Lena and I are moving from Hollywood, to the Hollywood Hills to a bigger place. - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Lena and I are moving from Hollywood, to the Hollywood Hills to a bigger place.
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Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Lena and I finally felt that our current place in Hollywood is too small for us.

So, we have been looking this week for a new apartment, and we found a bigger place that is in the Hollywood Hills (near Mulholland Drive).

It is on a very quiet street with quiet neighbors, and it was a nice view from the livingroom window of the Hollywood Hills.

We should hvae more room for guests now

I will try to post photos after we move in. (We are going to be moving in over the next 3 weeks.)

Lena really wants to buy something in Los Angeles over the next year or two, so... I am probably going to sell my house in Baltimore this summer and get ready to look for a place to buy in Los Angeles. (Depending on what the prices do here). If the prices stay too high, then maybe we'll buy a house in Iowa...

Khashyar

Posted by: firemansam

Congrats, I think...
I HATE moving house... All the packing and unpacking... Stuff broken..
AARGH
Still it sounds like you are happy with the new place!
Hope the move goes well.

Sam.

Posted by: Samurai_Bob

My congrads for leaving Hollyweird!

Economic indicators lead me to forsee a major bubble pop coming for most LA homes for sale.

It has happened before and is due again.

I would wait 1-2 years before buying in LA.

Not to rain on your parade sir, but the market there is shaky at best.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/200510...l_estate_bubble

Many people listen to this source:
http://forums.kiplinger.com/showthread.php?t=1869

A view of the Hills in your new pad is a big plus too.

Way to go!

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks Gentlemen,

Bob... Yes, I also think that prices are inflated, and that they have a good chance of going down. This is one of the reasons why I want to wait to buy anything, and also why I want to sell my house in Baltimore.

Yes, Sam... Lena is dreading packing all of our stuff...

Fortunately, we are going to be renting both of the places during the same month overlapping period, so we can move our things every day for a month....

We actually went to the Burbank, CA Ikea store, so look at some furniture there (Lena doesn't like Ikea's furniture much, but like some of the other things that they sell like Kitchenware, whereas I like the simple Ikea furniture style.

Fortunately, in Los Angeles, there are many wholesale furniture stores where we can shop and browse.

Khashyar

Posted by: Texas Proud

It was just last year you were going to move to Baltimore..... what changed???

Unless of course Lena put a little bug in your ear.....

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

It was just last year you were going to move to Baltimore..... what changed???

Unless of course Lena put a little bug in your ear.....

Hi Tex,

Yes, our plans have changed, adn we are no longer going to be moving to Baltimore.

I feel that I need to stay in Los Angeles to finish a couple of Documentary projects that I am working on, and Lena is studying Fashion Design (actually, building on her Fashion Design study that she began in Belarus). And Lena also feels that she can begin her own business better in Los Angeles than in Baltimore.

It was a difficult decision (for my family, especially, who want us to be closer to them), but... I think that it is the right thing to do to stay in Los Angeles for at least a few years longer.

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Hi Everyone,
We should hvae more room for guests now

Good news Kash......can I book the last week in August first week in September with an option to stay until Christmas he he

Chris

Posted by: yodaamnot

The pictures of the place in Baltimore looks good - pity you need to sell it.

Posted by: Khashyar

You're welcome any time, Chris

Yoda... Yeh... I wouldn't sell the house, but I feel that housing prices are going to be going down in the next one to two years, so perhaps I can buy a house or condo in the L.A. area then.

Khashyar

Posted by: Samurai_Bob

K I can not help but think if a good lot was available, that one could build much cheaper than buy an existing home. Surely there is a cliff without a house on it somewhere!

I am not sure if lots are available (near previous fires?) but the mark up from construction to retail must me very large.

Just an idea since you have time to do it.

Best of luck to you once again.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Bob,

It's a good thought to look for land to build on, but the problem is that there is very little affordable land in L.A...

Also, there is a high standard of inspections here in Los Angeles (because of earthquakes and other considerations).

I think that Lena and I will be happy renting for now (especially since we have a bit of a bigger place).

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

You're welcome any time, Chris

Thanks Kashyar.....I would love too, but I think I have a few more trips to FSU to get in first before I go back to the US again.

Chris

Posted by: Khashyar

You're welcome to Los Angeles on your next trip to the U.S...

So... Lena and I are going to begin to move into our new place tomorrow (we get the keys tomorrow- i.e. Friday).

Saturday will be a big move for us, as we are going to rent a small moving truck, and have a couple of friends help us move many of our possessions.

One unexpected difficulty is that I learned from the phone company that I cannot have my DSL internet service transferred to my new place, because it is "too far away from the phone company's central office". But, I think that I can sign up for cable internet service... I will have to check and see how much that is.

But, what this means is that I may not be online over the next week or so, as I set up my compuer in my new place, and we havae internet service installed.

I already feel my back becoming sore from all of the lifting of furniture, etc...

I probably will need to hire one or two day laborers who stand in front of "Home Depot" to help.

Khashyar

Posted by: Pin Boy

hi khashyar,

don't ya love when friends ask you to help them move.

i'm sure you'll be hiring unionized day laborers and paying an appropriate wage as well as the taxes and associated benefits costs, yes? if not, i'll be picketing the job site.

good luck. you never realize how much stuff you have until you move.

pin boy

Posted by: AngryFisherman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

you never realize how much stuff you have until you move.

Truer words have never been spoken ... my back is still sore after moving about a month ago. I swear, I will sell all my books before moving next time. Isn't it amazing how much stuff that can be stoved away in shelves, we had boxes practically stacked up to the roof after emptying them.

Good luck K!

FisherMan

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

hi khashyar,

don't ya love when friends ask you to help them move.

i'm sure you'll be hiring unionized day laborers and paying an appropriate wage as well as the taxes and associated benefits costs, yes? if not, i'll be picketing the job site.

good luck. you never realize how much stuff you have until you move.

pin boy

Oh yes, Pin... I only hire union movers

Home Depot is actually the headquarters for the local 150.

Actually, Lena and I do both have a couple of good friends who have offered to help us.. But we will still need to hire a couple of helpers.

The biggest task will be to buy and then move a refrigerator up one flight of stairs into our new apartment. Although the apartment was completely remodeled, and has a dishwasher, it did not come with a refrigerator, so we are going to have to find and bring one.

I'm still amazed that DSL is not available in our area (it is partially due to the fact that the apartment is in the Hollywood Hills-- in fact, it is the only apartment building on the small quiet street, and the building has 5 units in it. I may not have mentioned it, but the apartment is over twice the size of of our current one, with an extra bedroom and a den, so we will have a lot of room for all of our projects, as well as for us to invite guests for visits, etc.)

So, I found out that I can receive cable internet from Adelphia, but it is 50% more than the DSL that I hvae now (it will be about $45 per month, compared to the $29 per month that I am paying now.) But, what can I do... dial up will not meet Lena and my needs to maintain the Russian Meeting Place.

Fisherman and PinBoy... Actually, Lena is going through everything as she packs, and is making decisions about what getrs thrown away, what gets donated, and what gets shreaded. I have to arrange for renting a moving truck (or large moving van) for tomorrow.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I wanted to add that this move is kind of excited, because it will be the first time that Lena and I move into a new space together.

When Lena arrived in the U.S. 3 years ago, she was effectively moving into a space that I already created and lived in for 2 years prior.

But in this new place, Lena and I are arranging furniture and building memories for just the two of us. We have a new slate or new palate with which to build new memories.

I think that when two people move into a new house or apartment, the living space feels more equally owned by the two of you than if one person moves into the space that was already occupied by one person.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I just ordered Adelphia cable internet service for $43/month, as long as I have my own cable modem. Thankfully, the service begins Sunday, so I can hopefully get on the forums by then (after I finish my tax return, of course

)

The Adelphia Rep. told me that cable internet is faster than DSL... I look forward to seeing if that is true.

She told me that basic cable is $39 per month, but I really don't want to have the distraction of TV in our apartment

I'll get less work done that way, as I am watching CNN and flipping through the other channels.

Lena has expressed that she would enjoy having cable, so she and I will have to talk about it.

Khashyar

Posted by: ConnerVT

My monthly Adelphia Cable bill?

$136.29

That includes broadcast basic and expanded digital cable television and TV Russia (RTN from NY) from their (rented) cable box, and 4MB/384K broadband Internet over my modem.

Of the approximately 465 available television channels, I could live without 450 of them. My wife likes watching RTN for the news and an occasional serial show (even though it has a definite NYC/Brighton Beach slant to it). You cant get the TV Russia option without the other television options, so there you are.

Like all providers, Adelphia has those whom like them, and those who don't. Since they upgraded their entire network about 18 months ago, it has worked great for us in Vermont. I don't live far (2 miles?) from a regional server, and I'm sure that doesn't hurt any. My up time has been great, and speeds usually are near advertised levels.

Adelphia is being sold, split between Comcast and Time-Warner. I'm not 100% sure, but I think that Adelphia will first sell LA county to Comcast, who then will sell it to Time Warner...

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnerVT

My monthly Adelphia Cable bill?

$136.29

That includes broadcast basic and expanded digital cable television and TV Russia (RTN from NY) from their (rented) cable box, and 4MB/384K broadband Internet over my modem.

Of the approximately 465 available television channels, I could live without 450 of them. My wife likes watching RTN for the news and an occasional serial show (even though it has a definite NYC/Brighton Beach slant to it). You cant get the TV Russia option without the other television options, so there you are.

Like all providers, Adelphia has those whom like them, and those who don't. Since they upgraded their entire network about 18 months ago, it has worked great for us in Vermont. I don't live far (2 miles?) from a regional server, and I'm sure that doesn't hurt any. My up time has been great, and speeds usually are near advertised levels.

Adelphia is being sold, split between Comcast and Time-Warner. I'm not 100% sure, but I think that Adelphia will first sell LA county to Comcast, who then will sell it to Time Warner...

It's good to hear your experience with them, Conner...

I asked Lena if she wanted Russian channels, and she said that she would rather watch some English language programs

But, again, I know that if we have the channels, then we'll t.v. too much.

With a child, as you have, it's good to have some good t.v. programming.

Khashyar

Posted by: Samurai_Bob

Cable is usually twice as fast as DSL usually.
You should see an improvement online.

Posted by: BradIL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

you never realize how much stuff you have until you move.
pin boy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angry Fisherman

Truer words have never been spoken ... my back is still sore after moving about a month ago.

Sit-ups boys, sit-ups... that's what you need (oops... my dove bar just dripped on the keyboard)

Now I can't resist a wisecrack here . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Oh yes, Pin... I only hire union movers

Khash--- you may believe G-W botched Iraq... didn't get a proper response to Katrina's appearance in New Orleans... but that guest worker proposal is arrivin' just in time, yes?

just joshin' folks--- just joshin'

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradIL

Khash--- you may believe G-W botched Iraq... didn't get a proper response to Katrina's appearance in New Orleans... but that guest worker proposal is arrivin' just in time, yes?

just joshin' folks--- just joshin'

I actually don't mind a guestworker program... I am sure that there are some things that Dubya and I agree with.

I also like the way that G.W.B. stands by his principles (even though some of them I don't agree with).

But, guys, let's not get onto a political tangent on this thread

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

P.S...

I have to dismantle my computer tonight (because I'm moving my computer desk tomorrow to the new apartment).

I probably will not be able to check any messages or visit the internet until late on Sunday when my new cable internet service is re-established.

Khashyar

Posted by: AngryFisherman

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradIL

Sit-ups boys, sit-ups... that's what you need (oops... my dove bar just dripped on the keyboard)

LOL ... Well, at least sit-ups are good for abs ... but for the back

Cheers,
FisherMan

Posted by: BradIL

Well done fisherman!

Khash--- I hope the big move has gone smoothly.

Is the new apartment still as roomy when all your stuff was placed?