We rode Fort Custer today, in preparation for our race next Sunday. Holy cow - I think it would be an awesome trail if I were in better shape. There are only two really big hills and the rest is pretty fast with both curvy and long, straight sections. I bet I'll end up liking it, just like I enjoy Hanson Hills in Grayling despite some wicked climbs.
So here's the training idea for the week: Hit the rec Monday and Tuesday for good core, leg and shoulder workouts. Skip work on Wednesday and ride Brighton Rec for the hill workout. Hit the rec again on Thursday and maybe ride the trainer at home (the weather's not supposed to be nice enough for a road ride). Take Friday off, then ride an easy loop at the Fort on Saturday. Get ass kicked on Sunday.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Saturday Project
Staying with my parents invariably involves some sort of manual labor. This weekend, they decided it was time to tear out the patio and add some landscaping cloth to the inside to keep the sand from running our with the water. This involved our entire immediate family (Mitch was off the hook, since he was in Kalamazoo for the race), a jackhammer, a Kubota tractor, my brother's huge truck, a dump truck and a lot of work!
Here's the patio about a quarter of the way done. Dad busted out the first section into little pieces with the jackhammer and we had to heave them into the tractor's bucket by hand. Then Bobby got this great idea to elevate the slabs with the tractor bucket and jackhammer them into larger pieces, so we didn't have to deal with all that little junk.
There's Dad, standing on the elevated slab with the jackhammer. Once that piece breaks, Mom and I will use bolt cutters to break the wire holding the concrete together, then Dad and Bobby will manhandle the big chunk into the bucket so Bobby can dump it in the waiting dump truck.
Mom wanted to try the jackhammer, so here she is, putting a useless hole in the concrete. Dad is very amused!
Here's the patio, almost done! The last part was the most interesting, because Bobby couldn't get the tractor bucket in that far. So we used chains to hook the corners up to his big diesel truck and pulled the whole slab closer to the edge.
There are no photos of my largest contribution, which was to help dig a trench all around the interior perimeter of the patio and lay the landscaping cloth against the inside of the stones. Now the sand won't leak out and the patio won't sink!
Here's the patio about a quarter of the way done. Dad busted out the first section into little pieces with the jackhammer and we had to heave them into the tractor's bucket by hand. Then Bobby got this great idea to elevate the slabs with the tractor bucket and jackhammer them into larger pieces, so we didn't have to deal with all that little junk.
There's Dad, standing on the elevated slab with the jackhammer. Once that piece breaks, Mom and I will use bolt cutters to break the wire holding the concrete together, then Dad and Bobby will manhandle the big chunk into the bucket so Bobby can dump it in the waiting dump truck.
Mom wanted to try the jackhammer, so here she is, putting a useless hole in the concrete. Dad is very amused!
Here's the patio, almost done! The last part was the most interesting, because Bobby couldn't get the tractor bucket in that far. So we used chains to hook the corners up to his big diesel truck and pulled the whole slab closer to the edge.
There are no photos of my largest contribution, which was to help dig a trench all around the interior perimeter of the patio and lay the landscaping cloth against the inside of the stones. Now the sand won't leak out and the patio won't sink!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
It felt so good!
There's nothing like getting back on the trail after a long winter! I rode at Island Lake Thursday (not a good ride - female pains), Friday (7 miles, a great ride!) and Saturday (9 miles, another great ride). Let the season begin!
Mitch also competed in his first race. Our circuit is the Michigan Mountain Bike Association's Championship Point Series, and this time trial at Yankee Springs was the first of the season. He raced in the Beginner Men's class and got second place! Had he raced in the next class up, we would have been at the upper middle of the pack, by our estimations.
Next up: MMBA CPS race at Fort Custer in two weeks. With our busy schedules, we're hoping to find a time to pre-ride the course earlier than just the day before, like Mitch did this time. And I need to do some serious riding if I want to be in any sort of shape!
Mitch also competed in his first race. Our circuit is the Michigan Mountain Bike Association's Championship Point Series, and this time trial at Yankee Springs was the first of the season. He raced in the Beginner Men's class and got second place! Had he raced in the next class up, we would have been at the upper middle of the pack, by our estimations.
Next up: MMBA CPS race at Fort Custer in two weeks. With our busy schedules, we're hoping to find a time to pre-ride the course earlier than just the day before, like Mitch did this time. And I need to do some serious riding if I want to be in any sort of shape!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Useless Craphead
Below is the email I sent to the "Team Leader" at our former realtor's office:
Dear Kim,
As Team Leader for the Lansing Keller Williams office, I feel it is appropriate for me to give you some feedback on one of your agents. My husband and I began working with Mary Jo Garascia in October 2007. She showed us some houses, but the one we set our hearts on happened to be FSBO. We walked through the home with the homeowner but knew it was out of our price range. We also knew, however, that the house was in the process of foreclosure. We asked Mary Jo to keep her eye on it and help us purchase it when the bank took it back. She agreed to help, but my regular inquiries to her regarding the home's status went unaddressed.
While her lack of progress on the foreclosure home was dissatisfying, we continued to work with her because she seemed generally enthusiastic about helping us find the home of our dreams. However, we terminated our relationship with her when she failed to notify us, in a timely manner, of a house that met all our criteria. I understand that clients can't always get the houses they want, but I feel a good realtor should not solely rely on an automated system to notify her clients. As the price on this particular home inched closer to our price range, Mary Jo should have notified us, especially given the amount of time this house was on the market.
I communicated our reasons for ending our business relationship to her via email and phone, referencing both the foreclosure home and the other missed opportunity. Then, without the assistance of a realtor, I began researching the foreclosure home. With only a few hours of work and less than half a dozen phone calls, I found out the status of the home (bank-owned); the name of the bank; and the name and phone number of the individual handling the property. However, to my bitter disappointment, an offer had been accepted on the home that day. Worse, the house had sold for $65K below the FSBO asking price and $20K below the offer my husband and I were prepared to make.
Once again, I understand that one cannot always have the home he or she desires. But I'm sure you will agree that the outcome regarding the foreclosure home would have been dramatically different had Mary Jo simply done her job. How was it that I, with no formal training or experience in foreclosures, was able to make such progress in just a few hours when Mary Jo had nothing to report after over five months?
This feedback comes with no specific request for action on your part - I just felt you, as Team Leader, should be aware of the poor performance of one of your realtors. Based on this experience, my husband and I see little value in buyers' agents and will not be using one in the future unless it is absolutely necessary.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my feedback. If you have any questions, you may contact me via email.
Regards,
Laurie DeYoung
Dear Kim,
As Team Leader for the Lansing Keller Williams office, I feel it is appropriate for me to give you some feedback on one of your agents. My husband and I began working with Mary Jo Garascia in October 2007. She showed us some houses, but the one we set our hearts on happened to be FSBO. We walked through the home with the homeowner but knew it was out of our price range. We also knew, however, that the house was in the process of foreclosure. We asked Mary Jo to keep her eye on it and help us purchase it when the bank took it back. She agreed to help, but my regular inquiries to her regarding the home's status went unaddressed.
While her lack of progress on the foreclosure home was dissatisfying, we continued to work with her because she seemed generally enthusiastic about helping us find the home of our dreams. However, we terminated our relationship with her when she failed to notify us, in a timely manner, of a house that met all our criteria. I understand that clients can't always get the houses they want, but I feel a good realtor should not solely rely on an automated system to notify her clients. As the price on this particular home inched closer to our price range, Mary Jo should have notified us, especially given the amount of time this house was on the market.
I communicated our reasons for ending our business relationship to her via email and phone, referencing both the foreclosure home and the other missed opportunity. Then, without the assistance of a realtor, I began researching the foreclosure home. With only a few hours of work and less than half a dozen phone calls, I found out the status of the home (bank-owned); the name of the bank; and the name and phone number of the individual handling the property. However, to my bitter disappointment, an offer had been accepted on the home that day. Worse, the house had sold for $65K below the FSBO asking price and $20K below the offer my husband and I were prepared to make.
Once again, I understand that one cannot always have the home he or she desires. But I'm sure you will agree that the outcome regarding the foreclosure home would have been dramatically different had Mary Jo simply done her job. How was it that I, with no formal training or experience in foreclosures, was able to make such progress in just a few hours when Mary Jo had nothing to report after over five months?
This feedback comes with no specific request for action on your part - I just felt you, as Team Leader, should be aware of the poor performance of one of your realtors. Based on this experience, my husband and I see little value in buyers' agents and will not be using one in the future unless it is absolutely necessary.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my feedback. If you have any questions, you may contact me via email.
Regards,
Laurie DeYoung
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Five Day Weekend!
That's right, no more work for Laurie this week! I took Wed.-Fri. off so I could get some stuff done (and look at me, blogging instead of working on that monster to-do list) and because I had to burn some vacation time. So what is on the docket?
House stuff. No longer hindered by the incompetence of our former realtor and spurred on by the possibility of an informal subletter to take care of those pesky rent payments through October, I've taken matters into my own hands. This morning, I went to the Register of Deeds to get some updated information about a foreclosure we've wanted since it was on the market as a FSBO back in October. The extensive information I gained there led me to an attorney's office, who contacted the mortgage company. I am supposed to be getting a call from the mortgage company soon. From there, I took a little jaunt out to the house and, though I obviously can't go inside, I peeked through all the windows and satisfied myself that, yes, it is still in great shape and we want it. Finally, I placed a call to my dad's real estate agent, who is also supposed to call me back. I hate waiting, but I have to have patience.
Grad school stuff. I haven't started on it yet, but tomorrow and Friday I plan to figure out what I need for my scholarship applications and get that commitment deposit submitted. I also need to get the scoop on how to convince Alma to pay for part of it. And I should probably file the FAFSA to see if I qualify for any government student loans. Unlikely, but it's worth a shot.
Vacation stuff. I need to add an extra day onto our Mammoth Cave campsite and book our cave tours. Man, I cannot wait for this vacation. Aside from the fact that we're spending some much-needed time in the great outdoors and seeing Tim and Anna, I also get to cuddle that cute little guy who's completely snared my heart, just by virtue of his photos!
I'll also be doing some biking, spending some QT with my family and attending a bridal shower for my high school friend, Adrienne. I hope to get my bridesmaid dress, too - fun! Well, time to put the last load of laundry in, finish packing and head out! Happy Wednesday!
House stuff. No longer hindered by the incompetence of our former realtor and spurred on by the possibility of an informal subletter to take care of those pesky rent payments through October, I've taken matters into my own hands. This morning, I went to the Register of Deeds to get some updated information about a foreclosure we've wanted since it was on the market as a FSBO back in October. The extensive information I gained there led me to an attorney's office, who contacted the mortgage company. I am supposed to be getting a call from the mortgage company soon. From there, I took a little jaunt out to the house and, though I obviously can't go inside, I peeked through all the windows and satisfied myself that, yes, it is still in great shape and we want it. Finally, I placed a call to my dad's real estate agent, who is also supposed to call me back. I hate waiting, but I have to have patience.
Grad school stuff. I haven't started on it yet, but tomorrow and Friday I plan to figure out what I need for my scholarship applications and get that commitment deposit submitted. I also need to get the scoop on how to convince Alma to pay for part of it. And I should probably file the FAFSA to see if I qualify for any government student loans. Unlikely, but it's worth a shot.
Vacation stuff. I need to add an extra day onto our Mammoth Cave campsite and book our cave tours. Man, I cannot wait for this vacation. Aside from the fact that we're spending some much-needed time in the great outdoors and seeing Tim and Anna, I also get to cuddle that cute little guy who's completely snared my heart, just by virtue of his photos!
I'll also be doing some biking, spending some QT with my family and attending a bridal shower for my high school friend, Adrienne. I hope to get my bridesmaid dress, too - fun! Well, time to put the last load of laundry in, finish packing and head out! Happy Wednesday!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Yummy!
Check out our amazing dinner from Saturday night:
The ribs are hard to see, but they were the best part! Some people think ribs are hard to cook well, but they're surprisingly easy. You just season them up, put them in foil packets and bake them on a cookie sheet for about 2 hours. Then you stick them on the grill (or under the broiler), slathered with BBQ sauce, and crisp them up a bit. The meat falls right off the bone!
Of course, the party potatoes (cheesy baked hash browns) and tomato basil bowtie salad were great, too. We have such good dinners when we're home to cook!
This weekend was a really nice one. We went to check out a new mountain bike trail being built in Lansing on Saturday morning, then spent the afternoon cleaning up the apartment and cooking our yummy meal. On Sunday, we went to church, did a bit of shopping (found the perfect bathing suit, finally!) and played our second-to-last church league volleyball game. Now we're just hanging out, watching some TV (a rarity, since we only have four stations!) and cuddling. Here's hoping this week goes as well as the weekend!
The ribs are hard to see, but they were the best part! Some people think ribs are hard to cook well, but they're surprisingly easy. You just season them up, put them in foil packets and bake them on a cookie sheet for about 2 hours. Then you stick them on the grill (or under the broiler), slathered with BBQ sauce, and crisp them up a bit. The meat falls right off the bone!
Of course, the party potatoes (cheesy baked hash browns) and tomato basil bowtie salad were great, too. We have such good dinners when we're home to cook!
This weekend was a really nice one. We went to check out a new mountain bike trail being built in Lansing on Saturday morning, then spent the afternoon cleaning up the apartment and cooking our yummy meal. On Sunday, we went to church, did a bit of shopping (found the perfect bathing suit, finally!) and played our second-to-last church league volleyball game. Now we're just hanging out, watching some TV (a rarity, since we only have four stations!) and cuddling. Here's hoping this week goes as well as the weekend!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Ragin'
The Captain is working his magic and dulling the anger, but I'm still steamed. Three things:
1. My VP asking me, in a conversation about how busy I am, whether it's my new responsibilities with alumni that were making me so busy. No shit, Sherlock. You're getting two for the price of one here. Obviously that makes me busy. Common sense.
2. My director telling me a certain figure was being considered for an addition to my salary, to cover the eventual loss of my car and the raise my new position is supposed to give me. It's not even enough to cover the loss of the car - which I emphatically told him. Gee, that's a fine way to value me and the extra work I've been doing for the past few months and will continue to do through the summer, for no extra money until July. I made it clear I would not accept the position under those terms.
3. Our realtor finally doing something ridiculous enough to prompt an email terminating our relationship. Long story short, she neglected to inform us of a house that met all our criteria and was a steal to boot until three weeks after the price was reduced. When I did hear of it, I told her I wanted to see it and she told me, "Oh, it's been sold." In addition, she sucks at communicating and follow-up, and hasn't researched the status of a house in foreclosure that we would really like. See ya.
Oh Captain, my Captain - drink time!
1. My VP asking me, in a conversation about how busy I am, whether it's my new responsibilities with alumni that were making me so busy. No shit, Sherlock. You're getting two for the price of one here. Obviously that makes me busy. Common sense.
2. My director telling me a certain figure was being considered for an addition to my salary, to cover the eventual loss of my car and the raise my new position is supposed to give me. It's not even enough to cover the loss of the car - which I emphatically told him. Gee, that's a fine way to value me and the extra work I've been doing for the past few months and will continue to do through the summer, for no extra money until July. I made it clear I would not accept the position under those terms.
3. Our realtor finally doing something ridiculous enough to prompt an email terminating our relationship. Long story short, she neglected to inform us of a house that met all our criteria and was a steal to boot until three weeks after the price was reduced. When I did hear of it, I told her I wanted to see it and she told me, "Oh, it's been sold." In addition, she sucks at communicating and follow-up, and hasn't researched the status of a house in foreclosure that we would really like. See ya.
Oh Captain, my Captain - drink time!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Home Sweet Home
I stopped posting from New York because I was in such a negative mood, but now I'm home and happy!
I actually got back to Michigan on Monday evening, but spent all day today with my mom. We went shopping for wedding and shower gifts (the first of many, for this summer) and went to see my new second cousin, Charlie. He's just a couple months old and he's a doll!
Oh, the bathing suit came in the mail but I'm not sure I'm crazy about it. This weekend might include a trip to PacSun to try on some other options. Guess I better get back to working out on a regular basis if I want to be happy standing in front of a mirror, trying on bathing suits...
I actually got back to Michigan on Monday evening, but spent all day today with my mom. We went shopping for wedding and shower gifts (the first of many, for this summer) and went to see my new second cousin, Charlie. He's just a couple months old and he's a doll!
Oh, the bathing suit came in the mail but I'm not sure I'm crazy about it. This weekend might include a trip to PacSun to try on some other options. Guess I better get back to working out on a regular basis if I want to be happy standing in front of a mirror, trying on bathing suits...
Friday, April 04, 2008
Pea Soup
At street level, it's not bad at all. But up here on the 25th floor, the evening fog is so thick I can't see a thing other than my reflection staring back at me from, ghostlike. Every once in awhile, a light winks through, letting me know I'm not just floating away up here.
One more night, then on to a new place.
One more night, then on to a new place.
New Pet Peeve
When you stand behind a table for three hours and speak to very few students, you do a lot of people watching. As my feet were killing me from my new heels (had to buy 'em - the old ones broke), I found myself focused on people's feet as they meandered by, and thus developed an intense irritation to the shuffling sound people make when they refuse to PICK UP THEIR FEET as they walk.
I'll give the flip-flop wearers a little break, but the biggest culprits: Ugg boot-wearers. Shuffle-shuffle-shuffle, I'm too lazy to walk like a proper person. I bet they wear through a lot of shoes.
And with that, I think I'm going to find a mall and do some browsing to kill the rest of the day. Wish me luck!
I'll give the flip-flop wearers a little break, but the biggest culprits: Ugg boot-wearers. Shuffle-shuffle-shuffle, I'm too lazy to walk like a proper person. I bet they wear through a lot of shoes.
And with that, I think I'm going to find a mall and do some browsing to kill the rest of the day. Wish me luck!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Lessons from the Road
Or: What I've Learned in Upstate New York
1. Without some sort of special programming, GPS units from the States don't work in Canada. Whoops.
2. Class in Oakland county doesn't even begin to compare to the kind of class they have here. A fully uniformed, smartly mannered concierge? Wow.
3. I am every bit the small-town girl, and it's apparent. Especially to the concierge.
4. At fancy hotels, no one swims in the pool. If you go down there to swim laps, you'll have the place all to yourself and be a source of amusement for the staff.
5. I am way too thrifty. OK, cheap. Even when the College is footing the bill, I'm having trouble coming to grips with the cost of breakfast here. $4.50 for a bowl of oatmeal?!?! I can buy a whole tub of instant oats for less than that. And an extra $3 to have it delivered to my room? Heavens, I am so much more at home in a Super 8 with a continental breakfast.
To be continued after tomorrow's college fair, I'm sure.
1. Without some sort of special programming, GPS units from the States don't work in Canada. Whoops.
2. Class in Oakland county doesn't even begin to compare to the kind of class they have here. A fully uniformed, smartly mannered concierge? Wow.
3. I am every bit the small-town girl, and it's apparent. Especially to the concierge.
4. At fancy hotels, no one swims in the pool. If you go down there to swim laps, you'll have the place all to yourself and be a source of amusement for the staff.
5. I am way too thrifty. OK, cheap. Even when the College is footing the bill, I'm having trouble coming to grips with the cost of breakfast here. $4.50 for a bowl of oatmeal?!?! I can buy a whole tub of instant oats for less than that. And an extra $3 to have it delivered to my room? Heavens, I am so much more at home in a Super 8 with a continental breakfast.
To be continued after tomorrow's college fair, I'm sure.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Overload!
This week has been so busy! On Thursday, I'm heading out of town for work and there's a ton to do before I feel comfortable leaving the office for almost a whole week. Financial aid calls, flash drive loading and mailing (we send all deposited students flash drives with the fight song on them - cool, huh?), web updates, portal updates, email blasts...and on top of this, my two student interns can't work for the next two weeks due to end of the term/senior year obligation. Argh! I definitely depend on them for a lot! Plus we have an event on Saturday, so I've had to train and prep my OCs to operate without me there. Phew!
Oh, I ordered the first bathing suit. It was my favorite, too, but the other one was more like suits I've bought in the past. I can't wait for it to arrive! The brand, Athleta, is expensive but I'm hoping they'll send me coupons now. I found tons of other cute stuff in their most recent catalog!
OK, time to start this crazy day!
Oh, I ordered the first bathing suit. It was my favorite, too, but the other one was more like suits I've bought in the past. I can't wait for it to arrive! The brand, Athleta, is expensive but I'm hoping they'll send me coupons now. I found tons of other cute stuff in their most recent catalog!
OK, time to start this crazy day!
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