My sister, who is also my boss, has been out of town and it is taking it's toll on me. I don't know how she handles it day after day!
I just had some lady come in and rip me a new one. We are building her a house, and the truss plant got backed up, so while we are waiting on trusses, there has been no activity on her house. She is not even my client, but she came in today and demanded her down payment money back. When I told her that even with the delay in the trusses, we are still on schedule, she called me a liar. I basically told her that she needed to take her concerns to Liberty (her realtor, my sister) or Morgan (the builder, my brother) because there was nothing I could do for her, even if I wanted to. Dang it, she made me cry.
I have written her an email in response to her conversation with me. I had to be careful, so as not to drive her further away.
I have been stirring over our discussion concerning your home being built under contract. At Hatfield Homes we strive to focus on the quality of work, while meeting our deadlines and pleasing our clients. At times there are back-ups and delays due to suppliers, or sub-contractors, etc., but the delays are usually small, and we can quickly make up for lost time. I have been reassured that your home is on schedule and that there have been no serious complications. Barring natural disaster, your quality home WILL be completed by December 1, 2004.
We respect you as a client and appreciate your trust in building your home. I understand that with such a large investment it is easy for emotions to run high. Thank you for expressing your apprehensions towards your home with me, and please bring any future concerns to my attention as quickly as possible. By doing this we can avoid potential stressful situations. You are a wonderful client and we enjoy working with you. Thank you!
I hope that she was just venting, and that we don't have a problem as big as she made it seem. What a day!
My parents have been on a mission in Germany for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 18 months, and they are finally coming home! They are actually officially finished with their mission today, but they are staying in Europe for a couple of weeks to do some 'touristing'. They will start with 3 days in Rome, then take a 10-day Mediterranean Cruise, and finish the trip off with 3 days in Barcelona.
Since I was in Europe just three months ago, I'm not all that jealous...EXCEPT THAT CRUISE! Oh my, how I wish I could go on that cruise! Cruising is my favorite way to vacation, (mostly because of the food), and as a result, I am often caught daydreaming about what wonderful cruises I would like to take. Unfortunately, money and the fact that I have 5 children at home, prevents me from fulfilling my cruising fantasies.
Back to the point. I am so excited that my parents are finally coming home. It's amazing how much a 28-year-old woman still needs her mom. I can't tell you how many times I have wished that I could just go park on my mom's barstool and chat with her. Grandkids sprawled through the house, causing various catastrophes in virtual silence. Ahhh, the good old days.
I think that my parents are going to build a house, and will live in a rental until it is finished. The rental they have in mind is not the most sanitary of places, so I am not so sure how much parking I will be doing in that house. But, the house to come... Oh baby, when can I move in? (The answer to that question from my father would be a resounding 'NEVER'.)
I can't wait to be able to find my dad at the farm when I need to talk. It's hard to put crises on hold while you wait through the 8-hour time difference for it to be a reasonable time to call.
I am also hoping that I can get my dad to roll up his sleeves and pitch in to help Brett get the landscaping done at my house. Brett just needs some motivation, and I think my dad could provide that. (Brett claims it will be done before my dad gets home... yeah, we'll see.)
The bottom line is this: My parents are coming home, and I am bursting with anticipation!
Why do girls fight? It is exceptionally frustrating to me. Julianna seems to glean a great deal of satisfaction from making Ciana feel bad. Where is the payoff? I just don't get it! I don't remember ever being this hateful and mean with my sisters (and I have 5 of them)! Poor Ciana just takes it like a kicked puppy (despite the several talks we have had about standing up for herself, and her self worth, etc). I want to just give up, but I know that because I am the mom, I can't. I have to deal with this until it is solved, or until Julianna turns 18 and moves out, whichever happens first. That's probably the wrong attitude, isn't it?
Hooray for Community Ed!
I found an AutoCad class that I can take through Community Ed, and it only cost me $70. I won't get credit for it, but at least I will learn the basics of AutoCad. I actually have an at-home lesson plan for learning to draw houseplans, but I got stumped on the first lesson because I was so unfamiliar with AutoCad.
Wish me luck!
It's not really 10:15, I just couldn't think of a title for this post and that Cure song came to mind.
I just wanted to check in.
I am having a hard time fitting school into my life. (Imagine that... 5 kids, and no time for school). I want to learn AutoCad and then floorplan designing, so that I can work from home. My brother is a builder, who is very dissatisfied with his designer, and has offered me the opportunity to draw for him. The only thing standing in my way is three classes at the local college (with which I will accidentally get an Associate's Degree.) Part of the problem was the night job that I just quit. I felt guilty having my children in any more daycare than they already were. But, now that I have quit my night job, I have missed the deadline for enrolling. Grrrr... Nothing like a good Catch-22.
So... do I turn on the 'assertive Crystal' and go over to the school and request an exception? Do they even do that? I'm stuck. I don't like confrontation, but I also don't like paying a babysitter to watch my kids while I work (at my other job, the "day" one).
I dunno.
I am very excited, because right now I am working off the last six hours of my job at Schmodus Schmedia. I was finally able to quit, after the realization that I was putting my real estate earnings to the wrong use. (Funny how it turns out paying off your credit cards, and then maxing them out again ...repeatedly... is the "wrong use"...)
Well. of those options I don't think there is really one that I could do for the entire 4 hours and 57 minutes I have left... I guess I am off to ... um .... well, do something.
In short, I realized that I could "live off" of my real estate earnings, rather than squandering them, and I wouldn't have to work two jobs. Why, oh why, did it take me this long to realize?
Now, I have to figure out what to do with the next 5 hours and 11 minutes. Here are some of my choices:
I have a hard time keeping a journal, so I am hoping that I will be better about it if it is right here in front of my face, on my computer. I fancy myself a relatively intelligent person, so I am hoping that people will find what I have to say at least somewhat interesting. I guess only time will tell.
First a little background on me:
My name is Crystal. I am currently 28 years old. I am married to Brett who is currently 39 (how is it that I am almost married to someone who is 40???) We have a total of 5 children. Josh and Julianna are my Brett's from his first marriage, Ciana is mine from my first marriage, and Audesi and Zachary are the product of our marriage to each other. We have been trying for another baby since July of 2003. I never thought in a million years it would take over a year to get pregnant. (It took me all of 3 months after Audesi was born to be pregnant with Zachary...SURPRISE!) We all live in Orem, Utah which is about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can expect a lot of ranting about my infertility here, as well as my thoughts on my children. I intend to be boldly and blatantly honest. Since this is my blog, I kindly request that no one asks me to defend myself or my beliefs. Thanksomuch!
