On 30 Days Here…

Yesterday was 30 days in the new city.

In the first 30 days I:

• moved across country/rode in a car for 15 hours
• unpacked over 75 boxes
• installed, reinstalled and installed again my wireless internet connection
• had 2 out of 4 Sunday AJC newspapers delivered correctly
• did untold loads of laundry
• (ditto for dishwasher use)
• researched, test drove and bought a new car (Fiiiiiiiiiit!)
• worked on, went with the flow with (when plans majorly changed 2 times) and planned logistics for a 2 day festival in ATL (happens this weekend)
• entertained 5 visitors in one week
• researched, bought and put together 2 leather barstools and a wooden TV stand
• organized my new closet
• took 4 car loads of clothing and other things to Goodwill
• bought a sleeper loveseat
• bought a new outdoor plant for my balcony
• joined the gym downstairs and worked out 10 times (wish it was more)
• received countless emails and phone calls from family and friends asking me how I was doing
• cried myself to sleep 10 times
• found my mailbox after 8 days (was not told the mailbox #)
• spent 2 “fun” days of Comcast installation
• did hatha yoga 6 times
• received 5 cards and notes in the mail from friends
• watched TBO sleep for hours and hours and hours
• went to the Dialog in the Dark Exhibit in Atlantic Station
• had a lot of trouble sleeping the first 3 weeks. Still having some issues, but am starting to get a little more sleep.
• spent more time than one person should at Target and WalMart (surprisingly, more time at the WalMart which is farther down the road than Target)
• only been to Starbucks 2 times in 30 days (and one of them was the day after I got here) I think I have broken my addiction to hot chocolate
• was put on anti-anxiety medication
• learned my way to and from work both by Marta train and car
• found the closest JCPenney's
• learned the pros and cons of both Kroger and Publix (I think I like Publix better, but I am not sure yet)
• made brownies, homemade mac and cheese and homemade freezer burritos…mmm…comfort food

I am sure there is a lot more that I have done that I am missing, but this is all I can think of right now. It has not been the worst month of my life, but it certainly has not been the best.

While change is a good thing most of the time, I am allowing myself to be unhappy and homesick for a little while longer.

A lot of people have told me the sooner I “own” my unhappiness, stop pretending I love it to people who live here and just grieve for what I have lost, the sooner I will come to terms with everything.

I miss my friends. I miss picking up the 147 outside my house and waking up to frost on the windows. I miss my morning starbucks and walking to Walgreens at lunchtime. I miss hearing sirens every ten minutes on Sheridan and walking along the lake on the bike path. I miss I Go car sharing and pool monitoring. I miss seeing Chase banks on every corner and the crazy lady in the wheelchair that used to think she was a car. I miss seeing the Chicago skyline as I ride into work.

I still feel like I am on vacation.

I miss home.

Now What?

Now that the waiting game is over for the condo rental (which I will now just call "the condo"), I am in a holding pattern. I still need to sign the lease and pay my first month's rent (yes, I have to pay the WHOLE month up front, though I am only going to be living there for 10 days of the month. I get to pay less later in the year to make up for it. Strange Atlanta Rental Rules!) and then I will feel comfortable putting the cable, Internet and electricity in my name. The relocation company has this really cool "all-in-one" service that will change your address for the post office, tell you who your providers are for water, electric, cable, etc, pretty much giving you a one stop shop for all your needs. it really will save me time trying to track down who I need to call and what the best deal is- the relocation company will do it all for me.

I talked to TBO's vet yesterday about kitty valium for the drive down. She offered up a holistic version that we can try BEFORE the strong stuff, so I need to get over to the office and pick that and extra insulin up for the trip. I also need to make it to a Wal-mart or Target to get a new cat carrier for the trip - TBO DESTROYED his last one.

I re-reserved the elevators in my current apartment so I would not forget to do it in the next week or so. Now to get the non-refundable $150.00 deposit to the management office. Oof. Thank goodness today is payday!

I have been downing Gaviscon tablets the past few days for my ever-present heartburn. I know it is stress-related and I know once a lot of the pre-planning and planning is done I will feel better. Also, I am not sleeping very well right now. My brain is running all night long trying to make sure I remember to do everything. 

Small update...ETA- I Mean BIG UPDATE!!

I called the condo company again this morning and the woman (Jen) who answers the phone told me that the guy (Charlie) who makes all the decisions was out sick yesterday so he was not able to call me. She tole me everything looked reeeeeeally good on my application and my references were great so though she could not tell me what the final out come was, all signs pointed strongly toward I got the apartment.

Charlie is supposed to call me yet this morning to give me the good news.

Once I get the place, I can begin putting the utilities in my name. ordering Internet and cable and having my magazines re-routed. I feel like I can move forward at that point instead of standing still.

I got my hair cut on Tuesday night and Trisha straightened it. I always look like such a different "kid" when my hair is super straight.my "normal" Starbucks Barista didn't immediately recognize me when she saw me this morning - she commented on how much she loved it straight AND curly. :-)

Maybe I will post a picture later when I finally have some makeup on!

ETA: JUST GOT FINAL APPROVAL ON THE APPT!!!!!! They called and I my &^#$&% phone didn't ring so they left a message --- WHOOOOOOPPPPIIIIIEEEE!!