#rhnwa

I borrowed the stroller from a friend. Putting a double jogging stroller on my wish list for Christmas.

The Mister is the type of guy that if he wants it- he buys it. In the months leading up to Christmas I start compiling a list of things that he mentions wanting or liking so that a couple weeks before Dec. 25th I have ideas for things to buy him that he hasn’t gotten himself yet. The first birthday he had while we were dating was pretty shitty. We had just arrived in El Salvador. We weren’t supposed to be dating, so anytime we weren’t hiding out in his hotel room we couldn’t be affectionate or overly friendly. We fought on his birthday, and as far as I can remember I didn’t get him anything. I made up for it the next year. When discussing what he wanted for his birthday, he said he’d rather do something than get something. So for his 26th birthday I took him sky diving. I don’t remember what we did for 27… For 28 we went up to Kansas City, MO for a Tool concert. 29… I don’t remember… He probably worked. Maybe we went to the bar. I really don’t know. So 30. It’s big. We’ve gotta do it up. My first thought was Vegas, but I can’t afford the kind of Vegas experience he wants (big money poker tables…) so that’s out for now. I’ve thought of 2 options, that are pretty awesome, in my opinion. I was trying to decide between them, and then I realize the decision might end up making itself. Option 1.) Caduceus Cellars in Arizona. It’s Maynard’s place. He made me watch the documentary. He’s shown interest. It’s just, you know, all the way in AZ. I scoped it out and if we fly out of Branson, I can get the tickets to AZ for like super cheap. We’d have to rent a car and then get hotels and whatnot, but it would be a fun little adventure. I thought maybe we’d go to the wine cellar/vineyard, and then go check out the Grand Canyon. I didn’t do any thorough planning or investigating, so I don’t know how long the drives from place to place would be, and if that is even a feasible plan. I’ll have to look into it further if this option wins out. Option 2.) Bonnaroo. We’ve talked about how we should go to a music festival before we get too old. I think it would be super fun, but I’m also apprehensive because, try as I might to change, I’m kind of a prissy, high maintenance, bitch. I especially don’t do well in the heat. So this is where the “decision might make itself” comes in. I looked into our options and I’ve decided that I’m going to try and snag VIP tickets. The price made me want to throw up a little, but if I can get them, it will make the whole experience that much better. (Pretty much, I’m willing to pay a million dollars to have special shower and bathroom access and “preferred parking.” But mostly the shower and bathroom thing.) If the VIP passes sell out before I can get my not-so-grubby hands on them, then we’re not going to do it. It might sound selfish, but my issues and mood will effect his experience, and I want to do what I can to make it as enjoyable as possible for him. (In the Navy I worked with a dude that went to Bonnaroo and he didn’t shower for the entire 4 days. I. Just. Can’t. In the Tennessee summer heat? No.) So that’s what I’ve come up with so far. Saturday afternoon will make the decision. If I can get tickets it’s Bonnaroo. If they’re gone, then it’s Caduceus Cellars. I’m pretty excited either way.. and pretty sad that I have to keep this secret for 4 months.

We’ll do this out of chronological order so that we can keep all the strictly house stuff after the jump. Celebration: Our realtor, Lavinna, gave us a gift card to Outback Steakhouse as a gift, because she remembered that every time we went to look at houses The Mister insisted I owed him a steak dinner (he usually paid anyway.) So she got The Mister a steak dinner to congratulate us for closing on our house. On the drive to the restaurant, I thought about all the things I was going to order at dinner. It’s a celebration! I’m going to have a drink! Wine? A foofy girly drink? A beer? OH! Dessert! It’s a celebration! We’re celebrating! What should I have for dessert? All the things! Dessert! Yum! Then it crossed my mind that one of my biggest problems is treating food this way. As a reward or something. I look for any excuse to eat whatever I want without feeling guilty. I ended up getting water and tilapia (with crab and mushrooms and steamed vegetables on the side.) The Mister ordered a bloomin’ onion as an appetizer. I housed about 1/3 of it. I didn’t need it, but I was hungry and went for it. I passed on dessert. It wasn’t a low carb meal- the fish was herb crusted.. and well.. I think we all know what’s involved with the bloomin’ onion. So I wasn’t really successful at ordering a healthy meal, but I think that it could have been worse, and I don’t feel bad about it. Closing: This morning was a bit of a mess. I was scheduled to sign some paper work at the title company at 11am. I showed up and was told that the bank didn’t have their shit together, and that they had been “trying to get a hold of [me] all morning.” They’re 45 minutes away from home, so I had to stay in Bentonville to wait. I was pissed at The Mister, because he never has the ringer on on his phone, and I figured that he missed the phone calls from the bank lady that could have saved me the trip and helped me avoid skipping Microbiology for no reason. It made me even more upset when he didn’t return my phone calls or return my texts, even though I was not surprised. I finally got the call for the paperwork around 1:30. The Mister called me around the same time. He had one e-mail from the bank lady that was sent at 10:45am asking to reschedule my appointment. “All morning” is apparently 15 minutes prior to our scheduled meeting. Lying bitches. So fast forward through my misdirected irritation, and my afternoon classes. The Mister signed all the necessary paperwork and now I’m married to a homeowner! We met at the house to further discuss the day’s events and try out paint colors. I spent an hour in the paint department at Home Depot yesterday picking them out. I am very pleased with them and The Mister approves. Painting begins tomorrow!

Feeling like garbage today. I’ve got a headache and my eyes are red and itchy like I’m having an allergic reaction to something. Annoying. Luckily my ailments can’t stop me from taking care of some business over the phone. Called up Swepco and Rogers Water Utilities to put that ish in my name starting tomorrow (I like to wait until the last minute.) I always hate it when they ask who my employer is.. “…uhh… I’m a student…” Anyway, that’s checked off the list. I’ll have to shut off our utilities at the duplex, but I’m going to wait until I have a better idea of when we’re going to be out of here. Our landlord is charging us $20/day that we’re here in December, so we’re going to take our time.. kind of. We’ve got painting and cleaning we want to do before we have all of our furniture in the way. As The Mister was getting ready this morning, I was laying in bed throwing myself a headache itchy eye pity party, he asked if I was going to the “Final Walk Through” (in my head, I say it like it’s in the song “Final Countdown”) and I told him no, I have class. Then he said, "Well you’ll be at the closing tomorrow though." "Um, no. I have a test tomorrow in my afternoon class." "The bank lady told me yesterday that you have to come." "My name is not on the house and shouldn’t be on the paperwork, why do I need to be there?" "I don’t know. She just said that my wife had to be at closing." "Fuck." "I’ll talk to Lavinna today about changing the time." I guess I’ll find out why I have to be there when I show up tomorrow. It currently makes no sense to me, but whatever. Had a coffee and some Advil, and my headache is gone. My eyes stopped being itchy after I put my contacts in. Weird. As long as shit doesn’t hit the fan in the next 24 hours or so, I’ll be married to a homeowner tomorrow (or if they included me on the paperwork, I’ll be a homeowner tomorrow.) Yay! Yikes! All the excited/nervous emotions!

TL;DR  I don't like being told the N-O word. Thursday we went and looked at the house again. I took measurements of windows and cabinets and closets. It helps to go there and visualize where everything will go. Also, to try and decide what colors I want to paint it. We left the house and went to Best Buy to purchase new appliances (to be delivered December 3rd.) They were running a really good deal, and I couldn't find anything better in any of the Black Friday ads that are out. (Plus I don't want to deal with stores on Black Friday.) So there's a new stainless steel fridge, stove, and dishwasher with our name on them in the warehouse at BB. As we were heading to dinner I started telling TheMister my plans for paint. I want to do one accent wall in our bedroom in a really bold color. Me telling him this was mostly a courtesy type of just-so-you-know... and do you know what he said to me? He said, "No." Uhhmmmm..? No? There wasn't a question. You don't tell me no. What is happening here? After my initial shocked silence, I managed to convince him that it was going to look good, it's just paint, I would not need to buy new bedding to match, and he had already said that he liked the colors together that I was planning. This morning I told my mom this story about the paint and the "no," and she laughed for five minutes straight. Honestly, no exaggeration, I had to sit on the phone and listen as she laughed (at me) for FIVE minutes. In there I told her, "You know it's your fault that I am this way."  Between her guffaws she managed to choke out, "I know! He told me that when you were here in August! He told me you were spoiled and it's my fault!" She told me she was glad she wasn't wearing mascara- she was laughing so hard she was crying. "I can't believe he told you 'no.' I can just picture your face," and the laughing continued...

They will take our counter offer. We have to get the offer to them in writing to make it official. The house has been looked by 6 other people since Thursday. We have to get ours in [on paper] and [officially] accepted before someone else makes a better offer. Our realtor is going to lunch with her family. She'll email the paperwork to Justen after (he's at work and can't leave.) He'll fax it back. She'll submit it. I hope we get it. I'm so anxious. My stomach is knotted. I may throw up. I want this so bad. I will not try to eat away my anxiety. I will not try to eat away my anxiety. I will not try to eat away my anxiety.

Thank you! We’re not going through USAA to get our VA loan. Neither of us were impressed by them while we were in the Navy (their car insurance was like extra expensive!) and so we haven’t done any business with them. 

RHNWA = Real Housewives of NorthWest Arkansas We went and looked at the house again today. Love it. The offer has been submitted. Significantly lower than it's listed at and asked for the seller to pay BCC. We'll see what happens. Expecting a counter offer. They have to get back to us by Sunday night. Trying not to get too excited. There's still so much to do. Offer needs to be accepted. Has to be VA approved. Has to pass inspection. I feel like Jessie Spano. I'm so excited I'm so excited I'm so scared. I'm not hip to the gif thing.. otherwise I'd have put one in right there.