The big update

Wow, so the deal is actually materializing. We are moving out, and up, and closer to work and to a residential area. Check, check and check. Verbal agreement turned into paper, turned into verbal acceptance of counter offer, along with sale of their own home actually happening which turns into this deal actually being for real. Now we wait for a few initials here and there, and it's all set into motion.

Of course I am too superstitious to throw a party just yet - appraisers and attorneys and banks all have to do their things without encountering any serious obstacles first...then, once we have identified both closing dates, we can get silly.

Here's how I foresee it (hopefully) happening: we close on the new house approximately end of September, then about 3 weeks later, we close on this house. This allows a nice chunk of time to make the move less stressful, as well as the enormous relief that we won't be carrying 2 mortgages until who-knows-when.

And now, a pictorial summary of our housing since we were married in 2002:

Our apartment in Oneonta (formerly Tim's icky bachelor pad) is now seasonal rentals for the local summer tourist attractions - I was so happy to find this site because the only snapshots I have of the place were pre-digital and I am waaaaay too lazy to scan. It's the same landlord, and I am pleased to see she kept some of the same colors we painted. It's looking cute (despite those window treatments). Ah, those were fun days. We really got that place spruced up. Rent was cheap. The place had issues, but for the time, it was great. We had the downstairs apartment(pictured first).

On December 30, 2003, we closed on our first and current home. It used to look like this on the outside, and we shan't speak of the wallpaper and other horrors inside:

We have re-done every thing since - every room inside, and everything outside, and in between. I'm not exaggerating one bit:



And soon, we will be living here - in a brand new, cape-cod style (love), open plan custom contemporary with wrap around deck on a gated 1 acre lot. Gated, as in enclosed with fence all around, with gates and stone entry pillars and sidewalks. And a gazebo. With power. I'm sorry, what? No, that's right. You read that right (I'm talking to myself here too - I have to say that over and over and I still hardly believe it). Some of the features are insanely custom (= quirky), but the finish quality of it all more than makes up for it. And have I mentioned we are getting a very good deal?

Note there are a few steps down and more sidewalk right where Tim and Sam are standing (they're not actually giants compared to the house). The building to the right is the garage, and the gazebo is behind the house. Yes, the garage has its own little matching deck. A little strange, but cute. That's the sort of thing I mean with insanely custom - I would have just opted for a bigger garage. Who knows. Might be a good spot for a band though. You can also make out a small section of white fencing to the left, behind the house.
Well, I'm exhausted. Tim is at a poker game. Sam finally fell asleep (he took a long nap at preschool so he was bound to be a late bird tonight).
Keep us in your thoughts in the coming week, in hopes that everything will continue to go somewhat smoothly...

Rushed summary with no humor or sarcasm

Lately I feel like time runs out on me every day. What worries me most is that I'm not even indulging in my usual procrastination, making it kind of ridiculous to blame myself. Much of it has to do with my job, which, at times, is unbearably busy and I feel guilty that I am not doing work on weekends. Yuck.

I really needed a quick getaway. This weekend Tim and I used up the remaining 6 of our Comic Strip Live tickets (our first trip is another story). We had invited both my brothers and their girlfriends, but in the end, my youngest brother wasn't able to go, so I offered the tickets last minute to 2 old friends who are in the NYC area. We all knew one another in college, and I hadn't seen one in 5 years, the other in 10 years, and the two of them hadn't seen one another in nearly 10 years as well...so it worked out to be a nice little impromptu reunion.

We had a great meal at a french bistro on the Upper East Side before the show. The show itself was very funny - we saw Judah Friedlander (of 30 Rock) as well as Chuck Nice and Sherrod Small (you might remember then from Best Week Ever if you were into that). After, we were all pretty beat and went our separate ways. We are so old and weak. Tim and I stayed midtown and slept in.

The next day, we sort of killed some time having a late (very late) breakfast, and met Alex and his girlfriend Melissa again at the Museum of Modern Art. We had tickets to the Tim Burton exhibit (which ends this month). That was really quite good, and I'm glad I caught it.

We headed back to Grand Central in the late afternoon and had dinner with my parents (Sam was with them over that past 24 hour period, in case you were wondering). We were going to spend Sunday night at my grandparents, but, aching for our own bed made us decide to just drive home. We got in about midnight last night.

We also have a new kitten, who thanks to a couple of visits from my friend Allison, did not die of loneliness or hunger in our absence.

So clearly, I owe you a couple of better organized posts here, but I just wanted you to know what was up in the meantime.

Peace out, ass clowns.

Marker tip

Look at the awesome markers Uncle Alex gave Sammy!

It's nice to see something beyond one creepy standard 'flesh tone'.

Colors of My Friends - Nice!

Cheers

Give three cheers for all of the good things that have transpired in my life over the past week, starting with the most important first.

1. My new position at work was approved to be full time! If you didn't know, I had been half time for well over a year (our decision). We knew that eventually, once the financial reality of it hit us, I'd have to go back to full time, but figured whatever extra time I could have at home with Sam was worth the short term strains. This past November, my position was essentially cut due to the state's budget crisis, but thankfully, in the same breath, I was asked to take another half time position that was expected to be fully funded within six months - and it has in just 2 months!

I feel fortunate because it's still an 11 month out of the year position, I actually LIKE it a lot and am a real official Academic Advisor, which I had been working toward. I like the department chair (my new boss), and considering the current economic climate, I'm darn lucky to have what I have.

Besides all that, this enables Tim to finally quit his silly part time job, which had become a complete nuisance to us all. While I will deeply miss spending all that time with Sam, we'll have more time together as a family, and we'll be making more money. I'd call that a good shift.

2. I found 2 pairs of fabulous, butt-tastic (to me this means butt-minimizing) jeans in one brief shopping trip! Can you imagine?? I can finally retire the shredded, stained pairs I'd been sporting.

3. Our new coffeemaker - top rated on Consumer Reports (you know I do my homework). Sells for between 80 and 100, we got it for $64. Our old one was just a wreck. Isn't our new one all classy and fine?

4. We decided to finally buy the mother of all small kitchen appliances - the Kitchen Aid stand mixer. It was always on the fringes of my cooking consciousness, and it remained there because of the $300+ price tag and the fact that I don't bake very much. When trusty cooking types told me that it was oh-so-much-more than a baking tool, I paid more attention.

Tim was always a fan, I'm guessing because it's got wattage being cranked out by like an engine or something, so he didn't need convincing. I also suspect that he's thinking he'll get more home made desserts this way. Maybe, but more importantly, I'm fascinated by the dough hook for my pizza and bread.

But you know me, I can't spend the typical going rate. To do so would probably make me break out in hives. So we started watching. The 325-watt Artisan series seemed to suit our needs and is very well rated, and occasionally, Amazon runs specials for $249 or even as low as $229, but only on the basic colors - black, red, white. So we kept on. At the moment, my favorite color is Boysenberry, but that never goes on sale. Sigh. Note that a nice color is important to me because it would have to sit out on our counter top - I have no convenient place to store it. Black would be ok, but just ok, not sassy and sexy. You know? Yea.

Yesterday we were in Binghamton. We went to Kohls (were I found the jeans, by the way), and they were having a CLOSEOUT on the Kitchen Aid Artisan series mixer in Cobalt. I like Cobalt, but it wasn't my favorite, but the closeout price of $179 was making it my total fave. Then, to our disappointment, they didn't have any left. We offered to take the floor model (for an additional 10% off), but when they couldn't find the box and the paddle and whisk, we said never mind.

After we got home, we decided to find out if they could check other stores for the same deal. The Kohls in Horseheads has one sealed in a box, and they are shipping it to Binghamton. When it arrives, it is being set aside for us and we'll be able to pick it up for $179...but there's more good news...Kitchen Aid is offering a $30 manufacturer rebate until March. Yep. ONE FITTY is my final price. I love it. Like Jill would say, "I win."

So when I get the thing, I'll post a pic of it in its new home, and I'll tell you all about my first experiments with it.

Royal Dork

Happy 2009!

Tim and I had a quiet eve on the 31st. Sam was in bed by 8, and we watched M. Knight Shyamalan's The Happening. Though it was a little rough around the edges (mostly in dialogue), it had a good sense of creepiness and a unique plot, so we liked it. Plus, you know, Mark Wahlberg. I realize that's a fragment.

We had planned to stay up to watch the ball drop, so we tuned into CNN around 10. They stuck Anderson Cooper with Kathy Griffin in Times Square. It was funny to watch him squirm at her dumb jokes. It also looks like she's gradually morphing into Joan Rivers. Anyhow, they cut to their correspondent in Las Vegas, who talked about the events planned for the strip, and mentioned that Coolio and Fergie would be there soon.

I turned to Tim and said, "Fergie? And Coolio? That's odd." Tim just looked at me blankly. "I mean, why would the Dutchess of York turn up with Coolio in Las Vegas?" Another blank stare, then he said, "What are you talking about? Who's this Dutchess of York?" I said, "Um, you know, Sarah Ferguson! Fergie? The Dutchess of York? Oh, wait, maybe she's there to promote Weight Watchers for New Year's resolutions!"

Then I saw the look. I've talked about the look before: Mockery and a little pity, with a good dose of omg. He chuckled, "You're an idiot. Not that Fergie. The other Fergie. You know!" I had no idea still, and he said, "From the Black Eyed Peas!" Ohhhhh. OK. Now that makes more sense.

Personally, I'd rather see the Dutchess, so, whatevs. But we had a good laugh at my out-of-touch expense. At precisely 11:08, I called it a night and we went to bed. I asked him to give me a New Year's kiss first thing in the morning, but a little after midnight, he remembered and kissed me (awww).

Hall of Fame

Thursday evening we took Sam to O-State's community Halloween event - they invite local families to a kids oriented carnival and then escort them through a number of residence halls for trick or treating. Since Tim and I are obviously familiar with campus, we went off on our own, unescorted. We're crazy like that.

I wanted to visit Ford Hall, where I was the director from 1999-2001. It was renovated shortly after I left (that's always the way it goes), and I was curious about the changes. Apparently we were the first family there; as we approached the entrance, a group of students showered us with attention. They discussed who would escort us around, and were having some difficulty deciding on the best route. "Should I tell them?" I asked Tim. He just shrugged. I cleared my throat, "I used to be the hall director here, I know my way around - we can go on our own." Blank stares. A half nod in the back. I think someone said, "Aw." Aw? That's it?? Did they hear me right? I was once virtually Numero Uno in this place...hello? Don't you want to know about all the stories and wisdom and observations I have to impart on you? Why are you not all buzzing around me?

A bespectacled girl came forward and preceded to lead our way. She was pleasant enough, but I wondered...is she just waiting to get me away from the group to ask me all about my past tenure?

I made observations as we walked through the building. The layout was actually a little more complex than I remembered, but of course I didn't admit that. Shh. I asked her if she was a Resident Assistant in the building, hoping to flatter her, to make her feel like it was now ok for her to show her regard for me..."Nope. Hall Government." She chirped happily, and went on to explain how Hall Government helps to plan out the event. As if this was new information to me.
"The sisal on the wall is nice." I said. Wow, at least Sam is having a good time.

We went down another level and she announced the ground floor. "Ah, the Pit," I said knowingly, "or as Res Life would like us to say, the Garden Level." Silence. Come on, that was funny. Tim? Nothing. E tu, Sam? Ugh.

On our way back up I pointed out that they'd re-treaded the stairs. "Really?" she said flatly. I suppose that wasn't so impressive to her. But they really did look better.

Sam did a great job - he said trick or treat and thank you to most of the students, but toward the end, he was more interested in his bounty than making his way out of the building with us.

We thanked spectacles. Oh look, new carpet in the lounge. Sigh.

Back in the car Tim asked me what's wrong with me. That's the dumbest question, isn't it? Nothing and everything, clearly. "Re-treaded stairs, Cristina? Really? Who points that out? Do you think they care?" OK, so maybe he had a point. We laughed. Maybe if I put myself in their shoes, I wouldn't be awestruck by some old dorky director popping in either, as if they were a celebrity. But for a few minutes, I thought maybe, just maybe, I had some kind of a mystical legacy to the residents of a coed state dorm. Everyone wants to be a little bit famous in their own circles.

Lyrical Gangsta

I'm not sure what exactly a lyrical gangsta does, but I think I would like to be one for a day. For solely sheer reminiscing pleasure, here's some of the worst lyrics ever recorded. They're so awful, they're good. Just try to come up with something more fabulously lame.

I'm as serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer.
-Snap!

The west is the best.
-The Doors
*Yea, I know, shame on me for making fun of The Doors. But really, Jim? That line wasn't much of a stretch.

There's not a woman that can handle a man like me - that's why I juggle two or three.
-Gerardo (Rico Suave)

And everything is to the back, with a little slack, and inside out is wiggida wiggida wiggida wack!
-Kriss Kross

Get out of my dreams...get into my car. Touch my bumper, baby let's make a deal.
-Billy Ocean

So your girlfriend rolls a Honda, playin workout tapes by Fonda...but Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda. My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun. You can do sidebends or situps, but please don't lose that butt.
-Sir Mixalot
This song holds a special place in my heart. And on my butt.

Feel free to add on your favorites.

Blogger's Block II: Cold & Icy

Wow, my career would be in jeopardy if I wrote for a living. After a warm and fuzzy piece like my last entry, I feel a little drained in the membrane. Hey, I just saw Cypress Hill on VH1. They're still around, and just as their likeness on that priceless Simpsons episode, they still look toasted. Nicely toasted.

Oh, and about this warm and fuzzy business: don't be fooled, I'm as chilly and mean as ever. I simply had an unexpected moment of chick-flicky weakness. It happens. Back when I was working in res life, my colleagues made fun of me for unabashedly loathing the part of our weekly staff meeting where our director had us go around the table and describe any good, bad, or stressful events of our week. Really, that wasn't so terrible, but what I found nauseating was that he would then single out the director he felt had the 'toughest' week and passed them this sad little teddy bear, aka the Warm Fuzzy, to hold on to until the next meeting. Why not just cradle and burp us? I mean, really. I made certain I never had it in my possession. If I had been awarded Mr. Warm Fuzzy, he certainly would have suffered an unfortunate freak accident and not made it back.

During one meeting, Beth and Allison remarked that should my week ever be deemed the toughest, an ice cube would be an appropriate token, because in contrast to the Warm Fuzzy, I'm Cold and Icy. That's when I knew those girls could be trusted.

Blogger's Block.

A dozen weird little things about me:

1. I 'smooth' my eyebrows countless times a day. Can't even handle the mere thought that an eyebrow hair might be out of place.

2. Watch out, I'll smooth yours too if they're in disarray. I'll hold you down and tweeze if I have to.

3. I like to peel off the crimped borders on adhesive postage stamp books and wrap them around my fingers like fabulous rings.

4. Fascinated by the wash cycle in a top loader. I used to open it up a couple times during a cycle to watch the clothes slosh around. We have a front loader now. Sigh.

5. Can't shuffle cards.

6. Possess uncommonly good color memory.

7. I often start reading magazines from the back.

8. I had a nose piercing for about a month in 1996. Took it out after mom cried over it.

9. I smell Sam all day. Sometimes it's a diaper check, but mostly it's just to smell him because his skin and hair have the best scent in the world. I'd guess other moms do this too though. Anyone?

10. This girl sings poorly. Very. Poorly.

11. When I'm on the treadmill (and listening to music) some songs make me daydream that I'm a cool rock star chick in an even cooler band. It could happen. I didn't say I'd be the singer.

12. My friend Alethea and I once fashioned a real mobile out of York Peppermint Patty wrappers. It was awesome.

Back the fig up.

A Freshman Interest Group (or a FIG) used to refer to a sort of living-learning group among college freshmen - they were housed together according to major, participated in the same activities, and so on. They also had sweet, mealy flesh and were often dried. The whole point was for them to bond outside of the classroom in hopes of increasing academic performance and retention, or something like that. Blah blah blah.
During the summer of 99..or maybe 00, my sworn enemy Allison and I were employed, or rather enslaved, by the Residence Life & Housing office to process room assignments. As we were working with the FIG applications, we amused ourselves by using the word fig every chance we got.
Don't fig that up. Where the fig did you go? Oh for fig's sake. And my favorite, back the fig up - as in, quit your talking and get out of the way. now. fool. It's best said with a combination of contempt and annoyance.

If that's not even mildly funny to you, then I'm sorry, you're probably one of those people that finds joy in endless data entry and can't understand the necessity of creative distraction to just get through. You may as well stop reading now.

Spending a summer stamping and filing stacks of cards at a shared desk in a tiny, windowless room bathed in fluorescent light will drive any dynamic duo to despair. We replaced our director's office light switch cover with a comically oversize prop one (we're talking like 10x14). I think it was from a dollar store. They're hard to find, so if you see one, buy it. Everyone should have one.
We strung paper stars with our names on them from above his desk, just to remind him of who the stars on staff really were. The stars stayed because he loved it. Or maybe he was just lazy. Sigh. Why can't work be that fun now? And what does all this have to do with figs? It's a little roundabout, but here's the connection:

Last night Tim noticed that our PC was doing odd things, and in particular, when we used a search engine, it would jump us to strange sites. We finally figured it was a Trojan horse type virus, or a redirect virus. Whatever. I just updated our Norton suite a couple of weeks back (it was expired since 2006!), but apparently, that's useless with this type of thing. I buckled down for the eve and started to back up our pictures and important files and I thought, "I gotta back this all up...Back it the fig up."

And that's how I remembered the beloved Freshman Interest Groups and my budding friendship with Allison.

I tried to download programs to fix the problem, but this particular virus would not let me get to any of the sites like mcafee, trendmicro, malwarebytes, and so on - even if I typed it in directly. The virus would just redirect me to some freak ad site. Aaaargh. I thought we were doomed and would have to call someone. Remember I mentioned that every once in a while Tim is kind of quick and smart? While he was out constable-izing, he dropped into town hall and downloaded four of the most recommended fixes onto his jump drive. We plugged it in this morning and the first one fixed everything. AND, now I have current photo back ups.

"I didn't even have to use my A-K. I gotta say it was a good day."
-Ice Cube

Thanks, Ice. That's pretty much how I feel today.
Oh, and for any old school fans - Ice Cube will be at Magic City Music Hall in Johnson City tonight. Sadly, I won't be. Maybe I'll watch Boyz n the Hood instead.