Oh. My. GAWD.

My darlings!

I have shamefully neglected you.

In my defence: tons of stuff was going on, which I will detail to you right now, hoping you will find it in your heart to forgive me.

First of all, there were my exams.
I really went for it this time (good, because I had eight instead of the usual six and my schedule was rather... fucked-up.)
Long story short, I finally got rid of my freshman courses, which is a relief on its own. Passed 3 of my 6 second-year courses, which leaves me with 3 re-sits, which I'm actually quite satisfied with. Actually got a 14 (out of 20) for my favourite course! Woop!

Second, Ze Grand Movin'. It is done.
Finished my exams on Monday the 22nd and spent the three subsequent days painting. Alone, because The Boyfriend was working. Didn't turn out quite as good as I hoped because the previous layer of paint started peeling off. So we're doing some of it again in September, when we find the time.
On Friday and Saturday, there were two equally vexing and exciting trips to IKEA, in which - we thought - we got all of our furniture. It was only on Sunday that we realised we have no bathroom closet and all our shampoo &c stuff is now in bags until we find the time to get back on that. However, we have very pretty (and relatively inexpensive) furniture right now, and are very pleased with the spaciousness of The Apartment.

Thirdly, Ze Garden, which you knew we would have, because, well, I told you: it is quite barren. The ground is very dry and very very rock-filled, for lack of a better world. It has been decided that we should just scoop out most of the ground (including rocks) and bring in new - fertile - earth before we are able to magically make grass and flowwers appear.
I'm thinking lavender and some herbs (thyme, rosemary,...).

Speaking of which, we had some company over yesterday, which consisted of my father, stepmother, oldest stepbrother + girlfriend, my sister and youngest stepsister. I was very nervous for no good reason at all and am now very well pleased.

Dad has offered to help with the garden (two weeks from this sunday) and will then be bringing a new kitten.

Ay, a new kitten.
Typhus has been quite restless and strangely longing for affection, and we decided (me more than The Boyfriend, but he came around) that a playmate would probably be good for him.
We are still debating names, but so far, Chaos, Brein (which is Dutch for Brain) and something else, which was suggested late last night and I don't remember, are on the shortlist.

Talking of lists: I am, of course, still working on my Project Day Zero, and will update you on progress in a separate post, so as to maintain an overview.

I hope this post has a least put you all at ease that I am not, in fact, deceased and will keep on writing.

Have a nice days, everybody :)

Musings about *The Future*

I am excessively pleased and quite wild, really, to be able to say:

WE GOT THE HOUSE!
Well, the apartment, but still.

The real estate person called me this morning around 9 (so it's a good thing I decided not to go to class!) and The Boy is coming here tonight after work so we can go sign the contract tomorrow morning.
And then he has to hurry back in time for work, but I look upon it as a tiny blessing.

And good lord, we actually got it!
I was getting quite apprehensive because my aunt, who the real estate person wanted to call for a reference on me and The Boy, hadn't been called at all on Monday; and because we only want the apartment starting July 1st - when in fact they wanted it rented out by June 1st.

I'm beside myself - it took me 6 hours to calm down and gather my thoughts so I could write this, ya know?

I keep seeing visions of myself in that house, sitting in the garden, taking a break from rose-nursing, drinking a cup of tea and reading Jane some more.




kind of like this, only younger, and more like Chuck:


that's right! And even more preferably while wearing:


THIS hat! Isn't it AWESOME? (like a hotdog!)



Unfortunately we won't be able to see it again till July- maybe in June, when the current occupants have moved, but still, I feel like I could march right over and start taking measurements, so I can look up awesome furniture already.

I keep wondering if we'll be allowed to paint it, if we could possibly get permission to work in our garden (right now it's just a plot of grass) and cultivate some flower-beds.

For the first 14 years of my life, I've lived in the same room in the same house. And then my parents divorced and every single year after that, we've been moving once a year.
I want to settle down now. I want something that truly feels like a home.
I like my studio, but I would never ever want to stay here for very long.

The plan, for now, is to stay in The New Apartment until I have graduated (in 2012, hopefully) and have a good job, and then find something bigger.

I could keep going on and on about this, but I just wanted to let you guys know.

I'll write something else as soon as I can actually think about anything else.