Thanks, Belle. I am pleased with how they came out. I love seeing color outside my windows.

Okay, you guys aren't going to believe this!!

After my landscape class today, the instructor (who is also the head of the horticulture dept) asked me to ride over to the school greenhouse with him. After he had given me an extensive tour of all the plants, he told me to pick out whatever I want! Oh man...talk about a dream come true!!

I've got A LOT of planting to do...and I can't wait!!

One of the trees I got is a rare (according to him) yellow bark dogwood. Very cool!!

This is about as excited as I can get!!!

Georgia

cool!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

we want pictures!!!!!!!!

GG,


You sound like you are doing well. Have fun planting all your plants! Sounds like you might have the best yard on the block soon.

BTW my H does all the cooking at my house and I like it that way. Makes me feel pampered. So there is nothing wrong with a man who cooks! Say hi to Jeb.

I could see how you might feel pampered, MoiN. I think I would too. Many of the world's greatest chefs are men.

FGG, you will have lots of fun deciding where to plant them and planting your new plants. You will have to update your photo collection when you get it completed.

I have one tree we planted a couple of years ago of which I do not know the name. It has big roundish varigated leaves of cream and green.

A person at Lowe's told me that pansies are planted in the fall here and last until spring, which is why they didn't have any. But, I thought I did see some in Home Depot.

Well…where should I start?

I got a call from the realtor last night. We have a contract for the full asking price of the house. The buyer wants us to pay $2,000 towards closing and leave the window treatments. They can close on April 28. So, I decided it was time to call xW and try to build a bridge, plus discuss this contract. Big mistake….

We talked for about an hour about general stuff. I can’t say that it was overly pleasant, but it was cordial. I was surprised at my lack of feeling for her when I talked to her.

Anyway, I told her that I was calling because we had been offered a contract and I wanted to discuss it with her. So I told her the conditions and here was her response (summarized):

1. I am not willing to pay anything towards closing
2. I don’t know where I’m moving yet so I’m not going to agree to not taking the drapes.
3. I can’t be out of the house by April 28.

Needless to say, the rest of the conversation was all down hill from there.

There is so much to say I don’t know where to begin, but I don’t want to bore you all to tears. I have called my attorney this morning and I’m waiting on him to call me back.

I called the agent and told her what was going on. She said we might as well just quit showing the house until xW is out because it is obvious she is not going to cooperate, or get out of the house. She said other agents are beginning to hear about this situation and are steering clear of the house.

The agent says that if a buyer is willing to pay full asking price, then they will almost always ask for some concession such as closing costs. And to only ask for $2,000 is very low, according to her.

And…the drapes were custom made for this house by professional decorators.

And…most contracts are for closing within 30 days, so she is being given an extra amount of time to move.

The contract is valid until noon (less than 2 hours), then I have to give the buyers an answer.

I am frustrated and upset. I slept in this morning and just got to work.

Trix – I’ve not forgotten the recipe, but in all the excitement it’s gotten pushed back a bit.

Georgia

Did you have to get her OK?

I would say the offer sounds VERY reasonable...she has to be out of the house within 30 days anyway, right?

I would say go for it...make an appt to see the judge ASAP and lay it out...

Yes, I have to get her okay. Her name is on all the "official" papers. (My agent checked this morning to make sure).

And...I just found out that my attorney has left for court.

I thought the judge ordered that she needs to be out in 30 days anyway? That would be before April 28th right?

I can see that her stall tactics are irritating. Would have been best not to call her and let the professionals deal with her. I suppose you will need both of your signatures on the contract. Did the judge address any of these types of stall tactics in his recent order?

Don't worry about the recipe. I glanced through a Southern Living by the register at Lowe's yesterday...the recipe must not have been in the latest issue.

Actually, the order from the judge wasn't that she had to be OUT in 30 days. The order was that if she hasn't been cooperating, then I am in charge of selling the house, I am to have the key, and I am to let all prospective buyers in. She just has to stay out of the way.

And, no, the judge didn't address any of these types of tactics. But..I think she made it clear that xW is to cooperate.

Well...I'm about to call my agent and the 2 of us will just have to figure out what to do without the attorney's advice.

I guess I didn't remember that correctly. I thought 30 days for her to move out was discussed. Oh well. She isn't coorperating if she puts unrealistic limits or rejects any offer or contract that comes through.

MAJOR UPDATE....

My realtor just called.

The buyers have dropped the $2,000 closing cost requirement and agreed that she can keep the master bedroom drapes (which match the headboard and custom comforter).

She is faxing me the contract right now and I'm signing it. Heh...what's the worst that could happen?

Georiga

Man...this is so unnerving!! I need to go home and plant things!!

She is NOT, I repeat NOT, going to be happy about me signing this contract.

There was a lot of other stuff said last night that are just so bizarre. One example: she didn't know why I got so upset about OM#2 because she told me that he had been depressed and she told me that she would ALWAYS be there for him. "It's not like I was trying to hide it".

Anyway, last nights conversation really had the effect of making me thankful
(caution: controversial comment coming up)
that we are divorced.

It is done, finished, kaput....

Georgia

Okay, that's it. The contract is signed and faxed back to the realtor.

Also, I e-mailed xW telling her about the changes and attaching a copy of the contract. Then I called her cell phone and left a message about what has happened and told her there was a copy of the contract in her e-mail for her review.

The agent is going to call her later today to discuss this and take the contract over for her to sign.

I'm going to plant things.

Georgia

I am sorry she is such a nut job. It is difficult to comprehend how she can believe her own rationalizations. I guess she can't hear how crazy it sounds.

I sure hope she signs the contract. I wonder if there is anything you can do if she refuses to sign a full offer contract?

I am anxious to congradulate you on the sale of your house...

I am happy to hear about your new plants. Good luck with planting the tree. Have you ever done that before?

We recently joined a Tree People effort and helped plant trees along a boulevard in our neighborhood. Learned so much about how it is done. I's a very satisfying endeavor.

The nails are loosening from your palms & feet FGG. Soon you will be coming down off the cross, healed and stronger. I am glad you are doing well.

GG,

I am sorry this is still dragging on. Your lawyer should have pushed for a firm stance on if a) happens then b) happens etc. The judge's ruling is nothing really. If you cannnot get her to sign then what? Might have to go back for a better clarification. Can you go the next time?

I will pray that she signs and moves on with her life but please remember she does have free choice...and I think she is choosing to see what she can get away with.

GG,

Congrats on the house offer. That was quick!

Hoping she signs...

-AD

Good Morning folks –

Well…I decided to take some time off, but I’m back.

First, an update on the house situation. The agent spent all Thursday afternoon with xW. She got the contract over to her only to hear her say that she wanted to keep one of the cornice boards (custom made for this house!) and the sheers in an upstairs bedroom. So….our agent went back to work and actually got the buyers to agree to that. Then…the agent found out that the buyers are getting a VA loan and we will have to pay $682 in closing costs due to some VA rules. xW said she wouldn’t pay it and wouldn’t sign the contract. When she (realtor) called me Thursday night, she told me that she actually had to get very direct with xW (hard to believe she’s such a soft spoken lady) and told her that if she didn’t accept this contract she would not show the house any more. Also, she would tell me that we needed to see if the judge would evict her as she was not cooperating. Well….apparently there were “some words” exchanged between the 2 of them. The end result is that the contract is signed.

I couldn’t believe this. When the realtor called me Thursday night, she said “I can’t blame you for leaving and getting away from her!” I can’t believe she said that, and actually we talked yesterday and she apologized for saying that. She said she was very frustrated at the time after having to deal with her.

I’ve enjoyed getting some of the stuff planted and doing other work around the house. It has been wonderful. Bellevue….I planted the dogwood already. It’s small, probably a 3 gallon size. I usually just dig the hole about 1.5 X the size of the root ball, loosen the roots from the ball and plant it with the top slightly above ground level. Then water a lot and fill in with the loose dirt. Is there more?

Yesterday afternoon Jeb and I spent some time working on my photography project. We took a lot of photos of historic landmarks less than 1 mile from my home. Then, when we got back home I sat out on the deck with my laptop and downloaded the pictures.

Several of the larger churches in town are having a “C.S. Lewis Festival”. At the event last night they had a guy who did a one-man dialog as C.S. Lewis and talked about his childhood, his conversion to Christianity, his marriage to Joy, etc.

Afterwards I had dinner with my friends, as well as another couple that xW and I used to go out with a lot. It was the first time I had seen them since the separation. We all had a great time together.

I can’t help from noticing a number of times this weekend how happy I feel. I mean…almost like giddy. I haven’t felt this way in a long, long time. I don’t know…maybe it’s Spring with the birds singing and a chance to get my hands back in dirt. Yesterday morning I ate breakfast on the deck before going to church. It’s just…things seems to be coming together so well for me right now. I almost want to feel guilty because I don’t feel guilty…..actually I feel really happy and content.

Okay….work to do…

Georgia

P.S. – Trix…I’ve got the recipe with me, I’ll post it when I get time. But…..you have to promise to try it!!

Maybe it's validation from an innocent bystander that your WW is really that deep in the fog...