HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETING

++ I WENT TO my first Home Owners Association meeting. It's quite weird. Introductions go something like this: "Hi, I'm Laurie, #309." "Hi, Mike, #109, one floor below and to the right." "Hi there, #209, Lisa." "Hi, I'm Jay, #213, just moved in a week and a half ago."

Six random observations from the two hour eighteen minute meeting of a one side single sheet agenda.

1. We have all been reduced to a first name and a three digit number.
2. Everyone has issues about noise.
3. My building is full of architects. Of the nine people that were at the meeting, three on the Board of Directors, there were four architects there. One worked for Mithun, one worked for NBBJ, one for some other office, and me.
4. Everyone has issues about other units smoking wafting into their open windows.
5. No one in the building has a backyard, but they somehow still have a NIMBY syndrome.
6. Every building has at least one of each stereotypical tenant. It's fantastic. ++
   

FRANCIS AND WENDY

++ HAVE BEEN IN town since last Wednesday and sleeping downstairs on an air mattress. It's been actually quite nice to have visitors in town that don't need to be babysat. I gave them a key and told them to make themselves at home. I need to go to work, but we'll meet up afterwards for a bite to eat and a drink and maybe a little bit of video games. It's too bad they're leaving tomorrow morning. ++

*PSST.* PART FOUR

++ I SLEPT AT the new place for the first time last night. I must have been either fantastically tired or fantastically comfortable there.

Tired theories:

1. I played a soccer game last night.
2. It was 12:42 AM by the time I turned off all of the lights and hopped in bed.
3. I just finished playing 5 games of soccer in four days.
4. The whole process has been fun, seemless, but tiring.

Comfortable theories:

1. First time in two years since I've slept with open windows. Fresh air is great.
2. No one was downstairs sleeping on the couch.
3. It was a bit cool because of the open windows which always makes me sleep well.
4. It's my place! I'm still giddy! ++

*PSST.* PART THREE

++ I PICKED UP the keys today! It's a little dirty from the furniture staging people moving their stuff out of the condo and not cleaning up after themselves. Nothing a once over with the vacuum can't solve though. I technically can't move anything in until I set up a moving date with the resident manager, but I can get a few things in just so I can stay there tonight. Hopefully it's not a hassle. The condo has more rules than any of the apartments I've ever lived in. It must be because everyone has a stake in the common areas and want to make sure they aren't responsible for paying for anything they shouldn't have to pay for. The 'House Rules' are possible a bit 40 pages too overwhelming. ++

*PSST.* PART TWO

++ I JUST SIGNED the closing documents and wired a ridiculous amount of money to the escrow company's bank.

Giddy? yeah.
Anxious? a little.
Heartburn? like no other. ++