Apartment Settling

I'm pretty much all unpacked, minus a few random things. They're things I'm scared to throw out in case I need them, but I don't really use them, so I just need to store them somewhere. I hate having weird things like that.

I still haven't gone to the store. I've been surviving on leftovers from when my parents were here. I'm on my last bit of leftover omelette this morning and then I will be foodless.

My initial grocery list is a bit weird, but oh well.

1. eggs
2. grapefruit juice
3. milk
4. cereal
5. beer
6. soup
7. salad
8. salad dressing

That's it. I'm not feeling in cooking mode just yet, although Chris and I are going to cook something random out of a cookbook he got for Christmas when he comes to visit on Friday. We'll grocery shop for that when we decide what we want to make.

I also need a few other random things while I'm out and about today:

1. ice tray
2. water filter pitcher
   (I tried my usual refridgerating of water to make it too cold to taste. No cigar. The water here just tastes that bad.)
3. calendar
4. mirror sheets
5. simple green
6. dish detergent
7. hamper
8. quarters for laundry

If I weren't feeling too cheap, I would invest in a shredder too. I have been shredding old mail by hand, and it's tedious.

On a positive note, living in my own space has already returned cat and I to an inseparable duo. She's curled up on the couch next to me now. Also worthy of note is the fact that I have a dedicated yarn space in this apartment. I put together the rack that I kept my clothes on in the last place, and have sorted all my yarn onto its shelves. No more giant bag of yarn shoved in the closet!

Retiring the Soul

I was just watching National Geographic's "Science of Evil," and one of the researchers being interviewed suggested that research about how the brain works is going to put the soul out of a job because we know that evil choices are just neurons firing, and circumstance influences our morality.

His thought on this was that if people don't believe their souls will continue on, they will make their choices in the present moment, and this could be a good thing. In his view, things like suicide bombing won't happen if we didn't have the continuing soul as a sort of parachute to protect the perpetrator from his or her own act. Even though their body dies, they can be confident that the soul will live on after their act. Without a soul, people won't have motivation to face martyrdom.

I can see his point, but I don't think it's fully thought out. I actually think it reflects the particular researcher's scientific inclination to despise religion. In contrast, I think many people's fear of consequences for their souls prevent self-indulgent behaviors that could harm others. The desire to do good for the soul is also a motivator for good.

In other words, we might gain some good by giving up the soul, but we would lose some as well. It might be a wash.

X-Mas and Robanukah

I've started the Christmas season out right by watching Seasong 5 Episode 13 of Futurama (the holiday spectacular) not once, but twice. My favorite part is Bender's Robanukah song: "...our ancient sounding customs are exceptionally newish..."

I've officially broken the rules by buying gifts for everyone. Whoops?

Traditions are as always(ish)...Christmas Eve at my uncle's with the extended family, Christmas morning at Kerrie's (instead of Mom and Dad's). We got nerf guns again so we can start the day out right with an epic battle--my favorite part of Christmas.

Monday, we take off with the Uhaul to move me back to Kansas. Hooray having my own space again. That is my present to myself.

Merry X-Mas. I hope Robot Santa doesn't blow up your house!

Blog Intentions

Yes, I know my blogs of late have been of a personal nature. A month of living out of a suitcase has killed all creativity. Coffee shops aren't all that helpful--I tried very hard to work on a short story last week, but my brain would have no part in it.

Due to limited access to Netflix, I just cannot crochet. When I get all moved into the new apartment in a couple weeks, I will begin the crochet madness again with the aid of beloved mindless original Star Trek.

Also to come is a lot more cooking and baking, sponsored by having my own kitchen and groceries. I will be better about providing recipes. Expendable income should result in returning to a lifestyle of organic cooking, although there will still be potstickers from a bag. They are a definite vice of mine, even if the smell slightly resembles stinky feet.

I might have to share some progress on the fitness front as well. My job comes with a workout facility, so I will be working out more. I will, of course, continue to use cheesy 90s Denise Austin workout videos that I purchased from the dollar store five-and-a-half years ago. They work. I'm also considering joining a yoga studio so that I can add a social element to getting fit. I am honestly too cheap to join a gym, especially since I would actually have to get in my car and drive to one. That defeats the purpose of living downtown.

I'd like to reserve my car for grocery trips only, although I'm holding out hope for some sort of downtown local grocer, in which case my car will almost never get used. It's a great car, but I've put over 5,000 miles on it in the last month-and-a-half. It's time for it to get some down time.

Also to come to my blog are photos not taken with my cell phone. I have two cameras that have been given to me. If I can acquire cords and successfully get them hooked up to my computer, I should be good to go. (All free cameras come without cords.)

Apartment Found

I took the plunge on renting an apartment without seeing the place.

Loft apartments downtown are in high demand. I could try to find a cheaper place further away and get on one of the waiting lists for an apartment. That would have given me more selection, and I could have held out for something with a little more historic character.

However, I really don't want to have to move after a few months or a year, so I'm taking the one apartment that really suits my needs that does happen to be available downtown.

I'm excited. Woohoo!

The Battle Against Twilight

This makes me happy. I'd say I'm more of a Star Trek fan than a Star Wars fan, but I'm not crazy enough about either to engage in a dispute between the two. I am, however, very enthusiastic in my dislike for Twilight.



In case you didn't know, George Takei was in both Star Trek and Star Wars.

Reassessing Priorities

I was looking at apartments again.

I think I have decided not to go for the places with the pools and tennis courts. Instead, I'm looking for a loft downtown so that I can walk to work. Most of them seem to still have fitness centers and parking garages. They're a bit pricier, but I would save on gas.

Some of them have great views of the river, and with these apartments I can actually get some historic charm like exposed brick and hardwood floors. The other apartments couldn't offer that--they were too new.

Hoping to pinpoint a place by next weekend.