Being Busy Hanukkah Sameach, Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year

Sorry for the lack of updates. Sometimes I feel like I married my office. Lately, I haven't really left it before 9pm almost on a daily base. I also started swimming again and I am busy looking for a Orthopedic Surgent for my Hallux Valgus (Yes I wanna get this done, before I leave). 

Oh and for those of you, who wonder, yup... I am still "misting out"... aka trying to say "bye bye" to things I never need again. lol.. it's harder than I thought and I have still sooo much... gosh.... where did it all come from? (I suspect my Boss Barbara to sneak into my house and fill it up with junk, so I am not able to leave Israel EVER.. rofl) ;) 

Barbs... my dear.... You want me to go to the USA.... after all, you'll have a nice guest room waiting for you there in B'more.. you know.. the city close to that other city, where a very handsome new President is moving in to a very white house. (Is the "white house" politically correct??? I doubt that... lol)

Anyways... due to the fact, that I did work so many hours the last few months, it will all take more time. So far, I actually enjoyed the winter in Israel (I think thats the first time in all those years I live here) and I am not angry, to wait with the move until the sun shows it's pretty face again in B'more. :) 

PS. I have to get in good swimming shape, if I want to make a good impression on MP... or.. should I go with Plan B too??? "Drowing Turtle"?? hahahaha

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Still Cleaning Out

I am still cleaning out every weekend. Incredible how much stuff one person can have..... and I have to admit, that it isn't always easy to throw things away. Happy memories you wanna hold on .. but.. how much is too much?
So I try to be strong every weekend anew and get rid of things that once were part of my life. But every now and then, I find a little piece of "memory" that amuses me or makes me smile, things I have long forgotten. Those are the things I for sure wanna keep and will take with me. Such as old "love letters, that I never sent", pictures from my childhood, letters from my great-grandmother sent to my grandmother, prices I won during my active time as a "junior jockey"... well I guess you get the pic.
Things I love to destroy... such as pics of old boyfriends, bad school tests, old school books....

Ah.. I give myself another month... then I wanna start renovating and then put the house on the market.. :o) (can't wait)

Every bag of garbage that I throw away, is a step closer to B'more.... that's all I have to keep in mind... to get me going... and.. so far, it works very well.. my mom would be proud of me ;) rofl..

Some more crazy MD Laws.. rofls..

Maryland
• Baltimore City: Though you may spit on a city roadway, spitting on city sidewalks is prohibited. You may not curse inside the city limits. 
• Baltimore: It's illegal to throw bales of hay from a second-story window within the city limits. It's illegal to take a lion to the movies. It is a park rule violation to be in a public park with a sleeveless shirt. $10 fine. This would include joggers that go shirtless. (1898) -Park Rule 6 

• It is a violation of city code to sell chicks or ducklings to a minor within 1 week of the Easter holiday. 
• Baltimore has regulations governing the disposal of hog's heads, pet droppings and oyster shells. 
• Columbia: You can not have a antenna exposed outside of your house yet you can have a 25' satellite dish. Though clotheslines are banned, clothes may be draped over a fence. 
• Eating while swimming in the ocean is prohibited.
• Gypsies should steer clear of Caroline County, Md., where it's a $100 fine or six months in the can for "forecasting or pretending to foretell the future." 
• In Baltimore it's illegal to block the sidewalk with a box. But the offense only carries a $1 fine. Another law makes it illegal to throw bale of hay (or of anything else) out a second-story window. That gets you a $20 fine. 

• In Baltimore it's illegal to play professional croquet before 2 p.m. Sunday. The law also applies to professional quoits.

• In Baltimore it is illegal to mistreat oysters. 
• In Baltimore, it is illegal to wash or scrub sinks no matter how dirty they get.
• In Baltimore, Maryland, it is not legal to take a lion to the movies. 
• In Halethrope, Maryland kisses longer than one second are illegal. 
• In Maryland, a woman may not go through her husband's pockets while he is sleeping.
• In Maryland, men may not buy drinks for female bartenders. 
• In Maryland, it is illegal to sell condoms from vending machines with one exception: prophylactics may be dispensed from a vending machine only "in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises." 
• In Maryland, the legislature once proposed a board of parachute examiners to be made up of five licensed parachute instructors who would test and license all other parachute instructors. The plan had been abandoned when it was learned there were only three licensed parachute instructors in the state. 
• In the entire state of Maryland, it is illegal to give or recieve oral sex. 
• It is a violation to be in a public park with a sleeveless shirt. $10 fine.
• It's illegal to take a lion to the movies.
• Maryland now requires that alcohol beverage writers be certified as experts by an agency of the state before they can receive product samples, which it limits to three bottles per brand. 
• Ocean City: A law from the early 1900's prohibits men from going topless on the Boardwalk. Eating while swimming in the ocean is prohibited
• Thistles may not grow in one's yard. 
• You can not have a antenna exposed outside of your house yet you can have a 25' satellite dish. 
• You cannot swear while inside the city limits of Baltimore. 
• You cannot throw a bail of hay out of a second story window in Annapolis.
• You may not curse inside the city limits.

Some News and two very dark blonde moments...

Yes... I sometimes have very darkblonde moments. Yesterday I had two of them. 

I know that might sound stupid.. but... I always thought, how on earth will I get everything done AFTER the house will be sold. I mean, work, flying to the USA and open a biz, packing, moving.... and then it hit me.... once the house is sold, there is "no way back" anyways. So I can actually quit my job then and there.... and can take it easy with the Biz... can go to Berlin and Switzerland to visit Family and Friends and then go to the USA, get everything ready and come back, wait for the Visa, say goodbye from my friends and move for good.

I was always thinking.... IF I don't get the Visa... I would have to stay in Israel... what a fool once more... so yesterday I realized.."WAIT... once the house is sold... there is nothing holding me here"... and if I really don't get the Visa (which will of course NOT happen.. lol) I would move to Berlin first and study there. 

So, 2009 I'll be for sure leaving Israel after 11 years.... wow... 

And the second darkblonde moment... I can't reveale yet.. but... if it works out the way I hope... it will be "absolutely fabulous" ... :) 

A few Maryland and Baltimore Jokes...

Maryland: If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

Maryland: If it weren't for Washington, you couldn't find us


Dumb Laws of MD:

• Thistles may not grow in one's yard.

Dumb Laws of Baltimore:

• It's illegal to throw bales of hay from a second-story window within the city limits.


• It's illegal to take a lion to the movies.


• It is a park rule violation to be in a public park with a sleeveless shirt. $10 fine. This would include joggers that go shirtless. (1898)


• No person who is a "tramp" or "vagrant" shall loiter in any park at any time. They define tramp as a person who roves for begging purposes and a vagrant as an idle person who is able-bodied living without labor. It's a $50 fine. I guess the tramp would have to beg for the money to pay the fine. -Park Rule 6


• It is a violation of city code to sell chicks or ducklings to a minor within 1 week of the Easter holiday.

Dumb Laws of Baltimore City:

• Though you may spit on a city roadway, spitting on city sidewalks is prohibited.


• You may not curse inside the city limits.

And last but surely not least, some Ravens Jokes:

• How do you keep the Baltimore Ravens out of your front yard?Put up goal posts.


• The Ravens have a new honor system. "Yes your honor", "no, your honor"


• Whats the only way a Baltimore Raven will ever get two Rings?Get arrested.

Moving Companies

Yes I know it is a bit early, but right now I have the time to do some research, so why not. I contacted a few int'l movers to check on prices from Yaffo to B'more. I might have to put the stuff first in storage until I can finally move, so I would like to know, how much this whole "fun" will cost me.

Updates follow soon.. and P.S. I don't get angry if any of you offer to help pack or unpack once I get there. ;) lol

Another week

So... it's over a month, since I decided to sell my house. Funny enough, people I thought would be against it, like the idea very much and are happy for me and others who hardly ever talk to me, suddenly think, they have to lecture me on "how to live MY life"... well... thanks but no thanks. (After all.. where have you been, when I had no job, hardly enough money to buy food for the zoo and me and wasn't even able to pay all my monthly bills??!!) ufff..

Anyways, I am happy about the mostly positive feedback and still sorting things out. Oh and I found a nice home for my fishies and my lobster... it will be hard, to say good bye to them, but I know it is for the best... they would not make it to the US and I want them to have a good life. (and hey, I can always go and visit) :)

Ok, if everything goes according to plan, the house should go on market end of December till max. mid January. (lets keep your fingers crossed.

Not easy to say good bye to the house either, but I will get a new nice one very soon. Yay!

ps. those are old pics... when I bought the house.... due to the fact, that my house is not yet renovated, I can't put updated ones in.. but hey... it's still the same house.. rofls.. ;)

My new home

I have a few places that I actually like. Now here is the thing... sometimes I look more on the "beauty" than the "usefulness" of a house. And that is, where you get into the game. I am going to post some houses with informations. I'd be very happy to hear your feedback... :) So lets start with my favorite one. Property Type: Rowhouse Square Footage: 1500 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Walk to MARC and downtown. 2 bed, 2 bath property - + PARKING PAD! Gourmet kitchen with SS appliances, granite, custom high end cognac wood cabinets. Wood floors, finished basement has w/w carpet. Custom baths with stunning tile. Seated Shower has body sprays. Property is located between two significant upscale mixed use projects that will have a dramatically positive effect on real estate values.

Front View:

Kitchen:

Living Room and Fireplace:

Deck:

Bathrooms:

Basement:

Bedroom:

Second Bedroom:

November

Some more people show interest in my house... great... I am very happy about that. I am still researching for B'more, Biz and Creditcards..... and I have to say, sometimes I feel like, it is going to be too much and I fear that I won't be able to really keep up with myself. lol

About the house renovations, I got a few names and I decided to get a few specialists to make the work go faster. I will get my plumber, my carpenter and my electritian to do most of the work. Only after all the big things are taken care off, I get someone to do the little things and paint the house. That way, the dogs wont have to be away for too long.

Lets hope and pray that mid. January, I'll have done the work, the house is either sold privately or is on the market by then. :) If so, I could fly over in February to check out everything and maybe move in March.

I have to be optimistic and focus.... ommmmmmmmmmmm ;)

Who wants to buy my house???

I went to visit my neighbors yesterday. They live right next to me and renovated the whole house. I literally worked my way up... I went to the first neighbor downstairs to have a look on the progress and how the patio looks. We talked a bit about what has to be done, what should be done and what is a waste of money.

Afterwards I went to the first floor. Fifi and her kids live there... I was speechless when I saw the flat... wow.. I felt, like entering another world. It is sooo beautiful. (I have to go and make some pics for the blog).. We drank coffee, talked about houses and renovation and of course selling my house.

So... Fifi's daughter is looking for a place... close by her mom.. and what could be closer than next door? We talked a bit about prices and I told them, that before I get my realtor to work, I'll show her my house. We do already agree more or less on the price. :)

After a lot of bla bla and coffee, I wanted to go home and run into the owner of the last flat in the house. When I told him, that I would like to sell, he was explaining me, that he is right now checking out for how much he could sell his flat... and that he would actually like to be considered buying my house, if he gets about half the money from selling his place. He will let me know in about a week.


It was a good day.... I had to walk only 10 meters to find two potential buyers... :) I hope it will keep going this way... I want to sell ASAP and move...

Ausmisten

Alright... bevor I can even think of moving, I need to empty the house... sooo many things.. it's crazy.. you only realize how much stuff you have.. when you move.... (I believe there should be a law that you have to move every so and so many years to get the chance to clean up) hahaha





Anyways... I am cleaning up and I have many many things to sell or give away... so... anyone in the area.. if you need something.. just give me a call and come over and pick it up :)



I have for example:

1. Ikea Table

6 Ikea Chairs




2 Ikea Bar stools

Blonde Muus moves on....

So, this will be my new Blog..... here you will be able to read all about the "big move"... to Baltimore...



It all started on a sunny Wednesday Morning, October 1st, 2008, on Rosh Ha'Shana. When i updated my old blog and realized, that I am kind of stuck. That every year, I make plans and never fulfil them, that I dream big but realize very little.



So I made a list with all my dreams, wishes, hopes and fears. I also made a list on how to achieve my dreams and what it would "cost" me.



Here it is:

1. Moving to the USA


2. Studying Design in Israel/ Germany/ USA


3. Moving to Berlin, working and hopefully be able to study and then hoping that with my degree, I'll find an employer who is willing to pay for a work visa to the USA


4. Staying in Israel and be miserable till the end of days

So, as you can see, 4 is for sure not an option.. lol

Number 3 is not too bad but, will I really find someone to hire me after my studies? Will it be enough to get a Visa? Or will it "cost" me around 6 years of my life and not bringing me any closer to the USA?

Number 2 would actually be cool.. but.. who has that kind of money?And again, will I get a good job after that? Will I get a Visa for the USA? Or will I be stuck afterwards either in Israel or Europe?

Number 1 sounds lovely, but how on earth will I be able to get a work permit? Trusting in the Greencard Lottery didn't work so far either and looking for an American Husband... ah yeah... we had that already... NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT.. lol

So you see, no matter how I twisted and turned my ideas, I was no closer to a solution.... :(

I realized, I need a Plan B!

Funny enough, Plan B was there all the time, I just didn't think of it. How about, I mix most of my ideas and make one big plan? ;) And that is exactly what I did.

1. I will renovate my house and sell it


2. I found a lawyer who is going to help me with all the paperwork. (Hey.. I have a full time job AND I have 4 dogs!!! lol I can't do all alone and why should I if you can pay someone to do it right?)


3. As soon as the house is about to be sold, I fly over to check out the situation for a nice store to rent/ buy/ take over


4. Biz Plan will be sent to the Embassy


5. I pack my few things and move with dogs and cats

The countdown has started..... lets "Dream Big" !!!!

Baltimore, here I come!!!!!!!!!!