Adopting in Ashburn

And so the countdown begins. 6. This is the number of days until my move, my new blog, my new life, my first apartment, my first subscription to an actual newspaper, etc. I can't wait to get started on it all, but as usual, am taking my leisurely time packing. I must say that I am leaps and bounds ahead of myself based on previous years - but nowhere near the goal. I got alot accomplished this week though. I took the car in for inspection, went shopping for everything I need that isn't measurement or color reliant, ran errands, called family members, got all of the crates that are coming with me out of the attic, threw out two trash cans worth of old soaps and stuff from the bathroom, and filled that garbage bag in the garage to the top with clothes. For fun, I celebrated my parents' birthdays (Happy Birthday today for Dad), saw Miami Vice (quite good), watched a bunch of Firefly episodes, went to church, and took the dog for a walk. I even worked on Thursday night to ear...

I spent a good part of this morning in the attic sorting through junk and throwing out old papers. Then I threw all the contents of the sweater boxes down the attic ladder so I could sort them in the AC. I went through one layer of my bookshelf and a crate of files from USC. All of this getting rid of stuff is going to make it easier to move - less stuff to haul around, cleaning up old baggage ... you know the drill. But sometimes, getting rid of things you've had forever can be difficult. I have been approximately the same clothes size since the 8th grade. I have been the same shoe size since the 7th. So, when it comes to getting rid of clothes it is not usually a case of not fitting. Also, since I lack a certain element of apparel known as fashion, I don't usually chuck stuff because it is out of style. I'm not walking around in leg warmers or anything (though they sadly seem to be coming back) I just usually buy generic clothes that are a more classic look. Anyway, tod...

Today was my mother's birthday. So, amongst the other things I did, I made her a birthday cake. Recently, I have been improving with my baking skills (my siblings will not agree to this, but I can make killer fruit, nut, and cake breads from scratch!). So, today I decided I would take on a new cake challenge. I made an ice cream cake. In theory, making an ice cream cake is pretty easy. You make a cake and in place of the filling in between the two layers, you put ice cream. You should let the ice cream harden between the two layers before decorating, etc so that the cake has time to "bond" with the ice cream and become one solid dessert. This is one theory. In practice, it is very simple (especially if you let Betty Crocker make the cake part). You bake. You slice ice cream and freeze it in the same shape as the cake. You place the ice cream between the two layers and apply a little frosting to stick it together around the outside. Place the cake in the freezer...

Alternate Title: Money Pretty Much Sucks I know it seems like I am ranting about money lately. That is because I am. This is going to be the last paragraph of it though (probably). I cannot find a graduate student loan interest rate much less than 8%. I feel like I am being ripped off already and I haven't even taken out the money yet. Everything is based on the LIBOR rate, which has gone up 2% in the past year. It may go down again, making a variable interest rate loan look good. But if it goes up instead of down and there is no cap, then I skyrocket into dept until I'm 35 (or worse). So I'll probably stick with the Graduate PLUS loan, which has a rate just under 8% if I go with my bank. I figure it is one loan, for one year, and with any luck it will be paid back in the first five years. But then, as it turns out, I can get penalized for paying it back early if I am successful enough to do that. As someone once said (though I don't know from experience), i...

On the fourth of July it was about 100 degrees with the heat index. I played grass volleyball for somewhere near three hours and came home - not exhausted, just sweaty. Today I went shopping for three hours. I was so tired that when I stopped to pick up bread and peas for my mother on the way home I also grabbed a bottle of wine. I collapsed with a glass of Barefoot Chardonnay soon thereafter (not in the car, on the couch). Under ordinary circumstances I detest shopping. The idea of spending my hard earned money freaks me out. When I am under the duress of necessity (this is relative, obviously food is mandatory while a quilt that isn't two sizes too small for the bed in my new apartment is just a practical idea) I calm down a little - but not much. I am using my parents' old sheets, a duvet cover I am making myself, lamps and furniture from my current bedroom, and almost everything from my dorm room - so spending my budget of $300 to purchase supplies, an armoire (since ...

Here is a fabulous picture of my sister. I need it to create her marvelous new blog which has movie and television reviews. Check it out ! As it turns out though, I can't use this picture because the file is too big. I'll fix it tomorrow. Recently I have helped both my siblings start their own blogs. I kind of like this because now I have some more interesting (hopefully) things to read. Plus it is fun to be a trend setter in the family for once. All this working has also encouraged me that even those inconsequential classes I took as an undergrad will come in handy some day. CSCE 102 has already filled its quota of usefulness. Only 140 more hours to validate! I'm off now to stop procrastinating and get some things done. I am progressing on the packing (or at least the organization of the packing). I have many lists now - and I will really enjoy crossing them off. I wish I had a friend to go shopping for these things with me though. I feel like it would be easier ...

Quatorze jours. Fourteen days. Je vais demenager a DC, c'est vraiment proche maintenant. Si vous voulez mon nouveaux adress je peut vous envoyer (laissez moi un message par email ou une commentaire). J'ai pleine d'energie de fait mes cartons; rends les visites au medecin, dentist, mechanique (pour la voiture); et aussi pour les dernieres moments a Fayetteville avec ma famille (pour maintenant). Chaque jour j'efface quelquechose de le tableau dans ma chambre. Il y a plus et plus des cartons dans le garage (mon pauvre pere besoin garer dehors a cause des cartons). Je suis contente. On a deja louer un van (parce que ma voiture est trop petite) et j'ai telephoner practicaliment tout le monde pour les rendez-vous necessaire. Je ne crois pas que j'ai seulement quatorze jours qui reste ici. C'est le treizieme fois que j'ai demenager pendant 5 ans. C'est jamais plus simple que le derniere fois - pour moi, c'est toujours un nouveaux adventure. M...

While scanning my other recent posts I realized that the phrase "got it" had been used in at least all the ones on the page. Pretty exciting news I guess. And if you don't think that is exciting, consider that I got to vacuum my entire house today including ALL of the baseboards (along the floor and on top of the molding) and wash sheets and reorganize my room. Makes repetitive phrases look a whole bunch more fun, doesn't it? Aside from cleaning I indulged in a little Dawson's Creek , West Wing , and (for Kevin) Boy Meets World . I feel like one of those housewives people make fun of who sit and eat bonbons and do nothing else. If I hadn't broken a sweat doing the other activities of the day I might have put myself into that category. So this is my lame life. Tomorrow it gets significantly less lame as I start packing up my bedroom and consolidating the boxes in the garage (not too heavy, but not too many either). I also need to see the doctor, register for so...

Sing yourself the song from Wicked . Think about your mortal enemy. Basically contemplate one of the highest levels of disdain known to man. Got it? Now you can feel the concentrated loathing I have for AOL and the absolutely, bad word worthy, frustrating way it has of shutting down in the middle of what I am doing. Oh yeah, and losing tonight's long, bilingual, picture accented blog. Sorry, I just don't think I have the strength to do it again. A appreciate my parents allowing me to have unfettered access to the internet while living with them for the summer. I can't wait to not have to use AOL again. Godd thing I am opposed to profanity. I still love you guys though. Always. "Goodnight and Good Luck" if you have AOL too. Hugs, ~Heather

We finally got word today that we officially have an apartment for August 1st. In less than one month I will be living in my very first non-parent, non-school residence. I can decorate and do as I choose (within roommate approval, obviously). If I post pictures tomorrow, you'll see an awful lot of the current tenants stuff, but it is going to be our place. I'll be signing a lease and expediting a security deposit. I can start packing and inventory and imagining what I'll do with the place (actually already started that). How good can it get with a washer/dryer, full kitchen, great room with wood-burning fireplace, small sitting area, storage, and all utilities - cable and internet too - included? It didn't even break my miniscule (for DC) budget. I am going to bed now. But the good news plus Batman Begins made tonight an excellent success. Love always, ~Heather

I find myself once again asking the question, "Why can people not get back to you when they say they will?" I think this knowing that I have five phone calls I still haven't made to people I promised phone calls to as long ago as Friday. I feel like a terrible person because someone else's incompetence is creating a worrisome situation for a large number of people, and they probably all think that it is me causing the trouble. I know that things come up, which is why I haven't become a complete basket case yet, but this is just unending. It feels longer because I spent two months searching before this, and fear having to recommence the search if she responds in the negative. I don't want to think about my reaction if that were to happen. It probably ... Dana just called. She thinks we've got it. Reference checking and then a phone call. This could be it. No high hopes yet (obviously I already have them though). OKay. Limbo doesn't seem so ba...

D'abord je veux dire un grand merci a Charlotte qui a m'ecrit une carte postale - et felicitations sur le BAC - je suis fier de toi! J'attends, avec impatience, le reponse de la propriatrice (?) pour mon apartement pour l'annee prochaine. J'espere qu'elle dit OUI. Et, j'attends. Aussi, j'ai pensee et apres beaucoup de reflection, "je suis desolee et merci pour le sentiment." I am waiting like crazy for a response from my potential future landlord. I have about 5 calls to make based on the response she gives me. Although she has unofficially said she is choosing us to live in the apartment, "no verbal agreement is the same as a written one." Mr. Dudenhefer reminded me before I set out looking for places and he is absolutely right. God has granted me patience though - at least more than I had. Hurrah! Because I got a card from Caroline today and I cannot wait to start planning my trip out there. Also, AU has been contacting me...

I'm home again. I hope the searching is finally over. I refuse to jinx myself and will let you know tomorrow. But in the meantime I have some advice for anyone in the DC area. If ever you are driving along I-95 and it is your last chance to get in the HOV lanes and they look like they are going slower than the regular traffic ... GET IN THE HOV! About a mile later you will find yourself spending 2 hours and 15 minutes to go 20 miles and still having to get off one exist too early and take an alternate route to your destination. If you are thinking about driving up Connecticut Avenue from south DC about half way up you will discover that it becomes one way in the south bound direction for approximately two blocks. You will have to take a detour - I hope you have a map handy. Unless the signs are orange and there are little men waving you in the other direction, consider all signage intentional "get you lost" devices. If it sounds like the housing is a great deal, it i...

I am still looking. Day two going to Day three tomorrow. I emailed about five people tonight. I have at least eleven phone calls to make in the morning. Some of the places look promising, others just look like they might work. I'll see everyone of them that I can though until I find us the perfect apartment. I am just not willing to settle yet. I was this morning and again in the car this afternoon - ready to just quit and take what I could. I'm not going to be okay with that. In other news, I think I have memorized alot of the grid of streets in the NW area between Connecticut, Massachusetts Avenue and Wisconsin. That is what driving around in presumable circles will do to you. Oh, and I only got honked at twice today (down from yesterday's six), I didn't "block the box" once, and I was never so lost that I didn't know where I was. I even survived Dupont Circle (I took the tunnel under it the second time though). Overall stress level while dri...

After my earlier post it seems that all has basically taken care of itself. (Sorry if you couldn't read it due to all the french - I'll translate the important parts if you need me too.) Dana is going to be an awesome roommate, no questions. Roommate #2 seems enthusiastic and I'm hoping they will open up and get along with everyone. Roommate #3 is growing on me, and hopefully everyone else. I am very excited to be having breakfast with a new friend Wednesday before what I hope will be my last trip to DC until I move! Two exciting things on Wednesday, right after a really super 4th of July!!! Michelle is coming down to spend the day with us, I might get to meet up with the lifeguard, playing grass volleyball in the field is a bright prospect .... the next two days are going to be really good. I can feel it. Plus, some really wonderful family friends in Virginia are going to put me up during my visit. I don't think I could ask for better luck than that. Tonight I...

Mon coeur, il se battre rapidment. Je sais que je suis un peu obsessif sur le sujet, mais encore j'attend les autres. Mon hebergement pour l'annee prochaine - ugh. Je peut pas dire mes sentiments au moment. Peut-etre je triche un peu aussi, parce que j'ecris dans un langue etranger que les gens de qui je parle. J'envoi les emails sur le sujet de l'apartment, la maison, les autres endroits et j'attend pendant plusiers jours pour les reponses. C'est pas juste ca. C'est mon travail a trouver un logement parfait et mes colacs ne m'aident pas. Normalement je suis sur que je peut faire tous les choses moi-meme; et c'est vrai cette fois aussi. Mais je besoin leur argent pour le cheque, leur idees et questions pour mon tour de residence ... c'est mon job de la trouver, mais pas a faire le decision toute seule. Parce que, franchement je ne veux pas que un mois apres le demenagement que quelqu'un va quiter l'endroit et on a besoin de tr...

My sister said the other day that if she had a blog she would put alot of pictures and then a blurb. Example: "This is me when I got drunk and fell down." Now you know I am not the type of person to get drunk (though I am the type to fall down). So in honor of this "use more pictures" idea, I am going to post a few random images I got from friends websites and blogs. From Arizona "Children need to understand..." From Soon to be Connecticut And .. it is time for dinner. More later. Love always, ~Heather