Evolution of Things

Since my stuff was delivered last Wednesday, I've unloaded quite a bit through Craigslist.
So far:

1. My TV, DVD Player, computer speakers and Drew's vacuum cleaner went to an African couple from Queens. When the husband bent over to pick up the TV, he accidently brushed my breast with the back of his hand. At least, I think it was an accident. He quickly mumbled "sorry," and I quickly responded, "'s'okay," and neither of us made eye contact again before he left.
2. A guy named Lorenzo bought my wireless router and modem. He came all the way to the apartment, rang our doorbell and then ran off. When I called his cell phone to ask what was up, he said he'd forgotten to get cash and had to hit the ATM.
3. We gave away Drew's bed to a young, artsy couple who looked a little dirty, but seemed sweet enough. I offered the girl some free pillows and she said I was "very kind." I felt like I ought to offer her a glass of milk, some cookies, and a hot shower as well.
4. A Mexican guy took 40 fish bowls off Drew's hands (don't ask) for free and said they were for his wife and "her crafts." I asked Drew if he'd ever go over to some random person's house after work sometime and pick up 40 of anything for me and he said he would, which is, you know, good to know.
5. A guy in his 50's who had a diamond stud in one ear and the largest hands I've ever seen took a bunch of lumber from Drew. He drove a Volvo station wagon that he gave me the keys to and asked me to stand in front of to make sure it didn't get ticketed as he carried the lumber out. I made a joke about how I wouldn't drive off with it, but he didn't seem to hear me. He said he was building kitchen cabinets for his mother.
6. A short, chubby guy with gray-ish hair and a too-small Daffy Duck t-shirt bought my Thai artwork and Drew's sewing machine. He came at 10 at night because that's what time his wife was getting off work at a near-by hotel and he wanted to pick her up after swinging by our place. When he saw the artwork, he cocked his head to the side, held the frames out in front of him and said, "Yep, that's Thai, alright." And then he launched into a 15-minute story about his travels through Southeast Asia and how he almost got arrested in Malaysia.
7. A Russian dude in his late 20's or early 30's named Ivan bought my office chair. He said he'd broken his the day before and thought mine looked pretty comfortable. He planned to carry it onto the subway and we joked about how it'd be the best seat on the train. He emailed me about two hours after he left and thanked me for the chair and said his ride was "weeeeeeeeeee."
8. A guy from Belgium bought my bamboo blinds. He said he'd just moved into an apartment on 33rd street that was flooded with light all day long. He hoped the blinds would keep some of it out. I said I wished there was a way I could let more of it in.
9. A guy we called Joe College took Drew's 8-year-old air conditioner. He was wearing baggy cords, leather flip-flops and a backwards cap over tussled hair and looked like anyone I might have known 12 years ago back in Missouri.
10. A fashion photographer for Vogue sent over his assistant yesterday evening to pick up my wood folding chairs. She was pretty high maintenance about very carefully checking them over and then having me bag each chair in a large garbage bag and wrap masking tape around the handles so she could carry them in the rain and then onto the subway. She asked if I was moving in or moving out and when I told her I was moving in with my boyfriend, she said, "You're not planning on staying here, are you?" And then I told her that no, we were actually moving into a penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side with a dishwasher, skylights, and a jacuzzi.
11. In a few days, someone from the Brooklyn Children's Museum is coming to pick up my desk and little leather chair to use in an exhibit! And that still leaves just a few pieces of furniture and some odds and ends I need to find homes for.

Our apartment is finally starting to feel normal again. I actually have dresser drawers now to put my underwear in (so civilized!), and some lamps to brighten the dark corners that have always bugged me. I re-did the refrigerator display with some of my photos and have hung a bunch of my artwork on the walls, so it's feeling more like I really live here and not like I'm just camping out. Six months after I moved here, I'm starting to make a home for myself.

Comments

[Lori]

Um, lumber?

[citywendy]

Drew is a (lumber) jack of many trades...

[Under-Employed Girl]

I was actually wondering more about Drew owning a sewing machine?

[Matt]

4 - OK, I won't ask. But come on, 40 fishbowls? So I asked. Good that Drew passes the I'd-pick-up-40-items-on-your-behalf test.

6 - Oh, sure, Malaysian arrest stories are like a dime a dozen. I've got a couple myself.

7 - My favorite story.

10 - this does nothing to improve my impression of Vogue fashion photographer assistants. Or how stupidly judgmental some people can be.

[citywendy]

Like I said, UEG, Drew really is a man of many talents. A few:

1. He builds things, like a closet for the bedroom and a entertainment center in the livingroom.

2. He's a TV editor by trade, a film editor --and screenwriter--by night.

3. He is a published cartoonist.

4. He sews, as you may have guessed from the sewing machine...

5. He plays the harmonica.

6. And the guitar. And he used to be in a honky-tonk band.

7. He kicks my ass at Jeopardy all the time, though I'm afraid that actually isn't saying much. Still, he's pretty impressive and I think he should try-out for the show.

8. He knows Kung-Fu and is certified to kick ass if he has to.

9. He scrambled a mean egg.

10. And other stuff.

[Nick]

Sounds like a pretty successful clearout. And good to hear it's now more like home. The Vogue assistant was pretty cheeky. "You're not planning on staying here?" indeed. Bet she lives in one of those soulless minimalist lofts.