Shalee’s Diner

Hello. My name is Shalee. I used to be a blogger, but of late, I’m more of a chair holder-downer – at work.  It’s so busy and chaotic that I can’t steal a few minutes away to post.

I want a new role in life.  This one not only isn’t thrilling, it’s a pain in the butt… literally.  I think I can see my tush expanding to fit my work chair.  Ugh.

So here’s the ever- so-quick-but-I-should-be-good-and-write-a-real-honest-to-goodness-post:

The entire family took advantage of a long, 5-day weekend and went down to Kansas so that we could pack up the things that the movers won’t take – like Mr. Right’s comic books and some of his artwork from his earlier life.  A huge blessing was that Mr. Right’s parents met us in Des Moines for dinner and to let us trade vehicles so that we wouldn’t have to rent a truck to move our things.

By the way, I’m still sorry I threw that fit on the phone, parents-in-awes.  Who knew that the Garmin would lead us across the scarier parts of town only to tell us that we had arrived at the destination… which, according to Garmin, should have been in the middle of a river.  Stupid Garmin!  I’m just glad the waitress beside you knew how to get us on the right track!

We arrived after a long, late drive to find ourselves at our friends’ house.  These friends are the ones whose kids are best friends with our kids.  Needless to say, we had no problem convincing the kids to stay at our friends’ house so that we could get the work done.

When we got to our house, we were shocked to see how amazingly good it looked.  One thing I know for sure is that when we purchase our next house, I’m hiring a stager to come and set it up!  It was so enticing that Mr. Right walked through it and said, “I love it.  Let’s buy this house!”  Silly man.  But I’m serious about the stager idea…

Then we found that there was less to do than we remembered.  We packed up the van, emptied the gas from the lawn mower and the snow blower and packed some “combustables” that the movers told us to take – like our propane tank and some spray bottles under pressure.  All in all, it only took us about 2 hours from start to finish.

So we did what anyone else would do in our position.  We had a date!  I can’t tell you how long it’s been since Mr. Right and I had alone time!  We ate at our favorite Chinese restaurant, and then we went back home to take a nap.  Well I didn’t sleep, but it felt good to relax.  After that, we headed to Half Price Bookstore where I scored a hardback of Water for Elephants.  I only buy hardbacks in books I really love, and I have been searching for this one for some time now!

That evening, we had an adult evening plan.  We met with friends for dinner.  Friends!  Oh how I’ve missed conversing with adults who know us!  Jenni and Todd, Jenny and Susan – thank you so much for sharing yourselves with us for a few hours!

After dinner, Mr. Right was invited to a “guys only” night.  So I hung out for an hour while he hit the pool tables and enjoyed a beer with friends.  After an hour, I went to collect him only to be invited to play a game.  I wound up playing in three.  Who says a girl can’t play pool?!  I even won a game, even if my ball didn’t go in the pocket for which I was aiming…  Dumb luck but I’ll take it.  :)

Since we were done with the house earlier than anticipated, we totally lazed our Saturday away.  I read a book, took a nap and talked with our good friends.  Mr. Right took a LONG nap, gamed with his friend and basically enjoyed extra day that didn’t have any expectations.

Valentine’s Day was a non-event because… well, we drove all day and basically it was forgotten with all the excitement.  Oh well.  I know he loves me!

We met with our realtor (who works for Keller Williams, Lynnette – sorry I took so long to answer that question!).  He talked us through the final details that the buyers were demanding.  I just wish that these buyers have to sell their house one day and have to endure the same kind of demands that they’ve put on us.  All I can say is thank you God for giving us a relocation package that covered most of the costs!  As it is, we will be only a few thousand of our money when it’s all said and done.  Not bad in this economy and market.  AND we won’t have to pay a mortgage payment next month.  :)

It got to the point where the buyers demanded $600 for some driveway work.  I really wouldn’t mind it so much except that I know for a fact that the mudjacking they want won’t work because I’ve already had professionals look at it and they would have done it i they could.  They indicated that though they would love to take my money, the slab was too broken for mudjacking to work.  Mr. Right looked at me and said, “Sha, let’s pay it and be done with it.  Who cares if it won’t work?  That’s their problem.”  He was right… as usual.

So since they agreed to our counter resolution for work to be done and we’ve both signed it, it appears that we are PENDING!  Woo hoo!  It feels really inspiring to see how God took our tough situation and made an easy fix for it.  Easy because we’re not out that much and we only waited less than 2 months to have it sell.  Now that ‘s a blessing indeed!

I’m still keeping my head above water at work.  Things are slowly but surely settling into place.  I still worry now and then about being able to handle it all, but I’m sure that God will see me through to a nice comfortable fit.  I still love my boss and I have a feeling that he’s glad that I’m there too.

Hope all is well with you.  Give me a shout out to tell me something fun in your life.  I really can’t wait to hear some news that doesn’t concern m