A few things I’ve learned… July 21, 2008

since moving in with the boy. 

1. Laundry never ends - Between the two of us we accumulate an inordinate amount of laundry throughout the week.  The boy did laundry last Tuesday; by Sunday we had so much that we could no longer walk into the closet or any where in the bedroom.  We had to either step on the dirty clothes or climb over the bed to get to the other side of the room.  It’s insane.  When I was living by myself, all my laundry fit nicely into my hamper and could stay there for two weeks without being in the way.  What the hell happened?! 
2. Hangers are sacred - We have a rather large walk-in closet.  It has been referred to as the size of a studio apartment on Comm Ave.  This closet is no joke; it is the reason I took this apartment.  Did I mention that we have no space left in this enormous closet?  No?  Well, we don’t.  It is jam packed with our shit.  AND I ONLY HAVE MY SUMMER WARDROBE IN THERE.  We keep buying hangers in order to accomodate our ever increasing amount of clothing.  But there are never enough.  Never.  Why?  I have literally bought 10 13hanger packs over the past two months.  That is in addition to the 15 million hangers we had before we moved in.  Why are there never hangers?!  I have dresses doubled up on hangers, button down shirts over t-shirts, and three pairs of pants on ONE hanger! 
3. Just because food was in the fridge when I leave for work does not mean that it will be there when I get home - In fact, count on it being gone.  The boy can eat.  And by eat, I mean consume more food in one sitting than an average person eats in a week.  It’s almost disgusting.  Anyways, we eat take out all the time.  We have grocery shopped once in two months.  So the lack of food shouldn’t be surprising.  What is surprising is when I leave pizza in the fridge in the morning hoping for it to be there when I get home later that night and it is no where to be found.  Just today, I texted the boy to have him save me food for when I get home.  I have learned.  I need to be preemptive or it will be gone! 
4. Boys take longer to get ready than girls - Yes, I am generalizing and No, I don’t care.  The boy takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R to get ready.  I can shower, dress, do my hair and makeup in less time than it takes him to shower and pick out an outfit.  WTF?  His wardrobe consists of jeans and t-shirts.  How hard is that to combine?  Pick one from each column and move on.  I, on the other hand, have numerous options.  Dress?  Skirt?  Pants?  Shorts?  T-shirt?  Tank top?  Button down shirt?  Which shoes?  Which necklace?  Which earrings?  You get my point.  I am afraid this is going to be one of those unsolved mysteries along with ‘where are my hangers?’ and ‘why the fuck is there so much laundry?’

So there you have it.  The few things I have learned/cannot for the life of me figure out since I moved in with the boy two months ago.  I will update you with more findings as I’m sure there are many, many more.  And probably more significant ones also.  Such as patience.  But who wants to read about that?

Not what I had planned July 19, 2008

What better way to spend a 90+ degree day than to head to the beach?  The boy and I took the train out to Revere to view the sand sculptures and to catch some rays.  I must say that I was quite impressed with the designs that people came up with. 

It turned out to be almost unbearably hot today so we didn’t stick around too long at the beach.  We laid out for about an hour; I spent most of my time running into the ocean because I thought I would spontaneously combust.  Even though the water was about 12 degrees, it felt amazing.  I didn’t even mind the seaweed, rocks, and sand that i was covered in when I emerged.

Turns out being in the hot sun all day can really rack up an appetite.  The boy and I headed to get something to eat and then caught the train to go home.  As we were walking home, I started to feel kind of strange and the next thing I knew I was curled up in a ball on the sidewalk.  Heat exhaustion.  Awesome.  But, fortunately for me, a gentleman from the building I was curled up by came out and brought me inside to get some much needed air conditioning and water.  Great guy.  I think the boy was a little freaked out.  I had just come from the beach but my face was completely pale.  Usually not a good sign.  But I prevailed through the heat, made it home, showered, and passed out!

I had plans to head out to Canobie Lake Park tomorrow but it looks like it’s going to be another scorcher and I don’t feel like passing out so far from home.  So I’ll skip it, stay home, get some work done, and (finally!) do my laundry.

Has anyone else experienced heat exhaustion?  It kind of sucks.

How to: Make Friends in Three Easy Steps July 18, 2008

Step 1:  Attend an event.  - Any event will do.  Party, Concert, bar, beach volleyball game, etc.  Anywhere that people tend to congregate… go there.

Step 2: Survey the area.  - Check out who is there, what types of people, boy to girl ratio.  This would also be a good time to grab yourself a drink (or seven if you’re like me and feel incredibly uncomfortable in social situations).

Step 3:  Pull out a book.  - The loftier the book, the better.  I chose Anna Karenina.  Now just sit back and watch the people come a-runnin’!

I went out last night.  And by out, I mean I went to a bar in Quincy (which is so far from the city I started to get nervous).  Anyways, the boy had a show so I went.  I knew exactly one person there - who also happened to be the DJ - so no talking with him all night.  fantastic.  Luckily, I came prepared.  I bring a book with me pretty much everywhere I go, call me Rory Gilmore.  So I sat myself down in an area densely populated with chairs, not people.  I pulled out my book and I started reading.  I read about 50 pages before someone had the nerve to approach me.

I purposely was reading in a bar in order to deter people from making me be social and horribly uncomfortable.  Unfortunately for me, there was a guy there who knew exactly what i was doing and felt the need to call me on it.  We ended up talking about books and school and the like for the remainder of the night.  So my ploy to keep people away from me did the exact opposite.  I don’t have it down to an exact science yet, but I’m working on it!

Waiting on the sidelines. July 16, 2008

I love school.  I had a fantastic time in college and not only because I partied frequently.  I loved going to class, I love interacting with my professors, and I loved being competitive with my class mates.  I have been talking about graduate school for years.  I have been dreaming of going to Harvard ever since I realized that college was ‘my thing’.  I’m great at it.  I can take tests, write papers, do research, etc.  and I love it.  I can’t sing, I’m not creative, I can’t cook, I’m not athletic, I’m a big nerd.  I accept it! 

I had this plan; I would go to Harvard Extension School to get my Master’s and to get in with the professors in order to get great recommendations from them.  I want to go to Harvard for my Ph.D.  Today was the day that I decided I would apply for loans and get the ball rolling on all of this.  I have to register for classes in the middle of August and wanted to have the financial aspect squared away with plenty of time to spare.  So I applied for a loan. 

And was rejected. 

Twice. 

Damn.

I’m feeling pretty low right now.  This is my dream.  I am not going to let it slip away because I can’t get a loan.  There have to be other options.  There have to be other options.  I just can’t come up with any right now.  I need help.  What do I do?  Financial aid isn’t an option because I am taking prerequisites and don’t qualify until I am admitted to a program.  Asking the parents is not even to be considered.  It won’t happen.  Private loans were my only option.  Shit.

I could put this off for another year and hope that my credit will get better and I will be approved for a loan next year.  I don’t want to put it off any longer.  I hate not being in school.  I hate only working, I need more.  It looks like I am going to have to take some time to wrap my head around the idea that I won’t be returning to school in the fall.  This is going to take awhile…

10 Years Ago… July 15, 2008

As I mentioned earlier, the boy was out visting his parents this weekend.  While he was there, he came across a letter that he wrote to himself at age 15.  He let me read it and I was a little surprised.  At 15, he knew what he wanted to do with his life and he’s actually doing it now.  How many of us actually knew what we wanted to do with our lives at 15 and have made such progress to be doing it for a living ten years later?  I know I haven’t. 

This letter got me thinking.  Where did I see myself at 25 when I was 15?  At 15, I was a freshman in highschool.  I had a crazy crush on Scott Astey (who was 18, gorgeous, and not interested), I was way too concerned about my weight (I was 5″1′ and weighed 90lbs), I was incredibly shy, and I was convinced that I would be an interior decorator.  At 25, I’m living with my boyfriend of (give or take) 8 years, I have a few concerns with my weight, I’m still a bit shy, and I’m now convinced that I will be an incredible addiction specialist.  Hmm. 

My life now through a 15 year olds eyes would look quite interesting.  I live in an amazing city, I’m on my own with my boyfriend, I have my BS in psych, my graduate course options are endless, and my job is unconventional and really interesting.  Looking at it through a 25 year olds eyes, I’m floundering.  BUT!  It’s still an exciting time.  I have nothing pinned down; I have nothing but options right now. 

So my life that I thought I would be leading didn’t exactly happen.  But, I think the boy was one of the fortunate people who was able to come across his passion early on in life.  Since quite a few of us are still out there trying to figure out what the hell we like and want to do, I say we enjoy the ride!  We’re bound to figure it out eventually, right?

Xena - The Warrior Princess July 14, 2008

So I just received word that the Humane Society named this beautiful little pup Xena - not Vena.  I could deal with Vena, but Xena?!  Seriously? 

Does she look like a Xena?!  I think not. 

 

 

I’m so excited! 

I have been receiving emails from friends and family announcing births and marriages.  Now I can send out my own mass email announcing the newest addition to my family.

MIA? July 14, 2008

It’s been a long weekend.  The boy had a show Thursday night, so I met him downtown after I got out of work.  For some unknown reason, I feel the need to drink everytime he has a show.  And by drink, I mean end up shitfaced and want to cry.  I can’t explain it.  I don’t drink all too often but when I do, I’m a mess.  And the next day, I hate my life.  I’m depressed, I feel sick, I can’t move, I drink all the Diet Pepsi in the world.  Dear Kerry, you’re stupid.  Stop it.  -Life

Needless to say, I was a waste of space on Friday.  Saturday, I was up at the ass crack of dawn, literally.  I was up at 445am.  I showered, lathered myself up with sunscreen, threw on the bikini, and headed out to my old stomping grounds where I met Dev.  We packed the car up with everything we could ever possibly need and headed to the beach.  It was the perfect beach day.  The sky was cloudless and the water was warm (-ish, it’s new England, give me a break).  We spent the day soaking up the sun and diving through the waves (I”m using this term loosely.  Again, it’s New England).  Five and a half hours later, we left burnt and tired.  I caught a train home and passed out around 830. 

Sunday was another lazy day.  The boy was visiting his parents in Pennsylvania and came across an ad in the paper for a pug-mix puppy.  One phone call and picture message later and she is ours. 

Her name is Vena.. for now.  We haven’t come up with a new name for her.  I want to name her Rory Gilmore but the boy isn’t digging that name so much.  Anyone have suggestions?  Anyways, Vena (or whatever) will be here on August 9.  I CAN’T FREAKING WAIT!!!  The boy has already went out to buy treats, a collar, leash, and chew toys.  He hasn’t even made it home yet, he’s still at his parents.  All of that stuff will have to come back with him on the plane, but he was so excited he didn’t want to wait to go out and buy it.  I still have to go get baby gates, food dishes, food, and find a vet.  Clearly, I am the more practical of the two of us.

Phew! July 9, 2008

Liscensing is over!!  Everything went great and I can relax again.  Work will now go back to normal; no more crazy cleaning, no more running around like an idiot, no more stress! 

This weekend is looking like its going to turn out to be fantastic beach weather.  I cannot wait to grab my best friend, head to the beach, and bake!

Holy crap. July 8, 2008

Tomorrow is liscensing.  Which means that someone from the state is going to come into my program, inspect the premises, inspect each satellite apartment, and go through all of the paperwork.  I’m freaking out. 

The people who are coming are the people who decide whether this program can remain open and whether my clients can remain here.  And they give us money.  This is a huge fucking deal.  Now, my program won’t close and the clients won’t be taken away.  This much I know.  However, we can get deficiencies which means there will be another inspection.  Did I mention I’m freaking out?

This is my first time going through liscensing so I’m unsure of the entire process and what exactly is considered appropriately clean or just everyday clean.  From what I am told, my apartment wouldn’t pass this inspection.  I have scratches on my countertops, there are lightbulbs that need changed, I’m missing a smoke detector, and I’m not even going to go into how not clean enough my place is.  Holy shit. 

In preparation, my boss and I have been cleaning like crazy people, triple checking our paperwork, and trying to keep each other calm.  This is his first liscensing too. 

It all comes down to tomorrow.  Will the state approve?  Will we have all the necessary paperwork?  Will they ask me questions I don’t know the answer to?  Will I get nervous and ramble about random shit?  Will I wake up on time?  Is the MBTA going to screw me and make me late?  Do I have anything to wear?  Is the basement and dryers lint free?  Are the clients going to say I’m a tyrant and don’t do my job?  Do I worry too much? 

Did I mention I had another huge inspection two weeks ago?  I cannot wait for work to go back to normal and I can focus on the clients and paperwork and not worry about cleaning walls, windows, bathrooms, and other peoples bedrooms.  I need a vacation!

Science is fun July 8, 2008

This was my first computer.  I remember sitting at this as a child and playing Cairo shoot out and Mahjong.  I thought it was the most advanced and coolest thing I had ever seen.  Unfortunately, this computer is long gone.  I took this picture while in the Museum of Science where it is on display.  My old computer is on display in a museum!!  I can’t quite wrap my head around that.

The entire reason i dragged the boy to the museum with me was so i could go into the butterfly observatory.  I totally underestimated the creepiness of this.  As it turns out, I don’t like bugs.  I don’t even like pretty bugs.  Please don’t explain to me that butterflies are not bugs, they are, leave me alone.  They kept flying at my head, landing in random places, and there were too many for me to keep an eye on all of them.  It was a stressful situation for me.  But, they were pretty.

The museum had interactive stations set up to teach kids about whatever the exhibit was about.  I think I was trying to guess how long a minute was without counting.  I stopped the clock six seconds early.

So that was my Sunday.  Nothing too exciting.  The rest of the weekend was rather uneventful.  I plan to make up for it this weekend by spending my days at the beach.  I’m getting out of the city!!