All Things Thought

This is the guidance I provided my friend who is moving into my old apartment in Washington DC. Why should you care?  You shouldn’t.  You aren’t moving into my old apartment.

• The refrigerator has an automagic ice maker.  It makes noise.  Don’t be afraid.
• I tend to dump all the ice out periodically.  I don’t know about your
  rate of ice ingestion but mine is not that heavy.  After a while the
  ice gets an inside-of-the-freezer taste.  Dump it out and let it make
  new.
• The apartment door will not lock behind you.  You must manually lock it.
• The patio door will lock behind you.  Always take the key.
• Clean the dryer lint after every load.
• The concrete on the patio will get very hot when the sun beats down on
  it in the afternoon.  I go out there all the time barefoot which is no
  problem (except when it is hot).  Putting the umbrella up before it
  gets too hot helps.
• When I leave the apartment in the summer I put the temperature on 80.
• When I leave in the winter I put it on 70 or so.  Usually in the
  winter the temperature never gets below 70 even without the heat on.
• In the summer, the apartment will get into the mid-80s without the air
  conditioning.
• Even though it says that only the parking attendants can put cars on
  the lifts, you can do it anyway.  I think those signs are for the
  hotel guests who also use the parking garage.  It is easier to back
  into the space than pull in.  You will learn quickly that there are
  better lifts than others.  They are very close together so always try
  to find one that gives you enough room to get out of the car once
  parked.  The lifts are a little greasy too.  Watch out!
• People are generally friendly and there are lots of doggies.  I love doggies.
• Even with the heat/air conditioning totally off (switch in the OFF
  position), the fan will come on for about 10-15 seconds every so
  often.  Not sure why.  Don’t be afraid.
• Put little pad thingys under your furniture to not scratch the floors.
• Don’t drop spoons in the garbage disposal.  It doesn’t like that.
• Make sure Nate gets you on the building management email distribution
  list.  Lots of good notices about elevator usage, maintenance, events,
  etc.
• The closet in the bedroom is weirdly insulated.  If you don’t keep the
  door open in the winter then it gets cold in there.  If you keep it
  open in the summer, the bedroom gets warm.  Experiment!
• I go to the Harris Teeter on Pennsylvania Ave for groceries.  The
  Safeway at Waterfront is closer and brand new but not as nice in my
  opinion.
• I don’t leave the patio umbrella up when it is raining or when I’m not
  home.  I’m not sure how it would do in the rain.  It could end up
  being one massive sail.
• If you leave the bedroom window or patio door open when it rains you
  will have a wet apartment.
• You do git some skeeters on the patio.  Buy some bug spray or
  Benadryl, whichever you prefer.
• You have all CFL bulbs. You’re welcome.
• The heater/air conditioning unit air filter needs replacing once a quarter or so.  You just unscrew the cover, slide out the old filter,
  and slide in a new one.  Watch to make sure you have it in right side
  up.  I keep the extra filters near the washer however I am currently
  out and it is due for a change.  Nate bought them for me in the past
  (as he should).  Having clean filter makes the heater/air conditioner
  not work so hard (more efficient) and not blow dust all over
  (ickysneezy).  I will email him to buy some more.
• Have caution!  If you push the patio door open too far it will hit the
  light and cause it to come apart.  Don’t let it happen!
• Use the pool frequently.  You may not live in another building again
  with a pool where you can swim laps.  And it is good exercise.
• It is not a very far walk to the Capitol South blue/orange metro
  station.  Don’t forget it is there.  The world isn’t only green!
• In the late spring, summer and early fall, if it goes two or three
  days without rain you need to water the patio foliage.  There is a
  watering can there but it is much more efficient with two (one was
  mine, one was Nate’s.  I will need mine for NYC.).  Unless you are
  watering dainty flowers, take the cap off the can and just pour it
  out.  Usually one can per planter with a planter being defined as one
  of the square areas or one of the rectangular areas between two square
  areas.  So, in total, there are 8 planters.  For the rectangular ones
  I try to pour the water in evenly over the entire area.  Sometimes, if
  it is really hot or if you have gone a few extra days I give each
  planter two cans full each.  What I do is as I am pouring one I am
  filling up the other in the sink.  It is pretty good timing that you
  should be able to pour one out before the time it takes to fill the
  next up.
• There are three light switches near the office/dining area.  I’m not
  sure what the middle switch does other than go up and down.  Maybe a
  light goes on and off in Vladivostok.
• Above all else, enjoy!

Act on your strengths.  But where you don’t have strengths, act.

Doing nothing leads to nothing.  Doing something can lead to anything.

Old 97s at the 9:30 Club! Teddy Thompson opened. Big bonus!

- a woman who flirts lightheartedly with men to win their admiration and affection, flirt

- the feeling of uncomfortable tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time