I stayed up till 4 Saturday, and got up in time to go work in the bookstore. Last night I crashed at about 11. I'm trying to tell myself that really, this is enough sleep, but I'm not really buying it. Maybe coffee will help.

***

I talked with my current landlord, and found out that he requires a month's notice before we can move. Amonth?? What the hell's up with that? Basically, the only way that works is if we resign ourselves to paying double rent for a month, or somehow finding a job in Chicago that starts July 1. I don't want to say, yeah, we'll be out by June 1st unless I know I've got a job and somewhere to live. If I found a job this week, it just might work. But, if I find something on say the 15th, I won't be able to start renting an apartment there until the 1st of the following month. I can't live in a cardboard box for two weeks. I've got too much stuff.

Moving here was so simple. "You've got a cat? No, I don't think we need to worry about a pet deposit. You seem like a responsible young lady, and I'm sure you'll take care of things. You want to move some stuff in before the first? Yeah, sure, no problem. You can't get all the rent money right away? Well, I know it's hard to do security and rent all at once, so how's about if we say you've got till the end of the week, just this once?"

I had no idea I was falling into such an insidious trap. It's true, Ripon really will keep you here forever. "You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave..." That's not the exact quote. Let me try again: I think it was Angie who said the whole town was like a giant Roach Motel. "Taus check in, they can't check out!"

So we've revised the plan a little. I'm still looking in Chicago, with the caveat that it would have to be something that I can pretty much choose a start date. I realize that's a lot to ask for, so I'm also looking in Madison. Madison's only about an hour and a half away. That's a sucky commute, but it could be done. Find a job this month, commute next month, give notice, and move in July. It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than all the alternatives.

And, really, I think I'd almost rather live in Madison anyway. It's big enough to have some options, but it's not scary-big. I know several people who live down there, and I know of several more. It's close enough to make getting up here once a month for the LARP reasonable. Gooooo, Madison!

***

(I'm on my second cup of coffee now. Can you tell?)

***

What else is new? I want the library to call me. I ordered the last two Otherland books last week, and I wants them. I needs them. The second one showed up in no time at all, so what's the holdup? I seriously thought about just saying the hell with it, and ordering them from le bookstore, but then I'd have to pay for them. With the car almost paid for, I've got a little breathing room, but if I'm planning on moving, I shouldn't be spending money or aquiring stuff. I have so much stuff.

It's City Cleanup week, so I lugged a bunch of stuff down to the curb last night, but there's still way too much here. The thought of boxing it all up makes me cry. I hate moving.

This time, though, I'm moving to a real city. Maybe this means I won't ever have to move again! OK, I know it really doesn't mean that. But I can dream.

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