Saturday 6/7/08

  • Still fighting with rents from the night before
  • Decided to spend the extra $25 to check both of my bags
  • Right before the security check, I had to part ways with my dad, mom, and sister. We all made up and mom was crying when she hugged me goodbye. I found myself trying really hard to hold back tears and then actually crying too
  • My bulky backpack actually fit under the Northwest seats
  • Flight from Boston to St. Paul, MN: I was in the aisle seat, a woman was in the window seat, nobody in the middle seat; a lot of elderly people on the flight going on some big group trip
  • Flight from St. Paul to Seattle: Only had a few minutes to get on the flight coming from the other; window seat, got some reading done
  • Got both of my luggages from Carousel 8 almost immediately when I got to it
  • Went to AVIS to pick up my rental; a Jeep Compass was the smallest car they had left
  • Jeep is a reasonably big car that only holds 5 people; silver
  • Drove on a Seattle highway, whoo! Found my way to the apartment complex where I had to pick up my keys without getting too lost thanks to my GPS and the printed directions.
  • Met a fellow MS intern who pointed me towards the key pickup.
  • Key pickup was actually just a closet with a locked door that required a code. I suppose I could have stolen everybody else’s keys.
  • Drove to my actual apartment complex; like driving around in a maze, buildings go from A to ZZ.
  • Finally found my apartment and went inside; it is nice!
  • 3 bedrooms (1 being a master suite with a king-size mattress, walk-in closet, and private bathroom, which I promptly took being the first one here; other two bedrooms each have a closet built into the wall and two twin beds each (weird)); laundry room/closet with washer, dryer, and shelves; kitchen area with stove, dishwasher, fridge, pantry closet, oven, sink, coffee machine, and cupboards with pots, pans, and various utensils; dining table underneath a fan with lights; on top of table was a green gift box from ABODA (the company in charge of this apartment) which we found contained some snacks, water, teas, and a couple of maps of Seattle; a living room area connected to the kitchen which has a brown suede love seat, a brown comfy chair, fire place, lamps, tv, dvd player, and wireless router; a small outdoor patio area with a storage room
  • Bummed around for a little bit looking at google maps to find some nearby restaurants or stores; found a Trader Joe’s nearby
  • Walked across the street to Microsoft (its really close!) to find that it was where the loading docks were; walked a bit around – nice looking campus
  • Took a drive around some nearby streets – found a bunch of stores of all types, like Circuit City, drug stores, super markets, a movie theater, and a bunch of teriyaki places
  • Got to Trader Joes a little before 9, when they close; bought everything (like the bagel) flavored pretzel crisps, snap pea crisps, an instant lo mein noodle box (no water required), a frozen chicken with Gorgonzola cheese dinner, a box of 6 lemon and marrionberry muffins, and a bottle of half ice tea half lemonade.
  • Went back home and ate everything except for the chicken for dinner.
  • Watched tv and bummed around for a bit before going to sleep at around 12.

Sunday 6/8/08

  • Woke up at around 8.
  • Got a call from the family soon after – nice to hear from them.
  • Bummed around on the computer, worked on paper a bit.
  • Had a muffin and crisps for lunch.
  • Showered and back to computer.
  • First roommate: Ted from U Toronto, 20, rising senior, arrived at 3ish
  • Left note for third roommate on floor
  • Drove to Timberlawn Apartment complex to check key pickup closet to see if the other roommate was arriving today – we did not see anybody with our address
  • Went driving around to the streets I saw yesterday.
  • Drove into Microsoft Campus – there is a section that borders the Honeywell Company and they have a sign that says “No Microsoft vehicles allowed”.
  • Drove around and found my Building – campus is pretty huge.
  • Came back home, went on computer, and watched Superhero Sunday marathon on tv, X-Men and X-Men 2 were playing
  • Ordered Hawaiian Pizza with Buffalo Chicken kickers and Cinna sticks from Dominos for dinner
  • Passing out during X-Men 2, went to sleep at around 11

Monday 6/9/08

  • Woke up around 8
  • Bummed around on computer and had cinnasticks, which we did not eat last night, for breakfast
  • Walked across the street and then some to Microsoft campus to find the building we would be going to tomorrow – took about 15-20 mins
  • Contemplating not getting a rental car since work is so close and there seem to be a lot of bus stops around town
  • Looked at maps to find nearby Safeway (supermarket) and AT&T store (Ted needed a US sim card)
  • Made grocery list of edibles and non-edibles
  • Drove to AT&T store and then Safeway
  • Spent almost $200 on groceries (196 something at first but went down to 165ish after we joined the Safeway club)
  • Found a nearby RiteAid and bought some Tupperware and dishcloths
  • Drove home and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch
  • Went on computers, I worked on my essay some more, talked to Jill on the phone about China stuff
  • Ted made Alfredo pasta from packets for dinner; we also had some baby carrots and lemonade
  • Right now typing this all up on the computer
  • 3rd roommate has not showed up yet at this point
  • Oh yeah and it was raining like all day, geez Seattle
  • It does stay light here pretty late though – at 8pm it was like the morning, only now as it is nearing 9pm has the sky darkened.
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