#3 on my list already?

Yesterday we went to a condo which quite possibly could be our future home. We toured the condo and fell in love.

Tomorrow we will sit down with the realtor and crunch the numbers. We are VERY excited and even if we submit and offer and we don't "win" this whole ordeal will be a learning process and we will be that much more educated in the home buying process.

A little about it:

* It is in Stanton but it is on the border of Garden Grove. It is primarily white and is in a very nice neighbor hood.

* The unit is a corner unit with 2 bed, 1 bath and a bonus add on room. The garage is connected to the patio/backyard which is connected to the home.

*The patio isn't very large because one of the previous owners had built onto the back end of the house and made a "bonus" room which is fully enclosed including hardwood floors.

* There isn't a dining room but more of a breakfast nook which is fine with me since it is just me and the future hubby.

It is the perfect find for a first time home purchase.

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/CA/Stanton/11212-Austin-Way-202_I09042067.htm

In exchange for the perfect little nest egg home is severely downsizing the wedding. This sounds like a crazy feat considering we are just 6 months away from the big day. I have already contacted the reception venue to see how I can get out of my contract and get a refund on the money I've already paid toward the final bill. We will just go cheap and I am totally ok with it. If all goes well we will just have the reception at the clubhouse where my aunt owns a condo, buy some rockin paper plates and plastic silverware and bring on the cheap Stone Fire fine dining. Add in a ton of bottled beer and a heck of a lot of saved money and we have a down payment to our new home.

Am I crazy or taking complete advantage of a GREAT buyers market right now?

What is in a name?

So I have been thinking about this whole name changing business. I have been Melissa Haney for 22 years of my life. It is everything that I know. Now that I am getting married I am faced with the daunting task of changing my name officially to Melissa Keeney. Although this is not a big change from Haney to Keeney it is a huge step in my life. Do I want to give up Haney? Should I "-" my name?

Also, has anyone every dealt with government agencies before? Not fun! I will have to change my name on my Drivers Licenses, Social Security card, credit cards, banks, loans, and anything else where I am referred to my maiden name.

Should I be sad I am giving up Haney or excited to be receiving the gift of Keeney?

STD are out!

My save the dates are officially in the mail, every last one of them. Isn't it exciting? They turned out cute I think. I am just glad to get them off. I am a checklist person and the more items I can check off my list the better!

Is it bad that I just want the wedding to be here and over with already? I can't wait to see all my details in action and to enjoy my vacation!

High School, College, Career... then what?

How does one get started on career? I fell into what I am doing at this point. I haven't really made any decisions for myself in regards to my career. I started working for my uncle basically by default. I worked for the family business so that was easy. Then I got a job doing accounting work. I got that job because I was friends with the boss' daughter-in-law. After I started and continued to hate upper management there I moved on to my current job at the law office.

Do I like my job? That is an interesting question. I like the majority of the people, I like the challenges that I face at work on a daily basis, and I like the new things I learn all the time. However, I do not understand nor like the management. I am like a 3 year old who is constantly asking why? I want to know why policies are put in place, how and why things work, and the reason behind some of the monotonous tasks the support staff have to endure. The larger the firm gets some of the more ridiculous policies that arise.

Sometimes I feel over worked and under paid... everyones complaint right? My biggest problem is that I am the young one on the totem pole. I feel like I am a good team player and I constantly contribute above and beyond my job description. However, does my paycheck reflect my efforts? I don't think so. I have only been a legal secretary for 2 1/2 years but I feel like I am just as good of a secretary with the same case/work load and I get paid WAY less then them. My attorney did give insight on the whole experience aspect and that I should really reflect and be appreciative of the amount of money I make per year for only being 22 years old.

So is this the career that I really want? Do I see myself in this field for the next 40 years? My ambition to go to school got a huge boost when I realized how much less I was being paid for the same am out of "experience" as a fellow secretary as she has a BA with emphasis in an unrelated field.

Where am I going in my studies? Where am I going in my career? How do you choose your goals?

Angel's Season

Angel's season... a time of tailgate parties, beer, BBQ, and good ol' american tradition.

We went to Angel's opening day! We got in line to get into the parking lot at about 2:30, gates opened about 3:00. We partied under the Angel's A in the parking lot. It was a good turn out. Nichole came with us and then we met up with Amy and Steve, Derek and Deby and the kids Riley and Aiden, and then Steve and Amy's friends Luke and Amber. They BBQ'd hamburgers and hot dogs and we turned on some fun music. It was great. Amy is preggers now so I got to have a sober buddy.

Jared showed up towards the end of the tailgate party and proceed to talk the foreign language of cars with Derek most of the night. Mallory came even later. She got to the game about 3 1/2 innings in. Jared and Troy walked down to meet her. She didn't follow directions very well and parked by The Grove instead of the same parking lot we were in. Jared and Troy both had a little more than neccessary to drink and they became loud and obnoxious, but all in good fan fun.

I can't wait to hang out with the family more and do something we all have fun doing.

Let's go Angels!!!

Bucket List

Cassandra inspired me to create my own bucket list. Here it goes:

1. Get married and go on a fabulous honeymoon!
2. Have a baby or babies
3. Own my own home
4. Go on a hot air balloon ride
5. Go white water rafting
6. Go on a wine tasting tour
7. Vacation in NY and take tours of all the fabulous site seeing hot spots (including the Sex In The City Tour)
8. Learn how to skateboard
9. Go to the World Series
10. Earn my BA
11. Co-own a classic car/truck with my husband and learn how to work on it
12. Go on a cruise
13. Swin with dolphins
14. Study abroad for at least 1 semester
15. Go to a Nicholas Sparks book signing
16. Own a pair of fabulous and ridiculously expensive designer shoes
17. Camp in Joshua Tree to sleep under the stars

What else would you put on your bucket list?

Are tattoo still taboo?

So today my boss saw my new tattoo on my foot. She liked it. So I LOVE my attorney Laura. She was my saving grace when I first started my career path as a legal secretary. I was assigned to her and she was so fantastic to me! She helped me and never ever made me feel like there was a stupid question or that I was wasting her time. So for her 50th birthday her daughters made her and them a tattoo appointment and they all went and got matching tattoos (well similar tattoos just with different coloring). So today she told me that she is going to add on to her existing tattoo! And she is turning 51 this year!! So much for the idea that tattoo is for "young people only"!

Are tattoos still as taboo as they used to be? They seem to be more common and everywhere I look.