We got the house!

Yesterday will be a day to remember for the rest of our lives... So much shock can only be delivered to a person before the brain gets addled and things like leaving the keys in the door and walking halfway to the car before you notice start to happen.

We got the call just late enough in the morning from Derrick, that we had figured that is was not going to be coming for several more hours. So I had traipsed off to the store with a very Dear Friend who was waiting to pick up the keys on her totally cute new house. (She'll be moving a coupe of hours away, we needed supplies for the trip and a few other things...)

She and I were standing at the counter, having just purchased our (loot) things, when The Boyfriend called.

Are you in a public place?

Yes. We're just getting ready to leave the store...

Good. Derrick called... He said that... Wah-Wa Wah-Wawa Waaaw-Wa...

(I'm not sure what Derick said. My heart started racing the second The Boyfriend uttered the words "Derrick called". All I heard in my brain was "Ohhh please...Oh please...Oh please...Oh please" like a train keeping rhythm to the blood pounding through my brain. Everything else that followed was like the teacher speaking in the old Charlie Brown comics...)

Wah- Wa Wa... counter offer, but basically it means WE GOT THE HOUSE!

(It is a good thing that I had headed out to the front of the store while The Boyfriend was telling what Derrick said because at that moment, I started jumping up and down like a Mexican Jumping Bean and screaming like a Chihuahua in a purse at the mall.)

Eeeeeeeeeeee! Really? (Reallyreallyreally?) Really? Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! WE GOT THE HOUSE!

(You should have seen the gianormous man walking into the store at just that moment jump about a foot off the floor and look at me like he had never heard a person being told that they just won the lottery or the Superbowl or gotten the house of their dreams before. He was totally startled. The old man that followed into the store right after just shook his head.)

Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Really?
Really?
Really?
Really?
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
(Hop up and down like a bunny on some really good speed.)
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ohhh!

Okay... We'll be right there! You can tell me when we get back...

(WE GOT THE HOUSE!)

Back and forth really bites...

We made the offer on the house. The Seller's Agent is assuring us that they are not playing games, but it seems like they may be. (Or rather, that the Agent may be...) Derrick advises us well, and The Boyfriend is rolling things around in his brain for the rest of the night. (Funny the word rest, there will be no rest tonight... Just stressful thoughts dancing in and out of our heads, trying to figure out the best way to achieve the goal of getting the house.)

They countered, but not yet in writing. They are still showing the house, today was a return showing, and tomorrow (we have been advised) are two more showings. Their Agent says that it was only the first day that the offer came in and that they don't want to rush... But that they are not playing games. (That phrase comes along again.) We had gotten the response from their Agent that he was unable to locate the Seller yesterday, so we have been waiting until tonight to hear back. But nothing in writing, nothing binding, nothing that would put us into the good position of *pending*...

Is it any wonder that we noticed that I am covered in hives on the right side of my body? (Though I am thinking that it may actually be a case of shingles... That has happened before in the past. Will have to try some drugs and see if it helps...) Needless to say, this is the ultimate stress. (Of course I may say this again later on down the road with the next thing, but right now, this is the ultimate.) So I am trying to remain calm and focus on that whole breathing thing. (The Boyfriend is blaring music into his ears via headset... Thank goodness for headsets...)

We call Derrick in the morning to let him know what we have decided the plan of action that best suits us will be. (Like a call to arms... How sad.)

I know that they say if something is just given to you, you don't appreciate it as much... Great, I get it. We appreciate it. Really and truly.

Hard work: Check
Drive: Check
Research: Check
Focus: Check
Gratefulness: Check
Appreciation: Check
Humility: Check
Patience: Still working on that one, not my strong suit
Compassion: Check
Fairness: Check
Love: Double check- check
Superstitious finger crossing: Super- duper, extra bold CHECK

And of course for good measure... Grrrrrr...

We changed gears faster than Flash Gordon...

So I wrote the last post... And then the phone rang. It was the Broker. Loan approved! The Realtor was there with the Broker, they are in the same building so it was an easy thing to do. Our super fantastic Realtor, Derrick Oh, said that he had already contacted the Seller's Agent and had given him a heads up on our interest in the property. He would be expecting our offer in the morning and was very excited to be working with us! We were the first call! (Can you hear the screams of excitement from here?)

At this point in the conversation I am jumping up and down and crying my eyes out because I am so happy! (You mean I get to live in the Barbie Chalet? And we get to KEEP it? All of my dreams that I thought were going to have to be placed on hold until the next home are jumping up and down in excitement...)


So then Derrick tells us that he will meet with us after we meet with the Broker tomorrow morning to draw up the papers. (Note that both the Broker and the Realtor were supposed to be going away on vacation tomorrow. I know, they are just the best! And like I have been saying for days upon days now; I LOVE Derrick!)

Then Derrick called me back to hold my hand a reassure me that we would be getting the offer in on time, that he had talked to the Seller's Agent again and that we'll be faxing it all over and that it was all good, all the way around. We went over the reports (The tests have already been done, the reports already given to us.) and are ready with a game plan.

It is everything that I spoke about with my first meeting with Derrick. (And he recalled everything that I said I was looking for.) And this home fits the original list to a tee! (And... Are you ready for this? It is not much more than the other home. Without all the downsides.)

Side note on the other home. We looked at it again. Really, really looked. And it has more problems than we originally saw. Like cracks in the pool and the addition not being on a foundation that we can see... Yeah... Still a good deal, but not as good as we thought. And headaches. Potentially big headaches. (This new home does not have that. What it has are all the permits in order, all the test done, everything sound.)

So wish us more luck, yet again. And keep those fingers just a little more crossed than before... Tomorrow morning is going to be huge!

OMG!!!

Here is a video from the latest house hunt. This is the home of my dreams... Right within reach... It all is getting down to timing... Will the Broker get back to us in time? Will the Realtor being gone on vacation over the weekend be our undoing? Will some other Buyer snap this up from under us while we are at the mercy of others? Will it be ours? Can we do it? Can we do it in time? Can The Boyfriend hold up to the compounding stress of me facing the home I thought was beyond our reach, just within our grasp? Will I go nuts? Will I take The Boyfriend with me?



And for a few stills that the video does not cover; try out this album.



It is everything that I told the Realtor that I was hoping for.

It is huge, almost 2,000 sq. ft.
It has high vaulted, open beamed ceilings in every room.
It has two skylights.
It has two fireplaces.
It has covered parking for two large vehicles that can easily become a garage.
It has a pool that is deep enough for a diving board and long enough to swim real laps in.
It has three bedrooms.
It has two bathrooms.
It has a nook in the kitchen large enough for a table and four chairs.
It has a formal living room, and a separate family room.
It has a formal dining area.
It has a formal entryway.
It has tons of windows, large ones, and sliding doors.
It has lots of natural light.
It has a large grassy yard, in the front.
It has room to plant a few fruit trees.
The streets have tons of old tall oak trees, the yards are fully landscaped.
The streets are really wide.
The area is quiet.
The street has almost no traffic on it.
The street has good freeway access.
The street has almost NO turnover rate.
It is in the best area of town. (It is the La Jolla of our new city.)

Oh...

And the reports and tests have already been done. The bits that need to be done are nothing major and would be done by the Seller. (And we would get to pick the new tile. Talk about winning!)

And the price is right. Just barely. And we have to get just one type of loan to be able to swing it. But it is. And the value is already way more than the asking price. Not to mention that I would be hard pressed to want to ever move from this house. It has all the growth we would need. We can have visitors and entertain, and have two children fit right in without batting an eye. Great schools, safe neighborhood, this place has it all.

Just cross your fingers.

(And The Boyfriend says that he wants a vacation from his vacation. I can't blame him. Not one bit. I push hard and poke the bear way too often...)

Quickie Update...

We met with the Realtor.
Went over papers.
Came up with a number.
Initialed the offer.
Sent it to the Seller's Agent.
Got a call about two hours later...

First hurdle made. The Seller accepted. Did the initialing, but forgot one page. Will send the disclosures over tomorrow.

Next hurdle: Getting the Seller's Banks to accept the offer... (That could take awhile.)

Fingers are crossed. Happy dance has been going on since 6:30... Keeping those fingers crossed. (Hopefully we'll be lounging in our very own pool this summer!)

Note to Self...

Had a great conversation with The Boyfriend this morning. Then he left for a quickie gym session. I glanced through my e-mail and clicked on a Dear Friend's profile. This song came out of my computer. I don't know what it was, didn't really get the words... But the melody touched me. I sat there on the sofa for the duration of the song, just a minute or two, and soaked it all in. And I was happy with my own company. Alone in my own space and thoughts and my own moment.

Note to Self:

Remember when the children are acting like kids, and the dog is wanting attention, and the dishes need to be washed, my Father is giving me grief for not calling enough, the man in my life is needing his best friend, my friends need their friend too, and I have dinner on the stove... It is a good thing and perfectly okay to take a moment for myself. To step away from it all and shut it all out for the duration of a good deep breath. It is the inner peace that brings me back to me and no matter how it may seem to the rest of the world, it is less selfish in the end if I have more of me to give. (And even if it is more selfish, I need to remember that I count in there too.)

It is incredible how in the space of one song, how many solid deep breaths a body can take. And how good it feels. And no matter how tight the money is, how high the stress is, or how crazy the life is; you can always afford the moment to just BE.

Yup. gotta remember that one.

Our House Update...

Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... For all the wonderful well wishes!

(If you are scratching your head at this post, take a look at the previous post.)

Loan approved. Initial offer has been phoned into the Listing Agent. We meet with our wonderful Derrick tomorrow to go over where we go from here... (It is a short sale home... We will have to run our own tests and reports and wait to see if the Seller's bank accepts our tentative offer...)

But so far, so good!

I called my brother (the general contractor, not the farmer) and asked his thoughts on the cost of redoing the sun room. There is some damage that will have to be taken care of, and only the results of the inspector's reports will let us know just how much damage there is. The upside is, that the home is such a good deal, that even if we demo the whole back and buld it from scratch, we can totally do it. (Sigh of relief from The Boyfriend, happy dance from me...)

I spent the better part of last night going over things that we now have on a (pre) list of refurbishing/ improvements to do. Trying to figure out time/ money/ value ratios. (I have said that I am a list maker as well as a lover of research.)

Here is an idea of what we have so far:

Take care of the corner of dry rot, if that is all it is, in the sun room.
OR:
Take care of the repairs of the dry rot, up to and including a total sun room re-do

Take out the glass block window in the bathroom that is partially falling out already.
AND:
Replace glass block window with a clear and frosted leaded and beveled stained glass window.

(Since it can be seen from the bathroom shower/tub and in the sun room, it need to look like it was done on purpose, not an afterthought. Talk about turning a negative into a positive though! I rocked the solution on this one if I do say so myself...)

Replace the windows and doors of the sun room with French doors.

(Rather than redoing the outside of the sun room to match the house, and putting up drywall on the inside, we'll just install the French doors. Less work and money, if you can believe it. And the view of the pool is really great and private. Oh, and it totally fits with the time frame of the house and neighborhood. Yup, it's that simple.)

Add some trellis and vine type plants along the exposed fence line.

(Since the fence and privacy walls are in really good shape, this will add to the view and keep the plants from damaging the walls. And they will be fairly easy to maintain.)

Plant a cherry tree. Somewhere. Location to be determined.

(The Boyfriend LOVES cherries and really wants a tree. Small request, top of the list really.)

Build a pseudo craftsman arbor over the small patch of grass in the back yard.

(It needs to be a slightly later style than craftsman, since the house was built in 1947, as was the neighborhood. And it is very clear that the area the home is in is focused on preservation. Since it is the only patch of grass in the back, it should be emphasized in a way that ties it into the landscaping and existing architecture. And it gives The Boyfriend a place to put up a couple of hanging chairs and/or a hammock. With a few eye bolts they can be easily changed out or completely removed. And lastly, it will help provide a tiny bit more shade. We were thinking the open kind of arbor, so the top slats don't provide much coverage without a canopy... Now there is a thought for later...)

Tile the sun room floor with reclaimed Terra Cotta and stone tiles. Place hand done mosaic in the center between the dining room and the main French doors to the back yard.

(The floor has to be re-done, so it might as well be done in a way to give us the biggest returns. And get this, the cost of the reclaimed tiles and stone pieces are not outrageously priced... Well, they are comparable to any other flooring choice we have to fit in with the house. And since I am very artistic, and will be signing up for a class to learn the specifics of laying a mosaic with The Boyfriend, we are going to do that part ourselves. Hooray for having artistic talents, patience, and an over-dose in perfectionism!)

Have a carpenter come in and match the space in the original hardwood floor where the old heating vent contraption was.
OR:
Purchase a reclaimed 18" ornate grate to place in the floor for decorative bonus while creatively solving the current dilemma.

(There is a new system already installed and now there is a gaping 18" hole in the wall at the floor, and a noticeable lack of hardwood.)

Leave the kitchen alone.

(It is perfect and there is nothing to change/ add/ or re-do. Really. Even down to the mint condition vintage Wedgewood stove and stained glass panel in the door out to the garage.)

Lay tile in the second bathroom to finish the current renovations.

(All we have to do is match the beautifully completed first bathroom.)

Add fresh neutral paint to the walls, freshen up the white of the crown molding and trim.

(Talk about a no brainer spiffer upper.)

Add crown molding to the hallway.

(I know that this may sound a little silly, but I saw it in two other homes in the same neighborhood, and it looks INCREDIBLE! It made such a huge difference that was also tastefully understated. Kind of like changing out the doorknobs. I know! Right?)

This is sort of the sad part. When you look at everything the Sellers have done to the home, and the current state of uncompleted projects, you can see that they were on the right track and just ran out of money. They tackled pretty much all of the expensive projects, the things that The Boyfriend and I are more than happy to not to need to take on, and then just could not afford to continue with the restoration and upgrades. Their sad plight of paying way too much at the height of the market, and taking on costly repairs led to their loss of the home.

I am torn in my jubilation of such a gem to (possibly, keep those fingers crossed and good vibes coming...) call our very own, and sadness at the loss of another family's hard work and dreams. So the emotions keep swinging back and forth, but for the most part, I am doing the happy dance of the century! (Good thing that the century is still young... Though this will really be difficult to top.)

Note:
The photo up at the top is a really bad show and tell of the kitchen. It was used in the listing. I'm sure the second I get a chance, I will be taken far too many photos that would do the little gem we hope to call home justice. Oh... and if the above (partial) list seems a bit daunting, please keep in mind that we are elated to be doing this. And actually are looking forward to weekends at home with our hands getting dirty. well, The Boyfriend's hands, we all know I will be using work gloves as a second skin.) And if it seems like the house is a wreck, please believe that it is far from it. I am just a perfectionist and we are looking forward to getting the biggest return on this (enormous) investment. We're just having fun stacking the deck if you will...

Waiting on Pins and Needles...

I am on pins and needles...

Being the person that I am, I research things... To death. And then I research them some more. And then I get other opinions and advice and do some more research. (So when I hear about a band that has been together 10 years, yet they are an overnight success, I totally get it.)

The Boyfriend and I have been looking for a house. (It's the next thing on his list. New job. Done. House. Engagement/ Marriage. Baby.) He decided in February, after mulling things over for a very long time, that this is his plan. And that he wanted it done and resolved by his birthday. Which was this past Sunday. (Also known as Mother's Day this year.) Not much time, I know. So I have had things in high gear.

I got a *feeling* on this great house in the Rose Garden that turned out to be not so great. But also turned out to be fantastic because I adore our Realtor, Derrick Oh. Form there I did my research, and Derrick and I spent the better part of yesterday looking at way too many homes. (When I say the better part of, I mean from 11am until 3:30 and then again from 4:30 to 5:30 with The Boyfriend along for the final viewings.) Long day, I know. Great Realtor, really great Realtor, I know.

So The Boyfriend and I slept on it. And then spoke on it. And we are going to make a tentative offer. (Pending bank approval, it's a short sale, and the test reports coming back satisfactorily.)

And I am really quite pleased. (The phrase; Pleased as Punch, comes to mind.) That easy. Excellent! Hooray for good timing and tenacity. (Especially since I am now thoroughly exhausted...) We are this much closer to getting the things in life that we desire. (And even if something happens so that this is not the house, we are still so very much closer to those things than before.)

I am now on pins and needles... Like a kid that is waiting for Christmas, and now school is out and the snow is falling and the cookies are baked and frosted... And Santa is still not here yet... Kind of like that. (Only I knew at 4 that Santa did not exist... Well that is until a couple of years ago when I met him... No really. I did. See below.)


And now it is time for The Boyfriend to bring on the money people, the test inspector people and the too many forms and numbers sign your life away people. (But he is goo with that stuff...) And then it is waiting. Until tonight to meet with the first of them. Until Monday afternoon to meet with the next... And all I keep thinking is; Let this be the right thing, and PLEASE don't let anyone else make an offer on our house.

(The one house that when I walked in the door, I just KNEW, I was HOME. The rest are okay, this was home. And yes, no matter what there are other homes in the sea... And this is only an interim home... But ohhh...)

Want a teaser? The photo at the top is from the collection of this house. Great potential right? Makes you want to come over for a swim and home cooked dinner huh? (Send the good vibes, and consider yourself invited...)

Life in the Land of Listings...

Okay... SO I had to share this little silly... It made me laugh.

While perusing the latest listings, I cam across this one:

GREAT LOCATION. CLOSE TO SANTANA ROW, VALLEY MEDICAL & 280. RARE TO FIND 2 CAR GARAGE IN THIS AREA. ADDITION WITH PERMIT. NEWER WINDOWS, WATER HEATHER , COOPER PLUMBING, KITCHEN APPLIANCES AND SPRINKLER SYSTEM. HUGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH WALK-IN CLOSET. FIREPLACE IN LIVING ROOM. EXTRA STORAGE.

Hopefully water Heather and Cooper plumbing will be able to hook up and have e good time. As we all know, a happy house makes for a happy home...

Gee... Really?

Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Lara Croft A thrill-seeking, slightly unscrupulous, tough-as-nails archaeologist, Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics perhaps better left hidden. She packs two Colt .45s and has no fear of jumping off buildings, exploring creepy tombs, or taking on evil meglomaniacs bent on world domination. Lara Croft 92% Batman, the Dark Knight 71% James Bond, Agent 007 71% Indiana Jones 63% Captain Jack Sparrow 58% El Zorro 50% Neo, the "One" 50% Maximus 46% William Wallace 42% The Amazing Spider-Man 42% The Terminator 38%

So I am officially a two-timing cheater...

Yup. You read that right. I am a cheating. On my Realtor. (And he is a fantastic Realtor... Really.)

There has been much in the way of life changes and advancements over the past week. So much so, that if it had all gone on over a month, it would still be a packed month. But here's the rundown.

I went, I saw, I picked up my jaw up off the floor from the House of *What were they Thinking?*... (Derrick, my NEW Realtor and I think that it was either an elder care facility, or a halfway house.) There were 6 bed rooms and 4 bathrooms. It had water damage, and mold, and there was no way that The Boyfriend and I could figure out how to remodel it successfully. (Even the visiting parents were stumped.) New baths all the way around, new kitchen, new laundry room, new plaster walls, and that was just to make it livable. (Assuming that there was no termite damage/lead paint/ asbestos/ black mold/ roof damage/ foundation cracks, plumbing, and electrical trouble.)

All in all, it was just too much to take on. Even for the to die for neighborhood it was in. (And really, I have not seen a better neighborhood anywhere. If you are in the Bay Area, then you just might be familiar with the historic Rose Garden District. Yeah... It was that great, but not...)

The good part was, I found a Realtor that I fell in love with. His name is Derrick. And Derrick is Fabulous with a capitol F. He gets me, and thinks my insane lists and desires are great. He loves my energy and is a great balance for The Boyfriend and I. (He used to do the high powered computer world thing, but retired to real estate about 10 years ago. So he gets the commute thing for The Boyfriend.) He also grew up in the Bay Area, in an EICHLER!! So he knows all about them, is familiar with the areas that we are focused on, and could even be our (sort of) neighbor. Oh, and he used to do the loan approval thing when he first got into real estate, so he is familiar with all the tips and tricks and still has great connections. (He has The Boyfriend hopping through this part already.) Yup. We both love Derrick. (Did I mention that he is highly responsive to e-mails and calls? Yup, I love Derrick, he can handle my three messages a day, and still find 5 listing that I did not have on my current list of over 70...)

I'll speak on the parents visit in the next Blog, else the update will go on forever... But they came, they visited, they ate The Boyfriend's birthday cake, they left for home happy. It was good.

They also spent an afternoon touring around a few neighborhoods on our list. (Makes it easier to tell them about the homes we are viewing if they have seen the areas and types of homes in them. Especially since both San Diego and the Oregon Valley don't really have neighborhoods like these.) This is where the cheating comes in. (I know, and I was just starting out with a Realtor... It's not that I am fickle, it's just that it takes a whole heck of a lot to get me to commit exclusivity...)

We paused to tour a grand home, waaay out of our price range. The Realtor, Louise. (The Boyfriend calls her *The Bulldog Woman*.) She is the super salesperson. The one you bring in to close a deal. The Boyfriend and I met a few of those when we took a tour of a timeshare on Hawaii's Big Island this past February. She asked me a few questions, ran right over my answers, and whipped out her trusty compilation of listings for the totally shi-shi neighborhood of Willow Glen. She wanted to show us a home that had too few bedrooms at too high a price. I finally got her to show us a home that might work. (Turns out that it was practically perfect, just out of our price range when we re-looked at what we could realistically afford. Seriously a bummer.)

She has been rather aggressive in being determined to find us a home in the shi-shi area that are all she handles... So I figured I would let her. Who knows what she might find... And now that she and I have spoken about the house we viewed, she knows what it is that we like. Now I just need to convince her that our new limit really is our limit. (It is sort of reminding me of the book; If you give a Mouse a Cookie... But I am sure I can handle it.)

So the plan is to let her run with the shi-shi rope and see what the trolling brings in... And keep Derrick for everything else. Everything else is where I am all but positive we will find the home we will purchase. (But with such a huge commitment, and such a great expense, I feel it is okay to keep a few options open just in case. And I have never told Derrick that he was the only one. Gosh, now here come the excuses, right?)

The Boyfriend is actually looking forward to landscaping and gardening... And I have a few marbles stashed away in my purse... (Thanks El...) So please wish me a pretty new home that has architectural character and a close commute time. And if you really feel the wishing juices churning, wish me closets and storage space... Even though we are planning on only two children, there are many grandparents to spoil them, and many cousins to come and stay for long visits. (And of course, you all can come and visit too!)

I am looking forward to unpacking all of my beautiful dishes and having dinner parties, bar-be-ques, and brunches... I love to entertain and will be so happy when I am finally in a place to have everyone over like I used to. Movie parties, craft and sewing parties, and if I am really lucky, perhaps even a pool party... Who know what we'll end up with. (Just know that for friends and family, the door is open...)

I am set to view some homes again on Friday. (And since this is more like a marathon...) Let the games begin!

PS. If you happen to be in the South Bay/ San Jose area, and are looking for the best Realtor, contact mine. (And with no fewer than 9 Realtors in my family, I know a good one in an instant.) Shameless plug for Derrick Oh... (Just please don't buy my house... Okay? Thanks!)

Derrick Oh
Coldwell Banker
P: 408 445-7128
F: 408 723-1950
www.DerrickOh.com


Update:

I cannot be a cheater any more. Luscious is right, a good Realtor is way too fantastic, and Derrick is just that. (He gets me, he really gets me...) And since I have been going around for the past day and a half saying that *I just LOVE Derrick... I love Derick*... I am done with the rest.

There really is just nothing else that she could bring to the table that he could not, or would not... (Except for perhaps her pushy hard sell, and that is just not my style...)

Even The Boyfriend agrees, Derrick is EXCELLENT... (But really, please don't buy our house, thanks.)

I have a Meez...

Looking at a Home...

I am on my way to meet with a Realtor to see a 1920's house. 6 bedroom/ 4 bath, 3236sft. The listing says it needs a little TLC. But We shall see.

"Truly a unique Property, Charming & Spacious, Investors Dream, 6 Bedroom Plus 2nd story Master Suite w/Fireplace, 4 1/2 Bath. Huge step down Family room with adjacent Wet Bar. Needs TLC! Needs some WK. GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD! Priced to Sell, Must see!"

I am trying not to get too excited about it. (But wish me luck just in case!)

In other news, I am now officially ready for the immanent arrival of The Boyfriend's parents. Spring cleaning is done. Now all there is to do is wait.

Another Day of Peeing on the Stick...

After 10 days, the little stick is finally starting to get a little darker with that second line. Whew! And I was beginning to hold my breath that it was not ever going to change...

Things are still on schedule then... Even though my eagerness and anticipation were getting the better of me... Okay, perhaps they still are... But I'd really like an Aquarius...

Of course The Boyfriend's Mother as set a gremlin loose in my ovulation gears... (You see, I am supposed to be in high fertility this weekend. The weekend of The Boyfriend's birthday. The weekend of Mother's Day. The weekend that we have a home full of visiting parents...) I had it all worked out that we would send them out for morning coffee at the nearby Starbucks... Just like the last visit... But The Boyfriend's Mother is bring a French press so that they won't have to leave at all... (Do you hear the screaming of my ovaries?)

And my body is once again being weird... (How I miss the pill... Weight control, hormone control, predictability...) My face is a mix of fine lines and acne. (Is this some sort of sick joke from nature? Should I have one or the other? Why is it that I have both? Lines are for the old... Bumps are for the young... Grrr...) My glands are swollen and my neck is sore... Like I slept funny, but not quite... And then there is the sharp pain sort of near my abdomen... Like where I used to get menstrual cramps, but higher... Yup... Temperature a tad higher than normal... Sounds like my body might have figured out this whole ovulation thing after all.

Let's just keep our fingers crossed that the woman who is the first one up and the last one to bed feels the need to go out for a nice walk... (I know... Why not just have sex on the floor as far away from the shared wall as quietly as possible like every other time? Ah... But we are forgetting the added bonus of me hanging out with my pelvis in the air for 20-30 minutes to help the little swimmers along on their journey... Yeah... Not really a great plan...)