The Road Ahead
Lost in the Redwoods

First Earthquake.

Hey,

We had 5.1 earthquake in our area tonight.  I was in CASA training and Pranav was at home with Hobbes.  I know it’s not a good thing to have earthquakes, but I found it exciting. Nothing broke, everything seemed fine outside.

House update - it seems that the 708 property is in now in the third state of foreclosure.  Meanwhile, we are starting to look around.  This is kind of exciting because we never really looked around with an agent yet.  However, also kind of sad because so far, nothing has really caught our eye as something we would enjoy.  We will keep looking, maybe again this weekend.

We had a small dinner party on Saturday night…and I must say, it went well.  The food was all cooked by Pranav and so good. Also, the treat was creme brulee and we each got to torch our own at the table.  (torch was a wonderful gift from Maura ages ago…thank you maura).

Congratulations to Aly on her new job!!!

Also, check out the latest at the daily spam with Julie pham!
http://ejblog.ourstage.com/2007/10/18/the-daily-spam-w-julie-pham-simple-bonds/

- N.

So close but not close enough.

hi!

The good news is (drum roll please) we’re pre-approved! This my friends was a very complicated ordeal. However, we now have our certificate and are good to go. 

I have lots of other things to say that have nothing to do with a house but life is moving too fast to keep up with it lately.  The stress peaked on friday with chest pains and blurry vision, starting to feel a little better and hoping for a breather soon.

 - N.

mop mop mop

Hey, 

I’m stressed about this housing buying process!

Therefore, doing what any sane stressed woman would do…I turn to Oprah.

Oprah says that I should express and not repress my anger.  Oprah says I should figure out what my anger means and then have a dance break (dance break?) and enter into joy immediately and get in and out of my anger as fast as I can.

mmm….

Still pretty angry.  Not sure I enjoyed my angry dance break but did remember how much I wanted to go to burning man one day and dance like this.

Oprah says to avoid white foods to curb anger.  Peter M. is already on this diet, I should consult him for advice.

Oprah eats flax seeds every day but that I don’t have to stop with the coffee.  Flax seeds and coffee..yum.

Oprah says look yourself in the mirror and say, I have enough, I do enough, I am enough.  (a little stuart smalley don’t you think?)

It seems the key, Oprah says, is balance.

Hopefully, while we navigate the insane fields of bureaucracy here I will remember to take a break, dance a little, put down my white food, sip my flax see coffee and tell myself good things to restore balance. 

I need a little balance right now.  We feel really alone in this process and every day we get five different answers from five different people, nothing gets done and so many things that were told to us to get us to come here seem to be just plainly not true.  Meanwhile, we’re trying to handle all this during the day, during time when we’re supposed to be working.

I was told by a friend that often the stress leading up to things like weddings or buying houses seems in the moment so terrible but looking back, those memories often hold only (mainly) the positive things that happened. I think looking back on our wedding a month ago, that stands true.  I hope that the house turns out to be the same way.

I also hope that after everything calms down, we can this summer write something out so that new faculty will at least have a handout on the rules, so information is consistent and available. Also, maybe starting a wiki for people to ask questions from people who have gone through the process before. 

Or, we can add our own chapter to this:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/29/18450552.php

We will keep pushing ahead.  We went to the house to look at it again last night.  It’s still a fantastic place and the small fig tree in the front had lots of fruit on it.  The renters are gone, the owner was cleaning up and packing his stuff.  He was like, make yourself at home in your new home. 

Crossing our fingers! Think lots of positive thoughts for us and we’ll keep you posted.

Also, a shout out to Oprah for helping me find balance.

- N.

pros and cons

Hey!

Pro:  It’s really raining here for the first time in around say…9 months and I don’t have to water my plants or wash my car. 

Con:  It’s raining here. It was awesome that it was raining for say the first three days and now that it has been a week, enough! I miss the CA sun already. PLUS, drivers here act like they are driving in a blizzard when it rains, so slow.

Pro:  I’ve been accepted into CASA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters and will soon be very involved in two young people’s lives.

Con:  None yet, will keep you posted.  CASA training is twice a week, very awesome people in the training.  I am looking forward to advocating in the court!

Pro:  Still have an offer open on this dream house mentioned in previous post.

Con:  Every day is full of insane amounts of stress over the house.  We’re on an emotional roller-coaster, one day crying over it, next day planning what we would like to plant in the back yard.  Buying a house is an all consuming project. I really hope this works out and soon.  Thank you to all of you who have spent hours on the phone (sometimes daily) to help us make this happen.

Pro:  I’ve started to do some contract work for an attorney in Santa Cruz.

Con: It’s only contract work and the office is a freezer.  Hence, I dress like I am going on a hike in the snow and it is 70 degrees outside.

Pro:  Have had wonderful weekends so far this month full of visits with new/old friends, free concert in SF (woohoo Steve Earle and Gillian Welch at the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival).

Con: Laundry is behind.

Pro:  Saw glass blowing demonstration last weekend, very beautiful.

Con:  Both P and I spent afternoon dizzy and sick after being in glass blowing studio.  Crazy fumes.

Pro:  I made some delicious veggie chili and corn bread today.

Con: Hobbes licked the cornbread.

Pro:  I saw job I was interested, e-mailed my resume and got an excited response from agency.

Con: Turns out the job opening is not in their closer office but the one far away. BLURG!

- N.

Random info.

Hey….

The leaves are starting to fly here in Santa Cruz and life settled down for a couple weeks post marriage.  Lots of people have been asking how married life is and it’s honestly no different than before we were married, we were very happy and still are.  I wrote a long post previously on marriage last week but saved it instead of posting it.  I think it got a little too preachy on the controversies of marriage, maybe I’ll re-vamp and post it another day.

School has started, P is teaching two classes this quarter meaning he is lecturing five days a week.  I am working from home telecommuting for a firm in Boston and I picked up some temp. work downtown santa cruz working with a civil litigation attorney.  I work from home t/th and don’t have to commute at all m/w/f so that’s been great.  I’m still pretty bummed that there are no legal aid agencies in the area but I am sure I will eventually adjust…or start my own. 

We’re looking at a house seriously and that’s exciting.  It’s a great deal and I hope it goes through.  Right now, I am doing research on things like tube and knob electrical work, termites, attic insulation and tempered glass.  It’s an older place, built in 1930, stucco walls on the outside and has a sort of cottage feel.  Three bedrooms, d.room, nice kitchen, smallish yard that needs a lot of care, and the garage was sound proofed and insulated for the current owner who is a drummer.  So, if we ever wanted to start a garage band and not anger the neighbors, this place is perfect.  The house is close to UCSC, P could bike. It’s going slow which is not a bad thing because we have no idea what we’re doing.  However, staying positive, this house may be ours soon and we would be very happy if it was.

What else….I’ve been jealous of people with dreadlocks.  I think it would be fun to have them, not have to wash my hair, wear big hats.  Could be a phase or maybe next time you see a picture of me you will be in for a surprise. 

I have signed up to volunteer for CASA, court appointed special advocate.  Lots of training but I love CASA, think it will be a great experience.  CASAs are advocates for foster care children and write reports for the judge who makes decisions regarding the child.  I start training two nights a week next week.  

I am interested in finding out about the n/s korea peace pledge signed today.  Rumsfeld is coming to our neck of the woods (kind of) and spending a year as a hoover fellow at Stanford.  He was greeted by protesters, big surprise. 

A shout out to E.R. back is Boston who is newly engaged to his lovely companion from the wizard of oz, congratulations and we miss you guys. I love giving shout outs.  I knew when I chose lawyer over DJ, I made a mistake.

- N.