Since my last post I have learned lots. Here is a quick run-down.
1. Sometimes, old wives tales are true. Growing up in Florida you hear lots of strange tid bits. Some of which- like punch an alligator in it's nose when it's attacking you- are true. Whereas others- eat a green orange and your stomach will explode, are probably not.
The one that I proved to be true last week is "don't touch your lips to a mango skin because mangoes and poison oak are part of the same family, and if you touch your lips to a mango skin you might look like Lisa Rinna for a couple of days'. Yeah, it's real hot to start a new job and look like you just got bad collagen implants.
2. If you lose your wallet, always ask the manager of the seven eleven (not an employee) if they have found it. Yep. I have it back. weeee!
3. When asking for a street address in Washington DC, be sure to ask for the NE, SE NW, SW portion of the address. Oh, and write it down. Because if you screw up this vital 2 letter snarflet of information - you just might end up driving around our nation's ghetto, instead of our nation's capitol.
4. Always ask an impartial person for the real story. Yeah Lisa, the jig is up. I had a lovely dinner with Pat (a great friend who was in town for 24 hours on her way to an awesome summer job) and she told me all about the dragons on the kimono, the paint spill, the blood on the ombre dyed slip, the foot creme and the re-built hat.
Here's the back story for those of you not involved- After my first day at work here in DC I got a lovely text message from the current costume designer at the Hartford Stage thanking me for all my hard work and letting me know the show looks lovely. This set off a light bulb in my head, knowing that something was up. So I called the costume shop and was informed that everything was "great". A week later I got the real story. It involved blood, foot creme and an exploding jar of gold paint. -Use your imagination, I'm sure you can come close.
All in all it has been a good first full week here. The show is going to be completely drool worthy, and I am enjoying my return to a city.
Ya'll come back now, hear!
(that means- please come back later, and I'll have posted more)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Technical Difficulties
Howdy Ya'll!
Now that I am back below the mason-dixon line I can go back to using the vernacular that I was raised with. This may or may not include 'howdy', 'ya'll', 'put it up' (instead of away) and the ever popular 'roin' instead of 'ruin'. I will still refuse to 'worsh' my clothes or sleep on a 'pellow'. As I much prefer laundry and pillows. I have fully reverted back to my deep appreciation of people (mostly men) who open the door for you, and offer to help you with your grocery bags when your hands are full. There is something so nice about having someone acknowledge that you could use a little assistance.
My first days here have been interesting. I went ahead and took care of the obligatory crappy thing that has to happen when you move, and promptly lost my wallet within 84 hours of arrival (it's somewhere between the 7-11 and work, I'm just not sure where???). The good part- seems whoever has it took the cash ($31) and tossed the wallet and cards, because no fraudulent charges were made. (Before you ask- no I wasn't pickpocketed) The bad part- now I have to figure out how to get a new license- Hopefully I can do it over the phone with the state of CT. If not, I may just have to keep using my passport until I have a permanent address. Any suggestions?
Other than the wallet incident, DC is proving to be great. I love the train. I arrived on Tuesday night and asside from getting groceries- I have no use for my car. I have been walking all over the place, and somehow I had forgotten how much I actually like to walk. I feel better, I am sleeping better than I have in several years, and the train gives me time to unwind and chill before I get home.
The ladies (and it is an almost entirely all lady shop) are very nice. There seems to be about 27 of us in the shop total, although I haven't taken a head count. I fall into the middle age group, middle height(!), and middle level of moderately hippie behavior. I have a friend date tonight with 2 of them and for movies and beers. I am redorkulously excited about going out and seeing the town.
I don't have Internet in my apartment yet, so I am posting from the 'business center' in my complex. I promise as soon as I can I will be posting some pictures and making more frequent posts. Until then, keep your panties on ya'll...
Now that I am back below the mason-dixon line I can go back to using the vernacular that I was raised with. This may or may not include 'howdy', 'ya'll', 'put it up' (instead of away) and the ever popular 'roin' instead of 'ruin'. I will still refuse to 'worsh' my clothes or sleep on a 'pellow'. As I much prefer laundry and pillows. I have fully reverted back to my deep appreciation of people (mostly men) who open the door for you, and offer to help you with your grocery bags when your hands are full. There is something so nice about having someone acknowledge that you could use a little assistance.
My first days here have been interesting. I went ahead and took care of the obligatory crappy thing that has to happen when you move, and promptly lost my wallet within 84 hours of arrival (it's somewhere between the 7-11 and work, I'm just not sure where???). The good part- seems whoever has it took the cash ($31) and tossed the wallet and cards, because no fraudulent charges were made. (Before you ask- no I wasn't pickpocketed) The bad part- now I have to figure out how to get a new license- Hopefully I can do it over the phone with the state of CT. If not, I may just have to keep using my passport until I have a permanent address. Any suggestions?
Other than the wallet incident, DC is proving to be great. I love the train. I arrived on Tuesday night and asside from getting groceries- I have no use for my car. I have been walking all over the place, and somehow I had forgotten how much I actually like to walk. I feel better, I am sleeping better than I have in several years, and the train gives me time to unwind and chill before I get home.
The ladies (and it is an almost entirely all lady shop) are very nice. There seems to be about 27 of us in the shop total, although I haven't taken a head count. I fall into the middle age group, middle height(!), and middle level of moderately hippie behavior. I have a friend date tonight with 2 of them and for movies and beers. I am redorkulously excited about going out and seeing the town.
I don't have Internet in my apartment yet, so I am posting from the 'business center' in my complex. I promise as soon as I can I will be posting some pictures and making more frequent posts. Until then, keep your panties on ya'll...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Priceless
Tank of gas in New Jersey...$27.00
Road snacks, coffee, lunch...$19.00
CD of This American Life to keep me company on my journey...$17.99
Tolls from CT to DC...$22.00
Calling the cops on my neighbor one last time...priceless
Trying to get out of town is always hard. It is extra difficult when it involves the police. But we'll get to that later.
Saturday was awesome! The Hartford Stage folks came and helped me load the last bits of my life into storage and we headed out for one last beer and plate of fried pickles (I swear, they are waaaay better than they sound). Sunday, I spent one last day finishing up my work on the current show at the Stage Co and attempting to prepare the shop for my departure (they are totally in capable hands). After work I had dinner and a milkshake with some very dear friends, finished loading my car and settled onto my air mattress in my empty apartment with the last beer in my fridge and a DVD episode of This American Life on my laptop. (I like the radio show much better than the television program). I fell asleep feeling like all was well in the world, and tomorrow begins a grand new adventure.
I woke up on Monday morning to discover my horrible neighbor aka Mr. Peesonhisownlawn, aka Mr.Shoutsexplitivesintothephone, aka Mr. Barfseverymorning is also Mr. Beatshisdog. So what did I do? I called the Manchester Police one last time. In retrospect, I'm really happy I did. At the time, I wished I had put my kitty into her carrier before my apartment had 3 cops with loud radios and a scared kitty hiding under the bathtub.
Turns out my crappy neighbor had/has several warrants out for his arrest in Florida, and so the police not only arrested him for animal cruelty but also for whatever he did in Florida (in my mind it involves peeing on his lawn). The police were very nice to me, thanked me for calling them and were more than happy to take this guy away. They even offered to help me try to extricate the cat from beneath the bathtub, but I thought it might be better to let her chill for 20 minutes.
Once Ms.Kitty came out from under the bathtub, was properly sedated (as prescribed by the vet) and her carrier safely belted into the car we were on our way. The trip was pretty smooth. We got stuck on the George Washington Bridge for about an hour, but with the soothing tones of Ira Glass to keep me company, I didn't really mind too much. The Garden State soundtrack is a great soundtrack for driving thru The Garden State on a gloomy day, and lasts almost as long as New Jersey.
We arrived in DC only about 30 min after my projected arrival time, and without further problem. The company housing apartment I am staying in is swank. It's a luxury high-rise with a water feature in the lobby. I could never afford to live here in my real life, but I sure as heck am gonna enjoy pretending like I could.
....the best part-I have a dishwasher and laundry in unit.
Oh, and if you are still worried about the dog, he looked like he was okay as the police were taking him to get checked out by the vet.....
Road snacks, coffee, lunch...$19.00
CD of This American Life to keep me company on my journey...$17.99
Tolls from CT to DC...$22.00
Calling the cops on my neighbor one last time...priceless
Trying to get out of town is always hard. It is extra difficult when it involves the police. But we'll get to that later.
Saturday was awesome! The Hartford Stage folks came and helped me load the last bits of my life into storage and we headed out for one last beer and plate of fried pickles (I swear, they are waaaay better than they sound). Sunday, I spent one last day finishing up my work on the current show at the Stage Co and attempting to prepare the shop for my departure (they are totally in capable hands). After work I had dinner and a milkshake with some very dear friends, finished loading my car and settled onto my air mattress in my empty apartment with the last beer in my fridge and a DVD episode of This American Life on my laptop. (I like the radio show much better than the television program). I fell asleep feeling like all was well in the world, and tomorrow begins a grand new adventure.
I woke up on Monday morning to discover my horrible neighbor aka Mr. Peesonhisownlawn, aka Mr.Shoutsexplitivesintothephone, aka Mr. Barfseverymorning is also Mr. Beatshisdog. So what did I do? I called the Manchester Police one last time. In retrospect, I'm really happy I did. At the time, I wished I had put my kitty into her carrier before my apartment had 3 cops with loud radios and a scared kitty hiding under the bathtub.
Turns out my crappy neighbor had/has several warrants out for his arrest in Florida, and so the police not only arrested him for animal cruelty but also for whatever he did in Florida (in my mind it involves peeing on his lawn). The police were very nice to me, thanked me for calling them and were more than happy to take this guy away. They even offered to help me try to extricate the cat from beneath the bathtub, but I thought it might be better to let her chill for 20 minutes.
Once Ms.Kitty came out from under the bathtub, was properly sedated (as prescribed by the vet) and her carrier safely belted into the car we were on our way. The trip was pretty smooth. We got stuck on the George Washington Bridge for about an hour, but with the soothing tones of Ira Glass to keep me company, I didn't really mind too much. The Garden State soundtrack is a great soundtrack for driving thru The Garden State on a gloomy day, and lasts almost as long as New Jersey.
We arrived in DC only about 30 min after my projected arrival time, and without further problem. The company housing apartment I am staying in is swank. It's a luxury high-rise with a water feature in the lobby. I could never afford to live here in my real life, but I sure as heck am gonna enjoy pretending like I could.
....the best part-I have a dishwasher and laundry in unit.
Oh, and if you are still worried about the dog, he looked like he was okay as the police were taking him to get checked out by the vet.....
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Home.
Anyone who has ever moved from one city to another knows it is a sometimes scary, sometimes invigorating, sometimes lonely thing. (Pro-tip - Never listen to more than 3 Elliot Smith songs in a row while packing) I finished packing up my boxes, taking cast-offs to Goodwill, and started loading my storage unit. While doing these things I realized Connecticut was never my home. I have never made the change from 'is this how you do it here?' to 'this is how we do it here'.
I came east sight-unseen. My job here is awesome. The people I work with are kind, funny, and talented. Yet still, Connecticut never felt like home.
I finally hit on it last Saturday when I realized I've never nailed my pictures to my bedroom wall. I didn't unpack my boxes of research and art books. In short:I never finished moving in, and I've been here almost two full years.
This prompts the question- What makes something or someplace feel like home? Is it your stuff? Is it your friends? Is it the feeling of community you get from your neighborhood? Or is it simply your mindset? Do you have to decide that you are home, and the rest falls into place?
I hope it all becomes clear when I arrive in my new home. While prepping for this move some of my friends want me to tell them I will be in DC for a year or two and then I will finally arrive and be home in NYC. But for me, I can't go into this move feeling like it is yet another temporary layover before my life begins. I want to move somewhere and know I am finally, really, and truly
Home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
