LEE HAS A NEW HOME!

Today was one of the happiest days in my recent memory. I am now the proud owner of my very first home! With the help of my folks, I bought a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, Italian villa-style townhome in South San Jose. After a long, tedious 9-month search, discouraged at times by a continued shortage of housing and the absurdly overpriced homes here in Silicon Valley, I finally achieved what I had been looking for!

My father woke me up around 9am and, tired from a late night before, I pushed myself out of bed at 9:30am. A small urgency got me up and to the housing office just shy of 10am, when the offeringo of 10 new homes was to happen. The 10 homes were to be offered up via a lottery system (where you have to put your name and info into a box). Personally I hate this system and think it is unfair. Anyways, 15-20 something parties of people lay in wait, in the hopes of becoming the owners of new townhomes. I even bumped into my friend Melvon who lived nearby and was in the market for a new home. After signing papers, my family and I anxiously waited outside in the wintry, sunny morning air. Then, at 10:15, the lottery began. My fingers were crossed. My mom meditated, concentrating her energy on the sign in front of the housing office. As the slim, white female sales representative clad in a black business suit reached into the box, in my mind I mustered up all the positive mental forces I could, constantly saying to myself "Lee L, Lee L, Lee L". A second later the female voice called out "Lee L." Immediately a beaming smile burst from my face and a shout of delirious joy from my mouth! I was hilariously excited! We went into the housing office and then picked the home we wanted. One with a mountain-top view of the entire South San Jose valley!

I won't be able to move into the new townhome until next June, but that's okay. I get excited now just thinking about all the things I want to do to my very first home, from painted accent walls to hardwood floors to a makeshift dance studio in the garage. I'll get my own bedroom on the very first floor near the entrance for added privacy. As I hugged my mom I could hear her choke back a tear. And my dad was proudly elated (he believed I would've been better luck. Looks like he was right)! I'm so relieved now that my search has ended and I'll have a house to move into next summer. I won't have to rent anymore, and my first-time homebuyer experience, in spite of several discouraging snafus, has gone for the better. Oh, and of course, housewarming party.....big time.

Tonight went to a potluck party at Ben's in SF. Brought the brandy cherry pie I baked last night. Was pretty good, and I could taste the brandy liquor I had put into it. Also played some 2-high (cho-dai-dee in Chinese), playing for shots. I think I lost only 2 hands and had to down two shots of vodka as my penalty. I've found that I've been winning more since I learned on my last L.A. trip to be more aggressive at the game. I also announced the joyous news of my new home purchase, and the gang was happy for me. After dinner the gang and I headed to N Touch for some late night dancing.