Ah yes, where was I...

Oh yeah, the 12 Days Christmas...and a Happy New Home...I'mean Year...I'mean, Yeah!

REWIND<<<>

12/23 - I signed my loan docs! I have no idea what I just did! I do think it's a good thing...this is insane!!!

(j/k. I know full well what's going on...uh oh, my shoes are on backwards).

12/24 - Driving up to see the familia. I haven't seen them in a while. Everytime I come back, the kids grow up!! I'm waiting for when they are just old enough to come visit more often. Besides, I'm less than 15 minutes from the happiest place on earth - Costco!!! I mean Disneyland. Ok, back to the road - this will be the 40th time I've driven up to NorCal. By golly, I'll drive 40 more! When I arrive, I find out that my old church is going on it's annual Christmas caroling. Since I just drove in, I decided to stay back and join everyone at the final meeting house, where there will be good food and time to hang out. But, no worries, I have time and go visit the Nakasones, who recently moved up from SoCal. Miss these guys! After a short visit, I head on over to the meeting house, where I catch-up with many of my friends. We sang a few songs and ate the night away!

12/25 - Christmas day. The last few years, it's been alot about the kids. It's a gift to experience the holiday with them. While they have enough toys to make a fortune on eBay, to be able to provide for them (and for each other as a family), is more than I could hope for. I thank God each day for opportunities to make more memories.

Zach and Robo-Rex! (fingers not included).

Hannah w/ the new quilt my sister hand made, hand stitched, hand stuffed, and hand delivered. Almost a year in the making! Thanks Auntie Vicki!

Grandma and Zach w/ his super cool water-sensor Thomas Train play pad.

Uncle Winston & Hannah - woohoo, it's Cariboo!!

12/26 - Christmas weekend is short, but that's because I got 1,400+ sq foot of new home waiting for me! My walk-thru with the construction manager is tomorrow. Hmm, there might be traffic. No worries, off to Ed & Milan's house! Hanging out with Ley's is always a pleasure. Great friends, good times! And little Matthew is getting big!

Driving home took 7.5 hours. Not bad. I showed that Honda CRV from Oregon who da man on the road is. That rookie!!!

12/27 - Walk thru day! I can't believe it's today! 7 months of waiting, 3 weeks of lender-builder-title co. hoopla communication. That was an ordeal. Sis and I had to do double time to get on the same page. Thankfully we did (for the most part! right Vic?!).

Vick gets caught on entrance ramp due to a closure; she's not going to make it from West LA in time. I go solo to the house for the walk thru with Anthony. I make sure I have my camera, and my two FULLY charged. (I don't know why I capped "fully"...I don't know why I'm writing this line...). It's nostalgia! Sis, finally makes it after an hour-long delay. Enough chatter, it's us in our new pad!

it's our new kitchen!

el bano! (sorry can't get the ~ on the "n" to work).

The Island...

no not the movie.

and not as dramatic.

but it's functional!

12/28 - So the title company tells us that closing on our home will be 12/30. Let me tell you, the days are agonizing now. I wait 7 months, not a problem. 3 remaining days? Oh man, I'm beside myself!!!

12/29 - I'm on the edge...must hold on...just kidding. I'm cool. I'm cool. I talk with sis about furniture and possibility of coming out to go furniture shopping during the New year weekend. After a long and busy season at work, with family, and house stuff, we just want the keys!!!

12/30 - Should be receiving the keys today! I can barely focus at work. I might have to get a taxi to drive me over. Nerves Woo! Get a hold of the Nerves Woo!! 12pm - no call yet. I'm anxious to email; but they are supposed to call me. 3:30pm comes - no word from the sales office. Just more tenant calls. 4:36pm. Ok, I can't help it. I email Florence at Fidelity Title. She replies back - Winston, you’re all closed! I’ve called the sales office, and informed them---they should call you shortly unless you want to beat them to it. =) Hope you enjoy your new home! Florence. The thing is that builder has the keys. So why aren't they calling?

Nerves! Nerves!

4:55 pm - Emily w/ the builder finally calls. Hi Winston, your all closed. I'll wait here so you can come get your keys. So I jet over to the sales office from work. I'm handed 2 garage openers and 5 keys. I don't know what to think! I go over to our new place, and walk through the garage. I meet 2 of my neighbors and then I walk in. It's awesome. The place looks great!

I take a moment and walk around the house. Spending time in each room. I look out the windows to see if any of the neighbors are still moving in, or settled in for that matter. After 2.5 hours, I head back to the apartment, and then the thing I knew I couldn't avoid, and have dreaded for weeks came to realization...I gotta pack up again and move!..Ugh. When I was sitting in the house, for a moment, I actually felt ok, with just leaving it all at the apt. and starting off new. (then I realized, I couldn't make it beyond the day without fresh boxers and clothes. (yes, I wear boxers. you happy?!!!...I am :) ).

12/31 - My sis and her boyfriend drive down and we spend the day furniture shopping. First we take measurements of each of the rooms. Pictures of the color schemes we have, with the floor, cabinets and carpet. Boy, let me say, this became more stressful than before we got the keys! But I'm estatic though; excited and willing to go the distance. Must follow through Woo!! We travel to Home Depot, Lowes, Robinson May, Wickes furniture, and Cost Plus. Dude, if there's one single thing that burns me out more, it's shopping. We just got to buy something after spending all this time and effort. Can't forget the first rule though - "never at full price"! Different places have different pre-New Year's sales. I wonder if the deals are better after New Years! I still think I'm the ultimate price shopper!

After a long day, we head over to Buca De Beppo for some grub. That chicken parmesiana hit the spot. Afterwards, I head on over to friends to catch the last few minutes countdown of 2005. I wish I was able to head over earlier, but I'm just thankful I could spend time with the sis, and share time with good friends.

5! 4! 3! 2! 1!!!...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1/1 - Ok, my sis and her boyfriend come out 1 more time to go furniture shopping. We are totally bent that we must buy at least something to show fruit for our efforts. Luckily, stores are open till about 7pm. Based on a tip from the salesman from the previous day, Wickes has an 11% off sale on almost everything in the showroom. The previous day was no sales tax day. The 11% sale is actually a better value...I'll take that to the bank! After much indecisiveness, and the prompting of my sis, I buckle up, and I buy that sectional we eyed the previous day. I choose tea green microfiber upolstery. Man it's a huge sectional. But it's nawwice!!! From there we head over to IKEA, hoping to find the right dining chairs to match the Cost Plus table that we both agreed was a good fit in the dining room. After walking throughout the show room, we find the HARALD chairs, a deep chocolate colored finish...hmm, we think it'll match the table. So we pick up 8 and bring'em home. Yeah, that's right, HOME!!!!

Whew, finally something to show for our time and effort. Ok, now all I need is the downstairs couch, the dining table, fridge and washer and dryer. Oh boy, can I get a refund on this house?

ha ha. heh, [sigh]. Why didn't the house just come with this stuff?!

1/2 - I head over to Robinson-May and go to check up on this couch that has been on clearance for the past 2 months, discounted $50 at 2 week intervals. Maybe I'll get lucky. I get there, and sure enough, extra 10% off the lowest red-tag price. There it is. The Charisma. 4 colors to choose from. I choose the Desert colored microfiber upolstery. Microfiber is so cozy. It's coo. It's coo. I get the matching loveseat as well, which was also on sale. Free shipping on purchases of $1K minimum. Just barely made it. Can't beat free!!

1/3 - Went to work. Now that was anti-climatic, wasn't it? I think I humor myself too much. I'm actually glad to go to work. No more shopping, no more shopping, mommy make it stop!!!! After a long weekend of shopping, guess what? I still have to pack up and move!!! But you know what, this will hopefully this move will last at least 5 years.

Did I mention I still need to get a fridge and washer and dryer? Mommy, make it stop! make it stop!!!

And there be my 12 days of Christmas and my New Year. In a quick fast foward>> I took 1/5 - 1/6 off to pack up and move. Thankfully my roommate has his folk's mini van. I must say I've underestimated those cars--way bigger and spacious than I thought. With it, I get my table from Cost Plus--and yes, as we hoped, the chairs go well with it! It's all comin together now. Within the week I buy my fridge and washer and dryer through a friend - saved me a cool $1,500 combined. Sweet deal. My washer is so quiet!!

So what's one of the top priorities for my new place? To be as hospitable to friends and family as it has been shown to me.