black and white

Written by renee

blah, blah and a little more blah

Posted

So it’s been a few weeks since I last signed on and I was surprised to see the site is no long SWYDM? I’m liking the name change – So Would You Do Me? was a bit embarrassing…lol.
 
My house still hasn’t sold – I’m not worried at this point, but anxious. We are going on a cruise with J.R.’s father’s ENTIRE side of the family on June 10th and I would really like for it to be under contract before we go so I won’t have my house open while I’m out of town for 10 days. About 20 relatives from Germany are even flying over to go on the cruise. I greatly offended them by calling the travel agent and asking that our room be “down the hall.” They just found out a few days ago when they called to find out what room we were assigned to. Today J.R.’s cousin called and made the “joke” that I must be a screamer – hahaha. I’m such a prude – I hate jokes like that – they just make me uncomfortable.
 
Since I can’t buy another investment property until this house sells my sister wants to “finance” one and pay me 30% of the profit to help her flip it. She lives in Charlotte and drove down yesterday to have me show her the 3 houses I’m waiting to make an offer on (and hoping they don’t sell before I have a contract). I don’t want to do anything with her because she doesn’t like to work and she likes to spend money on the wrong things. She wants to paint walls in a rust color and have faux finishes on the walls of the bathrooms. Make all the entryways into arches and add columns that we marbleize. But she doesn’t want to spend the money on new kitchen cabinets, tile flooring, a new roof when the old one will start leaking at any moment or new HVAC unit because the 20 year old one still runs. I told her these are the things that will make the house sellable – not faux finishes and columns. So we got in an argument because she disagrees and I really, really don’t want to help her flip a house. If I tell her I don’t want to do it she will get offended and then my Mom will call me and start yelling at me – so I’m hoping she will “think it over” and procrastinate until my house is under contract and I’ve already got another project in the works. She lived in a 1 bedroom apartment for 6 months and then a hotel for another 5 months with her husband and 2 children because she couldn’t decide if she wanted to live in Charlotte or Columbia. She then had contracts on 3 different houses that she backed out of. 2 houses were in Columbia and she kind-of hurt my Dad’s reputation with a few realtors and the other was in Charlotte, she had a contract and backed out of it TWICE.
 
I shouldn’t complain about my sister – I love her and the internet is such a public place.
 
I decided about a year ago to stop writing anything personal online – or anything that I wouldn’t mind anyone reading. My mom is in the middle of a lawsuit with her brother because of his manipulation of my grandfather and it’s something that I can’t talk about. Even though I am 100% sure that no one I know (in real life) will ever read this blog or know that it exists.
 
Back to the cruise – I’m so not excited about it and I feel really guilty about that. It’s on Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas (here I am putting personal info on here---hahaha) and from everything I’ve read it sounds miserable. J.R. and I decided we didn’t want to stay at another resort like the one we stayed at for our honeymoon ever again. It was in the middle of the jungle with no beach and nothing to do other than drink or eat. The “all inclusive” food left a foodie like me wishing I could pay $100 for something with flavor. I wanted to experience Mexico not just a big bed and a lot of booze.
 
We spend the second day at sea; the third day in Labadee, Haiti for 9 hours; the fourth in Ocho Rios, Jamaica for 8 hours; the fifth in George Town, Grand Cayman for 8 hours; the sixth in Cozumel, Mexico for 9 hours and the seventh at sea.
 
I would rather fly to each of those destinations (except the beach in Haiti owned by RCCL) and experience them for several days. J.R.’s family wants to go to The Hard Rock and Margarittaville – I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. They want to do loooooooooong excursions at every stop and I want to experience every stop. J.R. and I are not doing any excursions – at all.
 
I probably sound like a bitch and a grump and I know it’s impossible to have fun when you go in with a pessimistic attitude - - - I just don’t think “cruising” is for me. I know for the amount of money we are spending we could go to Jamaica for a week and stay at a nice hotel on the beach and have money to eat great food and have a lot of fun. I need to try to have a positive attitude. PLEASE SOMEONE – TELL ME HOW WONDERFUL A CRUISE IS!
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I never mentioned that my house is on the market...

Posted

So I am telling you now :)
 
 
We’ve had it up for about 3 weeks now and we have had really good turnouts at the open house and the house has gotten GREAT reviews. As far as showings – we have only had 4.
 
The first guy loved the house – but he has 3 kids and he didn’t like that 2 bedrooms were in the basement. He didn’t even consider it.
 
The 2nd agent didn’t return our follow up call so I don’t have the feedback from it.
 
The 3rd loved it – but couldn’t afford it. We said we would look at all offers but she said she was looking for something 100k less. So why look at the house? Why sit on my bed when looking at the house – ewww.
 
The 4th looked at it yesterday and my Dad is friends with the showing agent. He talked to her this morning and she asked if we had it staged or if I always live that way. My Dad laughed and told her how anal I am and that yes, I do always live that way. Her client LOVED the house and used to live in the neighborhood before his job transferred him to Florida. He is now moving back and wants to be in our neighborhood. He has narrowed it down to 2 houses and ours is one of them. PLUS the agent has another client that she thinks it’s perfect for and is showing it to her this week.
 
We also have a neighbor who is considering buying it. They live 4 houses up and have an elderly mother that they are trying to convince to move in with them. They think it’s perfect and if they buy I don’t have to pay an agent commission AND we will be able to list her house and make some $$$. I really hope she buys it!
 
We are also having an agents open house on Thursday. I sent 550 emails out yesterday to every agent that works the lake and the 3 neighboring towns. I also faxed a flyer to 150 real estate offices. I really hope we have 100 agents turn out.
 
We are serving pulled pork BBQ with potato salad and a veggie tray. I’m also making banana pudding for dessert…yum. I was going to serve beer and wine but my Dad and husband talked me out of it. So we are just having bottled water, iced tea and lemonade.
 
There is a raffle for a gift card to Outback – they have to fill a survey out on what they think of the house and price, etc. in order to be entered in the drawing.
 
We are also offering a $1500 bonus to agents who sell the damn thing.
 
All of this is on the flyer.
 
So hopefully it’s sold within the next week.
 
 
 
I spent the morning working in the yard and I really enjoyed it.
 
I just hope that the flowers I planted don’t die!
 
The day before our first open house I planted flowers to give the yard freshness and color – they ALL died within 2 weeks.
 
Today I planted Calla Lilies because I love them SOOOO much (we had over 500 at my wedding) and I asked the lady at the nursery to tell me how to plant them and what to do to keep them alive – so I followed her instructions to the T and I’m praying they stay alive.
 
I know my limitations and I know what I can and can not do – planting ANYTHING is usually out of the question - so I usually only plant cheap annuals that are going to die in a month anyway.
 
 
 
If you want to check out the house the link to the virtual tour is here…
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And one day I promise I will make an entry about my wedding.


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I am a well oiled machine - ha.

Posted

J.R. is watching some crap on TV that I (QUEEN RENEE) do not care to see. I mean the new season of one of my absolute favorite shows Flip This House is on!
 
So I’m bored and I’m too tired to do anything around the house.
 
I just ate 2 Oreo’s.
 
Blah blah blah.
 
I don’t know why I am making a stupid entry.
 
 
 
I’ve been thinking a lot about babies this week (I know – I always think about babies – but this week it’s been like I’m on overload). It seems like everyone keeps asking us when we are going to have a damn kid and it’s driving me absolutely insane. It seems like everywhere I look or go society is telling me I’m not whole without a baby.
 
I think that I’m never going to get pregnant.
 
I’m sick of people making suggestions about how to get pregnant.
 
I’m sick of people rolling their eyes when I say that I want to adopt even if I can have kids.
 
A few years ago I asked my Mom if she would love a child I adopted as much as she loves my nieces and nephews – obviously she said she would – but I really do have my doubts.
 
I don’t care what people think of me – but then I do care. I do things my own way and anyone that has known me for even a short time knows that.
 
I think too much.
 
My thoughts jump around from one thing to another too much.
 
I cry too much.
 
I stress too much.
 
 
 
I am a well oiled machine.
 
I can do anything.
 
 
 
I am me.
 
I am confused.
 
Sometimes I still feel like a teenager.
 
Sometimes I feel like I’m eighty-three.
 
 
 
 
 
I feel empty – and I shouldn’t.
 
I don’t feel empty all the time – I don’t have that sad empty feeling – I’m not depressed – just little distressed.
 
I just don’t think it’s fair.
 
Why can I not get pregnant?
 
Why do I have to love babies so much and why do I want to be a mother so badly?
 
I
Just
Want
To
Be
A
Mommy
 
Why am I writing this?
 
I’m never going to post it.
 
Not on MySpace.
 
Everyone will see it.
 
People will think things.
 
And even though I don’t care what you think it’s not any of your business.
 
 
 
It’s not fair.
 
Life’s not fair.
 
Bitch bitch bitch
 
Whine whine whine
 
 
 
I want to watch Flip This House.
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Posted

Today is J.R. and I's 1 year anniversary.

It's been such a crazy year. We spent over 4 months waiting for our Grandfathers to die - then all the crap with my Grandfathers estate (that battle is in court, but it's been long and stressful) - All the crap that's gone on with J.R.'s younger brother - I've been really ill - my sister has been really ill - my Grandmother has been really ill - J.R.'s other Grandmother and Grandfather have been really ill and then his Grandfather died yesterday.

I just need a god damn break from all this stress.

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Posted

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Posted

I am so NOT ready for Christmas this year.

The basement still isn't finished - this process is SOOOOOOOOOO freakin' slow.

I'm never using these sheetrock/painters again.

I have hail damage on my roof - I'm getting a new one paid for by the lovely Travelers Insurance Company.

My tree is in my living room but isn't decorated.

I haven't wrapped one present.

I just slipped on the steps on my back porch and it hurt like hell.

 

I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season.

 

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Posted

http://www.realtor.com/FindHome/HomeListing.asp?frm=bymls&st=sc&mls=columbiasc&mlsid=COSC&mlsttl=Columbia&lid=180075&x=12&y=5&poe=realtor

That house is 2 houses away from mine

Mine is 800 square feet larger

Is completely updated with "tasteful" colors

And is only $40,000 more (when it FINALLY goes on the market)

I think they are asking too much for that house. There are no pictures...but trust me, it's hideous. The kitchen needs new appliances, counter tops and floors-along with the cabinets needing a coat or two of paint. The rest of the main living area is carpeted, while mine is hardwood floors. The master bath and closet has a funky floorplan that is smaller than mine and they put CARPET in the bathroom (huh?). Every light fixture in the house needs to be changed. The basement is finished, but all they made was a large bedroom and bath with a lot of closet space. They left a lot of it un-finished, and the funky floorplan makes is impossible to finish the rest and have it work as part of the space.

The only thing it has over mine is the backyard-it's nice (although it's smaller) it has a patio off the basement and it has the ajoining lot next door (although it's sold seperately).

I think having this house for sale next to mine is great...it's going to make my house look so much better...it's also going to help my house not look so high. Just updating the house will cost close to $40,000 and it still wouldn't be the size mine is.

 

I went to NYC a few weeks ago to visit a friend. I had a blast! I met Lauren (Blondebitchinny-I know she's not on here anymore).

blah blah blah

I'm at home and they are working on my basement right now. It's loud. I wanted to watch Days of our Lives and I couldn't hear the TV. I can't wait for this damn basement to get finished. I can't wait to put my Christmas decorations up.

I can't wait to sell this house.

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Posted

http://wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5704433

The officer shot is J.R.'s cousin.

He's going to be alright...and that's great.

I can't believe everything that has happened this year...I am SO ready for 2007.

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Posted

The stupid crack whore was pulled over for driving a car with no plates.

She had no drivers license and no insurance.

You can see her here...

http://jail.richlandonline.com/Services/ResearchOffenders/OffenderDetails/default.asp?OffenderID=102172&Image=102172_283594.jpg

She has several other warrants out for her arrest so she won't be getting out of jail anytime soon.

Some good things DO happen.

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Posted

I had fun at the concert...a blast actually.

 

Things have been CRAZY in my life over the last month. I lost A LOT of money on a deal I was working on and it's depressing and ego-shattering. I'm the only one that's freaking out about it-J.R. is looking at it as a learning experience for me...how freakin' sweet of him. It was something I was working on with someone else and it was something I was leary of doing from the begining. Everyone kept pushing me to do it and in theory it sounded like a great deal. It was just a lot of money to put up and it was with someone I didn't trust 100%. So now I am out of that money and when the house sells I won't be able to buy the kind of house I wanted. So instead of buying a home we are going to live in one of the many properties my Dad owns around town. That to me is depressing and makes me feel like a faliure. I should have just listened to my gut instincts and we wouldn't be in this mess. We aren't broke and we aren't in danger of bankruptcy or anything like that-we just can't afford the type of house I want and have the money we need for my business to succeed.

The fertility treament is just going. I feel sick constantly and I'm an emotional mess. I am determinded to have a decent nest egg built up before we have a baby and that's another reason we are going to stay in one of my Dads places.

Blah blah blah.

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