The Way I See It # 550

Starbucks is great. I like it a lot, but it's really predictable, in a bad way. The music is always this generic smooth jazz and recognizable Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong (just like Barnes and Noble), the products they offer encourage you to be at peace with yourself, such as a journal that has daily reminders to be kind to yourself and make that extra effort to be a good human being. The place always smells the same, the sounds are the same, the people are the same, and in Nothern Virginia it's moms who constantly gush about their children, old people, and little kids knocking things over while they clutch their milk boxes (Which Starbucks so generously provides for 'little ones').

However, I had gotten a lot done, as it is apparent that while sitting in this type of place I get a lot of work done. Maybe that is false, and it's just the caffeine that is making me more productive. Sometimes I wonder how much I would get done if I actually took a focus drug, like aderal or Ritalin. We sell something called "Nodoze" at the bookstore which is basically caffeine pills. I know a lot of kids who take Aderal and other things to help them focus/study, but I'm sure that they all have ADHD or ADD. I don't, which is probably why I've never encountered focus aids.

That was off topic, what I meant to write was that I've been productive and I have been apartment hunting all morning. I'm going to see apartments next monday, which is a great first start. Even if kara doesn't come to VCU I'm still going to get an apartment. I guess if she doesn't come to Richmond I can join someone else in a apartment... I didn't even think about joining in on an apartment rather than getting one and finding a roommate.

I don't know my plan for the rest of the day. I've been here less than 24 hours, and I'm already stumped as to what to do. Last night I got dessert with Zane, as our time in Nova overlapped for one night. It was nice, we went to Amphora and then did some exploring. I climbed a tree over in one of the office parks. I think I'll go back there sometime. He also showed me a new artist studio down near the caboos which was neat, though it was closed. It is also a coffee shop. I might wander over there sometimes this week as well.

I thought about heading over to Tysons to shop around, but honestly I don't have the money. I feel like there is so much I need to buy, but I just don't have the funds for anything. Once I get back to Richmond my two main goals will be to land another job somewhere and to get an apartment squared away. And get in shape.

I want the leg magic. (maybe I am ADD). I heard it works, and I'm a sucker for exercise equipment that looks easy. Like I said I have no money. Anyone want to pitch in and get one?

The Way I See It # 475

My apartment is really cold. I've been under blankets all weekend.

My friend Dombroski and his friend Michael were held up at gun point the other night! In a place where I usually walk! They're okay, but this really freaks me out! It's so close to my place, and I've been walking alone lately. Ugh.

But, FANTASTIC NEWS!
My landlord called and said that since some other tenants were now having second thoughts, he's scratching the renovation until summer!
YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSSS!!!!!

I have an apartment to see today, and I'll still go because I think the landlord there is traveling a ways to come show it to me. But I'm so exstatic!!!

The Way I See It # 473

It seems as thought I might be saying goodbye to my lovely little studio. I'm quite upset about it. My landlord wants to renovate my building, and everyone in the building has already agreed. If he can offer me a better apartment than the one he showed me, than it looks like I'll probably be moving.


I'm scared! I've grown to really love this apartment, and to move out would be really sad. I love my near Silver Sage colored walls, the way the sunlight pours in through the windows early in the morning, my large bathroom, my fireplace, and the overall Victorian comfort.

However, I can understand why this place needs fixing up. The windows aren't energy efficient, everything is run on circuits per apartment, the floors are in bad shape, and the hardware has recently been having problems.

However, I think that my little studio might be turned into a 2 bedroom apartment! This is terrible news because I will never be able to afford it unless I can find a roommate for the summer and into next year. I'm just so distraught, I love this place. Why can't he just fix it up and keep it as a studio?


turns out I have Anthro reading to do. I'd better get to it!

The Way I See It # 464

I had to sign a blogging agreement with Barnes and Nobel saying that I would put a notice on this blog to say that all of my ideas are my own and not the ideas of my employer. Harrumpf.

Work was good. I'm not scheduled today, ugh, but other than that it's okay. Apparently it's going to be insane next week and I'm going to be answer a lot of questions I don't know.

Thankfully Sarah and Michele were in town last night, so we went to Three Monkeys with some of Michele's friends and it was fun. Then we went to hang out with Michele's boyfriend, Andrew, to play Catch Phrase with his friends. Overall a good night.

Today I might be seeing an apartment. I hope it's nice...

The Way I See It # 405

I feel compelled to write.
But I'm not going to write about the election, or those Polly pessimists, or the fact that a lot of people don't even know Obama's policies... or that I've just experienced a life-changing historical moment, or anything like that. I feel as though there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said.

But like I said, I have this itching in my finger tips to make a connection with my key board, and where else am I going to satisfy the urge? I'm left with an empty night due to the fact that my Urban Planning Professor canceled class 15 minutes prior.... so I'm at commons trying to keep myself occupied until I get hungry or decide to walk home in the drizzle.

A couple entries ago I noted the fact that I feel like I am in a powerful position, and I'm determined to keep my life following this track. I sometimes feel invincible, and I don't want it to end. I think I've finally realized that I have the "ball in my court" so to speak, and the world is my oyster. Really, nothing can go wrong. It's almost as if just as this country is on the brink of change, so am I. I would like to think in a romantic sense that my life is in tandem with the state of the world.... ripe for change.... eager for new experiences... but I fear this may be jumping the gun (something I'm always afraid of doing.)

I feel as thought flats make my feet look dainty.
Is this weird?
I'm staring at my feet, and I've noticed that I particularly like the way they look in skimmers, such as the ones I am wearing.

OH.
Before I headed over to Urban Planning, I was attending a lecture on Paleopathology (The study of disease in ancient times) and Peruvian Mummies. Really interesting stuff, but it was entirely too biological. However, as I have finally (FINALLY!) declared my major as Anthropology, I can get started on my World Studies Passport, which is this little doo-hicky that I need to have completed before I graduate. I essentially have to go to lectures and seminars and learn things that are really cool, and then have proof that I went and had a rockin' time.

hmmm....
maybe I should eat before it gets too late.
I was talking to Sarah Waks today and we both agreed that it feels incredibly depressing and lonely to realize that you don't have anyone to go to shafer with. Isn't that the saddest? While I fully appreciate flying solo at Shafer during the day, there's just something about when night falls that makes me want to feel...... interactive with other people. I just shudder at the thought of eating alone at night. I mean, I experience this at home when I eat there, but somehow at Shafer it is different. Probably because I'm not eating left-overs while laying in bed watching The Girls Next Door.

I think Shafer should install beds.

Wait... No. I take that back.
---------

I applied for a YAAB! A YAAB! (job).
I'm trying to be an Apple Campus Representative at VCU.
Here's why:
1. It's awesome.
2. It pays well
3. I can get a free mac book out of the deal
4. I get more experience in sales! :)

I think I have it in the bag, which is good because this means that if I get the job.... I might not have to work at Tysons over winter break, and that's oh-so appealing to me right now. Resto. I love you to pieces, but I'm scared that all the people I worked with won't be back (they would be insane to be there...), and that I'll kill myself with the winter crowd. Summer I may return.... but then again the Mac position is a full year job....so.... mabes not! :D

Having a job over next semester will be good too because I can actually amass money to start a savings account. All my talk of getting into the market (well... that's pretty much gone now) and I don't even have the safest form of investment!

ALSO:

More money would mean that I would have a surplus, which is good because I really want to move in to the apartment next to mine. The girl that lives there is a senior, and I met her last night. She's awesome. And her apartment is a dream. A REAL DREAM. I can't believe how nice it is. The only problems with it are noise from the garbage guys in the morning, and the bartender who lives behind her.

With the extra money I'd cough up the difference in rent ($875) to live there. So I'd pay 225 a month.... hmmmm...

At least I'd be able to entertain!
Maybe I'll just ask my landlord for a new stove?

The Way I See It # 310: Sneak Peek At My Work In Progress

I went down to Richmond the other day to check on my apartment and clean it up. Since it's a work in progress, I thought I would document as the magic happens!



I nearly pulled my arm off trying to pull open this pocket door. It's my front door, so this is either a blessing, or really bad.








This is the swiffer after three other pads. The floor was really dirty!!

The Way I See It # 309

I finally sold my drum set. I'm so relieved, because $300 in my pocket makes me a bit more relaxed about everything. I'm supposed to go to Target and pick up a whole bunch of stuff today, and I need some extra cash. I saw the apartment yesterday and it's awesome. It's a bit more worn than I remember, but that should be expected because I was so excited when I first walked in. But I can just tell that my place is going to kick major ass. I already comes with a window AC AND my landlord is replacing my ceiling fan with a new one! I just need to invest in lighting because it can get dark as fuck in there, being that it's so small.

I'm really amped, and ready to get started with this move to Richmond.

The Way I See It # 308: Turn The White Snow Red As Strawberries In The Summertime

I'm leaving in a fucking week or so. I can't believe this. How did summer go by so quickly? What have I done? two things:

1. Became better friends with Abby, I think. We hung out a lot, and that was awesome. I was thinking about it the other day, and I have to reaffirm (if I've already mentioned it before) that she is probably my best girlfriend. She is awesome. And someday I will hear about her managing the campaign of the next President.

2. Grew up.

What? Lisa grew up? I'm always, constantly, everlastingly, growing up. maturity manifests itself in so many ways. I made some grown up decisions. Where to live, organizing an apartment hunt, calling people. Today I'm handing over the check to my landlord.

OKAY OKAY. I'm not paying for it. Sue me (Don't.) But just putting this all together I've learned a lot. And moving in and being on my own for the first time is going to be a change. I think I definitely have more growing up to do.

I'm going to Richmond today to make sure the place is how I bought it , except cleaner, and take measurements. I'm glad I learned how to draft a fucking room dude. talk about impressive skills that I've used over and over again. Thank you Technical Theatre, I knew it would work out. I'm going back to Richmond on Sunday to be there when my Ikea furniture arrives, so I'm amped about that.

And Jackie is giving me her furniture. Either I'll buy it off her, or I can borrow it until she needs it again. I'm excited. That's a futon, a chair and ottoman, a bookshelf, and a dresser. I think also a TV stand is in the mix. I should ask Abby about the TV her parents want to get rid of.


I'm excited for Kara and Christina to see the apartment, and Jackie is going to come later when I move in, since we'll be moving in her furniture as well. I hope they all like it. Their opinions really matter to me. Jackie's especially. I guess there will always be a part of me that wants her opinion on the big things in my life.

I've grown up in other ways. I worked a lot. I managed to never bitch about working while I was at work (unlike a lot of my coworkers) and not that much at home, because I know that I need fucking money. I had the discipline to not buy anything for myself this summer because I was paying off the car accident, and also saving up for apartment stuff.


So overall I think I have to say that this was probably the worst summer I've had, but in retrospect, it made room for a lot of growing, and I think that's really good.

The Way I See It # 286

I'm going to work in about an hour, and I don't know whether to pack a dinner or not. I sometimes pack a lean cuisine for dinner, but I can't lie, those things just aren't enough food. But I don't want to spend money at the mall.

I got paid yesterday (YES). And now I am quite better off financially than I have been in the recent past (obviously). Now I have the great challenge of convincing my dad to buy the furniture I need, while I pay for the things that I don't. It's going to be a hectic month of August. I head for RVA the weekend of the 8th, where I will begin the monumental effort to make my apartment a comforting place to live. I'm thinking of having a party, but I'm not sure if I'll have the funds for such a shindig. PLUS my landlord shares a wall with me (fuck!). But he'll be moving out soon, I hope a nice family with children will move in so I can babysit and make money.

I went to target to scope out prices and the everyday stuff I'll need. Their cooking ware, knives, pots, toasters, microwaves, etc. are all relatively cheap, so I'm excited that the item won't blow my budget. What's my budget? I have no idea yet, but I plan to save part of my savings for myself. My original plan was to have a nest egg with which to buy clothing, food, and anything I want during my sophomore year. I hate it when things don't go as planned, which is more often than not I should think.

Thursday night Sid and I are working roughly the same hours, and after our shifts end we will be seeing "The Dark Knight" at the midnight showing. I am very excited.

I'm going to go now and try to enjoy myself before I have to go back to work. Thank god I'm not closing tonight. yesterday the store was completely torn apart by overheated consumers looking for a way to cool off. In the end it was their pocket books that were burning. I don't understand this need for material things in a recession (says the girl who must furnish her apartment in the next 4 weeks). Do these people really need to be redoing their bathroom? Do you NEED that new mailbox with all appropriate house numbers? And does one really need five bottles of leather cleaner? The need for towels is so great that I can't compute how much lint all of the towels will shed together. Enough to make you think my pants are white (They are black).

I don't mind retail, but it's a bitch. And it's Tysons. That's the problem. Most People that shop at Tysons are conceited, rich, overbearing housewives from Mclean who have nothing better to do than buy 6 panels of $300 draperies for their laundry room.

ew-ick.

The Way I See It # 269

So I have a place to live! I went down to RVA and got that mo' fo' apartment and I couldnt be more excited! YESSS. I am so relieved.

And to top it all off, I made the Spring 08 Dean's List!


My life is sunshine and chocolate bars for the moment!

The Way I See It # 267

So my father is an asshole... but I think we all knew that right? There have been some problems with getting the studio i want, and I'll be going down to Richmond to sort everything out. Hopefully no one will have put down a deposit by then. I can't say that I'm going to get it, but I know that if I do, that's wonderful, and if I don't... then it's just not the right place.

This place was built in the 1800 and is completely original except for the hookups and appliances. The architecture is original, and it's awesome. It's charming, in a great location, and the right price. The cons to the place include no dishwasher, an old shower, no closets, and I have to buy furniture. I can deal with the shower and the dishwasher no problem, but I'm going to have to really think about the space (if I get it) and how to arrange it so that I will have storage and a nice place to stay.

With studios you have to choose whether or not your place will be used for entertaining or sleeping, and it's hard to mix the two of them.

IF I get the place, then I'll think about that seriously, but right now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

The Way I See It # 266

I'm trying not to get my hopes up over a studio I found today in Richmond. My mom and I went down early after lining up just about a dozen places to look at. We talked to housing and they told us we should seriously consider finding something off campus. I finally heard a definitive "no" in Barbara's tone, as to whether or not I could get housing. Though the outcome isn't what we wanted, at least we have an answer. I saw a lot of wonderful places, and I still have a lot of options when it comes to where I want to live. A lot of people told me that I was going to get screwed and that I wouldn't be able to find a place to live, but I think I'm going to do just fine.

I've found several places really close to campus that are just in or a little bit beyond my price range, and I fell in love with a studio we saw today. It's the back and from parlor of an old Victorian, so it's really spacious, has a large bathroom, common area, and a large kitchen. The landlord seems a little weird, so it's not for sure if I'll get it or not, but it's exactly what I wanted. The guy that lives there now trashed it, but it has a lot of potential. I would post pictures, but they're on my mom's camera.


I need to sleep, I'm so tired!
We're calling the landlord tomorrow to fix the lease and hammer out the details. I hope it all works out.