Apartment Dwelling

There are a few major perks to living in a big apartment complex.

1. Anything that breaks is only a phone call away from being fixed, and you don't have to foot the bill.
2. There is usually free access to a nice gym, pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc.
3. There's lots of people which is good for: people watching, feeling un-alone, and noise.

Okay, so maybe that last one is not a major perk.
But for me sometimes it is.

You see, I really enjoy people watching. I enjoy creating a life story or background on someone. Have you ever sat in a restaurant and narrated other diner's conversations? It's actually quite fun, and entertaining. Especially when one girl shows up with about 16 guys. That really happened once.

In honor of us moving to a new, big, apartment complex in less than 10 days (should I start packing yet?), here are some of the unique characters that dwell in our cul-de-sac.

Short, awkward, grey-haired Grandma. This lady really is quite nice. But also rather awkward. Mostly because her huge dog tried to eat my puppy and bite my baby one afternoon yet Grandma is still convinced he wouldn't hurt a flee. She wears bermuda shorts or capris with black ballet flats and round, wire, glasses. She drives a baby blue Hyundai and got upset when the Frat Boys were picking someone up and blocked her parking space for two minutes.

Frat Boys. I'm not entirely sure how many occupy one apartment. Sometimes I see one, sometimes I see three or four. They're not overly loud, except when they have a window open at lunch time and belch deeper than the ocean. It was only a little gross. They can often be seen hanging out by their car, drinking beer, and skateboarding around. At least one or two of them have girlfriends that enter, or exit, the apartment at random times, most recently seen exiting at 7 am dressed in his clothes. Hmm.

The Hispanic Couple. I haven't actually really talked to these folks, but we've shared a wave or a brief "hello" in passing. They seem like nice people. However, they have a dog that is quite literally taller than their waist. They are both pretty short. The dog is beautiful, but also very strong and somewhat scary. Both them and us are a little wary of their dog eating our puppy, so we keep our distance when out for a walk.

The Interesting Kid. We had only been living here for a short time when a random kid, maybe 12-14 years old, struck up a conversation with me:
"Do you have internet?"
yes.
"Can I come use it?"
Why?
"To check my email."
You're going to have to ask your parents.
"Well, my mom isn't home, and my dad grounded me..."
Then I'm sorry, you can't use it.


Or something like that. It was pretty awkward, very odd, and a little bit hilarious. He can be seen riding his scooter around the cul-de-sac or on his bike in the neighborhood. I haven't talked to him since.

The Couple Next Door. I really actually like these people! The live directly across from our door and have a small, wiry, dog that I can't remember the breed of. For the longest time we weren't sure if they were married, dating, roommates, or siblings. We don't know their names or their relationship status, but we now assume they're dating. She is really nice and very friendly. He likes shooting guns and works as a security officer somewhere. I think.

and our favorites:

The Car Salesman and Pharm Rep. To be honest, we have no idea what their actual occupations are, but based on their appearances, this is who they are to us. He is so friendly and very nice. He always strikes up a brief conversation in passing and he drives a beautiful suburban *drool*. She is always, always, always, dressed to the nine's, and usually not skanky. But also not modest. Neither of us had seen someone pull it off so well, but she seems to, which is why she's a Pharm Rep. Also, I've never talked to her. They used to have a dog, but she was put to sleep from old age and a tumor in her brain that made her blind.

As you can see, Mr. Man and I are SO, super outgoing and overly friendly and gracious to anyone we don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaha, we're really not.
In reality, we are very friendly and very nice people, but I think we're also both shy when it comes to meeting new people and striking up conversations. Weird, right?

Right. But you don't have to agree with me.

Bubs is the most friendly and outgoing of all of us! He never fails to wave and say "hi!" to anyone and everyone, including empty cars. He also has been known to run up to complete strangers and hug their leg.

I can't wait to see what our new place brings us!
Hopefully less dog poop, less smokers, and better grass.

There's a monster in my...

The baby's asleep, or, well, getting there, which means I have at least 1 hour to accomplish anything I choose. My list looks something like this:

-clean up the breakfast mess in the kitchen

-sweep and mop the floor, specifically the puddle of spit up

-throw in a load of laundry, fold 2 loads

-work out with Jillian

-clean my room

-de-fossilize the oatmeal stuck to Bubs' highchair.

-shower 

I could go on...

But I really want to blog, so here I am. In front of my computer and not cleaning something.

This is real life, yo.

Have any of you read the book The Five Love Languages? 
I have. At least once. Skimmed a couple other times.
I've been thinking about love languages alot lately.
Mostly trying to figure out what mine is.
So I made a list of things I like that make me feel really loved.
I showed it to Mister Man.
Guess what he said?
"Your love language is called Karissa Love Language"

He's right.

It's just a strange conglomeration of all sorts of love languages. 

Really confusing and difficult for a husband.

Poor guy.

One time, I put a tank top in the washer.
When it came out, it looked like this:

I think there's a monster hiding in there.

I often dream of having a monster-less, middle-spinning-thing-less, non-top loading, beautiful washer someday.
Today is not that day.
Mostly because we had to put 8 tires on our cars.
I could've bought a brand new washer/dryer set for how much those stinkin' tires cost.
Why are cars money pits?
And why am I still talking about tires? I think I've successfully beat a dead horse.
No more tires. Promise.

I found the perfect apartment I want us to move in to.

The price is absolutely right. 

Everything feels right and good about it. So far. In my head.

Problem? It costs nearly 2 grand to break our current lease.

Which ends July 31.

Oy. 

Patience has never been my strong suit.

Today it is windy, cold, and rainy.
I have to go to Costco.
Have. To.
Why does that always happen to me?
Maybe someday I'll learn that bright, sunny, warm, days are much better Costco days.

And how's that for random?
Let's get on with our day, now shall we?
Yippe-kai-yay!