As a recent homeowner, I have more than my share of new responsibilities. One of which is my newly acquired landscape. I'm pretty much used to balcony gardens from my apartment renting days, which is basically just potted plants and wind-chimes. Now I have full on greenery that stretches farther than just a few steps and all the nuisances that comes with it. Namely: wildlife.

This morning I was watering the front yard and a flurry of dragonflies, bees, butterflies and dirt-dobbers were abound. I tried not to swat at bees of course, as my buddy Marie (Eden's Gardener) had warned me before so I just went along my merry way, watering and sweating up a storm. But at one point I saw/felt something scurry up my leg...

Well, I finally bought at house -- actually a townhouse but it's still the same really...responsibility and upkeep. I have been renting apartments for nearly a decade...wow. I wonder how much equity I could have had by now...?

I suppose the feeling I should be having here is excitement. And to many degrees, I do have that particular sentiment. But overall I am more to the point -- numb. I can't believe the grueling process is over. It started with hopes of receiving a forgivable loan from the City of Dallas.

A few months ago, I qualified for a program that allowed me to receive $10,000 from the City of Dallas if I:

A.) Found a home in Dallas, of course.

B.) Take homeowner classes.

C.) Live in the home at least 8 years.

It seemed perfect. But right in the middle of my offer to the townhouse I wanted, they pulled the funding. They now exclusively offer the funding, even at a better rate, for the homes that are in their system, which means I wouldn't be able to just find a place -- it had to be on the city's list of homes they are trying to sell. I decided to give up.

Then in May my realtor calls me and tells me that the townhouse I wanted -- the one I had originally put an offer down on -- dropped $10,000. It just seemed meant, but not without a few hiccups. Namely the appraisal came in under the sales price and there were a few repairs that had to be taken care of such as a few breaker issues. And even after all that, I sat at the title company's table of endless papers and began signing. Then my realtor points out a taxing discrepancy. Would it ever end?!