Yesterday did not start out well. I woke up and decided to take out the trash which was almost overflowing. It looked like Ghost Roommate hadn’t bothered with it at all while I was away, which is not surprising since in the three months that we’ve lived together he’s only taken out the trash once and has never helped us clean. Ghost Roommate mainly keeps to himself. He seems like a friendly enough guy, but he’s always locked away in his room. I can only tell that he’s still in the apartment and alive because he leaves the toilet seat up and is apparently incapable of peeing inside the bowl.

But back to the trash…

I lifted the trash bag and it started leaking the foulest smelling liquid my nose has ever sniffed. It got everywhere: the floor, the sink, my shoes. Apparently one of my roommates thought that it was a good idea to throw some gravy-like substance in the trash instead of down the drain, so it ended up pooling in the bottom of the trash can and I ended up with the lovely task of cleaning everything up. I swear I must have cleaned that kitchen sink three times to try and get the smell out.

I always used to think that it was so fake and over-the-top when TV and movie characters gagged or threw up because of a bad smell. Not anymore. It’s a real thing. I learnt that the hard way.

A few minutes after I finished cleaning, my coworker and her son arrived to help me move. They made the whole process super painless. They were incredibly helpful and didn’t seem to mind carrying heavy boxes down from a second floor apartment and then up to a third floor apartment. They were awesome. Previously, I had been wheeling my belongings to the new place, one huge suitcase at a time. Throwing a car and a couple of volunteers into the mix definitely made things a lot easier. 

We finished much earlier than I thought we would, and it was beautiful out, so I went for a walk. I went to Inman Square because it’s one of the few places that I know how to walk to (I have a terrible sense of direction) and because I just didn’t feel like going to Harvard. On the way there, I spotted a discarded swivel chair in front of a house. I felt the urge to sit down and give it a whirl. I just really, really wanted to do it. I looked around to see if there was anyone in the vicinity (there was), but then I decided that I didn’t care. I wanted to try out that swivel chair and I didn’t care who saw. I sat down on it and then I resumed my walk to Inman with the biggest grin on my face because it is so satisfying to do something just because you feel like it.

I also stopped at Suzuki Bean in Somerville because I had always been curious about the place, but had never gone inside. It’s smaller than I expected it to be, but it did not disappoint. It’s a cute little store and everything’s arranged in a really visually appealing way. I think I’ll go back there for a few decorative knick knacks once I’m settled in.

At Inman, I went to Boutique Fabulous, Lorem Ipsum Books and Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream. It was my first time at Boutique Fabulous, but it certainly won’t be my last (especially considering the fact that I have to go back next week to pick up something I bought). There is so much to look at, ranging from quirky to funny to cute to elegant. There’s a decent-sized vintage clothing section and they sell lots of local-themed stuff, like signs that say “Cambridge” or “Somerville” and Inman Square t-shirts.

Lorem Ipsum Books is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. It’s a chill used bookstore with a hipster-ish vibe. Don’t let that “hipster-ish vibe” bit turn you off because honestly, it’s an awesome place. They have an interesting selection of books, comfy couches, usually play good (but not distracting) music, and have a clean bathroom. If nothing else, you should go there to check out their book vending machine and the old fridge full of books.

After Lorem Ipsum, I went to Christina’s for some ice cream for the journey home. The thing about Christina’s is that the customer service is usually pretty terrible. I’ve been there three times now and not once have I seen a staff member smiling. Yesterday the girl serving me was just plain rude. The ice cream is great, but the service really does mar the experience. This quote from a Yelp review sums it up perfectly:

“They get you your scoop, but they’re pissed about it.”

On the walk back, all I could think about was the swing set at the park. I love swings and it had been a while since I’d last been on one. Like with the swivel chair, I didn’t care that people were watching. I’m almost 22 years old, which in my book doesn’t mean I’m too old for swings, it means that I’m old enough to not give a crap about what other people think.

I finished the day by going to a friend’s house to watch Spirited Away (I don’t think he liked it very much, but it’s one of my favorite Miyazaki movies). Yesterday might’ve started off  badly, but it ended up being one of the best days I’ve had in a while.