I’ve had my new 24″ iMac for about 2 weeks now and I love my new computer. I’m now converting my old (6 years old) G4 into a server and my old blue and white G3 (close to 10 years old) to an iTunes jukebox. It’s good because I get to organize the computer room and put lots of plans for wiring up the house into motion. I even managed to get a sweet deal on a 13″ mac laptop which I will use for web surfing, chat and writing.

I’ve been tied up with getting the driveway finished before Xmas, with 8 palettes of pavers arriving on the 19th of December. So inbetween working on finishing up the driveway and time inside on my spiffy new macs playing Sims2 - I’ve pretty much screwed up my productivity. At least when I’m not at my day job.

Speaking of which, we just moved for a 3rd time in 3 years and my boss puts me into extreme panic when he tells me about money. When you buy a house, the last thing you want to hear is how tight money is. You start thinking that you may not have a job if the economy keeps on the trajectory it’s headed in. The silver lining here is the new office is right on the beach and it’s definitely the first time it feels professional with plenty of desk space for me to work with.

Not much to write right now, just been very busy with work and actually getting to do some illustration now that the dust is settling at the new place. Still alive, despite what people put me through, and that’s something to be said about my willpower.

Just a note to future and current clients: “I don’t work on spec.”

Tonight’s historic speech by Barack Obama has invigorated me and filled me with hope that we will have a President who feels the frustration and anger that the middle and working class individuals and families who have had to try to make ends meet these last 8 years of terrible rule by the worst president in history - and actually does something about it.

Initially, I was a Hillary supporter and I had never given money to a candidate before her. Also, in the last couple of years, I switched from my long standing Independent status to Democrat and tonight I’m very proud that I did. I never took much stock in the whole “Change” theme - but I totally get it and I’m on board.

I can’t wait to see that man in the White House! John McCain should just pack up the bus and go back to Arizona.

Here’s the Operation Adelmo art in the Villiage Voice! Sweet. This is the second time I’ve been in it. The first time was for saying something very snide about Paris Hilton. I’m pretty happy to see it here.

Now that I’m all moved in, my bags unpacked, and things are coming together - I need to get everything going again and kick out some new illustrations.

I got my keys to my new house on Friday. Please note the new address in the resume section.

I’m busy moving my junk in… Yippee!

This weekend I’ve been preparing for my big move to my first new home. This, ironically, doesn’t include packing - yet. Instead, this has included jumping through various hoops (lit on fire ones) to meet various ‘unforeseen’ conditions for the release of grant money that my banker has known about but neglected to tell me about, so in the 11th hour I’m having my 3rd inspection of the home by an approved inspector on Monday.

Meanwhile, I’m having to tent the house for termites (free and clear since last Tuesday!), repair various doors and such that would be fine otherwise (I plan on replacing when I have the money), strapping down the water heater for earthquake standards, and installing fire detectors that work and are brand new.

I’ve met two of the most wonderful, genuinely kind people I think I ever met - the sellers. The estate holder and his sister are wonderful people and just being around them hearing their stories makes me feel even more comfortable with the house I’m getting. I think it’s great to have them around to get the history of how their mom came to America from Sicily to be with their father, the trips across country and how they finally came to settle on San Diego. Instead of wanting them out of the property, I now understand that these folks who are a little older than my parents need time and I’m absolutely cool with that. They’ve been taking furniture and items from the home, peppering me with stories from the past and I find I’m getting nostalgic for when I was little, running around my great-grandmother’s place in Massachusetts and my other family members who are older and who have passed on.

Now instead of being eager to own the house, I feel like I’m buying a home.

In two weeks, I should have in my possession the keys to my very first home.

This hasn’t been without difficulty. Oh no! The paperwork is an inevitable evil, but dealing with the bank, the looking for a home, the viewings, making the agents on either side to understand your needs, the sellers, the hidden and omitted things that you ultimately end up paying for in one way or another, the first time home buyer programs, more paperwork, the meetings, the discussions, the organizing of this estimate and that - it’s enough to drive somebody insane.

Everyone around me that has been witness to the process doesn’t ever want to own a home or is completely apathetic to what I have to deal with. I feel bad for those that want to get a home or a condo eventually that saw all the hoops I had to jump through, but it’s the snarling attitude of some who aren’t flexible enough to let me take care of things so everything runs smoothly for me. I’m only going to do this once! It’s not like I’m going to keep disappearing, spending time supervising various things for the rest of my life. If it happened to them, I’d be very flexible.

I guess it’s like what happens when people have children - only people who also have children can understand.

*sigh*

I just can’t wait until my keys are in my hand and I can slow down again.

I recently tried to shop for loose leaf tea - in bulk - and was wondering what was taking so long to get the bags I ordered. I eventually got around to calling Porte Rouge only to find out that I entered incorrectly the date of my credit card in the shipping so they canceled my order. This is what happens when you think of these things late at night and decide to shop online when you are half tired.

In any case, they fixed my order and even threw in some sample sachets of green and red tea from a company in France called Mariage Freres. If you’ve had the opportunity to taste these teas, they are beyond amazing. My favorites are the Bouddha Bleu and Sur Le Nil.

If any of you have ever shopped for a new house or your first house or even plan on looking in this market - be warned - it’s not fun and it’s fraught with headaches and heartaches.

I’m stocking up on aspirin and maybe a big bottle of booze.

Real estate is so confusing and the market is a mess, yet all I hear is “It’s a great time to buy!” But nobody tells you about the big “but” in the room. But you’ll get depressed. But you’ll never know what property is a short sale. But you’ll want to kill slimy real estate agents who lie, cheat, steal to get you to even look at a property, much less put an offer in on one. But this is the hardest, most stressful and important thing you’ll ever do in your life. And nobody tells you about how difficult and vague a bank can be about the whole process.

But, they say, it’s all worth it in the end. Tax breaks, first time home buyer grants and programs, and a place where you can put a sledgehammer in that ugly 70’s counter top, knock down walls, and put in any paint, fixture, and lights that you want without a stinking land lord telling you that you can not.

*sigh*

Cue the Morrissey and give me some Scotch. If I had three wishes right now, I sure as hell know what I’d be wishing for at this moment in time.

The CA|Boom show is going on this weekend.

$20 for the main area to look at the exhibition hall and all the pre-fab, gardening, and products that somebody like me who loves all that kind of thing is a reasonable price to pay.

And what great timing as well - I just put an offer in to buy my first home. Renting is soon to be a thing of the past.