On Owning a Home

It is incredible, incredible, incredible! I feel exhilarated every time I drive into the driveway and walk up my steps. It’s Mine! For many people who have owned a home, it’s no big deal. But for me, this is something I have wanted for years. It feels so good to be here!

The house is in really good condition. The former owners left me a folder of meticulously kept records that I mentioned before. More than $40,000 was put into the home in the last year. A new kitchen, central air conditioning, a jacuzzi bath tub, the bricks were pointed on the front and back of the building and the backyard was done (pavers & landscaping). I had fun playing with the automatic ice maker in the fridge and the car door opener.

This past weekend, I saw the talents of many of my friends grace my home. I have friends who are licensed electricians, plumbers and decorators come and help get us ready to move in. It was great to meet so many of my neighbors who came and welcomed us to the neighborhood. I may not have been given a family like everyone else’s, but having great friends who willingly help and just offer their time feels great.

My soul is completely filled with joy. I am grateful for God’s Grace. Each time I find something special about the house that I didn’t see during the walk throughs, I stop and smile because I realize how fortunate I am. (Note: If you are a new reader to my blog, I saw almost 70  houses and lost bids on many homes).  After seeing what shape the home was in, my friend smiled and said “what do you do to get a house like this?”  My answer, “I prayed.”

Topics: buying a house in Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

Death in Life

For the past few days, I’ve  found myself crying at the new house. I’m a bit overwhelmed by it all. If you know me, you know this is all I’ve ever wanted for YEARS. And now actually having it is amazing, but also overwhelmind. It’s an incredible house and it only needs paint because the former owner did so much work on the place.

On Friday afternoon, I cried on the deck because the owners left me a folder with receipts and warranties. The appliances are all new and were barely used. A jaccuzzi bathtub, central air conditioning, kitchen cabinets & appliances and the backyard landscaping were all done last year or the year before.  This house was full of another woman’s dreams. I’m so grateful to have her beautiful home. Of course, her meticulous record keeping makes me smile too.

Today, I was at the house alone. I sat on the floor of the master bedroom. Cool air streamed from the air conditioner.  I looked across the room and examined the closet doors and the pretty door handles. My eyes scanned the room and then I got up and walked into the other rooms. Three gorgeous ceiling fans, shiny wood floors and more pretty doors and handles. My eyes flooded with tears. The thought that this home was someone else’s dream filled my mind again. She had such good taste.  If we had met and known each other, I think we would have been friends or maybe she would have been someone I saw as a mentor.

Each morning I’ve opened the front door of the house, I feel my soul leaping forward because I am so excited to be there. Fresh paint fills the air and I’m greeted by the new muted tones on the walls. Eveything is still undone, but I can see the magic in the house. The house is filled with another woman’s dreams and memories, but there’s room for mine there too.

I’m amazed by the house, the former owner, God, His Grace and how even in death there is life.

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I’m a Home Owner!

It was an amazing weekend. We closed on the house on Thursday and then painted on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Yesterday, we brought things over to the house and went shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond. After some coffee this morning, we are heading over to do some more painting. I’m thankful for God’s grace.

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

It’s Thursday & the house is mine!

It’s Thursday morning and by the end of this day I will be a home owner in Bay Ridge.

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | No Comments »

Three Bklyn Kids are Dead

Three children in Brooklyn are dead  from falling out windows. None of them live in the affluent neighborhoods of Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill or Bay Ridge, but rather poorer sections of the borough. One year old Afnan Elhouize is dead and her death could have been prevented. Two other Brooklyn kids died this month the same way: Devin Joseph, age 2 died on August 11th and Marcus Oliver, age 1.5

Hearing the words “another child is dead” STINGS. And I hope it stings a lot more people that something is done.

Windows guards are $19 each. Even I bought enough for a building, there’s little chance that they would be installed. And installation of these window guards isn’t a simple thing that a Mom who wasn’t handy with tools could do by herself.

Looking up the legislation on safety rails, it’s clear that there is an easy way for home owners to avoid installing them. Simple paperwork can release a home owner from installing the guards, as well as sign over a child’s life.  Politicians are reading the same papers and hearing the same news that I hear. Will one of them take action this week?

Recently, I responded to a comment in my blog that I expect local politicians to use their campaign money to buy safety gates. I didn’t think it was too far fetched.  Many areas have given free smoke alarms to citizens to help reduce deaths in their community. A commenter to my blog said, he wanted to know why that money couldn’t be used for garbage cans in his affluent Brooklyn neighborhood.  Are we so out-of-touch that children’s safety can be compared to garbage cans? Or has Brooklyn become an area that the poor don’t matter to those who are well-off? I’m hoping that the comment was made without thinking.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do..Johann von Goethe 

Topics: Brooklyn | 7 Comments »

Bustin’ Out in Brooklyn

There’s always so much happening around Brooklyn so for this weeks Bustin’ Out in Brooklyn, I’m linking to anything that made me chuckle or was insightful from the borough:

Brooklyn Kayak Club (via Brooklyn Vinny)

Free Kayaking for kids under 18 and their parents at Brooklyn Bridge Park (via NYT)

Brooklyn Library Restricts Access to a Book

Bacon Beer at the Brooklyn Brewery (via Gothamist)

Funny Sign over Missing Bike (via Brownstoner)

New Pics of Coney Island (via Brooklyn Limestoner)

Michael Jackson Birthday Block Party at Fort Greene Park August 29th (via The Examiner)

Bjork & Matthew Barney move to Brooklyn (via NBC)

 Stop by next Friday for more Bustin’ Out in Our Borough, Brooklyn!

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Closing Time

We’re closing on our house in Bay Ridge next week. I can’t explain how elated I feel. When I tell people that it is my life’s dream to own a home in Bay Ridge, they look at me strangely. Most people don’t think of home ownership as a big goal in life. Most Brooklynites left Brooklyn to live in Staten Island or NJ because of the rising costs of homes. Yet, we saved our pennies and the economy lull helped us in realizing our goal of home ownership in Brooklyn!

My great grandmother emigrated to Brooklyn and later purchased property in Long Island. She didn’t want to give her husband’s money to a Brooklyn landlord each month. My grandmother purchased a 2 family home in Brooklyn. On the day she was to close on the house, her husband (my grandfather) decided he didn’t want to sign the paperwork. She signed alone. My parents purchased property in Long Island and kept my grandmother’s home here in Brooklyn.

Growing up in Brooklyn was amazing. My old neighborhood is not the same, but Bay Ridge is still beautiful and the people in that area still remember how sweet it is to live in Brooklyn.

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | 4 Comments »

Response to Adam about women in tech speaking at conferences

In every area, there are men and women who are qualified and deserve positions and recognition.

Yet positions, recognition and even conference speaking invitations are given by those in charge. I’ve had a series of fortunate events and I’ve been hired and promoted by people who knew me or knew my work. Many people haven’t had my luck and that is a problem that exists in our society. I’m taking the time tonight to tell you why you need to change your attitude about this topic.

CORA!

I was surprised to see you were the father of a baby girl.

My father understood in the 70’s his role of being a Dad to a girl. He bought me legos and erector sets so that I could build. I had dolls, but I had “boys toys” because he knew that I would go to school with boys and need to be able to compete with them. My father is a feminist because he watched women get stepped on and overlooked for positions at his company. He was an actuary and he made sure that women who were interested in the area prepared for tests and got positions in the company. He knew back then what I would be facing in a man’s world.

Adam, so you know what it is like to be a minority. I do too. I sat in computer conferences 10 years ago and was one of three women in a room full of about 150 white and Asian men. Again, I’m lucky because I was the free spirit and I didn’t realize what the statistics back then. I just thought “wow this is cool, they love computers as much as I do.”

Now, when I am not being a fantastic tech teacher to some talented middle schoolers, I work for a company that let’s me hire the people who work on my team. Men and women are needed to work together in my opinion because we think differently and as a result make a great team. To overlook that aspect, would say that we don’t have a good understanding of society. Conferences that leave out women as speakers is uncalled for in our day. There are just as many qualified women as there are men. Anyone who doesn’t believe that they can be replaced by someone is naive.

Finally, tonight I realized that women have so far to go. Not because we aren’t THERE, but because there are people who aren’t THERE with us. I will accept every single speaking opportunity that is sent my way as a result of your words tonight. May my students, nieces, your daughter and my future children never know that we lived in such a backward society.

Props to my Dad, my professors,  L. Anis and all the men who I have worked for and with over the years. I have always felt supported and acknowledged as a professional and equal.

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Recommend: Roccos Roofing – Brooklyn Roofer

I recently had the pleasure of hiring a fantastic roofer in Brooklyn for our new Bay Ridge home.The bank that we are getting our mortgage from required that we get a roof inspection.   I wanted to get the inpection done fast so that we could get our mortgage processed. I looked online for a recommendation from Brooklynites and I found out about Anthony Rocco. I called Rocco Roofing and got the answering service. The answering service was very polite and Anthony returned my call right away.  I explained thatI needed a roof inspection. We set up an appointment and the next day I was able to text him – Love that! How many people can say that they can text their roofer? Not many!

On Saturday morning, Anthony Rocco came out to my new house (thank you to Ed Davis from Remax for spending his summer Saturday morning with us). He inspected the roof and cleaned the drain for us too! Anthony even knew which company put down the roof – not because it had their name on it, but because he’s an experienced roofer. Rocco’s roofing fees were reasonable as well. Anthony’s secretary was super sweet too and she was able to fax me a roof report fast!

My friend is having Anthony visit his Downtown Brooklyn house because he wants to put a rubber roof on his home.If you are looking for a roofer  in Brooklyn, I highly recommend Roccos Roofing.  814 64th Street Brooklyn, NY 11220  Phone: 718-745-6718 Toll Free: 800-745-5134 Fax: 718-765-0960

Website: http://www.roccosroofing.com   

Topics: buying a house in Brooklyn | 3 Comments »

Open note to Laura Ling & Euna Lee

Dear Laura Ling & Euna Lee,Americans stared at their television screens to capture the Hollywood ending to your store. Two American journalists captured by the evil North Korea. Thankfully, Bill Clinton, the knight in shining armour flew in to save you.  And the world cheers to see Euna reunited with her daughter.

C’mon ladies. Let’s get to the real story. You both work for Current TV which is owned by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt. Is the story coming together for everyone yet? Euna Lee was an editor for Current TV and Laura Ling a reporter. They were trespassing in an area they weren’t suppose to be, just like US paparazzi hunting and trying to get “the story.” These women were not traveling for pleasure or they would have had their family with them. (Edit: The women went to do a human traficking story. This is not hot news, we already seen this story done). I can’t believe Current would put their employees at such a risk. Someone’s either very naive or just doesn’t have good judgement.

Here’s where the real cincher is for me: These college educated women allowed their careers and bosses to over rule their common sense. Laura Ling’s sister, Lisa, a reporter for National Geographic travelled and taped in North Korea. Lisa Ling experienced North Korea’s harsh rules under Kim Jong-il’s totalitarian rule. In America, we like to think we are the good guys and North Korea is bad.  Here in the US, when someone trespasses or better yet, they are illegal aliens here, they are put in prison and deported.Laura Ling professed that she was a prisoner in Korea and that she was happy to be home. Good we’re glad you are home. Yet,  the actions of these two women was wrong and North Korea reacted. As far as I see, there is no story here as two college educated women should have known better than to test the boundaries of another country.

Bill Clinton is the only hero in this story. He used his charm and intelligence to retrieve these two Americans. I realize that much more went on behind clothes doors than we realize. (Edit: More than a week later, the real story was not reported anywhere.

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Small things….signs

We are out in sunny Hampton Bays this weekend. It’s a fairly easy two hour ride on two highways from Brooklyn.  On the way there, Karen was driving and I put on the GPS unit in case I fell asleep. Sure enough I fell asleep and Karen says that the GPS unit went crazy and brought her off the main road. I woke up while she was making her way back to the highway. After she told me the story, I told her that sometimes we are stalled or held up to avoid something and it was probably a good thing. After we got back on the highway, we drove about seven minutes and saw an accident.Accident overted – praise God.

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Twitter is Spammer’s Delight

I love Twitter. It’s a fast and easy way to communicate with a lot of people. I’ve enjoyed watching Twitter develop and I enjoy watching the dynamics of life repeat themselves online.

First, Twitter is a Spammer’s Delight. About 90% of the people who use Twitter have a business and are using twitter as a way to communicate with the 25 – 50 year old crowd. Some are big business owners and others are small etsy shops. Regardless of size, they create spam in their tweets because they need to sell their product or service.

There are three types of Spammers on Twitter.

The first type of spammer is the most obvious where someone links to their business blog or shop. I really don’t mind the advertising though if they are people who have talked about life topics, rather than just sending out links to their website.  I *do* mind if they are just sending links to ebooks that they didn’t write, solar panel kits that don’t work or “make money online schemes.” 

The second type of spam is the sneaky spam. Today, someone asked if they could interview me. I’m asked this at least twice a week on a Twitter. Usually, I ignore it, but today I wanted to know why someone not in my field would want to interview me. So I sent her a direct message and she wrote some nonsense back about wanting to find out more about people. That kind of spam is a bit more annoying and makes you want to go through your friends list and throw that type of user off of it.

The last type of spam on Twitter is the most annoying. It’s when someone makes many accounts and uses pictures of scantily clad ladies as the avatar. That spam is and will always be the most annoying because people are tired of the old porn spam. Come up with a new plan, spammers.

 Anyway, if you are interested in spamming me, you can find me here on Twitter.

Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »