Friday, November 20, 2009

Showing the House

Nov.19, 2009

Outside my window...darkness and city lights. Such a nice view facing southwest from the lounge at work.
I am thinking...that I'm happy to hear that my friend, Kathy, who I travel to Oncology Nursing conferences with, is engaged. She chose a good guy and I'm sure they'll be happy.
I am thankful for...our house being on the market, finally. It's clean, tidy, and looks totally un-lived in. I guess with marketing, you have to remove personal effects so people can picture themselves living there. It's no longer our home, but an item on the market.
I am wearing...my uniform. I'm at work.
From the kitchen...lasagna, salad, and bread.
I am reading...The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey, a spy thriller set during WW2.
I am hoping...that my eldest daughter discovers the source of her allergies. Her eyes are swollen and red, the worst they've ever been. She's been to the doctor and now has a referral to see an allergist.
I am hearing...an announcement for Code Blue on another unit. Three a.m. Not likely to be a good outcome. They may have been dead at least an hour since last rounds. Also, I've heard that 3 a.m. is the "most popular time" to die.
Around the house...a steady parade of people interested in our house. Most are South Asian, okay, all are. They really want to buy in this neighbourhood; some to get out of the apartments, others to buy homes for extended family. I hope our next-door-neighbour puts in the best offer. They seem the most eager and have their financing pre-approved. Our real estate agent says the house shows well and he is expecting multiple offers on Monday evening when we open the bidding. He even has plans for an Open House on Saturday to accommodate all the inquiries.
One of my favourite things...having relatives who live across the street. I slept there today while our house was being shown. Now they've decided to move, as well, and bought a house in Ajax, too. They move in March. They won't be across the street, but close enough.
Some plans for the week...no sleep tomorrow morning, since we have to be in Burlington in the afternoon for the SGF Annual Assembly and Banquet. I'm looking forward to seeing friends. The usual Sunday, with church, but we need to be prepared to vacate the premises if the house is to be shown. People need to be free to comment without worrying if we hear what they're saying. We take offers Monday and make a decision by Tuesday morning. Then we can start packing. Work four nights.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Agnostics

"To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."

Yann Martel
Life of Pi

Friday, November 13, 2009

Augustine quotes

A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently.

Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked.

Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.

Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.

Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.

God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt.

He that is jealous is not in love.

He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.

Hear the other side.

Moving on Up to the East Side

Nov. 13, 2009
Outside my window... an exceptionally mild fall day.
I am thinking...Wow, what's the matter with me? I haven't written on my blog for weeks. So much has happened. My husband didn't end up going fishing after all due to freezing rain, so we went house hunting. We found a house the first day. It's in Ajax. We move at the end of January. It's a beautiful,four bedroom, two story house near Westney Road. It's four years old. It's the last house on the end of the street and there's a cul-de-sac so there are no neighbours on one side, and a field behind. It has four bedrooms, hardwood floors, a hot tub on the deck, his and her walk-in closets in the master bedroom, three washrooms, stainless steel appliances, and a family room with a fireplace. My mom will be coming with us. She'll have one of the bedrooms until we build her a living space downstairs. We're planning to build a sauna first, in the unfinished basement. We are Finns, after all. We are sooooo excited to move. We've spent the last few weeks prepping this house for sale. We cleaned out closets and purged so much junk that we've accumulated over the years. We had the house painted this past week and signed the papers to list it next Wednesday.
I am thankful for...our new home. If I felt like a princess before...well....
From the kitchen...roast chicken, corn on the cob.
I am wearing...jeans and a burgundy sweater.
I am reading...Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
I am hoping...that I can sleep at my brother-in-law's place across the street this week when they're showing the house.
I am hearing...Flashpoint on t.v.
Around the house...we have to live like no one lives here for a week: nothing on the counters, spotless house. I think we can do it. Also our youngest daughter just got her interim report card and had a 91 average. She got 98 in Law, which is what she wants to study in university. So proud. My eldest was home sick this week.
One of my favourite things...hearing that my niece will be baptized in January.
Some plans for the week...more prep work, Ladies' meeting at church tomorrow, church on Sunday, visitation for the tragic death of our friend's 23 year old daughter, Anna. She just had a baby four days before, and then she developed a headache, and was air-lifted to the Western, but died within a few minutes, probably of an aneurysm. We knew her since she was a toddler. They don't know what's going to happen with the baby since the dad didn't want to be involved. Anna had made a profession of faith and was baptized but hasn't been living as a Christian. I have to hope that she called out to God when she first got these symptoms. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate. Her funeral is on Monday morning. I'm working three nights this week and heading to Burlington for the Sovereign Grace Annual Assembly on the weekend. We plan to start accepting offers on Monday evening. Our next door neighbour is very determined to buy it, but we'll market it and see what the best offer is. If he really wants it, he'll have to "show us the money".