All is right with the world again

I'm all set to move. Moving into a new condo this year proved to be much harder than last year. Last year I felt like the condo practically fell into my lap. With many listings to choose from, it only took one trip to Toronto on a weekend, and I had found the place I wanted. This year it took quite a bit more work to find a place. Many of the websites that I had counted on last year had very few desirable listings this year. I had very few to choose from, and those that appeared to have the right physical location and suitable layout were out of my price range. On top of that, I felt as though I did most of the work to find it--my roommate sat on the sidelines. But I think that that is a minor detail, given that I am pretty picky about what I want. Long story short, I found a place that is way too nice for the student furniture that we now possess. AAAANNNNNDDDDD...I signed my OWN lease!!! It might seem like a very small achievement, but it certainly makes me feel grown up! I don't care what anyone says. Pretty well compared to people my age, my independence is retarded by about 4 years, having lived at home all throughout undergrad. That means food, shelter and finances were always taken care of.

On Monday, I don't believe I have been more frustrated than I have in a couple of years. Post-packing, the last thing to get in order for my move was a moving vehicle. A minivan was the most suitable thing, but since I don't own one I called around to many many places. I didn't realize how complicated such a task would be. Firstly, why is it that everyone needs a minivan that Saturday?? Does each company only stock one or two vans? It was hard to find a place that even had vans to rent. Then, it was time to shop around for a price. Each time I called another place, it was more expensive than the last. Up and up the price went. When I decided to call back the cheapest place, they told me that the price increased!!! Nobody could tell me if it had stow-and-go. And finally I had to find a place that was open on Sunday so that I could return the van without being charged an extra day. I think I made about 25 calls...probably tore out a lot of hair, and freaked out my mom when I started screaming and cursing at the air. You do not want to see an angry Lesley.

Thankfully I was able to book a minivan. I didn't get the cheapest one, but I did the best I could. I feel a bit ripped off, but I at least had the choice between one that cost $109 and another that cost $112! What a savings.

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The funniest thing! I was telling my friend that when I went to Chinatown I bought some cheap fruits. When she asked what kinds I got, I told her strawberries, cherries and lychees. But when I said lychees, I Chinafied it and pronounced it LIE-CHEES. She promptly repeated what I said..."LIE-CHEES??" as if to point out that I had pronounced it wrong. "It's LEE-CHEES!" Said this Jewish-Canadian girl to a Chinese-Canadian. Hahahahaha...then I told her that it was the correct Cantonese way of saying it. Of all things, you don't correct a Chinese person on how to say a Chinese fruit!!!