I like to announce important things on a Wednesday in December, it seems, so here’s the big news for this year: I’m under contract to buy a house!

The search was long; the houses were many. I wondered if it was worth it. I wondered if I could go on. I was disappointed and then I was indecisive and then grim determination set in. In the last two weeks of wrangling over offers and addenda there have been innumerable setbacks, but I have emerged triumphant with a signed acceptance on new construction that is only nine blocks south of my desired area.

A new house! That’s still being built! That has no upstairs neighbors! That has two bathrooms and room for Toby and modern conveniences like an attached garage! And I am buying it for myself–no one is buying it for me, no one is buying it with me. It’s mine…

My own…

MY PRECIOUS!!!