75 days and counting

Christmas is over - can you believe it?? It doesn't seem possible that we are about to enter 2009!! 75 days til the wedding!! Agh!!

We had a few fabulous days in Pensacola. A very short trip but wouldn't have traded it for the world. I got to see my baby niece Taylolr for the first time. She is so stinkin adorable! 2 months old on Christmas Eve. We all fell in love and decided that we live entirely too far apart. Mom and Dad got us webcams for Christmas so we can all see Taylor when we can't actually be there.

Was fun to visit with cousins that I don't get to see much anymore...

75 days - wow....I know those will fly by....still seems like we have so much yet to do!! Time to get serious!!

Oh by the way...

We got the money from our closing today. I should be happy, right? Instead I kind of feel like this picture of the pissy cat. Yanno - I really thing it should be part of the job of the people walking you through the home buying process to anticipate any "normal" problems that could come up.

- Originally I was told that the money would be available to me on that day. I wasn't told there was a possibility that because we were closing on a Friday that we might have to wait until Monday. Surprise! (A simple heads up that this could be possible would have been nice.)

- A week ago I checked with the title company to see whether I should make final payments to the mortgage company and home owners association. She said - you take care of the HOA, we will roll the mortgage into the closing. I was hit with double payments - because they took it out of the closing AND I had paid like I was supposed to. Surprise!

- At the closing, as we were going over the closing she explained that the year end taxes had been taken out because the mortgage company hadn't paid them yet. Almost $1700. This seemed ok until this morning I logged into my account and saw that indeed the mortgage company had paid them!! Double payments again!! Surprise! Luckily I caught it early enough that the title company hadn't sent the money off to the city, county, school taxes yet so they are going to hold it until they get comfirmation that these were already paid.

I totall understand that the mortgage company has to take the taxes out. And I get that the city can take a few weeks to post the payments - BUT don't you think that people who deal with this for 20+ years should be able to anticipate that maybe this might be the case and at least warn a first time seller BEFORE she has to freak out and figure this out herself? Seriously?? I wasn't even aware that the year end taxes would be part of the closing - I just figured that the mortgage company had taken care of it like they do every year - which they did. If I hadn't called to investigate this when I did then I would have to fight each individual that the taxes were sent to to get my refunds. I guess this is all part of the learning curve.

On a happy note - I was able to confirm our flight and reserve a car for our honeymoon this morning. That and a nice little blue tablet of Aleve helped resolve this monstrous headache that resulted from this morning. Now let's think happy thoughts of snowflakes and jingle bells...and beautiful little baby Taylor that we get to see in just 3 days!! :)

CHECKS!!

Today is the day!! With one big check (hopefully), 3 big checks off of the list! House sold - check! Invitations purchased - check! Honeymoon tickets bought - check! What a HUGE relief! We have a roadmap and are ready to roll!! Can you believe next week is Christmas? With the sale complete - I have some shopping to do!!!

**UPDATE** Well - the closing went fine - but because it didn't start on time - by the time it finished - it was too late to wire transfer the funds for this days business....so they'll do it tomorrow and I have to wait until Monday for it to be in my account. Grr. Oh well - it is done. I met the lady who bought it. She seems nice. Kinda looked like Mary Lou Retton but taller. So I guess shopping will be postponed until next week. Nothing like last minute eh? Mom and I did go get our wedding invitations so that is 1 1/2 (the other half will come when I get the money) of the 3 checks.

Movie Quote Trivia

Ok - here's how it goes - I post ten movie quotes - and as faithful readers - you try to guess which movies the quotes are from. Have fun! :) Answers updated on 12/29

1. I rode through the rain! I'd - I'd ride through worse than that if I could just hear your voice telling me that I might, at least, have some chance to win you. (Mr Knightly (Jeremy Northam) to Emma (Gweneth Paltrow) in Emma)

2. The hardest thing is loving someone and then having the courage to let them love you back. (Nick (Dermot Mulroney in The Wedding Date))

3. Miss Stoeger, I would just like to say that physical education in this school is a disgrace. I mean, standing in line for forty minutes is hardly aerobically effective. I doubt I've worked off the calories in a stick of Carefree gum. (Cher (Alicia Silverstone) in Clueless)

4. Francisco! That's fun to say! Francisco... Frannncisco... Franciscooo... (Buddy (Will Ferrell) in Elf)

5. I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That's getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition. (George Banks (Steve Martin) in Father of the Bride)

6. Ted Nugent called, he wants his shirt back. (Danny (George Clooney) to Rusty (Brad Pitt) in Ocean's Eleven)

7. Oh, no, we're not asking you to lose weight. That would be illegal. We just want you to be healthy, by eating less. So go home, weigh yourself on a scale, write than down. Then subtract 20 from that numbr. And weigh that. Yeah. (Jill (Kristin Wiig) to Alison (Katherine Heigl) in Knocked Up)

8. Look, I'm sorry, I'm not up on all this jive talkin', home boy lingo, what's that supposed to mean? "There's a spider on your head"? (Nick (Tim Robbins) to 'T' (Martin Lawrence) in Nothing to Lose)

9. Every man dies, not every man really lives. (William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in Braveheart)

10. Is it this? Is this what you see? I assure you it is human. But if that's all you see, then you don't see me. You can't see me. (Justin McLeod (Mel Gibson) in Man Without a Face)

The Home Book

I bought it. I love it! I know it is just a coffee table book - BUT - it has sooo many wonderful pictures and inspirations! Probably a little more than should be spent on a book - BUT - my house sells tomorrow so this is my little present to myself in celebration. That's allowed right? Of course it is! Who said picture books were just for kids? A cup of coffee - a warm blanket - and a huge heaping of dreams....mmmm heavenly!

A little nostalgic

We loaded up the last few items from my condo last night. After all the boxes were in the car, I went back inside, sat on the stairs, shed a few tears, and just sat wrapped in the nostalgia of it all. Lots happened in the time span I lived there. Jen and I moved in a few weeks before 9/11. Job changes. Life changes. Love changes. It was the first house I purchased. It's where I lived for most of my 20's. It's where I was living when I met my Johnny. I'm not sad about moving forward - quite the contrary - but you have to take the chance to remember and properly say goodbye, right? I think it is a single lady that is moving into it. I hope it will be a great place for her to live too. Tomorrow afternoon my Melrose Place will become part of the past. Let's take a moment. Ok - now let's party!!!

All Moved!!

Well with the exception of a few straggling items that wouldn't fit in the truck or U-Haul - we are completely moved out of the condo. The weekend was a whirlwind! Moving then to Athens and back made for tired people and late nights. Next time we are hiring movers! A few quirks to deal with at the new place but overall all is well. 3 day until closing...what a relief that will be! I can't wait!

Everyone freaks out when winter actually visits the metroplex. Just drive slow and allow extra time and it's not that big a deal. It's those that don't get that your driving actually has to change that reak havoc for everyone. It will be 70 by Thursday. Hopefully that doesn't mean a new round of colds/flu for everyone!! I wish our winters were as pretty as this picture!!

Christmas Questionaire

1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fresh is ideal - but for now fake works just fine - plus it is pre-lit!!

2. Favorite Ornament
I have several ornaments from my grandparents. Each year they would give us one and attach a little note to it that says something to the effect of "hang this on the tree every year and remember us" Because they are gone - those ornaments are the most special ones.

3. Favorite Christmas Song
O Holy Night by Josh Groban and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

4. Favorite Tradition
Visiting extended family - I LOVE big family Christmases!!

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
I love the necklaces that I received last year from Johnny and my mom!

6. Favorite Christmas Meal
Turkey, dressing, hashed brown casserole, broccoli casserole, rolls, and pie.

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
Krispies - special k/peanut butter with a chocolate/butterscotch topping...mmmm

8. Favorite Place To Be
Wherever my family is....

9. Favorite Memory
When we would to to Pensacola for Christmas - Christmas Eve all the grandkids would gather with Grandma and Grandpa to get our ornament for the year. Sometimes they would tell stories - but it was a very special time for all of our extended family to have fun being together.

When we would go to Kansas City for Christmas - we would all get bundled up and go to church service on Christmas Eve and then go look at the Christmas lights on the Plaza. Grandma would get so excited to see all the lights.

When I was 3 I used to recite the night before christmas - I could "read" it - I had it memorized what words went on what page - so it looked like I was reading :)

10. Favorite Christmas Movie
Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, While You Were Sleeping (the family scenes always make my family giggle because it's so us.

Crazy Dallas Drivers and Stupid Motorola Phones

So I'm driving on the access road at lunch today and this idiot who is driving through the construction blockade to try to turn left at the light (HELLO GENIUS! That is why they have all these orange cones diverting traffict away from that area!) When he is like a carlength away from the light he realizes his moronic behavior and swerves sharply into my lane causing me to swerve sharply into the right lane. If I had not been alert or there had been a car to my right - it would have been a very bad accident because he would have smashed right into my driver's door while he was accelerating. Not only would I have been badly hurt but my poor little 2 week old car would have had some major repair work. It literally made my heart jump in my chest and I started getting teary and had to try to catch my breath after that. Thank you God for preventing a major catastrophe!!

I have the worst luck with cell phones - especially Motorola cell phones. When I went to bed last night - I had 2 battery cells. When I woke up this morning - it was dead. It wouldn't respond to the car charger. It wouldn't respond to the wall charger. I took the battery out.....put the battery back in. Nothing. I knew this one was having some issues - a couple of the buttons had fallen off - but it still worked and it was going to last until after next week. What bad timing is it to not have a cell phone when it is a week away from the closing on my house!! Grr - This is the 2nd Motorola Q I've had since the initial contract. The last one just died as well. I think it's time to go back to LG or Samsung. They make good phones. I loved my LG - sigh - this is ridiculous.

Moving Hodge Podge

Making my list and checking it twice. There is so much going on that if I didn't have my list I think I would go crazy. I just booked a U-Haul for Saturday. 2 days!! I can't believe moving day is finally almost here!! We go sign the lease tomorrow evening!

After we sign the lease - we go to dinner with some dear friends. Saturday, John will drop me off at U-Haul, go to choir, and then come back to help me move. Sunday we go to the early service for the Christmas Cantata and then head to Athens to have Christmas with John's family.

What a whirlwind of a weekend. Next week won't be any less busy. John has to work to keep even with all his stops then next weekend he is on call. I close on my house on Friday and as soon as that money is wired - need to get my Christmas shopping done.

Christmas Eve - we will leave for Pensacola as soon as possible - stop somewhere along the way when we get tired and drive the rest of the way on Christmas day. I really really dislike his company's December policy. It needs to be on a rotating basis so that those of us with out of town families can be able to enjoy the holidays with them.

I still haven't heard back fromt he appraisal yesterday. Hopefully all went well. I really don't like loose ends. It is way stressful.

This seems to be a hodge podge of randomness doesn't it. Oh well...enjoy ;-)

Checks on hold???

Ok - one minor freak out resolved. I had an inkling that I should call to check about whether or not a hold would be placed on the check I get from the sale of my house when I deposit it in my account. They said - yes - up to a week!!! Now that won't work!! I need it for Christmas!! I called my realtor and she said very casually that they can do a wire transfer instead and it would be available immediately. When I was trying to sort this out with the guy on the phone - you would think he would have suggested this as a possibility rather than let me freak out. Sigh...9 days....9 days....9 days....

They had the appraisal today. Pray that the results are good and that the price doesn't have to change!!

Counting down...

4 days until the new apartment. (Yay! I get to decorate!!)

10 days until we close on the house. (Yay for a nest egg and honeymoon tickets!!)

16 days until Christmas. (Yay for Jesus!!)

16 days until I get to see my precious baby niece. (Yay for Taylor!!)

22 days until 2009. (Yay for the year of my wedding!!)

42 days until we have Obama as President. (I didn't vote for you, but please fix the economy. Thanks.)

80 days until John's birthday. (Happy Birthday baby!!)

95 days until we get married. (Yay for wedded bliss!!)

125 days until my birthday. (Hello 32 - let's have a year full of laughter and fun!!)

Some pretty big days ahead. I think I need a nap.

It's Moving Week!!

This weekend went by really fast. John had to work Friday night, which I didn't know until last minute - so I spent a quiet evening home alone relaxing. Saturday we went through some stuff at my storage unit. I found a couple more things I am going to try to sell on eBay and found 3 or 4 boxes that will either be for the combined yard sale with my parents and me or for donation. I know there are more to go through. The only stuff that will be going with us onto the next juncture in life will be stuff that has a purpose.

The apartment we are going to move into is almost as big as my condo, which will be nice. I'm getting excited. 6 more days!! I believe we can go look at it tomorrow. It's going to be a crazy weekend. Friday I imagine we will be getting some stuff together at the house...renting the UHaul on Saturday morning. John has choir practice until noon on Saturday. After that we will begin to load all the boxes and furniture into the uhaul and drive it to Irving. Everything is pretty much packed except for the decorative stuff we left out for staging. We still have John's apt through the end of January so we have that luxury of taking our time to get things loaded from there. That's good - because we always get sidetracked when we start talking about getting his house packed up.

I think I am going to try my hand at re-finishing John's end tables and coffee table to try to make some of the wear and tear a little more palatable for a while. :) We will be able to fit most of our furniture in the new apt. The only furniture that won't go is furniture that we agree we will not use again. Ultimately we will probably replace all but 2 or 3 pieces - but that will be over the long haul. We'll get a slip cover for the couch and make that a little more up to date looking. Best of all - I think there will be a place for everything. Yes we will be using the 2nd bedroom for storage boxes - but I don't think it will have to be a cluttered storage - at least that is my vision for it! :)

1 cat, 2 cat, 3 cat, 4 cat

For those who may look above and think we are the crazy cat couple...we didn't start out that way - I had 2 - he had 2 and neither one of us can say goodbye to our babies...soooooo here we are...with our four fabulous felines.

Blast from the Past

People from your past ... Some inspire a sense of nostalgia and some just bring an unsettling feeling because of the drama that ensued around their presence. Maybe it's not all negative - just the ending. Some paths intersect for a while and then are meant to go in opposite directions without any chance of a future re-connection. There are only a handful of people that fall into that category. 5 I can think of off the top of my head. It's not really about forgiveness - that has happened already - but it's more about not needing that negativity anywhere in my life and being stronger now not to put up with it.

99 days!!!

Can you believe that we only have 99 days left until the wedding?? Double digits!!! Exciting and scary because there is so much yet to do!!

Google Tag - just because it's fun

Type the following things into google (image) and see what comes up. Pretty fun.

First name: Jennifer










Middle Name: Lynne









Last Name: Harrington (Harrington family crest); Soon to be Morris












Favorite Pastime: home decorating













Age:31












Nickname: Jenny (only to John - Jen to everyone else)









Something on my wishlist

(MacBook)

Favorite Movie:











Dream Vacation: Ireland













Occupation: Human Resources










Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving and Christmas




Favorite Snack: fruit


(LOL someday I'll join the fruit of the month club haha ;-))











Favorite Color:Aggie Maroon








Favorite food: Salsa - mmmm me too - love me some Mexican food!!




I tag all of my readers - Go! :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Don't you just LOVE Christmastime? There is something about the ambiance that just brings out the giddiness in me (and a lot of others). It's the excitement about spending time with family you haven't seen in a while. It's the anticipation of all the holiday parties. It's the nip in the air and the frost on the windows. It's the joy in the air about celebrating the birth of our Lord. I can't wait until I have a house that I can decorate. We each decorated our own apartments last year, but this year unfortunately with the hustle and bustle of moving and feeling so cramped with all the stuff as it is - I doubt that decorations will be doing much more but changing locations in their boxes.