#18: Do something that makes me feel like an adult: Buying my first home! Completed 11/29/07

My blog posts from the fall of 2007 (particularly 11/29) describe the event that ushered me into adulthood. In addition to the tidbits of grown-up life I experienced through the process, I gained at least one other really useful piece of knowledge from the home-buying experience:

IKEA bookcases were designed by the devil to make people swear more. Determined to do some "handiwork" on my own, I decided to assemble two large sets of shelves I had recently purchased at the design-on-a-dime mecca known as IKEA. I've always fancied myself something of an analytical genius. You know - someone who could test into the CIA and become a spy simply based on my ability to put together a jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately, my prowess at solving puzzles did not translate well to the shelf-building process. I am very good at reading and following directions, but when the devil has interceded in the design process there is not much hope for even the most literate and analytical person. After a smashed thumb and a few audible expletives, I finally managed to get the shelves assembled. The result is worth the pain and frustration I endured, but I hope one day I will be able to purchase a piece of furniture without the evil words on the box: Assembly Required.

#5: Visit a New State: Oklahoma! Completed June 2007

In June of 2007, I traveled with the FPC Jr Hi Youth Group on their Road Rules trip. Each year since 2004, I have gone on Road Rules as an adviser and helped lead a team. In 2007, I lead the ORANGE team as we journeyed to Oklahoma! Ohhhhhh-klahoma! I had never been to Oklahoma, so I was able to cross that off my list.

This is the whole group with all the team colors represented (but orange is still the best). This is actually a picture of the group in Nashville on the way home, but it was the only group picture I had. =)


The purpose of Road Rules is to take middle school students from our church to locations around the USA to teach them about service and how to show people God's love by meeting their practical needs. We started in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. We volunteered at the Creek Nation Festival, worked in nursing homes, cleaned up homeless shelters, and actually got to see a local rodeo!


This is a picture of the Creek Nation Festival Parade.



Ashley (one of the youth directors) and I enjoyed the rodeo because it was a brief moment during which we didn't have to keep the kids occupied. We were around them 24 hours a day for 6 straight days... I think you can see the lack of sleep on our faces. =)

On the way home from Oklahoma, we stopped in St. Louis, MO and Nashville, TN where we did similar forms of volunteering: painting shelters, sorting clothes at the Salvation Army, and more. I think Road Rules is an excellent way to show middle school kids from this area that not everyone lives like they do, and it is our responsibility as Christians to help others.



The entire trip is made into a "competition" between teams and there are ways to earn points in challenges throughout the week. If you know me, you know I'm competitive when it comes to games (but not sports - that requires too much coordination!), so I was delighted (read: fiercely proud) when my Orange Team won the competition at the end of the week! I attribute at least part of it to the amazing songs I made up for my team. I will leave you with one of those:
Orange Team!
Dreaming 'bout orange team!
They are not red, not yellow -
but in between. =)

30 things to do before I turn 30

It has been almost a year since my last post. I could attribute the lapse to a lack of time to squander online, but we all know that I make time for other activities so that excuse won't hold. I could say that I've had nothing interesting to write about, but that also isn't true. If I'm honest with myself, the real reason I have neglected my blog is that my Oxford blog got such great response from friends and family that I was overwhelmed by the pressure. I felt the need to write my follow-up blogs so impressively that I was stymied. Essentially, it's all about my pride.

Nevertheless, here I am again and I am determined to continue writing. Really, I've missed typing words, highlighting them, deleting, and starting over. As a genuine literary nerd, I truly enjoy the writing process. All the drafting, editing, and revising makes my world go 'round. So here I am... at a new phase in my blog.

My return to the blogging world was sparked by a conversation I had recently about my list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I created the list in the summer of 2006 as a way to push myself beyond my comfort zone, and I have now accomplished fourteen of the goals. Unfortunately, I have only until February of 2010 to finish the other 16. I have decided to blog about my list - the ones I have already accomplished and the ones I still need to master. I'll try to catch up on the ones I've already done, and I'll continue to post as I check another one off my list.

Let's start with the official list. This idea was inspired by my pal Eric who also created his list in 2006 and told me about it. He and I met in the honors dorm our freshman year at Clemson. We were the only English majors in a sea of engineers, so you could say our friendship was destined by the fate that rules the pages of all great literature. When he told me about his idea, I was intrigued and immediately began drafting my own list. I made a few versions that summer but finally decided on the final draft. Here you go:


30 things to do before I turn 30
created summer 2006
~in no particular order~

1. Become proficient in another language
2. Earn another degree or certificate
3. Read through the entire Bible
4. Take a Latin or Swing dance class
5. Visit a new* state
6. Do something outside my comfort zone
7. Win something
8. Knit / crochet something other than a scarf
9. Complete a top-level Sudoku puzzle
10. Perform something for an audience
11. Face a fear
12. Learn to drive a stick-shift
13. Go on a date
14. Publish something
15. Design and plant a garden
16. Watch a sunset on a west-coast beach
17. Visit a new* museum
18. Do something that makes me feel like an adult
19. Go to Boston in the fall
20. Learn to play all of "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano
    
21. Jump off of something high
22. Learn to play another instrument
23. Play my french horn again
24. Go somewhere "out west"
25. Visit with an old friend
26. Watch a storm from a porch
27. Ride a bicycle somewhere interesting
28. Visit a new* country
29. Hike a new* trail
30. Cook a gourmet meal

* new = new to me

So there it is... quite a list! 14 down, 5 in progress, 11 remaining. The ones in bold font are the ones I've already done. Those in italics are works in progress. The rest are looming over my head (and staring at me each day from the list on my refrigerator door).

I welcome your comments about my list or your suggestions on how to accomplish my remaining goals. The only words I don't want to read are those reminding me how soon I'll be 30! I don't have a lot of time to get all these done. Help! =)

I'm In!

(Posted a little late- oops):
There are boxes everywhere and the paint is barely dry, but I'm in! Friday the 7th was moving day and it was quite successful. My parents' gift of a moving company was an incredible present. I can't imagine having to move my washing machine, sofa, bed, etc. up those stairs! My first night in the condo went fairly well except for the loud crash in the middle of the night. I had just gotten into bed and turned off the light after unpacking boxes when somewhere in the recesses of my new place, a precariously perched parcel decided to plummet to the ground. I jumped out of bed and held my 18 inch Maglite flashlight as a weapon, ready to defend my new home. Luckily, my ninja skills were not necessary that night and I found the offending package instead of an intruder. Other than the attack of cardboard boxes, I feel very safe in my new place. My neighbors are friendly and watchful (a major plus of living in a community with several retired persons), my condo is on the top floor, and I am in a quiet area. This is my new neighborhood - and it's a beautiful day there. (Do you like the Mr. Rogers allusion? I try to keep it fresh). =)

I'M A HOMEOWNER!

It's official! I now own two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large folder of legal documents, and more interest payments than my entire house is worth! =) Today was the closing on my condominium and now I am a homeowner!

The closing today was rather anti-climatic after all the stories I'd heard. Over the past few days, I have discovered that closing stories are like birthing stories. Most people have one and they love to share the story with novices, particularly if the story is gory, gruesome, or graphic. ;+) I wasn't quite sure what to expect after all the stories I had heard, but my closing was fairly non-eventful. There was a small discrepancy in the closing cost numbers and it caused some drama for a short while, but it all got worked out and within the hour I walked out of the office with a place of my own!

As soon as the closing was over, I went to my new house and walked around my rooms. It's MINE! I feel somewhat like a two-year-old who doesn't want to relinquish her new toy on Christmas. =) I DID manage to leave eventually with the promise of a celebratory dinner with my family on the Marietta Square.

I'm very grateful for my family during this whole process. My goal was to complete this process on my own - my first real "big girl" step - and I did! But it has been a great comfort for me to have my family by my side in support. My dad came to the closing as moral support and after the little snafu that occurred, I am glad he was there. Though I am a "SINGLE WOMAN" (as I was reminded by two more sheets of paper that I signed today), I do have a great family! They've encouraged me throughout this entire experience. Thanks, fam. Love you.

And thanks to all of my friends and loved ones who have encouraged me during this process as well. I'm looking forward to having you all over to MY HOUSE! And then you can see the pen I used to sign all my documents at the closing. I took it from the lawyer's office, so now I guess it is MINE too. =)

The Condo!

Many of you have asked to see the pictures of the condo, so I'm posting them! I don't have very many, but you can get a general idea of the place.

It's a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom flat in a quiet neighborhood. I'm on the top floor (stairs are a good way for me to exercise daily!).

If you have decorating ideas, let me know! My style tends to be contemporary-world-chic (if that's actually a style!). Most of my current decor fits into the black/ red/ sage green color palettes. My bedroom will probably continue to be taupe & chocolate brown, but the complementary color is up for discussion. =)




The living room is the first room through the front door. It connects the sun room, the dining room, and the kitchen. I am excited about the fireplace!



My favorite room is the sun room. It is painted a soft yellow color and will be a lovely place to sit and read! I plan to put my bookshelves and a big comfy chair in there. The porch is off the sun room and connects to the storage closet.






The kitchen is... um... orange! =) It is even a little intense for me, though. I'm considering painting it a light yellow. I like the flooring. It's different. I'll need to replace the refrigerator, but the other appliances are in decent shape.












There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each bedroom has a huge walk-in closet. The bathrooms are tiny, but functional. While the master bedroom might be a little bigger, I think I prefer the second bedroom (not pictured). It has more windows and is on the corner of the house next to the green space.




I'm excited about my new place! I can't wait to have you all come visit! =)

The Steps

Forward, march!

Here are the steps I've taken so far towards becoming a "big girl":
1. Made an offer on the condo! (yikes!)

2. Filled out all the paperwork for a loan by myself

Let's pause for a moment to consider the loan application. Under the section labeled "who will inhabit this dwelling," the loan officer wrote "Single Woman." So now even my LOAN OFFICER is rubbing it in. Good grief. =) I did wonder about that section... why does it matter that I am a single woman? Should it make any difference in the loan? I'm well-educated. I've got a great job. I am a responsible citizen. When I asked my loan officer about it, he chuckled and said lots of women want to know about that label, but he puts "single man" for the single men, too. It's just a label, he said. I told him I thought we should change the label to "Amazing, Independent Woman Who Just Happens to be Single for Now". I think he thinks I'm crazy. =)

3. Accepted the counter-offer (it was VERY reasonable)

When my Realtor called me with the counter-offer, I was at the KMHS football game to cheer on the team (unfortunately, they didn't do so well). My friends Chester and Julie were in town from Athens and they were cheering ME on in the process, as was my co-worker and friend, Sky. Each of them was so encouraging that I got even more excited about the process.















So now I'm well on the way to being a homeowner! It's hard to believe, but it's really happening. (Incroyable, mais vrais!)



To celebrate my steps towards big-girl-dom and to escape the reality for a while, I went to the Clemson University football game yesterday with my best friend Elizabeth. We drove up in the morning and spent the day hanging out at Clemson's Homecoming. It was a beautiful day for a game and we had great seats (thanks, Eric!!) While I was glad that Clemson won the game (70-14, ouch!) and that I got to see the homecoming floats and festivities, I particularly enjoyed spending time with Elizabeth. She encouraged me about the home-buying process - and we even discussed property law! =) (she's in law school) It was a great way to take a few steps backward to look at the situation from a few hours away and recognize that I'm doing a good thing. This is an important move for me, and I'm grateful for all of the people who are supporting me in my endeavors.