Two plus two is ten

Yesterday was an oasis of pleasantness amidst the desert of "omg stressssssssss" that was this past week. We got up early, we discovered a lovely little breakfast place within easy walking distance AND an awesome little game store right across the street from said breakfast place, I bought a Call of Cthulhu core rulebook (just because!) and, later on, the newest Professor Layton game, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon being mildly productive and playing various videogames. We also went to Sckavone's for dinner, which was nice -- we haven't been there in ages, and although it's not within walking distance anymore, it's less than ten minutes away by car. I'm not really a fan of driving (read: I hate driving), but I guess it's okay when it's to something that close.

Honestly, that's the one thing that's lousy about our new digs: there are very few places to eat within walking distance. Rather, there are very few places where we WANT to eat that are within walking distance. There are plenty of bars and chain restaurants, of course, but I kinda got spoiled after living in NW and close-in SE. Haha, whoops. We're cooking for ourselves a lot more, which is arguably cheaper and healthier, but still. I miss Cartopia. :(((((

(Of course, the times when I miss Cartopia and Dots and the like are when it's late or I'm feeling way too lazy to do something healthy, and this is why it's probably a very good thing that we live farther away from them now. Living within easy walking distance of fried chocolate-peanut butter pie is not necessarily a good thing. Delicious, yes; good, not so much.)

...oh god, now I'm hungry. Why weren't you more filling, veggie sandwich? YOU AND YOUR AVOCADO LIED TO ME.

Oh my god, weather. This is just...what the hell is UP with this year, anyway? I can't remember the last time I felt comfortable with the weather and temperature, because lately it's either been excruciatingly hot, or unseasonably cold. Currently, we're stuck on the hot end of the cycle. We haaaaaaaaaaatesssssssssssssss it, precious.

Work on the house is trucking along nicely, at least. The painting is entirely finished and Nate's got about half the floor done, so we're just about there. I brought over a few boxes on Saturday and will probably shuttle more over throughout the week, so...yeah. At some point we're going to rent a U-Haul so we can start moving furniture, and that will pretty much do it. We still need to get new baseboards and install those after the floor is done, but we can do that after we're moved in if we have to. We're both more than ready to be done with this whole process so we can finally settle in and fucking RELAX. The past two months have been nothing but "work on the house work on the house work on the house (and also study!!!!!)". I need a break, and I suspect Nate needs one too. :P

And in things not related to our house or my job or stress or whatever...I made it to Episode 3 of Alan Wake before abruptly switching gears to play more Red Dead Redemption, even though I beat the game, what, last month? I suspect it's because I have to think about what I'm doing when I play Alan Wake, whereas with RDR I can work on unlocking various outfits and achievements and I don't have to pay all that much attention to what I'm doing (unless there's a JESUS CHRIST IT'S A BEAR GET IN THE CAR moment, in which case I start paying attention very quickly). I was originally just playing the open sandbox bits past the end credits, but yesterday I loaded a new game and now I'm playing back through the whole storyline again. It's weirdly relaxing, kind of like rereading a book or watching tv shows in syndication. Now that I already know what's going to happen, I can take my time and futz around all proper-like.

Ugh. Too hot. Cannot think. This is as proper an ending as this entry is going to get, I'm afraid.

WE GOT THE HOUSE
♥♥♥

The real estate agent left us a key to use until the locks are changed and such, and let me tell you, it was SURREAL to walk around inside going, "So...this is ours now." No more landlord, no more roommates, no more up and moving every year, no more lease agreements. We've got a home now, one that's real and solid and permanent, and I don't know if I can really express just how big and important this is for me. I can't wait to get my hands dirty with this house, to paint the walls and redo the floors, to plan -- and plant -- my garden. To really and truly settle in with Nate, whom I adore beyond all reason.

Rainbows and cupcakes, y'all. I am really feeling the rainbows and cupcakes today.