Where's the box that has my __________? (fill in the blank)

Operation Relocation was successful!

It took me a week to put my life into boxes, and it took eight people two hours to put those boxes into six cars and two trailers. It took one trip from Tacoma to Kent, and almost two hours to get everything unloaded into the condo. (aka The Penthouse, fondly named such by Rick, Dana, and me last time we lived here)

It's nice to be in a place and not feel like I'm still living in the dorms. I mean, shoot- I'm going to turn 29 again this year, aka 30, and I deserve to be in some nicer digs... but it's still weird. It's definately easier to be living in a place I've already called "home" but it's definately lonely without Rick & Dana here, and it's really weird to be sleeping in "Dana's Room". As I slowly get things unpacked it starts to feel more like it's my place. Kind of helps having different furnature- the guy moving into my apt in Tacoma is keeping my couch, and someone else there rescued my desk from the trash compactor. I have to laugh though, because it TOTALLY feels like a bachelor pad- I have a recliner and a swivel chair, a big screen TV, and in my fridge is beer and vodka. I'll be fixing that though, fear not. *grin* Just have to find the right couch for the room, and I want to blow up one of my photographs to hang above the fireplace instead of the whiteboard and its revolving "art".

The hardest part is getting used to the quiet again. For a year I was so used to radiators clanking, elevator doors slamming shut, people being loud and obnoxious outside, pets running across hardwood floors over head- signs of life around. Now it's just silent. Nice, peaceful, but almost too quiet. I think I'll be sleeping with my laptop playing either music or a movie or something, a little more than just white noise but not too much distraction to keep me from sleeping. Mom calls these movies her lullaby. For a while, now, it's been The Holiday, with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Jude Law. (I like to think that it helps me to find the confidence I need to be the leading lady in my own life, to reference Kate Winslet's character's challenge throughout the film.) Before that it was Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and before that was National Treasure!

Okay- time to start my lullaby. It's a bit longer than 4 miles to work now, I hardly think I'll be able to leave at 7:40 and get to work on time.

Must sleep... soon...

Wednesday Wonders

I wonder how I have so much stuff!!! I've been packing and packing, and I still feel like I haven't even made a dent! I know I have, as my kitchen, living room, and bathrooms are empty, but I still have my bedroom and both closets to pack up. Yuk.

I sure hope that I'm done moving. it's still really hard, every time I look at any corner of my apt in Tacoma I feel a little twinge inside. I worked so hard painting the walls, having Dad help paint the ceiling in my bedroom, fixing the wiring a bit, polishing the floors, making it home. (I'll finally take pictures and post em' after I'm done cleaning- it's not as fun, because it won't have all the cute little accents, but I'm still stinkin' proud of the paint job & color combinations I put together!)

At least I'm moving back to a place I've called home before, a place that is comfortable and secure, and has so many good memories associated with it! And thank GOD it's a 3 day weekend coming up, because I'm going to need to sleep for about 24 hours- hoping to kick this damned cold.

Okay, enough procrastination, time to get back to packing.

Wednesday Wonders & a Brain Dump

Hmmm... Today, and many days, I wonder when- or even if- I will find someone to share my life with.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have amazing friends and family that are a part of my everyday life, but you know what I mean- "the One", my Medio Naranja. In Spain, that's how they say soul mates- half-an-orange. It's a little more light hearted and less cliche than saying "Soul Mate" but still very much effective!

So, yeah. That's what I've got for you today. If you happen to know anyone who you might introduce to me, that's great! If not, well, then I'm just going to keep on-keepin' on.

--

About moving- yup, it's happening a month earlier than I expected! I'm moving 05/22/09! Memorial Day Weekend. Thank GOD Camp Jitterbug is the following weekend this year, or I'm not sure what I'd do!!! I still am not quite sure about everything- the only thing I have packed right now is half of my DVD collection. Every time I get boxes out, I break down into tears. I love my apt, and never thought I'd leave! But I know that it's going to be better for me, for sure. I've spent the last 1.5 months hiding in my apt, avoiding going anywhere or even looking out my windows because every time I go in or out, every time I look out my windows, I see where that woman was murdered and the whole day replays itself in my head. I've spent almost the entire time I'm off from work either avoiding "home" or hiding inside my home, avoiding everyone and everything else! I've gained 40 lbs in the last 6 weeks because all I've done is eat, sleep, and cry, and I just can't continue this way. I'd be bigger than a bread box and have a black hole for a soul, because- I swear- every time I walk past where "it" happened a little piece of me dies inside and I have to choke down bile.

I know that moving is going to be the best thing for me, and being 2 blocks from Rick & Dana and 10 minutes from family will definately help. I wish I could transplant Mark & Katie & Monique so they were closer to Kent too... *sigh* Or maybe just eliminate Fife and Milton. Then I'd be closer to work too- just squeeze Kent and Tacoma closer together on the map! It's not like anyone would miss Fife. Or Milton.

For now, I'm actually able to think about packing without feeling heartbroken, so I'm going to start putting clothes into boxes.

Tune in next time, same time, same place!

The Winds of Change

Funny, how history repeats itself.

My 12 month lease is up in June, and I will be moving back to the condo in Kent. This is a very good move for me, mentally and emotionally, and while it will add 15 miles to my commute every day, I'm okay with that.

I love my apartment here at The Vintage, I love the character of the building, the 1925 elevator, the hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings, the little hexagon tiles in the bathroom, and the cabinets from the early 20th century as well... the old world charm is beyond words! But after the murder that happened outside my window last month, I just can't take it. Every time I walk in and out of my building, every time I look outside my windows, the whole day of the murder replays itself over and over in my head, and it's got me pretty depressed. I stay inside my apt as much as possible, with the windows closed and the blinds shut tight, curtains drawn. Since I got my promotion, I've been looking at new places to live, some fancy pants apt's mentioned in last week's blogs, and have been working with the leasing office at The Metropolitan Tacoma as far as the soonest possible move-in date. It would be half the size for over twice the price, but totally worth it....

Last night, as I was trying to fall asleep, I said to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if the condo in Kent was available, and I could just move back there? If only..."

Today I got a phone call from our old landlord, he said he'd give me a $100 referral bonus for anyone who's application was approved to move in. I said "I'll take it!" He knocked off the first & last months' deposit for me, brought it down to a flat fee, then took the $100 off the top of that, and knocked $200/mo off the price of rent!!! If that's not a sign, I don't know what is!

I hate moving. When Dana and I first moved into the condo 2 years ago, I said "I don't plan on moving for a long time." Well, then she moved in with Rick and I couldn't afford the place on my own. Then I found The Vintage, fell in love with it, and said "I don't plan on moving for a VERY long time!" Then I saw a woman lose her life right outside my window, and here I am. I'm not going to say it this time, because I don't want to jinx anything. What I am going to do is start packing things up. I am going to start getting rid of things that I haven't used in the last year, and I am going to get rid of my couch. Does anyone want a queen size sleeper sofa that's REALLY comfortable and has a very nice, light blue silk cover that's been cut to fit a sleeper sofa? It'll be going up on CL soon...

Looking around me, I see that I have a lot of work to do before my move-out date. Stay tuned for more updates, and fear not- I will be soliciting for help in moving things!

Wednesday Wonders

Hm... I know I've posted this here for Wednesday before... I wonder where Wednesday went?!

More blogging to come, I promise. *grin*