Yeah, not gonna be closing tomorrow.   I'm still a little fuzzy as to why the underwriter is holding onto it, but it has something to do with questions regarding recent requests for my credit report.  The requests that the BANK THAT THE UNDERWRITER WORKS FOR made ABOUT MY LOAN. But they need a different explanation?  Er, what?  I didn't grill the processor about it when she called me because she was really upset by the delay but I'm going to call her tomorrow to get some clarification about exactly what the problem is. 

When I hear the word "underwriter" I picture this little green angry gnome in a cave.  I'm starting to think it's true.

My loan officer sent an email to all parties involved informing of the delay letting them know that we may need to wait a week until I have another day off, and the attorney for the seller sent an incredibly snotty reply saying that "buyer needs to be more flexible".  I kind of want to slug him in the face cartilage. 

But my boss is usually really understanding so I think I'll be able to take time off in the middle of the day early next week - but I'm going to be all antsy until I call him tomorrow.  I bet I dream about this tonight.  If I manage to get to sleep.  I actually went to bed early last night - 10:30 - and I'm feeling surprisingly awake now.  I don't know if it's because I actually got a decent amout of sleep or if it's because I'm so tense.

I should probably go to bed but...yeah, that's not happening.

So tomorrow since I'm suddenly free in the morning, I need to try to find a dress for a wedding in a little over a week.  And I'm excited for this weekend because I'm going to see "The Pirates of Penzance".  Singing + Pirates = WIN!

This week I discovered that I need to cook more.  I'm not going to, but I discovered this.  The reason I discovered this is because I used the last of my bottle of olive oil.  I thought, "hey, I've been using this bottle for a while".  So I looked at the "best if used by" date.  Um, yeah.  December of 2009.  I looked at the rest of the stuff in my cabinet - got a spice container of curry that I bought my second year of vet school.  It's expiration date is in 2007, I haven't used it in forever, yet somehow it has moved with me four times.  Checked the cinnamon, pepper, oregano...yeah.  My spices are geriatric.

I ROCK at waste not, want not.

I keep watching "Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids" and I'm not sure why. I really don't get those people.  I've been a bridesmaid four times, and never once have I said, "your dress choice stinks".  Granted, all four brides have had good taste, but I thought that's what being a bridesmaid meant: you wear what you're told and you're happy doing it.  Two of the dresses I had to wear wouldn't have been my first choice, but really, it's not important. Silly people.

In other news, Tumminy alerted me that my neighbor was smoking before I smelled it.  He goes nuts when I open or close the sliding glass door out to my balcony, and he's learned that if my neighbor smokes, I close the door.  So the second he smelled smoke, he popped up and danced around until I closed the door and he could attack it.  Now he's passed out on the floor, proud of a job well done.  I really hope my new neighbors won't be smokers.

In OTHER other news, I have been trying to make progress on my condo closing.  I have MY stuff together and my loan has been approved, but the loan processor is not making progress.  And with three business days left until closing, I am not feeling optimistic.  I am feeling frustrated, because they have had my paperwork for at least three weeks - I have called multiple times, told them my closing date multiple times, and NOW in the final week they've discovered hey, maybe they should have tried to gather some documents sooner.    They haven't been great about returning my emails of phone calls, either.  Must be nice to have a job where you have a deadline but it's optional to meet it and your client can't do anything about it.

*sigh*  Oh well.  It'll work out eventually.

So I really like "Blue Bloods".  I think I like it because it's "NUMB3RS"-esque.  It's a cop show, but it centers around the family, not the crimes.  And hey: Tom Selleck.  Love him as Frank Reagan, but I keep thinking of him as Richard Burke from "Friends".   (Yes, I KNOW he was Magnum PI but I'm too young to remember it.)

Ahh, definitely enjoying my day off!  I needed it, man.  Which is pretty sad since I just got back from vacation, but it's true.  Well, I suppose the week really wasn't bad - Monday and Wednesday were just fine, but Tuesday was a truly rotten day because I lost a patient unexpectedly.  It was a young animal, too, and I don't know why she died.  I know there wasn't anything that could have been done, but it still sucks.

But I had a good day today.  Got my tires rotated, ran a bunch of errands, cleaned, and went to the library.  I finally finished "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" - HIGHLY recommend it!  Beautifully written, and such a unique story!  I picked up a couple other books while I was there: "The Magicians" and "The Magician King", both by Lev Grossman.  One of the other docs recommended them - he's the one who recommended "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell", and I've learned that if he recommends a book, I should read it because I'm going to enjoy it.  So far he's suggested:

"The Eyes of the Dragon" by Stephen King.
"The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco
The "Master and Commander" series by Patrick O'Brien (I still haven't read all of them)
"Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" by Susanna Clarke

I feel like there's been at least one more but I can't remember it right now...

The only area where his suggestion failed was when he recommended some short stories by Stephen King.  He told me which ones to read (knowing that Afton doesn't do horror) but I wasn't all that impressed.  I've discovered that short stories are almost never enjoyable - both in my English lit and Spanish lit classes.  They're often pretty disturbing, too.  Has anyone read "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman?  Yeesh.  And I don't care HOW famous Kafka is, I hated "The Metamorphosis".

So...yeah, stickin' with novels.

I also started reading "Bambi" again.  I bought the movie last weekend and watched it for the first time since I was five or six years old.  Wow, I liked it!  I liked it when I was little once I got over my paralyzing fear of fire - didn't cry when I watched it then, but I teared up several times when watching it last weekend.  And hey, fun fact, did you know that the kid who did Bambi's voice grew up to be a Marine?

But the book is really good.  I haven't read it since I was in high school, I think, but I do enjoy it.  It's a bit more violent than the movie and a wee bit dark, but it's really good. 

Baaaaack from vacation!

Had such a wonderful time.  My friend's little boy is absolutely adorable!  I am completely charmed.  And the best part is that I get to be his Auntie!  This girl and Cami and I were like sisters that each had different parents, so even though we're not related, that makes this little guy my nephew!  I am so excited.   And now I need to finally get Skype so I can talk to him and see him all the time because it's probably going to be at least a year until I see him.  I spent four and a half days with him and WOW do I love that little boy! 

Then I went to see Lisa and her hubby and it was nice just to hang out with them.  Just kinda chilled - watched some movies, went to a museum, just talked.  We stayed up late last night watching "Forrest Gump" - I hadn't seen that movie since I was in junior high.  Wasn't crazy about it then but I really enjoyed it last night. 

Something funny I noticed about myself - I spent the last week in the South, watched a movie full of people who speak with an Alabama accent, and Lisa's hubby has a thick Southern accent.  I have never spoken with an accent - born and bred in the Midwest - but I found myself fighting to keep myself from slipping into a drawl.  I don't know why, but when I spend time around people who speak with a Southern accent, I find myself unconsciously imitating them.  I don't do that with any other accent. 

So I got to see all my doggy and kitty nieces and nephews at Lisa's, then flew back today and picked up my four-legged kiddo from the Grandpupsters.  He had a nice time and now he's passed out on the floor.  I always have a relaxing afternoon when I pick him up because he's always zonked.

Aaaaand then it's back to work tomorrow.

Whew, what a week!  Busy one, but yay! It's over!  And now I'm off for the next week.  My first vacation since August 2010.  Going to see one of my best girlfriends and her hubby and to meet their 5 month old son, then going to visit Lisa, my best friend from vet school for a couple days. 

I had to run an unexpected errand tonight - was packing, and realized that I didn't have enough underwear or socks.  How the heck did that happen?  I noticed that I was doing laundry a lot more frequently but now when it comes down to the exact count, I feel as if I've lost some clothing.  Not sure how, since I have my own washer and dryer...Oh well.  So now I've got my new clothing items in the washing machine for a quick spin while packing the rest.

I need to fight my natural tendency to try to stay up late tonight, because I'm getting picked up by the airport shuttle at 4:30 AM.  So I'm getting up at 3:00.  I feel as if I should only need an hour, but I know I'll be rushed if I get up at 3:30.  I was supposed to be picked up at 5, but the shuttle called and asked if they could scootch it back half an hour.  Well, ok. Not like I really have a choice...I actually really like getting up early. Something kinda cool about being up and around when everyone else is sleeping. And I LOVE airports early in the morning.

So it's 9:00 now...the goal is to be in bed by 10. We'll see if I manage it.  The ironic thing is most weeknights I'm fighting off drowsiness right about now, rebelling against bed even though I need sleep.  Tonight I guarantee I'm going to have a hard time dropping off, and then I'll keep waking up because I know I've got a deadline to meet.

Such a marvelous weekend!!!

Almost didn't start that way because Friday was a bit of a bummer at work, but then Tumminy and I made the drive home.  Had an interesting encounter on the way - I was in the left lane, coming up on some trucks and about to pass them, when this car came zooming up behind me and started riding my bumper closer than any other car has come before.  He even started flickering his brights at me.  Well, tough nuts - I was already going almost 80 AND I was behind another car that was also passing the semis.  We passed the trucks and the car in front of me was still poking along, so I scootched around and passed in the right lane.  The Jerk Car stayed behind the slow car, tailgating and flashing his brights until the slow car moved over.  Well, that put The Jerk behind me again because I had moved back into the left lane to pass another batch of trucks.  This idiot starts flashing his brights at me again when I am CLEARLY about to pass and, once again, CLEARLY cannot go any faster even if I wanted to because I was behind two or three other cars.  CLEARLY nowhere to go.

I get past the trucks and go past the cars in front of me, then move into the right lane.  At which point The Jerk comes up right next to my car and then there's this bright light shining into my window.  He hung out there for about 5 seconds before turning off the flashlight and gunning his engine to race ahead.  And THAT was when I saw that it was a police car.

What, SERIOUSLY???   He's lucky I never had a chance to see his license plate or car number, because I SO would have reported him. I scared the dog, too, because I yelled after him, "Are you kidding me?? You're a COP!!"

But after Close Encounters With The Jerk Kind, everything was fine.  Had a fun time with the girls at the bridal shower, and then "Les Mis" last night.

Wow. Wow, wow, wow.  Oh, how I love that musical.  Such a beautiful story, and the music is sublime.  The actors were all amazing, and I was absolutely in love with little Gavroche. He was so tiny! I wanted to pick him up, put him in my pocket, and take him home.  Could not believe the voice on that kid.  I couldn't remember if they did this the first time I saw it, but after the battle at the barricade, one of the soldiers walked across the stage pulling a wagon that was carrying the bodies of Gavroche and Enjolras. Gavroche was tucked in the corner, curled up, but Enjolras was on his back with his head and arms nearly hanging out of the wagon, looking as if he had been crucified.  The soldier stopped for a moment under a bright spotlight while Javert looked at the two of them - seemed taken aback when he saw Gavroche - then the wagon move away. Wow. That image is going to haunt me. So phenomenal.

Did I mention that it was amazing?   Now I want to read the book again, but I can't, because I really need to finish the stuff I'm reading now.

And now I'm back in Chi-town.  Went to the grocery and then went for a run. It's almost 80 today - so nice out, plus I hadn't run all week and I was feeling yucky. I slept in on Monday, then I'd barely gone a mile on Thursday before my stomach started cramping and I had to stop.  Just a short 2-miler today, but I feel so much better.

One last fun thing about my weekend - my hotel was across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium, home of my Colts. I felt as if I should be genuflecting or something whenever I looked outside.

Tumnus and I went home to Indiana today to see the fam - he had a lot of fun running around, then we came back and went for walkies, he ate, and now he's passed out on the floor.  I have such a quiet night when we get back from a visit.

Last night I was finally going to watch the first part of "Breaking Dawn", but I saw that "Cars" was on TV so I watched that instead.  *snerk*  I might try to watch it tonight but I have a bunch of episodes of "NCIS: Los Angeles" to catch up on.  So we'll see.

Well, looks like I've got myself a condo.  My offer was accepted.  I'm still waiting for the final paperwork to go through, but barring any surprises with the inspection, I'll be moving within the next couple months.  I hate moving...but should be the last time for a while and the place is right near where I live so I don't need to change my grocery store or bank or route to work.  I'm starting to get excited about it but it's still overwhelming and I'm occasionally still a bit freaked out.

Moving shouldn't be too bad, though. I don't have a whole lot of stuff to move, and I'm going to hire movers this time.  So I'm anticipating a fairly painless transition.

So excited for next weekend!  Friend's bridal shower and "Les Mis"! 

Methinks I need a new vacuum.  I vacuum twice a week and there always seems to be some amount of dog fur on the carpet.  I had a dog growing up, my mom vacuumed once a week, and I never remember hair on the floor.  Also, I'll roll the vacuum over a piece of lint - even let it SIT there - and it won't pick it up.  So I think I need a new one.

I started reading the "Hunger Games" trilogy again.  Couldn't help myself.  I finished the first book today and will probably start the second today or tomorrow.

Tumnus had his teeth cleaned this week.  I hadn't been as diligent with brushing as I'd wanted to be and he was getting some tartar buildup.  But now he's all sparkly white and perfect, and we're going to brush every day.  He likes his chicken-flavored toothpaste. And his Optimus Prime toothbrush.

Yeah, that's about it.  Wildly exciting times, yo. 

Saw the "Hunger Games" movie last night!  SO GOOD!   Very well done.  Casting: A. Acting: A. Adaption from book to movie: astonishingly, I give it an A-minus, and I almost never give that high of a grade in that area.  There were a few omissions, but the things that were omitted were things that worked well in the book but would have made the film a bit cumbersome. There was one major omission that surprised me but since it doesn't really influence the rest of the books I decided to give it a bye. 

The one thing that did bug me (and it's strictly from a medical standpoint) is that if you are deathly ill from a systemic bacterial infection, a little tub of vaseline is not going to help you.  I don't know why they changed it from the syringe...really didn't need to do that...but ok, fine, I won't nitpick.

So I think I might make an offer on a condo.  We'll see how it pans out.  I'm freaked out but I kind of hope things go through because I'd like a little more space.

14 days 'til "Les Mis"!

Still continuing my streak of uber-long days.  I would really, really like to go home and not be at work for 12 hours.  My schedule is officially 38 hours per week (although it's usually about 43) and last week I worked 50.  Over the past three days this week I'm already up to 35.  I know that there are people out there that regularly work that much, but I'm not one of them.  *sigh*  We'll see what happens tomorrow...would be nice if I could leave on time but it's still my ten-hour day, so the thrill of accomplishment won't really be there.

I finished career day at both high schools - had a lot of fun. I really like interacting with high schoolers.  I always let them come in for job shadowing, too, so we'll see if any students want to come in.

Looked at another batch of condos/townhouses today and I think I saw one I might be interested in.  It needs a little work but mostly things like painting and refinishing cabinets...the kitchen and one bathroom has wallpaper that would have to go, but that shouldn't be too bad, I think.  So I'm going to see if my parents can come up and take a look at it since they know what they're doing and I don't. The living space is only a leetle bit more than I have now but there are two good-sized bedrooms and the place is really close to where I live now.  I'm a little worried that if I move there I'll be the only resident under the age of 50, which I'm not crazy about, but if it's got everything else I'm looking for, maybe it won't matter.  So we'll see.

In other news, I FINALLY got my hair cut!  Yay!!  Probably nobody else can tell because it's still past my shoulders, but *I* can tell.  I like going to get a haircut now because there's a certain girl I go to and she knows me now.   I like the feeling of being a "regular".  Same thing at the bar where I go dancing on Monday nights - the guy at the door and the bartender both know me.  I don't know if I get recognized anywhere else...maybe the grocery, but they don't let on that they know me. That's about it.

"Miss Congeniality" is on TV, so I must watch it.  I love that movie.