a fresh start

So, I’m starting a new journal.

I felt that now was a good time what with the moving and starting a new job and the leaving my old life behind and all. Strategically Bent represents my life at the old hospital, my life with the old baggage, my life with everything I was used to including my friends and acquaintences and regular haunts. The Naked Truth is my new life here in Portland, ME including the person I may become now that I have a chance to recreate myself without my saftey net. I have left my friends, my apartment, my everything I was used to behind to start over fresh here in the artic North. I suppose it’s time to start a new journal as well as a new life.

So, overview…

I have accepted this job in Maine and since I begin next Monday, I had to quickly pack up my apartment in New Orleans and load the cats and whatever would fit in my Jeep and spend three days driving through 15 states to arrive by yesterday so I could be present bright and early this morning for a “physical” and TB test. The cats and I are currently staying in a hotel while I look for temporary furnished housing while I also look for a permanent unfurnished rental so my possessions can have some place to go when they arrive in a few weeks.

The cats are somewhat traumatized and I suppose so am I. Needy refuses to come out from under the bedcovers and whenever I go out, Aloof joins him. The trip itself was somewhat uneventful, just interstate and more interstate. I’m not particularly fond of driving or travelling for that matter. I like to just get there and it just stresses me out to have to deal with all of the little things like finding the right exits and interstates and gas stations and hotels. I did it though. Three days, fifteen states, 2 motel 6’s (one that did not have the WB so I missed both “Smallville” and “Charmed” on Sunday ), and now a little more upscale but still cheep hotel. There were parts of the trip where I simply could not find a decent radio station — and I don’t mean that I couldn’t find a country station. I mean I couldn’t find but maybe 2 stations and one was alternative and one was talk. I’d always had the theory that a turnpike meant that the travel was faster but I now believe from experience that it means slower travel under construction conditions and toll. Since yesterday morning it seems most of my money has gone to tolls and parking. :plain:

Anyway, we’re here. I’m here.

I have an appointment with an apartment locator tomorrow but I’ve already come to the realization that apartments aren’t like Louisiana or Alabama. There aren’t a lot of complexes. Mostly you’ve got to rent part of a multi-plex or duplex or house. First floors are hard to come by — which is a problem with the piano. :crazy: So, I’ve got to talk to my Dad. He insists on doing this move without hiring anyone (my parents are driving down from New Mexico to New Orleans to finish packing my apartment, load the truck, and drive up with their friend) but I doubt I’ll get a first floor apartment and I don’t know how he and his friend are going to get that piano into a third floor apartment. :crazy:

Meanwhile, I left the hotel twice today. Once to go to the hospital for my “physical” and once to go meet the apartment locator. I got lost both times…and I had driving directions from mapquest! I’ve never lived anywhere where an intersection can have 5 corners, all of them with different names. I was driving down Congress St. for about 5 minutes looking for my street before I realized that I was on Congress St., which was the street I was looking for…and I was going the wrong direction…and I still don’t know how I got there. :O

Meanwhile, I am sick of fast food and take out. I’m dying to settle down and have home-cooked meals again. In fact, it’s so hard to find decent fast food that I’m thinking I might go vegetarian again for a while once I get settled in my own place. I was a vegetarian for about a year after college due to a distaste for meat. I didn’t have any ideals about it, no visions of rescued cows. Anyway, I’m so sick of the chicken meals from fast food places and I made the mistake of trying a McHamburger at one point — not a big beef eater anyway.

There is a Friendly’s attached to my hotel which makes milkshakes and other ice cream things. There’s room service from them. Very evil. I haven’t unpacked my scale but I have a very bad suspicion that I’ve gained back some of the 10 pounds I lost since I was involuntarily separated from my last job of six years. I picked up a salad from Subway to eat for dinner tonight, I love good salads. I don’t know how good it’ll be but if it’s good, I’ll have to stock up. :hehe:

Meanwhile, it’s friggin’ cold here and raining today. Kind of dreary. I really thought I could handle the cold, but someone today told me that my wool swing coat won’t be warm enough next winter! I admit I did come home from the hospital and put stockings on under my pants and change my shows from loafers to hiking boots. I also added a scarf to my outdoors ensemble. Tomorrow I might add the matching fleece hat. My leather gloves are fashionable but not warm enough. Gah.

So much has to change and be bought and so much has to be adjusted to. I know I’ll do it because, well, I don’t really have a choice. I’m here after all. I need to be paid. I need to work. I need this fresh start with all of its opportunities. I just hate being cold.

Oh, and have you ever noticed how different your habits are when you stay in a hotel? I mean, let’s face it, as much as I want to be a neat freak, I am a slob. However, in this hotel, I lay out my clothes the next day, pick everything up and put it in its place, am bothered by clutter. I am so embracing my inner-Monica. :hehe:

Well, my stomach is grumbly. I’m going to eat my salad and try to dig my kitty out from under the covers.

tags: the cats, Maine, discombobulated

5 comments

1. on March 31, 2004 at 10:50 pm

   Sharon said:

   I was surprised to see that you posted so soon, but glad to see it too.

   Here in Alaska, it was always my priority to have a heated garage, and it will always be a priority.

   The second thing is have a remote start on my car so that I can warm it up before I go anywhere if it does happen to be parked outside during the winter. This year winter is going through into April. The high today was like 16 degrees.

   Other than that I try not to think about the cold because I’ve pretty much done everything I can do about it - other than move somewheres warmer - and that’s not going to happen. I also try to get out and enjoy the outdoors despite the weather when I can.

   Looking forward to the next posting - good luck.

2. on April 1, 2004 at 5:00 pm

   Maggie said:

   Well, Welcome to Maine..must admit, the past few days here have not been very nice, but spring is on it’s way and is beautiful here..Portland has a few things to offer…I bet you would enjoy the "old port" and be sure to check out the Portland Public Market (www.portlandpublicmarket.com)and you can venture to So. Portland to check out the Mall there..just a few things to get yourself out of the hotel….when checking out apartments, maybe check out the surround areas..I think the apt in town will be outrageous!! BTW..I’m in Augusta, about an hour away….e-mail me, maybe I can answer some questions for you..all the best to you…I’m glad that you have continued to journal

3. on April 2, 2004 at 9:28 am

   carol said:

   Best of luck in your new home town. Here’s a link to people who blog and gather in Portland. It might be a nice way to meet some new friends with similar interests.

   http://www.portlandphoenix.com/features/technophilia/documents/02957022.asp

   You’ve got to love a sight that opens with: "Being a computer geek in Maine can sometimes be a lonely proposition…"

   Keep the faith!

4. on April 2, 2004 at 5:36 pm

   David said:

   I just checked out your website. Good luck in Maine! I hear it is nice there. I am from Kentucky were we only have horses… Have fun at your new home!

5. on April 3, 2004 at 4:27 pm

   slush said:

   hi im from maine too, ive spent a lot of time in portland and you are right, there arent a lot of apt complexes and stuff so it’s a little hard, and it seems like stuff in portland is either cheap and crappy or nice and wicked expensive. have you looked in westbrook and places like that? not as far out as freeport but you might have better luck with finding a small house or something. good luck and there is *lots* of good food in portland, if you like indian, tandoor on exchange (i think) is the best, there is just lots of good food in the old port.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.