One week to go...

The papers are in, the insurance is purchased, the mortagage rate has been locked in.

It looks like we will have approval to close Tuesday and then actually have the closing next Friday!

As I figured, I have been spending quite a bit of time pricing out appliances, cabinets, countertops, carpeting, toilets, paint...all those things that make a house a home. I am pretty comfortable that I have it well figured out. We will walk away from the closing and then I will start making calls...lots of them. As the closing will be the 28th of Septmeber and we have to be out of our current cozy home no later than October 31, the clock will be ticking.

We are very fortunate that our timing is great.

Tim's Mom, both brothers and sister in law, Aunt, Uncle, cousin, other cousin, other cousin's wife plus other Aunt, Uncle and cousin, are all coming into town. They are here until Sunday after the closing.

We are hopeful that this extra help may give us the big push forward we so drastically need.

So, without further ado and not to jinx ourselves, but to give you a taste of what we are up against... some photos for you...

the oh so lovely kitchen

the downstairs bath...I know, you thought those things came with sinks?

What will soon be a fabulous walk in closet for the master bedroom

Like I said, who takes things like this???

So, I am thinking that for Halloween, Tim and I will dress up as new homeowners. Whadya think?

Moving on up....

No, not to the east side.
Although there was a time when I was auditioning for a musical back in college and we could pick any song we wanted to sing at the audition. Yep, I picked George and Louise's theme song. Hey, ya gotta have some fun with this stuff, right?

Anyway, after scouring the real estate market and having some good people with their eyes open for us, it looks like we have found our first purchase.
We have been eyeing the market even before we returned to the area. Prices in Saratoga have become, i don't know, ridiculous!
We found a great little townhouse, technically in Ballston Spa but 5 minutes from where we live now. It was in foreclosure and needs work. Hey, I think I know someone who can do that. I mean, I am a mean painter and all but remodeling kitchens...I will design it all day and find the best prices on appliances and all, but certainly don't know how to run piping! Tim does. Thank God!

So, on Friday night we got the call that our offer was accepted. Saturday we went over to take another, much more serious, look. Lots of photos and measurements were also taken.
I will be meeting with the mortgage person on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed.
If all goes well it will take some good timing (so we aren't living in the midst of a construction zone) and some well thought out purchasing so we make sure we fix it up as economically as possible. It is a foreclosure after all.
But, this should lead to some interesting posts for all of you (who still reads exactly, not sure...)
I can't post photos yet...wait till it is all official.
Then you will see the crazy work ahead of us.

By the way, in case any of you know this answer:
Who leaves personal products; say a razor, shampoo and your kids chair and dresser...
but spends the time to remove a fireplace mantle and several lighting fixtures and, oh yeah, a bathroom sink...

"Hi, we just foreclosed on our house, do you mind if we stay with you for a bit, we don't really have anyplace to go.
Oh yeah, do you mind if I put this sink in your living room? Hey, and do you have a chair for my baby to sit in?"

Ummmm, right. That's interesting.
Stay tunned....

We miss and love you Gram

Okay, it has been QUITE a while since I have sat down here to post something.

I really have no excuse. Life doesn't really cut it as we all have one.

So much has happened since March. Well, one would certainly hope so, wouldn't one? If I said I had been doing nothing but organizing my shoes and such you would be worried about me...at least I hope you would be worried about me...I don't have that many shoes.

Sometimes too much time passes and then you think it is too late. Maybe it has been 3 months since you called a friend and then you feel so bad because it has been so long and what really is your excuse going to be because none is good enough. Well, I have been thinking about this blog and my sheer neglect and have decided that it is certainly time and it doesn't matter how long it has been. I had thought that I would start chronologically...get you up to speed in order. That makes sense...therefore, that is not how I will be proceeding! Gotta keep you on your toes!

Good things, bad things, funny things, interesting things...all have happened.

However, there is one that is always on my mind; everyday. So, that is the one I have to start with.

On June 24th, the world became a little bit less fabulous.

Patricia Jandro, aka Gram, left us.

The hole that she left behind is immense.

She had not been feeling well and no one seemed to be able to figure out what was happening.

Tim flew to Arkansas on Saturday morning and I was able to get there late Sunday morning. What I can say is that she waited. At least for Tim. She was still alive when I got to the hospital and I have to believe in my heart that she knew I was there.

Her body, and I believe her heart and mind, were ready to go.

I don't have any grandparents anymore. Mine had all left before my senior year in high school.

I always envied Tim a bit that he had Pop (when we first met) and Gram. He had so many years with them and they meant so much to him. Gram was his second Mom. She quickly became my Gram too. Even before I met her in person we had spent many hours on the phone together.

I used to love calling her house. She would answer the phone and I would say "Hi Gram" and she always said "Well, hello Kathleen". The sound of her voice obviously can't come across here, but I hear it in my head. It was a welcoming, loving sound. It was the best part.

Gram had a great laugh. Not a laugh that is loud and makes peoples heads turn. Not a laugh that is a belly jiggler. But a tight, short laugh that was accompanied by an equally great smile. She had a beautiful sense of humor. She was opinionated and stubborn as can be and I loved that about her too; because even though she was both of those things, she also would listen to other points of view and was okay with having differences of opinions.

Gram was a very giving and kind person. Christmas was ridiculous at her house and that is just what she wanted and exactly what made her happy.

There isn't enough that I can say to describe this amazing woman. Trying to do so reminds me of when Tim and I first met and he attempted to describe her to me. You had to know her. To do so made you love her, without question.

I miss her everyday.

I think about her everyday.

I know she is looking over us...and I am sure, offering her opinion.

We love you Gram. Thank you.

Reality Check

Yesterday, Tim, Sarah, Mom and I went to the home show here in Saratoga. We walked around and checked out lots of vendors selling everything from shrubs to hot tubs, siding and gutters to solar panels. It was pretty cool, we got lots of ideas and Tim found new companies he can sub to.

Is this exciting...not really. But, what do you usually get at a home show...that's right, free rulers.

Bet you are excited now!

The point is, with a free ruler in one hand (fluorescent pink even) and a glass of wine in the other, it is always a good time to measure your sister's hair and see how much she will have left for her new hairdu after donating 12 inches...

Um, not much. In fact, not even really 1/2 an inch with which to create a new du. My new haircut seems that right now it would look a bit more like this:

Although there currently seem to be some celebrities that think this is totally the look for them right now, I just don't think I have the jaw line to pull this one off.

So, I guess it is all about ponytails and hair clips a bit longer than April.

A new fall du is always an option.

Latest and Greatest

So, faithful readers, you have now all come to realize that once every few weeks is about all you can expect. I promise to work on that.

That being said...Tim and I have both been out of our minds, ridiculously busy.

This pharma rep business has been crazy.

Good crazy. I have been enjoying my new challenges tremendously. I meet lots of great people everyday and feel good that I am helping doctors help patients.

My manager was riding with me and visiting offices with me the past two days. I learned a lot from him. AND, got a speeding ticket! Which, looks like I might get off of AND, I totally blamed on him which he agreed. So, hope that I get off because even though it was his fault, the points still won't go on his license!

To more fun topics...

For those of you who haven't seen us in a bit and those who don't know...my hair...

Well, it is long. It is actually a bit ridiculous if you ask me.

Several months back I realized that it was getting long. So, instead of cutting it, I decided to keep going. Why? You ask? Is it because Kathleen thinks the "Crazy Bushwoman Style" is back in. Oh No. I may be fashion handicapped, but that isn't it.

Once I realized how long it was, I decided to keep going.

So, in April, I will be sporting a new short spring du and will be sending my locks to Wigs for Kids. I set an appointment today back at the salon that I used to go to in New York. I will be cutting 12 inches off and sending it to an organization that makes wigs for kids; kids with cancer and other diseases that prohibit hair growth.

Locks for Love has received a lot of attention lately. However, when I checked them out I found out that they charge the children who receive their wigs based on a sliding scale of what their parents make. Wigs for Kids gives the wigs for free. The other thing I thought of is that for people with straight hair, theirs tends to grow a lot faster. So, they probably don't get that much curly hair.

So, here is where I stand now...it doesn't look that long, but remember, when you pull it straight, it is a world of difference...

A few months ago, I went with Sarah when she had her hair cut and while we were waiting, I found this photo in a magazine...

Although I am really not quite that pouty, I think the style might work for me...here is what I am thinking...

Krista and my new friend from training, Susan, are going to go with me to New York to have it done. Susan is from Ireland. I could listen to that girl read the ingredients on a cereal box her accent is so lovely! So, I will let you know what happens and post the photos.

In the meantime, Happy Birthday to our friend Adam who turned 30 yesterday...welcome to this side of the pond brother!

From left to right: Sarah, Me, Tim, Adam, Krista and Jason

Oh the whirlwind of life

Where to begin really...
You haven't heard from me in a bit because I have been, well, buried. In two senses of the word.
The week before last I was in Indianapolis training for my new job. It was a super intense week. I was up by 5:30 every morning and in bed about 11. The training was long and interesting and scientific and fun and hard. The crew that makes up the rest of my territory is wonderful. We spent a lot of time together and all wish that we were able to work together everyday. But, alas, it is me and my Impala hitting the road.
I learned so much about diabetes and became really excited about speaking with the doctors because, OH MY GOD!! This disease is insane. If it isn't under control, the havoc it can reak on the human body is horrible. I won't go into blood glucose levels and A1C readings and all of that. I am so happy to know that the two people I currently know who have to deal with this disease everyday ARE in control. There are 18.2 million people in the U.S. alone who are diagonsed with this disease. What is scarier than that number is the fact that there are 6.2 million walking around with diabetes who don't even know that they have it! To put that into perspective...that is the ENTIRE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS! This is no joke people!
I will get off my soapbox now, but, want all of you to know that I happen to know A LOT about diabetes now and am happy to share any information I have or can get with any of you.
This, people, is an epidemic.

Back to the buried...I finally was able to take a photo of the cars. Yep, plural, as I technically have two now which means I am really making up for lost time!



Ummmm, yeah, the first bump is the Audi, the second bump is the company Impala. And this my friends, is snow. This was about 1/3 of the way through the storm that we got last week and at this point the cars had both been cleaned off once already.
Here is some more for you...

This is looking one way down our street, you can see some of the other cars...


This is our neighbors, across the street. Yeah, this wasn't even 1/2 way through the storm! Needless to say, we got some snow!

This weekend was lovely. Much enjoyed for me after a crazy week of driving to see and meet doctors. AND, our friend Adam came to visit which means there was much merriment and fun for all.
I will try to post more often, I know I have been a slacker. Man, those docs take a lot out of you at the end of the day!

And, because they are beautiful and a nice way to end a post, I give you photos of the lovely flowers that were waiting for me when I got home from training...


Thanks Tim, you rock!

Sappy post ahead, look out!

In the last few months I have been privy to more than a few marital issues.
My parents were married for 36 years. My friend Tricki (name changed to save whatever) was married for 3+ years and my friend Bloz (name changed to also save whatever) was/is married for 1.5 years and on the verge of divorce.

So, apparently things change. I have been married for 3.5+ years, it will be 4 on September 26, 2007.

No one is perfect. Me included, I can say that about my self. I can be an immense pain, I know this.

Let me please just say that my husband can not breathe through his nose. Every morning I wake up and hear this loud breathing. IT'S LOUD! After that, he gets into the shower where he CLEARS HIS THROAT, several times, because he has allergies. He has allergies, that doesn't make the SOUND okay. I get it, I get why that crazy ass sound is coming out of the shower, he can't breathe, but man that doesn't make the sound less pleasant! But, when he gets out of the shower, he kisses me on the head and wakes me into the day and says "good morning", most of the time he doesn't even end it with "lazy butt, when are you getting up?" (but sometimes he does. He should read my blog more often, because then he would know that he shouldn't say that!)

All I am trying to say, or think, or whatever, is what Paul Newman said... He was interviewed once and the interviewer asked how he and his wife, Joanne Woodward, the actress, were able to stay together so long considering they were both in Hollywood. Paul thought about it and said "Every day I get up, I pack my lunch and I go to work". Obviously, he wasn't talking about his "real" job. I have always thought that that is a fantastic quote. A very poignent quote. I would also like to point out that Joanne went to work too. There has to be two.

I still consider Tim and I to be "newley wed". I try to tell him everyday how special he makes me feel and how much he means to me. I plan on continuing to do this until some sickness strikes me down so I can't speak (which will probably also be declared a national holiday)

I think that we have to look at all of the relationships that matter to us. Things do not happen without effort. All Things.

I really think that if we can all spend a tiny bit more time reminding those that we love, that are in our lives everyday, that they are special to us, and telling those that we maybe don't see everyday that they matter, and make a difference, perhaps the world would be a little bit nicer and really, isn't that the point?
No more marriages ending please. More time needs to be spent talking and caring and loving please.

Thank God it wasn't a Resolution

Blogging more regularly that is...I would've failed MISERABLY.

Well, Happy February anyway.
So, let's have a quick January recap, shall we?

Ohhhhh, where to begin.
I just looked at my calendar to see if that would jog my memory as to what the heck we did since I last filled you in. I had lots of meetings listed for the different volunteer activities I have signed myself up for. Let's see, the Universal Preservation Hall which I showed you earlier, the picture of the church, also the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga, I am helping to organize their annual fundraiser which is in August AND most recently, the Saratoga Arts Fest which is a weekend long arts event happening here in town in mid June with lots of various musical performances and art exhibitions. Tim has basically told me that I am not allowed to get involved in anything else! My favorite saying for a while is that I am the busiest unemployed person ever.

What a nice segue...so, not really unemployed anymore!
Yes, very exciting news. I have done a complete 180 and am starting a new path. I will be working with doctors in the area as a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep for Humalog, a diabetes medication. Still in sales which is why I say 180 and not 360. I started home based training on Monday and fly out to the Eli Lilly Corporate Offices on Sunday for more training all of next week. So far this week has seemed like a crazy Biology class for me. But, I am finding the information really interesting.

Funny how things happen in life that you can look back on later and see how they impact you so much more now than they did then. 2 summers ago we had a family reunion at my cousin Paul's house in Vermont. (It was 2 right? Was it 3? Wow, time goes by quick! Aunt Bev, was it 2 or 3?)
While there, my Uncle Felix, who is diabetic, was testing his sugar. Several of us were very interested in what he was doing...did it hurt? what do the numbers mean? That sort of thing. Well, Uncle Felix proceed to test the blood sugar of all of us so we could see for ourselves. Man, do I have a better understanding of all of that now!

Even though this new position is dramatically different from things I have done in the past, it is a really exciting new challenge for me. It also comes with some great perks...I don't sit in an office all day, I get to meet with interesting and different people everyday, they pay well and offer some great benefits so Tim and I no longer have to cut off one of our arms each month to pay for our own health insurance. Oh yeah, another perk...I am about to get a 2007 Chevy Impala...my paid for company car.

Nice segue number 2:
I sold my car when I move to NYC. Got myself a subway pass and was happy as could be. The problem with that is that when we moved back to Saratoga, that flimsy little Metro card didn't seem to get me anywhere at all! Yes, we had the van (for those of you new to this broadcast, please see photos in September of VERY LARGE RED VAN) but I simply can not be driving that thing around to get groceries. Yes, I can drive it, but park it? PLEASE!
So, after 5 years of being carless, Tim and I decided it was really time for me to get a car. It is much too cold for my bike and, let's face it, I am a bit lazy and really didn't want to be biking all over town either.

We were able to find exactly what I was looking for in a car and traded in the van. Two problems solved! Bye Bye van...hello wheels for K!
Here is a photo of what we got:

Okay, this is SO NOT FAIR...Blogger is not currently accepting my attempts to load images, so, you will have to wait for an image of my super cute and fun to drive Audi A4 Quattro with heated leather seats and sunroof and all that plus a bag of chips.

The point here really is that I went from having NO car for 5 years, to getting a used Audi and the commitment of a new Impala within two weeks of each other! Not sure yet what we are going to do with the Audi once I get the Pharma car. I am not going to need it. The company even expects you to use your company car for personal driving as well so it isn't even that I need to hang on to it for the weekends!
When it rains, it snows, cars at least!

Ummm, what else...I spent 5 solid days between the couch and the bed last week. I don't think I have ever been so sick. Feeling MUCH better now. It is amazing how something small like being able to breathe through your nose or swallow a mouthful of water can really change your outlook!

Tim received golf clubs and lessons for Christmas this year and took his first lesson last Saturday. He seems to be pretty exciting about it. I am too. I took lessons many years ago and actually have my own clubs. (Once I find them in my Mom's basement!) I think golf is something that we will be able to do and enjoy together. Think about it; it is a sport, which makes Tim happy. It is a sport in which you walk through a beautiful park like setting while playing, you hear birds chirpping, the ball goes AWAY from you and you don't sweat like with other sports, all things I like!

Okay, for now that is it. I apologize for the delay in posting. I have been out driving my new car and looking for my clubs, what can I say!
Happy February everyone and may this month bring more posting!