VICTORY!

I can breathe easily now!  I took my real estate Broker's exam yesterday afternoon (after much anticipation/slight anxiety) and passed!!
Can't tell you how much of a relief that is -- and truthfully I have been delaying this moment for an extremely long time.  Mostly because I dread taking tests.  But with some preparation & lots of extra prayer from friends & family I passed!

ahhh.....breathing easy right now.... :)
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beyond ready

at this point in the day i am beyond ready for the weekend.  ready to get out of the confines of my office.  ready to get away from nutty clients & annoying office politics.  and i am more than ready to not have to think about every single thing that i'm doing & how it's being perceived and/or interpreted.

why do people always have to assume that something is wrong with me because my door is shut. i'm freakin' working people.  urgh

i am thankful that the sun is out, it's at least been nice to be wearing my sunglasses....a rare event in OR in February.  and so the only thing on my agenda this evening is to get dinner for my sick husband, put on my jammies, and curl up in bed to catch up on my DVR. can not wait!
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Accomplished

today is one of those days where I feel really accomplished.  I feel very proud of myself for the work I've done in getting 3 pretty challenging short sales approved & closed.  And another came thru with an approval today! 

There are certainly days when I've gone home frustrated to no end & on the verge of tears out of pure anguish.  But today -- today is not one of those days.  And yesterday I got to experience two awesome events.  I was able to go to two signing/closing appointments for two of our clients.  One a single lady who works two jobs and is just a salt of the earth type of person.  And the second a small family, dad's a teacher & mom's a stay at home mom -- so incredibly sweet.  They were beyond excited that the buyers for their home were actually going to live there & not just have it be an investment property.  That certainly helped put everything in perspective for me & reminded me of the big picture of why I do what I do with my mom.

Today was a good day! :)

Days of Gratitude -- Day 22, 23, 2011

Day 22 - Yesterday I was thankful for Isaac bringing home a slurpee for me on his way home from school conferences.  Small yet impactful. He's a good husband.

Day 23 - Today I am thankful that I don't have to come in to this freakin' office for 4 full, complete days. I will not be addressing emails, phone calls, nothing.  And I need it....


Hitting a bit of a limit with work and my mother right now.  She is driving me insane (she always does right before she leaves for a trip) & really showing no real care about the fact that we're actually hosting Thanksgiving this year & that it's a bit stressful.  I am irritated....and that's holding back.

Happy Turkey day tomorrow friends. I apologize for coming up on the the end of the series with a moderately solemn note. But boy am I tired of work and everything associated with it at this very moment.
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Kickin' Up My Feet!

Today has been the longest, craziest, busiest day we have had in such a long time.  As I've stated before, things tend to get nuts right before anyone on our team goes out of town.  And this is no different -- my mom is headed out to Arkansas for the weekend with my dad to visit his best friend; and my little brother is surprising them in Arkansas! Wish I could be there.


But this afternoon and tonight I am going to just kick up my feet and relax.  I'm going to revel in the fact that I got an approval letter on a short sale that has just been a pain in the butt.  I'm going to celebrate my friend Eric for putting together an amazing $438,000 deal.  And I'm going to give all the praise for this busyness to the Lord above.  He is always good and when you rely on Him and trust in His plan, He is faithful.  And boy is he ever faithful!  Looking forward to more craziness, we're thankful to be busy.


The only thing missing right now is a dirty Arnie in my hand!! Any one want to make a delivery?! ;)
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Debbie Downer

I hate waking up feeling like a debbie downer...ugh such a wretched feeling.  And to top it off -- the weather here right now, is just as ugly. Overcast, misty/rainy.  Just that annoying weather where you feel yucky the whole day.

I'm trying to keep my attitude up at work - but lately it's just been so hard to do that.  I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be, if it's here with my mom with my R/E license or some where else.   And if it's some where else -- I have no idea where that place is.  Definitely makes me feel like a total waste or lost soul.  How depressing.  I'm trying to blossom where I'm planted currently - but there's this ugly, nagging whisper in my ear that there's something better out there.  But I'm not entirely sure or certain that there is....or where to even begin with figuring that out.


What do you do in these situations? How do you figure these things out??  So tough
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The Wall

Have you ever hit that wall at 100mph?  Ever felt like you kept running in to that same wall over & over again?  That's been my reality the last couple months at work.  I've blogged about it before - about the struggles and frustrations of working with your mom, the overall stress of the economy right now & how that impacts the real estate economy.
But this morning I felt like I had run in to that wall for the 100th time - and just had enough.  Don't go crazy, I didn't up & quit my job.  Just had a moment where I needed my mom to be my mom and not my boss, & let me just cry for a minute.  It's so exhausting feeling like you fight & fight every day to do the right things, help people out, do the very best job that you can - and in the end it feels to have been for not.
We've been toying and day dreaming about what our lives would be like if we were living some where else, doing something else.  What would it be like, how would we make it work, how would/could we liquidate our current lives to start a new some where else entirely.  And honestly, today was the first time I've seriously considered it.  Even if only for a 2 minute interval.


I'm looking forward to a mini road trip with Isaac this week to celebrate a dear friend's wedding.  Maybe it'll give us a chance to talk thru these things more in depth - to see if maybe there is something to a change of scenery for us.  I'm not sure anything will come of it - but it'll just be good to go thru the motions and day dream together.
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Stoked!

It's not often that I post anything good or "exciting" about work -- but today I feel super stoked! 
Despite the fact that a short sale deal almost nearly died, I was able to communicate clearly with our negotiator and get them to approve it -- even with increased closing costs! Huzzah! Go me! Pat on my back!

And even if the seller didn't seem quite as enthused as I was about the prospect of getting this bad boy sold -- I didn't let them squelch my excitement!

That aside...picking up mom today at the airport - and we'll finally be able to get back in to a normal work routine.  She doesn't take her next trip until May.  So we've got some time to work work work!

And tonight brings lots of events - Wyldlife club(be thinking of me...I'll be speaking tonight, and I'm not entirely sure how it'll all pan out...), and then Mo Mo's place for games, friends, fun, & early birthday celebration for the lady!
Good way to start my weekend!  I'll be working tomorrow at the bridal store & running an 8K on Sunday (Shamrock Run) - super fun!
What are your plans this weekend?

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p.s. fill in the blank friday will be done tonight! pinky promise! :)

1 step forward...

and a giant PUSH backwards 5 steps.  Or at least that's how I'm feeling right now.
So remember how I've mentioned before that 85% of the time it's great working with my mom.  Right now I feel like I'm in a deep valley of the other 15%....I'm emotionally drained & frustrated.  Had to have a hard conversation with mom on Saturday - thought we had moved forward.  Yet today she shares something with me that just pushes me even deeper in to that valley.


It's so hard to be motivated, passionate, or focused on anything when every thought I have is that I'm running in to a brick wall every single day. A wall that I myself have built a portion of. But a wall none the less....


It's just a super frustrating and makes me sad inside.
An other wise pretty ok day has gone to the crapper...

ROCKSTAR!

*Disclaimer -- this will be a whole hearted "Toot your own horn" type of post. Please be aware*

I FEEL LIKE A SHORT SALE ROCKSTAR!  TODAY I AM THE ONE TO MAKE A BANK BEND OVER BACKWARDS & SUBMIT TO MY WILL & LOGIC!

Take that EMC!  You try to pull & push me around like a rag doll -- well looky here, in the end you're the one who took it on the chin & gave in to ME! 
So you can kiss my patootie for putting me thru the wringer last week.  Because at this moment in time I AM the one who is victorious (for the benefit of our client), and I AM the one who ultimately backed you in to a corner when your own negotiator made decisions that were to the detriment of your company.  So sit up & take notice of me -- because I WILL NOT back down when you try to play your silly games.  I'm bigger, stronger, & more determined than you!

Ahhhhh -- feels soo good!
Now...back to the normal hustle & bustle of my day!
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Hit By A Bus

You know when you're just mentally and physically and emotionally exhausted?  To the point where you feel like you've been hit by a bus?!  This is my state right now.


Today was awful in the sense that a short sale file feels like it is running down hill so quick and there is nothing that I can do to fix it or stop it or ensure that this gets closed.  I hate this feeling that I have absolutely no control over it.  I've been working so hard on this file and this stupid bank (*cough EMC cough*) is re-nigging on the details they said would work to get it closed.  It is so frustrating to feel like you've got it figured out and at the 11th hour they go back on their deal.


One good thing was that in the midst of that frustration I was able to be honest with my mom about where I was at & what I was feeling.  I think she is finally understanding that we handle stressful situations differently - but I still accomplish what she wants me to get done.  So that was positive.


Ugh....Say a prayer for this file and for me.  
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Too Many Crazies!

I think this week has been the epitome of chaos & craziness!  From random problems popping up last minute on seemingly NORMAL files to absolute, certifiable lunatics threatening lawsuits on baseless terms.

It's Thursday at noon and I'm WIPED! No energy...

Bright spot of this day...got one of our short sales finally closed, and on the road to closing a second one tomorrow! Praise the Lord!


Now...if only I could devise a test to determine the crazies ahead of time, so we can decide if we want to risk working with them or not.  A problem for another day...
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Chaos is not my friend

Not in any way, shape, or form!
Yeesh!


But yesterday's cluster of chaos forced me to a realization (#6 if we're keeping track!).  Sometimes I need to release myself from the self imposed "have to's" to have a night cuddled on the couch with my parent's dogs.  I love those dogs.. they're mini doxies and are just the sweetest, most lovable dogs around.  I love my Boston boy too...but there's something about snuggling up with little dogs who just lay on you and give kisses to make you feel like the world is right again.
Second realization (#7) of the night...my cousin Tasha, her husband Chad, and their son Cooper are probably some of my most favorite people in the world.  Tasha is working on a file with us that is having some extreme challenges...and even after a chaotic day of her own she let me run down the street (yes they live down the street from my parents) and go over the file with her.  But honestly, I just love them.  They're so down to earth, love each other, have fun, love their crazy kid Coop (who's finally starting to warm up to me...finally!), and love our huge mafia sized family.

What blessings ended my crazy, chaotic day.  Thank you Lord for that reminder that You are good and you never give us anything we can't handle.  Nothing comes to us without first sifting thru your hands.

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Problem Solving to the Test!

This week must be either a joke or a serious test of my problem solving skills...
Day one of my mom's vacation (mind you, she's taking a "mother/daughter" cruise to Alaska with her friend Laurie & Laurie's mom Jan....sans her daughter...i.e. ME) we get a phone call from a nervous nellie agent about a flood plain disclosure for a transaction.  Saturday my mom's partner gets a frantic call from his clients about another transaction we have and they're freaking out about that house being in a flood plain... hellooooo you want to live in Keizer...near the Willamette river...in OREGON -- almost everywhere is in a flood plain!!!

Then yesterday Eric calls me to tell me one of our vacant listings got tagged over the weekend.. thank you "187 gang" for being incredibly stupid and juvenile. And then to follow it all up this morning - I went to check on another vacant listing only to find that the deadbolt is locked (for which I do not have a working key) as well as the kitchen window was busted out & the kitchen faucet left running. 

Is this a week of flood plain & vandalism?! Sheesh!  Well for the two listings I did what I was supposed to do - notify the sellers & let them know I am available to help in any way I can should they need me.

As for those transactions.... it's time to figure out if we can keep them together...praying we can.

Yeesh! I'll keep you posted if any other crazy events take place while mom is gone....
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Frustration

I hate being on the phone with banks trying to figure out their STUPID system for a short sale... they SUCK!!

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Some People

Despite the fact that today I have dealt primarily with wonderful people who I like very much....

I have come to the end of my day dealing with one of my least favorite clients, who is a bully, rude, and passive aggressive....  And we all know how much everyone loves a man who's passive aggressive!

All I want to do right now is scream! And if I didn't have a splitting headache, or about 50 other things to do before I leave to go run, I just might!!

I need a vacation to start a countdown for... Sheesh!
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Whirlwind

Today has just been a crazy - hectic - full day.  From beginning to end it has been non-stop.  Started off by rushing around to get an addendum signed, to get a file updated, so that I could get at preliminary HUD submitted to a bank for final approval & clear to close with wire instructions for my escrow officer. PHEW!  I realize that probably didn't make a whole lot of sense to anyone outside the real estate world... but that was just the start to my day! 

I am so looking forward to going home early (running has been canceled tonight -- my best bud Mo's grandfather passed away yesterday & they are making plans to head south to CA, please think of, pray for, & send good thoughts to her) and getting some much needed laundry washed, dried, folded, & put away!  I may even open a bottle of wine to get through the ordeal.

3 more days and I'm off to San Diego to meet up with the little brother.  We're going to be driving home from his current duty station at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.  For those of you who don't know, my awesome younger brother is an E-4 Corpsman with the United States Navy.  I'm super proud of him -- not just for his service, but for the man that he is becoming.  God is doing a good thing in him and it is so fun to see how all the pieces are coming together!
Here's a pic of the two of us from his boot camp graduation

He's by far the best brother a girl could ask for.... Love that kid.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable evening too!
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ARGH!

Just when you think you're making progress - something has to know you back down on your rear end!

I've been working this short sale file with my mom for nearly 8 months now, and we just received our final approval of the file from the bank last week. So that was a plus.  However.... now that we finally have that approval, we learn that the buyer has received notice that they will be laid off in the next two weeks & are unable to go through with the transaction.  Humph!

It just feels like there is something always to battle against.  Now granted, I would never want to have another person in a situation where they can't pay their mortgage due to job loss - but this is just a sucky situation all around.  So now it's back to trying to find another buyer to move forward on this process and to go through the whole process again!

Mamma Mia.....  Is it 5 o'clock yet?
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ps... NWM's training begins today... in the rain. Lucky me

Changes

Things they are a'changin' in our office.  We have an agent leaving the team - and that is actually alright, and out right good!  But this change is leaving a few things within our office that will need more coverage...  So what does that mean for me?  Simple...I'm getting my R/E license to help with the distribution of the work.  I think it will be good.  I'm not certain if real estate is what I will forever want to do, but for this season in life, it will work.  I'll still maintain the administrative piece of my job primarily, but this added element will open me up to do some real work for commission.  Which I think will be cool.  Thankfully it's not a super pressure thing from my boss (aka mom) to be doing real estate full time right away.  We'll see how this all works out & comes together.  I'll keep this updated about that journey.

It seems like the closer I get to leaving for vacation the farther away it seems or the longer it seems to take for the days to pass.  No matter.... it'll be here soon enough! Just hope that I have everything ready for the trip!

Countdown: 6 days!
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