Little House, Big House

I'm going to ignore the fact that I haven't been posting and chat about the most exciting news in my life. As of last week, Chancho and I started looking at houses. To buy. Together. Yes, we're making that big step and are going to move in together. I still have the shocked look on my face. Last week, while he was doing an overnight, I was home, up late trying to stay up to keep him company as he was out on foot patrol by himself. That's never a good thing. My mind wonders, and my imagination grows as I'm searching through the vast world of the internet and that night, I stumbled upon a listing of foreclosed homes. I thought to myself that it couldn't hurt to take a peak. So, I did. That peak turned into a full on search of homes in our area. I found about 4 that sounded really good and I mentioned it to Chancho. I never in a million years thought that his response back to my text of "Wanna move into this house? It's selling for $289,000" would be: "Sure!". Completely thrown off by that, I took a minute, gathered myself and then asked again "Are you sure, sure? Or are you fooling with me?". Again, he responded with "I'm positive."
The following day we looked over a few homes, put out a Help Us cry to our friends who may have dealt with Foreclosed homes, seeing how we had no clue what was coming our way. (We didn't get a response back from anyone) I did a few drive-bys of the houses that we liked in town and from there we were able to eliminate a few of the houses. Since we're clueless about buying a home, we figured we should contact an Agent and that's where we're at now. We've told Wendy what we're interested in and she's off searching for us.
I still can't believe that this is something that is happening. I probably won't believe it until our names are signed and we're moving in, but it is at least a step in a direction that I've been waiting for, for a very long time. We've always said that we would need to live together before we got married. A mutual agreement to make sure that we could live together. And we also decided that we would want to buy a house, rather than renting because A.) we have to live in this area, we won't be moving due to his job and B.) we'd rather put our money towards something we own rather than putting it towards a place that we can't show for after all of those checks are written.
Now we just need to find the right place for the right price! Does anyone have any tips, suggestions or advice about buying a foreclosed/bank owned house??

Quote of the Day: “Life is all about timing...the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable...attainable. Have the patience, wait it out.” - Stacey Charter
Listening to: "Man In The Mirror" by Michael Jackson

Same Kind of Different as Me

I did not expect myself to like this book. In fact, I read a few pages and put it down. However, I found myself thinking about the characters a few weeks later, so I picked it up again. Ron Hall & Denver Moore shared their moving stories in Same Kind of Different As Me. It's a book about two men who find themselves needing each other more than they know. It provides you with life lessons from a modern-day slave and an international art dealer. I suggest you pick up a box of tissues, which I didn't think I would need, but found myself using half a box. There's so much inside of this book to inspire an army with faith, friendship, love and compassion. You'll be taken through both of their lives, experiencing hardships and ultimately finding life changing friendship. Pick the book up, you won't be upset that you did.

False Alarm

That phone call from the unknown number....NOT from the company I wanted. It was a wrong number. The phone call that I was shaking over, biting my nails, going crazy over? Yeah, that one, it never came. They stood me up. I attempted to contact them, but it was just a recording and I needed an extension to leave a message. I never got an extension. Therefore, I sent out an email. I'm not sure if it's going to get to where it's supposed to go, but hopefully it does.
I'm really bummed out. I was overly excited and ready for this. I thought I had this job already and that was probably my problem in the first place. I always jump before I take a step and get thoughts in my head that shouldn't even be there. I took a nap, ate dinner and then went for ice cream to soothe my disappointment. Tomorrow is a new day and maybe there'll be something better out there for me. Even if there isn't something tomorrow, it will come with due time. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Quote of the Day: "Rejection is a word, fear of rejection is a feeling, overcoming fear of rejection is an action, and actions speak louder than words."
Listening to:  "Crazy Dreams" by Carrie Underwood

I May Throw Up

I know today is Tuesday and I usually do Tuesday Tips, but I'm so freakin nervous right now. I'm sorta shaking. In about 20 minutes I'll be having a phone interview with a company that I would love to work for. It's a part time job that would pay great and let you make your own hours. It would be perfect for me. I would still be able to work at The Container Store and still make better money. Which would ultimately get me to my moving out goal. I know I'm qualified for the job, very qualified and confident that I can do the job, but yet, I've been on so many interviews and have gotten turned down so often that I'm lacking confidence in the getting hired part. Just so incredibly nerve wracking right now. Yet, this seems to be doing the trick at keeping my stomach out of my throat.

Chancho, however, is counting down the days for his nervous beginning of grad school. He's decided to go back to school for Engineering thanks to the NYPD paying for his tuition. He'll start this August. He's going to be juggling the classes on his day off. I'm proud of him for continuing his education, looking into the future for when he retires and how this will help him out if he decides he wants to work more.

The phone has started ringing and the caller ID shows an unknown number......here goes nothin!

Here it is!

This is what you can catch me ridin around town in. Nothing too special, but it's got wheels and will get me wherever I want to go. I'll be heading to my brother's some time in the near future to get all the details inspected and make sure it's in great working order. This Monday I'll be going to get it registered for New York.
Now that I have my own car, I'm thinking of all the places I can go and the top one is a visit back to Fredonia. I've been dying to get back there. I just have to find the time now. I'll probably head up there around September or October before the real snow starts falling again. Still very excited about this.

Another note, I have a phone interview on Tuesday for a job that I'm super excited about. I really hope this one comes through. If it does, I'll be unbelievably happy. Today at work I got cut by a strap on a box. I thought for a good half hour that I might need stitches because it wouldn't stop bleeding, but I finally got it under control and it seems to be holding up just fine.

Now I'm off to Best Buy to find some CDs that will actually play in my CD player in the car. Only half of my burnt CDs play and the ones that don't, seem to be the best ones. Go figure.

Quote of the Day: "The most successful people are those who are good at plan B" - James Yorke
Listening to: "Life After You" by Daughtry

Exciting News

I believe it's been 3 years since I got my license, but 7 years since I started actually driving. I started my driving adventures in a Mercury Sable wagon. That was interesting as it was huge in my eyes, but it didn't last long as it was totaled in an accident on an Easter drive to Long Island. Then we switched over to a Honda CR-V. That has been my main source of freedom, if you wanna call it that. I have enjoyed the car so much, but I am proud to say that I have finally purchased my first car. My own car. I'm no longer using my parents, Chancho's or any coworkers cars! I got it on the 14th.
It all started after Chancho got back from Peru. I had the privilege of driving his cars around while he was away, then I had my parents car for a week while they were on their cruise and then right after that I had a coworkers car for 2 weeks. So this was the first week that I didn't have a car in about 2 months. I couldn't do it anymore. I had a taste of freedom, I needed to have it all the time. So I spoke to Chancho and said this is something that needs to be done this week. While I was at work, he took the time to find some cars that were in my price range and made appointments for me. Then Wed we both had the day off and took off to the appointments. The first one was great. It was a 2000 Nissan Sentra with 110k miles and it drove great, was in excellent condition. I wanted it. I was going to buy it, but we had a few other cars to look at first so we said that we'd be in touch. From there we headed over to see a Dodge Neon. It had over 100k miles on it and it was not in great condition. It rattled like hell and it sounded like a train. The outside was nice though. The guy was selling it for a mere 1900 and negotiable. He's moving to China in August so wants it gone fast. I felt really bad, but didn't take the car. After that, we traveled to dirty Jersey and met a guy who was selling his girlfriends car, a 2002 Nissan Sentra, which only had 61k miles on it. It was in excellent condition, ran great and the price was negotiable. Chancho and I chatted it over and well I bought it! I told the guy I had cash on me and we offered him a price and he took it. We probably could have went lower because we had cash, but it is what it is. Chancho drove it home and I've been driving it ever since! I'm unbelievably happy. I haven't stopped smiling since I got it. I've waited a long time for this and I've finally taken the plunge. One goal can be checked off, and on to the next.
No pictures quite yet, so I will post them as soon as I get the chance to take them. I've been working non stop so I don't have the free time to get good quality pictures. I'm currently babysitting buster, while Chancho goes to get it inspected and to the DMV to get the title changed over and registered under my name. He's such a wonderful boyfriend :)

Quote of the Day: "God can’t hand you something new until you let go of what you’re holding."
Listening to: "Shark in the Water" by V V Brown

I'm Still Alive

Just took a few weeks, days off of posting. I got caught up in life. I can't believe it's already the middle of July.
Quick recap:

• Chancho's bday went off without a problem. He had the day off so he was a tad hung over from partying with the coworkers the night before, but we were up and at the Yankee game without a problem. They won so he took it as a great gift. We went out that night with our friends, but he was still not liking the sight or smell of alcohol. It was an early night to say the least. 
• Visited my sister and BIL July 3rd for the UFC fight. We stopped in at Harold's deli, but not before visiting every single Harold's. We didn't have the correct address to begin with so we stopped in at everyone, every time we glanced at one another going "This doesn't look familiar." Then we'd punch in Harold's to the GPS again and find the next one. Needless to say we still made it on time, even a few minutes early. This was the eclair that I had for dessert. It lasted for about 2 weeks.

•  July 4th, we had our family BBQ. It went really well. It was German themed so we had all the usual, bratwurst, weisswurst, 3 bean salad, German potato salad, and tons more. Our place mats were from when we were kids and they were games in German. We also celebrated Father's day, we gave him a hitch for his truck. I think he may have shed a tear of gratefulness. It was a true surprise. Later in the evening, my brother brought out a few toys (a rifle and pistol). I heard the gun shots in the basement and snuck down to see what was going on and got to shoot both. I didn't do too shabby. I at least made it in the inner circles of the target. 
• I went to visit my grandmother who has been put into a nursing home for the next month for her breathing condition. Her oxygen level is at 50 and it's supposed to be at 90. She's slowly but surely getting better with every day. While we were there, they had a "picnic" for the patients. We were invited to join them all in the great dining area. They had hamburgers and hot dogs with baked beans and pickles. It was hilarious sitting across from a table of older men. They just said whatever was on their mind, not a care in the world. I hope that when I get to be in my upper 80s and 90s that I still have a sharp mind. 
• It's been crazy hot out. Upper 90s for the past 2 weeks. Thankfully I work in an air conditioned store. Speaking of which, they've cut my hours a bit, but I'm still surviving. I have been babysitting a lot. I practically moved in with the family this past weekend. They have a pool, that has become my best friend. The little guy has taken up walking and loves it! I call it the zombie walk because he has his hands outstretched to keep his balance as he walks around. 
• Finally, tonight Chancho has set up an appointment for us to go look at a car for me! It's a volkswagon passat. It's owned by an older couple so I'm hoping it's a good find. I'd like to have a car to call my own by the end of this month. Fingers are crossed! 

Quote of the day: “Life is all about timing...the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable...attainable. Have the patience, wait it out.” - Stacey Charter
Listening to: "Getting Over You" by David Guetta & Chris Willis ft. Fergie & LMAO