House!!

We're moving into a rental house. Still in Travis Heights; almost smack-dab on top of Stacy Park and Anna's elementary school, in fact. This was rather a sudden development.

It's smaller than the apartment (988 square feet, instead of 1100) and not nearly as modern. It was built in the 30s, and has no dishwasher and no disposall. Of course, I happen to be in the possession of two teenaged children, which as I understand were created by God in His image (except slouchier and less amply bearded) for the express purpose of washing dishes. Sometimes I think I've been issued defective ones, but it's worth a try.

It costs the same as the apartment (except we'll be paying for water and garbage - oh, all right, and probably internet too, dammit), and has a yard! This is really the main appeal. I like my apartment a lot. But it doesn't even have a tiny apartment patio. All of us will love the yard, and the owner - who seems like an extraordinarily nice person - had no problem with us having four cats!

It's all hardwood floors, you see.

There's no dining room, just an eat-in kitchen, which will barely fit my table. The main bedroom was originally the only bedroom, and got subdivided into two bedrooms, large and tiny. You have to walk through the large bedroom to get to the tiny bedroom, the main bathroom, and the still larger "master bedroom," which was actually added as a beauty salon and has its own entrance and half-bath, and rather ugly cheap linoleum tile flooring, unfortunately. But I hear IKEA sells rugs. Katie and Anna will share the large walk-through bedroom, which, with the strategic placement of a few bookcases, can give up a little space for a "hallway." Eric gets the itty bitty sunroom. Fortunately, he has a loft bed.

To do:
1. Learn all about composting
2. Train children to do housework
3. Buy the departing resident's refrigerator, washer and dryer
4. Move
5. Throw kegger

The move will add about a mile to my daily commute. I had probably better invest in a new pair of walking shoes. And if you'll check in later tomorrow, I'll drive by the house, and take a picture to show you how insanely Travis-Heights-Cute-Cute-Cute it is, and all will become clear.