Update

I met my landlord Sunday morning, signed some paperwork and got my keys. I had my choice of three apartments, and chose the one closest to the door - I had a lot of stuff to carry in! It was bitter cold but the activity of going in and out and up and down the stairs kept me warm enough - although my ears got cold. Afterwards, though I realized that my legs were actually cold to the touch. It took over an hour for them to reach room temperature.

After I'd had a chance to rest, I headed for Target to get bedding. It was hard to decide because there were so many choices! Restful, graphical, shabby-chic, elegant, bold - aisle after aisle. In the end I went with pink. Since Blair isn't big into pink, I figured this was my chance. I found a tapestry rug in similar colors and a decorative pillow that was on sale! I macked it out with a featherbed and comfy pillows. I decided I wanted the bedroom to be welcoming and comfy and happy to try to make up for the fact that I'd be alone in it.

I also bought a table to use for my conputer and for scrapbooking and a shelf to put my printers and scanner on, a desk chair, scale, alarm clock (with nice big numbers so I can read it without my glasses, steps for Dumble to get up on the bed, some groceries - and I filled my prescriptions. Gotta love a Super Target.

I'm very glad Dumble is here - he's excellent company. He gets wild and frisky when I get home, grabbing his toys, shaking them and then tossing them so he can pounce onthem and start all over again. He's getting used to the fact that he can hear other people moving around, and has been quiet at night.

Monday morning I met with the folks at the consulting company I'm workign for. After some paperwork, the gal took me over to the Mayo Clinic and introduced me to my supercisor. Over the past couple of days, I've gotten set up with email, computer access, and a badge. I'm figuring my way around the subway and skyway - and can get pretty close to home without having to go outside. The walk's not bad, but my feet are killing me.

My supervisor showed me the employee cafeteria, where I can get breakfast for a couple of dollars. It's so reasonable that I've started picking up dinner after I eat my lunch, and putting it in the fridge until it's tiem to go home. Voila - variety with no mess or dirty dishes. I'm going to miss that this coming weekend.

I started low-carbing on Monday. I've stuck to it so far, but the smell of bread assails you from every angle when you're near a food court (the subway/skyway sytem is a bit like a sprawling mall). I love bread. But I have found sources of nuts and sugar-free chocolate, so I have a little soemthing to snack on.

The cable guy came last night and I finally have itnernet access at home. Blair, Dan and I had a nice video chat last night. Dan and I played 3D tic tac toe and 2 person minesweeper last night. I was in my Lazy Boy with the computer and the dog on my lap, chatting with my guys. It was pretty good. Then I watched last weekend's Battlestar Galactica via my Slingbox. It streams the Tivos to me over the internet. It worked well and the episode was amazing. I can't wait to see where they are goign with the last few episodes of the series.

Tehre are times when the loneliness really hits me. I don't think I've lived by my self for more than a couple of months in my whole life. I met my first husband in college, and then I had Alex with me. Now it's just me and Dumble. I miss my guys terribly.

But I feel incredibly fortunate to be employed. And we're healthy and have roofs over our heads and enough to eat. Wandering the buildings of the clinic I see so many ill people - wheel chairs, hairless heads - it reminds me to be grateful for what we have. This year will end and we'll be together again.