Sorry for the lack of updates in the past three months, but I am still alive and doing well!
First things first, my job. In the last month my status changed officially from Contractor to Helpdesk Specialist I. What does this meaaaan?! Well, summary:
- Pay increase. Not much, but some. And of course the ability to get a raise / promotion.
- Paid Vacation Time and Extra Holiday Pay.
- Resume Material. "Sungard Higher Education - Helpdesk Specialist I" looks better than "Sungard Higher Education - Contractor".
- Respect. I guess. I always thought that Full Time Employees were "higher up" than Contractors. I don't feel better than all the Contractors persay, but I do feel like I'm more sure about what I'm doing now.
And now, the reason why I am posting this entry. Today I signed the lease for my new apartment! It's literally a 5 minute walk to work from this apartment, meaning no more 25 minute drives one way to work. Not that 25 minutes to drive is that far, but living within a 2 minute drive away is pretty sweet. I can wake up later, and save my dear car some miles.
If anyone is interested, I have a Facebook album here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2129504&id=3708410&l=7038ebd840. Visit it. Comment on it. Love it. Hate it. Your decision. You're in the driver seat here, captain.
All in all of what I've seen of the place, I like it. A lot. Let's break it down.
Pros:
- Close to work. It's a freakin' 5 minute walk. Less to drive.
- It's my first place I've signed a lease of my own. No subletting, no sharing a place. Mine.
- It's in a good location. Not in the city, but not too far from things I'm familiar with.
- It's on the very dead end side of East Ridge Road. The other side leads to West Ridge Road, which collectively contains every fast food restaurant, shopping store (including a 5 minute drive from Wegman's), and tons of plazas and restaurants. That said, the dead endness and not busy end of this road means nearly no traffic.
- Elderly people live here. Which means that it's probably not a crazy place on weekends with drunk people and parties. I don't party. I don't drink.
- It's affordable. More than what I pay now, but I'm pretty sure it's in a comfortable price range.
- My kitchen! And bathroom! No mess will be left, only cleanliness. You have no idea how exciting this is.
- No laundry after 9:00 PM? Not sure why. Not a huge issue, I'll just have to do it on my time off or in the morning Sunday. Or I guess get up one day to do it in the morning. Not a morning person.
- Internet not included. Nor is electricity (heat and hot water are). Not a biggie, but going to add to the monthly bill.
- No package delivery. To be honest, I ship all my stuff to my parent's house in Waverly now, but I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to do that. Not that I order that much. And honestly... I don't foresee having to order anything anytime soon.
- And I don't think it's a problem for me persay, but the floor in my bedroom is a little squeaky. Not overly squeaky, but I'm not sure how happy people below me will be at 4:00 AM. To be honest though, at that time I'm normally just in bed or at a computer chair.
- A small dining table.
- A small coffee table.
- A desk for my computer.
- Perhaps a futon.
- A GPS (not related really to my apartment, but I'm terrible with directions)
- An internet plan, possibly cable TV, but most likely just internet.
