Waiting

 Today I had to wait for the gas technician to come turn on my gas for the stove. I was told to wait from 8AM-10PM. I was prepared:  I had a book, two magazines, and my laptop to entertain me while I waited. Lucky for me I also have a bed so I didn't have to sit on the floor the whole time. I watched the rest of season one of The Sopranos and shopped for furniture online. I also ducked out for some empanadas, a latte, and cake at Love, Nelly, the closest source of espresso drinks to my new place!  The gas guys came at around 4PM and quickly solved the problem, made sure the pilot lights were lit, and were super polite and friendly.

I was already at the apartment because a locksmith called me at 6AM (!) to fix one of the locks. There are multiple front doors: the outer front door is next to the mailboxes. It leads to a tiny foyer with another door to the hallway. In the hallway there is a door that leads to the bedroom. I don't intend to use it. There's also stairs to the basement and up to the parlor level. Then there is a door to my entryway that leads to the kitchen. That door has a button lock that was not working, so the landlord hired a locksmith. Luckily the repair was just the replacement of the strike plate, the little metal piece that has a catch hole that the lock tongue has to catch on. It's not the most secure type of lock, but it will keep out casual intruders. 

One thing about hanging out all day is that I got to see what the noise levels are. I can hear the upstairs neighbors walking but it's not too loud. There is some traffic noise, but it's half a block away. I can hear the elevated subway over on Broadway, but it's not too intrusive--like a distant wave. I can close the bedroom door to keep out the noise of the fridge. I can also hear birds in the back garden! I had the back door open for the breeze but there were also flies, boo hoo.

Dinner with Rosemary was happy hour at a neighborhood craft beer bar called Salud with Latin American bar food--plantains and yucca but also sliders and chicken wings, and a very nice kale salad with mango, walnuts, cherry tomatoes and radishes. A nice space with loud but good music--I will definitely return.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to open an account at the Brooklyn Coop Credit Union, but I forgot to put a piece of mail with my new address in my backpack, so I'll have to go back and pick one up from the apartment. Just a quick trip on the L. Then I'll have to go back on the L but get off at Myrtle-Wycoff. If I leave by 8:30, I should have time for the trips and to get some coffee somewhere. The afternoon will be devoted to vintage furniture shopping. Let's hope I can find some stuff I like because this online furniture shopping is not fun.