Apartment Hunting :(

Apartment hunting is becoming increasingly frustrating.  It’s exciting but at the same time frightening. I tend to move every year because I get bored easily – but I’m looking for a place I can stay in for a while. I’m tired of moving.  I have the tendancy to start early – finding some decent places, but realize that I’d have to pay two rents for a month or two…which immediately puts a sour taste in my mouth. Everyone tells me to wait to look – so I do – and then I have less than 3 weeks to find a place to live. THIS IS WHEN PANIC SETS IN! I have appointments to see 3 places this week, we’ll see how that goes.

I’ve been told I want too many things.  What can I say? I’m picky about where I call home.

Things I want (in order of importance):

• 1 bedroom for $800 or less/mo. or 2 bedroom for $950 or less/mo.  (If I find something that has everything I want – I’m willing to pay for it, these are just guidelines)
• Natural light! (this is big – one of the main reasons I’m not staying in my current apt is that I feel like I’m in a damn dungeon all the time – depressing!)
• Some sort of outdoor space – I want to at least have room for a few planters, window boxes, etc. A deck or patio would be ideal. An actual back yard would be even better.
• Preferably a townhouse or an apartment in a townhouse. Shying away from complexes if I can. Also, not too excited about going through a property management co. I’ve heard some horrible things.
• Decent sized kitchen. I’ve been living with this tiny closet of a kitchen for too long – Something with some counter space and decent appliances.
• Washer and dryer in unit (I can LIVE with one in the building, but I’d rather have my own).
• Dishwasher (again, could live without, but to prevent any future incidents with wine glasses, I’d prefer one).
• Hardwood floors in the living room (carpet is fine in the bedroom)
• In the neighborhoods of Hampden, Mount Washington, Roland Park, Waverly, Ellicott City, or Hamilton.  I know I’m pushing finding a decent place in Fells Point or Canton for this price, but I’d consider those areas too. If a great apartment jumped out at me in upper Charles Village, I’d take it.  Parking in CV has gotten increasingly more terrible & my car is pretty banged up as a consequence. I know, that’s typical city parking- but I have this weird thing with parking that I won’t go into. So – an off street parking space would inevitably ease my woes, but I know those are hard to come by.

With the housing market the way it is, my Dad keeps pushing me to buy – but I honestly don’t think I’m ready for something like that. I told him if he bought, I’d rent from him and eventually he could sell it to me – but I don’t think he’ll bite on that one.  The only thing I could realistically afford right now is a condo and I’m not sure about the resale potential.  I have it engrained in my head that if it doesn’t have 3 bedrooms – you won’t get shit for it when you go to sell.  Any real estate agents reading this want to weigh in?!

ModKat

I’m going to tap into my crazy cat lady for a minute.  I’m in love with ModKat.  I’ve been looking for something like this for ages, and I’m glad that I’ve finally found it.  A top entrance litter box – to reduce the amount of liter being tracked through the house; A reusable, washable, eco-friendly liner (this is BIG); A design that doesn’t scream “I’m a litterbox!” (or like my current box, “I’m this oddly shaped mini alien spacecraft you just can’t help but notice and are mildly disturbed by!”) 

Yes, I just got excited about a litterbox – don’t judge!  Ok, fine, judge.  Now to just wait impatiently for late Summer ‘ 09 for it to be released into the world.

 (via SwissMiss)

Current musical obsessions…

 

City and Colour

I’ve been listening to Mr. Dallas Green for about the last 6 months, non-stop.  He has quickly gone from non-existant to #1 on my last.fm top artists list.  His music is great car, chill out, or my favorite, bedtime music.  

One of several Myspace Transmission videos you can find up on Youtube.  See more on MurderNouveau’s Youtube channel.

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St. Vincent

I’ve been a fan of St. Vincent for a little over a year, but with the release of the new album, Actor, I’ve noticed a resurgence of listening on my part.  I like the new album,  particularly the track “Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood”, but my heart still belongs to Marry Me (espeically on vinyl).  The video for her first single off the new album, “Actor Out of Work” can be found over at my favorite music blog, Pasta Primavera.  Annie Clark is one of the musicians that guys swoon over and girls would go gay for (yes, I’m one of those girls).

There is an excellent video on Vimeo of St. Vincent performing live at Other Music in Oct 2008.

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The Weakerthans

Is it possible NOT to be obsessed with The Weakerthans?  Reunion Tour and Left & Leaving are my two favorite albums, and just so happen to be on my daily work playlist.  In addition to the videos on their official website, I reccommend checking out the live videos over at twoschedule.com.

Art Mart

SquidFire is having their Spring Art Mart tomorrow, May 9th, from 11am-6pm in Mt. Vernon (between Charles and Cathedral Streets). This event is rain or shine, so bring your umbrella because there are chances of morning showers!  Over 50 artists, crafters (including The Broken Plate Pendant Co. & most if not all of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team)and other vendors will be there.  Puffs & Pastries will be there vending, so stop by and enjoy a sweet treat while you browse what should be a great collection of handmade items.  For a list of vendors and more details, click here.

Photography by Our Labor Of Love.

3-D

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Good News/Bad News

 Good news: Got my first round of test results back. The initial blood test and ultrasound came back normal, no indication that my cancer has come back! OMGHAPPYDANCEpeealittleOMGYESTHISISAWESOME peealittlemoreWHATAFUCKINGRELIEF!!

I’m not out of the woods yet, I have two thyrogen shots to get, which will provide a much more accurate result with yet another blood test.  The thyrogen mimics me being off my thyroid medicine. Oh, and I get one in each ass cheek, which is 329 times more fun that getting them in the arm!  You didn’t need to know that? Well, now you do! Deal with it!

 

Ok, bad news: I cut the back of my right hand open on a wine glass Wednesday night (teaches me to do dishes)! No, I was not drunk – and I didn’t even initially use the glass for wine.  I headed to Patient First (urgent care) where they were worried 1. I still had glass in my hand and 2.  I cut a tendon since I couldn’t initially move my pinkie.  An x-ray and tetanus shot later…and when I regained some feeling in my hand after the amount of blood I lost – they determined 1. there was no glass 2. I didn’t cut any tendons. HOORAY!  I was given a tetanus shot in my left arm, two minutes later I passed out (which I believe was due to a combination of blood loss & that I hadn’t eaten in 9 hrs/ the fact that I am anemic, not the tetanus shot).  NOT KA-BLAMO. I got 5 stitches and antibiotics and soon I was living it up stuffing my face (with the use of only my left hand) with Arby’s (which was conveniently located right next to the urgent care center).  This morning I awoke to a swollen left arm, soreness/pain, and flu-like symptoms. The doc says they are all side effects of the shot and I just have to wait them out. FUNFUNFUN.  So, it’s pretty hilarious watching me try to do ANYTHING that involves my upper limbs.  I have a free pass to curse like a sailor at work today…because I said so DAMN IT! 

FUNBLOODYPICTURETIME:

Before

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good news definitely outweighs the bad. Hope you enjoyed bloody show & tell!

#WANT: Robot Edition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPARKY – The Seriously Paranoid Robot by Reclaim2Fame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retro Robot Head Necklace by Winnfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cordial Robots shirt by botodesigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seabots print set by hamburgerpanda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant striped robot plush by munaluna

 

 

 

You are very welcome!

scream.cry.pee.laugh

This is unbearable.  If you know me, you know I don’t like to wait. I’m one of the most impatient people on the planet.  I put this off for months, knowing I’d feel how I feel right now.  Angry, overwhelmed, anxious, and frightened.  I’m not going to sugar coat this – if you have to see or talk to me in the next week, you will most likely think I’m off my rocker.  Temporary insanity.  This is by far one of the worst feelings in the world. This is more painful and mentally exhausting than my surgeries and treatments combined.  It’s the unknown – it scares the fuck out of me.  I’ve been in this scenario before, four times, to be exact. Two out of those four times I was told the worst, “your cancer has come back.”  So, given my odds – I want to scream, cry, pee and laugh all at the same time.  I can promise I won’t pee myself, though.  

When we are challanged by something, especially emotionally, we want validation. We want to know that what we are thinking and feeling is normal. I’m not looking for anyone to understand what I’m going through right now. That would be a ridiculous thing for me to ask of someone.  I just want someone to reassure me. I want to know that if anyone else was in my position they’d be just as freaked out as I am.  I want to know I’m not alone.  I’m not looking for attention – I’m just looking for support.  

I think I’d have peace of mind if I knew that by the end of my drs appointment today, that I would have an answer.  I’ve been through this too many times to even think that will be the case. I’ll be waiting for days, which will inevitably feel like weeks.  I’ll jump everytime I hear the phone ring – praying one second it’s the doctor, praying the next that it’s not.

Related post: “I would like a cancer alternative please.” 

Jem & The Holograms

Some of the jems I found online in the past week or so. I may have reached the end of the interwebs…I’m jus sayin’.

 

Twouble with Twitters

(tried to snag this from current.com but their embed code wasn’t working in wordpress)

Great animated parody of Twitter and it’s users (myself included).  ”I forgot how much I liked pickles!”    -    “You bastard, you summoned the fail whale!”

 

I would like some Validation, plz

“Validation” is a fable about the magic of free parking. Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis. Writer/Director/Composer – Kurt Kuenne.  Winner of a jillion film festival awards (rightly so)! It’s a long one, at 16:23, but totally worth every second.

 

I’ve Seen Enough

I think I’m late to the Cold War Kids party. Better fashionably late than never showing up, right?  Think my favorite tune is  still “We Used to Vacation” but this song might be my runner up.  

 

Sweet Leakage

In other music news, a craptactular (in quality) rip of Grizzly Bear’s new album, Veckatimest (due out in the glorious month of May) was recently leaked to all of the interwebs.  I’m itching for this release, and naturally took a listen…and another, and another.  For a higher quality version of “Cheerleader”, head on over to Pasta Primavera to get your GB fix.

annnnnddddd scene.