Things are looking up!

[Radar]

My wife and I are trying to buy a house in the L.A. area. This is not an easy task. We found a nice house in a good part of North Hollywood. The bank is asking $385k, but we are going to offer $350. I'm sure they will counter with $370k, and we'll probably get it for $360k.

The house needs work, but someone has already started it. It was built in 1953. Someone bought the home this year in January for $502k and did some work on it, but they must have run out of money because it's a bank owned house now.

They put dual-paned windows around the whole house, did copper plumbing, added central heating & air (brand new units), added new cabinets to the kitchen, etc.

Even with this, the house needs a lot of TLC. It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath, and the bathrooms are fairly ugly. I couldn't sleep last night. I was thinking about the offer I was making today. I was feeling a bit nervous about making $2,200 - $2,300/month payments.

On my way home today my boss called me in his office. I went there and he said, "Paul, please close the door behind you." so I did. I was feeling nervous. I've been there less than 3 months, but I've been working my tail off. He asked me to sit down and he said, "Paul, we really like you here...." and I expected him to say..."But we're going to have to let you go"

To my surprise he said, "and we think you're doing a great job. We want you to be happy so we're giving you another $5k per year. This isn't a raise or anything. You will still get your normal raise at the end of the year. We just want you to be more comfortable and we want you to stick around."

That's awesome! Less than 3 months and I go from 80k/year to 85k/year.

I swear, I think my daughter is bringing me good luck. Man I love her!

So I've got a beautiful new daughter, a new and fulfilling job where I feel appreciated and where I am in control of the whole network for a change, a wonderful wife (most of the time) who works at a job and then comes home to cook and clean for me, etc. I'm getting along with everyone in my family at the same time for a change.

The only thing I have left to worry about is my health. Things are so good I feel like the only thing I have to worry about is kicking the bucket. I'm taking my blood pressure pills daily and I've got to get my weight under control before I get diabetes like my parents and grandparents. The strange thing is I eat much less food than my 100lb wife. I just don't get a lot of exercise working a desk all day.

My daughter is walking...and running now so I'm sure my exercise will increase dramatically soon.