We got a house, we got a house yay yay yay yay! Signed the papers this morning, put down the deposit, we got a house! And a very cute house it is…that we saw for the first time less than 24 hours ago. Less than 20 hours ago, even. So here’s how it happened…

Yesterday morning, we went to look at a double that we had looked at for the first time on Thursday night. We wanted to see it during the day, so our Realtor set up an appointment for us for Sunday morning. We got there and while we were waiting an hour for the other agent to show up, we examined the outside of the house and pretty much decided before we had even set foot inside the house that we would not be putting in an offer. There was rotten wood, evidence of fire damage, and it was just in bad shape overall. (And the inside, while in better shape, had problems of its own.)

So after George and I left that house, we drove around the neighborhood with the real estate section in hand. A few days ago, we had noticed a house that George really liked the look of, but it was a single, and a bit out of our price range. Still affordable, but we wouldn’t have a tenant paying half our note. One of the ads in the paper turned out to be for that house, so George set up an appointment for us to look at it for 3:00 in the afternoon.

We walked up the stairs to the front door (which is on the second floor of the house) and while we were waiting for the owner, I had a peek in the window. Gaaa! Too cute! Already, before even setting foot inside the house, I was afraid of losing it. Wood floors, yellow walls, plenty of windows, faux fireplace, leaded glass doors, gorgeous bathroom upstairs (just renovated), big kitchen with tons of storage, fridge and washer and dryer and dishwasher to stay, big dining area, bathroom downstairs, garage that can be converted to another bedroom (it was one in the past), etc, etc, etc, etc…. I hope to have pictures by Thursday. (Oh yeah. Porch swing on second story porch, side yard, off-street parking.)

So we loved it. And we went back to my house, called Melba, and set up another appointment for 4:30. Met her there, still loved it, and went back to her office to write up an offer. By 10:00 last night, we had a counteroffer of only $1000 off the list price, but George and I discussed it extensively and we decided we could afford it. So this morning, before I had to go to work, we signed the papers, handed over the deposit, and set up an inspection for Wednesday. House to close on March 24.

Eeeeeeeee!!!!

So, the house.

On Saturday, we went to look at it again. We brought our friend Liam, who is a woodworker, renovated his own house completely, knows what to look for, etc. We looked at the house thoroughly, including the tenant’s side. Everything seemed good, so we told our agent that we’d talk about making an offer. A few hours later, I called her and said we wanted to make an offer. She was on her way to the other side of the river (it’s Mardi Gras season now, and parades are everywhere) so we decided to meet up at her office on Sunday morning.

George and I were so excited, we were sure we had it in the bag. Melba (our agent) had told us that another offer had been written, but the seller hadn’t accepted it, so it was probably too low. I was a bit worried about this, but I figured if we wrote the offer on Sunday morning, we’d be fine.

Naturally, I was wrong. The other offer was accepted on Saturday afternoon. I’m not one for “if only”s, but if we had written the offer on Saturday after we looked at the house, we probably would have stood a better chance. As it is, the only thing we can do is write a backup offer and hope the other offer falls through. Mean, though, isn’t it, to hope for the other party’s misfortune? To be honest, I’m not that bothered by that aspect. I just want that house. I really feel like it should be ours.

Want to see some pictures?

Trying to post more often. Not that I have more to say. Well, actually I do right now.

Yesterday I bought a plane ticket to visit my brother and sister in law in California in a mere three weeks! Yay! I love that I don’t have to wait very long. I got a really cheap plane ticket that’s non-stop. Very exciting. And even more excitingly, my brother informed me that we’re going to Disneyland while I’m there and even more excitingly, he’s buying my Disneyland ticket as a birthday present. Yay! And my sis-in-law and I will have tea also. We’ve gone to high tea twice, once at a perfect little English teahouse near their old apartment in Pasadena, and once at the Ritz here in New Orleans. So I’m excited to go again.

I’ve been obsessing about the house we looked at last weekend. I desperately want it. I hope if we don’t get it, it’s because of something that totally puts me off, like major termite damage. Always a distinct possibility in New Orleans. Or sinking. Also possible. But I’m going to just keep my fingers crossed. And pray that no one else looks at it. Just my luck, someone would go see it today and put in an offer. But can’t think about that.

I even went to Home Depot last night and looked at paint samples. I mean, I have the entire house decorated already, and this is not healthy! My disappointment will be terrible if it doesn’t work out. Must not think about it… yeah, right.

But, if it does work out, (and hey, it could happen!), then we could put an offer in this weekend and things could move pretty fast from there. By next week, we should know one way or another. Aaagh!

Oooh, busy weekend. Went to Baton Rouge on Friday night to hang out with my mom. We went to eat, then watched Legally Blonde. A typical night when I go to visit my mom. On Saturday we went and looked at my sister’s wedding dress (pretty) and then looked for a digital camera for my mom (unsuccessfully). On Friday night, we ran into one of my mom’s friends who is a loan officer and while we were talking to her, I discovered that George and I probably could afford a double that previously seemed too expensive. So when I got back to my mom’s house, I called our Realtor about getting us in to see a couple of doubles that looked interesting.

I (naturally, given my impatient nature) fell in love with one of them. It needs some work, yes, but not too much, and it’s just perfect. (Okay, nothing’s perfect, but as close as we can get.) So we’re going to see it again this weekend (how do they expect me to wait a whole week to see it again? I swear, if someone buys it in the meantime, I’m going to be very upset!) and see the side where the tenant lives. And we’re going to bring someone along who might be able to detect any obvious flaws.

So keep your fingers crossed.

Yesterday was Terry’s baby shower. It was fun. I ate too much. But it’s okay because I walked 5 miles yesterday morning with Peggy and Emily, part of our training for the Mardi Gras half. Woo hoo! I am really sore today, too, which seems strange considering I can run that far and not be sore. I can feel all sorts of different muscles! Maybe I should walk more, hmmm.

Terry got lots of good gifts at the shower and I won a prize for guessing (closest) to the number of jelly beans in the bottle. Go me! And for the record, I’m going to say it’s a girl, even though everyone else insists it’s a boy. As if you can tell by the shape of her belly. Please, people, there’s a 50/50 chance of it being a boy or a girl! So yes, some women who have boys will have pointier stomachs, or whatever your excuse is for insisting that it’s a boy, but I’ll bet just as many pointy-stomached women have girls. Yeesh. Only two more months to find out the answer, though. Yay!

Busy-ish week, which is why I haven’t really written. But busy means there’s stuff to write about, so there’s no excuse, eh?

Monday night George took me to a yummy Chinese restaurant on the North Shore, which is about 25 miles north of Metairie, across Lake Pontchartrain. It’s kind of exciting to go on a mini-road trip for dinner, though I have to admit the food wasn’t as great as I’ve heard. Maybe because it was a Monday night. Who knows. But I’m not picky.

Tuesday Polly and I went shopping. We ate at Chevy’s for Mexican food, also very yummy. Deelish! Then we went to Barnes and Noble and a couple of other stores. Woo! Also was able to use an old friend’s employee discount. (I shan’t name names…)

And then yesterday, a few of us in our department got to eat lunch on one of our boats, the American Queen. It’s a beautiful boat and the food was too, too delicious. And filling. We had four courses! Fried green tomatoes, then seafood gumbo, then Trout Amandine with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes; then bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Holy cow! I don’t know if I could eat two or three meals a day for at least three days on one of our cruises! (Okay, I lie. I could. But I would hate myself.)

Last night I did laundry. Whoopee. And then went to Polly’s to watch Sex and the City. Yay, yay, yay! But only three episodes left. Boo hoo.

Tonight George and I are going to our neighborhood association meeting so we can meet this guy who might be able to give us some inside info on a house. Keeping my fingers crossed…

What a week of terrible lows and wonderful highs. How do you reconcile the two? How can I be so happy about one thing when the other is so sad?

Teresa’s dad passed away yesterday morning. He had been ill for a while, they think, and was in the hospital on a course of antibiotics when he died. Losing a father is such a terrible thing, no matter how old you are. You start thinking of the things that you’re going to miss out on now. Being “Daddy’s little girl.” Being walked down the aisle on your wedding day. The children you will have one day not knowing their grandfather. Seeing your mom go through the most intense emotional pain imaginable. It’s a terrible thing, and in the midst of all of these thoughts, you’re supposed to grieve.

Yet you find strength you never knew you had. You are no longer afraid of death. You will never feel alone again, because your dad is always with you. Yes, it’s a cliche, but it’s true – loved ones who die are always alive in your heart and in your memories. Even today, nearly six years after my dad died, I get choked up if I see something with his handwriting on it. I still miss him enormously, but I also still feel his presence. In a way, I’m lucky that he’s always with me. I wish George could have met him. I think they would have gotten along really well. I truly think that my dad had something to do with me meeting George. I know it sounds corny and weird, but it’s true. (Of course, my mom thought my dad sent me Truitt, and – blech – no way!)

So. Tomorrow is Tee’s dad’s funeral. I know I can’t do anything for her. I don’t even want to condescend to her and say “I know what you’re going through,” because I don’t. I have some idea, maybe. Perhaps more of an idea than many people. But all I can truly do is be there, or not be there, whatever she wants. As much as I’d like to, I can’t take away the pain, and I can’t ease it.

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Naturally, I now feel like a complete heel for the good news. So I’ll just say it.

George and I were approved for a mortgage. We’re going to look at a house tomorrow. We could be homeowners one day! Probably later rather than sooner – the houses in the Point aren’t exactly cheap….

Oooh. I found a house I want to buy! Now, these things can’t possibly be as easy as I’d like, and I haven’t even seen the inside of the house, but on the surface, it’s practically perfect!

And my sister and I have finally agreed on a dress for me. I hope I look like the model when I put it on, though…