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January 06, 2007
I Love Signs
You know, I hate it when people leave their holiday decorations up far past their intended season. I usually give people a week's grace period before I start getting irritated, which means I have exactly one day to change my blog masthead before I flog myself for being everything I hate.
But that's not what I'm here to write about. I'm here to write about our house-shopping trip to Prettytown.
If you're a long-time reader of my blog - or if you started reading yesterday - you're aware of several things: 1) my love of Wilco, 2) my strong desire to move to a town I refer to as Prettytown, and 3) my ability to base my entire life and every decision I make on any happenstance coincidence that might possibly be a sign.
I'm open, Universe! Tell me what to do and I'll do it!
This morning we packed the vehicle for a full morning of house-viewing. The first song to shuffle up? Wilco's I'm the Man Who Loves You. Sure, I took that as a sign, because damn near every time I go to Prettytown, hometown boy Jeff Tweedy will come onto my iPod in one form or another. Not surprising, since I do have a great deal of Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Golden Smog, Loose Fur and his solo stuff on my iPod. If I was a fan of doing senseless math, I'd love to give you the odds on a Jeff Tweedy-related song shuffling up during any 45-minute drive.
This time, it was different. Clara Jane, in the past, has showed an affinity for several Wilco songs. She loves Candyfloss, among a few others. But today, something in her toddler brain snapped when "I'm the Man Who Loves You" ended. "I want to hear it again!" Okay!
She repeated that sentence after every single repeated play of that song. We listened to it for the entire 45-minute drive to Prettytown. While driving between houses we were viewing, she begged to listen to it, even though there really wasn't enough time. She listened to it for our entire ride home.
Then she woke up from her nap. What did she ask? "Can I listen to Wilco on your pomcuter?" Which we did. I managed to veer her away from that one song a few times, Like, five or six times. Otherwise, it was another straight hour of the same song, with Clara Jane eventually partaking in her own nude guitar solos. With dancing, of course.
I'm not sure, but I think we've listened to "I'm the Man Who Loves You" 497 times in the past 12 hours. This could mean several things: 1) Clara Jane's inherited my musical quirks, 2) Clara Jane's inherited my affinity for signs, superstitions, and luck-inducing quirks, or 3) Clara Jane's just plain quirky.
I turned off the music during her bathtime because Christ, as much as I love Wilco, even I need a break every now and then. In absence of that song, she sat in the tub and mimicked the opening guitar riff with her voice. I must say, she's got it down-pat.
All I can see is black and white and white and pink with blades of blue that lay between the words I think on a page I was meaning to send to you I couldn't tell if it'd bring my heart the way I wanted when I started writing this letter to you but if I could you know I would just hold your hand and you'd understand I'm the man who loves you.
I'm sorry, but sometimes when you've heard a song 497 times in a 12-hour period, you've got to sing the first verse and chorus to get the damn thing to go away already before she wakes up in 11 hours and it starts again!
As for the houses ...
The first one was delightful, but too much money for what it was. The second one was an absolute no, just like the fourth one.
But the third one? The one I've been talking about for months, that I thought we'd lost? This one?
In November, B. decided we needed to look at this house so we could get over it already. Either we'd find out it was a rat trap and we could get on with our lives, or we'd fall in love and it would light a much-needed fire under our asses.
The latter happened.
I didn't want to leave. It's perfect. Well, not perfect. Perfect for us. It's over twice the size of our current house. It's in good shape. It's beautiful and different and fun and it just feels like we're supposed to be there.
We're going to talk to our sellers agent this week. Our house is going on the market. With any luck, our days in the Redneck Jungle are numbered.
Just to be safe, I'm setting "I'm the Man Who Loves You" on repeat and I'm not turning it off until I'm sitting in the formal dining room in front of the mosaic-tile fireplace in nothing but my underwear, drinking a bottle of Stag Beer.
Posted by Robin at January 6, 2007 09:02 PM
Comments
Charming! I love it and wish you the best house buying mojo.
Posted by: Melissa at January 6, 2007 11:46 PM
My daughter was reading over my shoulder while I was reading this entry wherein you passed along the I'm the Man Who Loves You song -- even though I'm listening to Uncle Tupelo, I'm singing I'm the Man Who Loves You in my head. Anyway, my daughter thinks you should buy this house. :) She said, and I quote, "Tell her to buy that house. I like it."
Posted by: Katya at January 7, 2007 12:21 AM
I LOVE the house! It is so cute and gorgeous and perfect, and I will cry if you don't end up there.
Posted by: Meghan at January 7, 2007 12:45 AM
I screams of character. I sure hope it works out for you.
Posted by: Kathie at January 7, 2007 07:54 AM
You know I love pointy-roofed brick gingerbread houses! Good luck with selling your current house, too. Remember, the less stuff laying around, the more interested a buyer will be. Trust me, we looked at almost 100 houses......
Posted by: allison at January 7, 2007 08:29 AM
Mojomojomojomojomojo!
Posted by: liz at January 7, 2007 12:18 PM
Ya know, I loved it then, and I love it now. Good luck, send you lots of sparklies to get the house of your dreams.
Cassie
Posted by: Cassie at January 7, 2007 03:06 PM
Your little quirk family needs a little quirk filled house and that's the right house for y'all. I don't know if you need luck or prayers or good vibes or what but I can wish you luck and pray and if needed vibrate until you sign the contract.
Posted by: Dixie at January 7, 2007 03:29 PM
YAY!!!!! That's all I can say now: yay!!
Posted by: Exena at January 7, 2007 04:11 PM
Robin, the house is just lovely and perfect for your family. Hopes and wishes go out to you.
Posted by: JO at January 8, 2007 01:45 AM
