Thursday, December 23, 2010

Adventures in moving...Rosemary and Arnie..or how the Grinch screwed things up

(True Story, as told by my customer's friend Jeanie Brosius, guest blog writer.)


......or, in the famous words of Ricky Ricardo..."Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!!!"

"RIP" Olive Tree on Madrid ST, Coral Gables
My first mistake was calling Rosemary to see how their move to the new house on Lisbon went today.


Nearly hiccuping with laughter and hysteria, Rosemary informed me that I should probably get a glass of wine and sit down as I was "the first human person to know all that happened today."


Grabbing a glass of wine and settling on the couch I offered..."So what happened? Did you all get moved in?"


Reminiscent of Chevy Chase's "Funny Farm" movie where the furniture moving truck gets lost and the new owners have to sleep on the floor...(wife: When the real estate agent said these were real hardwood floors, she wasn't kidding!) - Rosemary and Arnie saw the 18 wheeler truck packed with all their worldly goods they left for the four block drive to the new house around three this afternoon.


Waiting...waiting .. waiting... one hour, two hours (hmmm... Miami time? Siesta? Long lunch?) finally Rosemary called her housekeeper who said 'Mz Rosemary, we've been trying to call you..the truck has been in an accident." An accident? In four blocks? Thinking we have moved this stuff 1800 miles with no accident...she asked what happened.


It seems that at the end of the block, a mere two houses from the old house, the driver tried to negotiate a turn and hit a tree limb...which in actuality was a dead and hollow tree that fell into the front of the truck, disabling it. Police and firemen were called...all the streets blocked off with no car traffic allowed. Rosemary called her driver Mike, who said "Oh yes, I've been leaving messages for you" .... on the phone that was packed in the truck! (that's helpful).


Rosemary then walks to the old house (can't drive due to closed streets...thank you God that it happened at the old neighborhood) talks to the driver and has to trust that their entire household goods load is not on its way to Havana on the next boat. After all, one of her biggest cases was a major cargo theft, but we don't want to discuss that right now.


Also, this is not a nationally recognized moving company, being Miami, where someone's cousin's brother's barber's priest knows someone who can do the job......so no telling what is going on. Again, we do NOT want to think about this. Shhhhhh.


Lisa, the real estate agent also checked in to be sure they were all settled in and was aghast at learning not only were they not moved in, they have no idea where their stuff is. (we do not want to think about this)


In the meantime, at the new Lisbon abode which was built in 1926, Rosemary discovered that there is no garbage disposal so her housekeeper's brother (or cousins' priest) ...now their new best friend, who is a garbage disposal wizard, arrives and begins a 9 hour process to install a garbage disposal. Fortunately, our Rosie has her wits about her and has grabbed the bare essentials for their foray into the new house...jewlery, pet food, two pillows, coffee press and coffee, wine bottle, one wine glass and a corkscrew.


She asks the Ecuadoran garbage disposal guru "I'm going to open this wine...would you like some?" "Oh, si, Senora. Perhaps just a leetle bit." With a wine glass and a coffee mug, she and he are getting down in the kitchen toasting and christening the new garbage disposal. Fiesta~~~ ay yi yi yi.


Fast forward to the call tonight...while Rosemary and I were talking (and laughing till we cried), her phone kept beeping in with another call which she took. It was Comcast with a recorded message "We will hook up your service tomorrow...please enter your Comcast membership number." Oh sure...I happen to have THAT on me at all times. Puh-Lease!! Don't worry Comcast, we don't even have anything for you to hook up right now.


In the end, Rosemary and Arnie determined they were not going to leave the three pets (Davis is in cat hospital with a little UI thing) and their valuables...so hardwood floors and pillows it is. Worst case scenario, there is a gated driveway and they will creep out to sleep in the Cayenne if too miserable.


Me...I'm wiping my eyes and gasping with laughter ... drinking my wine and sending this as a reminder that this season holds many blessings. So if you are sleeping in your cozy bed tonight and have all your STUFF with you... be happy and grateful.


Remember there are people in Coral Gables sleeping on a floor tonight... Bah Humbug!!!


"True Story" told by: Jeanie Brosius, Guest Writer



... and I had to add her poem she just sent me:

'Twas two nights before Christmas
and all through the new house,
Not a creature was stirring
Except the Grinch, that louse.


The movers had tucked in piano and bed
to the big old red truck,
where they surely would head


Four blocks round the corner
The driver did say
We will be there shortly,
Once we clear this driveway


When what to their wondering eyes didn't appear
Their big moving truck, filled with tables and chairs.


A tree was now trimming
The front of the cab
Policeman and firemen
were all keeping tabs


On neighborhood traffic
No you can't drive down there
Till the tree is removed
and the roads are then clear


Meanwhile, in the new casa
Rosemary and Manuel
Toast the garbage disposal
which had all gone to... well you know


Last night Arnie and Rosie tucked in their wee little bed
While visions of unpacking danced in their heads.


This sad Christmas story has an ending of cheer
With Rosemary and Arnie declaring so clear
We're done with the movers
We're done with the fear...


No more packing or moving

At least for ten years.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL


Jeanie Brosius

Dallas Texas

214.394.0769

Coaching You to a Life that You Love!

Jeanie Brosius is a former Unity minister. She is a Life Coach with clients all over the

world. She is an author, speaker and international seminar leader. Her books include
Giving From an Empty Well and Filling Your Well, a calendar companion book.  . Jeanie also teaches The Artists Way classes inDallas, Texas. You may reach Jeanie Brosius at: jeanie0318@sbcglobal.net
or on her cell phone: 214-394-0769.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Live like you're on vacation! Brickell Key - Miami Waterfront Condo

Live like you're on vacation!  If you are looking for waterfront property in Miami, this is a well situated condo with a fantastic direct view of Biscayne Bay.  This is a fantastic 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom corner unit condo.  The unit is located on a 21st floor of the ST. Louis Condo, which is a newer building from 1995, and offers peace and tranquility on Brickell Key, which is part of the Brickell - Miami neighborhood.   This unit is currently listed for $395,000.
Bay View from Condo Unit
There are views to Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, and the Port of Miami. Enjoy a nice meal on the balcony. This unit is not only a corner, but it goes from front to back of the building, which means that there are windows on 3 sides of the unit.  The building is quiet and well located next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key, a minute off Brickell Avenue.

 Ammentities include a large swimming pool, gymnasium and walkways around Brickell Key.  There are 2 parking spaces included with this unit.


Outside View of Condo - Tall Building on Right Side
Below you will see some of the upgrades of bamboo wood flooring and a beautiful modern kitchen for today's cook with a eat-in countertop.  The kitchen and bathrooms are in great condition and are move-in ready.


Kitchen View - Nice Granite Countertops

See below picture of living room corner views.  It was a little hard to capture the light of the room with the window light coming in, but you get the picture "no pun intended".  This shows great in person... great size room with great unobstructed views.

Living Room
Brickell Key is a traingular shaped island located at the mouth of the Miami River. It is in Miami's Downtown Brickell neighborhood and is close to Miami's financial and art districts.  

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Nicest Two Bedroom Condo Available in Kings Creek West! Listed for $165,000.

Here is a spacious new two bedroom / two bath condo for sale in Kings Creek West.    In my opinion, this is probably the best 2/2 for sale in the East Kendall area of Kings Creek, especially since it's in the Kings Creek West complex, made up of several two story condo buildings.  The property is surrounded by green space and has nice landscaping with a swimming pool, club house, and two tennis courts.
Kings Creek West Swimming Pool
This unit is a corner apartment, with plenty of natural light in every room.  The living room has double glass sliding doors looking out to a roomy balcony, and a built-in bar area of the finest cherry wood has recently been installed. 

Living Room with Built-In Cherry Wood Bar / Storage


The kitchen has nice updates with granite countertops and the bathtrooms have been completely remodeled. There also is a tankless hot water heater installed for efficiency, and the washer and dryer are conveniently located inside the unit.

Kings Creek West is in the process of a renovation.  There is a new roof on the building, and there will be new updates around the community within the next several months.  The maintenance fee includes basic cable + HBO.  Kings Creek is a planned unit development with condos, townhomes, and single family homes, and is close to shops and restuarants of Dadeland mall, US1, University of Miami, and Miami Dade College.
Kings Creek West - Tennis Courts
Perfect for your bicycle or luggage, a private storage closet is included in the building.  This is truly THE nicest two bedroom condo I have seen in Kings Creek and in all of East Kendall.