Artistic Meanderings

This whole “not being around much” is really starting to get to me. I mean, I read my friends list and such daily, sometimes more than once, so I AM around. I’m just too exhausted to contribute – at this point.

My job has turned into something wonderful, and it was definitely the correct move to make. Mediacom has gone steadily downhill since I’ve left, with the employees bearing the brunt of cutbacks. Rich reports that his group is now working four phone queues at once, plus reports, call backs, etc. They’re remodeling, and the two tech support groups got booted from their cubicles so Sales could move in and take over. Instead, they’re working side-by-side on conference tables. I don’t know which stupid management person came up with this solution, but whoever they are should give up THEIR office and try working that way – for several months, apparently.

Back to my job. The commute is 68 miles one-way, which translates into 2.5 hours of  driving each day. I’m so brain dead from the drive that I’m barely functioning at the end of the week.

That’s about to change.

With the tax refund I’ve put moving into motion. I found a very old apartment near the Capitol Complex – about a block and half from the Governor’s Mansion (the one that Blagojevich wouldn’t stay in), seven blocks from my work place. The building I’m moving into is over 80 years old and was very swanky in its day. Now, the entrance is old, a bit dark and musty, but it’s clean. The old upright piano is there, along with antique furnishings that have probably been there since the building opened in the 1920′s. I haven’t asked if the fireplace is usable or not. And, there’s a Lobby Cat, a Ragdoll by the inventive name of Rags who already loves me because I hand out tummy rubs. The owners are in their sixties and very proud of the old “Grand Dame,” as my sister dubbed it when she went apartment-hunting with me.

It was love at first sight when I saw the building, and it was the only place I looked.

The apartment is one-bedroom, with a big livingroom, smallish bedroom, average-sized bathroom and the most fucking tiniest kitchen I’ve ever seen in my life. I swear, if I hadn’t lost weight I probably wouldn’t be able to move around in it.

Radiator heat, window air conditioners, 12 inch concrete walls and 16 inch concrete floors – and that spells QUIET! Utilities are furnished except for cable, internet, phone. Rent is only… drum roll… $525 a month. I’m happy – I want to live on the cheap so I can get all caught up on all of my bills, buy a car, and actually start a savings account. This apartment will enable me to do so.

And… IT HAS CLOSETS! More closet space than I have now, and I have a lot. The most awesome ones are the big walk-in closet in the livingroom, and this wild combination of coat closet, linen closet, storage drawers and cupboards lining the hallway to the bathroom.

The move is March 1st, and then I’m finished with commuting – for the first time in a veeerrry long time, I might add.

Even better, I can have a pet – and of course I’m going to get a cat. Bonus points go to this landlord – the initial pet fee is $50, but if you adopt from a shelter and show him the paperwork, he drops the fee. Now THAT is freakin’ awesome.

I did have one little annoyance late last night. The twit who posts the news for the  decided to poke fun at my recent art post by calling it “House jisms in Wilson’s Eye and Laughs.” Yes, I suck at creating tears, but as I informed her, her reaction was a bit over the top. I also told her I wanted it fixed asap, and within ten minutes it was. I probably scared the shit out of her by being *polite.* Still, that was an obnoxious and childish thing to do and I shouldn’t still be po’d, but I am. I’ll get over it, but I also kept a screen cap in case she pulls another stunt. :grumble:

ETA: OH! Never let a goofy old broad and money come into play. Sometimes they go and play with it. Yup, these oughta be FUN!