Just thought I'd update you on what's up in my neck of the woods. Got to Oregon to find that too many things still needed to be done on the house before my tenant can move in. After Thanksgiving Hubby went home with our daughter while I stayed behind. The house is 'my baby', and I've learned I can't leave things to be done by other people... unless I'm there supervising.

It's nothing very big that needs to be done, but it adds up, and I'm very slow. It was too much for the short stay I had originally planned. Touch up this, caulk that, change locks, install a couple doors, patch a hole or two, clean up. I thought I'd left it in better shape than this. Guess not. Good thing I came out here!

Meanwhile certain people are getting out of jail, my son got out today, hopefully for the last time. He opted for the 'full stay' so he could finally be free of probation. It's such a revolving door around here. His girlfriend will be out tomorrow. She recently had her probation extended. I can't even begin to tell you what a racket that is!

Oh well, I wish them well. Glad I get to see them. Also glad that I'm going to be far, far away very soon. The intense drama, the helplessness I feel at the sorting out of truth and lies, the constant woes and worry over all that goes on here is just too much for me anymore. I did my time in 'Stressville.' I've got to get out of here.

Thanksgiving was kind of a Turkey this year. A very tasty turkey, but still a turkey. My son who's never been in trouble a day in his life, cooked the meal, then spent a lot of time giving us the third degree on what we were doing about our wayward son and daughter. Sorry, but I didn't come all this way so I could be judged and put on the defensive. Needless to say, it left a very bad taste in our mouths, bad enough to cancel all the goodness of the meal.

Then, to top it off, hubby arrived back at California to a home that is infinitely better (and about two tons lighter) than the one I arrived at four months ago. All he could do was pick on the one thing I didn't get to. I was about to get to it before I left but then all the commotion associated with his mom and sister happened and it got shoved to the back burner. I was in such shock at his lack of appreciation and the narrowness of his focus that I could scarcely respond.

It's been festering in my heart for days. I finally gathered my thoughts enough to give him an earful today. He took it well, but it did nothing to alleviate the discouragement that has been plaguing me. All I can do for now is finish the job I came to do, taking comfort in what I hope is the likelihood that at least my tenant might be satisfied.

That is the one department that is going very well... so far. I'm so pleased with the people that I have right now. The tenants that are settled into the other two homes have both told me that they LOVE their houses! My goal from the beginning was to improve these places to the point of being able to be somewhat picky about who lives here. As mentioned earlier, I have a very good tenant moving in in the next few days.

Even though the add has expired I keep getting inquiries. I've also seen folks driving back and forth past the house, staring at it. It's not a model home by any stretch but I'm extremely proud of the work I've done! The following are some pictures before I got the furniture moved out.