My Apartment, Yo!

I hope it doesn't make you sick!!

Nesting with the Squirrels

So right now the temperature feels like 35 degrees outside, and I've got my window open. Why? Because I live on the third floor. I have NEVER once turned on any of my three radiators, yet my apartment is usually in a semi-sauna state. Well, I lie. Saunas are steamy, right? My apartment is dry. I guess all the heat drifting up from everyone else is enough. There hasn't been a night yet where I haven't slept with my window open and a fan sitting in it, and it's mid-November! Today is the first day I've had to get up and close it to just an inch-wide crack because of the temperature and because of the rain. What a crappy weekend! It's supposed to rain, snow, and be cold. I have a tree right outside my window where a little black squirrel used to take naps when it was warmer. I wonder if he'll come back to snuggle away from the snow. Where do squirrels go in the winter anyway? Do they find a new home? Or just re-insulate the old one?

A Well-Dressed Prostitute?

So I attended a conference in Grand Rapids recently for the Michigan Association of School Psychologists, otherwise known as MASP. It was 3 days, and took place at the Amway Grand Plaza. Wow, that hotel is beautiful! But I couldn't afford that, so I looked online through a hotel search engine and found a Travelodge. I've stayed at those before. The online reviews were fine, stating that you got comfort and breakfast for the convenient price. So I booked my time there, feeling good that I researched the distance, the area, the price, and so on.

I have a friend who lives near Grand Rapids that I haven't seen in a while, so we planned to meet up. He was to pick me up at my hotel. I decided to make a quick trip to the store before he got there, and headed for my car, which was parked in the back of the hotel. That section of the parking lot had a deserted, fenced lot next to it, and a section of woods behind it. I thought it looked a little desolate, but I was able to park right next to my door. I figured that this wasn't Detroit, and I also figured there weren't that many cars back there because not that many people stay in hotels on Sunday or Monday night.

So I get into my car, put the keys in the ignition, put my purse on the passenger seat, and straighten some papers over there as well. All of which took about 30 seconds. Then I notice in my driver's side mirror that a car is trying to pull in to the space next to me. I also notice that they didn't turn soon enough and will have to back up to avoid hitting me. I wonder if it's my friend. That silly guy! So I turn around to look at the car, and BAM!! Spotlight! What in the ???? So it's a cop! Have to admit I'm a little peeved. I'm totally innocent! I haven't even put the car in gear! Or what if it's not a cop?? We've all heard those stories of people posing as official enforcers of the law. So I turn around again to try and look at the car and see if it actually is a cop car, but I can't see ANYTHING! Efforts to look into a spotlight are futile. So I make sure my doors are locked, window up, hand on the mace, and a real-life cop approaches my window. I roll down the window.

Cop: "Hi."
Me: "Hi!" My face says: What's goin' on???
Cop: "You stayin' here?"
Me: "Yeah."
Cop: "You from around here?"
Me: "No. I'm in town for the MASP conference."
Cop: looks puzzled "MASP?"
I explain it to him.

He proceeds to tell me that this is a high drug-trafficking area, and also a well-known area for prostitution. He mentioned something about crack whores. I said "So you're telling me I should park in front?"

Ah, the efficacy of researching something before you make a decision! I never would have thought that I would be suspected of running prostitution games for drugs. I think when he saw how I looked he changed his mind. I had my hair in a french twist, was wearing a nice sweater and a leather blazer, jeans, and leather boots. I looked like I just stepped out of the JCPenney's fall catalog. I also looked like a well-dressed prostitute, apparently.

My neighbor is learning how to play the synthesizer

Yes, the synthesizer. At first I thought it was the sounds of actual piano chords I was hearing through the walls. But then the piano got sort of funky and electronic sounding. You know, kind of "Axel F"-esque.*



Then I remembered that we were on the third floor of an apartment building with no elevator and narrow steps on the staircase. Who would want to carry a piano up that? Yes, it must be a synthesizer. Anywho, aside from the soundtrack of Bill Murray's "Life Aquatic", I wasn't sure I would ever hear a synthesizer again after the '80s. Kind of refreshing.

I have friends and family that I know will think this little tidbit about the keyboard is entertaining, but I also know there are others that are undoubtedly unhumoured. Well, I have a couple other odd stories and random facts that might tickle your fancy. That's why I started this blog. You see, I'm approaching 30 and still in school. I am engaged, but I live by myself right now. I have no steady job and attend graduate school over full-time in a city which I am unfamiliar with. Those close to me know that I periodically drop off the face of the earth, but still want to know how it's going in outer space. Those who support me deserve updates. While I crave some sort of consistent communication with others, my schedule is not always conducive to this and neither is theirs. This is one way for them to check up on me whenever they want. Now if I can just get them to do the same.

I am also selfishly looking for an outlet for some past experiences that I didn't get to share with some. We'll see if I am motivated enough to put them down on the proverbial paper.

* He's not that advanced yet. I can hear him the clearest when I take a trip to my bathroom. It's like an odd serenade of sorts...