Observations from the move

• My knives are still missing. (Isn't my sister great?) So is my big plastic mixing bowl lid.
• Either my sister or brother is a kicka$s glass-wrapper.
• I have enough pain relievers and pantry food for an army.
• I need to meet more people so I can use all my barware (shot glasses, cool martini glasses with stems that light up, champagne flutes, etc.) currently chilling behind our bar.
• In a bizarre twist, my arch-nemesis alarm clock makes me feel at home in my new room.
• Apparently I am trying to compensate for the lack of plants in my life by buying more frozen chopped spinach and bay leaves than this girl can handle.

Oh, and now remodeling (ok, cubicle rearranging) has commenced to facilitate my move back to my team's aisle. I knew it was going to happen sometime, but could I have at least a week of stability, oh Powers That Be?

Mission accomplished

I had planned on a cute "Goodnight Moon"-like farewell post for my apartment, but after turning in the keys just before midnight last night, I'm too tired to be that clever.

Goodbye precious first apartment--you were a wonderful home for my first three years here.

T-4: Moving today

No real post today--I'm headed out of the office soon to pack and move stuff. With three helpers, hopefully it shouldn't take too long. I can't believe it--over three years of living there and I'll be out in less than a week.

T-16: First time for everything

After more than three years in my apartment, my bedroom is so familiar that every morning I know just what I'll see before I open my eyes. I know exactly how to snuggle down into my bed and I know exactly how much light shines in my eyes from the parking lot outside when my lights go out.

Last night I shut off the lamp next to my bed, but the room wasn't dark. Huh? I had left the light in my closet on for the first time in years. It makes me wonder what other things about my apartment I'm going to see or experience for the first time in the coming weeks.

T-17: Big girl bed

Talking to my friend BLB while I was shopping for furniture for my apartment.

A: So I don’t know what kind of bed to get. I’m thinking about a queen because I want something I can have for a while.
BLB: Boys like big beds.

T-26: Neighbors

There are disadvantages to being a girl living by yourself, besides the obvious I mean. There is no one to fasten that bracelet for you, zip up your dress, or give you their opinion of your outfit (when requested).

It was the night of my first company holiday party. Everything was taking longer than I expected and I still had to drive almost an hour to get to the resort where the party was located. I hopped into my dress, hair and makeup done, and wiggled as I inched the zipper up my back. I had forgotten that this particular dress had about ten little pearl buttons that closed the top six inches of the dress. After trying for a few minutes while working hard not to panic, I realized my only option was to approach my unknown neighbors.

Venturing out into the cold night, I knocked on the door across from mine in the breezeway. I crossed my fingers--hoping it would be the woman who lived here who would open the door. I'd seen her sometimes, bringing in groceries or calling her kids in from skateboarding. I stood there shivering and waited until I decided no one was coming to the door.

Looking at the other two unfamiliar doors in my breezeway, I decided to try the door next to mine. Thankfully this time the door opened and it was the lady of the house who answered. She introduced herself and happily zipped up my dress. I have never seen her again but I always mentally thank her for being kind to a stranger.

Now that I will have a roommate, this isn't something I'll need to worry about happening again. But should I ever need anything in my new home, I've already met the neighbors. One is a kindly grandmother who lavishes her overweight dachshunds with attention and the other is an older couple, the man happy to help any neighbor out. Nice to know I'll have some familiar faces to approach the next time I need to rely on the kindness of neighbors.

T-27: Moving in

We started to move my stuff in when I took possession at the beginning of September. I’d been working for a couple of weeks when my family helped me move my college stuff into this apartment. It seemed so empty but we slowly filled it with furniture.

After that initial weekend of moving, I still didn’t have a bed or a few other essentials. So I was paying rent on my new apartment, visiting it after work everyday, and staying with my parents every night.

It became a joke at work: “Have you stayed in your apartment yet?”

What I remember most about that time is how the late afternoon fall sun streamed through the blinds, giving everything a golden look, while I unpacked boxes, covered shelves, and washed dishes.

Soon enough I had all the essentials, including my first “big girl” bed, and I spent that first night here. I don’t remember that first night, but I do remember those sunny afternoons as I adjusted to the idea of living by myself.

T-30: Countdown to moving

My family, seven strong, arrived to see me graduate from college. I was recovering from an incredibly nasty illness that had floored me right after finals ended and kept me in bed for much of the “Senior Week” preceding graduation. When my family arrived to collect me and four years of my stuff for my cross-country move, I had exactly one box packed.

I hate packing and moving.

But that is exactly what I must squeeze in around Christmas shopping, holiday festivities, and celebrations with family and friends because I’m moving out at the end of the month. I am sad to leave this comfortable home but excited to take a step forward.