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I'm listening to a glorious episode of This American Life. It's all about television and it's making me laugh. It's also making me jealous that I don't write clever essays and get to read them on the radio while Ira Glass looks on with love.
Cupcake is not laughing, because the voice of Ira Glass sent her off to closet where she'll hide, I suspect, until it's time to soothe ourselves to sleep with BSG.
Me: Oh my baby kitty. I missed you so much today. Did you miss me?
Cupcake: [silent. runs away]
Me: That's mommy's beer. No, no, no.
Cupcake: [attempts to drink beer]
Me: Cuppy, off. Beer is not for cats.
Cupcake: [tries for the beer again. runs away]
Me: What will mommy wear today? [places today's outfit on the bed]
Cupcake: Purrrrr [sits solidly on top of outfit on bed]
Tonight I left work at 5 to catch a showing of "Baby Mama" with Jaimie, Vince and JP. Dude, that's a funny movie. I love it. Amy Poehler making toast would crack me up. Amy Poehler playing a white trash surrogate mother KILLED me. I snorted. I repeated lines to Vince seconds after they were spoken on screen. Oh so sweet and funny it was. Funny with a healthy splash of earnestness. That's a recipe for Rachel-Love.
I left the movie and headed to Petco. Worst store ever but convenient. Cupcake needed a new collar and a scratching box. She loves those.
I called my mom to check on her sciatica. I called Donovan and Delaney and heard all about their upcoming trip to Busch Gardens. Donovan claims there's a tug o' war with a lion at the park. He was very convincing.
And then I headed home. The movie popcorn didn't do it for me so I was feeling peckish. Stopped at King of Falafel for some chicken and hot sauce. Asked for extra hot sauce and the guys on the cart balked--then threw on extra pickled hot peppers for good measure. We laughed about it, and I walked away smiling and skipping--just a hint of skipping. The falafel cart is the center of my little sub-neighborhood, and it's a simmering stew of good will and delicious chicken.
I was so excited to get home. To eat my super spicy chicken. To give the cat her new scratcher. To finish reading a good book.
This was a fine Tuesday.
So while I'm still sans routine, Cupcake has established a new morning ritual.
At 5:45/6am she sidles up to me, climbs awkwardly onto my back and arm, and then begins to knead me (in the adorable kitten-like way) with her RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS exposed. Like Wolverine.
This morning it took me too long to push her off and my shoulder is a pink field of scratches.
Now Sammy, my violent strong-willed Samantha Cat, used to sleep on my back. And I loved it. Part of me hopes that if I let Cupcake claw me for a few days, she'll tire of it and just fall asleep on me.
I thought it would only take a week or so to establish a routine in my new place. But now it's over a week, and there's no real routine in sight.
This morning I headed out to the animal shelter for the first time in three weeks, and it felt like I was back in the groove. At the shelter itself I was a little frazzled. The layout had changed and there were lots of people I didn't know milling about. By noon I felt better. The cats had clean cages, I managed the volunteers, and held some teensy tiny kittens. I left with scratched up arms and a feeling of pure happy. 
Here's one of today's kittens. She's going to lose one of her eyes from an injury--but she's running on 100% adorable energy. Another kitten (with two eyes) thought it would be funny to dump her water dish on my head while I cleaned the cage beneath her. And then she stuck her paw in her wet food and flung it at me. Sweet.
The shelter has lots of vet bills right now, and I'm trying to think of some fundraising ideas that would get them some cash. Night of 1,000 LOL Cats?
But back to the routine. There are a few big things I need to get used to. Living alone (with a Cupcake). Taking a new route to work. Living in a quiet building. It's all a little confidence-shaking. I've been talking to Cupcake quite a bit. She doesn't talk back. I'm trying not to call my mom every 5 minutes because between the sciatica and Grandma, she's all booked up. I focus on my friends and Battlestar Gallactica (I watched 5 hours this weekend and I want more) and Cuppy and the shelter and Donovan and Delaney--oh, and WORK. Yeah.
I saw this on the Craft blog this morning. I want to go and find it.
Jonah @ MAKE writes:
This pixellated water was spotted somewhere on NYC's
Lower East Side, but it didn't quite evaporate so it's probably still
around there somewhere. This type of art is a pretty nice way to
re-imagine the city as if it were a video game, a technique that many
different artists have been using lately.
For the last four nights, I dreamed I crashed four different weddings of four different high school friends. Each night was a different friend and slightly different surroundings. Three of the four weddings took place in a museum. Outside the museum was a tiger and a small lap pool. I had messy hair in all four dreams.
At dinner tonight, Lisa suggested that I look up what this all might mean in the realm of dream analysis.
Viola!:
To see a wedding in your dream, symbolizes a new beginning or
transition in your current life. Dreams involving weddings are
generally negative and highlight some anxiety or fear. It often refers
to feelings of bitterness, sorrow, or death.
To see a tiger in your dream, symbolizes repressed feelings or emotions that frighten you.
To see your childhood friend in your dream, signifies regression into
your past where you had no responsibilities and things were much
simpler and carefree. You may be wanting to escape the the pressures
and stresses of adulthood.
To see a pool of water in your dream, indicates that you need to
understand and deal with your emotions. You need to dive right in.
For years I've had a secret soft spot for "Sunday Morning" and its host, Charles Osgood. A few weekends ago I watched a marvelously happy-making segment about Ashford and Simpson. Previously, I hadn't given the pair much thought beyond the song "Solid" and its deep and catchy cheesiness.
So here I am watching this short little segment and quite unexpectedly and suddenly I'm kind of in love with Ashford and Simpson. They met cute. They sing together. They engage in playful banter. Their happiness seems serene and true. They love their work. They've made a lasting impact in an industry they dig.
The show ended with a clip of a recent performance where the pair sang "Solid" and it wasn't just cheesy anymore. It was sweet and soulful and a little goofy-happy.
Have I gone soft?
This is a wall.
---------------------------
And I have hit it.
This whole month, heck, most of this whole year, has been messy. It's catching up. It's caught up.
Universe, send some good Karma along to me and everyone else who needs it.
Last night Vince escorted me to Home Depot for some plumbing bits. He helped me pick out a new shower head, and a nozzle thingy for the kitchen sink.
Oh I was super excited to get that shower head on. I stepped into the tub and went to turn the old head off. The metal was corroded and it just kind of flopped off leaving half of the attachment stuck the pipe. I realized (too late) that I'd left my wrench at the old apartment), and heck, I'm not even sure a wrench will do it. Maybe I need to buy some of that CLR stuff and douse it?
Anyhow, so this morning I took a shower straight from the pipe. It felt like a beach shower--too fast and too hard but oddly refreshing.
There was a time when this would have turned me into a stressed-out basket case. Not now. Now it amuses me.
A layer of painter's tape will NOT fix a leaky shower. Instead, it will make water spray all over your bathroom.
Do I have allergies? I guess I do. And they're making me sleepy and fuzzy.
Friday was a whirl. I woke up at 6am with the intention of going back to sleep, but no dice. I went crazy with contact paper, figured out the workings of my closet and did this and that and that and this. My feet were wrecked from standing and climbing and futzing about. I was too tired to nap. My couch came at 6pm and then I was off to meet Meg and her friends at Xanadu. I'll admit that all the tiredness and the blistering feet and the allergies/cold left me unenthusiastic about a Times Square outing. But I'm awfully awfully glad I persevered. Xanadu was a miracle on roller states. The lead actor is hotter than a hot poker. At the end of the show, Meg and I paid $20 to get our picture taken with him. He towered over us both with his long-legged hotness. And he was super nice to boot. 
Saturday was a day of recouping. I spent hours and hours watching a Top Model marathon and falling in and out of sleep. I went out at 6:30 and made a pit stop at the discount store across the street. It's like the Target housewares department minus Michael Graves. I bought a few yards of contact paper, hangers, and a Brita filter. For dinner, I was planning on soup, but instead I stopped at King of Falafel, the tastiest street meat ever. The award-winning cart is right on my corner, and every time I've gone out there's a line 10-people deep. Tonight, I joined that line and ordered a chicken plate. It was scrumptious, and the homemade hot sauce kicks. After dinner I had a frustrating call with Time Warner. My cable box is toast, so they recommended that I bring it to a store and get a new one. Thanks for the fine customer service, Time Warner! I'm already an angry customer after three days!
And now it's Sunday. I feel like my entire life has been on hold all month and I don't even remember what a regular week looks like. A week without fretting or flying or worrying.
Hey Kids!
First, I want to thank everyone who sent me well wishes yesterday. Oh it warmed my heart and made me strong :) I didn't have a chance to talk to many people, because everything was a wee bit chaotic--and after the chaos, I spent 4 hours painting the bedroom. As I worked on the final wall my doorbell rang. UPS. I answered the door covered in paint and wearing the world's most unflattering outfit. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The day started at 6am. The movers were slated to come at 8:30 and I still hadn't finished packing. I scrawled down some notes on the back of a receipt before collapsing into sleep. Things like: Pack Hammer!! Don't forget glasses! Phone charger!!!!
It all got done and then the movers came. I remembered that the door buzzer was broken, so I ran down to let them in--BUT, I forgot my keys and locked us all out. I was sure that Chuck didn't know about the buzzer, and he didn't. I buzzed him. The movers called him. Nada. It took a good (loooong and painful) 10 minutes for him to come down. Of course, I'd asked Chuck to make sure the cats were locked up in his office, but in the chaos of the lock-out, Cupcake went free and ran to the kitchen. Chuck watched her while the movers moved.
15 minutes later, my stuff was stowed in the moving truck. I had called a car to take me to the new apartment, but of course it was late. So I waited and waited on the curb while holding a small sewing machine, a curtain rod, and my Guitar Hero guitar.
The movers were done in a flash, and I counted out 20 $20s and sent them off.
For a brief spell I sat on my new bed, and then I headed out into the neighborhood. I stopped at C-Town and bought some Gatorade and iced tea. It's a nice, clean little store and only half a block from my apartment. From there a bought a bagel for brunch, and then made a stop at the paint store.
At home, I started taping off the bedroom while I waited for the cable guy. He came early and I have cable--but it's screwed up. (Anyone want to help me figure it out? I'm flummoxed). And then I started to paint. The painting was a little terrifying, but I did it. And it's not half bad. In fact, in the light of day it's pretty snappy. God bless A.R. for being my paint guru, and for buying me an edger. Man, I needed that edger. I wish I could have used it more around the base boards--but the previous paint jobs were so clumpy and weird, there's not much a girl could do. When you come to visit, just don't look down.
I would write more about painting, but my arms hurt so much, I can hardly stand it. Ouch. It feels like the time I spent the afternoon rowing a boat and my arms hurt so much, I wanted to chop them off at the shoulder.
I've decided to pay a guy to paint the living room. It's a bigger room, and I'd rather not have it splattered with my "oopsies." For the bedroom, fine. "Oopsies" abound and I don't mind a bit.
I got the keys! And then I dashed right over to the apartment to check it out. The first thing I checked? The closet. There is one. Whew. Just one, but it's a good size. And the single closet isn't so bad considering the ample kitchen cabinet space. The stove and fridge are brand new (in fact, the tags are still on the fridge).
Now I'll admit that I'm a little daunted by the painting. I know it will be worth it, but the walls look so big and tall. They're not, but still. The overhead light fixtures are all different and some are bizarre. I'm thinking I'll need a floor lamp or two. And now I have a better sense of the kind of kitchen table that will work in the space, so that's a good thing. The windows are big with wide sills--perfect for Cupcake. And the windows overlook a little garden that's cute and green and happy-making. It's all daunting, but in a really good invigorating way.
XOXO
This morning the sun is bright and the air is cold and I'm going to have a blueberry bagel.
I'll get to work early. Arrange to pick-up my apartment key, make a doctor's appointment, and set-up the new assistant. I will go to the library and return The Book Thief even though keeping it seems like the right thing to do.
It's just that I've been a little frantic.
The day after I got back to New York, there were day-long meetings for two days. Oooh the meetings were long. So I didn't get to catch up on work, I got to learn about NEW work. Work for books coming out in 2009.
2009. 2009. I can barely get through April 2008, and suddenly here I am thrust into the depths of 2009.
But I digress.
All the meetings meant that I didn't get to catch up on the (virtual and desk-cluttering) piles of work that come with an unexpected absence from the office.
And in the middle of it all I was dealing with various and sundry apartment issues. When will I get my keys? (Hopefully today) What color should I paint the living room? (Exhale blue is the front runner) Why are TVs so expensive? (I bought a 20-inch flat screen for $350 from P.C. Richards--and that's that. I'm just one girl, I don't need a wall-sized screen) How much do I tip the movers? ($20?) What kind of table should I get for the kitchen? (Undecided for now) And then some.
Oh, and there's the packing. Packing is never fun, not even for a minute. I'm more than halfway done, but yesterday almost did me in. 5 loads of laundry at the laundromat. One load at home. 5 bags of clothes and some shoes hauled out and donated. Desk cleaned out. Old bills hand-shredded. Endless vacuuming. Cat hair everywhere.
And then there's grandma. She was supposed to leave the temporary nursing home yesterday and head on over to the group home my mom picked out. But it was not to be. Grandma got sick and couldn't go. My poor mom sounded frantic, but there's nothing she can do. If grandma is too sick for the group home, she's too sick for the group home. Now it looks like Grandma will have to stay in the nursing home she's in now--she'll just move on over to the more permanent wing. This isn't optimal, and it means that her friends still won't be able to visit here (her friends are old and smart--they know better than to visit a place so full of sickness). So. Yeah. It's not great. It's confusing. And it's making my mom and dad nuts, and that stresses me out more than anything.
On the bright side, I didn't have to put down any pets this week.
On to next week. New assistant starts on Monday. Bed comes on Wednesday. Movers come Thursday morning. Couch comes on Friday. Cupcake gets spayed on Sunday. Oh my. And there will be painting and cleaning and unpacking and trips to Target.
Soon soon soon it will be May and I cannot wait for May because I won't be traveling (until the v. end), I won't be moving, and I will have a chance to breathe and breathe and breathe.
Libraries are good because sometimes when you return a book you run into Meg and then she comes with you to look at quilts and furniture in Soho.
I'm just saying.
While in Chandler with mom and Grandma, I bought a snappy (and super cheap) new camera. Being the gadget geek (on a budget) that I am, I immediately started to play. Grandma freaked out a bit--she didn't want me to take her picture. I didn't. I'm v. much digging the new camera. For $120 bucks, the quality is great. It's a little bulky, but that only means it's easier for me to find in my ginormous bag.
Here are a few pictures from sales conference in Tucson. My mom and I were there from Sunday afternoon through Monday night.
And here's a small smattering of images from Chandler during the Grandma/dog-euthanizing visit from hell!
My flight from Tuscon touched down at 6:30 am this morning. I slept (poorly) for 30 minutes on the flight, so when I got home at 7:15ish, I went straight down to bed.
Woke up, had some tasty thai grilled chicken and papaya salad and -BOOM- I am headed back to bed. I was supposed to get my apartment keys today, but I'll have to wait until Saturday as they're installing a new stove (yeah) and medicine cabinet and resurfacing the floors. That is fine and good because there's plenty I need to do here before I start wrapping my head around there. Yesterday my packing supplies arrived (my movers rent plastic moving crate/boxes for next to nothing and they're damn convenient--no tape!). There is packing and sorting and laundering to do.
Oh yeah, and WORK. So much to catch up on at work that it's too much to even think about. . . so instead I'll sleep surrounded by two kitties who seem to have missed me v. much.
Today was bad and good.
My mom and I tackled grandma's paperwork all morning and got all her bills sorted and stowed. We organized, made calls, and got everything in good order.
Then we went to the nursing home. As luck would have it (maybe more than luck), the pastor arrived the moment we arrived. So instead of me and my mom telling grandma about Cappy--the pastor did the honors. Oh and thank god he did. It was weird and sad and awkward. No matter how much it needed to be done, it's still horribly horribly sad to have to put down a dog. Sad and horrible. Cappy was a sweetheart before he got sick, and my grandma had him for almost 14 years.
Oh. Grandma started shaking again, and she was crying--and oh, it was just crummy. And my nerves are so shot from it all, I just can't deal.
Mom and I promised ourselves In 'n Out Burger for lunch since we knew the morning would be hard. It was so good and relaxing. I brought mom home, and then scooted out to the local Paradise Bakery and Cafe to enjoy wifi and coffee. I've cleaned out my work email box, and gotten my self in order for now. Tonight I'll plan my sales conference presentation and do some laundry. Tomorrow is our last day here--but I know we'll all be back soon.
Here's a little bit of helpful advice--don't move far far away from your family when you're old and gray.
Today was better than yesterday--which isn't saying much.
Grandma keeps asking about her dog.
Her fever is down, but her knee is inflamed. She's feeling hot.
Mom and I met her friend Phyllis for lunch. Now we're out the mall (needed to buy something to wear to sales conference on Monday) and I've hopped on the internets via wifi at the Apple store. Bless you Apple Store.
We've been up since 6, and got lots of errands done. We even cleaned out a few drawers at grandma's house. Sorted through pictures, threw out years of old greeting cards. Only a million drawers to go!
I am v. v. v. worried that my parents have to run back here so soon. My dad shouldn't step foot near a nursing home. He shouldn't be driving cross country and neither should my mom.
Some of grandma's friends have too much (bad) advice for my parents, and I kind of want those people to stop being stupid. Fortunately, her best friends have good common sense.
Oh fun times good times.
I'm taking a break from the hell that is Arizona to report on my March reading. I continue to read ahead of schedule. Thank god something is going right for me in 2008.
Looks
Julie and Julia
I Capture the Castle
The 25th Hour
The History of Love
When the Nines Roll Over
The Nasty Bits
Take the Cannoli
City Thieves
That's 9 books in March which brings me to 29 books so far this year. A mere 71 to go. This, I can do.
Today my mom is on xanax, and my grandma is spiking a fever and shaking. What a crummy day. I need a can of coke and rum.
I'm live-blogging from Penny's Ice Cream in Chandler, Arizona. It's freakin' impossible to find wifi in this city. I feel cut-off from the universe, even with my blackberry.
Anyhow, Grandma looks terrible. I think she's lost her will to live. We're heading over to visit her after we finish our Penny's Ice Cream Coffee. Yum. She's so bad, we can't move her into the lovely assisted living facility my mom found. Instead--she'll stay in the nursing home she's in now. It's nothing fancy, but the people are nice.
Tomorrow, we have to bring my grandma's dog to the vet to have her put down. She's having seizures and other myriad problems. Not fun, friends. Not fun.
And of course I left my cell charger at home. Chuck is overnighting it, but for now--I'm cut off.
I miss my friends and my cats--in that order. Looks like I won't be home until next Tuesday since I am going to go to sales conference in Tuscon on Sunday.
Oh.
