Guess who got a $1/hour raise yesterday! Nono, go ahead, I’ll wait *plays Jeopardy music* January was apparently our best month on record, so I’m not incredibly surprised that the raise came now. I’ve been here for almost a year and a half, and other than the occasional nerve-wrecking period, it’s been fantastic. Hopefully the rest of this year is great too. It’d be nice to end up with a big Christmas bonus to match my shiny new paycheck :D

Eddy and I had planned to start using the fitness center at my complex yesterday, but because of some incredibly dumb decision making, the only access to the gym is inside the “clubhouse,” which is only accessible through the leasing office. So the “brand new fitness center” they’re touting as one of the great reasons to move into the complex is only open 8am-5pm each day. Granted, we could still go use it on the weekends, but honestly? Who the hell wants to work out on the weekends, and only the weekends? Anyone who’s got a regular job (yanno, to pay that pesky rent) won’t be able to use the gym. It must be nice for them, that they never have to go in and clean anything, since nobody can use it. This makes me want to put on my shit-kicker boots and go stomp some sense into these people DX The complex itself is not bad. It’s not fantastic, but it’s not bad, and I really do like my place. But some of the policies and decisions make me wonder if the management has any clue what they’re doing, outside of taking our money.

So, in an attempt to start up some sort of exercise routine, I’m hunting Craigslist Atlanta, and various places online for a recumbent bike. Kelly has been getting great results from hers, and while, granted, I won’t be able to have the same awesome setup as she does (spinning and computer gaming at the same time!) I’ll be able to work out at home, while I’m watching tv or reading. Sounds great to me! I may go out and run a couple miles every now and then once I get back into the groove, but I don’t see that happening often. But I bought the first new pair of tennis shoes I’ve had in like…five or six years, I think? Yeah. I’ve been wearing the ones I had since about a year before I sep’d. I used to do unit runs in these things for cripes’ sake! :p It’s amazing how happy my feet are now now that they have nice springy new kicks. New insoles and everything *bouncybouncy* And New Balance still rocks the casbah. I’ve loved their shoes since I was issued my first pair on boot camp.

FridaySaturday is gaming with the boys (DJ Weasel and Metalepsis) & co. for the first time since December. I definitely think I’m way overdue for some purple-dreadlocked-halfling-ninja goodness, and it’ll be a nice change of pace from the usual Friday “come home from work and veg out on the computer” gig. Went and hung out with them for a bit last Friday. Watched the two Grindhouse movies On Demand. They were…weird. But very fun. Kinda makes me wish I’d gone and seen the double feature when it was in theaters.

And that’s pretty much it. Tweaking is mostly done on the website, though I think I may actually add static info pages for the handful of characters that I mention occasionally *shrugs* It’s my blog, right? Might as well have some junk up here that’s pretty much solely for me :)

The move to the new place is slowly drawing to a close. All but a handfull of my stuff is out of the old place, and we’ve started the cleaning process. Bedroom and bath got done last night, and tonight the main living area will be cleared out and vacuumed. Depending on how long that takes, I may go ahead and start on the kitchen.

I’m loving the new place. The paint in the living/dining room turned out great, and last weekend I found a couch & loveseat set on Craigslist for $200 that needs needs slipcovers (I’m not so into the blue and cream gingham look :p), but is otherwise really nice and uber comfy. I think my favorite room so far is the bathroom. It’s the farthest along in decor and really is turning into the relaxing near-spa I’d been hoping for. After Dragon*Con I plan on finally getting the wall-to-wall shelves up in the dining area so I can unpack my books and start really converting it to a reading area.

I got a couch and loveseat last weekend. Found the set on Craigslist for $200 and they’re in great shape and very comfy. They’ll be getting slipcovered eventually, as I’m not really into the blue and beige gingham look, but one thing at a time :) Also picked up an armchair dropped off at the dumpster at the old place last night. It’s dark blue and has apparently been well-used, but there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with it (no funny smells or missing pieces or anything). It’s over at Promethe’s place at the moment, as I don’t have a truck. Hopefully I’ll be able to steal it back from him, as it’s insanely cushy, and would make a great reading chair.

So things are coming together. Money’s gonna be a little tight over the next two or three weeks, what with rent being due the Monday after Con :p I’ll be dipping into my savings just a little bit so I can still do some fun stuff, and maybe pick up a couple things in the dealer’s room. I should also have a decent-sized check coming my way from Publix. Apparently employees are given a certain amount of stock each pay period, and over the 5-6 months I worked there, I accrued 45 shares which I recently sold back to the company. I’m not sure what taxes will be like, but I should still receive a sizable chunk of cash, which will supplement my savings, or maybe pay down my one credit card. Or half and half; I suppose it depends on how much it ends up being.

But yeah, so things are starting to settle again. It’s kinda weird getting used to living alone, but it’s a nice change too. I’m growin’ up — buyin’ furniture and livin’ on my own and all that. It’s kind of exciting :D Hopefully the change will encourage other types of growing up too. I’m already becoming a little bit of a neat freak, and I’ve set up the first actual altar I’ve had in…um…ever, actually. I’ve always just used my “travel altar” before, but now I’ve got a small [drafting] table in my bedroom dedicated to the symbols of my spirituality. And plants! I have plants! And they’re not dead yet! Aloe (<3!), bamboo (a housewarming gift from Lankylad), and a small succulent red-flowering plant that I have yet to identify. The weather lately hasn’t been treating them very well, so the aloe and flowers are a little heat-scorched. But it’s nothing a little bit of tlc won’t take care of.

Been a little while. Things are still going well. The new place is coming along nicely. Lankylad and I painted the living room/dining area last weekend, and it looks great. I haven’t actually started moving in yet. Been trying to clear out a bit of a bug problem that apparently came with the territory. They supposedly sprayed a couple weeks ago, and I’ve put out bait, but (lovely little bug carcasses notwithstanding) they seem reluctant to let up. I need to pick up some caulk and a little plastic sheeting to seal up a couple holes under the kitchen sink to reduce their points of access.

Packing hasn’t exactly begun in earnest, but it’s getting started. I’ve managed to purge a bunch of junk and consolidate three plastic storage bins into one. I’ll probably be packing books and going through clothes tonight to sort out winter stuff and things I don’t want, or that don’t fit anymore. That should hopefully clear up a ton of space by itself.

Lankylad gave me a fantastic idea for something to do with the dining area. See, the thing is, I’ve never really eaten in a dining room since I left home. It’s more efficient to eat at my desk, or sitting on the couch, or wherever I happen to be working. I don’t even own a dining table or chairs. So I don’t particularly have use for the dining area in the new place.

But.

It’s been suggested that I could turn it into a book nook or “study,” and I’ve kinda taken the idea and run with it. Sometime next month probably, I’ll be buying some lumber and some nice looking brackets to build wall-to-wall (or nearly) shelves for my books. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to fill them with what I have, but then it’s just potential book-space :D When I can afford it, I’m gonna see if I can find a comfy old loveseat for sale somewhere to put in the corner, and maybe a papasan or two, or some other manner of comfortable seating. And I’ll find a low table at some point, or just use the coffee table I have now (that’s currently serving as bedside table/altar) for the times when I actually DO want to eat there. Dining surrounded by books? How decadent!

And speaking of books, I picked up/read the final installment of the Harry Potter epic. I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite in the series. It ties up a LOT of loose ends and mysteries, and that always has a nice feel to it, though I didn’t particularly like the type of ending Ms. Rowling decided to use. Seemed kind of tacked-on to me. No spoilers from me, really, but lemme just say, Hermione ftw, like all through the book. Hell, the series! Harry and Ron would’ve been dogmeat long ago (in some cases, literally) if it weren’t for her. But yeah, that’s my two cents on that subject. Started reading The Golden Compass. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. And I’m building a queue of books to read. The stack just keeps growing, and I may never escape! I really need to get the hang of this reading-multiple-books-at-a-time thing. Then again, I <3 good stories, so no big :)

Work has been a little hectic this week. Monday through Wednesday, I was the only one in my “department” (in quotes because we have a grand total of nine people that work here, but we each have specialized positions). The other girl I work with has been out taking care of her daughter, who’s got some sort of stomach thing. Yick! And yesterday, our owner, our production manager, and our graphic design guy left for a convention in Las Vegas, and won’t be back til Monday. So I get to fill in with graphic design stuff, as well as working my department, alone.

Yeah. Fun.

At least it’s been relatively quiet yesterday and today. Tuesday I wanted to strangle people. Hopefully the other girl will be back tomorrow, and save me at least a little bit of headache :p But anyway, after work I’m off to Lankylad’s place for a fun-filled evening of avoiding my own packing by helping him with his unpacking (having just moved, himself) :)

Why?

Why the heck is it so hard to find nice bookshelves at a price that isn’t completely ridiculous? I’m seriously contemplating buying the lumber and finding tools to just building my own *grumps*

In other news, I’m hoping to be able to pick up my new keys this afternoon or tomorrow. My leasing agent is going to walk the apartment sometime today and give me a call to let me know if it’s ready *crosses fingers*

I’d really like to be able to get started on all the fun stuff this weekend, and then start moving in boxes of books and junk — the stuff I can carry in my car. I’d like to have everything out of the old place and the utilities switched over as soon as possible. Roomie #2 (henceforth to be known as the Couch Troll — her own nickname, not one I gave her ;) ) has her move-out date set for August 4th. I don’t think roomie #1 (henceforth to be known as Promethe — he may come up a lot as he is also my ex-boyfriend and still a close friend) has a definite date, but hopefully he’s a little flexible. The sooner everything’s said and done, the better.

I may or may not be buying a 4-piece matching furniture set from someone on Facebook. It looks very nice from the pictures, and it’s only $175 for a 5-drawer dresser (with a little side-compartment thing), a tall, narrow 5-drawer unit, a nightstand, and a tv stand. That would solve my clothing storage problem (as I have no dresser at the moment), and I could give the tv stand we’ve been using to Promethe for his new place. I haven’t heard anything back from the girl who’s selling them since the initial contact was made, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she hasn’t found another buyer yet. I sent an email this morning. If I don’t hear from her by tomorrow, I’ll probably give her a call (even though calling random strangers weirds me out a bit).

This is the floorplan of my new place:

The raised dining area is a little weird, but I’ll make due ;) I really like the layout though; it’s nice and open. Though I suppose you’re gonna get that with 900 square feet and only one bedroom :)