Adventures in House Hunting

Let me tell you a little about the town I live in. Deisel trucks outnumber all other vehicles combined (excluding, possibly, tractors.) We have two bars, two gas stations, and one pizza place. In high school, there really was a day during "spirit week" called Farmer Day. On that day, everyone drove their tractors to school and wore flannel and overalls. I, on the other hand, borrowed my dad's black '53 Chevy pick-up and wore a black leather skirt, black and white stripped tights, a black cowboy hat, and knee high boots. I also carried a stuffed pig whose ears, nose, and eyebrows had been pierced.

And, do you want to know the truth? As much as I didn't fit into that picture, with my black/multi-colored hair and angry feminist rock, I love it here. I love being able to drive around on dirt roads and just look at the beautiful old farms. Besides, we have some pretty cemetaries here.

Now, Captain J and I are house shopping. J has an amazing job as an engineer but he is gone all week. It's actually lucky for me because I don't have to move to where his company is based, an hour away. Since I'm alone all week, J agreed that we can stay here, near my parents and, most importantly, my sister-friend M. I have painted the cabinents in M's kitchen (as well as cleaned out her closet in high school, three week old nachos and all) and she owes me a lifetime of manual labor. I want to see her son grow up and I want her to see my nonexistant children become masterminds. Mwahahah!

Today, another offer got turned down. Actually, this was the first house we managed to get an offer in on. We fell in love with the fourth house we looked at. It was HUGE and new and built right up against a river but the company that owned it stalled us until they accepted another offer. The second house we liked was a small, newly built ranch in the middle of nowhere but close to M's parents' house. We looked at it on a Saturday but, when we went to put an offer in on Monday, they had already gotten two more offers and accepted one. There was a lot that I liked about the last house, the one with the actual offer. It had daylight windows in the basement (finishing a basement is a must) and the kitchen was maple. There were closets everywhere. However, this is Michigan and the company wanted list price which is crazy.

The other day, I turned down a back road on a whim and came across a gorgeous house. It was an older ranch, foreclosure, needed a little work. Mom and I looked in all of the windows. When I got home, I looked it up. 2500 sq ft, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, completely remodeled kitchen, 7 acres. 7 acres! J wants a huge Great Dane and I want kids so that is perfect. And the best part? It is exactly in our price range. We are going to look at it tomorrow. Wish us luck.

The only problem? It's a town away. I'm having a hard time giving up my school district.

(I should also tell you why I am so into this school district. When M moved here in seventh grade, her parents researched the schools in three counties and picked ours!)

P.S. Ben Franklin is on Cobert???? Ben Franklin is a colonial HOTTIE!