Life Updates

It has been FOREVER since I've updated this, so I figure now is as good a time as any.

First things first - I LOVE my new job. I finally feel like I am in a job that I'm good at and can control my growth and development in. I felt pretty stagnant in the old job because let's face it, I wasn't very good at it and I just didn't have the same level of drive to do well. HR is truly a better fit for me (for those who don't know, I took a job as an HRG service coordinator). What is truly awesome about my job is that the position is completely new to the company. I'm in one of the pilot programs and if it's successful, it will be expanded enterprise-wide. So far I have been able to help develop it and create many of the processes - cool right? This is such a great learning experience and should give me a really strong foundation in HR tools and processes. Plus, I'm working at the corporate offices, so the building is really nice and I have a much larger and more private office than I did in Everett. Oh, and did I mention the commute is only 20 minutes? That definitely beats sitting in traffic for two hours coming home from the north end. My group is really cool too, though much quieter than my old team, but they have made me feel really welcome. I have no doubt that they will grow on me much as my old group did. 

In general life news, Sean has been taking me ring shopping, so I have no doubt that a fairly large question will be coming from him in the near future. Mom and I went ring shopping last night and I absolutely fell in love with one that we found, but it was a bit outside the budget Sean and I had discussed. Sean is very perceptive when it comes to things I like though, so I have no doubt he will find the ring that's perfect for me. I just can't wait to see how he asks! 

Now for the big news...updates on the house hunt (yes, despite everything else, the house hunting is still the big news). To make a long story short, we had the inspection done on the Willow Park house and there was MASSIVE flooding. Six inches of standing water in the crawl space - not good. Because the house is a short sale, the seller has no money to fix the problem. The listing agent has volunteered to take half his commission to get the problem fixed, which is cool of him, but it has been over a month and the bank hasn't even looked at our offer. Sean and I want to get under contract in time for the tax credit, so we've been looking at other homes just in case. Last week we found one in Maple Valley that we both loved, but it needed a new roof. We submitted a full price offer, but because of the expense of putting on a new roof, we couldn't be as competitive as we liked. Needless to say we were outbid. However, none of that matters now, because we found the perfect house a few days ago and submitted an offer on the spot!

This is the part of the story that is no longer short because I am absolutely giddy over this home and want to gush about it as much as possible. I can't even begin to express how anxious I am to hear back about it! This house is AMAZING! I never thought Sean and I would find a house that had every single thing we both wanted, but this house has it all. If we get it, I will own my dream home at twenty-five. I figured I'd have to wait until I was quite a bit older before that would happen. Of course, I'm trying not to get my hopes up because I will be devastated if we don't get it. I do know that we were the first offer, so I hope that gives us a competitive advantage. My Realtor doesn’t know if any other offers have been made, but as of yesterday afternoon ours was the only one. Here’s hoping we get a response today because the weekend is a big time for home viewing and I don’t want any competition. We submitted a great offer, almost $10,000 over asking, but if someone wants it badly enough and has a higher budget than we do, then I suppose nothing is stopping them from outbidding us.

So a little about the house…it is 2300 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 2.5 baths. The yard is a decent size, fairly private, and has a great deck and patio for entertaining. Sean and I are already envisioning where the fire pit is going to go. There is already an established patio for the hot tub (with all the necessary hook-ups), so I suppose we have no choice but to get one now! The house has a three car garage, which of course makes Sean giddy with excitement, and I have to admit that I’m a big fan of that as well. The most amazing feature of this house though is the master bedroom. It is incredible! The room is really large, with a double-sided fireplace that can be seen from both the bedroom and the bathroom. On the other side is a large jetted tub beneath a big garden window. I was in pure heaven when I saw it! The shower is much larger than the one we have now and fortunately it’s a dual vanity, so Sean and I don’t have to fight over the sink anymore. Off the bathroom is the walk-in closet, which I swear is large enough to be a guest room. There is definitely enough room for both our clothes!

The other awesome aspect of the house is the neighborhood. When Sean and I started looking, we actively searched in both Willow Park and Vintage Hills – two well-established, mature neighborhoods. We eventually gave up on Vintage Hills because all the homes are way over our budget – they are really expensive, upper-end homes. Willow Park is very similar to Vintage Hills, but a little more affordable and not quite as high-end. Because of our budget we focused on that area, and eventually placed an offer on the Willow Park house mentioned above (it’s our back-up home). Then I stumbled across this bank-owned home (not a short sale!) on John L. Scott’s website practically the minute it was posted because I have been checking new listings obsessively for the past few weeks. Sean immediately called our Realtor and set up an appointment to see it the next day. I am absolutely shocked that we are able to afford a house in this neighborhood! It is such a perfect house for us, and it’s much closer to my parent’s than some of the homes we’ve looked at. 

I think that's about it for now...more to come later. Hopefully it's about our new home and acceptance of our offer! Keep your fingers crossed!

Still no word on the house. It has been two weeks and I'm going crazy...patience is not my virtue. I wonder who coined the term "short sale" as there doesn't seem to be anything short about it. We are having an inspection done Saturday morning to get a jump on the process. Should the bank accept our offer, we will be completely done with the inspection and the financing so we can close in time for the tax credit. Of course, it's a bit of a gamble since the bank could reject the offer and then we're out the fee from the inspection (which is not cheap, though in comparison to a house it seems that way). Sean and I are anxious to get in the house again and start taking measurements, just in case. It's wishful thinking at this point, but a girl can dream can't she?

I start my new job on Friday and I am so excited - though plenty nervous as well. My new manager has been in contact with me though, so that has helped, and I've already been assigned a mentor. One of the women in my group planned a welcome lunch on Friday as well, so they're all taking me to the Cheesecake Factory (yum!). The first day should be easy enough (knock on wood) and I think this job will be a much better fit than my current one. I took a training course last Thursday on one of the primary programs I'll be using and it was actually really interesting. Most Boeing classes bore me to tears, and though this one definitely wasn't enthralling, it was fun to get a sneak peak at the types of responsibilities my job will entail. I'm excited to be working for Corporate HR - should be a great experience!

Leo's shock therapy is progressing nicely. People at work keep joking around and asking if a lobotomy is next - I wonder if you can get those for dogs? Leo would be the perfect candidate (just kidding - sort of). At least he is responding to it, which is amazing since he's such a stubborn little dog.

Sean and I are excited over the beautiful weather we've been having. Spring is definitely in the air, which of course never fails to remind me that summer is just around the corner. We are already planning our hiking excursions, though they will have to be little weekend trips here and there. I never would have pictured myself becoming a hiker, but I actually love it. I can't wait until the weather warms up and we can go do a day hike at Mount Rainier. Sean and I both need to get back into hiking shape (or rather he needs to get back into hiking shape - I was never there to begin with). Our hike last summer was only about five miles, but I'd like to work up to twenty or more at some point, so I need to get my butt in gear. I don't suppose that will happen while I'm writing blogs huh?

Questions To Get To Know Someone

Most hated chore on the household chore list? Dusting!

In life who has had the most influence on you? My parents, without a doubt. Also my grandparents, Sean, a few close friends, and some very good teachers I had growing up.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? I've had a few - graduating from the UPS honors college (and writing/presenting my thesis), getting my job at Boeing, and now buying a house!

What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered for after your death? Being a good daughter, sister, girlfriend, and friend.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "You're early, we aren't ready for you yet. Please come back later."

Do you have any phobias? Arachnophobia. And I'm slightly claustrophobic.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do? Nothing, that doesn't really appeal to me and honestly I don't have any cool tricks - plus I'm not the daredevil type, so I wouldn't want to do any stunts.

If you could be one kind of beer which one would you be and why? Henry Weinhard's Summer Ale because it's light and delicious!

Who in your family are you most proud of? I'm proud of a good majority of my family. I'm very proud of all those in my family who have served their country - I love that I come from a military family. I'm proud of my mom and my grandma for being incredible mothers. I'm proud of my cousins for many of the struggles they've overcome. And I'm especially proud of my brother for going after his dreams. I really admire his determination and the courage it takes to go after something that could take years to achieve. I'm envious of that drive.

Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid. It's funny because I was just talking to a friend at work about this today. I miss the lack of responsibility, the sense of security in knowing that Mom and Dad would always take care of everything and that for the most part, they could always make things better.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be like James Herriot - a vet, a writer, and a farmer.

What extremely difficult life situation have you overcome and how did you do it? I had depression for two years in high school after my grandpa died. I didn't really do anything to overcome it, I just managed to survive it. It wasn't until I went to Costa Rica my senior year of high school that I started to see the beauty in life again...probably why Costa Rica will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had? There have been a few. Costa Rica for the reasons mentioned above. Cozumel with my family and Vegas with Sean. Also, all the trips to Long Beach growing up - those were great.

Which is the most funniest prank played on you or played by you? I can't recall any great pranks anyone has pulled on me, but I pulled a great one on Kirsten our sophomore year of college. It still makes for a great story. :)

List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself: I wish I were less critical of people (it's a Ricker family trait)...and I would like to be more patient.

Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? My parents and Sean.

If you could choose, how would you want to die? Peacefully in my sleep.

Name 1 thing you love about being an adult. The independence.

Which would you rather have, $50,000 or true love? True love. $50,000 isn't that hard to come by (over time of course).

What do you value most in life? Family and friends.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? I'd like to think so, but sometimes I think that crappy things just happen and though there isn't always a reason, things tend to work out in the end.

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Being born. :)

What would be your dream job? A recruitment and retention specialist for a large corporation. Or a business owner.

Have you ever lived or worked out of the country? No, but I would love the opportunity some day.

Name three exotic countries you would like to visit. I can't pick just three - Africa, Germany, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and Australia probably top the list (though they aren't all exactly exotic).

If you could start your own restaurant, what would it be? I want to open my own restaurant one day, so I have way too many ideas!

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime? I want to have a family first and foremost. Then I want to have my own business.

If you could go on a road trip with any person (dead or alive), who would you choose and where would you go? I'd go with Sean because life is always a fun adventure when we're together. It wouldn't really matter where we went, but it would be fun to drive down to California and hit all the wineries!
 
Who was your first crush? I'm sure I had crushes in preschool (not joking), but the first crush I really remember was on Jeff Johnson in Kindergarten.

What is your favorite book? The Outsiders. And Life of Pi.

How did you meet your significant other? Online actually, but it was more romantic than it sounds.

What do you think the secret to a good life is? Love and happiness.

What are you afraid of? Failure.

What is your most cherished childhood memory? I have so many...making poppy people with GG, summers spent at Cushman, fishing with my dad, spending rainy days watching Anne of Green Gables with my mom, Christmases in Leavenworth...who can choose?

If given a choice, what farm animal would you want to be? Random question, but I'd want to be a horse. Being able to run that fast and for that long seems really freeing.

Where is your favorite place on this earth? Wherever my family is.

What are your pet peeves? My two biggest pet peeves are bad grammar (especially from management) and people who insist on going under the speed limit in the fast lane.

Why do you like living in this area? Because Seattle is heaven on earth in the summer.

Who is your best friend? Sean. And Andrew...even though we haven't spoken in years. He will always be my best friend.

What is your favorite time of day? The time of day right before the sun sets, when it is still light out but the sun looks especially golden. Also, Sunday mornings.

What's a favorite memory with friends? In high school, Mark, Andrew, and I left school during lunch and took off for the day. We went to Red Robin for lunch, then went back to my house to swim in the lake. It was a beautiful day, so we spent the whole time out floating on tubes and talking. Later that night we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. I had a final that day, but since I never skipped school, my mom let me off the hook and wrote a note to excuse me.

Financing Fun

Financing a home couldn't be any more frustrating. Every mortgage company has different rates, requirements, and closing costs, so it's difficult to compare which is the better deal. On top of that, the rates change daily, so the quote never stays the same. Of course, if I had unlimited income all this would be great, but since the house Sean and I love is already at the top of our price range, we are a bit more restricted. That said, fortunately I have always been diligent in my savings, so I have plenty of funds for closing and the down payment - though I still want the best deal darn it! This need to find absolutely the best deal I can is driving me nuts because it means talking to fifty different lenders at fifty different companies, and therefore providing all my financial information fifty different times!

On a much more fun note, Sean and I are already coming up with ways to spend our money once we have a home in our possession. Sean has a friend that does hardwood floor installation, so we are setting aside funds to have the entire main floor done in hardwood - preferably Brazilian cherry if I have my way (and fortunately Sean leaves the decorating to me, so I will get my way). We also really want a hot tub, so I imagine some of the tax credit will be going to that little indulgence. I can't wait until we actually have the keys to a house so that all of this can actually come to fruition! We submitted our counter offer this evening and the seller has already accepted, so now we are just waiting to hear if the bank will accept it as well. Then I need to finalize the financing and we will be on our way to home ownership...I can't wait!

All of these recent happenings, though stressful, have made me realize how lucky I am to have such a supportive family. If my parents hadn't raised me to be so financially independent, there is no way I'd be able to afford this on my own. It's incredibly rewarding to be able to purchase a home for the first time and know I'm doing it without my parent's financial assistance. I remember back in 2007 when I first started at Boeing I was really anxious to buy a home, but I knew I didn't have the means at that time. Mom and Dad had to keep reminding me to be patient, which as most of my friends and family know, is not really a virtue I possess. I never would have thought that just a few years later everything I had dreamed about then would become a reality, and I don't mean just in the way of home buying. Though I had just started my job at Boeing and loved having disposable income, I could already tell it wasn't the right fit and HR was still calling to me. I was fresh out of a bad relationship that had gone on way too long and didn't think I'd ever find the right guy for me, which was probably the one area of my life that was bugging me the most. It wasn't until I met Sean that things really seemed to turn around, and now, three years later, I will finally be starting a job that I feel passionate about. I guess patience pays off after all!

So much to do, so little time

Tomorrow is the day Sean and I have to accept or decline the counter we received on the Willow Park property. I really want the house, and I want to be done house hunting, but now a bunch of questions have come up regarding the financing. When I first started the process, my Realtor put me in touch with his preferred lender. While I like working with him, as I've learned more about the process, I'm not sure that he is the best deal out there. I'm torn on what to do because I don't have much time to research and as "they" always say, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I'm afraid I'll make a decision without all the facts and then discover that maybe he was in fact offering the best deals and incentives. I don't want the deal with the house to fall through based on my financing, but on the flip side, I don't want to lose a lot of money to the process because I didn't perform my due diligence. This is all so overwhelming...not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be! I'm sure once I sign the papers and close the deal, I will be much more excited, but right now this just feels like a second job - and one I'm not getting paid for!

On a less frustrated note, I start my new job in just three weeks! I am so excited, and I love that my commute will no longer require that I sit in traffic for two hours in the afternoons! That is probably the best perk so far. It is getting really hard to concentrate on my current job because I am having difficulty really caring about anything. In a few weeks none of it will be my responsibility, so it's hard to make it a priority. Nonetheless, I am trying to stay focused, though it's definitely a challenge. I'd rather be focusing on the house hunt or training for my new position.

In Leo-related news, he struck again last night and unfortunately, Sean and I didn't have his shock collar on. I was sitting on the couch and he was curled up below me, agitated because he is a bit flea ridden right now. Sean and I bathed him earlier in the afternoon and put some flea medication on his back, though it doesn't seem to help much. I reached down to pet him in an attempt to be somewhat nurturing and sensitive to his discomfort, and as soon as my hand reached within six inches of his face, he lunged at me. Fortunately his teeth just grazed me, so no skin was broken (probably a first). After that little stunt, we put the shock collar on him and then let him be, in order to prevent him from viewing the collar as punishment. Ideally, he's not supposed to know that the collar is a bad thing, or he will only respond favorably when it is on him. Once it had been on for about twenty minutes, I went over to pet him and the little shit tried biting me again. This time his collar was on, so I was able to shock him and as expected, he retreated and stopped snarling at me. Is it bad that I actually enjoy having the opportunity to shock my dog? It sounds terrible, and yet when you've been bitten this many times, it's such a relief to see that something works in correcting the behavior. I feel terrible hurting him, but it's gotta be better than the alternative of putting him down. Regardless of his behavior, I still love the little guy and hate the thought of having to give him up.

More updates to come tomorrow after a decision is made on the house. Probably the biggest decision I've made in my life so far...kind of scary!

Decisions, Decisions

Sean and I went to the open house today for the home in Elk Run. The house is adorable - very cozy and the neighborhood is great. It definitely needs some updating, but at only $220k, we would have plenty of money for renovations. Plus, the Realtor guessed that because the house is a short sale, it will probably end up selling for around 200k or 205k. Not bad at all, and then even more money for renovations! Sean and I have some big decisions to make because our response to the counter offer on the Willow Park home is needed by Tuesday or the counter expires. It's a tough call because I absolutely love Willow Park and the home is substantially larger than the home in Elk Run. However, there is also quite a price difference and it would be a lot of fun to personalize the Elk Run home to our preferences. I wish I could see into the future to determine how long Sean and I will need to stay in the new home. The Elk Run house is definitely a starter, whereas we would have more room to grow into the Willow Park house. So much to take into consideration!

The house in Elk Run

Sean's parents went with us to the open house and they seemed to like it as well, though they did acknowledge that it needs a lot of work. Afterward we went back to their place and his mom and I settled in around their kitchen table with some tea and talked for a while. Sean has been commenting lately on how dirty my car is, so he went outside to wash it - I never see much point to washing my car in the winter because as soon as it rains, it's filthy again. Because his mom and I were so caught up in our conversation, I didn't notice how much time had passed until Sean came in again and two hours had gone by! It doesn't take anyone two hours to wash a car, so I had no idea what he had been up to. I found out as soon as we went outside. Sean had waxed my car for me - a job I hate and truth be told, have never actually done myself because I just know I wouldn't like it. He takes such good care of me. My car looks beautiful now!

On the drive home, we both noticed how beautiful the sunset was - evenings like we had tonight make me want to drive around and just enjoy how spectacular this area can be when the sky is clear. I just can't get over the weather we've been having. So much for six more weeks of winter - spring has already arrived! This winter has been relatively mild, aside from the few weeks of extreme cold we had, but other than that there hasn't even been that much rain. It does make me worry about the type of summer we'll have - hopefully we're done with the extremes for a while because I don't want to suffer if we buy a home without air conditioning (though the Willow Park home does have central air - one more factor to consider). The Seattle area truly is gorgeous when the sun is shining.

Disappointment

Well today was disappointing. We got a counter offer back on the smaller of the two houses and it wasn't as good as we were expecting. They aren't budging much, thanks to the bank. I'm so tired of dealing with short sales, but when so many homes on the market are short sales or foreclosures, they are hard to avoid. Sean and I really need to sit down and figure out if this house is right for us at this price. If so, it might be worth the extra cost, but otherwise we will be moving on - once again. Fortunately, we did find another house we might be interested in and it's a lot cheaper. It's in Maple Valley in Elk Run, which is a great neighborhood, and the price would allow us to do some fun renovations. We are going to the open house tomorrow to check it out a bit more. Here's hoping it's not a let down.

That's all for today, not much else to report.