I spent the past weekend cleaning my apartment, although the scrub-until-it-shines-and-your-fingers-bleed clean I had at first envisioned gave way pretty early on to just getting the real problem areas covered. I washed dishes, mopped my kitchen floor, cleared tables of debris, filled plastic bags with recycling, and did seven (count ’em, seven) loads of laundry. I felt good. I did the New York Times crossword puzzle Sunday evening, sipped my instant cappuccino and watched TV, and felt like I had accomplished something. That’s really all it takes to keep me happy. If I set goals and stick to them, I feel better about myself, even when it’s something as mundane as cleaning a messy apartment.

This week, I need to finish my Christmas shopping, get a haircut, and buy my bus ticket home for the holidays. I also need to speak to someone about providing me with automobile insurance, since my parents and I will be buying a new car sometime at the end of next week. Geico has already turned me down, so I plan on phoning the local Honda dealer (I’m leaning toward buying the four-door Civic EX) and seeing if they can recommend someone. I need to get this squared away before I leave for New York on Saturday. That way, hopefully, I can actually be driving by the start of the new year. There are so many little ways my life will be easier once I own a car.