Chicago Chick

Laughing Out Loud

I got up this morning remembering the argument that I had with our soon to be ex-real estate agent (her contract expires TODAY at 11:59 pm - YEAH!).  Everyone was still asleep and I used my peaceful time to catch up on my online journal reading.  My mood quickly turned for the better because of the post on Filipina Mom's Blog.

Happy Slip is definitely going to be a daily read for me.  It was so funny that I laughed out loud - something I have not done in quite a while.  Happy Slip is a one woman comedic act that videotapes her very Filipino topics (to quote MJ of SugarMama).  Maybe it's only funny to people who either have grown up in a Filipino house, know someone who is Filipino, or know what Filipino moms are like.

Whatever the case, it made me laugh out loud.  Other things that have made me smile today are posts from Eat Misery and Melanie.  Okay, so maybe the smile I'm wearing can also be attributed to the fact that our soon to be ex-real estate agent is coming to get her crap out of our house and give us back our keys thus ending this nightmare chapter in my family's life.

I'm SO Mad, My Hand is Shaking

I just got off the phone with our (ex) real estate agent.  David and I knew that our real estate agent would take it personally when we told her that we would not be extending her contract.  She's just like that.  Never mind that she was a sucky agent.  Below are some of the reasons why we couldn't continue to have her as our agent:

• She would tell potential buyers personal things about us.  She would tell them how David is a stay at home dad and how she thought he was a great dad (nice to hear that last part, but really?)
• She would have an open house or a showing and wouldn't give us an update.  Instead, we would have to call her.
• She made the potential buyers ill at ease.  For example, she would tell the potential buyer that they didn't want a loft and here are the reasons why . . . when they said that they wanted a loft.
• She didn't put an ad in the Chicago Tribune until 6 weeks into our listing agreement with her.
• She would point out things to the potential buyers like the huge water heater and the humidifier that David recently put in.  She wouldn't point out that our place was close to the 'El" or that it was walking distance from nightlife.
• She wouldn't follow up with the agents of potential buyers who came to see our place.  The only feedback she would solicit was when they were walking out the door after a showing.
• She was late to appointments or open houses.

I could go on but I won't.  The thing that was most disturbing was the conversation that I just had with her.  I have not yelled at anyone since the episode with the person who thought Nick was autistic, but I yelled at Pat - our agent.  To be clear, I only yelled after she personally insulted me and David.  I yelled at her only after she called David a bigot and said that she felt sorry for Nick and Alex because he was raising them.

I got off the phone and my hands were shaking - they're still shaking.  This entire experience has been really stressful and disappointing.  If you would like to contact me for the name of her real estate agency so you do not have the same experience, feel free.  I will NOT post it on my online journal.

Earlier this week, we signed an agreement with another agent and I am very glad that we did so.  My sister thinks I should write a letter to the Better Business Bureau or the Illinois Bureau of Real Estate Professions.  I think I will try to cool down before I do anything.

Unwanted Being

The little bugger came out of nowhere.  It was completely unexpected and I swore that I took precautions to make sure that this wouldn't happen.  But, it did happen and now I am host to a "being".

That's right people - I have a ginormous pimple right between the eyes.  It's huge and it literally is giving me a headache.  Not sure if you guys know what I'm talking about.  Have you ever had a zit above or around your eyebrows that just throbs.  Ugh!  What a way to start a weekend!

Any Offer's a Good Offer

Our current real estate agent - the one who is SO getting fired soon - called us last night and went on and on for 20 minutes about how upset she was.  Mind you, she didn't tell us exactly WHAT was upsetting her.  In the end, her purpose for calling us was to tell us that someone put an offer on our place.

The reason that she was upset was because the initial offer that she was giving us was in the high $200s which is realistic only if you are making this offer in the year 2000.  She told us that she refused the offer for us.  I would have refused the offer, but I think that she was completely wrong in making that call for us without asking us first.

She went on to say that she got a higher offer, but it was not much higher.  The offer included the entire enchilada - the 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, private balcony, blah, blah, blah, and the 2 outdoor deeded parking spaces.  The offer was still really low, but our agent was going on and on about how upset she was and it was almost like we told her that she was going to be carted off to jail a la Paris Hilton.

David and I, on the other hand, were not upset.  Both of us believe that any offer that someone makes is a good offer - at least in their mind.  It's not the real estate agent's job to insult the buyer or the buyer's agent.  Instead, it is the agent's job to take the information to the sellers and let the sellers answer.  David finally told our agent what to tell the buyer's agent but it wasn't without being constantly interrupted.

This is another example of why we are not extending our current agent's contract.  Part of being an agent, I think, is being able to negotiate well and our agent does NOT negotiate well at all.  If this whole thing were like a poker game, she would have been out on the curb with no money and no shoes wondering what went wrong.

What Goes On in This Head of Mine

This morning I got to the office at 6:30.  I am sure many of you are wondering, "What the H-E-Double Hockey sticks could be so important that she had to be in the office at the cracka$$ of dawn?".  Okay, so maybe many of you aren't wondering that.  I got here early because I really wanted to finish something today and have tomorrow to review it.  Also, I want to keep digging into the application that my company produces and learn every nook and cranny of it.  I'm like that - people who have worked with me know that I am like that.

But, right now my head is pounding with a hunger-induced headache and I really REALLY need coffee.  I'm on the proverbial "coffee break."  As I type this entry, I can hear my husband's words echoing in my brain.  David asked me this morning, "What goes on in that head of yours?"

Oh, David - so many things go on in my head.  Here's a look at what went on in my head as I took a 10 minute walk to the Starbucks on the corner.  Mind you, it was ONLY 10 minutes:

• Hmmm, the elevator isn't working.
• I wonder how much time I have left on the parking meter.
• JEEE-Zus it's humid and muggy out here - Yuck!
• I have to remember to call Maria for lunch today. I wonder what she will feel like eating.
• Do I want an iced coffee?
• Should I get the "usual"?
• Nah, I'm going to have a raspberry frappuccino. Oooh, and some very bad for you raspberry swirl loaf cake stuff.
• Wow, that woman is really, REALLY pregnant. The baby is so low that I'm sure she's due any day.
• God, I'm glad I'm not pregnant (again) this summer.
• I'm glad I wasn't pregnant LAST summer.
• I have way too many gadgets.
• I'm a gadget addict. Actually, I'm a technology addict.
• I wonder how many times a day I check my e-mail or how many hours I spend reading stuff on the Internet.
• Yeah, but when I was doing consulting, the application was on the Internet. And, the stuff I do know is on the Internet. Still, is that wrong? Am I on the Internet too much?
• I AM a junkie!
• It's freeeeezing in the Starbucks this morning.
• The barrista sure is tall. I wonder how tall he is? Does he have big feet?
• Is it true what they say about men's shoe size and . . .
• I need to get some "anti-bacterial" gel for the office and a coaster for my drink.
• Ugh! The elevator isn't working.
• I know that I usually walk up the stairs, but it's so humid outside and it just zaps the energy out of me.
• Whew, am I on the 3rd floor - that was like what, a zillion stairs? Only one more flight to go.
• Today was NOT the day to be wearing 2 1/2 inch heels.
• Did I take my asthma medicine this morning?  Crap, NO I didn't
• *gasp* Do I sound like I'm really out of breath because someone down the hall is coming and I have to say Hi.
• In 2 hours I have to run downstairs and feed the meter and then run UP 4 flights of stairs.  Today was NOT the day to wear 2 1/2 inch heels!

Scary, huh?  I must say, my mind reels!

Amazing What a Little Publicity Will Do

Since the Chicago Tribune article came out on Chicago Mom's Blog yesterday, I've noticed a huge spike in traffic on my site.  Additional traffic means additional comments which is a good thing.  I've been fortunate not to get hate mail.  Okay, I think I've gotten 1 in the past 10 years that I've had an online journal.

Initially, I started posting under a pseudonym because I didn't really want what I wrote to be associated with me.  Me, the person Irene.  It gave me a bit of freedom to write exactly WHAT I wanted.  When I moved to the Chicago Chick URL, I decided to put my real name out there.  I'm not exactly sure why, but I did.

So when Jill at Silicon Valley Moms Blog contacted me about writing for Chicago Moms Blog, I thought, "Eh, What the heck!"  And, I love contributing to the blog.

This morning, my real life collided with my Internet self when I received an e-mail from one of my old co-workers from my first job out of college.  Hi Ms. Eye-Conetti - miss ya!!!!  It was a nice surprise and initially I thought, "Crap! I've blown my cover!" but then I realized that there are a lot of people out there who already know me and know about my site.  The world is a small place, but it is infinitely smaller with the Internet.

So, keep those visits, comments, and e-mails coming.  I enjoy reading and responding to them.  They're entertaining and funny and really supportive when I need a little love.

You're FIRED!

It's official - we are firing our current real estate agent.  David is supposed to tell her some time this week since our contract with her is over at the end of this month - at 12:59 pm.  We talked to a couple of new agents and found one that we liked.  Actually, he kind of fell into my lap last week (figuratively, people).

I was sitting in my office last Friday, frantically doing personal things and work things all at once, and one of the other tenants in the office building popped into my office to introduce himself.  N is the owner of a software company who also does some real estate investing.  He sent me the contact information for his real estate agent who helped N sell his condo in the next neighborhood west of ours.

We met E, the real estate agent, Sunday night.  The boys were running around like demons; there was dirty laundry in piles in the front hallway; the counter was cluttered; and our bed had not been made.  Our place was the opposite of how it is when we do a showing, but E didn't turn around and run.  He actually sat with us and answered all of our questions.  The best part is that he is around the age of the typical buyer that would consider buying our place.

Actually, I am the age of the typical buyer that would consider buying our place.  But unlike the typical buyer, I have 2 toddlers and a husband and the typical buyer would either be single or married without kids.

The other real estate agent we considered hiring, knows our neighborhood well because she's lived in the neighborhood for a long time.  But, David didn't think that she would relate well to the "target" market.  On the one hand I can see that, but on the other hand I have to side with her in that she has a lot of experience.  We haven't signed a listing agreement yet but are planning to in the next day or so.  I just hope that the new agent can sell our place.

In the Local Paper

Yeah!  Chicago Moms Blog is in the Chicago Tribune.  Thanks to Jill Asher and the founders of Silcon Valley Moms Blog, the Chicago blog that I contribute to has gotten a big publicity hit.

Pancakes and Power Cords

This is going to be a pretty boring post so if you want to move along to someone more interesting, I completely understand.  This past weekend has been pretty uneventful except for the fact that I made vanilla wafer coated French toast on Saturday and chocolate chip pancakes this morning.

The French toast was delicious and there wasn't a scrap left between what Alex and Nick ate.  I cannot say the same for the chocolate chip pancakes that I made for David this morning.  It was just recently that I realized that I didn't like pancakes and that I really don't care for waffles.  Actually, I'm not really a breakfast food person.

The reasons that I made pancakes for David was (1) the boys are driving him crazy and I thought it would be a nice gesture and (2) he loves chocolate chip pancakes.  While he was able to eat a warm meal this morning, the boys are still driving him crazy.  Truthfully, Alex is driving me a little bonkers.  He has to get his little cute sticky hands on all my gadget cords.  This morning, he was sucking on my iPod charger (not plugged in of course) and then tried to play jump rope with the detachable cord.

After Alex was finished violating my iPod charger and cord, Nick decided it was garbage and threw it in the trash can.  It took me 15 minutes to dig through the trash which included dirty diapers, cat food cans, and other assorted yuckiness to get to it.  All this before 9:00 this morning!

Vacation? What's THAT!?!

Because I can work in the peace and quiet of my own little office, I am able to catch up on my online journal reading.  It seems that the recurring theme lately is vacation.  Vacation is a word that does not compute in my head quite simply because I haven't been on what I would call a proper vacation since my honeymoon.  And, my honeymoon was 10 years ago.

David and I went to Italy on our honeymoon and I hate to complain about going to a fabulous place like Italy.  But, I wanted to go someplace where I hadn't been like Ireland or maybe Monaco.  David wanted to go to Italy so we went.  We went and we fought about stupid things and even thought about coming home early.  What can I say?  We weren't really good at the marriage thing until recently.

Vacations when I was a child meant stuffing Ma, Da, my 2 siblings, me, and my grandparents into something like a Buick LaSabre and driving down to Florida from Chicago.  I think one year we were crazy enough to stuff ourselves into the Chevy Nova (very small) and take that down to Florida.  I have fond memories of those road trips.  Yes, it was really hot and my parents didn't want to turn on the air conditioning (something about saving gas).  We often slept in rest stops to save money or drove all night and day to get to where we were going.

On these trips we would stop at wax museums or obscure places to see things like the world biggest (you fill in the blank).  We would drive through the Smoky Mountains and marvel that people actually lived in the mountains.  When we got to our final destination, we would spend the day at Disney World and then the next at some wild life safari where the monkeys would sit on your car and leave butt marks on your windows.

As crazy and uncomfortable as it seems, these are the happiest memories of my childhood.  Nothing says family like 3 days of constant togetherness in the hot sun driving from Chicago to Florida (one way).  I love those memories, but don't think I'll get to relive them with David and the boys.  David's idea of a family vacation is not driving 3 days non-stop to anywhere.

Paris Hilton is Pretty Lucky

I'm not entirely sure why Paris Hilton has entered my thoughts.  Probably because she's everywhere - at least she's everywhere if you read TMZ.com or watch entertainment shows at 2:00 am like I seem to do lately.  I am by NO means a fan of Paris.  In fact, she is an example of the kind of child that I would NOT want to raise.

If Nick or Alex grew up to behave like Paris Hilton, I would hang my head in shame and admit that I didn't do a good job of raising them.  That aside, what I think makes her so lucky is her family.  It's a twisted notion that I would say that her family makes her lucky, but look at the facts.

Paris's parents and sister are in full support of her.  They visit her on what seems like a daily basis and even came to see her on Father's Day.  While her record label is dropping her, her PR firm abandoning her, and some "friends" and neighbors distancing themselves from her, Paris's family sticks by her.  You don't see Paris's father criticizing her in the media (a la Lindsay Lohan's dad).  You don't see her mother selling her story to the media (a la Jade Barrymore or Meg Ryan's mom).

In the end, when there are no more record deals or endorsement agreements Paris Hilton still has her family.  Oh yeah, that huge trust fund also helps a little.  Seriously, even if the Hiltons lost all their money, I am sure that they would still stick by each other.  And for that, Paris Hilton is pretty lucky.

Bubble Butt

I was on my way to Starbucks this morning and happened to glance at my reflection in a window.  I have really let myself go to pot.  I noticed that my butt was ginormous, which sadly isn't the worst of it.  I FEEL crappy too!

I realize that this time last year I was running and was signing up for at least one 5K per month.  I was running with CARA weekly and was running with my friend, Griff, an addition once or twice per week.  I wasn't in the best shape and I wasn't the best runner, but I was doing something.

With the "autistic scare" with Nick (February and March), putting the house on the market (March), all the real estate craziness (March through the present), and a new job (June) I have really not made any time for exercise.  I know that if I do work out regularly I will have more energy, but I don't so I'm constantly tired.  I don't eat right which is adds to the mess and then heap on a healthy helping of stress.

The announcement for this year's Nike run, the Rock N' Run came to my e-mail this morning and I checked the date.  It's the second week of July and sadly I won't be ready for it.  I have too much to do - the house, kids, new job, etc. - to participate.  The disappointment has made me realize that I really need to do something to take care of myself.  I'd like to start running again.

So, on my to do list for today, I am going to map out a schedule.  I need to do something to get rid of this bubble butt and to make myself feel better.

Because I'm Still Their Child

Last night a couple of hours after I wrote my last post, I called my dad and wished him Happy Father's Day.  I told him to have a great trip and to be safe and that I loved him.  I did NOT apologize or talk about what we were "arguing" about.

It's the usual thing.  When my parents and I disagree on something and if words are exchanged - not something that happens a lot - we just ignore the issue.  It's not the most healthy thing in the world and it's not the way that I want to handle disagreements with my boys when they get older.  But, it's the way that my relationship with my parents works.

I've been told that is not unusual for parent-child relationships for Filipino families.  Not sure if I agree, but I cannot say for certain because I only know what my relationship with my parents are.  * sigh *  The one thing that I DO know is that I will always be, in my parents' eyes, their child.  Not their daughter - their grown daughter - but their child.

No Regrets?

Tomorrow is Father's Day, but I won't be spending it with my dad.  My parents are taking off with my aunt to go to Italy and then Yugoslavia.  It's become an annual thing - they go on a Holy pilgrimage.  The details are long and boring and since I'm not as religious as my parents and aunts, I'm not going into the details.  The point is that my parents will not be around for Father's Day and I won't be spending it with them.

There are a lot of things that my parents did when I was a child that shaped who I am today - stubborn, driven, and anxious among other things.  They did a lot of things right, but like regular people, they did a lot of things not so right.  At this moment, my father and I are in one of our "I'm not talking to you and you need to apologize to me even though we've both done something wrong but I'm not apologizing to you" phases.  And really, objectively, I'm the one who deserves an apology - I just know that I will never get one from him.

I love my father very much and I think that as a parent he did the best that he could and as a grandparent, he's even better.  But, as a parent of 2 small boys I am seeing that there are mistakes that he made that are character flaws.  Every once in a while, I have a "How could he have done that" moment.  I'm trying my best to get past that part.

This evening, David took the boys to visit with my parents.  I stayed home because - well - I'm stubborn.  My mom called me to tell me how disappointed she is and I can honestly say that I am a little disappointed in myself too.  I'm not sure if I will look back on this moment and have regrets.  If something happened to my parents and aunt on their trip and I didn't get the chance to say "I love you" to my parents (especially my dad), I know that I would never get over it.

But really, after all that has been said and done, I'm not sure if I can take the high road on this one.  I hope I have no regrets.

Counting My Career Blessings

I'm sitting in my new office which is really sparse, but adding my personality to it will come in time.  Looking back on this week, there were definitely low points and some moments when I really thought "I'm not cut out to do this kind of work."  But, I've never been one to back down from a challenge - although I throw a pretty mean pity party before I get my bearings.

After talking with David, who told me that I could absolutely do this job and do it well, I decided to leave the pity party that I was throwing.  I may return sometime soon, but I'm hoping that won't be the case.  My old boss called me this morning and offered me a job.  He left the company shortly before I did and ended up going to a great company that is working on expanding its Oracle ERP Applications consulting business.  He said that he needed a Practice Director and wanted to hire me.

Had he asked me a couple of days ago, I would have jumped at the chance.  But, my new boss is one of my oldest friends and I owe it to myself to take a shot at this new job.  Yeah, I know it's out of my comfort zone, but I think it would be a good thing for me to give it my best.  Plus, my new boss would kill me and I'm not in the habit of destroying friendships that I value.

I let my old boss know that I was going to stick around at my new job and thanked him for that generous offer.  I also let him know that I would call him if I ended up getting fired from this job - I don't intend to get fired.  He said I wouldn't get fired, but if the world went crazy and I did get fired, he hoped that he would be the first person I called.

I have come to the realization that I am one of the luckiest people when it comes to my career.  I have amazing friends who happen to be contacts and I have been fortunate to (overall) like what I do even though I bitch about work.  Maybe that's because what I do changes every 7 years.  So, for now I will be leaving my own pity party.  I'm crossing my fingers that I don't return.

Excited for the Week to End

This week will end on a positive note.  This morning I woke up with a lighter heart given the fact that (1) it's Thursday, (2) I've signed a lease for office space, and (3) I figured out how to load and backup data and am ready for my meeting tomorrow.  I got up early this morning and went to buy an office chair and assembled it, made the coffee and already had a cup, and even got to hear 30 minutes of the book I've downloaded from Audible.com.  And, it's only 7:55 am!

Still, it has been an exhausting 2 weeks.  I'm looking forward to sleeping until 7:00 am on Saturday and even later on Sunday.  I can't wait for the kids' nap time this weekend so that I can curl up next to them on our king sized bed.  I'm really looking forward to not having an open house this Sunday and celebrating Father's Day with David.  I don't think we have any plans to go anywhere this weekend!

I'm hoping for down time this weekend so that I can face next week head on.  I have so much to do next week from moving into my new office and getting ready to do a test demo with my boss on Thursday.  It's exciting!  For the first time in a long time I am looking forward to something and it's about time!

Whooosh! That's the Sound of Me Exhaling

As of noon today I officially have office space - inexpensive office space at that.  To top it off, the office manager is letting me move in tomorrow and I get the rest of June for free.  That's right F-R-DOUBLE-E!  Plus, there is a desk that I can use and a bookshelf for the additional price of NADA, ZIP, ZILCH!

I finally received the lease agreement from the other company that I've been waiting on since Monday.  The agreement was supposed to be for a certain amount in rent, but they had to raise it because the office originally was going to be rented for $50 more than I wanted.  As a compromise they were willing to split the difference.  Plus, the contract listed additional charges like installation of the Internet and phone line even though those things already existed in the current space.

In the end, what I thought the total cost would be ended up being $50 higher per month and an additional $400 start up costs.  YIKES!  Going with the other company I would save $500 on start up costs and another $75 per month.  Sure, the place isn't as swank and it isn't close to my gym or the place where I get my nails done.  But, parking is easier to find the office manager is really nice and I have access to the place 24/7 - not to mention the costs savings.

So, I can breathe a little easier.  I will be much more relaxed by the end of this week.  I can spend a lot of tomorrow and Friday working in my new office and I cannot tell you how relieved I am!

Starting the Day Pissed Off

I am still waiting for the lease from the company where I am renting office space.  And, since there is *YET* another showing at my place and the little people with sticky hands are at home I decided to go to the Panera Bread on Clybourn.  They have free wireless and have since added more electric outlets.

I go there instead of the library when I need to eat something.  Today I walked up to one of the tables that was empty and asked the woman at the next if I could use the outlet next to her.  She said that she was "saving" the outlet.  Never mind that she didn't actually BUY anything from Panera Bread and that she was sitting there using their wireless.

So, I plugged into the outlet next to her outlet and ran my cord across the floor.  Honestly, I don't understand how people can do that.  Go to a restaurant and use the wireless Internet and not buy SOMETHING.  Jeez, go buy a cup of coffee or something - a glass of water doesn't cost anything.  When stuff like that happens I wonder if these people just feel a sense of entitlement.  I wonder if their parents taught them common courtesy or how to share.

As a parent I hope that I teach my children the value of common courtesy.  We teach our children to say "Please" and "Thank You" and we even teach them how to share.  When does all of that go out the window?  What is it that we do that makes our children feel a sense of entitlement.

In the end it's just an electric outlet and maybe I'm making a bigger issue out of it than it needs to be.  Maybe it's because the woman and her co-worker who were working at the Panera Bread without buying anything were the quintessential "thin, single, no children" pharmaceutical sales people.  I know this because there was a group of toddlers doing toddler things and they said, "Jeez, could you keep the little monsters quiet!" under their breath.  You know what I mean.  I guess I am guilty of pigeon-holing these women, but if the shoe fits!

The Highpoint

FYI - The high point of my day was during my lunch/dinner break.  A couple of robins landed on our balcony and it drove our cats absolutely bat-sh#$ (or cat-sh#$).  I have a sad existence.

Office Space

It's clear that I am not able to work at home especially since there are little people running about.  Little people with sticky hands, cute faces, and high-pitched loud voices.  There is also an adult who knows that I'm working, but still asks for help with the loud, sticky-handed little people.

So, I've made the decision to rent some temporary office space.  Temporary in the sense that it will be a short term (3 to 6 month) lease until we buy our new home and I can reclaim my home office.  One would think that it wouldn't be so hard to find some office space in a city the size of Chicago, but it is.

Maybe it's because my needs are simple.  I don't need a window office or a very large office.  I need a desk, phone, Internet service, access to a copy machine and printer, and some semblence of quiet.  A lot of places are offering swank digs with a receptionist and a she-she coffee all for the low, low price of $800 per month.

Uh, I was thinking somewhere along the lines of $450 - $500 tops.  It seems that I need to get creative.  Since it's summertime and a lot of the students who have rented apartments are going home for the summer, I've decided to try to sublet an apartment for 3 months.  Actually, a room in an apartment.  That's proving to be a little difficult as well since most of the college kids think I am a crazy (which I'm very much NOT).

If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it.  Otherwise, I will be sitting in my 1/2 bathroom with a phone cord under the door and a towel under the door to block the high-pitched voices of the little people that live in my house.