I live in the no-coast region of North America, the center of which is the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, a geographic low spot where, apparently, the humidity settles and builds, even though it is so far from any major body of water. I open with this revelatory statement because as we speak, it is, according to my calculations, real hot and sticky outside. It is so humid that sometimes small fish will accidentally swim right out of the river and into the first inch thick layer of humid air above. I ain't lying.
My son is moving to the West Coast. When writing West Coast it is proper to capitalize both words, by the way, according to the University of Puget Sound online style guide--and they should know. As a matter of fact, my son is moving to within spitting distance of Puget Sound. I'm excited for him. I kind of wish it was me. Everything is expensive in Seattle so I can't afford to live there. When the weather in Missouri gets especially onerous, I wish I could figure out a way to move out there anyway. As a small consolation, here in Missouri we do get those five or six days in fall or spring when it is neither too hot nor too cold. Unless we don't.
Incidentally, also according to the University of Puget Sound Style Guide, when writing Walla Walla, Washington, it is more or less obligatory to then make a joke, such as I heard you the first time. I just mention this in passing.
I am moving, too, in a few weeks, though on a much smaller scale. Just a few miles, which is enough to remove me from the Kansas City downtown area (refuse to capitalize downtown) and, particularly, out of this spectacularly crappy warehouse-converted-to-lofts building. I moved here about seven months ago when I made an error in judgement and thought it would be cool. I won't get into all that right now.
I have about a month to go, and I'm taking this time to attempt to plan ahead and pack those things which 1.) I never use, ever, such as the unknown stuff in lots of boxes I haven't even unpacked from the last move yet, or b.) I never use in the summer, such as jackets, sweaters, long sleeve shirts, and things of that ilk. I hate moving, but I'm trying to be philosophical about it. I found that being philosophical about something bad not only doesn't make it better, it makes it worse because you think about it more than it deserves. Another item on the long list of exquisite ironies that make up my life. Perhaps all life. Of course, as I've always said, a life without exquisite ironies is otherwise known as short-term memory loss.
I think that is more than enough for now.
Moving sucks! I'm so lucky to have my little studio I can't even. I know I'll get a rent increase soon (and they'll keep coming), but they're always small. Someday I won't be able to afford this place, and then idk what I'll do, but that won't be for years. I'm still trying to cut back more & more to prepare for The Future, assuming there will even be one. I complain about our weather too, but really it's coastal SoCal (that is the correct way to spell it, lol), so it ain't too shabby. Right now it's still June gloom, but we only have a couple more days of June, and then things should brighten right up.
ReplyDeleteI guess Seattle wouldn't be much wetter than Misery, but it would be cooler. Less heat cooler, I mean. Nowhere is as cool cool as, eh, uh, Kansas City, they got some crazy little women there.
ReplyDeleteI've moved twice so far this year. I'm not worried about that so much as just keeping my house. I don't live in it at present, but I do want to keep it. I probably will. It's all about managing to make enough money. Not something I have a talent for but necessity breeds ... something, I forget how that goes, if indeed that's how it goes, which it probably doesn't.
While pretending not to have memory loss I may as well say I remember you saying a life without exquisite ironies is otherwise known as short-term memory loss, all the time, why not.
Kansas City is not so much cool as it is hip. We have Kansas City Hipsters walking around with their pink and/or blue hair and headphones rattling on their skulls, the hipper among them eating their breakfasts in gas station parking lots, none of them able to drive properly, which may be more a function of my advancing age. It is fun to watch them parallel park, though.
ReplyDeleteSeattle must get more rain, but the atmosphere itself contains less water. Definitely lower on the temperature scale in the summer, higher in the winter. I am about to talk myself into moving out there later this morning.
Paula, re SoCal nomenclature: it's been so long since I've lived in California, I don't know. What is the Bay Area called now? And is it true they want to make California into three states?
The Bay Area is called the Bay Area these days. Hipsters are so unimaginative.
ReplyDeleteSome people want to name the Bay Bridge for Emperor Norton, but as fond as I am of the man, I quibble on grounds of historical accuracy.
"They" do want to split the state into three. The current scheme is less boneheaded than the last one, but "they" are still boneheads. I can't see the benefit to anyone. The Jefferson people might get what they think they want, but they don't really know, in my opinion. And we'd keep more of our water and let SoCal return closer to its natural state, so that's good. But there's way too much disunion in the world already, I don't want to waste resources on any more.
Whatever happened with Chico? It's only 102F and 9% humidity there today. Single-digit humidity and a breeze that makes 102 feel like 100. I'd go. After eliminating about three dozen other places but I'd go.
ReplyDeleteIf California breaks into three, then my girls and I will all be living in different states, which makes me mad, so naturally I am against it. Beyond that, why would we need two more annoying governors & legislatures... all those people getting paid out of our taxes to do fuck all? Gah! Stupid idea. It won't pass in DC anyway because they'll be scared of more Democrats piling in, so the entire thing is pointless as usual.
ReplyDeleteToday it was supposed to be only 70, but it went up to 80 and was kinda sticky and icky. My apartment surreptitiously collects the heat throughout the day to blast it out at me starting around sundown and continuing all night. Guess I will put on the nice fan. God, we're old. Remember when we chatted about interesting things? No, me neither. Kbai