Alright, I've done it...I made my new blog on Wordpress! It's definitely going to have an emphasis on my photography from now on...I'm turning over a new leaf, and it's going to be a creative one!

If I ever do move back to Greece, I'll revive this blog, but until then, switch on over to the new one!

http://chelsearoberson.wordpress.com/

new blog?

Well, I've decided I need/want to move my blog to Wordpress. Before I do so, I have to figure out what username to grab up. Obviously, Chelsea In Greece is a bit outdated and totally not true anymore (though in my heart I am, haha).

Any suggestions?

itty bitty living space...

When my sister was here in January, she measured out my apartment inch for inch and drew a nice little diagram of it. She cleaned it up and scanned it into her computer when she returned home and sent me the file.

Since I know a lot of you don't know how my apartment is laid out (it's hard to get across through photos), I will post her lovely little drawing...

I had initially thought it was 300 square feet, but after her calculations taking into account the column (that black thing at the end of the kitchen counter that protrudes into the closet) and some other things it turns out it's around 275 square feet...yipes!

The only thing the drawing is missing is the kitchen sink, which is on the counter towards the top.

I decided to do a little ghetto addition of my own to show how I have my furniture set up...


If you have a hard time seeing anything, you can click to make the photos larger.

So there you have it...my humble existence, on a grid...ha.


PS. First person to tell me what movie the title line is from and who says it wins a virtual pat on the back from yours truly!

making the old new again

I've been staying in a lot more lately...partly due to wanting to save money, but even more so because I'm just so tired of winter. The cold has officially gotten to my very core and made me even more of a recluse than I was before.

On the bright side, I've been doing a lot more with my apartment because of this fact. One of my favorite new additions is a teeny tiny desk that I found on Craigslist for a whole $5. It had only two legs and was advertised as a lap desk to rest on your lap as you do paperwork. Lucky for me, I saw a whole lot of potential in it, including the fact that it would fit perfectly in my very limited space.

I bought two 'L brackets' from Ikea for fifty cents each to mount it to the wall, making this whole project a whooping $6 since I already had the paint.

Before...(I know you're thinking, how could I possibly want to paint over this heart-tastic design?!?!)



After...(I love blues...and it's the absolute perfect size for my sewing machine!) I want to do something with the wooden top, like decoupage something awesome onto it, but I can't decide what...suggestions welcome!

birthday loot

Last Thursday was my birthday, and on top of having my great older sis come to visit me in the currently frozen north (which was her gift to me), I scored some great birthday loot as well!

My mom, Robin and grandparents all chipped in to get me the mother of all birthday gifts...a sewing machine!



My great friend (and fantastic blues musician) Shakey got me a washboard and some brushes for it...



He also got me these radtastic harmonicas because I'd expressed an interest in learning recently...(I had my first lesson from him this week!)



I'd say it was a pretty successful birthday.

I also promise to start posting photos more often.

the hazards of being a pedestrian

I actually have a few different things I could update about right now, but I feel like I've been lacking in the "ridiculous stories" department lately. So, without further ado, the latest ridiculous story...

I was walking to work in the rain the other day, carrying a bright lime green umbrella and wearing a bright orange scarf. When coming to any intersection, no matter how big or small, I almost always give the right-away to cars, even if I have a distinctly painted cross-walk inviting me to boldly cross without caution. Well, on this particularly dreary day, most cars were giving me the wave (I'm sure they felt bad for me having to walk in in the cold rain as they were warm and cozy in their cars) and I might have grown a bit careless because of this. I reached one of the last intersections before I turned onto South Street, and looked to my left. There was a car, coming, but slowing down very quickly...so I began to dash across the street, figuring I'd have plenty of time to cross, even if they weren't too keen on letting me.

It just so happens that the road this car was about to cross was a one-way, with cars only coming from the left...and I was coming from the right. The driver of this car had his head craned to the left to see if any approaching cars were coming, and when he saw there were none, he hit the gas without even turning to look straight ahead, which is exactly where I was at that moment. Luckily, I realized what was happening just seconds before it actually did, and I pivoted just a bit. So, as the car hit my legs, instead of having any real impact, it just caused me to bend over and fall onto the hood of the car, slapping it with my hand for support, which also served to alert the negligent driver.

When the driver heard me hit the hood, he immediately stopped and looked over in horror. I made eye contact with him, stood upright and began to walk past the car. As soon as I had cleared the bumper, he glared viciously, gave me the middle finger, and sped off.

I should also mention that this was a fairly older man with a disability tag hanging from his rear view mirror. I stood there in shock for a moment, mulling over what had just happened. Then I headed to work and immediately related the story to anyone who would listen.

Now I can check "get hit by a car" off my list of ridiculous things that have happened to me.

It's a Christmas miracle!

For the past month or so, I've been certain I would be spending Christmas alone, with my tripod tree (glorious as it is) and cat. This past Friday, I was graced with Ashley and Joel Selby's presence in my humble abode for the day to celebrate their newly proclaimed holiday...Chelsmas. Their gift to me was both unexpected and delightful...it was a series of many gifts, which consisted of different increments of money, with little notes stating things like, "What could you do with $5?...Get Loulou some treats!"


(Ashley and I in front of my tripod tree and stocking as we celebrate Chelsmas.)

The last in the line of presents was still more money, with the statement, "What could you do with $60?...Come to Parkersburg for Christmas!!!!!"

I'm pretty sure I teared up a bit when I read that. I was absolutely resigned to not being able to make it out there this year, but after this incredible bid towards my presence, I had to at least put forth a valiant effort.

I timidly approach my employer about getting some time off in order to make the trip, ready with tears in waiting just in case I needed the big guns. Luckily, no waterworks were needed and I was rewarded with four glorious days of time off to go spend my Christmas in Parkersburg.

So, after I open the coffee shop bright and early tomorrow (which is actually today at this point, and only four and half hours away...I need to stop this night-owl thing), I will be running around to finish a few thing before I hit the road in the afternoon.

(This is one of my favorite photos I took last year in Parkersburg during Christmas. It's through the sunroof on my car...)


So, a very Merry Christmas to everyone...and safe travels to all of you who aren't sticking at home this year. I'm vowing to start updating my blog more than once a month, so here's hoping I'll stick to it!