Transitions Continued (concluded)

When last we checked, our hero’s forces were in disarray. The corporation’s financial accounts were rickety at best, infrastructure was failing, and there was a potential move on the horizon. (you didn’t know about the move? I’ll get to it.) Nevertheless, on the news of the upcoming merger alone, stock was holding, even rising, and management was optimistic. Life is transition.

Infrastructure:

I never knew a computer could self-destruct so completely. Valerie’s dad, in order to get the thing to work, had to replace the hard drives, the motherboard, the processor, and the case itself. While he was at it, he went ahead and upgraded the video card. The only thing I have left from the original machine is 768 MB of RAM, a CD-R drive and a floppy drive.

All my data was completely lost. There was no backup. This has completely crushed my college dream of keeping a copy of everything I ever wrote for all eternity. In the future, I think I shall have a much more cavalier attitude toward what I have to say. If it’s really really important, I’ll keep a hard copy. Otherwise… oh well! Eventually, I’ll get another CD Burner and start keeping useful backups of my data. But as it is, I’ve already written too many “important” things that have been lost for me to worry too much about what might be lost in the future. If I one day become a great internationally known figure, the scholars will mourn my carelessness. But as it currently stands, nobody will care anyway.

Finances:

This is the happy part. For two months now I’ve been totally and helplessly broke. It’s been a result of two conflicting situations: First I’m a graduate from a liberally expensive arts school, with the debt load of a new Lexus hovering over my back. And no Lexus to show for it, alas. Secondly, I had a part time job. Those two things don’t really go together. I won’t even discuss the paying off an engagement ring and the ever present opportunity to worry about acquiring funds to pay for a honeymoon, and eventually, a lack of co-paying roommate.

Both these prior burdens have been at least temporarily removed from me: I’m back in school (albeit a correspondence program), which means my $200 monthly payment has quite suddenly withered away (but oh did it linger in the withering!). There’s some extra cash. And I’ve now got a full time job. Same department, new position. I am now Chief Gopher and Lord High Lackey. Same wages, but 8 hours more a week, plus an amazingly good benefits package. I’ve never had any benefits whatsoever, so I’m doubly impressed. I’m still trying to figure out what the heck I’m supposed to do with vacation days. When I was a kid, if I wanted time off from work, I just quit my job. (You think I’m kidding, don’t you?). What’s more, part time people at my company are paid “in arrears” (i.e. a week late), while full time people are paid current. So when I switched, there had to be an adjustment . This came about in the form of about 3 weeks of pay in a single paycheck. It was a very happy day for me. I’m still in shock, though, from two months of paycheck to paycheck and bouncing check sneak attacks. So now that I have money, I’m terrified to spend it.

Moving:

Last of all. I’m moving at the end of the month. It’s not you. It’s not your fault. It’s my roommate’s fault. If he didn’t have a red sports car, none of this would be happening. It’s a used sports car that he bought for $4000, but it’s red and people have been breaking in to it. Our apartment complex is on a major intersection and there are no walls. So people just walk right in and do stupid stuff. Last month, some idiots drilled a hole in the lock of his car and made a botched attempt at stealing his CD Player. All they got was the face and some of the plastic molding on the dash. They also took a new leather overnight bag he had in the trunk. It was the second time in 3 months. So he decided he was moving. Now. Our lease ends July 31, so he’s out on July 31. I had two choices: I could move too, or I could find a new roommate. I chose the lesser of two weevils.

We’re moving together. I gave him an ultimatum that my payments could not go up the year before I got married. His personal mission: find an apartment in the ritziest neighborhood in town. The amazing thing is that we both got what we wanted. An apartment around a mile from Queens University for only $700 a month, utilities included. If you do the math, my rent may have actually gone down.

Meanwhile I keep packing. I was not prepared to move in a month. I’m stealing boxes from everywhere, and looking desperately for a free moving truck.

One last hurdle have I to climb
And then my life will look like…

Normal?

Author: KB French

Formerly many things, including theology student, mime, jr. high Latin teacher, and Army logistics officer. Currently in the National Guard, and employed as a civilian... somewhere View all posts by KB French