one step closer

We are so close to being fully under contract for the house we are trying to purchase. Ideas of interior design have been rolling around in my head. And yes, something WILL be fuchsia, even if it is just the ceiling of a closet. (I always joke that I am tired of being a renter, that if I want to paint the ceiling fuchsia, I want to be able to paint the ceiling fuchsia.) That's the fun part. The not so fun part: moving again...during the winter. We moved from Denver to East Providence the day after the first snowfall of the season. We moved from Rhode Island to NY on a very chilly week in November. I will just have to look at it as an adventure. I wonder how sparse my friends will make themselves on moving day? Maybe an offer of pizza and Irish coffee will be enough to lure them into helping with the move. Hee hee hee

design and comfort

glass beads
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

It is starting to feel like home which, given my nomadic history and bouts of "un-groundedness", is amazing. Living underground with only two small windows and a windowed entry door is not as bad as I thought it would feel. The other day, I let me creativity flow a bit and created a window treatment utilizing glass beads, dollar store "crystals", some old picnic cups, scrap booking paper (I don't scrapbook, I just like colorful items) and some time off from work.

I like the way it came out, especially when the sun shines through. It was also calming to string the beads and the vibrant colors make me smile.

There have been a few problems with the new place, but my aunt and uncle...er, landlords are great people and are helping us iron out any of the kinks rather promptly. No one has resided here for over two years, so there are some minor problems. The kitchen sink leaks slightly. Luckily, my uncle was a plumber by trade. The fan in the refrigerator ceased working from inactivity; they called in a repair guy right away and let us use their second fridge to keep our perishables from perishing. Unfortunately, the replacement fan is rattling as all heck, but I am sure they will let the repair guy know as soon as I tell them.

Some pluses to this place (and these are huge):

Private two car driveway and entrance. No parking on the street and no extra dings from having to park in a public lot.

Space. I have never had an apartment with such square footage. It is comfortable. No need to move a chair out of the way to open the fridge. The ability to entertain without people sitting on each others' laps (unless they want to, of course). There is even room to practice yoga without risk of putting your hand through the wall or banging into furniture.

A kitchen you can actually cook in. Counter space, lots of cabinets, full-size appliances, enough room for a full kitchen table are all things I never really had before.

A bathroom and bathroom mirror that allows two people can get ready for work at the same time.

A quiet, safe neighborhood, close to the running track, Thursday night's yoga class and family.

No more hearing the clop-clop of tires going over the seam in the road in front of the last apartment. Heck, no sound of traffic.

A yard, with a pool and cardio equipment we have permission to use.

Extra storage space! This allows us to not have part of our apartment look like a bicycle repair shop.

It is comfortable. Truly comfortable. And, as an added bonus, I can be creative and design the space how I want, though I still haven't come up with what to do about the forest green carpet against the red sofa bed making it feel like Christmas...but I will figure it out. Perhaps a really large area rug (I did mention there was a lot of space in here....and the sofa is of considerable size, too). Now, I have to go jog to the other side of the place to get something.....

great oogly moogly

I am plum tuckered out! (Yeah, so tired I am resorting to southern accents and sayings, y'all.)

Most recent old apartment: empty and clean
Newest new apartment: the land of boxes and bags
I'd take a picture, but I have no idea where the camera is packed.
Body: tired and achy.
Eyes: crossing
I'm quite sure this is move #9/apt #10 in half as many years.

Tomorrow's the last day at my long-term temp job, then I am going to sleep for about three days straight.
Might have a cable box when arriving home tonight.
Internet should be hooked up on Wednesday.

Brain is on vacation.

What's new with all of you? (hey, my crazy lurkers, leave a comment every now and then. No, really, I won't bite)

xoxo

Cheers y'all,

The Nomad

commuter sky

commuter sky
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

I am doing my best to stay grounded during this transition. Having only been back in New York less than six months and moving again is making it difficult. I can only do the best I can, each moment. I think yoga tonight will be helpful.

Carloads of stuff have already been moved and put into proper places in the new apartment, so this time it really is easier. The rental truck is reserved for this Saturday and hopefully there will be some sense of rest on Sunday.

Despite it all, driving home the other day, I was simply in awe of the sky. Even though I have been entrenched in the stress of moving, which is making me a bit introspective and pensive, I have moments like this that bring my awareness back to the present. The color of the sky, the clean white of the clouds, and the lack of typical Long Island traffic were very calming to me. I simply had to use my lousy camera phone to capture it. My soul needs moments like these.

What keeps you grounded?

o - e - o - oooooo - o

In the middle of moving once again. About one third of the apartment stuff is moved and unpacked. This move is the easiest for a few reasons.

There is an overlap of occupancy; able to move in to the new place while still in the lease for the soon to be old place.

It's not smack dab in the middle of winter. (Moving after a snow storm is never fun.)

There are people nearby to help. (Quick, you all only have a few days left to make up some excuse to get out of furniture moving day!)

This nomadic lifestyle of mine has made me realize a few things, too. The meaning of home is truly in the heart and not contained within four walls.

My mother can never get a new phone book or I will lose the record of my residential history.

My best friend may be the only one who has my beeper number from the pre-cell phone days. (whew, I'm old)

There are pluses and negatives to every apartment, and you have to weight what is more important. (Would I rather have small windows or a roof that leaks?)

Folding furniture is much lighter than real, post-Ikea furniture.

I like living in different parts of the country.

People in the West think New Yorkers walk fast.

Interviewers get really nervous when deciding whether to give a nomad a job. (If you give a nomad a job, they will want a cookie eating mouse.......)

Plastic stackable bins are a nomad's handiest tool.

Moving is great exercise.

Moving makes me feel like I'm evading the authorities. It gives me an unfounded air of mystery.

I think this lifestyle makes the idea of a yurt even more appealing.

I could come up with more, but moving also makes a person tired. Time to wash up and head to bed, or mattress, which is now on the floor since the Asian wood bed frame is in the new place.

Good night and happy trails, where ever you may live!

pack your bags....

....it's time to move!

Six months in one place

but now it is time to move

to a new apartment.

This time, we are staying

in the same time zone

and same state

and same county.

Just a different town, in a different apartment, in a slightly different latitude. This move has many benefits, including helping relatives. There are some bonuses for us, too:

much bigger space

money saving

no leaking ceiling

outdoor space

private driveway and entrance

will not hear traffic speeding by day and night

will not have to use the car to get to "gym"

or the running track

or my parents.

Will be able to live there long term comfortably.

Moving right along......

moving appears to be my thing

Ah, movement. I love movement: moving my body through dance and yoga, moving things along like progressing through college degree programs, moving food along in digestive movement, (always a good thing) and apparently........


moving to new places is just my thing. Yes, after six months in one apartment, we're moving on to another. For those who need to catch up, confuse yourself with this post. I will fill you in with more details at a later time. Now........ off to lift weights!!!!

everything old is new again

Being back on the Island is proving to be quite an experience. I am not sure how to take it yet. When I was driving the moving truck from East Providence, the ride was interesting. As I drove up the five exits of 195, I looked at the Providence skyline for the last time and felt a pang of sadness to be leaving so soon. The experience somehow feels incomplete. Noticing the sign at the 95 split pointing the way to New York, I felt a small sense of hope and happiness. The bulk of the drive was uneventful. The truck's dashboard lights were not illuminating and Greg was having trouble driving his car as "slow" as I was traveling until I said it was fine for him to drive ahead. I listened to music and sang along to the songs I knew (even to some that I did not). All was well until I got half way through Nassau County. Tears welled up a bit and I felt a tinge of sadness that I could not explain. Crossing over the Suffolk County line, full fledged sobbing commenced.

After having a couple of days to settle in, I have noticed how familiar and yet foreign everything on the Island seems. It has been over five years since I have resided here. I forgot some of the routes to different places. Stores have gone out of business and new strip malls have been built. People still drive aggressively. Life is busy. I need to take some moments to really think about what it means to me to be back here and decide what happens next. What will transpire, I am not sure. I am filled with curiosity.

...ork new york new york new york new y...

We're getting settled and should be plugged back in some time tomorrow. Woot Woot! It has been an exhausting week. Moved in on Sunday, started a temp job on Monday, living out of boxes....all the fun stuff. But, boy, do I have some tales to tell! Now, I am going to enjoy some Thanksgiving side dishes....I'm the only vegetarian in the family....and some pumpkin bars!!!! Triple woot woot woot!

my week wrapped in brown cardboard boxes

my week
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

As of later today, I will be without internet connection for a spell. We are shutting off service in our soon-to-be-former apartment and our new service is not scheduled to be installed until December 8th. *sigh* I will be checking in periodically at my folks' house since I will be within driving distance for the first time in about five years. This hiatus of services will also make it difficult to post my Art Every Day Month stuff. I will have to do some catch up in December but I covered my ass through Sunday by posting four photos in the group today. See? Forward thinking!

Uprooting and moving again is bringing up stress and self examination, as it always does. I am riding the wave of it and seeing what transpires. That is really all I can do. Introspection gets deeper at these times, as does "future thought". What will the next chapter of life include? What goals will I reach? What will change? What will stay stagnant? Do not get me wrong, I actually enjoy the pensive and even the sometimes somber thinking. It reminds me that I am real, and being real is what it's all about. I am sure there will be some deeper posts forthcoming.

Since I dismantled our desk last night, I have been sitting here on the floor, amongst the boxes, with my feet falling asleep. It time to face the day, finish up the loose ends and finalize the packing. See you in a few days!

Cheers,
Meliss

packing, art, packing, raw food planning, packing and...uh...packing

packing packing packing
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

And taking some time to walk and take some pictures for Art Every Day Month. This picture is not one of them....these are boxes...no really...they are. Greg and I have been checking "to do's" off the list and slowly packing. We have got the rental truck reserved for Saturday and have a couple of friends and family helping on both ends of the move. Whew! Though the more the merrier. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more)

As for my daily art, pictures have been the easiest way since most everything is in chaos. Well not total chaos, just unique disarray. I have also been doodling with my Sharpies (oh my, that sounds a little perverted out of context) and letting myself "play" with ink and paper. It has been quite fun. I will have to scan some of them to share soon.

Other than that, we have been trying to get some exercise in to our days and I am putting together a thirty-day primarily raw foods menu for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just read through Ani Phyo's book, Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, which has some amazing recipes I am looking forward to making. We will see how we feel after thirty days and will adjust what percentage of raw foods work for us in the long term. That should also be long enough to detox our bodies, get past that initial ucky-detoxy feeling and see how good we feel. I will keep you updated as things transpire.

That is all for now, folks. Here are the pictures I chose for AEDM (lots more photos on flickr):

Cheers!

the art of leaving

gentle exit
Originally uploaded by misslissa13 Art Every Day Month Entry

We are back in Rhode Island for our final week as Rhodies. I say that slightly in jest, since I do not know if I feel at all like a Rhody. Perhaps it is because I have not lived here more than a year, perhaps it is just my stubborn resistance. Whatever it is, I have to say, I feel more Coloradan than Rhody, and more New Yorker than that.

All of the moving I have done, all the places I have lived and all the states I have resided have helped me learn more about myself. My time in Colorado had a profound affect on me. I moved there, not knowing a soul and only having been to the state once, and that was for my interview at Naropa. It was scary and exciting, hard and growth provoking. I loved every difficult moment of the experience, for it forced me out of my comfort zone and into deep self exploration. Much of the time I was also in the throes of a relationship that triggered a lot of self-doubt. On the other end, I would not have changed a thing.

As for leaving RI, I am slightly saddened about leaving; feeling like this experience is not quite done. It is also sparking twinges of missing Colorado. Moving back to New York is also stirring up many layers of emotion. Frustration, excitement, nostalgia, hope, joy of being closer to loved ones, stress of moving, thrill of new beginnings...it goes on. Most layers are positive and I am curious as to what these next few years will bring. Greg studying acupuncture, me studying nutrition, starting my therapy practice, being grounded in a single place for a few years, getting to see the people I love on a regular basis and having new opportunities are just some of the things I am looking forward to.

Change, as always, is happening, outside and within.

moving right along

Things are happening!

once a punk

....always a punk. Just giving you an update about what is happening here.

- I have not created any art these past couple of days, but I have been thinking of some things I want to do.

- We are getting a post office box in our soon-to-be new town today.

- Greg is upgrading his very-outdated cell phone and getting me one. Can you believe it? Not only am I going to have a cell phone again (it has been five years or so) but I have a man who truly enjoys taking care of me. He must think I'm special!

- We are setting up a rental truck to officially move in a week and a half (!!!). I am curious to see how many of our friends make themselves scarce that weekend to avoid having to help with the heavy lifting. ;)

- We are planning a 30-day mostly raw menu to follow between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just want to see how my body reacts to it and help detox after all the pumpkin bars I plan on consuming at Thanksgiving. (Some of you know what my mother's pumpkin bars are and can relate as to why I plan on enjoying every morsel of pumkiny-goodness I can. Those of you who do not, trust me, they are fantastic. E-mail me if you want the recipe.)

- We will be starting work through a temp agency shortly after we move and I will be starting my own therapy practice in a couple of months. Woot woot! More on that soon.

- And, yes, that is me on the right side of the picture circa 1988. Cute, eh? Well I must be off to get stuff done with my Greg. Until later, folks. Cheers!

and so it continues

Addendum to my post this morning. I just got an email from former roommate Kerry that he and Christine are moving back to New York this month! What a wacky Universe we are living in! God I love these synchronicities.

don't worry, there's no quiz at the end

This will by no means make anything clearer. It will, however, back up the fact that life is never boring and is filled with lots of synchronicity. Ready for some head spinning? Here we go:

Legend:
Map 1
1 Lake Grove, NY
2 Lafayette, CO
3 Boulder, CO (apt B1)
4 Boulder, CO (apt B2)
5 Boulder, CO (apt B3)
6 Denver, CO (apt D1)
7 Denver, CO (apt D2)
8 East Providence, RI
9 Patchogue, NY






Cast of players:
Melissa - yours truly
Greg - the best!
E - ex #1
L - ex #1's wife
A - ex #2
Kerry - roommate






- Grew up in location 1, where my folks still live (yay!)
(There was an incidental move 7 miles away to Sayville, NY, but considering I am focusing on the past few...as in under 6...years, I will ignore this location....you know, to keep it simple. haha)
- Moved to location 2 to start grad school
- Moved to location 3 to be closer to grad school and far away from crazy woman I subleased from
- Moved to location 4 when A was moving out with dog S
- Moved to location 5 when things with A took a turn for the worse
- Moved to 6 with roommate Kerry when building 5 was sold and new owners were converting it back to a one family
- Moved to 7 (Greg's Denver apartment) when lease with Kerry was up and his fiance' was moving in
- Moved to 8 when 7 lease was up
- We are currently in the middle of move to 9

Okay, that part was relatively simple. Here are some crazy synchronicity (see if you can follow):
- All players involved were originally from Long Island (some never left)
- Began friendship with Greg when we were teens living 9 miles apart
- Greg and E went to HS together
- Me and L went to HS together
- Greg and L graduated the same year
- Me and E graduated the same year
- E shares a birthday with my father
- Lost touch with Greg some time after Community College
- While dating E, we both took a poetry class taught by A
- E broke up with me and began dating L, engaged 6 months later and eventually married
- After class ended and grades were in, I began dating, and eventually becoming engaged to A
- A introduced me to Transpersonal Psychology which is how I learned about Naropa University for my grad work
- Moved almost 2000 miles to 1, then 2, and, while at 3, A moved to CO
- Moved to 4, 5, then 6
- I did not know roommate Kerry while living in NY. Met him through a mutual friend from LI about the time when Kerry's former roommate moved out and I needed a place. That worked out well. Got a place to live and gained valuable friendship.
- Kerry's fiance' and I share the same birthday
- While at 6, found Greg's profile online stating that he just so happened to be moving to Denver the next month
- Greg moved, friendship reunited, love grew
- Moved in with Greg at 7
- Moved about 2000 miles together to 8
- Planning and in the process of move to 9
- E and L also live at 9

Did you follow all that? Did not think so!










Map 3:
Greg and I both moved about 2000 miles to fall in love with each other and move back to a place (C) 11 miles from where I grew up (A) and 6 miles from where he grew up (B). And we'll be living down the hall from E and L.






Okay, I think I got this all of this straight. Life is certainly never boring!

blessed be our rent

Thank you, Apartmentos, for granting us access and acceptance to a brand shiny new apartment!

Woot woot!
Amen

i'm floating on air not smog

Glancing back, I notice that many of my recent posts have been quite lighthearted. I attribute this to being in a good place in my mind. I know moving is stressful....this is move eight in six years...but I just feel wonderfully calm. There are a lot of things contributing to this. It could be because this move should settle us in one place for the next few years. Relocating closer to family and friends, as well as career opportunities opening up to me adds to this. Being in a healthy relationship helps. I am sure being in touch with my creative side is being a stabilizing force as well. Embracing change is joyous to me. Whatever else contributes to the lightheartedness, you, dear readers, will just have to deal!

Enjoy the ride.
Sincerely,
The Pilot

prayer to st. apartmentos

We need some positive energy for us to get approved for a new apartment and for a smooth and easy move. We have boxes all over, job interviews set up and a vague timeline. Now we just need to start tying up the loose ends, including securing a new residence. So we ask you, St. Apertmentos, give us a blessing.

martha's got chocolate on her sweatshirt

You know what is the only thing that makes me tolerate Martha Stuart and her perfectionist image? Picturing her at home, with dust on her shelves, dirty dishes in the sink and her donning sweat pants with a hole in the knee and mismatched socks and eating Ben and Jerry's from the container. It makes it easier for me to be kind to myself with the fact that I am far from the "perfect homemaker" as you can imagine. I attempt to be organized and cleaver with things, but it just does not happen.

I began packing this week for the move. Not in any kind of methodical way, not in any way that makes sense, I just dove in. Books with shoes, big piles of semi-organized stuff to go through, a vague plan of what order to do thing......and I like it that way. I do not want to stress about things. It will all get done. It always does. I have become a master mover over the past five years. I look forward to settling down in one place for a few years and saving up to buy our first house (our "Ikea House" if you will). And even then, I will be an Ikea Homemaker. Making it look good on the surface, while knowing that, underneath, things could be done to a higher quality. And I will be okay with that, knowing that things are good and somewhat together and neat in it's own way. And in my world, shoes and books co-mingling in the same cardboard home is perfection.