Tonight presents nothing particularly mind-blowing to write about, so my preemptive apologies to those seeking wit and humor. But it's been a weird couple of days. And the best I can say is that the weirdness isn't keeping me up at night. Something is, but it's not the weirdness. More on that later.
Yesterday, after more time spent talking about roses & chocolate than I ever thought I'd experience (and no, they were not romantic love tokens given to me by a devoted beau - I wish!), I left work late and drove halfway to my old apartment before I realized I don't live there anymore. Weird. And today I surrendered the keys. After the drama associated with trying to break my lease, simply turning in the keys was hugely anticlimactic.
In the working world, all I can say is this: Chip Davis, wherever you are, thanks for that bargaining and negotiating class.
Miracle of miracles, it was cool enough today to go for a walk after dinner. Or more like a suburban wildlife safari. I had encounters with a chihuahua, an orange kitty, a bunny rabbit and multiple birds. There was (were?) more fauna than humans.
The Lawnmower Saga continues - our heroine's plans to mow tonight (and use the WD-40 purchased so the next door neighbor would not have to swoop in to the rescue ) were thwarted by rain. You know, the sum total of life skills that we are NOT taught in school is staggering. Example - what is the rule for mowing wet grass? When is it dry enough?
Did I mention that I no longer reside in an apartment? And, despite my inability to get a lawn mowing routine going, how frickin' cool I find that?
Spectacular rainbow on the way home from work today. It made me instantly 1000% times more likely to crash my car as I twisted and craned to see it. I wish we could all push a magic "stop life" button and just sit and look at stuff like that when it happens.
For some reason, this morning I was remembering my first few days in grad school, where I first got a taste of the confidence that comes with knowing you are exactly where you're supposed to be. I miss that feeling. Will have to ponder how to get it back.
Well, my plans for an early bedtime (and an early waking, but we all know how likely that is to happen) have gone awry. Here's hoping the oh-so-irritating peeper outside my bedroom window has decided to bed down for the evening. Otherwise, I might have to get violent. Against a tiny bug. In the middle of the night. With a big stick and a...oh forget it. A pillow over the head will have to do. Good night, all.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
domesticity
It's strange, indeed, that a new living space can have such a profound effect on one's pysche. Maybe it's having a project, something to keep you busy...or maybe it's just that changing your surroundings can change your point of view. Doesn't matter, really...it's still pretty cool. But I've done some very uncharacteristically domestic things these last few weeks. Such as suffer through the Lawn Mower Wars so I could mow my gigantic lawn (more on that later), spend $200 on plants, pots and potting soil for my patio, and willingly make my bed at least once in a while. Weird.
For those who care, here's a few photos of the inside of the house in it's current state - no real new decor, just old stuff rehung, but it's starting to look like someone actually lives there.
Strangely, my favorite "room" is actually the hallway - for some reason my old posters on the walls just make me happy. I found one hidden in a pile of stuff today that I'd forgotten - that always a nice moment. It's like finding a pair of jeans you'd packed away - and having them fit when you try them on!
A trip to Hobby-Lobby last week should have netted me all kinds of schmaltzy decor, but I wound up spending a mere $6 on two metal signs - one of which now hangs in the entrance to the guest bathroom and states the obvious in manufactured vintage style. Astute observers will note that the shower curtain in here is the one my mom made me more than 10 years ago when I got my first apartment.
I'm particularly proud of this little gem - the towel rack in the master bath. I installed it myself! I managed to put it up in one try, and it looks smashing. My first real project with my spiffy new screw gun. And I even used a level. And math to measure the position. Go me.
The best part about this room is that it's nowhere near complete - there are hutches to buy and artwork to search out...but the vase of ivy trimmings is what's making me smile. Just that little bit of green (alive, not fake), makes a difference, and will prompt me to seek out more greenery. No promises on said greenery's longevity and life span, but it will be appreciated no matter how quickly I kill it.
By far the best part of my first month of home rentership was coming home on Saturday and noting a stranger mowing my backyard. Normally, strangers in my backyard would be serious cause for concern, but it turns out that my neighbors got a new riding mower and wanted to "test" it on my pathetic, partially mowed battlefield...er...lawn. And they plan to test the mower in the future, to which I say, bring it on! Definitely a pay it forward moment.
So all in all, this whole domesticity thing is pretty sweet. It's certainly getting me out of the office on time - how odd that I want to get home so I can clean, organize, plant and install things. As I said before, weird.
For those who care, here's a few photos of the inside of the house in it's current state - no real new decor, just old stuff rehung, but it's starting to look like someone actually lives there.
By far the best part of my first month of home rentership was coming home on Saturday and noting a stranger mowing my backyard. Normally, strangers in my backyard would be serious cause for concern, but it turns out that my neighbors got a new riding mower and wanted to "test" it on my pathetic, partially mowed battlefield...er...lawn. And they plan to test the mower in the future, to which I say, bring it on! Definitely a pay it forward moment.
So all in all, this whole domesticity thing is pretty sweet. It's certainly getting me out of the office on time - how odd that I want to get home so I can clean, organize, plant and install things. As I said before, weird.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
an unproductive productive day(s)
What a weird couple of days. Cool, in the "I-don't-have-to-work-so-I-can-do-pretty-much-whatever-I-want" way of a single gal, but weird in that, despite all that I did, I didn't really accomplish much. Unless you count being one load of laundry and a few stray electronics away from totally emptying my old apartment as an accomplishment.
In the course of zipping back and forth 'tween chez old and chez nouveau, I've come across some weirdness. Like a car driving down the wrong way on the road to my old apartment (heart failure, anyone??). Or the guy coasting down the hill on a too-small bike, puffing away on a cigarette while giving me a charming smile 'n nod. Or the AT&T tech who, after what felt like two hours on the phone last night, failed to tell me the simple fact that my cable was plugged into the wrong input. Even after I ASKED. Or when the AT&T repairman (who arrived at 11:54 when my appointment was between 8am and noon...seriously) discovered the aforementioned oversight, and then spent 20 minutes chatting me up while the system rebooted, giving me enough insight into his life for me know that he's twice divorced, has 5 kids, served in the marine corps (medical discharge), likes Star Wars, and plans to get a 15-inch MacBook Pro (since, after all, his lap is bigger than mine, hence the need for a larger monitor). Or the access road that wasn't very accessible at all - forcing me to drive on a dirt road after having JUST washed my car. Harumph.
I shopped a lot, it seems, but didn't buy much. A bath mat is probably the most exciting of the purchases. Some of my art/decor is beginning to fill the walls, but I really don't want to put all that old, cheesy stuff up on those fresh surfaces. The indecision of what piece of art/decor/furniture to buy is driving me insane, so I may just decide that a washer/dryer is the first purchase, and nothing else comes until that's paid off.
As I read this, it actually doesn't sound all that weird. Maybe what's weird is this new space I'm calling home - as a friend said, it feels a bit like I'm living in a hotel room, not really in my own space. I wonder when that'll change.
In the course of zipping back and forth 'tween chez old and chez nouveau, I've come across some weirdness. Like a car driving down the wrong way on the road to my old apartment (heart failure, anyone??). Or the guy coasting down the hill on a too-small bike, puffing away on a cigarette while giving me a charming smile 'n nod. Or the AT&T tech who, after what felt like two hours on the phone last night, failed to tell me the simple fact that my cable was plugged into the wrong input. Even after I ASKED. Or when the AT&T repairman (who arrived at 11:54 when my appointment was between 8am and noon...seriously) discovered the aforementioned oversight, and then spent 20 minutes chatting me up while the system rebooted, giving me enough insight into his life for me know that he's twice divorced, has 5 kids, served in the marine corps (medical discharge), likes Star Wars, and plans to get a 15-inch MacBook Pro (since, after all, his lap is bigger than mine, hence the need for a larger monitor). Or the access road that wasn't very accessible at all - forcing me to drive on a dirt road after having JUST washed my car. Harumph.
I shopped a lot, it seems, but didn't buy much. A bath mat is probably the most exciting of the purchases. Some of my art/decor is beginning to fill the walls, but I really don't want to put all that old, cheesy stuff up on those fresh surfaces. The indecision of what piece of art/decor/furniture to buy is driving me insane, so I may just decide that a washer/dryer is the first purchase, and nothing else comes until that's paid off.
As I read this, it actually doesn't sound all that weird. Maybe what's weird is this new space I'm calling home - as a friend said, it feels a bit like I'm living in a hotel room, not really in my own space. I wonder when that'll change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)