Finding an Apartment (part 2)

Second stop: Woodley Park 5:00 PM
Constantly frustrated and my shirts sticking to me from sweat, we cut a path down Connecticut Ave crossing into Woodley Park: more of the same.Standing on the corner of Conn. Ave and the bridge, we asked do I want to live here...maybe let's check one more place - just one more. It was a half ass effort. We choose the first building off the corner. Just happy to be in an air-conditioned building we were willing to stand in line for the leasing agent. There were three parties there: one woman, one student, and us. The woman said she would keep looking but she might be back. The student, my father, and I went up to see room 509. Just poking my head in the door, I knew it was a good fit. Good neighborhood, good place. I had to snatch it up. After heading up to the roof top deck to see some of the amenities, we traveled down to see the lease. It was already being signed by the student. Crap. They had a place available for August 4th or 5th. Too late. We decided to ponder it over ice cream - ice cream is always a good idea. Over ice cream on a 95 degree day, we choose to take it. I'm not in DC for a while anyways (training in Dallas), so save the rent. We crossed the street (yes ice cream is across the street) and went to sign the lease. There was one person seeing the apartment we wanted, and another waiting to see it. Then one woman came back in, and wanted to sign the lease. This was it I thought - game over - but she made the mistake of saying that she was going to see other places before deciding. I would call that getting out of line, as did the leasing agent. Point and apartment for Charles. It's not huge, but DC is hella expensive; my budget was already blown. The metro is 30ft out my back door, and there's a door from the Metro Center stop into my building: commute time ~10 minutes. Here's the floor plan (it's listed as 525 sqft):

Apartment Hunting (part one)

Looking for an apartment is difficult.

The beginning: Friday July 6, 2007 9:00 AM EDT

Friday day morning we arrived in DC - Reagan National, had a quick breakfast, and we were on are way: airport to subway to hotel. We checked in, and then settled into our room; which for me meant that I drop my suitcase on the ground and took some items out of my messenger bag. Then we were off and running just about until we hit our first stop.

First stop: Cleveland Park 10:30 AM EDT

Cleveland Park is in NW DC about 3 miles from downtown. My first impression was "This looks like a suburb full of people in their 30's." Trees lined the streets, a non-chain shopping center, restaurants along one strip, and ever expanding apartment buildings dotted along the main drag: Connecticut Ave. With the blazing summer sun creating a dome of humidity around my body from my own sweat, I glanced at my father; without word his crunched eyebrows and static, devoid of emotion face he asked "you really want to live here?" But it seemed like nice place to live, so I gave it a chance. A block away from Connecticut Ave the noise died, and families were having picnics. My suspicion snowballed whie I staggered downhill to our first stop. The first building we found didn't have a vacancy until August 10. We viewed the demo unit. Nice, definitely livable. The leasing agent was pleasant, but there was something - something I couldn't pinpoint - covered by her pleasantries that unnerved me. I eventually spotted it when she spit out "yeah, this places sell themselves." She wasn't trying to sell us on the apartment, she was merely going through the motions. Show the room, show rooftop deck, show the sauna, show the fitness room... From the rooftop deck, the view was horrid you could see a tiny of the national cathedral and midget trees that blocked everything else.

We continued on our journey. Unquestionably discouraged by the neighborhood, but we forged ahead on our journey which was more of the same - no vacancy, ugly, supper small, falling apart, disgruntled leasing agent. We found some nice agents, and others that didn't care what I rented rather they only wanted me to rent from them.

"I have a place in Cathedral Heights for 1250/month."
"No I'd like a place close to the Red line."
"Oh Cathedral Heights is a great place to live."
"I think it would be annoying to commute from there. No thanks."
"What about Tenlytown?"
"No thanks." Click.

No worries I turned them down. I'm not living in Cathedral Heights or Van Ness, and they'll find someone. The rental market is too tight for it to stay vacant past today.

Lawrence Lives

Since graduation, many of my fellows from the class of 2007 have changed a specific facebook habit: they change their activities frequently. They've removed the clubs and hobbies from Lawrence, and added the small tasks of summer: thank you cards, exercise, go to beach... They use it as a to-do lists. Then in a couple of days, they cross the tasks of the list after the activities have been completed, or they don't feel like following through with the mundane task. Either way it's convenient, and it's a fresh picture of their lives - the part that I used to hear about every night at downer.

I should get better at emailing and calling.

Eaten Alive

Cicadas have left, and the mosquitos have come. While I was sound a sleep, they launched a sneak attack. I woke up this morning with 20 bites from those horrid parasites. Most of the battle marks simply appear as a tiny red buldge on my skin, but they've gone too far - or low I guess - to my feet. I have two fresh marks upon the top of my right foot. Every step I make, move I make, it itches me.

Arkansas

Sometimes I forget that Illinois is only one state away from Arkansas. Other times in my mind I combine Maryland and Delaware. Geography is deceiving.

My mind is slowly being corroded by daytime TV; I need a hobby.

Grocery Shopping

I always have a taste for something sweet after grocery shopping. Probably because the last image of the store I have is the colorful array of second rate candy bars that litter the checkout lane. I'm glad that I don't succumb to their grand allure.

12 Packs

Does anyone remember what 12 packs of soda looked like before the legendary fridge-pack? I don't.

I can safely say that I'm not going to Flash Taco today.

When Worlds Collide

The cleaning people came today; we went to breakfast. They changed my bedsheets. My bed is currently sporting light gray sheets with floral pillow cases, one of the cases has a lace trim: hot.

Today was the first time of summer that I have woken up before 8:oo am. I've also realized that in my attempt to do nothing, I end up hearing the same sport stories at least for times a day: morning Sportscenter, Around the Horn, PTI, and evening Sportscenter. I should get a hobby. When I'm bored I eat something, then when that doesn't satisfy me I take a nap. This can't be healthy.

iPhone

iPhone hype: Every day my RSS Feed delivers me a handful of articles pushing the iPhone. Captivating commercials showcase the beautiful simplicity of the phone. Right now geeks are busy typing away and yapping at the new national holiday: June 29th; however, I just can't believe the iPhone will instantly create a dramatic shift in cell phone consumers.

Three weeks after you buy get a new phone and lock into a 2-year agreement, a glossy hipper phone flashes on the screen for 30 seconds during your show. Companies create a constant feeling that your phone is old and clunky even if you just bought it. Then the 2 year replacement comes up, and the customer opts in instantly: new phone, new plan, 2 more years.

Look at the cost if you're currently under contract for a phone company that's not AT&T:
$599 + tax for an iPhone
$40 Activation
$150 cancellation penalty
that's and initial cost of $789 just to make it work.

Too many people are locked in to plans to make it feasible for 3 million iPhones to be sold in 6 months. Too many people have learned that cool phones constantly come out, and waiting can be a good thing. Those who live and die with their email at their side already have Treos or Blackberries. They are not going to all jump on the bandwagon.

What I see as value in the iPhone:
The iPhone doesn't do anything new. I can't find a main feature of the iPhone that is not currently available on other phones. Apple's ability to integrate those applications and features with one another is what makes the iPhone stand out. Other smartPhones have taken the stance of "I want to do this" whether it's email, take pictures, or listen to music. Then the company crams those features into once device, and says it can make phone calls too. The disjointed applications function in an appropriate manner and sync to your computer, but the applications don't function with one another. The iPhone takes those same ideas and weaves an important link between them. Take for example the Google maps commercial. The movie is paused, the location and info are shown, then instead of reverting back to phone application to dial the number, the user simply touches the number. The idea of each piece working together to make a unit is critical, because while it has multiple functions, it takes advantage of how each part can work together. That's why the iPhone is worth it, but it's also why worth waiting for. I'll take the 2nd generation, thanks.

The Horror

This explains everything. I just found out the coffee I'd been brewing while at home was Decaf. The package was unmarked. I feel betrayed.

Dear Caribou Coffee,

You have a world of work ahead of you in order to regain my trust. You may have gotten comfy there on Roosevelt Road - all alone high and mighty - but if you looked down the street you'd see Starbucks. Now don't get me wrong; I'm saying this in confidence, but don't make me go there. Don't.

Sincerely a Groggy Customer,
Charles

No Touching.

A Virginia school has outlawed all forms of touching. No hand shaking; no high-fives. VA School's No Contact Rule At least they'll stop the spread of cooties.

Ever year summer comes around, and time seems to slip through my hands. I'm not sure where it goes, most likely to bad TV.

Cicadas enjoy two things in their 5 week life span: buzzing and flying into my face. I have a feeling that in 17 years when they come back they'll still enjoy hissing and flying in my face. There is a cicada trapped in my car. I can't find it, but I can hear it.

July 6th - 9th I fly to DC to find an apartment. I'm going to live in an expensive postage stamp, but a lively one.

One Week

As of tomorrow I'll have been home for one week. I haven't unpacked my stuff, and I don't have a light in my room. Thursday I hit the pinnacle of laziness when the only reason I got out of my pajamas was to get milk; returning from Oberweiss with milk, I promptly put my pajamas back on. I'm becoming a pro at doing nothing - this is a first.

For this summer, I've set my goals high. I spend most of my time making a To-Do or goals list. Then I plan to finish one item from the list everyday. Wednesday I sent out thank you cards. Thursday was the milk incident. Friday I went to Christine and Mike's BBQ. Saturday I went to Trader Joe's. Today I'm going to unpack, but I must do it before the sun sets - I don't own a lamp and my stuff is in my room.

Junk

Somehow I manage to accumulate junk when I'm away; I don't know where I'm going to put all my stuff from Appleton.

Well that was fast.

Fastest four years of my life. For the most part, I feel the same today as I did June 9th 2007, August 16th 2005, and September 17th 2003. In September of 2003, each member of the class of 2007 was doing the same thing: moving in; on June 11th 2007 we are all doing something different. Sunday afternoon, we dispersed, quicker than I thought possible. 2pm the cars rolled up to the dorms, double parked, popped their trunks, and loaded up. Express check-out for real.

College

Last final, ever: Done. Now I just have to return my keys and I'm good as gold. Summer.