Today was a day mostly spent doing things I’ve been neglecting to do – landlording work and house cleaning. We had a tenant move out of one of our rental houses 6 weeks ago and yesterday was the first day I’ve been to the house since they moved out. I guess I was kind of hoping of I ignored it, it would disappear. But it didn’t, it’s still there with walls to be painted, floors to be scrubbed, a broken toilet, and a step that needs to be repaired.
This is a house we bought this past Spring. It was in horrible shape. Our realtor didn’t even want to go inside. Handyman Ken and I spent several months getting it into shape. Unfortunately the tenants only stayed 4 months. Worse than that, there’s more dirt and grim than most people accumulate in a lifetime.
How do walls get this dirty. Do they go outside and rub their hands in the dirt and then smear them on the walls? It’s so disheartening. I do know from 10 years of landlording that it can be worse- much, much worse. Oh do I have stories to tell.
Sometimes the only way I can get myself to do something I really don’t want to do is by rewarding myself. And I’ll admit I’ve rewarded myself a little early. The house isn’t quite ready to rent again, but progress has been made.
What’s the reward you ask? It’s a big one.
I’ve signed up to go to the Food Blog South Conference in Birmingham, AL January 27-28. I have really enjoyed doing this blog these last few months, but I don’t feel like I know what I’m doing. I’m still getting my feet wet. This conference will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about all sorts of topics related to blogging and food, plus I will have the opportunity to meet and befriend other bloggers. Add in a chance to spend time in a wonderful Southern City that I’ve never visited before and let’s just say I feel like a five-year old waiting for Christmas. Topics to be covered include food trends for 2012, blog design, and taking food shots on your camera phone. If you’d like to learn more, you can find a tentative agenda here as well as a list of speakers.
Off to paint more walls.
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