I don’t have any pictures to post, for several reasons: 1. I’ve lost my cameraphone. 2. My CF card reader is still packed away somewhere, and 3. I haven’t taken any pictures this week, since my life is in utter chaos and really isn’t photogenic at the moment.
Okay, maybe “utter chaos” is a little strong. Here’s the story: i packed all my stuff up last week, and on Friday Nathan and i started taking SUV-loads of my crap from the old place at Franklin Court down to the new loft downtown. I lost count around six. I cannot understand how all of my stuff fit in three small sedan-loads and one U-Haul for the furniture just seven months ago. I suppose a U-Haul is pretty huge, but i swear i’d already moved most of the boxes by then. All i’ve acquired since is a dresser and bedside table. And some odds and ends – but honestly. It doesn’t add up in my mind.
Saturday we finished moving all the furniture with a little help from Nathan’s family and friends, and we cleaned the old apartment thoroughly, turned the lights off, shut the door and turned in the keys. It was far more emotional than we had anticipated. Perhaps it was just the finality of those fore-mentioned actions – i’ve never really done all of that. Last time i left my roommate to do all the cleaning and key-returning. The dorm rooms i had were never difficult to leave. The move out of our house a couple summers ago was a slow, transitional process and i was damn grateful to be done with it by the end. I haven’t cried about leaving a dwelling probably since we moved away from Eugene. And i was only in this place for seven months.
I guess it was partly the fact that it was my first and only place all to myself, and it was a symbol of my independence. But more importantly, some memories were made there that will probably have significance for the rest of my life. The rest of our lives.
I park my car now three blocks away from the loft at Nathan’s workplace, and when we were returning from it Saturday night we managed to be locked out of our new building. The hard keys don’t work in the outside doors and the key-cards they gave us also failed to work, due to some error in setting them up. The garage door opener is currently the only way for us to enter the building, and that, of course, was in the car. Luckily someone came to visit a friend, and we followed him as he was buzzed-in.
We spent some time yesterday putting things away, and the loft is slowly starting to feel like home. We have no blinds yet, so the giant window-wall exposes us to the inanimate brick wall across the alley. We’ve purchased a sofa-and-loveseat set which will be delivered next weekend. The cable and internet were not ready for us and won’t be until Wednesday, and we can’t yet use our washer and dryer since they require some bracket in order to be stacked, and will be hooked up upon the installation of that item. We don’t know when. Our stock of clean clothes is running dangerously low, but i refuse to go to a laundromat.
More updates to come in a few days. I’m going to be very difficult to reach until i get a replacement for my phone. 
I had just been thinking how grateful i was to have that thing, actually, since Nathan’s phone was damaged on Friday and he had to buy a replacement. I lost mine the next day, and really can’t figure out where it could be. It’s dead, of course. Phones only get lost when they’re desperately low on battery power.
Monday, March 2nd, 2009 11:24 am • apartments, cellphones, life
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March 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 am
That sounds pretty chaotic. I have a spare phone if you want that so you don’t have to buy a new one (it’s not quite as cool as the one you lost).
I understand what you’re saying about that place being a symbol of your independence. I feel the same way about my place because once I finally moved into MY OWN place and did things FOR MYSELF without relying on a roommate/friend/boyfriend/parents to help me out.. I began to feel so much more independent and know I can do things on my own now if I have to.
I hope you enjoy your new place! I’m excited to see pictures once you get it all figured out.
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Poor Stef. When I moved into my place last year, I remember I had a completely empty gas tank, 17 dollars in my account, no cash, no food except rice, and no computer and no hot water for a week. I couldn’t even drive back home because I had no gas. Really puts you in perspective. Even though you are technically close by relatives and stuff, you that situation kind of leaves you feeling like you are stranded in the middle of nowhere. I am sure you will be much happier and less stressed in a couple of days. Hang in there! Just think about how exciting it is! PS- I have a new phone now. Let me know when you find yours and I’ll send you the number.
March 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Your leaving that apartment makes me sad, too. I spent some time there with you. It was comforting to know you were just blocks away. Everyone else seems so distant. I used to feel a little warm glow every time I drove to and from work, within yards of where you lived. Now, I feel a little sad instead. I know you are only a few more minutes away, but it is not the same. Hang in there; things will get better. You can bring some laundry over here!