Slowly but surely it’s coming together. Since the gas company arrived this morning I can boil an egg. We have no a/c and no screens on the windows so I’m getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. But at least the ceiling fans work.

Did I say we? I’m sorry. Sofie is visiting family in Denmark and holidaying with friends in the south of France. The poor girl. Missing out on all this fun in our lovely new apartment.

But I am not bitter. Oh no. I am reveling in life as a new homeowner. After the gas man showed me how to light the oven pilot light this morning he advised that if I smelled gas the best thing to do was to call the landlord. I just smiled. I am the landlord. And then wondered whether it was my clothes that made him think I was a tenant.

Life amid boxes isn’t much fun. But I have found the one side of the apartment where I can pick up free internet. With the help of Cablevision—and no thanks to Verizon—I may even have a working landline and internet access before the weekend is out.

But let’s not tempt fate. One thing at a time. For now, I’m just happy that I can check my email, stagger on with work and boil a kettle on the stove. Pretty soon the mosquitoes will run out of places to bite.

UPDATE (08/12): I didn’t know mosquitoes bit foreheads. But apparently they do.