Monday, December 8, 2008

What housing slump?

So, if you read my last entry you will note my excitement. Well, the excitement has left the building, literally. After more than 3 months of shopping we have had no bites on any of our offers on homes for sale. Our experience is that houses are flying off the market (at least the low priced ones are). So that is what I am still up to these days.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Update

Just wanted to share my excitement. We have been approved for a home loan and are currently shopping the ever declining real estate market here in So Cal. I will keep you updated. I just cannot contain my excitement over buying our first home!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

How Two D's met

I was inspired by my buddy, Jules to write about how I met my mister, Darrell. First things first, yes, my name is Darla and his name is Darrell. Kismet right?

Lets go back to a time when I was 20 years old, a student at VVC and lived in Apple Valley. My best friend, Theresa started work at a pizza place, the name of it escapes me. When I wasn't in school I would try to spend every second with Theresa so when she had to work it was a real bummer. So, I had the bright idea of crashing her workplace. Once I did, I realized her co-workers were super cool and so I would crash often. Two sons of the owner, Jeff and Chris worked there and they were a riot. I would help out of course, since I was there anyway, by snapping wet towels at them and laughing at their jokes.

After a few visits, the manager, Carrie invited her co-workers and me, the work crasher over her house for a party. She was a wee bit older so she actually had her own pad. One of the brothers, Jeff I had a bit of a crush on so I was really excited he was going to be there. Remember the Red Hots, Jeff?

Theresa and I went to the party. Music was playing probably Korn (at the time I hated Korn thought it was devil music) we had a few drinks, probably Smirnoff or some other wine cooler. I remember vividly the moment I saw Darrell. I was sitting on the sofa (yes a sofa, not a couch) facing the front door in the living room. In walks Jeff. I was excited to see him. Wait, someone is with him. Wait another guy is trailing him wearing a sweatshirt and a beanie with long dishwater blond hair down his back. It is important to point out I do not like long hair. That isn't my bag, baby. Although, I did love Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall, but that doesn't count.



He walked in and sat down on the other sofa against the wall. He didn't say "hi" or make eye contact with me. Being the snob that I was I went to the kitchen and told Theresa and Carrie that he was weird. Nice huh? My initial reaction of the soon to be love of my life was he was weird. I could have said introvert or quiet or a bit shy no I said he was a weirdo.

The other thing I remember from that night was sitting on the sofa next to Jeff and Darrell. Jeff was next to me and Darrell on the other side of him. Jeff and I were talking and I remember a quick switcharoo of seats between Jeff and Darrell so that suddenly Darrell was sitting next to me. Real slick boys. As I said, I had a crush on Jeff and Jeff had a girlfriend so it wasn't in the cards for us. Now Darrell of course, does not remember the sofa switcharoo. But I remember it and it did happen. I remember laughing at them in my head.

As for the rest of the night it is a blur. It was over 10 years ago and memory is not my strong suit. We had several more parties at Carrie's home after that and soon the highlight of the parties was Jeff, and yes, Darrell. Love at first sight is definitely not our story. If you would have told me I would marry that man 7 years later I would have died laughing. I guess I should mention that he didn't think much of me either in fact he thought I was a stuck up bitch. I guess we weren't the best judges of character at that age.

The story gets better or worse from there. At first I was not interested in Darrell but someone else who I loved dearly was.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Thursday, July 17, 2008

"Client"

A new post I thought, would be the best way to release my pent up frustration. Being an attorney is mostly an interesting and entertaining job, but the downfall is the clients, or more fondly referred to as - the supporters of my bi-weekly pay checks. Well, one such client really got under my skin. I telephoned this "client" to let him know he needs to deliver or make available his evidence for the upcoming mini trial. For some background info on this case, It has been in existence through trial continuances for about 2 years, hence it should come as no surprise to the "client" that he/she must come up with evidence for his/her side.

So, here I am the ever dutiful not so experienced attorney calling "client" to say please drop off evidence ASAP for upcoming hearing. In return I get yelled at and accused of all kinds of things by not only the "client" but the wife of the "client." "Client" was that really necessary? "Client" I am your advocate. I am on your side. Please don't berate your champion of your legal woes.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Reading slump

So, since I attended law school I stopped reading for pleasure until recently. Around the age of 23 I started to notice my far sighted vision waning. I remember sitting in the back (I always sat in the back near the exit) of a huge lecture class at Cal State and the black board being blurry. I had to actually squint to read the board. Alas, I always had perfect vision! Of course, I ignored it and sat a few rows closer.

I started law school in the fall of '01. If I could describe what law school is like in one word it would be "reading." That is all I did. My eyes would burn so bad from being so strained. In law school all the classrooms had white boards with those magic erasers. I seemed to have even more trouble trying to read them so I had to sit at least in the middle of the class (still near the exit) in order to read the dang board. I finally gave in and got my eyes examined during (I think) my second year of law school. Of course it turned out I needed them and I got these really cute (I thought, anyway) dark blue glasses. At first, I liked the way they looked on me; then I started feeling self conscious and would take them off when I didn't think I needed to see. I got over that when I got too blind. It didn't help my confidence when one of my professors (Con-law ;) pointed out that my glasses were odd. Mind you, this came from a man who resembled Mr. Magoo.

Anyway, back to the subject. So during law school then on to a real job as an attorney my eyes would hurt so bad from reading and staring at the computer that I didn't read for pleasure anymore. I didn't even want to look at a book if I didn't have to. This was sad because I loved to read.

Just last year, my brother (in law) talked me into reading the Harry Potter collection. I started with the first (he insisted) even though I already saw all of the movies. I could not put them down. I was enthralled with them. When I finished the entire set a couple of months ago I was actually depressed about it. He warned me that I would be. I had to find something to fill the Harry Potter void, if you will. I saw Wicked at the theater, so my friend suggested reading the other books by that author. So, if you are familiar with that author, Gregory Maguire you know he basically takes fairy tales and tells the story of the evil doer. So, I opted to read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, the story of Cinderella. I read it and it was okay; but no Harry Potter.

Now I am reading Fangland. It is a vampire novel. I loved some of the old Anne Rice books so I thought I would try the vampire genre. I must say the book has my attention. I like it. Books can be such a gamble and since I am already more than half way through - soon I will have to search for another book to fill my Harry Potter void.

8 questions and answers about me

The only blog I read religiously is my friend's Jules, Pancakes and French Fries. Today's post tagged everyone to answer a short quiz about themselves, so here it goes.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
This question is the reason I decided to answer this questionnaire. It just so happens, my cousin, Shar found a picture from New Year's 1998. I was 20 and this guy's (now my husband) band was playing a party in Phelan. My best friend was interested in him and so we went. That is all I will say on that subject (;
Also that year, I buried my father, best friend and only family I really knew.
Fall of that year I started as a sophomore at Cal State San Bernardino majoring in Anthropology. Quite a year.

Name 5 things from today's to do list.
Well, I usually do not have a to do list on work days. Um, who am I kidding, I almost never have a to do list. But, if I were to make one
1. Drop off Baley at April's house
2. Redlands courthouse by 9 am to appear on 2 matters
3. Go to bank
4. Read my Fangland novel
5. Do the dishes (ugh!)

Name 5 snacks you enjoy.
1. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
2. Cashews or pistachios
3. Kettle corn
4. Uncrustables (strawberry)
5. Green chile and cheese tamales from TJ's

Name 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire.
Now, billionaire and millionaire are two entirely different creatures. This would be fun.
1. First I would pay all of my debt
2. Then I would pay all of my family's debt and close friends and (maybe some not so close)
3. I would book a trip to Hawaii so my grandmother can meet my daughter
4. Plan a vacation for family to an undisclosed location
5. Buy a home or several ha ha and buy a grey warmblood already trained through 4th level dressage

Name 5 bad habits.
Now, this one isn't very fun.
1. Pull out hair (literally). Nerves
2. Lack of tact
3. Eat out of boredom
4. Lack of motivation
5. Hold on to grudges

Name 5 places you have traveled.
1. Jamaica, I was 8. Some great memories
2. Hawaii, Oahu - my dad's side of the family lives there
3. Utah - my husband's aunt lives there
4. Oklahoma - dad took me hunting and camping when I was 6ish. More great memories.
5. Yosemite - one of God's wonders

Name 5 jobs you have had.
1. Mucking stalls at horse stable
2. Courtesy clerk (bagger) at Albertsons. Worked with my mom (in-law)
3. Manager at Vet Supply
4. Horse groomer
5. Shoe dept at Mervyns (hated it)

Name 5 bloggers to tag.
1. Elissa
2. Don't know any other bloggers other than Jules (who already did it).