First, an apology to all 'true' Clapton fans...I know that isn't one of his best songs, and unlike when I usually type out this blog, I'm not even listening to the song on iTunes or in my head. In fact, I don't really like the song. But the title is just so appropriate.

Yesterday I went to sign the lease for the new apartment. Oh how the cherubs in heaven sang! I keep telling myself, 8 more days and I'll be on my way to the apartment that I've wanted for quite some time. Not just new, but around professionals who won't stand outside your window yapping at dark during the week, where I don't have to worry about walking home at night for fear of random intoxicated street folk. A place that is finally big enough to have people come over, and its maintenance will be up to professionals who take such concepts as 'repair' and 'appearance' seriously. A place to truly call home.

I used to have such a place once...from 2003-2005 the apartment in the northwest corner of Austin. That was a gorgeous place...magical, almost, especially given the place I had lived prior. I went from a place that went from ok-acceptable to ghetto in the span of 6 months; in one year we had 40 car break-ins, 10 robberies and 3 attempted rapes in our 150 unit complex. Then I moved northwest, to a gated complex away from any ruffians. Sure, it was a commute to get to campus, but at least I could work in quiet, and I didn't have to worry about much. In fact, the most fearful experience I had was trying to walk to the park-and-ride, which was half a mile. No problem, you say? Well, yeah, but there were no sidewalks, and I had to cross two majorly congested roadways. I decided to drive it instead...felt sheepish and ashamed about it, but figured my safety was a wee bit more important.

The place I'm moving to now is very similar, minus the gate. And I can walk across the parking lots (2 of them) to get to work...easy enough. My biggest worry, I suspect, is students walking over, thinking they can knock on my door and come in for impromptu office hours. Um, no. There will be none of that.

As for now, I have a full weekend with family. The bridal shower for my soon-to-be sister-in-law is Saturday, and then the rest of the weekend with my parents. I'm really looking forward to seeing how incredibly girly this party's gonna get...ok, no I'm not. I'm dreading it. I have a strong suspicion that it'll be all girly games, brainless activities in the name of goofery and supposed fun...and I'll be miserable. But I can put on a brave face for a couple of hours, right?