We're taking the plunge

After much deliberation we have decided to buy a home! We found a realtor - or actually he kind of found us, but we really like him. We went through 4 townhouses - 3 previously lived in - 1 brand new. That was it. It was perfect and DR Horton seems happy to sell it to us.

Now, the circus begins. Looking for a mortgage makes me wonder if Henry Ford had something with his "you can get any color as long as it's black" concept. Wouldn't it be awesome if there was only one mortgage lender and they were ethically and legally required to give you the best possible deal no matter what? Yeah - I know - snap back to reality. Hey, a girl can dream. I feel like I am shopping for a used car. However, with a used car I am an educated consumer. With the mortgage, I feel vulnerable and like a babe in the woods. My husband has informed me it is time to change my perspective. I am not longer the customer service rep that Citibank has trained me to be. I need to become the unflinching consumer that needs to be pleased. (This may be a tough change for me.)

I know one thing. I am unemployed and there are days that I work harder managing our lives than I ever did at Citibank. Sistah is workin' it! You know the saying, "timing is everything". It might not be advisable, if you are able to avoid it, to not buy a timeshare, have your husband change jobs, relocate, purchase your first house, shop for appliances, and find temporary accommodations all in the same month, at the same time. This is the juggling act of the circus. Note to self, don't let the balls drop - there isn't a time limit for this performance like there was in gym class.

Speaking of gym class . . . that reminds me of grade school, which reminds me of many things (not all pleasant memories) but lately all I can think about are those "soy burgers" the ladies in the hair nets used to serve us. I have been dying for one. Does anyone know where I can find one?

With that, I have some phone calls to make - peace out!

Trunk Monkey Compilation

How sad is it when your 60 year-old brother has to show you "what's cool"? Hope it amuses y'all like it did me.

We got one . . .

We waited so long. We didn't know if the day would ever come. We wish to thank all of those who tried to assist us in our efforts. On April 26, 2007, our long wait and anxious anticipation came to an end.

WalMart is now another of my BFFs. Why, you ask?

WHEE ! ! !

We got a Wii

GOODBYE Saint Cloud!

Since our return from San Francisco, our life has not been standing still. Just a few days after our return, my husband interviewed for a new position with Cognos. I knew he was serious about the position when he studied information and mentally practiced interview responses for the entire drive and never once complained about my driving or long it was taking us to get there. After a 4 1/2 interview, we were left to wonder if they were interested in hiring him or not.

Not to be pushed from the spot light, I received my first subpoena. I was summoned back to Sioux Falls to testify in front of a grand jury.

One and a half weeks after the interview, it was no surprise to me when Cognos called and offered Hari the job.

As a result, we will be moving! Now, y'all know how much I hate moving! I have moved 3 times since I married my husband. Prior to that, I had lived in my ghetto apartment for 9 1/2 years. But I am so happy to be leaving Saint Cloud moving seems like a small price, and the new job includes relocation.

Relocation means the "Moving Crew" from Sioux Falls will not have to hide from us, put our calls directly to voice mail, or pretend to be maimed. It means we have the money to hire a moving company. I am asking the "Moving Crew", the "Moon Crew" and any one else who will to cross their fingers and say a prayer that this experience will be much more positive than my last encounter with hiring a moving company. Just to let you know, that experience resulted in the subpoena mentioned above.

I didn't waste my time unpacking too many boxes when I got to Saint Cloud. (And you thought it was laziness.) It was just preparation for the next phase of our live!

With the job accepted and the move on the horizon, we sat down to make another decision. To rent or to buy. Some of the points to ponder:

• Are we ready for the responsibility of a home?
• If we rent, can we handle moving again in the near future?
• Which suburb of Minneapolis is the best to live in?
• Can we afford to buy a home?
• Is it near a bus route?
  

Hari's job is in Bloomington. You got it - that Bloomington. The home of the famous Mall of America. In fact, his office is just one crosswalk away. But if you are familiar with the Minneapolis/St Paul area, you know that working in Bloomington gives you at least 8 choices of communities to live in that are about a stone's throw from the famous shopping Mecca.

Decisions . . decisions . . decisions