So, This is What's Up! School, Writing & More...

Well, a lot has happened since I was really keeping the blog up. One of the big things that happened is that I started two blogs for a more mainstream audience. The first one I started in conjunction with my husband is VoicesFromTheShadows.net. This blog was started as a way to extend the dialogue began at Buddhist discussion meetings. My hubby and I realized that the talks at our Buddhist meetings were only the beginning of the iceberg in terms of really digging in deep to talk about the concepts we were learning. And more importantly, the blog discusses the concepts in a relatable way to our everyday lives. The other goal of the blog is to introduce people to my faith. Right now, most people think of Buddhism as this really foreign religion and thoughts of the Dalai Lama come to mind. However, these images do not fully describe the full Buddhist spectrum. I, on the other hand, am almost the complete opposite. I am a woman of color that practices Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin's, in America. I go to work (well temp currently). I am married. And the list goes on. I do not live in an isolated place or just go to a monastery. Our blog is about practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism in everyday life. It breaks down concepts as they relate to our lives. And I hope we are all becoming better Buddhists and deepening our faith as a result of reading, writing, and commenting on the blog. Whew, what a mouthful.

Then, if that blog wasn't enough, I also created a blog for women of color called CaramelBella.com. This blog is designed to keep women of color abreast of developments in the areas of fashion, beauty, self-development, finance as well as highlighting women of color that are doing well and a good model for the rest of us. The blog also showcases some well-known celebrities from time to time for fun. It's got to be FUN!

Those two blogs keep me pretty busy. I am enjoying writing on them and keeping them updated. It's almost a full-time job. ALMOST. I think its getting me into the swing of writing everyday which is a skill I really need to get accustomed to considering....

drum roll please....... (here comes the big news)

I got into grad school! Whoopee! Yes, I did. I got into USC-Annenberg's School of Communication & Journalism. I will be pursuing my master's degree in Journalism beginning this August. Yes, this month I start my studies. I can't believe I'll be back in school in about 2 weeks! I'm really excited about going back to school but admit it will be a big change.

And my last little piece of news is that I also received a Dean's scholarship (full scholarship) to attend USC. I'm psyched and so is my hubby. We feel very fortunate. The funny thing is that I was so surprised that they awarded it to me - little old me. Now, I really have to do a good job and represent!

And other news - yes, there is more. I got accepted into the SGI Young Writers Group. SGI is my lay Buddhist organization. They have two international publications - The World Tribune, a newspaper, and Living Buddhism, a magazine. I have the opportunity to write for both publications for a year and receive training and support. What a tremendous opportunity!! Plus, for a budding writer like me, it will help me get clips (published writing sources). At the moment, I only have one journalistic clip - also from The World Tribune. So, I am really excited about being a part of the fantastic 9 that were chosen.

So, that's what I've been up to for the most part. I'm sure I could go on and on - and bore you to death but I won't. I'll save additional details for a later time.

Hugs,
JG

NO Seriously, I'm BAAACK!

Life has truly been a whirlwind since you last heard from me. Moving into the new home was just the beginning. Honestly, there have been lots of disappointments and lots of wonderful surprises. This is LIFE right! I plan to update you on all that's been happening in my life over time. If I wrote it all today, you and I both would be exhausted. It's too much to explain in a single post. Just know that I am still here. And I plan to continue posting and sharing my world with those who care. Why?! Because its fun and I want to. (Enough said.) I also think its therapeutic at some level.

Just expect to hear the truth because that's what I'm all about.

I'm BAAACCCKKKK!

Yes, I know you thought that I had forgotten you ----- but I didn't. And now I am back. I think I needed the break too. So much has been going on. My butt was on overload. I think I bought into the whole "you-can-never-do-too-much" hype. Yeah that whole phenomenal woman stuff. Well, I now know my limit. I had taken on way too much the last quarter of last year. I started taking classes at UCLA to advance my writing skills. I began a job search and a couple of other personal projects. And.... as if there could be anything else as significant (I'm joking, people), my husband and I bought a home. What a major coup! We moved out of our ultra-modern loft into a beautiful Spanish Mediterranean home, complete with the Spanish tile roof and an enclosed, private courtyard. (I've always wanted a Spanish style home. And my husband and I made another little brown girl's dream come true!) Then, we had my mom visit from the east coast for Thanksgiving. And your girl did ALL the cooking. (Yes, I can cook.) It was a great visit. My mom really rolled up her sleeves and helped us unpack and get settled in our new home. She was a lifesaver!! Then, it was finishing up working at my old job before the year ended. And then, our whole family (hubby, Marley, and I) took the show on the road to DC and NYC for the holidays! We had a really good time. We spent time with friends and family in both cities. It was a great holiday. We even managed to sneak in a broadway play, The Color Purple, which was FANTASTIC. (I almost didn't even want to mention the play so casually because it deserves its own blog entry. Yes, it was superb.)

Now I am resting at home and trying to fight bronchitis before it turns into full-blown pneumonia (remember 2004). I need all of my strength for 2007. I have a lot planned. And I am not even going to think about what it could mean to bring the new year in with a cold. I guess because I know 2007 is going to be a great year for me and my family! Get ready for a year full of interesting, uplifting, and enlightening posts from me (that is my goal for myself).

Happy New Year!!

Me a Leader? Who Would've Thunk It

Crazy me! I accepted the young women’s division Buddhist leadership position. I know that I need to expand my life. And I’ve been thinking that there will never be an “ideal” or perfect time. I am always busy and striving for my next achievement. So, now is as good a time as any. And hopefully, I will feel more connected to both my LA community and my LA Buddhist community. And I am willing to give it my best. If for some reason it becomes too much, I’ll know and adjust. Pray for me!

Spirits Are Renewed

My spirits are renewed (well somewhat)! I chanted (the Buddhist form of praying) this morning about the house hunting and feel a little better. I also vented to my best friend, Tinesha, about all of the stuff going on in my life. It’s more than the house hunting that’s bothering me (I’ll vent about the other stuff at another time). However, I keep telling myself that we’ll find something. Today, I am going to go see 4 houses that have potential, but I am not getting my hopes up. Lately, I’ve been finding things online and then find out that they are sold already – which is a real bummer. My hubby and I are trying to keep our hopes low so we won’t be disappointed. I really want to find our house. I really do! The house project is beginning to feel like the wedding project – tiring and never-ending. Yes, I am being a bit dramatic but I do want this project to come to a successful close. I want to worry about other stuff like grad school and becoming a Buddhist leader but right now I just don’t have time. The house search is sucking up all of our free time. In Buddhism, we believe in showing actual proof – which is quite simply that our praying works and we are victorious. So, we are praying for our house and we have such a strong belief in our faith and abilities that we know we’ll find the house – and show actual proof. I just wish it would hurry up. Enough already!

Rather Uneventful House Hunting Weekend

My husband and I had a rather uneventful house hunting weekend. We looked at so many houses; it is beginning to feel like a blur. Yesterday we did house speed dating. Or at least that is what it felt like because we whipped through the houses sooo fast, it would make your head spin. We had a new guy helping us in the areas that we were looking at before like Jefferson Park and Leimert Park. And somehow we ended up looking in the northern hill areas like Montecito Heights and El Sereno on Saturday. There were some nice houses up there. The key here is “up there.” Although the houses were nice and had great views, I couldn’t sell myself on the terrible commute. I am already commuting over 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes or more each way. The thought of making my commute worse just made my stomach hurt a little. If I didn’t have the ability to work from home a lot, I wouldn’t make it as it is right now. Plus, from living in DC, I know that what takes you 45 minutes today will take you an hour in 1-2 years or less. The commutes become longer as time goes on, not shorter which should be the objective. And the horrifying thing is that these places “up there” were only 5-6 miles away from where we live currently but could add on another 20-30 minutes or more. Hmm, somehow the views just didn’t seem worth it.

Anyway, this new guy is pretty opinionated which can get on our nerves a bit. He tells us his opinion without being asked and is a little pushy with his remarks. We’ll have to see how well this new relationship works out. The good thing about this guy is that he knows Jefferson Park and Leimert Park like the back of his hand. And he has sold and listed so many properties in this area, it’s ridiculous. (And he is quick to point all this out and out and out.) You get my drift.

Sadly, another weekend has gone by and no house to report. Although we’ve only been looking for about a month or so, it feels like forever. And our energy is evaporating. We’re trying to keep our hopes and spirits up.

Another house bits the dust

The seller has decided to play hardball and really won’t give much on their price. Hey, I can understand because they are looking after their investments and doing the best thing for their team. Well, that is what my hubby and I have to do. We already came up to more than we wanted to pay to a price that we were willing to pay – and that wasn’t good enough. They had to still want basically $10k more. After weighing all the pros and cons, checking all the numbers (and checking them again), we decided to pass. Heck, if they want their number so bad, let the house sit on the market 70 more days to get their magic number – in a buyer’s market no less. The sellers were trying to press our backs up against the wall and make us make decisions in less than 24 hours. And it would take them over 48 hours to make decisions. No. I didn’t like the energy and anticipated difficulties in working with them through the rest of the house process – especially during the house inspections and ensuing negotiations over items that needed fixing or money back.

My hubby and I are beginning to think that the house that is FOR us will be FOR us and the process will be a little different. I think the process will feel better. I think we’ll know – somehow. It won’t feel forced or rushed. Plus, we keep learning more about what we are willing and NOT willing to take or settle for. We’ve definitely learned a lot more from our new realtor about the LA real estate market. Now, we are deciding what is important to us. Our new realtor keeps stressing the importance of good schools. On principle, I agree. Good schools mean good resale. However, if almost all of LA has crappy schools (with the exception of a few pockets here and there), then people are buying houses in areas with not so great schools and the houses are appreciating. In fact, the houses are appreciating higher than the national average. So, then you have to think, how important are the schools??

So many things to consider – location (location! Location! Location!), square footage, good schools, price (which translates into our mortgage payment), and then our goals. We’re getting there. I just wish that we’d already found our house.

The negotiations have begun

We finally heard something. The owners of the house came back with a counter-offer only $7k less than their asking price. It’s like they don’t care about selling the house. So, now we are going to send another counter-offer to them which is $15k less than their last price. Ooh, the war is heating up. I now wonder what is going to happen. They are playing ball BUT we are on the offensive. They are the one with this house to unload. We like it but at what price?!

Still Waiting

I just got a call from our realtor. No news yet! Ugh! She called the listing agent on the place, and was told that she is meeting with one of the owners this afternoon. So, we should know something later today. I really feel like our lives are on-hold. We are waiting on pins and needles to hear something. This is a good sign. They didn’t refuse our offer outright. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get the house at the price we want or negotiate something that works for all of us involved. Still waiting…

Isn't our home beautiful!

Here is the picture of the new house!! Isn't it beautiful! I'm claiming this home as our own.

We’ve found another house

Although I’ve been trying to post daily, the recent house hunting has just exhausted me. We thought we were going to get this house in Redondo Beach. (We put in an offer and then rescinded it before it was accepted.) It was beautiful. It had all of the “upgrades” that you would want in a house and more. It had an amazing back yard with a built in BBQ grill with stereo sound and a hot tub with stereo. Oh, the backyard also had a fire pit. Can you say – fabulous!!! But we decided to be more sensible and conservative with our dollars. We didn’t want to feel over-extended or fall into the “middle class trap” where both salaries are needed to survive. The house was really nice and located in a “beach” town. If you say beach here in Cali, for some reason it means something and that something is mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money! The beach is the most desirable area here. Another reason why we didn’t go with it is because I realized that it was a bit too far from things in LA that matter to us – namely, USC, my future grad school. I don’t want going to school to become a hassle.

However, we’ve found a new home. This is actually a house we found the same weekend that we saw the one in Redondo Beach. And we loved the house a lot. But we were wooed by the whole backyard and lost our minds (momentarily). The new house is located in a wonderful and ritzy community called Del Aire in Hawthorne, California. Although we don’t have any kids yet, this house is in a fantastic, award-winning school district which means no private schooling for children (if for some reason we are in this house that long) and greater re-sale. YAAY! It is just in a really nice neighborhood. We found out from our new realtor (who is a breath of fresh air and fantastic) that people really try to get into this particular area of Hawthorne which is only a couple of blocks. The house is also located near Manhattan Beach and El Segundo which has a lot of cute shops and restaurants. Anyway, the house is a lot bigger than the other ones that we’ve looked at and it offers us a “master’s suite” complete with our own separate bathroom and a walk-in closet that is big enough to be a room. Our bathroom is the Bomb because it has a Jacuzzi tub that my hubby and I can fit in (we’re tall so this counts). Plus, our bedroom is big enough to put a sitting area in it. We’re pretty excited about this house. This house looks like the “picture-perfect” house in the “picture-perfect” neighborhood. (Can you tell we're excited!) And guess what, it’s more affordable.

We made an offer on the house on Saturday and were hoping to hear an answer yesterday. Apparently, the people that own it are investors (we’re guessing) and jet-setters. One of the ladies is currently in Chile!! We’re hoping that she checks her email today and lets the other owner know her thoughts on our offer. We’re keeping our fingers crossed because we bid a fair but lower number than what they are asking for. And we are willing to negotiate so we’re expecting this week to be really interesting. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We are praying, chanting, and thinking good thoughts – please do so too!!! We’ll keep you posted.