"Thees ees okay?"

*I love my home gym for several reasons-- one of the most prominent being their spinning classes. If you have access to a facility that utilized the "Group Fitness" program (ie: Group Ride, Group Power, Group Kickboxing, Group _____), seriously go to them. They're freaking hard but awesome. I sometimes feel silly because there are geezers there that are doing so much better than I am doing, but the fact of the matter is I sweat my eyeballs out and can't breathe, so I must be getting a good workout even if the rickety old man next to me is getting a better one. (Note: the Group Fitness program isn't any old spinning or kickboxing class-- it's a very specific curriculum and it is wonderful.)

*Speaking of fitness-- mine is atrocious whether in a group or not. This is upsetting to me and I am not sure what I am going to do about it. I want to do a half marathon in January... not to mention the half ironman in August. I really need to get my act together if either of those are going to happen. I'd LOVE to find a group or something. It is so much more fun/easier to keep up with workouts if there is someone(s) waiting for you to show up.

*Last week I went to Seattle to sign my lease and meet the movers. Lease signed-- movers moving stuff in-- all going according to plan... UNTIL-- we're wrapping things up, signing the eight thousand papers. The 'head guy' of the three, who told me he is from Israel, I'm guessing around 40 years old, completely bald, greying goatee, thick accent looks at me and says "Vell I come back every 2/3 weeks. We get together then?" I am thrown into confusion-- they just moved every possession I have, what more could he want to move? So, I asked "to move stuff?" He chuckled and said "No... for.. personal. Thees ees okay?" My eyes BUGGED out and I could barely contain my hysterical laughter as I said "NO." And he replied "ooh, no? Why thees ees?" Still trying/failing at holding in my laughter I gasped something about not being interested because I was already in a relationship. White lie, what can ya do. So he shrugged his shoulders and left. I closed (and locked) the door behind him and thought "DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!" Why is it that outrageous things happen to me when no one is around to bear witness? Crazy-- the most male attention I've gotten in... too long is from a 40 year old Israeli man. Great.

*Thanksgiving is Thursday, I officially move to the Emerald City early Friday. Nauseous.

*I still don't have a couch and don't have any promising prospects of getting one. Nauseous-er.

*My dad went with me to Seattle last weekend to set up furniture and do a lot of stuff requiring power tools. When we were searching for a cheap furniture shop (unsuccessfully), we were coming to a screeching halt at the bottom of a particularly steep hill. After we determined we were clear to turn right and started going, we heard a loud noise and both said "What was that?!" I looked in side mirror to the intersection where we'd turned from and saw a man on his moped on the ground! Horrified, we pulled over and went to see if he was okay. Fortunately he was-- he just wasn't able to stop at the bottom of the hill (because it was wet..? dude-- it's Seattle and there are a lot of hills-- check those brakes, son). But he was totally fine, bike had a broken light though. No damage to our car so we parted ways, no drama. As we pulled away I kicked myself-- we should have gotten is info because he was very attractive!!! Who knows, maybe my soulmate IS in Seattle afterall.

Photos-- enjoy!
After a long day of driving, we (my dad) put the table together and then nourished ourselves!!

After re-energizing, we tackled the shelves...

The finished product!

The muscles (and brains) behind the operation...

My list is getting shorter which pleases me. Still a long way to go, but progress IS being made.


These signs are everywhere in Seattle. Love it!

slowly but surely

Updates

-I like my new car even though the gas mileage is nauseating.
-I am going to sign a lease on Monday morning, movers will come on Tuesday.
-My government loan pay-back people accidentally took out an extra 500 bones from my bank account this month. They kindly sent me an email saying it will be put back, but that it won't happen before November 16th, and it may be even longer. Of all times, people!!!
-While everything will be in Seattle by Tuesday, I want to stay home for as long as possible.
-I need to find a way to make some money for this interim period. I'm really starting to wish I'd pushed harder for relocation assistance.
-I have a VERY long list of thing I need-- most concerning to me is a couch. Even if I find one that is reasonably priced (...free? jk..kinda), the logistical part-- retrieving it gets hairy. My car won't hold a real sized couch and I don't want to have a dorm-room-esque living room and stick a futon in it. Ugh. If I get one delivered it will be heinously expensive, renting a UHaul isn't an option because they're ridiculously expensive, too-- even if they advertise as $19.99/day, that's BEFORE taxes, gas, insurance, blah blah blah. I have a feeling it will be several months before I solve that little debaucle.

Things are moving along. I have spent almost all of the money I've saved over the past year and that is insanely overwhelming and makes me sick. But it's all towards something good and all that jazz. Ugh.

-I haven't forgotten about triathlon-ing. There is a half ironman in Lake Steven, WA in August (I think) that I am seriously considering. I was about to register for it but then saw the registration fee and decided it can wait. Boo.

...I want a money tree for Christmas.

"A cute car for a cute girl..." CREEPER

While this is a ridiculously exciting time in my life, it is almost equally stressful.
I saw EIGHT apartments last Thursday and came home on Friday with no idea of which one I should live in. Several of them had things I loved, but none had everything I wanted for the right price. I think I've finally decided... I went to fax the application today, but I'd written the number down incorrectly. Is that a sign? Ugh. When all is said and done I will gush about all its features.

I've also been perusing Craigslist fanatically for a vehicle. I'd decided I wanted a Rav4 so that I can take my bike places without worrying it will fall off a bike rack, and so that if I ever DO pursue travel nursing, my car will be able to carry my belongings from city to city. Yesterday my dad and I drove all the way to Forest Grove to look at the perfect car: 2001 Rav4 Blue. There's a lot of other details I could spew out but the fact of the matter is that it looked the way i wanted and was priced within my budget. I'd called on Friday to make sure it was still there (and it was), but by the time we arrived on Saturday morning, it'd been sold. I was so disappointed. Not only did we hoof an hour and a half to get there, but it also decided to MONSOON all day! Thunder, hail, RIDICULOUS rainfall. So we came home, defeated and wet and resolved to try again another day. I'd given up-- maybe I didn't need a car.. maybe I should bike for life. But, I saw another opportunity on Craigslist this morning. I left a voicemail at the number listed and refused to get excited about it. The guy actually called back about an hour later and said he'd go in to the office today (apparently they're closed on Sundays). So we test drove a 1999 Rav4 and despite a funny sound that is apparently nothing (eek), it was great. Given-- it used to be a farm vehicle so there is a ridiculous amount of HAY under the seats... but it runs really well and the previous owner kept every receipt for any service it had done.. and it's good. So we went in to 'make a deal' and as I was sitting down the salesman says "So... a cute car for a cute girl..." Keep in mind that my dad has been with me the WHOLE time. I introduced him "this is my dad, Joe." I muttered something about liking the car for its space rather than its cute factor but that tipped the WEIRD scale beyond return. He later decided to voice his opinion about how marijuana should be legalized. Gotta love Eugene. Anyway, we negotiated... my dad and I used our secret code... and I came home with a car. !!! I am a car owner. AHHH. Yes-- I am significantly poorer than I was this morning.. but I'm excited. Now I need to get insurance... and I need to get this thing detailed or CLEANED a lot.. there's HAY for goodness sake!

It feels good to make some progress toward my future. Apartment and car were the two big things on my list.. then furniture. Ick. FURNITURE IS SO EXPENSIVE! But I have one hurdle cleared and am closing on the second one. Slowly but surely things are happening. =)

AND I got a quickpass membership to my home gym and I love it more and more every time I go!

Finally

My final two weeks in Chicago felt like two more years. Ridiculous.

However, I made it back to the west (best) coast-- finally.
I'm staying with my parents until I find an apartment in Seattle. Tonight I'm going up to Portland-ish to stay with a friend from high school. Tomorrow morning circa 4am, I'll leave for the Emerald City. Thursday will be ridiculously busy and I'm sure stressful.

8:30: New Hire appointment at my new place of employment
10:00am: Apartment Viewing
11:00am: Apartment Viewing
1:00pm: Apartment Viewing
2:00pm: Apartment Viewing
3:00pm: Apartment Viewing
5:00pm: Apartment Viewing
8:15pm: Apartment Viewing

Phew! I'm exhausted thinking about it. I'm grateful for a friend from college who now lives in Seattle that will let me crash on her couch Thursday night. My main concern is getting from apartment to apartment in time. They're all fairly close to each other... but still, traffic and life will get undoubtedly play a role. I'm also disappointed because I don't have a buddy to come with me! Everyone is working or busy... apparently Thursdays are busy. Pshhh. I'm notorious for being indecisive... and then changing my mind once I do get around to making a decision. I want someone there that will be able to say "You're crazy" or "Hell no!" or just point out to me what I'm overlooking. I guess it's time to grow up. Yikes.

I am so excited to be home.