PIctures of Apartment - Read the previous blog first.

The U

Have had a busy week. Last Friday, Jake and I drove up to Oak Park. We had planned a weekend with the ChiNussies back in June. As it worked out this was just the beginning! Jake found that his favorite band had a concert date just north of Oak Park on Friday the 10th so he and a friend chummed along with me. Meanwhile Kent had driven up to see his sister at the Farm and give her the cornhole set* he had made for her last year after she enjoyed playing it so much at Alix's graduation party. He met us in Oak Park on Friday afternoon. AND Alix got notice about the middle of July that her orientation for the University of Minnesota would be at 7:30 Monday the 13th in Minneapolis. So Jake and Taylor left for Batesville Saturday afternoon and Kent and I picked up Alix at the airport. The next morning we put Kent on the plane on our way past the airport on our way northwest to Minneapolis.

She had also recently been given the news that there would be no on-campus housing for her. So looking for a roommate and an apartment was on the top of her to do list. After culling through numerous listings she had a few possible apartments and a possible roommate. She asked if we would freak if she shared an apartment with a guy. Well I have met him and he is very nice. We met up with David about an hour before an appointment to see one of the few possible apartments. Alix was very clear with him that her budget was no more than $500 so it only being several weeks before school the pickings were limited. We saw one apartment in their price range which came equipped with a homeless man (w/ shopping cart) and a mold problem. Then we met up with Judith who attempted to show them the listing that had caught their eye for being reasonably priced and close to school. It turned out that she didn't have the right key and that apartment was only 4 blocks away from the BRIDGE. We saw it on our way to look at more listings with Judith. We saw a cute attic. Cute but small. It would have worked but they probably would have killed each other before Christmas.

Then she showed us the house next door! Wow, I kept giving David the thumbs up sign. I have never seen such a nice apartment being shown to students. When we were in school, old house apartments were common but they were like slums. The minimum upkeep for the maximum rent. All hardwood floors, high ceilings (with ceiling fans) new appliances, a glassed in porch at both doors, hard wired smoke detectors. The landlord pays for all utilities except electric. Judith had told us he paid for that too, so David negotiated that the maximum their electric bill would be was $50, then Daniel would pay the rest. It is half a block from a bus stop and only 10-15 minutes on the bus to campus.

Alix has moved home from Indy today. She is so excited about this apartment that she has already bought plain muslin to make simple curtains for the windows. She is out in the sewing room ironing the fabric!

*That IS the name of the game so no snickering from the peanut gallery.

What corn?

With the excitements of last week now winding down, things should go back to normal one of these days. Jake is off at "singer's camp". He tried out for and made it in to "Batesville Singers" our high school premier choir. Today is his second day of 'camp' - it is mostly a getting to know you and team building time. Then he will run his daily cross-country practice. Kent will be home some time tonight and he will be expecting some fresh salsa. The ingredients await on the cupboard, all I need is some ambition. I am hoping that my lack of energy can be traced to the infection my body must have been fighting for awhile. Hopefully as I heal my energy levels will come back and I will feel like doing things like clean the house and weed the flower beds. (Neither of these rate real high on my give a shit list right now.)



The excitement of last week came with a high price, no corn was planted. I really don't think that there is time now to get it off before the first frost. He has a lot to do tomorrow and Saturday is booked already too.



Saturday is Jake's fundraiser for his Eagle project. It will be a car wash (free will donation) from 12-4 behind the Memorial Building. We are hoping for a good turnout. His project - a picnic shelter in the little park close to our home - is estimated to cost $1600. That's a lot of cars!

Saturday is also a race day for him. The local area high schools have a 5 race circuit through July and August that raises money for each school and gives local athletes some races to train for. He seems to enjoy running which is good. Running being one of those sports you can do just about anywhere, any when, with any who.

Well, Kent liked the salsa, after amending the seasoning. He and Jake had a munch down at 10:30 last night. I made about a quart so there will some to freeze after he gets done with the salt shaker and red hot sauce!