Life in Knoxville

I got a job at a major department store, and so far I really like it. Our department handles all of the sales, markdowns and signs throughout the store. The best thing about it is that we work independantly, so we can go anywhere in the store at anytime, unlike a cashier who's stuck in one place all day. Also we can take breaks or lunch whenever we want to without letting anyone know. I figured I'd work whatever hours they give me over the summer and then work one or two days a week when I go back to school. I still don't know what's going on with school. My transcript from UW Waukesha seems to have vanished. I'll have to call somebody about that on Monday.

I met somebody at work who told me about this thing called Sundown in the City that happens downtown every Thursday night. It's basically a free concert. (At least, I think it's always free) Anyway, Nik and I went down there on Thursday night and checked out Marc Broussard. He's ok. There's really one song we really like of his and we didn't stay long enough to hear it. It got way too crowded. Unfortunately, we missed They Might Be Giants. Next week seems promising because Rhett Miller is playing. I'm also excited that Fiona Apple is coming to the Tennessee Theater on August 5th. I'm going to buy tickets as soon as I get a couple of paychecks. I hope it doesn't sell out before then. There's also an annual music festival going on this weekend called Bonnaroo. It's one of those all weekend things where people camp out and lots of bands play. Maybe we'll be able to afford to go next year.

There's a lot of other things we're excited about here in Knoxville. There's a Super Target that has a full line of groceries, including organic produce and Einstein bagels. There's also a clothing store called Goody's that has a lot of good sale prices. I bought two shirts and another pair of black pants for work yesterday and spent $30 overall. Yesterday we checked out the Disc Exchange. It's kind of like The Exclusive Company but with a much bigger selection of both new and used stuff. They also have a wide selection of LP's and independent music. I mean really, really independent. I hadn't heard of a single one of the artists in that section. One band was called The Fucking Champs. They seem kinda heavy for me, but I like the name. I bought Regina Spektor's new album. I wanted to buy so much more but we're pretty broke after all of the expenses of relocating. If I had more money I would have bought Muse's new album. Oh yes, if any of you Milwaukee people like Muse you should know they're coming to Chicago on July 27th.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I'm sure I'll find out about more fun Knoxville things in due time.

hmm

Now that I can go online at home I can't think of anything to do online. Actually, I can't think of anything to do in general. I walked to the Old Mill Bread Co. and filled out an application this morning. I talked to the guy who runs the place, and everything went really well except that when he told me that he's from Fort Wayne I said that I'd been there and it was really dull. I probably shouldn't have said that, but I don't think it really hurt anything. The position is a part-time, fill in as needed kind of thing, which sounds fine to me. After I walked back home I got into my bathing suit and hung out by the pool for a while reading Sartre. I'm also reading the Autobiography of Malcom X, which was first on my summer reading list. I'm about half way through it. Mostly I wanted to read it so that I can learn more about the Nation of Islam. Plus I can always identify with a good life transformation story.

I don't really mind not knowing anyone here. It's taken me years to realize that I'm not the kind of person who needs tons of people in my life. I'm pretty content on my own. Of course, I have a husband, so I'm not really on my own. It's more like we're on our own. Maybe when school starts I'll meet people, but right now I'm not pressing the issue.

I'm sleepy. I think I may nap. It feels like a perfect summer afternoon for napping. TTFN.

not quite a 4.0

I'm at the library right now. I'd like to be able to get online at home but I'm not sure when that's going to happen. On Tuesday I came here and checked my UWM grades. I got an A in every one of my classes except English. I got an A- in English because of a B- I got on a paper about the Minister's Black Veil. I'm pretty happy, but I wish I would have gotten a 4.0 because I know that I could have. I could have done extra credit for English or something. I also officially applied to the University of Tennessee on Tuesday. Now there's nothing to do but wait. My transcripts should be there already. We have Tennessee driver's licenses now, and a Tennessee license plate on our car. We have local phone numbers. We are officially here. We actually did it.

Nik's friend Seth helped us get moved in and took us for a tour of Knoxville. I like him. He reminds me of a combination of people I've known before. Everyone else that we've met here has also been very helpful and nice. Southern hospitality actually seems to exist here, even though most everyone we've met is also from somewhere else. Our neighbor Howard is from Ohio. We bought a bed from a salesman from Michigan, and we met a guy downstairs from us who seemed to be British, but I think he's gone now because he wanted our boxes.

Getting here was rough. I did nearly all of the driving, from 2 am until about 3 in the afternoon. I would never think that I could drive a 16 foot truck that was hauling all of my posessions including my cats and my car for 13 hours, but I did it. I have no desire to do it again. I didn't sleep for two days. When we got here and had to sign the lease I felt like I was in another world, yet everyone kept talking to me as if everything was normal. It was crazy, and when it was finally ok to sleep, I didn't even want to anymore. I was too loopy. I was rambling. I was manic.

I'm hoping to work part time here but so far I've had no luck securing a job. Maybe I'll hear from someone today. Nik and I are considering seeing the new X-Men movie today, even though we know it's going to be bad.

Well, I guess that's about it. I'm glad to be here, although part of me still can't believe it's real. There are many people in Milwaukee that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to. I wanted to, but I ran out of time. Sorry about that.