The whirlwood ends and September arrives
I'm really sorry I haven't written for nearly two months (I had no idea it had been that long). It's been such a busy July and August that I didn't have time to get my head together long enough to sit down and write here (though I did a little writing, but not much). Anyway, I'm back at the computer, and this time in my new apartment. This is the place I've dreamed of for so long. I'm looking out FIVE bay windows, where there is a fair amount of traffic and apartment buildings (it's a well-traveled road, on the way to several hospitals). But there are also trees and so much sunlight! It's wonderful. I'm sure it will be beautiful in the fall when the trees change colors, though I would prefer to have them be green and full. I am a big fan of summer, and not so much of fall, because I know that the daylight will continue to fade and the temperatures will continue to drop and the snow and bitter cold are on their way. But for now, I can enjoy the end-of-summer weather (low 70s, comfortable) while I write. Although moving in the middle of August was extremely stressful, given that it was Registration at my college, it also meant that I didn't have to compete with all of the students returning (and they are, in great numbers) and others moving out September. I'm completely settled in, completely unpacked (I've been here less than three weeks, but I needed to do it in order to focus on other things and get comfortable and acclimated here), and ready to just relax this weekend.
So, the moving process was tough. I always get obsessive when I have things to do, and of course there are so many things to take care of when you move: changes of address (and there were some problems in that ares), working with movers after packing and getting rid of items you don't need (and deciding what to take and what to lose), and naturally, just finding the apartment in the first place! When I found out I had to move, because the condo I was living in was being sold, I naturally panicked (well, natural for me) and got to apartment hunting right away. When the first one that I put a deposit on fell through, I was pretty despondent, but just a day later, this apartment opened up and I took it on the spot. I am out a lot of money, b/c this place is $250 (!) more a month, and I also had to put down a deposit to the realtor I will never get back, alas, as well as last month's rent, but I knew right away that this was the place I wanted to live in (you always go with your gut), and the rents have gone up a LOT in the Boston area in the past eight years, so I had little choice if I wanted to live around here, and I dearly did/do. My sister in Florida graciously leant me $1000 for the move, which saved me (though my accountant was none-too-pleased, let me just say). But this place is just amazing, the nicest place I've ever lived in by myself (or with any roommates, actually, except maybe the apartment in Watertown 20 years ago, but that wasn't my own and one of the roomies was horrible).
I have a really large kitchen with a normal refrigerator (It even defrosts! It's been a long time since I had that *luxury*) and a great deal of cabinet space. I threw out my old table and chairs (dark wood, 21 years old, and quite ugly) and hope to get two light wood, bar stools and a matching table. There's even a walk-in pantry! The living room has the bay windows and a lot of wall space (I fit both couches in very comfortably, with space to spare), not to mention the mantle and non-working fireplace. And then there is a small hallway (there are actually two, one by the kitchen) with BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES, which I have already begun to fill. The bedroom is huge (one mover said I could use it as a dance floor :-)) with three windows and two closets, including a walk-in, and the bathroom is small but completely renovated (nicer than my last one, b/c it's brand-new), and the linen closet is very large. In addition, there is a washer/dryer in the basement (imagine that: not having to go outside to do my laundry anymore!), and I park right behind the building, so I don't have to move the car twice a week, or once a week onto the street for garbage pickup. I mention all of this b/c I want to emphasize how happy I am to be in what my sister calls "an adult apartment." It only takes three minutes to walk to the subway and five to Coolidge Corner, which is a nice area with good restaurants, an indie movie theatre, a great bookstore along with Walden Books, my bank, Trader Joes's (so I'm eating a lot better already), two CVS's, a GAP (though I won't go in there much, hard as that is), and a great deli. It's very suburban and yet very active, and I've dreamed of living here for a very long time. No more Boston College students drinking and smoking and partying on my way home and right across the street from my apartment. There are families here; imagine that! And my commute to work is only about 8 minutes, or 35 to walk. Yes it has everything I could want (except maybe an extra room, but that's okay, and of course it isn't mine ;-)), and a very attentive landlord. I feel very fortunate to have found it (not that it just fell into my lap; I had to work hard at the realtor game, but it was worth it) and plan to stay here until I buy my own condo (and that could be many years from now).
During this period of moving and change (I HATE change), I had to get through course registration, which meant very long hours more than anything else, especially with the beginning of on-line registration (though it went smoothly). The movers were expensive ($900, though I didn't realize it would be nearly that pricey till theh day before, and then I was stuck) but were also great, the cable/phone/internet went fine the day after (though my VCR no longer tapes, and no one can figure out why it isn't wired correctly anymore), the mail issues seem to be resolved, and I can finally relax. My grandfather also died during this time, and though he was 96, it was very hard on my dad and mom (he was in a coma for two weeks, and my parents were in Florida for part of it). The funeral and graveside burial was relatively short but naturally painful, and my dad is still suffering the after effects. Fortunately, the money issues seem to be going well (my grandfather was quite wealthy), and I hope my step-grandmother is on her way to recovery, as she has been very weak (she is 88, I believe) and in pain due to one of her legs. I hadn't been to a funeral since my grandmother, with whom I was extremely close, died when I was 14. I was trying to remember the funeral, but I actually don't know if I went. I do remember afterwards that were little cups of custard everywhere in the condo afterwards, and that it was the first time I had ever seen my dad cry (he was very close to her). I think he cried again when he had to have back surgery that could have paralyzed and again when he had his triple bypass surgery (I was in my late 30s for the latter, a teenager, I think, for the former, or maybe in college). He is pretty stoic that way. I didn't see him cry during the funeral or thereafter; he just seemed sad and very tired. I was rather freaked out, I have to say, and though I wasn't extremely close to my grandfather, he was very kind to me financially and also cared a great deal about me, perhaps because of my grandmother. I hope he and Grammy are looking down on us all and are happy. My grandmother was also a writer, and I think she would be proud of the early success I've achieved, with more to come.
Speaking of which, I got into another festival! My play "Peanut Butter Sandwiches," the one that seems to resonate with a lot of people, was chosen for StudioRep's festival in Providence, RI in late September. I am so excited b/c it was very competitive and b/c I can go to it! Right now, four or friends plan to come along, and Providence is a really fun city (I've been going there since I was six, since my dad went to Brown and we've seen at least one football game at the stadium every year). It's about an hour away, and we'll go on a Saturday night and have dinner and maybe walk around beforehand, depending on the weather. It should be a fun evening, and I'll get a program, unlike some festivals (sigh) and see if there are any reviews (though I don't get Providence newspapers, of course, so I'll have to check online). I've been rejected from all of the other festivals (maybe three or four rejections in the past six weeks), though I'm waiting on the one-page festival (it was really fun to write short plays, thanks to my friend Edd's lines that have inspired me; I've done the same for him). I am also a finalist for SABEL's festival in Malibu, CA, 22/145 or so submissions, so I'm hopeful as Dona, one of the producers, really liked "The Satchel." I've also revised "Not A Competition" with Edd's help, so I can send that out, and plan to revise "The Satchel" this weekend. Then I'll have five plays (including "PB Sandwiches," "Out for the Holidays," and "A Genetic Trait," the funny one) to send out,and that's pretty good. I would like to try to write a new one this weekend, or at least get started, but we'll see. Anna and I want to go to Club Passim to see lots of acoustic music this weekend (it goes from Friday night-Monday night, and it's an intimate space, plus they have great, organic food), and tonight Edd's play opens at AYTB, so Anna and I will go to it, after eating at Bob the Chef's. My mom is also coming by to bring me a rug for the bedroom and have lunch (she and my dad LOVED the new place; they raved about the parquet floors, the space, and the location, which is so safe and so much nicer than Cleveland Circle, a rather grimy area), and I want to work out. So I have a good weekend planned, along with a "Ghost World" party at one of the bookclub members' apartments in Boston.
So...phew. That pretty much sums up the past six weeks. Lots of stress with moving (and my back hurt horribly, b/c it's weak and doesn't appreciate my bending over or picking up any kind of item) and with work, along with some fun, like seeing movies with the bookclub set. But the worst of it is over (knock on wood), and now I can sit back and not think about the Red Sox but think about the Patriots and enjoy the rest of the summer and the fall. It's about time.
So, the moving process was tough. I always get obsessive when I have things to do, and of course there are so many things to take care of when you move: changes of address (and there were some problems in that ares), working with movers after packing and getting rid of items you don't need (and deciding what to take and what to lose), and naturally, just finding the apartment in the first place! When I found out I had to move, because the condo I was living in was being sold, I naturally panicked (well, natural for me) and got to apartment hunting right away. When the first one that I put a deposit on fell through, I was pretty despondent, but just a day later, this apartment opened up and I took it on the spot. I am out a lot of money, b/c this place is $250 (!) more a month, and I also had to put down a deposit to the realtor I will never get back, alas, as well as last month's rent, but I knew right away that this was the place I wanted to live in (you always go with your gut), and the rents have gone up a LOT in the Boston area in the past eight years, so I had little choice if I wanted to live around here, and I dearly did/do. My sister in Florida graciously leant me $1000 for the move, which saved me (though my accountant was none-too-pleased, let me just say). But this place is just amazing, the nicest place I've ever lived in by myself (or with any roommates, actually, except maybe the apartment in Watertown 20 years ago, but that wasn't my own and one of the roomies was horrible).
I have a really large kitchen with a normal refrigerator (It even defrosts! It's been a long time since I had that *luxury*) and a great deal of cabinet space. I threw out my old table and chairs (dark wood, 21 years old, and quite ugly) and hope to get two light wood, bar stools and a matching table. There's even a walk-in pantry! The living room has the bay windows and a lot of wall space (I fit both couches in very comfortably, with space to spare), not to mention the mantle and non-working fireplace. And then there is a small hallway (there are actually two, one by the kitchen) with BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES, which I have already begun to fill. The bedroom is huge (one mover said I could use it as a dance floor :-)) with three windows and two closets, including a walk-in, and the bathroom is small but completely renovated (nicer than my last one, b/c it's brand-new), and the linen closet is very large. In addition, there is a washer/dryer in the basement (imagine that: not having to go outside to do my laundry anymore!), and I park right behind the building, so I don't have to move the car twice a week, or once a week onto the street for garbage pickup. I mention all of this b/c I want to emphasize how happy I am to be in what my sister calls "an adult apartment." It only takes three minutes to walk to the subway and five to Coolidge Corner, which is a nice area with good restaurants, an indie movie theatre, a great bookstore along with Walden Books, my bank, Trader Joes's (so I'm eating a lot better already), two CVS's, a GAP (though I won't go in there much, hard as that is), and a great deli. It's very suburban and yet very active, and I've dreamed of living here for a very long time. No more Boston College students drinking and smoking and partying on my way home and right across the street from my apartment. There are families here; imagine that! And my commute to work is only about 8 minutes, or 35 to walk. Yes it has everything I could want (except maybe an extra room, but that's okay, and of course it isn't mine ;-)), and a very attentive landlord. I feel very fortunate to have found it (not that it just fell into my lap; I had to work hard at the realtor game, but it was worth it) and plan to stay here until I buy my own condo (and that could be many years from now).
During this period of moving and change (I HATE change), I had to get through course registration, which meant very long hours more than anything else, especially with the beginning of on-line registration (though it went smoothly). The movers were expensive ($900, though I didn't realize it would be nearly that pricey till theh day before, and then I was stuck) but were also great, the cable/phone/internet went fine the day after (though my VCR no longer tapes, and no one can figure out why it isn't wired correctly anymore), the mail issues seem to be resolved, and I can finally relax. My grandfather also died during this time, and though he was 96, it was very hard on my dad and mom (he was in a coma for two weeks, and my parents were in Florida for part of it). The funeral and graveside burial was relatively short but naturally painful, and my dad is still suffering the after effects. Fortunately, the money issues seem to be going well (my grandfather was quite wealthy), and I hope my step-grandmother is on her way to recovery, as she has been very weak (she is 88, I believe) and in pain due to one of her legs. I hadn't been to a funeral since my grandmother, with whom I was extremely close, died when I was 14. I was trying to remember the funeral, but I actually don't know if I went. I do remember afterwards that were little cups of custard everywhere in the condo afterwards, and that it was the first time I had ever seen my dad cry (he was very close to her). I think he cried again when he had to have back surgery that could have paralyzed and again when he had his triple bypass surgery (I was in my late 30s for the latter, a teenager, I think, for the former, or maybe in college). He is pretty stoic that way. I didn't see him cry during the funeral or thereafter; he just seemed sad and very tired. I was rather freaked out, I have to say, and though I wasn't extremely close to my grandfather, he was very kind to me financially and also cared a great deal about me, perhaps because of my grandmother. I hope he and Grammy are looking down on us all and are happy. My grandmother was also a writer, and I think she would be proud of the early success I've achieved, with more to come.
Speaking of which, I got into another festival! My play "Peanut Butter Sandwiches," the one that seems to resonate with a lot of people, was chosen for StudioRep's festival in Providence, RI in late September. I am so excited b/c it was very competitive and b/c I can go to it! Right now, four or friends plan to come along, and Providence is a really fun city (I've been going there since I was six, since my dad went to Brown and we've seen at least one football game at the stadium every year). It's about an hour away, and we'll go on a Saturday night and have dinner and maybe walk around beforehand, depending on the weather. It should be a fun evening, and I'll get a program, unlike some festivals (sigh) and see if there are any reviews (though I don't get Providence newspapers, of course, so I'll have to check online). I've been rejected from all of the other festivals (maybe three or four rejections in the past six weeks), though I'm waiting on the one-page festival (it was really fun to write short plays, thanks to my friend Edd's lines that have inspired me; I've done the same for him). I am also a finalist for SABEL's festival in Malibu, CA, 22/145 or so submissions, so I'm hopeful as Dona, one of the producers, really liked "The Satchel." I've also revised "Not A Competition" with Edd's help, so I can send that out, and plan to revise "The Satchel" this weekend. Then I'll have five plays (including "PB Sandwiches," "Out for the Holidays," and "A Genetic Trait," the funny one) to send out,and that's pretty good. I would like to try to write a new one this weekend, or at least get started, but we'll see. Anna and I want to go to Club Passim to see lots of acoustic music this weekend (it goes from Friday night-Monday night, and it's an intimate space, plus they have great, organic food), and tonight Edd's play opens at AYTB, so Anna and I will go to it, after eating at Bob the Chef's. My mom is also coming by to bring me a rug for the bedroom and have lunch (she and my dad LOVED the new place; they raved about the parquet floors, the space, and the location, which is so safe and so much nicer than Cleveland Circle, a rather grimy area), and I want to work out. So I have a good weekend planned, along with a "Ghost World" party at one of the bookclub members' apartments in Boston.
So...phew. That pretty much sums up the past six weeks. Lots of stress with moving (and my back hurt horribly, b/c it's weak and doesn't appreciate my bending over or picking up any kind of item) and with work, along with some fun, like seeing movies with the bookclub set. But the worst of it is over (knock on wood), and now I can sit back and not think about the Red Sox but think about the Patriots and enjoy the rest of the summer and the fall. It's about time.
posted by Sue B at 2:02 AM
2 Comments:
Go you! I'm glad you like the new place -- it sounds wonderful! I'd love to come see it sometime :)
Things are going pretty well here. Improv is starting to get back running, now that we have six in the troupe again. And work is still treating me well.
"Whirlwind."
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