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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 12:30:18
I've spent two days talking to my mother off and on and I'm nervous wreck.
But I'm watching hour after hour of HGTV. I'm addicted. It's somewhat soothing. And I love that moment when the people looking for a home find the right one. I had no idea so much chemistry was involved. They'll see others and talk about positives and negatives. Then they'll see *their* home and there's that note of suppressed excitement. Even my son, who is uninterested in home design or anything domestic, loves to watch it for pure psychological drama. Oooh, the woman's got the voice, but the man hasn't. Will they choose that house? Or vice versa. Will they settle? Almost never. Apparently once in love, no other houses are bearable.
It's really funny because the same thing happened to me. Twice. When we almost moved, a particular house caught my eye on the internet, it was coincidentally the first house we saw, I fell madly and passionately in love. Any other house I looked at was just an intellectual exercise. When it fell through, the other houses just didn't seem like something I wanted to move to. And even my current home, which is nothing special really, was *home*. I may not have fallen in love exactly. But after seeing dozens of homes that only appealed on a superficial level, this was home and I had no doubts. We'd made an offer that evening. (I suppose we felt comfortable doing that after looking at so many "comparables".)
It really is amazing, don't you think? The list of priorities flies out the window, and you just know.
Who needs the flamboyant reality shows when the quieter sort are such compelling drama?
Ah now, see? Even talking about it has lowered my blood pressure. I can probably settle to work now.
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2009, at 12:47:57
In reply to arrrrgh. families. and HGTV, posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 12:30:18
Well I don't like TV never watch it. But I have a couple of times found in person a house I like I must be in it to see how it feels and this was when single just said yes and bought them no one to answer to but me. Wish felt that way about this house oh well. Love Phillipa
Posted by seldomseen on March 2, 2009, at 13:03:14
In reply to arrrrgh. families. and HGTV, posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 12:30:18
Mother issues require any and all means neccessary to shake them off. (shudder, whew, shudder again).
I think houses give off energy - sort of like Feng Shui, only not exactly. There are spaces that are "warm" to me, and those that absolutely repel. It's so odd, but hospitals are usually one of those warm places for me. Anyway, I think there is a palpable and reproducible response to that warmth that you are seeing on the show and have experienced yourself.
My all time favorite reality show is "Top Chef" on Bravo. It is character driven, and there is elimination of contestants, but it's just a riot. Unfortunately all the food looks so good that I just sit and eat throughout the entire show.
I even find myself in the kitchen acting like the chefs when I'm just making garlic bread or something stupid.
I'm glad you are unwinding and taking time for yourself. Meanwhile, I'm writing this one thing I have to do at a blazing paragraph an hour. I'm just waiting for the "work gene" to express.
Seldom.
Posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 13:28:40
In reply to Re: arrrrgh. families. and HGTV » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2009, at 12:47:57
Are there any little things you can do to make it feel more like home?
Our house isn't really all that different from all the others we looked at. It was probably the small unnoticeable things that helped. Or as seldomseen said, the energy.
We're having to really cut back on expenses right now. We thought we'd have a small bit left after the major repairs that needed to be done to do some more cosmetic repairs. But we don't. So we're trying to make small low cost or no cost changes. If only pulling out all the stuff in the cupboards to rearrange and give stuff away. With the idea that space will make us happier than pots or pans or stuff we'll never use.
Is there anything like that you can do to make your house seem homier? Some plants look great grown from seed, and this is the time of year to think of that. Is alyssum summer or winter plant there? It's winter here and we missed it, but a single packet of seeds brings a heck of a lot of visual pleasure and delicious scent for the season.
Posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 13:33:50
In reply to Re: arrrrgh. families. and HGTV » Dinah, posted by seldomseen on March 2, 2009, at 13:03:14
Tell me about it!
When I'm with my mother I need to be calm, reasonable, yet firm. I need to act like the grownup I never feel myself to be.
As soon as she leaves, or I hang up the phone, I dissolve into a heart pounding, quaking, puddle of jello.
I'll have to check that one out. Top Chef? Do they embarrass themselves?
I have this thing about people embarrassing themselves publicly. I couldn't watch half of "I Love Lucy" and my husband prescreens "The Office" for me. Most reality shows have me hiding under the blanket humming loudly. :)
Posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 13:34:40
In reply to Re: arrrrgh. families. and HGTV » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 13:33:50
> I have this thing about people embarrassing themselves publicly. I couldn't watch half of "I Love Lucy" and my husband prescreens "The Office" for me. Most reality shows have me hiding under the blanket humming loudly. :)
I'm thinking that isn't unrelated to my mother either....
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2009, at 19:24:52
In reply to Re: arrrrgh. families. and HGTV » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on March 2, 2009, at 13:28:40
Yup but not allowed to that would be throwing all the boxes of beenie babies away which my husband seem to think may be worth something one day. Can't even clean this house is filled to the brim with ebay stuff. I'm keeping the bedroom and Master Bath cluther free. I hate things not in place and he won't let me move a thing. Hoarder. Got a med for that???? Love Phillipa
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