First, I grabbed the Navigator, and picked from recently selected trips an address on Tennesse, the state, vs. Tennyson, the poet, where the realtor’s office was located. I knew it wasn’t the same way I got to the office before, but the enticing mechanical (and British) voice of ‘Blaine’ convinced me. Too late—bumpy construction on I-25, a non-existant turn to Federal Blvd, then construction, construction, construction.

Meanwhile, ‘Blaine’ keeps calmly telling me to “Turn left.”

When I finally did turn left, I had no brakes. As in one’s sinking heart follows the sinking brake pedal to the floor – far too easily. I managed to turn right into a parking lot and left a message with the realtor about a “semi-emergency.”

So . . . the realtor rescued me, I arrived at the closing a half hour late, but still signed papers and handed over the money.

Of course the house, though beautifully done, had a few surprises. And while Obama hands over $8K for first time home purchase, I get a chance to activate the economy at Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and the Home Despot (sic).

There’s hardwood to put in, movers to pay, a lawn mower to buy—and maybe then I can get a dog.

Here’s a mystery graph of interest (light blue) and principal.  Speak to me in 30 years.

House 11

You can see the kitchen on the post to the right. I will take better pictures when I get in on Tuesday for the house inspection.

And away we go.

11 Kitchen

The pictures don’t do it justice–lovely tile floor, cherry “cabs” as they are called in the shorthand public remarks on a house listing.

You’ll see more of this house if we move forward to it.

I am very charmed by this house. The may not take our offer, in which case I may have to resort to Plan B.

House 11

And similarly, but on the south side, this beauty with finished basment.

House 12

Both have very nice landscaping and it is a matter of which side of the budget one would like to fall on.

House 10

There are 2 BR (small) and a basement, plus a carpeted (yuck) BR on the back.

A HUGE backyard. A detached garage.

The kitchen is nice but not photographed well.

I made an offer on this house, even took more pictures, but the house got lost. Oh well.

I’m back on the track with Sunday shopping and have added a Tuesday evening cruise.

Dupe 9

We saw the left side, which has the back yard. The neighboorhood did pass the sniff test on a Saturday night.

Left side is under contract and had been 10 days when we saw it. Right side is similar in layout, altho 2 pads for parking, nothing for a dog or garden.

Duplex 8 I also drove by on a Saturday night. This is one block of the main, main drag. An apt. complex on the corner. The neighborhood seemed ok, but I’m still haunted a bit by the number of houses for sale on 2 blocks. Why?

Dupe #8

Left side is a rental and not as well maintained.

Here are the pluses:

Lots of light. Decent backyard. Finished basement. (These pics click bigger)