This is Saturday's post, I had no energy to share late last night.
We got beat out on the offer on the dream house. Our realtor called us last night at 10:30pm. More on that below.
Saturday early afternoon, we went over to my work wife's kid's 8th birthday party. It was at an indoor trampoline park, we didn't get a lot of time with him, just enough for quick catching up and chatting for a minute. It was wonderful to spend time with R and her husband, mom, brother, and see A interacting with his friends. She doesn't like pictures of him on the internet so here are the cookies she had custom made for his Baseball Themed party.
We hit the road to head out west to meet up with our buyer's broker to look at the one house so far we love. Amazing price, too good to be true? But we had to see it.
Interstate 495 to 66 between the Maryland border and the Manassas area is always a shit show, like a goddamn Mad Max movie, and it is terrifying. I was so relieved to get into the open beyond Gainesville, so many cars disappear, and the ride gets so pleasant. The clouds were putting on quite a show for us, it was lovely and refreshing.
We made it to the showing on time (thanks to Doug's quick driving skills) and our buyer's broker is adorable. She brought her husband who is a handyman, because she wanted his opinion on the "bones" of this house.
There are some concerns with the property like the shared driveway with the neighbor but it can easily be rectified either by putting in a new driveway closer to the house, or widening the current driveway.
I can see me backing up into his car while trying to get out. I'm not concerned about snow removal, the boys are good at it, and if the neighbor already has a plow guy we'll happily share the cost.
I'd like to see a full finished bathroom in the basement, there is already a shower head and drain, but no toilet hookup. There was one previously that the utility sink drains into.
D (the buyer's broker's husband) and I measured out where a would be, and it would fit, and be great. Washer dryer hookup in the basement is ready to roll, brand new, lovely. The only thing missing would be a window in the bathroom and I'm okay with that. He doesn't have a window right now. Just an excellent exhaust fan (unlike what he has now) would be mandatory.
D and I talked about whacking a wall out between the dining room and kitchen, spreading the kitchen out into the dining room, moving the fridge and putting the cabinets from the whack out onto the wall in the dining room. Kitchen island, with still plenty of room for a dining table and eat-in kitchen. It has the space for it. Doug already disagrees but I see this as a huge win if it is done.
The only weird thing to me is that we'd never use the front door. He called it the Trick or Treaters' or Jehovah's Witnesses door - the only people who would ever use it would be people who don't usually come to the front. Maybe Amazon packages. Maybe.
Landscaping out front - the house has a hilly front, a dramatic slope. Difficult to mow. Doug said he'd put in low evergreen cover or pachysandra because then you never have to do anything with it. I said that'd be nice on one side but on the other I'd love a 3 level terraced set up with perennials and then sow wild flower seeds into the boxes - it'd be beautiful, and would never have to be mowed either.
We had really good vibes on this house.
I could see my plants in the upstairs bathroom, office in this room, guest bed in that room, Geoff's space would need work like I said, but he'd have the capability to have kind of a living room area and his bedroom. And it isn't a "we can't move in if this is not done.
And let's not forget the screened in porch for porch life.
I stood out there on the porch as a thunderstorm rolled in, imagined the patio furniture, the little tiny table lamps, the candles, and just really felt happy.
And putting in a fence to keep Toffee safe, we know exactly where that would go.
We went to look at a second house in another town. It still had a lot of the owners' stuff in it. And it is a confusing layout. We are not sure what happens in this house. There is a large living room with a grand piano in it, then you walk into a formal dining room, there's kind of this weird interior room with a freezer, more cabinets, and a countertop (and a way back into the living room). The tiniest closet of a 1/2 bath is over there too.
There's a large eat in kitchen, kind of pretty but the cabinets need new drawers and doors. A den, and a wall dividing them.
And the wrap around 3 season porch in the back is fantastic.
It's a split level house, so off the main livingroom there are two staircases, one up and one down. The one down goes to what could be an official apartment. It used to be a garage. Large living room with built in shelving everywhere, window seat with room for a small tv (we wouldn't put one there but they have one). The bedroom down there is huge and it has its own bathroom of decent size but nothing overwhelming). Laundry, and a utility room, tight quarters in that area, and an exit to the back yard.
The other split level staircase goes up to three bedrooms, one good sized and the other two small. Nice full bathroom with brand new walk in shower.
The mystery room in the middle of the house, wow. that could be a giant wonderful bathroom if you whack out a wall and close it off from the kitchen/dining area. Soaking tub and separate shower. Upstairs washer/dryer even, with the cabinets and marble counter top too. I see that potential.
And the yard. The view from the yard is amazing, right over to the mountains. Large, level, flat, beautiful. Excellent shed, lovely garden, really nice.
We spent a lot more time in this second house than the first one, but I feel like it needs so much work to make it ours, and it would be huge. Way huge, once Geoff moves out. Someday.
Still. Seeing potential in that possibility.
We told our realtor we wanted to make an offer on First Perfect Dream House, she said she'd reach out to the listing broker and let her know and start writing up the contract.
Dinner. We needed dinner. We headed over to the brewery in Strasburg because it was closest and we enjoyed our stop in there last time we were in town. I felt much better after we ate, I had neglected to take my meds at 2-3 pm the way I usually do so it was time to feel super sick and shaky. Not sure how much of it was blood sugar and how much of it was anxiety. A little of column A, a little column B.
The place was packed! It's sunny out on a Saturday night, and this place was hopping.
Buffalo fingers, a couple beers, and 7pm music. Robbie Limon was the performer, acoustic solo performance of all your favorite hits from Johnny Cash to America to David Bowie. He even did "Take On Me by A-ha, and hit the high note for "in a day or twooooooooo." Impressive.
Doug insisted we have a slice of cheesecake to celebrate. Full of good feelings and some joy, it was a happy moment. Yes please. And yes, it was so good.
We headed home and I talked to my cousin John for quite a while. He had called me twice while we were looking at houses and texted, so I felt like it was urgent. He was in his feelings, not in the hospital, and that was a relief.
He's giving away all his stuff as he's getting ready to face a cancer battle. He has a lot of thoughts and feelings, and cried a little. He says the weirdest things sometimes. Like he is getting a visit from a former co-worker at a restaurant, she's an "older black lady," he always has to mention someone's skin color. He feels he can cry with her, she'll be compassionate "like they usually are." He can't cry or be emotional with his Fraternity Brothers, all of whom seem to be stepping up to help him in his time of need, far more than family are doing (hi. What am I doing?) because "they expect me to be strong at this time."
Dude, c'mon. You sound like a low rent version of a William Faulkner novel.
Anyway. I'm going down there in a week so I can go to his Oncology consult in person with him, "because a person should not have to do this alone." This is true. And for as weird as he is, and as differing of opinion we have, he should not have to go see his Oncologist to talk about the depth and breadth of his cancer treatment options.
When I was telling him about where we are looking for a house, he asked how far from Luray it is, which isn't that far. He said years ago he wanted to stop on a road trip with his friends at Cooters. There is a replica of The General Lee there, and he wanted to stop and see it. Not to stop at the restaurant and eat or anything, just see the car. Photo op. Roadside attraction.
The driver did not want to stop because "she wants to believe that it didn't happen."
"That what didn't happen?" I asked, "'The Dukes of Hazard?'"
"No," he replied. "The Conflict."
Ohhhhhhhh. The Conflict! Yes. Let's pretend it never happened but also, The Dukes Of Hazard isn't a show that glorifies the conflict. It has a confederate flag on top of a car, and it about southern people and short shorts, and Uncle Jesse, and bad sheriffs. And Cooter.
"Well," I said, "When I get back from Maine in mid-August, I'll come get you. We'll go to Cooter's. We'll have a meal, I'll get your picture with the General." He was very thankful to hear that.
We were almost home when our Buyer's Broker called. Her initial is T. It was late, so I was surprised. I thought maybe she wanted to let me know she sent me the contract to look over.
"I've got bad news and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't let you know."
I answered "oh no. Someone beat us to it."
Yes.
She called the listing broker after we parted ways, and the listing broker said "Oh, I didn't know you were showing the house today." T said, "well, you gave me the key code in a text the other day, and I told you I was bringing people over on Saturday afternoon."
"Someone made an offer this morning. I showed the house at 10am, and they offered on the spot."
Shoot.
So.
I told her, "we'd like to counter. I don't want to get into a pissing match of a bidding war but at least, can we counter offer if we know what they offered?"
Doug said he's happy to enter a bidding war.
She said she'd find out what the offer is, and let me know. As of 11am Sunday, the listing agent has not replied to her but she'll keep us posted. This morning she and I had a nice chat, she's frustrated that the listing agent has not answered her question. But I told her hey - if it isn't meant to be, it isn't meant to be.
But this house is "the bar," against which any future listings should be measured. It's our vibe, it's our jam, and now you know.
"I figured that out within the first 10 minutes of being in the house with you, before we went up to the bedroom to look at it. I will hopefully find that next most perfect if this one does not work out."
Publishing this now, saving the Sunday entry for later tonight.
Saturday digits
exercise: 10/12 hours.
blood glucose:
10am: x 158
n/a pm: missed due to house hunting
11pm: 138
food & meds:
10am: phentermine+jardiance
11am: english muffin w/pb and bonnie maman's
6pm: met+glip
6:30pm: boneless buffalo fingers; 2 beers
10:30pm: met+glip
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