Space. Or lack thereof.

I knew coming down here that the primary obstacle would be the question of space.

I have always enjoyed having my own space. I like my alone time, and I like living alone. I never wanted roommates, and haven't had any since I left Semple Street in South Oakland after I graduated from college.

So I am taking a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment and moving into an already furnished apartment with 3 other people. We first loaded all my things into the basement, and bringing up boxes I need one by one to unpack. I am constantly asking myself, "where can this fit?" and, in all honesty, "where do I fit?" I am trying to figure out where I fit within this family and culture that is much more insular than my own. With each item I cannot find space for, this rug and that picture frame, it feels like a piece of me that isn't fitting in.

This is my doing, not anyone else's. D and his family have opened their arms and their home to me, and I am grateful to them for it. But that is the thing, it is their home. When, if ever, will it feel like my home too? The problem is that I don't know how long I am staying. A few months? I don't really know. Things are so up in the air right now, it is hard to make concrete plans. Even if just a month or two, shouldn't I still unpack and hang pictures?

Well, for now it is just one step, one box, at a time.

How much does this cost?

I saw THE BEST store yesterday:

"Everything More Than $1.00"

Yes, can you believe it? A store where everything they sell costs more than ONE dollar! Incredible! How funny is that? I wished I had my camera with me. Dammit.

Interravision: Now Live from Long Island!

I am here!

The move was stressful. U-Haul was a joke...they should call it U-Don't-Mean-Shit-To-Us-Even-Though-You-Are-Paying-A-Fortune-
To-Rent-Our-Crappy-Trucks.

Yes, they should call it that. I will spare the details though. They are neither interesting nor funny.

I am here!

We rolled into Long Island well after 1am last night and had to take a complex maze of streets to get home since you can't drive trucks on the parkways. We left all the boxes in the truck and just went right to sleep, both of us exhaused. Damir from loading the entire truck himself, me from the nightmarish drive through flooded CT.

I am unemployed and living in Long Island with my boyfriend of 5 months and his immigrant parents who don't speak english.

This is going to be Very Interesting.

The parents were asleep when we got home, but both greeted me warmly in the morning. D's dad, Suco, told me (via D's interpreting) that I can use his car whenever I like. This is a big deal since he doesn't let ANYONE drive his car. It is his way of accepting me into the household.

When D isn't around, conversations with the parents are an interesting combination of broken english, broken croatian and erratic gestures. Somehow it works, sure, it's awkward, but it works well enough. As long as you aren't asking anything more complicated than "are you hungry?" and "where is the sugar?" We won't be breaking out in political debate any time soon.

I have contacted the local Berlitz office to get information on a crash course in croatian. That would be very helpful, I think. I just am not getting far with my books and CDs that I bought from Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago. The problem there is that I hate the voice of one of the instructors. She is so hard to understand and doesn't ennunciate at all. I get so annoyed I can't focus on learning the vocab. Ash suggested getting a tutor on craigslist, I might do that as well.

I am proud just to get all the names down in the family... Suco (pronounced SU-cho), Sabrija (saBRIEya), Hitta, Sedika, Zorz (Gorge), Miro, Ennis, Sayo, Mecha, Villa, Selma, and Aunt Peggy (PEG-gie) to name a few. Oh, and Elvis. Can't forget Elvis!

Well, there is a truck waiting to be unloaded with my name on it. Since I have no job at the moment and a brand new subscription to T-Mobile's hotspot wireless, you will see lots more posts here at Interravision: Live from Long Island!

Every New Begining...

As I was getting ready for work on Wednesday morning, my last day of work, that song came on, Closing Time by Semisonic. It was popular a while back, and I remembered hearing it over and over before moving to Amsterdam. I hadn't heard it in forever, and it made me stop and smile. Every new begining comes from some other begining's end...

Since the birth of Interravision I have refrained from discussing, except in general detail, the nitty gritty of my job. There were a couple of reasons for that. First, it's not all that fun to blog about. Second, knowing that some of my coworkers, and the staff that worked for me were reading along, made it seem inappropriate. It also just didn't seem professional and I didn't want to get Dooced.

Now that this particular chapter of my life has come to a close, it is natural to feel inclined to summarize, euologize, and wax poetic about the place that ruled most of the days of my life for the past 9 years. Lord knows there are stories to tell. Some of them are dammed good, if I do say so myself.

But for some reason, I am not ready to do that yet. Maybe I am denial that I find my self rather unemployed (though I prefer to use the term: freelance). Maybe I have too many boxes left to pack and my brain is too crowded with a long to-do list to sit.

Maybe it's all just not that important. It was just... a job. There will be many others. But man, sometimes that was one crazy place to be.

T Minus 5

I have started again and again this blog posting today. None of my ideas are sticking.

I want to tell you about the emails I am going through. The thousands of emails stored in my inbox that recount the story of a thousand failures and successes. The correspondence of friends. The stories of others. I miss letters. Letters are easier to take with you, at least in some ways.

I just came across the emails written to and from me in the moments after September 11. They are unbearable to read, still today.

T Minus 6

My house is in chaos. Boxes are everywhere. I took some pictures so you could see evidence of this chaos, but my camera cord appears to be in one of those boxes. Or somewhere. Maybe.

I sold a bunch of things, but still have a lot left. I sold my bed, Ektorp chair, my lamps, my amsterdam dishes, a set of silverware, and a few DVDs. I'd still like to sell my couch and rug, but I won't sell them for less than I think they're really worth. They can fit on the U-Haul on Sunday if necessary. A few things I thought I would sell, my bookcase and some artwork, I decided to keep afterall.

When a cute couple bought my comfy chair this weekend, the first of my big items to sell, I wanted to cry. That's my chair! I earned that chair! I've loved that chair. It's stupid, I know. This is all a very big deal to me, and for the moment there feels like more loss than gain. Though I know that tide will turn when the move is over and the reasons I am moving are more present than future.

This is a week of goodbyes, with plans with various friends and family each night. That reminds me, I should store some tissues in my purse. I have a feeling I will need them.

Countdown

As a man named Jorg was sifting through my things and making me various offers on my belongings, it hit me. I really am leaving. He ended up buying my trashcan of all things, I sold it to him for $10. Now I don't have a trashcan.

* * *

I am in a state of panic. Not about leaving my apartment or job, but about saying goodbye to people. I usually go out of my way to NOT say goodbye to people, even (to my immense shame) to my friend who passed away last year. I know I will be back, I know I will be here for visits. But its not the same now, is it?

* * *

I am excited about the future. I have applied to such a variety of things to work on. I have decided to study for the NYC Guide Licensing Exam (not easy!). Last night I applied to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a visitor coordinator and as a VP of Ops for a travel company. It's stunning to me how radically different my choices are. What road lies ahead?

* * *

I have never moved myself, with anything more than a car full of crap. My moves to and from Amsterdam were completely orchestrated by the company. I didn't pack a thing. Lift a thing. Move a thing. Bliss. I look around my apartment at my stuff and it already feels like I am sitting on someone else's couch. Last night I was careful not to spill. Where do I get boxes??

Virtual Yard Sale

Everything Must Go!

Everything for Sale. All this plus MORE! See my flickr account for more pics. Also for sale, glasses plates, kitchen appliances, CDs, Books (by the box!), DVDs, etc. etc. etc!!!

Interview with my Critical Voice

So, my Critical Voice is probably loud enough for you to hear, right? It's certainly blaring in my ears and sounds like the voice of Fran Drescher with an undertone of chalkboard scratching... just in case you can't hear it, let me transcribe our latest conversation.

CV: So, my dear (snark snark), you've gone and quit your job, is that right?

Me: Why, yes, Critical Voice, I have. I quit my job. After 9 years I am ready to do something new. Isn't that exciting??

CV: Interesting. Something new. What will you be doing? When do you start your new job?

Me: Well..umm...uhhh... you see I don't actually have a new job yet. I did have one...but I rejected it when I realized my new would-be boss was a total jerk who would make my life a living hell.

CV: WHHAAT? You quit your job and you have no job to fall back on? What the hell?! Did you at least give like 2 months notice to give you time to find something else?

Me: No, not really. My last day at the office is August 23.

CV: THAT IS NEXT WEEK (scccrraaaaatch)!

Me: I am aware of that.

CV: At least you have been in Boston a good four years. You know the lay of the land, thank god.

Me: HAHA, well, Voicey my friend, that brings up a whole different issue. I am moving. To Long Island.

CV: Oh.My.God. You are going to give me a heart attack. Long Island? Don't you know that is where Amy Fisher was from? You know what happened to her, right?

ME: I promise not to have an affair with a married man and shoot his wife in the head and become a Lifetime Movie Event.

CV: well, that's at least some good news. Did you already find an apartment? I know you had your eye on that cute little neighborhood, Point Lookout.

ME: True, I love that little area. So nice, near the beach, friendly people. You are right, I would love to live there...but...

CV: oh no, don't tell me.

ME: Without a paycheck, I can't really sign a new lease now can I? So, I know it isn't necessarily ideal but sometimes that's just the way things go. I am going to stay with Damir for a little bit until the job situation stabilizes.

CV: You're moving in with him?

Me: Well, not really MOVING in. Just staying. For a while. Until...

CV: Right. So, you are telling me that you are essentially HOMELESS and JOBLESS.

Me: Well, if you look at it that way...

CV: it's my job to look at it that way.

Me: Right. I guess it is being Critical Voice and all.

CV: You've lost your mind. I go away for a little vacation and you go and quit your job, leave your home and move in with a guy you've been seeing for...how long? Six months?

Me: Let's see... more like 4 months or so. Give or take a couple of days.

CV: &^*&%(*%#!

Me: Now, CV, there's no need for that kind of crude language.
CV?
Hello?
What happened?
Are you still there?

CV: Errrghhghhhhh.......................... ... .. . . . . .

* * *

And....scene.

* * *

Yes my friends. I am selling everything I can, letting go of my fabulous cozy apartment, and starting a new life. I have no job, but a lot of chutzpah. I have no house of my own, but a family that welcomes me with open arms. Best of all, waiting for me is an amazing man who makes all the worry and stress (and bad match.com dates) worth it all. Strangely enough...it's really not that scary. Not scary at all!

And Just When You Think It Can't Get Worse...

We all agree: a wax replica of porn stars is pretty bad. I thought it was the bottom of the barrel. Really, the worst of the worst. But Holy Moses on a Cracker, we have reached new lows as a society.

I present to you this:

Ohnoyoudidn't!

You won't be surprised to know that this work of "art" was created by the same artist who gave us a replica of Brittney Spears giving birth on a bear skin rug. For all that is good and holy in this world, I will not post the actual photo of that "art". Caution to those with weak stomachs to not follow that link.

Yes, that is Hillary Clinton. It's called something like "Presidential Bust".

Didn't know she is so busty? Apparently artist Daniel Edwards didn't know either. He had to find pics of poor Hills in a bathing suit to get the gist of her bustage.

"It's hard to find many images of her [breasts]. She usually covers herself up in a professional way. But there are beach photos of her," the New York Daily News quoted him, as saying.

Beach photos.

If you'd like to see this for yourself, head to the Museum of Sex (*seriously?) on NYC's 5th Ave.

Wax poetic..Err I mean Pornographic?

I already told you that wax replicas of real people (or not so real) freak me out. This is definitely taking it to far:

The statue of Jameson, 32, shows her wearing next to nothing, while kneeling on a bearskin rug. Visitors who touch her tattoos will hear the statue whisper sexy messages. Jameson says after her wax likeness is unveiled, "This is an awesome honor... especially since I'm making history as the first personality from the adult world to have an attraction at Madame Tussauds, and it is happening in Las Vegas, my hometown."

Jameson introduced the life-sized statue at a special ceremony. It is shown wearing a "Jenna" black leather belt with her name written in rhinestones. She says to the New York Post, "It looks so real." Visitors can take photographs with the wax Jameson. She is displayed next to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

Are you for real? OK. Don't answer that. The part that kills me is if you rub her tattoos you hear "her" whisper sexy messages. Umm. Such as?

HPOE

Many a location consider themselves to be the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. Googling it up, I find that the following all make this vain assumpution:

- Disneyland
- Denmark
- Vanuatu
- The Tall Ship Soren Larsen
- China (whhhhaaat?)
- Medical School
- Santiago, Chile
- IKEA
- Salzburg
- Stowe, VT

Sorry, folks. I think you are all wrong.

No doubt about it, the happiest place on earth is the arrivals area of any major airport. I LOVE going to pick people up at the airport just to stand among those giddy with anticipation over the arrival of their loved ones.

The best was in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. The arrivals area is separated from the baggage claim/customs area by a wall of glass. All sorts of people, young, old and everything in between, would press their noses up against the glass desperately searching for their friend to come into view. And LORDY HALLELUJAH when they did! Frantic waving, squeals of delight, and often tears of joy would ensue. I could sit back with a nice beer and watch that human drama all day long.

The best is when a whole CARAVAN of people go to meet someone at the airport. It's like a party! Who brought the cooler full of sandwhiches and soda? Uncle Mikey? Perfect! Just the other day I was waiting in the sparkling new Terminal A at Logan Airport for Damir to come through the doors. A HUGE Greek family was all in attendance waiting for friends to arrive on the same plane he was arriving on. I mean, there must have been 20 or so people from newborn babies to a feeble, and seemingly confused, grandfather. They ran back and forth between the doors where their loved one would exit and the monitors that chronicled her progress. She's landed! She's landed! They were grabbing at each other's hands and shoulders with excitement. I sat in the background, quitely eager and checking the plane's status on my cellphone, feeling the same level of anticupation that they were exuding.

And then she walked through the doors to her waiting family, and an explosion of cheers and WHOOPS echoed through the entire terminal. Everyone waiting in the area turned to watch the celebration. You would have thought that Elvis himself had walked through the doors. Hugs were passed all around, cheeks were kissed, an abundance of flowers were pressed into her arms. I noticed the grandfather standing apart from the melee`, and just a moment later the arriving daughter noticed him as well. She parted herself from the multiple embraces and quietly moved to him with a wide smile and outstretched arms. I could see he was crying. And then EVERYONE was crying, me included.

A few moments later I found myself wrapped in the embrace of my own sweetheart, feeling as though weeks, not just a few days, had passed since my cheek last rested on his collarbone. The happiest place indeed.

Family Fun Weekend

Hi,

It has been a while since I took out the ole digi cam, and this weekend provided tons of photo ops.

First, and most important, was my sister's graduation from NESA. I am so proud of her! It was such a great graduation ceremony, with several great speakers. My parents and her boyfriend were there as well to help her celebrate!

Since Dad and Jan were in town for graduation, we planned some fun excursions. On Saturday we went out to Boston's Harbor Islands. I can't believe in 4 years I have never been out there! It was so nice... easy, quiet, not crowded. We had a great time taking the ferry to Spectacle Island and Georges Island.

On Sunday we just strolled around town after a leisurely brunch (the stroll followed by a not-s0-leisurely harrowing trip to the airport where Dad and Jan made the flight by the skin of their teeth). The weather was finally perfect, so me and my sweetheart took advantage and get a few photos in by the flowers in the public garden. We've been lucky to spend every weekend for the past 2 months together. Lucky... but not easy! I am flying back down Friday night again. I better get cracking on some more Croatian lessons!

Spinning...

Oh my friends. I am sorry to neglect you. It has been a whirlwind of activity and I scarcely can catch my breath. Things sometimes move so fast... yet you feel like each step you take is in slow-motion. Things are good, very good actually. I am happier than I can remember and feel as though I am on top of the world. It's a complete 180 degree shift from where I stood 6 short months ago.

For a variety of reasons, I can't disclose the changes that are in this moment being drafted. But there are many, and they will completely rennovate the house of interravision. It is exciting. Stay tuned!!

My parents are high above the earth right now, making their way to Boston to celebrate my sister's graduation from NESA. I am SO PROUD of her, you can't even imagine. She took such a risk to follow her heart, she is my inspiration. I feel so lucky that she is my big sister. And my new acupuncturist.

This weekend will be a flutter of activity with Dad & J. in town. Damir is flying in tomorrow night and will meet them for the first time. We're planning an excursion to the Boston Harbor Islands, I am really excited since I've never been before.

More to come...soon!