Ryan and I spent our first night in our new apartment on Saturday night. I only got to spend one night there b/c I had to trek back to Gainesville for one last week of work.
We didn't get all of our deposit back from the old aparmtent. I am bitterly sad about that b/c my mom, Ryan and I put our blood, sweat and tears into cleaning that place. I touched a toilet in places I've never wanted to even look at. Toilets are so not my job! I re-caulked 2 bathtubs and mopped floors on my hands and knees. Ryan worked his cleaning magic on 2 of the toilets. In short, there was a whole lote of work that went into that place. I won't say that the apt. complex manager was unfair. I definitely saw the spots that she was saying were dirty, but it was heartbreaking to see things that we could have taken care of if the move had gone down more smoothly. The good news is, we will get at least some of the money back and the whole mess is over now.
I'm camping out in my friend's living room for the week while Ryan lives by himself in our cute little apartment. We are far from unpacked, but already I am in love with the place. Stoneridge was a place to live, we kept our stuff there and it worked for what we needed. The new place in Oviedo is so adorable, so comfortable, and so much better fitted to us. It is strange to think that I am no longer a Gainesville resident. I've been whining forever about how I want to get out and suddenly I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is a mountain of boxes to climb through before I'm on the other side, but nonetheless, my new life has already begun.
My plans for Monday are to lay out in the sun beside the pool (sans 20 pounds). I have not yet had a chance to enjoy my new bathing suit. It has been a very long time since I've not had a job and no major responsibilities and I'm looking forward to relaxing for a day. Of course, bright and early on Tuesday morning, I will begin the serious job hunt. I've been looking online and applying for school jobs, but it will be much easier when I am actually in town.
And now I leave you with some tips for moving: bring toilet paper to the new place, leave some nail polish where it is easily found (your toes will thank you later), and remember to thank your parents for thinking to cook you food for the moving days.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Wandering Game
Lately Ryan and I have been playing what I like to call the "Wandering Game". You get a box all ready for packing, put the few main things in that you set up the box for in the first place, and then you spend the next 15 minutes wandering around the apartment finding things to fill the rest of the box up. Each night usually ends with one box that isn't quite full. This late in the game though, it gets harder and harder to find things to fill boxes.
The other game we play is to put stuff out beside the dumpster and then see how quickly it disappears. It's dumpster diving season in Gainesville. I always thought that people could be so wasteful, but then I realized that the community is completely aware of the massive moving of apartments that goes on every July. People drive around with trailers, truck or SUV's from one dumpster to the next. It's worked out really well for Ryan and I to have the dumpster right outside our back door. When we first moved in, there was a blue rocking chair by the dumpster. I swiped it in the hopes of restoring it. It ended up in a closet for the entire 2 years that we lived here. It went back out to the dumpster and was gone in less than an hour.
We have gotten rid of so much stuff. I'm anxious to see how all the rest of our stuff will fit into a much smaller place. I'm hopeful that we will be approved for the new apartment early in the week. Tomorrow is Monday again, it is the start of my last two weeks. I can't tell you how excited I am to be moving on!
Maybe tonight I will finish that box in the kitchen...
The other game we play is to put stuff out beside the dumpster and then see how quickly it disappears. It's dumpster diving season in Gainesville. I always thought that people could be so wasteful, but then I realized that the community is completely aware of the massive moving of apartments that goes on every July. People drive around with trailers, truck or SUV's from one dumpster to the next. It's worked out really well for Ryan and I to have the dumpster right outside our back door. When we first moved in, there was a blue rocking chair by the dumpster. I swiped it in the hopes of restoring it. It ended up in a closet for the entire 2 years that we lived here. It went back out to the dumpster and was gone in less than an hour.
We have gotten rid of so much stuff. I'm anxious to see how all the rest of our stuff will fit into a much smaller place. I'm hopeful that we will be approved for the new apartment early in the week. Tomorrow is Monday again, it is the start of my last two weeks. I can't tell you how excited I am to be moving on!
Maybe tonight I will finish that box in the kitchen...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
22 days!
On my iGoogle homepage (love it!), I have 2 countdowns. One counts down to the day that Ryan and I have to be out of our apartment and the other counts down the days until our 2nd cruise with my sister, Mike and Ryan's parents. In 1 hour, the countdown will tell me that there are only TWENTY-TWO days until move-out date and 85 days until cruising time. Now, normally this would be a post about how I don't know where I"m moving too so I'm really worried about not having a place to live, blah, blah, blah...In the past week, somehow I have come to peace with the idea that we don't know where we'll be in a month. How this was accomplished, I have no idea, but I'm enjoying the break from the constant worry.
Today, in light of having helped move my sister out of her apartment yesterday, I am more concerned with how we have to pack 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen into neat little, move-able boxes. Oy! Not only that, wherever we end up, the place will definitely be much smaller (i.e. 2 bedrooms or less). So, we're cleaning out the closets of clothes we don't wear, don't like or don't fit into. We're dumping dishes that are not whole and trinkets that are useless. All of the cleaning out has thus far lead us to several bags to salvation army and several more to the dumpster and, still, it looks like we are very much settled into this apartment. Ryan has been working for days on cleaning up his crafting area and I have been packing up all the little things and scrubbing and cleaning what can be cleaned. It's a big project and I'm curious to see how the final days of moving pan out.
We didn't do anything special for Fourth of July celebrating. Not to say that I don't appreciate what the holiday represents, but we all celebrate in our own ways. I spent the morning helping my dad and sister clean out some of her apartment. Then we (+ Ryan) all had lunch at Olive Garden. Afterward, Ryan and I spent the rest of the afternoon at home. It was a perfect day to be honest. I read on the futon will Ryan packed up his Warhammer loot. We cooked dinner together and went to bed happy. I couldn't have asked for a better start to a 3 day weekend.
Today, in light of having helped move my sister out of her apartment yesterday, I am more concerned with how we have to pack 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen into neat little, move-able boxes. Oy! Not only that, wherever we end up, the place will definitely be much smaller (i.e. 2 bedrooms or less). So, we're cleaning out the closets of clothes we don't wear, don't like or don't fit into. We're dumping dishes that are not whole and trinkets that are useless. All of the cleaning out has thus far lead us to several bags to salvation army and several more to the dumpster and, still, it looks like we are very much settled into this apartment. Ryan has been working for days on cleaning up his crafting area and I have been packing up all the little things and scrubbing and cleaning what can be cleaned. It's a big project and I'm curious to see how the final days of moving pan out.
We didn't do anything special for Fourth of July celebrating. Not to say that I don't appreciate what the holiday represents, but we all celebrate in our own ways. I spent the morning helping my dad and sister clean out some of her apartment. Then we (+ Ryan) all had lunch at Olive Garden. Afterward, Ryan and I spent the rest of the afternoon at home. It was a perfect day to be honest. I read on the futon will Ryan packed up his Warhammer loot. We cooked dinner together and went to bed happy. I couldn't have asked for a better start to a 3 day weekend.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Italian night
For months some of the girls at work and I have been talking about getting together more often as a morale boost and a chance to get to know each other. Awhile ago, we all went out and saw Sex and the City together (free of charge thanks to my love!). Last night, Lisa hosted an Italian themed dinner. We had an Italian salad, smoked mozarella fonduta, pasta, lots of cheeses, red wine and a lot of laughter. We all decided to make something and bring it over. I made the smoked mozarella fonduta. True to my nature, I messed up the recipe a little bit and forgot one of the cheeses, but it still tasted delicious. There was also tomato/caper/other topped pasta, wine, salad and homemade tiramisu (soooo good).
Since I've not really had "girlfriends" since high school, I really didn't know what to expect from a group of 5 girls sitting around a coffee table, drinking wine. Little did I know, I was in for a fun night. We all come from such different places. There was Susan who tried to convince us she is from the ghetto of Durham, complete with only knowing how to "butt and grind" and being related to someone who got held up at gunpoint at the local grocery store. Then quiet Nora who dropped in a quick story every now and then, but seemed more content to sip her wine and laugh at the rest of us making fools of ourselves. Maggie the Polock put in her 2 cents with her bilingual abilities. And finally (but not the least), Lisa, our hostess. She always had a funny story up her sleeve - usually something about an awkward situation we can all relate to and how she elegantly (or embarassingly) maneuvered her way out of it.
It was definitely a fun evening. I had more cheese than I care to admit to eating, but it was worth it. Lisa's house was so lovely. It makes me wonder when I'll become a real adult, married with a nice house to nest in. I still feel like a college kid, renting and not knowing where I'll be for anything past the next year. But she had all these coordinated decorations and matching furniture; luxuries which I have yet to experience. I hope we do it again sometime soon, especially before Ryan and I move.
Since I've not really had "girlfriends" since high school, I really didn't know what to expect from a group of 5 girls sitting around a coffee table, drinking wine. Little did I know, I was in for a fun night. We all come from such different places. There was Susan who tried to convince us she is from the ghetto of Durham, complete with only knowing how to "butt and grind" and being related to someone who got held up at gunpoint at the local grocery store. Then quiet Nora who dropped in a quick story every now and then, but seemed more content to sip her wine and laugh at the rest of us making fools of ourselves. Maggie the Polock put in her 2 cents with her bilingual abilities. And finally (but not the least), Lisa, our hostess. She always had a funny story up her sleeve - usually something about an awkward situation we can all relate to and how she elegantly (or embarassingly) maneuvered her way out of it.
It was definitely a fun evening. I had more cheese than I care to admit to eating, but it was worth it. Lisa's house was so lovely. It makes me wonder when I'll become a real adult, married with a nice house to nest in. I still feel like a college kid, renting and not knowing where I'll be for anything past the next year. But she had all these coordinated decorations and matching furniture; luxuries which I have yet to experience. I hope we do it again sometime soon, especially before Ryan and I move.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
the best laid plans...
Way, way, way back in January I made a few goals, some of which have actually been achieved. I have lost 16 pounds and counting. I took the GRE (gasp!) and did shockingly better than I thought I would (1180). Ryan and I finally decided to stop waiting on Privateer Press and moved on with our lives. We scoped out places to live in Orlando, after he finally decided on a theater to work out and picked an area that would be ideal for us to live. Then, I applied for UCF Graduate School to become a teacher, was accepted and registered for classes.
After months and months of agonizing and searching, complaining and despairing, it all seems to be coming together. Then we had to hit the breaks on our newly laid plans, to wait for one glitch. After July 11, we'll have a better idea of what will really come to fruition. I will not complain or despair this time. I'm getting really good at waiting, it's not any fun though.
After months and months of agonizing and searching, complaining and despairing, it all seems to be coming together. Then we had to hit the breaks on our newly laid plans, to wait for one glitch. After July 11, we'll have a better idea of what will really come to fruition. I will not complain or despair this time. I'm getting really good at waiting, it's not any fun though.
Friday, May 2, 2008
GRE
Last night I began my first real night of studying for the GRE. I am not very good at studying well ahead of time, preferring to procrastinate and cram last minute. However, after last night I can see that I have a long road ahead. While studying, I realized that it has been 6 full years since the last time I took a math class. It was Calculus 2, rather impressive for an English major.
I am completely ashamed of how poor my math skills have become. Square roots? Integers? Area of a triangle/rectangle/square, huh? I figure the English part will need some attention, obviously, but the Math part is going to be a real challenge.
In other news, I really want get a dog. On those stressful days at work or boring afternoons at home, it would be really relaxing and fun to go for a walk and just be happy as a puppy for a little while.
Oh yeah, and my job is still pure hell.
I am completely ashamed of how poor my math skills have become. Square roots? Integers? Area of a triangle/rectangle/square, huh? I figure the English part will need some attention, obviously, but the Math part is going to be a real challenge.
In other news, I really want get a dog. On those stressful days at work or boring afternoons at home, it would be really relaxing and fun to go for a walk and just be happy as a puppy for a little while.
Oh yeah, and my job is still pure hell.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Patience - a virtue which I lack
I am so tired of waiting. Seriously. Let's get this show on the road!
Priority 1: Privateer Press needs to make a decision.
P-2: I need to take the GRE.
P-3: Ryan and I need to decide what city we're going to live in.
P-4: I need to find a new job.
P-5: I need to go to grad school for Elementary Education.
All of those things are contingent upon priority #1!!!!!
Priority 1: Privateer Press needs to make a decision.
P-2: I need to take the GRE.
P-3: Ryan and I need to decide what city we're going to live in.
P-4: I need to find a new job.
P-5: I need to go to grad school for Elementary Education.
All of those things are contingent upon priority #1!!!!!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
One thing I will never understand
Changing tastebuds: I've recently been experimenting with my "habit foods". By default, when I'm hungry and don't want to eat out, I eat cereal or chicken patties. For breakfast, I usually go for a bagel and cream cheese. Coffee is my main source of caffeine. Last week, I went for oatmeal, just to see if it's been "seven years" since my tastebuds decided they didn't like oatmeal. This week, I'm trying tea. So far, I've been successful in enjoying both of these things. Though, I'm still not a fan of lettuce on sandwiches or mayo in general or onions on anything.
When I'm hungry and I just have to go out to eat, I usually end up at a sushi place, Olive Garden or Sonny's. And when I go to those places I get either salmon or chicken and broccoli in some form. I've tried other meals to no avail. How do I know when it's been long enough to be able to enjoy something I never enjoyed previously?
That is all.
When I'm hungry and I just have to go out to eat, I usually end up at a sushi place, Olive Garden or Sonny's. And when I go to those places I get either salmon or chicken and broccoli in some form. I've tried other meals to no avail. How do I know when it's been long enough to be able to enjoy something I never enjoyed previously?
That is all.
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