Got a big, flaming haircut this morning (remember Blu?) and... er... goodbye long hair. Actually, it's a little upsetting because I gave pretty specific instructions on the matter.

"Wow... that's a lot shorter. I, uh... didn't think I was going that short."

"Yeah, I know that's what you said, but when I started cutting I realized that you would look better this way, so I just kind of kept cutting. What do you think?"

I think I look like a Long Beach lesbian with a goatee. Ugh. Well, I guess that's life. If there's one thing that's temporary, it's hair. Carey hasn't gotten home yet, so the Boss hasn't had the chance to weigh in on the matter. I hope my sister doesn't mind having a dude in her wedding party that looks like a dyke.

posted by Jeremy Bear 1:26 PM

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Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Another conversation between the wife and I last night:

CAREY: Hey, Jer. Did you hear about this new Pirate movie that just came out?

JER: Yeah...?

CAREY: It's rated "Arrrrrr!"

How can you not love this woman?

posted by Jeremy Bear 5:50 PM

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We're getting down to the wire, here.

Our Escrow was scheduled to close tomorrow, but Keston assures us that it'll be late. Our loan documents have been ordered and we'll probably be signing them on Friday. Typically, we can close Escrow about 3 business days later after signing the loan stuff (as long as we can cover the closing costs... just checked the old bank account and, phew, we do have enough in our account to make that happen. Hooray!).

So, we need to be out of our own place by the 17th (which should be plenty of time). We'll probably sign the loan stuff on Friday, verify it all on Monday, leave for Ohio on Tuesday, get back the following Tuesday (by which time our Escrow should be finished), and have 4 days to spare to move into our new home.

Yeah, it does seem tight.

Speaking of home-owning, I got a chance to see the new/in-process/future homes of my Dad, sister Erin, and Mom (respectively) over the weekend. Dad's place: what can I say? It's a friggin' mansion. Although he might not appreciate my saying so here... the guy has done very well for himself. I will never live in a place this astonishingly extravagant. Huge house, huge rooms, huge finished basement, 3 car garage, 5 bathrooms, every amenity one could imagine, beautiful property... gulp. And, as soon as Pat's kids are off to college, this'll all be for two people. The insurance business pays, ladies and gentlemen, and if you don't believe me, visit Wadsworth, Ohio.

Erin's place was similarly amazing. "Greg [husband] wants us to look like we have more money than we actually have," she told me. Job well done, Greg, because this is one luxurious estate... I'm not acquainted with too many 25-yr-old couples that are able to build their own 4 bedroom place with a studio loft. Have to hand it to my little sis... this is some setup.

As for Mom's... well, at the moment it's just a very large hole in the earth. Nice neighborhood, though, and if the houses in the surrounding area are any indication, this will be one sweet pad. Until that time, she and her husband will be moving into an apartment with a six month lease.

And my other sister Lauren's new home looks to be pretty spectacular also (from the photos I've seen anyhow).

How did my family wind up so successful? Sheesh! And I thought we were doing well for settling down with a little 2-bed, 2-bath in Long Beach.
...

So, Dad's in Hawaii right now with his new bride. He gave me a quick call yesterday to report that he's having the time of his life. Since this is his third time in the Aloha State, he fairly well knows it like the back of his hand and he's taking great pleasure in showing Pat around. Nothing like a 10-day honeymoon to start things off with fireworks.
...

And, in other news, I'm falling behind on some deadlines. Unfortunately, work doesn't worry about my vacation/Escrow situation, so it's time to kick things into high gear.

But has anyone noticed how well I've been doing with Blogging lately? Aren't you proud? Well?

posted by Jeremy Bear 2:46 PM

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Monday, July 28, 2003

And home.

The flights were an interesting experience. A thunderstorm caused my Akron-to-Atlanta flight to delay about a 1/2 hour (which made me nervous... my Atlanta-to-LA connect was only supposed to have a 50 minute layover... all worked out in the end, though). After what's easily the most thourough security check I've ever experienced (I nearly told the guy with the metal detecting wand that if we wanted to go THAT far he should at least buy me a drink or two... when it was all over, I muttered a half-complaint and the security person said, "yeah, but admit it: you feel a lot safer." Phht! Uh-huh, thanks for the safety. Shawshank-Prison-style security I can do without, sweetheart), I boarded the plane.

Next to me sat a teenage guy with all manner of piercings. He spent most of the flight poring over his issue of Maxim, particularly the Anna Kournikova pin-ups. His girlfriend beside him didn't seem to mind, though. With about 30 minutes left in the journey, he turned and asked me the question that no airline passenger should ever have to hear: "Say, you don't mind if I dip, do ya?"

Got off the plane, bolted to the next concourse to board the plane to LA. I was seated in the very back row, but, as luck would have it, I had the whole row to myself (which was odd. The rest of the plane was jam-packed). I was able to stretch out a little and I even had room to operate the laptop and get some writing done (an impossibility on other flights). After a bit, a disgusted-looking chick saw me in my mini-apartment back there and eyed me jealously. "Do you care if I sit back here instead?"

I told her it was fine, but it was easy to see that she was trying to let me know that she didn't want to be hit on. She was very attractive, so I understand her trepidation, but... you know, it's one of those weird social situations where I wish I could just be honest and put her fears to rest, but I can't do it without over-stepping some sort of relational boundary between airportangers... "Sure you can sit here and no, I won't try to hit on you. I can see that you're just a tired girl on her way to LA and the last thing in the world you want to deal with right now is some scraggly-haired guy's awkward advances. But, fear not, I'm happily married, so I'd never even consider such a thing. So, let's keep this cordial. No defensiveness required. If you want to take up two seats to take a nap, you're more than welcome and I won't take it as a sign that you're "interested." In turn, don't begrudge me using the tray in the seat between us so that I can use my laptop. Deal?"

Got to LA and... no Carey. I went to the baggage claim. No Carey. I got my bag and went to a payphone. No change. Found a payphone that accepted debit cards. Wouldn't scan properly. Tried calling her cell collect. "This phone will not accept collect calls." So I waited. No Carey.

Finally she showed up, but not before I'd grown tired and annoyed. As it turns out, she'd gotten lost on the way and couldn't find the AirTran baggage claim. Not her fault. Even though I wanted to strangle somebody at that point, it was good to see her. We were both terribly hungry, so we decided that Subway at midnight was a splendid idea.

And home. Hello, cats. Hello, bills. Hello, Escrow and work and unanswered emails & phone messages and responsibilities. Hello, So-Cal.

It's good to be back.

posted by Jeremy Bear 10:43 AM

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Sunday, July 27, 2003

Yesterday marked Carey's and my one year anniversary of arriving in Long Beach. (Has it already been a year?) I decided to celebrate this glorious occasion back in the Akron/Canton, Ohio area, visiting for Dad's wedding. I'm posting right now from Mom's computer.

The wedding was a quick, understated affair. Yes, it really all went to plan. I'd never really met Pat's family beyond a wink-and-handshake a couple years back, so that was interesting. "Er. Hi. So. Apparently, we're step-whatevers. I'm Jeremy." Gary Underwood, who officiated our own wedding, paid Dad the same courtesy. We like to keep everything simple, we Bears.

Dinner afterward at The Galaxy in Wadsworth, which was very delicious. Still didn't talk to much Pat's family, but I guess that's just the nature of the beast. Everyone sort of stuck to their side. They all seemed like pleasant enough people, but I think they thought I was a bit of a creepy character. Well, who can blame them? Have you seen me lately?

Spent the night at Mom's and sort of hung out with the family on Saturday. Celebrated Mom's birthday at the Outback Steakhouse with everyone. 12 oz. sirloins and some special birthday drinks for Mom. I won't say she was tipsy, but take two vodka & tonics and add one 95 lb. woman with 0% body fat. You can do the math for yourself. It was a pretty good time.

So, that takes us to today. Bit of panic as I was told about 2 hours before my flight that it was cancelled due to storms in Chicago. Several frustrated phone calls later, I'm now on a slightly later flight, connecting in Atlanta. Phew.

Hm. Atlanta. It's been awhile.

Anyhow, the flight leaves in about 1.5 hours, so I'll be out the door any second. Yeah, I usually meander a little more with these posts, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Besides, I miss my wife terribly and I want to make sure I'm not late.

So, that's it. Next stop Los Angeles (by way of Georgia). Be seeing you.

posted by Jeremy Bear 1:31 PM

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