Friday, August 22, 2008

Olympics for Insomniacs

Due to a four hour mid-day nap today, I am sitting here wide awake at 4:30 am, watching coverage of the mens 50k racewalk on USA. It is hilarious. First, I have learned that racewalking is a "highly technical sport" and therefore we should expect China to excel at it, much like gymnastics and diving. Second, for those of you who don't readily convert kilometers to miles in your head, that's 31 miles of racewaking, which as far as I can tell, consists of getting as close to running as possible without getting disqualified. Finally, racewalking is considered a track and field event, so the D list commentators had the opportunity to comment AGAIN on how both the mens and womens 4x100 relay teams dropped the baton. As if we hadn't heard about that yet.

On an unrelated note, apparently 5 am is not the best time to deal with Bank of America customer service about them repeatedly fucking up your credit card billing for six months in a row. By the end, I was given another phone number I can call at 8 am to "help me understand my products and services better." Riiiiight. Me not understanding is the problem.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Ann Arbor!

I'm finally here AND in my new place AND have internet access. This morning I picked up all my stuff from the post office. I walked up to the counter and said "I'm picking up A LOT of general delivery" and the woman at the counter said "Oh, are you the one with ALL those parcels?" Apparently my stuff is well known among the fine folks at the main Ann Arbor post office. I had hired a guy with a truck, Eric, to actually move my stuff from post office to my second floor bedroom, so all I had to do was watch and direct and try to stay out of the way.

Then Dave and I went for a gourmet lunch of McNuggets, then to Target for the usual move in stuff (hangers, a floor lamp, pillows, a fan that immediately broke when I plugged it in) and Trader Joes for my food basics. All that is good, because I am a little overwhelmed by settling in, and having food and some basic stuff is making it easier.

My biggest thing about Ann Arbor so far is that I have to figure out transportation. And get furniture. Those two things are loosely related, due to me not having a way to actually pick up any furniture. And until I have at least a little furniture, there's not much point in unpacking, other than to laugh at how poorly I packed.

Oh, and I need a coffee maker. Someone should try to talk me out of buying one of these.

Friday, August 15, 2008

So much to say!

I have a ton from the trip I want to write about, but I am SO exhausted. I fly to Ann Arbor tomorrow (well today according to the date stamp on this post), get my stuff on Saturday (dear God, I hope my stuff is at the A2 post office), and should have a "real" computer set up by Sunday or Monday.

Overall, the road trip was a TON of fun. Carolyn and I pretty much laughed the whole way across the country, although I'm going to guess the majority of our stories are going to be of the "had to be there" variety. I coined the phrase "giggle spiral" to describe the phenomenon of uncontrollable contagious giggling that seemed to afflict us for a good portion of Iowa all the way west.

Sometime yesterday the reality of everything I have to get done before school starts began to set in, but it's a bit of a "one day at a time" thing right now. Next step: actually get to Ann Arbor.

George

We met George at a produce stand in Iowa, and he was so dynamic, we decided to take him with us.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Homeless

Yesterday the hotel check in dude asked me for my address. After opening and closing my mouth several times but no words coming out, I gave him my parents' address. Then he asked me for my phone number. My response: "You mean MY phone number?"

It's time to have a home again. Two days until Michigan!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Road trip!

Carolyn and I are driving from Massachusetts to New Mexico right now. Well, right now I'm in a Motel 6 in Iowa, but you get the point. Summary:

1. I have not yet eaten corn in Iowa, which is a crime against humanity.
2. I have a ton to blog about, but I've only been able to muster checking my email and falling asleep once I get to internet each day.
3. Today, I am going to Carhenge.

I'll be in New Mexico on Thursday! And Ann Arbor on Friday night!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008