Opening My Eyes

Today I've started really seeing my new apartment for the first time. Instead of just seeing stuff in places I can see that they are my cozy little areas of all things me. It is like I'm coming out of a fog. It is a beautiful place in a fantastic neighborhood. Also noticing that I'm getting some of my old humor back and making myself laugh. So nice to have this shift.

Still need a couch, some carpets, coffee table and chairs for my table, plus a nice big piece of art for the wall.

Girls' Day at My Place

Today was fabulous with two consecutive visitors to my new apartment. First Jessica came over for lunch. We didn't do bento, I ran out of time, but we did have some lovely little dishes we picked up down the street. Then we chatted for hours and hours.

Dinner was with Hisun who brought over fresh heirloom tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella. She prepared a beautiful salad. We chatted for hours and hours while shopping in my closet and then watching youtube videos.

All these guests! I've been a hermit for the past 13 months with barely a visitor to my last place. Now that I'm in my own apartment and have a fantastic setup the friends are visiting and we're having tons of quality time together.

Lovely.

Mystery Box

The big move to the new apartment is next Tuesday. I have yet to start packing but really, how much do I have to pack in my current place? Most of the furniture belongs to my housemates and all of my furniture is being delivered by Door to Door on September 1st. I visited my stuff in storage this past weekend and immediately took four boxes of English Literature books to Good Will before I got re-attached to them. There appears to be about at least 50 more boxes in the storage container. What is all this stuff? Most of it is a surprise since Stephen sorted out all our belongings a few months ago in Houston. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what I have. Looks like he gave me his super cool stereo system. Major score.

Now to coordinate internet access. I would so very much like to be off the grid with that but it appears I need to install a DSL line.

Big Step to Me-Space

Wonderful news! I've landed my own apartment and move in September 1st. This will be the first time I'm living alone since 2001 and I am thrilled to have made yet another positive, personal step forward. The place is beautiful and located in a funky, hip part of Oakland - and that isn't even code for up-and-coming, it has arrived.

Now to get my stuff out of storage and nestle into me-space. Just the thought of browsing my cookbooks and preparing a home-cooked meal is more than I can imagine. All that stuff in storage that I thought I wanted to push over a cliff has become so important to me.

Doors close and others were just waiting to open but needed the space.

Adventures with Megan

Megan joined me yesterday in my apartment shopping spree. Here she is, modeling in the cutest little cottage in Oakland. Then we headed for dinner at La Pinata and she managed to order the world's largest burrito.

She's always a bit out of focus in these images because she poses, then gets silly and moves while I'm taking the shot.

Online Matching

Looking for apartments online is so similar to online dating. You see the photos, read the details and get a bit excited. You start to interact by email and you think this could work. You get excited about the first date...and then...whoa - not at all what you thought. Oompha.