More Info About Haiti Dontations, And Looking For A House: A Nevin Barich Blog Experience

Before I go into this week's blog, I want to write a little bit more about those who are providing aid to the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake that killed at least more than 111,000 people.

My friend Korina is the founder and CEO of Humanitarian Travels International, an organization that provides people with the opportunity to travel to areas in need and assist in philanthropic expeditions. HTI has partnered with members of Airline Ambassadors International (www.airlineamb.org) to deliver shipments of relief aid to Haiti. Airline Ambassadors has done a great job of getting planes donated from American Airlines and other major airlines that will be used to transport shipments.

HTI will be taking an emergency team within the next couple of months to continue the flow of needed supplies. If you have access to any of the following items and can donate them to the people of Haiti, please e-mail Korina at ksmith@humanitariantravels.org:

Medical Supplies
- crutches of all sizes
- rubber gloves
- medicine (neosporin, hydrogine peroxide)
- anti biotics- PRIORITY
- emergency kits
- bandages
- aspirin and tylenol, pain medications

Hygiene Supplies
- baby wipes
- soap
- wash clothes
- toothbrushes/paste
- feminine hygiene supplies
- mosquito nets

Food
- pre-packaged items (light and easy to transport, not canned)
- granola bars, high energy biscuits
- water bottle filters
- water purification tablets
- powedered milk, formula
- rice and beans

Clothing and Bedding materials
- shoes/flip flops only, no other clothing supplies for now.
- sheets
- yoga mats

Thanks everyone. :-)

And now onto this week's blog:

Earlier this week, My wife Ramona and I began the process of looking for a house.

Now when I say "begun the process", I place great emphasis on the word "begun." Essentially, we spoke to a family friend who is a realtor (who gave us some amazing advice and put us in touch with some great people). We've looked at a couple of listings online and are starting to put together the stuff necessary for loan pre-approval, but that's it.

And already craziness has begun.

Here are three things that have taken over my life since "House Hunting 2010" began (and bear in mind again that it really has just begun. I mean, we're talking "first shovel of dirt toward digging a grave" beginning here:

1) Ramona has now deemed our apartment too small.

Prior to the word "house" being uttered, this was never a real issue. Our apartment isn't huge by any stretch -- one bedroom, one bathroom, 850 square feet -- but it's not a box, either. But now that we've begun trying to dig up old tax returns to get a home loan, I've heard the following statements from my lovely recent bride:

I WANT ANOTHER BATHROOM!!!

THERE'S NO ROOM IN THIS KITCHEN TO COOK!!!

THERE'S NO SPACE FOR OUR WEDDING GIFTS!!!

WE HAVE NO ROOM FOR GUESTS TO STAY OVER!!!

I WANT A HOUSE!!!!!!!!

Men everywhere feel my pain.

2) Everyone who bought a house has a horror story.

I cannot begin to tell you how many people have told me how horrible the journey I'm starting will be. Everyone who has bought a house, apparently, has gone through absolute misery. Bad realtors, bank shenanigans, escrow falling through, crazy closing costs. You'd have thought these people had come back from war, these stories are so depressing.

And that leads me to:

3) Everyone says their realtor is the best.

This is what I don't understand: If your house-buying experience was so terrible, why the hell do you want to put me in touch with the person who put you through hell in the first place? Is it a "misery loves company" thing? I mean, everyone wants me to use their realtor. It's like I'm single again and everyone's trying to set me up with different women.

Tell you what: Let's play a game entitled: "Realtor and Woman." The object: Take the following statements that have the word "woman" in it and replace it in your mind with "realtor."

Nev, I've got the perfect woman for you!!

Nev, I want to set you up with this woman. She's really nice, sweet and honest.

Nev, this woman is very genuine and really cares about what you want and think.

At this point, I half-feel like I should find a realtor by looking at the personal ads.

But in the end, I know it will all be worth it. We'll eventually have a house, which means we'll have grass, which means we'll have pets, which means we'll have room for kids, which means the rest of my life will be devoted to lawn mowing, dogs, and doing my best to not screw up the lives of my young ones.

In short: My life is over.

But we're just at the beginning of the "my life is over" stage.

:-)

And now for this week's:

SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Read this about Heidi Montag, and when you're finished, I want you to know something:

If you thought to yourself, "Damn it I wish she had just died," it's OK.

You're not alone.

:-)