Wanna Buy My House??!

Yep, I've decided that trying to sell your home SUCKS!! Not only that, but it's a lot of work.

I've always loved my house, from the day I moved in and if it wasn't for the fact that it's in Quebec, I'd definitely stay. It's just too tempting to move back to Ottawa though. It would be like giving myself a raise of a few grand a year instead of giving it to Revenue Quebec in taxes. (Rather put that on a mortgage than give it to them!)

Back to the selling thing though. I live in a project that is still in development so I'm competing against all these spanking brand new homes. I was one of the pioneers in this project so my place is now almost 12 years old. Soooo, instead of my house being as beautiful as I think it is, all I get is negative feedback after it's compared to all these perfect, pristine places that have barely been lived in. It's certainly been a bit discouraging and somewhat of a wakeup call. I guess it just hurts that no one will love my house the way I do. This is my first home and I did it all by myself!!

Now for the work part...yes the housecleaning kind. I don't consider myself to be a slob, but when it comes to "showtime" we're talking spic & span. Sinks sparkling, furniture dust free, floors gleaming (no dust bunnies allowed), beds made, dishes done, laundry hidden, etc. etc. (I feel for people with kids!) You don't want to turn down any showing, cause it just might be the one!...Now if I could just keep Joe off the kitchen counter...white cat hair - charcoal counter top...hmmm. And as for Joe, I had to post a sign on my basement door (note - litterbox is in the basement) During one showing while I was at work, the agent closed the basement door...OOPS!
I came home to find Mattie locked in the basement and Joe - no access to the litterbox. Well, all I can say is I was not impressed with having to clean up poop off my brand new hardwood floor!

Not sure how I feel about strangers poking through my life either but I guess that's the game! And yes, I've stopped looking for a new place to fall in love with. Until I sell this place, I don't need the additional disappointment of losing a place because someone hasn't yet fallen under the spell of my current house!

Wish me luck cause I need all I can get.

Not Another Charlie Cat!!!

A couple of years ago (when I still had 4 cats) I was also feeding the neighbourhood strays. Elmo, who was a muscled, white, un-neutered male, and left behind when his owners moved and then there was Charlie.

I don't know what Charlie's name actually was but he looked like a Charlie to me. He was a little black kitten that lived? across the street but his owners were very non-committal. They wanted him, they didn't, and he was eventually also left behind when they moved. He answered to the name of Charlie when I called him and he was always in one of the neighbours yards. I'm sure all he wanted was a place to call home and someone to love him. He was affectionate, chatty and waaay too little to be on his own.

I would feed Charlie and he would break my heart when I would see him curl up on one of my patio chair for the night. OMG 4 cats!!...do I dare make it 5!!!? That was the question I seriously pondered...but I wasn't alone. Another neighbour across the street, who also had 4 cats, was concerned about Charlie and was condsidering the same thing. We would discuss which of us would eventually take him in or whether or not we could find him a home.

Thankfully, Celine found someone who just lost their cat and was willing to take Charlie. In the interim Celine took Charlie into her home and kept him in a spare bedroom away from her other cats. Suprisingly, being an outdoor cat, Charlie was quite content being kept in his own room which only reinforced my belief that he only wanted a loving home.

Charlie has adapted quite well with his new owner and has been renamed Vintage. (Personally, I like Charlie better.) And as an aside, I don't believe Elmo is with us anymore. He completely disappeared during the winter months.

Now, just the other week I saw this little stripey, gray thing chasing a bug on my front lawn, then later saw him sitting in my backyard. Just the other morning as I was leaving for work, there he was out front. Skinny little teenager running up my front steps meowing good morning. Reminding me of...DAMN...you better have an effing home to go to!!!

I know he was back today, cause Joe chased him up the tree in our backyard. I wonder if he'll be back of if he'll go "home"? Two is enough and I don't think I can go through integrating another one into the family.

Yes, this is my Joe though he's twice this size now. I'm surprised he made it up the tree and back down. Calling the Fire Department to get him down might have been interesting though...I hear they are all they're cracked up to be!!

TA DAH!!

Ok Raina, now you've done it! Here I am with my very own blog and trying to figure it all out.

I don't know that i'll have anything too exciting or entertaing to write about but I do enjoy a good rant every now and then. I'll just have to get the digital camera now to add in updated pics every once in a while...since the only pics I have are mostly ones that you've taken! (Yes, I need an excuse to spend more money :)

Alright, after midnight and whatever creativity I may have had is drained from trying to get this thing set up.

Adieu, good night, be back soon!