Neighbors

Today is the first day of school. Friends at NKU, Xavier, and U of L return to class. They're busy. Today is a big day. Brandon notes the swarms of Freshmen, and I'm briefly sad that I'm missing it. I won't see any campus today, other than in passing. More relevantly, I have neighbors now.

I've had neighbors for most of summer. It wasn't until this weekend that the building was full. The landlord threw a meet-and-greet party last night. James and I came in second in a two-team cornhole tourney. The people in 4 and 6, respectively above and below us, were moving things around and mourning the end of summer break. They are, for the first time, noisy. I don't know if this is a permanent thing, but it won't disturb my sleep. The room below mine houses water heaters, while the room above is a sunroom, like mine but minus a bed.

The issue today was men with hammers demolishing a concrete path while singing in Spanish. Darrell is re-paving the front walkway. That, I can't sleep through.

Today is the one day of the year when I go outside, and the first breath of fresh air isn't as fresh as it used to be. I have no adventure to embark on. I will do no homework. It's my day of nostalgia for everything I gave up, and the day I envy the materials majors of my class, now in the fourth of a five-year program, who will be setting off for co-op or coming home for that first day of class in just a few weeks.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - Wait, Wait, Wait
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Anniversary

One year ago today, I climbed into my car and headed south on I-71. I was wearing ripped cargo jeans, a soft white t-shirt, and an old denim jacket. I had to text for directions once or twice, but eventually ended up on Skyline Drive in a southern suburb of Louisville. I chatted with Sarah and her brother for a bit. Met his girl at the time. Got poked by a cat. Eventually, we retired. We slept fully clothed, despite the fact that neither of us were accustomed to doing so. It was the first date.

Aaron's relationship has gone. So have most of the others I knew of back then. Sarah and I are still going strong. There's no reason to believe that'll change. A few people have tried to end it, I think. Drama has come up and been ignored. I have driven thousands of miles, tracing the road from here to Louisville so many times that I can see it in my head when I close my eyes. I can say, to the minute, when I'll arrive in her driveway or mine.

We've had many experiences. I've shown Sarah minigolf and concerts, Ben Folds and the love of automobiles. Sarah has exposed me to techno and the value of Little Caesar's. We almost never fight; if something is awry, it's talked over. Perspectives are shared and compromises made. We bicker about silly things to pass the time, but it always ends in a smile.

I've watched a lot go wrong in the last twelve months. Most of the relationships I've seen have gone. The economy seems to have just bottomed out and may finally be on the road to recovery. I shivered through a cold winter and learned a lot about life the hard way. It's been good to know that I have someone to share the bad times with. It's good to know that I can send a text and have my day improved.

I've rather enjoyed the last year. I can see no reason why it'll be the only one. I used to deny vehemently that I'd ever find someone I was really happy with. I'd always be single. Relationships were not for me. Besides, what girl would stoop to my level?

I was wrong. I've come to accept that. I was wrong and I'm happy that it was so conclusively shown.

I'm making that drive again tonight after work. A year is a very long time, but it seems like only a month ago that I was merging onto I-65, asking for a few last directions. It's been good.
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Now playing on iTunes: Ben Folds - The Luckiest
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Weekend Plans - 8/07

I admit I've been neglecting this blog for some time now. I haven't had much to say. I at least owe you, my friendly readers, the benefit of knowing where I'm gonna be each weekend.

Sarah will be here until Monday probably. She was gonna leave yesterday and come back Friday, but Louisville is under a few feet of water after last night's storms. Friday I'm hanging out with Sondra, a girl from Beechwood. She requested the presence of one Mr. Black if he's available and told me to bring other people if they wanted to come.

Saturday night is Crystal's 22nd birthday party. Sarah and I will be there from 7 PM to probably 2 or 3 AM. Aside from that I'm free to do whatever.

Next weekend, the 14th, is one year with Sarah. I'll be in her city then.

Like "The Happening," but not shit.

Treevenge!
It's a short film done by Jason Eisener, the same guy responsible for the Hobo with a Shotgun trailer included in some versions of Grindhouse.
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Now playing on iTunes: Midlake - Kingfish Pies
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Weekend

I've been procrastinating on writing a blog about last week. You'd think a full week in New York would make for an easy blog post. I don't think I'll get around to it. If you want the story, I'll tell you in person.

In other news, I'll be in town this weekend. I'll probably add a widget to the blog so you guys know where I'll be on the coming weekend. I'll spend Saturday in Ft. Mitchell, where Brandon and I will pull off my rear bumper and put it back on straight. No plans for Sunday as of now. Things might be rearranged if Sarah and I go to a Carolina Liar concert in Sparta on Saturday, but this isn't particularly likely.
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Now playing on iTunes: Scooter - Weekend
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Notes from the Field

I'm on Sarah's bed, using Sarah's Eee PC. It's weird hearing fireworks and not seeing any. This is the first time I haven't celebrated Independence Day in any way. We had some fantastic steak for dinner. Turns out Sarah can cook. I also burnt the shit out of my right thumb working on her car. Roughly half of the thumb is a 2nd-degree burn, with associated nasty blisters. It's wrapped in gauze and functioning normally. Other notes:

I finally swapped my air filter for a K&N drop-in. Rather than get a cone filter, I'll modify my airbox at some point to let the engine breathe easier. I intended to replace the thermostat this weekend as well, but realized that any dealer would be closed this weekend and that if I damaged the lower radiator hose or thermostat housing I was stuck in Louisville until I could get new parts. It isn't an urgent repair at any rate.

Sarah also got me the aforementioned bee shirt, which I think is fucking fantastic, and two nice glasses that I know will see use around the apartment serving mixed drinks.

That's all for now. I depart for Cincinnati Monday morning, hopefully dodging Dodges as I go. I spend the week after next, from July 11 to July 18, traveling to New York, New York. I'll sign off now; Sarah's giving me the "close the computer and come sleep" look. Auf wiedersehen!

Holy shit, a post!

I haven't been up to much recently, so I haven't had much to say. Life at the apartment quickly became mundane. I expected to feel somehow different when I moved out. I don't, really. There was no big change.

Car's acting up again. My thermostat has been stuck open for a while now, which is harmless in the summer but a bitch in the winter. I had an oxygen sensor go bad last week. Now the engine just guesses how much fuel it needs to inject. It's not a crucial problem, though, so I'll wait to fix it.

I have this Friday off, because it's a holiday weekend. I'll be in Louisville blowing shit up and working on Sarah's car. (I enjoy working on cars, so swapping her spark plugs is something I suggested she get done rather than something I was asked to do. Maybe I should pursue this as a career.)

Between July 11 and 18, I'm driving Northeast to see Emily and Andrew. Courtney is joining me. I need the bad O2 sensor fixed before then. I told Emily that I'd be back when I last left New York in the spring of 2007. I'm a bit overdue. This time I'm not flying and I'm spending more time there. Should be pretty exciting. Lots of walking in and around very tall buildings and generally marveling at the architectural wonders of big cities. I'll have plenty to blog about then. Maybe I can buy or borrow a camera before I go.

The miserable drama seems to have cleared itself up, so things have calmed down. I've returned to my regularly-scheduled boring life. No further plans for this weekend. Let me know if you intend to change that.
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Now playing on iTunes: Keane - The Lovers Are Losing
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Drama King

Seems like everywhere I go, I find drama. The only logical conclusion is that I'm causing it.

Dammit.

Home Already

The move was a success. Mostly.

My bed is here. I'm cooking myself meals and sleeping here every night. I finally have internet access. It's nice. I still need my radiator fixed so I can move my desk in and I'm gonna spend some time tomorrow installing blackout curtains, but I'm more or less moved out. I've been here three days and the place already feels like home.

That's a good sign, I think.

Hard Work Coming

It's June 1st and the start of the lease. Rent is paid, short list of essential shit is memorized. Now the work begins. I have a key now, so I'll probably run up to check the place out tomorrow or Wednesday and start taking stuff I don't need this week up. I'll grab clothes for this week and pack the provided dresser with the rest. DVDs can move this week. The real work starts this weekend, though. I work noon-8:30 Friday, so I still have some daylight available to move stuff then.

Other shit that needs to be done this week: I have an appointment with VW to fix my windshield wipers and I'm gonna run to Maaco to get a temporary fix on that fender. I'll get it properly fixed when I can afford to do so, but until then I want the fender out of my wheel well; my tire hits it on hard bumps and fast left turns.

Anyone want to do some manual labor this weekend?
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Now playing on iTunes: Carolina Liar - California Bound
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