Everything's bigger in Texas

Yeah- Guess where I was this last week?

The good news: I found a nice apartment close to the school.

The bad news: I discovered that in Texas, some of the roaches fly. And they are almost as big as my hand.

Egads.

So Texas. My trip was mostly uneventful in terms of travel. Had an easy plane ride, met my friends in San Antonio- ended up with a silver rental sports car (that was unexpected- and there is no way a Mitsubishi Eclipse is a "mid-sized" car.")

We drove around town looking at places the first day until I was so flummoxxed and exhausted that I wanted to cry. It was hot, hot and hotter the entire time. I found myself overwhelmed by the highways, the city, all the people and the GPS who we named "Loretta," which occasionally got me lost. And I discovered the roaches fly. Texas. I am moving to Texas.

And I think that is what happened to me. I realize that I am moving to a new place, for my first big job--my time as a student is drawing to an end (this year in Ohio was a weird hybrid of being a student and faculty member because I had a fancy fellowship, but because I also taught and went to meetings- etc.) My advisor approved the final edits on my dissertation and I have to make them next week and submit the thing and I should be done by the end of next week and that is slightly overwhelming. (I have a defense date set for August.) I mean, its all big life change here, and its me doing this all by myself. Moving to Texas. Gotta make new friends, gotta teach classes I have never taught before. Have to be a grown-up now. Shoot.

And the thing is, I got really fond of this tiny little college town I live in. Its so sleepy and quiet and everyone is so nice and Midwestern, that I really kinda fell in love with it over the year. My life is nice- its quiet and not so rush, rush around- which is how things will be in Texas. (The rushing, not the quiet).

Anyway.... I found a place- its a one-bedroom, that is a bit smaller than the one I live in at the moment but close to campus and in a nice neighborhood. I met some future colleagues- all generous souls, that I think I am going to like a lot. I discovered the wonder that is Taco Taco (the best taco in America according to Food Network, and I am thinking that they nailed that one) and I found what will be my LYS in Texas (Called the Yarn Barn and the ladies are very nice.)

Eventually I will get used to the heat and crazy drivers, the trucks, and the city. Its just funny how as a city person, I got so un-used to the city. North Carolina was terribly suburban and the town I live in is down-right rural here in Ohio, so I think I got used to the slower pace of life. Life.Is.Not.Slow. in San Antonio.

All the same I discovered the Central market with its watermelon juice and other goodies (thanks to a fellow blogger- you know who you are). Lots of great dive places to eat, and wandered the Riverwalk with my friends (very pretty- you have to go sometime.) The city shifts very quickly from neighborhood to neighborhood but I liked the working class flavor of it. People were generally nice, and some spoke in a wide Texas drawl. Yeah Texas. And I am moving there.

Lots of birds, roaches that fly and apparently, snakes and scorpions. (Went to a faculty member's house who lived on 10 acres on the edge of the city and as we walked in he casually says to us " Watch out girls, and don't take off your shoes, occasionally scorpions get inside. Don't worry I have Benedryl." Yikes.)

I think it will be okay- but it is gonna be a major life change here. 

Anyway, I have to finish grading my student's finals and I am going to the Great Lakes fiber show in Wooster, OH this weekend. Gonna be fun. Will take lots of pictures there (forgot to take many pictures in Texas.) And will be getting back to knitting soon. June is gonna be dedicated to finishing up UFOS and figuring out what I am gonna do with all that stash, because my new apartment does NOT have abundant closet space. Ack.

Comments

[Lazuli]

I say Ikea bookshelf Yarn Wall for some of it! It's pretty, you'll feel like you live in a yarn store, and you'll see what you have rather than hiding it away. Just put the yarn up high away from the Milo, and books/etc down low where it's cat-safe. Have fun at the festival!

[Jaime]

Yay for the watermelon juice, yum! I'm glad you found a place and were able to look around while you were there. I think you'll like it once you're settled in. I miss the traffic, the 'urgency'. Even Portland isn't like the traffic there.