Neighborhood Watch 1

** I have a feeling that our neighbors are going to be a recurring subject in these blogs. **

Some new neighbors moved into the foreclosed house across the street from us. They are very loud people, and I mean that to describe not only the level of their voices but the nature of their personalities. They are really nice people and came over to talk to us the first day they arrived. They are older, I would say in their 40's and they have a few old/teenage kids. The man of the house pulled his Harley Davidson into the garage and we thought "oh, that's loud but is probably fun for them."

Fast forward to today. The neighbors have had quite a few big get togethers at their house with all of their friends (I dont' know how they go their house ready so quickly for that many visitors. But yesterday's "get-together" took the cake. Remember how I mentioned he had a Harley? Well.... apparently he's in a motorcycle gang. No kidding you, we were working in the backyard and heard all these revving engines that could only belong to Harleys. Yep, Harleys. About 15 of them decided to park at the neighbors house and hang out in the front yard in their leathers and talk in really loud voices like they were still in a crowded bar. We could hear every word they were saying. Standing outside drinking beer and smoking cigarettes in their leathers and appropriated club t-shirts.

While all of this was going on, the noise was driving the 3 rottweilers, chihuahua and dachshund next door insane. So all they did was bark for 2 solid hours. Another neighbor of ours across the street (and next door to the biker gang) decided that now would be a perfect time to come outside to see if she couldn't get a little attention. She's an older, bigger-set TALL black lady who wears a blond mop-looking wig. From far away she looks like a drag queen. I have yet to see her from closer than our front yard. She came outside with her bucket and rag, in her tank top and short shorts, and started to wash her car in her driveway.

Just another quiet, peaceful day in suburbia. I never imagined that a weekend would deem our house louder than any apartment I've ever lived in. But at least I can tolerate the noise because I have a yard to do work in, a garage to straighten up, and a house with dual-paned windows to block out the sound.

Our new house

So Neil and I are all moved into our new house; things are finally out of their boxes and in their general areas of belonging. It's been a rough couple of months, filled with many happy and memorable moments worthy of a good story telling years down the road.

Being a home owner is everything they say it is. Exciting, but extremely terrifying. I am constantly worrying about how we're going to have enough money for this, and what if we don't have enough money for that. I just have to keep praying that God will keep providing means as he has so generously in the past.

We've been in the house two weeks now. The spa is leaking and we've rendered it useless. My body is still in bad shape and I'll be seeing a specialist next week. Each one of those doctor visits costs me $20... even if I am only there for a referral or a consultation. And then on the way to work this morning my car decided it wanted to take the opportunity to remind me that it is in fact old... by over heating. Damn. What's the next thing? I haven't even sent in the first payment to the mortgage and already I' m feeling overwhelmed. Hopefully we'll find a way though. We always have in the past.

Anyway. Thing are great in the house. It's nice to have our own garage and driveway and front lawn to mow. The only problem we have at the moment with the neighbors is the guy next door has 3 rottweilers that like to bark whenever you go outside (or breathe!)

But for our first two weeks in suburbia, I'd say we're doing just fine. I'll post some pictures when we're further along in the stages of decor.