I "Supersized it!"

On Saturday I signed the lease on my new apartment! I cannot express how happy I will be when I take hold of my keys on Wednesday!! Mostly because I'll be out of that hotel! Also because I really think that I lucked out with the deal that I got. Because the 2 bedroom/2 bath was only 50 bones a month more than the 1 bedroom/1 bath and NO DECK...I went with the supersize upgrade. Most of you know I'm a pack rat-so the extra space will be handy. Plus, as soon as I told people of my new abode there was suddenly a lot of interest in coming to visit-so having the extra room will prove beneficial I think! I even got offers for subletting the second room...crazy!

This is a view of the pool...I'll share better pictures later. My building is actually the one you can barely see on the left.

The place is phenomenal, and I'm so glad to have found it. The best part is it's on the property of a golf course, and I get all the amenities including access to the 7 pools, movie theater, and such. My apartment is right near the club house, so it's just a hop, skip, and mosey to the pool. I'm on the second floor-which makes me happy. No one above me making noise. They are currently replacing the carpet in my place, so I'll be moving on Wednesday to a practically brand new apartment. Of course by "moving" I mean that I'll be bringing in my clothes and aerobed until arrangements are made to get my things from Maine. I miss my bed!! I called and set up the electric, and am waiting for the cable guy to call me back. I assume that he must be off considering the holiday. It will be nice to have cable again. The hotel gives me about 4 channels that are not news or sports related, so I'll be ready to catch up on things I've missed. I'm even considering going back to Netflix...and that way I won't need any movie channels. We'll see what happens. Right now the dvd player is in Maine, so I have a bit before I need to make any decisions. One of the best parts of the place is that there is a full size washer and dryer already in the unit. So much easier. I looked at one place that wanted to charge me a "deal" of $1030 a month for a unit MUCH smaller than this, no washer and dryer, $35 a month for garbage pick up, etc. etc. etc! No thanks! This place is on the next street, is much more "rural" and has WAY more amenities and I got it for a LOT less than that! I'm glad I took the time too. Now I can start looking for a condo or house to move in next year. Did I mention that my commute will now be 20 minutes...as opposed to the hour and a half it took me in Maine??

The only negative to this is the fees for pets. I was thinking of getting a dog or cat...but I just can't afford the extra rent and admin fees. I'll survive...I'm positive of that! I got to see my brother's gf's cat yesterday and it is adorable! I almost thought that I'd just say forget it and get one...then I set up the electric today and decided to just be reasonable!!

I definitely signed up for rental insurance today too. Considering the tornadoes that touched down in the area the other night, I think it's worth it!

Wish You Were Here...

It's free...but I got this picture here

So as most of you know I’ve successfully transplanted myself in Florida…well, I’m in the process of a successful transplant anyway!

I postponed my roadtrip a few days as my traveling companion, Peggy, was very ill and ended up having to go see the doctor. And as it’s been documented…I’m a procrastinator and decided that enjoying the holiday with my friends and family was more important than actually packing. Yikes. I will have to return to Maine and get the rest of my things in order…but I have to find a place to live first!


When I left Maine, it was literally like a postcard gift from Mother Nature. I wish a photo could do it justice, but it just cannot. The sky was a beautiful purple and pink, just before the sun rose. The trees were frosted with snow from the day before. It was just meant to be! Listening to the radio, driving over the Piscataqua Bridge (also the Maine and New Hampshire Border) Greenday’s "Good Riddance" more popularly known as "Time of Your Life" came on. It was just a really pleasant, though admittedly cheesy, way to leave Maine!!!


Peggy was great company on our adventure! Usually she sleeps the whole time she drives with anyone, but she was talkative and happy. That kid can make me laugh so hard…she’s hilarious when she wants to be! We got to Virginia the first day, we probably could have made it further, but we sat in traffic in New York on the George Washington Bridge (Maggie’s nightmare!!) and then again at the toll booth (regardless of my EZ Pass!) in Delaware.


The second day was pretty rough, there was a lot of rain and traffic through North Carolina and South Carolina. We ended up staying in SC, right on the border of Georgia for the night. The rain was brutal, like driving through a snowstorm at home! The traffic was nonsensical! I’m a slow driver, but generally I go the speed limit or just above. The speed limit down here is 70…70!! I kept getting stuck behind trailers going 55. No kidding. Trying to pass these things was a joke…I was getting so frustrated because I just couldn’t get over!! Granted, I was also into the 8th hour of listening to XM’s Disney Channel with Peggy…so that might have had something to do with my frustration!! I almost wanted to drive straight through to Orlando and find those responsible for High School Musical and make them STOP!!! Sensing I was minutes away from a nervous breakdown…the Days Inn became a welcome stop! My parents called ahead and booked the room, which was fortuitous as due to the rain the dump had zero vacancy minutes after our arrival!


Peggy discovered the "cricut" on an infomercial…we watched it about 12 times. She really wants it…and even took down the phone number the first night in VA. When we were in SC she got all mad because the phone number was "different." She had written down, and MEMORIZED the one from VA. The poor kid, I told her it was probably a regional thing and they had different numbers for some reason. Anyone we talked to on the phone got the earful about the cricut. We spoke of it ad nauseum the rest of the way...Peggy has many different ideas on how she can use it! I almost started wanting one! She could be a sales rep!! As dad says though..."start saving."


We finally arrived in Florida on Sunday. We stopped at the information center and received our obligatory free orange juice. It was official-we were here!! We drove to Elizabeth and Wes’ house and while she took Peggy to feed her friend’s cats…I hit the hotel, checked in, and took a nap! Oh happy day! Elizabeth had a party for New Years Eve, and I checked into my Extended Stay hotel on New Years Day…and have been there since. I finally got the rental agent to take my call last week…now if only he could produce a list of places for me to live!! There is one right near where I’m staying-so that might work out. I want a good neighborhood…but I don’t want the city…and I don’t want to live in the boonies. I’m picky…but if gas is going up to $4 a gallon…then I have to be reasonable.


The weather has been pretty funny here…funny interesting…not ha ha funny. It’s Florida, and I’ve been wearing a jacket every day! Last week it was in the 20’s!! Today it was 50 degrees. I know it’s nothing compared to what most of you are dealing with up North…but hey…you get a snow day and I don’t!! That should comfort you somehow!

Why is it called PROcrastination?

Seriously, is "pro" not allegedly a positive thing? Because PROcrastination seems to suck...yet I fall into it's arms at every chance!

Case in point, the fact that I've not written for almost two months. Sad! I'm sure you are all very upset! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Things have been a little busy, and of course, I'm procrastinating as I type. I should be packing...but I'm not. It's not easy! I keep telling myself that anyway! Well, I got the the "pack rat" gene in the family...and it's pretty brutal. It's one freaking room and it just never ends. Never. I don't even know how I could fit this much into it in the first place!

For those of you who aren't in the loop...I'm packing because I'm finally moving to Florida! It literally came up in the last month...the day before Thanksgiving actually. I saw an internal posting for my company in the Tampa area-where I've wanted to be for a long time. I was actually up for another job, but in a very non-me move...I took a chance and retracted my application and applied for this one. They flew me down that week and offered me the job. Nice. It's a promotion, which means more green...nice. It's very strange to be leaving though-I've reconnected with several good friends over the last few years, and now to just be leaving seems crazy. In my humble and insane opinion, it's time for me to cut the crap and start being brave. I need to get out on my own. I'm not really starting over because I don't feel that is something I have to do. Technically I am...but there are so many amazing people in New England that I will be connected to for life...albeit many miles away! And for them it's a real positive because they have a free place to crash when they come visit;)

At the very least my new adventure should give me some more blogging material!

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

Peace!

Break away...

I've had it with this weather, I can take it no longer. In a little over a month I will journey to the happy locale of Florida for an extended Easter Break. I will finally see my sister and brother-in-law's new house, and I will be assuredly sunburnt when I return. It's unavoidable...the escape as well as the sunburn! My flight is booked, and if I were a little more nuts than I am I'd have my bags packed...oh well.

I should probably call Liz and let her know of the invasion...eh...I'll just surprise her!

I want a vacation!

Actually, I neeeeeeeed a vacation! I need a vacation where the climate is warm and sunny...and not chilly. I am too sensitive for this below zero weather. I realize that it is my choice to live in the Arctic North that is Maine. But, to be honest, it's really not. I live here because it's convenient, because it's necessary, because most of my friends and family are here. But I can barely see them-so what would the difference be? Case in point, Friday night I was supposed to meet up with Maggie and Katie for Maggie's birthday (which was yesterday!! Happy Birthday, Maggie!!) However, just in time for my commute...and trip to see them...a freaking snow storm hits. It wasn't that bad-but I did see an accident...and it was the first time the driveway had to be plowed all season. See-that's my New England mentality...."it wasn't that bad!!" Ugh, I would just like to type without my fingers turning blue...I would like to be able to go for a walk after work and not be scared of hypothermia...I would like to just freaking defrost!! Well, vacation is months away for this frozen lady...so until then I will just have to wait for the feeling to come back in my appendages. Since I can barely move beyond a snails pace as I believe that ice is now freezing my joints...I'm just going to have to make do with some pictures from past vacations. And just so I can get you all as sad as I am...I'm sharing "a walk on the beach" and "indian rocks sunset" for you to enjoy. I took these on a trip to Florida now 2 years ago. I would cry from the devastation-but I fear the tears would freeze my eyes.