Tracy Calabrese

Since it hasn’t been a million degrees outside lately, I have been walking in the park across from my house. I am glad the sidewalk around the entire park is finally finished. It’s actually an extension (Phase III) of the Katy Trail.

The last few days I have noticed the eclectic mix of people who are spending time at the park - a few boys football teams practicing, guys play soccer and softball, girls taking tennis lessons, a boot camp group, dog walkers, moms pushing strollers, a homeless woman sitting on a bench doing a crossword puzzle (the same one I see shopping at Kroger on Sundays, probably because they give out free samples), two guys playing rugby, two guys playing lacrosse, couples - both straight and gay, runners and an old guy reading a book.

It’s sort of refreshing to observe what’s going on and see so many different types of people just doing their own thing. And it’s even better to know that I can find that in my neighborhood.

• Got Internet for my condo.
• Researched laptops.
• Bundled all the services I have on my cell phone bill and saved a few bucks.

Holy hell. I really need to stop shopping. I have been going a little crazy buying this for my house. I think I need to start pacing my purchases.

I have officially “lived” in my condo for 7 days. And I haven’t been able to check my mail.

I just realized yesterday that I was never given a key for the mailbox when I had my closing. I knew this wasn’t a full time residence for the former owner, but apparently she never had any mail delivered here.

I called and e-mailed the HOA today and haven’t heard back. I hope I don’t have any bills in there waiting to be paid.

Finally! I am so excited that tonight is the last night I have to sleep in my apartment!

There’s a lot to do at my condo, but I am ready for it.The first things on my list are to paint the living room, kitchen and my bedroom, new closet doors (the 80’s mirrored doors have to go) and install a railing, since the stairs have no railing, which is both dangerous and strange.

Read about the first 365 days of being a first-time homeowner here.

I don’t understand how people can be so incompetent. How do they go on every day half-assing their job? People who have jobs where they have to deal with other people should have customer service skills and know how to deal with people. How do they get by? How do they live with the fact that their crappy service is someone else’s inconvenience?

I am annoyed. I am surprised I have kept my cool for as long as I have. I only sent one semi-nasty e-mail today and for me, it was pretty tame.

My attitude may change tomorrow if the people I am dealing with on the closing of my condo actually get their shit together and I close tomorrow. If I don’t have the keys in my hand tomorrow afternoon, then a side of me that people tend not to like will likely rear its ugly head.

That is all for now.

So I admit, before today, I was a Craigslist virgin.

I posted my washer and dryer for sale about 6 hours ago and have five offers. I accepted the first one. I have no idea what the person’s name is and where they are from, but they offered to come pick it up next Saturday and pay me the $150 I asked for.

But honestly, I think I may have done everything wrong with this first Craigslist experience. Someone told me I should accept the first offer and have the person come pick it up ASAP. I need my washer and dryer this week, so I said next weekend as the pick up. Someone else said only take cash. I asked for cash first and check second. Oops. I haven’t given out my address yet, so I think I did at least one thing right.

Let’s hope this person comes with cash in hand and picks them up next weekend.

The closing on my condo was just pushed back to September 21.

I am pissed. That’s all.

While I was in San Francisco this week, I received some unfortunate news from my mortgage broker. I may not be cleared to close on Tuesday!

After signing additional, unexpected paperwork, dealing with Allstate on insurance and my mortgage broker having some issues with the HOA company, I am a bit delayed in getting cleared. I gave everyone involved in this whole condo-buying process a piece of my mind over the last two days. It didn’t help the situation, but it sure made me feel better.

I am keeping my fingers crossed (and you should too) that the lender reviews everything tomorrow and clears me for Tuesday. If that doesn’t happen, I think there will be some seriously pissed off people…me the most pissed off…on Tuesday morning.