Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Crunch time!!!

It's getting close...we close on the house in 3 days!!! Things are starting to get a bit hectic schedule-wise. Let me share with you what it looks like for the next couple days:

Tuesday, November 27th
Work

Wednesday, November 28th
Work

Thursday, November 29th
Work
2pm- Final Walk through with the builder

Friday, November 30th (this is where it starts to get fun)
9am- Close on the house
11am- Have everything out of the apartment
11am-2pm- Comcast install
5pm- Window covering install

Saturday, December 1st
9am- Movers show up with our stuff
1pm- Fridge delivery
4:30pm- Civil War (Oregon vs. Oregon State)

Sunday, December 2nd
1:30pm- Depart for London for work

Tuesday, December 4th
Gayle's parents arrive from Portland

Wednesday, December 5th
Our friend Mandy arrives from Portland

Friday, December 7th
11pm- Arrive from London, also my Dad's Birthday

Yeah...it's going to be a busy week for sure! I feel bad leaving right after we get in the house, let alone sticking Gayle with unpacking and not being there for most of her parents visit. I would really like to spend some time in my new house getting settled a bit, but it looks like that won't happen. She is being very understanding about the whole thing...but it still sucks. I feel terrible about it, but she understands. This trip is a great opportunity for me, and a great resume builder as well. I hope we get a good return on this investment later on.

And hopefully she won't make me put Christmas lights up this year either :)

Every man needs his chair...


It's true! Every man needs a spot to kick his feet up, relax with a fine beverage, and contemplate the world. This is why my first purchase after graduating from college was a plush, overstuffed leather recliner. In fact, it was the only piece of furniture I had in my apartment for the longest time. I dubbed it "The Man Chair"...and it was. Partially because it was my chair, and partially because it was so ugly that no woman would want to sit in it. Oh how I loved my man chair, but times change and sometimes we just have to move on.

That's why before I left Oregon I passed it on to my good friend Shawn.

Now that I'm so close to having my own place out here in Georgia, the search for a new chair has begun. I've been to so many different furniture stores, and keep finding the same overstuffed look I had before. My tastes must have changed, because now this is not appealing whatsoever. For some reason, built in coolers and massagers just seem a little "NASCAR-ish"...if you know what I mean. I'm looking for a chair that can provide comfort, and still look good in the new digs.

Surprisingly, I did find a contender at IKEA (www.ikea.com)- the Poang. For only $149, it's not bad at all. It's got a minimalist design that would flow with the new house and it's very comfy. They have lots of fabric and leather options for it, as well as a number of frame options. Add the matching ottoman and it's great to kick back in. However, even though it seemed good, there was something about it that just wasn't right. Perhaps it was the fact that upteen million IKEA shoppers have all taken home at least one of these chairs because of it's "affordable solution to modern living". This was not the chair.

A few weeks passed, and Gayle and I were actually on a mission to find a FLOR (www.flor.com) retailer. This seems to be the "in" thing right now for rugs and carpet...an interchangeable tile system that is durable and affordable. Plus it allows you to mix and match and create your own quirky piece. We totally lucked out because there is an official FLOR showroom in Atlanta...but it's only open 8-5 Monday - Friday and like 4 hours on Saturday. Since Saturdays are the running errands day, we have yet to make it to the official showroom. We did find another retailer that carries a FLOR line that was open though- Design Within Reach (www.dwr.com)

When we arrived, the consultants were both busy with other customers, so we started poking around. They carry some very modern pieces, and a lot of them just seemed silly. However they had a few chairs, so we killed some time sitting in them. Most felt like they looked- extremely hard and not comfortable at all. We laughed and kept poking around. When a sales associate came over, we were trying different chairs and the conversation started with looking for a replacement to the man chair. She laughed and showed us one chair, I swear was out of Dr. Evil's lair- total evil genius style. And like the others...totally uncomfortable. Then she had me sit in another chair...

And it was heaven.

This chair looked funky because of it's minimal padding and curvy design. But I swear to you this was the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in! I just couldn't comprehend how this chair felt this comfy...but it did! Both Gayle and the sales consultant mentioned I had the goofiest look on my face after I sat down- like a light bulb came on according to the consultant. I had Gayle try it as well, and she had the same reaction. Complete comfort. This was now the chair we had to own.

Until we saw the price tag- $3419! (chair and ottoman)

Now, I thought the name of this store was 'Design Within Reach'...and most of the people I know can't reach $3419 for a chair. So I had to ask about it.

"When Florence Knoll challenged Finnish-born architect and designer Eero Saarinen in 1948 to create a chair that she could curl up in, she had found an apt candidate for the task. The Womb Chair's enveloping, lap-like form continues to be one of the most iconic and recognized representations of mid-century Scandinavian organic modernism. In fact, ask most designers and architects what lounge chair design they covet and they'll promptly tell you it's the Womb Chair."

Oh...that's why it's so expensive.

Leave it to me to fall in love with a chair that costs an arm and a leg. But it is now my mission to own one. Gayle is totally supportive of the purchase too, even though most everyone else I know thinks I'm insane. I'll save up my spare change, go for a big bonus at work, sell my blood...whatever it takes I must have one of these chairs.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Miami, FL and being out of your league


Headed to Miami for a couple days this week for work. This was not the ordinary work trip though...I traveled with the President of my company and our President of Sales to meet my client's CEO. These people are on a slightly different plane than me. First off, our meetings were at the Loews hotel on South Beach (http://www.loewshotels.com/en/default.aspx), an art deco hotel right on the beach and the "strip" of South Beach. When we rolled up, there was a Bentley and an Aston parked right out front with enough eurotrash hanging around to fill up the Enumclaw Transfer station.

But this wasn't 'good' enough for us to stay in...oh no. We had reservations at the Four Seasons downtown(www.fourseasons.com). OMG...it was nice. All marble bathroom with separate tiled shower, large window with a fantastic view of the city, and a super comfy bed with great linens. I also remember these large sculptures in the lobby being rather unique...they just kinda stuck in my mind. Oh yeah...there's an article about the artist in the latest issue of GQ (not that I read it regularly, but it makes good airport fodder). I also had the best room service delivery guy EVAR!!!

Now when it came to the actual meetings- I blew it. I mean, I didn't puke on the guy's shoes or anything...but I was in unfamiliar territory for me. I was truly overwhelmed and felt completely out of my league. I am used to being a big fish in a small pond- but I wasn't even a sardine in the Pacific here. It was humbling for sure.

But also enlightening. These guys were assholes. They knew they had money, and felt they were better than everyone else. You know...having money is nice, but it's not everything. Yeah...I wouldn't mind driving an Aston or a GT3 like my client's CEO, but if it requires me turning into an ass I'd rather keep the GTI and be happy with who I am.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Duluth, GA and "the house"


So I found it.


3 Bedrooms/2.5 baths in a new subdivision about 5 miles from work. Somewhere between 2000 and 2200 square feet finished, with a framed unfinished basement. Situated on a lot that backs up to a greenspace, and a very high level of fit and finish. In fact, it was so perfect I bought it without Gayle even seeing it. Yes...I was nervous, but when I walked her through it the first time she was absolutely ecstatic! I did good :)


This is the third house I have purchased, and you would think it gets easier, but it doesn't. So many things that crop up...it gets overwhelming. In fact, when I bought my first house someone along the way told me that buying a house causes as much stress as having a family member dying. I believe it...every time it amazes me.


Like this time, my house in Vancouver hasn't sold yet but I have to be out of the temporary housing by 11/30. Instead of renting a place and then trying to buy a house, I figured I'd just try to buy a place and cut out the middle man. This, as you can imagine, is an expensive process. And I don't know what it is...but once you think you've got it all figured out, someone comes and requires another couple grand.


Yesterday I found out the closing costs were underestimated, so I have to find $3500 by the end of the month. And today my new neighbors gave us permission to tie into the existing fence they have on their property- if we sign a legal document and put in a gate in the back of their fence. I have no idea when our stuff is going to show up, and we have house guests arriving 4 days after we get the keys.


Oh...and all of this while I'm starting a new job in a new city where I don't know anyone or where anything is.


Oh what fun it is to ride!

Portland, OR and lots of Jetta driving

So I went back to Portland for a couple days for our Going Away Party (Weird, huh?). This was an odd experience- it really didn't feel like I had left yet. More like I was coming home again from a work trip. It was a good time...but very trying. I hadn't seen Gayle in almost 3 weeks, and even though we were spending 4 days together, we didn't really get any time to ourselves. We spent most of our time running errands and trying to accomodate all the requests to see us.


For example, Monday we woke up and headed to Vancouver for a doctor's appointment at 9, then downtown Portland for a dentist appointment at 12, back up to Vancouver for Gayle's hair appointment, then out to Beaverton for a car appointment and back up to the 'Couve to pick her up again. Like I said...fun time.


I got a lot done while I was back though. Saw lots of friends, got lots of stuff packed, got an offer on one of the houses, and probably the best of all:


I came to Portland with a girlfriend, and I left with a fiance!



It was a good trip! :)