Out of bed, Sleepy head

[serafina20]

I slept until 11 today. I never do that. If I'm sick, I get up at the normal time (weekends would be about nine or so) try to pretend everythign is normal, and then go back to bed. If I've been up all night the night before, I still always wake by nine/nine-thirty and then go back to sleep. Even last week, when I was exhausted from Comic Con, I couldn't sleep past nine forty-five.


I think I woke up at seven today, but it wasn't even realy awake. I don't remember going back to sleep. I just have this vague memory of seeing my window, and then nothing. Even my mom was worried; she I finally got up, she asked if I was okay. I figured she was asking if I was okay because my voice was a little hysterical, so I told her how long I slept (because she can't tell time. *rolls eyes*). She said, "Yeah, I know. That's why I'm asking if you're okay."

I had a hard time getting to sleep. I was, uh, fantasizing about the Morgan/Kal sex scene in which Morgan fucks Kal into exhasution, but it kept morphing into the torture scenes from Manchurian Candidate WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH!!!! But it didn't keep me up all night, so I don't know why I slept so long.

Can you tell I hate sleeping in? Can you tell I hate not knowing what's going on with my body? Because, usually, when I sleep in past nine or ten (and I've made it to ten before), I feel like absolute crap. My head hurts, I'm groggy, I feel like death. I feel fine today. My back aches a little, and my chest still hurts some, but otherwise, I feel fine. Which I guess means I needed the sleep, but why?

Maybe I'm depressed. :(

Anyway, I was looking through ads this morning and realized that, if I'm goign to move out, I'll need stuff. But I'm not sure what all I need. I know the normal things: pots, pans, microwave, sheets, bathroom stuff, etc. I'm talking about thigns that would never occur to me becuase they've always been *there* in my life and I've taken them for granted. Like screwdrivers. Or ... something else.

So, I appeal to you, dear reader. What things will I need to go out and buy for my new place? They can be essentials or frivolous comfort things to make it feel more like home when I move in.

Comments

[noelql.livejournal.com]

Well, on the essential side, you need a toolkit. When I got my first apartment, my best friend bought me the "Do-It-Herself" toolkit. It comes in its own little blue box. Sounds like the worst kind of sexism, huh? Well, I still have that toolkit, and it is well used. Comes with all the necessary things - hammer, scissors, screwdriver, wrench, Allen wrenchs (a must for do-it-yourself furniture!), box knife, etc.

On the frivolous comfort side, bring something that reminds you of home. For me, it's a large framed print of Snoopy that my granddaddy bought for my room when I was a kid. It hung over my bed until I left home. My parents brought it to me when they came for my college graduation, and my dad hung it on the wall in the bedroom of my then new apartment. I still have it in my bedroom, much to deannie's dismay! *g*

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the worst kind of sexism, huh?

I've read both sides of the argument in Bitch magazine. Personally, anything small and light enough not to make me feel like I'm working out while I'm trying to hammar nails gets my vote. Don't know if I'll get the toolkit right away, but it's going on my holiday list.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[ngaio]

Plasters (band-aids?), batteries, painkillers.

Huh. Odd combination of things, no?!

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Good suggestions! Thanks. :)

[ngaio]

I just started to think about what I kept in the odds and ends drawer. There's string and plug adaptors and ok, takeaway menus which might be less useful, and a puncture repair kit even though we got rid of the bikes 6 months ago . . . !

[hederahelix.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'm trying to think of the stuff that I never remember about until I've moved and gotten rid of stuff that I only too late realize I should have had all along.

You're right to mention screwdrivers, which come in handy for all sorts of things, but also a hammer and a good measuring tape--that's invaluable when you move to save the shove-large-heavy-dresser-towards-place-you-eyeballed-and-thought-fit-only-to-find out-you-were-sadly-mistaken problem. Also, needle nose pliers have a variety of uses.

Also, tweezers. I know, you'd think that's a bathroom type thingy, but I've found them really helpful for all kinds of other things, like the time my car stereo tried to eat a tape and wouldn't give it back, as well as fixing the chain on my toilet.

And a Pyrex measuring cup. Handy for all sorts of things.

I think the stuff I most often forget, though, are the household things that you don't want to pack and move across long distances: ziplocks, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, masking and duct tape, cleaners for bathroom and kitchen, sponges with and without scrubby things, and mops/brooms. I mean, a since a vacuum is expensive, I always remember that, but in the heat of packing and not wanting to ship/carry everything, I have a bad habit of going, no, really, I'll just buy new [insert cleaning product here] and then realizing only when I got to clean it that I left it behind.

And those little latex rubber grip thingys to help open stubborn jars.

Hope that helps! It's always fun when you get to start fresh in a new place.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestions!! I've actually probably got a vacuume cleaner. My parents got yet another new one, so I get the old one if I want it. It weighs a ton, but it's free and bagless, so I'm going to take it.

[angeline-dark.livejournal.com]

A flashlight in case of a power failure.

Spare light bulps, a sewing kit, and a stock of first aid supplies and common medication are useful too.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That really helps. :P

[nebt-het.livejournal.com]

Pretty much go through the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room at home and look at what is there and what you need...especially cleaning supplies and baking staples (sugar,cinnamon,oil,flour etc.)... Lysol, Windex,Pledge, Tide, Dishwashing liquid, mop, bucket, broom, paper towels...all that type of stuff. Laundry basket (check to see if your laundry room has pre-paid cards or if you need change!) nails, tape,pictures. All the stuff in above comments is good too, esp. tools/flashlight. Earthquake kit like at school. If you have a chordless phone see if you can get a non plug in back up in case of power failure. See if your parents can part with some stuff and then they can get new things. *g*

Also know that you don't have to get it all at once! So for one month you rewash the same two dishes...take it slow. Have fun!

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!

[(Anonymous)]

May sound silly but a toilet plunger.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Dude, not silly at all. I never woudl have thought of taht. Thank you.

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest the same. It's something you don't htink of until you need it, but man, you'd be sorry if you needed it and didn't have it.

[garryowen.livejournal.com]

I may be able to give you a few things. I might, for instance, have an extra screwdriver... Hm. I will think about this.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I'm going to get a toolkit, so I wno't need an extra screwdriver. If I get the apartment I applied for, i'll only be about a mile or two away from my parents, so I can steal what I don't have until i buy it.

Thanks though.

[shattered.livejournal.com]

This may sound really silly, but it was an issue for me when I first moved out (namely because between my and my roomies, we were all quite clueless) --- but have you already got your furniture taken care of?

I know at first it didn't even dawn on me that I'd be without my parents' couch, desk, chairs, etc. and that *gasp* our apartment didn't come already furbished like the dorm rooms.

Good luck in your list making.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I guess I never made a post about my new wonderful chair, did I? The best chair in the world. It really is. Wonderful. Comfortable. Perfect. and all MINE!!!

Plus, my parents are giving me the love seat (unless i get the couch that matches the chair). I'm good with big stuff like that; it's the smaller details I'll accidently overlook.

[ilovedoyle.livejournal.com]

i tend 2 think of kitchen things as some of the most essential:
plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, pots, pans etc. A knife block complete w/ bread knife - a bread bin!
also, duvet covers along with your new sheets.

otherwise, I agree w/ former comments: plasters, paracetamol, and a mini toolkit, and you're set.

good luck!

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

your new sheets.

What new sheets? :) Seriously. My sister sleeps in a sleeping bag, and my parents and I don't share. I'll be taking my old comforter until I can get a new one, so I'm all set in that department.

I"ve never used a bread bin before. What's it for? As for the rest: thanks! They're on the list!

[ilovedoyle.livejournal.com]

erm...2 put bread in? seriously, once you've opened a loaf of bread, a bread bin is suppossed 2 keep it frsh that bit longer w/o having 2 resorty 2 freezing it....maybe its a british thing?

[pzb.livejournal.com]

Does the new place have a fridge? That's one I didn't think of until we got our place.

Man....I just did this....you'd think I'd be on top of it.. :) Towels, shower curtain....trash cans (kitchen and bathroom)....lemme keep thinking...I know there's more. :D

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Does the new place have a fridge? That's one I didn't think of until we got our place.

That I don't know, but it's the first question my mom asked, too. I have't spoken to the landlord yet, but once I do, I'll ask him that.

Thanks for the rest!

[sullivanlane.livejournal.com]

I just did the moving thing a couple of months ago.

I know one thing you might need are things like over-the-door hooks.

Give me a couple of hours to think about it, and I'll get back to you.

[meret.livejournal.com]

These things need to be easy to find when you first move in:

sheets
ice cube trays
towels
light bulbs
extension cords
toilet paper
cleaning supplies
vacuum cleaner
lysol air spray
plunger
any meds and clothes for your first night there

[meret.livejournal.com]

You'll also need common OTC meds like nyquil, pepto bismal etc.
a laudry basket and detergent
dish washing detergent and liquid
plates, silverware, glasses etc.
lamps
a lock if you're moving into an apt, and have a storage area

If you can, I'd also install a deadbolt lock on the door and a peephole.

[ishtar127a.livejournal.com]

You know, the one thing that always gets me when I move is "never enough light." Lamps, my dear. Floor lamps, desk lamps, goose-neck clamp lamps, lumieres, and thank God that they are cheap. And trash cans. I can probably get a whole list running:

Laundry basket/hamper-I love the ones that double as both; just grab the handles and haul it down to the wash machine. Or if you have a machine in your unit, one of those ones that's divided into bins already, so you "sort" the laundry when you strip off the clothes.

Plastic/glass storage jars--for just about anything! Usually stuff like dry pasta or beans or cereal or flour. It depends how much and what sort of cooking you do, but it always seems I never have enough storage containers, ever. Same for leftoevers for the fridge, loose hardware (your tool-kit?), beads...

Book shelves--I would never be able to move around my apartment if I didn't have any book shelves. I'm a book-worm.

Candles and matches or lighter--I think someone already said "flashlight", but what happens if you're fresh out of batteries? Or they go bad/explode before you need them? Actually, since I've lived in a variety of places with different types of natural disasters, I just keep a general emergency box of stuff. And since wind can be a problem, I try to use oil lamps over candles. Less messy and they look like decoration when you're not using them.

Rags & wash cloths--I never seem to have enough.

Duct tape, other tape, and safety pins.

One of those collapsable clothes/sweater drying racks?

Small crock pot and a steamer.
I'm sure there's more. For every task, there's some gizmo!