I really enjoy selling real estate in the Redland and Homestead. Today I drove to my Open House in Homestead thinking it would be just like the other days. The house is vacant and I set things up each time I Open it:
- Change the A/C from 80 degrees to something a little cooler.
- Turn on all the lights.
- Open all the curtains and drapes.
- Draw up all the blinds.
- If it needs it, I even pull out the broom I keep in my car and spiffy the place up a bit!
Well, today was just a little different at my Open House. As I pulled up the blinds in the living room a lizard almost jumped out at me from behind the blinds. OK, I'm no sissy. Lizards don't bother me. They're part of life in Florida. I have finally gotten over them.
In one of the bedrooms was a little spider. Spiders are OK too. As long as they're not too big...or too hairy. I let it be.
Then I made my way to the family room, which also doubles as my office while I am there and proceeded to draw up the blinds there. There were two little bulging eyes looking up at me as I did so. I have never cried Eeeeeeeeeek in my life. Until now. That was the last straw! There was a little frog perched on the side of the sliding door. I did not want to risk checking my email while the frog decided to go for a hop...on me no less. No sir! (I did however, grab my cellphone and snapped a picture of him for you. Am I not thoughtful?)
What followed would have been very comical if it had been filmed. I opened the sliding door in hopes it would jump out of the house. Of course, it jumped further into the house. I chased it with a stick trying to get it back into the family room as it hopped quickly into the living room. I ran for the front door and opened it wide. That was the answer! I would chase it out the front door if it wasn't going to go out the back door. Except he had other plans.
He hopped behind the buffet and I wondered if it was worth moving the darn thing. I wasn't coming back here until next weekend after all. I'd better move it, I decided. What if he came out while a squeamish buyer was walking the house? I didn't wan't a frog ruining a possible sale!
I moved the buffet. He jumped the other way. He and I did the silly ring-around-the-buffet-catch-me-if-you-can dance for a bit. I'm a firm believer in the fact that there's more than one way to skin a cat. I went into the kitchen looking for something I could use. This is a model home and apart from the furniture and doo-dads, there's no signs of life here. I found a plastic grocery bag I had left in a drawer. I'd have to actually catch the iccky thing with the bag. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww............
I mustered up my courage and returned to where my uninvited guest was. I took a deep breath and, using the bag as a makeshift glove scooped up the little guy. YUCKKKKKK! I ran outside with him and set him free as I broke into a rousing chorus of "Born Free." I also sheepishly explained to the neighbor. He was looking at me funny.
I had found too many critters today. I was almost afraid to go turn the lights on in the master bedroom. =)
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