Just as a brief follow-up, the money went into our account this afternoon. Since we have never sold via a third party before, we had a few surprises along the way. Everyone involved got their chip off the proceeds. And that’s kind of what happened to me along the way. So, as much as it was home, at this point I’m just glad it’s over. I’m already moving on. If 2008 is the year I’m hoping it to be, then we will make up all those chips by the end of the year in the carrying costs we no longer have to pay.

I will say it was educational. I learned far more about the real estate market via this than I would have learned from any amount of reality realty shows. Next time around (which I expect will be a long way off), we will be better prepared.

This morning I received an email from our lawyer that said he had received a copy of all of the papers necessary to draw up the documents for the sale of the green house. Yesterday we finished signing off agreements on the outstanding conditions for a purchase-sale agreement. I won’t get to much into the details for 2 reasons. First, I know Andrea wants to talk about it. Second, we are both somewhat waiting for the second shoe to fall. So, we are waiting for the money to be in the bank, so to speak, before doing too much talking.

Even though that sounds somewhat tentative, at 51 weeks to go, 2008 is looking like it could be a vast improvement over 2007. And we know already that the year is going to have some challenges and hurdles for us. One of those is our renovation plans. The last few weeks of cold weather have made it clear that the first priorities renovation wise will have to be addressing a handful of high heat loss areas. We won’t be able to get to all of the heat loss areas in one year (there are 38 exterior doors & windows many of which are original). We’ll just start at the worst place and when that’s done move onto the next one. Before we start at that, I plan on taking a month off from that sort of thing to ‘recharge my batteries’.

I have to be honest and say, I’m not going to miss you much. I’ve had worse years. I’ve had better years. There is alot I will remember from you, but not all of them would be called memorable.

I’m looking forward to 2008. While I’m sure it won’t be all smooth sailing, I am expecting it to be more memorable.

I read somewhere several years ago that in the English language of the 19th and earlier that blessed meant ‘happy, and to be envied’. With that in mind, I wish to extend to you my most sincere wish that you are blessed throughout the year 2008.