Secret Urban Garden

Last Sunday was my last day of break, and I wanted to spend it doing absolutely nothing. And I did most of the day! But at one point I wanted to get out of my apartment for a while, so I went out and started walking. I didn't know where I would end up, I just wanted to walk in a different direction from usual.

It was a beauuutiful day for once and I wanted to enjoy the sun. After a little walking I stumbled upon what looked like a little park. When I got closer I saw that it was actually a garden. One that was a little rundown, but still perfect for what I wanted.

 After following a trail that was covered in bushes and thorns, I found a stairway which lead to an area surrounded by trees in full bloom. It was beautiful, but my allergies were also in full bloom...Next stop: Headache city, population: me.

If only I had my real camera, that would have made for some amazing photos. But these iphone photos will have to do.

And maybe this garden wasn't so much of a secret because there were other people there. But I don't care, I'm still going to call it that.

Snowmageddon 2012

Just a few weeks ago, the weather decided it was time for us to have another snowmageddon! Our first was a few years back, and I guess we were over-due for another exciting round of power outages, closed streets, car accidents, and school closures.



It wasn't bad downtown, where I live, but everywhere else seemed to have a foot or more of snow. My mom was snowed in for about four days!



When I'm back home-home, I hate snow! Mostly because it keeps me from going anywhere, and I get stuck inside without power. But here in my new home, I LOVED it! I could stick walk/bus wherever I wanted, and it was beautiful seeing snow in a new environment.

City Experiences

Seagull outside my window.

1. I was on the bus, late for school as usual. But apparently the universe felt that I needed to be punished for my constant lateness. I was just sitting there minding my own business, when I noticed the man in the wheelchair directly in front of me was rocking his body forward. He was trying to build up momentum to stand for a moment, not sure why, but when he did I had the horror of seeing his entire naked butt hanging out of his pants....his big, fat, old, hairy, naked, butt.

2. I was walking across the street, and a family was crossing the opposite way (towards me.) I noticed the girl bending over and before I knew it she was puking...But since they had to cross before the light changed, her mother was pulling her along. So this little girl was literally puking across the street....Just what I needed to see on my way to get lunch.

3. Seconds after that, the light changed and I was still a step or two away from the curb. But Mr.biker man must not have cared, and must have had somewhere to get to, because he raced by me faster than I could realize what was going on, and I thought I was going to die.

4. Uh...this one is my own stupid fault actually....I was walking down by the marker, texting. Yes walking and texting, I know I know. Anyways, since I was texting, my head was down. And when I walked into a patch of sunlight, the sun shined through my bangs somehow causing a strange illusion of an object being in front of me. This caused me to flinch out of the way, except there was nothing there. Just me, flinching from invisible objects in public...

5. Walking back to school I passed a crazy on the streets, well actually that happens pretty much every day. But some are nice and leave me alone. This particular man asked me “ey...is, is she still playin’ football?” I ignored him but he seemed to get angry “ey...HEY!!! Is she still playin football!!?!?” I shrugged and kept walking....a little faster than before.

6. Lets end on a positive note! As I was walking to my bus, I saw a homeless man on a corner. Nothing unusual there. But when I saw what he was doing I was shocked. He was...cleaning! I’ve never seen someone picking up garbage off the street that wasn’t their’s, let alone a homeless man who could easily be using his time to ask for change or shout nonsense at passerbys.

Things Learned

Today was my first day of school and I learned a few life lessons.

1. Being late to class is fine, as long as you get lucky and have a professor who is also late!

2. Those annoying kids from school that always talk about things no one cares about? Yeah they don't grow out of it. Ever.

3. When you're on time, city buses WILL be late. When you're even a minute late, buses will be right on time.

4. BRING FOOD. So you don't have to buy overpriced clam chowder and then not finish it and have to throw it away and waste it.

5. People sometimes STINK. Like cigarettes or B.O.

6. Have a strange fear of public restrooms? Use the shady one over by the creepy carousel place! It'll most likely be empty. A little gross....but empty!

7. When waiting for the bus, if a snazzily dressed man rolls up in an SUV asking if you need a "taxi," don't go with him. I don't care if he actually is a taxi or not...either way it's shady as hell!

The City Life

Yup. I did it. I'm here. I moved. Actually, it's almost been a week. wow.

So what's it like? how was moving in? Well in some ways it was wonderful, and in some ways it was the worst.

Day 1: Davic helped me move in (I'm so thankful! he made it way easier.) We spent the day doing some mild exploring and figuring out the bus, and ended with a way overdue heart-to-heart. That night however was the WORST.
Sleeping in a new place is hard enough for me, I'm sensitive to my environment in every way. What made it 10 times worse was the city noise that I wasn't quite used to. Buses, sirens, you name it. And the cherry on top was trying to sleep next to Davic who tossed and turned and talked in his sleep. At one point he even hit me in the head.

Day 2: I felt VILE from a lack of sleep and the nerves from my new environment. Davic wanted nothing more than to explore the city, and could barely hold still. We had to compromise, spending some of the time resting in my room, and some of the time in the shops close to it.
That afternoon I had to send him home on the train, and of course I started to feel better right around this time! We said our goodbyes and I headed back "home." My first ever solo walk in the city. And when I got back my apartment felt sad and empty. This was the saddest point of my week.  :(  BUT I was able to sleep that night, perhaps from pure exhaustion.

Day 3: I don't think I did anything this day other than grocery shop. Which by the way is not so fun when you're paying yourself...
Although that night I fell back into my normal routine and it started to make my place feel homey.

Day 4: I didn't bring a razor because I expected to just buy one at the store below me. But apparently the people here don't grow hair, because I couldn't find any razors, not even the lady kind! So I checked out google maps, and found a route to RiteAid. The trip was interesting and was my first solo adventure through the city. I got asked for change, creepily smiled at, asked for directions, and had a picture of me taken!

Day 5: Orientation day at my school. I had to wake up early, take the bus by myself for the first time, and sit through several boring lectures. Only one of which even had to do with my specific major. I being hypoglycemic and all, need protein every few hours. That didn't mix so well with the 4 or 5 lectures that kept me there until afternoon....Also I was given my supply kit which weighed 70 thousand pounds. So wobbly, dizzy, little ol me had to lug alllllll that shee-yit home on the bus. Looked like this:

Day 6: Today. The most exciting thing I did was read my book outside. (woah a semi-social setting with people there? What's gotten into you?) And make a grilled cheese sandwich.

It is feeling more and more like home. Which I'm sure will only continue. Tomorrow evening I'm going home to visit because it's been SO long.  :P And on Monday...at 8 am.....class starts. dun dun dunnnnn!

Wish me luck <3

I has apartment. And there's pictures this time!

So last weekend I visited my apartment (that I'm paying for without living in yet...) for the second time. My mattress was SUPPOSED to be delivered but there were problems with finding the correct model, and long story short, I'll be getting a more expensive version for the same price instead.

And this time I brought my 18-55 lens! Less sharpness but hey, at least I was able to fit whole walls into frame. And it's not like I was trying for actual photography here anyway.

So without further adieu, here are some photos of my empty apartment. Try to contain your excitement.

Main room/bedroom/livingroom/hallwayishthing:

Kitchen:

Bathroom:

Coat Closet Mylinh's new house (modeled by my lovely mother):

I love it, probably because it's MINE. But the one thing I wish I could change about it is the doors. They're this strange orangey color...But I guess every apartment has SOMETHING.

As we were leaving I was walking down the steps with my arms full of bags and boxes, my mom tired and not feeling well, but my artistic side kicked in and I decided I had to try taking a long exposure night photo.

It's outside in the courtyard, which is taken care of and managed better than any other apartment I've lived in.

Now I just need to find furniture...