I am still waiting for my phone, which arrives on the 23rd. It’s been 7 days, so I’m wearing my watch again. Funny how many times I realize I look at my phone for the time.

I dared my best friend to go without his phone for a week. He thought it would be tough but claimed to have done it before and often likes to take breaks from social media. I got annoyed and challenged him to go without everything he uses his phone for, like GPS, which he relies on daily. I mentioned I didn’t care about social media; I just missed my music, which he also loves. He finally agreed it would be difficult without his music but replied, “Well, I didn’t lose my phone.”

Ouch. Ok…ok, ok. But I will have to admit the hardest thing has been to go without my music on my headphones. I don’t have a car so I travel on transit and by my shoe leather express. Having headphones with music helps with blocking out things around me that I don’t feel like hearing or dealing with. And, it helps me get pumped up to run Charley around first thing in the morning. The birds are nice to listen to but just don’t get me pumped up the way my music can.

But, in a few days I will have a phone again and I think my outlook has changed. Or at least I realized how much time my phone has taken away from me. Everything from looking random things up on Google, or getting sucked into videos from Instagram. Or playing my silly video games. Even though I got a Nintendo Switch lite the same day I lost my phone. But I don’t take the Switch with me everywhere.

I just got the movie of The Princess Bride from the library while I’ve been in the process of reading the book. I’m excited to watch it after finding the book absolutely funny. I never understood why people liked the movie so much but now I think I’m going to relate.

I also checked out a couple of apartments in this past week. Luckily everything was coordinated through e-mail so I didn’t have the phone to worry about as much. Nobody called and canceled, obviously. That was frustrating though.

The place I first looked at was great for my cat, Stella Vader. It felt very secure with only two neighbors and a charming little courtyard. My front door would open into this courtyard unlike opening up to a hallway like my current place.
The place used to be an old hotel that was established for the World Fair a long time ago but has since been converted into apartments.
It’s fully gated and has a secure front entry. Stella couldn’t really get out of the confines of the building. But, it was somewhat small inside.
The 2 windows of the apartment looked out into the courtyard and onto the complex across the way. It wouldn’t be very interesting for Charley to look out. She couldn’t people watch, or look at the other dogs out walking.
It is brand new inside, and had those fake hardwood floors that are somewhat easy to take care of.

The other place I only had a visual tour, but I loved the inside. It was an older building with brick walls inside, a claw foot tub, installed desk and walk in closet. It is a corner apartment, and larger than the other one by far. It was very quaint and I felt it was me.
It has a gas stove and heating, which I love. The windows look out to the street on two angles and is on the third floor. No elevator though. I would be on the 3rd floor.
The only thing is that it is right on the street. Not a really busy street but a main connecting road that leads to the main road. It’s by Blick Art Supplies (Yay!) and the grocery store and a large park. It also is about the same distance to the same University that Charley and I go to every morning.
It’s also right above a cat cafe! How cool is that. Oh wait, I just thought of something. Maybe I can take Stella there for some social time. I’ll have to check into that.
But both will have the ability to look out onto the activities outside.

Searching for apartments is tiring but a little fun. I’m waiting for a call back from the place I really want. I have a couple of months before my voucher runs out, so I hope to find something that feels right before then.

But, it is my birthday tomorrow at 5:34 in the morning on December 21st! Winter Solstice, shortest day of the year, and it is going to be a good day. Here is to another great year of what is going to happen at this age! I do love my birthday. All day long I’m in a great mood. Not that I wish my birthdays would be coming all the time, but I’m going to enjoy it.