I realize this blog has become a LOT more than just the "Adventures of Noel"...maybe I should change the title!
Anyway, I found out this past Monday that I was wait-listed for the Nursing program. I was not surprised, since the nursing program is pretty competitive.
Last year they had 300 applicants for 100 spots, and this year they had 535 applicants. I received my letter today stating that I was placed "57th" on the waiting list.
Needless to say, I'm not holding my breath! I will spend this year preparing for nursing school, and taking my two other science classes. (Anatomy & Physiology II, and Microbiology) It might actually work out better this way, because my semesters won't be SO jam-packed. I was worried about my time management!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
House Closing is still on!
Despite all of the issues we've faced with the whole home-buying process, closing is still on!
We're scheduled for Wednesday, April 28th at 10 AM.
WOO HOO!
In 4 days, if all goes well, we will finally be homeowners!
And with any luck, two days after that, we will be the proud owner of a new...vehicle yet to be decided upon. ;-)
We are looking at Ford Escapes, due to their larger size, cargo area (for canine transport) and relatively high (low?) gas mileage.
Stay tuned!
We're scheduled for Wednesday, April 28th at 10 AM.
WOO HOO!
In 4 days, if all goes well, we will finally be homeowners!
And with any luck, two days after that, we will be the proud owner of a new...vehicle yet to be decided upon. ;-)
We are looking at Ford Escapes, due to their larger size, cargo area (for canine transport) and relatively high (low?) gas mileage.
Stay tuned!
Bye bye, car
After a month and half of advertising my car like crazy on several craigslists in the state, I finally sold my car last night!
It was my first new car and it was very sad to see it drive away with its new owner. I bought it in Charleston, South Carolina which was the closest Acura dealership to where I was living, in Myrtle Beach. I researched for months on end, trying to find the perfect car. I really liked the VW Beetles at the time, but my dad advised me against it because they have a lot of electrical problems.
I also considered a Mazda RX-8, which has a rotary engine and was much more expensive. But after realizing that it would NOT work well with a 70-pound dog, I decided to go with the Acura RSX-S, which has a hatchback. I used to fold down the seats and travel with the dogs back there.
Ever since Noel was born, it's been difficult to get in/out and to tote around all of our stuff when we go on trips. In fact, when we go to Roanoke, Tim and I have to drive separately because there is no way for both of the dogs to fit in the car.
Regardless of how impractical it was for our family, I LOVED my car and I will miss it dearly.
Goodbye, old friend. I hope he babies you and treats you better than I did!
It was my first new car and it was very sad to see it drive away with its new owner. I bought it in Charleston, South Carolina which was the closest Acura dealership to where I was living, in Myrtle Beach. I researched for months on end, trying to find the perfect car. I really liked the VW Beetles at the time, but my dad advised me against it because they have a lot of electrical problems.
I also considered a Mazda RX-8, which has a rotary engine and was much more expensive. But after realizing that it would NOT work well with a 70-pound dog, I decided to go with the Acura RSX-S, which has a hatchback. I used to fold down the seats and travel with the dogs back there.
Ever since Noel was born, it's been difficult to get in/out and to tote around all of our stuff when we go on trips. In fact, when we go to Roanoke, Tim and I have to drive separately because there is no way for both of the dogs to fit in the car.
Regardless of how impractical it was for our family, I LOVED my car and I will miss it dearly.
Goodbye, old friend. I hope he babies you and treats you better than I did!
Monday, April 12, 2010
House update
I always thought that the acceptance of an offer was always the hardest point during the whole house-buying process. But perhaps that was because we had never made it past that point.
I now realize what a HUGE can of worms we have opened. "Our" house seems to have quite a few issues, the biggest being that there is substantial mold growth in the basement. Adding on to the never-ending list are...
-Broken Water Heater (or perhaps just repairing the existing one)
-No Stove
-No Fridge
These are items that one MUST have in order to live in a house, so these are at the top of the list. Other smaller items include new carpet and paint, obviously.
So apparently the loan we're getting requires that the property is safe to inhabit (no check), and has a working kitchen - specifically running hot water and an oven (no check)
These items would need to be taken care of before the closing date, which if it's for the mold remediation, that would be impossible. The bank is refusing to pay for ANY repairs to the house. We're not sinking the big $$ into a house that we don't even own yet!
SO at this point we've ordered an appraisal, and we're hoping the appraiser will not see the mold growth. Well, maybe it would be for the best if he did, because then this whole thing would be over with!
Regardless, we're already into it, and we're going to try to make it work. It really is a good house, it's just that it has been closed up since the fall, with no air flow, which caused the mold growth. The water heater would also be in working condition if someone had lived there recently.
I think we would move on to other possibilities if we had the time, or if there was anything else out there in our price range that was worth buying. If this one falls through, we're renting!
I now realize what a HUGE can of worms we have opened. "Our" house seems to have quite a few issues, the biggest being that there is substantial mold growth in the basement. Adding on to the never-ending list are...
-Broken Water Heater (or perhaps just repairing the existing one)
-No Stove
-No Fridge
These are items that one MUST have in order to live in a house, so these are at the top of the list. Other smaller items include new carpet and paint, obviously.
So apparently the loan we're getting requires that the property is safe to inhabit (no check), and has a working kitchen - specifically running hot water and an oven (no check)
These items would need to be taken care of before the closing date, which if it's for the mold remediation, that would be impossible. The bank is refusing to pay for ANY repairs to the house. We're not sinking the big $$ into a house that we don't even own yet!
SO at this point we've ordered an appraisal, and we're hoping the appraiser will not see the mold growth. Well, maybe it would be for the best if he did, because then this whole thing would be over with!
Regardless, we're already into it, and we're going to try to make it work. It really is a good house, it's just that it has been closed up since the fall, with no air flow, which caused the mold growth. The water heater would also be in working condition if someone had lived there recently.
I think we would move on to other possibilities if we had the time, or if there was anything else out there in our price range that was worth buying. If this one falls through, we're renting!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Egg-sploring
Today Noel and I attended a community Easter Egg Hunt. They had different areas for all ages. At the particular field we "hunted" in, the age range was from 1-4.
Upon arriving at the field, Noel began her usual rounds. Spotting the strollers, so that she could go see the babies. We must have said "hi" to just about every baby there, and she also said "hi" to a few older children as well.
After running AROUND the field a couple of times, when the horn blew, everyone jumped forward in a stampede! Noel grabbed two eggs. I tried to get her to put them in our basket so that she could find more, but she was completely content with her two eggs, and refused to give them up.
It was just as well anyway, because ALL of the eggs in this field were GONE within 45 seconds of the horn blowing!
Noel had a BLAST and did not want to leave! Here are some pictures.
"Can I go out there yet??"
"So many eggs and I can't get to them!"
"OOhhh mine mine mine"
"Now what?"
We ran into Hunter and Maia afterwards!
Upon arriving at the field, Noel began her usual rounds. Spotting the strollers, so that she could go see the babies. We must have said "hi" to just about every baby there, and she also said "hi" to a few older children as well.
After running AROUND the field a couple of times, when the horn blew, everyone jumped forward in a stampede! Noel grabbed two eggs. I tried to get her to put them in our basket so that she could find more, but she was completely content with her two eggs, and refused to give them up.
It was just as well anyway, because ALL of the eggs in this field were GONE within 45 seconds of the horn blowing!
Noel had a BLAST and did not want to leave! Here are some pictures.
'Hiiiii Bay-be!'
"Can I go out there yet??"
"So many eggs and I can't get to them!"
"OOhhh mine mine mine"
"Now what?"
We ran into Hunter and Maia afterwards!
Friday, April 2, 2010
"Tiiime...it's on my mind"
Time time time. I feel like I'm surrounded by deadlines and to-do's. My classes will end in early May, then we are taking a trip to the beach, and we will need to be moved by May 30th.
Before we move in, we HAVE to install a fridge and stove, paint the bedrooms and living room, and install new carpet in bedrooms. By the way, it is incredibly hard to choose a paint color! The little swatches aren't very useful!
Today for fun I looked up the MLS, to see if the house was still up there, and it was NOT. :) We received the ratified contract today which means we are official, and we are just waiting for the well/septic test, termite/pest inspection, and home inspection, which will be this coming Wednesday.
I keep thinking that maybe something will happen and it will be pulled out from under us. Did I mention that we put an offer in at the same time as TWO other buyers? I really didn't think we stood a chance at getting it. I don't think it's quite HIT me yet that we will have our own house soon. We have waited a LONG time and it's been a LONG road. We've moved so much and not known our future plans, which has kept us from buying.
I think what I'm most happy about is the fact that we will have some stability in our lives. We won't be asking each other in 11 months time if we are going to move again. We won't be pondering if we should move across the state, or even across the street. This is our house, and we are planning on staying in it for awhile...no more moving!
And since I don't want to leave this entry picture-less, here is one of Noel and Maia enjoying the weather today.
Before we move in, we HAVE to install a fridge and stove, paint the bedrooms and living room, and install new carpet in bedrooms. By the way, it is incredibly hard to choose a paint color! The little swatches aren't very useful!
Today for fun I looked up the MLS, to see if the house was still up there, and it was NOT. :) We received the ratified contract today which means we are official, and we are just waiting for the well/septic test, termite/pest inspection, and home inspection, which will be this coming Wednesday.
I keep thinking that maybe something will happen and it will be pulled out from under us. Did I mention that we put an offer in at the same time as TWO other buyers? I really didn't think we stood a chance at getting it. I don't think it's quite HIT me yet that we will have our own house soon. We have waited a LONG time and it's been a LONG road. We've moved so much and not known our future plans, which has kept us from buying.
I think what I'm most happy about is the fact that we will have some stability in our lives. We won't be asking each other in 11 months time if we are going to move again. We won't be pondering if we should move across the state, or even across the street. This is our house, and we are planning on staying in it for awhile...no more moving!
And since I don't want to leave this entry picture-less, here is one of Noel and Maia enjoying the weather today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
