Utilitarian

I finally plucked up the courage to call the gas and electric companies today, and everything is organized. I have to put deposits down for both of them - the electricity deposit is NINETY DOLLARS! - but I do that once I've arrived and they bill me for my first month apparently.

There was an amusing incident with the electricity company however. I maneuvered through their automated menu and finally got a hold of an actual person. She answered in Spanish, and I had an immediate panic reflex. ("But I didn't press #2 for Spanish!)
I say, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish." The lady replies, "Oh I'm sorry. How may I help you?" I reply that I want to set up a new account. She says, "Okay, what's your name?" When I say "Carla Pereira" I suddenly realize the irony of the situation and have to stifle my desire to laugh hysterically at the complete silence on the other end.

Things are finally coming together, although I'm now worrying about my car, because the truck assigned to carry it might arrive in Long Beach as early as July 30th which is bad because we don't want to pay for storage and I only arrive there on August 2nd. I left a voicemail, hopefully they'll get back to me tomorrow and we can work something out. Mom is renting a car, so hypothetically we can do without mine for a day or two.

We went to IKEA last Sunday, to look at possible furniture for California. There was one little loveseat in particular that I absolutely adored - gray, simple and comfortable, it folds out to be a twin bed AND was just $100! I really want two of them, because that will be ample seating and somewhere for any visitors to sleep, not to mention relatively inexpensive.
Mom and I are going to Target soon to look at another futon, so who knows what I'll end up with.

In a "starter apartment" I can't exactly get a designer haven, but I'm sure know enough do-it-yourself to dress it up. Thank you, HGTV!