Amberism

The Little Honda That Couldn't

Things always get worse before they get better, don't they?

I took the car into Petro-Canada certiguard in Calgary on Thursday/Friday this week while I was in town. I like this service station, so I always take my car there even though I live 3 hours away. I'm in Calgary enough that it's not as unreasonable as you'd think. Looking for a new mechanic in Spruce Grove just didn't excite me. I spent $1000 on a major tune up, brakes, rotors, the whole nine yards. It was pretty much a new car and it was running like a dream when I picked it up. I was super pleased.

Sunday morning I'm leaving my parents old place where they were packing up the last of their stuff (they bought a house) and the car completely dies. Just stops. It would turn over, but it wouldn't ignite. At least I was within walking distance from help so I just left the car where it died* (with asshole Calgarians honking and swearing at me like I can magically start a dead car. Why do people live here?) and got help. Everyone stopped what they were doing to walk out there and push it out of the way and stand around and look at it, all of us taking guessing on what might have gone wrong. My stepdad was the closes because he said he figured it was a timing issue (more on that). After we got bored of that we walked back and Fearthainn was a sweetie and picked me up and chauffered me around all day.

This morning I had it towed to the service station hoping it was all their fault. I even made him pay for the tow truck! Turns out, it wasn't his fault and the cause of death was blamed on the timing belt that up and snapped. I guess we all snap eventually. Plus something else that has to do with valves and somesuch. I stopped listening because basically what is currently wrong with it is another $1000. I simply don't have the money. Plain and simple. My credit card is maxed (don't worry, my credit isn't that high so I'm not swimming in debt or anything) and the timing belt alone will clean out my bank account. I have to fix the timing belt because I need to go home tomorrow but the other problem simply can't be a problem. It needs to go away without me paying for it. I said as much to my mechanic and he completely understands and is going to see what he can do.

At least I like my mechanic. Well, at least I like the guy I talk to regularly, I actually don't know the mechanic. I'd still like to blame him for the timing belt, but he did warn me that it would need to be replaced in the next 10,000 kms assuming the previous owner replaced it when he was suppose to. Turns out the previous owner didn't.

Fucking car.

*it died in the turning lane on a fairly low-traffic road. It wasn't in the middle of an intersection or anything. It was easy to get around it and continue on your merry way without all the bloody honking. Ugh.

It's Friday

yay! And it's doubly good because Steve is coming into town tonight! hee! It'll be the first time I've seen him in like three weeks. Crazy eh? And I get to see my puppy too, so its triply good.

Next week is going to be crazy busy, and the week after that will be insane so I think I'll be pretty scarce. I was thrown a very juicy, tasty bone and it looks like we get to hire packers, so that really takes some stress off. At least I don't have to pack although I've already packed 25 boxes but the moving consultant didn't seem to think that was a problem. So, instead of packing and running around the long weekend we'll be out enjoying the annual Labour Day Camping Extravaganza. This makes me super giddy! It could very well be the last time I get to partake in this tradition for a very long time. hee!

Brrrr....

It's cold. I'm talking on the verge of snowing cold. Right now it's 8C (47 F) and it's been that cold for three days. I keep hoping that things will warm up back to reasonable summer temperatures so I haven't turned on the furnace. It seems mad to turn the furnace on in the middle of the summer. However, I'm considering unpacking my gloves at this point and I'm so cold I slept in my track pants and sweatshirt last night. Even though its kinda fun to wake up and be dressed, that's a little ridiculous.

I'm going to make me some hot chocolate!

Turn That Frown Upside Down

That's one of Steve' sister's sayings. Annoying, isn't it? :)

Since it's been all about the negative on Amberism lately I thought I'd cheer things up a little. I've been missing my boys and yesterday I got a delightful little present from the island. Steve sent me a gardening book about the different gardens all over the world (you could create your own African garden! hee! How cool is that?) and the cutest damn card ever. I'm talking super cute. If I had a scanner, I'd scan it. Completely made my week. This is why I'm marrying the guy!

I've also been a wedding crafting goddess and am very impressed with the things I've gotten done the last couple of days. I've painted, stamped and ribbon'd 100 little boxes (that started off looking like this), painted my cardbox, printed, cut-out, folded and glued 80 little RSVP envelopes (twice because I got the address wrong the first time - can we say Amber is a Moron?) and an assortment of other little fun wedding things that I can't mention because Fearthainn reads this site and it's suppose to be a surprise. I feel proud.

And just because this is too damn cute not to share - this is what your dog is up to when you're not looking :).

The last time I was staying at my parent's I got home a little late and when I went up to the guest room I was greeted with a puppy sleeping in my bed! This is my parents pitbull, Chief. He even moved the pillows himself - normally the pillows are all perfect because my Mom makes sure of it every day!! It's a very strange feeling to be in my Mom's prestine guest bedroom and have a pitbull sleeping on the bed! He was not pleased to be forced to find alternate sleeping arrangements.

Today's Theme: Annoy Amber

It's fun! And free!

The realtor of the buyers of the house called this afternoon. I didn't pick up the phone (I'm a big believer in screening all calls). His little assistant leaves a message asking if it would be alright for her to give the buyers my phone number so they can call me to make an appointment to drop by and take measurements because there are changes they plan to make.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Here's the thing, the buyers shouldn't have my direct phone number under any circumstances. That is why I'm paying an ungodly amount of money to both our realtors. You just know that the second they have my number, they're going to be phoning to drop by every other day. And I'm not exaggerating, this happened to me the last time I sold a house. They wanted in to show this friend and that friend every other day and they had possession in three weeks! Honestly, have a house warming party people. I let it go a couple of times and finally just told my realtor (my mommy) to tell them to bugger off.

And coming in to take measurements annoys me on another level. I'm in the middle of packing and planning a wedding here. My house is a mess. A huge mess, if I'm being honest, and cleaning it for measurements when the people are going to be living here in three weeks strikes me as ridiculous. They don't actually own the house yet, and it might not close. Alberta has been coming down hard on assumable mortgages the last couple of months and several banks have started to pull the mortgages. That is a very real possibility. I would rather not have the hassle if the whole deal falls apart in three weeks anyway.

It's not that I'm an uncooperative bitch (well, I sort of am right now) but I know that if you open the door to this request, there will be another request and then another. I'm busy. I work in this space plus I'm packing and doing all sorts of other crap. I really don't want to have to rearrange my schedule for these people and I don't want to become friendly with them either. And I certainly don't want them to have my phone number! They already dropped by without an appointment in the middle of my dinner one night. I let them in (I was still trying to close the deal and the house was still spotless so why not?) but that is about as friendly as I'm willing to get.

And then they're walking around "taking measurements" when really they're just assessing how I live and looking more closely at the house. It all adds up to trouble if you ask me.

I wanna go back to bed.

People Suck

I've been crazy busy the last few weeks. Talking to lawyers, doing wedding-related tasks that need to be done ASAP, getting ready to move, listing the house, etc. You know the drill. Some things are taking a back seat because, well, they can wait.

One of those things on the to-do list is compiling a list of songs for our DJ. I sent an email saying that it wouldn't get done when we originally agreed because I was just too busy to waste time looking up songs I think I might like played.

The last couple of days I have been working on the list when I have time, but it's not complete or anything. I wasn't even sure how complete I wanted it because to be honest - isn't this the DJ's job? Play what people dance to. I like country music, but lots and lots of people hate country music passionately. If they ain't dancing to it, don't play it. I like just about every kind of music out there, so I'm not going to go bridezilla on the woman's ass if my entire song list doesn't get played. Play wedding music. If I have to come up with the entire playlist, I'll just rent the equipment and burn the cds myself.

She sends me an email today and basically says that she thinks maybe we're not going to be able to work together because I haven't sent this bloody list and we're running out of time. It was nicer than that, but that was point. Running out of time? The wedding is over 3 months away! Exactly what I need right now. And looking for another DJ is not going to happen, I simply don't have time - I'm moving. Out of province. I just can't go to Calgary and start interviewing DJs. I didn't even really do it the first time because I didn't have the time or the inclination. I gotta tell you, I consider the DJ one of the most insignificant aspects of the entire process. All I expect is that they 1. show up and 2. play dancable music. It doesn't even have to be good music. It was a lot harder than I anticipated to just get a recommendation, I wasn't about to prolong the process any longer than I had to.

I sent her the start of my list and simply said that as far as I was concerned the deal was done and there wasn't an opportunity to back out. I also said not to worry so much about what music I expect played because I'm not that concerned, keep people on the dance floor (ie: do the job).

I have bigger wedding worries, our invites have to be sent out in two weeks so I have to, well, finish them. And we should be registered before, or just after they're mailed. If I'm going to be spending time doing wedding stuff instead of packing, there are some priorities here and it ain't what music to play!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE RICKY!!

My uncle (who goes by the very original moniker of Rick Brown on Amberism, kinda like how I go by the very original moniker of Amber) is having a birthday today!! hee!

Thanks for being the best uncle EVER! I can't wait to see you in November! And I hope you have a really wonderful day.

Love you
Amber and Steve-o

(ps: There's a card in the mail, but uh, I mailed it today so it'll be a few days!)

The Mall

Whatever happened to the mall? Now all our shopping is done in huge shopping mecca's where you actually drive across a massive parking lot to go to the next store. It's unreal. I can't remember the last time I stepped into a real mall. I go to West Edmonton Mall every so often, but let's face it, a building that spans 8 city blocks and has a waterpark and an amusement park within it's walls can hardly be considered your run-of-the-mill mall.

I miss the mall. Shopping was a lot less stressful when it involved considerably less driving around crowded parking lots and the constant getting in and out of the bloody car. Where the store you visited wasn't the size of a warehouse and sales staff were actually available to help you.

Nevermind the land we're consuming and destroying to build these retail meccas. Edmonton South Common, home of the Great Big Two Storey Ikea, is the size of Spruce Grove, I swear. That place is massive and is home to Superstore, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Staples, Ikea, The Brick, Sears Home, Pier One, Bombay Company, Every clothing store you can imagine (housed in small warehouses), just to name a few, all lumped together on the south side of Edmonton. It's sheer madness.

I have no point. I've just spent a considerable amount of time in the last week struggling to get around these huge shopping meccas. I'm all shopped out. If only I could order my groceries on line and have them delivered.

SOLD!

We sold our house yesterday so things are chugging along. Posession is September 10th so we'll be on our way to the coast sometime at the beginning of September!

I'm both sad and excited. Excited to finally be moving and not just talking about it, and sad to leave hickville. I'm a prairie girl at heart, I'm gonna miss this place, even though I bitch about it constantly.

On to the next phase...

I hate my bank

I've said this a million times, but I'll say it again. My bank SUCKS.

The hold still isn't lifted off that stupid cheque. We're now on week three. So, I call the customer service people and she gives me this spiel about how all American cheques have a one month hold.

uh, no they don't. I told her as much, this is the second time I've cashed a US cheque from Charles Schwab and both time I was told the hold time was two weeks. And it's Charles Schwab. A completely legitimate, and huge investment company in the US. We're not talking about a cheque from Aunt Mildred here. Besides, I wouldn't have cared if the hold time was a month if they told me that. But they didn't, they said it was two weeks and I fucking expect to have that money in two weeks. I spent it like it was there at the two week mark and now I need the god-damn hold lifted. I patiently waited three weeks but I'm not waiting another week because all kinds of shit is going to bounce this week if that hold isn't lifted.

Which I suppose is good for the bank since I'll be paying services charges out my ass.

By some miracle my mortgage hasn't come out yet (which is worrisome all on its own, but I'm not questioning that until the hold is lifted). Of course the girl on the line can't help me, she has to forward me to my personal banking manager, who I'm apparently suppose to know, at a branch in Calgary that I haven't set foot in since I was about 22 years old. My personal banking manager, was shockingly, unavailable.

I'd change branches but it is such a fucking pain in the ass to change a branch with these people I just couldn't be bothered (you actually have to go to your original branch to do it, it's a nightmare, who has time for that? I think you should be able to sit down in the branch you're transferring to and do it. I mean, it's the same fucking bank!).

I know I should change banks, but changing banks is another nightmare all on its own. I think this is how a bank keeps you, they make it impossible to leave. Happy Monday.

In other less-angry news, Fearthainn was here this weekend and we attended a Cambodian engagement party for a friend of mine. It was fun, we were part of the groom's party, so we got to 'parade' with plates of food to the bride's house. Then they did a ceremony and he presented her with a ring, and she presented him with a bracelet. Then we ate like kings! After we finished eating, we headed to the Big Mall and looked for underwear and shoes to wear with our dresses. I scored on the shoes, Fearthainn scored on the underwear.

We spent the rest of the weekend watching movies - Mona Lisa Smiles (cute!), 50 First Dates (also cute!) and Hellboy (eh, typical comic book type of movie, it was fun!).

**Banking Update**

Even though it was the bank's mistake, they outright refuse to release the money. Assholes. I did manage to convince them to release my mortgage payment and the cheque I wrote so it wouldn't bounce (if it hasn't already, maybe that's why I don't see the charge?!). Then I got this lecture how these cheques are always held for 30 days. It took all my willpower not to lose my temper since obviously, the majority of the staff isn't even aware of this policy. I did inform the lady that if my mortgage does bounce, I'll be coming unglued on someone's ass (yup, I actually said that).

It's so fucking annoying to be worried about money when I have money sitting there staring me in the face!!! In the meantime, every purchase I make (including food!) has to go on my credit card making the original bill payment that created this fiasco completely useless. I'll say it again. Assholes. I think the TD Bank is looking mighty fine (I'm using Bank of Montreal).

Listed!

Mom listed the house tonight. There are still a few things that I need to do, namely mow my lawn (will it ever stop raining?), deal with the musty smell, and fix up the stairs. Our stairs are weird, and very annoying. There just doesn't seem to be any method to make them look good, but I have to think of something because it's the first thing you see when you walk in the door. The 'nose' on the stairs is this strange depth and it's impossible to find appropriate dividers that cover the whole nose. I'm telling you, annoying as all hell.

Apparently you can buy these rocks at Revy that will soak up humidity and odour. My parents think that because it's been so wet and rainy and humid up here that is why we're noticing the less-than-pleasant smell. I was pretty crushed when Mom said she noticed the smell when she first walked in, but then she added that it disappeared quickly and she forgot about it until I mentioned it to her. Unfortunately, it's noticeable on first walking in the door. I love my cats, but seriously, couldn't they throw me a bloody bone here?

We've been burning vanilla, and that's helping. I'm buying cinnamon sticks tomorrow too! I might draw the line at a coffee maker though :).

Beyond that, everything else I do is merely cosmetic and will help the cause. A little nudge here, and little nudge there. I'm hoping that after this weekend I'll finally relax.

It just feels like nothing is going well. My condo in Calgary is still empty, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest. I was being ultra-picky at the beginning because I have a picky condo board. Did that ever bite me in the ass. We're on month two with no renters and this is not good on my pocket book, especially with the wedding just around the corner. Then my (very expensive) vacuum blows it's motor (sorry Fearthainn!). I thought maybe it just needed a break from all the vacuuming. Nope. It's dead. I cried. Hey, it's been a long week and honestly, buying a vacuum wasn't high on my list of things to purchase right now.

Plus the whole cheque-hold-bounced-mortgage fiasco doesn't make one feel giddy and happy. I'm not sure the mortgage actually bounced, I'm too scared to check. I think I'll lose it so I'm pretending that's not the case and everything is peachy. I mean, the bank would call, right? So obviously since there hasn't been a phone call, there isn't a problem.

Plus, everytime I turn around it seems there is one more thing I should have been doing and haven't done. Like, oh, say work. Or apply for my professional license, or send the list of songs to the DJ, send music to the pianist, order cheques for line of credit, ensure mortgage didn't bounce, get electricity turned back on in condo, advertise condo, fix this or that in the house, yadda, yadda, yadda. I think that generally speaking, I deal with stress pretty well, but this is too much. I was telling Mom that because I'm so tired and drained and overwhelmed when I am attempting to do something it's taking me 5 times longer than it would normally. The simple task of hanging blinds (which I've done numerous times, it's not rocket science) had me no the verge of shredding the fucking blind to bits. I was livid at the blind. On the cusp of a full out rage because I just couldn't get the damn thing on the wall. It's just a blind, it doesn't deserve to get a rise out of me.

Sorry that the past week has been all bitching and no play. I really needed to vent and well, I own this nook and cranny, might as well let out steam here, eh?

Tomorrow should be a good day though! Fearthainn is coming! It's Friday! And my nephew is here tonight and tomorrow morning too, which is pretty awesome. We played cards, and went for a nice little walk. It's hardly ever that I get to spend that much time with my nephew, and that's really what's important in life. I guess life (or God, if you believe in God) knows to throw you little rays of sunshine like that when things seem to be out of your control.

Plus this kid is bloody cute. He said "today is a good day because I got to go on the go-carts and yesterday was a good day too because Mom said I could come here". awwww. I love this kid. How can that not make you feel all warm and fuzzy?

The Stars

My Horoscope: You can count on your friends to see you through a rough time. Consider how much you are to blame for the circumstances that have arisen. You can get the help you need if you want it. 4 stars

Do you think your star rating goes down if you tell the horoscope god to fuck off?

I already know I'm to blame. I moved here, I chose the house, I agreed to move again in a very short time period. I don't need my horoscope rubbing it in, thankyouverymuch.

That being said, I got to sleep upstairs. It took me until 1:00 to get the bed set up, but my sleep was better. I'm still tired beyond tired, but that's ok, I'll live.

Now I'm off to do about 5 days work in one day.

Will This Week Ever End

The madness continues, the carpet guys are installing carpet as I type, which is good. So far, it's the best part of the day.

I lost my credit card on Sunday. I went crazy trying to find it. I was thisclose to having a mental breakdown. Finally, I accepted that my house was just too big of a mess and when things started to get tidy, it would turn up.

Today I phone the garbage bin guys (we rented a garbage bin, very handy) to pick up the bin and had to tell the lady I couldn't find the credit card in which I put the deposit down, so hopefully that was ok and I can pay using the same number that was used for the deposit. Here's hoping.

I hang up, and find the credit card. ~rolling eyes~

So, things are looking up I figure. Today is also the day that the hold is lifted off my stock cheque I cashed two weeks ago. So, I have money! hee! In my glee I madly put a large sum on my credit card since the money on that card is racking up like no tomorrow.

Then, off to the bank to withdraw money for carpet guys. Banks says I have no money. WHAT? Hold isn't lifted from that cheque so even though it says I have a tidy little sum, it won't let me have even a smidgen of that tidy little sum. This is bad, but ok, I can pay the carpet guys with a cheque from my line of credit (the one and only cheque left too, this is my life). Then I realize my mortgage hasn't been paid yet. Fuck. I can't undo my credit card payment I made (since apparently I had the cash for that) but my mortgage is going to bounce. Fanfuckingtastic.

I've just about had it. I've just about reached my limit. I've had no sleep, I have no money, and I just can't take one more thing going wrong. I have a list a mile long of things to do in the next day, plus I have to work (I'd take vacation, but I don't have any left to take!).

oh, and I just realized that my cats have started using the basement carpet as their own vast, personal facilities. Ew. I'm being ultra religious about their little box so it's always spotless and appealing and doing everything I can think of to make the carpet unappealing to a cat. Those chemicals that are used to get the odour out so animals don't use that location anymore are potent. They can't be good for us, or the environment, or even the carpet. The problem with the damn carpet is that past animals in the house used it as their facilities so that is why the cats do, too.

Someone better buy this house in the first hour I list it. Man. Either that or shot me and put me out of my own personal hell.

Weekend From Hell

We spent the entire weekend attempting to get our house into some sort of order to list on Wednesday.

Steve left Sunday morning for bluer waters (literally) and I'm currently sitting in the middle of a huge ass mess. Wednesday? Wednesday seems seriously unlikely unless I don't sleep.

Of course, I'm not sleeping because sleeping in a great big house without Steve or my puppy sucks. A lot. I'm a huge coward. It's difficult to blame strange noises on the cats when both cats are under the covers and draped across me all night. I'm one of those people that leave lights on when I have to stay alone in the house. I hate staying alone, this is why I've always had room-mates. I bitch when they're here, I bitch when they're not, this is my god-given right as a female.

In happier news, several rooms are starting to look like rooms again instead of like complete shit. Tomorrow morning the carpet guys are coming to install carpet in our master bedroom* so that means tomorrow night I can once again sleep in my wonderful room rather than in the basement. Thank god.

Everything is a little bit 'Trading Spaces'-ish right now, not exactly the kind of renovation I'd be doing if I was going to live here, my only goal right now is to get the house staged so someone else buys it and I can start thinking about where I'm going to live in Nanaimo.

And start doing a few of the things on the never-ending wedding list too. ack. I need a day at the spa.

*I know it seems crazy to install carpet when we're moving but we felt that this was one expense we had to suck it up and make. Previous owners turned what was two bedrooms into one, but never installed one carpet so the master bedroom had two carpeted areas with a board in the middle where the wall used to be. It was ridiculous. No, I don't know why we bought this house. We like to punish ourselves I suppose.