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!

ah, winter.

Well, I'd say it's about time for another update.

The city is getting to be extremely cold. I was warned about this, and I shrugged off all the warnings, stating I would be fine. In fact, I said I liked the cold...was looking forward to it even.

I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Leg warmers have become my best friend, as have hot drinks and my new coat, but despite all that, I'm still astonished at how numbingly cold it is here. Luckily, there have been some warmer days in the past week, which have given me a much needed break from the constant chill that has seemed to set into my bones.

I haven't turned my heat on yet. Part of that is due to the fact that it's gas and will cost me a lot of money I don't want to spend, and the other part of it is that I'm just stubborn like that. I vowed I'd live through the winter on my space heater and blankets alone, and by golly, I plan on it. I guess we'll see how it goes when February rolls around.

In an effort to keep myself occupied during the cold, since I don't want to leave my apartment unless I have to, I've been doing a lot of arts and crafts lately. I learned how to knit last week, which has come in quite handy during the slow hours at the cafe, and I've been painting a lot more as well. I don't always have the motivation to do artsy things, but it's gotten to the point that I've run out of options, so unless I want to lay in bed all day doing nothing, (you know, aside from working), I find the motivation.

I posted a new album of photos on Facebook from my last photo expedition in the city (since it's gotten too cold for me), but I'll add a few on here for all you (probably down to one or two people now since I hardly ever update) who check out my blog.

I'm in love with the doors in this city...



And the uneven stone streets...



I got my prints (the old ones from my photo show in May of 2007) back from Stone Soup Bistro (they've been hanging up there since I moved) and was finally able to fill my living room wall up and make my apartment feel a bit more lived in. That, paired with my tripod tree (can't afford to get an actual one) and stocking, and it's just downright cozy.

My Muslim bodyguards

I felt as if I was living through an episode (or several) of Seinfeld today. First with the waking up from the call to prayer and then at work I had to spend no less than three hours being the go-between for my boss* (a brilliant man who sometimes has difficultly communicating his ideas) and a coffee appliance repair man that talked way too loudly, and then later as I walked back from work I had the most interesting and reassuring run-in with my newest neighborhood acquaintance.

*Side note* Did I mention I have a job working at an authentic French cafe/coffee shop a few blocks away that just opened? Well, I do. I found the job four days after moving here and as luck would have it, was only the second full-time employee hired (the cafe just opened a few weeks ago). I make crepes, Belgian waffles and French sandwiches as well as brew excellent coffee and espresso that is roasted right here in Philadelphia. I love working in a place that feels like it's straight out of Europe.

So on my way back from work this evening I ran into one of the nice men that either works or just hangs out in the barbershop I live above. His name is Adbur and he's a sweet middle-aged Muslim who eagerly introduced himself to me a few days ago after I'd been waving at him every time I walked by the barbershop for the last few weeks.

He asked how my day had gone and told me a little about the festivities that had gone on in the streets while I was away at work and then got very serious and leaned in close to tell me what appeared to be something incredibly important. What he proceeded to say not only surprised me, but delighted me to no end.

I'll paraphrase: "Dear sweet girl, I just want you to know that up and down these blocks are good Muslim people who have taken notice of your move here. Two of them live in your building, and then there is the group of us at the barbershop nearly every day. I want you to know that if anyone ever so much as looks at you wrong, we will be there for you. We watch out for each other, and you are part of our family here now. You may not feel like you fit in around here, but we want you to know that we're here for you, and we'll be here to watch out for you as long as you live here. You just let me or any of us know if we can be of help to you in any way and we will do whatever we can. We all look out for each other, that's just the way it is. You have a blessed night dear, and keep on smiling like you do."

I walked the last half a block back to my apartment with a huge grin on my face and couldn't help but chuckle with delight to myself. If I'd ever had doubts about living in the city alone, they had all just melted away.

I love my neighborhood.