Closed

HOOOORAY!!!!!!

Yesterday Lobster and I closed on our very first house! We are so super excited!

The night before was a bit stressful. I could tell Lobster was very nervous. I read all 80 pages of the closing documents he'd be signing and emailed our last minute questions to our mortgage guy. We both had a bit of a restless night.

The next morning I went to the bank first thing and got a cashier's check for the closing amount. Our mortgage guys called me and we discussed the questions I had and all the last minute details. I spent the rest of the day trying NOT to think about closing and actually get some work done. Finally, the appointed hour came along and I made a quick stop at Starbucks for some fortifying coffee beverages for me and Lobster. I made it to the title company a little early and Lobster arrived shortly afterward. I could tell he was very nervous.

But as soon as we got into the conference room, he started flying through all the paperwork like a pro. We explained to the escrow agent that we had gone over everything the night before. She was a bit befuddled by this. Evidently, not many people read the documents before closing. Lobster explained that I was an attorney and a bit of a control freak and I had probably memorized the documents. Thanks, Lobster.

Anyhoo, we actually had a really good time while going through all the papers. We were joking with the escrow agent and I had a good laugh about all the redundant paperwork created by over-zealous attorneys. Seriously, there were at least 20 documents that just repeated previous documents. There was even a document that was literally a disclaimer about all the other disclaimers. Whaaat? Silly lawyers.

Finally, as we were finishing up all the documents, we were told that everything was funded (the agent had sent in the most important documents as we signed them to speed everything along) and we were officially homeowners! We were so excited and relieved! We headed down the street to a local bar and had a few celebratory drinks and nachos. Because who doesn't gorge themselves on alcohol and nachos after they buy a house?

So, packing will commence on Sunday when we get back from Austin. We have about three weeks to pack. That's not a long time for all the crap we have. Yikes!

P.S. In case you're wondering, yes, Lobster was a bit mortified that I was taking pictures during closing. Really, Lobster, do you expect anything less from me? And I thought you knew me...

Overwhelmed Much?

Holy stressball, Batman!

You know by now that for the past couple of weeks I've been technically without a job. By the end of last week I was at my wit's end. I knew that I couldn't wait to hear from my boss any longer. Last Friday my plan of action was to call him one last time and then start sending out my resume and applying at any new job I could find. However, just after 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning my boss (finally) called me with good news: he had a new project and wondered if I could come in on Monday to get started? Um, abso-friggin-lutely! I spent the rest of the day praising God and singing the hallelujah chorus. Lobster and I celebrated with a big, fat juicy cheeseburger and beer. It was awesome.

You would think all was well in my world after that, right? Well, it is, but Lobster and I are in the home stretch with closing and these past few days have been incredibly stressful for both of us. We've been waiting for paperwork to go through and we finally heard late yesterday that it has finally gone through processing. And none too soon, because we're closing at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow. But then I get the "final" settlement statement from our Realtor today and after a careful review, I notice that there's a mistake. OF COURSE. Why would anything be easy at this point? So now I'm trying to figure out how we can fix the mistake and get a new settlement statement before closing tomorrow. GAH!

THEN, not to cram too much into our lives at once, Lobster and I have our engagement shoot on Saturday in Austin. It's difficult coordinating schedules with a photographer when you live in the same city. But when we're all traveling to Austin, it's even harder. I have to coordinate my make-up appointment, doing my hair, organizing my outfits and figuring out when and where to meet the photographer and I'm about ready to jump off a bridge. GAH!

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to stopping the flood of CRAZY in my life right now. I can't wait to be in our new place and start setting up our home. I can't wait to have weekends where we aren't booked to our eyeballs with events or appointments. I'm really looking forward to having a "boring" life. Never thought I'd say that...

BUT, I am so happy to be working again! WOO HOO!

Pass the Xanex

Sorry I've been MIA lately. It's been a rough few weeks.

Last Monday I got a call from my boss who told me that the project I was working on got pulled by the oil and gas company we work for. Which meant that I was out of a job until further notice. Granted, I knew this was a likelihood in this line of work, but I did not expect it so soon and I did not expect it from the giant of an oil company such as the one I work for. Nevertheless, here I am, sitting on my butt for five days now without contributing any income to my household. Needless to say, it has put me in a bit of a funk. I've been pretty bummed about it and even broke down the other night at dinner crying fat ugly tears into my grilled chicken.

But I am hopeful that I will get assigned to a new project this week. I have been calling my boss every couple of days and he is waiting on a few phone calls. As soon as he gets them, he'll call me. I am praying hard that he gets those phone calls soon (as in NOW, God, thanks).

In other news, we are getting closer to closing on our first house and I am getting more and more excited. Of course, I'm mostly stressed because no closing is easy. In our case, we are waiting on some paperwork to come through and everything takes "3 to 5 business days." Well, there are about three more steps that require "3 to 5 business days" before all the paperwork comes through and we are set to close on the 28th. Clearly, there is not much room for several steps requiring "3 to 5 business days" before a closing on the 28th. At this rate, I'm going to need 3 to 5 shots of tequila to get me through this.

Lobster, on the other hand, is cool as a cucumber. Which is good. One of us needs to be a little bit sane right now. It's interesting the things we are learning about each other as individuals and ourselves as a couple throughout this process. For example, in high-stress situations, I tend to over-analyze and put on my bulldog lawyer hat. I am not a nice person when I wear my bulldog lawyer hat. I show no mercy. I am not forgiving. I take no prisoners. It's not a pretty sight, but it gets things done for the most part. Conversely, Lobster is as laid back as they come. He's overly nice and forgiving about everything. He sips Mai Tai's and listens to Bob Marley and has not a care in the world. He has the (infuriating?) ability to sit back and relax and just trust that everything will get done and that all will be right in the world. He is the epitome of Zen.

Now, if either one of us were in this house buying process alone, neither of us would probably be very successful. But together, we are a pretty effective pair. Lobster tends to calm me down and help me relax about things (which is a feat unto itself; seriously, he should get a medal). I help to find and attack the problems that need to be addressed and we get it done efficiently. As Team Lobster, we put on a strong (but very zen-like) front.

I have never been one to prefer being on a team. I always gravitated toward the more independent type activities like running or being a lawyer (ha). But I have found that sometimes being on a team is more effective than doing things on your own. Lobster had the patience of a saint when he was trying to woo me to join his team, but I'm glad I did. I love Team Lobster.

Living A Creative Life

I just got done walking half of the Main Street Arts Festival during my lunch break. I will walk the other half after work today and I'm super excited to get back out there! It's awesome to see such amazing work by so many creative people: painters, sculptors, photographers...you name it, it's here!

But as I was walking around I kinda got a little bummed. Seeing all of the art and the beautiful things that people have created made me sad that I am not one of those people. I know it sounds weird, but I'm a very creative person. I thrive on creativity. Making beautiful things makes me happy. It's in my blood. My dad is an artist and a musician. My mom is a writer and a musician. I was born to be creative. But I feel that the past several years of my life have been severely lacking in creativity. I didn't realize how important being creative was to me until I realized that it had disappeared from my life. And now I want it back.

Of course, there's the pesky little problem of earning a living. If I didn't have bills, I would happily spend my days learning new things and perfecting what I already know. What I wouldn't give to learn how to sculpt or paint or make pottery or blow glass or become a phenomenal photographer and an amazing writer. Why can't someone pay me money to simply learn and make art? Stupid money. It always gets in the way of being able to live life, doesn't it?

Sigh. You know, maybe when life slows down a bit, after Lobster and I move into our new house, I can take a couple of artistic classes. Maybe that will help me reclaim my creative spirit. I know there are pottery and painting classes out there. I'm sure I can find a photography workshop. Once I have my weekends to myself again, maybe I can feed my creative side.

Or maybe I'll win the lottery, quit my job, pay off all my debts and be free to do whatever the heck I want for the rest of my life! Yeah...that's the ticket! I'll get right on that.

So, if you could do whatever you wanted for the rest of your life, what would it be? Would you do something creative? Would you do something philanthropic? Would you sit on the couch and watch soaps all day? Hey, to each their own, right?

Main Street Arts Festival

Starting tomorrow, the Main Street Arts Festival is kicking off in downtown Fort Worth! The Main Street Arts Festival is the area's largest art and entertainment festival and better yet...it's FREE!

If you've never been and you're in the DFW area, it would be crime not to come check it out. The weather will be gorgeous and the food and fun plentiful! Since I'm lucky enough to work off of Main Street, I'll be sneaking out of work a little early tomorrow afternoon to beat the crowds. Maybe I'll see you there?

For more info, check out the website here.

He Is Risen

Happy Easter, bloggy friends!