Here's what you can do with your fee

Everyday here in Dream State is an adventure. Today, I planned to tell you about the cool things I learned at my new job and blah, blah, blah...but the idea was pretty much eliminated about 3 seconds after putting my key in the front door of the new place. You see, even as I put my key in the deadbolt of the door I could feel the bottom door knob (that I don't lock) remain unmoving.

"That can't be" I thought. "I don't have a key for the door knob, so I know I didn't lock it..."

Now, being the new city dweller who knows herself well enough to know that if I go home first, I'd be eating nothing for dinner, I stopped off to do some light grocery shopping. And by light grocery shopping I mean I bought things like frozen meals for lunch, ice cream, and other frozen things. So, in realizing that I couldn't unlock my door I knew things were getting ready to be reaaaallllyyyy shitty.

First, in denial that this door knob could possibly be locked, I tried the keys I owned a few more times. Miraculously, or not, the knob remained unmoved by my efforts. Then, I double checked that I was at the right door. How awkward would that be to try to 'break in' to my neighbor's place?

No avail.

I return to the concierge's desk (whom I already knew had the away sign up) and began searching my emails for a phone number for my landlord. By the turn of bad luck for young dimwitted concierge, he was walking past the desk and received full fledged furry of my door being locked, my groceries melting, and WHO THE FUCK WAS IN MY APARTMENT!

Right. He sent me to the guy in the guard shack in charge of opening my door for the nominal fee of $15.

Oh poor dimwitt. Such the wrong words. I AM NOT PAYING for NOT locking myself out of my apartment. I have my keys. He gave me a number for management 'in the morning when they return' who will likely waive the fee but said guard gate guy had the keys.

Guard gate guy, who didn't have a firm grasp of English, wasn't sure why I was so pissed at him for locking myself out of my apartment while I had keys in hand and why I was refusing to pay his $15.

Fast forward. No one knows who entered my apartment. I didn't pay a fee. I don't know how melted my ice cream is because I decided to eat hummus, pita chips, Riesling wine, and cookies for dinner. And, I sent a pretty nasty email to the landlord about who the hell has access to my apartment and who can enter with no notice.

And, I discovered there was a note about pest control on my counter top in the kitchen.

Clearly the culprit.

So, at 9:30pm, I'm beyond exhausted. Last night I was in bed by 8:30. Jet lag seems to have kicked in without my even having to cross time zones. That, or without PC it's just not worth staying up till 10:30 anymore.

And to top it all off, I found out my puffy bed topper I ordered to put on my rock of a mattress was on hold by Overstock because they wanted to confirm my mailing, billing, and email address. Ugh. Two days shipping delay for that little joy of added security. Thanks OS!

Observations of joe public commuters

This morning's adventure consisted of public transportation. Part of my transition to Dream State is to try out not having a car since I'm living in a very 'walkable' area. Frankly, I've been enamored by the prospect of using the metro to commute to work since I first road it several years back.

Here's my initial observations:

• I can totally pick out the people that are tourists. I hope I don't look too touristy.
• The 'determined walk' from my place to the metro because despite my best intentions I to leave my place early enough to play city-girl and stop by StarSucks for my overpriced coffee and leisurely walk left me damp with perspiration that would potentially plague me all day.
• People make the escalators too much work. I presume the just standing there would make them feel too out of control before they then stood for the next train?
• The ride itself was a great opportunity to try to guess what people did for a living. And to read my book. And to play video games on my phone which has no internet underground apparently.
• I foresee me being so involved with my metro activities that I may likely miss my exit. I suspect that I will not have built time into that day and being very late to work. I am hoping it's not an important meeting day.
• Upon exiting my metro stop, there was a street performer singing "It's a beautiful world" and all seemed right with my world and my decision and I was filled with the excitement of the city. Though seriously, 8am and some guy is out singing? Find a softer box to sleep in cause it's too early to be up and be that cheery.
• Today, due to it being a short orientation day, I got to return during non-rush hour traffic. It was again a great commute back. I dread what real commuter traffic will look like when I'm working real hours.
• Two things stood out in my mind as potential suckage for this commuting thing: rainy days and being miserable sick. Granted my company claims they want you to stay home when you're sick but who wants to spend sick days at home when you can spend them being naughty?

There may be no tears in baseball

There may be no crying in baseball, but I have it on good authority that most of the bravest explorers secretly cried. Because going new places can be scary. In fact, when I suggested that maybe Christopher Columbus might have cried once he left port even though he was probably really excited to reach India (or wherever he was going, history isn't my strong suit...or geography while we're on the topic), PC agreed.

So, though I'd been really solid for the days leading up to my leaving...the day before I'd intermittently break into tears over a FB post, or a song on the radio (It's a Wild World by Cat Stevens, if you want to know). Or, when I came into the office to find my cubicle decorated.

Oh, such a different experience of leaving this job than when I left my grad school job and was harassed by Advisor. Or, when I was layed off from my last job and given mere hours to empty my desk, threatened to be sued if I contacted clients to tell them we'd closed, and told I'd be held to a non-compete for a company that allegedly was closed.

I digress.

Tears over friends telling me how much I meant to them and what an influence I had in their lives. And, friends who wished me genuine good luck in my new position and repeatedly told I'd rock the socks of the new employer. Or, my boss who was near tears with happiness for my new job and my leaving.

More tears, when after a strong morning of finishing up packing and getting us to the airport and having lunch, I could see the security lines and knew I'd be without PC for several weeks (I'm returning to go on our 2 year anniversary trip). Heartbreaking, wrenching tears.

I have to admit, I wondered if crying through security made me more or less suspicious looking.

Once arriving to my new home for the next two months (temporary housing until PC gets a new job and moves up), I sized up the place.

The building is clearly old. I've never lived in a highrise before. I don't fully understand the whole building-controlled airconditioning (and the constant hiss that sounds like I might be being gassed). The new place is small, but adequate for me. The bed is much like a rock. It's in the city so everything is walkable - and is why I didn't bring my car (I'm trying out public transportation to see if I can do it, and save money on ridiculous costs for parking). The view from my window are some of the main sights in the city.

And yet, when I called PC to let him know I arrived...I cried some more. I don't want to embark on this adventure without him. I'm scared that I made this huge move. I'm scared of the perminancy of it all.

And yet...it's probably the coolest thing I've ever done.

Dear God, it's me Abbey.

I just reached hour 12 of the worst work related trip I've ever taken. Seriously.

Started at 10am with a tearful goodbye, and it's now 10pm with me finishing up my layover. The only rationale for why this is happening, other than the almost-ex-job giving me one final FU, is that God was concerned I'd be underwhelmed with San Diego given all the hype so He thought making the trip nearly impossible would make me appreciate it more.

Thanks God.

Tending the fractures

Last night I watched as yet another friend's relationship began to show signs of crumbling. Though not terribly surprising for this couple, it was hard for PC and I not to silently squeeze each other's hand and feel grateful that it's not us. It seems to be bad luck to do it...yet we still exchanged promises that their signs were not true in ours.

It's a reminder of just how fragile relationships are. That as strong as one might appear, there are always at least hairline fractures that must be regularly tended.

Meanwhile, I head out for a week long work trip...returning to only 14 days at home before I permanently relocate to Dream State. So far, no job for PC in Dream State translates to his staying behind. However, there's some promise that that might be changing. It might mean he's merely a month behind me. This time in our relationship, I believe may be out most challenging. We're making our best effort to tend those fractures so that we have the more positive outcome.