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.

[smoothmoniker]

Congratulations, Radar.

I understand the stress of trying to make ends meet here in LA. It's nice to have a little bump up along the way.

[Radar]

I never knew you were here, or I'd have taken you out for a beer by now. It's funny when I tell someone on the East coast that I'm getting a beat up old 3 bedroom for $360k (if I'm lucky). In Pennsylvania or Ohio I can practically get a mansion for that and I'd like it too if I could find work there, but my wife thinks L.A. is too cold for her taste.

[Griff]

Congrats! It's probably time to focus on health. You've got a lot to live for man. Just a 20 minute walk daily would help. My wife does the stairs at work...

[Sundae]

You'd get a 1-2 bedroom flat in London for that.
And in some areas it wouldn't even get you a studio flat.

Still - I'm pleased to hear how well things are going for you. Big congratulations on the job - it's wonderful to do something you enjoy and be recognised for it.

Re the weight, you should ask your wife to write down everything she eats or drinks in a day. I mean everything. And you do the same. You might be surprised and find extra calories are creeping in to your diet. I'm sure she has a fast metabolism, but it I've found people who I think eat more than me are actually snacking on healthier food.

Anyway - yes. Look after your health. Daughters need their fathers alive and well!

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Radar

on the East coast...[i]n Pennsylvania or Ohio

Dude, neither of those states has even one inch of coastline. Look at the actual East Coast (the DC - Boston metropolis), and $350k won't get you anything you would want.

[Radar]

Sundae, one of the perks of this job is we have 2 kitchens that are always stocked with food. I tend to eat healthier food. I snack on carrot sticks or celery. My problem is I get caught up doing stuff, and typically I'll forget to eat breakfast or lunch and then I'll scarf down dinner. When I do remember to eat during the day it will usually be just a sandwich or a lean cuisine frozen meal or something and I go back to work.

Rarely, I'll be on our stages during lunch time and they have catered meals for the actors, directors, producers, etc. so I'll grab something. Again, normally it's a salad or corn on the cobb, with some grilled bbq chicken or something.

My wife is thin and small and she gets dizzy if she doesn't eat every 2 hours or so. She eats mostly food she cooks. Food that her metabolism has no problem with, but which makes me gain weight like rice...fish...etc...I love those. For awhile we ate exactly the same food all day and I was gaining weight so I stopped.

I just need to get off my ass and take the stairs. I'm on the 6th floor. Also, I need to take my daughter for walks when I get a chance. My work hours are 10am to 7pm so by the time I get off work, fight my way through traffic, pick up my wife at her job, and get home to pick up our daughter from the babysitter, it's 8:00pm - 8:30pm. Then we eat and it's dark outside. I currently live near the Inglewood/Watts are of Los Angeles in Gardena. I live between 2 casinos.

Walking down these streets at night with a baby isn't a good idea.

[kerosene]

Congratulations, Radar! Sounds like things are going really well.

Where I live those prices are not too far off. And we don't have any coastline, either. But we do have mountains.

[glatt]

Hey Radar, in my haste to point out that Ohio isn't on the coast, I neglected to congratulation you on all of your good fortune so far. You deserve everything that you are getting now. They obviously value you at work. Well done.

[LabRat]

It's great to hear stories of good fortune, especially when it's someone you 'know', congrats!

As for more exercise, you really should look into a good treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike. No excuses when it's within 50 feet of you at all times. Not only can you do it whenever you have a chance, it's a great opportunity for you daughter to learn that taking care of her body is important. If you shoot for 10 minutes a day, you'd be surprised how fast you work up to 30. It's also a great place to work out frustrations when the shit eventually hits the fan

[skysidhe]

aww that's great news radar!

[Radar]

I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. When something good starts happening to me, I know something bad is coming.

This morning my grandmother died. I told my wife last week I didn't think she'd be around much longer and I wanted to see her and let her see the baby before she dies. We didn't make it. That was the last of my grandparents.

We'll be flying out tomorrow to see her remains in Poughkeepsie. I don't really want to go, but I know my dad needs me right now.

[Razzmatazz13]

Sorry to hear that Radar.

[Shawnee123]

I'm sorry to hear that Radar. My condolences to you and your family.

[Radar]

Thanks. I sent her photos of my daughter and she wanted to meet her so badly, but she never got to meet her. I'll bring my wife and daughter with me to New York tomorrow. Friday is the viewing immediately followed by the cremation and funeral.

She was getting kidney dialysis every week. I guess the equipment wasn't clean because she got a really bad staph infection and died.