God Damn Squirrels!

This morning as I was preparing to go to work, and attempting to arrive on time for a change, I was doing the 1-2-3 times around the apartment to make sure the backdoor was locked and the coffee maker was turned off and the stove was off (not that I had used it) and, lastly, that the ACs were set right, I discovered that a squirrel had eaten a hole through both side panels of the livingroom AC. Ahrg! So much for being on time. I had to rip out all the packing tape I had placed around the window to cover the gaps (those window ACs never fit perfectly) and redo it while compensating for the new damage. Then, because so much of the cool air had already leaked out, I had to put the unit on high for the day so that the livingroom wouldn't be an oven when I got home from work. Also, I heard a rumor from my downstairs neighbor that my landlord is planning to buy new windows for the whole building! Now, I would definitely miss our cool vintage windows but I wouldn't miss the ones that don't open or the ones where the wood has rotted away or the ones that shake in the wind. Of course, none of this may matter if I move.

I've been thinking about moving, locally, into a roommate situation. I'm so bloody broke and my pathetic salary is causing me to fall further and further behind. I'm besieged by expenses like the cost of living, skyrocketing gas (my itty-bitty tank should be filled for less than $20 but it takes close to $34), and food. I can easily spend $60-100 bucks on the amount of groceries that fit into one of those hand carts! My car is giving me some problems. Dalloway is old and constantly needs some kind of work. Currently she could use about $1100 in upkeep. I hate cars. Okay, I like the convenience but they cost as much as a kid to keep up. I don't want kids. Why do I have a car?

Anyway, I'm looking into shacking up with some strangers to help alleviate costs. I've scanned the ads in the Reader and Craigslist trying to find a liveable situation and I've sent a few inquiries but people are so slow to respond. The whole process wears me out. More than likely, nothing will come of it. I've lived on my own terms for so long that it would be difficult to merge with others. But, if I happen to find the perfect arrangement where I have, say, my own bathroom and utilities included, then maybe. Truth be told, I just want to move right on out of Chicago but that's old news. Not sure how to pull that one off without becoming seriously homeless.

Speaking of moving, I just read my friend Jennie's blog and she seems quite fed up with L.A. However, the post is inconclusive as to what she plans to do. It seems the whole world is fed up and unsure as to what to do.