First Coat

Well, it looks like we survived our first weekend of being homeowners and with only a small loss of blood, several bruises, and some sore muscles - not bad!

We were able to get quite a bit done last weekend but still have a lot to do this coming weekend. Luckily, our family members are big enough suckers... I mean nice enough to help us with all the prep work AND paint our house! Thank you family!

Our big project last weekend was cleaning and painting our garage. Although it has been said that a dog is man's best friend let it be said that a dog should never be man's interior decorator. While the Avant-garde use of muddy paw prints on the walls was interesting, the consumption of door frames and drywall was not tasteful (pun intended).

Fortunately, while erasing these cultural advances of the canine species, it was only 99 degrees out. However, with little to speak of in the wind category, I lost approximately 4 to 5 gallons of sweat... per day... umm, approximately.

The important thing is that we are on our way and we even got to meet some of our neighbors who are very friendly and generous. We've had offers of lawn mowing services, cookies, finding friends, and more.

Now, one thing you need to consider when moving is the local culture. We have found that most everyone here has a story to tell. This does not mix with Southern California culture which is commonly known as "being rude". You may be familiar with a similar culture in New York which is known as "being a jerk" but they should not be confused.

I am attempting to fit in by telling everyone about everything we've done (ahem...blog) and listening to all their experiences and insights on anything that may come to mind thereafter (ahem...comments). It's been fun and although not as efficient as being rude it does have it's perks.

Stay tuned for some 'before and after' pictures from our painting parties!

Closed!

Definition: "Close" / "To Close"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

1. To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated.

2. To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.

3. To grapple; to engage in hand-to-hand fight.

> To close on or upon, to come to a mutual agreement; to agree on or join in.
> To close with. (a) To accede to; to consent or agree to; as, to close with the terms proposed. (b) To make an agreement with.

It's true - it finally happened - we have closed on our house!

But really, it's an amazingly anti-climactic moment. This is probably due mostly to the fact that we were going to close several times earlier (June 6, then the 12th, then the 17th, then the 23rd and now on the 24th). So now that it actually happened it's almost hard to believe it. It is never-the-less an interesting process in case you are wondering (our process especially I would like to think). For instance:

The last step is to sign the loan documents (yet another enormous packet of papers) in the witness of a notary. Now, I don't know what you think of when you see the title "notary" but I tend to think of someone along the lines of a librarian or accountant or perhaps a timid little mouse.

Our "notary" was probably about 6' 1", 260 (mostly muscle) and rode in on his Harley. He also had the appropriate facial hair for said persona. Somehow, we trusted him, signed his documents, gave him all of our money which he put in his saddlebags, and rode off into the sunset.

With that done, our process to gaining the title as "homeowner" is essentially complete. We just have to wait for everything to finally come together. So what did we do to pass the time?

Well, we started buying things... lots of things.

We also started packing...

Never thought that I would enjoy one shiny little key so much!

Happy Second Anniversary to us!

American Dream, step 1

Greetings,

So, you may be wondering just why exactly this blog is here. Well, me too...but hopefully we can figure it out as it goes!

Ideally, it seemed like it might be helpful to explain my actions (potential legal reasons to come?) and it might be fun besides. Plus, my brother who is currently commuting great distances for adventures has inspired me to show that such grand events can be had without pesky Nevada or even Maryland (remember, inspiration not copying... Inspiration).

So what hazard do we delve into this time? The American Dream - and I don't mean hot dogs, apple pies and baseball (although they certainly have their place), but rather... DUN, DUN, DUNNN...

Home Ownership!


I know you're asking "What would cause you to do such a thing?!"


Please note, Exhibit A:
"Humble Apartment Living with Hedge"



















Also note, Exhibit B:
"Glorious not Sharing of Walls, Car Ports, or Really Anything Else"



















So, I rest my case.

We have had a little bit of paperwork to do though:

















But, for the most part we are almost done...that's right *done*. And what I mean by *done* is we are actually just beginning but all the boring paperwork part is just about completed, I think.

And so it is the beginning of the end for our apartment.

No more revolving watch whilst unloading groceries from our car or timing it *just right* so we get to wash our car at the community hose.

No more will we have to argue with our fellow apartment-ites about who parked in who's spot or why your sliding glass door exploded and mine didn't.

No more sharing our neighbors' second-hand smoke at 7 am or finding unconscious people in our drive asleep in their barf.

No longer will we have to have our ceiling cut out due to our neighbor's leak or listen to them in their bathroom doing... bathroom type things.

Oh, to look back and call it the "good old days"
... *Introspective pause*...
anyway pray for us because we are on our way!