Monday

I need a half day today in order to ease myself back into working.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I enjoy having chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. For the most part it's candy for breakfast, and that's delicious.

Confused in October

My body is physically confused. The calendar says that October is coming to a close, but the leaves are still green, the barometer is still sitting over 80 degress, and I haven't started school yet. What happened to Fall?

Around Town; College Town

My building has the oddest elevators. It's ten floors total, and I live on the 9th floor; however, I never seem to ride the elevators with anyone. Up and down all day with out any company. Occasionally, in the morning it stops on the 7th floor to pick up the 14 year old who is on his way to school, but other than that it makes the building feel like a ghost town with empty carts oscillating between the floors. Anytime of day, I flow up and down with only the slight ding breaking the silence to remind me to exit.

This evening when I was riding back from a quick but urgent trip to McDonalds for french fires, and I found myself in the strange position of riding up the elevator with an older couple who, according to the elevator buttons, live one floor above me. They must have been over 80, and have lived in the building since it first opened.

She looked me up and down and inquired about my sweatshirt "Lawrence...is your name Lawrence?"

"No, I went to school there."

"Oh, have you heard of Miami University in Ohio, Oxford, Ohio? I went to Miami. Miami in Oxford, Ohio. I loved it, beautiful campus."

"Yeah, I have a friend who went there."

"Oh, wonderful! I loved Miami."

I wonder if I'll feel like that about Lawrence in 60 years. At this point I'm not sure.

Today

Today I don't have to work. Today I'm going to get a couch, and plants.

Storage Closet

I had to leave work today so I could make it home before the metro closed.

Work Life Balance

Work-Life Balance - one phrase I'll never be fooled by again.

Zoo

I went to the Zoo today. I took some pictures with my new camera.

ATM Cards

Why do ATMs withhold your card until the end of the transaction? I head to the ATM to get cash, deposit money, etc...when I'm finished the transaction and I have my money: mission accomplished. I got what I went for; however, I still have to get wait for the card. That is unintuitive, and that's why ATM machines have successful eaten both of my ATM cards this past week.

Commute

Every morning at some point in time before I wake up the Wall Street Journal is tossed in front of my door. When I leave work I pick up the paper. On the metro, I attempt to read the paper. Unfortunately, I'm still too distracted by the crazies. I wonder when I just won't notice them anymore.

My new camera came this week. Photos coming soon. It's still hot here, I don't know how I'm going to survive summer next year.

My bed

I spent a week sleeping on the floor. Now I have a bed. I love my bed. My best investment ever. Recently, I've gotten into the habit of misplacing everything: ATM card, iPod, headphones, carrots,.... It makes life difficult. I'm glad that I can't misplace my bed. Some people might be curious to see this.

I can't say that I'm proud.

Internet is too much.

Facebook now says that I'm "Lawrence Alum '07." If Facebook says it's so, it's so. It still doesn't feel official. People like to say that college is not real life. I'm not sure what they mean by that. At Lawrence, I was challenged, part of a community, and made great friends. Not paying bills does not mean, it's not real. I'm glad I didn't let it slip through my fingers.

Best Buy, I need to stay away from you for a month. I'm going to pretend you are not a few metro stops away.

I have two CBS channels. It was strange to get two CBS broadcasts. "Why does the US Open need to be on twice, at the same time," I thought. "Hmm, this news is only about Baltimore. Oh, that's why I have two CBS channels."

I live in the District. I get taxed by the District of Columbia. I can vote for a mayor exclusively. No Senator, no Congressman, no State Senator, ...wait, why do I get taxed more than a state.

Kickball starts in one week. Play Hard!

Loose Change

Loose change is dangerous when you have a vending machine in your building. It's still 90 degrees here. Too hot. I still don't own a couch.

Treading Water

After moving, it takes a while to feel that you actually live there. Not settling in - my stuff is here and in its place; however, I don't understand what it means to live here. I'm still foraging for my rhythm in the District. My body has adapted, and it knows when to get up - too early - I'm the first person to work. The problem is that my mind is still confused; it doesn't know what day of the week it is, what lamp to buy, what groceries are needed, or which way to walk. Going there will take how long?...it will be busy...? Is this an extended vacation? The questions stretch through the urban sprawl of DC flowing over the Potomac into Virgina. The District swimming in a plethora of options, and it's taking a while to discover the right subsequence for each day. I'm exerting myself everyday, and I'm just treading water; hopefully, one day I can float effortless with the waves. In the ocean, on vacation in North Carolina.

Settling In

The process of moving doesn't seem to stop. Every apartment has it's own nuances from where the living room light switch is to where the cabinet door handles are, and it takes a several moments of confusion to break the old muscle memory. Sometimes, it's continent how we can easily forget that what is not in front of us.

Homes just don't come with everything you need. Normally they just come with a refrigerator and a stove. Everyday I discover something I don't own. Thursday, I spilled Cheerios. "I'll clean this up," I thought. Then, I realized I don't own a broom. Back to CVS. Saturday, "Oh, I'll just reheat what I made on Thursday for lunch." Wait, I don't have a microwave. Back to Linens 'n' Things.

The CVS across the street has a strange habit of selling out of everything I want - besides candy.

The National Symphony played a free show on the Capitol lawn last night. They hadn't rehearsed much for it, but the warm summer evening and the illumination of the Mall behind the stage made it worth seeing.

Nationals vs. Marlins on Wednesday: $5 tickets.