No Internet...

I am on day three without internet. How did I survive before?? Yesterday I drove to FIVE different locations to find free WiFi. You didn't read that wrong I said, FIVE (5)!!! Holy cow!!! Needless to say, it didn't pan out well for me. My computer was dead, and I couldn't find an outlet at a few of the places. With the help of some ward friends, they suggested Panera Bread (Paradise Bakery type place), and am using their internet. We did sign up with Verizon for internet, but sadly, the soonest they can install it is on August 12! That is forever away! I guess I will continue to suffer a little while longer.

On a positive note, the apartment is FINALLY clean and ready for our stuff to arrive. If all goes well, it should be here on Tuesday. Then we can set up the apartment and start living like real people.

Same Burger, Different Town

For starters, we officially left basement camp, and moved into our apartment! Awesome, because it's ours, and it rocks. Not awesome, because there is no internet, no furniture, and it's hot. So here we sit at the Starbucks on the Johnson and Wales campus right down the street from us, sitting in comfortable chairs, in the air conditioning, with free WiFi. Can it get any better? So, now that we are internet-less, except for at Starbucks, the blogging will be a little sketchy.

Yesterday was my beach day with a few ladies from the ward. Andrea (the one who invited me) picked me up and we drove to Roger Wheeler Beach. It's at the southern most tip of Rhode Island, and is in the bay a ways, so there are hardly any waves (it's very kid friendly). We met up with Larua, and Kelly and their kids (also from the ward). We hung out in the sun, water, and went crabbing. It's loads of entertainment!

This guy was huge, and gross. I didn't dare touch them. At the end of the day, the kids had caught close to 20 crabs! It was so cool to let them go back into the ocean. I wish I had grabbed my camera!

Notice the lack of waves

After neglecting my responsibilities and husband at home, I left the beach and went back to a hot apartment to join Adam in cleaning some more (not that he had cleaned at all during the day, he was playing video games, so don't feel bad for him). We cleaned, then went Seekonk, MA for dinner. We found our local Five Guys! I was soooo happy!

It was amazing like always! Only thing that was missing was the fry sauce. I have to say, I don't think the fries are as good without the fry sauce. I think I was using the fries as a vehicle for the fry sauce.

Ketchup only! What disappointment!

It was a good day. We set up our new Aero Bed, and slept like babies in our unfurnished bedroom!

Cleaning Day 1

Yeah! We signed the lease agreement for our new apartment! It's official, we are Rhode Islanders now. We started by moving all of the stuff we brought with us into the apartment, then we began the dreaded cleaning. It honestly looked cleaner when we walked through it the first time then it did when we had to start cleaning. There was so much to do, and it was kind of overwhelming. I didn't really know where we should begin. We both started cleaning in the kitchen washing cabinets and such. There was a TON of grease on the cabinets and counters near the stove, and it just wouldn't come off! I got frustrated, and moved to the bathroom to clean, and left Adam with the kitchen. Five sweaty hours later, we had successfully finished the bathroom, and most of the kitchen.

Can you see the sweat glistening on Adam's face? He forgot his bandanna so we made one out of a towel. At the end of the day, it was damp all the way through with sweat. Sick, right? Adam also found this sweet photo of Saint Jude on top of the fridge. We adopted it, and stuck it on our Saint Mary's statue shrine in the kitchen.
Here are some photos of the apartment. They don't do it justice. So, if you really want to know what it looks like you need to book your flight to Rhode Island, and then you can see if for yourself.

Bathroom, after long hours of cleaning.

Dining room

 

Living Room

Other side of dining room

Spare bedroom with all of our crap in it

70's kitchen with Adam cleaning

Master bedroom

Did you notice all of the fancy window treatments straight out of the 70's? We get to borrow them until we buy our own. Hopefully, that will be sooner than later. Also, did you notice all of the sweet vintage light fixtures? I hope those go sooner than later as well. As sexy as they are, I don't really dig it. All in time. There's a lot more cleaning to come, but we'll keep you all posted on how that comes along!

Oh! Rhode Island!

Do you think I'm obsessed? I might be a little bit. The more I'm here, the more things I discover that I love! For starters, Roger Williams Park. It's literally a half mile from our new apartment, and there is so much to do! I'm almost positive that there will be many more posts to come about RWP (Roger Williams Park). First off, Adam and I sat on a park bench eating our picnic lunch watching this serene scene.

 Then we walked around the park to discover the Japanese Garden, and the loads of geese. I walked right up to them, and they didn't budge. It's like the geese own the parks and streets around here. Kind of annoying at times.

 Then of course, we had to stop and get a New England Soft Frozen Lemonade. They are seriously everywhere. We had to see what all they hype was about. Truthfully, it didn't disappoint. It was super tasty, soft, and lemony!

Later in the day, went to dinner. We wanted to find some good pizza, so we stopped at a place that we have driven past many times over the last several days. Every time we went past we would mention that we wanted to try it. So, we took the opportunity tonight and stopped at Catanzaro's Pizzeria. It was out of this world amazing!

My pizza had whole roasted garlic cloves, roasted red bell peppers, chicken, and something else! Whatever the case, we were in pizza heaven! For those that don't know, I am a garlic lover! So this pizza was right up my alley. One slice that I ate, literally had 6 whole garlic cloves on it! I can still taste the garlic...(Adam denied me a kiss when I asked for one after dinner).

Next time your in Rhode Island, we'll take you to Catanzaro's and on a trip through RWP! The park has paddle swan boats that I really wanted to ride today, but apparently so did everyone else. Maybe on my next trip to the park!

My Babies All Grown Up

Adam left for his first day of new student orientation today. I dropped him off, waited in line with him to register, and get his information packet. Then I kissed him goodbye for two days, and went back to basement camp.

 

I should probably be productive while he's gone and look for a job, but I kind of don't want to right now. Oh! Bernie (the awesome Realtor) called to tell us we got the apartment! We sign papers on Wednesday, and can move in on Thursday! Whoopee!

Day One of Our New Life

     Day one in Rhode Island started like any other. Oh wait! I've never woken up in Rhode Island! This is the first day ever. Weird.
     So, we started by looking at apartments. For those of you who have done this, you know how much it sucks. My dreams we crushed by one prospective apartment that I have been looking into for over a month now. It was tiny, not up to date, and kind of a sketchy neighborhood. I left feeling unhappy, and unmotivated to continue. I told Adam, "We've made a huge mistake moving here. Let's just go home to Utah." We returned to our basement camp (for those who don't know, we are crashing with my sister-in-law's little brother and wife who have just recently moved to RI...Thank goodness for them!)
     During all of the apartment nonsense, Adam and I had driven by the Johnson and Wales Harbourside Campus to take a quick look. We checked out the near by neighborhoods, and found a little house for rent very near the campus. Adam called, left a message, and we went on our way.

     During my defeated moment of contemplating moving back to Utah with or without Adam, Adam received a call from Bernie. Praise the heavens for Bernie. We met up with Bernie, the realtor (a small-ish, flamboyant, good-natured, happy-go-lucky, told us his entire life story in the first 30 seconds type man). We met the owners of the home (a super cute, older couple from some foreign country, maybe Portugal?) Loved them! Love the apartment! It was everything I had been dreaming of, and then some (an hour earlier Adam told me that I wouldn't be able to find the apartment of my dreams for the cheap price I wanted...little did he know :)
     We said goodbye to Bernie, and went off on a contemplation drive around town. I happened to be driving and saw a cute little park-type thing. I pulled off and we discovered, the ocean. I forgot that we were so close to the ocean. Go figure!

     We happened upon these lovely creatures (no, not ducks, swans). There were hundreds. It was a perfect spot to stop and think. So, we hiked to the rock wall (I think it's called a water break, don't quote me on that) and weighed our options. After an hour, we came to a general consensus, that 105 Alabama Avenue Providence, Rhode Island, was right for us. We were so excited we took a few photos, and then returned to the car.

     We returned to our basement camp, filled out the application, and drove to Bernie's multi-million dollar home. On our return to basement camp, we happened to see some festivities going on in Cranston. So, naturally we pulled over to have a look. Thank goodness we did. Otherwise we would have missed the Saint Mary's Feast Party! And boy was it a party!

     Adam snaked on a cannoli, and lobster tail (it's also a pastry, filled with cream goodness, and dusted with powdered sugar). To sum up day one, I would describe it as a roller coaster of emotion. I didn't even cry!

P.S. Feel free to Google Map the apartment, and check out the street view. It's super cute. You'll all be jealous! And yes, it is the cute white one with the red door. 105 Alabama Ave Providence, RI.

So the Journey Begins

The day before we left for Rhode Island was filled with tears. Mostly from me, but also from the great state of Utah. It rained that day, and I like to believe it was crying for us because it knew it was loosing it's coolest residents. Then, Utah gave us a final gift. A beautiful sunset on our last night there.

Then I had to say goodbye to this beauty. I played one final song, and cried the entire time. I cry now, as I think about leaving her in Utah.

Day 1, Wednesday morning, we left pretty early. I made it out, without too many tears. I basically slept through Wyoming (do you blame me?) while Adam drove. Nebraska and Iowa brought a lot of farms, fields, cows, corn and windmills.

Let's take a moment to talk about humidity. It and I do not agree. Humidity + Julie x Sweat = MISERY!
Thursday, Day 2, we made it to Illinois. I used to like Illinois, when I visited Chicago with Adam 2 years ago. Driving I-80, stopped for an hour in construction, 99 degrees outside, 90% humidity, air conditioning not working, hottest temperatures in the Midwest for the year, made me re-think my love of Illinois.

See how pissed off I look?

It is now on my bad list. Things got worse in Indiana, when I was driving and had to face the turn-pike. Also, the Alero (my vehicle) got a nice, fat, rock chip from a stupid car from Illinois. Strike two for Illinois!
We finally made it to Ohio. It was a nice state. However, the air conditioning was still not working, and I ended up looking like this at the end of day 2.

Friday, day 3, started out pretty great. We stopped by the Kirtland Temple for a quick look.

Then once we got into New York, we detoured to Niagara Falls. It was sure amazing!

This is not a professional photo. I took it!

We continued our drive East through New York. I was amazed by all of the trees. I had never seen so many before! I was loving it!

See the rock chip? Right above the white line.

Finally, we drove through Massachusetts. And last but not least, made it to Rhode Island! It's hot and humid, but not as bad as Iowa. We'll start apartment shopping tomorrow, and with any luck find something soon!

Note to Self...

It's gonna be great! That's what I need to keep telling myself about moving to Rhode Island.

Blogging

Blogging sucks, and it's confusing. I think I'll quit before I start.