new apartment!

I'm moving to the Mellby of neighborhoods. Jimmy and I just applied to and put a deposit down on a 2 bedroom apartment in Lake Harriet Commons, which is at the corner of 44th St. and Chowen Ave. in the LINDEN HILLS neighborhood in Minneapolis. I write LINDEN HILLS in all caps simply because it is the Mellby of neighborhoods. It's community-oriented, safe, friendly, and has EVERYTHING from a Turtle Bread Company to a Co-op to a Farmer's Market to a beach to wonderful shopping within walking distance to express buses downtown and to the U. People move to this neighborhood for life, that's how good it is. Our buildings have people who've lived there for 25 years. It's on the edge of being a tad too pricey but with a corner apartment, utilities included, no parking or cat fees, and rennovated kitchen it is worth it. I found this lovely place in the Star Tribune and I'm so frickin' excited to move and to have all of you come visit us!

It was a really exciting day, one in which I felt like I was ready to get married and live with Jimmy in this wonderful place. I can't wait for the first foray into renting: I was such a dork that I made up 20 questionnaires for all the apartments to tour and brought a clipboard to interview the managers. The manager of our new apartment actually wondered if I was another caretaker coming to scope her out because I asked so many questions... haha. I guess Res Life will do that to you!

In other news, I'm joining the Foss Swim School corporation to teach this summer (probably very few lessons, alas, with the whole getting married thing) and into the fall hopefully at St. Louis Park. It's pretty exciting right now to know that I'll be able to walk to work soon... Right now I'm in the middle of the 40 hour training and blitz memorization period which is quite intense. They pay generously and it should be a lot of fun. Also, St. Thomas classes start next Tuesday and Thursday -- the buildings are immaculately amazing and everyone is wonderful. It's very expensive for me but I can't wait. Life is seeming pretty good right now. A bit hard to make ends meet but mostly just happy and very messy (referring to my tiny bedroom packed full of two room's worth of stuff -- ahhhhhh!). I'm trying to be present for all of the new changes and little moments where I catch myself enjoying work or wandering the skyways downtown with a huge grin or talking to new neighbors in the street. I was sad to leave St. Olaf, campus life, classes, and the SOB, but I am beginning to feel ready to move ahead into new and greater adventures.