h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've spent most of today inside, watching the rain come down more sideways than not. The beautiful leaves cover the streets. There is a cold bite in the air that makes me feel excited.

I'm getting a great deal of overtime at work. And I'm starting to think seriously about going back to school. I've been out since January of 2004. Still, it seems like I have so far to go; and I'd have to go part-time since I'm supporting myself now. Sometimes I wonder about entering an apprenticeship program, maybe do something like become an electrician. Sure, it would be a real dream to be a librarian, but I'm really only halfway to my first degree, and I'd need a masters.

I'm also kind of looking for a house to buy. At least to have as a rental. I have a few projects at home to keep me occupied, like painting a bedroom and bathroom, replacing some outdated light fixtures, adjusting grade to prevent water collecting under the house, cleaning out my storage unit, selling stuff I don't need; you know just life in general.

My roomate and I were considering going in halvesies on a fixer. That should read FIXER. It has been sorely neglected for at least twenty years; there are moss and ferns growing on the roof, the deck is unsafe to walk on, the old field fences are sagging terribly. You can see where ivy was allowed to grow on the siding, and a downspout has been re-routed and makes me suspect that there may be drainage problems. It is on a steep hillside, so has a partially unfinished walk-out basement and really incredible views (once the trees are thinned and the ivy out). It's on half an acre adjacent to an open-space park, the neighborhood is really great and quiet. The original mid-century architecture is intact, with good panelling and hardwood floors, and two fireplaces (I wonder, in what kind of shape the flues are). Fixed up, it would easily go for more than twice what we would pay for it, and we could do quite a bit of work ourselves. But it's a LOT of work--the windows are original, there has been no updating of plumbing fixtures, counters, cabinets, appliances, etc. Just to move in, we'd need to re-roof, at least tear out the old deck, and put good fences up. The house would be very difficult for the average household to finance, but the two of us would be able to do it and make the improvements. However, it's a LOT of work.

Well, I guess we'll think about it for a while.