So I'm heading up to Columbus tomorrow to sign my lease. Scott (the one we call Dumbass) has volunteered his time and his van to take up the first load of boxes. My internet and cable here in Parkersburg are scheduled to be shut off tomorrow (as opposed to the way they've been shut off several times in the past) so those of you that have my phone number will have to contact me that way till I get some sort of internet hooked up in the new place.

I'll be coming back and packing up what's left and then going back on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday, not sure which yet) with the furniture in a U-Haul and that should be all she wrote.

Cross your fingers people.

Oh, before I go I thought I'd put up the latest Something Here is Terribly Wrong strip for those of you that are interested. I finished it like four months ago, but apparently we're not updating anymore. So here it is. When I get established in the new place I'll continue doing them till I finish out the ones I have scripted and I'll post them here if nowhere else. After that I'll either continue the strip or start a new one.

So I was awakened this morning by a phone call. I look at the ID and it's a number with no name. Usually in my little world this doesn't bode well. With great trepidation I answer. It's the real estate place. The property manager of the real estate place whom I've been trying to contact forever, to be precise. He explains how he really needs the note from my Mom to ensure that the rent will continue to get paid and this and that, adding that nobody else will ever see the letter so it can't threaten my health benefits or anything.

We talk a bit, I explain my situation, assure him that I understand his and I prepare for another month of negotiating if not an outright denial...

I got the apartment.

I explained my situation, someone actually listened and actually cut me a break instead of being a beurocratic asshole and making my life ten times more difficult than it has to be.

Could it be that it really is just this town? That, perhaps, beyond the gray, toxic, chemical fog of this shitty fucking town people actually use logic and reason and help each other?

Or was it the fact that I offered to pay an extra month's rent in advance? In any event I got the apartment! I'm sending the deposit via money order today or tomorrow. After they get it they'll need a week to get it ready and then I can move in, so I've got an assload of stuff to do in the meantime. This means I'll probably not be updating as often as I have the last few weeks and once I get up there god only knows when I'll be getting internet back. So if you've got anything important to tell me I'd do it soon before I go incommunicado.