Things Are Changing....For the Better

I’m days away from celebrating two years living on my own. Well, not necessarily on my own, I did live with a roommate; however, I did not live with my parents. And I have enjoyed living on my own for those two years in a wonderful home in a not-so-bad city. It can be boring, but it is the individual that makes the city fun. I might not enjoy the nightlife, but the daytime life I did. I spent early mornings and evenings getting out and walking the neighborhood. Seeing people mowing their lawns, sitting on their porches (of their back yards), kids walking, running, biking, or skateboarding.

As I look back on this fondly, I’m about to close that chapter of my life. It saddens me to write the final chapter in this part of my life. To this date, I’ve accomplished a couple of things:

1. I have opened up to a couple of people. In the past, I used to keep people at arms length. Never letting them get close to me. I had trust issues. Still do, but I have learned that letting people in doesn’t mean I will get hurt.

2. I have learned that I am a smart person. As I ventured out on my own, I had started a graduate program, all the while working full-time. It was fun. It was stressful. And the most important thing, I have made some nice friends, and one great best friend, even though he’s moved back to the Boston area. I was just studying something that I loved to do, write poems, I was studying myself. I dug into my imagination and really came up with some powerful poems.

With this door closing shortly, I am looking ahead to the next chapter. The one downside to the beginning of this next chapter is moving back into my parents house until I make a final decision on where to live. As of right now, I am about to make a major decision, to purchase my first home. YIKES. I keep telling myself that it is better than renting. It is better than renting. Like my best friends Tom and Erica have been telling me, it is an investment. I know they’re right. It is something that will appreciate in value if and when I turn around and sell the house, I can make more on it, if I do some things to improve it.

Another thing in that chapter is a potential for a second job. I received word today that another institution is interested in having me teach for them, hopefully on line. YES! Extra income! Maybe I can use some of that money to pay down some bills and then start stashing some cash in savings.

So, it sounds as if things are turning around. Maybe if and when I get the house, there could be an addition…do I hear a puppy?

Until later

-Ciao

Am I Lost in Translation

There are times when I’m walking around and I feel that I’m in a foreign country. I feel like people are talking a different language and I can’t understand them, and they can’t understand me.

I don’t know, but this is what I’ve been feeling like lately. I’m wondering around this world and I haven’t figured out what I’m “supposed” to be doing. What my “purpose” is.

I’m looking for a place to live. I think I have mentioned this in an earlier post. Unsuccessfully, I have not found a place to live. I have not found a place to rent or buy. Crunch time because I need to be out of where I’m currently residing by July 31. Any suggestions?

Currently my cover letter and résumé are floating around at a couple of place for adjunct work and a different full-time position at the university. I hate to bank on one, or any, of these positions to spark thing in me. Right now, that spark isn’t there.

Man, this blog sounds so gloomy. Sorry, that’s life, even on a nice sunny day in Ohio. Maybe the next update will be better.

-Ciao

Where Should I Live?

Well, I have spent a month and half working with a real estate agent trying to find a place to call home. For the past two years, I've rented a home, with my friend, and part therapist, Bo (http://seriousilly.blogspot.com); however, we've decided not to re-up our lease in the beautiful in Bowling Green. As the door to this wonderful time is about to close, I'm looking for a new place to live. Some have asked "why don't you still live there?" Well, I think both of us would have signed, but I was looking for a place to buy and the landlord was going to raise the rent. So, why not just suck it up and look for a place.

Ok, looking for a place in Bowling Green hasn't been that simple if you're the type of person who is a do-it-yourselfer/fixer-upper type of person. That is not I. Not ounce of me at all. When I was growing up, my parents always forced me into helping them with their home improvement projects. Mention the word dry wall, it I immediately run the other way screaming like Macaulay Culkin from the "Home Alone" movie.

Needless to say, I've seen some ok homes that would be sufficient; however, they need a lot of work beyond just painting. There so happens to be one place that I looked at recently that looks as close to move in condition. It's condo. The plus side to that is I wouldn't have to do the yard work and shovel any snow. The down side is the location. To me, it’s in a weird location, near Wal-Mart, but this condo complex has been there for a number years, at least 30 years. But, it has been the closes thing to whisper, “hey…you’re home,” and the one I’m the most hesitant to say let’s make an offer. I’m still debating if I want to put that much into something that I don’t know if I want to stay in this area. So, I have a lot to think about this weekend.

Well, I should get back to being a productive member of society, instead of surfing the net or rummaging through Facebook.

Where Have I Been?

Ok, so I have broken my promise. In my original, the very first blog, I would at least write a weekly blog. I fucked that up! So, here I am. I guess I should give the update.

Since the original blog on February 15th, a lot has happened. I will say March was a blur. Some of my closest friends know this, but I was completing my thesis for my masters. That was rough; however, by March 23rd, I had revised every poem in my thesis, defended it in front of people that I look up to, I was glad to close that chapter in my life as I handed my thesis over to the Graduate College. And that leads to May 8th, graduation. I got walk across the stage, and not shake the hand of the President of the University because of the "swine" flu scare. So I'm now a master of fine arts in creative writing and now is looking for a job. Anyone? I can teach English/Literature and Craft of Poetry or can work in the back of the office away from people.

I'm now in the search for a new place to live. The house I have been leasing with a good friend of mine is up on July 31st, and we decided not to sign up for another year. There are no hard feelings; it has been part of the plan since we moved in the house almost two years ago. So, I began to think about buying a house. Everyone kept saying, "it's a buyer's market." Well, this buyer is picky. I have champagne taste on wine cooler money. I've seen some nice houses, but when walking in, I didn't get that feeling of being home. A home I would be proud of... a home that screams me. Now I'm trying to find a place to rent, and hopefully a place that will allow dogs because I want to adopt a dog. Not just any dog, but a border collie. So, I want to come home to someone waiting for me, loves me unconditionally. So, if anyone has any ideas on where I can find a place to live, let me know.

Since I graduated, I decided it’s time to start searching for a new job. This is a great thing to do in this wonderful environment. I know I’ve got crusty with my current position and a few people, including a couple of student’s, have pointed that out to me. Well, all I can say is this, sit in my chair for eight hours a day, five days a week, get asked the same question in fifteen different ways and give the same canned response and see how you feel by the end of the week. So, right now, I’m looking to do anything…teaching to administrative work. If anyone knows of something, and right now, I don’t care where it is, let me know.

On the personal side, I haven’t anything new there. Just living life as best as I can and attempt to hang out with my friends when their schedule and mine have an opening. Oh, who the hell am I fooling? I’m usually sitting at home surfing the net when I should be hanging out or even writing. But, that’s my choice. I have to live with it

It is time for me to sign off and get some shuteye. I need to get up early and go t the gym. Something that I have been neglecting to do, something I haven’t felt like getting up early in the morning and I don’t want to do it when I get off from work. But, it’s time. I did well when I was working out. I need to keep that up.

--Ciao

A New Beginning

Well, I thought it was about time for me to join the rest of the world, start a blog outside of Myspace and Facebook. Both are wonderful places to meet and chat with people, but I want to expand, get out of the cramped world of those social networks.

I will attempt to write a blog a week to let people know what is going on in this crazy world I'm wandering around in, and the crazy world of me. But here's the one thing I promise... I'll be up front and honest as I write these blogs. I'm that away in life and I don't see myself changing that on here. 

I shouldn't say crazy per say. I'll let you figure that out as you read the forthcoming blogs.