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Back at Republic Coffee, partaking of breakfast-for-late-dinner, a white chocolate Americano that I probably should have gotten in decaf, and free wi-fi, since I haven't found the power cord for my modem at home yet.

I should probably explain, of course, why the power cord for my modem -- along with many other items of varying importance -- is not where it should be. After three years in my beloved apartment with the high ceilings and walk-in closet, I decided that I really wanted a house. Wanted it enough to give up said high ceilings and walk-in closet, as well as the fireplace. In exchange, I get a great back yard (with patio, shed, and plenty of room for a hammock), a front porch that's just waiting for a rocking chair or two, and my very own driveway. I also get to be within walking distance of both my office and the campus pool, which unfortunately just closed for the season.

After two weeks of cleaning, painting, and packing -- interrupted by a semi-spontaneous road trip to Myrtle Beach -- I am now surrounded on all sides by piles of boxes, bags, and bins. At some point I will begin to make order out of the chaos. For now, I will make short work of my waffle and bacon.

The story that I began in my last post is progressing... unevenly. I'm trying not to read too much into either the highs or the lows, and realizing that most of the latter are, perhaps, only in my mind. Maybe the hardest part about starting something over is that you can't help looking back at everything that's happened in your life since the last time you tried it. I'm such a different person now than I was then, and in so many good ways (or at least I think so), but that doesn't mean that I'm always as strong as I pretend to be. Sometimes I wonder if I've learned to put up too many walls, if I'm building a trap for myself rather than a shelter. But I'm not ready to knock those walls down yet, so for now I'll just hang around inside and see what happens. And try to find that power cord.