Carbondale: Cheap booze and Expensive Comforters

The weekend is just about over and I am so sad to see it go.
This was the extent of my Saturday...

I watched at least 4 movies. All odd, obscure, indy, sundance films you've probably never heard of. I watched a film in French (with english subtitles of course) a 90's film that was pretty awful but it was so awful it was kinda good and then a few that I watched either just the beginning and got bored or I caught the tail end of some so that I just saw the happy ending. One in particular called, Save The Date is a totally hipster movie. Like the epitome of hipster. Quirky girl dates singer in indy rock band. They break up she finds her quirky new lover and some dramatic happenings happen in between. It was good but I don't have to watch it again.
I also went on pinterest, did some blogging, and eventually loaded the dishwasher but only because I didn't have any clean spoons to eat my cereal. And ice cream. No not together. Ok maybe together. (but really jk, wheaties and vanilla bean is not a good combo)

Don't judge. We've all had those days and since my roommate was out of town I took full advantage of lying on the couch in a comatose state staring at the TV without someone suggesting that I try to get dress or go shower or attempt to look alive.

Ok I tend to exaggerate, but really it was so incredibly nice to just not do anything. Did I have things to do? Sure. I had homework for class and work. I had mentioned to Kaylee about maybe going to an event for the Rec. But that couch turned into a giant quick sand pit and I was not able to move.

By late, and I mean late afternoon I finally picked myself and made an effort. Kaylee mentioned that she wanted to go out that night so I went upstairs to shower and try to look presentable for the public. I went to my boxes that were still unpacked and found some clothes and it dawned on me that I had been living out of these boxes for a very long time. In fact, 3 weeks. Exactly.

I about cried. I subconsciously put off unpacking completely as a way to push the notion that I am staying here away. Nothing about my room says that it's a room other than it has my bed and dresser and some strewed clothes on the floor with some boxes.

I promised that I would finally unpack and get real about this whole deal the next day.

So I called up another co-worker, Brian and we made our way to the land of drinks, and cover bands. Kaylee now was too tired to go out but she would take a rain check. LAME. but it was fine. We ended up at Pinch, surprise surprise. It's the only bar I've frequented so far but I'm alright with that. I'm here for at least another 24 months, I have time to see the others. The band was playing various songs of the hip-hop, rap genre of today's hits. But the crowd wasn't feelin it. Well it wasn't that big of a crowd but it was kind of awkward when I asked Brian if he liked the band and he said that he didn't even know most of the songs. (He's a country boy through and true. Drives a truck, wears camo and wears his cross necklace like a badge of honor. But he's a true gentleman and knows how to have a good time too. And he calls me 'Cali'. I love it.)

Finally another familiar face appears and the night gets to be getting better. I'm introduced to new people, all players on the soccer club team, Jack and Coke in hand and it's a pretty good time.

Because Brian bought my first drink, I told him the next round was on me. I walk up to he bar, order 3 drinks give her a 20 and get 9 bucks back. Wait. WHAT

You can bet on it, Audrey.

I walked away with a jack-n-coke, a beer, and a vodka tonic and had enough money left over to buy 2 more drinks AND give the bartender a tip.
     
OHMIGAWD I FRIGGIN LOVE THIS PLACE

If I bought 3 drinks in Davis I probably would most definitely have had to pay more than 20bucks. And no, there wasn't a special on the drinks I got.
This could be really really dangerous. As I enjoy JackyD but often go for a different, less expensive drink, like beer. Apparently booze is cheaper than water out here. I am ok with this.

After I come back and exclaim my excitement to my new friends and they look at me like I'm from outer-space because they don't get it, we had the unfortunate encounter with a guy who just wouldn't take the hint that none of the girls in our group were interested in getting to know him. Yep. We had the creeper guy follow us for half the night. Joy. I guess they are everywhere, even Illinois.

After a few 'sorry gotta go to the bathroom' and 'oh hi, see i'm about to go find my friend' and 'oh hi again, i'm about to go find my BOYfriend' he still wouldn't let up. (fyi there's never a real boyfriend usually but any other male friend will do.) Gotta hand it to the poor guy for being persistent but when you already revealed that your real age is 35 (THIRTY-FIVE?!?!??) us 21 year olds are most definitely NOT down.
As we're about to leave as the bar is closing for the night he had moved on to a new group of girls who I guess were a little less subtle about not being interested so he did what every normal guy does, he throws a glass at us girls.

Um. Excuse me. Rude.

So that was fun and I ended up getting a little bit of a cut on the bottom of my foot (I was wearing sandals how was I supposed to know I'd have glass thrown at me?) but we made it out relatively unharmed. We then go Winston's a bagel place open specifically for the drunkards craving food. It's like bagels out of a hot dog cart and he has an array of options you can put on your bagel. My new soccer friends convince me to get one with everything, the works. What's the works? Let me tell you...
Garlic, butter, cream cheese, onions, cucumbers, raisins, cinnamon, sugar, apples, cheese and probably some more but I forgot.
It was actually not too bad once you get passed the whole what the fuck is this that I'm eating part. That was an adventure all in itself.
After eating the Winston's bagel and hanging out til 3am i make it home and sleep til 11 the next day.

Why do we do that? I hate getting up that late because then you've lost half the day and it's not coming back no matter what. UGH.

But I keep to my vow and start unpacking.
Luckily, I did manage to buy some posters on campus earlier this week. College and posters are just as dynamic as peanut butter and jelly. College idea of interior decorating = gotta wall? Slap a poster on it. Boom. Now you're not boring, you have walls that exemplify your soul, your dreams and more than likely your favorite celebrity crush. Or in my case my home state, where I'd rather be and my favorite TV show. Maybe it's not original but I like it and oh wait looky here, it's MY room. Haters gonna hate.

The aforementioned posters

I also run to Bed Bath and Beyond to get a new bed spread. Gotta vamp up the decor a bit, as the focal point of the room is the bed. (you can thank my mother for watching all those home improvement shows and allowing me to have this interior design vocab)

Don't be fooled by that cute face. He's a born killer.

After a few hours of unpacking, organizing, putting up posters (technically still in college, so it's ok for me to do) I have officially unpacked and settled into my room.

My desk that's more of a things holder since I hate working at desks.

(Don't hate on Sherlock. It's a fantastic show. Obvi. It has Martin Freeman in it! The Hobbit anyone??)

My little corner of California. Golden gate, Mt. Shasta, and enough drink glasses for a really fun party.

This is it. This is real. These adventures aren't just your average 2 week vacay trip on your own to find yourself. Nope. This is legit, moving and calling your new residence home. I know I'm not here forever and 2 years isn't very long in the grand scheme of things but it's a big deal. And I'm finally ok with that.

I think a big part of it was that I was scared of losing my friends. I had a great group of people I came to love, especially during my senior year and I was scared of losing touch. But I got calls from some really great people and it made me realize that ya, everything isn't going to be the same. It never will be. But those who want to stay in your life will. And you have to cherish the 'right nows' instead of dwelling on the past. I can't go back to Davis and relive my 4 years. Sometimes I wish I could. But I'm here now. And they are too. Just a little out of reach, that's all. And the random texts, phone calls and Skype sessions do mean a lot. Because I do love all of you guys. A lot. You know who you are and don't be annoyed when I call or text or snap chat and bug you. It's out of love. And not to be incredibly cheesy but I'm totally going to quote Mumford and Sons right now...

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

And I have invested a whole lot of love for my Davis friends. And I will continue to do so. But I'm learning now that I don't have to find replacements for those friends or worry about not being able to call my friends, my friends anymore because I'm not home. You just start to open up your heart a bit more and learn to invest even more of your love with the people you have right now, right here. You don't have a limit, so it's ok, over-drafting is not a chargeable fee. And that is really what finally got me to unpack.

To be continued!