Jilli! Look at the cuteness!"

I'm so sorry, Anne.

{{Anne}}

The median price for a condo in the region last month was $481,000, up 20 percent from last year. The combined median -- the value of both detached homes and condos -- hit $610,000, the first time above the $600,000 mark.

That's the bay area. A little lower in Fremont - but in my area of fremont Tha's about right. We couldn't buy our house now. If we sold our house Today we'd gain somewhere in the neighborhood of 100K

But I have a bit of the homeowner woe's going on. This is a cheap project - about 80.00. However painting the Bathroom has invovled 4-6 hours to remove the EVIL WALLPAPER BORDER. and another couple of hours of patching. and me constantly saying this is an interem project - we do not have to make it perfect - just improve it. Possibly things would go faster if DH got off the phone. I'd really like to put the first coat of paint on Tonight. Which means we might have the bathroom back by Monday night or Tuesday.

Oy, Beth, don't you hate that?

One thing that's throwing me for a loop is that all these priority 3 house bugs (need fixing, but can live with) that suddenly became P1 bugs as soon as Lillian came into the picture. Worn wood floors that occasionally splinter thanks to the POs throwing carpet on them instead of refinishing? P1. Water heater that can't control its own temp well, and can't be set specifically to 120 or below? Major P1. And we have to get this crap done before she hits the whole walking milestone.

In the meantime, there are all these P2 bugs (siding repair, painting, deck removal) that have been neglected for so long that they're in danger of becoming P1s.

It's a constant state of triage here.

{{{Anne}}}

Losing loved ones sucks.

On a completely different subject, I thought I would pass along this old joke:

A teacher was showing students pictures of various animals, and asking them to identify the animal.

She pulled up a photo of a deer with an elaborate array of antlers. She asked Johnny (it's always Johnny) if he could identify the species. He couldn't.

Hoping to spur his memory, she gave him a hint, "What does your mother call your father?"

Johnny thinks for a second, then his face lights up. "Oh! that's what a horny bastard looks like!"

Floor sanding and refinishing - time and physical labor. There are some amazing Water based poly's out there that dry in a couple of hours. so sand one day and refinish the next. as long as you don't have to spent 14 HOURS ripping up the carpet and scubbing the foam insulation off the floor because they installed it UPSIDE DOWN. and it is one of those things that can make you love your house.

Water heaters are odd around here. putting in a new one in requires a permit. So people go to another town to buy the water heater and pay cash toavid the water heater permit cost.

and I hate the dealys. It is worse for the bathroom because most of the time only one person can be in there. But the other person is constantly neeeded for something. So I can't nessisarrily do anything else.

Time to go find head cover. and a shirt that I don't mind getting paint on .

Floor sanding and refinishing - time and physical labor. There are some amazing Water based poly's out there that dry in a couple of hours. so sand one day and refinish the next. as long as you don't have to spent 14 HOURS ripping up the carpet and scubbing the foam insulation off the floor because they installed it UPSIDE DOWN. and it is one of those things that can make you love your house.

In our case: pull the rest of the huge nails that they put in to stop squeaks that of course only made matters worse. Fix or replace boards damaged by aforementioned nails. Replace boards near door that are hopelessly broken. Patch spot where old heat register was. Sand and refinish.

Did I mention the part where I hate my POs?

Ugh. My current house is 50 years old, but the last one was older. It's never ending. Unfortunately most of the current P1 issues are outside and it's crazy hot. The neglected item that will probably bite me soon is the garage door which is barely holding together. First hurricane and that is a big ole pile of rubble.

Some of the rooms have old terrazzo flooring with strips of nails from the old carpet. When I first moved in I tore out the carpet and haven't done anything about the floors yet. I also pulled the paper off the walls in 2 of the baths anticipating doing something about painting. That was 6 years ago. The crisis projects always come first.

As much as home ownership has been a series of pocket draining chores I still think it is better than renting. It has given me an asset on the many occasions I needed to borrow money. I wouldn't have been able to start my business without that asset. And it is my only retirement savings.

I'm sorry for your loss Anne. Even the expected and merciful losses are still losses and leave that empty spot in your life. I hope all goes smoothly for your mother.

Susan, it sounds like you have done what you need to do to prepare on the practical side of matters. I hope you can find some time and peace to prepare on the emotional side. I'm glad that VCOB is keeping you in the loop on information. It is so hard when you are living so far away.

Go askye with the date having!!

Also, I want to be a mom like Laura when I grow up. She's my role model.

Wow. Thanks for the encouraging words on a day when I am doing the homework battles. Ugh. I'm pretty relaxed about the parenting thing most of the time. Mostly because of my general laid back nature, but also because of my age. Like all parents I suffer from a constant pressure to make to right decisions. Diet decisions, school decisions, and decisions on which battles to choose. It's a tough job. In the end you just have to trust your instincts. What works for one kid doesn't work with another and what works for one parent doesn't work for another. Gotta make it up as you go along.

Now to do the homework thing. Ugh.