These final steps of aquiring home-owner status feel like I've entered the world of some completely boring and frustrating video game. Every time Evan and I find a heart or breadloaf or key or scroll, we get closer to passing a level. But at the end of each level is a more frustrating Boss who is harder to beat. It's like Legend of Zelda meets Mario Bros., only in paperwork. And just like in most videogames, the beginning of each level begins with reading some letter from somebody who says, "you need to complete these things!" This time, since we are so close to closing, the list is long and tedious and frustrating to no end. It includes things like "get a new ID, Carolyne, that represents your current address." Which means that, even though I haven't lived anywhere for more than a year since I've moved to Pittsburgh, and since my current (Massachusetts) ID is valid until May 2010, I ought to have a photo ID stating my address. And since I obviously have been holding out on getting a new one, I need to get one now. So I need to either get an ID with my current address even though I plan on moving (into the house for which I need the ID in order to purchase), or else get an ID with my hopeful new address even though I haven't yet closed on the house and possibly won't be moving there (but will be moving elsewhere, regardless). It doesn't make any sense! Haven't people bought houses while having IDs in other states before? Apparently, National Niagra Mortgage brokers think that is a bit shady, regardless of my ability to supply proof of residency for the past five years.


Also, as is similar in videogames, there is a lot of repeat of previous tasks but with more stress - less time, more obstacles, etc. They want more of everything, everything they've already collected from us, they want more. They want more proof of the things we've already proven, then want to go back further into files we've dug far into, they want more phone calls to people who have been called, regardless of whether the number has been disconnected or is just wrong. How can this be reconsiled?


So Evan and I have just been trucking on. Going out for a beer with coworkers after work, battling the houserats fearlessly (well, with some fear, as their teeth are sharp and they don't give a fuck about us), going on long bike rides until I inevitably get too many flat tires and the ride needs to end more shortly than desired, and packing up our stuff by throwing a lot of crap out that we've both been hoarding for too long like old clothes, broken computer parts, etc., and reminiscing about each other's lives with old photographs and show fliers. It's been fun and interesting and stressful, I guess, because it's been a break from the paperwork and meetings and running around.


Tonight is the Nugget's cover show, and Major Tom is asleep on my leg. Evan's out on a bike ride and I am obsessing over do-it-yourself magazines for the house. If we don't get it, I might just build one in the woods myself.