31 March

Image via Wikipedia

Each morning I receive an email update from Trulia with listing updates. This morning there was a very interesting bank owned property in Incline Village. I spent the next few hours emailing back and forth with my real estate agent in Incline. Thanks to her quick investigation, we found out that what I thought was a bargain was in fact a bargain that would entail about $300K in renovations. Ouch. Good news? It proved to me that when something does become available, I will move quickly.



My dear friend Larramie, dispenser of insight and wisdom called me out on 'hedging' my bets in yesterday's post....and she's right, when I want something dearly I often lose confidence and thus hedge to soften the blow of disappointment that I'm sure is just around the corner. So today I'm going to be brave, I am amending the last paragraph of that hedge-y post:



So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I WILL be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.



There. That's better. (fingers crossed!)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

31 March

Image via Wikipedia

Each morning I receive an email update from Trulia with listing updates. This morning there was a very interesting bank owned property in Incline Village. I spent the next few hours emailing back and forth with my real estate agent in Incline. Thanks to her quick investigation, we found out that what I thought was a bargain was in fact a bargain that would entail about $300K in renovations. Ouch. Good news? It proved to me that when something does become available, I will move quickly.



My dear friend Larramie, dispenser of insight and wisdom called me out on 'hedging' my bets in yesterday's post....and she's right, when I want something dearly I often lose confidence and thus hedge to soften the blow of disappointment that I'm sure is just around the corner. So today I'm going to be brave, I am amending the last paragraph of that hedge-y post:



So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I WILL be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.



There. That's better. (fingers crossed!)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

31 March

Image via Wikipedia

Each morning I receive an email update from Trulia with listing updates. This morning there was a very interesting bank owned property in Incline Village. I spent the next few hours emailing back and forth with my real estate agent in Incline. Thanks to her quick investigation, we found out that what I thought was a bargain was in fact a bargain that would entail about $300K in renovations. Ouch. Good news? It proved to me that when something does become available, I will move quickly.



My dear friend Larramie, dispenser of insight and wisdom called me out on 'hedging' my bets in yesterday's post....and she's right, when I want something dearly I often lose confidence and thus hedge to soften the blow of disappointment that I'm sure is just around the corner. So today I'm going to be brave, I am amending the last paragraph of that hedge-y post:



So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I WILL be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.



There. That's better. (fingers crossed!)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

30 March

Image by Luis Marín via Flickr

My brother was in town this weekend, so I had the opportunity to talk with him about my options in real estate.

I spent the weekend looking at condos by the beach in this area. My brother pointed out that if I was looking for a bargain, I should go a little further north along the coast where the market was even more depressed and would get even more for my money. He was right, there are some real bargains to be had on the coast about three hours north of here.

In the end, however, it came down to not just finding a bargain, but where I actually wanted to live. I imagined myself buying a place here and then when autumn came staring at the sea and wishing I was watching the leaves change. So I've decided to be at peace with my decision to move out west, specifically the Lake Tahoe area. Now I will focus on finding a job out west. My goal is to move by September so I have five months to find a job. I realize that in the end job opportunities may not come from Tahoe, I may get another one from the Denver market.

So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I hope that I will be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.

30 March

Image by Luis Marín via Flickr

My brother was in town this weekend, so I had the opportunity to talk with him about my options in real estate.

I spent the weekend looking at condos by the beach in this area. My brother pointed out that if I was looking for a bargain, I should go a little further north along the coast where the market was even more depressed and would get even more for my money. He was right, there are some real bargains to be had on the coast about three hours north of here.

In the end, however, it came down to not just finding a bargain, but where I actually wanted to live. I imagined myself buying a place here and then when autumn came staring at the sea and wishing I was watching the leaves change. So I've decided to be at peace with my decision to move out west, specifically the Lake Tahoe area. Now I will focus on finding a job out west. My goal is to move by September so I have five months to find a job. I realize that in the end job opportunities may not come from Tahoe, I may get another one from the Denver market.

So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I hope that I will be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.

30 March

Image by Luis Marín via Flickr

My brother was in town this weekend, so I had the opportunity to talk with him about my options in real estate.

I spent the weekend looking at condos by the beach in this area. My brother pointed out that if I was looking for a bargain, I should go a little further north along the coast where the market was even more depressed and would get even more for my money. He was right, there are some real bargains to be had on the coast about three hours north of here.

In the end, however, it came down to not just finding a bargain, but where I actually wanted to live. I imagined myself buying a place here and then when autumn came staring at the sea and wishing I was watching the leaves change. So I've decided to be at peace with my decision to move out west, specifically the Lake Tahoe area. Now I will focus on finding a job out west. My goal is to move by September so I have five months to find a job. I realize that in the end job opportunities may not come from Tahoe, I may get another one from the Denver market.

So, one decision has been made: my intention is to find a job and a house in the Lake Tahoe area. I hope that I will be able to find the successful combination of my intention and the realities of the job market, I will remain open to the best outcome.

Book of the Moment: Further Contemplations

Last week I wrote about my inability to enter the world of the novel, Gilead. I was disappointed because the book is beautifull written and well received. And yet, try as I might through forty pages, I was unable to enter the fictional world created by the author and thus I eventually gave up and put the book aside.

This past weekend, I spent a very enjoyable two days tearing through the pages of The Piano Teacher. The author captured my imagination with the first pages and I was happy to continue the journey to the end of the book even though the plot itself is fairly predictable. The weekend before, I had similar good luck when I read Astrid and Veronika, a novel that will stay with me longer than any other I've read recently simply because I related so closely to the intimately revealed characters and how intricately their relationship and their secrets are drawn through the pages of the novel.

And so this morning as I was driving to work I thought of my very different experiences of reading Gilead versus The Piano Teacher and as I did last Friday I wondered why....why was I drawn into one book as opposed to the other, both well-written. We could argue that Piano was more plot driven and Gilead relied more on the reader's ability to go slowly enough to develop a relationship with the characters. But, Astrid &Veronika had much the same character dependent tempo so that can't be it. Of course, I wanted to blame it on the author, one's ability to capture the attention in the first few pages, while the other asked for more time.

In the end, however, I believe there is another component, what I will call a 'book of the moment'. By this I mean that there are some books that we find or which find us at just the right time in our lives they fill a need or answer a question. And there are other books that come at the wrong time, our minds are simply not ready or willing to accept the invitation offered through the opening pages. These books must either be forgotten, or laid aside and left for another day, another place, another perspective that will only come with time and perhaps a change in circumstance. I imagine reading Gilead when I am sitting on the deck of my house out west, looking at the mountains, and there its spirit will be captured by my own right setting and right moment. And it will become the book of the moment.

27 March

Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

Maintaining my focus. Yesterday I had a conversation with a very dear friend. I've known Mrs. W. since I was eleven and started my swimming career. Her sons were on the same swim team and we attended the same middle school and high school. In the three years since my return from overseas, Mrs. W and I have renewed our friendship and enjoyed getting together once a week at a women's Bible study and a good hour or two of conversation afterwards. This week I informed her that I've decided to move in September, I've chosen that time because I'd like to spend the summer with Mom and because I've always felt that September was a great month for new endeavors and especially lucky for big moves.



Although I've been talking about moving for quite some time now, I believe that putting this date on the thing has made it more real for all of us. Mrs. W, who firmly believes that I should stay put, tried a new tactic this time: I should buy a place on the water here in South Florida, rather than out west, because the depressed real estate prices insured a good investment. Of course, loving the ocean as I do and especially having just spent the weekend by the beach, her suggestion was tempting. I'll even confess that I spent yesterday looking at beachfront condos online....and she's right, there are some real bargains out there. But last night, as I was walking Coco, one of my yorkies, I thought of how I would feel in September. Even from the grand ocean view of a new place I know my heart would be longing for the change of seasons.



So, I know it's time to move forward.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

27 March

Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

Maintaining my focus. Yesterday I had a conversation with a very dear friend. I've known Mrs. W. since I was eleven and started my swimming career. Her sons were on the same swim team and we attended the same middle school and high school. In the three years since my return from overseas, Mrs. W and I have renewed our friendship and enjoyed getting together once a week at a women's Bible study and a good hour or two of conversation afterwards. This week I informed her that I've decided to move in September, I've chosen that time because I'd like to spend the summer with Mom and because I've always felt that September was a great month for new endeavors and especially lucky for big moves.



Although I've been talking about moving for quite some time now, I believe that putting this date on the thing has made it more real for all of us. Mrs. W, who firmly believes that I should stay put, tried a new tactic this time: I should buy a place on the water here in South Florida, rather than out west, because the depressed real estate prices insured a good investment. Of course, loving the ocean as I do and especially having just spent the weekend by the beach, her suggestion was tempting. I'll even confess that I spent yesterday looking at beachfront condos online....and she's right, there are some real bargains out there. But last night, as I was walking Coco, one of my yorkies, I thought of how I would feel in September. Even from the grand ocean view of a new place I know my heart would be longing for the change of seasons.



So, I know it's time to move forward.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

27 March

Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

Maintaining my focus. Yesterday I had a conversation with a very dear friend. I've known Mrs. W. since I was eleven and started my swimming career. Her sons were on the same swim team and we attended the same middle school and high school. In the three years since my return from overseas, Mrs. W and I have renewed our friendship and enjoyed getting together once a week at a women's Bible study and a good hour or two of conversation afterwards. This week I informed her that I've decided to move in September, I've chosen that time because I'd like to spend the summer with Mom and because I've always felt that September was a great month for new endeavors and especially lucky for big moves.



Although I've been talking about moving for quite some time now, I believe that putting this date on the thing has made it more real for all of us. Mrs. W, who firmly believes that I should stay put, tried a new tactic this time: I should buy a place on the water here in South Florida, rather than out west, because the depressed real estate prices insured a good investment. Of course, loving the ocean as I do and especially having just spent the weekend by the beach, her suggestion was tempting. I'll even confess that I spent yesterday looking at beachfront condos online....and she's right, there are some real bargains out there. But last night, as I was walking Coco, one of my yorkies, I thought of how I would feel in September. Even from the grand ocean view of a new place I know my heart would be longing for the change of seasons.



So, I know it's time to move forward.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]">

Books that Make the Cut

Image via Wikipedia

I spent a good two weeks; actually the full time allotted by the library’s lending policy for bestsellers trying to read Gilead. It’s not the first time that I’ve checked the book out. And I know that it won’t be the last. It won the Pulitzer Prize, it’s received rave reviews, and as I slowly slogged through the first forty pages I admired the beautiful narrative voice. Yet, it simply didn't pull me in sufficiently to compel me to finish the story which I believe is more a reflection of the fact that some books must find their moment to be read.

I check out a lot of books from the library, unfortunately sometimes they all arrive at once and I have to choose which ones will be read and which will be sent back because their time is up. Other times, I read a terrific review and by the time the book arrives at my branch either my interest has waned or I’ve moved on to something else. Or maybe it’s as simple as the book for all its merits didn’t connect. This was the fate that befell Gilead.

It’s really a matter of serendipity. I’m in a particular mood, searching for an answer or conversely needing a respite from too much internal struggle so I turn to my current reading list for inspiration or relief. In the past month, I’ve read two novels, both recommendations from my friend, Keetha, who during the first week of each month blogs about the books she’s read in the past month. (As an aside, I must state two things: 1) the number of books Keetha reads in a month is awe inspiring, 2) she has wonderful literary taste and has been the source of some terrific recommendations, so I always look forward to her monthly review.) Last m

Cover via Amazon

onth, she reviewed and then I read Garden Spells and then Astrid and Veronika. The two books could not have been more different in mood or tone, and yet, I loved them both. Garden Spells is delicious and sweet and funny and will make you believe in magic. It was the perfect romantic get-away when I need a break from the overly-serious books that had clogged my cranial arteries. Astrid and Veronika will break your heart and mend it all between its slim covers as it describes the friendship between two women of different generations. I read it over the course of two beach soaked days last weekend when I went away to celebrate my birthday. The subject of leaving my mother was on my mind as I made decisions about my upcoming move and so this book was the perfect contemplation of the different life perspectives of two women facing very different stages in life.

Currently I’m reading The Geography of Bliss, which coincides nicely with my own search for a happy place to call home, Things I’ve Been Silent About: Memories, a compelling memoir which I started in book form and have mixed feelings about varying from appreciation to distrust of the author’s veracity, so it will be moving to audio format for a second chance before it suffers the same fate as Gilead. Finally, I’ve just started The Piano Teacher which I hope to finish this weekend because Out Stealing Horses (another in the Iceland/Nordic themed books that have captured my interest lately…Astrid and Veronika is set in Sweden) will be waiting for me at the library on Monday.

Tell me, what book have you stopped reading before it was done? And why?!

25 March

This is my dream house. It's located in Incline Village, on Apollo Way. Below is a picture of the beautiful views from the house. Here's a link if you'd like to see more pictures. Unfortunately, this house is currently out of my price range, although it has recently been reduced by $300K and the website says, "bring all offers"....although I'm not sure my offer would be accepted.

It is however nice to dream. Today has been one of those days when dreams are the better alternative to tears of disappointment.



Yes, it has been one of those days....I checked in at Amazon's website to see if my novel had made the first round of cuts in the Break Through Novel Contest. It did not. Later in the day, I received an email from Nikki Hardin of Skirt! informing me that she was unfortunately going to have to turn down my second submission to her magazine. I haven't decided yet which will be my third submission. During my lunch hour, I went to a local boutique to try on a dress for an upcoming wedding I have to attend, when I couldn't find anything I liked, the sales woman suggested I might have to start walking more....I believe she was suggesting I step up my exercise routine.

Back at my office, staring at the computer screen and realizing I didn't know what step to take next in the elusive house search I decided it might be better to leave for the day rather than burst into tears in front of one of the partners. So I've come to my neighborhood library which thankfully is open until 8pm tonight. I've now spent the last six hours in front of my laptop searching real estate websites, job boards, and wondering why some people make success look so darn easy (I'm referring to the profile in this month's More (about women who made it big after 40) and whether I will ever be able to a) make another wise decision in my life about where I should move and what I should do once I get there, and b) ever experience a modicum of success and satisfaction akin to what I experienced as a swimmer in high school in the job front, or whether I am simply destined to a life of failure and downward sloping expectations. Of course when it does get this bad I start berating myself for feeling this depressed, surely this confirms that I am indeed a failure, because someone who was destined for success would never have such fatalistic thoughts.

But you see this house? I'm afraid it's like an affirmation that my dreams are too big, I want too much. I should be the girl who can settle for less, a little condo in the corner, a little job at the library perhaps? Those big dreams I had before? Maybe those are for other people, the ones who try something and 'voila!' it works out. On days like this, I am afraid that my dreams will never come true, that I have asked too much of the universe, that I used up my portion of magic years ago...

On a more productive note: I contacted the rental agent in Incline Village and received a list of rentals that would be 'pet friendly' since I will be bringing my two yorkies. I've also inquired about a short sale condo that is so inexpensive it might make sense to buy it in lieu of renting. On the other hand, I also spent the day looking at property in Montana.

25 March

This is my dream house. It's located in Incline Village, on Apollo Way. Below is a picture of the beautiful views from the house. Here's a link if you'd like to see more pictures. Unfortunately, this house is currently out of my price range, although it has recently been reduced by $300K and the website says, "bring all offers"....although I'm not sure my offer would be accepted.

It is however nice to dream. Today has been one of those days when dreams are the better alternative to tears of disappointment.



Yes, it has been one of those days....I checked in at Amazon's website to see if my novel had made the first round of cuts in the Break Through Novel Contest. It did not. Later in the day, I received an email from Nikki Hardin of Skirt! informing me that she was unfortunately going to have to turn down my second submission to her magazine. I haven't decided yet which will be my third submission. During my lunch hour, I went to a local boutique to try on a dress for an upcoming wedding I have to attend, when I couldn't find anything I liked, the sales woman suggested I might have to start walking more....I believe she was suggesting I step up my exercise routine.

Back at my office, staring at the computer screen and realizing I didn't know what step to take next in the elusive house search I decided it might be better to leave for the day rather than burst into tears in front of one of the partners. So I've come to my neighborhood library which thankfully is open until 8pm tonight. I've now spent the last six hours in front of my laptop searching real estate websites, job boards, and wondering why some people make success look so darn easy (I'm referring to the profile in this month's More (about women who made it big after 40) and whether I will ever be able to a) make another wise decision in my life about where I should move and what I should do once I get there, and b) ever experience a modicum of success and satisfaction akin to what I experienced as a swimmer in high school in the job front, or whether I am simply destined to a life of failure and downward sloping expectations. Of course when it does get this bad I start berating myself for feeling this depressed, surely this confirms that I am indeed a failure, because someone who was destined for success would never have such fatalistic thoughts.

But you see this house? I'm afraid it's like an affirmation that my dreams are too big, I want too much. I should be the girl who can settle for less, a little condo in the corner, a little job at the library perhaps? Those big dreams I had before? Maybe those are for other people, the ones who try something and 'voila!' it works out. On days like this, I am afraid that my dreams will never come true, that I have asked too much of the universe, that I used up my portion of magic years ago...

On a more productive note: I contacted the rental agent in Incline Village and received a list of rentals that would be 'pet friendly' since I will be bringing my two yorkies. I've also inquired about a short sale condo that is so inexpensive it might make sense to buy it in lieu of renting. On the other hand, I also spent the day looking at property in Montana.

25 March

This is my dream house. It's located in Incline Village, on Apollo Way. Below is a picture of the beautiful views from the house. Here's a link if you'd like to see more pictures. Unfortunately, this house is currently out of my price range, although it has recently been reduced by $300K and the website says, "bring all offers"....although I'm not sure my offer would be accepted.

It is however nice to dream. Today has been one of those days when dreams are the better alternative to tears of disappointment.



Yes, it has been one of those days....I checked in at Amazon's website to see if my novel had made the first round of cuts in the Break Through Novel Contest. It did not. Later in the day, I received an email from Nikki Hardin of Skirt! informing me that she was unfortunately going to have to turn down my second submission to her magazine. I haven't decided yet which will be my third submission. During my lunch hour, I went to a local boutique to try on a dress for an upcoming wedding I have to attend, when I couldn't find anything I liked, the sales woman suggested I might have to start walking more....I believe she was suggesting I step up my exercise routine.

Back at my office, staring at the computer screen and realizing I didn't know what step to take next in the elusive house search I decided it might be better to leave for the day rather than burst into tears in front of one of the partners. So I've come to my neighborhood library which thankfully is open until 8pm tonight. I've now spent the last six hours in front of my laptop searching real estate websites, job boards, and wondering why some people make success look so darn easy (I'm referring to the profile in this month's More (about women who made it big after 40) and whether I will ever be able to a) make another wise decision in my life about where I should move and what I should do once I get there, and b) ever experience a modicum of success and satisfaction akin to what I experienced as a swimmer in high school in the job front, or whether I am simply destined to a life of failure and downward sloping expectations. Of course when it does get this bad I start berating myself for feeling this depressed, surely this confirms that I am indeed a failure, because someone who was destined for success would never have such fatalistic thoughts.

But you see this house? I'm afraid it's like an affirmation that my dreams are too big, I want too much. I should be the girl who can settle for less, a little condo in the corner, a little job at the library perhaps? Those big dreams I had before? Maybe those are for other people, the ones who try something and 'voila!' it works out. On days like this, I am afraid that my dreams will never come true, that I have asked too much of the universe, that I used up my portion of magic years ago...

On a more productive note: I contacted the rental agent in Incline Village and received a list of rentals that would be 'pet friendly' since I will be bringing my two yorkies. I've also inquired about a short sale condo that is so inexpensive it might make sense to buy it in lieu of renting. On the other hand, I also spent the day looking at property in Montana.

19 March

Image by bespoke via Flickr

Today is my birthday. Tomorrow I'm going away for the weekend...I'll see you all on Monday!

19 March

Image by bespoke via Flickr

Today is my birthday. Tomorrow I'm going away for the weekend...I'll see you all on Monday!

19 March

Image by bespoke via Flickr

Today is my birthday. Tomorrow I'm going away for the weekend...I'll see you all on Monday!

18 March

Today we are exploring the Flathead Lake region of northwest Montana. This area includes Kalispell and Whitefish.

As you can see, the area is very lush, lots of trees, lakes and views.

I've just started a search of the area, but already I can tell that it offers an interesting variety of homes in my price range.


This home, which has some incredibly interesting details inside is listed at $395,000.


And this one, sits on 2 acres and looks as if it was custom designed by an architect, and is listed at a very reasonable $375,000.

I think I'm going to do some further research on this area.

18 March

Today we are exploring the Flathead Lake region of northwest Montana. This area includes Kalispell and Whitefish.

As you can see, the area is very lush, lots of trees, lakes and views.

I've just started a search of the area, but already I can tell that it offers an interesting variety of homes in my price range.


This home, which has some incredibly interesting details inside is listed at $395,000.


And this one, sits on 2 acres and looks as if it was custom designed by an architect, and is listed at a very reasonable $375,000.

I think I'm going to do some further research on this area.