i want life in every word

So imthelobster and I went to visit hope_guides_me over the weekend, which was so much fun. We just hung around and played games and chilled. Someone else actually wanted to play Monopoly! That never happens. Mostly, though, it was just awesome to finally meet Crystal. ♥ Her kids, by the way? The most freaking polite, well-behaved, and sweet boys ever. I still don't want kids, but if I did, I would want kids like hers!

Now it's back to the real world... James and I are planning on trying to sell our place in the very, very near future, so the plan is to do as much work as possible in the next week or two in order to be able to actually list it and show it and such. I'm really hopeful that we'll be able to sell quickly, but we'll see how it goes. It would be so nice to be out of this place, though... I'm sick of owning.

Today, though, the plan is to get myself ready for an interview tomorrow... I've lost two, almost three, pant sizes since the last time I bought something appropriate for interviewing in. This is both good and bad: I'm thrilled with my weight loss, but damn if I don't hate clothes shopping! But fluffymaru is gonna come with me to the mall (I have a gift card to Sears, so may was well use it for this) so we should be able to have a good time despite the clothes shopping bit :)

I have a new banner on my journal for the first time in a while, courtesy of imthelobster. It makes me happy. ♥

I also just finished rereading The Lies of Locke Lamora a couple days ago, and am in the process of rereading Red Seas Under Red Skies now, which also makes me happy. I love these books so ridiculously, I don't even know. I NEED The Republic of Thieves NOOOOOW.

In other exciting (at least to me) news: The curtains I bought for my living room and kitchen a year ago are FINALLY up! Also, we have a dining room table now, so if we ever wanted people over for dinner, you know, we could do that. AMAZING. I really should take pictures, though. It makes a huge difference... I like the house a lot better with these small changes.

This roof crap has turned into an even bigger pain in the ass than originally anticipated -- and considering I am replacing the whole frickin roof, I anticipated a lot. We decided to go with the first guy who gave us an estimate (we got three), cause it seemed pretty straightforward... until his boss came out to give us a new estimate, $350 more than the original. To cover "wood costs". WTF. First of all, we were told it was included in the first estimate ANYWAY, and second of all, just no. No way does wood cost that much, even if the whole roof needs it. Ugh, I hate people trying to screw me.

Anyway, I got another guy called up, and he came by today to give me the formal written estimate and whatnot. Magically, it matches what he originally told me! Wow, what a concept. Anyway, we're going with really light shingles, and the work should actually be started early next week. Thank God... and I'm sure imthelobster will be ridiculously happy to have his office back.

In better and more exciting news, imthelobster and I are going away to the beach this weekend, to celebrate our two year anniversary. ♥ I feel really lucky to be with him, you guys. I'm so looking forward to this weekend away, too... just away from work, and this house, and everything, and we can just relax and have some fun together and not worry about anything for a little bit. I really need it; I think we both do.

It's that time again... time to be reminded that I am horribly ignoring my journal these days. :P (I still do pretty well with reading, though! Not with commenting, but still...)

Yesterday, I went to this community market downtown with barbed_whispers. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was unexpectedly awesome. I got some soap for my new place, that I totally admit is pretty much just for decorative purposes, but still. barbed_whispers bought me some really yummy fresh juice, and I think I will continue going to this market just for the juice. No, seriously.

There was also a set of coasters I really liked but didn't match anything I have well and also were kind of expensive, so I passed. Not sure I'll be able to pass on them if I see them again, though, tbqh.

Everything with the house is going well. The contractor should be done in there tomorrow or Monday, I believe, which is super exciting. When he's done I just have to get my dad to go through and do some minor electrical stuff, and then we can move in! I haven't gone to see it while he's in the process of painting etc, so I'm super excited to see what it looks like when he's done. Hopefully I don't end up hating the colors we chose, hahaha.

Ugh, I think barbed_whispers makes it her lifes work to nudge me WHENEVER POSSIBLE. I was even going to update tonight anyway. :P

I have pictures of my new house! Which I have closed on! And is MIIIINE!!! This is all pre-painting / getting minor work done, but STILL.

Hopefully these won't be ridiculously large...

( pictures under hereeeee )

There's more pictures here, if anyone is interested in seeing them. :) Of course I'll have even more pictures when the house is all pretty-fied with colors I actually LIKE.

Met with a contractor today about painting the place, getting new kitchen countertops, and doing the few minor repairs that need to be done. It's gonna cost almost exactly what we were estimating, which is good because it means it's affordable. :P
Actually, we were estimating high, because I was originally estimating cost without including countertops for the kitchen, so that's pretty much excellent.

But OMG I am exhausted. Closed yesterday, met with contractor today, had to get insurance/power/water set up, run to the post office about the mailbox key, fight with my bank (because they are OH SO excellent wtf)... not to mention closing at work both days. I just want to sleep for a week now.

Okay, so. imthelobster made a post about it, but now I'm going to, because... omg.

I AM BUYING A PLACE.

Do you have any idea how terrifying this is? I'm not sure I'm ready to be a grown up (even though my parents say I've been one for a while, psh.) I'm not sure I'm ready to own anything like this. (I'm not sure what this means about being stuck in Orlando, at least for a while longer than I originally thought/planned.)

vnsdkvkl ahhh.

I took the downpayment over this morning, and if all goes right I should be closing a week from today. Living there by the end of June / early July.

I'm just... so in shock, and so excited. It's close to work, it's nice, and... it's mine. Or, it will be. Really soon.

I CAN PAINT IT HOWEVER I WANT. (okay, no, seriously. I am more excited about this than I probably should be. COLOR SCHEMES, YOU GUYS. cndsjklvnklsdnbvl.)

I keep getting randomly spazzy. And I really wish I had pictures to post right now, but... I don't. Because I kind of fail that way, since I had a damn camera with me (two, if you count my cell phone as one) and didn't take a single shot of the place. wth, self.

So... yeah. omg. ::flails::