A broken-down U-Haul, and a drive by shooting.

Posted on December 2, 2008 by sorellaaglio

OK OK. I’m sorry. I’ve been without Internet at home for days, and I moved this weekend. I am behind, and I am sorry for that. I shouldn’t have stopped writing. So here. To appease all of you, the story of my moving.

Saturday was THE DAY. The last day in a shared apartment, the first night to sleep in Jeff and I’s own apartment. I got up and started packing, and soon my girls Bec and Core had arrived to help me pack. Kiki and her friend A showed up too, and when Paul brought the coffee, we were a full house. Moving went smoothly–everything out, everything in, all by 2 pm. Then the ladies did a Target run and the boys ordered pizza. Cool, chill, fine, right? In and out of Target, had some pizza, and then we decided to go to Goodwill while we still had the U-haul to see if they had any tables. And here is where it all went downhill.

Bec, Core, and I all got to the Goodwill store just fine. But after we had been there for about 10 minutes, I was beginning to wonder where Jeff was. Eventually, he called to tell me the U-Haul had broken down in the middle lane at an intersection. WONDERFUL. He was waiting for the tow truck…

…and an hour and a half later, after a repair-truck had been dispatched and concluded that the U-Haul DID need to be towed, Bec, Core, and I went to visit Jeff. Meanwhile, he got a call that there had been a drive-by shooting at our old apartment. We were doubtful, at first, but when we went back to drop Core and Bec at Bec’s car, we couldn’t get to her car because…it was behind the crime-scene line. And the police man said that retrieving the car might be difficult. I asked him how long we had to wait, and he said:

“Depends.”
“On what?”
“If the guy dies or not.”

AWESOME. So Bec, Core, and I went back to Jeff, who was STILL waiting. After looping around to our old apartment one more time, the police officers told us they were about to take the caution tape down. So we waited, and Bec and Core hopped in the car and never looked back. The tow truck came, and I picked Jeff up the side of the road like a hitchhiker.

The next day we spent 3.5 hours cleaning up after our roommates in the old place, which was not the most fun I have ever had, let me tell you. BUT we did get to say “Adios!” to the apartment forever, and now we’re in our new home that has started shaping up. So it’s not all bad!!

Plus: it’s Christmas season!!

We've found an apartment!

Posted on November 24, 2008 by sorellaaglio

We have found an apartment. Thank God. Here is a picture of the outside. And here is our checklist from before, and how we did!!!!

*sunshine, and lots of it — check

*windows (to help with above said need) — check

*Air conditioning, because a year without it was NOT fun —check

*PARKING (This is one of the most important) —check

*more than a walk-in-closet sized kitchen —check

*bathroom that isn’t “old” or cracked or otherwise gross. (Jeff also is not keen on weirdly tiled sink, a commonplace in some places here) — check (although there is tile.)

*hardwood floors (I hate carpets, and Jeff also hates them from the dining area, and its seemingly all or nothing here) — check

*A landlord/manager ON SITE that speaks impeccable English. (We’ve have difficulties in the past.) — check

*something NOT on a hill, as Jeff DOES bike to work, and would be very appreciative if he could get to and from work in ease. — check

That being said, we’re looking mainly in the Los Feliz and Franklin Village areas, so we might not get lucky with the hill…We’ll see. Meanwhile, things we do not want:

*carpet

*a parking space that is exposed (Jeff worries about dings)

*A place that doesn’t pay water/trash (common place in LA, and some apartments we saw yesterday didn’t have the basics)

*a ground level apartment

*something too far from the 101

*A spot in an apartment complex with lots of children and/or college students

Also, we have created a “things that would be nice” column:

*A place that has an area to store a bicycle — check

*A pool

*An option for a second parking spot

*A bathtub and a shower without a door but rather a rod. – kind of check (shower stall and separate tub)

Dear China…with Love

Posted on November 21, 2008 by sorellaaglio

Dear China,

I am writing because I wanted to say that I missed you. I know your life has gone on without me, and that you hardly even noticed that I had left. But I remember all the good times we had together, and I wanted to say that I’m sorry I didn’t say a proper goodbye. I regret my leaving, and even though you will hardly remember my coming during your 5,000+ year history. Someday, I hope, you’ll remember all those days we spent together in the shade of smog-clouds. All the times you let me explore your historical monuments such as the Great Wall or the Temple of Heaven. I miss you terribly, and I think of it often.

Sincerely,

Your loving, favorite American

And now, commemorative photos from the great People’s Republic of China. Please click on each below to enjoy them all!