Apartment Hunting in DC

So, its been a couple weeks and I've been searching for a place in DC. I haven't been searching too hard - I've sent out several emails to people who have posted places on Craigslist and I've gone to one open house and visited one apartment. I've been a bit lazy :)

I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the Open House - its just not a good way to pick a roommate because there's just too much confusion and awkwardness. And it almost feels like a sorority/fraternity rush event. There's way too many people there at the same time for you to even remember who is who and most of the time, I can't tell who the current roommates are from the other idiots like myself who are looking for a place to live. You know why? Its because the other searchers keep striking up conversations with me about where they're from and how long they've been here and they want to know how long I've been here and what I do. I start talking to them and turning on the charm, only to find out 5 minutes later that they don't live there and have no bedroom to offer me.

Making appointments with each person is definitely the way to go. Last night, I saw an apartment on Conn. Ave in Van Ness and fell in love! First of all, the location is perfect! 2 blocks from the red line and in a really nice area! Its not downtown at all but close enough. Second, the apartment itself is really nice. Its not too new (since I hate new places) and not quite old enough, but its nice. The room is a decent size - it would fit my bed, dresser, nightstand and perhaps a desk. Third, the price is REALLY good! And 4th - the cherry on top, if you will, is that the roommates seem really great! One of them works for an NGO that helps women in developing countries and the other works in Education. They seem very mature and worldly. They were friendly, without making it seem like we had to be best friends and do everything together if I moved in or go out and get "wasted" together. AND they offered me a glass of red wine - they like to unwind with a glass of wine after work - sound like my kinda girls!

I just hope that the 15 minutes they spent with me were enough for them to realize that I'm their best choice for a roommate :)

Taking the Plunge

Over the last week, I've been searching for housing in D.C. Yup, that's right - the District of Columbia. Austin, TX is a no-go and it looks as though I'll be in the area for a while. I might as well take the plunge and move in.

I've always wanted to live in the city and some roadblock always managed to stand in my way. But now is the time. I'm not scared of being stranded in the city, or of having to live in a teeny tiny room and pay an pay an exorbitant rent or of running into the boy I used to date with his arms around a new girl. Things are different now - I can afford higher rents and I like old places and quirky neighborhoods. I have a car so if I feel suffocated by the city, I can leave any time I want. And the boy? He's still the same boy who hasn't changed so I'm not scared of him any more either.

Yup - its finally time. The only question is where? Adams Morgan? Cleveland Park? Mt. Pleasant? Columbia Heights? I'm going to have to do some exploring.

Stay tuned....

If I Celebrated Christmas...

this is what I would have on my list.

Whole New Ballgame...

So, I've tried not to blog about this topic and for the most part, have been quite successful. I didn't want to sound like a broken record or for this to be a "Sex in the City-esque" blog but I should have known it was inevitable. This blog revolves around my thoughts about various topics that enter my mind and as a single girl in her 20's, it was going to come up sooner or later.

Why does it seem like most of the guys who want to date me need a manual or a guidebook? Newsflash, fellas - if you are interested in a girl and you get her number, CALL HER AND ASK HER OUT!!! Guy meets girl. Guy likes girl and wants to get to know her. Guy asks for girl's phone number. Guy asks girl to go out to dinner. Seems pretty simple, right? Well, you would be surprised how few men in this area actually get that. I feel like I need to clarify what a date is.

This message especially goes out to the overgrown frat boys - you know who you are in your flip flops, backwards baseball caps and Abercrombie t-shirt that is obviously too small....

A date, typically, involves dinner and/or drinks, maybe a movie or a walk or bowling or ice cream or going to a museum (if you live in a big city) or a concert. Think along those lines.

A date is NOT texting her to see if she wants to go to 1223 later that night, it is not a bar crawl in Bethesda and DO NOT under any circumstances ask her if she wants to come over to your filthy apartment and watch reruns of "Family Guy" on your ridiculously large and expensive flat screen/HD TV while you and your roommates roll up a joint and proceed to get stoned.

It seems like a lot of guys in their 20s are just re-living their college years but with the added benefit of a salary from a full time job. I almost feel like its an insult to my intelligence when someone wants to set me up with one of these goobers. Maybe 2 or 3 years ago, I would have swooned at the opportunity for one of these idiots to get my number. I surely would have eagerly waited around for him to call or text me 3 or 4 days later, hoping for an invitation to dinner or some other cool, fun activity. I would only be slightly disappointed to receive an invite out to "the bar." And, I would have gone. After meeting at the guy's house or apartment to "pre-drink" and play beer pong, we would have made it to the bar (with a bunch of his rowdy friends) and then I would have the nerve to be disappointed when this guy doesn't turn out to be the intellectual, funny, sophisticated man I had expected.

Luckily, I've wizened up a bit.

So fellas, if you come across a lady that you find attractive and interesting, just call her and ask her out on a date - a real one. Show her that you're willing to think outside the box and put some effort into getting to know her. Meeting up at your local college watering hole, buying her cheap beer or rail drinks that are on special and then taking her to your bedroom in your shared house to hook up with her no longer works. Calling or texting her to hang out at your place to watch a movie is also lame for a "first date." We're not in college anymore, kids - its a whole new ballgame.