Good News

I am finally going permanent at the company I have been working with as a temp for the last 4 months! I guess I am relieved that I don't have to look for another job and thereby be a temp for the next couple of months! With the USA economic outlook right now, it is a wonder any company is hiring. So THANK GOD!
The first thing that popped into my head the moment I got news that I will be hired was "YES! Now I can buy my house." Or, at least submit a loan application. So we went looking for houses yesterday with our friends who were also looking for houses.. Hmm I wonder if Meritage Homes will offer a two for one deal?? hehe..
We have seen the house model we love. Prices have gone down. There are some lots that have already been built and are now on sale. Many upgrades are thrown in like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, upgraded cabinetry and a jacuzzi tub plus a $20K incentive to use to pay down points or help with closing costs and stuff. People tell me to wait as prices will continue to go down. I believe them. I also believe that when everyone is paranoid and not buying, that should be the best time to buy. I wouldn't want to buy when everyone is coming around and saying yes, the time is now, because then it would signal that the market is picking up... don't you think?
The last time we bought our condo, people told us that the bubble was going to burst anytime. I think the most important question to ask in a situation like this is "Why are you buying a house?" If it is for investment sake, then yes, I probably wouldn't buy at this time since no one knows where the market is headed. If you are buying so you can have a place to live for a while to come, then I would say go for it. The property value will go up again, perhaps not in the next couple of years. But who cares if I have no intention of using the house as a cash cow nor plan to sell it to make a profit. I just want a place to call our own!.
Well, the next couple of months should proof interesting!

Video Clips

Not the plane stunt because it takes too long to upload the video. The snow capped mountains way in front is likely the mountain we just came back from.

Day at Mt Baldy

We spent the day at Mt Baldy today to let Cael experience his first snow.
After a quick stop at Denny's for a hearty breakfast this morning, we made our way up the mountains. Armed with a snow sled and layers of clothing, we started our journey through the treacherous snow covered mountain. Our first stop has us running back to our car because the wind was blowing so hard and it was so cold. Cael was not enjoying his first experience. Especially after the husband and child fell from the sled trying to avoid running head on into a little boy who had no control over his sled speeding down the slope. Cael did not suffer from the fall because his loving dad broke the fall and suffered injury to his hand and lost his watch in the process. And you might want to know where Cael's mom was in the midst of all this happening. Cael and Dad had 'sled' away leaving mom to try to catch up on feet. Unfortunately, it was so slippery that Mom fell 4 times in the process of trying to get to them, thereby suffering painful bruise.
So after runnign back to the car and taking a break from the cold and falls, we decided to go to another spot where it is less 'slopey' and windy. We found the perfect spot and that was where we spent the rest of our time with no more accidents.
To end an almost perfect day, on our way back from the mountain, we saw some airplane stunts. I tried to capture it on video and I did...but we were in a moving vehicle and therefore the short clip does not do justice to what we saw. I will try to post the video here as soon as I have downloaded it on YouTube.
In the meantime, here are some pictures to speak a 1000 words.

Naturalization Interview

I finally went for my naturalization interview this morning. After a nervous morning, my husband drove me to the site and my interview was set at 11.05am. I arrived with 15 minutes to spare and knowing that I couldn't possibly cram anything else into my stressed out mind, I settled down in the waiting room with the People magazine. Just as I was getting into which celebrity was wearing what and who's hooking up with who, I heard my name called, right on the dot. This gentleman led me to the slaughter.... ooops, I meant his office and I had to solemnly swear that I will tell nothing but the truth. Then we proceeded to go through my application to check that everything was correct. Then I signed my name on the dotted line to say I am willing to bear arms for USA if required. Following that, I was asked 10 civics question (of course I got them all correct!) and was asked to write the sentence "I know how to write English" on a piece of paper. And that was it. He said, "Congratulations! You passed the interview." I must say he was a very nice man, frinedly and not intimidating, doing his best to make a person feel at ease.
He then told me a letter will be mailed to let me know when and where to go to take the Oath of Allegiance, at which time I will get my Citizenship Certificate and forfeit my Green Card.
I was out of there in 15 minutes. I am really very impressed by the whole process which was very different from when I applied for my Green Card. That process was not as pleasant and prompt.
My husband told me that my demeanour took a 180 degree change after I came out from the interview. I guess I have been quite stressed for the last week. I KNEW I should never have watched the movie, Green Card!

Timeline for process:
March 13, 2007 - Mailed Application
March 22, 2007 - Receipt of Notice of Action
April 24, 2007 - Notice to get fingerprints taken.
May 17, 2007 - Fingerprints taken.
November 15, 2007 (guestimate)- Notice for Interview
Jan 4, 2008 - Interview
??? - taking the Oath.