Tough Decisions

In a couple of my previous posts I mentioned that I was the Director of Communication of the Benefactor Foundation, an up and coming non profit whose aim was to provide a scholarship to a high school student to any college he or she wanted to attend.  In another post, I mentioned some discrimination that I faced.  To bring it all together, I will now tell you that those two events are connected.

I have always stood up for myself and what I feel is the "right" thing to do.  This goes back to how I felt growing up, not really knowing my place as an adoptee.  I went through some tough times in my adolescence and I have become a much stronger person because of it.  I have learned that I have to make sure that I have confidence in conviction in all that I do.

So, you all know that I contacted the appropriate authorities regarding the discrimination I faced.  Well, apparently the actions that I took were unacceptable to the non profit that I was a part of.  The CEOs of the Benefactor Foundation believed that I should not have gone to the higher ups to explain what I had been through.  They felt that I should have handled it through them (even though, the discrimination wasn't attached to the group.)

I was forced to explain and defend my choice for an hour and a half in open forum, which I openly disagreed with. I told the group what happened and also explained to them that if they had any specific questions for me that they could ask me privately and I would be happy to answer anything they would like.  That wasn't acceptable.

I also offered to retract my statement to the authorities if the Benefactor Foundation would write up a code of conduct clause and have each member sign it in acceptance.  That wasn't an option for them. (This was a major red flag to me.)  

The meeting ended and about an hour later I received an email that said:

"The Benefactor Foundation as a group has made the decision to review your status as an officer and a member.  The board members will put this decision to a vote one week from today's date February 3rd, 2012.  Should a two-third majority be recognized you will be asked to step down from your position and the group."

Wow.  I was in shock!  I couldn't believe that a group that was about "helping people in need" would take discrimination so lightly.  I was appalled that a non-profit organization that was brought to life through a Graduate School program that is so specifically against discrimination would attempt to vote me out of my position.  I have worked with non-profit organizations since I was 12 years old.  Over half my life.  This is NOT how they should have reacted.

So I made the decision to leave the group.  I in no way want to be associated with a group that would, so it seems, push such a serious issue to the side.  It was a tough decision, but I had to stand up for myself.  I had to step away from a great idea in order to stay true to my morals and beliefs.  

To be honest, I feel so much better now.  

Always remember this.

Everything Happens for a Reason

About a month ago I posted about a house that I lost at the last minute.  Now, finally, I am able to post about the house that I did end up finding and purchasing.

I was looking mostly at short sales and foreclosures because, frankly, at 25 years old, that's what I could afford. There was a listing for a really cool looking short sale in Ladera Ranch that I wanted to go look at.  We called the agent associated with the home and met him the following weekend.  He did some research and found a couple more town-homes in the area for us to look at.

That day, we saw four condos and town homes.  Three of them were one bedrooms, one was a two bedroom.

I was determined to find a home that day.  Little did I know, I would.

When we arrived on Valmont Way, we were actually supposed to look at a split level one bedroom with an attached garage.  Unfortunately, the homeowner was still home, so we went to look at another property first to give her time to get organized and ready for us to come see her property.

My agent warned us that the condo we were looking at instead of the split level was a standard sale, but that it was within our budget, so we should look at it anyway.

I fell in love.

It two level town -home backing up to a nature preserve and hiking trails.  Two master bedrooms and three bathrooms.  Bedroom level laundry.  Dining room.  Patio.  Two-car garage.  The best part, though, is that this house was an investment property, so everything was new!  New carpet, paint, bathroom fixtures, the list goes on.  I wouldn't have to do anything but buy a fridge.

We made our offer that night.  We offered $100.00 more than the asking price to make it a round number and to show the seller that we were interested.  Several other offers were made, but the next day we got a call and our offer was accepted!  I did everything in my power not to get my hopes up like the first time. 

We chose a new lender (Prime Lending - if you're looking to purchase, I would suggest working with them.  It was a great experience!)

I'm finally all moved in, organized, and settled.  I'm still waiting for my coffee table, which has been on back order for two months.  Other than that, everything is amazing.

Now that I've officially posted about my home, I can start putting updates up that I have been wanting to, but couldn't since I hadn't make it "blog-official" yet.

Puppy Love

My Aunt Sharyl said it best last night: "they give so much and ask for so little." It's true.  All a dog ever wants is to be pet, scratched, fed, played with, tickled, walked, and cuddled.  They have little concept of time, so every experience of you entering the house after school or work is an excitement for them.  They love unconditionally.

Jake: 1999-2012

Nicky Sue 1993-2009

In the last three years I have lost my two childhood dogs.  When I was seven I got my first dog: Nicky Sue.  She was a coyote mix that we bought from a pure-bred Cockapoo breeder (we totally got had! But, I loved that dog so she's the one we bought).  I tormented and chased her all around the house and the back yard until she just layed down and tried to ignore me so I would stop.  She was my true first dog.  I even wrote a song about her when I was about 9:

Puppy Pest

My puuuuuppy is a peeeeeest

she ate my mother's vest

She swallowed up my brother's guitar

and now she is a biiiiiiiig retard 

(I guess I couldn't think of something to rhyme with guitar.)

She can be very nice

She likes to eat rice

Staring at birds makes her eat the ferns

Oh what will I do with such a puppy pest?

Once Nicky Sue outgrew her puppy pest-ness, my mom fell in love with pugs.  So, when I was 12, we went to a pure-bred pug breeder and Jake was the last one of the litter who hadn't been given a new home.  We picked him up, brought him home, I don't even think we told my dad we bought a dog until we got him in the house.

Jake always had health problems, as most pugs do.  He had cataracts, an extremely upturned nose, and he never really did figure out where his back legs were.  But that was part of his charm.  He would just kinda wander around following my mom wherever she went, lay on our feet when we were watching TV in the living room, and when it was time for a walk he would hide from us.

Jake's health had been declining pretty severely in the last couple of months and last night at about 4:30 I got a call from my mom to meet her at the Animal Hospital after work because she didn't want to be there alone.  

By 6:00, Jake was gone.  He is probably with Nicky Sue right now.  He can finally see again.  His arthritis is gone.  He can breathe easily.  Who knows, maybe he even found his back legs?  

Part of growing up is realizing that your puppy has grown up and is now a doggie elder.  Growing up means having to make the decision to end suffering. Growing up is being there for your mom when she needs a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on.

Rest in Peace Jake.  You were a good dog.