Yes, learning to fly a plane can get you killed if things go bad. But buying a house can get you in debt! You can end up with a money pit. In short, I'm excited and terrified all at once. I'll keep you posted on how things go.

I love Halloween!

Ghoulies and Ghosties.
Vampires and Werewolves.
Things that go bump in the night.

Oh yeah. I love 'em all. It really is a toss up which I enjoy decorating for more - Halloween or Christmas. This year I decorated the library and the book display was a celebration of horror. Horror books. Horror flicks.

Sometimes I wonder why we enjoy being scared. I think it's the adrenaline rush. It almost feels like sex. Your heart races. You sweat. Your body is tense. And you scream. A lot. Well, not everyone screams during sex, but I digress.

Fear, like sex, is exciting. Horror books and films are a safe scare, just like a roller coaster. Maybe that's the attraction of Halloween. It's a safe outlet for fear. Maybe that's why I love it. Or maybe it's just the candy. ;-)

45 and Counting...

Today I turned 45 years old. It's funny, I didn't have a mid-life crisis when I turned 40. I had fun and went about my day. This year though, I was thinking to myself, "What have I done with my life?" Needless to say, a bit depressing.

Time to break out the chocolate.



But I guess I can enumerate a lot of things I've done well. Got my BA in religion, MA in Library Science. I've learned to fly a plane (still working on that very slowly - it's an expensive hobby). I've made many good friends. I've cared for family members. I've completed one novel-length manuscript and I'm 3/4 through a second.


So I guess I've accomplished quite a few positive things. I'm 45 and I've earned every grey hair on my head and hope to gain a few more before I give up the ghost. All in all, I done good!

I Love Warriors...

I've had my nose to the grindstone for the last two months as I work feverishly to complete my manuscript, Seeking Truth. Ya know what I figured out. I love warriors. Every single hero I've ever written has been a warrior in some way, shape, or form.

What is it about warriors? Why do I love them so? Danged if I know. They are the most contrary characters I've ever written. They won't obey. Obedience is only given to the King or their immediate superior in the work environment. They don't obey me, and God knows they NEVER obey my heroines. My heroines bitch and moan at me because I write such contrary males, completely ignoring the fact that the warriors tax my patience too.

Eaduin, are you listening? Diarmid? All the rest of you guys? Yeah, I'm talking to YOU.

No, they aren't listening. They are out slaying bad guys and grinning fiercely while they do it. The worst part is...they're sexy in their disobedience. I always end up forgiving them their bad behavior. Crap that I'd never accept from a "real" man, I cherish in my warrior heroes. I must have a masochistic side.

The good news? The power of the pen (or the keyboard), and I've got it. They can torment me all they like, but the torment goes both ways. Back to the salt mines...er...the keyboard. Let's see if I can bring my hunky men to full mistiness. Mistiness is usually the best I can do because they rarely cry...they're warriors, right? We'll see about that!