One Less Hurdle

What a relief. I had nothing really to worry about, yet the inspection of our house was probably the most nerve wracking 2 hours I've experienced in a while. Just completed a few minutes ago, there were two inspectors, the buyers (husband and wife), my agent, and Ethan and I, in our house while everything that had a switch was turned on, and everything moveable moved, and every dark corner illuminated with a hand-held light device, and all the while instruction on how to upkeep the house being offered to the first-time homebuyers. The buyers receive the official report from the inspectors tomorrow (since they ordered the inspection) and we get a list of things that need to be repaired or replaced. However, I am comforted in knowing that this list may be very short indeed, since the inspectors told us our house was in great shape and very well maintained, and only a window that does not stay up (something to do with a balance needing replacing) and a vinyl siding on the outside that needs to be moved a centimeter or so to "overlap" (currently it has moved and is not overlapping to protect the wall underneath it) were mentioned were things we needed to do. We'll see how the official repair list pans out, but I am relieved it is over with for now. Poor Noomz, fell asleep in my arms, since I could not really put him down anywhere.

Microsoft Surface: Simply Amazing

With our world already so fascinating and technologically "advanced", I can only imagine the tools and gadgets that Ethan and his generation will be using in their everyday.

9 - M - O

Noomie Noomz is 9-months old today! Ok, so this picture is not the best and is quite blurred. Ethan won't "stand" still long enough for me to take a clear picture without using the flash. He is such a busy body now and wants to get at everything and crawls and pulls to stand and is curious for new things every minute. Will try to get a better one later today/tonight. I wish you were all here with us :-D

Movers

I am barely cracking the list of things that we have to accomplish before (or by the time) we move, which seems to be getting longer rather than shorter. Today's task was to do some research on moving companies and estimates of costs etc.. Some charge you by weight, while others by space (cubic feet), and yet others by room number (e.g. $1000/room) -- the latter of which I thought was perhaps not that clever since could you not just pile all your furniture into your living room or garage? I guess that's where their "fine print" covers them (which I almost NEVER read).

And so I think I've managed to find the best rate, though I am not certain the company who has offered the lowest price is necessarily the most reliable. How do you find this out? Apparently, like with most anything in sales, there are "brokers" who sell you the move (or the quote for your move), but then outsource or sell your business to a third party moving company or truck company or whatever, and so the folks who end up at your door waiting to load all your possessions into their trucks may not be the same as the person you spoke to on the phone! Pretty crazy, eh? This is similar to the idea of having a loan or mortgage with one bank or lender, and having it "sold" to another, and you end up paying your monthly payments to a different person each time. Of all things to sell, to sell money? Seemed paradoxical, though it became clear to me that this is precisely what banking is all about, and selling money is actually probably the biggest "business" there is.

I stray...

And so as I was saying, hopefully I have narrowed down my options for moving and will make a final decision by this week. It is a relief to know that our employer will be paying for our relocation, but I am still trying to find the best possible deal in the event that we actually have more "inventory" than we quoted and go over the cost estimate.

And of this "list" the many things still outstanding you ask?

(1) change of address - USPS
(2) end services with Durham utilities (electricity, water, cable/internet/phone, home security system...)
(3) begin services with Blue Ridge utilities (electricity/gas, water, cable/internet/phone, home security system...)
(4) change of address - credit cards, professional memberships, Baha'i/National...
(5) inspection/repairs/closing on our Durham house
(6) release of medical information for family (Kelly, Ethan, Max)
(7) find new pediatrician for Ethan/primary physician for Kelly/Max
(8) hire movers
(9) final garage sale for stuff we don't want to move
(10) close bank accounts - Durham (unless we can find the same bank in Blue Ridge)
(11) open bank accounts - Blue Ridge
(12) Georgia driver's license
(13) contact daycare for Ethan
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With approximately 4 weeks until we have to move, we've got our work cut out for us. However, with Kelly and Ethan by my side, I've not looked more forward to and been more excited about moving/relocating in my life.

9-Month Visit

Ethan had his 9-month well child visit. It was a short visit, with no vaccinations administered, and it was also Ethan's last with his pediatrician, Dr. Susan Owens. His next doctor's appointment will be for 12 months (1-year old) and we will be in Blue Ridge, Georgia, then.

Noomz' weight had not increased much since his 6-month visit. He now weighs 16lbs 4oz (7665g) which puts him only in the 5th percentile (5%) for boys 9-months old -- quite a significant "decrease" since he was in the 50th percentile (50%) at 6 months (15lbs 3oz). However, Dr. Owens is not worried, since Ethan is burning more calories these days since having learned to crawl, pull to stand, and cruise (walking while holding on to furniture etc..). He is doing fantastic developmental-wise.

But mom and dad would feel better if he were putting on more weight...

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I know for me it has been a very special past year. Kelly (and Ethan) baked me a chocolate and coconut bundt cake that is very moist and yummy. Actually, this cake was both a hurray-our-house-has-an-offer as well as a Father's Day cake. May you all continue to provide your loved ones with strength and happiness.

Medicine/Pediatrics Senior Dinner

A wonderful evening has come to an end, and friends are now making final preparations for the next phase in their lives. Perhaps I will sit and write a more detailed and thoughtful entry in the morning. Well done to all! And good luck to next year's SARs.

Medicine Senior Dinner

Last night was the Medicine Department's dinner for the graduating senior residents. Like last year it was held at the beautiful Hope Valley Golf and Country Club which happens to be very close to where we live. Dinner was the same as last year - or at least what I had (Filet Mignon). Can't beat a good quality steak no matter what the other food options in my opinion.

As usual, they had a slide presentation of all the SARs (senior assistant resident -- don't know why they are called this actually) in which they made fun of most/all of them. It was good fun, and not that emotional though. The medicine dinners always seem more proper and formal than personal in my opinion. We managed to take but three pictures all night. I will post all here. I will certainly take more pictures tonight, which is the senior med/peds dinner - Kelly's graduating class of 6. It will definitely prove to be much more emotional for sure, since this intimate group/program has really grown close over the past 4 years.

The Mostaghimi family babysat Ethan and put him to bed (in their home). THANK YOU!!! We left the festivities early (10pm) to hang out with Zhila and Parvaneh a little before taking Ethan home. What a great family we have in our colleagues and the Baha'i community. All will be terribly missed when we move to Blue Ridge.

"Under Contract"

Well dear friends and family, thank you so much for all your prayers, today we've accepted an offer and our house is officially "under contract". With two offers late yesterday, Kelly and I decided on action (2) (read previous blog entry) and asked both agents and their respective clients to better their initial offer since the two were very similar. Today, both parties increased their offers by the same amount, making our decision more or less a "toss up". We went with the slightly higher offer, as obvious as that may seem, though both Kelly and I feel the loss for our sentimental choice - our home would have been their first. But we rationalized that the market has been very difficult for us, and we have worked so terribly hard the past few months! Ethan can vouch :-P And with the market being a "buyer's market" I have no doubt at all that the young couple whose offer we did not select in the end will find a wonderful home very soon.

Closing date: July 16th 2007

Moving date: July 17th 2007

Great Offers

What a long day it has been! Kelly and I have two great offers on our house! Likely the product of two competing agents and their respective clients, we now have a difficult decision to make: (1) accept the slightly better offer (both being very similar/both slightly higher than our asking price) or (2) give one final chance for both parties to better their offer by tomorrow P.M. (either party not knowing the other's offer/but risk offending and having original offer withdrawn)?? Hmm... I think I know what we'll do. Pray tonight. Much more tomorrow!!!!! :-D Sorry for the suspense...

And the lightning incident in Blue Ridge? Our home and water pipes seem to be unharmed. No damages. At least as far as the company knew by this morning when I spoke to one person. Lucky break!

And come to think of it, we have more house showings lined up for tomorrow. What do I say? "Sorry, we already have offers on our house." ?? Or how about, "Unless you are willing to offer more than (this) then just forget about it!" :-P

It's great finally being in the driver's seat after months of agony on this house and the sluggish real estate market. (though we're still not home free and nothing is nearly final yet, so not to jinx our offers!)

I'm going to miss 801 Turmeric Lane -- my first house. (thanks, Dad!)

Lightning Strike

Apparently, lightning struck a tree in Fern Valley (our home in Blue Ridge) and the jolt managed to travel down to the ground and damaged water pipes running from the neighborhood well (shared by three households) to the meters. As of yet, we don't know if any damage was incurred on the water pipes running from the meter to our house. Thank God for home insurance. And though the news of this made me feel terribly down as if nothing could get any worse, things are slowly looking up with our Durham house for sale.

A host of emails and phone calls have flooded my computer and cell phone on interest in our Durham home, with two possible offers being made as early as tomorrow. I pray tomorrow will be a successful day.

This afternoon, we had two showings - originally just one, though the reator rescheduled a second showing just an hour after the first for his clients wanted to see our house again. The second visit/showing lasting twice as long as the first (nearly half an hour), the agent later told me his clients wish to put in an offer some time tomorrow. And with my realtor also showing our home to some other clients for another "second showing", they too apparently are hopeful in putting in an offer by 3pm tomorrow.

What a turn of events!

I am thrilled but cautious - "guardedly optimistic" as Kelly mentioned this past weekend.

We've been doing the house selling thing for a while now to know nothing is set until a contract is signed by all parties.

God-willing, tomorrow will be a great day.

This Past Weekend In Pictures

Senior Farewell Dinners

Senior Class Photo, Duke, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics combined residency program, 2007
[Back L-R: Kelly Koay, MD, Jennifer Walker, MD, Krishelle Leong-Grotz, MD; Front L-R: Christian Ramers, MD, Mathew Schwartz, MD, Reilly Coch, MD]

It is that time of the year when graduating seniors bid farewell to mentors, friends and colleagues, and look back on their training here at Duke with fond memories and astonishment at just how quickly 3 years (4 for some) has flown by. A word reiterated through speeches offered by many describing feelings they have during this time of the year was "bittersweet". And I can say, as a spouse to a medical resident, I concur.

It is hard to survive and sacrifice so much to go through a residency training. And I have to say it is probably a lot harder trying to do a combined program like medicine and pediatrics. It is one year longer than most (4 instead of 3) and you find yourself in your second year of the program being called a "senior" to interns who end up, by the end of their first year, actually having more experience (than you - if you did med/peds) in either single discipline.

So much self-doubt you have to overcome because of the nature of the combined program and split schedules, which pushes you to always have to "catch up" and learn quickly to "keep up" with medicine or peds colleagues.

And now it is Kelly's class' year. Their time. They are the ones being celebrated this year. Can you believe it is now their time? The many senior dinners we've attended, and the emotions we saw in the graduating seniors of those years - so palpable. And now Kelly and her class take their rightful place.

It is sad.

We have made a family in Durham. Not just our immediate family with Ethan born here, but with our many friends and colleagues who have truly been there through all the "major" events in my and Kelly's life. They have witnessed our early days as friends, then our days of dating, engagement and attended our wedding and were a witness to our marriage vows. They saw us through our first pregnancy and the eventual birth of our first born. They celebrated the highs, and commiserated with the lows. Many dinners, parties, get-togethers, game nights, movie nights.

And now, the group moves on to the next phase in their lives and professional development. Quite literally, the Duke med/peds class of '07 will be relocating to all four corners of the country - Seattle (Pacific Northwest), San Diego (Southwest/coast), Ithaca, NY (Northeast) and Georgia (Deep South) :-D

Thank you for the memories guys. We look forward to a reunion in the near future and good luck with all your future endeavors, be they professional, personal, or of service.

With two more senior dinners left (the medicine department and med/peds), emotions will be building, and ultimately come pouring when the med/peds class say 'good-bye'.

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alright, reality check, Noomz needs a poopie diaper changed... and oh yea, we still have this thing called a house to sell.. .argh!

Jen & Eric: The Wedding (Slideshow)

So moving. Click on Jen and Eric's wedding to see a slideshow of their wedding in St. Louis this past May (27th). Jen and I worked together in the Hogan Lab, Duke University, before she left to do her graduate work at SLU. Best wishes to you both always.

Weekend Warriors

The title of this blog entry seems awfully appropriate. What a weekend we had. Just when I felt down in the dumps with regards to all the effort and little interest in our house showings, God restored a bit of hope this weekend. Without knowing really where to begin, I will just say, it was nice to have had friends around this weekend when there was just so much going on.

Saturday morning was an early start. I received a call at around 8:30am requesting a house showing at 10am. Of course, from the disappointment of Friday's "no-show" and Kelly and I being far too pooped to clean up after dinner, I had a lot on my plate to get the house ready (yes, yet again, so tiring!) for 10am on Saturday. Kelly had to work, so I called her, angry and upset at the state we left the kitchen in, not necessarily anticipating such an early request for a showing (though we should know better by now that at any given time some agent may want to show our home to potential buyers).

Kelly called Krishelle. Krishelle was on-call last night and very tired. She came straight over, in her work outfit (scrubs) from being in the hospital all last night, and helped with looking after Ethan while I got the house in order. In one hour, I had the house glowing. And ready for 10am. Now, if only the clients would stay true to their word and show up this time. Or else this would seriously be the straw that broke my back. Thankfully, an agent and a couple showed up precisely around 10am to find our house vacated and in glorious order for them to view. (Krishelle, Ethan and I went for a walk around the neighborhood -- totally spying on these people of course -- and taking Noomz out on his Radio Flyer/wagon). The folks spent a good 10-12 minutes in the house, and a couple minutes outside, and I even noticed that the man was taking some photos (as I did when we were shopping around for a house in Blue Ridge). So it would seem that all was good and that they actually really had interest in our house - though I did not speak to them, but I am pretty sure they also 'knew' who we were - owners of the house. We were not exactly hiding our identity or anything.

Krishelle hung around and helped with keeping Ethan entertained and Kelly got home fairly early to have lunch with us and chit chat. Not long after, I had an appointment to go pick up some furniture that I had found on Craig's List online. The seller was only just minutes away, and so I was able to responed and go to the person's house and view the piece first hand in a matter of minutes (the posting on CL was only a couple hours old!). And I was able to get a really great deal on some fantastic storage pieces we need for when we move to Blue Ridge. I got this 3-piece wall unit (central mission-style armoire with two side units) all for $175! What a steal, no? My neighbors helped me move the furniture back to our place, and I have agreed to help them find some good furniture deals on CL, though this particular deal does not come all the time, I explained to them.

And so with one great showing, and one fantastic furniture find, my weekend was golden, though still had Sunday! We started making sushi Saturday night with J and K (see previous post) and went to the morning program at the Baha'i Center on Sunday (previous post). Sunday afternoon, I got another call from a person who saw my house ad for sale on CL, and called to see if it was already sold. We agreed on a showing that evening at 6pm. That time arrived, and the person was not here. I called, of course worried and skeptical about the person's motives. (can you blame me?) But only a few minutes late, she arrives. The showing went great, and she told me she was looking precisely for a home not too big, single level, because her elderly mom will be living with her, and stairs are out of the question! She even fell in love with my elephant ears and general gardening/landscaping design. But we shall see if this interest truly manifests in an offer or not.

We hung out with J and K (again) late Sunday evening and the girls (Kelly, Jessica, Krishelle) went on a baking rampage, making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, regular chocolate chip cookies, and a banana bread loaf! Hahaha... seriously, it was a bit much, especially since they started the whole process around 8pm, and you know how Sundays generally have a certain lull and quietness about it since the work week starts the following day. So the house was filled with warm oven-baked doughy goodness. And with tall glasses of cold milk, the weekend wrapped up all the more sweet.

This morning I got an email from my realtor/agent saying the Saturday showing (the couple) are really interested and have our house in their 'top 3' :-D Yay!!!! I don't know if it will win out of course, but they are supposed to give it some thought and put in an offer some time by the end of this week. I hope they do put in an offer, and that it is reasonable, so that we can make a deal and move on.

Oh!!! And how could I forget, yes, no longer the weekend, this morning (Monday) a gentleman came to pick up a flyer from our front yard, to whom I got his attention from down the street (Ethan and I were out early for a walk) and asked if he would like to see the house now. Of course he obliged and was totally interested and said would have his agent call mine right away. I sure hope so, because the more interest, the better the offers. But I just want one good offer of course :-D

And before this all happened, the moment Ethan and I took the wagon out for a spin, we found a turtle "out in the sunshine feeling fine" (a la Ethan's "Jungle Tumble" book) :-D I have the cute little shelled critter in some water in a pail. Don't know what I will do with it, but perhaps just have Ethan play and look at it for a bit longer and I will let it go. You know you live in the "tropics" when instead of rabbits or squirrels you find turtles in your yard!

:-D

A Khaki Bunch

Going to the Baha'i Center this morning, Kelly had this crazy idea we should all coordinate our attire with Ethan's outfit. So here are a couple pictures of our best attempt.