Buy my stuff, and help me not be poor when I move.

As you probably all realize by now...I'm moving.

Funny thing about moving across the country.  Unless you can afford a U-Haul and a 5 day trip across the country, you pretty much end up getting rid of most everything you own.  Another funny thing about moving.  If you don't sell some of that stuff that you own...you end up without belongings and with a monetary deficit when you reach said new location.

So, here is the deal.  Keeping self preservation in mind, I have decided to not sell my belongings on Craigslist.  I live alone and don't feel like becoming the next headline because I invited strangers into my house to view my couch.  Not worth it.  However, my couch is worth it, and I'd love for you to take it off my hands!

These are the main items that I'm selling, and I must also add that I'm not at all picky about prices. I would like to not get ripped off, and I would like to end up in Boston with some pocket change to buy things that I need....but I also don't want to rip you off.  I'll be really honest about whats up with each thing...and if you are interested, PLEASE let me know!  I've included pictures...please take these things off my hands.  I'll love you forever (just kidding..I'd love you forever even if you don't buy my stuff).

First item of business....
(I apologize for the photos and all the random stuff in the photos....my apartment is in a serious state of dishevelment while I'm packing up to move...things are messy.)

The Couch.

This is a thing of beauty.  It is grey suede material and is incredibly comfy and is great for naps...or for sleeping on.  I must admit there have been nights when I've foregone the bed and stayed here, because its so comfy.  My parents bought it brand new maybe 6 years ago...and they gave it to me when they got a new couch.  I have had it for a year.  The one thing I must warn is that I own a cat and they owned cats and there are some frayed threads on each end.  I've been working with my cat on not scratching the furniture, but he was a wild child when I first got him.  It would be a great addition to a den or TV room that is comfy and casual....and allows for some frayed ends.  Great couch...this is the one piece of furniture that will break my heart to leave behind.

I'm asking $100.00 OBO.  It's a good deal, just keep in mind the scratches.

Next up....

A Hoover vacuum.

Admit it, you haven't vacuumed in a while.  Maybe you need to buy a new one.  Buy this one.  Again, this is a hand-me-down from my parents and is quite a few years old, however it works great!   I just changed the bag recently...so it should be good to go.

I'm asking $15.00 OBO for the vacuum.

How about a couple....LAMPS.

Shed some light on the situation.  I have two of these little wonders and a little bedside lamp.  I'll sell all of them together for $10.00 OBO.  I also have packs of light bulbs to grace you with when you come get the lamps....last I checked light bulbs don't travel well.

Next up....twin mattress (box and spring...full set) and twin bed frame.

Having kids?  Have family that needs a guest bed when they come to visit?  This bed is perfect.  I would call the bed frame vintage, but that's only because I've had it since I was big enough to have a big girl bed.....  Yes, this has held up for well over 20 years with multiple moves.  It is a great bed frame.  It has been repainted with a new white finish over the years, but it might need another one. I love the shabby chic look and this fits in PERFECT with that.  The mattress is approximately 10-15 years old and is in great condition.  Obviously it isn't brand new, but let's face it... mattresses are crazy expensive brand new, and buying used from a stranger is super sketchy.  So buy from me!  :)

For the mattress set...I'll go for $50 OBO.
For the bedframe...$15.00 OBO.

Now for my cute cute cute little shabby chic desk.

This desk is one of my favorite pieces too.  It has mismatched hardware (little pull knobs) but that could VERY easily be fixed.  It could probably also use another coat of pant as I painted it years ago from whatever really ugly bright color it was when I bought it.  It would be SO cute painted and sanded to make it look really vintage.  Just love this.

Desk is $35.00 OBO.

I also have a dresser....

This dresser is very basic.  It is relatively nice wood (has endured a number of moves and isn't something cheap that was built at Target).  It needs a new coat of paint and also know that it is a little chipped from years of use.  This would be so cute as an addition to a shabby chic room too.  Can you sense a theme?  Gosh, I love my bedroom furniture...what the heck am I doing leaving it behind?

Dresser is $15.00 OBO.

Now just as much as I love shabby chic bedroom furniture, I also love TV.  Guilty pleasure.  This TV is ancient and has very little value in the day and age of flatscreen's and HD.  However, I'll practically throw it at you if you take it off my hands.  It can be packaged in with the DVD player and VCR, and would be perfect for a guest room or a spot where you want a little extra entertainment at no cost.  The coffee table that it is on right now is REALLY nice wood, is really easy to carry (super light) and would be a great addition to just about any room.  I used it for an actual coffee table for a long time, and then in my new apartment it fit better as a holder for this ginormous, obnoxious TV.

Yes, that is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on the TV...don't judge.

The coffee table is $15.00 OBO and the TV bundle is $10.00 OBO.

Like microwave popcorn?  Like microwave burritos?  Microwave dinners?  Don't have a microwave?  You are so in luck.  (Am I a good saleswoman or what?)

This microwave has done me well.  I've only had it about a year and a half and its 700 watts and was brand new when I bought it.  I have no reason to believe that it won't last for many more years.  It is Sunbeam brand in case that matters to you!  It is black and silver.

The microwave is $25.00 OBO.

Last but not least....

This little guy is 3 years old, enjoys eating, sleeping and meowing, has a dramatically disabled paw and an auto-immune disorder, and follows you around like a dog.  He enjoys people who spend a lot of time paying attention to him and who wake up early in the morning.

$5.00 OBO.

Just kidding...he is coming with me.

Ok, so if you are interested in anything other than the cat...PLEASE contact me.  Just leave me a comment or message on Facebook or on here, and I'll get back with you.  I leave in exactly two weeks, so the sooner everything goes, the better...even if it means sleeping on the floor for the next two weeks.  If you want more pictures or more information on anything, or want to come check it out...let me know.  Also, if you know of any trustworthy people who won't kill me or steal my cat from my apartment...I'd love to share info with them too.  :)

Thanks friends!!!

Rainy Day

This week I have had a lot of time off work. It has allowed me to hang out with friends, go to a midnight showing of Dark Knight Rises and not have to worry about waking up 2 hours after getting home, and it has allowed me a lot of time to actually appreciate the things that life offers again.  And since I've had some time to enjoy the little things this week, I'd like to highlight the things that are currently ranking top on my favorite things list....

1) Ben and Jerry's Banana and Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt



Run, don't walk to your nearest store and buy yourself some of this.  Seriously.  You won't regret it.  Unless of course you aren't into either bananas or peanut butter....in that case, you may be sorely disappointed!  But seriously, I could eat one of these in a sitting, and I never ever do that.


2) Anything by Malcolm Gladwell

      

This guy is ridiculous. He is a stud.  Everything the man writes is interesting, and that isn't an over exaggeration of any kind.  His intelligence is completely obvious, and I feel smarter just reading his books.  True story.  I am almost done with Outliers (which I highly recommend) and am trying really hard not to delve too deeply into "What the Dog Saw" until I finish the Hunger Games...I'm becoming a total book whore right now.  I have also heard rave reviews for Tipping Point and Blink, but I must refrain....too big of a pile of books as it is!  Anyways, if you want to check them out, they are a good read but require some thinking.  I tend to not read them right before bed or I zone out and miss everything.  They are worthwhile to be wide awake for!


3) The Dark Knight Rises



I was among the many who attended a midnight showing for The Dark Knight Rises in Spokane.  Obviously the whole release has been greatly marred by the horrific events that took place in Colorado, which demonstrates just how senseless life can be sometimes.  An absolute tragedy.  They have started to cancel premieres out of respect for the lost or out of fear of copycats, but truly the movie was incredible and it was just an unfortunate thing that could have happened anywhere and in any situation.  So in a very big plug for the movie, it really brings everything together and couldn't have been better.  Loved it.  And how cool is the Bat Motorcycle?  I'm pretty sure its not possible to crash it (look at those fatty tires), and its also impossible to look uncool while riding it.  Oh, and side note...Joseph Gordon Levitt is the most attractive person alive.

4) Lana Del Ray



This lady is weird.  And I love her.  Check out her music!

5) Thunderstorms



We have had an unusual amount of humidity this year, and that has contributed to us having an unusual amount of thunderstorms.  And I am loving it!

Yes I'm still alive!

Has she fallen off the face of the planet?  Has she finally gotten a life?

Neither...I just have no more internet at my house so this blog has been greatly underused in the last month or two.  I figure its about time for an update....and although my life is largely uninteresting...I suppose I do have a few big updates.

1)  In case you weren't aware...I'm leaving Spokane in a little over a month.  If that doesn't really mean anything to you...then disregard further information.  If that means that you want to see me before I leave....I also want to see you.  Let's make it happen.  If you live in Boston...I'll see you soon.  If you live on the East Coast, I will finally be within your time zone and that makes me happy.  If you have never been to Boston, start planning your trips because I love visitors.

2) My job at the House of Charity has finally come to a close (with the exception of a few days here and there to make a few extra bucks before I leave).  This means that I now have an exponentially more expansive amount of time to do whatever the heck I want.  Today that includes drinking REALLY strong Chai tea at an indie coffee shop next to David Pendergraft (of Gonzaga Basketball fame)...and attempting to both look cool and not spill my drink all over myself in front of my biggest sports crush ever.

3) I need to sell all of my furniture and household goods over the next month.  If you think you need something, ask me...I might have it.  And I will sell it to you for next to nothing because I just need to get rid of everything.  Also, I have furniture (most notably a twin mattress and bed frame, a dresser, a desk, and a couch) that needs a new home.  Tell others...I'd rather my friends end up with it instead of Craigslist creepers.

4) I managed to receive a notable scholarship to Boston University this past week, which literally can only be described as a gift from God because it was somewhat accidental that I got it....ok.  Completely accidental.  Here is what happened.  I got my financial aid award (the final version) from the school and it included a letter saying I had been awarded a $10,000.00 scholarship in the name of a lady that had died and gifted a large amount of money to the school.  I was hesitant, because it didn't appear on my financial award sheet....  I sent the financial aid lady an e-mail asking about it and whether it might be an unfortunate mistake.  She responded the next week that indeed I hadn't been awarded that scholarship and that it was a mistake.  I dabbled with the idea of lodging a formal complaint...and instead responded with a very friendly e-mail saying that I'd appreciate being considered for future funds that may come available.  Took the high road on that one and it ended up working greatly in my favor.  She e-mailed me back about 2 hours later with an adjusted financial aid package that included a $10,000.00 scholarship that she had dug up somewhere.  There is next to no movement on the scholarship waitlist, and I know that I would not have received a scholarship had this mistake not taken place and had she not felt guilty for promising money that wasn't mine.  I have felt so sure that Boston is the next step for me and have prayed all along that money would not be an issue and that I would feel a certainty of some kind that I was making the right move.  Between finding an amazing living situation from all the way across the country in a very short period of time, to getting this random and undeserved scholarship, to finding the cheapest plane ticket known to man, to having zero hesitation in my mind and pretty amazing support from my family (who I might add is NOT excited for me to leave)...I feel really excited about this next step.  I feel a great sense of purpose in this all, as I have never felt something fall in line quite like this has.....I think this could be incredible.


5)  I have also been offered an internship at Greater Boston Legal Services, which is above and beyond what I could have hoped for in an internship.  I will be working alongside lawyers and law interns who are providing pro-bono services to the poor in Boston.  Specifically I will be working in the Welfare Unit.  My role will be to help provide access to resources that are outside the scope of the legal work that is being done by the rest of the team.  I also have all my classes in line and Fridays off....this is shaping up to be a good semester.

6) I got the chicken pox when I was 7. It was horrible...and ruined my summer. My parents took me to a low-income clinic that went out of business.  I have no records that I had the chicken pox.  I have to have record that I had the chicken pox to attend grad school in the State of Massachusetts.  Therefore, I have been injected with a live virus vaccine this morning and am actively crossing my fingers that I don't end up getting the chicken pox to cap off my summer experience.  As much fun as that would be....

7) My Uncle Fred passed away a few weeks ago and my mom is currently in Georgia attending his funeral and spending time with my extended family and my sister and her kids.  Please pray for my family to heal some broken hearts, especially for my mom and my Grandma and Fred's wife Jan.  She was a real trooper in the midst of his illness and has the most beautiful heart of just about anyone I know.  She is sad...rightfully so....and could certainly use prayers.

8) I spent this last weekend at Priest Lake with two of my co-workers and was reminded just how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is.  I'm not sure I'll ever find anyplace that offers as much as this area offers.  Sure the East Coast is great and all, but this is prime time.

9) I'm pretty much out of updates and I've only hit #9...told you my life was boring.

Hope you all are enjoying your summer and I apologize again for the HUGE lapse in updates.  I'll have internet again in a month...and until then, I'll support some local coffee shops and support my caffeine addiction at the same time.

God certainly works in mysterious ways.  Or not so mysterious ways.

My internet took a nose dive along with what little integrity my landlord still had this last week.  Stoked about it.

So I come to you as I stew over a melty hot fudge sundae at McDonalds using what is coined as free wi-fi, but required a manager to come help me connect.  Strange Wi-Fi connections are not a good thing for technologically challenged individuals....

I could say this is a tragic downfall in my life...as I am now completely unconnected to one of my favorite ways of staying connected.  However, perspective wins out and I needed a break and am enjoying the freedom of not having every bit of information at my fingertips at any hour of the day.  This change in focus has also allowed me time to read the books and start in on the movies that I need to read/watch a few more times and then discard before moving to Boston.

Update on Boston:

I leave in a little over 3 months.  Terror is beginning to take over...but the kind of terror you get when you ride a roller coaster.  Excitement....horror....but then a general sense of exhilaration for having forced yourself to do something terrifying for the sake of expanding your horizons.  I'm unbelievably excited about starting school again and I'm becoming more and more pumped to be living on the East Coast and being exposed to a lot of new things.  I'm not excited to leave my family or my beautiful friends, as I very much expect and believe that there are no others like them anywhere in the world.  In addition to preparing to go, I also find myself relishing the opportunity to enjoy one last full summer in the Pacific Northwest, as there really is nowhere more beautiful and special than here.  I don't care what anyone anywhere else says....we've got it right out here.

As far as the details go, I have an apartment, a plane ticket, and a general idea of how I'd like things to go (ha...yeah right), but very little else to go on.  I have yet to receive my placement for my internship, haven't registered for classes, don't know where my work study job will be, still need to put for the last of my loans, and need to learn to navigate this crazy huge city in 3 days once I get there.  I also have to drag my wonderfully cute but horribly impatient cat across the country on an airplane. Should be exciting.  Not to mention I've been told that I'm moving to Boston on the biggest moving day in the city.  75% of the city's apartment dwellers move on September 1st....including most students from Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, Tufts, etc...  I'm in for a long day.

For those that read this that are praying types (which most of you are), please pray for my continued preparations to move.  I have begun to realize that leaving the place you have grown up in is a pretty complex process and not really one that I'm ready for or able to do on my own.  Also, pray for my friends (of which you are one), because many of them have some challenging things on their plates right now that I can't wrap my head around at all.  God is full of grace and very much in control, but our 26 year old lives are being turned upside down in ways that I don't think 26 year old lives should.  Also pray that my cat doesn't die on the airplane in September....Amen.

:)

I've been told I'm pretty picky.

I suppose I am.

It takes very little for someone to make my "its not ever going to happen" list.  Not for lack of personality or lack of looks or lack of trying...but simply because of lack of common sense.

Harsh?  Maybe.  But here are 10 things that will instantly earn Prince Charming a place on the "Do Not Call" List.

1) Planning a date that is high off the ground...not romantic.
I'm not kidding when I say that if a guy asked me to marry him on a hot air balloon ride I would say no.  You drag me up that high in the air, you deserve a quiet, awkward ride back to Earth.



2) Wearing t-shirts that expose your nipples....gag.
Whoever decided this was cool was actually too high on testosterone to realize that girls think you look stupid....not cool.



3) Buying me things that are expensive and worthless....my jewelry box is already full.  Thank you.
If all you can think to buy me is a necklace or set of diamond earrings, you don't know me very well.  The only diamond I want to receive is in the form of a ring that says you want to be with me forever (and it better be conflict-free).  Otherwise....get creative.



4) Spending every spare moment pumping iron....meat head.
I'm all for fitness, but get a life.

5) Being a crappy driver....safety first.
Didn't your Dad ever teach you to respect ladies and keep them safe?  Your ridiculous road rage and disrespect for the law does not impress me.  It just reminds me of what my Dad always warned me..."Guys are idiots".



6) Not asking questions...interview me please.
As much as I love to talk and as much as I have twenty billion questions stacked up in my head to ask you, I would also like to believe that you want to know a thing or two about me too.


7) Expressing that indoor activities are inferior to outdoor activities...I like movies.
As much as I can appreciate a day at the lake, a weekend of camping, a hike up a fairly public/non-bear populated mountain....I also really like movies, game nights, and indoor things.  The moment a guy gets snooty about his activities, I back up slowly....and eventually turn and run.  If you think the outdoors beats out indoors on every occasion, go marry a hippy.



8) Singing to me...it makes me want to disappear inside myself.
Painfully unromantic....really thoughtful, but too awkward to be enjoyable.



9) Making pigheaded ultra-Conservative comments....I'm a social worker.
At least pretend that you can see my side....because it's face it...I'm usually close to right...if not dead on.



10)  Making me chicken...if you've spent 5 minutes with me you know I hate chicken.
I'm not a picky eater....I like beef, I like most ethnic foods, I like breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I'll eat vegetables, and I'll even eat things that are burnt.....but I will not eat chicken.  Get over it and quit trying to make chicken happen....it's not happening.

Bucket List Revisited

My mom told me about this little baby who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and whose parents were writing a blog in her honor, documenting some "bucket list" moments that she was experiencing.  She died this last week at the age of 5 months old, and as I read her blog yesterday and ugly cried my way through it...I recalled that I had made a bucket list myself and that I was making little or no headway on it.  I decided to take a look and see where I've been...


This last year I managed to mark a pretty solid handful of things off my bucket list....a few of these things included....


15) Go to Europe.
22) See the Eiffel Tower
30) Fly a kite
55) Volunteer regularly
54) Find a street sign for "Danielle Street"
38) Find a career that I love.
58) Live in an apartment with no roommates.
60) See one of my favorite artists live (Dierks...oh Dierks)
80) Send a message in a bottle
82) Build an epic sand castle
99) Go to a GU B-Ball game at the Kennel
21) Visit the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans


I also plan on doing these two things this coming year for sure...


40) Get my Masters.
96) Live somewhere other than the West Coast.



Now the interesting thing about bucket lists are that they seem to morph as the years go on. There are things I felt like would "complete" my life last year that really don't hold any meaning for me this year.  Why waste my time watching every single Oscar Best Picture from the last 20 years if I don't like half of them?  Why in the world would I want to hold a tarantula?  I don't even like spiders.  Do I really want to run that half marathon?  My knee barely allows me to get through Bloomsday.  I may still do these things....but will my life really feel more complete because I did them?


I guess I've been thinking a lot, not about the meaning of life, but about what meaning I'm putting into my life personally.  Am I taking the time to do things that bring me joy?  Am I putting great importance into my relationships with others or am I putting great importance into my relationship with things?  Am I living expressly for the purpose of showing God glory through my life?  What a terrible thing to waste your life on things that don't matter.


I guess what it comes down to is living life fully....living it with purpose and with intentionality.  Too many days I come home and sink into my couch and watch TV to numb my experiences from work.  I may be serving during the day, but so many days it's with a heart that doesn't want to serve and that would rather be somewhere else.  I have 50 days left to make my experience at work something that feels positive at the other end of it.  I could leave feeling burnt out and unwilling to explore this population further in future job opportunities, or I could leave with a positive attitude.  I could also devote my time outside of work to things that feel like they matter....things that make me feel alive.  Maybe doing things that make me feel more alive outside of work will make me feel more alive at work.


I love that Baby Avery's bucket list was a list of experiences...a list of joyful moments with the ones that she loved.  Not experiences that would make her life more complete in the end, but that allowed her to live fully during the time she had.  So maybe my bucket list for this year....if I were to be honest with myself...would be a "make it as I go" list.  Am I living in the moment and grasping opportunities when they arise?  Am I trying new things and taking risks?  Am I laying it on the line and using up every ounce of every day to allow my life to have real depth?  That's what I hope for this year.

Mariner's Fan: A Story of Heartbreak

Baseball season is upon us, as most able-minded US citizens should now realize.  This time of year always reopens old wounds on the hearts of most Mariner's fans.  Let's face it...the team hasn't been on its A game for quite a few years.  The fair weather fans have found sunnier pastures in other outlets....although not in the Pacific Northwest because Seattle has a corner on poorly performing sports teams.  However, there are reasons to stick around.  Call it false hope, nostalgia, or a sense of loyalty...here are 10 reasons why I hang around for more.

#10  Garlic Fries

You haven't arrived at Safeco until you can smell the garlic.  Wash them down with a $7.00 lemonade (aka a glass of water with a lemon jammed in it) and you've got yourself a meal.

 

#9) Lou Piniella

I will forever stand by my belief that the year that they bring Lou back is the year that we win the Series.  I love this man.  Bad attitude and all.

#8) The Old Jerseys

Nothing I love more about the Mariners than Retro Throwback night....the Trident is so classic.  

#7) A-Rod Hating

Lower than my tolerance for alcohol is my tolerance for sell-outs. The Yankees deserve you.  Thank you for breaking my heart.

#6)  Safeco Field

This place is a gem.  Between the energy, the train whistles, the views of the skyline, the garlic smell wafting about, the planes flying overhead...I love everything about it. 

 

#5) Seattle

This should be pretty obvious, but a lot of the charm of the team has to be attributed to the city.  I have had a huge crush on the city of Seattle since I was a little kid.  Spokane is its ugly step-sister, so it was always fun to head West and spend some time near the water and big skyscrapers.  One of my favorite days involves scouring Pike Place Market, shopping at all the stores we don't have, eating seafood on the waterfront, and capping the night off with a little Mariner's action.  It's so worth the $20.00 parking.

#4) Edgar Martinez

This man is a legend.  I'm embarrassed to admit how big of a crush I have on a 50 year old married man who speaks broken English and needs someone else to run the bases for him.  The man can hit.  He has charisma.  He is humble.  Oh goodness.  Hold me back.

#3)  Dave Niehaus

My oh my.  This guy is missed.

#2)  2001

To say I was obsessed with the Mariners in 2001 was an understatement.  Edgar Martinez, Mike Cameron, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Joel Pineiro, Arthur Rhodes, Jamie Moyer, Dan Wilson, Brett Boone, Carlos Guillen, John Olerud....and that is me rattling those names off after 11 years. I'm a superfan.  You pretty much can't ever top 116 wins.  I don't know that I'd be any more impressed even if they had won the Series.  Studs.

#1)  1995

I realize my top reason for loving the Ms is a year...but it is what started my love for them.  I was 9 and just at the age that I could either choose to be a Mariner's fan or choose to be a loser.  I chose correctly.  Such an incredible year.  When I found out Griffey was coming back to finish out his career with the Mariners I almost pooped my pants, because all I could think about was this scene right here.

So Mariners...try not to break my heart.  But even if you do, I'll come running back for more next Spring.