Marshall: Did [the inspector] say he found a hobo?
Ted: Okay, yes, there are problems, but I see this house for what I know it can be. I see a swing on that tree. I see a wreath on the door at Christmas. I see a grill on the patio where I’ll be barbecuing every Sunday. I see this house for a life I know I can have. (inspector falls through ceiling)
Barney: I see a lawsuit! -How I Met Your Mother

It’s happened guys, it’s finally happened. We are officially…

After four prior offers being outbid, we finally got our offer accepted. We are so over the moon excited! We still have to get through escrow, and I’ve heard closing can be it’s own sort of battle, but I have a really good feeling about this.

I won’t forget the moment when we were on the phone with our Realtor, listening as he told us the good news. Match and I were looking at each other, both of us fighting off happy tears. After the phone call we did  a little dance around the kitchen, hugging and laughing. A house, we may have our house!!

Guys, it’s so pretty. Of course there are little things we want to do to update it and make it our own, but no major home repair seems to be needed.. Here’s a couple of pictures for now, and there will be more than you care to see if we close. Our inspection is this Saturday, and the in-laws are coming out to see it. I can’t wait to show them!

I love the brick red garage door. The front doors match it too.

It’s also across the street from a community park. As in, we can see it from the driveway. How cool is that?

I was so excited when I discovered that all the appliances come with the house. Even the fridge! Stainless steel heaven. Ideally we’d like to install recessed lighting and maybe lighten up those dark cabinets. Also change out the counter tops to granite, but that is a change that will have to wait awhile.

I am so nervous/excited about the home inspection. I just pray the inspector doesn’t find anything wrong and the rest of this process goes smoothly.

I can’t stop thinking about the house.  I can already see our table all decked out for Thanksgiving. I can see the Christmas tree in that front window. I can see our future babies taking their first steps in the living room.  This is the place where we’re going to build our memories. I cannot wait to start.

Robin: When PJ had a job, he was sexy. He was guardian of the bathroom key. A hot guy telling you when you can and can’t pee? That’s the dream.
Ted: [incredulous] That’s the dream? The dream?!?!?! Like what Martin Luther King was talking about?? -How I Met Your Mother

That I quit my volunteer gig at the crisis nursery. I feel bad about it but it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I was physically dreading going, to the point where my body felt sick and sluggish. The minute I emailed the coordinator telling her it wasn’t going to work out, I felt a weight lift off my chest. Shouldn’t volunteering feel rewarding? A big part of my reason for quitting was the staff and how they made me feel.

Another part was just the nature of the job. It was a lot of stress and responsibilities to deal with and now just isn’t  a good time. I think if I were like the other volunteers and had already raised children of my own, or had a lot of experience dealing with kids, then it would be another story. I did really love playing with the kids for the most part, and I’m still on the lookout for something in the future that involves working with kids. Maybe just not kids in crisis, but more of a nursery or after school program instead. Somewhere they would train me properly. I’d also like something in the town we are moving to when we buy a house. This volunteer job would have been a huge trek and cost us a lot in gas and bridge toll when we move.

I confess…

That our lives are also going to be consumed with buying a home. I know that once we close, I’m going to spend all of my spare time fixing up the house and making it our own. I cannot wait to become homeowners!

I confess…

That we put an offer in on a home on Sunday and we’re still waiting to hear back. I’m trying not to lose hope but it’s not looking good guys. I don’t even want to post pictures of it because it’ll bum me out. It’s sooo pretty.

I confess…

That I’m so so excited for our annual trip to Carmel. We are leaving just as soon as Match gets home from work today. I’m driving us so he can sleep and try to get on a normal day schedule. It will be so nice to walk the beaches with Match and Monkey. To get up in the morning and get coffee and donuts for the fam. To drink gin and tonics and watch the waves crash on the sand.

I confess…

That the only thing I’m dreading is having to sleep in the living room. This year Match’s sister, Travel Girl and her boyfriend will be joining us. It’s the first time we’re meeting him, and it’s the first time I’ve vacationed anywhere with her. Since she hasn’t been to Carmel in so long, and they are staying longer than we are, Match’s parents are giving them the guest room. This leaves us, the married couple, to the living room.

I confess…

That Match and I both think this is bullshit. BUT the in-laws are paying for the vacation rental, and a lot of the food for the weekend, and I really shouldn’t complain. I’m so grateful because otherwise we’d have to take out a check city payday advance loans. We are guests of theirs and we will have fun no matter where we have to sleep. They just might have to deal with us locking ourselves in the bathroom for a little vacation nookie. Hey, that’s what happens when you don’t give the newlywed couple who haven’t had a lot of time together lately the bedroom!

I confess…

It wouldn’t be the first time Match and I have done it in the bathroom of a parent’s house. We are so bad! Where’s the craziest place you’ve done it? Come on spill! Confession is good for the soul!

Little girl: Then who do you live with?

Robin: Well, actually, I’ve got five dogs.

Little girl: Don’t you get lonely?

Robin: No, I’ve got five dogs.

Little girl: My grandma has five cats and she gets lonely.

Robin: Well, yeah, that’s cats, I’m not some pathetic cat lady, not that your grandmother is some pathetic cat lady – does anybody else have questions?

Little boy: Are you a lesbian?

Robin: NO, ARE YOU? Jeez. [mumbles] Every woman that lives alone is not a lesbian. -How I Met Your Mother

Today is day 4 of Match’s 7 day work week. His schedule shifted and the way the chips fell, he has to work 7 days in a row. Boo! These aren’t overtime days either so double boo. Sigh, such is the way of the Law Enforcement life. The good news is he will have Friday-Sundays off for the next four months. This weekend we will be celebrating by meeting up with a few of my old friends from my long ago Freshman year of college, back when I was a wild party girl. It’s going to be great meeting up with the guys, but hopefully they don’t share too many incriminating stories with Match. He knows most of them, but hearing them from someone else is likely to be cringe worthy.

In the meantime, this week is dragging. Normally I don’t mind Match’s regular work schedule because it’s 3-4 days on, but then he gets a least 3 days off. But last week he worked a bunch of overtime, so he’s been gone more than he’s been home and the house is starting to feel really empty.

I have been housebound, self inflicted, because I want to save money for our down payment, so I’ve turned down some offers to hang with friends because inevitably it means spending money on food, booze and gas. So that means I’ve had a lot of exciting nights cleaning the house, talking to my dog, reading books, and spending way too much time on the couch.

This pretty much sums up my nights:

I’ve also been trying to come up with craft ideas that don’t cost anything. Halloween is around the corner and I’d love to start making some decorations. Anyone have any good craft suggestions that don’t require a lot of expensive supplies?

I can’t wait for us to have a house. I know when we do I’ll have plenty of fix it projects to keep me busy while Match is working. There just isn’t much I can do in our rental besides clean it, which I do daily.

I start my first volunteer shift with the crisis nursery on Wednesday and I’m really excited for it. It’s going to be a great excuse to get out of the house and be around people. Hopefully it’s also fun! Other than that I’ve been trying to up my workouts and not snack out of boredom. I’ve gotten back into running and there is a little less jiggle in my wiggle. Yay! I do manage to stay busy and active, but I’m ready for my Match to come home. As self sufficient as I am, I have a lot more fun when he’s around.

I miss this face!

Ted: That’s why I have this list, so I never make the mistake of thinking I could still pull an all-nighter.
Marshall: I’m too old for that stuff.
Ted: Or eat an entire pizza in one sitting.
Marshall: I’m too old for that stuff.
Ted: Or hang posters on your wall without frames.
Marshall: Wait. Wait! I’m too old for that stuff. By the way, how good is Lethal Weapon? -How I Met Your Mother

I confess…

That I’m a terrible, terrible friend. I flaked out on Tomboy and her boyfriend’s going away party. I lied and told Tahoe Couple and Tomboy that I was sick and couldn’t make it to the festivities. Me miss out on a party? Cue Gasp!

I confess…

That I’m not really sick. I’m just sick of partying. This summer has felt like one big drunk fest and I just didn’t have another party in me. Plus this wasn’t just a party, this was going to be two nights in Santa Cruz,  where there would be tons of repetitive drinking games, lots of bad tasting cheap beer, and inevitably me sleeping  on an uncomfortable couch.

I confess…

In the words of Murtagh, I’m too old for that shit. Every once in awhile sleeping on a couch (or maybe passing out on the dog bed) is all fine and dandy. But I’m not in college anymore. When I party with friends, I would like to be able to sleep in a comfortable guest bed, or get a DD to drive me home to sleep in my own bed. I am also pretty over these parties with the same drinking games over and over again. I love our group, but just once could we have a party where we all just hang out and talk? Or maybe play a game like taboo or something, where drinking just happens naturally, instead of as a part of the game?

I confess…

That I’m also semi-dreading Geeky’s bachelorette next weekend. I know it will be fun, but it is another night where drinking will be #1 on the menu. At least she changed the venue and instead of a weekend in Tahoe, now it’s just one night at a country bar. It’s a place I’ve never been and I’ve heard it’s a blast. We’re also going in style, renting a limo, drinking champagne, the works. And Geeky has a really comfy guestroom and breakfast planned for the next day. On second thought, maybe I’m not dreading it so much.

I confess…

That I’m getting to that age where I’m ready for a different kind of party. I love hanging out with Sassy Couple and their friends, dancing with the kids and singing karaoke with Sassy’s little girl. We sip on some wine, maybe play some lawn bean bags, and cuddle their babies. It’s a very mellow kind of partying.

I confess…

That I will miss Tomboy and her man. Hopefully Match and I can make a trip up to Oregon to visit them. I think we’d have a lot more fun hanging out with just the two of them. I think they’re kind of over the wild partying too, but feel obligated to the rest of the group to throw one last big party.

I confess…

That even though I can be the life of the party, I’m definitely a homebody at heart. I can’t wait to curl up on the couch tonight in my pj-jays, with a glass of wine, a dvd and maybe some chocolate chips and strawberries. Sounds like the perfect remedy for my “sickness” to me.

Robin: So now he’s all mad about this stupid movie.

Lily: Robin, he’s upset because you wouldn’t listen to him, not because you didn’t like some movie.

(Cut to Ted talking with Marshall and Barney)

Ted: How do you not like Field of Dreams?!?!?! -How I Met Your Mother

Some of you might remember back in March I won a raffle put on by Match’s academy.

I won 4 tickets to see the Giants game on Tuesday, May 10th. I didn’t think Match’s schedule would cooperate but it did and he got to go with me! We originally invited Good Couple but Good Guy had to work and Sassy Couple joined us instead.

I’m actually really, really glad Sassy Couple came with us because as sweet as Good Couple are, they don’t drink. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but for me, baseball is a lot more fun with a couple of beers. There’s just something about beer and sports that just goes together. Also Good Girl has been a bit of a Debbie Downer lately, and Sassy and I have a lot more fun together.

We met Sassy Couple at the Bart station and headed into the city. When we got there we were super early so we did some city exploring. We noticed that the top of the Hyatt seemed to be revolving and we thought it might be one of those cool revolving restaurants.

We hopped into the clear elevator and headed to the top floor. First of all, I HATE HEIGHTS. So I was having a mini meltdown as the elevator shot to the top. It was so fast my stomach stayed behind on the ground. I managed to snap this shot while hyperventilating.

When we got to the top we quickly realized it was for club members only. We got a lot of dirty looks from snobby people as I snapped pictures of the view.

I loudly asked Sassy where their monocles were.  Then we made snobby noises the whole elevator ride down. “Nahh, see nahh.” We were cracking up.

Next stop was Gordon Biersch for pre-game grub. It’s just a few blocks from the ball park and their beers are delicious.

Sassy and I both ordered the beer sampler because as Sassy kept saying loudly to the waiter, “We like varie-tayy”.

My pint of beer was bigger than my head!

After dinner we finally made it to the game.

I love AT& T park. There is so much to look at that you could be completely entertained without even watching the game. I love this Field of Dreams quote that is up on one of the walls.

Our seats were insane! We were in the lower box, right near the action. I was afraid I was going to hit by a foul ball.

Sassy Girl was embarrassed by my awesome hat.

But then she caved and wore Match’s Monkey hat for a bit.

About halfway through the game we got a text from Tahoe Guy. He was at the game too! We snuck him into our section.

Sassy Couple had fun pigging out on nachos, making silly faces (they were even though you can’t see them) and drinking. I’m sad to say that the Giants fans don’t do the wave. But we still seat danced!

I will admit, the game was actually kind of boring. That’s just because it was almost a no hitter. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, we get a run.

Giants win it!

We had a great night and I can’t wait to go back. Tahoe Guy told us we can get $5 tickets and then just wander around. We will definitely be back again soon.