When we first put the house on the market 11 months ago, the thought crossed my mind to blog about the adventures of buying and selling in this awful real estate market in SE Michigan. It was a fleeting thought that I never followed through with. Today, I wish I had started that blog. For the most part, we've had nothing but positive feedback from the realtors who have shown our home. The house "shows well," is "priced right," and is "tastefully decorated."
Yet, strange things have happened to us over the course of the last 11 months, and I wish I had written about them so that someday, when this whole mess is over, we can sit back and laugh about the process. Everyone who has come through our house has "loved it, but... ." For one family, presumably Muslims, they absolutely "loved" the house, but "the room that they'd use as a their 'prayer room' wasn't big enough and didn't face the right way." Okay....
There have been other similarly unusual "excuses," but unfortunately, I can't think of them at the moment. We've also had more "traditional" excuses. The most often sited one is "they'd like a bigger yard with more privacy." I understand the "more privacy" issue, but we live in a normal subdivision, and I don't think we have any less privacy than anyone else in the neighborhood, so if privacy is what these people are looking for, then they shouldn't really be looking in a subdivision like ours in the first place. As for the "bigger yard," I don't get that one. I don't have our lot dimensions handy, but just by looking at our yard compared with most of our neighbors, we have one of the biggest lots. Mainly, this is an optical illusion. There are quite a few ranches and split level homes in this area where the homes' "footprints" are larger. Our house is a traditional colonial, so our house takes up less of a "footprint" which makes our yard appear twice as big as most of our neighbors' yards.
The other thing that has annoyed me about the process of selling in this market is the agents who show up early. Usually it's only 5 or 10 minutes or so, and that's not a big deal. I once had someone show up 35 minutes early. I thought that was bad, until today.
Today, the agent and his client showed up an hour early!! I spotted the agent and his client walking around the house and went out to greet them. I said that my agency told me the appointment was for 11-11:30. He acknowledged that they "might be running a little early" as he glanced at his appointment sheet. I apologized (why I apologized to him for his being early, I'm not sure, it's just my nature) and said that my kids were just finishing up breakfast, and I had to get them dressed. My little one usually gets up around 6:45, but today, she decided to sleep in until 9:45... of all days. So I scrambled around, threw dishes in the dishwasher, got the kids dressed, fixed the little one's bed, and ran out the door as fast as I could... seven minutes, flat. Thankfully I was mostly prepared for the showing. I had just finished vacuuming the rug under the kitchen table, everything else was in good order. It was still early enough in the morning that the kids hadn't pulled out half of their toys, yet.
I don't know why the agents are showing up early. I think many homes that they go into are empty, so they don't think anything of it. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that some do it on purpose, to see if they can catch a homeowner off-guard and unprepared for a showing.
I really hope these people come back for a second look. I've gotten into the habit of baking cookies for people who come back for a second look. I like to bake them shortly before they are scheduled to arrive so that the smell of fresh baked goods still lingers in the air. If these particular people schedule a second showing, I might have to bake the cookies the night before.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Day 28: Not that sore
I went to bed last night thinking that I could already feel the "soreness" coming on. I even contemplated taking a few asprin just to ward off some of the soreness, but I didn't. This morning, I'm not as sore as I thought I would be. I remember the day after my first session with M, I could not even raise my arms above my head, and I also remember by shins feeling like they were on fire. Today, my shoulders are sore and so are my abs, but that's about it. I did 30 minutes of Yoga and 10 minutes of Pilates abs earlier. I know my abs are sore because I could barely get through "The Hundred" which is usually not that hard for me. I'm glad I did the Yoga, my body needed the stretching.
On an unrelated note, I made Leek soup last night. It turned out really good. I thought it would be a good thing to have for lunch and dinner tonight so I don't eat meat today, Good Friday.
On an unrelated note, I made Leek soup last night. It turned out really good. I thought it would be a good thing to have for lunch and dinner tonight so I don't eat meat today, Good Friday.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
First training session report
My first session with the trainer went pretty well. I don't think he expected me to be as strong as I was. Some of the things he had me do were pretty basic, but I'm sure it will get harder in the next few sessions, and I'm even more certain I will be sore tomorrow.
I can't remember everything we did in the exact order, but I'm going to try to give a full report so I can try to keep track of what we're doing. At least for today, it wasn't about completing "x" number of push ups or squats, etc, is was about exerting good effort for 45 seconds and doing as many repetitions as I could.
The way the 2 on 1 training works is that there is one trainer working 2 of us for one hour. I started with a warm up on the treadmill for about 10 minutes while the other person worked with the trainer. When it was my turn to work with the trainer, I did three circuits of each of the following for about 45 seconds each: (1) push ups off a bar, (2) double arm rows with resistance bands, (3) and mountain climbers holding onto a bar. Then it was back to the treadmill for about 12 minutes. The workout continued with and additional 3 circuits of (1) squats with a 15 pound weight and (2) a squat/arm press up with two 7 pounders. He also had me do intervals of knee ups. Then it was back to to the treadmill for another 8 minutes. We finished up with ab work which consisted mainly of doing sit ups while catching and throwing a 6 pound medicine ball. I think I did a total of 36 sit ups on each side. He also had me do a dead lift-squat combo. I think there were 1 or 2 other exercises in there, but I can't think of them at the moment.
All in all, I think it was a good workout. I used heavier weights than I would have doing it here at home. I also pushed myself harder than I would have at home, and that is what I need. Aaron said he'd give me some interval training to do while I'm on the treadmill, today all I did was walk at pace of 3.5 mph on a 5% incline. I'd like to run on the treadmill, but I didn't want to over do it on my first day.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a day off; I might do some Yoga, we'll see how sore I am in the morning.
I can't remember everything we did in the exact order, but I'm going to try to give a full report so I can try to keep track of what we're doing. At least for today, it wasn't about completing "x" number of push ups or squats, etc, is was about exerting good effort for 45 seconds and doing as many repetitions as I could.
The way the 2 on 1 training works is that there is one trainer working 2 of us for one hour. I started with a warm up on the treadmill for about 10 minutes while the other person worked with the trainer. When it was my turn to work with the trainer, I did three circuits of each of the following for about 45 seconds each: (1) push ups off a bar, (2) double arm rows with resistance bands, (3) and mountain climbers holding onto a bar. Then it was back to the treadmill for about 12 minutes. The workout continued with and additional 3 circuits of (1) squats with a 15 pound weight and (2) a squat/arm press up with two 7 pounders. He also had me do intervals of knee ups. Then it was back to to the treadmill for another 8 minutes. We finished up with ab work which consisted mainly of doing sit ups while catching and throwing a 6 pound medicine ball. I think I did a total of 36 sit ups on each side. He also had me do a dead lift-squat combo. I think there were 1 or 2 other exercises in there, but I can't think of them at the moment.
All in all, I think it was a good workout. I used heavier weights than I would have doing it here at home. I also pushed myself harder than I would have at home, and that is what I need. Aaron said he'd give me some interval training to do while I'm on the treadmill, today all I did was walk at pace of 3.5 mph on a 5% incline. I'd like to run on the treadmill, but I didn't want to over do it on my first day.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a day off; I might do some Yoga, we'll see how sore I am in the morning.
Day 27: First Day
Today is my first session with my new personal trainer. As I've written a few times, I have high expectations. This morning, the scale said 138 lbs. I weighed myself at the exact same time as yesterday morning, so I can't explain the 2 lb weight loss. I'm hoping that I'll start seeing the scale keep going down, as opposed to hovering around 138/140.
I will report back on my session later this afternoon.
I will report back on my session later this afternoon.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
How many calories...
do you burn while folding laundry for 2 hours straight?!? I have to imagine it's like one thousand, at least! All week, I've had three laundry baskets of clean clothes staring at me wondering when I'd have to time fold it and put it away. Finally, I enlisted the help of two surprisingly willing young helpers, and we got about 85% of the job done. All of the laundry is folded and the kids' laundry is put away. (Although, I just took the last basket upstairs and went to inspect the job done by my off-spring. Let's just say their efforts leave a little to be desired, but for a 5 and 3 year old, I won't complain, too much.) My stuff along with K's still needs to be put away, but I'll do that tonight before bed.
The impetus for this folding frenzy? We have a showing! We'll see what comes of this one. We haven't had a showing in over a week, so the house has gone a little topsy turvy (hence 2 hours worth of laundry folding), so I have a bit of work to do, the most disgusting of which is cleaning the cat vomit I just discovered in the basement. I had no idea he was even down there recently. I don't think I'll be enlisting any helpers for that task.
The impetus for this folding frenzy? We have a showing! We'll see what comes of this one. We haven't had a showing in over a week, so the house has gone a little topsy turvy (hence 2 hours worth of laundry folding), so I have a bit of work to do, the most disgusting of which is cleaning the cat vomit I just discovered in the basement. I had no idea he was even down there recently. I don't think I'll be enlisting any helpers for that task.
Day 26: Just Yoga and Disappointment
Today was going to be an off day, but when I was only able to get in Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred video yesterday, I decided to move the Yoga to this morning. I did 30 minutes of Yoga Sculpt from Exercise TV On Demand (yep, still working) followed by 10 minutes of Pilates Abs. It always amazes me how much I sweat when I do yoga. I mean, I was dripping all over my mat. I hope this means that I'm doing it right, and I'm working all my muscles hard. Even though I haven't done a yoga routine in, gosh, about a week, I still feel pretty strong.
Disappointment: I weighed myself this morning... 140 lbs. I just don't get it. I have been eating well, I think. I keep track in a journal of everything I eat. I average about 1100 calories per day. Some days I eat 1000 calories, and other days, I eat 1200. On weekends, it's harder to stay within the 1000-1200 calorie range, but that's not unusual for anyone trying to lose weight. Fortunately, I'm able to take comfort in the following: I feel great! I feel strong, and I've noticed that I have more energy than I did a few weeks ago, when I was complaining about feeling tired all the time. It feels like my "tummy bulge" is getting smaller. In fact, today I am wearing a pair of jeans that previously I was unable to zip. I guess I need to focus on the positve and not dwell on the number on the scale, but that's easier said than done.
Tomorrow is my first session with the personal trainer. I purchased 8 sessions, and I plan to go twice a week. At the end of those 8 sessions, assuming I've seen progress, I will purchase another 8 sessions. They are running a 2 for 1 special that ends at the end of April. Those 16 sessions should get me to the end of May, after that I will have to evaluate what to do from there: continue with the personal trainer or join the rec center gym and try to continue on my own or some combination thereof. The problem is the personal trainer will get really expensive, so I need to be really close to my goal in order to justify the expense. I have high expectations, so we'll see what the next 2 months holds.
Disappointment: I weighed myself this morning... 140 lbs. I just don't get it. I have been eating well, I think. I keep track in a journal of everything I eat. I average about 1100 calories per day. Some days I eat 1000 calories, and other days, I eat 1200. On weekends, it's harder to stay within the 1000-1200 calorie range, but that's not unusual for anyone trying to lose weight. Fortunately, I'm able to take comfort in the following: I feel great! I feel strong, and I've noticed that I have more energy than I did a few weeks ago, when I was complaining about feeling tired all the time. It feels like my "tummy bulge" is getting smaller. In fact, today I am wearing a pair of jeans that previously I was unable to zip. I guess I need to focus on the positve and not dwell on the number on the scale, but that's easier said than done.
Tomorrow is my first session with the personal trainer. I purchased 8 sessions, and I plan to go twice a week. At the end of those 8 sessions, assuming I've seen progress, I will purchase another 8 sessions. They are running a 2 for 1 special that ends at the end of April. Those 16 sessions should get me to the end of May, after that I will have to evaluate what to do from there: continue with the personal trainer or join the rec center gym and try to continue on my own or some combination thereof. The problem is the personal trainer will get really expensive, so I need to be really close to my goal in order to justify the expense. I have high expectations, so we'll see what the next 2 months holds.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Day 25: Resolution and a Tummy Ache
First, the Exercise TV issue seems to have resolved itself. The On Demand menu returned to normal, and Exercise TV was right where it was supposed to be this morning when I woke up to work out. Unfortunately, my stomache did not cooperate. I started a warm up routine, but I broke out in a cold sweat and I felt like I was going to pass out, so I stopped and went back to bed to see if the issue would resolve itself, which it kind of did. I took a shower, and that seemed to help.
This morning, after computer lab, I was able to do Level 2 of Jillian's 30 Day Shred with 5 pound weights. I haven't used 5 pounders in a while for the 30 Day Shred, and it was hard, but I feel good.
I haven't stepped on the scale lately. I know I need to, I'm just scared. I'm working so hard and trying to eat healthy, that I will be so discouraged if the scale hasn't moved downward. That said, I think I'll weight myself tomorrow morning.
This morning, after computer lab, I was able to do Level 2 of Jillian's 30 Day Shred with 5 pound weights. I haven't used 5 pounders in a while for the 30 Day Shred, and it was hard, but I feel good.
I haven't stepped on the scale lately. I know I need to, I'm just scared. I'm working so hard and trying to eat healthy, that I will be so discouraged if the scale hasn't moved downward. That said, I think I'll weight myself tomorrow morning.
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