Paris - part one

We went to Europe, did you know? Yes! It was our honeymoon (finally, 2 years later). Our dear friends were getting married in The French Countryside and we thought let's go to France and Germany! It was a two week vacation. TWO WEEKS!!


We flew first class, we have a friend who works for the airline. I am now spoiled when it comes to long flights. My own pod that converts to a bed, a glass of champagne when you are arrive, a DESSERT cart!! Oh, first class!

We arrived in Paris in the early morning and took the metro into the city. We were staying with friends for a few days and then going to Cologne, Germany to see a friend. At first I was overwhelmed, I do not speak French, I speak German, and I don't want to be one of those tourists. I had heard so much about the French being rude, but I figured if we based an entire country's personality on one city, I hope no one goes to NYC. To answer the rude question - we had no issues with anyone being rude. I also think that waiters have realized Americans will tip if they have good service.

Day two - The Lourve. I was worried that the line would be out the door and it would crowded, since we had slept in from the jet lag. BUT, the line was not too long and the museum was AMAZING. We spent 5 hours there and barely scratched the surface. We saw the big three and spent a large amount of time in the Egyptian wing. We saw Louis the 16(?) apartments and ate dessert and drank coffee while talking to a couple from New Zealand who were traveling the world for a year.



The next part of our trip was Germany!

I know have an app that allows me to blog on my phone!! Hello blogging world! I am back!

Another Secret

The camera pans in on the cutest old lady - Fabulously dressed, quick with a response.

What is the secret to your looooong marriage?

Laughter.

How awesome is that answer? Laughter! How simple? But sometimes it is not simple, sometimes I don't want to laugh I just want to be cranky. But, then Bert is funny enough that I have to laugh. Not just any laugh a deep belly laugh. It is a good thing that Bert and I find ourselves super funny and witty.

The Secret

I love old people. I love old people couples even more. Whenever I see a cute and in love old couple I have to ask them - what is the secret? What do you wish you knew when you first started?

It is no secret that I am desperate to have a good marriage. I want to do everything right and I want it to be something that a fairy tale will be written about. So - before I forget the sage advice I want to write it down.

Today - A Fabulously Yummy Couple - 65 years of bliss
It was hard to get a straight answer out of these two, they wouldn't stop giggling at each other and interrupting one another. Their secret - Always be desperately in love.

How is easy does that sound? I am hopeful about this secret since I am already desperately in love with Bert. How could I not be? He is AWESOME! And he thinks I am funny, and he dances around the house and sings with me.... awesome, I know.

But, I think it is reminding yourself everyday that you are desperately in love that can be the kicker. It is easy to remember that when life is great, but what about the hard times? What about the mundane days? What about that time you had to move to West Virginia in a months time? Those are the times that I try to work extra hard at remembering he is my lover and soul mate and extra, extra hard showing him he is all of those things plus more. It is sometimes easier to think those things but I have to remember to SHOW and SHOW some more. I don't want him to ever think I am just gliding on by.

Want to share your secret?

How do they do it?

Ladies and even Gentlemen,
In the past few years have you found a new respect for your mother? Are there times in your day when you say, "How the F did she do all this"?
That is what has been going around my head for a bit now. Grant it, my life is nothing like so many of my former classmates. I have a dog, a sometimes needy dog, but that is it. Oh, and a hubby and a sweet little kitty, but nothing like a CHILD. How the F do people have children and go about their days? I sometime resent my dog for having to be let out of his crate and walked. But, I don't have to worry about much else with him.
Over the weekend the Bert and I traveled to DC for some friends and a few adult beverages. On Sunday we met with Bert's cousin who has two precious little girls. Well behaved city girls. (city children are different then any other kinds, but that is a different post) The little ladies had plenty of things to keep them occupied and patient parents and second cousins to listen intently. We ate, we chatted, we were interrupted who knows how many times and it was a lovely brunch. I walked away from the experience even more befuddled. How do they do it, this whole parent thing? Where does the energy come from? Here were two super successful DC folks, with bilingual (and well behaved) children and there were Bert and I ready for a nap.
For the Bert and I, it is a daily chore to get everything done in a day that needs to be done. How do people throw in children on top of those needs? How is it all done? My mother did the following - a mother, a wife, a college student, a cook, a caregiver, a taxi driver and still found time for herself (precious little). But she did all of this things and I can barely manage to finish the laundry. It isn't like I am watching 5 hours of tv a night. Most nights it is none and I am crawling into bed wondering where my day has gone and adding more things onto the "to-do" list for the next day.
I marvel at women who take on so many roles. If women ruled the world, everything would be accomplished by noon. We have a knack for organization and world peace. I'm not sure how my mother did everything and I am grateful she passed down a bit of her womanly abilities to do everything.

Alive and Breathing

Where has the time gone?

Like seriously, where does the time go?

We have been in the WV for 4 months now. 4 months?! Where did those months go to?

Things that we really enjoy about WV
1. The weather! Beautiful weather. Today it was 70 degrees. I know that it is an Indian Summer, but I am use to Indian Summer being in Oct, not Nov. The sun shines a lot here, a lot more then in Pittsburgh. We definitely used the pool a great deal over the summer.

2. The ease of buying wine. No more state stores! We can buy wine at the grocery store and the prices are cheaper.

3. Our house. It is such a fabulous new house! The house is well insulated so we can stay warm or cool and our electric bill is lower then it was in Pittsburgh.

We have begun to make friends and have hosted a few dinner parties. We certainly miss our friends, oh how we miss them, but we are working on our friendless state.

Robert is really enjoying his new job. There is definitely more stress involved, but he is handling it like a champ! Some days he is able to work from home and that has been an extra nice bonus. I see him a LOT more now then I did when we lived in the 'Burgh, and I will tell you a secret, I really really like him!

I am still working on a WV real estate license. I had to retake 90 hours of education AND the ridiculously hard test all over again! Grrrr!!!!! I should know Monday or Tuesday if I passed the test and can begin my real estate career. Fingers crossed!

New Blog

HELLO!

I have a new blog for real estate

horneonhomes.blogspot.com

I am going to have guest contributors and it is going to be the real "real estate" no sugar coating. :) Become a follower.... PLEASE!

Charleston, WV

I realized after my last post I never told you guys that we were moving!

YAY! kind of. Remember when I told you they took the West Virginia job away from us? Fast forward a month or so. Bert had gone on more interviews, our house sold in one day and I was becoming more and more stressed. In our relationship we had decided that no major decision should be made unless beer or martinis or wine were involved. So as we saddled up to our favorite watering hole, we talked. And talked and talked.

We came to the decision that we were done looking for jobs outside of Pittsburgh. We fell in love with a house in a different section of Pittsburgh and we were going to have Bill rehab the house. We called Bill to come down and give us an estimate of costs and a time frame. We agreed that we would write up and offer the following day. (This was Tues)

The next morning I began to prepare the agreement of sale and I get a text from Bert - "Bob just called and asked if I was still interesting in the WV job". WHAT?! But we already decided we weren't moving?! But, when the fates throw something your way you shouldn't say no. So, on Thursday he interviewed with the big boss. By Friday he was offered the job! Like for real offered the job, not like last time. And we had about a month to find a new place to live and prepare ourselves for the idea of a new state move.

The following weekend we drove down to Charleston, WV with the intent of finding an apartment. Here is the kicker - once you own a home it is hard to go back to a rental apartment. AND, having a dog and a cat makes that process so much harder. We were going to pay more for an apartment then a mortgage. SO, we decided to buy a townhouse. We tend to make decisions quickly. We liked the community, we liked that they have a pool and a community center. I liked that it was brand new construction, I would be the first to run the dishwasher and the oven! I LOVE that the laundry is on the first floor as is our master suite. We have three bedrooms and 2.5 baths! Now all we need are friends to have over for dinner.... wanna come visit?

He started his new job on July 1st. Crazy whirl-wind of crazy, that is the only way I can describe the past month!

Homeless

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

We sold our house in Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago tomorrow. We were suppose to close on our new home in Charleston, WV 2 weeks ago tomorrow. Guess what we didn't do 2 weeks ago tomorrow? That is right - close on our house in WV. We are homeless. Why are we homeless? Because the mortgage industry is a pain in the ass. Since the housing crash a few years ago the mortgage industry has become almost impossible. Our file has been to underwriting (aka the black hole of real estate) twice. This morning the file was sent back because they don't like the tax return the IRS gave us, they want a different one. How do you get a different form from the IRS?! I have no idea, nor does my agent and our loan processor hasn't told us either. OMFG!

My Hubby is living in a hotel, I am living with my brother-in-law and our items are living in our house that we would really like to purchase soon. We are living out of suitcases and people genorosity. I am trying hard to be patient and not cry or drink before noon.

Here is the list of things I want right now -
1. To sleep with my huband
2. In our home
3. With boxes unpacked
4. After making homemade pizza and salad
5. Eating dinner on our dining room table
6. Making new friends with good food
7. Work, I am ready to get my business started in WV, can't do that without living there.
8. I want to not cringe everytime I get an email
9. Sleep with my Hubby
10. Not worry about being fully clothed when leaving the bedroom

aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!

Showing it off

A few weeks ago I bought a new shirt. I didn't bother to try it on, I liked the color, I liked the length, so why bother? Oh my! My "girls" are on show in this shirt! As I put the shirt on this morning I layered it with another shirt that covers everything, and I thought to myself - holy crap media you have gotten all women to believe we are suppose to show off the goods!

Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing sexier then being on a date with my hubby and showing him the cleavage and what he is going to have for dessert, but during the day? During working hours? I am a real estate agent my working day is everyday all day long, I don't need to be showing those kind of goods!

I find nothing wrong with the females who can/want to show off the goods, but do not make me feel bad about (media)! I was thinking as I layered this morning - why can't you be comfortable enough with your body to show these girlies off? Then my rational side said - WTF?! You are comfortable, you walk around your home naked all the time, you wear form fitting dresses! Hell NO you didn't just try to make yourself bad for not going with the "norm".

So beside us women fighting with the idea that we won't look like any star from any tv show, because our bodies aren't built that way, we also now have to contend with thinking we need show more. There is something wrong with us for dressing appropriately, for covering up. Trust me, I am all about- do what you want, I am not judging. But me not judging has a clause for myself. And I am a little over that clause. I am going to be 29 soon and it is about damn time that I be ok with not going with the norm. If you knew me in middle/high school you know I wasn't for the norm. Not in a goth way, in a way that I did what I wanted and didn't care what you thought. ( I wore Hawaiian shirts for most of my senior year). I am still like that but I catch myself chastising myself for not showing the goods more. Hell NO media, you are not winning this girl over!