and then there was INTERNET
Welly well-well well... we FINALLY got our internet hooked up! Johann and I arrived in Champaign just before dawn on the 1st and had no power. This was annoying because we were prepared to move our things inside and pass out. Johann had set up all our utilities online about two weeks prior. Our neighbor told us that this is what it is like here, to our dismay. So, we moved what we could inside while it grew dark and slept on the floor. This was the first time I ever saw fireflies that were not on TV.
The next thing that struck me about our apartment was that it smelled like musty old library and cigarette smoke. I started sneezing without end ever since and up until yesterday, when Johann convinced me to take Benadryl. It also seems to have been built in the 60s-70s. It has all the old funky appliances and light fixtures. I'm taller than our fridge!
In the morning, we woke up our neighbors (whoops) and they helped us move in the heavy stuff- couches, bed, Johann's huge-ass TV. We then unloaded most of what was in our cars and hitched everything up to drive 40 miles east to Danville to return the truck. This was a near god-forsaken land without gas stations for miles. Their gas stops don't even sell beer, so we had to wait to get back to Champaign to find any. This is how we bribed our neighbors to wake up. We celebrated our ridding of the beast-truck with some Big Boy's. I didn't think they still existed. I thought he was just an old icon that Dr. Evil flew away in.
We spent the rest of the day shuffling boxes and trying to figure out where everything should go. I own 5 times as much stuff as Johann. Something had to be done. We started getting rid of things, sorting them into a yardsale pile. We just hope our landlords let us have one. This pile eventually became out of control and we had to clear a section behind the couches for it. I really hope we can have one, god knows we will need the money.
For days it seemed, we cleaned and threw out a lot of trash, blowing our noses all day long. Then, a miracle happened. Well, not really. The power guy came to save us! He turned on our lights, a/c, and lit the gas heater pilot for us. He gave us some advice on how to save money and not kill ourselves with the gas heater, which we tried to pass on to our landlords. With renewed enthusiasm (and better lighting) Johann and I were more determined to get this place looking like an apartment. However, our pace actually slowed down.
We had become accustomed to leaving for meals without a working fridge and still did. We drove around town, Johann pointing things out. We went to the library to check our email and get lib cards, then to pick up beer for the neighbors and later grocery shopping. We have been distracted ever since. Sure, we clean and sort when we can... but now we have internet, so that's doomed.
We went to the mall over the weekend and I got a haircut and turned in 4 applications. The GAP and Bed Bath went over my application with me and were impressed. It seems I cannot get ahold of the Toys "R" Us manager and Hot Topic could give a shit less I suppose. We also went to the movies and saw March of the Penguins... you'd be an idiot not to like this movie/documentary.
So, right now I am trying to find work, because the mail forwarding has finally kicked in (I was starting to worry). And with mail come bills (ugh). I guess that's all for now. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Cheers!
The next thing that struck me about our apartment was that it smelled like musty old library and cigarette smoke. I started sneezing without end ever since and up until yesterday, when Johann convinced me to take Benadryl. It also seems to have been built in the 60s-70s. It has all the old funky appliances and light fixtures. I'm taller than our fridge!
In the morning, we woke up our neighbors (whoops) and they helped us move in the heavy stuff- couches, bed, Johann's huge-ass TV. We then unloaded most of what was in our cars and hitched everything up to drive 40 miles east to Danville to return the truck. This was a near god-forsaken land without gas stations for miles. Their gas stops don't even sell beer, so we had to wait to get back to Champaign to find any. This is how we bribed our neighbors to wake up. We celebrated our ridding of the beast-truck with some Big Boy's. I didn't think they still existed. I thought he was just an old icon that Dr. Evil flew away in.
We spent the rest of the day shuffling boxes and trying to figure out where everything should go. I own 5 times as much stuff as Johann. Something had to be done. We started getting rid of things, sorting them into a yardsale pile. We just hope our landlords let us have one. This pile eventually became out of control and we had to clear a section behind the couches for it. I really hope we can have one, god knows we will need the money.
For days it seemed, we cleaned and threw out a lot of trash, blowing our noses all day long. Then, a miracle happened. Well, not really. The power guy came to save us! He turned on our lights, a/c, and lit the gas heater pilot for us. He gave us some advice on how to save money and not kill ourselves with the gas heater, which we tried to pass on to our landlords. With renewed enthusiasm (and better lighting) Johann and I were more determined to get this place looking like an apartment. However, our pace actually slowed down.
We had become accustomed to leaving for meals without a working fridge and still did. We drove around town, Johann pointing things out. We went to the library to check our email and get lib cards, then to pick up beer for the neighbors and later grocery shopping. We have been distracted ever since. Sure, we clean and sort when we can... but now we have internet, so that's doomed.
We went to the mall over the weekend and I got a haircut and turned in 4 applications. The GAP and Bed Bath went over my application with me and were impressed. It seems I cannot get ahold of the Toys "R" Us manager and Hot Topic could give a shit less I suppose. We also went to the movies and saw March of the Penguins... you'd be an idiot not to like this movie/documentary.
So, right now I am trying to find work, because the mail forwarding has finally kicked in (I was starting to worry). And with mail come bills (ugh). I guess that's all for now. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Cheers!