I just can't think of anything to write. And the sad thing is, I thought of something really funny and cool to write about earlier tonight...and now I can't for the life of me remember what it was!! Dammit! Damn this hot weather! (because that is what I am totally blaming for the memory loss and writer's block!)
Ah well. Just listening to my "dance around the house" music and relaxing. Happy times. Survived a Monday, which is always good :) On to the next day and surviving the rest of the week!
~A.Mo
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
No House
Wow, how life can change in just a few days. Last week, I was feeling pretty confident in my job, pretty confident that I could buy a house right now....This week--as of Monday, actually--I have lost confidence. We had a round of layoffs on Monday....and this time the selection was very surprising.
We last had layoffs in February--shocking in and of itself, as we had no warning, no idea, and the company had only had layoffs once before in its nearly 20-year existence. It seemed like more of a "trimming the fat" kind of deal, getting rid of low performers and such. No real surprises in who they chose to let go, though sad and a shock all the same.
This time, four months later, was a total shock. They had told us in February that they expected we would be okay, they had gone with a very conservative model, etc. Well, apparently it wasn't conservative enough, and we were NOT okay. Rumor has it that the company that bought us is looking at our numbers every quarter--hence the timing of this second round of layoffs. Makes me feel like I have a pretty good chance of losing my job come October!
What does this have to do with my house? Well...Monday was the last day of the option period, in which I could opt to terminate the contract, with minimal cost to me. Needless to say, I took the events and upheaval of the day, and the timing, as a sign that I don't really need to be buying this house right now. I did consider all my options, looked at everything from every angle--I considered that if something were to happen, I could get a roommate, I could lease the house out, I could sell it, or I could hand the keys back to the bank (NOT recommended!). After careful (but quick!) consideration, I chose to opt out.
My current living situation is such that if I were to lose my job, I could work something out. And believe you me, the relief I feel is far greater than the disappointment at not buying a house. It stinks a little, though, because I had an awesome rate, and I already had a closing date scheduled.
Oh well. I'm good with it. I hate my commute, but my rent is cheap (and could be cheaper if need be). It could well be worse--I could have a mortgage I could no longer afford, I could end up foreclosing....I recognize that buying a house is always a gamble, but right now I really am not up for gambling with that kind of dough.
We last had layoffs in February--shocking in and of itself, as we had no warning, no idea, and the company had only had layoffs once before in its nearly 20-year existence. It seemed like more of a "trimming the fat" kind of deal, getting rid of low performers and such. No real surprises in who they chose to let go, though sad and a shock all the same.
This time, four months later, was a total shock. They had told us in February that they expected we would be okay, they had gone with a very conservative model, etc. Well, apparently it wasn't conservative enough, and we were NOT okay. Rumor has it that the company that bought us is looking at our numbers every quarter--hence the timing of this second round of layoffs. Makes me feel like I have a pretty good chance of losing my job come October!
What does this have to do with my house? Well...Monday was the last day of the option period, in which I could opt to terminate the contract, with minimal cost to me. Needless to say, I took the events and upheaval of the day, and the timing, as a sign that I don't really need to be buying this house right now. I did consider all my options, looked at everything from every angle--I considered that if something were to happen, I could get a roommate, I could lease the house out, I could sell it, or I could hand the keys back to the bank (NOT recommended!). After careful (but quick!) consideration, I chose to opt out.
My current living situation is such that if I were to lose my job, I could work something out. And believe you me, the relief I feel is far greater than the disappointment at not buying a house. It stinks a little, though, because I had an awesome rate, and I already had a closing date scheduled.
Oh well. I'm good with it. I hate my commute, but my rent is cheap (and could be cheaper if need be). It could well be worse--I could have a mortgage I could no longer afford, I could end up foreclosing....I recognize that buying a house is always a gamble, but right now I really am not up for gambling with that kind of dough.
Friday, June 12, 2009
House
So...I'm buying a house this year. I wasn't going to, I was going to continue with my living arrangements for another year and try to save up as much money as possible...but several things happened: Someone sent me an article about the first-time home buyer tax credit....One of my friends built a beautiful (and affordable) house...and several of my coworkers are taking that plunge as well. So after speaking with some friends about what steps one takes to find out if one can even think about buying a house, I contacted a mortgage broker. I figured I might as well see how much house I can afford, if any. (Suffice it to say, I am still impressed with my credit score. :D )
After meeting with her, I contacted a realtor whom several of my friends had worked with, and away we went! I don't know how many houses we looked at--not as many as some people, I'm sure--but one neighborhood I think we looked at about six houses....
At the end of my first week looking at houses (I think we had gone out maybe 2 or 3 times), I fell in love. (NOTE: Don't let yourself do this!) I made an offer on a house--a darn good offer!--but the owner was clearly not ready to sell, as she did not want to come down on her asking price one little bit. I was saddened, but not willing to pay that price. We kept looking....
Funny enough, maybe two weeks later I made an offer on a house 3 doors down--a similar floor plan, but slightly different, and I lowballed, to see if they were willing to negotiate. Well, I nearly fell out of my chair when my realtor called me and told me they had countered! I thought for sure that they would flat-out reject my offer. So I countered their counter, and then we reached a compromise. Awesome! And really scary! Holy cow, this crazy house-buying idea of mine is becoming more real!
It's exciting--and periodically I feel a little panicked, because O.M.G. I am buying a house!!! I had scheduled the inspection for yesterday--he didn't find anything major--and then of course last night we had a huge storm move its way across Central Texas! Grreat! (Fortunately, i have friends who live in nearby neighborhoods, and they didn't have any damage. Whew.)
After meeting with her, I contacted a realtor whom several of my friends had worked with, and away we went! I don't know how many houses we looked at--not as many as some people, I'm sure--but one neighborhood I think we looked at about six houses....
At the end of my first week looking at houses (I think we had gone out maybe 2 or 3 times), I fell in love. (NOTE: Don't let yourself do this!) I made an offer on a house--a darn good offer!--but the owner was clearly not ready to sell, as she did not want to come down on her asking price one little bit. I was saddened, but not willing to pay that price. We kept looking....
Funny enough, maybe two weeks later I made an offer on a house 3 doors down--a similar floor plan, but slightly different, and I lowballed, to see if they were willing to negotiate. Well, I nearly fell out of my chair when my realtor called me and told me they had countered! I thought for sure that they would flat-out reject my offer. So I countered their counter, and then we reached a compromise. Awesome! And really scary! Holy cow, this crazy house-buying idea of mine is becoming more real!
It's exciting--and periodically I feel a little panicked, because O.M.G. I am buying a house!!! I had scheduled the inspection for yesterday--he didn't find anything major--and then of course last night we had a huge storm move its way across Central Texas! Grreat! (Fortunately, i have friends who live in nearby neighborhoods, and they didn't have any damage. Whew.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Song by Bloggers
So this is pretty cool. Read this post on Scott Adam's (of Dilbert fame) blog, and here's the video someone created for the song, which actually turned out pretty good (thanks to the band, I'm sure):
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Kickboxing
So...my brother has always been into martial arts. I remember being 4 or 5 years old and going to watch his tae kwan do class...of course, I also remember him practicing his punches and kicks...on ME. (Yeah, holding that pillow for him to kick into? doesn't provide much protection for a five-year-old against a 10-year-old! :)
Anyway, a few years ago, he found a type of martial arts that he really enjoyed (and that my sister-in-law enjoyed doing with him). In Houston, they practiced Kuk Sul Won, a Korean martial arts; upon moving to California, they found a similar martial arts called Hapkido. They are currently both purple belts and are working toward an eventual goal of being black belts. (Very proud of them! The 'Phew too is also a striped yellow belt in the Little Ninjas program...he totally loves it! Ay-yah!)
So...my brother has always been quite enthusiastic about martial arts and has always wanted me to give it a try--he thinks I would really enjoy it. (I, on the other hand, think I would feel silly, what with all the yelling and sparring and hitting of other people and whatnot.) A few years ago we made a deal--as I have been a yoga practitioner for nearly a decade, I told him that if he would try yoga, I would then try some form of martial arts. He agreed....
Suffice it to say that he has yet to attend a yoga class (I even searched online and found an Ashtanga Yoga studio in his city!) and so I have yet to attend a martial arts class. Oh well....however, I have now come closer to upholding my end of the bargain than he has!
After being here in southern California for about a week this Christmas, and eating lovely things from the bakery their friend Tara works at, I really felt a need for a good workout (gotta burn off at least a few of those calories!). Since their Hapkido studio (dojo?) was open yesterday, they decided they wanted to go to a class. My lovely sister-in-law, knowing that I was wanting a really good workout, called to see if I could get in to a Kickboxing Express class. And away we went!
For the record, I have never in my life done any kicking or boxing, especially not at a target (bag). Nor have I ever worn gloves or needed my hands/wrists wrapped prior to a workout. So even the wrapping and gloves were a unique experience, since my workout usually involves a medicine ball, running, and yoga. :)
Well, the kickboxing class totally rocked. I enjoyed the punching far more than the kicking because I felt very awkward and ungainly doing the high and low kicks--my brother tells me that improves with practice. With the punching, I found myself imagining the bag was someone I knew and I suppose maybe that's why I found myself punching a little harder than I probably should have. Sure was fun, though. And I can see why some women love it! Wow. And it was a HELL of a good workout! (and in only 30 minutes!) Whew!!
Afterward, I sat with my nephew and watched my brother and sister-in-law in their Hapkido class. (I had watched my nephew in his class the day before, by the way.) It was enjoyable to watch, but I still don't think it's something I would ever seek out to practice (tai chi, on the other hand...is a definite...maybe). However, if he should ever live up to his end of our bargain and go try a yoga class, then I will definitely find a martial arts class to try. But for now, it's not something I will actively seek out....I'll stick to my "boot camp" class and yoga. :)
But oh my Lord, I can think of certain days when a kickboxing class would have been just what the doctor ordered!!
Anyway, a few years ago, he found a type of martial arts that he really enjoyed (and that my sister-in-law enjoyed doing with him). In Houston, they practiced Kuk Sul Won, a Korean martial arts; upon moving to California, they found a similar martial arts called Hapkido. They are currently both purple belts and are working toward an eventual goal of being black belts. (Very proud of them! The 'Phew too is also a striped yellow belt in the Little Ninjas program...he totally loves it! Ay-yah!)
So...my brother has always been quite enthusiastic about martial arts and has always wanted me to give it a try--he thinks I would really enjoy it. (I, on the other hand, think I would feel silly, what with all the yelling and sparring and hitting of other people and whatnot.) A few years ago we made a deal--as I have been a yoga practitioner for nearly a decade, I told him that if he would try yoga, I would then try some form of martial arts. He agreed....
Suffice it to say that he has yet to attend a yoga class (I even searched online and found an Ashtanga Yoga studio in his city!) and so I have yet to attend a martial arts class. Oh well....however, I have now come closer to upholding my end of the bargain than he has!
After being here in southern California for about a week this Christmas, and eating lovely things from the bakery their friend Tara works at, I really felt a need for a good workout (gotta burn off at least a few of those calories!). Since their Hapkido studio (dojo?) was open yesterday, they decided they wanted to go to a class. My lovely sister-in-law, knowing that I was wanting a really good workout, called to see if I could get in to a Kickboxing Express class. And away we went!
For the record, I have never in my life done any kicking or boxing, especially not at a target (bag). Nor have I ever worn gloves or needed my hands/wrists wrapped prior to a workout. So even the wrapping and gloves were a unique experience, since my workout usually involves a medicine ball, running, and yoga. :)
Well, the kickboxing class totally rocked. I enjoyed the punching far more than the kicking because I felt very awkward and ungainly doing the high and low kicks--my brother tells me that improves with practice. With the punching, I found myself imagining the bag was someone I knew and I suppose maybe that's why I found myself punching a little harder than I probably should have. Sure was fun, though. And I can see why some women love it! Wow. And it was a HELL of a good workout! (and in only 30 minutes!) Whew!!
Afterward, I sat with my nephew and watched my brother and sister-in-law in their Hapkido class. (I had watched my nephew in his class the day before, by the way.) It was enjoyable to watch, but I still don't think it's something I would ever seek out to practice (tai chi, on the other hand...is a definite...maybe). However, if he should ever live up to his end of our bargain and go try a yoga class, then I will definitely find a martial arts class to try. But for now, it's not something I will actively seek out....I'll stick to my "boot camp" class and yoga. :)
But oh my Lord, I can think of certain days when a kickboxing class would have been just what the doctor ordered!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Labor Day Weekend in Cali
I took an extended Labor Day weekend and went to visit my brother and his family in sunny Southern California. They thought it was super hot, but I thought it was pretty nice--of course, having just come from super-humid Austin, "dry heat" really feels so much better. 
Brad and Trisha surprised me Wednesday night with a room at the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland. His boss
had paid for two nights (for whoever wanted it...they had had a business dinner the night before at Club 33, the exclusive club that Walt Disney used to entertain at), and so they reserved a third night (Thursday) for super cheap because the hotel was apparently fairly empty. When you stay at one of the Disneyland hotels, you get "early entry" into the park (on certain days). So Thursday morning we got up early and got in to the park at 8.There were hardly any lines all day!! Brad speculated that it was because the forecast was for 107 degrees, so everyone stayed home. 
The heat wasn't too bad, but I'm kinda used to it--plus it was a dry heat, which was easier to bear. The first ride we went on was Space Mountain, which was super cool and one of my favorites--Brad and I rode it twice while Trisha and Tristan got some fruit for breakfast. We got a really good picture of us---even cooler because we were the only ones on the car! 
The heat wasn't too bad, but I'm kinda used to it--plus it was a dry heat, which was easier to bear. The first ride we went on was Space Mountain, which was super cool and one of my favorites--Brad and I rode it twice while Trisha and Tristan got some fruit for breakfast. We got a really good picture of us---even cooler because we were the only ones on the car! 
The only ride we didn't go on that was recommended was the Nemo ride--it's a submarine ride, about 11 minutes, and Brad and Trisha said it was cool but even with early entry it was going to have a long line (like 30-40 minutes). So I opted to skip that one. After a while we crossed over to the California Adventure park and went on those rides---they have an awesome roller coaster (California Screamer, I think) that goes really fast. We went on another ride where yo
u sit and it shoots up about 500-800 feet in 2 seconds--this one had "barf racks" around each person, presumably to contain the puke. In the pictures (hopefully Brad will post them somewhere) you can tell the before and after photos--I look pretty tense before and then afterward a big smile. :) We went on the big Ferris wheel--I had a death grip because some cars swing (including ours), and it made me a little nervous.Then sometime in the late afternoon we went back to the hotel and cooled off in the pool, got dressed and had dinner and then went back in to Disneyland for one more ride on Space Mountain (me and Brad) and then the fireworks. Tha
t was awesome! Then I bought a couple souvenir shirts and we went back to the hotel and to bed. Whew. A full day. Lots of rides, though! And Brad kept teasing me that I wasn't really getting the FULL DISNEYLAND EXPERIENCE (read: hours-long waits in lines, etc). I'm really really okay with that. 
t was awesome! Then I bought a couple souvenir shirts and we went back to the hotel and to bed. Whew. A full day. Lots of rides, though! And Brad kept teasing me that I wasn't really getting the FULL DISNEYLAND EXPERIENCE (read: hours-long waits in lines, etc). I'm really really okay with that. The next day we checked out and went home to unload, then we hit the beach. Which kinda sucked because it was really windy and cold. But Brad got a little surfing in anyway. That night we had sushi, and we ate at the bar (rather than at a table) and that was really fun. And yummy. The sushi chef was hitting on Trisha, and she finally told him that I was single, so he started focusing on me. It was pretty funny.
Saturday we had to get up early to go dolphin/whale watching. That was fun--we didn't really see much, just a couple of very small pods of dolphins, but it was really fun being on a catamaran and being so close to the water. Seriously, I think we could've touched the dolphins.That night we went to their friends' house and had Greek food for dinner (and Brad's margaritas).
Sunday Brad, Tristan and I hit the beach for a couple hours while Trisha did some grocery shopping, and then that night they had a barbecue (lots of consumption of Brad's margaritas). Monday we watched the Tech game at home until halftime and then went to another friends' house to watch the rest and hang out. It was very relaxing. Tuesday morning we got up really early to take me to the airport and I came hom to Austin.
That's about it. It was really fun, which made it hard to come back. :) I got to see Tristan do all his martial arts stuff, though--it was cute, because even at the beach he was karate-chopping the sand and waves. Ay-uh! :) We briefly talked about going back to Disneyland at Christmas but we'll see.
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