Cochroach Queen

I have spent the entire day shuffling things around and still have enough to keep me busy all week. But first, my past week.

I went home for Christmas, and, aside from the stresses of flying through Denver, I had a very enjoyable and relaxing time. Most days were spent with family--we had Christmas the 24th, 25th, and 26th and the 27th was my birthday so I had 4 consecutive days of presents. Went down to Des Moines to pick up a few things and meet up with some friends, spent a lot of time with my family, and even got to ride Maggie some. It was great to see everyone and eat as much as my stomach could hold. Even though it was less than a week, it seemed like a long vacation.

It's crazy how long it seems I've been gone. I'm driving around the island feeling as though I've been living here all my life and at the same time I feel as though I've been gone for a month. Nothing's really changed, but I just feel this passing of time. Strange, I know, and hard to explain. Anyway, moved out of my old place today which took most of the morning between packing and cleaning and mopping. Came here to the new place in Hanapepe and after unpacking for a while, I decided to go to Lihue to hunt for a dresser. Actually had some success and spent 3 hours putting it together only to have Kristin point out that I assembled it incorrectly. Figured it out and only should have taken a few minutes but I failed to notice the screws were different lengths and ended up putting a screw hole in the top of my new dresser. Oh well, I guess. It's together and holds all of my clothes, so it's fabulous. I also hung some curtains and although they're up, they're not up properly. Oh well, they'll keep the sunlight out so they fulfil their destiny.

And as for the Cockroach Queen, somehow I thought there would be fewer bugs here. Maybe because there's carpeting, I don't know. But I have killed 2 cockroaches in the past half hour (one of which was too big for comfort and the other which was on my bed) and have seen some others attempting to hide in the clutter strewn about my room. I guess that will be a good motivation to keep the room clean. These things love me. Great.

I got to thinking today of how my life is so picturesque for a 24-year-old. I drive a crappy car but live in a location where the attitude is laid back and the weather is beautiful year-round. I'm surrounded by outdoor beauty perfect for day dreaming and exploring. Here I am independent, away from my family yet still attached via phone and visits. I have a roommate I don't really know and although we have taken the initiative to get cable and wireless internet, we have no idea what day the trash gets picked up and therefore have a month's worth of garbage in bags on our front porch. My bed sits on the floor and since I bought it at the Salvation Army I bought a cover which reminds me exactly of the plastic that was on every college dorm's beds. And although I have a Wal-Mart dresser that is poorly constructed, I have top-of-the-line electronics which include my new laptop Bertha (who, by the way, I have been bonding with since I got back from Lihue). I wear jeans to work, have no idea where my life is going or where I want it to go and am subconsciously waiting for my phone to ring even though I know it won't. I'm not sure it's a typical life or every 24-year-old's dream, but I feel as though I've been living in a movie for the past day.

Except for the cockroaches, of course. They bring me back to reality.