How to pick out a neighborhood in a strange city

So I've been apartment hunting on my own for the past week or so. I know nothing about D.C. except that I want to live in the Northwest. Obviously it takes time to get to know a city, but I've got about a month or so before I need to get my butt out of Brian's place, so I've been gathering some data. In my reconnaissance I've come up with a few steps to help me get a feel for a place:

Step 1: Smile at everyone. If they smile back, I might want to live in that neighborhood.  If they give you a blank stare, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Smile wider. If they smile back, I might want to live in that neighborhood. If they reply with a "Hey baby, how you doin'" a la Joey Tribbiani, proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Walk faster and start counting the bums. If they are congregating in large groups, proceed to step 4.

Step 4: Find a different neighborhood.

Good morning!

So, it is about 8:15 AM. That's right, I'm up before noon. Practically a miracle if you ask me. About once a year I do this, get up accidentally to go the bathroom at 6AM and fail to fall back asleep. Just goes to show you what a bad idea it is to drink a large glass of water before bed. I don't know how you regular people do it. I mean, I've already accomplished more this morning than I did all day yesterday. I've read the Bible. I've done yoga. I cooked breakfast! I took a shower! Incredible. I may just go back to sleep in another hour or so and see what's in store for me tomorrow.

Anyway. On the walk to Misha's this morning I realized that the lining of my homemade laptop case is basically the same pattern as my new favorite scarf. For any of you that don't know me, that means I love flowers, teal, lime green and hot pink. Even at 8AM.

<3

Sunday update

I'm starting to get pretty listless without a job, but I'm trying to focus that apathy into an apartment search. I've seen one so far, but the neighborhood didn't seem like the best fit. It was pretty far away from Virginia.  I'm trying to focus the search on NW DC.

My Grandma Dee called me yesterday and gave me a contact. Her cousin's grandson? Some stretched connection that I'm somehow related to. Anyway, Gary & I had a nice little chat today and he gave me all kinds of job advice and was just generally encouraging. He's going to introduce me to some people who might be able to help me find a more permanent job.

In the meantime, I'm sitting here at Misha's trying to convince myself that there are other places in this world worth going to that don't involve coffee. But I'm fairly certain that's not true.

Rain rain rain

It's raining and our lovely yard is one huge puddle. We thought we'd fixed the draining problem - Brian found some great tubing to reroute the gutter drain. Apparently not. Anyone know anything about planting this late in the fall? I think we need some shrubs or something.

In other (better) news...I got a job! I am going to be working at an Apple store in Arlington right off of the Clarendon metro station. I'll be working full time plus hopefully doing some tutoring through Tree of Knowledge. Things are looking up!

While doing the interviewing with Apple, I talked with another candidate who has been here since July. I'm not sure if he's been jobless that whole time, but I'm feeling pretty lucky that I was able to find a job so quickly.

<3

Monday update

I started to write up a post this morning that was quite boring about how I didn't do much this weekend. Then I remembered how me & my temporary roomies transformed their yard! The mosquito infested, but otherwise full-of-potential yard got a lot of attention on Saturday. I think Brian's ready to get a dog now...I know I am. Before:

and after:

New Room

So I've been living on a couch since Chicago...at least two and a half weeks now. My couch at Brian's was pretty sweet, but the room is even sweeter.

Friday update

The interview at Mary's Center went pretty well today. I was way less nervous than when I interviewed for Apple (probably because at Mary's Center it was a one on one interview). It seems like it would be a really fast-paced environment, which is awesome. Also, there were kids everywhere. I would just love to work somewhere where I can help families. Everyone spoke Spanish there. Like, in the whole neighborhood.

Also, I officially moved into Brian's place! One of his roommates moved out, so I'm staying with them (in a room) for the whole month of October. Something about having my own space feels really good. I bought a lamp. I'll post pictures of my new place soon!

In other news, dreams featuring ex-boyfriends leave you just as infuriated as if you had to deal with them in real life.

Love,
Cass

Interviewing

So things are really starting to work out here in D.C.! I applied for a job with Apple and I've been going through their group interview process. This is the first time I've ever applied for a retail job with a corporation. Doesn't seem to be so bad so far.

I also just got an email from a woman at Mary's Center, a nonprofit health clinic dedicated to assisting immigrants. I'm excited about this interview because I would love to work in a bilingual environment. Either way, it seems I may be employed soon.

On other fronts, Brian has been introducing me to the glory that is Family Guy. We also went to an amazing Spanish restaurant and had some killer sangria last week. We reminisced about our respective study abroad experiences for far too long. I think we both were ready to hop on a plane by the end of the evening. I know I was.

Bikes, house shows & Columbia

Last night my friend Matt Holly invited me to a house party in D.C. to celebrate the beginning of a friend's bike trip to Cancun for a climate summit event. I met Matt at Ragtag this summer, his sister dates my dear friend Kyle and he lives in D.C.. Anyway, the party last night was wonderful. So many cool people, I listened to great live music, watched some sweet hula hooping and met some really nice folks. It reminded me of Columbia and I definitely had one of my best nights thus far in Washington.

Anyway, stayed up til the crack of dawn hanging out with Brian and his friends and woke up late this afternoon and headed over to Misha's. And low and behold, who do I meet outside, but Matt's friends who had played the show last night! We started talking and I found out they played at the True/False Film Fest last year. We have a bunch of mutual friends. How crazy is that? My first week in a new city and I'm standing outside a coffee shop reminiscing about the glory of T/F and Sparky's.

Anyway, these guys are on a bike & music tour (separate from the guys going to Mexico), so check 'em out!

Farmer's Market & internet

So, in an attempt to keep people from camping out, Misha's turns off their internet until 4PM on Saturdays. Pretty brilliant if you ask me. Of course, this meant I needed a new place to check my email. So I went on the hunt. At Uptowner café I had decided to buy an OJ and a breakfast bagel when I found out they didn't have internet. At Starbucks I wanted a Naked juice when I found out you had to pay for internet. At Dunkin Doughnuts: Breakfast bagel & coffee. At this pita restaurant, I didn't even make it in the door before I found out. So....I'm at Subway. Hey, at least they have Diet Coke.

Also went to Old Town's farmers market today. I feel like maybe it is a good thing that I am living in a city where it is easier to buy a Honeycrisp apple than use internet.

Friday update

I've definitely slipped into vacation mode. Yesterday at 11AM I was still getting myself up and out of bed. I was watching a little T.V., not sure what my plan for the day was when Nancy called. Nancy is my good friend from Mizzou who is coming out to D.C. after the end of the month to be my roommate. We've got a little Laverne & Shirley thing planned for the next year or so.

Anyway, before I have a chance to say anything, she starts yelling at me for about five minutes. She tells me to get out of bed and turn off the T.V. and go explore the city. She said I better have seen everything by the time she gets there.

How did she know I was watching Lindsay Lohan's E! True Hollywood Story? Brilliant.

So I went to the American Indian museum and saw a bunch of peace pipes and parrot feathers. The Mall is amazing. I love it here.