Still riding high after having a successful offer on a house, I quit working early yesterday to play a round of golf. My initial intention was to play 9, but the course only allows you to pay for the full 18, so I played a full round. Overall, I’m very happy with how I played, even though my putting deserted me.
The absolute best part of the round were my drives, and a fair portion of my irons. I was paired up with three other guys, and it’s gratifying to have 20-30 yards on them off the tee.
An offer was made on Sunday, and after some haggling and counter-offers, followed by counter-counter-offers, they accepted my purchase price and I accepted they get to keep the pot rack. With a close date in early June, I have enough time to pick out my own pot rack.
With any luck, my place will sell this weekend during the open house.
Wednesday’s house viewing trip yielded some good results. There’s one primary candidate, and a couple secondaries. I’m taking a second look this weekend and I’ll probably make an offer on Sunday.
I’ve spent most of the week cleaning my condo, and it’s easily the cleanest it’s ever been. While the place is clean, I’m exhausted. Sitting on my ass all day in front of a laptop is different from actually moving around all day, struggling to get the fucking streaks out of a couple hundred square feet of glass. Whoever makes Glass Plus can kiss a whole lot of my ass right about now.
My agent listed the condo Wednesday afternoon and there’s a good deal of interest. West Bucktown is hot right now, so I’m hoping for multiple offers.
I need to post the final pics of the condo. I’ll try to get to that over the weekend.
Just back from Albuquerque. While the trip was fun, I have to admit that it’s probably the ugliest place I’ve visited. (That’s right New Jersey, there’s hope for you yet!) The adobe houses are only shades of brown. And not a rich, interesting brown. Think poop. Adobe covered in poop. Not a blue, red or green house to be seen. Even the Sandia Casino is two-tone brown. Depressing.
I won’t be moving there. Ever.
I’m not sure if the Albuquerque city council has heard about zoning laws, but they really need to pick up a copy of ‘City Planning for Dummies.’ Residential streets with factories, storage, or whatever next to them looks ugly. House, house, shipping center, oil change place, house, etc.
On the other hand, it was probably some of the toughest golf I’ve played. Sandia’s golf course is extremely difficult, especially with 30 mph winds. If your ball lands off the fairway, good luck. It’s like hitting out of kitty litter.
The second course I played was the UNM (Go Lobos!) Championship Course. Showed up at 3pm and got the sunset rate: $25 with cart! And I played solo. The winds were still fierce, but I was able to get in a good round. Desert golf appeals to me. Too bad Albuquerque is so damn ugly.
Some of the food was excellent. High Noon, in Old Town Albuquerque, was the food highlight of the trip. If you’re visiting, skip Seasons, which is right across the street. The menu was so unimpressive that we left after just one drink. (The only reason to visit Seasons is for the relatively attractive hostesses.)
For most food choices, from breakfast to dinner, you have two options: red chili or green chili. Doesn’t matter what you’re actually eating. Eggs? Red or green chili. Steak? Red or green. EVERYTHING comes covered with something. Asking for it on the side means you’re from out of town.
Despite my negative attitude about it, Albuquerque is a nice place to visit for a few days. But if you have options, visit Vegas or Phoenix instead.
Packing up for a short trip to Albuquerque, where I’m hoping there will be much golf and not much talking. This is really a scouting trip to another city in the Southwest, while I determine where to move after I’m fed up with the Chicago winters. We’re staying with friends of the gf and how that will turn out is anybody’s guess. I’m leaving my Powerbook behind so I can fully dedicate myself to golf.
In other news, the house hunting has officially begun. Earlier this week I looked at about 8 different places - everything from condos under construction to tear-downs. The most interesting prospect was a huge, 6 bedroom house in Logan Square. No idea why I’d need or want 6 bedrooms when I have furniture for 1 of them, but it *would* be a great investment.
But I could come back on Monday and move the Phoenix or Albuquerque. Who knows?
DC isn’t all bad. Tonight I had drinks next to Anwan Glover, who plays Slim Charles on HBO’s series ‘The Wire’. If you’re not familiar with the series, Slim is an enforcer for the Barksdale crew. He’s the guy with the gravel voice and cold stare taking orders from Avon.
I asked him about the next season, and he assured me it was worth waiting for. Possibly 14 episodes, starting in September. While you can’t tell from the show, he’s like 6′5″. Very nice guy, despite the gun charge. I think he was happy to be recognized in public by a white guy. 
The NPR building is just outside my hotel window, accompanied by the Washington Convention Center and the City Museum. Based on the homeless collection, the City Museum must have a warm doorway.
I had plans for this blog entry, but there’s nothing going on. Five wakeups to go.
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03 30th, 2006| 
