Diane picks us up in 15 minutes. We'll see another 6 houses and revisit the repo and the house on Upas.
The bonus: finding out yesterday that Jaime the house inspector had already inspected the repo for the listing agent and we can get a copy of the report! It hasn't shown up yet, but it should make for interesting reading.
Janet says the fact that Mike and I drove by Upas again is a good sign. :)
More later!
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Narrowing the field
We saw two more houses Thursday, but neither was spectacular enough to unseat the leading candidates.
One house did have a gas stove--a curiosity in this area. I never thought that amenity would be hard to come by, but everything is electric here. The homeowner told us he'd wired the connection himself from a 5 gallon tank outside to the stove inside. (I'm glad to know this is an option, but eeek!)
We talked with Diane about the merits of the two properties we're leaning toward: the repo on Norma Lane and the turnkey house on Upas.
Diane said the repo costs more than other fix-and-flip properties in the area, which may be why no one has snapped it up after 145 days on the market. IF all it needs is cosmetic changes, it might be the better investment. It's newer, closer to the university and is in a nice neighborhood. We could fix it up, live in it a few years, then sell with more of a profit.
We made an appointment with a home inspector Saturday to go through the repo with us. Figured $150 was a reasonable investment to find out whether the work needed is merely cosmetic or more involved. Mike said he's waiting for the repo to make a compelling argument to stay in the running. We'll see.
We went to a movie last night at the dollar theater. The theater smelled of urine, so it's unlikely we'll go back anytime soon. We had a heck of a time finding the place. They aren't really great with signage, plus most of the major roads through town have been renamed several times (Pecan/Farm Road 495), adding to the confusion.
Afterward, we drove through the neighborhood around the Upas house. We got lost and drove through a mobile home park. Don't know what that does to the property values; it seemed quiet and well-maintained. We found Upas and parked near the house and just sat there soaking in the surroundings.
The other houses on the block are nicely kept up. We saw another property for sale a block or so away. It's smaller--and so is the asking price by $17K. Makes me wonder how much comps in the area are going for and how much the homeowner is willing to negotiate down. The price is already reduced, but was it artificially high to begin with?
Given the age and location of the Upas property, Diane thinks it would be harder to sell later on. Most development is happening farther north of Upas and most people moving into the area are more interested in newer, cookie-cutter subdivision homes.
Another (minor) consideration: the repo is in the Edinburg Ward--given its proximity to UTPA, it's likely to have university faculty in the ward. The Upas house is within walking distance of one of the McAllen ward buildings--one with an English and a Spanish-speaking ward using it. Mike hasn't visited there yet, but he said 20 minutes of Sunday School in the Mission Ward was enough to make him want to gouge his eyes out. Uptight transplanted Mormons are also something we'd like to avoid.
We'll have to wait another day to get the scoop on the repo. We'll look at a few more houses Saturday morning, but we're both leaning a lot closer toward Upas.
One house did have a gas stove--a curiosity in this area. I never thought that amenity would be hard to come by, but everything is electric here. The homeowner told us he'd wired the connection himself from a 5 gallon tank outside to the stove inside. (I'm glad to know this is an option, but eeek!)
We talked with Diane about the merits of the two properties we're leaning toward: the repo on Norma Lane and the turnkey house on Upas.
Diane said the repo costs more than other fix-and-flip properties in the area, which may be why no one has snapped it up after 145 days on the market. IF all it needs is cosmetic changes, it might be the better investment. It's newer, closer to the university and is in a nice neighborhood. We could fix it up, live in it a few years, then sell with more of a profit.
We made an appointment with a home inspector Saturday to go through the repo with us. Figured $150 was a reasonable investment to find out whether the work needed is merely cosmetic or more involved. Mike said he's waiting for the repo to make a compelling argument to stay in the running. We'll see.
We went to a movie last night at the dollar theater. The theater smelled of urine, so it's unlikely we'll go back anytime soon. We had a heck of a time finding the place. They aren't really great with signage, plus most of the major roads through town have been renamed several times (Pecan/Farm Road 495), adding to the confusion.
Afterward, we drove through the neighborhood around the Upas house. We got lost and drove through a mobile home park. Don't know what that does to the property values; it seemed quiet and well-maintained. We found Upas and parked near the house and just sat there soaking in the surroundings.
The other houses on the block are nicely kept up. We saw another property for sale a block or so away. It's smaller--and so is the asking price by $17K. Makes me wonder how much comps in the area are going for and how much the homeowner is willing to negotiate down. The price is already reduced, but was it artificially high to begin with?
Given the age and location of the Upas property, Diane thinks it would be harder to sell later on. Most development is happening farther north of Upas and most people moving into the area are more interested in newer, cookie-cutter subdivision homes.
Another (minor) consideration: the repo is in the Edinburg Ward--given its proximity to UTPA, it's likely to have university faculty in the ward. The Upas house is within walking distance of one of the McAllen ward buildings--one with an English and a Spanish-speaking ward using it. Mike hasn't visited there yet, but he said 20 minutes of Sunday School in the Mission Ward was enough to make him want to gouge his eyes out. Uptight transplanted Mormons are also something we'd like to avoid.
We'll have to wait another day to get the scoop on the repo. We'll look at a few more houses Saturday morning, but we're both leaning a lot closer toward Upas.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
House Hunting Part 2: The Contenders
Spent the morning with real estate agent Diane. Told us some stories about her work--how it can be handy to carry a firearm and how she was inadvertantly responsible for getting a homeowner's cat knocked up. (Diane had strict instructions not to let the cat outside. After the showing, she saw a white cat outside, so she corralled it and put it back in the house. Turns out the cat she "put back" in the house was a male neighborhood cat who got busy with the in-heat female cat who was in the house the whole time. Whoops).
We saw another five properties today. The first house was a few blocks from Mike's apartment. The interior was an unrelenting shade of peach with pink/mauve tile in the kitchen. Its side yard and patio would be great for entertaining/gardening, but indoors seemed a little cramped.
The second house had a great kitchen layout, lots of closet space, laminate wood floors and tub/shower combos in both bathrooms. The downside: there's only a chain link fence between the backyard and a canal. And the canal was having some noisy construction work done--prep work for a new development planned for the opposite bank.
The third house was in Mission--a town west of McAllen, which would make Mike's commute longer and up the property taxes according to Diane. The house has good bone structure, but needs some serious help from HGTV. The kitchen counters are pink laminate (what is up with the pink kitchens?!) and the cupboards could use a coat of paint. No room for a dishwasher without losing precious cabinets. A dated-looking sprinkler system is wired into the kitchen--not set up in the garage as is usual. The washer/dryer could be moved outside to the garage (a plus) and the space used for a pantry instead. Vile carpet and wallpaper in the master bedroom and a private commode. There's a bonus room at the front of the house that could be an office or library. The yard isn't deep, but it wraps as wide around the side of the house as it does at the back. Has a couple of mature trees and potential for an enormous garden.
At the fourth house, we startled the occupants. Diane started speaking Spanish to the woman who opened the door; she answered in what we thought was Hindi and directed us to the other occupants (who were busy calming their Chihuahua). The living and bedrooms were spacious, but the kitchen was a wee, cramped space with no room for a dishwasher, ever. The backyard had a couple of mature fruit trees and a concrete basketball half court (yay) but the rear of the property abuts a road and a self storage complex (boo). The garage was massive, with laundry, storage and built-in shelving. Didn't care for the dark green/black shiny tile floors. Makes me think "bordello."
House #5 was my favorite: two living areas plus a large den built onto the back of the house. Shade trees, mature citrus and lush, well-cared for back lawn and garden. Nice-sized rooms and bathrooms with plenty of storage, a separate laundry room between the garage and kitchen and a cement patio with built-in BBQ grill. The painting and colors are tasteful (meaning we wouldn't have to repaint). The kitchen is small. And pink. (Seriously, was pink on sale 1984-1991?) We're already talking about knocking out the wall between the kitchen and dining area to make more room to work in, maybe add an island...
This one's my top pick. Mike likes this one and the house in Mission that needs the style update--and he's thinking the repo we saw yesterday is a contender. It would be a bargain, true. But how much work (and money) would we have to put in to make it as livable as house #5 already is? Mike's thinking we'd stay in the repo long enough to fix it up, build equity, then sell and have the means to upgrade to a more posh dwelling. House #5 we'd be in for the long haul. It's older than the others, so we'd likely have to deal with more issues as it ages.
In the meantime, I have a few more listings to read through for tomorrow so Diane can make the necessary appointments. I think we've already seen the one we'll buy--but which one will it be?
We saw another five properties today. The first house was a few blocks from Mike's apartment. The interior was an unrelenting shade of peach with pink/mauve tile in the kitchen. Its side yard and patio would be great for entertaining/gardening, but indoors seemed a little cramped.
The second house had a great kitchen layout, lots of closet space, laminate wood floors and tub/shower combos in both bathrooms. The downside: there's only a chain link fence between the backyard and a canal. And the canal was having some noisy construction work done--prep work for a new development planned for the opposite bank.
The third house was in Mission--a town west of McAllen, which would make Mike's commute longer and up the property taxes according to Diane. The house has good bone structure, but needs some serious help from HGTV. The kitchen counters are pink laminate (what is up with the pink kitchens?!) and the cupboards could use a coat of paint. No room for a dishwasher without losing precious cabinets. A dated-looking sprinkler system is wired into the kitchen--not set up in the garage as is usual. The washer/dryer could be moved outside to the garage (a plus) and the space used for a pantry instead. Vile carpet and wallpaper in the master bedroom and a private commode. There's a bonus room at the front of the house that could be an office or library. The yard isn't deep, but it wraps as wide around the side of the house as it does at the back. Has a couple of mature trees and potential for an enormous garden.
At the fourth house, we startled the occupants. Diane started speaking Spanish to the woman who opened the door; she answered in what we thought was Hindi and directed us to the other occupants (who were busy calming their Chihuahua). The living and bedrooms were spacious, but the kitchen was a wee, cramped space with no room for a dishwasher, ever. The backyard had a couple of mature fruit trees and a concrete basketball half court (yay) but the rear of the property abuts a road and a self storage complex (boo). The garage was massive, with laundry, storage and built-in shelving. Didn't care for the dark green/black shiny tile floors. Makes me think "bordello."
House #5 was my favorite: two living areas plus a large den built onto the back of the house. Shade trees, mature citrus and lush, well-cared for back lawn and garden. Nice-sized rooms and bathrooms with plenty of storage, a separate laundry room between the garage and kitchen and a cement patio with built-in BBQ grill. The painting and colors are tasteful (meaning we wouldn't have to repaint). The kitchen is small. And pink. (Seriously, was pink on sale 1984-1991?) We're already talking about knocking out the wall between the kitchen and dining area to make more room to work in, maybe add an island...
This one's my top pick. Mike likes this one and the house in Mission that needs the style update--and he's thinking the repo we saw yesterday is a contender. It would be a bargain, true. But how much work (and money) would we have to put in to make it as livable as house #5 already is? Mike's thinking we'd stay in the repo long enough to fix it up, build equity, then sell and have the means to upgrade to a more posh dwelling. House #5 we'd be in for the long haul. It's older than the others, so we'd likely have to deal with more issues as it ages.
In the meantime, I have a few more listings to read through for tomorrow so Diane can make the necessary appointments. I think we've already seen the one we'll buy--but which one will it be?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
House Hunting Season
Today was our first foray into Texas house hunting.
The realtor took us out in her big momma conversion van to look at a few of the listings we'd checked out online.
The first two were in newer subdivisions. The insides were OK--new construction, walk-in closets, small bedrooms, etc. Thanks to their youth, they also had no fences, no backyard grass and one spindly tree out front per city landscaping requirements. Not exactly what we were looking for.
The third house we saw was a musty-smelling repo. Mustard and tomato-colored walls, dark green linoleum tiles throughout (think doctor's office), some missing tile/fixtures in one bathroom, water damage around one of the skylights and a private commode with saloon-style shutter doors. Can't you just picture John Wayne busting through the shutters after an adventurous dump? I can.
Lest I make it sound too icky, it also has a HUGE kitchen with tons of counter and cupboard space (that needs a style makeover), a large living/dining area, a covered porch, a wood privacy fence (one section downed), and some mature trees in back and a hedgerow along the front. Toweringly high ceilings.
Most of the work needed would appear cosmetic. Is a $75,000 price tag worth the elbow grease necessary to make it presentable? The realtor says comps in the area sell in the high 90s to low 100s. So we'd be getting a 25% discount...but having to do a lot of cleanup work.
The fourth house was owner-occupied; she greeted us in Spanish and showed us around the cherubs and light fixtures shaped like flowers, the large laundry room, the yard with landscaping (and a vocal rooster next door), and shiny, shiny dark tile floor. Turns out, it's too big a house for just the owner and she's looking to downsize. (We didn't like the house enough to help out with that).
The last house we saw was out in the boonies. Just shy of an acre lot, dozens of mature trees and citrus (that needed water). Unfortunately, I liked the yard better than the house. Plus it's pretty far from any services/retail. And if this girl is gonna live in Texas, she needs to be closer to Target. ;)
Tomorrow we'll meet Diane the realtor for round two of house hunting, focusing on McAllen rather than Edinburg and looking for houses with mature trees and fenced yards. Stay tuned!
The realtor took us out in her big momma conversion van to look at a few of the listings we'd checked out online.
The first two were in newer subdivisions. The insides were OK--new construction, walk-in closets, small bedrooms, etc. Thanks to their youth, they also had no fences, no backyard grass and one spindly tree out front per city landscaping requirements. Not exactly what we were looking for.
The third house we saw was a musty-smelling repo. Mustard and tomato-colored walls, dark green linoleum tiles throughout (think doctor's office), some missing tile/fixtures in one bathroom, water damage around one of the skylights and a private commode with saloon-style shutter doors. Can't you just picture John Wayne busting through the shutters after an adventurous dump? I can.
Lest I make it sound too icky, it also has a HUGE kitchen with tons of counter and cupboard space (that needs a style makeover), a large living/dining area, a covered porch, a wood privacy fence (one section downed), and some mature trees in back and a hedgerow along the front. Toweringly high ceilings.
Most of the work needed would appear cosmetic. Is a $75,000 price tag worth the elbow grease necessary to make it presentable? The realtor says comps in the area sell in the high 90s to low 100s. So we'd be getting a 25% discount...but having to do a lot of cleanup work.
The fourth house was owner-occupied; she greeted us in Spanish and showed us around the cherubs and light fixtures shaped like flowers, the large laundry room, the yard with landscaping (and a vocal rooster next door), and shiny, shiny dark tile floor. Turns out, it's too big a house for just the owner and she's looking to downsize. (We didn't like the house enough to help out with that).
The last house we saw was out in the boonies. Just shy of an acre lot, dozens of mature trees and citrus (that needed water). Unfortunately, I liked the yard better than the house. Plus it's pretty far from any services/retail. And if this girl is gonna live in Texas, she needs to be closer to Target. ;)
Tomorrow we'll meet Diane the realtor for round two of house hunting, focusing on McAllen rather than Edinburg and looking for houses with mature trees and fenced yards. Stay tuned!
On Location
Posting from Mike's dining room table in McAllen, Texas. "Esposas Desperadas" is playing in the background. I'm sure I could make out more of the dialogue if I were paying closer attention. Cattiness and intrigue transcend language barriers, no?
Mike and I went to Sunstone West on Friday night and Saturday in Claremont, then left for Texas early Sunday morning. Sunstone West was groovy. Interesting sessions--and I didn't have to plan it! The highlight was Friday night's screening of the film "New York Doll," about Arthur "Killer" Kane, a founding member of The New York Dolls who became a Mormon later in life. It's an odd juxtaposition: punk scene meets family history library, but it's fascinating and moving story. I can't get it out of my head. (Go on, put it on your Netflicks list. I'll wait).
Monday we stopped by the bank to liberate my ring from its safety deposit box. (Moment of girlyness: YAY! I've missed it!) Afterward, I dropped Mike off at UTPA for a few hours and I went shopping at Target and the HEB (supermarket).
I popped dinner in the oven and went to pick Mike up. We went shopping for beds for Mike's girls before coming home to eat. Read over real estate listings until after 9 pm, then rushed over to Target.
Had a tiff: Mike returned a colleague's call while I went over to scope out bedding we'd need for the girls. I waited for Mike and even called his cell, but the intercom announced the store was closing in 5 minutes before he appeared--not much time to confer on let alone pick out bedding for two teenage girls.
That left me a bit frustrated, but we talked it out. He readily owns up to his part and apologizes while I do my best to express my displeasure using grown-up words rather than foot stamping or giving him the stink eye.
Mike and I went to Sunstone West on Friday night and Saturday in Claremont, then left for Texas early Sunday morning. Sunstone West was groovy. Interesting sessions--and I didn't have to plan it! The highlight was Friday night's screening of the film "New York Doll," about Arthur "Killer" Kane, a founding member of The New York Dolls who became a Mormon later in life. It's an odd juxtaposition: punk scene meets family history library, but it's fascinating and moving story. I can't get it out of my head. (Go on, put it on your Netflicks list. I'll wait).
Monday we stopped by the bank to liberate my ring from its safety deposit box. (Moment of girlyness: YAY! I've missed it!) Afterward, I dropped Mike off at UTPA for a few hours and I went shopping at Target and the HEB (supermarket).
I popped dinner in the oven and went to pick Mike up. We went shopping for beds for Mike's girls before coming home to eat. Read over real estate listings until after 9 pm, then rushed over to Target.
Had a tiff: Mike returned a colleague's call while I went over to scope out bedding we'd need for the girls. I waited for Mike and even called his cell, but the intercom announced the store was closing in 5 minutes before he appeared--not much time to confer on let alone pick out bedding for two teenage girls.
That left me a bit frustrated, but we talked it out. He readily owns up to his part and apologizes while I do my best to express my displeasure using grown-up words rather than foot stamping or giving him the stink eye.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Whirlwinds with a Chance of Downpour
It's been an insanely busy fortnight.
Last week was all about the Easter program, choir rehearsals and the memorial service along with various mental/physical/hair maintenance appointments sandwiched in.
So far this week, I've been to the vet (PK had the trots), seen dermatologist #3, had a meeting in long-drive-away Irvine, met with a florist, had dinner with friends Bill & Elina, and set up meetings with another photographer. I will have either left work early or have come in late every day this week.
Today, I pick Mike up at the airport, go back to work for a mandatory training class (topic unknown), pick Mike up after work, skip tutoring, eat dinner with my parents, book over to Party City to order the wedding invitations (which HAS to happen this week if we are to send them out on time).
Tomorrow I have to go to take dermatologist #3's Rx to derm #2's office so he can rewrite the Rx so my insurance will cover it. Bless him for being completely willing to do this! After work, Mike and I head to Claremont for Sunstone West Friday night and Saturday. Sunday, we leave for a week+ in Texas to go househunting.
I haven't packed nor prepared my remarks for the Sunstone panel discussion I'm in/moderating. Also before I leave for TX, I'm supposed to get a list of addresses to my maid of honor so she can send out shower invitations.
I either need an umbrella or a posse of personal assistants.
Last week was all about the Easter program, choir rehearsals and the memorial service along with various mental/physical/hair maintenance appointments sandwiched in.
So far this week, I've been to the vet (PK had the trots), seen dermatologist #3, had a meeting in long-drive-away Irvine, met with a florist, had dinner with friends Bill & Elina, and set up meetings with another photographer. I will have either left work early or have come in late every day this week.
Today, I pick Mike up at the airport, go back to work for a mandatory training class (topic unknown), pick Mike up after work, skip tutoring, eat dinner with my parents, book over to Party City to order the wedding invitations (which HAS to happen this week if we are to send them out on time).
Tomorrow I have to go to take dermatologist #3's Rx to derm #2's office so he can rewrite the Rx so my insurance will cover it. Bless him for being completely willing to do this! After work, Mike and I head to Claremont for Sunstone West Friday night and Saturday. Sunday, we leave for a week+ in Texas to go househunting.
I haven't packed nor prepared my remarks for the Sunstone panel discussion I'm in/moderating. Also before I leave for TX, I'm supposed to get a list of addresses to my maid of honor so she can send out shower invitations.
I either need an umbrella or a posse of personal assistants.
Monday, April 17, 2006
A Chicks Rule Easter
Our Easter program rocked, with amazing music and an all-women lineup of speakers.
Allison asked Izzy to give a short talk. She's one of my favorite kids in the ward and she did a spectacular job. Very poised and articulate young woman.
My talk went well. I talked about the unnamed/less known women in the Easter story as well as the better-known women mentioned in the different gospels. I specifically mentioned the woman who anointed Jesus' head (from Matthew) and that women were present during all the major events in Christ's life and ministry. Even threw in an allusion to The daVinci Code.
I also talked about grief--using the pain Mary must have felt as a lead-in. What it's like to lose a child. What it's like to say goodbye to a loved one. I mentioned DeWitt's memorial service last week.
Quoted Isaiah calling the Savior a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. I asked, did Jesus have griefs and sorrows of his own? I think he must have; the human experience is rife with loss and disappointment and grief as well as joy, love and achievement. I was pleased with how it came together. I may post my remarks here if I can figure out how.
Then Janet A. spoke. Hereremarks tied in art history, the experience of pregnancy and motherhood, the women of Easter and the relationship between Mary and Jesus. She's a powerhouse and I'm not doing her remarks justice in the retelling.
It was an amazing service--and a refreshing change to have all women speakers and the focus on women's experiences.
It was my last hurrah with the choir and possibly the last time I'll speak in Pasadena ward before I move. I didn't cry until after it was all over, but my remarks got some of the choir members teary before was sang "Pieta" (which I was glad we sang after I spoke otherwise I would have been a blubbering mess).
Then mom, dad, John and his girlfriend went to brunch at the Caltech Athenaeum. Afterward, mom said "It's like an old, elegant club." I pointed out it IS an old, elegant club. :) It's another thing I'll miss; I've enjoyed holiday brunches and having a fancy place for special occasion dinners.
Allison asked Izzy to give a short talk. She's one of my favorite kids in the ward and she did a spectacular job. Very poised and articulate young woman.
My talk went well. I talked about the unnamed/less known women in the Easter story as well as the better-known women mentioned in the different gospels. I specifically mentioned the woman who anointed Jesus' head (from Matthew) and that women were present during all the major events in Christ's life and ministry. Even threw in an allusion to The daVinci Code.
I also talked about grief--using the pain Mary must have felt as a lead-in. What it's like to lose a child. What it's like to say goodbye to a loved one. I mentioned DeWitt's memorial service last week.
Quoted Isaiah calling the Savior a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. I asked, did Jesus have griefs and sorrows of his own? I think he must have; the human experience is rife with loss and disappointment and grief as well as joy, love and achievement. I was pleased with how it came together. I may post my remarks here if I can figure out how.
Then Janet A. spoke. Hereremarks tied in art history, the experience of pregnancy and motherhood, the women of Easter and the relationship between Mary and Jesus. She's a powerhouse and I'm not doing her remarks justice in the retelling.
It was an amazing service--and a refreshing change to have all women speakers and the focus on women's experiences.
It was my last hurrah with the choir and possibly the last time I'll speak in Pasadena ward before I move. I didn't cry until after it was all over, but my remarks got some of the choir members teary before was sang "Pieta" (which I was glad we sang after I spoke otherwise I would have been a blubbering mess).
Then mom, dad, John and his girlfriend went to brunch at the Caltech Athenaeum. Afterward, mom said "It's like an old, elegant club." I pointed out it IS an old, elegant club. :) It's another thing I'll miss; I've enjoyed holiday brunches and having a fancy place for special occasion dinners.
Week in Review
Highlights from the past week:
--Attending DeWitt Beal's memorial service. I knew him mainly through his wife, Elina. The service introduced me to many aspects of his life and interests I wasn't aware of; made me wish I'd known him better--and grateful to have known him even a little bit. Five of his poems were read during the service; they were amazing meditations on his children, his wife, and when things turn out differently than you expect. It truly was a life celebration with more laughter and joy than tears. Top notch.
--Having dinner with friends after the service--three classmates from the 2-year certification course we took together, our teachers, and a classmate's spouse. Was great to catch up with everyone.
--Having the Easter talk come together over the course of the week and not staying up past midnight to do it. It must have been important if I didn't procrastinate. ;)
--Meeting with the first photographer and florist Saturday. Touching base with the caterer and making some headway with the wedding plans.
--John reporting that "Gardening Ain't For Pansies" was the title chosen for his seminar for senior citizens. His co-workers did enjoy "Soil Yourself" enough to have it be in the running.
--Had a NAP Sunday after brunch--bliss! Until the neighbor revved up the leaf blower a couple hours later.
--Getting closer to being on the same page with Mike after an arduous conversation about wedding plans.
--Hearing from women in the ward that it's not possible to stay sane while planning a wedding; it's better to cry in short bursts than long jags; that it's better to meltdown a few days before the wedding than on the day of; that during wedding planning was the only time one friend had ever in her life hung up on her mother.
--Finding a new definition of the word tedious: watching the movie, "Benji."
I remember watching it in the 70s, but as an adult, I kept wondering "Why did I like this movie?" Endless shots of Benji running from place to place. Soft focus and gloopy music when Benji spots his canine girlfriend, Tiffany, rooting through the trash. It was fun saying "Oh, look, he gave her his bone" and "She's his bitch".
We channel surfed in the middle, but came back in time to see Benji steal the rough draft of the ransom note and take it back to the FBI agents at the house! Benji ran in slow motion for what seemed like hours with flashback shots of the kidnapped children and the mean kidnapper kicking Tiffany. It was like an accident you can't help looking at and wondering how it happened. See also: cloying, melodramatic, manipulative, maudlin and cliche.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Arguments: The Spawn of Wedding Planning
Last night, Mike and I went a few rounds over the wedding with me lecturing him (needlessly) on sticking to the wedding budget and him calling me an inflexible Nazi.
I thought he meant that the grand total would go up with the extras we wanted to add. He meant keep the same grand total, but shift money around within the budget to areas where we need more coverage. Blew right past each other.
Of course, that all seems funnier today than it did last night. And funnier still after seeing this cartoon on a budget wedding web page.
We've trimmed the guest list, which will shave a lot off the catering and some off the rentals, decorations and invitations. Will this save enough to cover other expenses, like attire for the grooms people? (It would help to know whether my brother is in or out of the wedding party; are we talking pants/shirts/ties for 3 people or 2?)
Plus I'm getting stressed as each day ticks by and there's not much progress on priority items like the photographer. I had hoped to nail that down before I'm out of town for almost two weeks.
And yes, mom and I are still going the rounds on pink vs. coral.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Is it coral or pink?
That is the question.
The first bridesmaid's dress arrived and I saw it in person last night. Nice coral silk bias cut dress with an overlay with a lighter floral print. Thank you, Coldwater Creek for making it easier to outfit three women with different tastes, complexions, and bodies in a dress that they might possibly wear again. Really.
Now, the flowery pattern on the dress (to me) looks more pink than coral. Mom disagrees. Said she hung up the dress in the daylight and put her pink jacket next to it and it doesn't look pink to her. We've certainly argued over less than this.
Given the indeterminate color, I'll have to haul the dress around with me to find coordinating accessories for the grooms people. Mom is advocating navy blue blazers for the grooms people. I keep vetoing. Coordinating shirts and ties, maybe with some Irish linen trousers. This is as matchy-matchy as I want to get.
The first bridesmaid's dress arrived and I saw it in person last night. Nice coral silk bias cut dress with an overlay with a lighter floral print. Thank you, Coldwater Creek for making it easier to outfit three women with different tastes, complexions, and bodies in a dress that they might possibly wear again. Really.
Now, the flowery pattern on the dress (to me) looks more pink than coral. Mom disagrees. Said she hung up the dress in the daylight and put her pink jacket next to it and it doesn't look pink to her. We've certainly argued over less than this.
Given the indeterminate color, I'll have to haul the dress around with me to find coordinating accessories for the grooms people. Mom is advocating navy blue blazers for the grooms people. I keep vetoing. Coordinating shirts and ties, maybe with some Irish linen trousers. This is as matchy-matchy as I want to get.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Nasal douching and other weekend pursuits
Last week's sinus infection is thankfully on the wane. I decided to help its demise by rinsing out my sinuses using the technique my friend Holly described on her blog. I can't for the life of me link to it, but check selfportraitas for the entry dated December 4, 2005.
I used a water bottle with one of those sports/drinking nozzles on it which helped minimize spillage. I learned not to power squirt saline into my sinuses using the nozzle. Yes, it's gross and yes, it's like a sinus miracle it works so well.
One ENT who's treated everyone in my family said there's not a decent sinus among us. He was also a big advocate of nasal douching, but rarely did I feel awful enough to try it. Now I'm a freakin' evangelist.
I had a pleasant visit with my brother Sunday morning. He'd dropped by the ancestral home to do laundry. I opted to hang out with him rather than skedaddle myself to church. (Though I did show up at noon for choir practice).
John launched into an anti-marriage tirade when I asked if he'd thought any more about being in the wedding party. The company he works for is being sold, so he's in limbo/job hunting and saying he doesn't know where he'll be in July. Is that a no, Mr. Beat Around The Bush?
Another weekend activity: Mom and I brainstormed to help John come up with a catchy title for a gardening seminar for seniors he's teaching. My contributions are as follows:
I used a water bottle with one of those sports/drinking nozzles on it which helped minimize spillage. I learned not to power squirt saline into my sinuses using the nozzle. Yes, it's gross and yes, it's like a sinus miracle it works so well.
One ENT who's treated everyone in my family said there's not a decent sinus among us. He was also a big advocate of nasal douching, but rarely did I feel awful enough to try it. Now I'm a freakin' evangelist.
I had a pleasant visit with my brother Sunday morning. He'd dropped by the ancestral home to do laundry. I opted to hang out with him rather than skedaddle myself to church. (Though I did show up at noon for choir practice).
John launched into an anti-marriage tirade when I asked if he'd thought any more about being in the wedding party. The company he works for is being sold, so he's in limbo/job hunting and saying he doesn't know where he'll be in July. Is that a no, Mr. Beat Around The Bush?
Another weekend activity: Mom and I brainstormed to help John come up with a catchy title for a gardening seminar for seniors he's teaching. My contributions are as follows:
- Push Up Your Own Daisies
- Hoe, Hoe, Hoe Your Plot
- Gardening: Not for Pansies
- Get Into Your Bloomers
- If You Can't Arboretum, Join 'Em
- I'd Like to Buy a Trowel
- Dirt 101
And, my personal favorite: Soil Yourself.
John said he'd pitch that one as a joke. No telling which he'll use.Friday, April 07, 2006
The TGIF Stopwatch
I stood in line to go through the metal detectors at the Alhambra courthouse. Thirty minutes.
I stood in line to check in for jury duty. Ninety minutes.
I overheard obnoxious lawyer dude call everyone to tell them he'd been called in for jury duty (amid eye rolling and outright mocking from everyone near him in line). Ninety weeks, er minutes.
I requested a postponement to attend DeWitt's funeral next Monday. Postponement until June granted. Three minutes.
I call the office to say I'll be in today after all; I just need to swing by home and pick up my badge. Supervisor says we can't do anything about yesterday's overrun except wait for the money to come in. Five minutes.
Lunch/Internet goof-offing. Seventy five minutes and counting.
Amount of time left before I can go home and crawl back into bed where I rightfully belong: two hours, fifteen minutes.
I stood in line to check in for jury duty. Ninety minutes.
I overheard obnoxious lawyer dude call everyone to tell them he'd been called in for jury duty (amid eye rolling and outright mocking from everyone near him in line). Ninety weeks, er minutes.
I requested a postponement to attend DeWitt's funeral next Monday. Postponement until June granted. Three minutes.
I call the office to say I'll be in today after all; I just need to swing by home and pick up my badge. Supervisor says we can't do anything about yesterday's overrun except wait for the money to come in. Five minutes.
Lunch/Internet goof-offing. Seventy five minutes and counting.
Amount of time left before I can go home and crawl back into bed where I rightfully belong: two hours, fifteen minutes.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Introductions
Fan, meet crap. Crap, meet fan. Consider yourselves introduced.
I've been on call for jury duty all week. So far, they haven't needed me. I hope that's true tomorrow, too. Then I'd be done.
I stayed home sick Wednesday with a sinus infection. Took 6 phone calls to get a prescription. Used the last of my sick time. No choice but to come to work today, no matter how shitty I feel.
Also received news that a friend's husband lost his fight with cancer. Services Monday afternoon. News turns my annoyances minor. Feeling badly about not keeping in closer touch with E during the past few months, which I'm sure have been hard.
Do mindless but necessary tasks all morning. Eat tasteless lunch (sense of smell kaput).
Get call from manager. Did I know that one of my tasks is overrun by $106K? No. (Expletive, expletive, expletive!) Overrunning is a HUGE no no. Since this has not happened to me before, I don't know what to do. Manager says call the resource administrator and have her de-encumber the money.
I call. RA says "I don't think we can do that. Call the task manager."
I call TM. "Yeah, we had a change order come through last week. We're expecting $150K any day now. Can't we leave it alone until the money shows up?" Um, NO! Doesn't want to run change order through legal again if avoidable.
Apparently, subcontracts put it through without checking available funds (also a HUGE no no). TM is now checking with acquisitions/subcontracts to see if they will de-encumber some money until the PR we're expecting ACTUALLY comes in.
Meanwhile, I'm freaking out. Already not feeling well (physically and emotionally; I can get surly when I'm sick) and the overrun news didn't exactly help.
All I want to do is go home and take to my bed. Nevermind the Easter program I still need to work on or the follow-up I need to do with wedding vendors.
I will, however, finish the half-written condolence letter to E before I do anything else. DeWitt isn't suffering, but I suspect his adoring wife, E, is. A desk job crisis ain't much compared to that.
I've been on call for jury duty all week. So far, they haven't needed me. I hope that's true tomorrow, too. Then I'd be done.
I stayed home sick Wednesday with a sinus infection. Took 6 phone calls to get a prescription. Used the last of my sick time. No choice but to come to work today, no matter how shitty I feel.
Also received news that a friend's husband lost his fight with cancer. Services Monday afternoon. News turns my annoyances minor. Feeling badly about not keeping in closer touch with E during the past few months, which I'm sure have been hard.
Do mindless but necessary tasks all morning. Eat tasteless lunch (sense of smell kaput).
Get call from manager. Did I know that one of my tasks is overrun by $106K? No. (Expletive, expletive, expletive!) Overrunning is a HUGE no no. Since this has not happened to me before, I don't know what to do. Manager says call the resource administrator and have her de-encumber the money.
I call. RA says "I don't think we can do that. Call the task manager."
I call TM. "Yeah, we had a change order come through last week. We're expecting $150K any day now. Can't we leave it alone until the money shows up?" Um, NO! Doesn't want to run change order through legal again if avoidable.
Apparently, subcontracts put it through without checking available funds (also a HUGE no no). TM is now checking with acquisitions/subcontracts to see if they will de-encumber some money until the PR we're expecting ACTUALLY comes in.
Meanwhile, I'm freaking out. Already not feeling well (physically and emotionally; I can get surly when I'm sick) and the overrun news didn't exactly help.
All I want to do is go home and take to my bed. Nevermind the Easter program I still need to work on or the follow-up I need to do with wedding vendors.
I will, however, finish the half-written condolence letter to E before I do anything else. DeWitt isn't suffering, but I suspect his adoring wife, E, is. A desk job crisis ain't much compared to that.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Initial Reaction
Probably should have titled this General Conference, Part 2, because I'm just not done with it yet.
The LDS church's General conferences happen in April and October. Various church leaders speak (mostly men with a token woman to give the proceedings a faint whiff of inclusivity). The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs. Church members get stories, instruction and directives to ponder until the next conference.
Mormons with cable access watch the proceedings from home in their jammies. Tech-savvy folks stream or download conference from the Internet. Those without cable, computers or who want to see the priesthood session Saturday night (which isn't on cable) have to schelp to their local church building to watch the satellite feed. This is what we all used to do, back in the day.
I'm not a regular general conference watcher. It's part disinterest, part self-preservation and part general annoyance.
The lilting speech patterns specific to the Salt Lake East Bench are like fingernails on chalkboard for me. Even though one of my English professors insisted the guy with the worst cadence had done some speech therapy work, it wasn't enough for me to get past his delivery.
Another thing that annoys me: the reverential tones used to utter not only the names but also the initials in church authorities' names: Gordon Beeeeeee Hinckley. Boyd Kaaaaaay Packer. Thomas Essssssssss Monson. Took me years to figure out it was David O. McKay, not David O'Mckay. Only new converts who don't know better or disaffected/former church members dare leave out the initial!
But it's not just the old guard turning their initials into part of their title. The younguns are doing it, too. Jeff Holland, former president of BYU (in whose official space I once parked) has morphed into Jeffrey R. Holland. Maybe he always was Jeffrey R., but it seems to me the R. was more aggressively attached after he became a general authority. Or Spencer Condie, my former sociology professor. He's now marketed as Spencer J. (JAY) Condie.
I've seen lesser ranked church leaders do the initial thing, too. I wonder if they feel they MUST use an initial-as-name to be considered upwardly mobile?
If you don't like or use your middle name, why use its initial? I always want to know what hideous name is hiding behind that enigmatic initial.
Recently, the initials-as-substitutional-names makes me think of Eminem. What if all these weirdly monikered old guys rapped their conference talks? Now that I'd tune in for.
The LDS church's General conferences happen in April and October. Various church leaders speak (mostly men with a token woman to give the proceedings a faint whiff of inclusivity). The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs. Church members get stories, instruction and directives to ponder until the next conference.
Mormons with cable access watch the proceedings from home in their jammies. Tech-savvy folks stream or download conference from the Internet. Those without cable, computers or who want to see the priesthood session Saturday night (which isn't on cable) have to schelp to their local church building to watch the satellite feed. This is what we all used to do, back in the day.
I'm not a regular general conference watcher. It's part disinterest, part self-preservation and part general annoyance.
The lilting speech patterns specific to the Salt Lake East Bench are like fingernails on chalkboard for me. Even though one of my English professors insisted the guy with the worst cadence had done some speech therapy work, it wasn't enough for me to get past his delivery.
Another thing that annoys me: the reverential tones used to utter not only the names but also the initials in church authorities' names: Gordon Beeeeeee Hinckley. Boyd Kaaaaaay Packer. Thomas Essssssssss Monson. Took me years to figure out it was David O. McKay, not David O'Mckay. Only new converts who don't know better or disaffected/former church members dare leave out the initial!
But it's not just the old guard turning their initials into part of their title. The younguns are doing it, too. Jeff Holland, former president of BYU (in whose official space I once parked) has morphed into Jeffrey R. Holland. Maybe he always was Jeffrey R., but it seems to me the R. was more aggressively attached after he became a general authority. Or Spencer Condie, my former sociology professor. He's now marketed as Spencer J. (JAY) Condie.
I've seen lesser ranked church leaders do the initial thing, too. I wonder if they feel they MUST use an initial-as-name to be considered upwardly mobile?
If you don't like or use your middle name, why use its initial? I always want to know what hideous name is hiding behind that enigmatic initial.
Recently, the initials-as-substitutional-names makes me think of Eminem. What if all these weirdly monikered old guys rapped their conference talks? Now that I'd tune in for.
Trapped by the Mormons
General Conference was this weekend. I typically avoid broadcasts and print media emanating from SLC because I'm happier that way. However, living with mom and dad and having cable TV made conference inescapable.
I avoided Saturday sessions altogether, thanks to sleeping in and a well-timed shopping trip with the matron of honor. Sunday, I dragged out of bed in time to see the last hour of the first session and the last 30 minutes of the second.
I'm having trouble adjusting to the new conference center. I much prefer the ambiance of the Tabernacle. Now there's greenery behind the podium. Nice ferns and such, but it makes the speakers look like they're on location at OSH's garden center.
I also don't care for the graphics that seem to accompany most talks. Just because you have the technology to show us pictures of flowers poking through the snow, a champion jumping horse named Snowman or a shot of Earth ripped off from the Big Blue Marble, doesn't mean you should use it. What's the value added?
I see the logic in putting long block quotes onto the screen that we'd otherwise doze through, but the rest seems like overkill. Plus the renderings of people--especially Jesus--were just BAD.
Did anyone else see the pic used in the last talk Sunday morning--with the Chuck Norris Jesus emerging from the tomb? I couldn't resist commenting on the resemblance aloud, which cracked up my parents. Yeah, I bet there's a six-shooter under that robe. Someone in Correlation is slacking.
I avoided Saturday sessions altogether, thanks to sleeping in and a well-timed shopping trip with the matron of honor. Sunday, I dragged out of bed in time to see the last hour of the first session and the last 30 minutes of the second.
I'm having trouble adjusting to the new conference center. I much prefer the ambiance of the Tabernacle. Now there's greenery behind the podium. Nice ferns and such, but it makes the speakers look like they're on location at OSH's garden center.
I also don't care for the graphics that seem to accompany most talks. Just because you have the technology to show us pictures of flowers poking through the snow, a champion jumping horse named Snowman or a shot of Earth ripped off from the Big Blue Marble, doesn't mean you should use it. What's the value added?
I see the logic in putting long block quotes onto the screen that we'd otherwise doze through, but the rest seems like overkill. Plus the renderings of people--especially Jesus--were just BAD.
Did anyone else see the pic used in the last talk Sunday morning--with the Chuck Norris Jesus emerging from the tomb? I couldn't resist commenting on the resemblance aloud, which cracked up my parents. Yeah, I bet there's a six-shooter under that robe. Someone in Correlation is slacking.
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