Home Thoughts.

This morning I had an appointment at 10 at the bank to get preapproved financing so that I know how much I can afford to look for when I get a house. I've found a house and am still waiting for the realtor to call me back and let me know what's up with it. The list price is $35,900. I got preapproved for $60,000 since that's how much I could afford while spending only $500 a month on mortgage (with all other expenses factored in). Anyway. So I set my alarm for 8:30 AM. I let the dogs out (my shirt had ridden up and I was rudely awakened by creepy Israel licking my back! gross to the extreme) and then ... went back to bed. Wha'?
Needless to say I was jolted awake at 9:30 AM and was out the door at 9:33 AM. I was dressed, had all of my paperwork in my purse, AND had makeup on and managed to get Israel into his kennel in that time. I'm serious. Three minutes, if that.
I got there with ten minutes to spare (yes!) and then the woman I was meeting with was late anyway! So I was actually more than good. I love (not!) cutting it close.

I want to call the realtor I left a message for but I don't want to be annoying--but I really, really want to know what's going on with the house and if I can get a showing like...today. I know that's impossible, I'm just saying, I really, really want to see the inside of the house. It's about two miles from here (where I live now) and while my parents might tell me it's in a bad neighborhood it's ten times better than where I grew up--and lived until three years ago! So they have very little room to talk. I grew up a couple houses away from a bar. The kind with a big Old Style On Tap sign dangling over the sidewalk.

In less than a month I'll be twenty-one. The woman I spoke to today said, "You are very young" when I told her my birthdate. She had just been talking about her son and how he wants to get a house ... and he's twenty-six.

Look, I never thought I would be able to financially afford my own house this early. I've been so blessed these last few months (even more so this week since I've got the whole week off) and I'm tired to feeling sorry for myself. I hate living with my parents still and it's not really healthy anymore. They didn't get a house of their own until they were in their fifties. You couldn't pay me--I'm serious--to live the way that they did up until nearly three years ago. I lived that way for eighteen years and I have no intention of repeating that horrible mistake in my own life.

People are quick to tell me I should rent something first.
I made the decision to get a dog. I didn't know she was going to be such a big dog, but that's what it is. She's too big, she's too many breeds that people hate, and even if she is ridiculously friendly and well-behaved, it would still cost me more than twice as much for half the space and none of the freedom if I managed to even find a place that would let me keep her. And while some people would feel comfortable giving away their pets for the sake of a place to live, I could never, ever give my Judah up. If you think there would ever be a moment of insanity that would make me feel otherwise then you don't know me at all.
And I also have a cat. And my fish. Oh, and ...one of those dreaded "pit bull" type dogs. So that alone would make it literally impossible to find some place to rent. And I don't want to rent anyway!

I'm going to look into how much it would cost to get $100k liability insurance. I don't think Israel will ever attack someone and even if he did it would be justified. Sorry, but that's how I feel. He has to be provoked to want to react in any way and if that's the case, then whoever gets mauled would deserve it and then some. The thing is...he's a good dog. He's predictable. And whether or not people believe it, "pit bulls" are one of the best breeds I've ever come across. They have so much going for them and it's sad that a few complete morons own these dogs and make it that much more difficult to be a responsible pit bull owner.
Whether or like it or not I might even license him. I have Judah licensed but what a pain in the ass that was. No one knew what the hell they were doing and it took more than five phone calls and then more phone calls when I actually got to the office to find someone who knew what was going on. It was ridiculous and not at all worth the time. Plus I don't want them knowing I have a "pit bull" in case they want to confiscate him. Over. My. Dead. Body.
People were appalled when others were saying they would seriously injur/kill whoever tried to take away their dogs. Um, yeah. They would take Judah or Israel away only after prying my cold dead hands off of them.

Where was I...?
Oh yes. House hunting.

This house is so darling. It has a large yard that needs to be fenced in properly but I've found a great alternative that's half the price of any other type of fencing--and it's not permanent so if I moved I could take it with me. I can already picture the garden I would have and the landscaping and the goldfish pond! My goal/dream is to have a 300 gallon pond for the fish to live in rather than a twenty-nine gallon or even fifty-eight gallon aquarium. I would probably keep fish inside anyway during the winter but during the summer I would definitely keep them outside. Then they could get huge.
I'm going to have a cat-proof fence so I can let Omaha outside and not worry about her escaping and I want to get more cats and have them mainly outdoors but access to the inside. And they would eat birds and mice and all things cats should eat. Omaha will have to realize that, too.
I want some rabbits. Or just one. I don't know. That's for later, not right away. Maybe a ferret or two. I think I want a ferret mostly because they're part of the weasel family and they would eat raw meat, too. I really like owning carnivores because it makes you realize just how special they are and amazing but then too I want to have some strict herbivores. Even the goldfish are omnivores! So a rabbit, maybe, or birds like finches.
Rats! If I could find a way to get over my allergy I would have a rat room. It was always my dream to have a special room set aside just for a colony of rats. I know it's silly but I can still picture all of the custom changes I would make--like shelves all over the walls for them to climb on, real tree branches to gnaw and scurry over, a small pool to dive in, hammocks and boxes and toys everywhere, and anyway....I miss having rats something awful.

Well, I've got to go put on a bra (do I have to?) and pick up my little sister from school.