HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I am excited for tonight, I am going out with the roomies to a good show with lots of costumes and dancing. If you know me, you know how last minute I am, meaning I have to yet to even think of a costume. I am just going to go to the thrift store and see what I can piece together.
I am sitting in a bagel shop 2 blocks from my new house. They have free wifi and good coffee, which is good on this rainy day. I think the rainy season has begun. Today I have to get good boots and some decor for my room.
Yesterday I got some maroon sheets and a white fake fur blanket, that kept me pretty warm last night. I guess the little heater set only on my face helped too. My color scheme is going to be maroons and gold. The room came with the queen size bed and a 70's pattern yellow and gold couch. Im thinking a Moroccan style. The ceiling is low and easy to hang things from, which seems to be my favor type of decor, hanging things. I cant wait to get so crafty, I have so many ideas piled up in my head I think it will keep me busy all winter long. Along with the great book collection these guys have.
Last night I sat by the big fire in the living room and read my book while I listened to the roomies play old Neil Young and Pink Floyd songs on guitar and violin. They are very talented and willing to teach. They have so many instruments all throughout the house, so many strings from guitar to mandolin to violin and more, also many African style drums, there is a small one in my room, so I am going to practice my rhythm, also these types of drums are used often in meditation, creating a steady beat to center your mind.
I got a bank account at Bank of America and there is literally one on every corner, just like Starbucks and Subway. Also walking distance of the house, in all different directions there are: 2 bookstores, one used one new, yoga/meditation, a few traditional indian cuisine restuarants, more coffee shops than you can imagine, pizza place, fruit/veggie market open daily (that is hiring, Im going to grab an app), 4 little vintage clothing stores (maybe more thats all I have seen so far), and a couple used furniture stores. This is all within 7 short blocks of walking. About 15 minutes walk is the Ave which has the mainstream vintage clothing stores and restuarants and records stores and knick knack stores. My adventure today is to conquor the Ave. Nick the roomie says they just opened a goodwill down there too!
Life couldnt get any better. Rent is going to be cheaper than I expected, and they only want a $100 deposit so I have atleast 3 months of rent saved already.
This life I am establishing here is going to be so good for me I can feel it. I am already having to manage my time more wisely due to relying on the buses. There are certain times certain buses go certain places. It takes alot of planning on my part. But it is making me feel accomplished and responsible. I am feeling so grown up because I am figuring everything out on my own. These are my decisions and my consequences. My soul is rejuvenated and I am feeling better than I ever have. My mind is clear and my heart is open.
I cannot wait until I get a camera so pictures can be back up.
Love you all.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sun
This weekend was candy to my eyes. Thanks to Brittany and Steve. It was great having a familiar face around. Of course, on this beautifully scenic adventure to Whidbey Island's pebble beaches and face to face with the peak of Mount Rainier my camera stop working. So after the day of being on Whidbey, which is north westish of Seattle, and taking stunning pictures of bald eagles and miles of white dehydrated drift wood, the camera decided to call it quits. In one way I am extremely sad because now I have no visuals of the stunning beauty I encountered and I cant share it with everyone, but I noticed without having a camera how much more I actually see. I took time and breathed in each moment and really noticed each detail as we slowly made it stop by stop up the mountain.
I have been taking a rock from each place I go. I have a purple boot rock from the river in Twisp. I have a neat swirled brown and grey rock from the prehistoric looking beach at Deception Pass. And I have a white with green speckles dinosaur egg rock which is in fact lava from Mount Rainier. I think I will make a zen garden with my rocks.
This is the story of the events that happened yesterday. This is not a dramatization. Its like you are watching a recording of my day.
Yesterday morning I had about given up on finding a place that I actually liked. I was ready to suck it up and just take the next thing that became available, despite how clean it was, what kind of people lived there, whatever. I was out in Capitol Hill at the time and I said as soon as I get back to the hostel and have bought more minutes on my phone I am going to diligently email and call places and make this happen. (BTW the guys flaked out of finding a 3 bedroom, figures.) I am waiting for the former TMobile dealer to finish with his customer and a 206 number calls. Im thinking, I know I have used 297 minutes out of 300, should I answer...........(5 hours seem to go by) "Hello"
I was planning on going to a show tonight at Chop Suey (just like The Earl) which started at 8 so when hes asking me to check out the place after 7 Im thinking, is it even worth it? Yeah fine whatever, 730.
All day I had this intense nervous feeling in my stomach. It was like anxiety and I was just sick with worry and fear that these people wouldnt like me and I wouldnt like them and then what would I do. I was starting to feel like backed into a corner and weary, never more ready to settle in my entire life.
I planned out my bus route (thank you metro trip planner) which tells you walking directions as well once you have gotton off at the bus stop. My heart is racing, maybe from nerves maybe from the mocha coffee I just downed. I walk up to the door, knock.
"Perfect timing, we were just coming out" 2 guys Scott and Nick. Normalest of normal guys, into music and being chill. We chat on the porch for a bit (I have yet to talk with the housemates of others places I looked at for this long). The house is gorgegous, pool table and fire place in the front room with a tv room off to the side. And basically a record store in the next room, hugest collection I have ever seen, leading into the kitchen. All over I am looking for a golden sun, that is my sign that I am in the right place. One clean bathroom shared, Nick says he loves taking baths so he keeps it spotless. Thank goodness, all I ever want to take is relaxing baths.
The room downstairs which is potentially mine will come with a bed and an old couch and dresser, and really cool things on the wall. There was a huge tapestry with small elephants going around in a circle, and the Aztec Calendar.
I honestly could not have personally created a more perfect place.
I left without seeing a sun but I figured that maybe thats ok because everything else was so perfect and maybe I just over looked it.
Here is where it gets good.
My directions from trip planner told me to go to a different bus stop than the first so I could get to Capitol Hill for my show. I had written down specific times of when to catch each bus, but was running late because I ended up staying and hanging out alot longer than I planned, so I missed the 810 only barely in time to catch the last and final bus at 830. I wait and wait, its 9 so I obviously missed the last one, so I start to walk back up the hill of 65th St. past the house to the bus stop I got off of, maybe I can catch the bus I came in on and use my good sense of dirction to figure out where I am going. As I am coming over the hill down to the major cross street, dead in front of my eyes in a big blue garage-type building in black letters is RISING SUN FARMS, an everyday fresh produce market. My heart sank and I teared up a bit. There is was, my sun. And not only did I find my sun, but its the coolest thing, basically a farmers market everyday of the week!!! How perfect, and right across the street is vitamins and accupuncture. Healthy time.
I want to be completely confident that this is the house for me. Everyone send me your good vibes. I think this is what I need. Its definitely what I want. If it is what is good for me than there is no doubt in my mind that I will have it.
Job interview tomorrow, a really cool job too, at a BUY SELL TRADE clothing place called Crossroads (just like Rag-o-Rama). I am finding equivalents here to familiar places in Atlanta, but then there is also a huge handful more on this side of the green grass, which is in fact proven to be greener.
*****************EDIT*****************************
Literally not even 5 minutes after I posted they called to tell me they would love to rent the room out to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am needless to say ecstatic.
I have been taking a rock from each place I go. I have a purple boot rock from the river in Twisp. I have a neat swirled brown and grey rock from the prehistoric looking beach at Deception Pass. And I have a white with green speckles dinosaur egg rock which is in fact lava from Mount Rainier. I think I will make a zen garden with my rocks.
This is the story of the events that happened yesterday. This is not a dramatization. Its like you are watching a recording of my day.
Yesterday morning I had about given up on finding a place that I actually liked. I was ready to suck it up and just take the next thing that became available, despite how clean it was, what kind of people lived there, whatever. I was out in Capitol Hill at the time and I said as soon as I get back to the hostel and have bought more minutes on my phone I am going to diligently email and call places and make this happen. (BTW the guys flaked out of finding a 3 bedroom, figures.) I am waiting for the former TMobile dealer to finish with his customer and a 206 number calls. Im thinking, I know I have used 297 minutes out of 300, should I answer...........(5 hours seem to go by) "Hello"
I was planning on going to a show tonight at Chop Suey (just like The Earl) which started at 8 so when hes asking me to check out the place after 7 Im thinking, is it even worth it? Yeah fine whatever, 730.
All day I had this intense nervous feeling in my stomach. It was like anxiety and I was just sick with worry and fear that these people wouldnt like me and I wouldnt like them and then what would I do. I was starting to feel like backed into a corner and weary, never more ready to settle in my entire life.
I planned out my bus route (thank you metro trip planner) which tells you walking directions as well once you have gotton off at the bus stop. My heart is racing, maybe from nerves maybe from the mocha coffee I just downed. I walk up to the door, knock.
"Perfect timing, we were just coming out" 2 guys Scott and Nick. Normalest of normal guys, into music and being chill. We chat on the porch for a bit (I have yet to talk with the housemates of others places I looked at for this long). The house is gorgegous, pool table and fire place in the front room with a tv room off to the side. And basically a record store in the next room, hugest collection I have ever seen, leading into the kitchen. All over I am looking for a golden sun, that is my sign that I am in the right place. One clean bathroom shared, Nick says he loves taking baths so he keeps it spotless. Thank goodness, all I ever want to take is relaxing baths.
The room downstairs which is potentially mine will come with a bed and an old couch and dresser, and really cool things on the wall. There was a huge tapestry with small elephants going around in a circle, and the Aztec Calendar.
I honestly could not have personally created a more perfect place.
I left without seeing a sun but I figured that maybe thats ok because everything else was so perfect and maybe I just over looked it.
Here is where it gets good.
My directions from trip planner told me to go to a different bus stop than the first so I could get to Capitol Hill for my show. I had written down specific times of when to catch each bus, but was running late because I ended up staying and hanging out alot longer than I planned, so I missed the 810 only barely in time to catch the last and final bus at 830. I wait and wait, its 9 so I obviously missed the last one, so I start to walk back up the hill of 65th St. past the house to the bus stop I got off of, maybe I can catch the bus I came in on and use my good sense of dirction to figure out where I am going. As I am coming over the hill down to the major cross street, dead in front of my eyes in a big blue garage-type building in black letters is RISING SUN FARMS, an everyday fresh produce market. My heart sank and I teared up a bit. There is was, my sun. And not only did I find my sun, but its the coolest thing, basically a farmers market everyday of the week!!! How perfect, and right across the street is vitamins and accupuncture. Healthy time.
I want to be completely confident that this is the house for me. Everyone send me your good vibes. I think this is what I need. Its definitely what I want. If it is what is good for me than there is no doubt in my mind that I will have it.
Job interview tomorrow, a really cool job too, at a BUY SELL TRADE clothing place called Crossroads (just like Rag-o-Rama). I am finding equivalents here to familiar places in Atlanta, but then there is also a huge handful more on this side of the green grass, which is in fact proven to be greener.
*****************EDIT*****************************
Literally not even 5 minutes after I posted they called to tell me they would love to rent the room out to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am needless to say ecstatic.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Heres to the beginning of my new adventure.
I am officially one week into this exciting, nerve racking process of establishing myself in a new state, on the complete opposite side of my country. Faith carried me here safely and dropped me in good hands of helpful hostelmates. With no job, no place to live, no friends and only a huge grin on my bright eyed face.
I am lucky enough to have chosen a hostel which offers work in exchange for a free night stay, which I am going to take advantage of tomorrow. Also free breakfast every morning, and free dinner 3 nights a week (tacos tonight mmmm). Therefore my funds are doing just fine at the moment.
Across the street from the hostel over looking the Punget Sound is a huge market called Pike Place Market. I already have a usual- spinach and feta croissant, a deliciously crunchy apple, and avocado. There are so many shops with cool jewelry and clothing and totally random nick knacks. I cant wait until I have money so I can do some shopping.
I have been getting daily bus passes and just getting on a bus and seeing where it takes me. I have gone to Capitol Hill (like Atlantas Little 5 Points, only much bigger), the University District, and all around downtown.
No luck on an apartment or job, I have been seriously looking for an apartment and I must admit its much harder than I was expecting it to be. As for jobs I have looked a little bit, but I want a job that is close to my house or apartment, so I feel like that is first priority.
I was lucky enough to be offered a free road trip into the Cascade Mountains, which was breathtakingly gorgeous. This country side is more beautiful than I have ever seen, maybe I am bias because this is my new home.
Wow, this is my new home.
Atlanta will always be in my heart and thank you to everyone who understands and supports me. I am so thankful to be here and so proud of myself for how far I have come in so many ways.
And now for the best part... these are my pictures so far. (I am being such a tourist always with camera in hand.)
My Favorite Spot in the City
Waterfall leading into lake in Cascades
First stop Cascades
Look how close, I pet this chicken!!
Middle of Nowhere
The Market
Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs)
Boulder CO
The Vegas Girls
LOVE YOU ALL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
