Monday, June 30, 2008

Waco Fun

Warning: This is a long blog entry so read only if you have the time!
So, our trip to Waco thus far has been tiring. We arrived in Dallas, Texas and after waiting an hour to get our rental car we were on our way to Waco. We arrived at our hotel and then immediately went out to find a place to live. We looked all afternoon and into the evening. We found a couple of areas that we really liked in Hewitt, Texas which is just south of Waco. We decided that this area was probably the area to shoot for. The next day we went to the Waco second ward and were greeted very well. We were invited to eat dinner with some very nice members, thank you Keller family, and were given a lot of good advice on where to look for housing by others. We also met a couple who were moving to the area as well, the wife joked with me that we were going to be competing for the same places, I assured her there was enough for all to have. Brother Keller took us out to see more areas and while we were driving we found a place that really spoke to both Alan and I. We wrote down the address and a phone number along with others that we saw. On Sunday we had an appointment with a lady and she didn't show up, this was the beginning of our bad luck. We were still able to see the property however and it was disgusting inside. This was our first real disappointment. We also found a duplex that we had seen on the internet that looked really promising in an area that we really wanted to be in. When we went into the duplex we were very disappointed in the way it had been maintained and especially in the pink matted down carpet, yuck! On Monday we had an appointment with a rental company and the agent called me to let me know that her grandmother had died and that she was giving the appointment to a colleague. She hadn't returned our call so we decided to look on our own again, we visited a property company which a very exuberant landlord/owner from New Jersey, he had a combo Jersey/Texas accent, it was very interesting. He was very excited for us to look at his properties we looked at a couple and decided that this could be an option if we couldn't find anything else. During this conversation Alan received a call from the duplex we had both liked from the night before. So, we met up with Mike, a guy who seems to have a story for everything, we loved the place. It was a great price and very well maintained. We talked about all the famous people he knows or has met, The Simpson Family (Jessica Simpson), Ted Nugent, Elvis's good friend, and a guy I didn't know the name of but apparently he was in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and of course David Koresh (he said he talked with him in a restaurant and Koresh invited him to his compound, a friend of Mike's told him to stay away from him, seems like pretty good advise considering the outcome.) The Realtor finally called us and we met up with her. Although she was very nice, she now had two loads of work to do and didn't have much time for us, so we rushed through a couple of properties all which left a little something to be desired. And we decided that we would take Mike's property. We called him and met him at his office. As he walked in so did a girl who looked oddly familiar, it was the girl from church who had joked with me about stealing her new home. We had stolen it, she had just returned from the property where she was looking at the same place we had just decided to take. She looked a little disappointed, but Mike sent her out to see another property just like it in another neighborhood. It had a bigger backyard area and Mike suggested that we look at it and decide whether we would want that one. We decided that it would be a good idea and so we headed over there. We looked at it and thought it looked good, but we didn't get to see the inside. Then we saw her there too, so we talked with her, she said "Are you looking at this one too?" We felt kind of bad, like, we were taking her new home from her. We decided that we liked the first place better anyway, it is in an area with a lot of members, and there is a nice area in the back where a lot of chickens like to hang out. Anyway we signed for the first area and hope it turns out well, I just hope the rooster doesn't wake me up too much.
Alan and I waiting at the airport, it was the moment I realized we were alone without the kids.
Our new home!
Baylor Science Building, it is very nice. We went here on Monday and Alan got to talk to his professor about a recent trip he had taken where a shark had eaten the cable that was connected to the geology equipment that was going to be drug across the ocean floor. He showed us pictures and it was pretty crazy. Hopefully the project will go through on the second run as this is what Alan was going to do his thesis work with.
We are coming back Tuesday and are excited to see our baby boys again. By the way, sorry this was such a long post.

10 comments:

SP said...

Whew! Glad the hunt is over.Your new digs look great!

K said...

What an adventure. I was totally laughing about the other gal, she'll probably end up being one of your friends, that's kind of how life goes:) I'm sure you ended up in the spot that will be best for your little family. It looks like a great place in the photo. Also, giggling about the guy that claims to have known David Keresh, I bet that won't be the only guy down there that claims that. Really, where's the scrapbook moment at that site? I'll wait, it'll be a post one day! The school looks great and I'm sure successful days are ahead of you. I can't believe how much I miss you guys and you haven't even left the state yet!

fish family said...

Good luck with everything!!! I am glad you were able to find a place and everyone was nice and helping you out. Hope all is well.

Tara & Jeff said...

i am so excited for your move to Texas! It's definitely going to be an adventure for your family! I can assure Texas will be a lot different than Utah or Michigan--especially small town Waco. :) You'll be oozing with Texas pride before long...hee hee.

Robinson Family said...

Wow, your new place looks great! I am so glad for you. I hope you guys had a nice time just the 2 of you. But I bet you are excited to see your boys again!

Mary Ann (Crockett) Ahlstrom said...

House-hunting (while exciting) is sure to be exhausting. Glad you are returning today having secured yourselves a cute place in Waco to live. Keep us posted on everything!

Maile said...

That is the worst, trying to find a new place to live in a place you have never really been too before! I hated trying to find in Las Vegas and it worked out the best as I will yours.
I have relatives in Texas named Keller, I wonder if we are related? Crazy world if we are!

Lyndon said...

That was so long that I had Missy just sum it up for me. I'm glad you found a house and found a someone to compete with all in the same trip.

Andrew & Naoko said...

The house looks great and all but I'm worried about Alan getting eaten by sharks during his research. Congrats on finding a residential lodging for your family.

julie said...

Yay! That's so exciting that you have a new home, just waiting for you and all your new adventures. And I'm sure my dad is beaming with pride, Al, that you will be a Baylor Bear!