I'm clinging to San Francisco until they pull me away kicking and screaming. Which feels like it might happen the way the tech boom is driving the City l lately.

Same here. Our building's under a trust, so it can't be sold & we can't get kicked out (& we have rent control), but still. I worry.

Pretty house, Jess!

Consuela, I hope you feel better.

NYC is all about making you feel you failed, even if you still live there.

I won New York City! I have a great apartment in a great neighborhood, near stuff like this. It's paid off, I'm only paying maintenance, and I'm shielded against rent increases and I can't be evicted.

The only problem is that everyone else leaves NYC ☹.

I tripped last night, split my eyebrow, have a teeny black eye and broke my cool new glasses -- you know, the newest ones I've g=had in 7 years?

We're going to have to get you a giant hamster ball, aren't we?

Ugh, that's a bummer, Strix. I remember falling and giving myself a shiner a couple years ago. I felt like an eejit.

Wraps Strix in bubble wrap

Today is the appraisal on the house. I want it to appraise at or above list, but maybe lower than my offer. The buyer has committed to lowering the price to match the appraisal if it falls between list and offer. Not that I'm worried about paying what I offered, but a reduction would be a nice bonus.

One thing I loved about living in Alameda was that it was like living in the 'burbs, but right next to everything. I'm currently living in Stepford Wives level suburbs and I can't wait to move. The townhouse is technically in Denver but has a non-Denver zip code.

Strix - I'm confused - are you not getting the new house or are you moving to a temp place while the reno finishes on the new rental? And take care of yourself - no more bumps and bruises.

We have to be out of This House by April 9. We move into Awesome Temp House April 9 to May 1, then move into Amazing Permanent(ish) house May 1-2, because the precious tenants' lease goes until then, even though they are mostly moved out and reno is going on.

Yes, bubble wrap, please. I don't care much about the face damage -- I'll tell people I beat up a mugger -- but THE GLASSES!!!! NOOOO!

On Saturday, a friend dropped by to hang with Housemate. No biggie, I was headed out for a few errands myself. When I came back, they were in the living room watching DVDs. Seating in the living room is minimal because any flat surface was a storage space to Hubby, and it hasn't been a priority to me. I'm focused on floor space and big things. A couple of hours later, Housemate says "casually" "I'm glad we're getting things cleaned up. We might even have space to sit in the living room soon!" I blinked at him for a moment and said, "Eventually, yes." "It'll be great." "When we get there, yes."

The thing is, I don't want him to help. I've had him help shift heavy/awkward things or take things out to the garbage. But I'm the only one who can pass judgement on the stuff, and he has a remarkable ability to step over actual trash related to his cat. (As for his cat, I clean the litter box, because he has hellacious allergies that would put him on the floor wheezing if he did it. I dislike cleaning cat boxes, but it needs done. He thanks me every month or so.)

So, granted, he lives here, the house should be more habitation rather than storage facility. But I don't think I'm completely unjustified for being snarked at his passive-aggressive "There isn't a place for guests to sit!" thing. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, there's not room for visitors, so visitors don't come over--or if they do, they hang out on the porch or the backyard, they don't come over for anime viewing.

We're going to have to get you a giant hamster ball, aren't we?

Oh Strix! Do you remember the horse race games at carnivals where everybody shoots water into the clown's mouth, or rolls balls into a hole to make their horse advance until there is a winner and a stuffed animal is awarded?

I feel like you just advanced your horse into the lead ahead of Ginger and Hil.