Welcome to Suburbia

So its official...Maniac and I are old. We have given up city life for a house in the suburbs. Granted, we've been renting in the suburbs for about 9 months prior to this shocking move down the highway, but at least that was renting. And technically we still had a city zip code, could walk to the city bus stop, and it was a 5 minute drive to the little hip areas that make up Atlanta proper.

I love a city, I really, really do. A little part of my youth, OK a big part of my youth, has been sacrificed over the last couple years. I got married (I'm too young to be married!)...to a guy with kids!! (I'm too young to have kids!)...moved to the south (I'm too...educated?.. to move to the south!*)...and bought a house in the suburbs (I am to young to buy/move to the suburbs!)

But you know what? It all feels right. I met a great man, with wonderful children, we live near a college campus and the house is perfect for us at this time in our life.

Its a nice sized split-level in a good area, near our work and schools, and a great backyard. I love the city life, but I also love to get away and have my moment in the sun, in the grass, under the trees...without worrying about being mugged or laying in dog poop or running into someone you kinda know from that place you went to with whats her name. How is she doing anyway??

While I'll miss the hustle of the city, I won't miss being hustled by homeless. While I miss the convenience of walking home from a bar, I won't miss the fear of traveling on public systems at night, drunk.

Plus I have a wonderful place to raise my step-kids and possibly my own, if this rapid aging doesn't stop soon ...(I'm too young to give birth!)


*Tongue in cheek humor....sorta...

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New Pardy house

So Ive been searching for a new home. My lease is up in August, and I havent been feeling very welcome in the house I live in for some time. So, upon getting my new job, I've been house searching in DC. I'm sick at the thought that I actually dropped 12 large on rent this past year. I haven't been too worried at this thought since it was pretty much all on your dime(thanks) as it was included in my housing allowance.
The places I started looking was in my much traveled haunt of capitol hill. However, much to my disappointment, most of the homes in the area are going for a million dollars and more without breaking a sweat. The area that is affordable is bullet dodging Southeast. this is like living in Compton or some John Singleton film. so i bypass this prospect. What is pretty cool however is Ive found a few cool houses that are in my price range, and if i had a credit history, Id be good to hook. So Im waiting to get some paperwork back on a loan so I can move the hell in, and have my own place. Its in Southeast, but a good part. Or at least a part thats affordable, and safe. or at least safe by DC standards. Which is a sad commentary in and of itself. If I get the house I want we'll be able to have cool Karaoke nights, cocktail hours before happy hours, and another safe house across the Metro DC area. Safe house? oh yeah. adding to the list of safe houses already established in:
Dupont Circle
Alexandria, VA
By having a home closer to RFK, we create a Bermuda Trianlge of coolness. Add Shila and her friend's house out in Ballston, and it's a sweet diamond.

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