Things were going wonky.
a visual example of wonkiness
I moved in February of this year.
The duplex I’m in hasn’t worked out.
I couldn’t keep biting on the stick that kept me from complaining about my neighbor (who is also the landlord’s son) and the paper-thin wall we share. Let me amend that: I didn’t complain much on my blog, but my friends heard plenty. (But it was difficult to understand me with a stick embedded between my teeth: “Dat pun ash bish iza poh-smokeen idit.”)
I didn’t look this cute biting my stick. I slobbered a lot more.
I’m convinced that finding a place to live has a lot to do with timing and pure luck. The search can be intensified by a tight housing market in a very desirable area. Add to that my unwillingness to settle for just any old place.
A planner like me would be sweating bullets if she found herself without a place to live with seven days to go before her move date. Luckily, that sweaty girl has lovely friends who offered to let her housesit and also stay an extra week if she couldn’t find a place by June 30th.
I was feeling – I mean, SweatyGirl was starting to feel a strange mix of panic and calmness. Sometimes things don’t work out in your favor. Life is like that. Take what you’ve learned, pack it in your trunk and carry it away with you, wherever you may go.
ohmm…ohmmm…
On that seven-days-to-go day, SweatyGirl got a response from an ad she had answered days before. She spoke to the property owner of a small cottage in the country. He asked if she wanted to come by and see the place. SweatyGirl hightailed it over there, fell in love and activated all of her superpowers to try and convince the couple to rent their space to her. She left encouraged, yet she knew that several more people were scheduled to look at the place.
Later that evening, the husband called me. (By the way, I’m SweatyGirl.)
“We’re calling people to let them know that the cottage isn’t available.” He said.
“Oh, I see…” heart sinking…
“We canceled the other appointments because we’d like to offer it to you.”
“Reeeealllly??”
#happydance #sweatierthanever #lucktimingsuperpowers
the soon-to-be view out my window
What I thought was an end turned out to be a middle.
What I thought was a brick wall turned out to be a tunnel.
What I thought was an injustice turned out to be a color of the sky.~ Tony Hoagland, “A Color of the Sky”
jane in training 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! now, can you use your superpowers to convince someone to hire me (to do little work for really good pay)?…
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I’ll see what I can do.
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That is wonderful, Jane! A small cottage in the country, all to yourself, and in this market? You surely have some kind of superpower besides sweaty girl power :).
At one point, we lived in a place in San Francisco where my upstairs neighbor was my landlady’s son… so I can sort of relate. His roommate played certain songs over and over again, to the point that I know way too many Cure songs than I probably should.
And that is a beautiful dog, by the way.
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Thank you Jane! I have to keep using these superpowers so they don’t get rusty.
The Cure?? haha! Wow…that takes me back.
I spent my first night (last night) in my new space and slept well. Granted, I didn’t sleep at all the previous night, but still, I’m glad to put WonderBoy neighbor in the past.
The dog was the mascot of a winery I visited several years ago. I have many photos of him with that stick, ha!
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So happy for you, and you get to spend the July 4th holiday in your new place 🙂 !
I know huh, the Cure, that was in the early 90’s I think (or end of the darn 80’s). So yes, I’m feeling old, or very “vintage” now.
I look forward to seeing that dog again then, in your future posts. Our doggie is getting on in age, and I’m really surprised he is still up every morning…he doesn’t even chew sticks, or much of anything anymore, like his crazy younger days.
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Congrats on your new place! Sounds very promising. You’re brave to be out in the country:)!
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Thanks, G!! Well, it’s not deep in the country, but just far enough to only hear the sounds of birds singing in the morning…
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I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason. Some of my biggest defeats ended up being my best blessings. I’m happy you’ve found a place you love 🙂
That sounds like a bit of a stressful time in between though!
I can relate a little as I applied for a job recently that I wanted SO BAD. I emailed to tell them how much I wanted it and why I would be great at it. I even took a 40 minute train over there just to show my face and tell them once more how much I want this job. I got a standard email the other day saying I didn’t even get an interview. It’s really disappointing but I’m sure there’s something better out there waiting for me. In the meantime I’m working a few hours a week at an adorable little tea shop in town and really enjoying it 🙂
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I’m tons happier where I’m at now!!
Aw, I wish you had gotten that job. I’m totally impressed with the way you put yourself out there to let them know what an asset you could be. Your enthusiasm alone was a big plus. Their loss!!
My current landlord wondered why I had a difficult time finding a place, since I “seemed like a lovely person” (little does he know…), and I said it was sort of like dating – sometimes you never know why they aren’t interested. So I say the same for the job hunt. You did everything you could and left it in their hands. I agree – something bigger and better is out there for you (while you drink all the tea you can)!!
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Aww thanks for your kind words of encouragement 🙂
So glad you’re happier where you are now. And you are a lovely person hahah
I’m sure there are great things ahead for both of us 🙂
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…oh, good, you’re all moved in; i’m really glad you found this place… 🙂
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Was housesitting for a week and for the first time in a long time, I wished I were home! I’m glad I found this place, too. Although, with it comes all sorts of creatures: found a salamander/newt in the house and had to do a catch-and-release maneuver…
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