NO more patience...

Alright.... the big furniture are still not sold... and I just don't want to wait any longer. I'll be going to my bank next week to see, if I can raise the loan of my house a wee bit. After all, I don't need THAT much so I really hope, the bank will work with me.

Planning on going to Berlin Mid November for the Fina Swimchampionship... wooohooo... @Ellen, @Chaia & Joachim (Pina und Schlomi)... can't wait to see you all!!!!

So maybe I'll be able to open Biz in Dezember... just on time for X-Mas Shopping... would be great..

Keep your fingers crossed, after all.. in three weeks, we are heading into a new year... (Rosh Ha'Shanah .... love holidays.. haha).. and I'll mark a whole year since I decided to leave Israel... so it really is time to finally MOVE!!!

And another weekend....

Gosh.. I can't believe how much STUFF you can have in a house..... gosh.. I am STILL cleaning out... but... I see the light at the end of the tunnel..... this next weekend (Shavuot)... I hope, I'll finish cleaning out... and can finally sell my things.. to make room for the Renovation Team... and then finally sell the house :)

Oh wonderful may???

Or MAYbe not... lol

Yes.. I am still cleaning out.. but.... it looks so much better already... and I just prefer to have everything really sorted out, so in the US, I can only unpack and thats it.... I won't have time to sort out stuff there.. and I don't want to actually...

Other than that.... working... but I won't do overtime anymore... so I have more time in the evenings... woohooo... I hope, that I'll be soon ready to sell my furniture and then I have the money to renovate the house...

Working on a lot of ideas for my Boutique of course and I really can't wait anymore.. to get moving... to go overthere.. check things out and start a new life. :)

But till then... I have to stay strong.. and clean out.. lol

Pessah Cleaning

So, now that Pessah is over, I have to say, I did myself proud. I really cleaned out stuff. I packed things and I sorted things out. Another week or so and I am finally ready to renovate the house and sell it.

During the Pessah Holidays, my neighbor came over to have a "chat".... trying to tell me, that my house is not worth, what I am asking for... and that she offers me a certain amount. (Well her offer was less, than I paid five years ago) I just laughed in her face and told her, if she makes that offer into Dollars (Same numbers but instead of Shekels she puts Dollars) we have a deal, otherwise.. "don't bother".

Then she started telling me about this Realtor who was here and told her, that I am asking for way too much. WOOOOOW.. I want to talk to that Realtor.. maybe she can give me also the Numbers for the next Lottery Jackpot... rofls... how can someone say such a stupid thing, without knowing the house? Very interesting.

Anyways... I am very optimistic.. and I am pretty sure.. I get what I want for the house.. Or I just won't sell just now. :)

So.. lets see, how I do till end of the month... and yup.. still no laptop... which is good, so I actually do something in the house. :)

Another week

Another week has passed and I am cleaning out, like there is no tomorrow... lol

I finally found my long missed Sewing Machine... well the one I actually took with me from Switzerland is ready for the museum.... I wonder, why I even packed it. haha

I am going to open a Blog just for things I wanna sell or give away. (Link will be posted soon)

So as the house gets emptier, I am getting happier and the dogs and cats crazier. They really aren't that amused about all the changes in the house, but once the house is empty, they will have more space to run around, when I am at work. lol ;)

Another week and a half and I'm going to have some days off for Pass Over... after those holidays, the house HAS TO BE empty and the "shipuznikim" will do some work in and around the house so that I'll be able to put it on the market, so G-D will, end of April.

I am discovering more and more pictures and books and old memories as I clean out, quite exciting actually.... ah well, what shall I say... it's nice to see through old stuff but nicer to get rid of it. lol

Ah and yes, I am still without a laptop... so Inet only at work... which makes my researches a bit more difficult, but I am getting there.

Progressssssss..... yesssss.....

Alright....

The last few weeks have been very busy and about a week ago, my laptop fell on the floor and finally died... yes... perfect timing... NOT!!!

Anyway, I have been in touch with several big suppliers and got a lot of positive feedback and already a few biz meetings. Some in Israel and some all around in Maryland.

First I will go to see the factory of one of my favorite suppliers in Netanya. He is specialised on big dogs (which in my opinion are really left out when it comes to nice accessories).

Lets see what kind of deal I can get through him.

********************

The house.... well, ever since the laptop died and I am cut off the world during the weekends, things really get moving and I hope that the house will soon be empty enough to paint and be put on the market.

Good thing, it's Pessah soon and I have a few days off and time to arrange everything. My guess is, end of April, the house will be up for sale. Please cross your fingers, that I find someone to buy and close the deal till mid June.

Then I could go to B'more beginning of July and finally move mid August.

Ah yup.. I am very optimistic... maybe a wee bit too much.. but.. I have to, don't I?

I'll keep you posted (well, that is.. when I find a computer and Inet... hahahaha)

So for now...

Have a great weekend...

Another House.... and I I have to say.. I really like it

   

This might be my future home... or lets say.... I would like something like that.. in this area... (Canton/ Fell's Point)

3bedr, 2ba, basement, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Breakfast Room, Patio

Well.. we shall see.. but this is actually the style I really like... and Fleet Street... perfect... close to the dog park, close to where I want to open my shop AND.. (most important.. rofls..) close to MP... ;) hahahaha

Progress...

Finally some progress.... I got an offer for my shop's website and online shopping. Going to work with Focaltechnology (Thanks Shahin, can't wait to work with you and finally meet you). So first thing I can cross off my list.

Some more progress, regarding the print/copy things I need, like Biz Cards, Letterhead, Magnets and those kind of things. I got in touch with a few companies in Baltimore and will be getting quotations and / or will meet with them, once in B'more (good thing to warn them that I'll be going on their nerves) rofls.. ;) 

So you see, somehow (don't ask me how) I am managing to get things going and work my way towards my E2. 

The house should be on the market in May/ June and hopefully sold very soon after... (please keep your fingers crossed and send a little prayer up to heaven for that) ;) 

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 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" ... :) 

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...