One Step At A Time

Moving here has been quite the adventure. Last week when I was home I so eagerly anticipated meeting people, seeing Stacy, finding a job and an apartment. And only a week later it has happened. I'm so grateful for how quickly everything has fallen into place. As I said yesterday, I move into my apartment on September 26th. That gives me one month. One month to prepare to live by myself. And the apartment is a bit far (about 15 miles) away from where Stacy lives and her roommates, who are really the only people I've met so far. Of course I hope to get to know my neighbors when I move in - I think there are a lot of families in the complex. And I know I'll get to know my coworkers when I start my job on Monday - Susan, the director who interviewed me seemed really nice and I'm sure everyone else is too. How mean can you be if you play with kids for a living? (Okay yes some people are still mean but I think when you add in southern hospitality the chances are even lower).

I have a 12-month lease for my own apartment without any roommates, and it's one bedroom so if I had a roommate it'd be tight anyway. I always said I never wanted to live alone. I enjoy having roommates but I think I am looking forward to this. It'll force me to become more independant and I look forward to the apartment being in whatever state I choose for it to be. After the 12 months is over I may choose to keep living by myself or I may choose to find a roommate, besides Stacy Hewitt has no choice but to move down here by then. Really, she doesn't.

I haven't done anything fun or exciting yet since I've been here. I've been so busy job hunting and apartment hunting and then the free time that I have had the girls at the apartment haven't been around, and I don't really know any places to go. They told me about a really good coffee shop down the street called Fido. Surprisingly enough, I have not checked it out yet. Perhaps I will later this afternoon. I have frequented Panera for their internet. I bought some groceries. Nothing exciting. Maybe today I'll drive around a bit and see what I can find, especially now that I am somewhat familiar with the main roads, and I'm not afraid to ask how to get to them.

I think that's it for now.

Not having internet has not been an easy thing. Today I went to the library to use their internet so I could turn in stuff for my independant study and they are closed on Friday. So now I'm at Starbucks and I had to buy a drink and then I had to buy a day pass thing for $10 to use the 'net. I never knew that before. Otherwise I would have hit up Panera. Ah well... onto some good news:

~I officially am employed! I had a job offer on Wednesday (that's right, only three days into my move) and I actually turned them down for a different job that was offered to me today. At the school I turned down I would have been working with 16-24 month olds and at the school I am working at I'll be floating between two of their FOUR infant rooms. I'll be working with babies that are 6 weeks to 6 months old. And this school has a 401k which the other didn't. And they are giving me health/vision/dental insurance. So woohoo for that. I start Monday.

AND...

~Today I was approved for the apartment I want. I can't move in until September 26th though, but still. My own apartment! Exciting times my friends, exciting times.

So that means at least a month until I have regular access to internet again. In the meantime I'm thankful for my laptop and wireless card and for a big city with lots of coffee shops that have internet.

I'm loving Nashville, even though I haven't really done anything yet that I couldn't have done in Anderson.

Tonight ends my second full day in Nashville. So far I have turned in 5 resumes, gotten 4 job interviews lined up, and I've looked at 5 apartments.



Going well I'd say.

I have one more suitcase and my laptop to put in my car and then I'm Nashville-bound!

Busy Week

The past week was as follows:

Monday - went to the fair
Tuesday - painted the family room
Wednesday - went sail-boat racing at sunset, the boat we were on won
Thursday - went to Shipshewana (Amish Country) then took the dog to the dog park
Friday - went to Michigan's Adventure
Today - packing
Tomorrow - moving to Tennessee!

I'm Old

Today my mom discovered something.

My first gray hair.

I made her pull it out.

Four

It is my favorite number. I deemed it so long ago when I realized it was the only number which had the same number of letters as itself. Meaning, there are four letters in the word "four". And no, "to" doesn't count.



It is also the number of years I have made Anderson my home.

The number of autumns I have loved with the help of the golden-red valley.

The number of times (well, times two semesters) I have eagerly awaited to see who would be in my classes.

The number of campus housings I have lived in.

The number of campus mailboxes I have had.

The number of winters I neglected to go sledding down the library hill.



The number of days I have left to be here.

Can I just say that when you are staying with someone for two weeks before you move and while you are staying with them they move, it gets a little crazy.

For Karen

This is my gift to you:

"I want somebody to quote me when I'm dead.... yeah.. I want to be quotable...." - Keren Berrios, as written on Facebook

You've been quoted, but more importantly you've been forever etched into the hearts of many. Although we are all sad to see you go, we know you're life is a blessing even in your death. We love you Keren.