I just got to the stage of the buying-an-abandoned-house-from-the-city process where they accept my money order as a deposit in case they decide to sell me the house. They say that I should have some kind of answer back in late January.

Meanwhile I'm trying to figure alternate things out, but they're under wraps right now. So many abandoned houses in my neighborhood, and yet they're so hard to get. Winter is coming, and every winter a house spends abandoned lessens its likelihood of ever being occupied in the future.

Happy holidays, and I'll let you know if anything newsworthy happens.

Again, thanks to everyone who has given their support, whether it was $5 or $500. It means a lot.

Let's not stop here, though. Please forward this project link to family, friends, and coworkers. Blog about it. Maybe host a benefit show or party. All money above and beyond the cost of the house will go toward remarkably creative renovation. If I am able to raise a significant amount of money above the $4k mark, I can set my sights on one of a few other houses in my immediate neighborhood that are a little larger, although all $10k or lower. So go ahead, blow my mind a few more times.

As you may or may not know, I take copious amounts of renovation photos. Anyone who chooses to stay in touch after mid-June can expect to see pictures of the work that I do, from the dangerous to the meticulous, from the disgusting to the fanciful. For example, I have a strong desire to have a striped print shop floor, a habit of painting one room in any house entirely in clouds, and an unrequited dream to transform a bathroom into an ocean-themed mosaic.

I would like to take you all on this journey with me, whether you'll be seeing the progression first-hand or through photographs.

I want to sincerely thank everyone for their support so far. It means a lot to have so many people tell me that they believe in my project. I've even been recognized three times by strangers on the street--- "Hey! You're the one with the internet video about the house!" Friends of mine approach me at events telling me how many times they've checked my Kickstarter page that day. This is the way in which everything I do is always a group effort.

While the plethora of small donations have charmed me, adding up like bricks in a house, I have to say that having my mind blown three times is pretty amazing.

As for the homebuying, I am currently beginning the process to buy a house from the city--- the one I'm standing in front of in the video when I say, "Four thousand dollars!" In addition to the Kickstarter backing, people I know (and some I do not) have offered carpentry help when I get the house. A local bookbinder has offered bindery equipment.

I'm close, so please tell your friends and relatives about my project. Once I reach my financial goal of $4000, any additional money will go toward preliminary repairs so I can move the print shop in as soon as possible.

This is going to be great. It really is.