Thursday, August 2, 2001

Apartment-living after home-ownership is something you just never think would be a possibility.

Being a girl from the suburbs (I was born in Queens but lived on Long Island all my life--sans three college semesters in New Paltz, N.Y., and six months in Albany, N.Y.) city living has been a kind of culture shock. Living alone, too--completely alone if you don't count Daisy--is also new to me. I certainly didn't go from living with mom and dad to moving in with Joe though. In fact, I'd spent nearly four years sharing a house with six other girls--two at a time--before I moved into the apartment Joe & I got a few weeks before we were married. (We lived upstairs from his brother before we bought the house. Joe actually moved in a few months before I did.)

I'm now on the 5th floor of a 1930s six-story building in Inwood, way Upper West Side, if you will. Or, as I've heard it referred to, upstate Manhattan. I have to say the biggest shocker for me so far has been the bugs. Roaches. Those prehistoric creatures that would survive a nuclear bomb. And wouldn't you know: Summer is their peak season! Lucky me.

I've been here since July 1. And at first, I was able to keep them out of my apartment simply by throwing out the garbage frequently--any food garbage would be out in a matter of minutes--and keeping dishes out of the sink--or rinsed off thoroughly. I should have known better than to think any apartment in New York City would be completely bug-free. Alas, as the critters in the hallway and foyer became more visibly apparent, the same small army made their way into the various apartments of this building. Including mine.

A can of Combat and a dozen roach traps later, I do believe I'm winning the war in Bugville. Knock on wood. (::Knocking on my wood floor::) I've even sprayed and roach-trapped the garbage shoot in the hall.

Then there's the volume in general. I find I tend to notice when it is quiet. Thankfully, that does happen. But I'm not used to living on a double-yellow-lined street, on a corner with a traffic light. I'm not used to not recognizing the music that blares from the cars as they pass my building--or stop at the light. I'm not used to hearing someone's car alarm go off on a nightly basis. I was back in Sayville last weekend and actually found soothing the sound of crickets and the Long Island Rail Road whistle faint in the distance.

On-the-street parking can be a pain in the neck as it is. Once, I parked a full subway stop (ten blocks in this case) away. Throw in alternative-side of the street parking and it's enough to pull the hair out of your head! They clean the streets four days a week. So on Mondays and Thursdays, everyone on one side of the road has to move their car--somewhere--for the hour and a half they block off to clean it. And on Tuesdays and Fridays, they clean the other side of the street. Wednesday is your day of rest. And if you are lucky enough, you can park somewhere Friday after that side of the street has been cleaned, and you don't have to move your car again until Tuesday morning! Oh, the joy this actually brings!

I also miss having a kitchen, or rather, counter space. I have none. I use the stove. I've burned my hands and fingers a dozen times by now cuz of that.

Then there's the sleeping situation. First of all, I now sleep in a twin bed. Daisy's always been a bed hog, but now, it's just ridiculous. Though I suppose being in smaller bed helps me not focus on the fact that there's no one next to me...for a hug, to cross legs with, to hold me, to rub my back in the morning with just the right amount of pressure to get the blood flowing to help wake me up.

I guess I don't miss the snoring. Though I suppose I don't mind it quite so much anymore, either.

I am heading back to the house again this weekend. I left Daisy there Wednesday morning--since I stayed the weekend through that time and she generally hates being in the car. She's enjoying the quality time with her daddy, I think.

I do miss the house. Daisy does too. She actually started purring Saturday night, the moment she looked out the car window and saw where we were.

This whole thing--it is hard with a cat! I can't imagine how people with kids get through a separation.

I miss the suburbs. I miss Joe. I still just don't know where this road is going. I'm glad we are talking. I'm glad we still love each other. To be continued...

This "spacious studio sublet" I'm in is good till September 1 and likely longer--maybe even October 1. I have been looking for new places for that time as well as considering this great four-bedroom house on Long Island, complete with cat, driveway, peaceful surroundings and a husband.

Who could ask for anything more, huh?

Pictures, top to bottom: The view from my living room window; front view of my living room; angle view of my living room--complete with computer and the chair I'm sitting in right now; my kitchen--only the right wall isn't in the picture; my--and Daisy's--dining room; my bedroom--complete with three-year anniversary roses; the bathroom; the door and foyer.

Quote Of The Day:

"In times of turbulence and rapid change, you must constantly be reevaluating yourself relative to the new realities." -- Brian Tracy

Background Music:

"If You're Gone"
--Matchbox 20

Today's High:

My boss telling me I could "take a couple extra weeks vacation."

Today's Low:

Jerk reporter adding copy to an already edited (cut!) story--and a coworker yelling at me for letting him do it!

Top Five Things
I actually like about living in Manhattan:

1) A much shorter commute to work--half the time it had been

2) Inwood Hill Park, which I presently live near

3) The subways: I have an unusual fascination with mass transit and mass transit maps

4) Within walking distance to everything--a bar, a grocery store, a drug store, a liquor store, a park, Blockbuster Video, the subways, views of the most beautiful architecture, the Hudson River and at least two bridges, and much more I'm sure I've yet to discover.

5) Someday being able to say: "I used to live in Manhattan."

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