What the Hey?

Do you believe that the Universe, or God, or the Source, or the Goddess puts you where you need to be? I've always kind of believed this, but someone's just MESSIN with me!!!

We've had what feels like 100 housing choices come across our path, only to fall apart or become unavailable.

So Dear Universe, if you have the right place in mind than please just QUIT throwing all the other options at me too. I'm just getting confused and overwhelmed and pessimistic. And quit toying with my hopes. Don't let me get all excited and start imagining my furniture in there, then give it to someone else. What did I ever do to you?

Mein Fuhrer, the Vikings signed Brett Favre today

Maslow can kiss my behind

The very bottom of Maslow's hierarchy is really no place for a woman my age with three kids to support and a houseful of furniture and dishes. I don't know if I'll ever see the top.

We're still searching for new housing. Since we put up our beloved home for a short sale, there has been a flurry of activity, as in showings every day. Last summer, our house was worth $359G's. Now it's listed for $175G's. The fact that the bank will take that kind of money in a short sale, but wouldn't renegotiate to our proposed $225G's is leaving me more than just a little bitter. Yes, bitter and angry.

But I must remain positive and focused. Here are the choices left to us now:

1. A wonderful fixer-upper with great bones and a double lot. An investor friend will buy it and rent to us for a year, then we'll pay off with a loan. We are still searching for an investor to put up the $ needed for renovation. If you know one, send them my way! This place is great and I know I'd love living there.

2. A small, and I mean small, townhome to rent. It needs nothing - move in ready - but small. But our kids can ride the bus to and from school, and everything else is a bike ride away. AND it's just doors down from two of my best blogging and real-life pals.

3. A large townhome to rent that needs work, but the owner wants us to do work in lieu of some rent which is a GREAT deal. But it's quite far away from everything we do. AND the school wouldn't bus my kids from there.

Wonder if Maslow had these kinds of problems?

UPDATE: Option #2 was just rented to someone else

Good News Story #1

I have a new job! I am now the Site Specialist at the Northfield Middle School!
I will be coordinating all volunteers, mentors, and college student volunteers as well as several events. This is so exciting for me: lots of public interaction and a great position for my education and talents. I'm a rabid supporter of public education, and this truly fits my values. I'll work during the school year, which leaves the summer for some kind of fun job, like barista or umbrella holder for Al Franken.

More good news stories are in the works. Watch this channel for updates!

Story Developing, stay tuned

Hey folks. I have a lot brewing right now, so please be patient with my lack of writing and reading. But stay tuned for further developments!!! Some of it is really good!

Would you buy one?

Remember when I told you Cousin Anne's joke about the Grandma's Kitchen candle?
Well I was telling a friend about it today, and we got to thinking about other "homey scents" you could put in a candle to evoke memories. Place your order! I'm sure we'll be a HUGE success! Give me your ideas . . .

PRETEEN PARTY - a delightful blend of wet sneakers, a hockey locker room, BO, and cheese popcorn.

BAKING LESSONS - the woodsy smell of dough burning off the bottom of the oven.

COLLEGE DAYS - an evocative mix of bong water, beer soaked carpet, and Domino's pizza.

CHILD OF THE 70s - A patented blend of LOVE's Fresh Lemon, LOVE's Baby Soft, and AVON's Sweet Honesty.

TAILGATER - cheer on your team with a blend of brats, beer, and truck exhaust.

OLD MCDONALD's - who doesn't enjoy manure ponds, pesticides, and sour milk?

A TASTE OF GARY, INDIANA - oh, let's just not go there

MINNESOTA SPRING - a northwoods blend of road salt, mud, dirty winter coats.

THE NURSERY - happy memories of spit up, formula, and the diaper pail

FAMILY VACATION - an original combo of old car, french fries, bologna, and Perkins.

LAZY SUMMER DAZE - a sunny array of bug spray, lighter fluid, sunscreen, and Campho Phenique

Documentary Review

One thing I love about Netflix is getting to view great documentaries that they don't carry at the bubble-gum movie rental businesses.

This week I watched The Garden . . . from netflix . . . .
Filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy's politically charged, Oscar-nominated documentary follows a group of low-income families struggling to protect a 14-acre urban farm in the middle of South Central Los Angeles from bureaucratic real estate developers. A lightning rod for controversy in 2004, this cause célèbre drew the attention of numerous notable activists and politicians, including Dennis Kucinich, Joan Baez and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigoisa.

This summer was the first time I planted a vegetable garden, and it wasn't all for fun. It was to stretch our family's food dollar during some incredibly rough times. But I found more than food in my garden, I found soil & heart & hope. This movie really resonated with me and left me in tears.