Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Nearing it..

As the closing date to the new home approaches, mixed feelings emerge once again.

Past 5 months, we were in a temporary home. That holds true for everything about our life. More than half of our things boxed up in the basement, we were living with what is utmost necessary. When seasons changed, we went on the look out for winter clothes in suitcases. We realized that however good you label your boxes, it is not possible to quickly get to what you want.

About 2 weeks to move out of this apartment townhome, it does not still feel real. When the structure was being built, we would swing by every day to see what is new. Every little change was exciting and it was a ritual for our family to drive by every day. Once the structure outside was complete, then we started getting inside the home to look for any changes within. And then came a stage when we were locked out. We can only get in with the builder's help. It has been exciting so far.

This temp home was so convenient in one aspect - we had the school bus stop right outside the home. Never had it so close before. So when my 1st grader is ready, we get out of the home and wait for the bus.
We have fun conversations at that time. Once the bus comes, I wave bye to him and he blows me kisses.It is like we do not care how stupid we look to others and I have never done that with my older one even when he was small. Once my older one got on to the bus, I could never see where he was.  Also this is much different from my to-be teenager now who does not want to see me anywhere near the bus stop.

I think that is what I will miss most when we move out of this home. The memories of me waving bye to my younger one and him smiling to me eye to eye!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Change is good

Last week, we had the most exciting days. We sold our current home and moved to a rental place. All the foundation work for eventually moving to a new home in the near future.

After spring break, we put our townhome on sale. The one month and odd when our home was on sale - constant cleaning up, refraining from cooking inside, take-outs and eat-outs, yelling at kids to not mess up the house, getting out of own own home for others to walk through it any time - thank God that all ended when we got an offer. It seemed like a very long time though! We could not believe it that it ended since during our Open House we did not even have a potential buyer come in and the response that was so great in the first 2 weeks we put it on the market dwindled down very very soon. Just about when the hope was running low, we got an offer.

Then came the stages of inspection, mortgage appraisal from buyer's loaning company ..one step at a time. We were really afraid to tell anyone for sure since anything could go anyway. The date was fixed by the buyers to settle - it was the same day they were selling their home.

Now the challenge was to find a rental place which fits our future school district needs. We were looking at a new construction from time to time and working out our agreement with them. After a bit of struggle, we signed a lease with an apartment where our kids would go to the same schools when the new home is completed.

Last week was the big  move. Even after the movers took the bulk of everything, we were shocked to see how much more needs to moved to the new place. It was a marathon loading our cars and unloading stuff in the new place.

The settlement meeting went smooth. Now we slowly settling down in the rental place. I am even enjoying the rental place and unpacking boxes - I do curse when I hit a box on the way or can't find what I am looking for right away..it is all part  of the game!We embarked the journey now on making selections and finalizing options - will take some months to get our home. One step at a time...but the changes are really exciting.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Year That Was

So why was I procrastinating so much from writing? Finally I hope these thoughts will see day light.

The Year That Was - I am talking about the year I decided to quit my job and be home. When
I quit the job, I thought I will be home for 3 months. How that went to a whole year (and a couple of months) is a story.

Once I put Nithin into the half day Montessori, my life revolved around that schedule.
Memories:
  • Early morning walks in the Mall when no shops have been open yet. I would buy coffee and wait around to return something in a shop. Somedays I was to early in the Mall after dropping him that I had to sit in the car, kill time with iPhone until it opened.
  • Times when I always early for everything including the one time I was 1 hour early for a doctor appointment
  • Times when the radio station talks about traffic in the Turn Pike, I switched it off because I don;t bother about it anymore.
  • Times when the people I interacted most were automatically non-working moms.
  • Afternoons sitting on the king size bed with Nithin and reading to him
  • Evenings when I would look forward to work with Nikhil on Kumon or something - so I feel like we accomplished something together!
  • Days when I had the enthusiasm to cook and days when I hated it so much that I escaped it
  • Sundays when I felt and enjoyed the relief of not being compelled to go to work the next day
  • Days when my Google Calendar consisted of nothing other than kids' birthday parties
In an effort not to break the rhythm of Nithin's half day school, I did not feel like looking for a job. B had a 1 year timeframe in mind after which I should start looking for a job. Summer went by like a breeze with my parents' visit and with kids out of school.

September began with the worry of how Nithin will adjust to his schools - he was to continue the AM in his montessori and the PM in public school. I had worried about this all year, but other than the the first day's crying, he adjusted beautifully. I started getting bored at home - so automatically I started job-hunting - as per plan.

The next couple of months I went through the frustrations of
a job-hunter. I was back in the same state that I was after my layoff (2 years back). Trying to market my skills - except that this time I was looking for new role completely. I did not want to commute too far and did not want to travel for my work either These really narrowed down the options I had.

After some weeks of hope and despair alternating, I should say Thank God for that phone call.

Ek Pal Mein Zindagi Badal Gaya...

I heard the golden words - We want to make you an offer. My old work place. The product in which I had worked for 5 years before. A chance to start off officially as a product analyst. B will be my colleague once again. Commute = 5 min.

December went by knowing that I have a work place destined for the next year. Parties and holiday gatherings. Dressing up. Apprehensions and tension as usual about the future. How will it be?

More later on how life has changed after joining work.