FIRST PURCHASE.  No closing yet, not for another 4-8 days, but the first purchase has been made: the lawnmower.  Now, the move seems more official, more imminent, with the purchase of the first lawn implement with a motor.  Like I am ready to join the war against Nature, ready to mete out the punishment on the grass for daring to grow over 3.75 inches tall.

After hours of research, I settled on the Husqvarna.  I wish I could say that after a region-wide search, asking my friends, checking with Consumer Reports, and conducting all sorts of interviews and tests of actual products on a head-to-head comparison, that I found The Right Mower.  The truth is, I saw what I wanted (self-propelled, 22" swath, easy wheel adjustment, 3 year warranty, folding handle).  It had some good reviews (most were along the lines of "it's not a John Deere, but it doesn't suck too bad").  My mother had a Husqvarna (sewing machine).  And it was on sale.   More money for drywall.  And when the closing is done, I'll be ready to join the Dance of the Lawn Mowers.



     So my father said that with a lawn as big as we will have, that I should buy a riding lawnmower.  His place is smaller, he owns a John Deere tractor-type riding mower.  Kind of a sweet ride, and if I drove it while wearing a fez I could fit into any Shriner parade.  But I have will have too many trees to make a riding mower worthwhile (and more money for drywall).  Once the closing is completed, I'll post the pictures of the flora.   

     George Carlin once spoke about a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover, and that you need to find a bigger place when you run out of room for your stuff.  I think the opposite is true; now that we are moving to a bigger place, we need more stuff.