letting it all settle in

currently reading: abhorsen
listening to: soul wars
365 project day: ??*

*still don't have my PS re-installed. Soon!


There's nothing quite like the feeling you get when you empty that last box from your move in.

That's it. I'm here. And unlike the ready to pack up and go temporary home feeling that never goes away in the dorms, I feel like I can make this place a home. Put my feet up. Settle in.

It helps that I have the boy here with me, and it helps that I've had so much time to set up shop before school stress begins, but there's something else that is making this feel more secure and right. I have yet to put my finger on it.

--

Today I even went as far as to give in to the urge and pull out my long ignored flute for some practicing. Nostalgia filled every note, and whereas my fingers caught up right away remembering fingerings on their own, my embouchure and diaphragm need some work!

I'm a lot happier with the apartment now, too. We've had maintenance come and repair several thousand things, and now that everything works, I am satisfied.

Bring on the new school year! I think I'm finally ready. 

reality bites

Have you ever been in a situation where you think to yourself "it's too good to be true"?

If you have, then you know that usually, it is.

A few days ago was move in day for the apartment my boyfriend and our two friends leased for this school year. After touring an "upgraded" model and being assured of all of the things that would be included should we decide to pay an extra $15/month in rent, we went for it. It'd be worth it for all new appliances, new carpeting and our choice for an accent wall in the living room and a leather couch.

Apparently upgraded actually meant that all of the appliances would be dented and roughly used (the dishwasher missing a wheel), the walls would be stained with food and dirt, stained carpet in every bedroom, and paint on said couch.

After approaching the manager about the state of the apartment, she assured us that maintenance would take care of touching up paint, re-attaching loose ceiling fans, and any other things that needed attention.

3 days in we've had the ceiling fans addressed, paint retouched, and promises of returning to fix other things.

There won't be an accent wall, nor new appliances, nor new carpet ("unless it can't be cleaned well enough"), as those were "never a feature of the upgrade".



I feel duped, and naive for believing every word of a sales pitch. It's going to be hard to swallow this year's first disappointment, but hopefully I can make the best of it.

= ^ _ ^ =

currently reading: lirael

listening to: zero gravity

365 project day: 76*

*my photoshop has to be reinstalled, so my  updates for the 365 project have been put on hold until I get home and can access the disk - _ - ;

C   A   T   S.

While in Buffalo this summer, the boy and I have been frequenting the local animal shelter to get a fix of cats and help socialize them. (I mean, my wardrobe isn't complete unless there's some cat hair in it - __ - )

So I decided that I would attempt to get a portrait style photo of each of my favorite cats at the shelter, and introduce them to whoever reads this blog post. Let me start of by saying that if I lived here, I would have adopted three of them already. Some of these cats are absolute gems, but in such a hunting dog and livestock focused community, it's hard to imagine a happy ending for all of my new feline friends.

Drifter

9 yrs; declawed
loves to give hugs and will greet you with a head bump

Milton
experiencing shelter fever
needs someone to give him a real life outside of confinement

Daisy
shy but lovely
a perfect lap cat for those rainy days

Clarice
reminded the boy of his own cat
curious but not going to get beneath your feet

Lovebug
a perfect librarian's cat
wants to be with you, on you, everywhere

Missy
mob boss cat
big body, itty bitty meow

Cecily
young and eager to please
skip the kitten stage and go straight into the lovers lane

Maverik
sweet little thing
a little shy, but has days where it's just you and him, lovin' it up

Hazel
polydactyl
not only is she gorgeous, but a lover as well

I had hoped to go back once more before returning to Michigan this summer, but the shelter got hit with a bout of ringworm (yikes......) and so it is under quarantine until after we'll have left.

Thanks for the memories (and the new scars--darn kittens..) and best of luck finding a home of your own. *^*


Also, these are the kittens that were cute, but too young to develop personalities like the winners above (though I still loved them, too)