[ date - sat 20 jun 2009, 1:36 ]
I want to move apartments due to a building in our direct vicinity being called The Winchester.
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[ date - wed 17 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - mon 15 jun 2009, 4:02 ]
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[ date - sat 13 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - fri 12 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - thu 11 jun 2009, 4:51 ]
I really don't know why I don't write as much as I used to. I have hit a little bit of a speed bump for most activities, entertaining or otherwise.
I recently signed up for Twitter and allowed it to send messages to my phone. Y'see, my phone plan gives me 1000 text messages per month and I'd be lucky if I could hit 200. Two-thirds of the way through the month, I turned Twitter off because I think my phone began to hate me and because I'd nearly had all one thousand messages used up. I never realised how much people can ramble on. Some prime examples of disappointing use of Twitter involved conversations which could have been said in person, instead getting 'tweeted' into a community instead, despite the message really not having any use to any other subscribers.
I had my Xbox 360 break down and had all sorts of fun with customer support. Evidently outsourced and trained to be condescending, they were kind of perturbed by someone who just wanted a damned license transfer. After two one-hour phone calls, this was finally fixed last night and I think everything is back to as it was. I'm possibly missing a couple of Rock Band songs, which I might have to find again in my download history and snaggle them back up.
I wandered all the way back to Tacoma, 30 miles away from where I live, to get a wireless guitar for my Rock Band video game, especially in preparation for when the Rock Band: The Beatles game makes it out in September. Sometimes I feel that I make some strange decisions in life, and the four-hour round trip for this pretty piece of plastic seemed like a strange decision as I made it. Truth be told, I'm glad I went. It's especially amazing to see some of my friends who never struck me as particularly interested in video games (or the musical genre of video games, anyhoo) getting excited over it. I hope to have more fun with that game than any other this year, with the possible exception of Scribblenauts, due to it being such a remarkable project to attempt to attain.
For those with no previous knowledge of it, Scribblenauts is a game where you control a character via text. You'll see a star atop a tree you're meant to collect, so you'll type in the word "ladder", a ladder will form and you can climb up to collect your star. Or you can create a beaver who'll chop down the tree, or you can create a football and kick the ball into the tree to knock the star down. I do find my DS my primary source of gaming entertainment, and so this is one of the most ambitious and exciting games I've seen designed for it. 
I laughed so much at a video of 
I damaged my throat and it hasn't been right yet. This is a prime example of why the British are delightfully mad. Other examples involve The League Of Gentlemen, which I have begun to show to people who enjoy darker humour. Steph and I enjoyed Ashes to Ashes and will be importing in the second series whenever that shows up.
Steph wants to move, I want to see if I can be promoted because it'd be easier to find another store that could use me if they know I am capable of running a store. If it seems my district manager doesn't have enough confidence in promoting me, a sideways move to some other city wouldn't be too bad, but I don't really want to leave the people I know behind. I think it's because I'm a terrible friend once distance gets involved. I don't detach myself from people in my past properly and I have a lot of friends that float around on my friends list on here or on Facebook and whatnot, and I wished I talked to them more, but then in that situation I wish it were a vocal talking rather than typing away on here. If we don't move I am saving money pretty well, just like I used to. I realised how shocking it was that I had several thousand pounds to my name at my young age. I really was a frugal / boring kid. I'm not much better now. We can find a nicely sized place and live in some comfort even if I can't get a promotion, but I don't want Steph stagnating out here...
In the next few weeks I need to get ready for people getting married! That'll be exciting because I get to dress up and try to find really obnoxious presents! Shamwows for everyone!
I actually feel in the mood to get pictures put up, finally. But then I have here, I have Facebook... where do I actually put them up on? Both places? Bah. That's why this whole set-up feels like a chore now. I'm accommodating to other people rather than putting stuff where I want it to be for my own personal benefit. But on the other hand, if it's for my benefit, why upload it anyway? Hmm.
I need to sleep. It's too late and I'm only going to wake up cranky.
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[ date - wed 10 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - fri 05 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - wed 03 jun 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - wed 27 may 2009, 4:04 ]
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[ date - sat 23 may 2009, 4:03 ]
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[ date - sun 03 may 2009, 23:24 ]
I've got into a consistent schedule recently, I'll work five days a week, be productive on the sixth, and dick around online or with video games for the seventh. This is bad as things are piling up and I need to be somewhat productive on my days off, but there's a sense of lethargy to myself recently where I want to chill out and have fun before craziness sets in.
I think I'm letting myself miss out on experiences due to laziness - Steph borrowed Mouse Guard from the library and it sounded really interesting, but with it sitting in the house, I didn't do more than get bedazzled by its cover. I didn't even pick it up and browse through it and appreciate more of the artwork. Its style was so intricate, so exact, it looked like the author had put their heart and soul into every little detail, and there I was, dismissively hiding my work schedule or my keys on top of it.
I've finally had to get into Twitter because my co-workers consistently use it, and in all honesty, I think the more of a limitation I have on my writing, the better it turns out. 160 character limits? I could handle that. I like it in a way that I dislike Facebook - the conciseness of Twitter is far from a mirror image to the clumsy, quiz-laden Facebook. Goodness knows what happened to those MySpace accounts I set up years ago. It's almost as if I like Twitter more because I can be more detached from having to refresh a website... all the messages can just come to me on my phone instead. It feels more personal.
And then there's Livejournal. What happened to me and this website? I maintain most of the friends I've had on here for years, but I don't know if I've hit the stage of life where there is a monotony to what I do - I can already predict what may happen on six of my seven days in the week, after all. I do suppose that as I've recently suffered with my computer and its inability to display true white on its screen, I've lost the excitement in dealing with pictures, with icons. Livejournal is a pretty creative and expressive place, certainly moreso than Facebook or Twitter by the level of customising available. But do I feel like I have the capability to put something nice together right now? Honestly, no, I don't think I do.
I need to call Hewlett-Packard tomorrow so that I can try to get my screen fixed. The machine has a part which is linked to my troubles, and this part is under a limited warranty, so I'm going to have to call and see what can be done. And while it's gone and fixed, I'll miss my solid keyboard and my Enfield background, but between browsing on the Wii and keeping in contact via Twitter, I won't be as detached from local and distant people as I have in the past.
I have to ask: what websites or programs do you folks using Twitter to update your Livejournal/Facebook use?
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[ date - thu 16 apr 2009, 23:06 ]
Last night me and Stephanie saw Paul Weller. His performance was nothing short of fantastic. It will probably be my favourite show of 2009*. Steph was able to blag practically front-row seats.
/brag
* Until something else shows up that Steph can get us free tickets for?
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[ date - thu 02 apr 2009, 14:07 ]
"I'm trying to remember a show, it's the one where the guy that had the child pornography, well, he narrates off-camera in the show..."
Confused faces, with a slight hint of fear. I try to reassure them.
"...wait, no! Not like that! He was convicted a long time after the show was on the air..."
That didn't help much.
(for the curious, the answer via IMDB: People Like Us. I didn't find it)
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[ date - thu 02 apr 2009, 14:00 ]
Because Steph's stuff is more show-offy and dress-like and more unique than my boxes of mass-produced DVDs and games and such, I thought I'd list what we snagged and leave some of the clothing for a later date.
So, in the order that they came out of the suitcase:
PSP
Echochrome
DS
Electroplankton
360
Football Manager 2006 - to give to a football fan that works in the mall
Football Manager 2007 - and one for me to show off to other people
DVDs
League of Gentlemen, seasons 1-3 and Christmas Special
The IT Crowd, seasons 1-3
The Mighty Boosh Special Edition, seasons 1-3
Life on Mars, season 2
Michel Gondry music video collection
15 Storeys High, seasons 1-2
QI, seasons A, C (couldn't find B anywhere for less than 20 pounds, ripoff)
Blackadder 2
Peep Show, seasons 4-5 (Morgan has seasons 1-3)
I'm Alan Partridge, seasons 1-2
Directors Commentary
Stephen Fry in America
Brass Eye
My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117
The Day Today
Howl's Moving Castle
Fawlty Towers, seasons 1-2
The Armando Iannucci Shows
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Sunshine
Princess Mononoke
Ashes to Ashes
Deathproof
Deal or No Deal (Steph liked the show, it was a novelty gift, don't judge me)
VHS
Pulp video collection
Junk Food
(though most of this is going to friends as gifts)
lots of Kinder Eggs
lots of Crunchies
2 packs of Chocolate Hob Nobs
10 packs of Steak McCoy's
2 packs of Jaffa Cakes
10 packs of Twiglets
Golden Syrup
about 8 Penguin bars
Clothing and other bric-a-brac later on, once the place is cleaned up.
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[ date - thu 02 apr 2009, 9:28 ]
Was very rushed - in nine days we did a lot. I'm surprised I had the energy for it all. Probably as motivated as I've been in a while. Both of us were very happy with the trip. No wasted days... really, if we had another two days we would have probably used them for relaxing and not gone anywhere else, and frankly, I liked cramming everything into those few days. To Steph, a vacation is relaxing. Pah! It was business time for me.
Steph bought a fair few nice things - dresses, brooches and the like, and I'd dare to say I went a bit further. I think we ended up with 30 DVDs, games or VHSs that we bought back. That's going to make a very sexy list when I get round to writing about the ins and outs of the trip. They're currently balanced precariously on a shelf that probably shouldn't be having them all on it.
Anyway, back to America. Had a nice morning waking up without any jetlag at 6:45 AM - we enjoyed popcorn and a grindhouse movie for breakfast and we're going to go have some pancakes this morning, as a kind of second breakfast. I've got work today as well, which doesn't sound as hideous as I worried it'd be ten days ago. My back will hurt by the end of it, that's the only thing I know for sure.
So, yeah. We're both really happy. Was a nice trip, we have English junk food (no Cherry Tango though, and even sadder, Refreshers are impossible to find now) and we're going to make sure to enjoy these shows bit by bit. I might honestly start some kind of "Anglophiles Anonymous" where anyone is welcome to our tiny little place to watch a British show once a week. I think we're more likely to have moved before we get through all of those shows, though!
So, after work tonight, a more lengthy post or pictures of swag or maybe a little of both, or if I get hit by a sudden burst of tiredness, maybe nothing. It's like a lottery practically nobody cares about! Apart from the possible British people who were reminded that I actually have a livejournal again, and might stalk me in case I write mean things about them.
IHOP has loaded hash browns as its special treat. I definitely indulged in British snacks while I was there, but now it's time to savour some of the more wonderful American things again. Even if I do like my mother's pancakes with golden syrup over IHOP's pancakes; though I have to say their butter pecan syrup is out of this world.
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[ date - sun 22 mar 2009, 22:19 ] [ mood - excited ]
First of all, British people - if you need to contact me to organise meeting-up stuff, the home telephone number is 020 8482 3582. My internet access will be scarce for the next few weeks, I imagine. Responses on here are going to be screened, so Sel, Katy - give me info!
From selling a few random games on eBay, I had a large chunk of money sitting in my UK Paypal account - over $150, over £100. Problem with that account is that I had it linked to an extinct British bank account. So, without wanting the hassle of transferring the money around, I let it sit in there, for a rainy day, for a good reason.
That good reason was British DVDs. I spent pretty much all of it. I do have a whole row of DVDs that I won from eBay, currently making their way to my family's house. I let them know in advance to expect a film or two to arrive... having ten or eleven arrive will probably be a little bit weird though.
This leaves a few shows to get while in England... Ashes to Ashes, the Armando Iannucci shows and QI are all musts. Then there's things like The IT Crowd, The Thick of It, Snuff Box... maybe I'll end up with way too much stuff for my own good. On the other hand, I went a bit crazy buying things for friends and family, so there's ample space in the suitcase that must be filled for the return leg.
Next step is the part where I research the stores we're going to look into over the next week. If we don't make it to Top Shop... ooh.
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[ date - mon 09 mar 2009, 23:27 ]
So, I can safely say I've been away from the land of dark comedy for too long. Therefore, one of the biggest indulgences I'm going to undertake while back in Blighty is the snagging of as much British comedy as I can find. On the list, for various reasons:
The IT Crowd @ 18, Amazon - apparently getting a lot of rave reviews. Fantagraphics swag is in there too!
Fawlty Towers @ 13, Amazon - very few Americans have heard of it and I need to educate on the classics.
Peep Show 1-5 @ 17, Amazon - I have Seasons 1-3, but more seasons came out and I think it's cheaper to buy the whole set again, oddly enough.
Thick of It @ 8, Amazon - dry, vicious Iannucci genius and political spin? If it's between this or Yes Minister, this is cheaper.
QI @ 5 for season A, 11 for B, 11 for C, Amazon - my A season is damaged, and more to collect isn't a bad thing.
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace @ 5, Play - because I still don't own it, and the IT Crowd will link into it anyway.
Life on Mars, S2 @11, Play - me and Steph both own Season 1, so why not get real discs rather than downloaded episodes of the second seasons?
Ashes to Ashes @1 4, Play - and why not continue with another series as a result? It's the 80s, it's got to be good, right?
Armando Iannucci Shows @ 5, Play - again, if it's got his name on it and it's that cheap, it's almost criminal not to try it.
Then the ones I don't think I really want, but when you use Amazon or Play, they offer those "If you like this... why not this?" suggestions...
Smoking Room @10, Play - I recall watching a few episodes and being entertained at times, but never really thought it was worth buying. But I don't know...
Man Stroke Woman @ 5 for season 1, 5 for season 2 Play - I like sketch shows, and this is the closest thing to Big Train in a while, I've heard.
Monkey Dust, @ 5.50, Amazon - again, I recall a few really dark sketches like Jam, but animated.
Jam @ 10 - I owned it, it made it to America, but I don't know where it is now. Might have to re-purchase it as a result.
Aaagh! Mr Hell Show! @ 18 - It's pretty steeply priced, and I can't remember anything more than appreciating Bob Monkhouse being less mainstream and a few really stupid jokes.
What else should I look into that I don't know about? What shows on this list should I avoid and am just remembering with rose-tinted glasses, like I did with Dogtanian and the Muskerhounds? Am I missing something American and awesome and should be looking closer to my second home? Films can count too... am I missing some obvious films in this sinister style that might have slipped under the radar?
Oh, and did Hyperdrive ever get funny? I like Kevin Eldon as a comedian but couldn't find any value to that show at all when I watched it. But didn't he play a character in a kind of show where zombies took over the country, apart from the Big Brother House... was that anything worthwhile?
Also! Rob Brydon! What about him?
Opinions please!
Also not mentioned in comments, but found later on:
Attention Scum? Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive.
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[ date - fri 06 mar 2009, 23:32 ]
My digital camera lasted two years and this laptop looks like it's barely going to make three.
What is it about technology fighting me these days? We used to be such good friends. Sure, I kind of stopped playing the games as much and chatting on the instant messaging services, but that doesn't mean I should be penalised.
Issue: my laptop used to display white as white. Now, it displays white as this kind of white/blue checkerboard pattern. Apparently, the graphics card inside the laptop or the laptop screen is on the way out. Not sure what it is yet, but I'll let a few people look at it and hopefully get something resolved before I go to England.
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[ date - sun 01 mar 2009, 23:39 ]
So, a coupla days ago I went back to visit Tacoma with Stephanie thanks to the help of my friend Nick, and we all got to meet our old flame, Schnitzel. Stephanie has had definite pet withdrawal symptoms after losing out on seeing this chunk of burning love day in, day out. So, to try to help with this, I bought a camera earlier in the day, just so I could take pictures of the charming heffalump that we used to live with. He moved far away, so it's a real adventure to see him, and I'm grateful that Jamie and her co-worker organised a time for us to go up there.
So, based upon a few people that've been trying to do this and succeeding, I thought I'd try to keep some kind of one-picture-a-day-for-a-bit phenomenon going on. Trouble is, I'm flying at the end of the month so technically won't have any way to post anything on the 24th, and really shouldn't be messing around with my laptop back in England, so there's going to be some kind of hiatus. I had an old journal I started just for this reason - 
picatyou - but I am definitely not good at keeping to a routine. Let's see what I can do if I say I get a picture up each day for a while.
But! For now, here's the charming cat that I wish lived closer, and his pretty eyes. Clicky for bigger.
(Another weird hobby I'm going to keep on with for a few more months: comparing the predictions of Mark Lawrenson to actual results in the Premier League.)
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[ date - wed 25 feb 2009, 0:10 ]
If any of the gaming friends of mine are any good at Columns, or know someone that is really good, I'd like to know about it.
I think some of Steph's scores may verge close to being records. The only times I see higher scores involve people that play the game on an easier setting - a setting so simplistic I do well on it.
I want her to have some kind of competition to spur her forwards, and have no idea where to turn. Twin Galaxies is the only place I know of for records, but someone has a score put up that is "perfect" which I'd imagine came from playing on the easier setting. Beyond that, she's got double the score of anyone else on there. And that's one of the homes of high scores in video games.
Not expecting any answers, but whatever. May as well throw it out there, maybe even get someone on a nostalgic Columns trip.
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[ date - wed 11 feb 2009, 23:10 ]
From: Seattle
Departing @ 11:35 AM, March 23, 2009
via Cincinatti, to London @ 7:55 AM, March 24, 2009
From: London
Departing @ 10:05 AM, April 1, 2009
via New York (JFK), to Seattle @ 8:23 PM, April 1, 2009.
Englishpersons! I want you to meet me and Stephanie between those times! Hell, if you're even a New Yorker and you've a few hours to kill in the afternoon of April Fool's Day, we'll be around there too!
Internet will arrive at the household on the 16th. So, between now and then I have to get on with getting tax information organised, so I can use some of the refund/stimulus check from last year to ensure I have a lot of extra spending money. Between the middle of February and our March trip, I need to get more stuff thrown on eBay. I think this is going to be a little bit hectic, but an interesting few weeks.
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[ date - mon 09 feb 2009, 16:14 ]
It's back to using the local library for internet, which means:
1. Limited time to catch up on livejournal.
2. Limited time to talk to people on the chatty programs.
3. Limited time for me to talk about much.
So, in brief, our move has gone well. Though our apartment has a few annoying quirks, we have a relatively sound landlord that should fix up the issues. Our location is great, it's close to the grocery stores and the little conveniences I miss... I definitely say some of my favourite memories from England involved late night Tesco runs with people, so to be able to do the same at QFC is a relief. Even if there have been a few moments of concern, I can't say that the move has been bad for myself or Steph, and Jamie's happier than ever being with her boyfriend and near to so many places for her.
Am looking into flights to go back and visit England in late March, just after Pokemon Platinum comes out in the US, so I can technically buy low here in the US and sell high in the UK, and make some shopping money out of it. If I can buy them in the US for about $27, I need to sell in the UK for about 15 pounds to break even, but I reckon some stores in London (provided they're still open, recession be damned) should take them for 20-25 pounds to sell them for 35+. I can't remember the alt+code for the pound sign and I'm too limited by time (read: lazy) to check in the character map... except I couldn't remember the term for that aspect of Windows, so I had to search for it to find its damned name out.
alt+0163 £ £ £ yays abound for pound.
Anyway, all this means is that I'm trying to take advantage of the US and exploit it in the UK. Because there's really not many opportunities to do the reverse when I head back here. I'm really going to struggle to make a profit on Jaffa Cakes in the US. I think I'm going to do alright investing in the Twiglets and Cornettos, though.
So, any English people want me to bring anything over? Likewise, any Americans want me to look for anything while in England? Can't guarantee successes but will definitely look for anything desired, and I'm pretty good at finding things if I try. If I can't meet up with you in England/America, I can ship it along. Er. That's about it for that part.
Also looking into getting cable television again. Limited internet in the building is upsetting, and most companies don't want to sell you internet by itself, they throw together a deal for cable television and internet. Not sure about that. I've got to look into the plans and options available, but I've got to expect to pay about $75 a month for cable and internet. I know back in the UK I paid £40 for it, and it's about the same price, but you know, 75 compared to 40... well, it sounds like so much more. I know I feel more smug looking at my paychecks in dollars versus pounds.
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[ date - tue 03 feb 2009, 12:36 ]
Today I throw a lot of clothing to the good people of Value Village. Tomorrow I take clothes to the University Village to see if anyone wants my old jeans and shirts.
In two days half of the clutter to be gotten rid of will have disappeared. It'll leave two piles: one for books to either put on eBay or take to Half Price Books, the other lot to definitely go on eBay.
The place is looking good. It's a bit too cold for its own good, but it's nice. It has its quirks which amuse me and will be talking points - we have a light fixture which is very 1920s and looks like cow udders, we have pipes going along the room (it has become home to one of my umbrellas) and we have a large block of something taking up a corner of our kitchen. Best of all is our pgymy toilet. It is very much the type of toilet that I remember using when I first went to school. It also roars when you flush. It's like a rabid chihuahua, or something.
Beyond that, we're also off to the market today to find delicious foods and we may have our first guest over tonight. If that goes well, I'll start trying to drag people along for social events in the place. Anyway, I'm typing in our building's hallway again and I'm getting cold and a slight back pain from lurching over the laptop. I'm going to get on with the day now.
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[ date - sun 01 feb 2009, 21:09 ]
So, I suddenly got really quiet on here because I moved slightly. Stephanie and I moved out of our old apartment, Jamie stayed and her boyfriend Herman and their mutual friend Clarissa moved in. Everyone's happy with the move. Jamie is at home more than ever, Herman and her get to live together, none of them are paying more rent than they were before, and in our move, we're paying a lot less and have a far cosier place. Steph has always wanted to live in a brick building with hardwood floors and I love living near a 24 hour grocery store. I love a midnight raid for junk food.
The only downside to the new apartment is that we got used to living with cable television and snaffled WiFi. We've got no cable TV right now and the WiFi in the building only works if I type with my laptop on top of the fridge. The landlord talked suggestively about putting another router downstairs so I don't suffer the dead zone blues. As it is, I'm typing in the basement hallway to get a solid connection, so I at least know I can type away in the building without any real hassles (well, beyond the puzzled looks people may give if they see me, but it's one way to introduce myself...)
I'm excited to get a day off on Wednesday. I want to be frantic and productive. I want to take clothes to thrift stores and throw more stuff on eBay and get the last of my clothing unpacked. I want to talk to Clearwire to see what options I have for my limited connection, and talk to cable companies about hooking us up for a six-month term, and I want to look online and buy the 20x optical zoom camera I keep looking at and debating over. I want to fill the house with groceries and make meals for us. I'm definitely letting the side down as far as organising the apartment. My suitcase, littered with t-shirts, still sits in the center of the room. I think I'll work on that for a bit tonight.
I wish I knew how to let go of things easier, but I've been doing pretty well with this over the last few weeks. I have memories to a lot of clothing, enough that I'd regret throwing some of it away. While working a week ago, I managed to snag a grey dress shirt and tore it enough to wreck it. This shirt was actually the last item of clothing I have from my wedding day. I got rid of it, and a day later, moved out Jamie's new home and moved in to be with just Steph. If you believe in omens, I think it's a pretty good one.
February marks a one and a year anniversary with Steph as well, so we especially intend to go out and have some fun this month. And by fun... well, if you envisage buying a dish rack at a bargain price, then you're as fucking hardcore as I am.
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