Went into the office today. Feels like I've been gone forever since I didn't go in since last week sometime.

A big day of showing condos. Started at 1:30 in Allston to one of the condos we saw last week. This is one with a great view off the 3 season porch and patio. Then, off to Cambridge. The appointment was for 2:15 and I knew we'd have plenty of time before the listing agent got there which turned out great since we got lost. OK, not lost but I ran into so many one way streets going the opposite way I wanted them to so we got there around 2:05 and waited on the porch. It was SO COLD and by 2:25 I finally called the agent to find out where he was. I think he forgot but left right then. This place is a triple decker that had just been rehabbed. Not bad but I knew this wasn't right for my buyers. We stayed there a while since the buyer's fiance was on her way and wanted to see it. She also got lost but soon arrived.

The next appointment wasn't until 4:00 back in Brighton so we split up and agreed to meet there at that time. Got lost again. 2 things I absolutely hate--waiting and getting lost--and I keep doing both today. According to mapquest.com, it was supposed to be on the Brookline side but all the streets are one way streets and I couldn't seem to find how to get onto this street. Stopped a few people along the street and nobody quite knew where that street was. The funny part was the last guy I asked who had no idea would probably be surprised to find out that we were actually on that street while discussing where it was. I finally called the other agent to ask him and he said it was on the other side of Comm Ave. It ended up being easy to get to. But, of course, I'm early so I have to sit in my car and wait. Right around 4:00, the buyers showed up and we went to the lobby to wait. Soon after, the other agent showed up and we went up to see the condo. This place was huge! And it has 2 deeded parking spots--one in a garage, the other in the parking lot. I don't think the buyers liked it though. They're very hard to read--wouldn't want to play poker with them. They had to get back to work so we weren't able to discuss further but they promised they would call and tell me their decisions.

Now it's 4:15 and my next appointment is at 5:50 just down the road. What to do, what to do.... First things first--find a parking spot. This only took me 2 rounds to find a spot right across from the condo (even though it's resident only parking). But, it's right in front of a little cafe and they keep looking at me funny as I sit in my car. I give up and go inside the cafe. Figured I might as well grab a bite to eat while I'm waiting. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of money with me so I just order a bagel and cream cheese and a diet coke. The worst part of that order is that it doesn't take 2 hours to eat it. Spent some time checking my voice mail, writing up notes, and then resorted to just staring off into space. Sigh. It would have been more interesting if more people were around to either watch or start talking to. At some point this guy, around 28 years old maybe, came in and asked if anyone had a cigarette to spare. I offered him one of mine and after taking it he went to the counter to order a cup of coffee. Then he tried to bum a second cig to which I said no, then tried to get his coffee for free. Very weird guy. Then, as he's walking out, he turned to me and asked me if I was interested in taking home a young gentleman. I just laughed and said I don't think so. He wasn't dressed like a bum but he seems to live on the street from what I could tell. He hung around out front for a while, pestering anyone who came by and then eventually crossed the street.

A little while later my phone rang--my next appointment had arrived early and was wondering if I happened to be near the area to let them in. Glad I hung around so I could get this started. I couldn't tell if this person was interested or not though she just lives down the street and wanted this as rental property. Please buy it!

Had to call the professor today to tell him how much I'm charging him for working on his book. Got his answering machine and left a message for him. Later I got a call from him saying that this is fine--whew!

Had my coaching call today. Had to find a mission statement--I had forgotten this part of the homework so had to quick work up some ideas before she called. As always, my first thought is to be cute and smarmy (or is it snarky?) -- there's no place like home, mi casa es su casa, buyers and sellers and friends oh my, if you lived here you'd be home now but finally settled on Make Yourself at Home. The objective was to have it work for clients as well as for myself. Not that they will ever see this but it had to serve that dual purpose.

Spent most of the day working from home. There is a snowstorm outside so I just didn't feel like driving into the office today. Especially since I have an appointment to show the condo in Brighton later this evening. Paid some overdue bills, yeesh, I'm surprised all my utilities haven't been cut off yet! At least I cut my cell phone bill in half by having them give me a different plan. More features for less money.

I called the buyer's agent for tonights appointment just to make sure they were still planning on showing up. Everything else is getting canceled because of the snow so I wanted to make sure. I was also hoping they would cancel since I really don't feel like going out in the cold and driving in the snow. But, they still planned on showing. Made my way over there but couldn't find parking this time so I had to park illegally. Sat in the car waiting for them just in case a tow truck showed up.They finally arrived and we went inside and checked the place out. The buyer is an architect so he was checking to see what he could do with the place. I could tell they have been looking at a lot of condos since he knew all the right questions to ask instead of having the realtor ask those questions. Couldn't get a read on how he felt about it but I really stressed that the seller is extremely motivated and that seemed to pique his curiousity. We'll see.

I did hear from my buyers via email that they have decided they want one of the condos I showed them but now I can't get hold of them. I left them email and 2 voice mails. I think he is on a plane on his way back to San Francisco so I'll just have to wait to hear from him and work via fax, phone, and email to put this together. They better hurry though in case someone else snaps it up. The one they want has the great view off the closed in balcony that leads to the open air balcony. Good choice, I must say. Perfect viewing for the fireworks in July.

Spent most of the day at Microcenter to pick up a new PC and everything that I might need to hook it to my old computer so I can swap files. We'll see if it works. When I got home, it took me about 15 minutes or so just to lug the monitor up the stairs. It was so huge and awkward. I should have spent the extra money on one of those new flat screen monitors.

Had a 9:30 showing of the condo today. He didn't seem that interested. If only the kitchen were a little more updated...

D.H. stopped by to help me set up my computers so they can talk to each other. My old computer is getting pretty old and I don't think I have enough disk space to work on the MIT book. It took several hours but they are now working together! Thanks D.H.!

Picked up my sister at the airport at 8:00. I thought she was coming in at 8:30 but made it only a few minutes late. Neither of us had had dinner yet so we stopped along the way to take dinner home. Of course, my order got screwed up so I had to run back. Stayed up for a while talking and finally went to bed. She's a talker!

Got a late start to get some shopping in for my sisters family so she could take it back with her. Went to the Christmas Tree shop and found all kinds of great bargains. I love that store and hate it all at the same time. They have great stuff and great prices but it is so crowded in there.

Stopped at the South Shore Plaza for a little while to pick up a few more items.

When we got home, my sister and niece started packing Shay's belonging up and took some of it out to the car. I don't know how they're going to get everything in there. Finally we ordered a pizza for dinner since I had a free coupon for it. Then we settled in to watch Sex and the City and then the Sopranos. My sister had never seen either of these shows and was quite shocked at the language and nudity and sex scenes.

The car is finally packed and my sister and niece are off for North Carolina. I think they made a quick stop at the bank to close out the account. Small argument about who was going to drive home. Hee hee. Their plan was to drive to New York and stop to see Ground Zero and then move on to New Jersey to spend the night. However, I got a call from them aroud 10:30 pm and they had gotten lost in Manhatten for about an hour and a half and finally gave up and headed on their way. Then they decided to drive straight through the night to get home.

I spent part of the day working on the MIT project. I can't believe I don't remember how to use the software! I used to be an expert at it. It took me about 15 minutes to even remember what to do first or how to get it into typing mode. Yeesh. Slowly, it started to come back and I was able to pull together a good draft of about 4 chapters. All I have to do is clean it up a bit more, add the headers and footers, then add the equations and placeholders for the figures.

My first day doing "up time" at the office. In this office, we don't have to sit at the receptionist desk and answer all the calls that come in. The admins forward only relevant calls to to whomever is on up time. Of course, no call came through.

Coaching session today. Later, I ran into one of my co-workers and we decided to put together a "First Time Home Buyer" workshop to run at our office. The biggest issue we need to resolve is how to let people know we will be doing this. So far, it sounds like a good idea. We'll see.

Met up with my co-worker to go through some ideas for the workshop. She also showed me the contact management software she is using to keep herself organized. Our coach is kind of pushing this software anyway so I guess I'll have to purchase it at some point. Geez, I've spent more money on this job than I've made so far. This has GOT to change.

Met up with the new editor for this MIT project.

Before I went over there, I stopped in to visit my old workplace, AspenTech. I had let Joan know ahead of time that I would be stopping by. She took me on a tour--it has changed a lot! And it was so quiet. Ran into a few people that I knew so that was fun. Unfortunately, she was too busy to go to lunch but I ran into Andrea and we went to lunch instead. Geez, I haven't seen Andrea in years. She did give me some bad news, though. A former co-worker, who now works elsewhere, had a stroke while on a business trip. Dreadful. And scary that someone our age, someone we know, could have a stroke. It sounds like he's doing fairly well, though, and the outlook is good. I hope he has a full recovery.

After lunch, I did some quick shopping and then decided to walk over to MIT. I haven't walked great distances for a while and it seemed longer than I remembered to get there. Especially since it's a bit brisk outside. Anyway, we met up at Rebecca's Cafe so I could get the edited chapters that he finished.

Decided to take "The Wave" back to the mall where I had parked my car. It probably would have been faster to have walked but I really wasn't wearing the proper shoes to be walking that distance.

Had an appointment to show the Comm. Ave. condo at 12:20 today. Then went to my Hyde Park Art Association meeting at the library. The presenter today was so cool. She's this little old woman who is a courtroom sketch artist. Talk about feisty! Apparently, her and her sister are the main courtroom sketch artists in the area and they have covered all the major trials--most recently the Shoe Bomber. She said that she is able to forget about their crimes and focus on sketching them as an artist would. She had 35 mm slides of her work so we got to see a lot of familiar faces that you see in the newspaper or on TV--John Salvi (abortion clinic shooter who eventually hung himself in jail), Leo Felton (the 1/2 black, 1/2 Jewish White Supremist--talk about an oxymoron (with emphasis on the moron)), the Angiulio's (mafia), and many more.

Then, she set up her easel and chose someone's daughter to be the model and she sketched her using pastels. It was wild to watch because, for a while, the sketch was just ok. Then, by adding just one major line, the image just popped.

Another appointment to show the condo at 1:00.

Then, we had our RE/MAX Landmark Holiday party at the Stone Forge in Taunton. It was pretty crowded but ended up being quite fun. Dinner was just ok. I'm not beig on mass produced food. Then there was a wild game of musical chairs, with slightly different rules. Each table had to pick one person and they went to the dance floor and sat in a chair. Each table was given a deck of cards. The dj would then yell out a card, such as Queen of Hearts, and the people in the chairs on the dance floor had to run back to their table and grab the correct card from their table-mates, then run back to sit in a chair. The person who didn't have a chair to sit in gets to pick a card from the D.J.s deck. He loaded it up with jokers and if they pick a joker, they can send someone else back to the tables for good, and they get to stay in the game. The game got very exciting and when there were just 2 people left and only one chair it got even more exciting. It was one of those things that sort of happens in slow motion--you see what's going to happen but there isn't a way to stop it so you just watch and wait for the inevitable. Two women were left and when the card was picked, they both ran to their table, grabbed the card and headed back to the chair. One woman was ahead of the other but only by a few steps. The woman in the lead ran to sit down just as the other woman reached around her and grabbed the chair away. The first woman went sprawling to the ground. And apparently broke her hand but we didn't find that out until later. I guess they were both absolutely mortified. Especially since the one (who had grabbed the chair away) had told her husband not to do anything to embarrass her in any way. Pretty hilarious!

Showed a condo in Waltham today to E.S. It ended up being better than I expected since it was priced so cheap but it's not what she was looking for. It was good to see her anyway.

Coaching session today.

Today was our casual office party in the office. They did a Yankee gift swap and had a lot of food and booze. Very fun, relaxing atmosphere.

11:30 showing in Canton to my mystery buyers from Thursday. He finally smiled and asked me if I knew how they heard of me. Apparently, a buyer from last Spring recommended my name to them, even though that person had bought from someone else. He is still in my automatic database to receive listing information and forwarded it to him.

The house, itself, was very interesting. It was built in 1727! Very old. It has a bit of history but nothing major. Obviously, it needs some updating!

Later that day I showed the new construction in Canton on High St. to someone else. She seems very interested and had been peeking in the windows for several days and finally made an appointment to see the inside. Something felt wrong though. She's a teacher and wants to buy this house that is listed for $799K. I think the only way she can do that is if she's from money. Anyway, she wants some more information and would like to meet with the builder to have some upgrades made. We'll see.

Spent all day working on resolving little gremlins for the MIT project. These are definitely gremlins from the past that have resurfaced but I finally conquered them.

Met up with the editor for the MIT project at Rebecca's Cafe this morning to swap chapters. I even found a metered parking spot on Wadsworth St.! Whew! Parking close by is too expensive (about $11.00/hour if I remember correctly) or parking over at the mall and walking just doesn't feel like a great option this morning. I'm too tired.

Went to the Armata's house for Christmas Eve dinner. It was a very nice invitation and wonderful dinner.

Merry Christmas! Had breakfast and then opened my gifts. Then I went up to Winthrop to K.A.'s new place for brunch and watched them open gifts. Then headed down to Duxbury for appetizers, drinks, then dinner with a co-workers family. There were warnings that we were supposed to get about 6 inches of snow but it had only rained earlier in the day. Until...just before dinner, it was spitting and sounded like hail for a while. It didn't seem bad so we went on with dinner (lasagna--how cool!) and conversation for quite a while. Then, we were supposed to go up to their sister's house in Stoughton for dessert. That's when we found out how bad it was. We got on the road and could barely see anything except the tail lights of other cars. Most of the time you couldn't tell which lane you were in or if you were even in a lane. The road signs were all covered in snow so you had to guess which exit was which. I think it normally takes around 40 minutes to get to my house from Duxbury but it took me around 3 hours or so. It was just an awful experience. I knew I should have just stayed home alone, which would have been fine with me but everyone kept telling me that I would be all depressed and lonely and that I MUST go to someone's house for dinner on Christmas. I think I should have stopped with the brunch. Not that I didn't have a nice time and that they people weren't nice--they all were wonderful. But, really, I think staying home would have suited me just fine for one year.

Spent all day working on my MIT project.