this is going to get so much better.

i just moved into a one-bedroom apartment.
i have been four days without electricity.
by the time i get off work, it's dark outside.
so i bought a bag of votive candles.
on every ledge there are piles of dead matches.
my mom came up to help me today.
she is always busy so it was a big deal.
we had four hours.
our first priority, she said, is getting some window coverings.
i have four giant windows facing my living room and bedroom.
there is one mini-blind.
i get dressed laying flat on the bed.
i guess i could go into the bathroom to change.
anyway.
we went to siegen and back.
the electricity was supposed to be turned on but they said tomorrow.
mom forgot the drill bits at home.
i got some from ben b.'s friend down the street.
but you can't use a power drill without electricity.
and the curtain rod was too fat at the end.
so we went to siegen and back again.
then she had to leave.
i only wanted to get one thing done and it didn't get done.
and today was my last day off until sunday.
and i don't own any tools.
and i'm too short to install the curtain rod.
so i cried a little because i was frustrated.
then i unpacked my bookshelf.
arranging my bookshelf is like meditation for me.
i arranged my bookshelf for three hours.
now i feel much better.

Comments

[Katie]

ann, that's sad. just throw a sheet over it until you can install your rod.

[hari]

oh ann, i'm so glad i'm not the only one who finds rearranging my bookshelf soothing.

and look, i've been in this studio apt for 3 months now and i'm still sleeping on an air mattress on the floor. and just bought dining stools (the chairs come later) because my sister needs a decent place to sit with me to eat. as in, not on my barstool at the kitchen counter. it takes LOTS of time.

[meghan]

I have this really nice and proper tool kit if you would like to use it. I need to return Go Down, Moses anyway.

[karen]

well now ann, i like trucks and power tools and the whole nine yards. let's make sunday "ann's apartment day" and we can get the couch & chair and do little silly things to make it your home!!! cheer up, chuck!

[ann]

girls. you are awesome.

[jessica]

i have a cordless drill!

[cat]

i have a toolkit. it's pink. funny, i know. i didn't know you were moving. can we catch up soon, please?

[bocaj]

tsk tsk ann, you never called me to help ya move, figured you had enough help. i have tools too and am a tool coincidentally, if you can't scrounge up enough. it's not pink, but... yeah, ok it's pink... shut up.

[matt]

why didn't you give me a call? you know i can install shit.

[jessica]

are you going to be in town either later this week or over new year's? i have something for you.

[charles]

hey buddy... i feel so bad that i can't help out. you know that i'd love to. i have tools and everything. well, take care. i'll be back sooner than you think. - me

[Alanna]

Ann, as someone who prefers to dress in front of open windows i would encourage you to not hang anything up and if you do go ahead and leave them open. i figure its my right as an american to be naked in my windows and yours too.

[Supermonkey]

You don't live with Rikki anymore? That just turned my world upside down

[ann]

nah, rikki and i haven't lived together since august.

[matt]

i see that you're rereading unbearable lightness. i did that last month and wasglad to find that it was still amazing. i actually bought Stacey (the girl onboard) a copy for Christmas.

I also just finished reading Everything is Illuminated. I thought it was really good especially the structure of the three styles. I know you read it but i couldn't remember if you liked it or not.

[ann]

yeah, unbearable lightness still rocks out. i bought barrett a copy for christmas. i think he's the third person i've bought that book for. it's so good. everyone should read it.

i liked everything is illuminated. you could tell it was a first novel, but it was well worth reading. i'm waiting for his second one to come out in paperback. the movie was awful; they should have called it something else because it resembled the book not at all.

[matt]

the whole time i was reading everything is illuminated i kept wondering how in God's name they made it into a movie.