Getting closer......

Inch by inch, we get closer to owning our new home. Seems like nothing else is going on in our lives to talk or worry about lately. I'll be glad when this whole thing is behind me and I can write about everything else that goes along with owning a home. Decorating!

Our inspection has been completed and the sellers agreed to putting on a new roof. That was one of the most nail biting weeks I've ever put in. Since they agreed, life seems a bit less stressful and I can breathe a little easier. Next step in the whole process is getting the appraisal done. That's our next big hurdle. Making sure it appraises for what the asking price is.

I have high hopes that it's not going to be a problem. Such high hopes, that we've already started talking about packing and organizing this place. Everyone knows how much I get off on organizing. It means breaking out the label gun!

I think one of the biggest things that bothers me through all of this process is our social life. I miss our friends. I miss hanging out for a couple drinks or grabbing a bite of dinner. Luckily, our friends are understanding and know exactly what we're going through. I miss being able to go see a movie or run down to Macy's to take advantage of one of their weekly sales. Hey, I still like to shop! I'm sure Kenneth Cole misses me desperately.

Disneyland is only 10 days away. Yes, we know the exact number of days. It's going to be an amazing trip.

These are the only two things on our horizon. New home and a Disneyland trip. I'm sure everyone out there is going to be happy when we stop talking about both of them.

Weekend wrap up....

Friday night we met with our Agents assistant and looked at another house that we had previously viewed. After walking through it a second time, we realized quickly that we should have picked this house 3 weeks ago. It might not be as updated as the other house, but it's in beautiful shape, a lot more room and storage, with a yard that will make Max very happy. We spent a couple hours today working on the contract. They're meeting tomorrow to discuss it. Now comes the part I hate. Negotiations.

Saturday we were on such a high after making what we felt like was the right decision on the right home. We were kind of embarrassed that we got so excited about the previous house and didn't pay attention to the size of the bedrooms and closets. After relaxing all afternoon, we headed over to a friends house for a large pool party. It was nice to get out of the house, drag my friend Brad out for a change and to be able to sit and have a good time with friends and see people we haven't seen in ages. Lots of hugs and "where the hell have you been" greetings. Makes a person feel good.

Not long after we arrived, my ex showed up with his partner. He was all smiles and happy to see us, but his partner still hates us. You see, after pushing the issue, he told me a while back that his partner feels that the money he owes me for all my investment I put into the condo we owned together, should not be paid back to me. That I don't deserve it. Like he has any say so in the arrangement my ex and I made.

(I told you I wouldn't be holding back on this blog anymore. It was one of my rules when I started this thing up again. If I want to get something off my chest, I'm going to do it. I held my tongue for way to long.)

Rather then just sucking it up for my ex's sake, putting on a fake smile and saying Hi, he stands a few feet behing my ex, staring into the distance as if he's not seeing us. I hate seeing him having to deal with something like that, but he's not the type of guy to cause confrontation. He just deals with things. It was obvious we were making his partner uncomfortable, which in some twisted way, I enjoyed. I'll admit it. Soon my money will be paid back to me and his partner won't have anything to worry about anymore. I'll be glad when that day is over.

After working on the contract today, Steven painted, I watched a Disney movie then after dinner, we sat and watched True Blood while I cried like a baby during the ending.

Stupid Vampires.

Let's throw a wrench in it......

Life seems to have the need to be controlled by Xanax lately. If only I had some.

The latest turn in house hunting. Remember the house we walked into and fell in love with almost instantly? We got our hopes up and lost it due to the seller taking a conventional deal rather then wait a couple weeks and do our deal which would be FHA, despite the fact that our offer was way better. So we started the house hunting process over. Until now.

A couple days ago our agent got a call from the agent of our little dream home that we lost. Seems his conventional offer fell through (neener, neener, neener). Not that we're surprised at all. Majority of all home sales out there right now are FHA. She knows our agent by reputation only and based upon that, wants to close the deal with him and us. Speaks volumes for our agent. He and his team really are amazing. Now we're sitting in the shadows, waiting to pounce on the deal. You see, the seller bought the home to flip less than 90 days ago. FHA requires he own the home for 90 days before he can sell it. That date ends August 19th. He wants to do the deal with us UNLESS he gets a conventional offer before then. This coming week we're going to negotiate everything to have it ready just in case no other deal comes through.

So we sit and wait. Start sending your Xanax.

We've put off all house hunting until we know 100% for sure that we can or cannot get this house. Unfortunately, it means letting go of the other house we liked a lot. It's all a game. If we don't get this house, maybe the 2nd choice will still be available.

In the meantime, we're counting down the days to our annual Disneyland trip. I think we're down to about 33 days, not that we're counting or anything. We both really need this vacation. I'm tired of not being social and getting out of the house more, but saving money prevents that. I'll be glad when this whole ordeal is over.

I, along with everyone else I'm sure, will glad to not have to see another post about the house. Then you'll get to read all the posts about all the other trials and tribulations of owning your own home.

At least I'll try my best to do it with humor and sarcasm.

Starting over....

It's strange how you can get so attached to a home that you've only spent a very short time walking around in. You start picturing your life there. You've already started picturing where all the furniture where go, where to hang the artwork and all of the little upgrades you want to do to it to make it your own.

You realize how attached you've become to that home when the seller doesn't want to take your deal. We fell in love with a house the minute we walked in. We knew it was perfect and what we wanted. We have no desire to look further. We submitted a contract the next day. Unfortunately, after three days of agonizing waiting, they refused our offer. Ours was the best offer even. He didn't like having to resign the contract in a couple weeks, switching it to an FHA approved home. He took a major hit on the house and went with a conventional instead so he could close quicker.

That day wasn't one of my best.

I swore I was going to give myself a break from house hunting, but I couldn't. I didn't want to sit around. I started looking immediately, trying to find another "perfect" home. Perfect isn't something we'll find again, but hopefully we'll find something close.

Our Agent is out of town this week and we're suppose to be contacted by his assistant so we can look at some more homes, but we have yet to hear from him. I guess his sense of urgency is different then ours. I don't want to be waiting until the last minute to find a home, close and get it done before the December 1st deadline so we can take advantage of the 8K government incentive.

Whomever says that buying/flipping/selling a home is fun, is nuts.

I hate this process.

Why do some people act the way they do?

Remember, that one of the reasons I started my blog again was to vent. I felt like I couldn't say anything before and now I just don't give a shit. Plus, so many people, especially the people I might write about don't read this blog anymore. Lucky me.

We went to see Harry Potter this morning. The theater was packed for an 11am movie which was kind of surprising. Minutes before the movie started, in walks my Ex and his current partner and sit on the row in front of us. This doesn't bother either one of us. My Ex and I are fine with one another. He's fine with Steven as well. We speak when we see one another like nothing is wrong. I honestly didn't fully expect us to be best bud's after the whole break up. I'm not that delusional. But we're nice to one another. There's no bitterness, hatred or uncomfortable feelings at all.

It just blows our mind how uncomfortable it makes his partner. Uncomfortable I guess isn't the right word. It's how angry, jealous and bitter it makes him. He literally hates us. We were all fine and got along great until one weekend a few months ago, after texting to my ex, he grabs the phone and starts going off on me by texting to Steven. Obviously, it was none of his business. What my ex and I were talking about was a serious subject between he and I. It's a wonderful thing what alcohol does to someone and what it brings out. When they're drunk, some people open up their mouths when they should keep them shut.

I've never been known for being the type of person to shut my mouth and take someones shit either.

Ever since then, he's made things very uneasy. Brian has to sneak a wave and a hello while the partner looks away, ignoring us on purpose and acting like a child. He actually pretends he can't see us. I hate the fact that first off he's making it difficult for my ex. He's a good guy that shouldn't have to deal with this, but he's also not the type of person to say anything either. Secondly, that it's caused the friendship that we could have continued with to dissolve. The new partner has said it himself, that he prides himself on being a bitch. Lately, it's showed.

This is the first Ex I've ever had that I'm not still on speaking terms with or that I'm still able to be friends with.

It bothers me more then I want to admit.

It feels good....

...to be somewhat social again. The last few days we got our asses out of the house finally. We've had a night out with Glenn who's in town for work. One of my dearest friends Jim showed up to have a couple drinks at Woody's as well. Afterwards we all headed to Snuffers to eat as much heart clogging food that we could, continuing to talk and have a great time. I miss that.

Last night we had dinner with Gary and Troy at Ball's Burgers. It was great seeing them both. It had been way too long since our last dinner. We have good intentions. Troy is moving to Hawaii so we thought it best to make sure we see him before he's off to the land of perfect weather. We're really going to miss him.

We also got two invitations to Bear pool parties for the month of August and a Birthday party invitation for this coming weekend.

My life as a social butterfly seemed to be coming back, at least for a short while. We've been hermits lately due to Steven's project for work which has taken up so much time. We've also been watching our spending so we can pay off all our bills in the hopes of buying a home this year.

Unfortunately, not evryone understands that we're not capable of going out for drinks and dinners every other night of the week. We're lucky if we can schedule and budget a movie once a week. I'll be glad when this whole house buying experience is over.

We miss some of our friends. Some have moved on and we never hear from them anymore. Others, it's just tough to find the time when we're both available and able to meet.

Other times we're just too lazy to get our asses out of the house when it's 105 degrees outside.

I'm ready for Summer to finally start feeling like Summer.

House Hunting...

Saturday, we met with our friend John, The Real Estate Agent. After going over the normal formalities and basically scaring the living crap out of me, we sat down to look through some houses to go check out. I hate this process. There never seems to be the perfect one. I found something wrong with all of them. Not small things, but big enough things to cause me to not want to live there at all. I know it was our first 5 hours of house hunting, but it was frustrating.

One of the new constructions, I fell in love with. It was listed initially at 350K and the price is now 189K due to the fabulous market the country is in. Quite a bargin, except for the fact that it's a townhome and Steven's really wanting a home with a yard for Max and possibly another dog some day. Max probably does need a playmate. I guess I don't think about Max as much when deciding on a home for myself. I know a dog and owner will adapt to whatever type of living situation they're put in. When you live in an apartment, condo or townhome, you learn to walk your dog more, take them to the park and doggie day care on a consistant basis. Sure, when you have a yard you can let them run around and take care of all the exercise themselves.

I don't know. I'm not in the mood to buy a place and turn around in 3-5 years to sell it for a profit and then do this whole process of house hunting all over again. I'd rather be terrorized by a scary clown and we know how much I love clowns. The thoughts of putting so much time and effort into remodeling and upgrading over the years only to sell it doesn't appeal to me either. I'm too old for this shit. Many people love this sort of thing, but I hate it with a passion. It causes tiny panic attacks, frustration and way too much analyzing and thinking on my part. It's tiring.

It's such a huge decision and it scares me to death.