New Project...well sort of...and shocking events.

Today I decided that it was time to do something about my windows. In the winter, windows are just a simple way for energy to escape. Since today was a warm 11 degrees here in Blacksburg and my last energy bill was $89 to heat a one bedroom apartment the size of a shoebox, I made a trek to Lowe's and picked up clear plastic and some tape. The concept is kind of like a greenhouse effect. It seals up the air from getting in and going out and the plastic heats up with sunlight. My dad used to do this to the windows in the garage. Who knows how well it works, but it gives me some piece of mind that I'm at least trying to save some energy and some pennies. You know, added to the fact that I don't keep anything plugged in unless I'm using it. That includes my TV, microwave, computer, lights, internet. I mean, I don't keep anything on. It drives Steven nuts. Laughs. The $89 comes from my prehistoric heater. If the weather was nice enough to just open my windows my bill would only be $15 a month.

Anywho! The real drama and reason for this post...as I was putting up this plastic on my windows...I realized that there was ice...on the INSIDE of my window all around my windows because condensation had FROZEN, yes FROZEN on the inside of my windows.

Maybe with all the money I save I can retire in Mexico one day. Si!

Our Cats

I just realized I haven't posted a picture of Penelope. You can see how grumpy she is. These were their mug-shots to turn into the housing agency.

PS- check out the argyle sweater I found for Steven.

Maybe we do become our parents?

Something my dad has done for as long as I can remember is sleep in a wool hat in the winter because he is bald and his head gets cold in the night.

Now, I'm a stubborn, broke college kid who doesn't want to fork over any more money than she has to on utilities. And I find myself sitting under the covers in thermals with a hat on that I intend to sleep in.

Crazy Lady

Just so you know, apple cider vinegar is crap against gnats or fruit flies or whatever you want to call them. Sugar water is just as ineffective. However, I found a great way to get rid of them: my vacuum.

I've been going around my apartment brandishing my vacuum hose at the pesky bugs. To the untrained eye it would look like I was waving my wand into thin air or practicing for a part in a sword fight. Either way, I'm cementing my position as the crazy lady in #12 who lives with her cat and vacuums sporadically at 10:30 pm while blasting obscenities at the air.

After all reputations must be upheld. I think the wise words of Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice apply: "For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

Ews

So I have gnats.  I hate bugs!  I have no idea where they came from but suddenly they are everywhere!  I'm a clean person, I don't deserve bugs!

I've done some research that suggests leaving wine or cider vinegar out in bowls will attract and drown them.  I need to get some vinegar tomorrow because there is no way I'm giving wine to bugs.  

I can't even afford to get myself wine, and I love the stuff.

Imagine If You Will

Imagine this room, then imagine something like it with the messy fairy on steroids. That is what I went over to this morning when I went to put water in Steven's fish tank. This mess...in...Steven's room...? Something is amiss. The room that I so meticulously cleaned before I left, the room that I brag about constantly when talking about Steven and just how proud I am of him and how clean he is, was a complete ship wreck. Now... you may be asking yourself how a room that is always so clean got so messy. Well, I'll tell you! Apparently a friend of Steven's roommates needed a place to stay because his lease expired. So they put him in Steven's room! Without Steven's permission. And what does said person do? Makes it a complete mess! You cannot walk on carpet because there is no carpet it is all covered. The bathroom was covered in his hair from a recent haircut, all over the floor! The bathroom that I also cleaned!

So this morning I go to take care of some things, and all the fish but one had died without me getting a phonecall. To my knowledge they were fine with the feeders I had given them. If I had known they were dying I would have done water changes or something. But I go over there to dead fish and a naked hairy boy asleep on the crap on the floor.

I had to get out of there before I either snapped or started cleaning.

Never Rent From TNT. Ever.

They are the worst management company in Blacksburg. I had nothing but issues with them when I lived in my old apartment. Everyone I have ever met who has ever rented from them swears up and down how horrible they are.

I personally did everything on the move-out checklist. It took me weeks to do all the ridiculous cleaning they wanted. When I got my security deposit back I was charged $125 for a professional cleaning company to clean it. Nowhere in the lease does it state that we have to use a professional cleaning company except for carpets and we had no carpets. Only one light bulb was listed as blown out on my move-out inspection and the bulb actually blew during inspection. I got charged for 4 light bulbs. I also got charged for 2 stricker plates. Those are the little plates that go on your doors between the door and the frame. Yeah, I'm sure we stole those just for kicks. In actuality the lazy workmen probably just forgot to put them on when they re-did our locks. Among other things. So the security deposit was a little over half of what it should have been.

I'm super excited to get contact from psycho- ex roomie (P.E.R.) blaming me for all the things we were charged for. I'm SO excited for that. I mean, it's not like I still have nightmares about her or anything. It's not like I live with daily reminders about how horrible she was to me. Just when I thought things were over: nope. This is going to open up another can of worms. I can block her from everything but my phone. Verizon is dumb and doesn't let you block numbers on a cell phone. It will be tempting to change my number.

However, little does TNT know that my mother works for a lawyer and gets free legal council.

Apartment To-Do List

Everyone who lives in an apartment or a house knows that there is always something that needs to be done. I have been in my new apartment for almost a month and I am still not completely settled in. There is so much to do and only me to do it... Maybe I need a tall, dark, and handsome roomie, anyone come to mind? ::wink:: ::wink::

The first weapon in my artillery is organization. Thus, a to-do list:

• Hang things up! This may sound like a walk in the park, but I need to hang up: a huge picture that I need to get special hardware for, three wall cubes (huge ordeal with a lot of drilling, but I think I'm going to rig something), a full length mirror, and 2 pictures of my grandmother that have to match up in height and be centered on two different walls.
• Marilyn Monroe art: cut it, frame it, and hang it up in my office space.
• Go through my posters, condense to one poster holder.
  
• Call management about why no one has been out to re-caulk my tub.
• Organize entry-way closet and move anything I can out of it and into my bedroom closet. Right now my recycling bin is on top of: my sewing trunk, my sewing machine, an empty box that my dishes came in (I'm saving it for my next move), a cooler, and my wrapping paper organizer. I can't hang any coats in my coat closet and my Holiday stuff is everywhere.
• Go through my sewing trunk. It is full of great stuff but it needs a good clean out and organize.
• Try to see if Oliver can use the adult litterbox I originally got him. It has a hood so it will keep litter off my bathroom floor and it is currently taking up half of my linen closet... So as soon as he is big enough to use it, he will. I love him and all, but my toothbrush fell in his litterbox this morning which would not have happened if his box had a cover. Thankfully I had a back up. Thank you M.J. for all your care packages complete with toothbrushes!
• Go through my fish tank stuff and decide if I want to keep it, and if I don't keep it, decide what things I want to hold on to in order to supplement Steven's fish tank. I mean how many 10 gallon tanks does one couple need? Next time I get fish I will want to upgrade the size of my tank anyway.
  
• Go through my office supplies. I have a lot of binders that I feel can go to good will. I need to go through my office space shelf as well. There are a lot of knick knacks that I know I'll be getting rid of come May when I move. Better to purge now. Anybody want my Pink (Victoria's Secret) Dogs?
• Find someone to buy my white cabinet or just give it to goodwill.
• Go through my bathroom stuff and purge products. Find what I can use up, get rid of what I never use.
• Organize under the kitchen sink.
• Decide if I want to sell my stereo. Sell it if I want to.
  
• Decide what to do with the desk hutch that is holding the stereo
• Go through my Vinyl collection and keep the tuneage I want and frame it.
• Actually go to the goodwill instead of driving around with all the stuff I'm giving away in the back of my car. This may sound silly but it is what I've been doing since I moved. I never seem to stop, so I'm going to have to make one dramatic and painful trip.
• Give my clothes another once over and give stuff to goodwill.
• Mail Caitlin and James' wedding gift after I get the last finishing touch, and a box to put it in. ;)
• Decide if I need any of my 2 dry-erase boards. Hang what I decide to keep.
• Finally hook up my printer and set up my desk.
• Organize my room closet a second time.
• Fix the rug under my bed. This will involve another person. Without another person I have to take my mattress and the plywood on the frame off, and then lift my bed, with the headboard still attached, just to straighten my rug...
• Go through my jewelry box.
• Find a reed diffuser for my room. My apartment has generic hotel smell.
  
• And last, bring peace to the world.

I love my kitty daddy cause hez my sugar daddy.

This weekend was fabulous! Even though it was far too short... but that cannot be helped. It got me thinking about a OTH episode in the third season where Peyton goes to visit Jake and talks about how the day before she has to leave feels like Sunday. You know that feeling you get on a Sunday that school starts tomorrow so the whole last day of the weekend is ruined thinking about how the weekend is over. That's kind of how my weekend was, only I was trying not to think about it. Steven is fabulous, as always. I dropped Oliver off at the pet-sitters on Friday and he had a great time, he has a little girlfriend now named Cleo. He is not a fan of dogs, but we will work on that some more since Steven and I will eventually be getting a dog.

Saturday Steven, his mother (M.J.), and I went shopping. Basically, I went to see Steven just so I could mercilessly torture him... ;) He hates shopping, but he was a trooper! We started off the day at Ikea, my favorite place for fabulous modern furniture. I have really needed a dresser so I picked one up:

I still need to put it together after I take it piece by piece out of my car...

I got some lamps and an awesome deal on compact flourescents, 3 packs of "60W" for $1.99. This is why I love Ikea.

After Ikea we went to the Ralph Lauren Outlet and I got an oxford shirt for $24! That's pretty unheard of. I love Ralph Lauren but I normally cannot afford his clothes. I'm gradually picking things up when they are ridiculously on sale. So far I have this new shirt and a skirt I got for $15 last summer.

Steven and I went to the movies Saturday night after getting some slushies at 7/11. We went to go see Wall. E. I HIGHLY recommend that everyone go see it! Pixar has outdone themselves again! So cute, romantic, and environmentally aware. Steven and I both love kids movies! This is probably because we're both still kids at heart. To be honest, I love that about us.

This morning we were going to go play Putt-putt but the place was closed... bummer! We will have to go next time I'm in town, whenever that is. Since there was no putt-putt, we got lunch at a cute little pizza place. We got the white pizza, our favorite.

This weekend was so much fun! I really miss Steven. I miss how goofy he is and how goofy I am when I'm with him. I also love how much crap we give each other. I know, it's a weird thing to love about a relationship. He gave me crap when he found out I refer to him as Oliver's daddy. Well...he is. What's mine is his, right? And I gave him crap about how lonely the ring finger on my left hand is. My favorite discussion about that:

Me: I love my new shirt!
Him: Well if you love it so much why don't you marry it?
(a few minutes pass)
Him: It's almost like I love you, or something.
Me: Well if you love me so much why don't you marry me?

I am aware this is a low blow, but good times.

This Wednesday is our 10 month anniversary! And I'm so excited! Want to know what he got me for 10 months? That super cute dress I've been wanting, as well as some money to get him a tie that matches it. Have I mentioned lately how madly and completely in love I am with this boy? Not just cause he spoils me, but because he makes me believe I deserve to be.

Sometimes I am far too sentimental.

Whenever I move I always get a tad emotional, most of the time for no reason. When I gave away my futon this week I got a little sad, and I hated that futon because it was so uncomfortable. I was mostly emotional about it because it was a present from my parents and I always feel ungrateful when I give things to charity that they gave me, even though I don't need them. Today was my last day at that horrible apartment and I'm a tad melancholy about it. I guess it's because I did put a lot towards that place, but I'm trying to think about the fact that I'm going to be done with that horrible situation. It really was a horrible apartment, I'm sure when I come back into town a few years from now it will be condemned. It needs to be condemned now, it's falling apart and bug infested. Cave crickets are so gross! I have numerous stories about earwigs, gross ones that I won't share you with. On my way out of the apartment with the lady from my old management company, a spider in the corner had caught itself an earwig and it was stunning it right above the back door before eating it. Now that's symbolic of the whole experience I had there.

Almost done with this mess.

Well, I had my move-out inspection this morning. It went alright. Things were in way better condition then when I got there. However, a screen was torn that I didn't know about and a light bulb actually blew during the inspection... how lame. Those should be the only things that I'm charged for, hopefully. The utilities will be turned off 5 days from now, and then I will be done with my crazy roommate experience. Praise everything holy! Seriously, I think I'll be throwing a party, even if I just have myself over, or get myself something nice, it will be grand. I'm still not right from it all, I was burned super deep by the whole experience. I still believe that everyone has the ability to do good in the world, I'm just learning that not many people do. All I can do is be a good person even when people kick me when I'm down. It's who I am, and it may be a naive perspective, but only by believing that we can actually change can change actually happen.

I'm a huge fan of a lot of a lot of Ghandi's teachings. My favorite quote is by him: "Be the change you want to see in the world."

I try and I try.

So far the only room I'm happy with is my bathroom.

My bathroom is pretty much gorgeous! I love to just go in there and look at the fabulousness and dream about when the rest of my apartment will look as great. Next room I'll be content with is probably going to be my room. It's a hot mess right now though. I'm in the process of going through my clothes, re-working my closet organization, and trying to figure out what I can put in there. Throughout the rest of the apartment I'm having to deal with the fact that all of my furniture is hand-me-down and none of it is my style. I'm more edgy, modern, sleek, with clean, straight lines and right now I've got country, country, country! It will be a trial of will not to go to Ikea and buy everything they have the next time I go visit Steven. I have to wait until I can put down roots to get coordinating furniture and the ability to paint. Oh I want to paint so bad!

Reaching the finish-line.

I am almost done with my first class of the summer: History of Costume. I've done all the reading now I just need to do:

1) 8 more quizzes that, in theory, I could do today.

2) 8 page research paper. I'm off Saturday, so I think I'm going to write it then.

Amanda does not wanna. Her apartment is still a wreck, so she thinks she's going to work on that some instead. So then she can blog about all the crafts she made for her apartment, with pictures.

Get excited. Laughs.

Amanda est extrêmement solitaire

All moved. I've still got tons of stuff to do to get this place fabulous. It's supposed to rain this week so I'm hoping it will cool things down enough for me to get motivated. My poor AC unit can't take this super heat. Unless maybe I put it down to 60... all I want is 75 and it gives me 80...still better then 90+. I'm trying not to think about my electric bill for next month... I'm also trying not to burn candles at night and fix all my meals in the dark... But I am unplugging everything at night but the fridge and the AC well everything is mostly unplugged except my computer and my router. I'm just stressing about the few hundred dollars I'm going to be paying every month. This is life. Can I be 10 again? Please?

It is really lonely living on your own. I'm always alone these days. But the feeling really set in today. Thankfully, I get my cat next weekend. I'm the lady that lives alone with her cats...in college. Never saw that coming. Things will get better once the school year starts. And once I get the apartment looking well enough for company. That might take some time. My furniture filled up my old apartment, but now things look a bit scarce. Whatever, I'm only going to be here a year. I'm trying NOT to accumulate stuff so that moving is easier. I'm going to be moving a bit farther then 2 blocks come spring. I don't know where exactly, but wherever Steven is. As of right now that could be:

1. Northern VA- Where he's from and where is family is. I love the area, it is great for a growing family and I love his family so I would have no objections to living with them. It is also close to DC, so tons of fun is just around the corner. It is 2 hours away from my hometown and that is just close enough. NOVA gets my first vote since it is familiar, yet different for me. I do worry that it would be dangerous to him. So I'm really willing to go anywhere. His dreams are the ones I want to support since I don't actually have any at the current moment.

2. California- His dream of dreams, he has always wanted to develop video games in Cali. I want to support his dreams, so I would uproot myself for him. It's just scary moving away from what I know. And what I know is being southern, whether I like it or not. I am at times very characteristically country.

3. Europe- The dream I have had for as long as I can remember, but what I feel is now a very unrealistic goal for us. Steven's mother (who I adore) appears to be really pushing the European envelope. The November elections will probably decide this one for us. In our opinion, if McCain wins we have to move, but those are our political qualms. If he goes I at least hope he waits for me since I'm the only one of us who has crossed the pond and who has experience getting around over there.

Only time will tell.

But give me some lovin,' I'm so bored and miss my man!

3 days was not nearly enough.

Steven headed back home today. Major tearfest there, but I'm just going to focus on how happy I'll be when I get to see him again. I'm almost completely moved! I still have a lot of unpacking to do, but that's alright. It will use up a lot of my free time. So far I like my new apartment except for the fact that my AC is having some malfunctions. It hasn't been working and it has been freaking hot! It has been about 95 degrees all weekend... moving... with no ac. I thought that I would try to get it running tonight since the sun is down and the unit won't be working so hard to get things cool. The mechanic is supposed to come here tomorrow. Air is only coming out of the vents right by the unit and not so much in the living room and the bedroom. I would just like my AC to work since I'm going to be paying an arm and a leg for it. It's so hot that I really need it. So I'm going to have to get mean with the fix it guy. He came Friday at 5 and said he couldn't fix it until Monday...and the impression I got was that he was not the brightest crayon in the box. "Well air's coming out!" Yeah, air that's as hot as the room... that is about 95 +. Ugh. Wish me luck with getting that done and getting the lights turned on in the halls. For some reason my building is the only one that doesn't have lights on at night... I know this because I checked. Got to get rough with management. Like always. Cause I don't want to fall when i come home at night, or get mugged in the dark or something.

What's going on in Amandaterra?

(I apologize for the picture I only got a few crappy pictures before my batteries died)

This is my last week of boredom...hopefully. Tomorrow at approximately 10 pm Steven gets here to help me move! So excited about that, obviously. A whole month without him has been unbearable. Friday morning my parental units roll into town at 9 am. Mom and I go to the apartment office to sign my lease at 10 am. Then moving commences! I've got the whole weekend off from work. So exciting! Steven and moving, does it get any better? I think not.

Monday was our 9 month anniversary of being a couple. Congrats to us! We're just 3 months away from the one year mark. To me it feels like we JUST started dating! Time flies when you're having fun, right? Or is it time flies when you're in love? Either statement applies. Steven surprised me with 12 red roses...again. I had to go on a little adventure to downtown Christiansburg to get them because I missed the FedEx truck. He spoils me, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve for his visit this weekend. Have no fear. I'll let you know what those tricks are later just in case he has actually started reading my blog...pictures to come.

I'm just crazy about that boy.

And I think everyone will be happy to know that he calls now. I feel completely un-neglected.

On my adventure to Christiansburg I found the Starlight Drive-in. A real life drive-in! Ever since I saw Grease as a kid I have always wanted to go to a Drive-in. Hopefully, I can drag Steven to the drive-in to see the new Indiana Jones movie that is currently playing. I'll take my camera along if we go. I have to document that! If only my life were a musical (and Steven liked musicals) then I could break out into song just like John Travolta: "Stranded at the Drive-in, branded a fool. What will they say Monday at school. Sandy, can't you see, that I'm in misery." Ok... I have to find my Grease soundtrack now...

I'm just so antsy for my honey bunny to get here. All I'm going to do is sit here and twitch until he does!

Movin' on Up!

These are the floor plans to my new apartment! I know it's a tiny picture...but if anyone could help me with some furniture plan ideas I would greatly appreciate it! I mostly need ideas for the bedroom. I need to fit a small desk, it's about 3X2 and a full size bed that is larger then life. It's a double sided pillow top and it is so tall! To top that off I was even going to raise it for storage... I was thinking the desk could go on the wall on the other side of the door away from the closet. Any ideas about the bed? I haven't had anything centered under a window in a long time. If I can manage the space maybe I'll start there. I have so little furniture that I could completely re-do my layout in 30 minutes. Easy.

I'm super excited!

What do you think of my new digs?

Terrific. Table.

This is the table I've been putting a little bit towards every two weeks! I absolutely love it! I wish the wood was a little bit darker, BUT it is a counter-height table and it comes with four chairs. And I got it on sale. It was originally $249, and I got it for $199. Not too shabby for a whole set since a counter-height table, just the table, at Pier 1 is $ 199. As much as I live and breathe for Pier 1 ( I love, love, love, my job, I got a $0.12 raise by the bye) I just cannot afford it at this time in my life. I'm really happy with this table though. A counter-height was necessary since Steven is so tall. I sit at this table and my legs dangle, he sits at it and his feet rest on the floor. How mean would I be to make our first table, in our first home together (when we finally do get to live together, for real), make him look like he's sitting at the kid's table. And I figure when we do get real adult furniture we can get a table for the dining room and use this as a breakfast table.

A. Proud. Moment.

Ever since I decided I was moving out on my own, knowing that I would be responsible for half my rent and utilities, I have been saving my money like it's going out of fashion. My rent is going to be $475 a month and my parents will pay $350. All my money has been going to apartment stuff like a table, that was affordable and I'm absolutely in love with, at kmart ( I <3 layaway). Next will be a microwave and curtains. I'm proud to finally learn how to budget and save. I'm also very proud to say that I have 3 months worth of my rent in savings!

Toilet Paper Can Be...Pretty?

Real Simple has my heart.

And I know where to get big vases like that for cheap. ROSS!