Sometimes an obsession can kill you; mine almost did yesterday. I was driving Rylee to her new preschool, and of course had all the kids in tow. Her new school is located about 20 minutes away at a large Baptist church in Georgetown where you have to pass through an Omega sign that makes up the entrance and mingle with moms in the foyer wearing t-shirts with the logo from the Heroes television, but the words "True Disciples" underneath, schools of Jesus fish tattooed on their feet and ankles, and "In case of Rapture, this car will be unmanned" bumper stickers on their minivans. I stopped at a red light and my mind drifted to the latest house, in a long line, that I am obsessed with. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a light change and cars start to go. By rote I drove into the intersection only to notice midway that it was not my light that had changed, but the turning lanes. The only reason we weren't killed instantly was that the car in the turn lane across from us was making a U instead of a left.

I have a House disease. Once I fall in love with a house, I convince myself that I will never find a house I love as much or that will be a better deal.

This is the one that started it all. The Jasmine plan at Garden Walk. My obsession with this house lasted a year, reduced me to tears on numerous occasions, and nearly caused our financial ruin as I attempted to bargain my way into it. Somehow Chad telling me that we couldn't afford $4200 a month house payments straight out of dental school wasn't enough for me. Thank goodness he won though, because the housing market started its downward spiral right after we would have bought--and lost tens of thousands of dollars.

I tried to downsize to a townhome. But even the townhomes I fell in love with cost over $500,000.

By now, Chad was hooked on the model home touring obsession I had. With the market continuing its downward spiral, we convinced ourselves we might be able to afford this 3,600 square foot house in Pienza because the price had dropped nearly $100,000 since the previous summer. Of course we were dreaming.

The only way I can think to describe viewing the housing market in Texas after being in San Diego is something akin to a starving person getting to view a room full of food. Of course I still manage to pick the expensive ones. This is the beauty that caused me to daydream enough to drive through a red light into a busy intersection. After meeting with the sales rep yesterday and not getting the discount we'd hoped, Chad told me no last night. Not to be deterred I emailed the rep last night with a counter offer $30,000 lower. The rep says to come by today after 10:00 and he'll see what he can do for me. I have a feeling it won't be enough...