Its not a shed!

I've moved! Thanks to Jon for helping me do so. Like the title implies, the new place is not a shed. But sadly, its honestly only just a bit better. These past several months have really made me realize how great it is to have great people to live with. I don't think I realized before how blessed I've been over the years. I have gotten to live with some great people. We've had good times and have grown to be good friends through it. Now I just wish I could move back in with any of you!
When I went to move in to my new place I had to call Zach to wake him up. Walking in Jon and I are assaulted by a mess of a place. The first time I went to visit it was a mess but they (Zach and Bailey) had promised to get it all cleaned up and that that it was normally cleaner. Well... Its a mess. The biggest problem is that they don't have a vacuum cleaner. and they do have a cat. And thats just the beginning of it! That is just the superficial stuff that affects me. More significantly, this past week Bailey found out that she's pregnant. She's 19. Zach is 18. When I first met him I thought he was at least 20. She's getting an abortion this friday and they've broken up. even though they are still living together... I think my fear of relationship-y drama is going to be inevitable.
But hey, maybe I just need to help them find a vacuum cleaner, kindly encourage Zach to be more responsible and do the dishes and maybe mediate a conversation or two! This first two days I've been pretty negative about the whole thing. I guess coming home Saturday night to Zach sitting there in the middle of the dump of a living room smoking weed doesn't help. But still, its true that I wont be home much. Last night I had dinner with the YAV's (Young Adult Volunteers) and helped some of them with their bike problems, Saturday I spent at the Menno Mansion and watched Space Jam for Jon's birthday, and this coming week I'll be starting my new job at Performance Bikes! (which I should probably say a word or two about soon) but the point is, I wont be home much! Maybe I'll just deal with it. Also, I'm going to get a motorcycle, probably this one, so that'll help with being able to go visit people and generally just be out of the house.

Whew, well now that that's all out, maybe I can start refocusing my attention on HAVING A NEW JOB!!! That really should be the headline here. They are working on filing paper work now and I'm hoping to get a call soon saying that I can go in some morning this week to get started! I'm going to be really busy soon but I'm going to keep in mind that its all for good things! Its for summer travel, its for a motorcycle, its for Brazil 2014.

Shed Life

Figuring out my new life here in Tucson has been tough. I don’t think its overly cocky to say that I’m doing a pretty good job of getting by, and being patient, and making the best of things, but despite that it's still tough. There are many things about these early days that are interrelating and obviously affect the other aspects of my life so I’m not sure which to put first. But basically this whole episode is going to be one of complaining, whining, or general expression of looking forward to better things. 

Most generally, its tough not knowing people, or not being near those you do. I’m just under an hour bike ride from the MVSers, especially if I don't want to show up sweaty and gross. So hanging out with them has proven to be a weekly event reserved for the weekends. Unless of course they’re in Mexico at the beach. Then I just get jealous. To add to the jealousy... My more regular readers will remember Derek my mountain biking friend, he’s a great guy. Expect that he too is in Mexico enjoying the beach with some friends.

But hey! I’m good at entertaining myself. I went mountain biking on Saturday (more on that further down), cruised around downtown and played darts with some random dude at a bar on Friday and went to church on Sunday. So I would be misleading my dear reader if I were to imply that social connections were my only concern. 

Its also tough when what's supposed to be a balmy sunny paradise, is actually cold windy and wet! Well... at least its colder, windyer, and wetter than I thought it would be. But its not like I'm unprepared. I've got enough clothing, bedding, etc. but it can’t be denied that this cooler weather has a way of encouraging indoor activities; activities that make it harder to go meet new people, that make it harder to visit those I do, or even just entertain myself with the grand outdoor adventuring I normally go in search of.
Of course, it really should be said that the weather isn't all that bad. The majority of my time it has been fine and pleasant. My particular current disdain for it stems from the bitter and strong winds that led me to take the bus home from church on Sunday and stay cooped up in my hovel watching a poor quality pirated version of The Godfather, and some West Wing.

Then there's the dogs! I used to like dogs. Along two sides of this property are dogs that get very close to driving me berserk. Their vehement and continuous! barking means that I generally avoid being seen outside, even with nice weather, to clip my nails, or change my tires, or read my book. And it's not just my neighbor dogs. I've gone jogging a time or two. The whole way down the street my movement can be audibly tracked from the resounding aggression of these beasts who are seemingly bent on tearing my apart.

And so, I often find myself working on figuring out how to make this stupid 8x8 box of a home of mine as livable as possible. Since the acquisition of my rice cooker and electric skillet, my food prep capabilities have dramatically improved.

BACON!

However, despite such wonderful conveniences I am still nearly constantly left pining for such simple things as counter space. Or a chopping knife (I have been checking goodwill regularly btw). Or a real fridge! Mine is so small I can only fit the bare essentials in it. Milk, cheese, bacon, salad dressing, maybe a few vegetables, maybe some spaghetti sauce, or an open can of beans.

ANYWAAAAY... I think I'm done being childish, churlish and cantankerous for now. 

In other news I have restarted the housing hunt. Just this morning I visited one place that seems pretty great, except for the price tag. rent is $410 (utilities included). That compared to my current $150 would take some getting used to. There is another place a bit further away for a much more manageable $260, but it would be sharing an apartment with a young couple and I can imagine that getting kinda weird. We shall see. I hope to meet them soon.


More excitingly, the mountain bike ride on Saturday. It was super gnarly. This is same loop that I did with Derek the week previous, but this time I took a left instead of a right and that kept me on the trail and off the road a bit longer. It was a harrowing descent full of large drop offs and sharp corners. These pictures are two view of the same scene hopefully demonstrating the 90 degree nature of this corner. In a couple cases I had to pop up on the front wheel and swing the back around just to take the corner. In other cases I just jumped off to avoid tumbling into a sharp rocks and even sharper thorns.