The House Hunt (part two)

We left that first, sad little house after just 15 minutes and I was regretting my whiskey-free coffee. We spent the remainder of the day driving around various neighborhoods to get a feel for the city. Ugh, what an awful idea. There must be a hundred beautiful homes for rent in Tampa. Homes in good school districts. Homes with gorgeous landscaping and ocean views. Homes within walking distance of food and shopping. Homes that run about $5000 a month. Say what!

Oh the frustration.  I'd be lying if I said no tears were shed, but Ben doesn't really like me to talk about him like that. Okay, seriously, I ended up breaking down over some truly amazing Italian food. It might seem silly to stress over a rental home.  I mean, we're not talking about a huge down payment followed by paying to repair broken hot water heaters and keeping up the landscaping for the sake of curb appeal and resale value.  We are renting, sure, but we are hoping to stay in the same house for the entire three-year tour. That means we have to live with our choices for three years and, after a bit, little things can really take a toll on a person. What if the kitchen cabinets don't close all the way? Or the carpet is a wonky shade? Or we hate the way rain sounds on the roof? Or, heaven forbid, the bathroom does not have enough outlets?  None of those are really worth moving all our crap again in a year but oh just think of having to live with something you aren't allowed to fix for THREE WHOLE YEARS. I definitely feel a few tears were justified.

The next morning (Saturday) we were supposed to meet our real estate agent, Jessica, at 9:00. Something went amiss with the route Ben planned so we were running late. Our agent called.  Relief! She was also running late. Because her car broke down. The morning was off to a stellar beginning and I was still lacking whiskey for my coffee.

Jessica had warned us the night before  that all the houses on our original list had rented so we'd be looking at places not previously researched by Ben and me.  On the one hand we'd spent weeks pouring over real estate ads, photos and school rankings.  On the other hand, the ads and photos hadn't turned out to be reliable. But you guys, the first house totally made up for everything. It was in an ideal neighborhood with a highly ranked school. I was instantly in love with, well, look:

 Every room was full of light! Natural light! And do you see those high ceilings? There were tile floors and wood floors and NO CARPET! Plus that last photo? Yeah, that's an office space right off the living room. It is, in fact, separated from the living room and kitchen by a half wall.  That means Saturday morning Ben can play on the computer, Em can watch cartoons, and I can make pancakes AND WE WILL PRETTY MUCH BE TOGETHER! All that, and it was blissfully at the low end of our rental budget.

And then a big fat "not so fast" bit us in the rear end...

How to Charm Me

Tell me my blog is the place you go for a pick-me-up.

The House Hunt (part one)

You know how in novels and Hallmark Channel movies and every advertisement for a Pottery Barn registry some cute newlywed couple moves into a sweet starter home with a charming breakfast nook and wrap-around front porch? Well its all crap. Looking for a new home is harrrrrd. Especially one in a town far far away.

In one month the family will be relocating to Tampa, Florida so find a house we must. Since I don't conveniently have a husband already living in the area to find me a nice house a trip had to be made. A 14-hour car trip. A 14-hour car trip followed by so. much. work.

For example, the real estate ad promised us a "fabulous 40s bungalow" with "[r]eal wood floors,[...]arches, fully equipped newer kitchen, newer master suite with recently redone tile and flooring, one car garage, full size washer/dryer, screened in patio, backyard deck. WILL NOT LAST."


And that ad made it look totally okay:

But do you what actually greeted us at 9:30 Friday morning?

 Do you want to walk into that eager-to-behead-you garage?  It contains the advertised washer and dryer from the LAND TIME FORGOT. How about those recently redone floors? The "newer" tile?  Doesn't it all make your heart go pitter-patter with first home glee? No? Internet, it was just so disheartening.  The white-tiled everything in the kitchen was surrounded by black mildew-caulk. The arched doorways were actually square-ish doorways with bowing frames. Believe me, this house is not going anywhere. I honestly wish it were for sale.  Perhaps that is the worst part.  That sad little house felt like it could really be "fabulous" with the right owners at the helm.  But we are not looking to buy and we cannot live in that house.

In fact, we'd have to wait a whole day before we would be able to see anything we could live in...

How to charm me

Sincerely thank me for doing a mundane household task.

Long overdue no 'poo report

Internet, back on June 30 I owed you a two-month update on my no 'poo experiment.  Admittedly, I let you down. I'm sorry.  I did take pictures on the appropriate date - I just didn't post them. I'm long past ready to call the whole adventure an unequivocal success.  Just look:

The back too:

It is all shiny and bouncy even though I only wash it TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK. I still struggle with some dryness and frizz for about eight hours after each wash with baking soda followed by vinegar, but, internet, the time I save.  Apparently, I don't use that time for blogging, but I have so much more of it.

Now I just have to see how my 'do fares through the rest of the seasons and keep plugging away at my Locks of Love goal.

Destined to be awkwardly 16 forever

"Amy," I asked, "did you you get new license plate?" To which Amy's husband responded, "Yeah, they came with the new car. That we got in March."

silver fox

Oh single gray hair, you will rue the day!