As if December 31, I officially became a homeowner. At a later time I will write about that process, because it was just like people who have been through the process talk about the results. When you are in the middle of it the process is maddening, after it is over, you are so grateful it’s over you gloss over the bad parts. Once things have settled down, after a year or so, the process is edited to a fond memory with some minor issues in the mix.

Because of some odd circumstances, I have until March 1 to actually move into the place. I’m using the time to get as much of the ‘little things’ accomplished. I posted a picture of some shopping I did on December 31, which I said was only the beginning of getting the house ready. Man, it has only been two days and every waking moment has been thinking about how to decorate the home. HGTV has been my website of choice. I have gotten some ideas from the design shows. Oh, and I had forgotten about the magic of Queer Eye! I watched two episodes on YouTube and I got four great cost saving ideas, some style tips and Kyle helpful hints about hydration.

The company hating me right now is WalMart. It’s their fault. For some reason, even though I have bought things online from them before, they are denying me from purchasing items because they can’t ‘verify me’ according to the email I got when they canceled an order I placed with them. They didn’t mind using my credit card when I was in the store. The issue has gone on for a few months and when it happened at first I tried to investigate it, I was told I would be contacted about it and I never heard from them. I did a little boycott at the time, which was easy to do since I wasn’t planning on buying a huge amount of items from them. Now I’m so mad it’s on like Donkey Kong! I’ve got a substantial budget (thank you for covering closing cost former owner) and WalMart would have been helpful in furnishing the place but I’m taking most of my business elsewhere.

Seven years ago I had this idea of what my dream home would be. It was going to be this science fiction shrine, which in retrospect was kind of going to look like some vomiting geek man-cave. Time and maturity (ok maybe just time) has made me decide on something a bit more subtle in presentation. I’m still early in the process, so there is an evolution on how things will work out, but I figure the display of AD&D figurines isn’t going to happen, nor will the four walls filled with comic books.

The first change I noticed when it finally sunk in I was a homeowner was going to places like Target and Best Buy. I spend more time in the appliance and housewares sections than I do in electronics. Now, when I’m looking at the Fry’s Electronics newspaper ad, I’m focused more on the refrigerators and small appliances rather than the big screen TVs and new tablets. I’ve had a number of sweet lens sitting in my cart area on Amazon, but I have pushed them back because of pots and pan sets and furniture. I think the slight domestication is a good thing because my apartments have never felt like my home. They have been places I hang out at but I never could put my signature on things. In my home I can do that.

Oh, did I score big time on the stuff the previous owner left! There was a microwave (not part of the purchase agreement), a sleek Black and Decker toaster, a high end vacuum cleaner, an ironing board and a few other items I didn’t need but glad they are here.

My new home is only a few blocks away from my soon to be former apartment. I kid you not but when I get slightly bored at the apartment I walk over to my home and start planning out design stuff in my head. I haven’t slept at my home yet but I figure with some orders I’ve made scheduled for delivery in the next week or so, I might stay at my home longer. It will all depend on how long the power will be on at my home. I’m doing all of the activations of utilities probably in mid-February and I don’t know how long the current power is scheduled for. Speaking of utilities, I’m a little mad at DishTV. The previous owner has a dish, I don’t need nor want it but I have to pay them to come remove it! I checked online and the bottom line is they don’t care about the dish. I’m lucky they didn’t mount it on the roof. It’s on the balcony anchored by a massive amount of brick blocks. I might try to repurpose the dish but I wish I could get DishTV to take it away. It seems a waste to throw it away, but if I can’t use it, trash it will be.