[Elspode]

Thanks, guys. Housing is pretty much insane here in the US as well, but *much, much* less insane here in the Heartland than it is elsewhere. When I showed the pics of the place to my old girlfriend (who lives in hills above Dodger Stadium in LA), she thought I was buying a million dollar spread. She was actually shocked when I told her it was 165k.

Today was tantalizing and frustrating at the same time. We were to have closed yesterday, but our mortgage company didn't get the paperwork done in time, so closing is pushed to Monday. However, we had arranged with the owner to be able to start moving stuff over there today, despite the fact that she was not in fact going to be moved out yet. We didn't get to go over there until 5:00 because she *still* wasn't done (she told us she'd be done by noon), and so all we were able to haul over was three carloads of boxes and our considerable potted plant collection. Well, that, and the camper, which *had* to be moved so that the PODS truck can transport the very, very full PODS container on Monday.

The whole family is pretty excited and energized about the new place, though, and spending some time over there today just reinforced that. Still much, much work ahead.