Day 185 | Friday, July 3 | 2009

Kraus Haus...

Today was really great yet hectic as usual.  My parents, Caitlin, and I spent the greater half of the day moving stuff and settling into my apartment.  My dad and I finally finished moving stuff out of 3 Ring Street and we donated some of our furniture that was in storage.  This made me a little sad again to say goodbye to things I have had for a long while.  The most prized possession was a kitchen table that my family has had in one way or another for my entire life.  I know that it will go to a good person or family or group of people who will hopefully use it well and take care of it though.

Caitlin and I left Athens for Columbus at about six (we had thought we would leave earlier -- maybe 4:30 or 5:00) and we were running behind.  I think there was a problem in communication with telling Mark and Susan the wrong time that we would arrive which resulted in a minor conflict.  It was mostly our fault (Caitlin and I) for not telling Mr. and Mrs. Kraus the right time when we would be there and I believe they ended up waiting for us for a considerable amount of time.  I am sorry Mark and Susan!  I will make sure to communicate better in the future.

When we got to Columbus it was a little nice to just relax and not think so much about moving stuff.  Caitlin and I made a little pasta and salad and then went for a long walk down to Jeffery (sp?) mansion.  It was interesting and relaxing to hear Caitlin tell me stories about her childhood and what each piece of the neighborhood means or has meant to her.  

For the next two nights I am staying at the Kraus'.  I like to call their house (pictured above) the Kraus Haus -- simultaneously using a cute rhyming couplet and referencing Mr. Kraus' German heritage.  I am not sure if Mrs. Kraus is German or not (I think she might be) ... I know that Caitlin has told me that her mom's side has Irish ancestry (I think).  Anyways, it is really nice to be here.  Susan once told me to think of it as my "home away from home ... away from home."  Thinking about that makes me smile.  I feel so loved and accepted here and the Kraus family is such a genuine, kind-hearted, and loving family.  I really love them!

Day 184 | Thursday, July 2 | 2009

Cloudy Weather...

Today has been nice and relaxing.  Got up this morning and went running with Caitlin, came back and cooked breakfast, showered and then later spent a lot of time studying.  It's been nice.  I am still waiting on some of the maintenance things to be finished in my apartment and it is a little frustrating.  Yesterday, the maintenance guy fixed the missing light fixture in the bathroom by adding a completely new fixture altogether.  He made a big mistake though when he left the light fixture turned on (without realizing that he didn't leave a way for the fixture to be turned off).  I came back home and the light was on and I couldn't figure out a way how to turn it off.  I called my landlord and told them the problem and they sent the maintenance guy back over.  He seemed baffled that he would forget about the whole thing on account of him thinking the fan switch was rigged up to control the lights.

Either way, it reminded me yet again of how scary-looking the maintenance guy is.  He has a bunch of tattoos scrawled on his arms and neck and today I realized he had an empty tear drop tattooed just below his right eye.  

I looked it up on the Internet today as to figure out what this might mean (I had previously heard that it meant that the person tattooed has killed someone in prison if he or she has a tattoo of a tear drop on their face) and the directory online told me that the person with an empty tear drop means that a loved one of theirs has been killed in the past or it means that the wearer has unsuccessfully murdered someone.  

I'm really hoping for the loved one killed.

Day 180 | Sunday, June 28 | 2009

More Moving...

When I got back from the library tonight, my parents left the place in a really nice order.  I felt really happy about having them this weekend and they made life a lot easier for me.  Here is a little picture of my apartment again.

Tomorrow I will go to Columbus for class and to stay with the Kraus family.  I love them so much.  I can't wait to see my baby too.

Day 179 | Saturday, June 27 | 2009

Not too far from where I live...

What to say about today?  We moved a lot of things from place to place.  At least it was not too humid.

My parents are being a huge help.  I am so glad they're here.  

Day 178 | Friday, June 26 | 2009

Moving...

I ran a mile yesterday to see how fast I could go.  My time was 6:25.  This is pretty good but it is a lot slower than I used to be able to go.  I think I am going to start a running blog to use this summer -- for motivation and for the purposes of being smart about training.

Mom and Dad will be coming later today to help me with the moving process.  I am doing pretty good but I wish I could just get more done.  I blew up the air mattress for them to stay on and I am looking forward to their help and company.

Day 177 | Thursday, June 25 | 2009

Mr. Rob Powell...

Rob played open mic tonight at Donkey.  I kind of hid away in the corner and I don't think he knew I was there until after he played.  He played so wonderfully and I am glad that I could hear and see him.  Whenever he plays his song Mr. I, I become transfixed.  Rob and I need to catch up big time.

Today was just another busy day of moving.  I gave away the couch and chair I have had since my family moved to Cincinnati.  It is hard letting go of things like this.  Larry made a good point today, though, that these things are merely things and that another person or persons would enjoy these things afterwards.

Day 173 | Sunday, June 21 | 2009

New Place...

Here is the apartment I am moving into.  My friend Ali used to live here a couple of years ago and I remembered it being pretty cool...so that's what lead me to finding out there was a vacancy for this year so I snagged it.  It is a great place but when I arrived today, there were a lot of problems -- broken window, pet odor, missing light, and the old tenant left some furniture for me to move for them.  

Overall, I am excited about the new place and the days ahead.