Officially Homeowners

Hubby and I have officially entered a new phase of our lives - homeowners. We closed on our new home yesterday and put the first of our belongings in our new home today. We are more than happy to be leaving the apartment life of 20 years behind. I haven't had that feeling of "wow this is our house" yet, but suspect that will not happen until all of our belongings are in one place. However, it does feel great to know we only have limited days left to deal with obnoxious neighbors.

We had the most fantastic realtor who made everything super easy. Although I know it was his job, he truly did go above and beyond to make sure we were able to get what we wanted. Anyone in the Austin area looking for a great realtor, I know just the person.

Kick in the Head

I am a very active sleeper and always have been. I have been known to carry on conversations with objects such as fans, desks, or mirrors and have no recollection of the event; at times even get out of bed and wander around the house. Hubby has gotten used to this activity after 20 years and he no longer even wakes up when it happens. The other night I went to bed and fell asleep as normal. All of a sudden I wake up when I feel something hit me in the head. I was so disoriented. I didn't know where I was or what had hit me in the head. It was pitch black and I couldn't even see the night light we keep in the other room. Finally in a panic I realized there was something covering me and pulled it off. That is when I realized it was hubby who had kicked me in the head because I was completely turned around in the bed. My head was at the foot of the bed under the covers and my feet were on my pillow. I had been dreaming that I was moving boxes and somehow ended up in that position. I repositioned myself in the bed and slept normally until the alarm went off. The next morning I awoke so tired, I was dragging all day long.

Neighbors

We have new neighbors that live above us and they are the worst neighbors we have ever had. They are young kids who don't appear to have ever lived in an apartment before. When they walk it sounds like they are stomping. I can't fault them for that because these apartments are not very sound proofed. Since they all have hardwood floors the noise travels even more. My issue with them is their smoking and drinking. My yard has become their ash tray. Every day I pick up between 5 and 10 cigarette butts from my yard that they have just tossed over their balcony and in to my yard. When they have friends over they like to go outside to drink and then they throw their beer bottles on the ground. It makes the area around our apartment look terrible.

Today when we went outside, it was just too much and we had to file a complaint with the management office. There was the usual array of cigarette butts but this time there was also a broken beer bottle in my yard. Thankfully we saw it before one of the dogs cut their feet on the pieces of glass. Hopefully they won't get worse now that we have complained.

Almost Homeowners

We received the notification today that everything is completed and we will be able to close on our new home on January 30th. What a relief. Now I can stop worrying about where we will live and change the focus to packing, setting up utilities, and changing addresses. My vacation got cancelled for the week that we are scheduled to move because of more reorganization efforts at work. I am not at risk for being impacted this time, but I will have to help deliver the news to those who are being impacted. Because my vacation was cancelled, hubby is taking the lions share of handling this move - which I appreciate immensely.

Scared in the Bookstore

Today we went to the bookstore and as we were walking around we noticed this one poor guy who looked scared to death. You know, the look you get when you don't know if you should cry, barf, or run. He had that look and was trying so hard not to let it show. He was standing there as the female next to him added more and more books to the stack. With each book she added, he looked a little more scared. My curiosity got the better of me, so I had to know what kind of books they were buying that had him looking so pale. They were in the parenting section and she had stacked about 10 different parent to be books in his arms. I wanted so badly to tell him to put down the books and just spend time with someone who had children; but I didn't. Instead, I left the store feeling sorry for the poor fellow who has weeks of reading in his very near future.

My Turn

Clearly, the hubby and I should not be trusted around your shopping cart.

This time we were in Walmart picking up a few items. Hubby went down one aisle and I went down another. I needed to grab some feminine products and was going to meet him at the other end. I caught up to him and tossed my items in the cart when I noticed he had added a few things to the basket. Things that we don't normally like. I was getting ready to ask him why he bought those items when I looked up and saw someone else heading to the cart. I was so embarrassed. I apologized, grabbed my items, and quickly moved out of that section. At least it was a female whose cart I put my items in and not some big burly guy.

House Issues - Again

Last night we got news that the house was a no-go. The feds decided not to move forward with the program we applied under to purchase our house. Our moods were rock bottom. Today, I called to see if there was any possible way to extend our lease. No-go there either which is what I suspected. I have a great apartment with hardwood floors and a yard. I called several rental houses and all were a no-go. Either they don't take big dogs (my sweet little Riley is now pushing 50 pounds) or the house was already gone. By this time I have successfully spent a few hours of company time and not done anything that I was being paid to - oh well. Finally, I spoke to our realtor and he came up with another game plan. We are now back on track and trying to close at the end of this month. It looks like it may work, but we have a very tight window on the closing date and move out date.

Right now my main focus is on keeping my sanity intact and not stressing out too much. Once we make it through this, I am vowing to never buy another house - EVER.

Keep your fingers crossed and send all good luck wishes our way that everything gets finished in time for us to close and move out by the first week of February.

Grocery Cart

Today was grocery shopping day and we headed in to HEB armed with our list and our bags. We were in our usual positions; hubby handling the cart and me checking off the list. Shortly after we entered the store he stopped to look at something. I thought he was looking at one of the discount bins in the isle and didn't really pay much attention. When I turned back around to see what he was doing, the lady behind him noticed as well. He was looking through her grocery cart! We all three had a good laugh and then went on about our shopping.

For the rest of the trip through the store, he was required to keep his hands on his own cart.

TGIF

This week have been a really tough week full of highs and lows. We started out the week on a high anticipating some final news on our house. We did get news, but only to find out they needed yet another form signed. We signed the form and were still on a high thinking we would have the final news right away. That night our new neighbors decided to have a Fiesta Bowl party which included lots of screaming, jumping, and yelling on our heads. We tolerated that for a while, but around midnight had to ask them to tone it down a bit so we could get some sleep. The next day we were still tired from the night before, but I got a call with news about the house. They hoped to have things finalized by the end of the month. Hoped! End of the month! That was enough to put me over the edge. If we don't close before the end of the month, we will not have a place to live. We have given our notice and our place has already been rented. I was definitely stressed out and my boss kept poking his head in my office to ask me questions. What is his damage? Can't he tell I have something more important on my mind than work? Instead, I grit my teeth, smile, and answer his questions.

I waited until the next day to follow up with the lender because I needed time to regroup and get my thoughts together. Plus, I didn't want to totally tick them off and have them put me at the bottom of their priority stack. After speaking to our rep, we were once again reassured that the person who told us they hoped to have things done by the end of the month should not have said that. Things are still on target for our original date. Whew. With this good news behind me I was open to the next blow of - they need more money. What? When did you tell us about that? Well, supposedly someone should have told us, blah, blah, blah. But he promised we would get it all back at closing this was just as a reassurance we weren't going to change our minds. Seriously? We have been working at this too long to change our minds now. Fine, just tell me when and I will bring you the money.

At work, my team has been waiting for the green light on a special project. It is a very large project merging the payroll for two teams and will have a significant impact on the pay checks of over 1400 people (and I happen to be one of those people). The corporate office was withholding approval because they didn't want to release control over such a big project to someone else. After one final, very heated conference call yesterday, we finally got our green light. Unfortunately, they waited so long to give us the green light that now we only have 4 days to process all 1400+ files instead of the original 3 weeks we were originally told we would have. Personally, I think they did it on purpose, but I didn't have time to focus on that now. I gave the news to my Austin team (4 members plus me) and we set up a game plan to tackle the project.

Today I had to travel to deliver not so good news to three members of my team in Dallas and San Antonio. I am moving their jobs to Austin and they have to relocate in order to continue on my team. I was able to find a place for two of them if they don't want to move, but no one seems to want the third person. Sadly, I can't blame them. She can be very difficult, but still it is not easy delivering that news.

On the drive back, from San Anonio, I was mentally exhausted from such a long week when I get a phone call that we are clear to do the next step in the house process - the final walk through. I really needed that good news. Shortly after that I got a call from the lead person on my team regarding the project. They only had 5 files left to complete the 1400 file project - they finished in 2 days!! I could have hugged her through the phone. My team knew how important this project was and they busted their butts to make sure they proved those corporate nose in the air jerks wrong. I am so proud of them; not only did they step up to the plate and accept the challenge, they knocked the ball out of the park. I will have to think of some really cool surprise for them.

I am really glad this week is behind me and I am looking forward to a nice calm weekend. Maybe I will even be able to finish the book Marley & Me that I started 2 weeks ago.

Baby Shoes

There is a pair of the cutest little shoes that I am dying to buy for my nephew, but his feet are still too small. He is an infant size 2 and the smallest size they come in is a toddler size 4. First off, I have not idea what the difference is between an infant size 2 and a toddler size 4, so maybe some of you mothers out there can educate me. Also, how fast does a babies feet grow?

Today since I couldn't buy him the shoes, I bought him three outfits instead. One is definitely too big, but too cute to pass up.

Here is the latest picture of my little sweetheart; he is 2 months old today. He is laying in my brother's hands.

Resolutions for the New Year

Every year we make resolutions for ourselves that are thrown out the window in just a few shorts weeks or months. Well, this year hubby and I decided to do it slightly different. He gave a resolution to me, I gave one to him, and we made one together as a couple.

His resolution for me: Lose 50 pounds this year.
My resolution for him: Have a more optimistic approach to things.
Our resolution together: Get out of the house and do more; get out of our comfort zone.

2008 was not a great year for us. Even our last meal of the year had a bit of a downside - I got a bonus hair in my steak dinner. We are looking forward to the great things that 2009 will be sending our way.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope your 2009 brings you all the great things you deserve.