how to find your first apartment: part 2

Step 1: Find an apartment that looks too good to be true.

Step 2: Call the too-good-to-be true apartment and discover that it might not be too good to be true after all. Hallelujah.

Step 3: Sucker one of your best friends into going on an impromptu road trip with you the very next day.

Step 4: Drive 3.5 hours (plus 3 stops for food, gas, and a drink) across the entire state. Paying no less than $5 in tolls. And believe that the $2.50 to get onto Alligator Alley was definitely not worth the price of admission.

Step 5: Drive in the pouring rain at times.

Step 6: Get lost only one time. Pay .50 to get back onto the interstate.

Step 7: Thank your lucky stars that you suckered one of your best friends into coming with you or your less than stellar sense of direction would have gotten you even more lost.

Step 8: Tour the apartment.

Step 9: Picture all of your furniture and decorations that you've been collecting over the past few months in the space of the apartment.

Step 10: Think it'll all look pretty damn fabulous in the space.

Step 11: Picture yourself cooking... um... ordering takeout in the lovely kitchen.

Step 11: Ask if they accept neurotic, 3 pound tabby cats. Only, you leave out the neurotic bit.

Step 12: They do! Hallelujah.

Step 13: Congratulations, you've found the place you'll be living in 9 weeks.

Step 14: Drive 3.5 hours back home, getting lost only shortly while you try to find food but discover everything is painted the same color. Odd.

Step 15: Get back home.

Step 16: Realize that you have to move in only 9 weeks.

Step 17: Cry.