Friday, May 21, 2004
Never shit where you eat.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
The call came in as I was leaving work last night. Edith, the Development Director at Mama's Kitchen, wrote to ask if anyone from the board could attend the grand opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Kearny Mesa Wednesday morning. I've accepted checks for our organization at a the Viejas Casino and the Lion's Club monthly dinner. Both involved much self-important talk about how important giving back to the community is and how as Americans (there is invariably a patriotic plea in every philanthropic event these days) it is our duty to support the organizations that support the poor, the sick and the needy. What could I do but accept. I jumped right on the opportunity to jump into a suit, shake hands and receive a supersized check from Fortune's "Most Admired Company" for two years running.If you buy me a drink, I'll tell you about the bejeweled pageant beauty, the walking Oreo cookie, the throngs of awaiting bargain hunters, the teary confessions of an over-worked store manager, and a two flag salute to this great land from laughing-on-the-inside-while-trying-not-to-laugh-on-the-outside junior ROTC from Madison High School.
Dear Wal-Mart. I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast today. On behalf of the 400 men, women and children we help live with AIDS in dignity, on behalf of the 700 volunteers who help our 11 staff do the daily work of bringing meals to their doors, and on behalf of the board members whom have proved to me that honor is in the good work outside of work, I thank you for your donation. Welcome to San Diego.
Monday, May 17, 2004
We close escrow on August 17, 2004. We move in shortly thereafter. I'm looking forward to moving out primarily. In our current place I watch too much cable TV. Since we won't be able to afford HBO, I'll be happily diving back into entertainment of the literarly ilk. Maybe I'll begin to refine my craft as a result.Steph and I signed our contract with the home builder on Saturday. There's no backing out. Our downpayment is spoken for, all but cashed. My banker on Friday assured me over the phone that we were pre-approved. Seeing it in writing will be a huge weight off my shoulders.
Went to the gym this morning with Jorge. I've been keeping up on my cardio, but this was the first wieght training I've done it two weeks. Jorge and I are working on his new workout plan. Either I've strained some muscles or I'm sleeping poorly due to the necessary pause between signing my life away and living it.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
You could say I miss you. I miss you all. I knew I would. And that's why I'm keeping this blog.Over the next few months -- up to our arrival to the reunion -- I'll be posting my thoughts on the last ten years of my life in the context of the AC 92-94 reunion. Kathryn emailed us last week. 20 of us have registered for the reunion weekend. The other 160 presumably suffering the same want as I; wishing we could be there. Missing you all.
More on that another day. Today is a busy day. Must get back to work . . .
Monday, May 10, 2004
More photos of our new pad, aka "La Criba Nova."Who would have thought the mortgage beast could move so fast? Let sleeping dogs lie.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Last Wednesday Steph and I went on a tour of Acqua Vista (in Little Italy). We had anticipated to have a walk-through of some models but instead got to have a look at the already finished available units. In San Diego it's important to be lucky. The housing market is tight here. The average price of a detached home is $400K. Getting a deal means buying new or forecasting the rise of a particular street. Finding a deal in an already hot neighborhood is unheard of. Indeed luck played such a huge part in our finding a place we could not only afford but appears is $100K under the average price of similar units in the same neighborhood. Steph knows the builder and I helped build the Acqua Vista website. Those two factors meant we were high up on the priority list.Buying a home is a thrill. Steph was "freaking out." I was more than ready. I found the process strangely calming while my calm Steph found strangely nerve-racking. Nevertheless, it was with much relief we were finally able to end a two-year search for a deal in San Diego. Here's Steph in a hard hat on our new balcony. Ship bon vivants, housewarming gifts and mortgage supplements to Steph and Kelly's Criba Nova care of Little Italy.
