The MadAnthony Update...

Just thought I'd update my faithful readers (both of them) on what's going on about things I've blogged about in the past with my personal life.

the overtime: - still have it, but don't know how long. I was told last month that there would be no scheduled overtime after April 1. Well, today is April 1, and I'm working. So I'm sure that it will end at some point, but I think I probably have a little more time. Which is good, because I could really use the money for...

house hunting: - Haven't started looking yet. I'm attending a housing seminar to get the certificate I need for the More Home 4 Less program that the state of Maryland sponsors. It's a sweet deal - lower interest rate, plus at least $5000 in closing cost loans that aren't due until the mortgage is paid off or the house is sold - and it might be enough to let me be able to swing this whole home-buying thing, as long as the market doesn't change and I set my sights a little lower. Maybe I'll even have enough left to buy...

a new car: yet another thing I've been putting off but need to act on soon. I'm realizing more and more how much money I've dumped into the PT, and I'm convinced that it will only cost me more in the future. As much as I dread the idea of having a car payment or having to go car-shopping, I would rather spend $250 a month in car payments I know I'm going to have than spend $1000 unexpectedly every couple months , plus be without a car. I was thinking for a while of just buying the cheapest new car I could find - probably a scion xb - but now I'm thinking it might be worth spending the money to get something I want, either a small 4wd pickup or a small SUV. But I can't justify buying a new car until I live somewhere where I don't park on the street, and I can't move until I find a house, which I'll probably start looking for after...

Easter - I get a 4 day vacation from work, plus I'm taking two vacation days. Will drive up to NJ to visit the family and eat ham. Will be nice to get away from...

work - although I finally officially got the job I've been doing for the last 3 months. In January, one of our desktop support guys changed jobs, and I started filling in for him, but it took about 3 months for them to finally get the job description, go through the hiring process, and hire me. It's finally done, and as of Monday I am an "office and classroom automation specialist" instead of a "helpdesk specialist". Slight increase in pay, but more importantly, not chained to a phone anymore.