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Random stuff
Sep. 18th, 2007 01:46 pmStill working on revisions. Er, sort of. Actually, I'm working on getting my kids to sit down to homework. Hopefully they'll get to it soon.
This morning the New! Mall! opened in town. Germans don't have malls at all, and this is your quintessential American-style mall. Every other store in town was empty. The buses were all off schedule--and full--because so many people were going there. It was packed. Mostly clothes stores, shoe stores, food places, two bookstores, a nice kids' toys and clothing store (expensive), and also some car dealerships. Weird, huh? There was also a store (I don't know if it's clothing or food, I couldn't get close enough through the crowd) called "Konsum." I'm sure it sounds all chic if English isn't your native language, but to me they might as well name it, "Capitalism!" or "Greed!" Anyway, I mailed some stuff at the post office--now moved to the mall--and was finally able to find a shoe store that actually had shoes in stock. Daughter #1 has had some critical moments where she needed new shoes of every kind, and no store in town had any that fit her. Luckily I got them before daughter #2 announced diaper failure. She's felt left out because I've been buying stuff for the school kids and not for her, but today we got to buy some new pants for her. Hope she doesn't try that trick again. Then, we hopped over to Unicorn St. for the new library. I swear every organization in town has moved in the last week.
So instead of working on revisions, I'm browsing the internet while trying to prod my kids into doing homework. (I can't fix high-up plot level issues with a lot of interruptions). I thought it would be fun to look at real estate in some of the towns where there are academic job openings for next year. For anyone selling a house, here is a tip: have something in the rooms to give a sense of size and space (it's hard to tell anything from a blank room). But, maybe take down all the photos of your grandkids, and go easy on the knicknacks, busy prints, lacy curtains, and wild color schemes. Simple sells. Remember, you're selling the house, not a collection of duvet covers. Also, what is it with North Carolina? I saw a lot of houses with wood floors in one color, and wood-paneled walls in another. It made my eyes cross just looking at it. Who would purposely build a house that way??
Back to playing slave driver.
This morning the New! Mall! opened in town. Germans don't have malls at all, and this is your quintessential American-style mall. Every other store in town was empty. The buses were all off schedule--and full--because so many people were going there. It was packed. Mostly clothes stores, shoe stores, food places, two bookstores, a nice kids' toys and clothing store (expensive), and also some car dealerships. Weird, huh? There was also a store (I don't know if it's clothing or food, I couldn't get close enough through the crowd) called "Konsum." I'm sure it sounds all chic if English isn't your native language, but to me they might as well name it, "Capitalism!" or "Greed!" Anyway, I mailed some stuff at the post office--now moved to the mall--and was finally able to find a shoe store that actually had shoes in stock. Daughter #1 has had some critical moments where she needed new shoes of every kind, and no store in town had any that fit her. Luckily I got them before daughter #2 announced diaper failure. She's felt left out because I've been buying stuff for the school kids and not for her, but today we got to buy some new pants for her. Hope she doesn't try that trick again. Then, we hopped over to Unicorn St. for the new library. I swear every organization in town has moved in the last week.
So instead of working on revisions, I'm browsing the internet while trying to prod my kids into doing homework. (I can't fix high-up plot level issues with a lot of interruptions). I thought it would be fun to look at real estate in some of the towns where there are academic job openings for next year. For anyone selling a house, here is a tip: have something in the rooms to give a sense of size and space (it's hard to tell anything from a blank room). But, maybe take down all the photos of your grandkids, and go easy on the knicknacks, busy prints, lacy curtains, and wild color schemes. Simple sells. Remember, you're selling the house, not a collection of duvet covers. Also, what is it with North Carolina? I saw a lot of houses with wood floors in one color, and wood-paneled walls in another. It made my eyes cross just looking at it. Who would purposely build a house that way??
Back to playing slave driver.
