Although we love our new city...

...we have found Hell on Earth. If you've ever wondered, "hmm...I wonder what Hell on Earth is like" we have the answer: Looking for an apartment in Manhattan, in August, with no job, and an out-of-state guarantor.

You call people about apartment postings, and when they hear that you've just moved here and are "in between jobs" they act like you're nuts! Then they ask if you plan on getting a job, you joke with them and say "Well, no I was just going to see what happens" and they don't seem to think that's too funny.

And the apartments go so fast! The minute you say you'll take it, someone else was a minute before you and it's already long gone.

I think the most frustrating part is that with jobs, Kendra and I would be making enough to get an apartment without a guarantor (also known as a co-signer because, that's right, we don't have jobs) but even having a guarantor from California doesn't do too much good. Apparently they use the mob out here to get their money and they don't like fly across the country if need be. We had one woman tell us that a guarantor from out-of-state "doesn't help us at all" and we finally had to give an in-state name and address for papers to be served should we not pay our rent.

One apartment we liked wanted SIX references each, on letterhead, and signed, just to get started in the approval process.

If finding an apartment is Hell, then Brokers are the devil. Basically, a broker has magic keys that, once you decide on an apartment, BAM! they get $3000! If you use a broker, which is hard to get around since everyone and their mom has a license, they get 15% of your first year's rent. It's unbelievable and should be illegal.

And it's SO HOT! 85 degrees yesterday but the humidity makes it feel like 90 and you're walking up 6 flights of stairs that you SWEAR you've already seen because it's the 30th apartment you've been to in the same area. Don't you wish you had moved with us?!

We're not complaining though because we know this is going to be the hardest part, it's just too unbelievable not to share. As we were heading to one appointment yesterday, we stopped and noticed the Empire State building and that calmed us down a bit. Some things have been really difficult so far, but then we look up and see these amazing things and we realize why we moved. We wanted to really experience this city and we are doing that, and have been since we arrived last Thursday.

Don't worry! We're doing fine, and things are only going to get better! Our new motto for right now is, "You're only allowed to Panic! at the Disco"