What the hell, summer spell.

growing up is crazy part 1/2

Being at my mom’s in the suburbs makes me think of going to school here, more specifically high school, since that was most recent. When I look back, I’m embarrassed at how uptight and socially awkward I was. I know that a lot of creative adults look back and say, “Oh, I was such a nerd!” almost like a badge of pride. It’s just that I have a feeling I was a little dorkier than most.

(archival footage of the thirsty author)

I’ve kept in touch with almost no one who went to my high school, and generally speaking, I don’t feel too sorry about that. Sometimes, though, I really feel like that time was wasted. Why did it take me so long to get comfortable around other people?

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growing up is crazy part 2/2

In late September my lease was about to expire, and I had a new place lined up with a roommate I found on Craigslist. At the last minute, I decided I wanted to live alone, and stayed with my parents for about two months as I searched. It sucked because my parents don’t even care if they’re near cool bars or my work, and I had to take lots of cabs and spent like 2+ hours commuting each day. They’re first world problems, I know.

Anyway I found a place I liked on Craigslist and checked it out. It totally reeked of gas but was otherwise gorgeous, so I emailed the agent to see if the landlord would check it out. She sent me the following reply:

Hi Arianna,

The landlord went to the apartment and didn’t detect any leaking gas with his gas sensor.  He said that there is definitely some strong “empty apartment funk” in there, but he turned on the heat and opened the windows to get some fresh air in there.  Hopefully, it will smell better in there next time you go there.

And I emailed my parents like, BUT IT SMELLS LIKE GAS! And then I moved in, expecting the problem to fade away.

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