In!

Hi, there! I missed you! I couldn't wait to tell y'all about it, but I just now got me some DSL back. Let me catch you up with a lil photo-blog, okay?

The ex-owner got his shit out on Friday. I got the call when I woke up that the key was in hiding, and I should high-tail it over to make sure nothing was vastly wrong in the place, so I had no time to collect anyone to go with me to open the door for the first time. I got in the car and drove over, nervous as hell.

I found the key.

I gave a hop and carried myself across the threshold. The only other thing I carried was this:

It's my unfinished novel, all 500+ pages of it. I wanted to honor the fact that this will be my home while I finish this book, and we came in together. Yep.

So. We're in. This is how I feel.

Pretty mushy, huh? Yeah, you're right. I was all sappy'n'stuff. I took a walk through, all on my own, in my new home. MY NEW HOME. (I'm still not over it.)

I called Marama to thank her for being the one person who did the absolute most for me through all this house-buying stuff. If she hadn't believed in me like she did, if she hadn't encouraged me to keep going with it on an absolutely daily basis, I would have given up. And look at me now!

Then my peeps started coming over. First, my La arrived, bearing flowers and dogs. (Oh, my god, read her "update (annotated)" entry about my move. I rolled.) Here she is, trying to open the wee bottle of champah-nya that I brought with me -- we never did pop that sucker. I suppose we could have smashed the bottle on the balcony, like they do on ship prows, but then I'd just have to clean it up.

Then my girls arrived, sisters Christy and Bethany.

We had to celebrate my favorite part of my new abode:

Have I mentioned how I feel about my clawfoot bathtub? This is how I feel about my clawfoot bathtub:

This is how Harriet feels about hardwood floors. I feel the same way. I would have done the same thing, but I had company over:

Okay. There. I wanted to get these posted. In the next post I'll give you pics of what it looks like now. I've still got a ton of boxes to unpack, but it does feel like a home now. And better yet, it feels like my home. That's just CRAYZEE. Really.

You did it! All those crossed needles! All those wonderful, loving thoughts! You did it! You were right there with me! If I owe you an email, I'll hit you back soon, but know that I love and adore all y'all. THANK YOU!

Comments

[Jessica]

Yippeee! Happy home ownership!

[froggy]

Yay!!!!! Great things DO happen to the most wonderful people! I am so happy for you and can't wait for your next post.

[Marta]

It is SO exciting!!!! I want to see MORE pictures of your new home.

[jody]

reading your post reminded me of how i felt on my moving day -- so elated, so unbelieveably excited that i did it all by myself!

have tons of fun, m'dear. you deserve it :)

[jody]

ps - is that cromarty who came along for the inaugural walk thru? how fitting ;)

[Marie]

I'm so glad everything worked out. Have a happy time creating your space.

[Christy]

Clawfoot tubs kick ass. My parents have one and I still miss it every time I try to take a dunk in my shallow little apartment tub.

I am so happy for you!

[Amy Boogie]

I'm glad he high-tailed it out of there so you didn't have to do anything drastic. WOOHOOO! you home owner, you.

[maryse]

yay! what beautiful floors you have. i got all mushy too when i set foot in my place the first time (i also got all mushy when i left).

i'm looking forward to "the" tour

[maeve]

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! It looks beautiful! I'm so excited for you - congrats! :)

[Wendy]

Congrats, sweetie! I am SO happy for you!

[Iris]

No, YOU did it, honeybun.

Congrats!! Enjoy your new home, and scoot along the hardwood floors all you want. It's yours!!

[claudia]

Hey you homeowner, you! Congratulations.

[sUsAn]

Congrats, Rachael! Love that tub! Enjoy your new home!!!!

[jee]

YES! The trials are over. Only the fun remains...

[Celia]

Homo-ner: I love you three sisters in the tub. What a great celebration!

[Em]

OK, I'm really not awake enough yet to write anything pithy and smart. But I'm really really happy for you and can feel the waves of satisfaction and joy all the way over here. Mwah!

[Kay]

Congrats on your new bathtub! (And all the rest!) xoxox Kay

[Steph]

So when's the housewarming? I might have to visit to try out that tub!

Super happy for you (and you look great in Cromarty).

[Elisa]

Wow - not only did you buy a house (and how cool is THAT?) but you bought one in California!!! I left San Jose in 2000 because I knew there was no way I'd be able to buy something that wasn't in Watsonville. Or Lodi. Of course, I moved to Boston, so that doesn't say much for my logic...

Congrats on the house - I've been reading your blog for a while, but didn't want to send the congrats until it was a done deal (thus angering the homeowner gods)!

I can't wait to see more fabulous pics of your lovely new home. :)

[Carol]

Oh, sweetie! You're a homeowner!!!!!!!!!!

[Vicki]

Woohoo! A clawfoot tub and hardwood floors -- doesn't get much better 'n that! Very appropriate attire for such a wonderful occasion, too. ; ) Congrats to you (again).

[Cari]

Woohoo! You did it!

(homeowner) MWAH!

[melissa j]

simply awesome. congratulations and i hope you continue to revel in your clawfoot tub. the inaugural bath should be a long one, with bubbles. :)

[Sonja]

Oh darlin', I squealed with glee when I saw your "In" title. I was worried about you stressing. So happy our lovely is in her nest all cozy with loved ones, yarn and all that good schtuff. Looks like a bright, cheery home. How fitting for you!