Disregard the earlier post about becoming homeowners. After our offer was accepted, and we had an agreement to buy the house, paid a deposit of $750, and paid $315 to have the house inspected, the seller decided to back out of the deal.
Unfortunately, there is no penalty for the seller backing out. If we had done the same, we’d have lost our $750. Anyway, we could sue him, but the reason he is backing out is because he is going bankrupt, so there’s really no point.
I went to the county clerk’s office to see which bank held the mortgage on the house, and called them. They know who I am, and will offer $1000 against closing costs if I buy it from them and finance it through them. That’s great! Only, they have to actually take possession of the house from the seller before they can sell it to us, which could be months away.
So, it’s back to house hunting…
My mom started a slam poetry blog recently. You know it’s a blogging craze when your mom gets into it. Next thing you know, we’ll be videoconferencing. I keep thinking that having a baby is a prerequisite to videoconferencing with a parent. It would be just like that “Carousel of Progress” ride at Walt Disney World (Life is a prize, live every minute). Except, I just looked it up and there’s no videoconferencing on that ride.
Anyway, go visit my mom if you want to read some slam poetry.
In case you were wondering, my mother’s favorite color is orange.
Upgrading to 1.5. Sibilance.
I suppose I should expect as much, knowing my work ethic. I wasn’t going to let the job be just the job. I never do that.
I just read this after Erin linked to my last post about being promoted.
Man, I am one arrogant S-O-B. I can’t believe I would write something so self-aggrandizing. (more…)
In all my days in the computer gaming biz, I never once got promoted. Sure, I’d leave one job for a more lucrative job, but as far as internal advancement went, I don’t think anyplace I worked was really into that sort of thing.
Which is why it took this long for me to be promoted.
Until February 4, 2005, I was a part-time News Assistant at the Star-Gazette.
In keeping with my policy of not blogging much about work, all I can say is that I find part-time employment unsatisfactory; I much prefer a full-time gig.
After working for nearly a year at the position, I have been promoted to full-time Multimedia News Specialist. The position did not exist until I was hired into it. Now I get vacation (wow!) and paid sick leave (woot!) and personal days (huzzah!) and paid holidays (yeeha!) and new business cards (yipyipyip!).
I suppose I should expect as much, knowing my work ethic. I wasn’t going to let the job be just the job. I never do that.
Anyway, don’t expect me to blog much about the transition. Aside from this (and other assorted triumphs), you will not hear much about work again.
Today I learned a bit about the cost of Iraq. Someone I knew briefly from my paintball adventures in 2004 was killed in an ambush there last week.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Karl R. Linn of Virginia died Jan. 26 in Anbar province.
We played paintball together in 2004 at a 24-hour scenario called “Contagion.” He played for the opposing army. He was a member of the Maryland Paint Militia scenario team, which is why I think I probably spoke to him. He is half Asian, like myself, and while I try not to make it a point of conversation, I wouldn’t be surpised if it came up. I spent about 20 minutes socializing with the Maryland Paint Militia at that event.
I feel no painful grief for myself, because he is really a friend of a friend that I remember seeing, though I don’t recall whether we spoke. But my friend Sam (the captain of that team) is devastated.
And yes, the thought of playing war games for entertainment juxtaposed with Karl’s death has gotten me thinking about my involvement in the sport. I don’t like killing, and I don’t like dying. I think I can still like paintball.
It took nearly 2 years for someone I knew of to be killed in Iraq. Perhaps I am fortunate in this regard. I count myself blessed that my brother, Chris, has not yet been deployed abroad. It is selfish of me to think such thoughts.
So long, Karl, and thank you. I regret not playing with you more frequently.
This is an Associated Press photograph taken about 10 days before he was killed. He’s mugging a bit for the camera, but it looks like he was doing dangerous work.