T minus one day.  

Tomorrow is my first day at my new job.  Its not the work that is the issue here -- my sister keeps telling me she has no sympathy.  I don't mind going to work... its more like the night before going to a new school.  Working in the clinic, or rather, creating the clinic, was like nothing I had ever done, so there was no frame of reference.  Besides, I worked from home the first year.  But while I know all will be fine.... I still have those new school butterflies.

Its not even really my first time in meeting some staff. I stopped in the other day and met four or five people above and beyond those I met during the interview process. But still....

It also means that the apartment search moves to evenings and weekends. Not good. I am seriously leaning toward one of the lofts I saw. I need to make a decision or it will be winter before I'm settled in my home.

Yesterday I looked at two more. The first was so minimalistic, it wasn't even there. I should have taken photos but I was so taken aback, I just didn't think of it. Here is the outside. This should have been my first clue.

It was a construction site inside.  Just frame, no walls.  I thought the loft with no walls gave me pause, this was just hilarious.  The funny thing is that the woman at the rental service told me there was a lot of buzz about this property.  I just goes to show, this whole process is so bullshit.  For some reason it made me think of a poem from long ago.  I want to say it was Robert Louis Stevenson but don't quote me.

Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today
My god I wish he'd go away!

I looked at a different one that did have walls.  The problem with that one was that the walls were just too close together.  I don't mind downsizing but I would like to keep a little bit of my furniture.

After two duds, I was driving around writing down numbers and web sites from the sides of buildings - much to the chagrin of drivers behind me, I'm sure!  I found myself driving down South Street.

As a teenage, South Street was Mecca.  It was so cool.  For those outside Philadelphia, South Street was where you went to see Rocky Horror Picture Show and try to be cool.  Its still a massively happening place with more tattoo parlors and sexy lingerie stores than anywhere else I know.  But boy did I feel old.  One one corner was a market.  The banner along the top of the windows said Deli, Irish Food, milk, etc but the windows were FULL of bongs.  I had to laugh.  Further proving my oldness was my greater interest in a hot dog cafe than the bong store. I visited a place called Hot Diggity. Very tasty!  I had the South Comfort dog but the dipping sauces for the fries were awesome too.  Tamarind Coconut gets a big thumbs up!
I asked if they would ever have a half smoke and one guy even knew what I was talking about.  He said they might have it as a special .at some point!!!  Yeah!  I've never had a half smoke outside of DC and I miss them!  Nothing will ever replace Ben's Chili Bowl I'm okay with a cheap substitution before I get back to DC.

Finally, walking down the street I see these shoes in the window.   Now really.  Someone help me out here.  How in the  hell does a woman even stand in these shoes and not topple backwards.  Really.  That's a serious question.  Really.

My niece tells me I'm "not ancient."  I look at these shoes and I'm just not sure.  Just in case, I'm off to bed early tonight.  I will gather my pencil case, new notebooks and even plan my outfit.  Tomorrow I start a whole new adventure.