Nya, nya, nya, nya, nya, nya!

If you've been following along with us, you know that there's been a complaint filed against us with the city. Well, today, the inspector called and, as it turns out...our addition is NOT UNPERMITTED! Turns out, there IS a permit on file with the city for our addition. Oh, and there is not an un-permitted  ramp (there's no ramp!)...and, we're not the only ones on the block funneling rain water off of our roof/yard into the alley. Thank goodness! So, long story-short...we've not done anything wrong!

Can you imagine anyone being so petty and passive-aggressive to want to block a house from selling that they would file a grievance with the city so that said persons could not sell and move away?!? 

You know what? I'm gonna go get another martini!

It's May Day!

 It's May Day! May 1, 2021.  So, the house is still on the market. We've been shown more love by neighbors than I could possibly believe. 

So, let's get real here. We had a truly viable offer. Donaleen screwed us over. Her "there are drainage issues with this property" (not so!); "property line disputes" (only with her - we never argued over the property lines!) killed a truly good offer: young family with two kids who would have loved living here. Charlie went over and told Donaleen and John that if they really wanted us to leave, to not say anything to anyone. Donaleen's response was, "I don't want you to move; I want you to behave." Apparently, she believes we are twelve year olds rather than 65-year olds. And, she did not elaborate on how we were "misbehaving." I'm done - I'm out. Please, let a developer come and give us an offer - because, if someone wants to buy our place and build one, two, three... or god-forbid...a McMansion...I'm ALL in! 

But, back to our lovely neighbors...we've been gifted a week at Sun River by one of them. And, Melissa, thank you! So, Monday, we head for Sun River for a week of relaxing and riding bicycles. 

In the meantime, I hope Ron finds a viable buyer for our house and we are able to move to Clackamas County!

Chico, here we come!

We're leaving for Chico to see Nick on Friday. Well, actually, we're leaving Thursday. We'll head to Central Point so Duane can take his dad to the doctor on Friday, and then, we're headed to Chico to see Nick! Woohoo!

The house is still on the market. We missed our opportunity on the first house in Milwaukie - but that's OK. There's always another house out there. (We're told that the inventory is slim, but that just means that the right house will really be the right house!) 

I'm so glad our realtor, Ron, hasn't lost faith in our house or in us. Duane was worried there was a "toxically wrong" with our home. Ron assured us that no, there wasn't anything toxically wrong; that it would be the "right" person to purchase it and yes, there were things that needed work, but they were "next owner projects". I love him!  

Once we leave Chico, we may actually head a little way further south - we haven't told anyone yet, but we may just go on an exploration. 

It's your house - but not your HOME...

 So, did you ever want to feel like you lived somewhere, but it really didn't live there? Sell your house. Or, put your house up for sale. 

We put our house on the market April 9 for $900,000. We cleared out (and to quote the younger son) a butt load of crap, gave away another ton, some trash to the land fill over nine days. On April 8th our house went on the market and we went to the beach for the weekend. 

I've never felt more under the gun than doing this. So...we got a bid ...$825,000...terribly low for our original offer of $900,000. We're not going to settle for anything lower than $850,000. Soooo...perhaps we're not selling after all. The good news? We've cleaned out the house! 

BEST NEWS EVER!

President Biden has signed the COVID-19 stimulus bill this afternoon that will provide direct checks to Americans, provisions for schools opening, a plan to help families with children and more vaccines! That was news this morning. 

Then, just now, at 3:30pm PST, it was announced that the President would announce in his address this evening that he was going to direct all states to make vaccines available to ALL adult people who want a vaccine by May 1!  He has directed the supply be ramped up to the point that everyone can get a vaccine within fewer than eight weeks! For us, that means Molly, Sam and Nick will be able to get vaccinated! As long as we can get them an appointment (and I think that will mean any pharmacy will make them available) they'll be getting vaccinated! That light at the end of the tunnel is coming - and it's NOT a train! 

On another topic completely, Molly and I are at the beach - weather is gorgeous; we've seen deer and birds - no whales yet, but I continue to look at the ocean for spouts. This is my fourth trip to the beach since November 2020 and each one of them has had beautiful weather! Beautiful to the point I didn't need a coat to go outside (good thing this trip, since I forgot to bring one). 

We got our first COVID vaccine today!

 It happened! We got it! Charlie and I drove to Salem to the Oregon State Fairground and got our first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. How does it feel? There was utter relief...giddiness (truly!)...and I don't mind telling you...I think I see the end of the tunnel.

I was skeptical when a friend told me she was going to Salem. I waited until two other friends went down and was successful. And, may I just say - the Oregon Army National Guard is FANTASTIC!  This is what the National Guard was meant for  - taking care of the citizens. 

Three more weeks and we're covered. Now....we just have to get Sam and Molly vaccinated - and our bubble is compete. 

What I'm going to miss when Covid-19 is over...?...?...?

So, I know we're all waiting for this f--king pandemic to be over. But, let's be honest, there are some things we're going to miss...for example: 

• NYT's "At Home" section of the Sunday NYT. We've gotten more delicious menu items from this section of the NYT, than we have in a long time; 
• Staying home - be honest...we all wished we could have an excuse to do nothing, at home, for awhile...but, enough is enough! I'm ready to go places;
• Going to the gym...ok, ok, ok...there are many of you that who really want to go to the gym, but to be able to say, "Uh, no, I really can't go and work out because of Covid..." was liberating!;
• Binge TV watching. In all honesty, I've been a binge TV-watcher for years! But, with Covid, I didn't have to justify it - you all just finally caught up; 
• Hanging out on the front porch. So, Charlie and I have spent more time on our front porch in the past year than perhaps more years since we've lived here. (And, we've lived here almost 37-years!)

Now, that's what I'm going to miss. But, what am I looking forward to? Oh, there's a whole host of things. Here are a few:

• Eating at a restaurant (without a mask!) - I really want someone to bring me food and a cocktail (Hendrick's martini, please, with a twist?) 
• Las Vegas - again, without a mask! - I want to sit next to a stranger at a Blackjack table, sit next to some stranger at a bar, stand next to a stranger at a Craps table and have a good time!
• Seeing people - I mean, anyone, anytime, anywhere we can! Indoors, outdoors, underwater - well, maybe not underwater, but you know what I mean!
• Flying to anywhere! So, maybe in the first time in history, Americans can't go anywhere they want - Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia...I want to be able to go to Canada! I'm looking forward to going to Canada and Europe. We have friends in Canada and in the UK. I'm looking forward to visiting them. 

So, that's it for now.