I have a lot of spare time these days. I mean, I've just moved into my apartment in the East Village, which I am pleased as punch to have gotten...but the moving company does not arrive until tomorrow. Here's a cameraphone survey of my apartment, from Bedroom to Kitchen/Hall to Main Room.
Usually when I move from place to place, I am responsible for most of the moving. In the past, that meant making a judgment call of whether to try and cram a 10 dollar stained coffee maker into the space between my television and pillowcase full of shoes in the backseat of my 2004 Hyundai Sonata. (Note that I mention my Hyundai with the same tone another person would mention their Bentley). As a result, I've definitely ended up in a new home with imbalances like excess ziploc bags, 45 cent trash 20 gallon trash cans, but without, say, my $75 dollar microwave.
Anyway, because my law firm paid for my moving expenses, I basically just crammed my ENTIRE apartment in Cambridge into boxes which will be arriving tomorrow and I have absolutely no idea what I threw away and what I kept. Thus, I can't go shopping for new things, and really can't do all that much in my apartment until my things arrive. And in case you're wondering, yes, that explanation of why I have so much spare time was indeed the payoff of that entire long story.
Starting over...
I've been in New York for about 8 days now, and it has actually been pretty rough on the system. To begin, I have been living out of a suitcase for 2 months. That's tiring. Furthermore, I've been living out of a suitcase that is relevant to Turkey in the summer heat, and to Indian temperatures. The result? I've been wearing the same two long sleeve shirts every single day for the past 8 days. Then, my application for my apartment took a very long time, while I was being given the expectation that it would only take the next day...forcing me to check in and out of a hotel every single day. What that has resulted in is me, with a huge bookbag full of leftover travel gear, having no place to go and knowing no one who isn't working, for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours a day...and with very little money. (Actually, my security deposit + first months rent means my checking account is literally empty and all my credit cards are maxed out.)
So basically, I've been wearing the same clothes for a week, dragging around an old bag, and wandering aimlessly in the streets and ultimately sitting in Dunkin' Donuts (or more often Union Square) for hours at a time reading what appears to be a giant comic book. I also lost my iPod in a fiasco during the week, so I don't have the lovely comfort of music or podcasts either. So, over the last week or so, I have probably spent 12-15 hours wandering around town and sitting. (No, I don't feel like going to a museum in this condition.) Currently, I am sleeping on the floor of my apartment in 40 degree weather in my jeans and the same two long sleeve shirts (and a couple of short sleeve shirts) waiting for my bed to arrive.
Moving on:
1) Wachovia took a 23.9 billion loss?!?!?! Holy Crap!
2) The desertion taking place in the Republican Party is heartening. I think there are definitely elements of conservatism and the Conservative philosophy that I can respect, and others that I agree with. I don't want conservatism to die, because I don't think the 1960's formulation of liberalism should be dominant, nor do I think it embodies all of the right values and policy preferences. On a macro-level, I think American political discourse with its structural limitations functions best as a "dialectic." It's a compromise position, but I'm increasingly disbelieving that we can make progress without compromise. I mention my support for conservative ideas mostly so I can follow up and say: Fuck the Republicans. The current Republican Party has to and should die and be reborn. That specifically includes Sarah Palin and anyone who supports her candidacy. Die in a fire. (And be reborn a phoenix, or whatnot.)
3) I finished Watchman. Excellent. I don't really see how it would be possible to really capture the intensity of the whole of it in movie form...anymore than I think any of my favorite books could be capture in film. (read: David Eddings.) I think I have to read it again soon to get a better feel for it...but it was definitely much more engrossing, textured, and deep than I had thought it would be.
Ok. I'm done stealing internet. I'm off.
7 comments:
Company paid-for moving is always awesome. Mine took about a month. So for about a month, I slept in the middle of my living room, and basically just had my computer (with dial-up internet) and Blockbuster Video to keep me occupied (and Bud Light). At least you don't have to work yet.
That was for the apartment, though. For the condo, I was able to stay with all my stuff in the apartment up until the very day the movers came.
If you liked Watchmen, you should go to Barnes & Noble and read other comics in the cafe. That's what I do occasionally when I have time to kill. Recommended titles: Preacher, Sandman, Y the Last Man, Fables. Admittedly, I haven't read any other Alan Moore...just go flip through From Hell. I guarantee you'll be intimidated.
What do you mean it took a month? From pick up to drop off? Or from the time you needed pick up and moving until they had an opening?
I second the Preacher and From Hell recommendations.
I'd go to the Union Square B&N. NYU is close, as well as Washington Square park. Lots of free people watching. Also, you haven't been to the MET yet? That's free --- either boldly disregard the money takers (it is, after all, officially donation suggested), or do what we used to do and go through the gift shop (flight of stairs in the back corner).
Also, do you have an inflatable mattress? Because once you're set up, you should get one. So people can visit.
Have fun.
Yes I have been to the Met. I just didn't feel like going in this aimless worn out condition.
And when I go to Union Square, I generally go to The Strand, which I do enjoy. Did you have much time to come into NYC from Newark before?
I showed up in Maryland with what I could fit in my car, and the movers showed up with my other stuff a month later.
Send me your mailing address if you want mail. I pity your living conditions and am officially employed so I have a bit of money to spare on baking supplies.
Yeah, especially the second year after we got married and she was working downtown, we went into the city a bunch...
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