Kentucky House Hunting Part #2

So, I was wrong.  I admit it.  That last house we were on the way to see when I left you in Part#1? It was awesome!  It was THE house.  It was the right price, in a great neighborhood, and had everything we wanted!  Rock On!I will not miss leaving the house hunting race, really.  I will not miss the animal smells, the ghosts, the collapsing ceilings for $950, the taken over schools/meth community for $1150, landladies that look as if they will keel over at any minute prompting us to have to move agin when her kids decide to sell, $1300 for downtown loft with one bathroon and big stairs, the houses where owners family surrounds the house..ie "somebody's eyes are watching", the "nice" community behind the federal pen and federal prison work camp(where none other than our own illustrious Arch Moore did his time), and last but not least the biggest disappointment we found.  I left it out in Part #1!
     So the first day of house hunting had not brought us any luck.  We continued to drive around looking.  We got hopelessly lost.  Did we stop and ask directions you ask? Bahahah! Nope, we are the fearless house hunters.  We dont need no stinkin directions! So eventually we come upon a community that looks very promising.  Could it be? A decent condo complex? We drive down the street of one floor homes with garages and porches.  Exactly what we had been looking for.  We began to get excited! Then we round the bend and there is a high rise condo building!  It was all newer construction, and very neat.  Then we come upon the office and the clubhouse.  My dearest hubbie excitedly kicks the car into park, and is getting out to get more information from the office, when we suddenly realize why there is a surplus of buicks in the parking lot. Yep, its an old folks community! A retirement home! Looked good to us! Too good to be true!  So he hops back in the car, and proceeds to get the heck out of old people village. I think we actually passed a person out for a stroll in a wheelchair! We both laughed so hard I thought that we were going to pee out pants!
     So there are some interesting facts we have come upon in our travels, and the Kentucky experience thus far.  #1-You can hit the local McDonalds drive thru for a $1 bag of ice.  A big bag, that is cheaper than  your local grocer. #2-No one is aware of any prisoner EVER escaping from the aformentioned jails(very odd..every person got the same glazed over look when responding to the escape rate question..like they had all been brainwashed to respond with the same answer...yeah and there was no meth problem in Wurtland either!!) #3-People do not seem to be as friendly as I am used to, having lived in WV all my life, and last but not least...#4-you will not publicly display any inkling of loyalty to any team other than UK.  You will not display other colors, souveneirs, team paraphenalia,or framed degrees from any other institution.  If caught with any of said items in your office or on your desk, you will be called out on it immediately, and will be advised you have been warned.  Living in Kentucky requires that you give up, or pretend to give up all other team loyalties, and that you are only permitted to bleed blue and white. No green and white or blue and gold.

Kentucky House Hunting Part #1

Hi.  It's been a while. Since I last blogged, there have been many life changing events that have occurred.  My mothers death, almost bleeding to death, subsequent surgery, all the first holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries without my mommy, my husband getting transferred to Kentucky, going to Atlantis in the Bahamas, the birth of my brothers first baby, and house hunting in Kentucky.
     So one thing at a time.  Today, we are house hunting.  Can I just say that I am not impressed with the slim pickins' for rent in the city we are moving to in Kentucky.  I am impressed with the downtown loft apartment, that is above our budget, and with downtown living in general.  It is close to both the riverfront park, and Central Park. I am not impressed with the lack of closet space, only one bathroom, lack of a yard, and no motorcycle storage. On the upside, its super cute, walking distance to almost everything, across the street from my hubbies work, in the downtown art community, and is ultra modern. On the downside, we need to find something soon because my hubbie is stressed out, has a two and a half hour commute most days, is worn out, and we don't see him as much as we are used to. The alternative is him/us staying in Ky during the week and going home to WV during the weekend.  That is not acceptable.
     The condition of rental houses that we have looked at thus far, is deplorable. One was behind the federal penitentiary and the federal prison work camp. Another was awesome, but was beside the schools the State had just taken over for being so horrible, and in a meth stricken community. As evidenced by the man who shot his wife and toddler three blocks down from said house, a week an a half later. Yup, right-o. Not going there. Plus there was a $250 late fee, if rent was payed 1 minute after it was due. And the fact that the landlord swore the meth infested community was the next town over. Can we say warning signs?       
      So needless to say, house hunting has become very frustrating. I am keeping a good attitude, but I must say that I am not impressed with our new city yet.     The next house we looked at was an older house. It was cute, with a sun room, a backyard and deck, and space.  THEN we opened the basement door. Keep in mind that the landlord had told us that they had just bleached the whole house. The smell that came out of the basement, permeated the entire house. It smelled at best description, like a animal shelter slaughterhouse. Did I mention that 2/3 of our family has animal related allergies? Then another house we looked at this morning, the neighborhood was deplorable and the ceilings were falling down. There were more downsides, but again as soon as we walked in the doorway, the stench of animal(s) hit us like a brick wall. Thank you, but NO thank you. Did I mention the three obviously unemployed, unkempt creepy neighbors that sat on the porch watching us the whole time we were on the porch and and getting in and out of our car? Sooo not digging that house either. Wouldn't want to wake up in the middle of the Chainsaw Massacre or anything.
     We drove past a house we had liked previously, but ruled out for space restrictions, because it was starting to look like a castle...and it was rented. Then we looked at another house, space and yard were perfect, but the house had a stinking dog too. Phooey! It was also across the river back in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.(We are suppose to relocate to Kentucky.)
     We looked at an executive apartment community with a seawater pool, and a playground, but there is a waiting list for three bedroom units. So there is one more house we are going to look at this evening. I must admit I do not have much hope for this prospect either, I seriously hope I am wrong.
     How could have I forgotten the hugest issue? Cost. Everything is so very much more expensive! I guess it's an old money city, and nobody ever moves! Every house is $100-500 more expensive than our current cost of roof over head, and our rent is not cheap! I am not impressed with the issue of less for more!
     The funny part of all of this? My hubbie must go to work every day, to a very old building, that reminds one of a brothel! Yes, I said brothel. The lobby walls are brick red.  It's interesting to say the least! I don't know why, but it reminds me of the old gigantic mansion, in the French quarter, that Lestat lives in, in the movie, Interview With a Vampire!