Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

This business thing is crazy.  Every day I am pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone and constantly doubting myself.  Is this the right thing?  Am I going to screw up?  If I screw up, am I going to lose thousands of dollars?  If I'm not going to lose thousands of dollars, then why am I stressing out about screwing up?  I also feel like there is so much to learn to so fast.  That "drinking from a firehose" discussion is pretty apt.  Some of you loyal readers are also investors in my business, and I'm tempted to keep all my angst inside so that you'll be more confident in your money's current parking lot.  But I can't.  And your money is safe. The major heartache I feel right now is that my first property, the one I *officially* sold 2 Fridays ago, has not actually resulted in money in my bank account because yet another monolithic institution screwed up.  (If you are heavily interested in the details, Bank of America sent the bu...

Cuz I got to meet (a life-sized cutout of) THE POPE! Amazing, right?!  Yesterday somebody put a green hat on him for St. Patrick's day, which was pretty fantastic. I'm not 100% certain where this guy came from, but I'm guessing my pastor thought it would be entertaining, and he was right.  LOVE!  I'm contemplating buying one for my front porch.  As for going to Mass, the score is now 6-1.  I'm impressed with myself (totally not the spirit of the season, BTW.)  I don't think I've been this diligent in maybe ever.  I also bring those 2 little rugrats with me.  Having 2 little girls in Mass makes all the old people swoon , so I guess an unintended side effect of my Lenten journey is bringing joy to others.  Neat. (Well, except for the crotchety ones, but I just pretend not to see their scowls as Eve loudly bangs the kneeler down repeatedly.) And even though my business is still actually making me WORK (and not get money ...

I read a good article yesterday that pretty much sums up my past few years of thinking on the Lenten season.  I saw too many people "giving up" things for the wrong reasons, I grew weary of the emptiness of the idea, so I decided to "add" something instead.  Only I failed at the adding part and at the end of the season probably wasn't much better off than the guy who gave up sweets so he could use Lent as an excuse to diet.  (The article is much more well written than that and definitely worth a read.)  And the honest truth is that I've been too weak and/or exhausted to do anything really spirit enhancing.  Last night I made my Lenten resolve and I'm happy with it.  It strikes the right mix of sacrificing (my time) while helping me deepen my relationship (with God and with the people around me).  I hope.  It also fits well into this new non 9 to 5 lifestyle and will (hopefully) help me put my priorities in the right place.  (Are you ready fo...

Hey peoples!  It's Lent again! I almost didn't make it to Mass today.  In the past 10 years I've probably made it to Ash Wednesday Mass about 4 times, so it would have been par for the course, but I sure didn't have a good reason not to go. (Last year I was in frosty Michigan at a customer kick-off meeting which went from really early to really late, but I did *want* to go.) Today I wasn't sure if I could squeeze it in between my house hunting and my bike ride. Definitely not a good reason. The readings were all about renewal and repentance, and one of the prayers was to be followers of Pope Francis's life of simplicity and service.  Thinking about that made me reflect on all the good things that have happened in the past year: following a dream, having sweet baby Lillian, all the good memories of close friends and family, Pope Francis, Florida sunshine.  The list is endless. Anyway, I'm not in an uber-reflective mode tonight, I just wanted to ...

I heard a really great comment the other day that has stuck with me.  It started with a question that you very rarely hear asked - "What do like most about today's young adults?" (Or something along those lines.)  Did you ever notice that people rarely have good things to say about 20-somethings?  I hear a constant mantra of "entitlement" and "know-it-all" and a host of other unflattering words.  I liked this question.  Let's reflect on the goodness.  Amen. Anyway, the reply to that question is what led to this post.  "What do you like most about today's young adults?"  The answer?  "They are advocates.  They have passion.  They want to launch change."  (See those quotations?  They're not actually quotes.  They are whatever my muddled brain remembers as quotes.  Go with it.)  I agree completely.  I love that.  I love the passion with which I see people embracing things and owning them and trying ...

But not here.  Over at Late Day Sun.

In the past week I've had 3 *nearly complete* deals fall through.  It's been this roller coaster of "Oh crap, here we go!" to "Yes!  This is going to be fun!" to "So sad. :(" The first one - house is a great neighborhood, 1 mile from my place.  Seller asking $170k.  Needs $25k of work.  Retail for $230k.  This one doesn't fit my Max Offer formula, but the seller agreed to finance for 6 months, so I would just put the money up for renovations. After all the fees I would walk away with $10-$15k.  I figured that return on $25k of investment was worthwhile.  Anyway, verbal acceptance and a hand shake, have my attorney draw up the document as discussed, his attorney scares him away and tells him that I'm shady and won't deliver and he'll have to foreclose on the property to get it back.  Hate you attorney!  (Even if you are just doing your job and warning of worst case scenarios.) Second - crazy deal I was explaining in the last post...