Toby and I are about to join the ranks of home-owners in America! We started the process last month by meeting with a mortgage lender (Coulombe and Evered) to get our pre-approval letter. We've managed to save a hefty down payment by managing an apartment building for the past 5 years and being able to save our monthly rent. Next week, we're supposed to get our approval letter in hand and then we start some serious house hunting. We're looking just about anywhere north of the ship canal bridge and south of 145th St, but really, we're open to anything... including Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.
In other news, after 13 years with the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band, I joined the Grade 2 New Westminster Police Pipe Band, formerly the Maple Ridge Pipe Band. It was a difficult decision to make, but ultimately, I needed to be in a band whose politics didn't affect me closely. Some friendships were lost in this move, but the ones that were worth keeping remain - for which I am entirely grateful. The picture on the left is my new tartan - the Ancient Weathered MacPherson. It's rather pretty, imho. :) My first competition with the band will be July 11th, at the Skagit Valley Highland Games in Mt. Vernon, WA. A couple more competitions and we're off to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in August!
