Yes, we took care of some business today.
Last night, I all of a sudden got very bloated. Very very bloated. Like sharp pains in my distended belly bloated. I took some antacids and rolled around on the bed. Eventually, I farted it all out. But in the meantime, I couldn't fall completely asleep, and I woke up a lot.
I set the alarm for 6:20, though, and I got right out of bed. I had left the phone in the living room, so I had to get up to turn it off. I always forget how to turn on the snooze, or if there is a snooze, so then I have to just get up.
So, we were on the road a little after 7. Traffic was not heavy yet, although the school zone sign was already flashing. We went to the DMV up in Fort Lauderdale this time. We got there about 20 minutes before it was supposed to open. There were 10 people in front of the FP, which was not bad. Some crazy transient walked by loudly talking to himself. He asked the guy behind us for a cigarette. The guy behind us gave him one, and told him this cigarette had no chemicals in it or something. I couldn't turn around, so I couldn't tell what brand they were. It's funny though, because the fancy cigarettes didn't stop the guy from hacking up a lung every 5 minutes. The crazy homeless guy then stopped by us and asked us for thirty cent. The FP kinda muttered he didn't have it. Crazy guy kinda asked again, and I said we didn't have any change. Then I corrected myself and said we didn't carry and kind of cash around. So, then he walked away. He didn't directly ask anyone else. We always get panhandled more than other people if there's a big group. I guess we look more compassionate - or maybe we look more like pushovers or suckers.
The place opened promptly at 8:02. Of course we had to complain, like why couldn't they open at 8 am like they were supposed to. Anyway, this DMV was much smaller than the other one, but things seemed to move along faster. So, the FP went up to the first counter, and he easily was granted a number after showing the counterperson a several years old W2 form. So, then he waited a couple minutes and he was at the counter. This process probably took 25 minutes, and then we were out of there. He seemed to be chatty with the guy helping him. When we left, he told me that the guy was from Pittsburgh, go figure.
So, then we went to the Auto Tag Store. It was just a couple miles down the street. And this one advertised that it opened at 9. So we were about 17 minutes early, and there were about twelve people in front of us. This place also opened promptly at 9:02. Besides the first couple that took about 10 minutes, everyone else seemed to be chugging along. We got up to the counter, and handed over the papers. The woman had to go out and verify the VIN number, and then she was filling out our paperwork.
Meanwhile, this woman waiting had been on the phone forever, and she was getting louder and louder. She was talking about NFL Redzone. So obviously she was complaining about her cable bill, how it started at $150 and it had steadily gone up to $199 with no notice (they usually email or send a notice that rates are changing, but who really reads that shit?) and how she wanted a level bill that didn't keep spiking and stuff. She was getting nasty, and you could tell everyone was listening, well, because she didn't give us any other choice. So, then she, started really raising her voice - saying when she got home she would read her contract and speak to the manager, and how she would be speaking to the manager about this particular person's inability to satisfy her (I doubt anyone can satisfy this lady). So, at one point, one of the employees called like two or three numbers and no one responded, so she continued down the line until someone responded. When the angry cable customer lady hung up the phone, she went up to the counter and said, "Excuse me, I was number 34 and I was skipped over." The clerk very calmly told her that she called her number and no one answered. But she agreed to help her.
And then the woman started bitching about her registration. Something about how one car registration could not be renewed online and only that one. So the lady said that there was some system glich or something that couldn't be helped, and she couldn't do anything about it, and it happened to a lot of people. So angry cable lady asked if she could change it or make a note to allow her to register online. And the lady said there was nothing she could do. Luckily, or unluckily for us spectators, the lady left without causing too big a stink.
And then we paid for our registration and got our title and license right then and there.
On to TD bank. Just a little down the street. We needed to get our declaration of domicile notarized for free. The notary wasn't in until 12. So, we went to the address where I though the title company was. It was a vacant building. So I had to call the title officer and ask for the address. Luckily, it was just down the street. We got there and put a check in for our earnest deposit on the offer on the house.
Then we were going to go to lunch. But it was too early. So, we drove down the street to the beach until it was 11, and we were the first customers in Primanti Bros. That took up time until 11:45. So then we went to TD Bank and got our document notarized. The guy didn't even ask for my bank account number or anything.
Then we went to the government offices off of Las Olas. We walked right in, got a visitor sticker, then walked to the records room and got a ticket. 49. The woman told us to go farther down. So we did. Then we were looking around dumbly. I didn't see a sign for records or a number board. A little person sitting in a chair asked if we were there for passports. I said no, and she asked, record a document? I said yes. She said we were in the right place as long as we had a ticket. The ticket being served on the board, when I finally spied it, was 48. So, we waited for a couple minutes, then the lady sitting behind the counter (who appeared to not be doing much when we walked in) called something on the intercom. We were about 12 feet away from her, and I couldn't understand what she was saying, so I assumed she was calling number 49, which she was. So, we walked up, gave her our paper, gave her our IDs. She inputted our info and asked for $10 and handed us our papers. We walked to the car at 12:43. That was one of our most productive mornings ever.
So, I guess we are kind of officially Florida residents. I guess there's no turning back now!
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
1 Week
Yes, it's been a whole week since we last rolled into sofla - sounds like a lazy couch or something. What a week it's been. Ups and downs and ups and downs and ups. I can honestly say, I like it here. I expect to be loving it here fairly soon.
Last night, when we went to bed, I smelled a poo smell. I hate my weird sense of smell. Dull for most smells, pretty perceptive for rank smells. So, I was expecting a nice pile o cat shit. I looked on the bed, and on the comforter. Nothing. I looked on the floor and on the suitcases under the bed where the cats like to sleep. Nothing. I tried to track down the smell. I couldn't. It was strong enough to not ignore, yet not a full on assult of the nose. The FP didn't smell it at all. Last resort, I sprayed the Febreeze everywhere. I smelled my breath. Fine. I smelled my shorts. Nothing. I smelled my shirt. Nothing. But I changed my shirt anyway. I wondered if it were outside? Maybe someone's dog shat right under the window and even though the window was closed, maybe one could still smell it. Or maybe someone shat in our air intake? Or maybe it wasn't a poo smell, but rotting corpse. Maybe there was a dead body stuffed in the mattress. But it would And then I resorted to the ghost explanation. A mischievous ghost fucking with me? I know, that's just weird. I basically fell asleep an hour or two later out of exhaustion. The case of the phantom poo smell.
After laying awake for a while trying to figure where it would be, I woke up and didn't smell it at first. After a while, I thought I smelled it, but not as strongly. So, I washed all the sheets and febreezed the hell out of the room and searched again. There are strange stains on the rented bed that I really don't want to discuss right now.
It's probably not as bad as the $25 beds my bff and I bought from the landlord when we moved into our first apartment. We had been ratted on by our roommate for having illegal guinea pigs, so we were allowed to sever our dorm lease. So we found a cheap ass apartment near campus in an area called Frenchtown. Sounds nice, huh? Well, the more appropriate nickname was Cracktown. I don't remember if we made it up or if it was true, that there had been a murder in the complex. Anyhoo, there were some college kids living there - we weren't the only ones. Actually, people that lived there were pretty nice. Anyway, we had just moved from a dorm, so we didn't have any furniture. So, the landlord told us we could have these 2 crappy twin beds for $25 each. I don't think he ever actually cashed our checks though, so they were free. Funny. I had that bed for a while. Until a friend needed to trade his double bed for a twin, so we switched. Score for me. Scary unknown Frenchtown apartment bed for him.
I have to tell myself stories like this to show that my living situation could be way worse. At least I'm not homeless, right? At least I have electricity, running water, and CABLE TV and high speed INTERNET!!!!
But if the poo were coming from the mattress, I would have smelled it before. I don't understand. I haven't looked behind the apartment, because I don't really want to go back there. But if there is shit back there, it will lose it's potency as it ages, right? I don't know.
So, I don't know. I can't smell it right now. But what happens when I go to bed? Am I going to smell it tonight? Man, I hope not. I am going to have to drink enough to sleep. I can't take nyquil, because that would just clear up my sinuses even more, then I would be able to smell the poo smell even more clearly.
I guess I'll have to go and lay in bed for a while to see if I can still smell the poo smell. If so, it's got to be dealt with before bedtime. It's not like I can sleep on the nasty couch!
Update:
I could still smell the poo. I looked at the suitcases again. No poo. I was about to take everything out from under the bed. But first I made the FP smell. He could smell the poo. I wasn't insane. So he got under the bed to look, and he found it. it was between the suitcases and all the music stands under there. He grabbed the poo and wiped up under there with Mr. Clean. No more poo! Yay! I can sleep soundly tonight. As long as The Fuzz doesn't poo under there again. And yeah, I'm positive it was The Fuzz. She will shit and piss on the bed and then lie down right next to it. She's gross like that. No wonder Stinksy stopped going under the bed. Because there was poo under there!
Last night, when we went to bed, I smelled a poo smell. I hate my weird sense of smell. Dull for most smells, pretty perceptive for rank smells. So, I was expecting a nice pile o cat shit. I looked on the bed, and on the comforter. Nothing. I looked on the floor and on the suitcases under the bed where the cats like to sleep. Nothing. I tried to track down the smell. I couldn't. It was strong enough to not ignore, yet not a full on assult of the nose. The FP didn't smell it at all. Last resort, I sprayed the Febreeze everywhere. I smelled my breath. Fine. I smelled my shorts. Nothing. I smelled my shirt. Nothing. But I changed my shirt anyway. I wondered if it were outside? Maybe someone's dog shat right under the window and even though the window was closed, maybe one could still smell it. Or maybe someone shat in our air intake? Or maybe it wasn't a poo smell, but rotting corpse. Maybe there was a dead body stuffed in the mattress. But it would And then I resorted to the ghost explanation. A mischievous ghost fucking with me? I know, that's just weird. I basically fell asleep an hour or two later out of exhaustion. The case of the phantom poo smell.
After laying awake for a while trying to figure where it would be, I woke up and didn't smell it at first. After a while, I thought I smelled it, but not as strongly. So, I washed all the sheets and febreezed the hell out of the room and searched again. There are strange stains on the rented bed that I really don't want to discuss right now.
It's probably not as bad as the $25 beds my bff and I bought from the landlord when we moved into our first apartment. We had been ratted on by our roommate for having illegal guinea pigs, so we were allowed to sever our dorm lease. So we found a cheap ass apartment near campus in an area called Frenchtown. Sounds nice, huh? Well, the more appropriate nickname was Cracktown. I don't remember if we made it up or if it was true, that there had been a murder in the complex. Anyhoo, there were some college kids living there - we weren't the only ones. Actually, people that lived there were pretty nice. Anyway, we had just moved from a dorm, so we didn't have any furniture. So, the landlord told us we could have these 2 crappy twin beds for $25 each. I don't think he ever actually cashed our checks though, so they were free. Funny. I had that bed for a while. Until a friend needed to trade his double bed for a twin, so we switched. Score for me. Scary unknown Frenchtown apartment bed for him.
I have to tell myself stories like this to show that my living situation could be way worse. At least I'm not homeless, right? At least I have electricity, running water, and CABLE TV and high speed INTERNET!!!!
But if the poo were coming from the mattress, I would have smelled it before. I don't understand. I haven't looked behind the apartment, because I don't really want to go back there. But if there is shit back there, it will lose it's potency as it ages, right? I don't know.
So, I don't know. I can't smell it right now. But what happens when I go to bed? Am I going to smell it tonight? Man, I hope not. I am going to have to drink enough to sleep. I can't take nyquil, because that would just clear up my sinuses even more, then I would be able to smell the poo smell even more clearly.
I guess I'll have to go and lay in bed for a while to see if I can still smell the poo smell. If so, it's got to be dealt with before bedtime. It's not like I can sleep on the nasty couch!
Update:
I could still smell the poo. I looked at the suitcases again. No poo. I was about to take everything out from under the bed. But first I made the FP smell. He could smell the poo. I wasn't insane. So he got under the bed to look, and he found it. it was between the suitcases and all the music stands under there. He grabbed the poo and wiped up under there with Mr. Clean. No more poo! Yay! I can sleep soundly tonight. As long as The Fuzz doesn't poo under there again. And yeah, I'm positive it was The Fuzz. She will shit and piss on the bed and then lie down right next to it. She's gross like that. No wonder Stinksy stopped going under the bed. Because there was poo under there!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving Dinner
So, we didn't cook a traditional dinner on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Our oven door is kind of fucked up, and we didn't feel like digging through all our boxes to get out everything we would need anyway. So, we ate out at some fancy restaurant, and we went to the bar later, where the FP had wings and I had key lime pie.
Anyhoo, I mentioned to the FP that we should have a Thanksgiving dinner when we move into our new abode, whenever that is. Hopefully sooner than later. But anyway, I'm throwing this out there to those of you who are close friends and family, you are all invited to our Thanksgiving dinner, whenever that will be!
So, we drove around a lot today. A LOT. So, since the FP had his eye issues going on, I drove. Which is fine. Except we were delving into new unknown territory. And the FP had his eye issue, so I basically had to drive and navigate most of the time.
Have you ever had an eye infection? Well, it can hurt like fuck, and one can be very light sensitive, as the FP was this morning. Kind of sucks when you are in South Florida!
Anyway, we drove down the coast to Miami Beach. So, cool, and weird and strange. I have a phobia of tall buildings. I think I've discussed this before? Anyway, I hate being enclosed by tall buildings. So, like South Beach where there are just tall condos felt claustrophobic to me, but that parts where there were only condos on one side were what I liked. It's so urban, yet on the water. It's just like a foreign country, as my BFF described it.
So, I had made a google maps list of places to look at. So, the first place was not wrong. It was a place of business, not a house or condo. It was somewhere right near South Beach on the other side of the water. Anyway, it was probably a condo with a issues or something. So, then we had lunch. I needed a break from the driving anyway.
So, then we went to look at a house in El Portal. Mind you, we know nothing about the area. So, we got off the interstate, and the FP had to poop. Because we had just had lunch. So we went to one shady gas station, and the john was already occupado. He waited for a while, then he gave up. So, then we went to another one and he was good to go. Both gas stations had cuban coffee, which one has to appreciate, even though they were shady, right?
Then we went to look at the house. Which was right off the interstate near the shady gas stations. So, we were driving down the scary street with boarded up houses and shady characters hanging out. I thought about just turning around and not bothering looking, since the house was farther down. But then the street got nicer, more manicured. So I figured, I was right there, might as well keep going. And the house was nice! It was really nicely painted and had landscaping and stuff! But there was no for sale sign. When I came back and looked it up, it was an old listing!
So, then we went to Hialeah. This is the suburbs. But it's the suburbs of Miami. And a friend recommended the area. And indie bands come out of the area. So we went there. The first place was in a gated community, so we didn't go in. The second one was in a non gate community that was very nice. Very nice. I wondered how there could be a place in our price range. So, we drove down a winding road that kept changing number name. And then we got to the street. And the house number did not exist. We tried to look it up on google maps and on realtor.com, but we couldn't find it. Later when I looked it up, I found out we were on the other side of the subdivision. I also found out that there are a few different properties in that area in our price range.
So that was it. We looked at one house in a scary location that wasn't even for sale. But it was good to drive around, no matter how nerve wracking it was. I just need to get an automatic, damnit! And maybe a GPS navigator. It's difficult to look at printouts and grab the iphone while driving. I want to be familiar with the area now, not later. I guess all I can do is keep driving around.
We need jobs too.
Can't wait to get to that Thanksgiving dinner!
Anyhoo, I mentioned to the FP that we should have a Thanksgiving dinner when we move into our new abode, whenever that is. Hopefully sooner than later. But anyway, I'm throwing this out there to those of you who are close friends and family, you are all invited to our Thanksgiving dinner, whenever that will be!
So, we drove around a lot today. A LOT. So, since the FP had his eye issues going on, I drove. Which is fine. Except we were delving into new unknown territory. And the FP had his eye issue, so I basically had to drive and navigate most of the time.
Have you ever had an eye infection? Well, it can hurt like fuck, and one can be very light sensitive, as the FP was this morning. Kind of sucks when you are in South Florida!
Anyway, we drove down the coast to Miami Beach. So, cool, and weird and strange. I have a phobia of tall buildings. I think I've discussed this before? Anyway, I hate being enclosed by tall buildings. So, like South Beach where there are just tall condos felt claustrophobic to me, but that parts where there were only condos on one side were what I liked. It's so urban, yet on the water. It's just like a foreign country, as my BFF described it.
So, I had made a google maps list of places to look at. So, the first place was not wrong. It was a place of business, not a house or condo. It was somewhere right near South Beach on the other side of the water. Anyway, it was probably a condo with a issues or something. So, then we had lunch. I needed a break from the driving anyway.
So, then we went to look at a house in El Portal. Mind you, we know nothing about the area. So, we got off the interstate, and the FP had to poop. Because we had just had lunch. So we went to one shady gas station, and the john was already occupado. He waited for a while, then he gave up. So, then we went to another one and he was good to go. Both gas stations had cuban coffee, which one has to appreciate, even though they were shady, right?
Then we went to look at the house. Which was right off the interstate near the shady gas stations. So, we were driving down the scary street with boarded up houses and shady characters hanging out. I thought about just turning around and not bothering looking, since the house was farther down. But then the street got nicer, more manicured. So I figured, I was right there, might as well keep going. And the house was nice! It was really nicely painted and had landscaping and stuff! But there was no for sale sign. When I came back and looked it up, it was an old listing!
So, then we went to Hialeah. This is the suburbs. But it's the suburbs of Miami. And a friend recommended the area. And indie bands come out of the area. So we went there. The first place was in a gated community, so we didn't go in. The second one was in a non gate community that was very nice. Very nice. I wondered how there could be a place in our price range. So, we drove down a winding road that kept changing number name. And then we got to the street. And the house number did not exist. We tried to look it up on google maps and on realtor.com, but we couldn't find it. Later when I looked it up, I found out we were on the other side of the subdivision. I also found out that there are a few different properties in that area in our price range.
So that was it. We looked at one house in a scary location that wasn't even for sale. But it was good to drive around, no matter how nerve wracking it was. I just need to get an automatic, damnit! And maybe a GPS navigator. It's difficult to look at printouts and grab the iphone while driving. I want to be familiar with the area now, not later. I guess all I can do is keep driving around.
We need jobs too.
Can't wait to get to that Thanksgiving dinner!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Special Thanksgiving Day Supplement
So, here we are at a sports bar down the street. The FP is here to watch the 49s and the Ravens, I'm here to be the DD (although I was told by a TV commercial tonight that being the DD means no drinks at all... well, that won't quite happen) and use the free wifi. There's this baby behind us that has been squealing in such a high pitch since we walked in. I have to say it's annoying. It hurts the ears.
From what I can see, this place has 35 TVs. That's a lot. I don't know how many receivers it has, but that's a lot of TV shows at one time! Of course, most of the TVs are showing the football game, a few are showing food network, and the others are showing other miscellaneous sports channels.
So, I smudged the apartment today. This was my first smudge. One night when I couldn't sleep and I was laying in bed thinking about bed bugs and roaches and snakes and ghosts and stuff, I thought it would be a good idea to smudge the apartment so that we would feel more at home there.
For anyone who doesn't know what smudging is, it's a native american tradition of burning white sage to purify or clarify a place or one's state of mind. Sage is used in sweat lodges and stuff. So, it was funny, because when I thought of it, I wondered, where do I get the sage bundle? I don't know where the hippie new age or smoke shops and stuff are here. So I was like, what do I google, hippie new age shop? I think I tried that, to no result. So, when we were at Whole Foods this morning in the checkout line buying some stuff that we didn't even eat yet, it dawned on me - they have to have sage bundles at Whole Foods, duh! So, I actually found it right away.
So, I went home and I smudged the hell out of the place....literally. I lit it in the living room and then I left it in the bedroom on the nightstand. I came back later and it was out. I lit it again and put it on the dresser where the air wouldn't blow on it, so it smoldered a little longer.
Do I feel better about the place? Yeah, I think so. We spent a lot of time today in the apartment. I put a bunch of sheets and blankets on the gross couch. It was fine. It wasn't the greatest experience in an apartment on Thanksgiving Day that we ever had. But, it was good. There was a nice breeze. We left the apartment door open all day that opens to the patio. It let a little light in. Stinky got to sit on the chair by the screen and look outside all day. The Fuzz...well, she was The Fuzz.
So I'm thankful for friends and family and all that stuff that obviously we are all thankful for. But I'm also thankful for the chance to make a new start of our life. A great start. An amazing new life. We can do it. Rah rah rah, sis boom bah! Man how the hell do those cheerleaders keep that big ass smile on for all four quarters. I guess I gotta figure it out. Can't be my old Negative Nelly self....
I do wish that baby would stop his high pitched squeals though.
From what I can see, this place has 35 TVs. That's a lot. I don't know how many receivers it has, but that's a lot of TV shows at one time! Of course, most of the TVs are showing the football game, a few are showing food network, and the others are showing other miscellaneous sports channels.
So, I smudged the apartment today. This was my first smudge. One night when I couldn't sleep and I was laying in bed thinking about bed bugs and roaches and snakes and ghosts and stuff, I thought it would be a good idea to smudge the apartment so that we would feel more at home there.
For anyone who doesn't know what smudging is, it's a native american tradition of burning white sage to purify or clarify a place or one's state of mind. Sage is used in sweat lodges and stuff. So, it was funny, because when I thought of it, I wondered, where do I get the sage bundle? I don't know where the hippie new age or smoke shops and stuff are here. So I was like, what do I google, hippie new age shop? I think I tried that, to no result. So, when we were at Whole Foods this morning in the checkout line buying some stuff that we didn't even eat yet, it dawned on me - they have to have sage bundles at Whole Foods, duh! So, I actually found it right away.
So, I went home and I smudged the hell out of the place....literally. I lit it in the living room and then I left it in the bedroom on the nightstand. I came back later and it was out. I lit it again and put it on the dresser where the air wouldn't blow on it, so it smoldered a little longer.
Do I feel better about the place? Yeah, I think so. We spent a lot of time today in the apartment. I put a bunch of sheets and blankets on the gross couch. It was fine. It wasn't the greatest experience in an apartment on Thanksgiving Day that we ever had. But, it was good. There was a nice breeze. We left the apartment door open all day that opens to the patio. It let a little light in. Stinky got to sit on the chair by the screen and look outside all day. The Fuzz...well, she was The Fuzz.
So I'm thankful for friends and family and all that stuff that obviously we are all thankful for. But I'm also thankful for the chance to make a new start of our life. A great start. An amazing new life. We can do it. Rah rah rah, sis boom bah! Man how the hell do those cheerleaders keep that big ass smile on for all four quarters. I guess I gotta figure it out. Can't be my old Negative Nelly self....
I do wish that baby would stop his high pitched squeals though.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Crying Tiger
What can I say? We went to the Bluefoot tonight for the last time. We saw our close friends, except for a couple who couldn't make it. It was very sad, yet very not final. I think our close friends are lifelong friends, and we will see them again. All the same, even with the excitement with a new adventure on the horizon, it's still sad to say goodbye.
We ate crying tiger for dinner after, seems appropriate....
We ate crying tiger for dinner after, seems appropriate....
Friday, November 11, 2011
No Turning Back
So, like every time we do something that has to do with moving, the FP says, "Well, I guess there's no turning back now." Needless to say, he's said that about 20 times. But it's kinda now just a thing he does - like how he says, "That was the best lunch I've ever had" after every lunch. People, one of the keys to staying young is to become a live caricature of yourself!
Anyway, in the way of furniture, we are down to the desk that this computer is on, the 2 IKEA end tables that we will get rid of when we leave, 2 more little IKEA tables that we will also dispose of, and our mattress, which we moved onto the living room floor. The futon is hanging out outside, waiting for someone, ANYONE to take it. I put an ad on craigslist, for the futon, for free, and a lot of people have responded. But then, no one seems to follow through. It is free, so just take the damn thing already! Ok, it's very fucked up, but it's perfect for the front porch, the back porch, the den, the game room, the dingy guest room, the frat house rape room, the play room, the cat room, hell, somewhere where transient people stay.
So, less furniture than a college dorm room. Needless to say, the cats are FREAKED OUT!!!!!
Like, every time today when they would be walking around, one of us would happen to be going where the cat was going. So, it would seem one of us was chasing a cat with a box or a hammer or something scary. And then, the FP kept knocking shit over. Mainly the mop and/or broom. Now I understand how some parents use food to comfort kids. Shaking the treat bag was the only way to get the cats to come out and relax, even if only for a couple minutes.
But, I have to tell you about something very special that The Fuzz did last night, when the futon was still in the living room. So, we were on the futon. I was watching TV, but the FP was already snoring. Stinky came up and sprawled out on the futon next to my head in the corner. That is where the Fuzz has taken to sleeping lately. So, at one point, The Fuzz jumped up on the futon and padded right up to Stinksy (we actually call him Stinky on a day to day basis) and started licking him. Then she chomped him on the neck. He attacked back, and they jumped down and chased each other for about 15 seconds. Then The Fuzz jumped back on the futon and took her rightful place on the corner of the futon by my head.
Do you understand how, uncharacteristically ballsy that was of her? This is the girl cat who gets scared of... of the feather wand toy! It's amazing! It was such a breakthrough, and then today just knocked her back down the ladder of progress..... *sigh*
So, I had this idea like years ago to transcribe all the high school notes and college letters I could find that my friends wrote to me. Unfortunately, I threw a lot away. But I asked my friends if they had any. Almost everyone did not. Except for BFF. Her mom was always going through her stuff and reading it and throwing things away, so, I think whatever BFF could salvage was very precious to her. As I think any old personal correspondence is. So, BFF had sent me these letters a long time ago, but I had never transcribed them. So, I figured, I should get it done before I moved, so I could send them back. I didn't want to be responsible for them getting lost in the move.
That was weird. Reading all that old stuff. I think, that it might be publishable. There are letters from one person about some piece of gossip, and then there will be another letter from another party involved in the gossip. So you get different points of view. Really cool. And so.... youthful. It totally brought me back in time to places that I would not want to go back to, but that I appreciate. Interesting stuff. Hopefully, one day, you will be able to read this shit. Maybe you will find it trite and boring. Or maybe it will seem universal to you. I don't know. But, I think these people we were friends with were such talented letter writers. And yes, that is totally a talent. I really don't know if it's a skill that kids today have not learned... just the act of writing on paper seems so much more personal, and sensual than texting a text or posting on someone's facebook wall... you know? I'm sure that's what the old people said about the way we communicated when we were young.
Anyway, that's all for tonight. I think I will do a "remember when" post tomorrow. So please feel free to remind me of that... comment on my blog, on my facebook wall, send me a text, send me an email, or just flash it on the big screen at any major sporting event!
Anyway, in the way of furniture, we are down to the desk that this computer is on, the 2 IKEA end tables that we will get rid of when we leave, 2 more little IKEA tables that we will also dispose of, and our mattress, which we moved onto the living room floor. The futon is hanging out outside, waiting for someone, ANYONE to take it. I put an ad on craigslist, for the futon, for free, and a lot of people have responded. But then, no one seems to follow through. It is free, so just take the damn thing already! Ok, it's very fucked up, but it's perfect for the front porch, the back porch, the den, the game room, the dingy guest room, the frat house rape room, the play room, the cat room, hell, somewhere where transient people stay.
So, less furniture than a college dorm room. Needless to say, the cats are FREAKED OUT!!!!!
Like, every time today when they would be walking around, one of us would happen to be going where the cat was going. So, it would seem one of us was chasing a cat with a box or a hammer or something scary. And then, the FP kept knocking shit over. Mainly the mop and/or broom. Now I understand how some parents use food to comfort kids. Shaking the treat bag was the only way to get the cats to come out and relax, even if only for a couple minutes.
But, I have to tell you about something very special that The Fuzz did last night, when the futon was still in the living room. So, we were on the futon. I was watching TV, but the FP was already snoring. Stinky came up and sprawled out on the futon next to my head in the corner. That is where the Fuzz has taken to sleeping lately. So, at one point, The Fuzz jumped up on the futon and padded right up to Stinksy (we actually call him Stinky on a day to day basis) and started licking him. Then she chomped him on the neck. He attacked back, and they jumped down and chased each other for about 15 seconds. Then The Fuzz jumped back on the futon and took her rightful place on the corner of the futon by my head.
Do you understand how, uncharacteristically ballsy that was of her? This is the girl cat who gets scared of... of the feather wand toy! It's amazing! It was such a breakthrough, and then today just knocked her back down the ladder of progress..... *sigh*
So, I had this idea like years ago to transcribe all the high school notes and college letters I could find that my friends wrote to me. Unfortunately, I threw a lot away. But I asked my friends if they had any. Almost everyone did not. Except for BFF. Her mom was always going through her stuff and reading it and throwing things away, so, I think whatever BFF could salvage was very precious to her. As I think any old personal correspondence is. So, BFF had sent me these letters a long time ago, but I had never transcribed them. So, I figured, I should get it done before I moved, so I could send them back. I didn't want to be responsible for them getting lost in the move.
That was weird. Reading all that old stuff. I think, that it might be publishable. There are letters from one person about some piece of gossip, and then there will be another letter from another party involved in the gossip. So you get different points of view. Really cool. And so.... youthful. It totally brought me back in time to places that I would not want to go back to, but that I appreciate. Interesting stuff. Hopefully, one day, you will be able to read this shit. Maybe you will find it trite and boring. Or maybe it will seem universal to you. I don't know. But, I think these people we were friends with were such talented letter writers. And yes, that is totally a talent. I really don't know if it's a skill that kids today have not learned... just the act of writing on paper seems so much more personal, and sensual than texting a text or posting on someone's facebook wall... you know? I'm sure that's what the old people said about the way we communicated when we were young.
Anyway, that's all for tonight. I think I will do a "remember when" post tomorrow. So please feel free to remind me of that... comment on my blog, on my facebook wall, send me a text, send me an email, or just flash it on the big screen at any major sporting event!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
So, yeah
The FP's girlfriend dropped by just now. She was standing right by the window, so when I looked out the window I saw her standing right there. So, no avoiding talking to her. Which was fine, but I definitely didn't want her trying to walk in and look at the place. It's been worse, but it's not the best. I was possibly thinking of doing some work around the apartment, or walking to Albertson's to get some yogurt. I wasn't sure which, but maybe I should clean. She's fairly a nice lady, but she made a point to say how she didn't show the place to anyone yet because it's not ready. And then she seemed disappointed that we wouldn't be ready to check out with her until Tuesday, the 15th, when we gave notice for. Maybe she was just disappointed because she didn't get to see her boyfriend, but his wife instead. Her grandson was with her, and he told me yet again how he saw the FP on Google Earth. Like if you look up either our address or down the street, you can see him running. I'll have to finally look it up and see. It's probably been updated since then, though. (pause) Well, I didn't see him, but I did see our car out front. It looks cleanish in the picture which is weird. But, as I looked down the street I saw that the post office was still open when these pictures were taken, so it has been almost a year at least since these images were taken.
So, we are needing to really wrap this shit up now. It's kind of a waiting game at the same time. If we pack too much shit, then we will have to open boxes to take stuff out. We should pretty much stop cooking, but that would mean we would probably eat more expensive food, or more unhealthy food. We have to get rid of the futon this weekend, and wrap up the cleaning. We also need to go to In N Out, maybe Ba Ren, and hopefully Villa Manila. We need to go to the beach one more time to see the Pacific. Hopefully some people will show up on Sunday night at the bar to say goodbye.
Then we have to get rid of the bed last. It's a bit of a dilemma because if we just dump it in the lot next door, everyone will know it's us because we are moving. Or we can hope someone from craigslist will take it. It's weird to be getting rid of ALL of our furniture. I know I've said that before. It's weird that people want a beat up futon. It's weird that we are going to be living in a furnished apartment. It's weird that we are going to be living in South Florida. It's weird that we are going to be driving around New Orleans in our Element. It's weird that we are going to be taking our cats cross country, when The Fuzz gets mad if I pick her up and carry her from the bedroom to the living room. It's weird that I'm watching Living Single while I'm trying to write this. It's not really a good show.
Not like... Degrassi, which the season premiere should be tomorrow night. Which is exciting and disappointing at the same time. I'm excited for the new season, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to watch the new season. I'm pretty sure our new apartment has cable included, so it's some weird cable company that is not Cox, and maybe we won't have TeenNick! Oh the horrors! And maybe no Sundance, IFC, EPIX, etc. I wonder if I should take this time to watch the shows recorded on the DVR one more time. I know there is an easy way to attach a hard drive and copy shit from the DVR, but it's not really that important to save these shows.
So, anyway, I guess I am going to clean now. I think I'm too lazy to walk to the grocery store right now, but not too lazy to do a bit of cleaning. Oh, God, The Cosby Show.....must change the channel. Guess I will watch the Raiders pound the Chargers into their own home field. Who knows, maybe the Chargers will surprise us all!
So, we are needing to really wrap this shit up now. It's kind of a waiting game at the same time. If we pack too much shit, then we will have to open boxes to take stuff out. We should pretty much stop cooking, but that would mean we would probably eat more expensive food, or more unhealthy food. We have to get rid of the futon this weekend, and wrap up the cleaning. We also need to go to In N Out, maybe Ba Ren, and hopefully Villa Manila. We need to go to the beach one more time to see the Pacific. Hopefully some people will show up on Sunday night at the bar to say goodbye.
Then we have to get rid of the bed last. It's a bit of a dilemma because if we just dump it in the lot next door, everyone will know it's us because we are moving. Or we can hope someone from craigslist will take it. It's weird to be getting rid of ALL of our furniture. I know I've said that before. It's weird that people want a beat up futon. It's weird that we are going to be living in a furnished apartment. It's weird that we are going to be living in South Florida. It's weird that we are going to be driving around New Orleans in our Element. It's weird that we are going to be taking our cats cross country, when The Fuzz gets mad if I pick her up and carry her from the bedroom to the living room. It's weird that I'm watching Living Single while I'm trying to write this. It's not really a good show.
Not like... Degrassi, which the season premiere should be tomorrow night. Which is exciting and disappointing at the same time. I'm excited for the new season, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to watch the new season. I'm pretty sure our new apartment has cable included, so it's some weird cable company that is not Cox, and maybe we won't have TeenNick! Oh the horrors! And maybe no Sundance, IFC, EPIX, etc. I wonder if I should take this time to watch the shows recorded on the DVR one more time. I know there is an easy way to attach a hard drive and copy shit from the DVR, but it's not really that important to save these shows.
So, anyway, I guess I am going to clean now. I think I'm too lazy to walk to the grocery store right now, but not too lazy to do a bit of cleaning. Oh, God, The Cosby Show.....must change the channel. Guess I will watch the Raiders pound the Chargers into their own home field. Who knows, maybe the Chargers will surprise us all!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Every Day Is Another Day Closer To Moving
So, another landmark day. We finished packing all our art, so completely bare walls now. And, we gave Pete to our friends! For those of you who don't know, this is Pete.
Our friend moved out of state and gave him to us several months ago, and now we are moving and passing him on to someone else. So, it's pretty sad. He has been a real part of our family. So, when we sold the dining room table, I put Pete on the kitchen counter. Stinksy didn't seem to care or notice. But today, right before I was about to put Pete in his travel pitcher (yes, a water pitcher - that's how he arrived at our place) Stinksy jumped up to see him. It was like he knew!!! So sad. But, our friends have a little girl, and Pete will entertain her, and vice versa. And, I figure they will take good care of him. So, it's not completely sad. It's happy time that Pete went to a good home! Hopefully he will live a long and happy life with them! And if not, the FP pointed out that they will have to keep buying a blue and red betta fish so that their little daughter won't know that he died.
We also gave them our not so thriving serrano plant that has been sitting on our outside walkway area. After all these years, I still don't know what to call it. Landing, patio, stoop. Whatever. It's the narrow walkway from the stairs to the door that we have as our own private space.
Anyhoo, we also gave them the plant that they gave us as a housewarming gift when we moved in here! They just put an offer on a house in Carlsbad, so hopefully they will get it, so the ficus can be like a housewarming gift for them!
So, it's down to our last week here. I've been knowing this was for real for 2 months now, but it definitely is hitting home more now. I mean, we are starting a new life across the country from scratch!!!
I'm sorry to dwell on this in every post, but this post is really about me, so this is what is at the forefront of my thoughts right now. Oh, also, tough loss tonight, Stillers. It was a really good, hard fought game. But, that's that. Good luck next week.
So, let me leave you with something from the past. A video of The Fuzz when she was a baby:
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sad Day
Well, we just sold our lovely wooden dining room set. Although we really used it more as a work table than as a dining table, it was our favorite piece of furniture. Shhhh.... don't tell the guy who bought it, but we used it the last several months as the cats' table for their food and water. And Pete the betta fish lived on the table too.
Which was mainly used to store wedding gifts that we rarely used, and as a table to put our change container, lighters, receipts, business cards, hairspray and hair goo, hairbrush and stuff like that. These were our furniture that we got in New Orleans. And once we get rid of our old ripped up bed, we won't have any furniture from New Orleans. It's kinda sad. But the little cash we got was helpful.
These physically are just objects. I learned a lot about not getting so attached to "things". But, these pieces of heavy wood hold a lot of memories. We have memories here for sure, but even more so in New Orleans. We rarely ever go back to our parents' for holidays, mainly because of work and the hassle of traveling during the holidays. So, we've had a lot of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at our place, sitting around this dining room table. Getting loaded. I rarely get loaded much anymore, but holidays still hold a special place in my liver, oh and in my heart too.
I don't think the fuss of bending over backwards and spending more money to be with family during Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day is necessarily worth it. I mean, everyone gets stressed around the holidays, and you've seen the movies. It's kind of better, in my opinion, to be able to hang out with family when it's not a national holiday. I can't tell you how many times we've been visiting with family, and we've be deterred from doing things because it was the holidays. You know, you don't do casual shopping the day after Thanksgiving. And try to go to a popular restaurant that night without a reservation.
Okay, maybe I don't go to visit family nearly enough. I realize this. But I'm trying to get better at it. Like for instance, we are going to be arriving in Florida with no jobs. But, we really need to go visit the FP's mom. She's going through some... trying times. But, I want to go there and get a job asap. But I know she will take it personally if I don't go.
Getting back to the furniture. Every time we get rid of something or pack something, it's another step closer to leaving this little apartment here in Golden Hill, that we've been residing in for over 3 years. It's sad. But, it's promise of a new beginning. New furniture around which to celebrate holidays with new friends. And hopefully lighter furniture. That shit was heavy. I thought I was going to throw my back out helping this lady get that wooden cabinet to her car.
Although, I really think getting rid of the furniture affects the cats the most. They have less and less higher places to hang out in their dwindling habitat. The outside forces are entering into their environment and destroying the life that they knew and were comfortable in. Every time we do cleaning and packing, it freaks them out. Stinksy knows that a big move is in store. The Fuzz doesn't know what to think, but anything different is scary for her anyway. You know, I read these ads on craigslist, people putting their pets up for adoption because they are moving and can't keep them anymore. I'm not going to judge these people. They have their reasons. But I can't imagine moving and just leaving my cats.
I gave up cats once. When I was in college, I took these two little teeny kittens. I didn't tell the property management, and I didn't pay a pet deposit. These little guys would come to bed about 5 minutes after we went to bed. They would settle on the pillows above our heads, and knead our hair until they fell asleep. It was so sweet. During the day, they would hide out in the crevice between the kitchen counters when we were gone. As soon as I walked in, they would pop out to see me. They were my little babies. But, I was an irresponsible college kid.
The air conditioner needed to be fixed. So I had put an order in. I brought the cats to my friend's apartment for her to keep until the air was fixed, so the maintenance guy wouldn't see them. It was several days, and the maintenance man had not shown. I got tired of waiting for him, and I finally took the kitties back. And then the maintenance guy showed up. He made small talk and said something about the kittens. The next day I got a notice that I needed to pay a pet deposit. Fucking rat! I didn't have the money, so I gave them away to these other college kids who seemed equally as irresponsible. I felt like such a bad mom. I had only had them for about 6 weeks, but I loved them. After I dropped them off, I sat in my car and bawled my eyes out for a couple minutes, before I could drive. That was a sad day. I was a dumb college kid.
Anyway, I apologize for rambling on about sad things. It's cold and windy and rainy outside, and that's kind of what my mood is like. Maybe I just need another grilled cheese sandwich. Or even better yet, a Nutella sandwich!!!
So, what can I leave you with? Something a little more cheery, perhaps. I love miniature ponies and horses, so how about a miniature stallion video?!!!
Here's the website for this cute little frisky horse:
http://www.smalleststallion.com/
We also got rid of this last week
Which was mainly used to store wedding gifts that we rarely used, and as a table to put our change container, lighters, receipts, business cards, hairspray and hair goo, hairbrush and stuff like that. These were our furniture that we got in New Orleans. And once we get rid of our old ripped up bed, we won't have any furniture from New Orleans. It's kinda sad. But the little cash we got was helpful.
These physically are just objects. I learned a lot about not getting so attached to "things". But, these pieces of heavy wood hold a lot of memories. We have memories here for sure, but even more so in New Orleans. We rarely ever go back to our parents' for holidays, mainly because of work and the hassle of traveling during the holidays. So, we've had a lot of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at our place, sitting around this dining room table. Getting loaded. I rarely get loaded much anymore, but holidays still hold a special place in my liver, oh and in my heart too.
I don't think the fuss of bending over backwards and spending more money to be with family during Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day is necessarily worth it. I mean, everyone gets stressed around the holidays, and you've seen the movies. It's kind of better, in my opinion, to be able to hang out with family when it's not a national holiday. I can't tell you how many times we've been visiting with family, and we've be deterred from doing things because it was the holidays. You know, you don't do casual shopping the day after Thanksgiving. And try to go to a popular restaurant that night without a reservation.
Okay, maybe I don't go to visit family nearly enough. I realize this. But I'm trying to get better at it. Like for instance, we are going to be arriving in Florida with no jobs. But, we really need to go visit the FP's mom. She's going through some... trying times. But, I want to go there and get a job asap. But I know she will take it personally if I don't go.
Getting back to the furniture. Every time we get rid of something or pack something, it's another step closer to leaving this little apartment here in Golden Hill, that we've been residing in for over 3 years. It's sad. But, it's promise of a new beginning. New furniture around which to celebrate holidays with new friends. And hopefully lighter furniture. That shit was heavy. I thought I was going to throw my back out helping this lady get that wooden cabinet to her car.
Although, I really think getting rid of the furniture affects the cats the most. They have less and less higher places to hang out in their dwindling habitat. The outside forces are entering into their environment and destroying the life that they knew and were comfortable in. Every time we do cleaning and packing, it freaks them out. Stinksy knows that a big move is in store. The Fuzz doesn't know what to think, but anything different is scary for her anyway. You know, I read these ads on craigslist, people putting their pets up for adoption because they are moving and can't keep them anymore. I'm not going to judge these people. They have their reasons. But I can't imagine moving and just leaving my cats.
I gave up cats once. When I was in college, I took these two little teeny kittens. I didn't tell the property management, and I didn't pay a pet deposit. These little guys would come to bed about 5 minutes after we went to bed. They would settle on the pillows above our heads, and knead our hair until they fell asleep. It was so sweet. During the day, they would hide out in the crevice between the kitchen counters when we were gone. As soon as I walked in, they would pop out to see me. They were my little babies. But, I was an irresponsible college kid.
The air conditioner needed to be fixed. So I had put an order in. I brought the cats to my friend's apartment for her to keep until the air was fixed, so the maintenance guy wouldn't see them. It was several days, and the maintenance man had not shown. I got tired of waiting for him, and I finally took the kitties back. And then the maintenance guy showed up. He made small talk and said something about the kittens. The next day I got a notice that I needed to pay a pet deposit. Fucking rat! I didn't have the money, so I gave them away to these other college kids who seemed equally as irresponsible. I felt like such a bad mom. I had only had them for about 6 weeks, but I loved them. After I dropped them off, I sat in my car and bawled my eyes out for a couple minutes, before I could drive. That was a sad day. I was a dumb college kid.
Anyway, I apologize for rambling on about sad things. It's cold and windy and rainy outside, and that's kind of what my mood is like. Maybe I just need another grilled cheese sandwich. Or even better yet, a Nutella sandwich!!!
So, what can I leave you with? Something a little more cheery, perhaps. I love miniature ponies and horses, so how about a miniature stallion video?!!!
Here's the website for this cute little frisky horse:
http://www.smalleststallion.com/
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Getting Rid of the Old
So, in our attempt to start our new life and shed the old, we are shedding materials. We already went through all our clothes and gave 5 bags to Goodwill along with our stereo receiver. I sold the Bose speakers to a nice Filipina. I'm trying to sell our square bookshelf, but no bites. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bookshelves on craigslist, so I'll probably have to lower the price or give it away. As long as I don't have to physically carry it out of here, I'll be satisfied.
Right now I am wiping the hard drive of our old desktop computer. We are giving it to our friend. So, it's amazing how quick it is to erase all the data files, but it takes 3 times as long to reset it. It's such a weird big old monster, but it still works, and it will run much faster with no data on it it start.
We also are getting rid of the "credenza". It's not quite a credenza, but we like to call it that. It's pretty cool, but the base got a little fucked up when we moved from New Orleans. Still it's got this ornate carving in the doors. We basically use it as a hall table to put stuff like change and pens and hairspray on, and in the cabinets was all our fancy wedding presents that we don't use much like lead crystal vases and platters. Oh, and also envelopes and the apartment lease, which we refer to when writing the envelope for our rent check. I used to have such a good memory about remembering phone numbers, addresses and account numbers, but my memory is shot. I can never remember the landlady's address.
Sadly, we are also getting rid of our beloved World Market dining room table. We barely ever actually dine at it, because it usually has a bunch of crap on it. Oh, also it's where Pete "lives". It's pretty heavy, and the top needs to be refinished, so we decided it's served us well, but it's time to move on. I really don't even know if we actually need a dining room table....
The only piece of furniture we are keeping is this black and metal Ikea shelving unit. It's kind of flimsy, but it's still nice and functional, and it's light and easy to break down too. Everything else is going, but we can't get rid of most of it until later, or we will be sitting on the floor, putting our stuff on the floor, and laying on the floor too. And with all the ants that we can't seem to get rid of, no thank you. I mean, they can still climb up the furniture, but they tend to go solo on it, not in a single file trail that extends for a few feet.
We are keeping the cats, although, I don't want to think about what it will be like taking them on a 40 hour total road trip. The Fuzz has never travelled any farther than from Del Mar to North Park. And let me tell you, she did not handle that well at all. She cried the whole way home. The whole way. That was like a 15 - 20 minute ride.
We are getting rid of Pete, the fish, probably just put him in a freshwater pond somewhere nearby, maybe at Balboa Park.
Obviously, I kid. Our friends are going to take him, along with our sad plants that need some love. I would like to take Pete, but I don't think he would like the feeling of being in a bowl full of vibrating water for 16 hours a day. He is so spunky and full of personality, so we are sad to be leaving him. I think Stinksy will miss him, and he will miss Stinksy as well. They are like playmates now, ever since I built to protective lean to to put over Pete's tank. Pete will swim up and down around the front of the tank and Stinksy will paw at the tank trying to catch him. And then Stinksy will sometimes just sit or lie there in front of the tank, and they will stare at each other for hours. I noticed that Pete naps a lot more during the day. I think that Stinksy keeps him up at night.
I started packing our pictures that were hanging on the walls, so the spaces where there were things hanging look so bare. But, I figure I should pack what I can. I also packed most of the newer matching plates and a lot of the glasses. It's weird because all of the plates that are left out are mismatching, and a lot of them were plates that were left in our last apartment, as is some of the silverware.
It's a strange transitional period, but it's leading us to an exciting new adventure. At least that's what we keep trying to tell ourselves. So if you live in the area and you want any of our furniture, let me know.
Right now I am wiping the hard drive of our old desktop computer. We are giving it to our friend. So, it's amazing how quick it is to erase all the data files, but it takes 3 times as long to reset it. It's such a weird big old monster, but it still works, and it will run much faster with no data on it it start.
We also are getting rid of the "credenza". It's not quite a credenza, but we like to call it that. It's pretty cool, but the base got a little fucked up when we moved from New Orleans. Still it's got this ornate carving in the doors. We basically use it as a hall table to put stuff like change and pens and hairspray on, and in the cabinets was all our fancy wedding presents that we don't use much like lead crystal vases and platters. Oh, and also envelopes and the apartment lease, which we refer to when writing the envelope for our rent check. I used to have such a good memory about remembering phone numbers, addresses and account numbers, but my memory is shot. I can never remember the landlady's address.
Sadly, we are also getting rid of our beloved World Market dining room table. We barely ever actually dine at it, because it usually has a bunch of crap on it. Oh, also it's where Pete "lives". It's pretty heavy, and the top needs to be refinished, so we decided it's served us well, but it's time to move on. I really don't even know if we actually need a dining room table....
The only piece of furniture we are keeping is this black and metal Ikea shelving unit. It's kind of flimsy, but it's still nice and functional, and it's light and easy to break down too. Everything else is going, but we can't get rid of most of it until later, or we will be sitting on the floor, putting our stuff on the floor, and laying on the floor too. And with all the ants that we can't seem to get rid of, no thank you. I mean, they can still climb up the furniture, but they tend to go solo on it, not in a single file trail that extends for a few feet.
We are keeping the cats, although, I don't want to think about what it will be like taking them on a 40 hour total road trip. The Fuzz has never travelled any farther than from Del Mar to North Park. And let me tell you, she did not handle that well at all. She cried the whole way home. The whole way. That was like a 15 - 20 minute ride.
We are getting rid of Pete, the fish, probably just put him in a freshwater pond somewhere nearby, maybe at Balboa Park.
Obviously, I kid. Our friends are going to take him, along with our sad plants that need some love. I would like to take Pete, but I don't think he would like the feeling of being in a bowl full of vibrating water for 16 hours a day. He is so spunky and full of personality, so we are sad to be leaving him. I think Stinksy will miss him, and he will miss Stinksy as well. They are like playmates now, ever since I built to protective lean to to put over Pete's tank. Pete will swim up and down around the front of the tank and Stinksy will paw at the tank trying to catch him. And then Stinksy will sometimes just sit or lie there in front of the tank, and they will stare at each other for hours. I noticed that Pete naps a lot more during the day. I think that Stinksy keeps him up at night.
I started packing our pictures that were hanging on the walls, so the spaces where there were things hanging look so bare. But, I figure I should pack what I can. I also packed most of the newer matching plates and a lot of the glasses. It's weird because all of the plates that are left out are mismatching, and a lot of them were plates that were left in our last apartment, as is some of the silverware.
It's a strange transitional period, but it's leading us to an exciting new adventure. At least that's what we keep trying to tell ourselves. So if you live in the area and you want any of our furniture, let me know.
Monday, September 26, 2011
What I'll Miss
Hopefully, every time you leave somewhere, there is something you will miss about that place. There are a lot of things I will miss about San Diego. It is after all, America's finest city. Here's a couple in particular.
Weather -
Well, it's not perfect. When one lives in a beautiful climate, the standard becomes higher. Every day is not perfect - clear with a few clouds in the sky, 75 degrees, low humidity - some days it's overcast, 68 degrees, sometimes it's 85. And maybe once every few months, it rains! Actually, I have complained that the weather isn't above 70 degrees long enough.
Beer -
So, there are maybe 20 breweries in San Diego County. Okay, lately, I've been cutting back on the local brews. For one, I don't work, so I tend to drink the beers with the better price point. For two, I have developed a lower tolerance for alcohol, so if I drink lower alcohol content beers then I can have slightly more. Although local brews generally have a great flavor, they on average are usually pretty strong. For three, we don't go out much, due to the constricted cash flow, so I don't have access as often to a wide selection of local drafts. I will also miss the local pubs that we go to which serve these fine brews.
Beach -
Of course there will be plenty of beaches in Florida, but the Pacific has seeped its salt watery way into my heart. The shockingly cold, rough, raging deep blue wild ocean sings to me. But not like a pretty mermaid siren song, more like an orchestral wave, like The Cure's Plainsong. Every time I go to the beach, the sight, the feel of the Pacific breeze are enough to put me at peace. I like every beach I've ever gone to here, but my goto beaches are really the more obvious ones:
Coronado - it's the closest, easy to park, and it's got a long stretch of sand that one has to hike across to get to the water.
Ocean Beach - old school hippie beach town. Everyone there feels like we outsiders think they are lucky to live there, and of course they are. There's the fishing pier and the long stretch of sunset cliffs. Beautiful.
Mission Beach - it's got the boardwalk that isn't on a boardwalk, and it's small, but still festive. It's always busy on the beach if it's warm, but, it's just a nice place. I dream of having a vacation home there one day....
La Jolla - it's just beautiful. I love the cliffs. I love the seals, hate the children's pool controversy. The value of real estate there is so not overrated. Who the hell wouldn't want to live there. Well, I wouldn't because I don't think I would necessarily get along with my neighbors....
Ethnic Food -
I didn't know when we moved here we would get educated on more than just Mexican food. Which, I have to say, I have a whole different perspective of since moving here. But since being here, I've had the best Thai, Szechuan, Philippine (from a restaurant), Korean that I've had so far in my life. I've also had some really good Caribbean, although I know I won't be missing that in South Florida! The whole local organic movement is great, and I can appreciate it, and I love so much of the local products that are available nearby, but some fancified free range burger probably won't make me gush like I'm having an orgasm like a good selection of chinese cold dish will.
Music -
I don't know what the future will hold as far as playing in a band, but I hope I have not played my last note on stage. We got to play here in local venues quite a bit, and I've enjoyed it immensely. I've also got to hear a lot of great local music, and great national acts. A lot of the venues here are smaller, thus more intimate settings. I got to see Her Space Holiday at Che Cafe late at night when I had to be at work the next day at 6 am, but it was great. We saw Peter Murphy at the House of Blues for half price, and the place was half empty. A couple years later, his show was sold out like a month before the show. We saw Explosions In The Sky at an all ages no alcohol venue. But boy were they amazing. Being able to go to LA is also great for music, of course.
Of course, the few friends we have here are very dear to us, even if we don't see them too often. And the people we interact with, the Mexican girls at the grocery store, the crazy people who work the late shift at the 7-11, the neighbors with the yappy and barky dogs, even the mean lady at the szechuan restaurant, we'll miss her too.
But, we're moving on to such an amazing adventure, so many new place to explore. Even though it's the state that I grew up in, it's an area of the state that is foreign to me. Although, I'll have to get a job pretty fast. If we're going to explore the area we're going to need some cash.
Weather -
Well, it's not perfect. When one lives in a beautiful climate, the standard becomes higher. Every day is not perfect - clear with a few clouds in the sky, 75 degrees, low humidity - some days it's overcast, 68 degrees, sometimes it's 85. And maybe once every few months, it rains! Actually, I have complained that the weather isn't above 70 degrees long enough.
Beer -
So, there are maybe 20 breweries in San Diego County. Okay, lately, I've been cutting back on the local brews. For one, I don't work, so I tend to drink the beers with the better price point. For two, I have developed a lower tolerance for alcohol, so if I drink lower alcohol content beers then I can have slightly more. Although local brews generally have a great flavor, they on average are usually pretty strong. For three, we don't go out much, due to the constricted cash flow, so I don't have access as often to a wide selection of local drafts. I will also miss the local pubs that we go to which serve these fine brews.
Beach -
Of course there will be plenty of beaches in Florida, but the Pacific has seeped its salt watery way into my heart. The shockingly cold, rough, raging deep blue wild ocean sings to me. But not like a pretty mermaid siren song, more like an orchestral wave, like The Cure's Plainsong. Every time I go to the beach, the sight, the feel of the Pacific breeze are enough to put me at peace. I like every beach I've ever gone to here, but my goto beaches are really the more obvious ones:
Coronado - it's the closest, easy to park, and it's got a long stretch of sand that one has to hike across to get to the water.
Ocean Beach - old school hippie beach town. Everyone there feels like we outsiders think they are lucky to live there, and of course they are. There's the fishing pier and the long stretch of sunset cliffs. Beautiful.
Mission Beach - it's got the boardwalk that isn't on a boardwalk, and it's small, but still festive. It's always busy on the beach if it's warm, but, it's just a nice place. I dream of having a vacation home there one day....
La Jolla - it's just beautiful. I love the cliffs. I love the seals, hate the children's pool controversy. The value of real estate there is so not overrated. Who the hell wouldn't want to live there. Well, I wouldn't because I don't think I would necessarily get along with my neighbors....
Ethnic Food -
I didn't know when we moved here we would get educated on more than just Mexican food. Which, I have to say, I have a whole different perspective of since moving here. But since being here, I've had the best Thai, Szechuan, Philippine (from a restaurant), Korean that I've had so far in my life. I've also had some really good Caribbean, although I know I won't be missing that in South Florida! The whole local organic movement is great, and I can appreciate it, and I love so much of the local products that are available nearby, but some fancified free range burger probably won't make me gush like I'm having an orgasm like a good selection of chinese cold dish will.
Music -
I don't know what the future will hold as far as playing in a band, but I hope I have not played my last note on stage. We got to play here in local venues quite a bit, and I've enjoyed it immensely. I've also got to hear a lot of great local music, and great national acts. A lot of the venues here are smaller, thus more intimate settings. I got to see Her Space Holiday at Che Cafe late at night when I had to be at work the next day at 6 am, but it was great. We saw Peter Murphy at the House of Blues for half price, and the place was half empty. A couple years later, his show was sold out like a month before the show. We saw Explosions In The Sky at an all ages no alcohol venue. But boy were they amazing. Being able to go to LA is also great for music, of course.
Of course, the few friends we have here are very dear to us, even if we don't see them too often. And the people we interact with, the Mexican girls at the grocery store, the crazy people who work the late shift at the 7-11, the neighbors with the yappy and barky dogs, even the mean lady at the szechuan restaurant, we'll miss her too.
But, we're moving on to such an amazing adventure, so many new place to explore. Even though it's the state that I grew up in, it's an area of the state that is foreign to me. Although, I'll have to get a job pretty fast. If we're going to explore the area we're going to need some cash.
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