First of all, I spent approximately an hour on the original version of this post, only for it to be eaten by Blogger. I will try to post with the same vigor and excitement of last time, but I can't promise anything.



So, after suffering nearly 3 months co-habitating in a cramped basement bachelor apartment, Mr. Wonderful and I have signed a lease for a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment for May 1st. It is, in a word, spectacular. Okay, maybe two words; scary.

Having been woken up this morning by Mr. Motorcycle/Madonna on Repeat at Full Volume at 5am, and having eaten microwaved soup because, hey, our oven is broken, again, May 1st cannot come soon enough. Then again, I need to a) sublet my apartment and b) secure a job, so maybe May isn't so far off after all. Gulp.

But, let's focus on the positive. Remember a few posts back when I listed my top 10 list for a new apartment? Let's run down the list again, shall we?

1. Above ground, please. Check! We are currently set to move in on the second floor, though there is a possibility of living on the top floor.
2. Lots of windows. Check! According to the superintendent we will get afternoon and evening sun. My favorite! Though there is not tons of windows, it is definitely a step up. Lots of room for Sexy to chirp at birds and otherwise drive us crazy.
3. A dishwasher. Oh, glorious CHECK! The dishwasher is in the kitchen of course, which is absolutely beautiful. It's large and open and new. I love it so much. Plus, it has an oven, that works!
4. A balcony and/or patio. Check again! Though it's not a big balcony, there is definitely room for a couple of chairs and a small barbeque. Plus, there is a little roof attached should you want to go outside and read in the rain.
5. Close to work and/or on bus route. The checks keep coming! It is about a 10 walk to downtown, and is on a bus route.
6. Pet-friendly (well, this one is compulsory). Check! The superintendent seemed to like us, so she waived the cat fee. Our apartment will be next door to hers, and she has a dog, so maybe Sexy will make a friend!
7. Ooh, a pool! (this is a wishlist...) Well, the one thing this place lacks. On the other hand, it does has a full gym, which is, in some ways, even better.
8. 2 bedrooms. Ch-ching! No more swearing at each other every night because one of us is snoring (usually me), or taking up too much space in the bed (usually MW, though he'll never admit it). On top of that, we each even have our own bathroom, which is great, especially on nacho night.
9. A bathtub! ooohh.. a tub.... Double Check! Each bathroom has a bathub, with a slanted back. Yay!
10. On-site washer/dryer. Check! No more assigned laundry days! I can do my laundry at 3am on a frickin Monday morning if I want to! Ha!

If any of you are interested, here is the floor plan. Enjoy!

So, the journalist from the newspaper flaked out on us, and we should now be receiving our certificate by mail. We did go in to look at the suit, and it's quite nice. It's just the jacket and pants, but, still, nothing to sneeze at.

Speaking of flaking out, we spent all day on Sunday cleaning up the apartment in preparation for a viewing scheduled for that evening. The girl called a few hours beforehand to cancel because she had homework. Bah.

Oh, and today is Valentine's Day! Mr. Wonderful took me to a nice supper on Saturday night, so I think things will be low key tonight. On my end, I stuck The Rock (tm) Valentine cards throughout MW's belongings. Last I heard, he's only found about half of them. So he still has more to find.

Me: You just found the ones in your bag?
MW: Yes.
Me: Well, you still have lots more to find.
MW: Well, you have something to find tonight, too.
Me: Is it your penis?
MW: .....
Me: Oh.
MW: Well, there might be something else.

Hmm.. Well, I'll keep you posted on that. I think a new laptop might break his delicate member, which is unfortunate, but a nice trade-off.

So, we won! Rather, he won. I did all the work, and he gets all the glory. It figures!

All I have to say is this - this Valentine's day, I better be getting something that either sparkles or has a power button (and 80 gigs of hard drive...).

We are meeting with the magazine and the Men's store people sometime today so they can take pictures and maybe offer me a writing gig (okay, I made that part up, but what the heck can I get out of this??).

I'd like to make an effort to go back to my usual style of post. That is, talking less about what has happened from day to day, and instead using this forum as a way of untangling the various lengths of string in my mind.


So, I'm feeling a bit lost right now. I'm feeling a bit disconnected from myself, from my life. I think suddenly deciding to share your life with someone takes some getting used to, especially if you're the possessive type, like I can be, about, well, possessions.

Hm. Life is like a box of chocolates. I love me my chocolates. And I know a lot of other people like chocolates, but I always find it hard to share with other people. I do, eventually, and I feel good about it, but there's a part of me thinking that if I kept it all, I'd enjoy it more.

Does that make sense?

I'm entering into another period of uncertainty. In my worst case scenario, I will be unemployed (again), stuck with an apartment I don't want. In the best case scenario, I'll be employed full time and living in a swank new apartment with my man, my cat, and maybe a dishwasher. Bliss. But the shades of grey are what drives one to madness, I guess. That, and impatience.

Dear ...:

I am writing to enter your "Dress for Success" Contest.

I need help.

That is, my boyfriend needs help.

Desperately.

For the past month, whenever he was home, he would wear LONG JOHNS. LONG UNDERWEAR, people. "They're comfortable!" he'd cry as the stains continued to accumulate. "They're gross!" I'd shout back, trying to identify the mystery stain on his left pant leg. It went on and on.

But first, some background.

We've enjoyed an amazing relationship lasting over two years, and most of which were spent in different cities, we have finally both found gainful employment in xxxx. I arrived last April, and he in December. In the middle of January, he landed a great job at the xxxx. We are both excited to be working at great jobs and enjoying all that xxxxxx has to offer.

However.

Having lived in several different cities over the past few years, his personal belongings are also scattered all over the province. Therefore, he relies on what bits and pieces that remained, or clothes he has received for Christmas gifts. Enter the LONG JOHNS.

Thankfully, he does not wear this atrocious piece of clothing outdoors - at least not with something else over them. But this is the best example I can think of of what state his wardrobe is in.

But here's the thing. The man can clean up good. I mean, really, really good. The man can work a business new like nobody's business (pardon the pun). He is a classy guy, despite evidence to the contrary.

This is an exciting time for both of us. We are both on the cusp of starting great new careers in our respective fields, and a well made, quality suit would surely give us a headstart on that path.

Plus, it would give me a reason to burn those rotten long johns.

For your enjoyment, I've also attached an 'artist's representation" of our current situation.

Thank your for your time and consideration,

Jenn