Success

Inspirational song: Red Skies (The Fixx)

Fires on the western side of the divide, near and far, are kicking up a nearly impenetrable haze on our side of the mountains. We had to go to Boulder to do a final walk-through after we lost our renter in the condo, and the whole way there I watched the red haze above the Flatirons. Destruction miles away gives us peaceful, pretty sunsets. It hardly seems fair to appreciate the colors.

Today was a long, long day. I wore myself out three times over. I spent long hours moving furniture around in the living room, cleaning as I went, in order to roll over the heavy Chinese wool rug to put a thicker, bigger pad under it. I had to sit and rest every few minutes, after every heavy chair moved, after three or four trips to the recycling bin, after each of many passes over the top with the vacuum. The hardest parts were moving my Flexsteel rocking chair that sits on a steel ring instead of the usual parallel base, and lifting and rolling the rug longways in half to put the pad under it bits at a time. The saddest part was moving the side table that Rabbit used to hide under, that hadn't been moved since she died, and finding the carpet covered in white fur. The room is mostly reassembled, but there is still difficult stuff left to do, namely clean the clutter off the piano and find a place to put it.

All of this was to keep me busy so my mind didn't eat me alive while I waited all day to hear back on the offer I submitted yesterday. Just as my clients and I were getting pissy and morose, convinced that we were out of luck again, I got a text. The seller's agent countered with two ridiculously minor demands: that all deadlines in the contract be set at 5pm, and that we agree to do the closing at their Denver office. We looked the counter over again and again. This was it? All they were stipulating? So my guys signed and it's done! The townhouse they fell in love with is on the way to becoming their home. We knew the moment we walked in it that it was perfect. I knew I would move heaven and earth to get it for them. And I have great confidence I will get exactly what I asked for: the chance to have coffee on their adorable patio, next to their little fishpond. (Now I just have to convince them to put fish in it.)

How About This One?

Inspirational song: Back In the Saddle (Aerosmith)

Maybe things happen for a reason. If the offer we submitted this afternoon gets accepted, then I will consider last week's stress and failure to be merely a learning process and good practice. My client and I went to a townhouse today that was 40 years younger than the first house, 400-600 square feet bigger (I would need to check), and 2000 cheaper on the asking price. All of this would be accompanied by a choir of angels, except that it is far away from here and has a heckin' big HOA. I would like these guys to be in my neighborhood, but if they get this house, I will celebrate with them, no reservations. 

After all that time too sick to work, and then months of feeling okay but completely without mojo, I can't be mad that last week was a huge sink-or-swim whirl. I needed a jolt to get me back on my game. So when we toured the perfect townhouse this morning, and proceeded to sit in front of the second house, on the phone with client's banker to start the ball rolling on an offer, I was well-primed to move fast. No feelings of self doubt. As soon as I was back at the house, I was on the phone, starting to deal. Within two and a half hours, a strong, clean, full-price offer was in. This time I received the courtesy of a response acknowledging the offer. Too bad I can't drown my stress in booze, chocolate, or popcorn while I wait for a response. Stupid diet.

So far all of this sounds positive. Not everything is. They had another offer on the table, with a deadline of 5pm tonight. My deadline is 5pm tomorrow. I have emotions about this. I have been the one scooped at the last minute by a higher offer when I was just sure we had a winner. That first year of being an agent was rough that way. I know how horrible my other clients and I felt when that happened. If I do that to someone else, I will feel guilt. But the joy of getting these people I care about this particular home would take care of that.

Schedules

Inspirational song: Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

Nearly four weeks into the "adrenal support" phase of this restrictive diet, and six weeks in overall, I'm really suffering for lack of coffee and dairy. Every time I walk past our coffee bar area, I can smell it, and I curse and moan. I want to eat cheese so badly that life feels like punishment. I keep making plans for all the cheese and butter I'm going to consume once I can switch to plain old keto from this autoimmune torture. I'm supposed to give up eggs, nightshades, nuts, and seeds next, and stay off them for six to twelve weeks. Are they serious? Right when my tomatoes will finally ripen? I may die.

Oddly, giving up sugar hasn't bothered me once.

The kids came over, to my surprise. Apparently right as they started their walk with the baby, the Mr called and asked for some help and leverage putting his truck together for the rally coming up this weekend. I held Dino some, and her mama and I chatted and played with her as she let us. It wasn't until almost nine pm that we realized none of us had eaten, and I had to think quickly. I had been thawing ground beef, and I used a vegetable peeler to shave strips of zucchini from the garden (reluctantly eating the one that looked like a swan), to make noodles. I used spaghetti sauce from a jar, so I got a little sugar, but my real sin was throwing in the towel on cheese. I mounded a huge handful of mozzarella on my dinner. I couldn't help it.

The adrenal phase doesn't seem to have changed me a whole lot, with one big exception. I have gotten accustomed to going to bed much earlier (almost always before midnight) and falling asleep faster (under an hour). So when the kids were here until past eleven, I started dragging. I drove them home (they had walked with the stroller), and now I feel like I have to dive headfirst into bed to keep up my routine. It's weird having this sort of discipline. I hope it lasts.

Face

Inspirational song: Poker Face (Lady Gaga)

Just because the first house we bid on went for stupid amounts over list price ($33k over), doesn't mean my clients and I are quitting the game. Today we viewed a condo that was updated nicely (and recently), but the outside was underwhelming. At least it was to me, and I was notified that I couldn't keep my opinions off my face. I had tried to be open when my client really wanted to see it, but I don't want to see them there. I just know they could find something better. All the same, I will go with what it is they choose, and I'll do my best to land the place they want. I just might make stink-face a little when I do. Apparently I can't help it.

I had a few minutes with the baby today. No new tricks to speak of. She's just getting better at the ones she knows, like being fascinated by her own toes and smiling radiantly at her family. I'm fine with these skills for now. There will be new things later.

And every time I see her, I beg her to keep her hair as red as it is trying to come in. Holy moly, I want that baby to be a redhead.

Looking Back

Inspirational song: Hair of the Dog (Nazareth)

It's a little difficult to come back to present day, long enough to write. I have spent at least eight hours so far marathoning a British archaeology show called Absolute History, carrying it around on my iPad while I cooked and cleaned the kitchen, while I soaked in the bath, and gave myself a pedicure. Now it's on the TV, and I'm still not sick of it. This season I'm watching is set on an Edwardian farm on the border between Devon and Cornwall, and it is the absolute best thing ever. Although it shows a lot of really cool methods of doing things, so far I have survived the day without thinking I needed to try to recreate their attempts. This is progress. Growth as an adult. I'm rather proud of my restraint.

I tell you, watching how hard they had to work to keep their houses clean, their animals healthy, their household fed, and to acquire the slightest little luxuries makes me feel quite spoiled. It doesn't mean I'll give up my Instant Pot or filtered water or electric adjustable-base, memory foam bed. Definitely not giving up my heated shower and indoor plumbing. But it is still interesting to watch these charming people survive a whole year living rough like it was 1910, as just a few mechanized inventions altered their landscape.

Things are quiet here tonight. The Mr and the pups are up the mountain, living almost as rough as the folks on my TV. It's just me and the cats and two sets of fish to care for (our goldfish pond and T's aquarium). I got the rest day that I needed after yesterday. I guess that means I'll have to make myself useful tomorrow. I'll worry about that when the time comes.

Firsts

Inspirational song: Baby Mine (Dumbo)

There was a double helping of baby cuddles for today. We went over early to babysit in the morning, and stayed for a late lunch that I made (and which threw off the Mr's afternoon plan schedule). Then this evening, after Mr S-P spent the rest of the day working on his truck project, the kids came over to help him lift a topper onto the 4runner, while I held baby again.

It all took much longer than we expected it to, and I had Dino in with me watching Disney plus again. My daughter had said over lunch that she wanted to be present the first time Dino watched Dumbo. She has a special fondness for that from her own toddlerhood, and wanted to share it with her baby. Since it took a long time to get the truck ready for the lift, we were able to get through all of Dumbo, with just a few pauses. As I predicted, having heard songs from the soundtrack played over and over on streaming apps, when the movie started, Dino was quite interested. Even during a diaper change, she kept her attention on the television. I expect to hear that movie playing often over the next five or six years, just as I did in the 90s, with her mother.

And I haven't looked up when it is supposed to be a skill level earned, but when she got put onto the floor, tummy side down, I said, "I wonder when she will be able to roll over from there." Less than five seconds later, she had pushed herself over to lie face up, and do a little happy dance. I guess that answered my question. Still not sure when she learns to go the other, harder way.

When You're Not, You're Not

Inspirational song: Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees)

It's not the outcome I wanted, but it's the one I expected. My clients and I did not get the contract. And unless something significant changes by noon tomorrow, we also didn't get put in the backup position. I won't pretend not to be disappointed. I am. This was the ideal place for these clients. But I am a little torn. If there was such interest in this house that our bid $10,500 over asking price didn't even qualify us for an emailed response, there are positive repercussions for my own personal finances. The house is in my neighborhood, and is smaller than mine. I feel like it helps boost my home value. Still, I wish we could have landed it. 

We aren't giving up after one try. This was their first attempt, ever. They are prepared to soldier on. I saw a coming-soon listing about a half mile away, that should be active next Friday. Any number of new properties can come on the market between now and then too. 

There was a ton of turnover in this neighborhood last year and the first half of this one. I believe there will be another chance to get these clients I really like to move into a neighborhood we both want them to live in. And now they have practice getting an offer prepared under a tight deadline. We'll get 'em next time.