Getting the new place set up
It is looking amazing and all I want to do is stay there and finish putting it all together. Almost livable, it is such a great feeling to be nearly moved. We hired one guy for the day, who actually misunderstood me and brought along a friend to help. Everything was completed in just a couple of hours. It looks amazing. So much progress was made on the kitchen while I was up in Philly. The next to do will be the bathroom and the great room. Now all my friends need to come and visit! Got that? As soon as I get a little bit of furniture, so we don't have to sit on counter tops or on the foot of my bed. Tomorrow we return the Uhaul truck, set up utilities, change the locks and finish some painting... oh, and hopefully find some cheap furniture!
Made it to Virginia!
The drive took us nearly 5 hours from Philly, when it should have taken half that time. But we made it without any major issues (other than traffic). As soon as we pulled onto the street and met my dad in the driveway, it started to pour. I guess we finally did have a little stroke of luck! Boy, were we tired. The next morning, was rise and shine, to move it all into the condo.
Moving moving moving!
Never choose Uhaul! What a nightmare. It was a hellish couple of days in Philadelphia, packing up and getting the truck. Uhaul screwed up and claimed they didn't have a reservation for us. We drove 40 minutes to go fetch a truck in Bucks County. The guys we hired were nice guys. $25/hour and they were finished before the three hour minimum was up! Mom drove the Uhaul and we suffered in lots of traffic on I-95. Emily and Ryan stopped over for a spell, before we left. Em got me the greatest going away gift ever... a copy of Netter's Anatomy. Isn't she something else? What a sweetie. I miss her already! Now I'll think of her everytime I go to gross anatomy class. Ryan had been on-call last night and was nearly delerious. Entertaining as always. It's great fun to see him in such form. The day before, I got to see Stef and Brad at the library for a quick hug and good-bye. Then the next day we packed up and left. When we made it back to Virginia, my dad spoiled us with dinner and wine. Ahh! It was so good. Were we thrilled to have the day be done! I am so incredibly greatful for my wonderful family. It's only a matter of time before I am settled in my new home. But it feels like forever...
Welcome to McDonalds... can I take your order?
Meanwhile, renovations are still underway in Virginia. The red-room is almost complete! One wall mistakenly got painted mustard-yellow. Oh well! It now looks a little bit like McDonalds funhouse. But I suppose that is better than sterile insane asylum white with pastels. All I need is a couple of green pickle shaped pillows and a brown sheetset to make my hamburger-bed. Oh... and the trim still needs to be painted and the carpet cleaned.
But the kitchen is looking much more like a kitchen. Have I ever mentioned what a cool dad I have? He rules! This week he hung up all new cabinets and they are perfect. Unfortunately I didn't inherate the "hanging things straight and precisely" gene. When I hang pictures on the wall, typically a few holes are necessary to get it all straight and aligned. But not my dad... oh no! He gets everything up perfectly. Wow. I am in complete awe. Engineers are cool. I love my dad!
Spontaneous fun-day!
These are always my favorite. You know... the days where you call up a friend, go out for lunch, run into two other friends, which then prompts a fifth to join up to spend an afternoon together. It started off as Stef and I wandered Rittenhouse and had food at Pietros. We ran into Naloosha and Todas, which helped motivate Ryan to join up. The requisite ruckus was created, as usual. Put Ryan on rollerblades and give him a pair of headphones and he is a party-on-the-move, making friends where ever he goes. Always a delight... laughing is good for the soul!
We ended up seeing the Lion King performance... totally unplanned, which made it all the more fun! I had never seen a show in Philly and got to check out the theatre avenue (or whatever they call it). After, we went to the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel to check out Nineteen, a great bar "to be seen at", on the 19th floor. The hotel has an interesting history:
In late July 1976, a mysterious illness began killing men who had attended an American Legion state convention in Philadelphia one week before. In all, 34 people who stayed or passed through the Bellevue Stratford Hotel when the U.S. veterans' organization met there were killed by the pneumonia-like disease, while another 221 others were sickened.
Panic set in, and state and federal authorities worked around the clock to find the cause of what became known as "Legionnaire's disease." Six months later, scientists had their answer: a bacterium they called Legionella pneumophila that thrives in hot-water systems and is spread through aerosolizing devices such as shower heads or air-conditioning vents. It is now known that legionella bacteria lurked somewhere within the hotel. The views from up there were spectacular. It is a shame the balcony was closed, because it was also a gorgeous night out!
Reflections on Philly as I move onward!
Every few days I drive from Philly to Washington, hang-out and renovate the condo for a few days and then return up to Philly. The weather has been swelteringly hot and I am simply not used to it! It feels like cruel and unusual punishment. How and why do people tolerate weather like this, I frequently ask myself. My poor friends must be sick of all my comments and complaints!
Reflections on Philly... will I miss Philadelphia? Good question. I don't have the answer to that. The weather won't be worth missing, because it's the same thing in DC, for the most part. There are a few good places to eat that I will miss (maybe) (though I can't think of one to give as example right now) like the BYOB places.
But Philly has certainly left its impression on me. I heard that it is considered the "fattest city" in the United States, but I don't agree. Practically everyone I know here works hard at staying very fit. During the summer months clothes get smaller and conceal less skin. For me, that translates into, "crap, I better get myself into really good shape!". Hence the spin classes five days a week. Besides, the girls in Philly tend to get dolled up, no matter where they are headed. High heels to the library. Tiffany bracelets to the gym. Catchy looking purses if you're walking down the street. People seem to pay a lot more attention to their appearance than in SF. That's not to say that the people in SF look sloppy (but who knows... maybe I will think that when I return), but there are a lot more who go "au natural" and in my opinion nearly everyone looks great there. It must be the smiles and attitude! Happiness makes anyone beautiful, don't you think?
Other Philly influences: Music! Driving around the city, I always have my radio tuned to hip-hop. That was never the case before. I don't have an explanation. Maybe the other stations suck! But they play it in nearly every bar and club, which contrasts the DJ'ed elecronica of San Francisco.
I should probably pack up and hit the road! I am off to Virginia for the week, but will return for the final pack-up and Science lecture next Monday night. (Last night's lecture went very well, btw... periodic table and atomic structure... the students LOVED it....)
Monopoly night... and farewells!
Last night at Ryan's we played Monopoly. Ryan broke out his robe as soon as he landed in Naloosha's hotel. We could tell he was waiting for that moment all evening!
This week has been the week of going away festivities and a whole lot of whatnot. Diane of VUB got me a cake, t-shirt and mug on Thursday and all the veterans signed a thank you card for me. It was so sweet! Then on Saturday, Taner had a party for me. Here's the Evite:
Host: Taner
When: Saturday, July 15, 7:00pm
Yes, it's true. Audra is leaving us for bigger and better things (Medical school in the country's capital), and I couldn't be happier! Good riddance. If any of you are as excited as I am about getting rid of the red-headed nuisance, than please come help me celebrate.
Top Five Reasons to be excited that Audra's departure:
1. She tried to get my brother's dog Abi drunk and take advantage of him
2. Audra kept f-ing up the bio 102 curve
3. She has way too much time to text message and she requires responses to end with multiple exclamation points
4. Audra's PMS comes about as often as it rains in philly
5. Who paints their apartment fire-engine red?
Let's send Audra off in style, with lots of booze and burgers in her. I hope you can all make it. Please RSVP with what you can bring. I'll try to supply the essentials, but any liquids or edibles would be appreciated.
Taner
RSVP's:
Alive & Kicking 12
* Taner (The Organizer)
* keugene
oi, will try to come and bring some sort of liquid
* Brian Ciampa
I will be there with bells on. Unless, of course, I can't find any bells to wear, in which case I will be dressed in regular clothes.
* minak
hey! i'll be there.
* Cassie DeBenedictis
I'm there! Let me know if you need anything in particular
* garyw (+ 1 guest)
I will be there with veggie-burgers!
* Amanda Pauley
As if I'd miss it, I'll be there with booze and dessert!
* Stefanie Mason
I'm all in :)
* Audra Kirsten
taner, you had better work on those texting skills. you'll never get into med school unless you work it. you're a little bit slow! you'll also have to come up with new ways to impress the girls at the bar-b-que than having abi say... "i love you!"... really. everyone's talking and i thought it best to let you know as, uh... discretely as possible.
* meshberg
Of course I will be there...Audra's going to working in Admissions at GW right? We need to get one of our own on the inside.
* renukamg
Hell ya, lookin forward to it!!!! (notice the multiple exclamation points)
* jmidkiff
I'm going to try. Might be out of town this weekend, but if not, will definitely try to be there. Sounds like it's going to be quite the shindig :)
* veena.raju
Sounds great! I'll do my best!
Flat-liners 5 people
* Kate
Thanks for the invite, but I'm not going to be able to make it. Have fun and good luck in DC!
* rkotton
Totally bummed out- they're making me work as a sex slave to little PuertoRican cigar rollers... but perhaps you will take photos of the festivity and we can meet at another date and review the photos with glee
* anupriya
Thanks so much for the invite but I won't be in town. Best wishes to you Audra!
* Ersin
Um..."The Hood"? I have to take umbrage to that remark. That being said, packing a Tec-9 w/ spare clip is not a bad idea when coming to our house. And, unfortunately, I have to be in PIT that weekend. Audra - congrats and good luck.
* chaundra
Awww... i wish i could come! i'd love to be there to send Audra off and wish her good luck. Unfortunately i'll be in the ED for task master Hollander... Thanks for the invite though... Good Luck Audra, i'll miss you :)
Spackle, Spackle! sand, sand, PAINT!
Renovation has begun! Stripping furniture, spackling walls, sanding, priming, painting, ripping down ugly cabinets, assembling new cabinets, cruising home depot, designing a kitchen layout, choosing color schemes, buying new appliances, selling old appliances...
this has been so much fun! i love projects. my parents are great at this kind of thing and i am working as their "apprentice".
