Ode to Black Cats

I believe black cats are undiscovered decorator resource. They are a beautiful contrast against any color background; they are mysterious; they replace those 80's cat sculptures we all had with something that looks cool and also talks back. Mischeif carries on several conversations everyday with me. Mostly she doesn't seem to like my work shoes. Or the vaccum cleaner.

The one draw back of black cats is that while the hair is indistinguishable on your DC work clothes, it shows up all over your casual comfortable stuff. Just when I final seem to weeded out all the white Oscar hair on my black clothes, black Mischeif hair shows up on all my non-black clothes. Its a good thing she is cute.

Why people have animals

I know people have animals because we craved their unconditional affection. But I am also convinced that we have animals to make us seem more sane when we talk to ourselves. If you have an animal talking to yourself is ok. Samantha likes to talk to herself and I know she is not talking to Mischief! Whereas I seem ironically completely sane because I can talk "to my cat."

Balancing being gone

I realized after my first paycheck that I really am not going to have enough leave accrued to be away for the holidays. Which is seriously annoying given that I want to be home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Luckily I am already set up to work for home and I got the ok from my boss and my client to work from home around Thanksgiving! So I will be in Seattle on Wednesday and Friday but still "at work". Which is great. By the time Christmas rolls around I will have enough time accrued to actually be in Seattle and not at work for the week.

Paster Earl Palmer, who was executive pastor at our church University Presbyterian in Seattle, has now become the preaching pastor in residence at National Presbyterian which is less than 2 miles from my house. It will be nice to have something familiar in worship. I have been feeling displaced on that level.

Amusingly, as some of you are aware, the assistant secretary of ICE (the head of the org.) who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the congress (or in this case, recess appointed) announced the day after the election that she was resigning from her post as of the 15th. Its amusing on many levels, but also because this will be the first time I get to view a "changing" party winds blow through my job life. Luckily my job is safe and my humor is intact because it looks to be an interesting period. Look for amusing updates that I can actually relate without breaking my non-disclosure agreement. The stories I can already tell are bad but unfortunately. . . probably not supposed to be shared either!

Busy work and busywork

Work has kept me busy. Emotionally contemplative and evaluating to office interplay and politics, but not mentally on my toes. I am looking forward to a learning curve in future jobs that has less to do with learning personalities and more with learning. Despite this, I am enjoying getting paid and being occupied. And just like everything else, this is a good learning work experience. It will be good experience anywhere that has office politics (which is any job, really).

On a more fun note, I love my kitty. Mischief is wonderful, with many lovable and hilarious quirks that make her real and not just a furry lump. When I got her she a little extra weight. I have been trying asiduously to help shave her down the a sleeker size. Apparently cat dieting is not my forte. I am seriuosly thinking she has gotten larger and not smaller. I had been feeding her the store brand cat food she came with until she ran out. Then I tried a natural IAMS chicken and rice blend. It worried me when she didn't seem interested in eating it consistently for the first few days. So I went and bought Purina ONE weight control. I had intended to buy the super natural kind from the pet store, but Metro had a hiccup the same day so I just headed to Safeway rather than possibly getting stuck somewhere away from home by the fire between Metro Stations. The long and short is that Mischief doesn't consistently love this one either AND she still seems chubbier. What is a kitty-mama to do?

Considering I have sick old dog at home with my parents, I am just hoping both my beloved animals can continue comfortably and healthily forever, though I know that is not realistic. My funny Oscar dog has been the best friend a growing girl could have. Unfortunately he hasn't felt up to causing trouble lately. I am praying he will feel better soon, that by the time Thanksigiving comes around Oscar will be up to enjoying some turkey and gravy.

I earned 5 hours

I have earned 5 hours of vacation time. It may not be much to you . . . but its symbolic to me. Vacation is in my future! Thanksgiving and turkey and Christmas and family. Super exciting.

Mischief pictures . . .

The video shows my little Mischief (whom I am starting to call MayMay, like sweatheart in Chinese) playing with her feather-tailed mouse. Plus I bought a stick with a hanging little cloth. She loves it and I like helping her get exercise (she is a little bit rounded).  Its like I got a kitten with a grown up body and laid-back style.  

My "boss" is going to be working from home tomorrow. So I am going to be going in late (9am instead of 8:20am) and trying to go to bed early. Frankly I can't stand anymore presidential debate. Ugh . . . ugh.

Happy Mischief . . .

I have a kitty! Her name is Mischief.How cool is that! She really likes a certain spot on the bed already and though she hasn't shown huge "lap cat" tendancies but she has been very easy-going and happy, I think. Like really likes sleeping on the bed with me (I was lying down reading). She is so soft! She feels wonderful. Hopefully Samantha will warm up. So far, she isn't to pleased to have this become reality, even though she ok'd the whole thing. Luckily I think Mischief is going to be a really easy adjustment. She lets me pick her up and hold her; she purrs easily and often. Hopefully she can learn to leave Samantha alot of space. 

Mischief and more

So this may be my new cat. Her name is Mischief and she is 5 years old, and a true lap cat I am told. She was in a happy home but her papa got sick and is no longer able to take care of her and her other friends. Since she is a little black kitty, she is much harder to place. Plus she is older, two strikes. But she maybe absolutely perfect for me! Apparently she is very adaptable and I am so excited. I am ready to be slightly rash in this decision. I have been preparing and thinking about this for a long time and have met many cats already. I think I am at the point where I don't need a bolt of lightening love, but a healthy liking and hope for the future. And an expectation of falling in love really soon.

As far as work, it was a really good day today. Lots of people peaced out at work today completely or at least early, plus everyone left was on site of one of our projects, even my "boss"-client. But then he came is and gave me some work. I am 

feeling much more confident that I can figure these things out. I may be "green" but I am not stupid. I can learn! It was nice to get a whole bunch done today. And to look at Monday and see things to do, things that I can actually accomplish!

Work: Day 2

The day started strong with meetings almost back to back. I got to see the site of our biggest current project and my client got to show me all the cool things he has been working on. It definitely came home to me today that I came as the sky was falling at the office, in terms of all the things going on. Luckily my work crew is really good overall, but everything going on is crazy. By the end of the day, however, I was pretty exhausted. Like all my coping skills and perspective got thrown out the window.

On the home front, Oscar, my Oscar has been feeling a little punk. Merissa was supposed to take him the vet today, but I am not sure how that went. Though I realize that part of me should be prepared to lose him at his age, I know I never will be. With Mom busy, there is definitely some stress of things to worry about.

On a humorous note, everyone joked about me stepping in at a difficult time. One person even joked that I may be secretly considering calling an old boss and polishing my resume. When I told Allison, my boss, jokingly about it and she was ready to go hunt them down and take them on. She was seriously (though amusingly) peeved.

Work: Day 1

All the boring stuff like insurance, plus all the names coming at you faster than light speed. Now its memorizing people, because they are pretty much the largest part of what I am going to be doing!! One day soon I will explain more for whom I work. But . . . tonight I am too tired. I watched Chuck tonight on NBC and some MSNBC to catch up with the day, and now I really tired. More later. I promise. 1 cool thing: I got a government issued Blackberry. How cool is that?

Savannah and other catie issues

Today I met Savannah. She was a complete darling. Very sweet and affectionate. Not a super hard core personality, she just wants to hang out with the peoples. Any peoples. Which makes me a little worried for how Samantha would handle her. Although she is not a lap cat, she does really want to be nearby and seeks attention from anyone who walks in the door. I almost feel like maybe I am not social enough for her. I think she would enjoy a high traffic house, with lots of people coming and going and her able to demand the attention of them all. Maybe a family, with many people, kids and parents, etc.

I felt similarly to the meeting with Katie. Right afterward, I felt completely unsure. The longer 

I thought about it, the more I figured out how it could work. But I am still unsure. As I talked it over with my mom, she reccommended meeting a third cat. So I headed up to PetMac DC, which is a pet store and adoption center, which always has some cats on hand. I met Spice, who was a cute little calico who was ridiculously small since she just finished nursing a litter of kittens. She didn't mind being held for a little bit but definitely didn't find it super exciting.

Happily I met the adoption coordinator for another cat I had been interested in, Hazelnut (known now as Gabby), while I was in the store. She offered to bring Gabby to visit on Friday night to my apartment to meet and maybe even try her out. I am tempted. I really was hoping this could be settled now, but I just have not "fallen in love" with any of these kitty. As enjoyable and beautiful as they all are, none of them have touched my heart. Perhaps I just need to go to a shelter and pick?

(Top two are Savannah, bottom is Hazelnut/Gabby)

Maybe Katie

I gave up on Tammy the kitty after weeks of pursuit. She having peeing outside the box issues. And while I admire people who can think outside the box, peeing is another thing entirely. So I am 'interviewing' two kitty this weekend. Today I met Katie. She is a beautiful long haired charcoal color (see the picture). She appears to be pretty big but when you actually get your hands on her, she is pretty smallish. Still substantial, but not huge. She is definitely a 'personality,' which is a politely hidden way of saying slightly difficult. I think she will definitely be a little work, but a completely loyal cat, very uninterested in being touched or associated with strangers. She is also one who would prefer sole reign of the house, without other animals (she has only be tested with other cats). I personally don't think she minds them that much, but she does tell them to steer clear with little grrr here and there. She did let me hang out near her quite easily and pet her for short periods of time. Her foster mom said it took a good month before Katie would allow her to pet without batting at her. She would go for days and then do it again. It definitely a method of showing whose boss. She does consent to sit near her foster mom now and enjoy up close love. The jury is still out. Tomorrow I meet Savannah, who promises to be a little easier.

Part of me wants to take Katie, simply because I know she will be really hard to place. Few people want a cat that may never be super affectionate. Though I think she would eventually become easier, she will never be easy. 

On another completely unrelated note, I am now a huge fan of Animal Planet. The show Its me or the Dog and the Animal Police, Houston are my favorites. Though it hard to watch animals being mistreated on the Animal Police, they always show you the happy ending or at least good ending. I think living with a pet (specifically my Oscar dog) has made me go slightly nuts, craving the animal interaction. Even though I realize I can't have a dog as I face med school in the semi-immediate future (definitely within the life span of a dog, even an older one), I really miss having that companion, intelligent and interactive. Ok, so this wasn't completely unrelated.

For those of you who have missed the odd anecdotes of daily life that used to make up the this blog, its coming again. Monday starts the new Chapter : Malia works random job and become a financially responsible citizen. We see how that goes.

I will up date tomorrow and tell you how Savannah flies.

Presidential debate

Samantha and I are counting the number of time the words "maverick,"  "my friends," Bush/McCain connection, and "main street." Everytime a someone says or makes one of those points, we laugh hard. The first part of the debate, every other moment we were catching these phrase. They have since trickled to nothing. Ugh. . .

Work hair or hair that works . . .

I have a hair appointment for tomorrow. Not only do I really need a trim, I also need some serious ideas about how to make it work for work. Cross your fingers.

Good news, bad news. Ain't that always the way.

I was suprisingly awake at 8am this morning to the tune of WAMU (the local NPR). This alarm goes off every morning but n0t all mornings does it actually wake me. Normally bad news increases the likelihood of me waking: Huge drops in the stock market; trillion dollar government bailout packages; DC rep's worrying about DC violence and gun laws. This morning it was just the usual. Or at least usual for lately. Bad economic news, etc. I get the economy in the morning with a little political coverage (I normally turn it off then) and the presidential race in the evenings with Samantha and MSNBC. As much as I appreciate the humor most of the time, I will be very ready for a good candidate to be picked and move on from the election to good, well thought out reforms. 

At just a little after 9 though, I got excellent news for my own personal economy. I have been cleared to start my job. So at the latest I will start Monday, maybe earlier. Though this is excellent news for my bank account and personal economy, its really bad news for my plans to do nothing for days on end. . . In all seriousness I am looking forward to occupying my mind on more than just waiting for a kitty and improving my French skills.

Kitty ahead

I have been officially ok'ed to own a kitty by the Homeward Trails Animal rescue people, local animal fostering/adoption organization. To cut down on overall costs of maintaining animals longer than county shelters that are forced to euthanize, they have many people foster the animals in there own home. I think it is really cool way to make sure that animals are able to live long enough to find good adoption homes. Some take longer than others. How cool is that?

Anyway, I was interested in two kitties, both of which seemed beautiful and easy. Someone (kittywise) that would transition into my home easily and not mind being taken to Mom and Dad's for long vacations around Christmas, one who would enjoy the dogs! Unfortunately both have their little drawbacks, and one is getting somethings worked out. Which is best for me even though I don't want to wait at all. Its been close to a month since I started the process and my "adoption coordinator" and I talked tonight, she apologized. Normally it doesn't take this long. As much as I want Tammy (hopefully my kitty) tomorrow, I know its better that I have actually started my job (or have a real start date). Pray for both. I need to make money for bills.