Changes

Yes, I have been MIA for awhile from the blogosphere. Don't worry- this doesn't mean I don't check in on all of you and your wonderful stories and great photos. It's one of the highlights of my mornings (don't tell my boss!) So, I have been super busy since, well, I guess since it became 2010! February I took an amazing trip to New Mexico and the Grand Canyon with my friend Rachel and 7 others. That's a whole other post, but it was a great experience (that has lasted quite sometime- my toenail fell off two days ago as a result of Canyon hiking! ok, maybe TMI, that's gross. Sorry! Anyway...so since January, I have been diligently hunting for a house. For me. To love. And make my home. And when I say I have been hunting, I mean as in looking at more than 50 properties. Going to these properties, not online viewing. It has been exhausting. The week before the Grand Canyon, I found a house I really liked. I mean really, really liked. So I made an offer. They countered, but I was leaving the next day and knew I wouldn't be around to counter and wouldn't have cell service. So, I said I would leave for the 8 days and see what happened when I got back to Charleston. Well, unfortunately when I returned there was a contract on this house. My house. I was truly sad and frustrated. So, I set back out on a hunt. I found a few places that were ok- didn't love and every property I compared back to Saint Clair, my first choice. I even had my sister and mom come over to help encourage me to like other properties. Finally I decided I guess I had to let Saint Clair go and I had found another place I "liked" so I made an offer. As I am waiting to hear back from the seller, my realtor gets a call. From the owner of Saint Clair. Their contract had fallen through and was I still interested??? WHAT??? Does fate get any better than that? Is there any more of a sign? I immediately withdrew my other offer and started bidding. All Easter weekend I was sick with nervousness, no sleep cause all I could think about was would it work out this time. Finally, Tuesday morning came last week and my realtor called to tell me we had a contract! woohoo! FINALLY!!! I was so relieved. So since then, I have been lining everything up. Met with my banker today. Inspection tomorrow (please let it go well). Call a closing attorney. Get homeowners insurance. Tell my current landlord I'm moving. As of now, my closing date is May 10th, if all goes well. May will either make or break me- closing on the 10th, board meeting on the 12th, concert on the 13th, 10 year birthday celebration for the Aquarium on the 14th, move out of current house by the 15th and the next week is my huge annual fundraiser, which has already sold out and invites don't go out til the end of this week. Did I mention Al Gore is speaking at it??? So, you can see there are lots of changes going on. Will I be broke? Oh yes. Will it be exciting and nervous. You better believe it. But I am so happy. truly happy to be doing something. For me. All me. All on my own. Wish me luck!