I had the walk through on the condo today. Basically just checking to make sure the things that were supposed to be fixed had been fixed. Very exciting, I know. While doing the walkthrough my broker called my agent and said that everything was good to go as soon as I turned in my paystub. But...
A few hours later I got a call from the mortgage broker that said the verification of employment (VoE) didn't include salary information. So either I needed my last paystub and my W-2 from 2005 or I had to find a way to get the verification of salary. My w-2 from 2005 is in storage, so that would be a little hard to find. My paystubs were all online, and once my resignation took effect, I didn't have access to the website any longer, making the paystub hard to track down.
I called Lockheed's employee service center and talked to them about it, no much help. They steered me toward the website where I can get the salary VoE. Then the problem became that I need a pin number, so I had to call Lockheed again to get that. They gave me a pin number that didn't work (actually three pin numbers to try). So then I called the place to get the VoE again, but they don't have a button to press to get a live person. In fact, a number of things I tried instead ended up just disconnecting me. I tried the website, managed to lock out my account trying the pin numbers. Again I called, and eventually figured out how to get a live person. The live person kind of helped, but confirmed that the pin numbers I had really didn't work. But she was able to make it so that I could log in without the pin number (answering a bunch of questions instead). Then I called Lockheed again to try to figure out how to get my pin number corrected, but the guy I talked to wasn't any help and kept telling me all I had to do was visit that website.
If that took a long time to read it took much much longer to get through. From now on, whenever I move, I am packing all of my financial information in my suitcase to take with me. Either that, or win the lottery so I don't have to deal with mortgages ever again.
Finally, I would like to wish my cousin Elizabeth and my cousin Erica a very happy birthday. I would also like to wish everyone else a happpy Halloween.
31 October 2007
28 October 2007
Appraisal
Raise your hand if you knew there were this many hoops to jump through to purchase a home! The latest hoop that I successfully navigated was the home appraisal. The home appraisal is where the bank that's lending me the money ensures that the home is actually worth enough to cover them if I were to fail to pay. From what I understand the appraisal almost always comes in right at the contract price, since being too far off either way raises a lot of flags. Of course, that isn't to say if there is something flag worthy they don't raise a flag.
In more interesting news, I got a visit from my brother and his family. My nephew is stationed in CT although he is supposed to be reployed somewhere else sometime soon. We met in Charlestown (my brother was particularly impressed that people actually say Charles-town instead of charleston, since people in Massachusetts love saying things oddly) and had lunch at the Warren Tavern. Apparently it's been around since before the Revolution. Although considering the low ceilings and how long it took to get a table, I think one visit is enough.
We also went to see Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution. It's quite something that the Constitution is the oldest commisioned ship at sea. I kind of wonder what the oldest ship at sea might be, I forgot to ask on the tour. Apparently the limey's have a commisioned ship that's older but it is permanently dry-docked. I did ask how much of the ship is original, afterall, being in 33 battles, even if you win them all, will take its toll, the answer was 10-15%, apparently the keel and not much else.
Ah... it's good to be back someplace with some history. Although I realize that Boston has nothing on a lot of European cities, it has a distinct edge on just about anywhere in the Americas.
In more interesting news, I got a visit from my brother and his family. My nephew is stationed in CT although he is supposed to be reployed somewhere else sometime soon. We met in Charlestown (my brother was particularly impressed that people actually say Charles-town instead of charleston, since people in Massachusetts love saying things oddly) and had lunch at the Warren Tavern. Apparently it's been around since before the Revolution. Although considering the low ceilings and how long it took to get a table, I think one visit is enough.
We also went to see Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution. It's quite something that the Constitution is the oldest commisioned ship at sea. I kind of wonder what the oldest ship at sea might be, I forgot to ask on the tour. Apparently the limey's have a commisioned ship that's older but it is permanently dry-docked. I did ask how much of the ship is original, afterall, being in 33 battles, even if you win them all, will take its toll, the answer was 10-15%, apparently the keel and not much else.
Ah... it's good to be back someplace with some history. Although I realize that Boston has nothing on a lot of European cities, it has a distinct edge on just about anywhere in the Americas.
26 October 2007
Pictures
I finally got the pictures loaded onto my computer. I uploaded them to flickr. I felt pretty stupid when I figured out how to get the pictures onto my computer. I thought I had to use the cable that I packed, instead I just took the card out of my camera and put it in the little slot on the computer.
The first is a picture of the building from the park across the street. On the left of the building you can see where the elevator was added at some point. My condo will be the second from the top with the balcony and the elevator shaft. The second photo looks back the the park and the Boston skyline.
Here's a picture of the kitchen. All the pretty stainless steel appliances and solid wood cabinetry. Oh, and you can't even see the ceilings because they are 12ft! The doorway you can see on the right goes out to the balcony. Check out the rest of the photos on flickr.
24 October 2007
Big Check
So today was the day where I had to write a very big check as a deposit on the condo I'm buying. First I had to sign all the mortgage documents at the broker's which was something on the order of a dozen "sign and date here's". Then I had to print and execute 4 copies of the purchase and sale document, with riders. That meant initialing and signing every page of a 23 page document and then repeating an additional three times. So all told, I probably wrote my initials four score times and my signature another two dozen times.
Phew!
Oh, and the bank that's getting me the loan is pretty obnoxious about things. Well, I guess I can't say they are too obnoxious since they are loaning me a bunch of money at a good rate. Anyway, the annoying factor in this case is that a letter from my company that says I am indeed employed and I am indeed getting the salary I said isn't good enough. So to make a long story short, they want a paystub. The problem is, since I get paid every other week, and I started at the very beginning of a pay cycle, my first paycheck won't come out till next Friday (a little less than three weeks after I started work). So, again trying to be brief and failing, this means the closing is pushed out at least two days.
But, this does mean that my procrastination on arranging for the movers to come is fully justified. Since I was planning on them coming the day I am now likely to be closing. So, sometimes putting things off until tomorrow can work out.
Phew!
Oh, and the bank that's getting me the loan is pretty obnoxious about things. Well, I guess I can't say they are too obnoxious since they are loaning me a bunch of money at a good rate. Anyway, the annoying factor in this case is that a letter from my company that says I am indeed employed and I am indeed getting the salary I said isn't good enough. So to make a long story short, they want a paystub. The problem is, since I get paid every other week, and I started at the very beginning of a pay cycle, my first paycheck won't come out till next Friday (a little less than three weeks after I started work). So, again trying to be brief and failing, this means the closing is pushed out at least two days.
But, this does mean that my procrastination on arranging for the movers to come is fully justified. Since I was planning on them coming the day I am now likely to be closing. So, sometimes putting things off until tomorrow can work out.
19 October 2007
More condo news and some blogging...
I had the home inspection today and it went really well. There were a few really minor things that need to get taken care of, but other than that things are look good. Of course, there is still a lot of things to get done on the legal and finacial side of things. Sometimes it amazes me that people ever buy anything, let alone something as complicated as a condo.
In other news, I finished my first week of work. It was an interesting week. There was, of course, the usual orientation aspects with forms to fill out and policies to learn. Of course, the difference was that I did it all remotely. While I am going to be sitting in the Cambridge office, I am primarily going to be reporting to the Manassas office. This means for HR purposes, I'm virtually a Manassas employee. Depending on who you ask, I'm either a guinea pig or a pioneer.
We also had our monthly Ops review, so I got to see the different projects that are going on in the company, as well as the forecast for the coming year, finacial plans etc. It was a very educational experience, since in my previous work such things were very far removed from my daily efforts.
Finally there was the Open House. The Cambridge office hasn't been open for very long. The actually office space that we are using has been around for only a few months. So there was an open house to invite people in the community (predominately community in the sense of scientific community, students, professors etc) to see the facility and fill them in on what we are doing. It was interesting to see a few of my old professors coming to the open house. I also saw a girl I met at a conference three years ago, and one of my fraternity brothers (he was pledging as I was finished my Master's degree). Most didn't recognize me at first, must be the shaved head.
After work today, I went to the Cambridge Galleria. It's been quite a few years since I've been there, so it has changed, especially the anchor stores. Lechmere is now a Best Buy (at least as memory serves the Best Buy is located where Lechmere used to be). It also seemed a bit smaller and darker, although that could be because of the rain.
Oddly enough, the last time I remember being at the Galleria, must have been the same time of year. As I was walking around, I found it very odd how many people were near my height, and in a few cases taller. It wasn't until I saw a group of such individuals that I remembered the article I had seen, briefly on the subway, that the Head of the Charles Regatta is this weekend. I remember having the same revelation a number of years ago, probably my last fall in Boston. It seems that when people come to town to row, they need to check out the local mall.
Actually, that reminds me of another thought that occured to me. Boston is an incredibly cosmopolitan city. Walking around I hear all sorts of accents and people talking in other languages. San Francisco was much the same, except it seemed to be in pockets with different groups sticking to themselves. There don't entirely blend together in Boston, but there is much more intermingling, at least it seems to me.
In other news, I finished my first week of work. It was an interesting week. There was, of course, the usual orientation aspects with forms to fill out and policies to learn. Of course, the difference was that I did it all remotely. While I am going to be sitting in the Cambridge office, I am primarily going to be reporting to the Manassas office. This means for HR purposes, I'm virtually a Manassas employee. Depending on who you ask, I'm either a guinea pig or a pioneer.
We also had our monthly Ops review, so I got to see the different projects that are going on in the company, as well as the forecast for the coming year, finacial plans etc. It was a very educational experience, since in my previous work such things were very far removed from my daily efforts.
Finally there was the Open House. The Cambridge office hasn't been open for very long. The actually office space that we are using has been around for only a few months. So there was an open house to invite people in the community (predominately community in the sense of scientific community, students, professors etc) to see the facility and fill them in on what we are doing. It was interesting to see a few of my old professors coming to the open house. I also saw a girl I met at a conference three years ago, and one of my fraternity brothers (he was pledging as I was finished my Master's degree). Most didn't recognize me at first, must be the shaved head.
After work today, I went to the Cambridge Galleria. It's been quite a few years since I've been there, so it has changed, especially the anchor stores. Lechmere is now a Best Buy (at least as memory serves the Best Buy is located where Lechmere used to be). It also seemed a bit smaller and darker, although that could be because of the rain.
Oddly enough, the last time I remember being at the Galleria, must have been the same time of year. As I was walking around, I found it very odd how many people were near my height, and in a few cases taller. It wasn't until I saw a group of such individuals that I remembered the article I had seen, briefly on the subway, that the Head of the Charles Regatta is this weekend. I remember having the same revelation a number of years ago, probably my last fall in Boston. It seems that when people come to town to row, they need to check out the local mall.
Actually, that reminds me of another thought that occured to me. Boston is an incredibly cosmopolitan city. Walking around I hear all sorts of accents and people talking in other languages. San Francisco was much the same, except it seemed to be in pockets with different groups sticking to themselves. There don't entirely blend together in Boston, but there is much more intermingling, at least it seems to me.
17 October 2007
Countered and Accepted
I made an offer on a condo yesterday, and last night they countered. The counter was actually what I was thinking might be best. Although at least part of that is because it is a much rounder number than my original offer or the asking price. I really hate prices that end in 9. Like 149 is so much less than 150. Can't we all be grownup about it? Although when the nine is followed by three zeros, it is a much bigger deal than when it is a matter of cents.
I also made arrangements for an inspector to come by the place on Friday morning. I'm going to take the oppurtunity to snap a couple of pictures. I might not post them right away because I want to get closer to having everything as finalized as possible. Actually, now that I think about it, I might not be able to put them up for a while anyway, since I think my cable might be in storage.
The excitement builds!
I also made arrangements for an inspector to come by the place on Friday morning. I'm going to take the oppurtunity to snap a couple of pictures. I might not post them right away because I want to get closer to having everything as finalized as possible. Actually, now that I think about it, I might not be able to put them up for a while anyway, since I think my cable might be in storage.
The excitement builds!
16 October 2007
Made an offer
As the title implies, I made an offer on a condo today. But I'm still waiting for word on whether it got accepted, if there is a counter offer, etc. Even if it is accepted, there is so much to do, getting inspections, going over contracts, mortgages, insurance, etc. But, if all goes smoothly, I should be closing on Halloween.
I'd also like to wish my brother a Happy Birthday!
I'd also like to wish my brother a Happy Birthday!
15 October 2007
First day of work
I started work today. Well, I did the orientation and met the other people in the office which I suppose counts as work. I have a little more orientation tomorrow, and then I might start doing real work. Although later this week is some sort of review, and then on Thursday is a big open house.
I noticed something kind of odd today. Everywhere I looked, I thought I recognized people. It took me a little while to realize that I wasn't recognizing the people, but their body language, the way they moved. When I was in college, I learned to recognize the foreign students by the way they dressed, and the way they moved. There was a difference in posture and even a different way of walking. I've come to realize there is a regional accent to body language as well. People in California just don't move the same as people on the east coast.
That could be one of the reasons I immediately felt so comfortable when I came back to Boston. I recognized the people that were around me. Although, some of the body language difference could also simply be the temperature difference. People act differently when the air temperature is in the 40's or low 50's than when it's in the 60's.
I noticed something kind of odd today. Everywhere I looked, I thought I recognized people. It took me a little while to realize that I wasn't recognizing the people, but their body language, the way they moved. When I was in college, I learned to recognize the foreign students by the way they dressed, and the way they moved. There was a difference in posture and even a different way of walking. I've come to realize there is a regional accent to body language as well. People in California just don't move the same as people on the east coast.
That could be one of the reasons I immediately felt so comfortable when I came back to Boston. I recognized the people that were around me. Although, some of the body language difference could also simply be the temperature difference. People act differently when the air temperature is in the 40's or low 50's than when it's in the 60's.
13 October 2007
Narrowing it down
I took a second look at four places that had taken my fancy on the first time through. Three of the places held up to the initial reactions and one didn't. The three that are left are each quite different from each other, if falling into the same category.
The first is a renovated school building with super high ceilings (exposed beams) and super thick walls. The second place is large and feels divided into two areas the entry is more modern and the back area is typical loft. The third place is in the swanky development and is more quirky than the other two.
I hope to be able to decide pretty soon.
The first is a renovated school building with super high ceilings (exposed beams) and super thick walls. The second place is large and feels divided into two areas the entry is more modern and the back area is typical loft. The third place is in the swanky development and is more quirky than the other two.
I hope to be able to decide pretty soon.
09 October 2007
More home hunting
I'm using the term home hunting for a couple of reasons... The first is that I'm not looking for houses, I'm looking for condos/lofts. The second reason, is I'm not looking for something to tide me over for a little while, I want somewhere that feels like home.
I've never been good at making decisions based on cost benefit analysis when it comes to my own life. I'm much too conservative in my judgements and in many ways risk averse. But coming to Boston, starting with a new company... I wouldn't say it's risky, but it is definitely a deeper decision than my past moves.
One decision that goes into the move is deciding where to live. Rather than go the safe route and getting a house in the suburbs, I'm going to be an urban dweller. Living in the city is what made Boston so enjoyable to me. And I know that if I lived in the suburbs, I would just stay home all the time because it is convenient. Oh, and I'm going to get a lot more exercise since I'll be walking/public transport/walking to work, and likely walking to get meals (if I don't cook).
The home hunting itself is going well. Unlike when I was looking in California, here the problem isn't finding something I could live with, it's trying to decide which of the possibilities I really want. There are some I've eliminated because they just weren't right for me, but there are still a lot that are really wonderful and more I haven't seen yet.
More places to look at tomorrow and perhaps revisits to the ones that I've liked the best. Then I have to figure things out... How much do I like having a car, is it worth a few hundred a month for parking if I hardly use it? Balancing neighborhood versus living space, etc. But, surprisingly this decision isn't stressing me out, at least not yet.
I've never been good at making decisions based on cost benefit analysis when it comes to my own life. I'm much too conservative in my judgements and in many ways risk averse. But coming to Boston, starting with a new company... I wouldn't say it's risky, but it is definitely a deeper decision than my past moves.
One decision that goes into the move is deciding where to live. Rather than go the safe route and getting a house in the suburbs, I'm going to be an urban dweller. Living in the city is what made Boston so enjoyable to me. And I know that if I lived in the suburbs, I would just stay home all the time because it is convenient. Oh, and I'm going to get a lot more exercise since I'll be walking/public transport/walking to work, and likely walking to get meals (if I don't cook).
The home hunting itself is going well. Unlike when I was looking in California, here the problem isn't finding something I could live with, it's trying to decide which of the possibilities I really want. There are some I've eliminated because they just weren't right for me, but there are still a lot that are really wonderful and more I haven't seen yet.
More places to look at tomorrow and perhaps revisits to the ones that I've liked the best. Then I have to figure things out... How much do I like having a car, is it worth a few hundred a month for parking if I hardly use it? Balancing neighborhood versus living space, etc. But, surprisingly this decision isn't stressing me out, at least not yet.
08 October 2007
Home hunting
I think I should start by saying that it's raining on my birthday! That isn't an exclaimation point of disgust, but actually one of enthusiasm. Real weather on my birthday, and not the same weather that had been happening for the previous two weeks. I'm sure next year, I might be bummed to have rain on my birthday, but this year, it's wonderful.
I started my home hunting today, and saw a half dozen or so lofts. It definately looks like I am going to be able to find something that will make me happy. Actually I saw two places that could definitely work for me. It's odd though, lofts have a weird feeling of being large and small at the same time. Small in that they don't have a lot of rooms, but large when I actually think about how much stuff fits comfortably in the space.
I'll probably post again tonight, after watching the Yankees game. Hopefully, I won't get attacked for wearing my Yankees cap.
I started my home hunting today, and saw a half dozen or so lofts. It definately looks like I am going to be able to find something that will make me happy. Actually I saw two places that could definitely work for me. It's odd though, lofts have a weird feeling of being large and small at the same time. Small in that they don't have a lot of rooms, but large when I actually think about how much stuff fits comfortably in the space.
I'll probably post again tonight, after watching the Yankees game. Hopefully, I won't get attacked for wearing my Yankees cap.
06 October 2007
Boston Lyrics...
I almost forgot... For those who don't know the song Boston my Augustana, it really kind of fits my move in a lot of ways. Not entirely, since he is singing about a girl moving to Boston, and she says it's somewhere no one knows her name, whereas I'm a guy and I actually know people here... But there are some things that really ring true
She said I think I'll go to Boston...
I think I'll start a new life,
I think I'll start it over,
where no one knows my name,
I'll get out of California,
I'm tired of the weather,
I think I'll get a lover and fly em out to Spain...
I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town,
to leave this all behind...
I think I need a sunrise,
I'm tired of the sunset,
I hear it's nice in the Summer,
some snow would be nice... oh yeah,
Made it!
It's been a long couple of days, and today was especially long, but I made it to Boston. That was after an inauspicious start to the day. Well, not quite the start, but the first leg of my flight. The day itself started much too early, after much too little sleep. But I dropped off the rental car and made it to the airport in plenty of time.
Then the benefits of first class flying really started becoming apparent. The checkin line was long, over fifty people. The first class checkin line was short, one person who was in the wrong lane. Then of course there is getting on the plane before everyone else.
But then there were some problems. I tried to raise the headrest so it wasn't poking me in the back, and the whole thing came off. I then made the mistake of asking the stewardess to help rather than just putting it back on myself. Apparently she's not allowed to do that sort of thing and they had to get a technician on the plane. But they had to call the technician anyway because some panel in the cockpit wasn't doing something properly. Eventually we started pushing back from the gate, only to quickly return. The left engine wasn't starting with the automatic starter so they had to get the technicians to use a manual starter. We ended up leaving about 40 minutes late, which wasn't so bad after having a drink (another perk of first class).
I half dozed, half read, and half listened to music on the flight to Chicago. Yeah, that's too many halves, but I was multitasking. I just wasn't quite awake enough to read much, and not positioned so that I could sleep. But I didn't have to worry about someone slamming their chair into my knees.
The second leg of the trip was much better. I sat next to a nice woman who had herself just moved to Boston from San Francisco area. Although she's had a month head start. The steward and stewardess were very proactive plying me with drinks, and by the time we landed I was quite happy. I would have been happy even without the drinks though.
I'm starting to nod off, even though my body should think it is 7:40. But between the sleep deprivation, the long day of travel, the meal I just ate, and the soak in the hotel's hot tub...
So goodnight from Boston!
Then the benefits of first class flying really started becoming apparent. The checkin line was long, over fifty people. The first class checkin line was short, one person who was in the wrong lane. Then of course there is getting on the plane before everyone else.
But then there were some problems. I tried to raise the headrest so it wasn't poking me in the back, and the whole thing came off. I then made the mistake of asking the stewardess to help rather than just putting it back on myself. Apparently she's not allowed to do that sort of thing and they had to get a technician on the plane. But they had to call the technician anyway because some panel in the cockpit wasn't doing something properly. Eventually we started pushing back from the gate, only to quickly return. The left engine wasn't starting with the automatic starter so they had to get the technicians to use a manual starter. We ended up leaving about 40 minutes late, which wasn't so bad after having a drink (another perk of first class).
I half dozed, half read, and half listened to music on the flight to Chicago. Yeah, that's too many halves, but I was multitasking. I just wasn't quite awake enough to read much, and not positioned so that I could sleep. But I didn't have to worry about someone slamming their chair into my knees.
The second leg of the trip was much better. I sat next to a nice woman who had herself just moved to Boston from San Francisco area. Although she's had a month head start. The steward and stewardess were very proactive plying me with drinks, and by the time we landed I was quite happy. I would have been happy even without the drinks though.
I'm starting to nod off, even though my body should think it is 7:40. But between the sleep deprivation, the long day of travel, the meal I just ate, and the soak in the hotel's hot tub...
So goodnight from Boston!
05 October 2007
My bags are packed...
Actually, everything is packed, but I don't leave on the jet plane until tomorrow morning. Early tomorrow morning, at least by my current standards. 7:50 isn't really that early for a flight to the East Coast, but recently I've been sleeping until 9:00 or so. Or at least trying to. Trying to get any sleep actually, but more about that later.
Wednesday I got my couch out of storage. A bit of an adventure, but nothing too crazy. My couch wouldn't fit into my apartment because it was too big. So, I've had it in storage. Then it spent Wednesday night in my parking spot, while my car had to spend the night outside. What a terrible burden for my car.
Yesterday morning, bright and early, the movers showed up to take my stuff, and the tow truck driver came to take my car. What a fun day. It took the movers all day to pack my stuff and load it on the truck. And since the tow truck driver came so early, I was stranded at my apartment all day. Then the packers stayed all afternoon, and didn't get done until about 7:30. By that time the rental car company where I was going to pick up a car for yesterday and today was already closed, so I had a friend drive me to the airport to get a car there.
I got the car, grabbed some food really quickly and headed to Karaoke. It was a good time, even if it was so crowded I only got in three songs. But I got to sing Wonderboy, which became my trademark song, and the Piano Man which everything always loves to sing along with. I also got to say goodbye to a last bunch of people.
It's odd, with all of the goodbyes I've been saying, I feel more popular than I thought I was...
Now, if only I can get some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well for a while now, and the past week or two has been terrible. A couple of times I was still awake well after 3am, and couldn't manage to sleep until 9. And now I'm going to be losing three hours with the cross country travel. Actually, since my sleep is dominated by the sun more than the clock, I'm losing even more than that because of how far west I currently am, and how far east I'm going to be.
I don't know if this quite counts as trivia, since I'm being a bit arbitrary about it, but moving from the Bay Area, Boston is the furthest major US city I could be moving to. Further than Miami, further than Alaska or Hawaii. Sure there are plenty of places in the US that are further, but not big cities.
Blah blah blah. This is turning more bloggy than mere travel updates. So for those just looking for info, I apologize. Although this will evolve into a blog (if I keep writing) in the coming weeks and months.
Wednesday I got my couch out of storage. A bit of an adventure, but nothing too crazy. My couch wouldn't fit into my apartment because it was too big. So, I've had it in storage. Then it spent Wednesday night in my parking spot, while my car had to spend the night outside. What a terrible burden for my car.
Yesterday morning, bright and early, the movers showed up to take my stuff, and the tow truck driver came to take my car. What a fun day. It took the movers all day to pack my stuff and load it on the truck. And since the tow truck driver came so early, I was stranded at my apartment all day. Then the packers stayed all afternoon, and didn't get done until about 7:30. By that time the rental car company where I was going to pick up a car for yesterday and today was already closed, so I had a friend drive me to the airport to get a car there.
I got the car, grabbed some food really quickly and headed to Karaoke. It was a good time, even if it was so crowded I only got in three songs. But I got to sing Wonderboy, which became my trademark song, and the Piano Man which everything always loves to sing along with. I also got to say goodbye to a last bunch of people.
It's odd, with all of the goodbyes I've been saying, I feel more popular than I thought I was...
Now, if only I can get some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well for a while now, and the past week or two has been terrible. A couple of times I was still awake well after 3am, and couldn't manage to sleep until 9. And now I'm going to be losing three hours with the cross country travel. Actually, since my sleep is dominated by the sun more than the clock, I'm losing even more than that because of how far west I currently am, and how far east I'm going to be.
I don't know if this quite counts as trivia, since I'm being a bit arbitrary about it, but moving from the Bay Area, Boston is the furthest major US city I could be moving to. Further than Miami, further than Alaska or Hawaii. Sure there are plenty of places in the US that are further, but not big cities.
Blah blah blah. This is turning more bloggy than mere travel updates. So for those just looking for info, I apologize. Although this will evolve into a blog (if I keep writing) in the coming weeks and months.
01 October 2007
A funny thing happened on the way to lunch
So today was the going away lunch with the people I formerly worked with. It was a little strange having a going away lunch after already leaving, but it was only by a couple of days. Lunch was good, although some people weren't able to make it. But I did get a chance to pass out some of my personal cards. I had them made up so I wouldn't have to jot down email or phone number on the back of napkins or on corners of paper.
I'll be passing out more at the Blue Bonnet on Thursday. Karoake night and the last chance to really hang out with people from this area. Maybe I'll even get the DJ to say, "Wonderboy has left the building." For those not in the know, Wonderboy (by Tenacious D) is one of my go-to karoake songs, and a crowd favorite.
Anyway, back to the lunch story. When I got in my car this morning and turned it on, the engine coolant light came on. Again. A few months ago I took my car in because it was low on coolant and they couldn't find the leak. Now it's low again. So I had to drop it off at the dealership and hurry to lunch. I got there a minute or two late, and was still the first person there! The other guest of honor showed up like half an hour late. But I still enjoyed it.
Other news... The movers and packers are coming on Thursday and Friday. It is possible that both could happen on Thursday, but I am guessing that won't be the case. In any case, Friday night I'll check into one of the airport hotels so I can get to my flight Saturday morning. I splurged and went first class which my knees will thank me for later, and probably my back. Although my liver won't be so happy.
That's all for now... I apologize that these posts are getting less coherent.
I'll be passing out more at the Blue Bonnet on Thursday. Karoake night and the last chance to really hang out with people from this area. Maybe I'll even get the DJ to say, "Wonderboy has left the building." For those not in the know, Wonderboy (by Tenacious D) is one of my go-to karoake songs, and a crowd favorite.
Anyway, back to the lunch story. When I got in my car this morning and turned it on, the engine coolant light came on. Again. A few months ago I took my car in because it was low on coolant and they couldn't find the leak. Now it's low again. So I had to drop it off at the dealership and hurry to lunch. I got there a minute or two late, and was still the first person there! The other guest of honor showed up like half an hour late. But I still enjoyed it.
Other news... The movers and packers are coming on Thursday and Friday. It is possible that both could happen on Thursday, but I am guessing that won't be the case. In any case, Friday night I'll check into one of the airport hotels so I can get to my flight Saturday morning. I splurged and went first class which my knees will thank me for later, and probably my back. Although my liver won't be so happy.
That's all for now... I apologize that these posts are getting less coherent.
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