free stuff.

Well, since my last post, I have made a lot of progress!

I have begun packing my room at the house to start moving next week, and after packing about 10 boxes, I realized I should've taken a picture of my room. I don't think I have one, and I've lived there my entire life! Even though I packed 10 boxes, it looks like I haven't made a dent in the amount of stuff I'll have to pack. The nice thing is that I am moving in town, so if I can't or don't feel like moving everything at once, I can always go back and move more stuff another day.

I have found a roomate to live with - a girl I work with at E2m - Betsy. Hopefully that'll work out. We don't know each other very well which may be a good thing, or may be bad. I am excited to have found a roomate though. That will ease a bit of the stress of paying for a house. I also went to Amtrek the other day and collected about 15 boxes that I can use to move. For free. what a deal! I took a trip to IKEA and some furniture stores last sunday just to drool a bit, and once I got home, found out this week that Betsy has a couch, and that Jeff has a futon he wants to get rid of, so I am set on seating at least for a bit.

My new place is less than 2 miles from the JCC. I have decided that it would be a good idea to join, not just for the gym, but to meet other people. It is really expensive to join at the level that allows gym usage though, and so I gave them a call, and found out they're having a special that if you've just graduated college, that you get your first year membership for free!! Now that is exciting!

I have spent a lot of time dealing with the lender and his company, and with getting an insurance agent (calling around for the best prices), and with things like choosing a home inspector, a home warranty company, deciding on internet, cable, phone, and more. I have spent at least 100 hours on house stuff, if not more. Who knew it was so time consuming!!

Closing is next tuesday the 27th, and I get to move in on the 29th. I will make the big move day Jan 2 though, since that is the first day that I don't have work and can get people to help me. I can't wait.

Mobile, AL

I went to Mobile this week for work. I am enjoying working more lately because I have been pulled on more projects. It does mean longer hours, but it also means I won't ever be bored. I am right now on four projects, one a bit east of Atlanta, one in Wisconsin, one in Oklahoma, and one in Mobile. I really hope they go well. I am excited about all of them.

since I was just 45 minutes from Pensacola, Josh was going to come visit me in Mobile, and then it occured to me he was going straight from there to Charlotte (through Atlanta), so we worked it out and I drove with him and kept my return ticket for another time, and as it turns out, my flight was cancelled anyway, so I got here before I would have flying! so that was pretty cool.

Can I take you home with me?!

Since my last post, I have signed my offer on the house and will be closing on Dec 27. Yay!

But my mind hasn't been on the house this weekend. Josh came in town, and friday we went to my work's holiday party. It was such a hoot. It was a black tie optional affair, and so Josh wore his uniform, and I was having to fight off the wives of other engineers who were throwing themselves onto him. I must've been asked 5 times that night "can I take him home with me? please!!?" " I love a man in uniform..." It was hilarious. I am not sure how funny Josh found it, but I was laughing. All in all, it was a fun evening at the party. Josh, thanks for being my date, adored by women, envied by the men.
Today, we went to check out the new Georgia Aquarium, and it was super cool. Josh got some good pictures (see below) but they really made quite the attraction finally here in Atlanta. Now when people come in from out of town, we have somewhere other than the coke museum to take them to.

a special shout out goes to Julie G. on this post...thanks for this weekend!! ;-)

Nervous.

Today is a time in my life that I wish I could write poetry.

I wish that I could express in words how I am feeling this evening.

but I can't.

I made an offer yesterday on a house. For a day and a half now, I have been preoccupied with what I have gotten myself into. It isn't just the fact that I decided on one house - that maybe it isn't the best house or the most good looking house, or the best bargain. Though, that is a lot of the worry.

I signed a sheet of paper today with the monthly cost of my mortgage. It ends when I am 53 years old. I will be paying for this house (theoretically) until I am almost old enough to retire.

I am buying a house with the approach that I do with if I'll date someone. Does it have the qualities I am looking for in a match? will I get bored with it after a short amount of time? I can't return it with the receipt. will my parents like it? will my friends like it? but most importantly, will I like it?

It is a huge move for me. I added up how much my monthly payments will be. I need a roomate. I was planning on just having one, but it might be better to have two. At least, as long as I can stand it.

my mind is spinning. and I can't make it stop.

new addiction

http://www.sudoku.com/

I am addicted to this. They are fun. Meanwhile, I have been pacing and fidgety all day. I hope this doesn't last two more days until the offer is final.

also, I learned that instead of typing www.websitexyz.com, you can type websitexyz and hit control enter, and it adds the www and the .com. be careful with this feature if you're going to a .org or .gov though. it only adds .com. but it is cool.

Offer Made

I put in an offer for the house today. They have till wednesday to let me know what they think. Keep your fingers crossed!

I am sooo nervous today at work, I have been fidgeting and I haven't been able to concentrate. I keep wondering if I am doing the right thing. I mean, this whole time, it seems like a good idea, but when I have now just thought about how much money I will be spending on this house, I get nervous.

Oh well, I'm going to jump in and do it.

Found a House!

I have a lot of things to catch up on, but I have one thing in particular that I can't get off my mind just yet. I went house shopping literally all weekend, and finally found a few places I really liked, and then revisited them today and finally picked one to make an offer on. I really like it. I hope that no one sneaks in an offer before me, because then I'd be sad.

It's a townhouse, and it has a garage, so like many garaged townhomes, the entrance is on the same level as the garage, and then you immediately go up stairs to get to the main part of the house. Not only is there a garage, but there is a HUGE storage room on the main level too, about the size of a 1.5 car garage. It was only the second of the 30+ townhomes I saw that had storage.

Anyway, this home has a gorgeous open kitchen, a den, and a great room with a fireplace, and a dining room. the dining and great room are in the same area, but the great room is about three times the size of the dining area. On that same level, there is a halfbath. On the top level there are three bedrooms - a master with a bathroom, and two smaller bedrooms that share a bathroom. I am really excited. I have posted the pictures on my website, or you can click here. Click here if you want to see what my daily commute would be.