A Skip and a Miss

 In the oldern days, one bought a typewriter and that was the end of it. Now, in the technological age, one buys a computer and ends up paying more and more for "fix its" every time the world goes 'round.

Yes, your girl missed a blog yesterday--her computer went south and she was too tired from house-hunting to do anything more than turn on the TV and run up and down the stations, but today, she enlisted the assistance of Neighbor Michael who waved his magic wand and got the modem--ergo, the computer-- working again. 

Afterwards, she had a nice long visit with Michael, about her life, his life, and changes in the neighborhood. She'll miss him and his wife, Kathy. 

Later in the afternoon, Fiorella called Friend Mickey, who lives down the street, to see what was happening because she and her husband had a FOR SALE out in front of their house too. As it turns out, their house attracted even more bids than Fio's did. Wow--Fio lives/lived in a hot part of town!

Your girl will be out house-hunting with Son L again tomorrow, and she has to decide on a place fast, fast, fast.  Otherwise, she'll have to pay for extra lodging in her own (former) house.

Overlaoded Again!

 Another busy day for your girl. Son L picked her up this morning and, after finding a pair of her old eyeglasses that she could still use, they set off to check out a couple of houses, picking up Son's Wife along the way. Their their first stop was at an overpriced house with gaudy furnishings and not much of a yard--a clear loser.

The second stop was pretty much a winner, although Fio is still holding out. Sure, it has the four bedrooms and the private bath your girl wants, sure, the furnishing were in better taste than the first house, and sure, the place was just two years old, but the neighborhood pool was right behind it, the yard was not as big as Fio would have liked, and.....it had no "presence," an item that Fiorella didn't realize was important to her until she recognized the lack of it.

Son and his wife were in love with the house and made many convincing arguments, but Fiorella, the stubborn debater, maintained her position and everything came to a standstill until Son had the good sense to contact our realtor, who explained that buyers would have five days in which to submit their bids, and  the highest bidder would be the winner...or something like that. It sound sort of barbaric, but, hey, that's how Fio's house sold!

Speaking of Fiorella's house, her bank is now asking for all kinds of information regarding its sale that your girl is going to have to contact her tax accountant for. And, as you will remember, Fio also has to iron out the problem with the Colorado ranch.

On the other hand, in between trips today, your girl had a wonderful time getting acquainted with her darling granddaughter, who sang songs to her and taught her how to use a play kitchen properly💛

 

This Is It for Today

 Today's the day, the day that Fiorella sells her beloved house, but there is no other choice. Three thousand square feet is too big for her to maintain, and five-plus acres is too lonely.  Besides, she wants to see her one and only grandchild more than a couple of times a year. 

It's been hard to undress the house Fio herself designed sixteen years ago, to roll up the oriental carpets, empty the plenteous bookshelves, take down her paintings, pack up her literary efforts, store or toss her memorabilia, and strip the place of more furniture, day by day. 

To strip the place bare of herself.

Will the new occupants value the rocks and the trees like Fiorella has? Will they respect the land and recognize the beauty of wilderness? Will they enjoy Fio's touches and even improve on them? Who knows?

Fiorella holds every one of the houses she has lived in close to her heart, starting with Stetler Avenue and followed by Proctor Avenue, two college dorm rooms, East Thirtieth, the house on the bend, North Oaks, Quail Creek, and Lost River. And now, she is moving on again. Pray for her.

A Very Busy Day

Fiorella got all four newspaper anagrams in the shortest time ever. Hoping that means all will go well with the prospective buyers' walk-through this afternoon. Have hired Raquel to help with a last clean-up.

Cannot believe that so much is falling on your girl's shoulders at the same time. Not only is she having to navigate the intricate ceremonies of the house-sale, but she's has to figure out what's going on with family land in Colorado.  HOW MANY DANG LAWYERS WILL SHE HAVE TO FEED THIS TIME?

Speaking of the house sale, Fio's realtor emailed her this morning to look under her door mat for a one-dollar bill from the prospective buyers' realtor. Your girl followed instructions and, lo and behold, there, under the mat wet from the overnight sprinkle, was an envelope containing a one-dollar bill. Fiorella is hoping an explanation will follow, but it better not have anything to do with the metal roof hoax that SafeCo stopped dead in it's tracks. 

WHAT A DAY! Fiorella was really glad she had hired Raquel because there was just too much for your girl to take care of herself. As it turned out, she and Fio finished up just as the buyers pulled into the driveway. Of course, there was a melee of Fio saying good-bye to Raquel, then luring Sonia Dog outside, then gathering everything she needed to entertain herself for an hour-and-a-half in her car. Her first stop, of course, was to raid Walgreen's for Valentine candy, but then she tracked down Liberty Title, where she is scheduled to sign all the papers tomorrow.

Husband would have handled everything so much better, just like he would have known how to deal with the insurance stuff and the investments. Fiorella, on the other hand, has to depend on her kids and the kindness of strangers.

 

 

 

 

 

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Continued from Yesterday

 As it turned out, yesterday's television drama wasn't Fiorella's fault after all, although its interpretation was. As she's explained before, it takes two remotes for her open up the den screen, a long black one and a fat white one. Somewhere along she line, Fio had discovered a second fatty, but after a few tries, tossed it aside, figuring it was for the small screen in the guest room. You can guess what happened next--your girl accidentally picked up the wrong remote and delivered herself unto television hell.

HELP! Fiorella wants her FB Decade Book before it closes down on me, but is too computer ignorant to claim it. Friends or relatives, please come to your girl's rescue! 

Congratulate Fio--she's finished packing all of her mother's Haviland china. All it took was two and a half days of working like a dog. Now to get the house ready for the last run-through by the potential buyers. Hoping nothing goes wrong because your girl really needs to get some rest.

Fiorella may have finished off the china, but she screwd up her computer again. Daughter saved the day by suggesting Mom check out the modem. BINGO!

What should your girl do during the prospective buyers' one-hour solo stroll around the house and grounds? Load up on chocolate in Walgreens? Drive around downtown Georgetown and try to locate the title company she has to report to the next day? Maybe both?

 

 

Better Late than Never

 Fiorella is running late today, and you probably won't be reading this post till tomorrow because she spent the morning preparing the house for its new occupents and the afternoon and evening preparing to  move out, to be capped in the evening when her TV abruptly clicked off before she could learn who the killer was in the Midsomer Mystery she was watching as she wrapped her mother's china for transport. 

Your girl played around with the TV controls a little herself, then contacted Son L, but the TV held its ground so Fio will enlist Neighbor Michael's help tomorrow--if he is available. Of course, it may be that the sixteen-year-old SamSung has run its course. 

Fiorella feels odd walking around without a DUMP TRUMP button attached to her shirt so she's trying to come up with a button more suitable to the new regime. Will keep you informed.

 

 

Fiorella and the Haviland

 Help! Fio is being held captive by her great-grandmother's Haviland china. Well, it's actually a gatheribg of Fiorella's great-grandmother's Haviland and Husband's grandmother's Haviland. Your girl has been packing it away for two days now and there are probably two more days to go. Whew!

Speaking of the Haviland, it looks like Fio is going to have to drop by Home Depot again to pick up more envelopes and boxes. Thank goodness there hasn't been a newspaper shortage in these parts because they are what your girl is using for wrapping and stuffing. Well, bubble-wrap has also played a vital role.

Whew...am just now taking a breath. China packing is both tense and tedious--tense because Fio is so afraid of dropping something, and tedious because one has to use so many layers of wraps. By the way, she's run out of those envelope things and is now using Scotch Tape. 

Fiorella is so angry with herself. Despite trying to be very, very careful about packing, she knocked a chip out of the one-of-a-kind piece she was trying to trying to fit into a box that apparently was too full already. 

Ah, well, tomorrow is another day, but it's also the day your girl must finish off the Haviland. Please pray for her.