We’re thinking of purchasing a portable washing machine for our new, small apartment. We’ve been line-drying nearly everything all summer, so it seems like a smart move. This particular machine would probably pay for itself in about three and a half months. Thoughts?
Archive for September, 2010
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One Mile
In the grand scheme of things, one mile is not a very long distance. Since moving to Chicago, Jude and I usually complete a mile-long walk at least a few times a week. Knowing that, I didn’t really think that moving one mile south of our old apartment would be a big deal, but since the move on Saturday, I’ve changed my mind.
There aren’t any nice parks near our new apartment. The park we like best, that is, the park we used to live next door to, is .9 mile away. It’s hard not being able to immediately respond to phone calls asking us to come out and play. Instead of needing 10 minutes to use the bathroom and throw on some pants, we need between 35 and 40 minutes to get ready and travel. In short, now we have to plan for our play dates. Today, Josh had to go to the old apartment to get the rest of our stuff ready to move. He rode his bike, and Jude and I decided to follow him and spend some time at the park. As we walked (well, I walked. Jude rode his bike), I frantically made phone call after phone call to our friends, trying to make connections to meet up with people we know. I was probably worried for nothing. Jude makes friends with everyone he meets. Plus, our old neighbors came out to play with us, so much fun was had. Still, I felt sad as we left the playground at 6:45 tonight, me encouraging Jude to ride faster because it was getting dark, Jude complaining that he was so, so tired. I’m sure our new neighborhood will feel like home sooner or later, but honestly, I miss my old home.
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Spoiled
Life is different one mile south of Jarvis Ave.
My oven doesn’t work–my old one did.
My kitchen sink is working… for now–my old one never failed me (and bonus: I had a garbage disposal that could shred the hell out of orange peels.)
Our bikes will soon be hung from our living room walls–they used to reside in a dedicated bike room.
The closest park is half a mile away–at our old place it was about five feet from our bedroom window.On the other hand…
I’ve never felt as close to my family as I do now. Possibly because this downsizing process has forced us to stretch and grow in our relationship and to rely on each other more than ever before. Or it could be because we’re confined to less than 600 square feet.
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Guilt
I have major guilt as a result of not updating this blog. There’s really no way to remedy the situation, other than to start writing again, so maybe, just maybe, I’ll try that.
On Saturday, Josh, Jude, and I moved one mile south. We’re now living (amongst boxes) in a small, one-bedroom apartment. There have been some significant changes as of late, and I have a blog post written outlining the details, but I haven’t been given clearance to publish said post yet (fitting, seeing how we’re in the midst of Banned Books Week). Anyway, if you really, really can’t stand to not know what’s going on, send me an email and I’ll send you the short version. Just please excuse the profanity.
Also, don’t tell my husband.
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Menu for September 4-11, 2010
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Oh Autumn, I love thee.
The weather has turned bit cooler here in Chicago. I’ve spent the last three days in jeans and long-sleeved shirts. This is my favorite time of year for cooking. For me, nothing is as soothing as the smell of apples and cinnamon. I love eating hearty, hot soups and chili, and nothing beats throwing on a hoodie and enjoying a cup of coffee on my porch while breathing in the crisp Fall air.
There have been some, eh… changes in the Frank household as of late; some as a result of outside pressures and some internal. For example, Josh’s ministry job has been terminated, so the outside pressure of not having a steady income has resulted in us having to cut our food budget. On the other hand, the internal pressure of knowing that I can’t fit into a good number of my clothes has resulted in me giving up (or nearly giving up) dairy. I don’t eat cheese any more, and I only have a splash of cream in my coffee in the mornings. I do still eat keifer when I use it to make raw oatmeal, but I imagine I’ll find an alternative to that in time. Additionally, I’ve been cutting down on my sugar intake. I no longer sweeten my coffee, and I’ve been incredibly successful at not eating sweets since I began this journey (about three weeks ago).
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Oct 27, 2010
Letter to Jude: Month 41
Dear Jude, Well, Mama fell off the monthly letter writing wagon. I’m really and truly...
