Let's Get Things Started

I was going to get the ball rolling with something self-referential, some sort of long and winding narrative about how this is my first time doing a blog, how I'm not sure exactly what I want to do with it, etc. But there'll be plenty of time for that sort of thing. Instead, I want to talk about another sort of "first." In the process of continuing my education, I've moved to the fine University of __________ (I haven't decided yet whether I'll be including proper names or not. Stay tuned!). And in order to move to somewhere, that means I had to from Somewhere Else. I'd lived Somewhere Else for the past seven years, and it was a pretty good place. My rut was there, and it had been there for so long, it had married another rut and was starting a little rut family. But now I'm here instead.

Things I miss about Somewhere Else:

• The river. Something about the constant presence of a moving body of water is very soothing to the mind. I tried leaving the taps on my sink running all day, but it wasn't the same.
• The flatness. I don't quite know how to bring this news to the people of _________, but their city's absolutely riddled with hills. They're all over the place, and not doing a thing as far as I can tell. Frankly, I don't see the point.
• My friends and family. I have always thought of myself as someone who was pretty self-sufficient (read: lonerish). So much for that idea. While I may not have left behind a vast social empire, there's been more than a few times in the past two or three weeks when something's made me think "Oh, I gotta tell *blank* that", only to realise that *blank* is now a few hundred klicks away. I guess I depended more on family and friends than I knew, and leaving them behind... it's hard. To any *blank*s out there that may be reading, stay in touch.

Now let's look at the "glass half full" aspect. Things I like about __________:

• Meeting new people. Yeah, this one kind of surprised me. Apparently, I like being exposed to new viewpoints and telling my various stories to new audiences. Who'd've guessed it?
• Squirrels. Somewhere Else had gophers. ________ has squirrels. Aesthetically speaking, I think I've traded up.
  
• Living Alone. Finally, the freedom to do what I want. Right now, I've pushed my couch up to my computer desk! I'm typing on a computer! From my couch! And no one's going to stop me! ........ I'm going to move the couch back now.

I think that's enough for today, don't you?
Later Days.