All Moved In

So it's Sunday, one week after I officially moved in. I only spent two nights sleeping on my futon in the "lounge" and then set up my bed. This may actually be a record, as I usually spend many more nights on the futon before I get my act together and set up my bed.

The lounge (it's so cool, I just might capitalize it) is my favorite part of the duplex. It hangs out in the back of the building on the other side of my room-sized closet. It has French doors on one side and windows on the other three sides. When they are all open there is an amazingly wonderful breeze flowing through. Matt and Josh graciously moved my vintage fridge back there ("graciously" might just be an exaggeration...) and cold beers are currently chilling within it. There are flower twinkle lights set up above the futon and my radio/iPod speakers are tuned in to Jazz 88. Last night I listened to the Bing Hour while a cool breeze wandered through the apartment.

Comcast, on the other hand, has not been as relaxing. It would have been nice of them to tell me that I needed in writing a note from my landlord saying that they could work on the place. I had a verbal ok from him, but apparently that wasn't good enough. So now I have to wait another week+ until someone can get back out here. And even then I'm going to have to leave tennis practice early. It's a good thing that I'm stealing internet from the oh so technically savvy tippy. What kind of person doesn't lock their internet? Unfortunately, tippy's signal isn't strong enough for my TiVo to hook up to it. Bastards. I do have my BluRay player hooked up to the tv so at least I can watch movies. Last night's selections were The In-Laws and A League of Their Own.

Yesterday I decided to play "Apartment Tetris" and re-arrange everything that had accumulated in my bedroom and living room. I now have all of the bathroom things arranged in the hall closets, the bookcases positioned, the rug laid down, and the coffee and end tables out of my bedroom and into the living room. Heck, I even vacuumed the baseboards! The Lounge is also all set up, complete with chairs, stools, and pictures adorning the walls and baseboards.

Today's task (after watching The Help, finally) was the kitchen. I am proud to announce that the kitchen is all set up, minus the extra table that I can't fit into the back stairwell because two of the legs need to come off first. I vacuumed the floor and bought a Swiffer Wet Jet, which I will try out later tonight or tomorrow morning. I was going to put the books on the shelves and set up my shoes, but I'm thinking it's time to relax, have a couple of beers, and start watching movies. I was also going to clean the bathtub and bathroom today, but I think I'll hold off on that until tomorrow as well. Perhaps this lack of energy is the pot from the downstairs neighbors, seeping into my brain...

That is the only downside to my new place - the downstairs neighbors like to toke up and whatever they are smoking reeks to high heaven. I've only smelled it twice, once last Monday, and once today, and it is horrible. I've emailed my landlord twice. Right now I have my windows open because it's nice out, but if this continues during the winter I will raise holy hell. I've already stated that I am a teacher and smelling like pot is unacceptable. It's also written into the lease that there cannot be any illegal drugs on the property. I like this place and the area and if anyone is going to have to move, it's the people who are smoking illegal drugs. I am not, by any means, a prude. Smoke it if you got it! Just not in my house where I can smell it and where it makes my clothes and things smell like it. I think I'd prefer the girl who yelled at her kid in the duplex below me over these people. Or the crazy guy who would run the length of the duplex, even he'd be better. Those people were at least friendly to me when they ran into me. This girl (and there seems to be a guy and sometimes a little girl) has never said hi to me or introduced herself. I will have no qualms about getting rid of her, if necessary.

Aside from that, I'm so happy to be back in my old neighborhood! I'm enjoying walking to breakfast and to the local bars, restaurants, and shops. I'm so close to everything that I've missed. I'm close to the interstate and my commute is only about 35 minutes. I hop on, drive 25 miles, then hop off again. It's perfect! The neighbors I've met have been extremely friendly. They've introduced themselves and it's nice to know some people. The couple next door have a very large dog named Millie and they seem very nice and welcoming.

I still have a lot of work to do on the place, but it's coming along nicely. I bought a nice new flat screen tv for my bedroom and I'm excited to be able to watch movies and football in my room again, even if it is only steps away from the living room... It's a great place with lots of personality and I think I'm going to really enjoy living here. What amazes me the most is that when all of the windows are open, this amazing breeze whips through the entire place. It's the coolest thing to have a breeze throughout the entire house! And since I'm on the second floor, I can keep the windows open all the time and not have to worry about creepers, thieves, or peeping Toms.

And now I think I'm going to get a beer, curl up on the couch with the comforter (it's 64 degrees, dropping into the 40s tonight!), and pop in a DVD. This is the life!