Raindrops on Roses...

Three bits of good news today.

Today, I moved into my new apartment. Or rather, I started to move into my new apartment. I’ve taken four carloads of stuff, and I’m still only about half done, and what’s worse is that I haven’t even had my friend Matt come by with his truck to help me take the furniture. How in the world could I have accumulated all of this stuff in so little time?

Of course, almost two complete carloads were just my library. Nothing in the world would make me want to trade out my library for convenience. I’m quite proud of my little set of bookshelves. Of course, they shouldn’t really be called a little set anymore. My how they grow up so quickly. I now have almost one thousand volumes.

The apartment is fantastic. There are a few small defects in the apartment, but none too drastic. The living room is much bigger than I had dared hope, and the kitchen will do just fine. I even have a separate dining area. I’m converting one of the bedrooms into a den where I can house my library and computer, and the other bedroom will become my Master bedroom.

Aside from moving boxes all day (and killing my knees and ankles which are screaming at me right now), I went shopping. I know I’m ruining my image with this revelation, but I love certain kinds of shopping. My mother decided that she should buy me some flat-warming gifts, and so took me shopping for accessories. Is it wrong that looking for the perfect set of pillow shams or a bed skirt to match the comforter makes me happy? If not, what about spending a half hour browsing through decorative pillows? In the end, I won out. The decorative pillows for the bedroom are in the same color as my accent color (found on the comforter), but in a different pattern. Interior decorating is so much fun.

Finally, my last bit of news concerns the New Year. Five years I spent at college (I wasn’t slow, I got two degrees), but every Winter break I got to come back to my parents’ house in Topeka. Every single year, I sat at home with the dogs while my parents went out and did fun things. This year is no different. I’m getting a new apartment. I’m finally growing up, despite all of my hardest efforts to the contrary, but I’m still at home with the dogs.

Funny how some things change while others remain the same.

The ball will drop in a few hours. As usual, since I am alone, I can let loose with the traditional "Auld Lang Syne" (the original version) in my tenor.

In case you don’t recall the words, here they are:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Tho’ they return with scars?
These are the noble hero’s lot
Obtain’d in glorious wars.

Welcome my Varo to my breast,
Thy arms about me twine.
And make me once again as blest
As I was Auld Lang Syne.

O’er hill and Dale with your gay friends
You may pursue the chase.
And after a blithe bottle,
End all cares in my embrace.

And on a vacant rainy day,
You shall be wholly mine.
We’ll make the hours run smooth away
And laugh at Auld Lang Syne.

Should monarchy be quite forgot,
And no more of it heard?
Antiquity be razed about
And slav'ry put instead?

Is Scotland’s blood now grown so cold?
The valor of her mind?
That we may ne’er again reflect
On days of Auld Lang Syne.

Well, all, kiss someone special at midnight tonight. I’ll raise a glass to myself and then pack some boxes.