Closing
Yesterday was thoroughly anticlimactic. I'd been anticipating "closing on the house" for weeks. I took the day off work, since I envisioned half a day of signing contract after contract & writing a flurry of checks.

The lender got our paperwork out a little late, so the title company had less than a day to prepare. When I phoned at 10am, the escrow officer tried to push us off until Monday. I balked. Uh-uh. No-way, no-how. Today was Closing Day, and a closing was gonna happen.

Oh, by the way, the escrow officer mentioned, was the termite treatment finished. Um, what? Termite treatment? We didn't know anything about termites, or the treatment thereof.

Jason here when the termite inspector looked the house over. The inspector found "evidence" of old termites, and a few minor problem areas. Jason quizzed him on what it all meant, and the inspector played it down. A few hundred dollars, "if" we wanted to get it fixed. It all sounded so optional, so we didn't think much more about it. Unfortunately, the termite inspection came back with boxes checked and lines drawn that made a more serious impression on the lender. Looks like termites will be treated.

I'm a tad frustrated that no one seemed to know about this until yesterday. We have just a few days to get the treatment done so that escrow can close according to the papers we signed yesterday. If, for some reason, we can't get it done in that time, we have to sign all over again. Ugh.

So, we're 80% homeowners.... Feels pretty good.

So, except for the termites(!), we're homeowners.....

Less than a week from now, we'll be homeowners. Apart from a vague idea that we should throw a party to celebrate, I have no idea how to react. The mortgage process seems to have gone far too smoothly. I keep thinking that we're going to get a call soon telling us that it was all a joke, that no-no they couldn't possibly give us a mortgage.

So, we went to Home Depot today and bought a book on gardening in "arid" climates. I haven't the first clue what to plant where. I just want to hire someone to come make things beautiful.

Looks like we may end up going to the White Party after all. Since two friends decided to pack up their worldly possessions and move to Barcelona for a year, Palm Springs will probably be the last fun weekend we'll get to have with them for awhile. (Until, of course, we schlep to Europe for a week or so....)

The weather is gorgeous here.... utterly, ridiculously, amazingly gorgeous. It's just a tease for a few weeks until the temperatures fall over into the 90s, 100s, 110s. Then it will be time to escape to balmier climes.

Drinks out tonight at AZ88, the usual Friday night social event. The weather is finally nice enough to enjoy dinner (er, drinks anyway) on the patio. Lotsa eye candy tonight. My hormones must be in a dither.

Everyone is still buzzing about their trip to Puerta Vallarta. I can't wait to see the pictures. (That's a hint, guys.) I'm sure we haven't heard half the stories yet.

Jason went dancing. I'm saving my energy for tomorrow night. Staying up late futzing with projects.... as usual.

Sunny. Beautiful. Phoenix is delightful this time of year....

Jason is off to San Francisco today for a nomadic weekend. David Knapp et al at Metropolis on Saturday. Meanwhile, we'll be enjoying the Black Party (Phoenix version) and beautiful Phoenix weather. Now begins the time where it is spectacular to live here. We have a couple of weeks before the heat starts....

We snagged a photo album full of pictures of our house before it was renovated. Here they are, if you are interested. The difference between the house in the pictures and the house today is stunning. It seems unreal to be living in a place that looked like that only a year or two ago.

I always thought the first house I bought would be a "fixer-upper." I'd still like to spend time restoring an old house eventually. These pictures are encouragement and motivation for the future. I'm quite content with our house now, though.

I have a bunch of old CDs listed on half.com. Occasionally, I'll make a sale and have to scramble to get something in the mail. Today I sold my copy of Toni Child's Union. I popped it in the CD player before I packed it up. I'd forgotten what a great album it is.... Her rich, raspy voice and the folksy, earthy tunes are brilliant. I may have to buy another copy.

Well, saw my boyfriend for all of 2 hours today. Picked him up at the airport at about 11am. We dashed home for 45 minutes of showering, repacking suitcases, and snarfing sandwiches. Dropped him back at the airport at a little after noon so he could catch his 12:55pm flight to Pittsburg. Back-to-back week long trips. Why? I have no idea.

A little tinkering on the site, and a few more projects to play with.

The appraiser was here this morning. The mortgage process marches on. Yay!

A change or two around here. I've been itching for a new project, but can't seem to get motivated for anything personal. Anybody need a website? Seriously. I'd love to do a little pro bono work for a spiffy non-profit or similar organization.... Drop me a line john@continuity.nu.