Drumroll, please...

We sold the house!

(cue the organ, and harps, and kettle drums, and tambourines, and kazoos, AND the choir.)

And we closed on Friday!

HALLELUJAH!!!!

I had wondered aloud if there was such a thing as a "lemon law" when it came to houses, as I still couldn't believe everything had actually worked out. It turns out that, no, they can't return the house after 72 hours.

Glory be!

I've well voiced my consternation about selling this place. All I could think about was the eventual paying of two mortgages, worrying about caring for two houses, two lawns, and I just KNEW something major would break and we'd be responsible to fix it. Again.

The bottom line truth is, we had a nice house to live in, in what we felt was a safe neighborhood. We had everything we needed for the three of us. And being in that house for the past year allowed us to pay off the note on the land, and how great is it that we won't be financing dirt?

That being said... I am so happy to be out of the heart of Topeka! Oh, the noise! Oh, the construction! Oh, the potholes! Oh, the crazy neighbors! The crazy, craaaaazy neighbors!

Exhibit A:

Directly next door to us lived two college aged fellas who rented the place. In the winter, they drug out a home-built a ramp and would scoop and pile snow all around it. Not enough snow? No problem, they'd just get some shaved ice to supplement. Then, they'd climb up their little platform, strap on a snowboard... and slide down their three feet of ramp. Unstrap the snowboard, climb the platform, strap on the showboard, and slide down three feet of ramp. Over, and over, and over again. In the summer, they would light up their fire pit and sing, loudly, whilst strumming an acoustic guitar a la Jack Johnson.

Exhibit B:

Across the street lived a very friendly family, though they were very reminiscent of "Cousin Eddie returns to Kansas". Picture a house not overly well taken care of, several cars in various states of disrepair parked in the drive and yard, one of which being, what else? A Trans Am. One of those blue blow up pools also crammed into the front yard, and a family of five, all of which are fond of being outdoors in their skivvies.

About a week ago - Dallas is waxing the truck, Severin and I are watching.

Dad across the street, standing in 4 feet of water in blow up pool roughly the size of our bathtub: "Wanna come swimmin?"

Us: "No, thanks."

Big, hairy dad across the street, standing in 4 feet of water in blow up pool, splashes around a little: "It's hot out. Jumpyerassin!"

Us: "Thanks, but no thanks."

Guy across the street: "okely dokely" and rolls eyes at chain smoking, sports bra clad wife like WE'RE the crazy ones for not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder in what is no doubt a luke warm pond of their kids' pee.

Exhibit C:

I hear some commotion outdoors so I peek through the blinds in the bathroom.

Oh, sweet. A homeless looking man has decided to take a rest in our lawn and a cop has shown up to remedy the situation.

5 minutes later, I double check the locks and take another peek.

Dude is still hanging out, and a second cop has arrived, lights flashing.

5 minutes later, re-set alarm system and take another peek.

Cops hand guy what looks like a business card and send him on his merry way while they drive off.

Whaaaaat? What if he's a serial killer? What if he decides our lawn is the comfiest lawn he's been on in a while and comes back? What if he blocks the "for sale" sign in the yard?! (For sale: nice starter home in quaint neighborhood, 2 br, 1 ba, appliances and homeless man stay)

Exhibit D:

Same week as the homeless man/cop scene, I arrive home to find the neighbor's car parked in their driveway. En fuego.

Exhibit E:

Seen spray painted on fence of house down the street: "I found u".

What the FREAK?!?!


This whole time I'm trying to convince Tanner that he wants to buy our place. Muah ah ahhhhh...

Granted, Ozawkie makes for a much less interesting place to live, but we were ready for the break in excitement!