iPod

Ok. So I finally got an iPod. My friend (and old manager), Vishen used to put a big L up to his forehead when I told him that I didn't have this popular mp3 player. . . and that was 2 years ago! He went everywhere with his white iPod; work, the daily commute, company road trips...

But I must admit, I didn't even purchase it :). I browsed through a number of items to redeem an employee award, and ended up choosing a silver iPod Nano.

I transferred all my music from iTunes and have been listening for the last two hours. So far I love it!

I've joined the masses! Well a few years late, I know.

Moving Day!

The past few weeks flew by! It's a beautiful Saturday - sun is shining, I feel great and I'm super excited about the move. :) Nicole, Cecile and the troublemakers are on the way to help.

IKEA will be my new friend and neighbor.

Moving in less than 2 weeks!

Found a great condo in midtown and I'll be moving in less than 2 weeks! Nicole moves in April or May, so I have some time to settle in to my new home.

I have so many different emotions with my upcoming move. I'm definitely excited that I'll be rooming with Nicole. We haven't been in the same house in almost 9 years! She has definitely grown into a mature young woman who I admire and respect. We get along so well, she's extremely respectful, a neat freak like me and I love her! She's the perfect roommate and I feel blessed that she has decided to live with me. The other part of me is quite sad to leave the house. The house symbolizes so much in my life - from my relationship with my best friend to everything I went through emotionally and financially in order to get into our home. It has given me a sense of accomplishment, stability, and I thought of it as a stepping stone to where I would eventually want to be/move to.

Living alone would've been tough since I've always been in a full house and without Nicole, I know I'd feel pretty empty inside. My whole family has been amazing! Dad even helped me get into a ride by 'lending' me his precious '88 wheels. (...and special thanks to Jack for driving it down through over 1,000 miles of snow, sleet and rain.)

New wheels, new home... a new chapter in my life begins. I'll keep you posted :)

Gong Xi Fa Chai! - Kung Hei Fat Choi! - Happy Tet!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Memories of a steam boat dinner, 8 days off from work, house party hopping to watch Chinese-Malaysians play mahjong like there's no tomorrow, and seeing a lion dance in 95 degree weather run through my head...

I know I will not be able to re-live those moments, nor will I get any ang paus (little red packets of lucky money), but I will continue to celebrate this special day by watching a show at the Atlanta Civic Center.

I send my best wishes to you all for a prosperous and healthy new year - but most most importantly, I wish you Happiness. For many, the Year of the Pig/Boar should be an amazing one. Mine is already starting off with many changes...

Happy New Year!

Spice Girls - Jan 1 2007
Originally uploaded by magsombol.

I'm starting this year off quite different from the past few years. Excited and a bit nervous, I'm looking forward to a new beginning...

Happy New Year everyone! May 2007 be your best ever. Hopefully my travels this year will allow our paths to cross in some new and exciting destination.

Slow and Sluggish, my precious Kwali

Kwali just went through surgery yesterday and he will be recovering from getting 'fixed' over these next 10 days.

Hopefully he will be up to his usual self - running and jumping, full of energy...my precious, precious Kwali.

Home Inspection - detailed to the T

My home inspection lasted almost 3 hours. I can't complain though because my inspector did an excellent job. He was professional, extremely detailed, and on time. He explained everything he was doing, was happy to answer our many questions, and provided a detailed report with photos.

If you're buying a house in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend him, Donald Fouts of Due Diligence.


He met all the qualifications requested by the builder:

• IBC Certification
• Current membership in GAHI
• Current Valid business license
• General liability insurance in the amount of not less than $500,000 w/out any per incident limitation
  

Plus, he came highly recommended and provided a competitive price.

contact: russells (at) mindspring.com

House Hunting Update!!

After all the time spent researching the real estate market, learning about the home buying process, and visiting all the potential new townhomes in midtown Atlanta... I'm finally under a contract on for a HOUSE!!

Yes! A house - actually a brand new craftman style home on the westside of Midtown. I'm so excited - the expereince has been fun and exhausting. I've been dreaming about townhomes, lofts, loft-style townhomes, single family homes, furniture, and all sorts of house-related 'stuff' since I've dived into this home buying process. I'm serious! A few weeks ago I dreamt about one townhome I was previously interested in making an offer on - in my dream I was already under contract, when a huge storm went through Atlanta. The next morning I went to the unfinished townhome to find everything turned into mush! I was shocked and angry - confronting the builder, he said " Well that's what happens when it rains!".

I woke up and decided that I still needed to keep looking.

A few days later, I found 'the House', then went home to do some more research on the neighborhood (crime rate, future development, taxes, CMA, etc...). Three days later, the first offer was made and the builder finally accepted after 3 rounds of negotiations. Closing date is set for the 30th of June.

I can't even express how happy I am :) From origianlly looking at condos, lofts and townhomes to actually being just one month away from moving into a new single-family home - wow - it amazes me. There are just too many condos on the market and since 'every day is an opening day', there are only more in the works to be developed. So I wouldn't consider condominiums a good investment, unless you plan to keep it for awhile...

I've limited my (domestic) traveling since I've been back and I'm still picking up shifts on the weekend to help save up for all the costs associated with buying a home. Note to first time home buyers: Closing costs are not cheap. Don't fall for those gimmicks that claim there are no closing costs. Trust me, I've been to 3 various home-buying seminars, reviewed several other programs, and talked to many lenders. Your best bet is to go with a large credible bank, like BOA, and work with a really good loan officer that knows about the programs he can offer you.

What's going on?

So yeah, I win the 'Biggest Slacker of the Year' award for not keeping this Blog up-to-date. Writing a new post is always on my forever to-do-list.

Some of the things that has keep me busy over the past few months...

1. NEW puppy!! His name is Kwali - an adorable and curious Min Pin. He's full of energy, always ready to play with his squeaking squirrel toy, and he loves to cuddle up on our bed at night.


2. House hunting! Sharath and I are in search of our new home. Goodbye renting - Hello Mortgage! There are several home buying programs, first time buyers, and down payment assistance programs we're looking at such as ACORN, NACA, and Nehemiah
As of this moment, we have found our potential home on the westside of Midtown Atlanta, we've made our offer....but a day late! Another couple beat us to it - they made an offer to the seller the day before we did. Boo! So we're considered the back-up offer. It's back to the drawing board if the Primary Buyer closes.

3. Work! I started my new job as an account manager on the about a month after I got back into Atlanta. Everything is going great. I enjoy my work, like the people I work with, and relax to the 15 minute commute to & from the office.

4. Hmmm I know there's got to be another thing on my list I can add to justify my lack of posts...

Okay, when I figure that out, I'll add it to my list of excuses :)

~Adelle

Gong Xi Fa Chai! (Happy Chinese New Year!)

Just wanted to send out special Chinese New Year greetings to my dear friends in KL. I miss you all!

Especially to those I spent last year with- Huilin and family, Anisha, Bonnie and Cheong.
As well as those I wasn't able to see this year here in US - Sealling, Steve, & Korakot.

~Adelle

See if the Year of the Dog is a lucky 2006 for you - read more here.

Race #2 @ Callaway Gardens, Pine Georgia

Jill: "Hi Nicole"

Nicole: "Hi Ate. How was your race?"

Jill: "Great! Guess what? I won 3rd place in my age group!"

Nicole: "Wow congrats. (Ate Jill won 3rd place in her age group- she announced the good news to Mom and Cecile). So...how many were in your age group...4?"

Jill: "Haha...something like that!"

-----

I ran another 5k race this past Sunday morning. Although Saturday was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky, it was pouring rain when I got up 6:30am on the morning of the race. Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia was hosting their annual 5k - Half Marathon - Marathon Fitness Series and since Sharath signed up for the Half Marathon, I thought I might as well compete again and try to beat my last race results.

The path remained wet from the morning rain but since it was beautifully lined with endless trees and passed one of the lakes, it was more of a scenic run. The rain cooled me off as I ran and it soaked my tennis shoes (sneakers if you're not from Cali). I finished in 32min 57 seconds - 3rd place in my age group. FYI - 1st place in my age group was a woman who was 5 months pregnant and she finished in less than 25 minutes!

Why do I always have a funny story for who runs faster than I do? First there's a 64 year old grandma in the last month's race, and now a 5 month pregnant woman that finished 7 minutes faster than me. ;-)

Oh well. I was happy to finish faster than my first 5k race - not to mention that I took home a nice plaque for placing 3rd!

Now the aftermath. I did not properly prepare for this race, and both Sharath and I are extremely, I mean Extremely sore!!! Going up and downstairs is no fun and even laughing hurts. =(

Sharath ran a 13 miles so I can not even imagine being 4 times as sore as I am right now. I want run a few more races this year, but I need to get better at training for them.