drawing parallels

Last year for Halloween, I was Cindy McCain. My friend Harry was John McCain, and our friend Katie was Sarah Palin. It was the perfect election-year theme, plus for the three of us there's a healthy amount of irony involved, which is always a bonus. I like to call it the Skank Dressed As A Nun theory -- irony is basically guaranteed to up the ante on any Halloween costume.

I had only been in New York for about two weeks on Halloween night, and that day I'd gone to see the apartment that would become my place of residence in good old Jersey City. When we forced ourselves out of bed the next morning, I had a voice mail waiting for me to let me know that the place was mine if I wanted it. November 1, 2008.

So we're coming up on exactly one year since that day, but there's a little more significance to the anniversary than just its arrival. This weekend I put a deposit down on an apartment in the Cooper-Young district of midtown, and if all goes smoothly with the credit check I'll be moving in on Sunday. That's right -- that'd be November 1.

Unlike my humble abode in Jersey City, this place is smack in the center of where I want to be, just a few blocks' walk from restaurants, bars, bookstores and coffee shops. It's got hardwood floors, French doors, 1100 square feet and a boatload of charm. Best of all, it is MINE, all mine, and will not have to be shared with a roommate of any description. Excepting of course for Otis Redding, when he waddles onto the scene. But he likely will not take 20 minute showers when I need to get in the bathroom to pee, mostly because he will have short hair and be quite low maintenance in the grooming department. His showers, I'm sure, will be very brief.

So (knock on credit check wood), I've got a place. I can't wait to post pictures for you to oogle because let me tell you, it is THE cutest effing thing that ever happened. EVER. For now, though, here's to being settled, and hopefully having found the place I'll love for many November firsts to come.


cheers,
elizabeth