LOLA TAPAS NIGHTSo, the hubby and I are venturing out to a new, cozy, little place called "Lola Tapas." We figure, since we're not that hungry and because it's a wee past dinner time, let's go grab some vino and some tapas!
Here's a restaurant review:
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/articles/0119taste0119.html
The "METRO"It's not the European Metro, it's the METRO in Phoenix.
We're going through an entire branding and identity change at my work. The project formerly known as the Valley Metro Rail is now METRO. So they have been telling us at work that we have to refer to the project as METRO now -
www.valleymetro.orgThere are alot of changes happening at my work too. I turned down a position in the communications department. Their former communications coordinator resigned a few weeks ago and they asked me if I wanted the position. I had to think about this one. But I didn't have to think about it too much, because the manager I would be working for is a scatter-brain and she's 8 months pregnant and the other girl in the department is 8 months pregnant too. So, basically, I would be working in a department that is not well-managed or efficient.
Quite frankly, I love the department I work in. My manager is great, the people are way cool and the board members I deal with on a monthly basis are really great! The Public Involvement portion of this project is pretty neat and I'm still learning alot. The other option right now is taking a position as Area Coordinator for the project - basically, being the main liasion between the community and the METRO project. It's a pretty big task and will be a lot of work (for the same amount of $$$ I'm getting now).....but...I"m still considering this one too. If they offer more $$$, then maybe. But, as the hubby says, "the grass isn't always greener on the other side." I will have to see what happens. I pretty happy where I am now, so I may not even do anything and just stay where I am.
Mia came home! I'm so happy she's home now!!
They call it the "Bel Air" NeighborhoodWe are in our new house now and it feels great! I can finally take a moment to relax, breathe and put things in order when it feels like the right time. I have decided not to go so fast anymore! I feel like my life has been moving at the speed of light lately and now I just want to take it easy! I want to feel like I'm going at the pace of what it's like when I'm in LC. Everyone, everything is "laid back." I've really been thinking more and more about LC and what it would be like if I lived there again. Every time I talk to my family back home, it's harder and harder to say goodbye when I hang up. What did it was last weekend when my sister's called me and said they were taking a walk together and they called me and said, "hey you want to come with us?" Geez! And the other time that REALLLY did it was when I was home for Thanksgiving. I was driving to my brother's house and my heart actually hurt thinking about my family. It happend three times during that trip. I even stopped for a minute to feel it...because it was definitely the feeling of love literally filling my heart. I have never felt such a powerful emotion like that before. I mean, I have...but it was different. It was a feeling that only family can give us. I also think that my biological clock is tick, tick, ticking and that's why I've been so emotional lately. My hairdresser friend told me once that her husband was so frustrated at her because she had been a nervous wreck lately; having bad menstrual cycles, crying and just feeling like a crazy woman! And she finally realized that it was because her body was naturally going through emotions like that because of her hormones. She even had to tell her husband that he needs to understand, she doesn't really have control over it because her body is just at the age where it's ready to have babies!!!!!!!!!!! Not even a few months later, she got pregnant! I sometimes have to tell my hubby that I'm sorry if I'm being hard to handle because i happen to have organs that are internal, NOT external! He laughs, and agrees. He knows there is nothing else to say about that! It's funny, well, not funny, but yesterday was the first time my hubby bought a box of feminine products, or as he calls them, "Tampoons" for me! He really didn't want to do it, but I wasn't AT ALL in any kind of mood to go the store...so he did it for me. Now that's true love!! It also reminded me of the movie, Singles, when he goes to the store to buy his girlfriend a pregnancy test and the clerk (can't remember the actor's name) is striking a conversation with the guy and realizes he just scanned a pregnancy test box and then he completely shuts up. No other words were shared and he bought the stuff and walked right out. Well, being a homeowner is pretty cool. I'm a little bummed tonight though because I let my cat, Mia, outside a couple of nights ago and she hasn't been back yet. She is an indoor / outdoor cat and I have moved so many times in my life with her, but she usually comes back home. She has also done this before and came back about 3 days later. The hubby says it seems a little fishy because the other cat, Hippie, went out the night before we let Mia out and he hasn't been back yet either. He said he noticed there are not very many other cats in the neighborhood either. We will see what happens. I think it's because we're still close to our old neighborhood that they tried to find the old house. Who knows. I just hope they are okay and safe.I better go now. I'm getting sleepy and I just ate a Klondike bar and feeling very content and sleepy. I need to hit the gym again. The holiday tummy needs some cardio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leaving One Home to Another - Chapter 1Well, the new chapter in our lives has begun and we're off! Our humble abode is in shambles with boxes everywhere! We are still packing up the house that treated us so well the past 2 1/2 years. The day has come to say goodbye to the great little bungalow-style home in an historic district so quaint and so sweet.
This was the first home we moved into as a married couple, so the memories will never be forgotten: Friends coming over for dinner and beers, our Valentine's Day / Anniversary gatherings....Family visiting us, squeezing their way through the kitchen at times and sleeping everywhere, everyone sharing 1 bathroom, hanging out in our beautifully landscaped backyard with Agave's and cactus galore, playing ball with our doggie and running him around, watching him bark at all the pigeons on the electric lines, bumping into all the animals in our house (our "boy", Chico, and 3 cats - one whom we decided to adopt) talking to all my neighbors and taking part in the seasonal yard sales and trying to do Yoga in the cramped living room while Chico sniffs and licks my hand and face while i'm on the mat! The days of renting are over....weird. I don't think it's really set in yet that we are actually homeowners now.
The memories will last a lifetime. But the blessings will continue and we're excited to start another new chapter in our lives.
Getting Closer!It seems as though the house fiasco is finally coming to an end.
Maybe.
I don't get my hopes up anymore. I was stressed at first, but now whatever is meant to be, will be. We are supposed to finalize everything with the house tomorrow.
Tomorrow might be the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.
It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas...
This will be the first (and last) Christmas we have at this house. We got our very first Christmas tree from my in-laws yesterday and it looks beautiful. We opened a bottle of Cabernet-Sauvignon, the hubby made a delicious batch of Shephard's Pie with a side of Brussel Sprouts and we went to town with the decorations our parents gave us. The Star Trek ornaments, the gold blimp (from when his Dad was a kid) and the rich maroon ones...they look so special! I got giddy just decorating our very own tree. This will be the first Christmas we have together in our own house, as husband and wife. So special. My brother and his family will be here this year too. Even more special. I can't wait. Like my mom said, "it's the end of a memory at your house now, but the beginning of new traditions at a new home."
When that time comes - and when the whole house fiasco ends, it
will be time to start new traditions. New report on the house soon...
Here is my 1920's Name (I really like the name - I'll have to remember this one)...
| Your 1920's Name is: |
 Mozelle Freda |
It's Tough Buying a House
They say buying a house is one of the most stressful experiences in life. I'm living it now. Driving around every weekend looking for houses, calling a realtor (who is a friend from a former job), calling a loan officer (who is a friend of my husband's), explaining how the house is to family, searching MLS listings, making phone calls, reading the inspector's report, filling out applications, searching for every piece of paper known to man for the loan....the list goes on. And anyone else who has had to buy a house can relate, I'm sure.
Sometimes I even wonder if it's all worth it. But, it is worth it. I hope.
I'm learning a lot. I'm learning how to be patient, how to handle stress, how to ask all the right questions and most importantly, how to communicate effectively with everyone involved. My husband has been so calm through this all. Thank goodness one of us is. He's my strength and knows how to alleviate my stress.
And...I get to spend 5 days at home which will be nice.
Happy Thanksgiving!
