Soap and Water

There really is nothing scarier than a convenience store bathroom, especially when said convenience store is just that. A convenience store and not a gas station. So it's not even monitored by a chain gas company, gouging me out of $50 worth of gas as I fill up for the next two weeks.

As my special someone had to work at his 2nd job this evening, I was sitting at my apartment (pre-moving to The Basement) at the computer earlier this evening, when boredom struck. Fortunately amongst my friends I can always find someone around who is willing to go out and do something. A quick IM later and I found myself driving to the old part of town for a walk with a friend. Where typically I'm home in the evenings IMing and talking to my boyfriend on the phone, this evening I was out and about getting some exercise. Probably good. It was a nice night, and nice to be out in the fresh air.

We walked around several neighborhoods, and even peeked in the windows of the house I love so much. Someone is lovingly redoing the house, and it looks great. I'm more deeply in love with it everyday! We also tried to see what someone was watching on TV, but the blinds weren't up far enough to really tell.

Halfway through the walk, we decided that a quick stop at the convenience store was in order. I needed to use the facilities, and so did he. It was small, and the restroom was in the back corner. Just looking at the door made one shudder. I hesitantly opened the door and went in. It was dingy, but fairly clean. And by clean I mean dingy. Careful to wash my hand and using a paper towel, I wrenched open the door and scurried out as quick as I could. Thank goodness for soap and water... although I don't know that it did a whole heck of a lot. My hands haven't felt clean since leaving. Brings to mind that episode where that now crazy ex-teen queen went into a convenience store bathroom barefoot... ICK.
I feel like showering and washing just thinking about it.

We resumed our walk with an energy drink and bottled water in hand... but I couldn't shake off the germs of that convenience store. I'm afraid it marred the experience a bit. Just ICK. That's all I can say. Only slightly up on finding some bushes... but it had to be done. Otherwise the rest of the walk would have been rather uncomfortable. And no one likes to walk like that. I'm just glad I have antibacterial soap at home. And it smells nice, too.

It was a great walk and I'm glad I found something to do. But that episode at the convenience store did make me miss spending the night chatting on the IM in the safety and cleanliness of my own home... and now I need to go have a hot shower.

Kitsch vs. Comfort

So I have a dilemma. I've finally found a couple of places that I can actually afford to live, but unfortunately I can't decide which would be the better solution to my homelessness problem. I even made a pro and con list for both to try to decide, but just can't make up my silly mind. There's good things and bad things to each... of course. And as I've mulled them over in my leetle brain I haven't come any closer to making a decision. I'm really kind of wishy washy when it comes to that kind of stuff. I have a deeply rooted fear of making the wrong decision. Something I've never quite been able to over come...

Therefore. I need someone else to decide for me. Here's the info:

Apt #1 is a basement apartment in a fourplex, just down the street from my grandparents house. It's a one bedroom, with a nice clean kitchen and refinished bathroom. They've also put in new light fixtures and will be done repainting & etc by the time I want to move in. It's not overly large, but will fit all my stuff in reasonable comfort. Most utilities are included excluding power, cable (maybe) and internet. And I would have to get cable internet because my dsl isn't transferrable to this particular address. A MAJOR problem. The neighborhood is nice and I really don't have a lot of complaints about it other than the internet issue. It is a bit more expensive than the other place and would be quite comfortable. I think I would really enjoy living there for the 6 months that would be required on the lease.

Apt #2 is the top floor, really the attic, of a three floor house. Its a weird kitschy space, with green shag carpet in the living room. The kitchen is teeny tiny, with an ancient fridge, and of course no dishwasher. But I can handle those things. Counterspace is seriously lacking, but there are all kinds of weird cupboards and things that can house everything I need them to. All the utilities are included except my internet, but I can HAVE my internet transferred to this address easily. The rent is lower and I figured bills wise I would save about $108 a month by living at this address vs the other one. It's closer to work so I would also save on gas. It only requires a 3 month lease, and given that I'm looking to move to Boise at some point (assuming things keep going as great as they are) I would be able to do that sooner than with a 6 month lease if it came to that. I'm not sure I could fit my couch into this place and it most likely won't have room for all my things, but I can store them for a while and be ok. It definitely has personality.

That's the gist of the pros and cons. I've rolled them around in my head a lot, trying to get a feel for what would be best for me. I'd certainly be more comfortable in the one, but the other has a whimsical charm that the artist in me would really enjoy. And the lure of a three month lease is very appealing...

I suppose I'll figure it out. Ideally before the end of this week, since that what I told the one lady when I went to look at the basement apartment. If it only could have DSL!!! I'd take it in a heartbeat... Sigh. Any thoughts about either place, please let me know. I need major help deciding.

Tomorrow IS Another Day

Do not procrastinate. I've heard that all my life. It makes sense really, but has never been more clear to me why I should heed that advice than during this past week. I'll elaborate.

So I put off doing my laundry for nearly a month. Needless to say it had to be done. So I packed up my car (with a little help) and drove to the laundromat. Once I'd loaded up the six washers (that's right SIX WASHERS FULL) I settled down with my portable DVD player and a movie and waited for the cycles to finish. Had I done laundry at a friend's or relative's house I would have had to spend two days there doing one load at a time. I knew this... the pile of clothes that I needed to wash was just too big. Better to head to the laundromat, spend a few hours, and get everything done at once. All I can say is thank goodness I had company, thank goodness for laundromats, and thank goodness I had plenty of quarters. Lesson learned there.

I fear I may have to learn another lesson. The lease on my apartment is up at the end of this month, and I haven't really looked for a new one yet. Not only that I have my first car payment this month and am not exactly sure I can afford first month's rent AND a deposit with my car payment, utility bills, credit card payments, etc. It's a rough money month. And this is what I get for not saving up sooner. Bad Rachel! Very bad. I'm sure I'll deeply regret it when I become either homeless or a squatter in my current apartment. I do have a few back-up plans... but would really rather just getting another apartment instead of squatting in someone else's house for a month.

There are probably other things I've procrastinated as well. Too many to list, so I won't try. But I comfort myself by saying that Tomorrow IS another day, and I have learned my lesson. No doubt there are still things I will leave for the last possible minute... like baking those cookies for the bake sale, remembering to bring chips & dip to work potlucks, etc. But at least maybe I won't let them go so far or let things get quite so out of hand this time. I hope anyway.

For the present, I'm just plugging away at what I can, and working a little overtime to make some extra cash. Hopefully with a little faith and luck things will work out just fine anyway. Right?