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.