Maybe, Just Maybe

I'll get that house afterall.

On Sunday night after several discussions with Husband, I decided to send an email to the builder's saleswoman. I took the "nice" approach and asked for another chance. I wanted to know if the one we wanted was still available. If not, was the smaller one? If not, when would the last phase of construction be released and offered for sale. She took it that I wanted her to send another offer to the builder. So she did. Today I received the response. The builder is willing to come down only $5,000 in the price...still. However, he has now agreed to give us $20,000 in closing costs/upgrades and 2 years of paid HOA which equals over $4,000. I think it is a good deal. The $20,000 should cover putting the hardwood floors on the entire first floor and a very nice upgraded carpet on the second floor and possibly upgrading all the appliances. I ran it by Husband who is traveling right now and he said he would think about it.

Please cross your fingers for me.

I'm Going To The Mall

...Of America that is!
Next weekend Husband and I will travel to Minneapolis to visit some friends. They are throwing a birthday bash for their twins who are celebrating their first birthday. I told Husband I wasn't going unless I could go see that mall. So see it I will. There will be a huge group of us going so I'm not sure I will even be able to shop. But still I can cross it off my "to do" list.

No Deal

Today I went to the builder's office and picked up our deposit/hold check. I was very sad about the whole thing. I just knew that house was going to be mine. I had it all planned out. We made our final offer last week. Yesterday, the builder made his final offer to us. They were only willing to drop the price by $5,000. Can you believe that? In this market? If it was any other area of this city we would totally understand. But that area doesn't have the greatest reputation. I was willing to give it a chance because it is undergoing revitalization. Husband, who was pissed enough that this negotiation process took more than 5 weeks from start to finish, was livid. We were more than qualified to buy that place too.
Over the weekend we looked at a couple different homes. We definitely liked both of them. We're waiting for the owners of both to wise up and drop their prices a bit. Then we will make offers.
I hate this process. What a pain in the ass. I would really love for it to be over.

The Omnivore's Hundred

Due to lack of content, I'm using this. Complete with my own comments for added excitement.

Borrowing from a borrower - isn't that the epitome of blogging?
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Italics any items that you would never consider eating.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea (I read this as Nestle tea the first time...not Nestle, but Nettle. hmmm)
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding (Since I'm half British, it is entirely possible that someone fed this to me..Ugh)
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi (Come to my house and I will cook this for you.)
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes (Strawberry wine)
19. Steamed pork buns (I have a strict no pork policy. Pigs are filthy, disgusting animals.)
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras (Another totally disgusting item on the list.)
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (San Francisco, baby!)
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut (I can't get past the smell.)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail (My mother used to make us eat oxtail soup..Ugh.)
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (I'm sure I've accidentally eaten whole insects in India. I'm suprisingly fine with it.
43. Phaal (I am certain I will try this someday)
44. Goat’s milk (Does cheese count here?)
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala (Again, come to my house and I will make this for you.)
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (Not a big fan though. I run on Dunkin.)
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer (I make this one too.)
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (Once upon a time, I did eat this.)
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads (This is in the HELL NO category.)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (All of them)
68. Haggis (OMG!)
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum (My favorite!)
82. Eggs Benedict (Minus the pork product, of course.)
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox (No lox for me.)
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Wow! I can't believe I have eaten almost half of the list!