Vacation: Day 1 - Ski Trip

This trip could have gone very wrong. We were given a hotel room recommendation from one of Rick's co-worker - "The Lodge". Upon arrival we discovered there is no way, not even an ounce that we could have stayed there. The heating source was a space heater, pedestal sink located in the bedroom instead of the bathroom, full bed and no internet. Now I could have probably gotten beyond all of those things but the bathroom was the straw that broke the camel's back. Vinyl floor raised, warped and worn and the shower stall...yep, stall it did for us checking in. Moldy, rusty, caulk peeling off and disgusting.

Rick being the stand-up guy he is walked me out to the truck to save me the embarassment of returning the key and walked in to do it himself. The hotel owner stated that there was no other hotels that accepted dogs. Well, we drove down the strip and stopped at the first hotel. Right on the glass entry doors SORRY NO PETS. Rick went in anyways to see if she knew of anywhere that did allow a cute little chi-chi and walked out with a key and a discounted room rate (normally $79.99 and we got for $62. only $12. more than the dump...er....lodge). We got a lakeside view with a walkout room to a private patio. Rock it Rick!!

View from our hotel patio of frozen Houghton Lake

After sleeping in and eating a free breakfast (the lodge didn't have that either so technically we are even) we headed out for the Cross Country Ski headquarters to find the best groomed trails. We spent a few hours on the trails and had a great time. I really, really, really, love cc skiing even more on groomed trails with these great little tracks you fit your skiis in. It's almost like being on auto-pilot or like driving those cars on rails at Cedar Point. I still fell but only a few times. What I love most is going down hill. Since falling on my bike speedy down a hill I have been pretty much scared of any hills and always feel like I am out of control and don't enjoy the speed. So these little tracks made me love it. I can glide, glide, glide without losing control of my balance and not being terrified of the speed.

After skiing we went in to the lodge to warm up, had hot cocoa, played uno and ate lunch. After having a nice nap we finished the night with a great and amazingly inexpensive dinner at a local ma and pop restuarant and watching movies. Now that's a great vacation.

I'm free, free, free at last..

Next post from me will be able my time away.....on VACATION!! Holy cow! A trip planned without worrying about losing vacation days, or how about just planned.

Can't wait!

What The F*#%!!

Insomnia...
Wikipedia defines it as a symptom of a sleeping disorder charactierized by persistent difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity.

Alright...knew that. Now what? Why does this happen. The only week of the month that I don't have a problem sleeping is when I have blood loss. Hmmm...after reading that it sounds really gross but whateva. It's true. All the other weeks I will have no problem falling asleep but up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep or sleep hard for 4 consectutive hours but take 3 to even get there. Last week I had one day that I slept 6 hours straight, partly because Rick got up with SweetPea and I took 2 Tylenol PM. However, I nearly skipped into work because the feeling of restful sleep is pretty much foreign to me. (ps. Coworkers l-o-v-e when I get a restful night of sleep. I must be a crab most days or it's written all over my face or something. Really, it's an illness so shut up to those that can sleep.)

I already had my day this week so now what? Do I only get one? It should be the other way around. I should only be able to not sleep 1 -2 days a week.

I'm sure it's because my bed is cold with my Ricky being out of town right now and the temps are in the negative at night. Cold = no sleep apparently. I mean SweetPea is warm but there is a serious size variance for it to be enough. Really she could be a Saint Bernard and it still wouldn't be enough.

Laziness...
The lack of desire to expend energy.

I used to love, yep, LOVE, YES LOVE (it needs extra emphasis) the days I couldn't sleep and would get up to finish a novel that night or clean the house from top to bottom and spit shine all our shoes and bake a cake and whitwash the house. Can you imagine what you can do with an extra 3-4 hours a day? Well, I had those AND used them. Sadly I haven't had one of those lack-of-sleep-be-productive-instead days. I ever sadly borrowed a book for *gasp* nearly six months before returning because instead I would watch Cheaters or Blind Date or some other trashy show on tv instead. Why? I think it's because it didn't require thought or concentration of any kind.

So, back to my question, now what? I'm tired and it's 6am. I'm staying up and working on chores I should have did yesterday when I had more time or this morning at 3:30am when I got up p*ss*d I couldn't sleep.

Moral: No more laziness with insomnia because it just adds aggravation. Time to clean floors.

It's The Little Things...

This one is for my Stephie....you're right!! It's the little things that make us smile each day. Here is a few things that made me smile.

Hmmm...So that is where all my socks are going?

Twice the productivity OR liability? Your call!

Can't decide? Try the mini cocktail sampler.

Brrrr....No wonder my Volvo bit it.

It's January? Are You Sure?

The only cue I have that it's January is the frigid cold that has been consistently taunting us each miserable day. I don't remember recent years being this cold. Of course, I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday either.

Work-wise, it's busy. I don't know if it is because Obama has taken office and motivate people that change is truly on its way or if somehow this cold has frozen the notion in buyers and sellers mind that now is the reason to handle their real estate needs. Whatever the case may be, I'm happy but also worried. Part of my concern is all about M-E. It's January. First month of the first quarter. Right after the busiest and most stressful holiday of the year. In some of the coldest temperatures that I can remember. AND I can't keep up. January has always been project month catch up for me. Not in 2009. I'm not complaining, well, at least not totally. It's great to be this busy but in the back of my mind it makes my head spin and panic that my vegetable garden is going to be neglected again (2008 was not a good year for anything other than my peppers. This year I vowed to "Plant A Row" for Food Gatherers so I may be calling out for help).

The other concern I have is that my 2 additional job functions that were suppose to be "no big deal" and taken on to help clients ride out the wave have taken over....literally - time, effort, energy and more. Rentals are insane and Short Sales are increasing. These were options that were not even in my vocabulary 4 years ago and still rare for us agents to assist in even 2 years ago and now they have become my life. You might remember by lovely California seminar getting certified as a "Distressed Property Expert". This month I will have successfully rented potentially 4-5 properties.This week alone I went from 4 Short Sales on file to 9 total and 3 appts. scheduled for consultation. After a long challenge and much practice I have become better at compartmentalizing what is happening in the economy. I refuse to watch the news (Rick has my personal parameters of what he can relay - all else I don't need to know and Martin will of course tell me what I'm required to know real estate-wise) and only read the required work reading, not one page more. 2008 has broken my protective shell....my dad lost his job after the company he devoted 23 years to shipped their plant to Mexico and my brother was forced into foreclosure after his ex-wife screwed him (or not screwed him, however you look at it) and the bank wouldn't work with him until it was too late. Just recently I have had a great friend get a surprise phone call. I have been panicking personally on how I can change the world and decided it's one step at a time, one client's needs at a time and do the best job I can do everyday. I also have made a personal vow to continue growing my relationship with my family and make sure my friends know how much I love them and be "present" when I'm with them instead of getting sucked back into work when I'm away. I still plan on volunteering (don't worry Rach.) but I think instead of just planting flowers I will become more commitment to a cause to help others in similiar positions as what my peeps have gone through. Today I was copied on an email to my broker from a future client that shared her renewed hope after meeting with me so I must be on the right track.

SO -
One client, one day at a time and the best job I can possibly do.
Love my family and friends so they know it with no questions asked.

Motto - Doin' fine in 2009....