Anyway, I'm not sure I should be keeping this journal anymore. What is the point really of writing this drivel? Even I lack the fortitude to sift through the mounds of shit on this website to catch the few posts which might be mildly interesting to myself of the future. The vast majority is pathetic and written horribly, including this post. Why why why? I have a headache. I think there is some kind of oily material coming out of all the pipes in my apartment and that I have been unknowingly ingesting this oil for the past several days and that that is what is causing my headaches.

I really wonder whether keeping this journal is bringing me any closer to my goal of becoming a writer. In some sense I'm sure it helps to just write down what I am thinking but the moments when I choose to write in this journal seem to the most mundane points in my life. When I have an inspirational moment I am usually not at home and there is usually no computer in sight or opportunity to sit down and write. If only I could remember what I was thinking at those times. But I can't. Maybe that's what I should be working on. My memory.

So I've been in Rochester for a little over a week now and things are finally starting to click. I drove out last week from NY and took many stops along the way including one night in Indiana near Amish country, then another night in Madison, Wisonsin. I arrived in Rochester on Friday the 13th and immediately called an ad in the paper for a furnished room that was near the hospital and available by the week. The room was in the basement of an old house right down the block from the Mayo clinic, kind of smallish and damp, but cool. The bathroom was a makeshift deal right next to the boiler and quite filthy. There was also no toilet paper so I had to remember to bring my own. I actually preferred to use public toilets rather than the one in the apartment. The shower was more like a dirty plastic box and I'm sure I would have seen cockroaches if I had looked for them. The room itself however was pretty decent and included cable TV. And the landlord seemed like a friendly honest guy so I would have had no problem staying there longer term (I actually got used to the bathroom after a few days). As it turned out though, I managed to see 4 places the next day and decided to take one of them before the day was over. By the end of the day I had filled out an application and signed my part of the lease. I decided to take a 2 bedroom in Byron which is a small town of 3500 about 10 minutes west of Rochester. The drive out is a pleasant and quick pass across mostly farm land on a 4 lane highway. The apartment complex was brand new and my building only had 4 other tenants so I had my choice of apartments. I chose an end unit on the top 3rd floor because of it's unique layout and the view of Rochester from the patio. The apartment also includes a microwave, dishwasher, free cable and high speed internet access for 1 year, and indoor heated parking. There is also a hiking trail nearby, a fitness center with whirlpool and an outdoor pool being built. By far it was the best deal I saw. There was a similar complex located closer in Rochester but they only had one second floor apartment with a balcony that looked out on an inner courtyard. My balcony looks out on miles of farmland with Rochester in the distance. That was really key. I realized from my experience in Buffalo that a 10-20 minute commute by car is better than a 5 or 10 minute walk to work in most cases, especially if there is no traffic. I need that morning and evening time to clear my mind and prepare for work or to plan my evening. Anyway, the manager of the complex has been incredibly helpful moving me in. I got to choose my own parking space which I changed 3 times. I've met 2 of my neighbors which is half the building. I bought furniture at Medford the other day though they won't deliver until next Thursday. Hopefully I will be free from orientation activities when they come, but the manager has offered to be here in case I am not. These are all the little things that make a huge difference for me and why I am reallly starting to like small town living. I bought a 24" television and some patio chairs as well yesterday so it's finally starting to feel like home. Now I am starting to get a picture of what my life will be like for the next 4 years and I think I will be very comfortable, though I will probably move back to New York after training.

I love Rochester, MN, errr.. well, I've only been here for 7 days so I don't have much experience to back up my exclamation, but so far I have to say I'm liking it alot. Today, in the span of 3 hours I took a computerized driver's test (passed, 94%), obtained a temporary license and arranged for my permanent Minnesota driver's license to be sent to my brand spankin new address, went to the vehicle registration bureau and obtained the forms and instructions necessary to register my vehicle and opened a checking account with all the perks I could want. I was dreading these bureaucratic formalities because back in New York it would have been a multi-day affair. In the afternoon I went shopping again and picked up a chair, toaster oven, rice cooker, bath mats and garbage cans for the bathroom. Then I came home and had a ham and cheese sandwich lunch and put together the computer desk and rolling chair I bought yesterday from Staples. I have to say everything seems to be coming together swimmingly. All I have to do now is talk to the manager about attaching the water to the dishwasher and confirming the address for the telephone line. Apparently, this address isn't listed in the phone company's computers probably because it's a new building.