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August 31, 2007
What's in a Name?
Dawnise isn't Dawnise Berger.
Never has been.
So why does her credit report list that, and various other mis-spellings of her name as "other names?"
And why does she need to sign a letter saying she is known as "Dawnise Berger" when she isn't?
And why does that piss me off so much?
Oh, yea, it's cause credit agencies, who have no accountability to me, have made capricious decisions that I have to live with.
Fuckers.
Posted by dberger at 4:04 PM | Comments (0)
Deathly Hallows
I finished the last Harry Potter book today. I think the end was handled competently, and the major lose ends tied up neatly.
Regardless of what you may think of the stories, or of the writing, the fact that Rowling managed to write a story that kept the world captivated for 4100 pages is no mean feat.
Posted by dberger at 2:25 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2007
Good Food, Good Friends
A couple weeks ago David, the owner of C'est La Vie (the island creperie) mentioned that Four Swallows - one of the nicer restaraunts on the island - was having a prix fix Italian wine dinner this evening.
It ended up being just the four of us (the other couple we were expecting bailed at the last minute), and we had a very nice time. The food was excellent, the wines interesting (though not all to my taste) and well paired. There was much laughter and merriment.
Grant - if you're reading this - you and David are kindred spirits - if you ever run into a 6'8" Jewish french guy, by way of Israel, who swears like a sailor and has a heart of gold, tell him we send our best...
Posted by dberger at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2007
One Step Forward
Got the appraisal back on the house we're in escrow on, and it appraised for the sale price, which means no additional loan hoops to jump through.
Woo hoo.
One less thing that can go wrong.
Posted by dberger at 7:21 PM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2007
Fall Already?
It was mid forties out when I woke up this morning - I'm sitting on the deck with a Pendleton on, wondering how much longer 'till autumn arrives in earnest.
(I'd be at work, but W's got a fund-raising visit in our building in Bellevue, so pretty much everyone at work who can is working from home or taking the day off rather than dealing with the traffic.)
Posted by dberger at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2007
For this I was late?
Turns out the "police activity" at the ferry dock the other morning was a credible bong threat.
Sheesh.
Posted by dberger at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2007
I Hate Waiting
We're in the phase of the home buying process that I hate.
We've found the right one, and now we turn the process over to other people, none of whom I have direct control over.
Continue reading "I Hate Waiting"
Posted by dberger at 4:02 PM | Comments (0)
Remembering What's Important
Today marks another year of the rest of Dawnise's life.
It got off to a crappy start for me - I woke up late, missed my normal ferry, and ended up on the one that was diverted half-way to Edmonds before making it to Seattle an hour late due to a bomb scare at the Seattle terminal.
But that doesn't matter. Not a bit. Every day above ground is a good day - and this one in particular.
Posted by dberger at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2007
Mutual Acceptance
Well, the papers are signed. We're buying our next house.
Woo hoo.
Now comes the more waiting.
Posted by dberger at 10:25 AM | Comments (1)
August 15, 2007
HOA's are the devil
We got a copy of the CC&Rs for the potential new house today, and I read them over.
Home Owners Associations are utter bullshit.
Continue reading "HOA's are the devil"
Posted by dberger at 9:55 PM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2007
House Update
Still nothing in the bag - we've gone back and forth with the sellers a few times, and in have agreement in principle.
They had the place inspected prior to listing, and by coincidence it was done by the same guy we used to inspect our current house and would have used again - so we have a call scheduled for tomorrow morning to go over the inspection report, with a potential on-site follow up Thursday if warranted.
More waiting.
Posted by dberger at 9:14 PM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2007
Off to the Races
We put an offer in on our first choice. We talked about it this morning, and after describing the house to a friend, decided we were both positive about the place, and it didn't make sense to let it pass us while we look for something "perfect."
The offer is pretty strong, the early feedback from the listing agent is that we're in the right ballpark, and that the only thing they won't be thrilled with is the late close date (5-October).
The sellers have 'till Sunday afternoon to respond.
So now we wait.
I hate waiting...
Posted by dberger at 3:26 PM | Comments (0)
House Hunting Update
Over the past week or so, Dawnise has seen about 2 dozen houses. Of those, three are possibilities, but none of the three are "perfect."
The most promising two are in Newcastle. One has a great location - end of a cul-de-sac, trees, nice backyard - and is priced right on market but has bedrooms that are a little on the small side (typical bedrooms, really, it's just that our current home has massive bedrooms and we've gotten acclimated). The other is slightly newer, has slightly larger rooms, but is 50k or so over-market according to our comps, and most of it's lot is slope backing into a green-belt (similar to our house on Sprig St. in Chino Hills). I could imagine living in either of them, but the kitchen and bathrooms are basically do-overs.
The third is in Kenmore which is a bit further from work, but still doable. It's only a couple years old, has a great kitchen, on a significant chunk of protected wetlands, but feels a little cramped due to the small footprint of the build envelope. Neither of us are thrilled that the entertaining spaces (TV room, Pool Table, and Kitchen) are each on a different level.
I looked at a "still being finished" home in Kenmore with our agent yesterday, and it was very nice - great interior design sense - quality materials, but the bedrooms were tiny, and the floor-plan overall was just wrong for us.
So next week, after a couple days off on a "girls-holiday" with some friends, Dawnise will head up into Woodinville to see what there is to be seen.
Posted by dberger at 7:52 AM | Comments (0)
August 9, 2007
Hip-Hop w/ Double Bass and a Midlands Accent
When I was at UCR doing my graduate work Eamonn (easily one of the smartest people I've ever met) turned me on to Nizlopi, and despite myself, I really liked 'em.
I just got their latest release - ExtraOrdinary - and two songs in I'm hooked again.
Try 'em. Damn they're good.
Posted by dberger at 9:12 AM | Comments (0)
August 8, 2007
The Lucifer Effect
Dru mentioned The Lucifer Effect a few weeks ago, and it sounded interesting, so I put it on my library hold list. It arrived a week and a half ago, and I finally gave up on it this morning on my way to work.
Continue reading "The Lucifer Effect"
Posted by dberger at 7:15 PM | Comments (0)
August 6, 2007
... too late for the pebbles to vote ...
It's official.
We're in escrow.
So effective immediately, Dawnise starts looking for the next house.
Wish us luck.
Posted by dberger at 9:36 AM | Comments (2)
August 4, 2007
...except for Judd Nelson, he was fuckin' harsh...
When I saw that The Breakfast Club had been released on HD-DVD, I tossed it in my Netflix queue. It arrived today, and we watched it tonight, for the first time in a long time.
It's a defining film for my generation, and 22 years later, it still has a certain ring of truth to it.
I feel like I should watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off to round things out.
Posted by dberger at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)