June 2, 2008
Now we're gonna be RICH
As of yesterday, our lease at our last house has ended. After this last round of utility bills, we'll be officially only supporting ONE household! Whatever will we do with all that extra money?
Oh, yeah, save it for property taxes.
And diapers. My we tiny baby is out of size 1 Pampers. Every time he outgrows a size, I get sad that I'll never use that size again. You'd think I'd be happy to see the end of my diaper days approaching, but I'm just sad that my wee baby is getting closer to angry preschooler, and I'm never going to have a baby again.
On the upside, every day brings him closer to being a real boy, instead of just a blob. Owen was a smiling FOOL today! Head control rules.
Bittersweet.
Posted by me at 10:20 PM | Comments (1)
February 18, 2008
The hardest part of moving
I was trying to figure out what to feed the girls for breakfast Friday morning before the movers came, and finally decided what the heck, they could have chocolate Pop Tarts. We were out of pretty much everything else, after all, since I'd been avoiding buying anything in an effort to move, well, less. Besides, it would be a special treat. After all, how often do we move?
And then I realized we move all. the. time. Four times in the last two years. That's twice a year. Other people spend their disposable income on DVD's or video games or nice vacations. We spend ours on closing costs and movers and utility deposits.
But the hardest part of moving? Reattaching the drying vent.
Posted by me at 1:03 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2008
We're mostly moved and all pooped.
Posted by me at 9:15 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2008
Putting a little too much into it
The wind is still howling.
Bubba is still yowling.
But we officially own a house.
I've been planning to get Jamie a bedroom set since her second birthday. That didn't happen because we just didn't have room to add it to my dad's house. When we moved back to Spring, I looked and I looked and I found what I wanted at IKEA. Since her room was so big, and we planned to have the girls share for at least a few years, I had decided to get two sets using different pieces from the same line. The only reason I didn't take it home was that it wouldn't fit in my van while the seats were in, and since I had the kids with me, taking them out would have been a wee problematic. For some reason, you had to arrange delivery in person, and I figured if I was going to have stuff delivered I'd combine the charges and get the game room furniture at the same time, only I hadn't picked that out yet. And then before I got around to it, we found out we might be moving, and hell if I wanted to pay to move and store even more furniture. Then the apartment was too small, plus we've known we had a few more moves coming.
But now. Now, we're ready.
Of course, now, IKEA still makes the same line but in different stains. I can't get the pieces I want in matching colors, unless I go with white, which just ain't gonna happen. Also, the girls are now required to room together for the forseeable future, and the room is a bit smaller, so some of my requirements have changed.
There is some other furniture I like that meets the new requirements just fine. Pottery Barn Kids has some stuff I really like, at least until I choke over the price. I remember a set from Pier1 Kids that was nifty, but they have apparently gone out of business, and the kids stuff doesn't appear to have moved to the regular store. I wasn't impressed with the quality of most of the stuff at Rooms to Go Kids, from what I remember.
I've put way too much time, effort and angst into this the last three years, and I have nothing to show for it. You would think with all the options in this world, it wouldn't be so damn hard to find what I want.
Posted by me at 9:22 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2008
I'm ready to start moving stuff NOW
I've spent the last couple hours deleting junk and spam out of a clients email. Two years worth of junk and spam. Yeesh.
I met with the home inspector today. There were no major issues, and not all that many minor ones. We're good to go in the financing department. We still have a walk through with the builder to discuss the inspection report and look for cosmetic problems, a final walk through to make sure they fixed the stuff, and we have to pick homeowner's insurance, but other than that, I think we're set.
Posted by me at 10:34 PM | Comments (0)
January 9, 2008
But at least I'm going to go nuts in a pretty house!
So much going on at once, all of it major, traumatizing, and yet most excellent.
Katie had a great day at school. Even Jamie's teacher noticed when the classes crossed paths. I never saw a tear or anything approaching sadness, and from what I gather she didn't shed one. She came home with a dry diaper and hadn't been changed once. She ate all of her lunch. She's excited about her name tags (for her backpack and the hangtag for my van.) She's ready to go back. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
I had four hours in which I both got things done and had alone time, and didn't have to feel any guilt about neglecting my kids, aside from the holy-crap-my-baby-went-to-school. I somehow didn't manage to call the vets about Bubba's urine results, but he seems much better since the two days of pen injections. I really do need to call them tomorrow and figure out wtf is up.
Between Rex and I, we negotiated a price on the house and a rate with the lender (the builder's lender, otherwise all incentives were void, so we had each other over a barrel). Then we spent an hour or so signing contracts and paperwork and our lives away. We're set to close by the end of the month. In spite of the fact that I kind of want to throw up, I really want to start moving NOW NOW NOW. We'll be paying rent and mortgage at the same time for a while, which doesn't thrill me, but it sure does give us the time to make a leisurely move. I still can't believe I signed up to stay here. Just the wind in the last week has been enough to drive me insane, add in the cold and the lack of friends and family, and I'm probably one step from the funny farm.
Posted by me at 8:19 PM | Comments (1)
January 7, 2008
Broken record
We put an offer on one of the new homes we've been keeping our eyes on for the last few months. The offer is still a little higher than what I really *want* to pay, and yet still low enough that I'm not sure they'll even bother to counter.
Even more frightening is the part where I'm not sure I want them to accept an offer for us. I'm still not ready to truly commit to Dallas, especially after having such a wonderful time with friends in Houston. Actually buying a house up here makes this move pretty much permanent. On the up side, it also means I don't have to worry about relocating or moving for a while, which would be nice, too. I'm so torn between wanting to be settled and wanting to be where I want to be.
It's been over a year, and I still haven't come up with the compromise that both of us can accept.
Posted by me at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2007
Speaking of the house thing...
That foreclosure house we made an offer on? They dropped the price below their lowest counter offer a week or so ago. When I saw that, I was so pissed I wanted to hunt the bank down and kill it.
Now we're torn between trying for the house again now and trying to get out of our lease, and just staying put like we intended in the first place, to see what happens with the job/move thing. Still, as much as I don't want to move again ALREADY, I still kinda want to move someplace we own and can feel more permanent.
It also might matter why they dropped the price. Did they finally realize they were being unreasonable Did someone get an inspection that listed the things we saw wrong with the house and so they're just acknowledging them? Or did someone get an inspection that showed worse problems, like foundation issues? We walked by a couple weeks ago, and they've cleaned the place, but closed all the blinds, so I can't see how pretty it is anymore.
Also, I was hoping they wouldn't wise up and drop the price til next year, so we could have another chance at it when we had more information about the permanence of our stay here.
So to sum up both of our reactions to this new: FUCKERS!
Posted by me at 9:39 PM | Comments (1)
June 30, 2007
Rebounding
We still have no internet, but after almost a week, I found the sweet spot where I can hit an open network.
I have a ton of stuff to say, but no words to say it yet. Bullets to come.
Posted by me at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2007
I can already feel the DT's starting
We've been slowly taking loads of stuff over to the new house. Considering we haven't moved much of anything from the kitchen and none of the furniture, it sure looks like there's a lot of crap over there already. It doesn't help that it's all piled in one room.
The power just got turned on today, and the gas is scheduled to be turned on tomorrow. We've had water for a while. Dish is coming Thursday.
The internet isn't due to be installed until July 10. I think I'm going to die.
With any luck this will break my internet addiction, and I'll be a better wife, mother and person. More likely, I'll develop a twitch, be bitchy and lonely, and start traceling around town with my (giant) laptop looking for free internet near play areas for the kids.
Movers tomorrow. I'll be back, well, when I can.
Posted by me at 8:49 PM | Comments (1)
June 18, 2007
I'd give up, but I don't even know what that means anymore
Rex should be signing a lease for us sometime today. It's a house, about twice the size of our current apartment, and the rent is about the same. It has a huge back yard, is in a cul-de-sac, and is just as close to Jamie's preschool as the foreclosure. In fact, it's in the neighborhood right next to the one we want to live in.
I'm still pissed about not getting that foreclosure. I'm also still hoping that we get it in the end. After all, it's not like they sold it to someone else. If it's still on the market in six months or so, maybe we'll make another go at it. Or hell, maybe by next spring we'll be moving to yet another city.
At this point, not much would surprise me.
Posted by me at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2007
Fuckers. The bank countered with their original counter. They didn't come down a penny. And they waited a goddamn week to do nothing. That's what really pisses me off, that they waited a freaking week.
I'm mad, but more, I'm disappointed. I really wanted this house. I had hopes that this house would actually make me want to stay here, and that we wouldn't be moving YET AGAIN.
Posted by me at 2:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2007
Blogher
The last thing we heard about the house was that they had received another offer. The bank's realtor stupidly told us that our offer was way better. The hope was that we would hear something today. We did not.
I was still waffling over the Blogher decision when Rex was asked to go to California for a work thing. It's a good opportunity for him, but he would be returning on the Friday of the conference. I wasn't too upset, since I was still frankly quite terrified of going without knowing anyone.
I've sort of changed my mind, though. There are a few people going that I think I would like to meet, and that I think I can get the guts together to meet. Of course, our plans have changed, also. Instead of hanging around here while Rex is in Cali, I'll be spending a couple weeks in Maryland with my family. Perfect babysitting opportunity, but it'll cost me $200 to fly to Chicago from there, and I would still have to pay for hotel and the conference. Actually, that's about what it would have been from Dallas. I'm still waffling, I guess.
Posted by me at 8:32 PM | Comments (0)
June 11, 2007
Updates
Regarding our kind check finders: Our realtor requested their contact information so that he could send them a little reward, so instead of sending a $50 gift card and thank you note, we sent a $25 card and a thank you.
Regarding the foreclosure house: We haven't heard a peep. Our realtor will contact the bank's realtor lunchish time and ask for an update/to let them know that they have until COB Wednesday to respond. We'll take our offer off the table at that time. I find the prospect of losing that house very distressing. I'm still hoping against hope.
Regarding where we plan to live in 3 weeks: We looked at two lease homes on Saturday. Either would do. One was nicer and more elegant, the other was adequate and $400 less per month. If the foreclosure falls through, we'll take the cheaper of the two, assuming it's still available. I have such completely different criteria when it comes to leasing versus buying, it's almost laughable.
Posted by me at 8:00 AM | Comments (0)
June 8, 2007
Hibernation is sounding better and better
Still no word back on the house. We're going to check out some leases tomorrow.
I really want that house, though. And I've gotten what I wanted often enough to be spoiled into believing that this will work out. I'm also rational enough to know that it's unlikely we'll get it for what we want to pay.
And I'm sick enough of myself and this whole business to want to just curl up in a ball and sleep for a few years.
Posted by me at 8:43 PM | Comments (0)
June 7, 2007
REWARD!
What's the proper reward when someone finds a $5,000 check and a $100 check (made out to, uh, no one) and mails them back to you, along with a note and phone number in case you have questions?
I'm thinking $50 gift card, not sure to where.
And I didn't lose them, our realtor forgot to staple them to our paperwork.
Posted by me at 8:45 AM | Comments (1)
June 6, 2007
They countered our offer with something that really sucks. We countered with the most we're willing to pay for the heap. Fuck with me, will they? I'm stubborn enough to walk away from this thing on principal, baby.
You know, unless they come through on the money. Money generally trumps my principles :)
Posted by me at 9:41 PM | Comments (0)
The waiting is KILLING me
I somehow forgot to mention that we put an offer on the foreclosure house on Monday. We asked for a quick closing, and put a ton down in earnest money to show how serious we are. Our offer was 90% of asking, which, considering the condition of the house, doesn't seem unreasonable. Everything else was pretty standard.
But we haven't heard anything yet.
Posted by me at 2:23 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2007
Home, repossessed home
In our search for a lease house, we have so far looked at...ZERO houses for lease!
We have found a couple nice for sale homes that we're going to look at again tomorrow. One is a foreclosure home that has some obvious problems, even without an inspection. The yard is bigger, though, as is the house. I like the feel of it, but it's priced higher than I'm willing to pay. I'm assuming that we can get it for significantly less than asking, but I'm not sure how low I can offer without getting laughed at.
The other house is smaller, although nowhere near small. The yard is small. It has an extra bedroom that we don't need. The price is right, and would be even better after negotiations. The owner showed us around, and they are ready to move quickly, I think.
We're suddenly in the position of needing to buy a house, fast, since apparently this leasing thing is going nowhere. We purposely left leasing to the last minute, but for buying, we should have started this process months ago. At least we did some looking, at neighborhoods and schools and such, before we chose to lease.
At least I've finally gone from apathy to interest. That's a big step, right?
Posted by me at 9:33 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2007
Anyone have a crystal ball handy?
We're getting to crunch time to find another place to live, and even though we made the decision to lease, for some reason we're still looking at sale homes. New contruction *and* pre-owned. No, I don't know what we're thinking.
I'm so sick of not knowing. Not knowing how I'm going to feel about this place in a year. Not knowing if moving to Austin will be possible in a year. Not knowing what the housing market will be like in a year.
The last time I was in this position, I was told to live like this was my life. Which it is. We entrenched ourselves into our community. I made plans for the future of our house, and started implementing them. I dreamed and schemed and pictured my future.
Letting go of those plans and dreams has probably been the hardest part of this move. For the first time in several years, I could see my future, and when we moved up here, suddenly it was gone again. I would get halfway through a plan in my head before I realized that that plan was based on something we didn't have anymore.
Those old dreams have faded, sometimes I can barely remember what I miss so much. I don't have anything to replace them with yet, and that's a new kind of hard. Also, I feel like I've been burned. That if I make plans now, that rug will get pulled out from under me, too. And I know, logically, that that's just life. You make plans, things change, you make new plans. This seems a little more extreme than that, somehow.
Decisions. Too. Hard.
Posted by me at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2007
I miss it, too
I can't remember what started it, but Jamie started talking about Houston today. She was hoping that the people who bought our house would rent it back to us. She wasn't impressed when I told her that the people who bought are house were living in it, and I doubted they wanted to leave. That they bought our house because they loved it as much as we did. She told me that she missed having a gate she could open and close (our backyard gate) and a great place to ride her trike.
She also asked why we couldn't go back to Houston, and I told her it was because Daddy had a new job here, and we moved here to be near Daddy. That's when she told me that she liked Daddy's old job. I told her that I did, too.
Jamie lets most things roll right off her back. I think this might be the second time she's brought up Houston since right after we moved up here, other than in the context of visits and family. I'm not sure what stirred her pot this time, if it was the little meltdown I had yesterday (although I didn't tell them anything, I just told them I was sad), or if she was just thinking about Houston since we'll be going there tomorrow.
Either way, I told her that I was pretty sure that when we rented a house here, soon, that there would be a place for her to ride her trike. For now, that seems to be enough.
My Dad came into town tonight. Tomorrow, we leave for Houston. Saturday, we meet our nephews for the first time, and then Rex graduates. Sunday, back to Dallas, where we drop Rex off at the airport for a week in Cali for training. Monday, my Dad goes back to Maryland.
Lots of stuff in a little time, most of it awesome.
Posted by me at 9:55 PM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2007
Still looking at houses like I'm going to buy one
Every so often I go through the house flyers we pick up while wandering around town, looking for which ones are still for sale and which ones have dropped in price. We keep the ones that are only moderately out of our price range, just in case they take forever to sell and we think we can lowball them.
I'm not sure why I still keep the flyers. Hell, we're still picking up new ones. All this *after* we've made the decision to rent for a year, just in case a miracle happens and Rex can wrangle a transfer to Austin.
I still get excited over some of the houses, at least on paper. There's one section of a particular subdivision that has big, beautiful houses on larger lots. Most of the houses are way out of our price range, but one was just moderately so. They lowered the price to something that we can negotiate from. AND it's pretty and with a big, beautiful kitchen. Unfortunately, it's one of a small section of houses in that subdivision that's in a completely different school district, one that we aren't impressed with. And while there is a convenient elementary school located within walking distance, my kids wouldn't be able to go there.
Dammit, I just found another one in the same section. This one is a new build, and it's even cheaper!
There's another house, in a different subdivision. Awesome section, and they've just lowered the price for the second time. The layout of the house is familiar, since a good friend of mine lives in one a lot like it. The difference is hers has enough bedrooms, and the one we found is one room short.
This finding-everything-I-want-in-one-package thing is going to be much harder than I thought.
Posted by me at 10:37 PM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2007
Today is the one year anniversary
Of our move to Texas.
We got to the house around dinner time today. I had stopped at our realtor's house to pick up the keys, and the girls and I headed over to check out the house and see if it was as awesome as I remembered it.
The girls and I scouted the house. Katie climbed the stairs for the first time, and Jamie ran through the bedrooms and picked one for herself. I took all sorts of "before" pictures, as in before all our crap got piled in.
Rex showed up a while later with the cats and the Penske truck. We got the cats settled in the master bath, and then had to leave and spend the night at my in-laws. It was so hard to leave, even for one more night. We were so excited to start living there.
So much has changed since then. We sold my dream house. Rex got his dream job. We're living in this less than permanent home, looking for another temporary house. It will be over a year before we get settled, and I'm still not sure where we'll be when that happens.
I try every day to create a life here. I haven't been all that successful. The lack of permanence gives me little motivation to dig in. It also gives me little motivation to wake up and greet the day with enthusiasm. I'm trying, though. Trying to give my girls a purpose, and trying to find purpose in my girls. Some days go better than others. Today was a good one.
But I still wish I could go back.
Posted by me at 9:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2007
There are days when my three year old exhibits more maturity
We received a good offer on the house today. We counteroffered anyway. They accepted. We'rea actually making a decent amount of money on this house.
Except.
I don't want to sell it.
This means we can start looking at houses here, and get out of this apartment.
Except.
I don't want to buy a house here.
Posted by me at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
January 8, 2007
The good, the bad and the ugly
My MIL's visit went way better than anticipated. I wasn't perfect, but I mostly kept the bitchy reined in. Also, she was much more interactive than the last time she stayed with us. Part of that is that Jamie won't let you stay disengaged anymore, but a big part is that my MIL seemed more willing to play. I think she just might not be a baby person, and I can understand, since I'm only a baby person with my own kids.
The house showed again this weekend, and apparently we're on someone's short list. I'm excited by the prospect of not paying a mortgage and rent at the same time (we've been double paying for almost a year and a half out of the last two and a half), but I don't want to sell it. I'm still holding out stupid hope that I'll get to go back.
In other news, my mom is travelling 2000 miles for a month long booty call. So. Proud.
Posted by me at 9:55 PM | Comments (0)
December 31, 2006
Because writing a rent check isn't enough of a kick in the groin
For some reason, we decided we needed to get out of the apartment today, so we drove to Houston to camp in the house. We had a pleasant enough drive, a nice walk around the neighborhood, dinner at the Cheesecake Factory where we actually managed to squeeze in dessert, and now the girls are talking it up in a tent in the living room.
The house is still in great shape. I brought stuff to vacuum and clean, figuring there might be rings in the toilet or dead bugs around, but I think all I'm really going to have to do is vacuum away the traces of us sleeping on the floor. We pulled the dead tomato, pumpkin and zinnia plants and I think the neighbor will lend us his mower to take down the tall patches of grass, but even the yard is looking swell.
Kinda makes me wish we lived here.
Posted by me at 8:50 PM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2006
The state of the house
Last Saturday, our realtor finally held an open house. Not a single person came by. Not a surprise, since we haven't had a single showing in a month, now.
Not long after we put our house on the market, we had several showings. Our realtor mentioned when she listed us that the market seemed to be having a nice pop of activity, but that she figured it would slow down as it got closer to the holidays. She was right. So what I don't understand is why she didn't do the open house right away (like our neighbor did, and got 8? people through her house). I'm annoyed, and if our house is still on the market when her contract is up, we'll be moving on.
Unless I just move back in myself.
Posted by me at 9:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2006
But I still want to go home
I'm almost sad that NaBloPoMo is over. It gave me great motivation to post regularly, and while I thought that was going to carry on, it only lasted a few days. And, it's really putting a crimp in my blog reading.
What a letdown.
Anyway, not much going on. Still trying to make our square belongings fit into a round apartment. Trying to keep up with all the pictures I've been taking on my new camera. Not doing a good job of posting pics here (or getting them off the camera on a timely manner).
And Christmas, holy bejeebus. I haven't bought anything at all. I finally got a book of pictures put together that we'll give to each of the grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, but they may not get here in time to give for Christmas, and surely not in time to mail to the distant relatives.
Mentally, I've been doing better. A lot better. I had one more brief episode of hopelessness, but it was counterbalanced by two episdes of serene patience with Jamie. I'm not sure the last time I had one of those.
Even better (actually, not better. The mental thing is the best.) the weather has been beautiful the last couple days, and is expected to stay that way for at least a week. Exploring our new habitat is much nicer when we can get out and enjoy it.
Posted by me at 9:04 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2006
Poor Rex
Of all the times for it to snow in Dallas, less than a week after we move here is not a good time.
I hate cold, I don't like icy conditions, and I only really like snow when I'm skiing or in the first 10 minutes after it falls when it's still fresh and clean and pretty. Sure, this cold front is going to hit Houston, but not as hard and not with snow. And there, we would have a giant house for the kids to run off their crazy.
Day 29. I think I'm going to make it!
Posted by me at 9:34 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2006
If you're compulsively honest, don't read this
This place still sucks.
Two days without decent sleep isn't improving things. The night before we left, I felt like I needed to puke the brick in my stomach. Last night, a few tears and a little nausea wouldn't have kept me up, but three nosy cats sure did a good job of it. Little beasts were into shit all night.
Dish Network came by this morning, and our apartment faces the wrong direction to get signal. We're still under a contract with them for another year, not to mention I'm having an affair with the DVR, so this will not do. The tech said that there is a pole out front that someone else had a dish on that would work, if we got peremission from the management. Naturally, they said they didn't like the look of the dishes and were planning to remove that pole. Luckily, the tech came back and started installing our dish before he talked to us, so we're going to use the ignorance clause. (To be fair to the tech, he had just finished installing another dish on a pole in the same complex. I don't know if they didn't bother to get permission, or if they have a double standard. I'm using it to my advantage, either way.)
In any case, we should have Dish in a few minutes, for an indeterminate amount of time. With any luck DSL will switch over tomorrow or Tuesday, and I can stop snitching this poor open connection.
How many laws am I breaking with this post, anyway?
Posted by me at 2:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2006
Where am I, and why am I not wearing pants?
We're moved, I guess.
In spite of all my wishes and fantasies against it, I still got us all packed up, and I still drove the kids and the cats 200 miles to somewhere I don't want to be.
I was trying to be optomistic. It won't be so bad. The apartment is bigger than Dad's house was. It'll be easier to care for.
But it's smaller than I remembered, and I can see the cats litterbox from my bed. Worse, I can smell it. The panty is miniscule. I can't get the dryer door all the way open. The kitchen isn't going to fit much more than my dishes. Most of my baking stuff will have to be repacked (Yay!) and stored in the garage. The entire kitchen would fit in the open space in the center of my old kitchen. The garage is nearly full of crap right now, although it will get better once we organize it some.
I have the feeling I'm going to be in a very dark place for a very long time.
Posted by me at 8:59 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2006
Being an adult sucks ass
We're moving tomorrow.
I still want to throw myself on the floor kicking and screaming "NO!"
I'm so sick of packing, I can't even begin to describe it. Every time I think I'm almost done, I see more stuff. This has been going on all day.
Rex is out on a tape run. Thank goodness we got more boxes than I thought we would need earlier today, or I'd be SOL. As it is, I'm not sure we'll have enough to do the garage, but I think I'm leaving that for Rex to worry about tomorrow.
On the other hand, I almost can't wait to go. At least then I'll have a little time to rest.
Except, that's a lie. When we get there, there will be so many more things to do. Finding a preschool, finding a house, finding a new life.
Starting over from square one. Not the fresh start I was hoping for for the new year.
Posted by me at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
November 12, 2006
This is just a depressing month for a post a day
My mother wants me to see a therapist.
This, after she told me to stop wallowing.
I made what was apparently a mistake in telling her that I thought that I am/was somewhat depressed over the last couple years. My point in telling her was more about how much better I was feeling since we got into a living situation that fits me ever so much better, and that I fear losing the equilibrium I've regained in the last 6 months.
And you thought I was going to move on to talking about fluffy bunnies and rainbows.
I know that my mother just wants me to be happy. I know that she would do whatever it would take to help me to that end. But I don't think telling me to view my glass as half full is going to force me to suddenly reconcile the future I envisioned a month ago with the one that's facing me today.
Posted by me at 8:59 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2006
Two posts in one day? I must be nuts!
I'm fading fast, coming down off my successful trip high. I didn't sleep well last night, and I think it's starting to catch up to me.
The trip home took a lot longer than the trip up, partly due to the time that was wasted while that cop in Palmer was giving me a ticket. I took the experience to heart, and drove slower the rest of the way home.
Now, I'm waiting for Rex and the girls to get back from Austin. I'm not expecting them til after 9, maybe closer to 10. I have the feeling they'll be getting me out of bed to put them in.
I guess I can find that online defensive driving class while I wait.
Posted by me at 6:34 PM | Comments (0)
Houston, we have an apartment
I'm sitting in the driveway of our new apartment. It's not the nicest apartment around, but it feels safe, and it's only a mile from Rex's work. And apparently, we have nice neighbors who don't secure their wireless networks.
As I was signing paperwork in the office, I realized that we will spent Christmas in this place, Jamie's 4th birthday, Katie's second birthday and more. I almost started crying in the office. Thankfully, I managed to hold off until I typed it and made it real.
I was going to say I can't decide if I'm going to cry or puke, but since I'm already crying I guess I should try not to yak.
I'm going to spend 3+ hours driving home so I can cry in my house while it's still mine.
Posted by me at 2:06 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2006
Ugh. I'm getting sick of the angst.
Rex took the girls to Austin this evening. They'll be back tomorrow night.
Early tomorrow morning, I leave for Dallas. I'll be picking an apartment at semi-random and signing a lease. I think I've finally gotten it into my head that there is no perfect apartment, and even if there was, we aren't going to be there long enough to care. I'm going for the biggest, cheapest apartment I can find that's close to work and won't freak me out walking around with kids at night. No biggie, right?
I feel like signing a lease is the last nail in the coffin of this move. Kind of funny, since in the grand scheme of things getting out of a lease isn't the most expensive part of the whole ordeal. Hell, the real nail was probably Rex giving notice at his job after a mere 5 weeks.
I really need to just let this go.
Posted by me at 7:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 9, 2006
The bitch is back
Have I mentioned that I don't want to move?
I thought I had resigned myself to this being the best thing for us, as a family. Not so great for me, fantastic for Rex, overall more reasons to move than to stay. I've been on edge all morning, and by on edge I mean a grouchy bitch. What my head knows, my heart refuses to accept.
I've also come to the conclusion that you shouldn't put the person *least* interested in moving in charge of most of the major details of the move. Like finding new lodging and getting a lease signed. And packing shit. And keeping the house ready to show. Expecially on 20 minutes notice. *glare*
I can't stop thinking of all the plans I made for our future *here*, and focus on plans for a happy future *there*.
I'm so gonna need to be medicated before this is all said and done.
Posted by me at 9:30 PM | Comments (0)
November 6, 2006
NaBloPoMo day 6: Damn, my life is dull
Even when it's full, my life is kind of dull. Maybe it would be better to say that I don't have the gift to turn dull everyday events into scintillating prose. And when I'm pooped, I don't really have the motication to try.
We got back from Dallas about 10 last night. It was a long day, even longer for the kids, who spent way more hours in the car than was fair. It left them cranky and bitchy today, but also bought me some unexpected nappage. If they hadn't tag teamed their naps, I probably would have laid down myself.
Dallas is...different. Amazingly, I think it's flatter than Houston. The trees are scrubbier, the ground looks like rocks mixed with smaller rocks, limestone I assume, by it whiteness. It feels different in other ways than I can't quite quantify or describe.
House hunting is also difficult. There aren't a lot of houses for rent, and the ones we saw weren't right. It doesn't help that I don't want to leave the house we're in now. Having seen what we've seen, we're looking into apartments for a shorter term solution.
I'm sure this all sounds very wishy-washy, poorly planned, counter-productive. And it is.
Posted by me at 8:35 PM | Comments (0)
November 5, 2006
NaBloPoMo day 5: Getting hard to keep up while out of town
We're in Dallas, staying with friends. We've spent way more time socializing with them and hanging out with the kids than we have searching for houses. I did get some good Cajun food, though, so I guess all is not lost.
This was a poorly planned trip. We should have called a realtor a couple days in advance, so that we at least had contact up here. As it is, we looked at rentals last night on the internet, in exactly the area we thought we would end up looking. This morning, Rex called the agents listing the 4 houses we found online, and got voicemail for all of them. We're going to drive by them and look around at them regardless, but I'm hoping someone calls us back before we head out of town.
I don't know why I waited til last night to think about our timeline, but we really should be signing a lease this weekend. Rex has to make a trip to Austin next weekend for some help with his schoolwork, and the weekend after that is the day before Rex starts the new job.
Definately poorly planned.
Posted by me at 1:00 PM | Comments (0)
November 4, 2006
NaBloPoMo day 4: Not the day I stop with the annoying titles
We're leaving this morning for a recon trip to Dallas. Rex starts in 17 days, so we thought it might be time to go up there and see what we're getting ourselves into.
Today is also our first showing, between 9 and 11. The house is in pretty good shape after yesterday's photo session, although there are a few things that could be less ugly (read: the study). I've gone so far as to tidy the closets, though, and for today I've had enough.
Anyway, wish us luck, on the showing and on our viewing!
Posted by me at 8:08 AM | Comments (0)
November 2, 2006
NaBloPoMo day 2: Peaking too soon
I busted my ass yesterday to get the house in order for sale. I still have more to do, but I've lost my steam.
I think part of the problem is the delay in the photographer. I saw an opportunity for a breather, and now I can't stop just breathing. Plus, I'm a 90% girl. When I get things about 90% done, I'm happy enough to not waste any more time on the issue. I mean, really, when the house is 90% clean, the only people who are going to notice that it's not 100% are the ones digging around in the corners looking for dirt. And there's ALWAYS dirt. No sense trying to please *those* people.
Anyway, the house is 90% tidy. For the photographers, I just have to finish packing up the ugly crap in the study and clean off the bar in the kitchen (also known as my everything space.) Where the hell am I supposed to keep my laptop? For showing, I still need to tidy the girls' closets, and our closet. A couple little things need to be put away in Katie's room, and I need to take the Halloween decorations out of the front yard. Actually, I guess I should do that before the pictures.
I'm about 90% done with this post. I think I'm just gonna call it done.
Posted by me at 8:09 AM | Comments (0)
November 1, 2006
NaBloPoMo Day 1: Realization dawns
What the hell was I thinking?
A post a day for a month. At least I have a lot going on this month to write about. Unfortunately, I have so much going on it's going to be hard to find the time. I suppose I need to make time, since all writing about all this crap will be a good release for me.
In the interest of some actual content, here's a little moving update:
- We met with the realtor Monday night.
- The house listed today.
- Photographer was due tomorrow, but can't make it. Pictures will be taken Friday. I have a lot more decluttering to do before then, but I've gotten a ton done, too.
- House cleaners came today and made me feel totally inadequate. The house is so clean, I don't even want to cook for fear of making dirt I can't properly clean up.
- Many boxes have been packed. I'm getting so sick of seeing my own stuff go in and out of boxes, I'm almost ready to throw it all away.
Posted by me at 8:56 PM | Comments (1)
October 25, 2006
Official
I've cried. I've overthought. I've tortured my friends and family with dramatic conversations about fear, depression, money, quality of life and the potential to move again.
I told Rex yes, then this morning decided the money wasn't worth losing this life. Luckily, I didn't call Rex right away, and by the time I did talk to him, I was resigned to moving again. Although I did hope that he was on the fence too and would call the whole thing off.
Anyway, verbal acceptance has been given. A written offer letter is expected next week. Rex's ass is expected to be planted in a chair near Dallas within four weeks.
If all this sounds discombobulated and unsure, well, that's because it is. I am.
Posted by me at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2006
I can almost hear the incredulity
I think we're moving.
AGAIN.
When Rex got laid off last month and started resume bombing, one of his grenades landed at Cisco. It was one of two that weren't duds. The first is the job he took here in Houston, a decent stopgap, but a significant pay cut and lacking in challenge. The Cisco grenade was slow to explode, but boy does it have repercussions.
I think I've taken that one as far as it can go.
Anyway, he finally heard back about the Cisco position today. They offered slightly above our definately-worth-it-to-move price. And yet, we're still talking about it. The position is in Dallas. Nothing else is.
I'm loving this neighborhood more and more every day. I've recently become friends with another SAHM two doors down, and I think I'm falling in love. We are so alike in so many ways, from our loneliness to our hunger for expensive camera equipment. I DON'T WANT TO GO.
But the financial and prefessional benefits are just too hard to overlook. Believe me, I've tried. I'm a pretty money hungry bitch when it comes right down to it, and I'm considering turning down a large chunk of change.
At least I'll have plenty to post in November for NaBloPoMo.
Posted by me at 8:03 PM | Comments (0)
May 1, 2006
Relo: Day 3
8:05 (mile 1094) We start out on the road again.
10:05 (mile 1237) Gas at Exit 10. Stupid pump is out of paper. I hope the IRS doesn't audit me. I nurse Katie in the parking lot of the Popeye's next door. Still feeling pretty trashy.
10:35 Back on the road.
10:50 (mile 1253) TEXAS!
11:25 (mile 1289) Jamie says she needs to poop. I pull over on the side of the road and get out the potty. Naturally, Jamie just pees, but at least it's more than just a few drops. As I'm packing everything back away, I notice I'm standing in a bed of fire ants, and they're already up my pants and biting my ankles. Welcome to fucking Texas.
I lost track of the time and mileage here for a little while. Between the ant bites and random ants I was still finding, the phone call to Rex to bitch, Jamie whining and Katie starting to cry, I missed a turn and got lost. I think I went about 15 miles out and then backtracked. I called Rex again, and must have sounded enough like I was going to lose it for him to stop and wait for us for lunch. After a not-so-great lunch at DQ (I've decided they should stick to desserts), I was feeling much better.
1:30 (mile 1360) We get back on the road.
2:00 (mile 1400) Katie sleeps. Jamie's not far behind.
3:30 After some confusion, I stop by Wendy's and pick up our keys.
4:00 (dammit, I forgot to get the final mileage! I think it was right around 1500) We're home!
Posted by me at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
Relo: Night 2
The second night sucked less.
We were still up more than we needed to be, but at least it was just for brief get-Katie-back-to-sleep breaks. Oh, and Jamie slept with Rex, and pulled her all-over-the-bed-feet-in-his-face routine.
We were still up early. The time change from the day before didn't help any.
I'm so far behind posting this that I think I've already blocked it from my memory. What I do remember is that the carpet was *filthy*, but I didn't find that out until Jamie had been running around and her socks were all black. By that time, Katie had already been crawling all over the floor. I'm trying to forget that, and how much time we spent touching the quilts on the beds that I'm sure were a bacterial nightmare.
Posted by me at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2006
Relo: Day 2
8:45 (mile 525) We get on the road. Katie falls asleep almost immediately.
10:30 (mile 653) We enter Alabama. The terrain instantly looks different, less mountainous.
10:50 (mile 673) We have to stop for gas. Katie wakes up. As we drive into Fort Payne for lunch, I realize we are fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine. We have found the Sock Capitol of the world! We ate at Arby's. Pricey, but good. Next time, I'll make sure to ask for no mustard. Damn that stuff was spicy! Oh, and the kids sandwich was just like mine, but with the crusts cut off, no mayo, mustard, lettuce or tomato. Kinda sad, actually.
12:00 We get back on the road. It's like we can't stop for less than an hour.
1:00 (mile 750) Halfway!
1:40/12:40 (mile 800) I notice that the time has changed. Not really sure where.
2:00/1:00 (mile 826) We stop for snacks and get some gas. I get to recover the chicken that has been bock bocking every time we hit a bump. There were a lot of bumps. I achieve a new level of white trash by breastfeeding ouside the gas station, sitting on the ground leaning on the building and feeding Jamie M&M's.
2:35/1:35 Back on the road. Both girls falls asleep. I'm in heaven, aside from the fact that I can't feel my ass.
3:35/2:35 (mile 900) We enter Mississippi.
5:40 (mile 1055) We hit the Mississippi River, and enter Louisiana.
6:30/5:30 (mile 1095) I actually price checked a couple hotels. Ok, two, and they're right next to each other. We're socked in and waiting for Rex to catch up, and for the sugar to wear off so I get hungry.
Posted by me at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
Relo: Night 1
Sucked.
Thankfully, Rex got my voicemail and met up with us at the motel. If nothing else, it saved us from eating breakfast bars and fruit roll-ups, because there was no was I was going to put the kids back in the can to pick up dinner.
For some reason, though, I couldn't sleep. Neither could Jamie. While I didn't get any feet in my face, she spent some time rolling and playing and occasionally talking. And Katie, well, she screamed herself to sleep.
One of the cats knocked over the litter box.
Bubba knocked the cooler off the desk.
Katie woke up (duh). I nursed her back to sleep.
Katie woke up early and wasn't having any of our efforts to put her back to sleep. By now, Jamie is out COLD. She slept through Rex's shower, and then I woke her up so she could shower with me. Katie gave her a big hug. Jamie gave her a big hug and said, "Wake up, sleephead!"
And so we started Day 2.
Posted by me at 9:51 PM | Comments (0)
Relo: Day 1
10:45 (mile 0) We hit the road. I'm becoming quite skilled at driving while crying. Katie immediately falls asleep. Jamie talks for literally 45 minutes straight.
12:00 (mile 100) Jamie has to pee, so we stop at BK for lunch. We go before we eat, then after Jamie says she has to poop. She doesn't.
1:00 Back on the road.
1:35 (mile 140) Jamie says she has to pee again. I ask her to hold it.
1:50 (mile 157) Katie is so bored she's already eating her toes. Jamie tells me she still needs the potty.
2:18 (mile 187) Jamie tells me every now and then that she still needs to potty, so I stop and she goes on her potty on the side of the road. She really did have to go!
(mile 288) We stop for gas and munchies, but mostly to give the kids a break. I stop at an exit that has just one gas station, and the grassy patch there is coated with trash. We sit on a small patch of recently poured cement that looks clean except for a couple pieces of gum.
4:30 Back on the road.
5:20 (mile 355) I've been passing crackers back to Katie through Jamie. I have no idea what she's doing with them, but they keep disappearing. She screams for a little while, then falls asleep.
5:40 (mile 374) Jamie succumbs to sleep. Ahhh, peace.
6:00 (mile 401) We enter Tennessee.
6:14 (mile 416) We pass our first Sonic!
7:00 (mile 480) Katie wakes, screams, goes back to sleep, repeat. I start looking for a hotel. I have no cell signal, so I can't reach Rex to tell him where I'm stopping.
7:40 (mile 520) I can't take the screaming anymore. I pull into a Motel 6 and use their phone to try to get Rex. The best I can do is a vm on his work phone, and hope he checks it.
8:15 I'm nursing Katie. There's a knock at the door. Thank god, Rex got the vm!
Posted by me at 9:50 PM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2006
Still
Did you know you could call to inititate electric service at 11 at night? You don't get the best customer service rep in the world, but it can be done.
The truck is packed. We still have to load up the car we're towing and the van tomorrow morning, and then we're outta here.
It still doesn't feel real.
I still can't believe we don't live here anymore.
I still can't believe all that I'm voluntarily giving up.
Posted by me at 9:47 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2006
The house is totally, officially, technically ours!
The money has all gone through. All the paperwork is complete.
On to the important part - internet access!
I called today to set up cable and cable modem. We knew it wasn't going to be cheap, even with their introductory rate. We used to pay right around $100 for both services (and that was just basic digital cable, no frills). It was $85 for the first 6 months, then goes up to the regular rate of $95. Whew! Then he told me that he since we were installing both, he would give me 50% off of the internet installation. It would only be $50! Add that to the $42.95 they wanted to install the cable, and I told him i was going to check out DSL.
Because Rex works for SBC/AT&T and we're actually going to be living in an area they provide servce to, we're eligible for a discount. We weren't sure exactly how much the discount was, we weren't all that excited. I called and found out that they cover everything except the taxes for a phone line and the DSL! And we'll get a small discount on Dish Network, too.
What I didn't manage to do was get the electric turned on. I wonder if they work on the weekends...
Posted by me at 9:44 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2006
Almost ready to roll
We finally got the corrected HUD today, signed it, faxed it and overnighted it with a cashier's check. As soon as the mortgage company transfers their funds and ours are received, we're set.
I've started changing addresses. I saved my list from when we moved up here, so hopefully I won't miss too many.
I've set up for the gas and water/sewer/trash to be transferred to us. We've decided to get cable and a cable modem. I'll call them tomorrow to get installation set up. We still need to pick an electric company and get that set up tomorrow as well.
I ordered the washer, dryer and fridge yesterday. They should be delivered Wednesday.
I've spent the last week going to activities for the last time, saying goodbye.
This still doesn't feel quite real.
Posted by me at 10:03 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2006
I'm doing a little dance in my chair
We accidently closed on our house a day early.
Maybe I should start a little farther back.
By Monday, we still hadn't heard anything about closing. No paperwork, no calls from the title company giving us a time and place, no contact information information for the people who would know these things.
Today, we started making more calls to see what was going on. Up until this morning, our realtor wasn't even sure we would be able to close tomorrow because the mortgage company had gotten a copy of our contract so late.
By this afternoon, we knew we were going to be able to close tomorrow. The title company was going to email the paperwork to the notary company either today or tomorrow, and the notary would contact us.
At this point, I realized I hadn't transferred out down payment from my money market to our checking account. Oops. I got that done about 10 minutes before the market closed. With any luck, the funds will be available tomorrow. Not that big a deal, since we don't need the keys in the next couple days anyway.
While we were eating dinner, I got a voicemail from the notary. She could meet us for the closing tonight between 7 and 8. Huh? I called the realtor to see if that was ok. We called the mortgage company to see if it was ok with them. We accepted the appointment.
The only flaw in this deal is that the HUD statement has an error that no one was acailable to fix tonight. Since it isn't a form that needs to be notarized, we'll get the corrected copy tomorrow, sign it and send it in.
We own a house!
Posted by me at 9:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2006
It'll all come out in the wash, right?
We looked at refrigerators, washers and dryers today. Looks like we can go ahead and order them up here and have them delivered in Texas for basically nothing. I think I'm going to do that.
We made a decision on the fridge. It wasn't all that difficult. The washer was a little more complicated, but once we decided to get it at Sear's to combine delivery charges, it narrowed the choices significantly without costing us more dough. The dryer, though, that's giving me fits.
I'd *like* the washer and dryer to match, but I don't feel the need to spend a couple extra hundred dollars to make that happen. But the list of dryers to choose from is long, and relatively undifferentiated, except by price. I wonder how much it really matters.
I think I'm going to make that decision tomorrow!
Posted by me at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2006
Packety packety
Well, we didn't make it to Easter, but we did get a buttload of packing done. I guess I'll have to settle for that. Most of the stuff in the basement is packed. I didn't intend to get much of the upstairs done, but I needed crap to finish off boxes, so I took what I could. Then I got motivated and packed a few more boxes worth of stuff that we won't be using for the next week.
There's still a lot of stuff, but most of it is still in use. Plus, I still have a week to pack and organize. Even better, Rex is home all week. Well, working, but here.
We leave in a week.
Posted by me at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2006
Who needs to pack?
I need to pack!
I've gotten all of two more boxes packed. It's getting close to crunch time.
Tomorrow, my dad is taking the girls to my aunt's house for Easter with his family. Rex and I will be staying home to pack. Byt tomorrow evening, we need to have pretty much everything in the basement packed, and as much as the stuff upstairs done as we can get away with.
I really want to be able to go with the girls. I want to see them hunt eggs again with my cousin's kids. I want to say goodbye to my family.
There's just not enough time to do everything.
Posted by me at 8:33 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2006
Slam dunk
There are a lot of days I feel sort of sheepish about moving back to the exact same town we left a year and a half ago.
Today is not one of them.
Katie will be due for her one year well check two weeks after we get back to Texas, and I already have an appointment with a pediatrician I know and like. She's not taking new patients, but since she remembered Jamie, she was willing to take Katie on as well.
Posted by me at 9:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 8, 2006
Get to work!
Got the Inspection Report on the perfect house today. It's not so perfect. The good news is, they're obligated to fix a lot of it, and if they don't do it to our satisfaction, I believe we have a warranty so I can make them keep coming back until they do it right, even after we close. They need to get started soon, though, since we're supposed to close in 11 days.
And move in two weeks. I've gotten exactly one box packed in the last week. I need to get on that. Rex will be home early Friday morning, which means that I need to pack my ass off from Friday afternoon through Sunday. I may even send Rex and the girls off to celebrate Easter with my dad's side of the family, although I really want to go too! And I sort of hate to have to spend a holiday alone instead of with my girls, even if it isn't one the biggies in our family.
I guess I need to get on the phone and get the realtor moving on the builder. I'd like for them to finish as many of the needed repairs as possible before I'm moved into the house and have to sit around waiting for workmen.
Posted by me at 2:29 PM | Comments (0)
April 5, 2006
This time we're sure. I think.
I received the contracts for the perfect house today. Rex has already left for New Mexico again, so I signed them and the FedExed them to him. Thirty-five freaking dollars! Eh, well, compared the the price of the house, that's not even chicken feed.
Still, the things I could do with $35. Yes, I'm a cheapskate.
So, the whole thing about opting out of one house and offering on the perfect house. I guess I haven't really told that story yet.
We called Wally the salesguy back Monday to see if they had moved any on the price. They came down a bit, and we came up some, and we had a deal. The rest of the evening was spent in a flurry of phonecalls to the realtor, the mortgage company and to some friends and family, letting everyone in on the change.
Here's the rundown on what we lost in the deal:
Hmm. That was less than i was thinking. I wonder if I've blocked something out of my mind already. We thought we were going to lose the application/appraisal fee, but since the appraisal hadn't actually happened, I think we'll be able to transfer that to the new house.
Closing should still be on or around April 19th, so the the truck rental is still on.
Posted by me at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
April 3, 2006
Everything was going so smoothly
I reserved a truck for our move this morning! We're set to pack up and go on the 22nd. The last time we moved, Penske was cheaper, and Rex loved the truck cause it was newish and diesel. I figured I'd go ahead and check U-Haul prices again, just to see.
U-Haul: 6 days, 1623 miles, 26' truck - $2201 and they said we couldn't tow Rex's Scion xA
Penske: 7 days, unlimited miles, 26' truck - $1385 plus $365 for a car trailer
Yeah, I went with Penske.
Then we made abother bid for the perfect house, and opted out of our current contract!
We're a bit confused, too.
I'll post a bit more about that tomorrow when we shake out all the details. Shame we couldn't manage to make this decision last week!
Posted by me at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
April 2, 2006
Still holding out hope. For what, I'm not sure
I caved in and called Wally.
The perfect house is still for sale. I didn't ask what his price was now, and I didn't tell himi who I was. Just a quick call to find out if it was still available.
I'm back to being torn.
We haven't heard back if the seller's of our actual house if they have accepted the repairs we've asked for. Of course, we just faxed the contract addendum in today, so that's no big shock. We still have a few days left on our option perioed to back out, and I'm still not sure which way I'm leaning.
Posted by me at 8:34 PM | Comments (0)
April 1, 2006
Wishful thinking
We finally got the inspection report today. No major problems, although there are plenty of little ones. Rex and I just finished going through the list to decide which items we felt needed to be repaired. The list seems pretty long, although we left plenty of things off of it.
Part of me hoped that there would be something major wrong with the house so that we could take another crack at the perfect house. I'd try anyway, except that at this point we've sunk about $1,000 in fees and such into "our" house. The good news is that I'm less disappointed with the house we got. I'm starting to try to decorate and repair it in my head, although that's hard, since i can't remember a lot of the details.
I've emailed our list of repairs to our realtor. She negotiates them from here. I believe that the mortgage company has ordered the appraisal. Rex and I have started hammering out the details of the actual move: who will be around to help us load and unload the truck, how we're going to drive down with the girls, where we're going to sleep and what we'll eat our first night or two in the house.
It's all a bit overwhelming right now, and I suspect there are going to be some really crappy days ahead. In the end, though, I bet it will all work out!
Posted by me at 9:44 PM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2006
Playing catch up
Ok, time to start updates in real time!
After waiting all day Monday for Wally's boss to screw us with the high counter-offer, we started moving on the house that we *did* get.
By Monday evening, we picked a mortgage company and locked in our rate.
On Tuesday, we faxed in the loan application. An inspection appointment was set for Thursday.
Wednesday, faxed some more paperwork, including the inspection contract. According to the contract, the inspection company does nothing but look at the house, and if they miss something, well, they can't see everything, now, can they? I'm not exactly sure what they *are* doing for $425.
And today, we settled on an insurance company, paid for the inspection and dug up even more paperwork for the mortgage company.
Tomorrow, the inspection company should be sending their results.
Otherwise, I think we're set.
Posted by me at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
On the hunt
I’m having a really hard time writing this post. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, it’s that I have too much. Summing things up doesn’t seem to do the whole “moving blog” concept any justice, but nobody wants to read my 3 page blow-by-blow either.
We spent last weekend in Houston, house hunting. Friday consisted of checking out a new subdivision and looking at a floor plan we loved on paper, but was lacking in person. (For some reason I can’t let this go – the flow and layout of the house were great, but the proportions were off – the auxiliary bedrooms were just too small for the size of the house.)
Saturday, we met up with Wendy, our realtor, bright and early. She is an interesting combination of friend, former neighbor and former realtor. The first two houses we looked at were ruled them out for the same reason that I loved them – they were in our old neighborhood. I loved the old neighborhood – the location is great, the people are nice, the park was close, but the property values just weren’t appreciating well. After the hit we took when we sold our first house, I don’t think Rex or I are willing to take the chance of making the same mistake twice.
On to the next subdivision. Imperial Oaks was probably highest on our list before we even got to Texas. We have some very good friends there, the schools are decent (although not quite as good as The Woodlands) and there are homes of all ages and prices. We had two homes that topped our list on paper, and they held up in person. Those two homes are the same size on the same street and the same price, but the similarity ends there. One of the houses (pretty house) is on 2,000 feet less lot and has no sprinkler system, but it showed BEAUTIFULLY. The other (big yard house) is nice, if plain, but the space is used more effectively for the way we live our lives. The back yard is bigger, with nice trees that give it shade and privacy. But the turquoise wallpaper in the master bath that just HAS to go!
We looked at maybe half a dozen homes in that neighborhood, some very nice and some not. All of them had something that made them less desirable than pretty and big yard. We decided to go look in Spring Trails, the new subdivision we had driven through the night before. We looked through one existing home and a couple new construction homes, but they were either terrible floor plans (one had no garage, just a garage door!) or too expensive for what you got.
Then we turned into a section that was waaay out of our price range. I ran into their construction trailer just to see if they had any spec homes. Wally had one. One that they had been close to selling when the deal fell through 3 days before closing. One that they were willing to deal on considerably.
Even though this house was way our of our price range, we decided to walk through it. This house is perfect! I love the floor plan. The rooms are all big and open. The kitchen is stunning. The yard is large, in spite of the 3 car detached garage. It has tons of energy efficient and convenience features built in. It is at least $30k above the max we wanted to spend.
At this point, Rex and I were in house overload. Katie was starving and pooped after 5 hours of no food and no naps. Wendy took us back to our car, and we headed out to lunch to do some thinking and talking.
By late afternoon, Rex and I had decided to make an offer on the house with in Imperial Oaks with the big yard. We decided to offer $10k less than they were asking, figuring they would counter right in the middle and that would be fine. We headed over to Wendy’s to sign the contracts. Somewhere in the middle, we started looking at some more homes online, in our friend’s section of Imperial Oaks. There was one that looked quite promising, and the price was acceptable, so we ran off to look at one more house. It was nice, aside from the power lines in the back yard!
At this point, I was close to having a meltdown. We decided to sleep on it, and headed out to see some of Rex’s family.
The next morning, we went ahead and signed the contract and submitted our offer. By this time, neither of us could really remember the details of the house we were trying to buy, we were just going with our gut reaction from the day before. We also decided to look at our perfect house one more time, and see if we could get them to drop the price a little more. I had figured out the numbers, and we can afford that house, we just hadn’t planned on wanting to afford something that expensive.
On our way to the perfect house, we heard back on our offer, it was accepted with no counter-offer! After walking through the perfect house, we decided it really was perfect and put an offer in writing on that house, too. Then we made a mad dash for the airport.
In the end, the builder of the perfect house went up on his price instead of down. He strung us along for a while first. So as it stands, barring any inspection issues or other catastrophes, we’ll be the proud owners of a house I can barely remember as of April 19th.
Whew! And that was the short version!
Posted by me at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
Indecision
We’ve know we were going to move for maybe a month now, and I can’t say as I’ve really gotten much done. Without having a house to move into or a firm moving date, there’s not a lot I can do. I could be packing, I suppose, but a good half of our stuff is still packed from the move up here. We’re using a good bit of the rest of it. I have been going through everything I can get to and getting rid of things we don’t use anymore, or won’t use in the warm, sunny South.
What I have been doing is rethinking the decision to move, over and over again. We’re giving up a lot, here. My family, some old and many new friends. This rural-in-a-city lifestyle that I love the theory of but has been driving me slowly but persistently insane. The cold.
Oh, wait. Now it’s coming back to me!
Temperature seems like such a shallow reason to move, but the climate in Texas leads to a lifestyle that I love.
After I wipe the tears away, I start rethinking our choice of city. This is where I start feeling the acid eating away at the lining of my stomach. Austin, Dallas and Houston are the top three. Eliminating Dallas was relatively easy – no family, few friends, neither of us had any real desire to live there. Austin and Houston, well, I’ve lived in both places, and enjoyed both. I have incredibly good friends in Austin, Rex’s family is in Houston. It came down to job prospects, both Rex’s company’s future contracts, and backup work for Rex, should he get laid off. Houston is just better for the jobs. I feel a real pull towards Austin, though, so I’m still not secure in this decision.
We’ll be flying to Houston this weekend to hunt for houses. I keep balancing the terror I feel at having to find a house that I love enough to commit to for the next 20 years with the safety net of the tiny, short-term-lease apartment. Wish us luck!
Posted by me at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)
Moving. Yes, *again*
(NOTE: Several of these entries are not real time. They were written as samples that I've decided to go ahead and publish in a blog specifically about this move.)
When we moved from Texas to Maryland, we didn’t have a lot of time. It was three weeks from the time we found out we were moving until we all arrived, with our stuff. Part of the reason we were able to move so quickly was that we were moving in semi-temporarily with my dad. The other reason is that I can’t resist a challenge, and I packed my ass off!
Now we’re planning on moving back to Texas, but without the benefit of a furnished and food-filled house to return to. This is good news in a lot of ways – I’ll finally be able to use the furniture I picked out, and unpack all the stuff I know I own but haven’t been able to find for the last year and a half. The bad news is that there area whole lot of decisions to make in a short period of time, and while some of the decisions are exciting and fun, some are downright ulcer inducing. Picking a city (Rex’s job is letting us move back without specifying where,) a neighborhood, a house (we’ll be traveling to Texas for a weekend – a weekend! - to find the perfect house,) a realtor, a mortgage company. The list goes on and on. Some of the decisions have to be made right away, others can wait, like finding a preschool for our older daughter for the fall.
Follow me on this journey back across the country. I’ll be trying to decipher closing costs while juggling my two daughters, buying a home long distance while my husband is New Mexico working, and trying to work out the logistics of getting two adults, two kids, three cats, one hermit crab and a truckload of stuff across the country safely and hopefully sanely!
Posted by me at 9:40 PM | Comments (0)