We are in the new digs.

Well, I was without the Internet for about 18 minutes.

I got through it...

We are in the new house, but BR and I will be spending the whole day getting the other house cleaned up. Spackle and power washing for me, scrubbing and dusting for BR.

--One more day and we are done. (except the whole unpacking thing)

It's Moving Day

The movers will be here in a few minutes.

At the end of this long day I will be in the new house.

Who knows how long it will take them to get me my Internet back up!

--Wish us luck.

How do you tell your wife is wonderful?

First you hose her computer depriving her of the Internet. Then turn her life upside down by stressing her out while on vacation. In stead of the vacation being a restful time to relax and recharge it becomes a big hassle, selling one house and buying another. Leaving her mind spinning at nights.

Then you give her only 2 weeks after you return before actually moving. Did I mention we are moving into the new house before we actually own it.

Toss in the lack of sleep and temps outside that approach a humid 100 degrees during the day!

Next. Her car dies and strands her.

In addition, subtract the things that usually relax her: regular hottub soaks, dates with her husband, snuggling in bed with the kids watching comedy on TiVo, quiet weekend dinners followed by wine candles and the quiet attentions of her husband...

Did I mention we leave for Pennsic 4 days after closing...

With all this stress she has maintained her humor, always kept a smile ready and a day has not gone by without taking the time to soundly kiss me.

Back scratching and sleeping in on Sundays will get her though.

How do I tell my wife is wonderful?

--In times like these, every moment of every day tells me.

Living in packing hell.

So the professional movers will be here a week from today. We broke down and bought a giant pile of serious moving boxes. At this moment BR is packing the kitchen. All the swords and axes are packed (seriously) and it was a way bigger job than I thought it would be. I may have to move those, quilt wrapped bundles myself. The third level is totally packed and ready. I need to get my AV boxes outta Em and De attic to break down the electronics.

Got kinda misty Thursday morning. Cady said, "Today is the last day I will see the inside of this house. It's been a very happy house, a good karma zone...".

Sigh...

Tomorrow, the whole day is dedicated to the garage. That will be a big job!!

--Breaks over! Game console packing is next!!

I went on vacation and sold my house!!

The rollercoaster of selling and buying houses strikes again.

While out on vacation we somehow managed to sell our house and buy the house we've been wanting.

--We are now moving on the 29th! Professional movers!

My temperal displacment device is running.

I have been working on my new Time Machine. Last nights trip really paid off! Gotta buy more stock in Google. Still no babes in shiney jump suits though, dammit.

--and I thought there would be flying cars...

Spoke too soon...

It looks like our buyer wants out of our ratified contract. They requested to be released and have their deposit returned.

--Looks like the deals off. Time to reboot.

“If you think you’re free, there’s no escape possible.”

-–Ram Dass

Here is a small preview of the new place!

Robin is sooooo grounded...

Kingdom for Sale: SOLD

We have a contract on our house!

This house is so full of good karma I kinda hate to leave it. All the work we put into it. The trees, the decks, the ceiling fans! We have been keeping it so clean and uncluttered, I love it even more.

On the other hand the next house is bigger and can hold more good karma! WOOOHOO! Can't wait!

--And we are going to use movers!!

I think tagging sucks.

I have started seeing more and more of that crappy graffiti in Manassas. I hate that shit. Assholes vandalizing public spaces with shitty "art" costing tax payers money.

Some graffiti can be cool by being daring (super high on a water tower or bridge, or on the front window of a police station). Some can contain good political commentary (global warming art on the side of super tankers). Some can be beautiful like some of the sidewalk chalk art I have seen.

But... When some asshole spray paints their initials on a historic civil war home I want to kick their ass and then tell their mom so she can spank them and force them to clean their room.

Then there is the coolest of all graffiti art. It is where the art is done by cleaning off dirt. The only way to remove the graffiti is to power wash the whole thing.

--The cops can't figure out yet if it's illegal...

I love my wife.

We took the kids out to dinner tonight. We went to Logan's Roadhouse. I had Prime Rib. Excellent.

Anyway, on the way over there, as usual, Brenda was holding my hand, hugging the kids, laughing, being happy in general. Dinner was great, conversation with the kids was super. We all ate way too much and had no room for dessert.

Walking back to the car I put my arm around BR and kissed her cheek. Looking up, I noticed my daughter Cady was watching and smiling big.

She immediately came up and let me put my other arm around her too.

--All is right with the world.

Action Adventure

It has been a crazy week in Martys World.

The insanity of getting the house on the market was rapidly followed a ton of walk throughs. We have had one offer so far and we are expecting at least one more tomorrow.

We are getting close. Boy does the house look nice! No house has ever been vacuumed so much!

We managed to get away camping last weekend. Three night and four days of relaxation and no vacuuming.

--It is going to be a busy summer...

Heard at church today

Two scientists, in an observatory, are talking over coffee during a break from their work. The first scientist says, "The universe is so vast and leads me to notice how insignificant I am."

The second scientist smiles and replies, "The universe is so vast and leads me to notice that I am The Astronomer..."

--Zen can be found anywhere... everywhere.

And so it begins... again.

Today we put a contingent contract down on a new house. If we can sell our house in the next 45 days we will be moving this summer!

Last weekend we were out yardsailing. We were minding our own business, buying beanie babies and camera bags when suddenly the house of our dreams decided to have an open house next door to a yard sale.

We thought to ourselves, "Let's just walk though and refine what we will be looking for this fall..." Suddenly we were scrambling to figure out how to buy it before someone else does.

--The kids are excited more than BR and me!!

I am Proud of My Son

Today I attended a ceremony at my sons school.

He was given an award because he got a perfect score on his Standards Of Learning (SOL) tests. Actually he got perfect scores on 3 out of 4 tests.

I am proud of him.

More evidence that I am the luckiest Dad on the face of the Earth.

--And my daughter is fabulous too!

Teach Your Children Well

It was a big bike weekend in Martys World.

Friday night we bought a couple more bikes for the ever growing offspring in the house. After finding some excellent sales at Toys R Us and bringing home a couple cool bikes, we saw about a hundred bikes for sale at yard sales on Saturday.

Lessons were learned today.

Today Brenda was out riding with the kids. Without warning, as she was standing up pedaling hard going up a hill, her pedal came loose and sent her crashing to the pavement. Road rash scraped her knee, elbow and hand. It was fortunate she had on a helmet! (She hates wearing a helmet)

--The HELMET Lesson Learned!!

BR and I were yardsailing fools today.

I made a huge score by obtaining an actual combat ready, Kevlar helmet and military goggles!

From now on my wife must address me as Major Pain whenever I wear it. She must also drop and give me twenty when ever I demand it in my best Gunny voice!

--Now SHUT your filthy pie hole, cut out the grab ass and TEN HUT!!

Allergy Season Action

So I am winding down this allergy season. My sinuses are ruin. I have been taking Benedryl at night and Claritin D during the day. The net effect of all the Medications is a painfully dry nose and sinus. Every now and then I have these amazing sneezing fits. But today was the best.

I was at my desk at work when a spectacular nose bleed started. I have this thing about keeping certain of my precious bodily fluids all to myself so I grabbed a Kleenex and headed for the rest room. We have the best restrooms ever. big stalls, very clean...

...and totally bright white.

Just as I was reaching for some TP I was hit with a sneezing fit. When I was done it looked like a crime scene in there.

--It took forever to clean up that well sprayed, bloody stall.