~Off Topic Thread~

[*julez* 124]

We've been sweltering here the last few days, and Griff hates it! Thank God for central A/C!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Well it pi$ed with rain ALL day today. complete with thunder and lightning. It's good though because i was starting to question my wisdom leaving London, and the rain reminded me what I won't be missing

Maven and Jeraly - I'm sooo excited that you guys are there!!! It makes it seem real to me, if that isn't really weird. Just 10 days till I leave london, and 30 till i get to LA. I have tickers on my desktop counting down the days. Still worried about learning to drive and finding a job. And ticking all the things off my list that I have to do. I sold some stuff via gumtree this weekend, and will hopefully clear the rest out next week. But I do wake up in the night with more things for my list

I was joking about taking over from Aly as the chief worrier, but I think i'm sinking in to the role...

Seriously, though. I got married and had children when I was still a kid. Mind you, that's not what I thought back then. Back then, I knew everything. In my head I had it all planned out. I would marry, have children, and live happily ever after. Well, I married and had children, but then my husband died when the kids were just toddlers, and I found out that I knew nothing at all.

Wow. What a thing to go through.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Back on line in (wait for it) LA! We got here this afternoon, and unfortunately couldn't stop in Palm Springs as we needed to get in to go view a few places. But I did see the A&W as we passed through Cabazon! I hadn't read Jeraly's post at that point, but I was thinking: wonder if that's Jeremy's A&W? And gosh darn, it was.

So we saw three places today. One was totally unsuitable -- the landlord totally misled us in the ad. It had a picture of a pretty house, and said it had a double garage. The house existed, yes, but the house actually for rent was behind that pretty house. The garage was only for one vehicle, and you had to enter it from an alley, which made me nervous about security. Yes, it was $2200 which is pretty good for West Hollywood, but, meh. The next was a cute little home up near Elysian Park. Three beds, garage, basement (!) and even a piano for Bruce. But the whole place smelled of cat wee. The agent promised it could be cleaned, and it did have a lot of potential. The backyard looked perfect for entertaining, and even had a sweet little gazebo, with great views over LA. The bathroom was a let down, with no tub. And the kitchen was totally from the Brady Bunch, down to the double oven. Kitschy, but probably workable.

Then, we saw the house that I love, and which we will probably go for. It's in Filipinotown, and is a Craftsman home in the middle of being restored. It is absolutely gorgeous, with a new kitchen and bathroom, three beds, and a mature avocado tree. Downside is it won't be ready until August 1st, and we would need to let the owners continue necessary work in the backyard to make it liveable. But the price is right ($600 under budget) and we don't mind chilling in the Econo Lodge until then. Here's a link to the Craigslist listing: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/apa/738768102.html

So... I will be up for drinks later this week, maybe Thursday? Poiteen, I wish you were here too! Then you could stop worrying. Does this mean you have taken up Debz's mantle? Man, that mantle is getting around!

[no name 1]

Back on line in (wait for it) LA! We got here this afternoon, and unfortunately couldn't stop in Palm Springs as we needed to get in to go view a few places. But I did see the A&W as we passed through Cabazon! I hadn't read Jeraly's post at that point, but I was thinking: wonder if that's Jeremy's A&W? And gosh darn, it was.

So we saw three places today. One was totally unsuitable -- the landlord totally misled us in the ad. It had a picture of a pretty house, and said it had a double garage. The house existed, yes, but the house actually for rent was behind that pretty house. The garage was only for one vehicle, and you had to enter it from an alley, which made me nervous about security. Yes, it was $2200 which is pretty good for West Hollywood, but, meh. The next was a cute little home up near Elysian Park. Three beds, garage, basement (!) and even a piano for Bruce. But the whole place smelled of cat wee. The agent promised it could be cleaned, and it did have a lot of potential. The backyard looked perfect for entertaining, and even had a sweet little gazebo, with great views over LA. The bathroom was a let down, with no tub. And the kitchen was totally from the Brady Bunch, down to the double oven. Kitschy, but probably workable.

Then, we saw the house that I love, and which we will probably go for. It's in Filipinotown, and is a Craftsman home in the middle of being restored. It is absolutely gorgeous, with a new kitchen and bathroom, three beds, and a mature avocado tree. Downside is it won't be ready until August 1st, and we would need to let the owners continue necessary work in the backyard to make it liveable. But the price is right ($600 under budget) and we don't mind chilling in the Econo Lodge until then. Here's a link to the Craigslist listing: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/apa/738768102.html

So... I will be up for drinks later this week, maybe Thursday? Poiteen, I wish you were here too! Then you could stop worrying. Does this mean you have taken up Debz's mantle? Man, that mantle is getting around!

Welcome! That's a nice pad!!! Good luck with it.

Thursday would be awesome for me....

[Ban Hammer 13,474]

bleh, back to work today.

[ginger1981 0]

Then, we saw the house that I love, and which we will probably go for. It's in Filipinotown, and is a Craftsman home in the middle of being restored. It is absolutely gorgeous, with a new kitchen and bathroom, three beds, and a mature avocado tree. Downside is it won't be ready until August 1st, and we would need to let the owners continue necessary work in the backyard to make it liveable. But the price is right ($600 under budget) and we don't mind chilling in the Econo Lodge until then. Here's a link to the Craigslist listing: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/apa/738768102.html

I'm coming over and making my awesome guacamole then! What I wouldn't give to have my own avocado tree...

[Krikit 1,165]

I bet that was really hard *hug* How old are your kids now?

Thanks Jeraly and Scott and Marta. My kids are now 28 and 30, so they left me a long time ago if you include them heading off to university.

I thought you were 25 or so too! I guess the best thing about having kids young is that when they are grown you are still young yourself!

That is SO true! I feel like I get to live a whole other life!

I'm actually turning 50 next week. But I just have to stress that I neither feel that old, nor do I look that old. In fact, we were socializing with all the neighbours last week when I told them how old I was (they didn't believe me)..... because they were asking when we were going to have kids. (Yikes) Our one neighbour (who is 34) said he thought I was about 35. Then he turned to his wife and said "Pay attention here. That's what I want you to look like when you turn 50."

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

I bet that was really hard *hug* How old are your kids now?

Thanks Jeraly and Scott and Marta. My kids are now 28 and 30, so they left me a long time ago if you include them heading off to university.

I thought you were 25 or so too! I guess the best thing about having kids young is that when they are grown you are still young yourself!

That is SO true! I feel like I get to live a whole other life!

I'm actually turning 50 next week. But I just have to stress that I neither feel that old, nor do I look that old. In fact, we were socializing with all the neighbours last week when I told them how old I was (they didn't believe me)..... because they were asking when we were going to have kids. (Yikes) Our one neighbour (who is 34) said he thought I was about 35. Then he turned to his wife and said "Pay attention here. That's what I want you to look like when you turn 50."

I know the feeling of having kids young. I had my first son when I was 20 my second when I was 24. We are actually looking to move back overseas once both boys are graduated from HS. Nice thing is.. i'll only be about 44! hehe

[Jeraly 4]

Aww Maven - so gutted you didn't make it But the house looks WONDERFUL!! I can't imagine ever being able to afford somewhere like that *sigh* Ah well - I've only been here a week so I should just be glad that there is only one room full of junk and boxes!!

We spent some of yesterday visiting Jeremy's dysfunctional family(!) and clearing out storage. When his dad died, a lot of his dad's stuff got stuck into storage, mainly to stop his brother (who has learning difficulties) from letting people filch things. He's been paying for this storage every month for the past year and a half and so it was agreed that as his brother had the pickings so to speak, Jeremy could have the things in storage as his "inheritance". The whole thing was a total farce and a lot of valuable things went missing. But the storage now has a bunch of junk, a few pieces of furniture that will do for the lounge for the time being and a few miscellaneous things in that might be worth something. But it is such a mess!!

So after I spent all day Sunday cleaning and clearing the house, now we have a living room full of boxes and junk again - fun fun!! But we managed to get my down pillows and a clothes horse which has made me happy

Also went swimming for the first time this morning - it was sooo nice - at 8.30am the water was warm - normally I am a bit of a squealer getting into the pool because of the cold water but... this was just awesome!!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Welcome to LA maven! Do you feel like a lucky little lady in the city of light? House looks AWESOME.

Thursday for drinks works for me - where is the econolodge? My only problem is that himself has the car this week and I have been taking the bus to work.

[no name 1]

Welcome to LA maven! Do you feel like a lucky little lady in the city of light? House looks AWESOME.

Thursday for drinks works for me - where is the econolodge? My only problem is that himself has the car this week and I have been taking the bus to work.

Your point? The fabulous garlic fries are by your work!

[no name 1]

I got a raise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And a new title.

GO ME!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

wow, congrats dev. A big slap on the back for you!!

Now, LA ladies, be sure not to have too much fun before I get there, k?

Maven that last place looks sooo cute. Can you manage till August 1st in the Econo lodge? Especially you don't know what it will look like then? I'm looking out for sublets on craigslist, I think it's our best bet. Emailed a few people, hopefully one of them will work out. Only 3 more days of work, whoo hooo!! Also got some people based in LA working in my building, so I'm trying to work up to my very obvious networking, but I don't even have the nerve for totally unsubtle. I'm such a woos.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Welcome to LA maven! Do you feel like a lucky little lady in the city of light? House looks AWESOME.

Thursday for drinks works for me - where is the econolodge? My only problem is that himself has the car this week and I have been taking the bus to work.

Your point? The fabulous garlic fries are by your work!

well, you know, I don't want people to make arrangements all around moi!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I got a raise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And a new title.

GO ME!

Excellent news! I got a really good raise last month but did not get the title change which I was told was "in the bag."

Not the worst problem but when your boss says things like "german-speaking belgium" I really begrudge it.

Poiteen, I don't know your skills/qualifications/career goals but I may be able to point you in the direction of a few people - I don't know if that helps!

Edited July 8, 2008 by rkl57