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I've been holding off posting this entry for a while, mainly because I was still at the job, but now I want to let you all know - I'm moving back to DC.

The reason is simple - the law firm job in Richmond did not work out for me the way I had hoped. In all honesty, it was a mostly miserable experience for me (save for my co-workers), and I couldn't deal with it any more. I could go on and on and tell you about why I felt I had to leave, but I'd probably get sued for defamation or something. So, if you're interested in hearing the details, please feel free to email me or give me a call. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't have wished it on anyone. Even with a detailed explanation, most people don't understand the dynamics of that place. It's tough to explain, and I'm not sure even my fiancé believes it was as bad as I make it sound.

Luckily, my former employer, Georgetown University, has offered me my old position back with some added incentives. Unfortunately, it sort of feels like I'm returning with my tail between my legs, in some respects. When you leave a job, I don't think the intent is to go back if the job you left for doesn't work out. That being said, if there is one place I would go back to, it would have been Georgetown. I just hope things aren't incredibly akward with me returning there - I know I probably upset some people when I left, and I hope that doesn't effect things too much. I really can't afford any more mistakes, so let's hope it works out and isn't akward...

So, I've started the task of moving things back up to Arlington. I only signed a six month lease here in Richmond, which is good, but it still means I have the apartment through July. At least that gives me plenty of time to move, right?

If anything, being back up in Northern Virginia will allow me to help Martha with the wedding planning. Though I'm not sure exactly what still needs to be done, it is getting close. Very close. I hope that after the honeymoon, we'll be able to focus on getting things paid off, saving money, and maybe getting a nice condo in the area.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is an interesting story.

Martha and I have been talking a lot recently about the possibility of getting a house/condo/townhouse, which I'm sure comes as no suprise, since we are getting married in just over a month. The issue is the fact that there is a serious lack of affordable (by our standards) housing in the Washington, DC area.

The problem is the fact that a 600 square foot condo costs upwards of $300,000 - even in less desireable areas, or areas outside of the District proper. Why? I guess because there must be demand for it. We have been hearing a lot lately on the news that the mortgage industry is having difficulty, and that many people are defaulting on mortgages. I can only attribute that to a bloated housing market. Unfortunately, I don't forsee this decline in home values making any dent in the DC-area housing market any time soon.

It's unfortunate, but it seems like the DC area housing market is set now that you have few options. Either you are extremely rich so you can afford one of the million dollar homes (that are smaller than my parent's house in Michigan), or you are 'poor' so that you qualify for HUD assistance. Those of us who are in the middle seem to have little or no option when it comes to purchasing a house in that area. A $300,000 1-bedroom condo for a pair of 27 year-old newlyweds is insane. It's nothing more that a glorified apartment, but I still can't afford it. Of course, renting in this area isn't much better.

What it really comes down to is the fact that both of us have something like $750 a month in education loans. That's at least $1500 a month that we could be using for a mortgage. Of course, that $1500 is also taken into account when we apply for mortgages, thereby reducing the amount we can finance. Yes, it was our choice to go to law school and take out loans, and we have to deal with that. However, there has to be a solution to help people like us be able to afford a house! It is just very frustrating that there seems to be little we can do to afford even a small condo.

Maybe the HUD assistance levels need to be changed to better reflect where you live and that locale's cost of living. Surely the cost of living in the Metro-DC area would be sufficiently increased so as to include us. Or maybe educational loans should not apply towards the determining of financial worthiness when appying for a loan (fat chance, I know). Or maybe I should form a lobbyist group for the middle class. Or first goal: some type of middle-class housing assistance program for high cost-of-living areas.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 08:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend I was invited to play in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Hockey Benefit game here in Richmond. The premise is that this event gets together the best hockey players in the Richmond area for a USA vs. Canada match-up. I was asked to play a week or so before the game, after playing in an A league game in the adult league.

I suited up for Team Canada, despite the fact that I'm not Canadian. I told them I spent my summers in Lions Head, Ontario at my grandparent's farm, so they allowed me to adopt that as my Canadian hometown. They needed a goalie, anyway, so I stepped in and played.

Each team had two goalies who were to split the game. Unfortunately, the other team Canada goalie had a rough first period, and we found ourselves down 5-1. So, I was up to start the second period. Our team definitely picked up the pace to get back in the game, and I shut down the USA's shooters during the second, including a break-away by one of Team USA's best players, as we rallied to within one goal (5-4). The third period saw Team Canada knot up the score at 5-5, after which Team USA would get their sixth (and only regulation goal against me). Canada would tie it up 6-6. After much deliberation, both teams decided against a five minute overtime, and in favor of a five man shoot-out.

Of course, I was a little nervous, as this was a pretty serious game. The opposition's goaltender just happened to be former NCAA D1 goaltender Joe Blackburn, of Michigan State University. Unfortunately, in the shoot-out, the first one would get by me, and Team USA would lead 1-0. From there, I stopped the remaining four shooters. Our last shooter of the five would score one on Blackburn, for a 1-1 tie in the shoot-out, and one round of sudden-death. Unfortunately, the first sudden death shot by Team USA got by me, and our last shooter didn't score. The result, a 7-6 Team USA win in the shoot-out.

All in all, it was a very good game. There was some great action, and it was pretty intense. I actually ended up winning player of the game for the Canadian team.

It would be nice to be able to play at that level every game. It was fast, good hockey. I play a lot better the faster the play gets, and find it hard to adjust to some of the adult leagues. Now that I'm going back to DC, I hope I can find a league where the play is as good as it was in this game. I also hope that I get invited back to play in this game someday...

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Story pulled from today's headlines: "Detroit likened to Iraq."

A Republican congressman representing rural southern Michigan is taking heat for saying that most of Iraq is at least as under control as Detroit is.

Hahahaha! Hilarious. The funny thing is, most of us Michiganians (who aren't from Detroit proper) say stuff like this about the city all the time. I'm not saying it's true, but yeah, I've made a comment or two like that in my day...

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At this point, I'm sure everyone has heard about the huge pet food recall that is taking place, and how it covers a whole bunch of different brands.

I was talking with Martha about this over the weekend, and being an attorney, the first thing that came to my mind when I heard that pets were dying as a result of eating this contaminated food was "wow, I wonder what types of lawsuits will be filed over this?" Obviously, it seemed like someone could file a class action suit over this, but what would they demand? Having the vet bills paid? Almost certainly. How about pain and suffering? Wrongful death (for a pet)? Damage to chattels? You had to know that someone would file a lawsuit over this...

And 'lo and behold: Chicago Woman Sues Over Pet Food Recall. I agree that she probably has the standing to sue, and I think it is interesting what she is asking for: vet bills, compensation for what her kids suffered through, and damages for the company's neglect. I think other people will probably make additional, broader demands. It'll be interesting to follow this case and see what happens.

Another interesting thing is the fact that they believe it was the "wheat gluten" that was contaminated. The interesting thing about that is that wheat gluten is also used in human food - so I'm wondering if this gluten is linked to any products that are also sold to people.

In any case, I'd suggest checking the recall notice, to ensure the food you feed your pet isn't on the list.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, it is starting to look like I won't be having a bachelor's party before the wedding. It's quite a bummer, actually... I was originally supposed to do something with Tom (my brother and best man) and Wes (groomsman) while I was back for Martha's shower in Michigan. Unfortunately, Tom had a graduate school interview come up, so we had to scrub that one.

Now that I'm in Richmond/Washington DC, it appears that I won't be having one, though. With all of my groomsmen so spread out across the country, it seems like getting anything together would be a huge hassle. It's unfortunate, because while Martha will end up having two showers (and maybe a bachlorette party), I won't be able to have anything pre-wedding. I was actually really looking forward to something going on.

Tom offered to come down to the area to hang out in order to do something, but I just don't know what we'd do. Plus, I don't particularily have the money right now to head back up to Michigan.

It's unfortunate, but I guess I'll have to go without....

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 08:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The news so far this week is that on Monday night I purchased a new 2007 Dodge Caliber SE. This is the first car that I have purchased on my own, which is pretty sad considering I'm 27 years old. On the other hand, when you get incredible lease deals from VW because your father works there, it is hard to pass them up...

So anyway, the Caliber is black, and it's pretty much the base model except it has an automatic transmission and the power features option (power windows, doors, etc). So far the best thing about the car has been the free year of Sirius satellite radio. Finding radio stations that I like can sometimes be a challenge, but with of the options available on satellite radio, I haven't run into that problem yet. Not only can I listen to rock or alternative music when I want to, but I have a whole station for 60s music (which I enjoy), as well as ESPN Radio, which is huge. I was even listing to some 'mellow rock' last night.

The thing I particularily like about this car is the fact that it sits up higher than most cars. It almost feels like you are sitting in an SUV, though you really are not. It is pretty spacious too, which will be good for hauling hockey equipment, the dog and cat, and other things. I've been driving it a few days now, and I like it so far. There are only a couple of things that I think could be improved. First, the engine pick-up is a bit lackluster, and it seems to hesitate a bit when you try to start from a stop. Also, the brakes are a little bumpy, but I chalk that up to just not being used to them.

All in all, a good purchase. I've enjoyed the car so far this week. So now I have to determine how I am going to get the VW turned in, seeing as how I have little free time....

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 06:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)