Who knows, you might meet this guy

I have a hard time figuring out which day it is.  It took me a few minutes staring down Bridge Avenue before I realized that they didn't pick up the trash because Monday was a holiday.  I then guessed that it must be Friday, right?  The exact day isn't a big deal to me.  What's the difference between one day and the next?  The only gauge that I have is how far away I am from July 1.  I think mid-June will be fairly busy since I have to cancel this and that, and, like Bob Dylan on his Nashville Skyline album cover, take my hat off and say adios to C-town and its two buildings.

I guess there's a basketball game tonight.  I haven't been able to get into the playoffs this year.  Yes. I like the Lakers but they've fallen into that same pit of apathy that houses teams like the LA Dodgers, SF 49ers and the Detroit Red Wings.   My mind is somewhere else.

I think the library will have a couple of book sales comprising books that yours truly has donated.  I have no idea what Goodwill does with the money they make except maybe pay for their employees.  I know that in sucky times that Goodwill or any discount place is your best friend.  Still, the libraries are what distinguishes us from the heathens and they have free wifi!  I don't go to any particular library so I have library cards all over the place.  I even have a library card for the Akron Public Library and I've never checked out a book.  It's 40 miles away, what can I say?  

Mean time between failures

I had the taste for pot roast today. Actually, if you want to know the truth, I had the taste for home cooking. I rarely make pot roast which explains the fact that it never turns out like how I remembered it. My last visit to LA didn't see too many home cooked meals. I think I had some eggs and bacon that my dad made. Rocky is pacing around in the kitchen because he knows what's up. He's been in the doldrums lately and it's worrying me. I asked Dr. Gano the vet if I should be worried about Rocky's incessant jonesing for grass. Maybe he's just upset with me for leaving Annie and him at Pet Co. to get a bath. I'll keep a close watch on him.

I really don't want to see tonight's Cavs-Magic game. I've always thought that the Cavs were overrated at least when you compare them to teams like Boston or LA. Some wise person once said that you need at least two bonafied stars. One good season doth not a star make thee! Booby Gibson had a good playoff a couple of years ago and has been MIA. Mo Williams had a career year but the NBA playoffs are, of all the major sports, a separate and not equal season. Just just have to make the playoffs and kick your butt in gear. The Shaq-Kobe Lakers just farted around during the regular season knowing that the real season didn't start until the playoffs. Sadly, the Cavs figured that they best regular season record meant something and that home court would be an adequate substitute for bad matchups. The so-called Best Defensive Team in the NBA is suddenly Paul Blart: Mall Cop when they should've been Robo Cop.

My brother's truck broke down somewhere in San Diego. He was able to stop and see Brodie down in El Centro but his truck flaked out. They towed him to a Freightliner shop but they didn't seem to have any parts. I think the fact that my brother was given a new truck, and that it broke down, is a warning sign. The simple fact of this event is that if my brother's not driving, he's not making any money. Luckily, he seems to be a good spirits. He had to curtail part of his delivery and som other (irate) driver had to take the rest of my brother's load to Vernon (a neligible suburb of LA close to where I'm from) which means that my brother won't get to visit with the parental units. I gave Jimmy my XM radio so that means that I've been driving around with sucky radio. I haven't been following WKNR because I don't need anyone to tell these sad facts of life:
-The Browns suck
-The Indians suck
-The Cavs suck
So I've been toggling between WKSU (NPR and classical music) and some jazz standards station on 91.5. Oh yes, I do catch the Diane Rehm show on 90.3 (regular cat-in-heat jazz).

Today's show had Robert Reich. He has the best matter-of-fact commentaries on economics and policy in spite of his being a "weenie" (Cal person). Reich reminds me of one of those teachers you had who could simply a seemingly intractable problem into a couple of straight-forward pieces. (e.g., my high school history teacher who said that the problem of illegal immigration was simple: just increase the economic opportunities in Mexico.) Granted, the whole of my economic/business/policy background is limited to Econ 101 which I took one summer at East LA College.

Epiricism

I've had a long day. Not only did I spend a tank of gas and drove to Pittsburgh but the neighbors came and took away most of the furniture. The dining room table and chairs, the armoire, the buffet thingie, the desk thingie, the bed and mattresses, plus a lot of assorted stuff including a couple of frame pictures. The downstairs area is pretty empty. They wanted to take the leather recliners but everyone seems to want those. I'm not sure if they'll fit in the U-haul but we'll see. They were also nice enough to help me empty my NEW sofa bed to the garage. Yes, I stood in line in Pittsburgh and was one of the lucky ones to get a $150 sofa bed.

The drive to Pittsburgh was fair uneventful. I hadn't thought about the toll roads and I really didn't think that it would cost me a tank of petrol. Oh well.

So here's what I'm taking:
-Bed (I got it at IKEA a few years ago and no-one likes it but me)
-Desk (I got this at World Market)
-Office chair
-2 leather recliners (Got this last December)
-2 metal racks (One is in the pantry and one is in the dining room)
-Tons of boxes of books, cds, misc.
-Boxes of clothes, towels and blankets (ok, maybe they're more like comforters)
-Boxes of cooking/kitchen stuff.
-Stools (2)
-Laptop
-Misc. papers/checkbooks/bills/stamps
-2 dogs
-2 cats
-Brand new sofa bed(big-ass box and 2 cushion thingies that look like burritos)

I'm hoping that all this crap will fit inside the moving truck. I still need to get a couple of kitty carriers and a litter box. I made these litter boxes by taking a really, really sharp knife and attacking a plastic tote.

I'm not taking these:
-Fridge with ice maker
-Microwave
-Washer
-Dryer
-Elliptical machine in the basement (I didn't even know it was down there)
-Exercise bike in the basement (Not sure why I kept it and I've always disliked it)

I'm debating whether I should take the frankenputer (desktop) that's upstairs. It works and has plenty of disk space but I don't really need it. I might take it only to put linux on it or maybe Windows server. It's a low priority thing.

It's just bidness

I decided to brave the metroparks today and had to cut the walk short. During the week, walking two dogs is do-able but not on the weekends. Between the big Doodle and Mike Tyson mini-Beagle, my arms are sore.

There are simply too many people half of whom seem to be fishing. I've yet to see someone walking back to his or her car carrying any fish, but that doesn't mean that their time was misspent. The idea of fishing in the Cleveland city limits brings to mind images of mutant fishes or some radioactive swamp thing with sharp teeth.

The guy who is fixing up the house next door (the one that was rightly condemned by the city) might be interested in buying this one. Of course, talk is cheap but I gave him the bank name and loan number. More power to him if he can do it. I tried calling the bank the other day and I got in an argument with some idiot girl who couldn't understand that a "short sale" - or any sale for that matter - is only possible if someone makes an offer. I kept telling her that no-one in three months has even expressed interest in seeing this house. What does she think, that I kidnap someone and waterboard them into making a house offer? She couldn't comprehend the fact that selling a house requires at least two parties: who who is selling and one who is buying, and no-one is buying.

In retrospect I don't think much for the real estate agent who could never recommend a price for the house. "Well, it depends" was all he could offer. Like no duh. There's always a price for a house even if that price is FREE. I told him what the mortgage amount was and he never said a peep about listing the house that would encourage a short sale (less than the loan amount). I think he's stuck in commission mode of listing a given house for the maximum amount of money. He like most people don't realize that you can make good money by selling low but selling in bulk. Whatever.

I talked with the lawyer and the estate (read: me) will have to pay the utilities even though I will have moved out. My brother and his friend have offered to semi-stay here which is just fine as long as they realize that they might have to skiddadle once the bank takes back the house or someone buys it. If the guy fixing the house next door buys it, it would simply so much since he can stay here; that is, it's livable.

Anyway, more packing to do. I've begun to box up some clothes. I'd like to take the metal wire shelves because I can use them for a multitude of things. I have the strangest tastes in home furnishing.

I have to take the Doodle and Rocky to the vets office on Tuesday to ensure that they have all their shots. I also need to get a rabies cert in case I take them to Pet Smart for a day spa. I also need to get a couple of kitty carriers.

Details

It's pretty difficult for a non-logical person to suddenly become logical.  To that end, I'm trying to get quotes for movers vs. renting a big ass truck.  I've rented a truck and car tow thingie when I moved from Cleveland to the STL and I vaguely remember the difficulty in manoevuering a 14' truck and my 1995 Cavalier.  St. Louis is only 10 hours away which is do-able in a day.  It's about 1200 miles or 18 hours from Cleveland to Euless, TX.   600 miles a day is not too bad, right?  The U-Haul website says that I can rent a 10' truck + car tow thingie for only $1200. 

When I moved from Cleveland to Palo Alto, I used a mover who picked up some stuff.  I want to say that it was only $400 but I really didn't move much stuff.  I'd prefer movers since they might be "asynchronous" - that is, they pick up "when they can" and deliver it "when they can" - which is perfectly fine with me.  It's not like I can't live without my 20 friggin boxes of books for a couple of days.  Additionally, I'd save time and gas/hotel money.  So let's see what the movers can quote me.

I have to move-in on July 1, so it can be anytime after July 1.

I still need to get rid of a bunch of furniture.  A big armoire, a small but heavy table and chairs set, and a dining/serving thingie.  I also have one honest to God antique: a curio cabinet.  I'm not a guy who collects plastic horses or Limoge boxes, but it simply tossing away something like this doesn't feel right.  Maybe I'm feeling what the person who threw away that copy of the Declaration of Independence.  Just....words.....and more words....

There's a washer and dryer hookup in this apartment, and as luck would have it, I have a washer and dryer.  I also have a fridge and microwave.  What I'm thinking of doing is leaving the big appliances and instead taking the wire shelves (2) that are currently in the pantry and kitchen.  I like things that I can see.  Cabinets and drawers are my bête noire.

Baby Temblor 2

My mom just called and said that there was an earthquake there in LA.  Ok, so maybe it was in Hawthorne which is just a couple of cities away from Downey (where my mom lives).  It was a 5.something and lasted about a minute.  I guess Porkchop the Cat freaked out.   I hope my grandmother isn't scared.

Baby Temblor

I think I'm possessed.  As I was filling out an apt application in EULESS, TX, there was an earth quake.  I did notice the windows rattling in the lobby but the ground didn't move.  I figured  that something blew out, like a power transformer or Jason Kidd's knee.  It was ONLY a 3.something, so it probably wouldn't have woken me up (assuming I was asleep).

Well, I found an apartment in EULESS.  It's strategically placed between the stripmall hell known as Arlington and the more bucolic Grapevine.  The airport seems to dominate the region which I suppose is all right.  In general the places nearest an airport are cheapest.

I have no idea what's in EULESS except a few broken windows.  I called Jimmy to tell him and he said he knows the area.  I like the 114 and 121 freeways if only because they haven't been too crowded.  

Today I decided to see if i can find something called the Irvine Mall.  I figured that since the north Irvine area where my hotel is nice (that is, clean), I'd drive there and see more nice things.  BIG FRIGGIN MISTAKE.  I felt like I was driving through mega stripmall hell.  It was like a big perversion of the most traffic congested mayhem.  I held out hope that once I was out of the retail hell, I'd see some swanky mall thingie, maybe like Crocker Park or Legacy Village in Cleveland. NO FRIGGIN WAY.  It was a regular mall with even crappier parking.  Sure, there was a Barnes & Noble and AMC theater, but nothing to write home about.  Still, I walked around. 

I have to figure out what to do when it comes to walking the dog.  I don't think I can simply leave the place with Mr. Rocky in tow, but there are some parks nearby.  Rocky might end up peeing over the nice landscaping but I'll have to trek to the park if he wants to, you know...

I was able to get a short (7 mos.) lease in case I have to skiddadle.  At least I should be able to work and save up some dinero.  I wonder if there is an Ikea around here.

Browsing

I don't know what's more tiring: flying in a plane for 5 hours or apartment hunting for 5 minutes.  I looked at 3 places today and none of the places were near each other.  The first one is by some lake west of Ft. Worth.  It reminded me a lot of central Illinois (think: Decatur).  I spent an hour in traffic on I-35 because nothing stops a 2-lane freeway like cops giving out a ticket to some hapless driver.  I thought about walking around downtown Ft. Worth but I just drove through it on my way to Arlington.  

Arlington is a little scary.  The new Cowboys stadium looks a lot like that scene from the new Star Trek movie that shows the U.S.S. Enterprise being constructed.  Basically, it's hazy and gray and pokes through the clouds.  That monstrosity must've cost a billion dollars.  Anyway, I looked at one place in Arlington which left me shaking my head.  There was a "demo" apartment that was connected to the lobby office.  The weird green carpet was scary and the place was sort of dirty.  The girl in the office said that they use the demo place to eat and hangout.  

I've noticed that these apartments really try and weed out felons, or, on the case of this green carpeted place, multiple misdemeanors.  What I can figure out is how a bunch of traffic tickets would preclude ones being rejected.  

On the way to look at another apartment (which I could never find), I stopped at some random apartment complex to ask for directions.  The guy was nice but kind of pushy.  He was the owner of the place and he showed me one VERY lived in apartment.  He said that it belonged to some woman who got back together with her boyfriend.  It was a mess and dark and scary.  The apartment location is good (close to the freeway and what looks like a new Whole Foods Store).  

So far the nicest place was that one by the lake.  It's about 30 miles from here in Irving and there doesn't seem to be none of that retail/stripmall development that abounds in Arlington.  The lease term is 8 months.  Why would people choose an odd length?  What's wrong with 6 months?  Maybe the owners like the octal system.

I'm supposed to check out some place here in Irving tomorrow.  I'll do that and maybe check out whatever's north of here.   This apartment hunting is not enjoyable at all.  I have to do this (look, that is) but nothing seems to be directing me in one direction or another.   The Dallas-Ft. Worth area reminds me St. Louis only without the bizarro historical quality.  At least there's Mexican food, right?

Shopping

Looking through all of the apartment ads is a daunting task.  And this is just online.  Craigslist is good because it doesn't barage you with 10,000 banner/content ads that have nothing to do with the context of the page (think: weight loss/teeth whiting ads on msnbc.com).   My head is spinning.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for at all.  If I'd be honest with myself, I'd say that the idea of living in an apartment complex is scary. I really don't want to be annoyed by loud music, fights and I don't want to be the one who's doing the annoying because of the dog.  I saw dog (singular) because I'm hoping that my brother will have Annie with him in his truck, at least for a while.   Renting an entire house is an option but it's always more money and the leases tend to be at least a year.  A lease that long scares me.   I think a 6 mos. lease is reasonable and I'd even pay more for the ability to make like a tree and go.  A big 2 bedroom place would be nice if only for the pets and my 10,000 boxes of stuff.  I had a 2 bedroom apt when I lived in St. Louis and I never used one of the bedrooms.

Living in a not-so-nice neighborhood should be cheaper and doesn't scare me because those are the kind of places I've been since I've been in Cleveland.  I might hang out in places like Rocky River but I have to live on Bridge Ave in the heart of the Puerto Rican hood. Que lastima.  I also know that I'd feel really out of place if I lived somewhere swanky.   Besides, it's not like I'm rolling in jack.

I've noticed that a lot of apartments don't list air conditioning as one of their amenities.  Is that because no sane person would ever live sans A/C in Dallas?   It doesn't really matter, you know?

Cat position

I don't think I've done a damn thing since my brother has been here.  Well, aside from walking not one but two dogs every day.  We did haul down a couple of dressers from the 3rd floor, so I guess I've done something.  

My flight to Los Angeles is this Sunday, so one of my brother's friends will he house/dog/cat-sitting for me.  I feel slightly guilty because there's no longer any sofa, so Brad will have to crash upstairs or on the floor.  I might drag down one of the mattresses downstairs since I'll have to do that eventually.   

I still need to figure out what to do with all of the books.  I can probably open my own used book store although there's a bidness idea whose time will never come again.  Speaking of which, I picked up a (used) book at 1/2 Price Books on Yoga for Beginners.  I love to stretch around because it feels 10x better than, say, running or using the elliptical machine.  

I guess I'm more serious about Dallas since I zapped the bookmark link to craigslist-cleveland and instead replaced it with craigslist-dallas.   If it's 90 degrees when I visit, I might come back and change it to craigslist-north pole.   My next door neighbor is working in Everett, Washington and was raving about it.  He gets paid pretty well since his wife and kids are still here in C-town.  I kept dropping hints that he should probably relocate there since C-town was just ranked as the third worst big city for jobs (you think?) . Why Cleveland doesn't punt the Burke Lakefront Airport and develop it is beyond me.  I'm not from Ohio and the incompetency and corruption smell like one of Tigerlily's WMDs.  For example, what is the most desirable and expensive real estate in Cleveland used for?  Answer: above the ground parking lots.   

I don't even bother listening to  the Indians these days.  They're good enough to have the lead for 7 innings and then they'll roll over like a beagle looking for a belly rub.  To be the worst team in the worst division should say enough.  Answer: can Wedgie and pay Grover whatever he wants to return.