1 post tagged “driving”
i've been in the 281/713 area for a little over a week now. here is an update in response to the popular question "how is houston/work"
*skip to pictures here
Housing: A+
Originally, my landlord agreed to let me move into my lease a week early (last week of May) in order for me to have a place as soon as work started; however, she decided to let me know two days before I moved in that the previous agreement was no longer possible. Of course, I a) freak out, b) send angry vibes to my landlord, c)remembers that she's still pretty nice, try to withdraw mean thoughts, d)desperately try to reach stephanie ip, who was at rec week & was w/o phone service for the most part. thankfully, things worked out, and i got to stay w/ the Ips for a week in sugarland for my first week of work. since i went in so early, i beat the traffic, and the driving wasn't bad at all. plus, her mom cooks well & her dad is SO. SO. SO. funny. oh, plus stephanie is a good room-neighbor too. THANKS, IPS!
Driving: C-
someone cut me off on the highway (45) 10 minutes after entering the houston vicinity; no joke. then he proceeded to glare at ME in his left side mirror; at ME! after he cut me off!
apparently, no one ever clued me in on the fact that when you signal in Houston, it actually is a sign for the people in the adjacent lane to speed up and pass you in oblivion, paying no attention to your traffic signal. also, the highways loop. the plus side is even fi you get lost, stay w/ it and you'll eventaully end up there; the downside, hard to make a judgment call how far you've gone on the loop and if you should turn and try the other direction.
I've also gotten lost a good handful of times trying to navigate back to my apartment (located amidst a puzzle of one-way/downtownish streets).
Work: A-
i actually like it. unlimited office supplies (and post-it's), break rooms, lunches, and newness all kept me going for the first week with great energy and enthusiasm. Come this second week, it's a bit harder to get out of bed in the morning at 6:10am, and still slowly feeling my way through this monstrous project gets a bit repetitive. plus, i have a big gray cubicle, but nothing to put up except a few polaroids i remembered to snag out of my austin apartment. the people are all really great though, all really warm & smart & friendly & helpful, the whole nice sha-bang.
however, my sleeping schedule has gone from sleep-at-4am-up-by-noon to sleep-at-midnight-up-by-six. i also get pretty wiped out by 10:30. If we do hang out this summer, please arrange all activities to end before 11 or else i will surely be asleep.
through work, i also realized that a) business casual clothes are boring, b) hotchocolate+black coffee = moccachino, c) tea+creamer = milktea, d) although wearing heels downtown is suicidal for the feet AND the heels, wearing heels to work is a-ok b/c of CARPET. i love walking in heels on carpet. plus i sit for a good 90% of the day.
Eating: A/F
i dont know why i ever thought it would be possible to diet/be healthy in houston, the fattest city in america. seems like for every meal, there is a "oh! you must try this place!" i eat out about two large meals a day. oof. i've learned also that it takes me a long time to get sick of chinese food (still not quite sick yet, but i have been to every block in chinatown now, and juicebox...4 times... :-[ )
All pictures are here. i am too sleepy (it's 11:48 right now, i'm cutting it real close) to integrate pictures into this entry. perhaps at a later time.
OH. favorites!
so far, my favorite area in houston is rice village, which is a convenient 10min drive away from my apt (if i dont get lost..like i did today). ...ok, i've run out of favorites for now. sorry, that was a misleading intro.
i've been watching some sappy movies lately. i saw music&lyrics and actually really liked it, and i've been thinking about neverbeenkissed. what the heck is wrong with me.
i am also reading traveling mercies (thanks brian) & the book of nehemiah right now. i also have been listening to a lot of jamie cullum & various repetitive rap songs i find on youtube. i also am watching more tv than i have in the past semester combined. oh yea, i'd also like to make the statement that while spelling may seem overrated in pop songs, remember how great that classic L-O-V-E song was? and at least these are correctly spelled, decently lengthy words, for kids to learn. that is my defense for fergie for the night. and a quick flash of my life.
i will end this lengthy entry with something cheesy & something classic.
drew barrymore: A melody is like seeing someone for the first time. The physical attraction. Sex.
hugh grant: I so get that.
drew barrymore: But then, as you get to know the person, that's the lyrics. Their
story. Who they are underneath. It's the combination of the two that
makes it magic.
[from music&lyrics]
&
1 Peter 4:7-13
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
and in case you missed the first 2 links.
