well at least that's over

moving was the worst experience of my life. i'm not going to go into it for fear that i will actually start crying, but let me just say this: if you are moving in the new york metropolitan area DO NOT USE RIGHTWAY MOVING.

that being said, i am now feeling better about my apartment than i was on saturday. here's the general run down:

friday: moved in with movers (ugh) and my mom (was a saint) and helped 100%. after the movers FINALLY left, mom helped me unpack and set up some stuff. still no stove and fridge, no shocker. lauren came out from jersey and met us at my apartment, we went in search of food, then mom went home and lauren helped me start putting together some of the ikea furniture while we watched a dvds on the impossibly small tv that the movers actually moved safely (i didn't trust them with my beautiful christmas/birthday present flatscreen).

now would be a good oppurtunity to explain my apartment and neighborhood more in depth. i have moved to a section of brooklyn called crown heights. if you are from the new york area, this neighborhood may sound familiar thanks to the many crimes that are reported in the news that happen here. the building is well lit and secure, with cameras watching every corner. the apartment itself has new applicances, newly redone light wood floors, repainted walls, and redone bathroom. but the neighborhood leaves much to be desired. but, you know, this is what i can afford.

the apartment is about 4-5 blocks from prospect park, or brooklyn's central park. it has an ice skating rink, boat pond, great lawn type area (called the long meadow), a zoo, a botanical gardens and even horse back riding (supposedly the best in the city, although i don't know where else you would horse back ride in the city). On the north and west sides of the park is the area called park slope, which is really nice and much too nice for me to afford. my neighborhood is to the northeast of the park. but there are some new things spilling into this area, and if you just walk up a block or two you will see gorgeous brownstones with black wrought iron railings and nice clean sidewalks. on my street i have also noticed the occassional caucasian, which is comforting. while i am not uncomfortable in this setting (hello, i've told you about my high school) i fear that my friends and guests will be uneasy when they step off the subway stop that is a mere 30 feet from my apartment building's door.

i knew lauren was uncomfortable as soon as she walked through my door. her uneasiness put me on edge and made me question my choice of living arrangement. when i finally returned to stamford on saturday afternoon the first thing i did was burst into tears. had i made a horrible mistake? i had spent too much money and wasted too much time on this to turn back now. i was in it for the long haul.

saturday i distracted myself with a gorgeous fall motorcycle ride (i was on the back of course) and then a night of drinking and dancing at the thirsty turtle with high school friend davey p. i like going out with dave because i never have to pay for anything. that is one benefit to telling your friends how much (or how little) you make. he kept on telling me he had to show me a good time so i would miss stamford and come back to see him often. i promised i would.

sidenote: dave and dan are planning on moving to nyc in the spring. by then i might be willing and able to default on my lease and move in with them in their neighborhood of choice: the upper east side. they will have to commute to conn. so they want to live near grand central or the harlem train station.

on sunday i returned to brooklyn, finished putting together all the furniture except my dresser, and felt infinitely better about the place. i even got to go to a bar and a movie in park slope. it was comforting and nice.

i didn't spend the night in the apartment sunday, but i plan on doing that on tuesday night, after the cable guys come to install my dvr and modem. that will be the first time i take the subway there during rush hour after work, and the first time i take the subway to work in the morning.

my apartment is still a work in progress but i do have pictures...they'll be coming soon.