Planning for the move from New York

We're starting to gear up for our move: it looks like we'll be packing up a rental truck on June 14th, and driving it down to NC that afternoon/evening. One of Kristie's family friends offered to do the driving, which we're really thankful for (me driving a moving truck on the BQE would clearly mean disaster). We'll unpack, spend the weekend getting situated and sorted in the apartment, and two weeks later I'll start with school.

It's a little bittersweet, leaving New York: I've lived here nearly ten years, and it's longer than I've lived anywhere before. Truthfully, I never thought I'd leave the city - but now that something new is looming, I'm excited about it. Change is good, and broadening your horizons is important. It'll be an adventure - I think that even though I'm not sure what will come out of business school (regardless of what I said on my application), it's going to be a great experience.

We're really excited about the prospect of getting a dog. This morning I convinced Kristie to come with me to a dog run, sneak in and hang out with the dogs. Even though the dog owners probably think we're creepy, I've justified it to myself (and so far, Kristie) by saying it's research, so we're familiar with the personalities of the different breeds.

Chapel Hill Apartment!

Kristie and I were down in Chapel Hill this weekend, and we've settled on an apartment. We're really excited - it's close to school, and in a place called Southern Village (a sweet little development with shops, restaurants, outdoor performance space, movie theatre - and even John Edwards campaign offices!). Here's the link for the Village:

http://www.southernvillage.com/

(it looks like the NC Orchestra is having a free concert the first week we move in).

As to the apartment itself, here is the write-up - I'll post pictures below:

3 bedroom/2 bath:

Southern Charm! Light And Bright 3 Bedroom Condo In A Secured, Elevator Building. Located Just 2 Miles From UNC In A Quiet, Family-Friendly Neighborhood. Amenities Include A Wood-Burning Fireplace, Built-In Bookshelves, Hardwood Floors In The Kitchen And Foyer, Covered Parking, And Sweeping Views Of The Neighborhood From Your Private Covered Porch. Neighborhood Amenities Include Restaurants, Weaver Street Market, Miles of Walking Trails, Playgrounds, A Day Care Center and Elementary School Within Walking Distance, And Free Bus Service To UNC. A Perfect Place For Grad Students, Medical Residents Or Anyone Else Looking For A Convenient, Quiet Place At A Below Market Price! Optional Membership To Swim and Racquet Club Available.

Chapel Hill Apartment!

The view from our balcony! We're on the third floor, at the end of the building. We're planning on getting either our own table/chairs or getting Adirondack chairs to take advantage of the view.
Master bedroom - lots of light, and we're hoping to buy the beautiful bureau from the owner. Directly behind where the photograph is being taken is the master bathroom, walk-in closet and linen closet (no pictures of those)
The living room, including the dining room (with a great chandelier) and the entrance to the guest bathroom/guest bedrooms.
The living room from the entrance to the guest bath and guest bedrooms. The fireplace is wood burning, and that's the entrance to the balcony at the back right. The door directly in front is to the master bedroom.
View of the living room from the kitchen. Love the pillars - and we're hoping they'll leave or sell the two rugs to us, because they're just beautiful). The balcony is off the living room (to the left of the chair at back), so the room is flooded with light.
This is the kitchen itself. Not so excited about the stove, but the rest of it is super-cute. And the counter-space! It's amazing!)

A view of the kitchen - we love the breakfast bar (they're leaving the stools for us) - and the closets you can see to the right hold the washing machine and dryer; another set of closets, closer and out of the frame, are for coats etc.)
Dining room - the dining room/kitchen/living room is all an open plan, which we really like)

Here is the guest bathroom (no picture of the master bathroom, but it's pretty much the same)


This is one of the guest bedrooms - the other one will probably be Kristie's office (we don't have a picture of that one, but it's flooded with light)

Idiotarod

My mother was in town this last weekend, and it makes you realize just how old you're getting when she has more energy - and is in better shape - than you are. We spent all day Saturday walking around (tried to get matinee tickets for a show, and ended up getting tickets for 8 pm....so we killed 9 hours walking: over the Brooklyn Bridge, all around Dumbo, and through Soho). Not only did I go to bed before my mother, but I'm sad to say that the next day - literally - my hips hurt. How is that possible? I'm only now recovering, 5 days later!

The most amazing thing, though, was something we stumbled across called the idiotorod on Dumbo. Made up of teams of 5 or more, people in costumes were pulling shopping carts. Teams met in Dumbo near the water before starting their journey over the Manhattan Bridge. We actually thought it was a demonstration, heard police cars, and were wandering over to take a look before I saw three women in identical pink wigs and realized something was not quite right.

Among the teams (I'm killing myself that I didn't bring my camera), people were dressed as:

- bananas
- wonder women
- rats with giant genitals
- santa clauses
- doctors
- nurses

and people were dressed in (I couldn't identify a specific costume):

- blue spandex
- underwear over clear plastic suits
- red outfits that said COBRA (GI Joe?)

....among many others. One of the funniest things was the degrees of fitness represented: from the super-fit who were charging along to those who were FAR from fit (and in many cases chugging a beer while they ran). Amazing. So something that would be fun to do next year. And I would certainly be in the latter category of runners.

starting?

I've never done a blog before, but I think this is a good day to start with the blogging, because I'm sick as a dog, so I can't do very much else.

Kgirl and I went to see Brokeback Mountain last night- and though I knew it would be sad, I didn't expect to be dragged down into a temporary depression. The desperate gay cowboys - and the two bloody shirts at the end - it was almost too much! I was still thinking about it when I woke up this morning, and I'm still thinking about it now (though admittedly, as I've gotten progressively sicker as the day has gone on, I've been thinking more and more about myself). Regardless: very sad. Poor cowboys.

I also wonder whether Heath Ledger will be a viable contender for the Oscar - or if he'll even be nominated? I saw Capote last week, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman won the Golden Globe, and I think he'll probably win the Oscar. He was great - but it was such a perfect part. Whereas Ledger's performance was so much quieter....which is something I doubt the Academy gives recognition to. Over the last several years, with kudos repeatedly bestowed on mimic acting (to be sure, a lot of it incredible), it seems like there's less of a premium on creating characters.

In terms of the affects of Brokeback on my Sunday, I think it hasn't been helped by the music Brian introduced me to when I went to visit him this last weekend in North Carolina - Bent and Emiliana Torrini. Both incredible, but both a little blue, and adept at pulling me into depression. Still: if you haven't heard Baby Blue by Torrini, it's worth checking out to hear her say she keeps her daughter in a jar.