Re-Fi...DONE!

I'd locked in a rate of 4.125% with Kern Schools Mortgage on August the 12th and then had to endure the waiting game to see if all the documents get processed and become official.  Not only was this refinance a good deal financially considering I bought my house with an interest rate of 6.75% and would be dropping more that two points, it was a necessity to get out from under the WORST mortgage company ever!!!  When I first bought the house I was with Taylor, Bean and Whitaker for the first couple years and never had any problems, but then that company went under and everything went downhill from there.  My mortgage was bought out by a company called CENLAR (Central Loan Administration and Reporting)...who had nothing but complaints and a Better Business Bureau rating of an "F"!!!  I was right there with them, I had only problems from the get-go!  The first thing that CENLAR did was raise my monthly payment on my 30 year FIXED loan, claiming they needed more in my escrow account?!?!  By the time I got out, over $1,000 (of MY money) was unaccounted for and lost forever!  One of the biggest questions I had for the Kern Schools Mortgage broker, was related to the process they use when they sell loans and I was relieved that they don't typically sell loans and even if they did, my payment would still be made to KSFCU because they'd always be governing the loan.  SOLD!   

Hard work...Yard work!

 I was over at Mom's house to help her dig out one of her Phoenix Robellini 3-headded palms so that we could attempt to re-plant it a bit deeper.  One of the three heads was starting to fall to the side and appeared to be dying because it was too far out of the dirt and wasn't being supported.  Knowing the plant was way to big and rooted for a simple shovel, Mom picked up a digging bar.  That thing was AMAZING!!!  It sliced through roots like butter and was strong enough to pry that ginormous plant up out of the ground (a shovel would have surely broke)!!!  It took hours of digging and prying but we got it!  We decided to slice off that 3rd head and pot it separately (hoping it would come back to healthy eventually) and just re-set the remaining 2 heads.  Ultimately the planting was successful, but unfortunately we ended up nursing a couple wounds from the ordeal.  Mom hurt her heal from hours of stomping on a shovel, and I bore a whole into my palm with the digging bar!

Dating round 3...THE END!

I got home from work today and there was a motorcycle in my driveway?!?  No warning, no call, nothing.  Chris Smith had driven down to Bakersfield from Onyx with a backpack packed expecting to pick me up and take me to the beach?!  What was he thinking...or was he???  At this point I had seriously had enough...texting, calling, showering me with gifts, showing up everywhere unannounced...maybe that works for some girls but NOT this one!  He was the kind of nice guy that needed a girl who wanted to be put on a pedestal and treated like a queen, but I just can't live like that.  So I began the letting him down easy process, knowing he was sensitive and truly meant well, I didn't want to hurt his feelings.  This was difficult because I was beyond frustrated and just wanted to scream!  I had NO idea what I was in for...this was nearly a FIVE hour breakup (no exaggeration)!!!  At one point I got slightly nervous because he'd gone through every emotion and had gotten mad !  I sent a text to my mom (who was working dispatch for the police at the high school football games) as an FYI to sent out the SWAT team if I'm never heard from again.  She then text my friend Kim (because she only lives a couple miles away) who went all covert!  Kim drove over to my house (well, near it), parked in the adjacent cul-de-sac so she could see my front yard (where Chris and I were...talking/arguing).  She turned all private investigator and began sending play-by-play texts to my mom to assure her I was alright.  Finally he accepted the fact that I'd made up my mind and wasn't gonna change it, I offered to give back the necklace, he refused to take it back and left.  I was emotionally exhausted by the whole ordeal and went inside...I didn't learn of Mom and Kim's covert affairs until the next day (which was good, because by then I could laugh about it)!  Dating is ROUGH, ugh!!!

Flowers at work?!?

It's Tuesday, the second day of the 2011-2012 school year and  I get a call from switchboard telling me I had a delivery at the front?!?   It was the middle of 2nd period, so Linda (my aide and friend) volunteered to go up to the front and pick up whatever this delivery was.  She comes back with a boquet of flowers and of-course the students go wild with ooohs and ahhhs teasing about a boyfriend (exactly what one would expect from a room full of high school students)!  Mind you, it's only been two days since Chris Smith gave me a gorgeous "thank you" necklace and now flowers!?!  Then the card...said something about how the seashell reminded him of my favorite place, the ocean (not sure where he got the idea that the ocean was my favorite place, other than maybe from a conversation about how I like to take the girls to the dog beach in Avila)???  Anyway that overwhelming feeling of suffocation set in again and by the time I got to the signature of the card I'd had enough.  It was signed, from Chris, (his two dogs) Hunter, Shylo, (and if that wasn't enough, my two dogs even made the list!) Baylie, and Ginger.  Geesh! 

The necklace...on the 3rd date?!?!

It was after our third date when Chris Smith said he wanted to give me something to show his thanks for going with him on a 24 hour adventure to his family wedding.  He prefaced the presentation by saying he'd visited Australia with his family and one day he and his father went shopping for jewelry (something his father did regularly for his mother) and he came across this necklace and had to buy it!  It was from The Perth Mint, Australia.  He said at the time of purchase he had no idea who was destined to wear it but knew it would be perfect for someone, sometime.  Then he told me that it looked like something I'd wear, thought it would look beautiful on me, and ultimately wanted me to have it!  When he handed me the box I had a miniature "Pretty Woman" moment because I'd never seen jewelry in a boxed presentation like that before!  Then I opened it and WOW it was really pretty and it WAS something I would've picked for myself!?!  It was so strange, shocking, and sweet that someone who has only known me for a short time could choose something so perfect!  Unfortunately, the one unwanted thought that flashed through brain was that he was getting too attached too fast and I was beginning to feel suffocated.  I really wasn't sure if I should accept it, and I told him it was too much!  He insisted that it was simply a thank you and he wanted me to have it, so I thanked him and put it on...so cute!   

Susanville...never heard of it?!?!

The day Chris and I went to the Tehachapi Wine Festival (Aug. 6th, 2011) we had a LOT of time to talk considering the hour drive up, 4 or so hours at the event and then another hour drive home.  We talked about a little bit of everything.  One of the stories that came up was that he'd had a slight falling out with some of his family members (over what, I can't quite remember, but I could relate to this problem rather well, considering my own family's fallout after the divorce so I was sympathetic.  Long story short, he had a family wedding to attend and wasn't sure (due to the fallout) if he really wanted to go, but his mother was really pressuring him, reminding him it'd be a chance to see his grandparents and extended family.  He knew it was a lot to ask, but not wanting to go alone he asked if I'd be willing to accompany him.  Being sympathetic to his concerns, and knowing I myself wouldn't be comfortable attending a wedding alone, I agreed to go with him.  Note to self...next time ask WHERE the wedding is before accepting an invitation!!!!  His family lived up near the Stockton/Turlock area (above Fresno) so I dare assumed it would be there...well you know what they say about assuming?!?  Yeah, so he tells me it's in Susanville...never heard of it, so I decided to Google it!  HOLY COW, it was at the tippy-top of California...a little over an EIGHT hour drive!  We at one point had to cross in and out of the Nevada border to get there!  We left town on the 13th around 7am, stopping to get some lunch and then once more at his grandmother's house to stretch and change into our wedding attire.  Then it was off to the wedding that was to begin at 4:30 (if I remember right).  It was at the Susanville fairgrounds...I didn't know that part when I selected my attire but Chris dressed to match me, so we just looked like a very city-slicker couple walking into a country-hick wedding, no big deal!  The wedding was cute, there were deer walking around in the background and the food was yummy barbeque.  I had asked prior to the wedding how Chris planned to introduce me at the wedding (considering this was technically our 2nd date) because I wasn't really comfortable with him calling me a girlfriend just yet.  We decided to just go with friends, but his family ignored that I think!  They were all very nice and welcoming, but they asked a lot of get-to-know me questions, took a lot of pictures of the two of us and even forced me into one of the family wedding photos (unfortunately, I didn't end up with any of them)!?!  I ducked out of that mess as soon as I found an out!  After the wedding his parents tried to convince Chris to stay at the hotel and not drive home, but he'd promised we'd go up and back in a day knowing it'd be silly to pay for two hotel rooms, but that staying together in one would be REALLY awkward on our second date.  I appreciated the concern, but I was tired enough at this point (a little after 10pm-- when I'd gotten up around 5am to do my hair and makeup) I probably would've agreed to sleep over the eight hour drive home, but that's not what happened!  We said our goodbyes, assured his parents that we'd keep each other awake and drive carefully, pulling over to sleep if we needed to and then hit the road!  We stopped for snacks and energy drinks about half way and finally arrived at my house about 7am...yup that was almost exactly a 24 hour, non-stop date, whew!!!  I did however insist that he at least sleep for a few hours on my couch before heading home (which was another hour or so away up the canyon above Lake Isabella in Onyx, CA) because it'd be much easier to fall asleep at the wheel driving alone!  We both crashed for a few hours then I sent him on his way with one more energy drink just in case!

The dress I wore to the wedding.

Yes, I realize that I blinked, but these are the only photos I have...oh-well!  :-)

Show me the MONEY...coins that is!!!

I've started making a point to collect my change all year long and then cash it in during summer (when paychecks cease to exist)!!!  Not bad for a pile of change!  :-)

Ginger likes to stay CLOSE!!!

This mat is on the floor in front of the kitchen sink.

Ginger always stays close, she likes to know where I am at all times!  On this occasion, I was doing dishes and she decided to come lay underneath me on the mat, forcing me to either lean over her or stand to the side of her to reach the sink.  She didn't seem to mind of-course!  All the while, keeping her paw on my foot so she'd know if I moved!

My pedicure!  :-)

August 11, 2011--Carter's 1st Dentist Appointment!!!

X-ray time!

Carter had his 1st dentist appointment today!!!  Sherry called me like 30 minutes before hand sounding slightly panicky about the whole thing.  She was unsure of how he'd react to everything and knew that it would be hard to console him (if necessary) and still take pictures to document the visit (especially because Matt had to work and miss it).  So she asked me to come along to help with Carter and or the picture taking...of-course I said yes!  To everyone's surprise (including the dentist) Carter did AMAZING!!!  He didn't cry, he held still during x-rays and the cleaning process, LOVED the suction vacuum, and overall rocked his 1st dental experience!!!  We were quite relieved, and PROUD!  :-)

There was a flat screen TV with a kid's movie on right above the chair!

Say, ahhhhhhhhhhh...

The suction straw made him giggle!

TaDa!  All done, time for a sucker...no, wait we're at the dentist...how about a tooth sticker and a toothbrush instead!!!  :-)

Water Fun at Greystone Park!

Some of these photos were just too cute not to steal from Sherry's blog site.  I didn't go to play on this day but Mom (AKA: Gra-ma-ma Carol) did and it looked like everyone had fun!  Sherry said Greystone park was located at the southern end of town off of Harris Road at Mountain Vista Road.  Enjoy the splashes!

Match.com--First Date With Chris Smith

For our first date Chris invited me to the Tehachapi Wine Festival. Although I accepted, it worried me a little because typically for ANY first date it is my policy to meet at the date location so that I have my own way out if I need it.  In this case, he insisted on picking me up due to his old-fashioned, chivalrous ways.  He found my house, we had a slightly awkward greeting and then he opened the door to his big white truck, then had an hour long drive ahead of us!  Luckily conversation flowed rather nicely and soon enough I was comfortable with his driving style.  When we arrived he got out and walked around to let me out...it was soooo crazy trying to ignore my inherent independent urge to just jump out (but I didn't)!  The evening was really fun just moseying around, chatting, nibbling on different food samples and tasting various beers and wines.  By the end of the night, I welcomed date number 2!

The BEST thing I think I ate ALL night...freshly baked German soft pretzel (dipped in mustard of-course to soak up the beer in my belly)!  :-)

Of the beers we tasted this was one of my favorites (never had it before)!  Plus, I got to keep the glass!