Hyper Little Thoughts

Just unpacked all of the office. Apparently I do have enough manuscripts/projects/reference guides and miscellanious "office" stuff to have one. Enough, in fact, that I don't know where to start putting stuff away at. Right now I think I'm content with just getting the boxes hidden away in one of the closets. This is perfect. Got a view of the entrance way/countryside, plenty of fresh air, and tons of inspiration materials. I'm really hoping to jumpstart my writing again, and maybe this will help. Hanging right over my desk is the framed poem I got published and my framed graduation announcement. And again, I'm feeling increidlbly full. Those were happy days for me. I also hung something I found in a box I never even unpacked after moving from chicago. It's one of those silly "friends through thick & thin" Hallmark frames. Inside is a letter that reads:

Brad,

What can we say...you have been a vital member of this team since the day you started and even though you don't technically work in the office we will always consider you to be one of us. You've come a long way from the Brad who first came to college to the person you have become today. You shouold feel extremely proud of everything you have accomplished! We are! Never forget you have friends who will listen...of course you know we will also give our opinions...Keep in touch!

It's signed by all the staff members of the Admissions department from Barat. I've done a lot of stupid things that - though I don't regret - I'm not proud of. These serve as reminders that there are also many things that I've done that I should thank God every day for that I was able to accomplish.

I think that's enough for now. I feel a hot shower with my new shower head followed by a night of uninteruppted slumber calling my name.

It's scary how good I'm getting at this. Within twenty four hours, I've signed a new lease, taken time off of work next weekend, and gotten most of the living room, including most of the breakables, packed. I can start moving on Tuesday. Which means by Friday night next week I should be all moved into the new place. All that's left is to transfer the DSL/phone, pay off the remaining balances on my utilities here (er, the gas at least because that's in my name, unlike the electric, which I will not be paying because it is in Giordano's name). After I get settled into the new place, I'll be swinging by the courthouse and filing small claims against the bastard. Turns out this is all highly illegal. Also - the whole refrigerator and leaking roof and unusable fire escape - all illegal. New landlady says I should be able to get a sizable chunk of money out of him. And at the very least my deposit and moving expenses. It helps that she's backing me 100% and happens to know the judge.

At least it's not just me. Apparently, he owns this whole block. Four of my neighbors knocked on my door this morning asking if I also recieved a letter. I told them what my plans are, and we all exchanged numbers and emails. Might wind up being a group thing. I feel bad for them - they all have no where to go. I lucked out, barely surviving the credit check for the new place. And I have some terrific friends that are happy to help me out with moving (again). Listening to them, they can't afford anything more than what they are paying, let alone moving expenses.

Well, that's enough of a break. I'm gonna get back to packing. Tom'll be here in the morning before I leave for work. We'll spend tomorrow afternoon packing and then I'm popping for a nice dinner out.

And again, though I dread the act of moving, I'm excited. I really feel like this was my transition place - just look at how I've changed in the 6 months I've been here - between my life then and my life now. And like all transitions, there comes a time to leave the past behind and step into tomorrow. I'm ready. This is going to be really great for me. I can just feel it.

Got a letter from the landlord today. He filed bankruptcy last week, and is evicting EVERYONE. I now have a little more than a week to find a new apartment and come up with a deposit, pack, and move. Man I have bad luck with apartments. *sigh*

Prayers accepted and graciously appreciated.

On the upside: I'll have a refrigerator again!

One week, people.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

No, really - In literally a week, my life will be here (meaning, Indy, of course).  So this is what nervous is.  Nice.

The moving isn't exactly going entirely as smoothly as I hoped.  Once I finally found a rental truck for under $300, they were out.  So I'm doing this the college way: several trips in my car.  I brought down a load last night, which is really about half my apartment not including furniture.  So I'm hoping one more trip, and then borrowing a friend's truck should do it.  All these little expenses keep popping up.  And, I can't really do a whole lot because my last week at Omax is turning out to be more stressful than anything before it.  They're firing 3 managers and two employees, right during inventory/me moving.  I think they're doing this on purpose.  One call to HR has cleared up a few issues, but not everything.  I just have to survive another week and I'll be good.  Also, the landlord still hasn't gotten back to us about whether or not we even HAVE the apartment.  I'm about 90% sure we do, but it's that 10% that's nagging at me.  Frank says not to worry and to leave everything up to him.  Like I said - do you know me?  I'm not so much a "we'll just see how this goes" kinda guy.  But I'm trying.

Funny - despite all of this, I still couldn't be happier or more excited.  I mean, every thing's going to change.  I can start over, or not over, but hop in the slow lane for a bit.  Can't say that's not enticing.

*deep breath*

(I'm still kinda stuck on this - "is this really happening to me?  am I crazy?" feeling)

I'm being naughty and breaking the "no internet at work!" rule.  Shhhh.  Don't tell.

Is it just me or is time flying faster than ever?  It's already almost Easter.  When did that happen?

Chicago news: still hate it.  Although now that the move-date is coming faster, I'm starting to like it again in a "gosh, I'll miss my neighborhood hobo peeing on our dumpsters every morning," or "Oh, CTA, how I'll miss you always finding a way of making me 20min late for work on really important days," kinda way.  You know, sentamental things like that.  I also gave my resignation (finally) to iRi.  They were not pleased.  But, what can you do?  It's not like I really did all that much while I lived here.  Sheesh.

Indy news: Still waiting to hear back about my transfer status w/Omax.  Getting way nervous now.  I don't know if I have it in me to start looking for a job all over again in a strange place.  Frank and I are going apartment hunting this weekend while I'm there.  Looking for a two-bedroom, so we can have a game room/office area (between the two of us, we have 5 different game systems, and he wants to hook it all up into this massive entertainment thing.  I said: whatever.).  Between Indianapolis and Frankfort, probably, since we'll both have to commute.  And hopefully we'll be able to get a puppy:)

Move news: Yeah, see, I've never moved across state before, and it's a little bit odd thinking about things like declaring myself a citizen of a different state than which I was born and raised.  Having to get a new liscence.  Although, really, Indiana is just like Illinois, only there's no gigantuan city sucking up the state's population.  It's like Illinois Lite.  Also, I've never really "moved" except from college to home to college to my apt.  Which is not the same as moving from apt to apt in another place.  Not quite sure how this is going to work.  I've already started packing, though, and I went through and got rid of about half my wardrobe (is anyone else going WTF?) that I don't need, wear, or want anymore.  Frank helped - he was more than happy to.  He's a pretty minimal guy - a few t's, some jeans, and his work outfit and he's happy.  Um.  Me, not so much.

The worst/funniest/oddest part is that I still haven't told my parents.  Not that I'm seeing anyone, not that I'm moving, and definetely not that I'm moving in with my other in another state.  I don't think that conversation will go well.  It's just a theory.

Am I dreaming?  Am I asleep?


ETA: Oops, guess I typed too fast.  My parents do know that I'm seeing someone (Frank), but they don't know I'm moving to Indiana to be with him.  Sorry to give ya a heart attack, Vive ;)