I’ve felt guilty for some time now, guilty about updates here. I have excuses, but a new theme in my life is “no excuses,” so I’ll just jump right in.
In the days following my last post, I found an apartment that will serve as my permanent home, at least for a year. Located one block down and two blocks up from my sub-lease, its a “large” two bedroom, meaning it has a separate kitchen and living room and two full bedrooms. The paperwork is all done, I’e been judged to my face by the landlord and I’m only awaiting my copy of the lease and the keys. If my broker would call, that should be all taken care of in a matter of days — though, I’ve been saying that for a couple days already.
Finding the place happened in a blur. I called the broker about a different listing, which had gone only hours after it was posted. He informed me he had a better deal though. It wasn’t even on the market yet, but he could show it to me that morning. I met him and was the second person to see it.
Once inside, it felt like a good fit, and while I would have liked more time to think it over and show it to Ellyn, I had no time to waste. I thought about it for an hour and then called to put in my application. After two days of waiting and a series of complicated bank transactions, I had my deposit down and approval from the landlord. I beat out the couple that saw it just before me. Victory on some small scale. If all goes as planned, I should be in sometime before the first — me, two stacks of clothing, some books and an air mattress. Living large, I know.
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The job hunt continues. It’s up and down. A waiting game. It takes its toll. I send out applications every day and most everything I’ve applied for continues to be open. Read that as there are stacks of resumes all over the city containing my information, and once application windows close, I should get some calls. I hope.
I’ve had a few small victories that led to letdown. Mostly, three different callbacks that ended once I outlined my experience and salary requirements. The positions that have been quick to call back have all been entry-level and I’ve been informed I’m overqualified. One such interview ended with a laugh, the HR rep telling me they’d love to be able to pay me what I wanted, but it would in no way make sense to hire someone with my experience for a job they would need to fill again once I moved on. Too bad, it’s nice to know you’re qualified, but it’d be nice to find work, too.
Anyway, I have faith it will all come together, I just don’t like the timeline it seems to be happening on. Patience though. Patience and dedication.
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I have a friend here whom I meet with on Tuesday afternoons at Union Square. We get coffee and talk about music and comics and other guy things. Two weeks ago, while sitting in the park, we witnessed an epic struggle between a heroin addict and Death. After laying unconscious in the grass, being slapped around and then deserted by friends, for three hours. The police finally came and woke him up with a shot to the heart. He collected his shoes, and walked off. We could only watch in amazement, wondering what it would be like to be strung out with friends one moment then awaking to nine cops standing over your lifeless body the next. New York is wonderful that way. Even a day in the park is nothing to take lightly.
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Ellyn and I hit Coney Island last weekend for the Siren Music Festival. We were only there for a little while, as the heat was unbearable. We’ve been having our first offical heatwave the last week or so, and the humidity is crushing. Everyone sweats, everyone complains. It was fun to see the color and diversity at Coney Island though, and we decided to come back another day. We did catch a good band, the Dodos, and took a walk on the beach and boardwalk though. It was a nice afternoon.
On Sunday, we took in the Dark Knight. Well worth the effort.
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With all that, we’ve been trying to save money, plan a wedding and adjust to living in the same city. Being in love and engaged is great. Though we are discovering what being dedicated really involves. Also, with our lives in such a state of flux, with jobs shifting and moving, with wedding hassles and decisions, with all that, we find ourselves testy and stressed, attempting to figure out how to do this thing we got ourselves into. Though, I think I speak for both of us when I say it’s so worth it. The fighting passes, the schedules adjust, and a quiet evening on the couch revives us. It’s finally knowing I won’t ever have to leaver her again that makes all my fears about work and life reside. It isn’t blind optimism, but a little truth in a life full of uncertainty. And in New York, a little truth goes a long way.
keep the faith. a jedi must be diligent