The New Demi Moore?

I can't believe I haven't caught up with all the blogs in a few months! I've been missing out on so much :(

Well, I have 2 more weeks until the baby is born. We've taken preggo pics, thrown baby showers (conservative and party-animal status) and are still trying to get everything ready for a new life to be born.

Since I'm at work I'll be making this post very brief and boring, but I'll leave you with one of our preggo pics and post a better entry later.

:)

Back and Forth

So basically my day today was a shitty one. Emails were going back and forth between all parties to this real estate transaction. Quick scenario is I am representing the
Buyer. Another agent is representing the Seller who technically is a bank (IndyMac). We are SUPPOSED to close tomorrow.

Except... well, except that the Senior Asset Manager acting as Seller has been holding up our escrow since yesterday morning. He's trying to short my client $330 in a credit that was and always has been agreed to be paid by the Seller. Yes, I know, it's only $300 but I refuse to cave in. It's in writing, signed by all parties, on 2 different contracts since 45+ days ago.

I would have let the whole thing slide and picked up the $330 and thought nothing of is, except for a snide little remark he made to the Escrow Officer (neutral 3rd party to the sale) saying, "a rose is still a rose."

Now I'm heated. I'M FUMING at this point. I'm so pissed off at his stupid little remark that my hands are trembling as I'm typing my response email to him. In short I tell him that all involved are not idiots and a contract is a contract; he signed it AND rewrote it stating the same, therefore he needs to honor it since it's a legal and binding agreement. I also happened to end it with YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO YOUR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY SINCE YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CONTRACT. Yeah, I know, bad Virg **slaps hand**

More back and forth between me and the other real estate agent who is basically telling me that I am acting like a child throwing a tantrum and I am looking silly in front of my client. EXCUSE ME, but I am PROTECTING my client and their "measley $300," as you so kindly put it and, please correct me if I'm wrong, but STICKING TO THE CONTRACT. I tell him that I am sorry that he feels like I am throwing a tantrum, but that I will stand up for what is right, and that people like dick-head above get away with these kinds of things because people like him do not stop them.

In the end, dick-head wrote me in an email, "I do not think you are stupid. I DO think you are sneaky and crooked. You wrote the contract in this in hopes that we would not catch it. I hope you are happy. Your client will receive their ill gotten gain."

FUCK YOU very much! I hope that this one little person here that doesn't hold a prestigous title, such as yourself, has finally been the one to stand up to your smug ass. For the record, I am not sneaky or crooked, nor did I intend for him to interpret my specific wording in a contract. I am knowledgeable and experienced today in my career because of all the past mistakes and having to pay for them monetarily. I've learned to cross all my Ts and dot all my i's. I guess holding a corporate title doesn't automatically make a person wiser.

My Heart Just Breaks

I love catching up on my Hollywood gossip from PerezHilton.com. The tone is almost always humorous. However, every once in a while he also posts really serious events. I am SERIOUSLY behind on my Perez Hilton blogs! Today I just read another sad story.

The blog entry is about this 11 year old boy who hung himself at home after being bullied at school for possibly being gay. Perez comments on his blog that the news stated the little boy went to school officials (teachers, counselors, principal) to let them know what was going on. And yet the bullying and harassment continued.

Apparently there was another suicide by hanging from another little boy in Massachusetts for the same thing. What the hell is going on in this world?! Do people not teach their children acceptance and respect anymore??? We sit here and sterilize cats and dogs... I think it's about time we do the same to these idiots that don't know how to raise kids to become better human beings so the world can be a better place for EVERYONE.

I have always taught my kids NOT to be cruel to other kids; to be respectful of other people and their property and to STAND UP FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE TREATED UNFAIRLY. I am sure that my kids act totally different at school away from me, but I know for damn sure that I ingrained in their brains that certain things are just not right.

Little kids killing themselves for being harassed at school for being gay??? ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME?!?!! Too, too sad!

Better Late Than Never

Or something like that. I've been trying to catch up on my fav blogs before I could get myself to update my own. Let's see... work (real estate) has been extremely busy. All dull stuff, except for last week when one of my co-workers whispered to me how his wife told him about the KFC Oprah link online. You woulda thought this was like Top Secret info that would self destructed in 5 seconds. Well, after dude went to KFC and got him some free grill' chick'n, he decided he would be Mr. Nice Guy and let the rest of the office in on the little secret.

HOLY SHIT! I have NEVER in my ENTIRE EXISTENCE seen any adult work their keyboards, computers and printers with such determination, such tenacity. You would have thought their lives depended on printing these damn coupons! What nearly had me pissing my pants though was when their printers weren't printing the coupons quick enough, which of course, had them hitting the print button over and over and over and over and (you get the idea). They were on the phone calling their real estate friends and significant others, "Honey, KFC is giving away free grilled chicken. I'm printing the coupons now!" And when their coupons wouldn't print... well SHIT!!!! NOW WHAT, BARB?!?!?! They all started calling the receptionist (who just turned 21 and "by golly, Susan, SHE will know how to print our KFC coupons!!!") all in a panic, "HELP!!!"

HILARIOUS I TELL YOU!!!!

A few days later I happen to catch the morning news that people were rioting over KFC running out of chicken. RIOTING?!?!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Good lord, peeps... get a life!

Yup, that's the highlight of my work life. On a brighter note, "The Man" is supposed to roll out a policy that will allow anyone who buys a primary residence (single-family home or condo, makes no difference) to use that $8,000 tax credit towards their down payment for 2009 purchases. If you bought in 2008 and didn't use that tax credit you should seriously have someone amend your tax return so you can use it... but remember, it's basically a low interest loan from "The Man."

Another real estate related brighter note is there's a new program Making Home Affordable to help homeowner's modify their current loan payments/terms to new affordable monthly payments. It's new, so I'm sure there are still kinks to work out. I just called today for a Bank of America borrower, so I'll keep you posted. BUT, an actual PERSON ANSWERS on, like, the first or 2nd ring!! NO JOKE!!



BABY UPDATE: I had the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and found out I wasn't as far along as the doc thought, AND that it's a boy. I was gonna name him Jackie Chan since he was moving a lot, AND I kinda look Asian-ish with a Hispanic kick, and because I think I have MAD karate skills, but then none of that makes sense because it's not the same ethnic stuff and well... whatever, I lost myself too, but now Jackie Chan isn't moving as much as a couple weeks ago... so maybe I'll name him the opposite of Jackie Chan and Speedy Gonzalez...

Either way, I'm about 19 or 20 weeks and Jackie Chan/Slowpoke Rodriguez should look something like this:


My little bros band went on a mini-tour to Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico... but that Swine Flu caused his shows to get postponed for 2 weeks, so they just stayed in the States. I'm so jealous though because they were in Vegas the last couple of days, and tonight they're in San Diego.... Oh how I love me some San Diego...

Can't fit into my normal clothes

This is the month that I wish could just be over with. I'm at 4 months now, and I just started showing. So when I wear my regular clothes, I look like one of those chicks that is trying desparately to squeeze into her jeans and ends up with all her fat being pushed to the top of her pants.

I get the "stares" now. The "stares", people. This is HORRIBLE. I just want to yell out, "I'm not fat, I'm pregnant, you bastard!" So, yeah, this is the month that I wish would just speed by so I can look like I'm obviously pregnant and not like I don't know how to dress in my size. Oh well, time to give in and go shopping. Weather is MUCH nicer now, so I can get away with wearing the cute summer tops and dresses.

This is what my kid should look like right about now:

Still looks alienish.

Work is going good. Showing houses to renters and buyer's everyday. Today and tomorrow are my day off. Tried not to set any appointments for this weekend since my kids are with their father, and I get the house to myself. I've been in bed all morning. But after this post, I gotta head out and donate a bunch of stuff to declutter this place.

Beautiful weather for the next few days. Yesterday was in the high 70s with a nice Delta breeze. Going to enjoy this weather as much as I possibly can :)

My daughter has her first Driver Training class on the road today. She was nervous, but I kept telling her she'd do fine and in order to get what she ulitimately wants, she needs to take this first step. I'm expecting a phone call from her with her experience shortly - haha!

I'm DYING for a glass of wine and some sushi. No, really, I am REALLY, TRULY dying here!!! Or an ice cold glass of Hef or Sam Adams. 5 more months to go.

First rule of relationships: Honesty

Learn from past relationship mistakes

Honesty
Be completely honest. Don't hide things. This can lead to MAJOR trust issues!

Bring on the lovey-dovey
I don't care how long the relationship has lasted, the love-dovey stuff HAS to continue! Who wants to share the rest of their life with someone who's a ice cube?

Communication
TALK. It's hard for even ME to let my guard down and talk about personal things with my partner, but it is crucial. No need to be a Chatty Kathy, but you do have to talk about other things besides just the two of you. Be open like you would with a friend.

Respect
Must have mutual respect. Treat the other person the way you WANT to be treated. Put yourself in their shoes. This is NOT one-sided, though. The other person must do the same!

Keeping in touch from East Bay, CA to Fresno, CA

Long-distance (3.5 hrs drive time) relationship that went on for about 6/7 years. Taking turns with weekend drives to the other person. A LOT of cell and texting. Emails and IMing in the beginning. Trust is the key to making it work. Even in the end of the days of the relationship we would sit next to each other at restaurants and hold each others hand. The lovey-dovey stuff has to continue through, even in bad times.



Beyond that, how do you make it work? You make sure one of you is willing to make the permanent move to the other city OR move to an entirely new location altogether.

Maya Angelou is someone I admire

Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou has gone through incredible obstacles in her life and yet she would continue plowing forward. Her writing is incredible. She seems very humble. Her voice has an odd calming affect, yet commanding as well. She is someone I most definitely admire and respect.

I'm in the Know-It-All Hall of Fame, and I'm the only one in it!

I'm in the Know-It-All Hall of Fame, and I'm the only one in it.

Human brain - please add comment and fav this if you blog with it.

I am famous for knowing it all. That's right, folks. Ms. Know-It-All here. I think I know it all. Bar trivia... I'll kick your butt and mop the floor with ya. If I'm feeling particularly nice, I just might leave you out to dry. I'll argue my point/answer til everyone is blue in the face. You can also find me in the Sarcastic Hall of Fame and the Mildly Entertaining Hall of Fame.

I'll spend my golden years in Vegas, baby!

I'd spend my golden years in Vegas. Incredible food, entertainment galore, art... nevermind the people watching and weather. I'd be all leathery in no time!

Lightbulbs

If any of you are wondering why my recent posts have a lightbulb at the end of it, or really make no sense, it's because a fellow blogspotter turned me on to Plinky.com (unbeknownst to them). So, those quirky posts with lightbulbs are from the prompts on Plinky.

Don't do it... You'll get hooked on just one more thing.

Ha!

'Bitter is the New Black' will make you LOL

Ever have that friend who no matter how grave a situation is they can always say something sarcastic or ironic and make you laugh? That's what this book is like. Jen Lancaster started off writing a blog after being jobless for a long period of time. Enough people read and loved her sarcastically funny blog and she ended up writing a book. PROMISE IT WON'T DISAPPOINT!!!

Snowboarding in the California Sunshine

Yesterday was one of the most perfect days to go snowboarding! It was so sunny and hot out there... everything was PERFECT. Lift tickets were dirt cheap ($12.00). Who says we have to suffer alone in this shitty economy? Gear was mostly borrowed and new, so I wasn't complaining. Waiting to get a few short videos of me up here pretending to know what I'm doing. Sore as hell and loving it!!!

A Simple Night Out

Last Sunday my brother's band, Savage Machiine played a show at Blake's on Telegraph in Berkeley. I circle the block to find a parking, which of course ain't happening. So I decide to park in the parking garage on Durant and Telegraph. Do I bother checking the hours? Noooooooooooooo, because I park there during the weekends while checking out other shows that get out late, and it's always open. But of course, this is SUNDAY, and EVERYTHING closes early. Silly me.

Doors open at 7:30. Brother's band goes on at 8:30. Figured we'd leave after their set and grab something to eat. Only the show is over, and I can't find my 17 year-old nephew. WTF?!?! Next band coming on is BlitzKid (word is their drummer used to be in the Misfits). Figured my nephew wanted to check them out. Blake's is NOT a huge place where you can lose someone, but I cannot seem to find this damn kid!!!

Fast forward to 10:30. Show is over. We head out to the parking garage. LOCKED. LOCKED. LOCKED!!! Damnit! Ok, quick, think, think, think! YES! Get a ride from my brother or some of the guys that came to see them... WRONG. Everyone has room for only ONE extra person and there are 5 of us. Clock is ticking. GRAB A CAB! No! Shit! Cabfare all the way back to Antioch is like a MILLION bucks!!! ARG!!! Ok, ok. Um... BART. They still run late right? Wait! Shit! What time is it?!? 11:00?!?! DAMNIT!!!

Yeah, that was our night. In the rain. On Telegraph. We were SO lucky that we just BY CHANCE hopped on the last BART train back to Bay Point. Next morning I had to do the same routine, grab BART back to Berkeley. Walk 7 blocks to the parking garage. Bail my car out.

That one night was a costly little mistake for my penny pinching ass! About $100!! Needless to say, my cell phone didn't get paid this month, and now I can only receive calls and texts, but have no way of calling or texting out.

Bleh.

Mindless TV Has Got Me Thinking

After my 2 client appointments today I decided to come home and rest my brain. The first appointment left me a tad frustrated. I am a real estate agent and have been for the last 12 years. Now, I know back in the early 2000s we were making a killing and everyone and their mother was getting into real estate. This ticked me off because I was doing business with real estate agents who had NO CLUE what they were doing, and got in to make a quick buck. All of them have since left the business because they finally realized that you need a brain and strong work ethic to stay in this business. Not only that, but it actually TAKES money to MAKE money since we are all responsible for our own marketing and advertising.

My point of the above rambling is that my first appointment told me that she was thinking of working with a Lender who also sold real estate (can't stand people who do both, nor do I trust them) who promised to split his commission with her by more than half. Then she tells me that she wants to continue working with me and indirectly asked me to split my commission with her. Uh... NO!!!!!!!

First of all, I'm sure you wouldn't work at a place that TOLD you they were taking 50% of your income just because they were doing you a favor and employing you. Second of all, you are NOT a licensed real estate agent, it is against the California Department of Real Estate rules and regulations that you receive monetary compensation in ANY real estate transaction. Sorry babe, but this is my career and only form of employment, and I'd like to keep my real estate license. Third, all the time, gas, access to information and property, and experience all come at an expense that is solely my responsibility. My broker does not reimburse me for ANY expense or my time. Lastly, I, like you, am a single mother. How DARE you ask that of me?!

Bleh.

I HAD to come home and watch mindless TV programming to get my head out of that funk. Food Network here I come!!! Shows on yummy sushi, ultimate meatballs and spaghetti, yum, yum, yum. But this mindless TV thing has got me thinking... I need a personal chef.

One can dream :)

Strawberries, Whipped Cream, and Bumps in the Night

What the hell was I thinking agreeing to go out tonight? I am so incredibly tired and my body just needs to rest. I'm watching CSI Miami and dreading the second I get a call from aunt who wants to go out. (I have really hot, young looking aunts.) Damn me for agreeing to be her wing-man tonight.

I decided not to go into the office today. There's really not that much work to do, finished all of it earlier this week. Made sense to me not to waste the gas and drive an hour to work to sit and listen to the other real estate agents as they puff their chests out. I did technically "work" today... just had to show 2 houses to a client 10 minutes from my house. And since I have to work all day tomorrow showing homes and meeting with clients, I figure I could play hooky today.

My kids are with their father for the weekend, and I get the house all to myself :) A break that I enjoy and sometimes is much needed. Of course I have all the lights off in here, TV and laptop are my only light sources at the moment. So why in the hell am I hearing noises? Like someone keeps bumping into my front door to open it? I think I got creeped out when I found out that the maintenance men and ladies in the office have extra keys to all our places. Kinda creepy if ya ask me. I keep the chain on the door as well as keeping it locked, but it still creeps me out.

Just finished my bowl of yummy fresh strawberries and whipped cream for dinner. No kids means kitchen is closed and I get to eat like a kid again :) I gotta say that I'm hooked to this blogspot stuff. I LOVE reading people's blogs. Who knew there were so many interesting people blogging...

Fax Confirmation Stealers

Why can't co-workers pay attention to what they are doing? Mine tend to grab everything and anything in printers, copiers, and faxes without flipping through the stuff first to make sure it belongs to them. Do they think they are the only ones who work around here?! Bastards!

Well, off to fax a billion pages to Countrywide to help out a client with their loan modification... and pretend I'm one of those DMV security guards making sure my fax goes through so I don't have to repeat this process 5 more times today.

**Update** The fax-confirmation-stealers' fax didn't go through, so I'm going to "accidently" toss it in the trash and forget to tell her. Maybe that'll teach her to be more cautious AND considerate.

I Thought Technology was Supposed to Make Life Easier?

That is until something like a COPIER decides to stop feeding papers and you have to walk like a MILE down the hallway in 4 inch heels trying not to break your ankle or your ass while still looking cute at the office every 5 minutes to see if the paper jam you just cleared allowed the 20 billion print jobs to go through. Damn copier!

Are you there God? It's me...

... Virginia, silly! I promise I'm not as shallow as my posts appear. Sometimes I just need some shallowness to drown out the reality. I'm sitting here bored as hell and listening to my MySpace music Playlist. A few of these songs are just hitting a raw nerve right now.

Lovesong by The Cure: just dig that knife while it's in me. Talk about heartbreak. It's like getting comfortable and surrounding yourself with the ultimate love just to know that you'll eventually leave each other's side for an indefinite amount of time. Love like it's your last...?

One Headlight by The Wallflowers: about a guy who lost a girl (depressed? or just searching for answers?). Song is close to my heart for another reason and I'm almost happy that it wasn't that much of a popular song so that others could taint it.

Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers: oh, Anthony Kiedis and other addicts, how I wish I could scoop you up and nurse you back to health. This song just oozes pain and sorrow. I love the guitar riffs and strokes. Loneliness sucks and this is just one of those songs that makes my heart hurt. Almost makes me feel like a beauty contestant wishing for world peace.

Sober by Pink: I'm CONVINCED that she was a fly on my wall when she wrote this song. The video and song could have been snapshots of my life. I felt like this before I actually heard this song. The second I heard it I thought to myself that it was a sign. WARNING!!! Brutal honesty ahead... I feel like I make myself be the party girl just because it's what everyone expects and enjoys. People (family included) make comments when I wouldn't drink that I was boring and bringing them down. They'd always ask me if something was the matter with me. I know that I was/am much more of a clown and social butterfly when I drink, but my problem is that I didn't stop when I should have.

My drug of choice is/was alcohol. I say was because I'm now carrying another life inside me, but I know once this kid is out I'm going to be back to battling that everyday, every hour, every minute. I'm not going to lecture anyone or come across that drinking is bad. I'm just saying that for ME, drinking is bad because I cannot take my foot off the alcohol pedal. There are no brakes on this crazy train. I'm the type of person that is either idling or at full throttle. And although I like to be a clown, I do NOT like being the one everyone makes fun of the next day, next week, next month, next year, next holiday, next vacation. All this time I've just grinned and beared it because I did those things with an audience. Not that I'm proud of those things, but I pretend to be to ease the humiliation.

The REAL test is going to be headed my way in several months. I'm sure by staying away from the social scene I'll leave my legacy behind for a new party girl to carry the torch.

Sober

The party has ended for this party animal.Yes, folks, you need a new drinking partner, a new partner in crime, a new crazy girl, a new wingman. Well, at least for the next 7 months or so. Eh, it was getting outta hand again anyway. In the past I've been able to pump those brakes to this crazy train just before I flew off the track, but now there's a new reason. A bun in the oven.

Miss wine night with the girls. Ok, ok, it was more like BOTTLES of wine night... I still miss them!!! No more drunk-texting, late night runs to Quarter Pounder with the crackies in Concord, no Dirty Delta, Ski Beach or Lost Isle this summer. Boy, oh boy.
And this is how I will occupy my time until then - haha! This blog should get interesting since I tend to write things for self-entertainment. I don't know if I should be glad that I have boring neighbors, or maybe they're dramatic but I've never really been around to find out. Most exciting thing to happen after work today is the next door lady was yelling at someone to stay outta her room and stop touching her shit. I thought it was hilarious because I didn't hear anyone arguing back. Maybe she was talking to herself? Last night I thought I heard their headboard banging against the wall, but I think it was my over-active imagination. Wishful thinking?

Just When I Thought Things Would Get Better...

Life went and pulled the rug up from under me. So is life. This may be a rare post for me, but I'm doing it in hopes of helping out another person. Let me muster up my courage and let it out...

I've basically been a single mother for the last 15 years. I married my first "love" when I was still a kid because we were going to have a kid. A year later he tells me he cheated (his words, not mine). I stay "for the kid." Seven years and 2 kids later, amidst violence, jealousy, possession AND obsession, I finally get the courage to leave (with 911 pre-dialed on my cell phone and my finger on the SEND button). Yeah, I know, pretty picture, huh?



Why the "single parent" if I was married for the first 7 of those 15 years? Well, my dears, because the "father" didn't want to be "bothered" by his children - not when we were married and DEFINITELY not when we were split up. He called his time with his kids "babysitting." I guess he used the right word for what he felt like he was doing, because the meaning is to take charge of a child while the parents are temporarily away. I'm going to fast-forward through the real ugliness and leave it to your imaginations. Thank God for his parents and siblings, because THEY are the ones that actually cared for my kids when it was his alloted visitation time!

Today I get a text from *insert description here* telling me he wants the kids to live with him 50% of the year. Huh? What? Come again??? You mean to tell me that after ALL THIS TIME, after all the hard work I did on my own with them, all the discipline, all the teaching, all the sickness, tears, doctor appointments, feeding, raising... NOW you want them?!?! Are you fuckin' KIDDIN' ME?!?! YOU?!?! YOU, who threw them outside of your parents home and told me to go pick them up and not take them back because YOU were upset that I had a BOYFRIEND?!?! Do YOU know what I SAW when I went to get them???!!! YOU FUCKIN' PRICK?!?!?! I saw two kids, (KIDS!!!!!), with their jackets and backpacks on sobbing (you fucken mutha fucker!!! SOBBING!!!!) because their "FATHER" told them to go outside of the house because they couldn't stay there anymore because their MOTHER had a BOYFRIEND... YOU FUCKEN PIECE OF SHIT!!!! And now YOU want me to hand them over all nice and packaged and pretty?? You've got another thing coming if you think that's what's gonna happen!

Disgusted yet? I know I am!

Although I would have LOVED for this other person to have been in their lives as a TRUE parent since their births, that was not the case. I had to fight through the court system for him to spend ANY time at all with them. A true near-death experience has "opened his eyes" to what should have always been his number 1 priority in life. I feel like he is throwing my kids crumbs. What kid DOESN'T want the love and attention of a parent?

So, my friends, if you find yourself in this lovely situation here is my advise to you. Stick to your instincts and fight for what is right. I don't think it's right to keep a kid from their parent. However, my gut instinct tells me that this "epiphany" is short-lived.