Off The Leash

Still settling

We made it to NYC last week.  I haven't sent an update because we are without home internet access and I've been too busy trying to sort out all that official address change nonsense that comes with moving.  I'm still working on that!  So a real update will have to wait.
Things are good here.  We are between two parks.  The pooch absolutely loves chasing pigeons, meeting new dogs, and our little backyard.  Her barking has been calm and quiet with a little loud jolt here and there.  So all in all I think she likes it. 
Good thing I can walk her so much to keep her quiet.  I am unemployed still...
Scott had a bad ear infection but he is better and working out of a cafe in Williamsburg (Fix is the name).
Next Tuesday we'll have access, so expect more then!

Mission accomplished (Found a crashpad)

Tuesday, I ventured out once again on a 1.25 hour train ride to find an apartment in Greenpoint.  On Monday, I saw 5 different apartments with several different realtors/owners.  My life story and personal information has been broadcast across the realty industry of Greenpoint, Brookyn.  I hope that what I put on all those application forms does not jump off the page and into the hands of someone with bad intentions.
I have seen big places, small places, residential places, city-style (above storefront) places, some with yards, some with no balcony at all, some for a large fee all the way to no-fee.
All in all, I had narrowed it down to two places:
Apt A. had a 15 minute hike to the nearest subway station, however it was ALL NEW from the walls to the appliances (and everything in between).  The neighborhood had both a friendly face and all the things necessary for a comfortable existence (grocery, laundry, bar...).
Apt. B. had a two block jump to the subway station and a back yard with patio and garden.  Let me say that the size of the yard was comparable to our old place, so Honey would be very pleased.  It was a garden level place, renovated last year, but I thought it was kind of dingy and much like a finished basement would appear.  The price was also $100 more per month.
Scott was leaning towards Apt. B because of subway proximity, so I called the broker and asked to meet her there again to inspect the flooring (I said it was curling from the baseboards, she said "No way!").  The meeting would be at Noon. 

As I was walking around trying to kill time before the appointment, I stopped into another realty place and the lady was so down to earth that she told me I should not waste our time looking for a place when Apt. B was waiting for me.  I told her I was exploring my options, she told me I had no other options.
As I left this last realtor, my phone rang.  It was Donna (who has been showing me places since Saturday) with good news.  She has a place, closer to the subway than Apt. A and it has yard access and a decent price.  I told her I would come straight away.  10 minutes later, we are at the apartment and I could not say no!  Two bedrooms on either end of the floor.  Kitchen runs along one wall and a bar acts as a partition for the kitchen and living room.  Bathroom was a decent size, nothing fancy, and the place had good closet space and wonderful light from both east and west.  First floor, not "garden level", or as I call it "finished basement style".
The landlady told me to call her Anna and she seems very nice.  She will be installing a new refrigerator and fixing some tiles on the floor that are broken.  So come September 7nd, you will find me at in Greenpoint, Brooklyn!  No more of this 1.25-1.5 hour train ride b.s. from southern Brooklyn!

New York Bound

I'm off tonight to New York.  I thought incorrectly about when the train was leaving (I thought Monday night) so I didn't get to finish all of my official business~like getting all of the mail that has been missing for weeks now because our PO box is mysteriously empty.  Scott & I are working on our renter's resumes today and I hope to have it all ready for house hunting on Tuesday.
Thanks to Sara and Canaan for helping us while we are without a car.  I'll miss everyone in the old A2, but I know that you'll come visit because there is much to do in NYC.

New York?-Update

Scott and I took a road trip through Canada to visit NYC for job/apartment hunting last week.  We've been so overwhelmed with the impending move, job stuff, art fair (Rich Ahern's estate sale to be exact), everyday living, and being apart for the unforeseeable future.  That is why it has been so quiet here.
As for our trip, Ithaca was beautiful.

Chris & Erica were wonderful hosts while we stayed at their new house.

I didn't take any NYC pictures...so here is the rest of the story:
I had an interview at one of the three Whole Foods locations in the city.  I also had an interview at Monster Mutt Doggie Daycare.
I'll be taking the Monster Mutt job.  Let's just say that the WFM one didn't work out.
I will be leaving Ann Arbor around the 28th of July and will hopefully find a lease between now and August 1st.  I am starting to freak out and despite the fact that I have been calm through most of this transition, I don't know how much longer I can wait for good things to happen.  So I suppose I'll just keep getting rid of junk I don't need (or want to pay to move) and apply for more jobs. 

New York?

In our searching for a new (and improved) place to call home, Honey and I are NYC bound.  Or so we hope.  Scott will not be joining us after a long, drawn out wait to hear back after a job interview.  The organization has been doodling for a month now and they have been checking his references for two weeks.  Unbelievable.  They are missing a good thing because he's quite the genius on the technology front.  He helps me with all of mine...
I haven't landed a job or a place to live, but maybe, just maybe, everything will work out in the next 2-3 weeks.  Honey knows what is going on because she is living amongst boxes and this has helped her conquer the fear of the cardboard monstrosities, unless they move, and then they are like the vacuum (Dog eating machine).

Welcome

Off and running, and without a leash!
I am very excited to share with you my various thoughts and adventures.  We start today in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Soon, however, I will be posting from New York City. 
The plan for this blog is for me to bring up issues about off-leash recreation for dogs and the other things I find interesting.  Even if you are (gasp!) not a dog person, welcome!