In Knoxville at last

So after arriving at my new apartment and crying my eyes out (probably because of fatigue), it took me 24hours to get into the Tennessee groooooove... And I did get into it. It's scary first of all, that I found myelf wearing a grey t-shirt and shorts this morning... I never wear shorts, but it seems like it's the official outfit for the state here, and it is so hot.
One of my big surprises, besides the leak in the 2 sinks I woke up to, is the weather. I didn't expect humidity to be worse than DC, but it is. Well, luckily there is AC everywhere.
Everything has been smoothe in the move, the driver arrived with his huge truck on time yesterday at 8am, and I can proudly say that I am almost unpacked. So my apartment is starting to look like my home.
It is almost how funny the way I got SO excited about buying furniture yesterday. I found a wholesale furniture place, right across from a Used Books store close by. Everything is off of Kingston Pike and everything is close to me. The grocery store is 3 minutes away. I still haven't used the pool or gone for a walk, which I am dying to do, but I am on a mission: to get settled, unpacked.
I am so happy to have a place of my own to myself. I needed the solitude and the space and I have been enjoying both. Life became a lot more interesting once I got connected to the internet.
How I changed my voicemail from french to a TN English (is it really English), is a proof of my attempt to blend in. Now, how much can I really blend in with the henna on my feet and people asking me:"what is that???" in total shock, and me saying "it's not dirt! It's henna, it's a dye that goes on the body." I've had the patience twice so far, to go through a cultural enlightenment process. Other times, I've been my usual bitchy self!
An old lady knocked on my door. She saw I was moving so brought me a snack which I gave to the truck driver, as it had bacon in it. I wasn't that hungry all the same! I thanked her a lot and she told me how she lived in DC and met her husband during WWII... A real spring chicken she was. There is something about the beautiful faces of these old ladies that populate the building I live in, they have aged beautifully, and still have the most kinder souls. I helped one of them yesterday who got stuck in the door coming inside the buildging. She told me that 25 years ago, she was young, but that is no longer the case. I told her that she was great and doing just fine. But I thought to myself, she looks like she's 90, so did she consider herself young at 65? My math is correct right? Ok, youth is definitely up for discussion.
Ok off to Target. I have never been so excited about a trip to Target, but I am. I'm hoping that I will hear the song I like so much on the radio. I love hearing the 'traffic updates' on the radio station... The idea of congestion on I-40 is something else.
Tomorrow I will be more human with a bed and a couch. So exciting!