Friend in the neighborhood and the best part of my week

On my way home last night I noticed that my broker's office was open and lit up. I haven't been in since I moved in to my apartment and, despite charging me a ridiculous (standard) amount of money for finding my own apartment on craigslist, he was pretty nice. So I thought I'd stop by to say hello. Turns out he wasn't there, but his friend, the Comedian was.

I met the Comedian the day I signed my lease, but haven't seen him since. He has big dreams of doing stand up, but needs to make a living, so he's a broker (leech) on the side. We chatted for a while about the nabe and the Park, where he'd just got done playing soccer. He took my digits and we plan to meet up at Enduro for mojitos sometime soon... However, this will most definitely not be a date, mostly because I'm pretty sure he'd been smoking pot, which is so...icky. (In the most hilariously true words of the Ethical Slut, "Really, you're in your late 20s/early 30s, and you're a pothead? Either man up and switch to coke already, or get a job.") But you know, he's friendly and lives in the neighborhood. And he also knows a lot of other people who live around us, so beyond being nice he's definitely a good person to get to know, if only to expand the old network a bit. Maybe I'll start to like Lefferts a little better if I make some friends who live there too.

This week I shopped for movie stars, got a job offer for a great tv show (that I had to turn down because of my current job), I got to visit Law and Order, made a friend who lives in my neighborhood, and got a gift from Salty! But you know what the highlight was? Spending Friday night laying in bed watching La Vie en Rose with eight little paws kneading my knees and two little motorboats purring away.

Just let your Soooooooul Glo!

At one low point or another in the mopey lonely growing pains of the last few months, Salty explained to me that things were going to suck and suck and suck and then suddenly it would click.

Well here I am, mid-click! Thanks to good advice from great people (most particularly Aunt J, Salty, and my favorite data guru, 2.0), I've shed my high-strung, gotta-stay-afloat, me-against-the-world attitude and I'm relaxing into things more. I'm breathing better, and instead of looking for a life I'm living one. Of course there have been lots of people who have helped that process, and I'm super grateful to them all. But I'm most proud of me.

Yesterday I got a verbal offer for a permanant position at the women's health advocacy nonprofit. Sure, it's not a super cool amazing creative job, but it's something I believe in. And I'll have health insurance, which is definitely a step up. I'd love to go to the dentist. I had my last cleaning right before I left my insurance-ful job in New Orleans, and it's been about six months now, so I'm due. I love clean teeth! I love not having to pay the dentist a bucket of cash for my clean teeth even better! As a bonus, the position that I was offered is NOT an administrative assistant position. It's better! I would be more like a division coordinator, with lackeys to whom I can delegate stuff.

Also, I am officially looking for a new apartment. Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Williamsburg/Greenpoint, all are good; I just want to live in a relatively fun neighborhood and pay $1000 or less per month. So far I'm loving Brooklyn, but I'm considering my options - at the $1000 price point a LOT more is open to me. I might consider a roommate, but really only if I find the perfect setup. Having the cats now, I don't feel so alone at home. In fact, I get to wake up and snuggle with someone special every morning!

Since so many of you have been nice and asked, Penelope and Lu are settling in very well. They have a strange preoccupation with the bathtub - I think they believe that I hid "the rest" of the apartment back there somewhere, because they climb into the tub and sniff at the wall like they're looking for a secret door. They sleep on the chairs that are tucked under my kitchen table all day and wake me up with little purring, whiskery kisses in the morning. I can't ever resist scooping Penny up in my arms for a quick cuddle! I'd forgotten how much I loved those two and how big their personalities are!

Okay, so no pretty moments, no witty commentary on social services, no bratty reactions to the concerns of those who care about me, but it's what's going on with me. This weekend I'm booked up like crazy: outings with two different groups of friends tonight, brunch in the morning, dinner with Aunt K and drinks with Cousin Jeannie and her brother tomorrow night, then running, belly dance, and probably more mimosas on Sunday. Whew! We'll see if it all actually goes down that way, but I hope it does because it sure sounds fun!

Success! Plus sheet metal explained!

Well the stork brought my darlings to New York safe and sound! They arrived quietly, I presume still a little stoned on whatever the vet gave them. Aunt J graciously acted as courier and brought us from the airport to my apartment.

Once safely home, I opened the cages.Penelope is a brave little thing. Before I could get another shot she was right on top of me, sniffing at the dance party (presumably) going on upstairs, at the weird lack of humidity, and of course at the camera.
....and then, in true Penelope fashion, she promptly adapted to her new surroundings.


Meanwhile, Lu was having reservations.
After about ten minutes, he decided to emerge to take a look around.
...and then proceeded to run under the couch, where he has been ever since. He's camouflaged under there, so sorry, no illustration.

---------------------------------
Okay, so what was I doing with the sheet metal, anyway?

I have a dream. A dream of a litterbox that is catproof. No matter how much scratching and digging is done inside of this litterbox, the litter will stay contained. I do not like sweeping litter from the floor. Also, I neither own nor have storage space for a gigantic vaccuum cleaner.

So this...
became this:
Simple. A little brilliant, if I do say so myself.

There is one more step that has yet to be added; the perfect doormat. They were out of the good kind at PetCo though, so it will have to wait at least until tomorrow.

The Adventure of Penny and Lu

I had a request from Aunt J to write a blog post from the point of view of my cats. Somehow though I just don't have the voice to do it... I started a couple of different scenarios but the inevitable humor in it really minimized how worried I am about them. Poor little traumatized critters. First threatened with abandonment and then subjected to low-pressure air travel! I know, I know, they'll be fine. But I do have a nearly unnatural protective instinct for animals in general, and particularly for these two since I signed up a year and a half ago to be their lifelong caregiver.

Still, I decided to at least give it a go. After about five minutes of staring, I typed out a goofy little dialogue (deleted), but it kind of made me sick to my stomach.

-----

JH just called. He's done, they're in the hands of Delta Cargo now. The flight status is on time, and they'll be in the air in an hour. Apparently the vet gave them an anti-anxiety shot to help ease the stress without slowing their breathing, and that makes me feel a lot better (although I still feel a little sick).

To give us all something to feel a little better about, here's the (ahem) "inspiring" story of Pumpkin, who was trapped on a United airplane for three weeks.

Or better yet, go read about how to rule the world. Makes me miss my crazy pre-JH days...back when I was cool.

Three Phone Conversations.

Two weeks ago:

"Thanks for calling American Airlines, this is [Midwestern-Sounding Phone-Operator Guy]. How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'd like to book a flight for two cats."

"Okay, where are they flying to and from?"

"From Louis Armstrong in New Orleans to LaGuardia."

"When would you like to fly them?"

"On March 31, please."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, we can only book flights for live animals 72 hours in advance or less. If you call back at that time we'll be happy to make the arrangements for you."

"Oh, okay. And actually I have another question for you."

"Sure, no problem."

"I read on your website that I'm not allowed to sedate them? And I was just wondering if I can have the vet sedate them and provide documentation that he felt it was necessary."

"Well you could, but I really wouldn't recommend it. The cargo hold is pressurized differently, and if your cats are sedated there's a chance they could die, should the pressure change too drastically."

"Are you serious? My choices are to completely freak them out or to risk their lives?"

"They'll be okay. We ship cats all the time."

"Oh. Uh...okay. And can you give me an approximate cost?"

"Sure, how much do they weigh?"

"7 pounds and 10 pounds."

"Okay... That will be approximately $395 for the two of them."

"Ouch. Wow. Well thank you very much. I really appreciate your help."

------

9:35 Today:

"American Airlines, this is [Southern Lady], how can I help you?"

"Hi, I'd like to book a flight for two cats."

"Yes, ma'am, to and from what airport?"

"From Louis Armstrong in New Orleans to LaGuardia."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, you'll need to speak to someone at the ticket counter in New Orleans on the day of the flight."

"...What?"

"American Airlines does not operate a shipping facility in New Orleans, so you'll have to speak to someone at the ticket counter there."

"But two weeks ago someone at this number told me that I could call three days ahead of time to make the shipping arrangments."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm not sure who told you that. You'll have to go to the ticket counter in New Orleans."

"But I'm in New York. Surely I can make the arrangements over the phone with them?"

"No ma'am. You or someone else will need to go in person to the ticket counter in New Orleans."

"Do you have the number for that office?"

"No, ma'am, we don't have access to external telephone numbers."

"But it's American Airlines. It's your company."

"Yes, ma'am, but the office is operated through Louis Armstrong Internat--"

"Okay, okay, I get it... Just to make sure though, we're talking about the regular ticket counter for domestic passenger flights?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Sigh. "Okay. Thank you very much for your help."

------

10:20 Today:

"Thank you for calling Delta Cargo, this is [Competent-Sounding Dude], how may I help you?"

"Hi, I'd like to book a flight for two cats from New Orleans to La Guardia."

"Okay, no problem. Are you familiar with the requirements and restrictions?"

"Absolutely."

"Do you have a day or a flight in mind?"

"Yes, I want to book them on flight 1772 on Monday, March 31."

"Great. And how much do they weigh?"

"7 pounds and 10 pounds."

"Small carriers?"

"Yep."

"Okay... You're all set. That will come to $233."

"...for both of them?"

"Yes, for both of them."

"And when [JH] drops them off, where will he take them?"

"That will be to the Delta Cargo Office at Louis Armstrong. Would you like me to give you their number?"

"You bet I would."

"Great. Let me get your info and book the flight, then we'll get you all set up for Monday and I'll look up that number for you."

"So we can book it right now over the phone?"

"Absolutely."

"And do I pay now over the phone?"

"No, you'll pay when you pick them up, is that okay?"

"Is it ever!"