last birthday post, really

[verbicide]

Got to work and Jeff The Magnificent stopped by for hugs and presents. He's giving me a night out on the town including a Dina Martina show and taking me to Crave for dinner. My family checked in with calls, there were birthday emails to respond to, lovely LJ comments from lovely LJ friends.

Oh, and I got very little work done that morning.

Then Jeff took me out to lunch at Nickerson Street Saloon, which was lovely. We went back to work and I juggled calls from my agent, lender, and escrow agent. They put in a rush job for me so we could close by Friday, and it worked because Derek plays basketball with the manager at the escrow company.

I got very little work done that afternoon.

Around 3, I zoomed over to the escrow company, where Allison met me with a hug and Veuve Clicquot and roses and a birthday card from her, Lisa (her partner), and Derek. We then proceeded to go through 5 million pieces of paper. I was so glad Allison and Derek were there. A couple of tiny mistakes were caught, any document I didn't understand they explained to me, and I signed my name so many times, I think I've forgotten it. But then...it was done. And wow. What I just did meant I bought a home. I did. Me.

I'd expected this whole thing to be much more traumatic and frightening. And it wasn't. I accused Allison and Derek a bit. And said I blamed them, because I felt really calm and comfortable about the whole thing. They laughed, for I am a great wit.

The sellers are signing their stuff this morning, the money changes hand on Friday.

I drove back to work, and Jeff and I babbled about it for awhile. He's just starting his home-buying process with Chris. They're going to buy a house! *bounce* So he's interviewing agents and lenders and figuring all this stuff out. I am so damn excited for him! Because outside of my Baptism-by-fire with that first unit, this has been such a fantastic experience. So anyhow, I'm excited for him. Next Thanksgiving, we'll both be happily settled into our new homes. It's unreal.

I got very little work done that evening.

Then Jeff and I headed over to the espresso place. We had agreed to study our languages, but and it is so totally Jeff's fault, we talked some more. Seriously, you think we'd run out of conversation at some point. And then I had to leave to meet Judy at Jak's.

God that was so wonderful-- it will be impossible to convey in words, but it's not going to stop me from trying.

Judy and I got there at the same time, there was a 30-min wait so we hit the bar for cocktails (Lemon Drops, mmmm). Judy had a bag the size of her entire body filled with presents! She got me a fire extinguisher, a tape measure (since my dinky one is only 10-ft). John got me an iPod case/armband (which, I needed so badly it's not even funny). And then, Judy gave me the piece de resistance. She'd picked up the most gorgeous blown glass bowl. It's swirled with red, and will glow very prettily with a votive candle inside. It was so absolutely perfect. I told Judy that just earlier I was thinking about buying something like that. Seriously. Just a few hours before. Thinking how nice something like that would look on my mantle. I was floored that she, once again, knew exactly what I needed.

We babbled excitedly about my plans to move-in, caught up about stuff going on with her work and then we were seated. GodDAMN the food was good. Best ribeye I've ever mauled in my entire life. It was really, really great food. We chowed down and tried to talk simultaneously. As stuffed as we were, we finished with a piece of carmel chocolate cake.

We've been friends now for 26 years, and it's so crazy, because sure our lives have changed since we were 8, or 20, or whatever. But Judy's been such a constant force of good in my life for so long. It's just amazing to know someone that well and be known. We kept talking, even after we'd walked to the car, shivering from cold. It was just so damn perfect.

I drove home, warm, stuffed, and happy. But there was one more surprise waiting.

I lugged my booty (oh, and my presents, too) upstairs and there was a box waiting. I tore it open and.... dtaylor sent me a present!! I am now the very happy owner of the first year of Law & Order. I've eyed that dvd-collection many a time. Dawn, you are too good to me!

I fed Hobbes, felt guilty that I haven't prepped for the company Thanksgiving potluck which is uh TODAY, and went to bed a year older, but a lot happier.

Comments

[archaica.livejournal.com]

I lugged my booty (oh, and my presents, too) upstairs

Hah! Beat me to it!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Muhahahahaha!

[archaica.livejournal.com]

I'll get you next time, Gadget!

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Yay for closing! It really is like they killed several dozen trees just for that alone, isn't it? Sheesh. It's a wonderful feeling, though.

congrats to Jeff, as well!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the paperwork is ridiculous! I still think it won't sink in until after I've moved in :)

[coffeeinhell.livejournal.com]

Big congrats on the closing and on having a truly excellent birthday. As for the gift ... hey, you hooked me up with Jeeves & Wooster when I was being re-hipped, it was the least I could do. :-)

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Daaaaaaaaawn!! :D

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Yay, congratulations!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Thanks!!

[mattguy.livejournal.com]

OMG: happy b1rthd4yz0rz!!!!!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

D00dz! Th4n|< Y00000z!! :D

(You need to visit again, k?)

[brabble.livejournal.com]

Word

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

He needs to see both of our new places! *perk*

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

WooHoo! Congrats on being a homeowner & certifiable adult & everything! :)

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm so excited about it! Of course I can kiss goodbye the debt-free life I was enjoying...