I've Got my Car, my new Apartment, and I had a Birthday........Life is Good!

I was going to start this....."No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...." but I realized that's how I started my last post so I'll have to get more original than that. So how's this.........For glory's sake....I'm living in California now! I've got my car (finally.) It arrived late but unharmed. The lessons learned from driving a rental car for 4 weeks are:

1. When your cousin gives you a guest parking pass to put in your car so you won't get towed, it would be good to remember to take that parking pass out of the rental car. Yes, I left the parking pass in one rental car and when I got back to Rancho Santa Margarita, didn't even realize that said parking pass was missing until I went out to get in my rental car and the car wasn't there. That was probably one of the lowest moments I had during my transition period. I was able to locate the car and for a mere $200 was able to rescue if from the impound lot. Good times, eh?
2. When you rent a car through Hotwire.com, you get a really good deal. The goofy thing is that you have to keep the car in your possession until the day you contracted to return it or you will pay full price....go figure! Seems wierd to me but hey, I don't make the rules, I just try to follow them when I can.
3. I drive a rental car much better than I drive my own car....or maybe it's not better as much as it is more cautious. I think it's the whole if you put a scratch on the car you will have to leave all your worldly possessions with the rental care company in order to leave the airport. I didn't like it at all. I am so much more relaxed in my own car.

I have also moved into my apartment. That whole thing went like clockwork. I took an afternoon off from work and the new bed was delivered, followed by the cable guy, followed by the movers. All was done by 5 PM. The moving van driver, Derrick, was amazing. He was able to maneuver a full size moving van into the narrow driveway of this apartment complex. He totally rocked. By Sunday, I was completely unpacked with only the pictures to hang. I was able to receive visitors that day as my Aunt came over to help........

Yep, that's her, my Aunt, playing on the computer.....My cousin was in severe pain so she was allowed to hang out on the couch!

I love where I live. It is about 5 minutes from work and everything I want shopping wise is just around the corner.

There have been a few difficult adjustments for some members of the family. Misty has expressed her displeasure at being left alone during the day by leaving me special presents in very strategic places (middle of my bed!) For the past few years she has had Mr. McGregor, Maggie or even her cousin Zoey to hang out with (I use that in only the broadest of associations.) I believe, her expression of displeasure last Friday was over the fact that it's just me here....no one/thing else. So I figured I had three options:

• Do nothing and deal with the "presents."
• Get another kitten for her to have for companionship
• Try coming home for lunch since it's only 5 minutes away.

I voted for the third option and have been coming home for lunch this week. So far, so good. I'll keep you posted.

Finally, yes I had a birthday this week. It passed. I survived.

For those of you who need more pictures, here is a picture of my dining room (pre-picture hanging....the picture is up on the wall now.)