My roommate and I just moved. He got a killer deal on a rental house, so my month has been measured in moving boxes. How many packed, how many moved, how many unpacked.

This is my 11th move since 1989. Interestingly enough, it’s my first move north of my original location.

Where I’ve lived:

1971-1973: Plymouth, North Carolina

1973-1975: New Bern, North Carolina

1975-1985: Clayton, California

1985-1989: Lafayette, California

1989-1990: Washburn Hall, San Jose State University

1990 (summer): Walnut Creek, California

Aug. – Sept. 1990: San Jose, California (house)

Sept. 1990-1991: Joe West Hall, San Jose State University

1991 (summer): Walnut Creek, California

1991-1993: San Jose, California (apartment on 3rd St.)

1993-1994: San Jose, California (house on 8th St. between San Fernando and Santa Clara Streets, we’re talking Crack central)

1994-1995: Apartment off Moffett Ave. in Mountain View, CA

1995-1996: Apartment off Shoreline Blvd. in Mountain View, CA

1996-March 1997: Apartment in San Carlos, CA

1997: House in Redwood City, CA

Pretty insane, isn’t it?

Thanks to Alex, this move went very well. He told me that so long as I packed all my stuff and put it in the living room, he’d take care of moving it. In return, I cleaned the old apartment for our move-out inspection. I’m pleased to say that 10 hours later, the apartment was cleaner than it was when we moved in. 🙂

The new house is really incredible. We’re renting it. It was built in 1957 and has all the original tile work. My oven is pink with chrome details and perfectly matches my pink 1957 Cadillac cookie jar. Gas oven, gas burners, with an exhaust fan that looks like something on the wing of a commercial-grade airplane. There’s also an ironing board that folds down from the wall, Murphy-bed style.

The bathroom is a riot. The shower is tiled in a pucey-lime green. Let me tell you how attractive one feels when one gets naked at 8:00 a.m., enters the shower, looks at her skin and is green. Ick.

My bedroom is larger than the room I had in my previous apartment, which is a good thing because there was barely room for simeultaneous bedroom occupation by me and my cat in the old place. 🙂 There’s a big window for afternoon sunlight and hardwood floors, with lovely woodworking around the doors.

Plus, it’s the first time since I lived at my parents’ house that I haven’t had an apartment or room number in my address. And I can go ahead and spend all my quarters on pinball because we have a laundry room with a non-coin-operated washer and dryer.

Does this mean I’m a grownup now?

Follow these suggestions and you’ll look just like me! Uh, yeah. Whatever. Most of these tips are androgynous, but #’s 2 and 7 are more female-focused.

1) Carmex! This is wonderful, wonderful lip protector stuff. A former beau turned me on to it. I always put it on before I go running in cold weather — it is the only product that has kept my lips from cracking (yummy).

Carmex is cheap! For $1.19 you get a 1/4 oz. vat, which doesn’t sound like much but it lasts forever.

Incidentally, the third “active ingredient” listed on the side of the Carmex cap is alum, which is the product that made the opera singer’s voice all high and squeaky in that Bugs Bunny cartoon. So be careful and for goodness sake, don’t swallow the stuff!

Bonus tip: To make your lipstick last all day long, apply Carmex to your bare lips, then use your lip liner to color in your lips, then apply lipstick over that. Your lipstick will last longer without drying out.

2) Eyelash curler! This product is poked fun at on every TV sitcom featuring clueless men in America. They pick it up and squeeze the handles together, wondering what it is. Well, let the mystery end: It’s an eyelash curler. Just open the handles, put your eyelashes in the slit and squeeze the handles together. Release the handles and viola!, curled eyelashes.

CAVEAT: Be careful when inserting eyelashes that you don’t also insert your eyelid. Ouch! Also, if you wear mascara, be sure to curl your eyelashes before applying mascara.

3) Nivea No-Oil Moisture Hydrogel! Wonderful moisturizer that doesn’t make one’s face break out. Highly recommended. It’s kind of pricey (around eight dollars), but you can find it in grocery stores so you don’t have to dress up and go to Nordstrom or anything like that.

4) Tom’s of Maine Spearmint toothpaste! I have a friend who swears by the cinnamon flavor, but I’ve found that is too spicy for me (and my tender girl gums) so I stick to the Spearmint or Wintergreen flavors. Also, be sure to change your toothbrush every three months, and always buy a new one after you’ve been ill.

5) Lots of water. Hydration is good for the soul. Plus, the more water you drink, the more breaks you can take at work. 🙂

6) Kisses! Kisses! And more kisses! Puffy lips are in!

7) MAC nail polish! I especially like “Alumina” and “Blade”. Don’t forget your toenails, too!