A Game

One of my black cat's favorite things to do is nap in places where she thinks she might be camouflaged. Can you see the cat hiding in this picture?

And now, because I am slightly embarrassed to have posted pictures of my messy bedroom, I also have to post a pretty picture of my sunroom:

And also I have to post a picture of Casey, who gets jealous when Benny gets more pictures than she does:

Of Course

I've been home with nothing to do for THREE WEEKS, and now that I finally have to go to work tomorrow, I'm getting sick. Damn you, summer colds!!!!

Here's my plan:

• Pom juice. I would prefer OJ, but Pom is what I've got in my fridge
• Lots of water
• Going to the store and getting some EmergenC- it's not just for hangovers!
• Whining about it to anyone who will listen

Rain

It was raining in my closet yesterday. Big, brownish red drops that seeped through the door jam and the light fixture and fell on my quilts and clothes and new shoes. The apartment upstairs is being renovated and apparently my landlord took the lowest bid for the job, because we've already had a hole knocked in the ceiling of our bathroom and our neighbor has had a leak as well. All in the last week!

The leak has stopped now, and most of my clothes are fine, but all of my blankets need to be professionally washed now and I think we need to send my landlord the bill. Right?

This was, of course, the most exciting thing that's happened to me all week. It's been a slow week. It's been a slow several weeks, actually. Since I turned in my thesis I haven't had much on my plate, which was nice, then depressing. Then, once I knew that I would eventually be starting a job, nice again. I haven't been leaving the house much, which is a combination of nesty-hominess, laziness, and brokiness. Two months of not working has taken its toll. I definitely think I'm ready to go back. Not just because I'd like to have a paycheck again, either. I am looking forward to having a little bit more structure and social interaction in my days.

Here, however, are some nuggets of wisdom and self-discovery gleaned from my at-home month:

• If left to my own devices, I will remain undressed and unshowered until the dinner hour
• I like looking at my garden through the sunroom window as much as I like actually sitting in it. Distance adds romance, sometimes
• One mosquito loose in a room can still produce several itchy bites
• The longer I stay inside, the more difficult it is for me to think of a reason to leave
• Cats often complain for no reason
• Watching people do things on TV is sometimes better than doing them yourself, but sometimes it is not
• Having an end date makes a thing more precious

Any Guesses?

I'm going to the bank to turn all my coins into bills. I have 9lbs of coins, or half of a gallon zip-lock bag. Any guesses on how much that equals??? KEEP IN MIND: this collection of coins has been heavily mined for laundry quarters.

Surprise!

I was sitting in the garden with my stripey cat on my lap, fiddling with a couple pieces of cloth and some wire, trying to figure out a way to make a single-hand puppet with an independently rotating head. I finally figured something out and was practicing the head movements when I saw Casey giving it the eye. The puppet hopped over to the cat and, with its independently rotating head, looked her up and down. Casey was so surprised that she bared her teeth and batted at it! I guess my experiment was successful.

It Must Be Time

Inside: "Hmm...I feel odd. A little full, perhaps? Or worried? No, that's not it. I must feel...happy? Almost, but not quite. Interesting. Whatever this feeling is, it definitely feels important, but I can't say why. Wait. I know what this is. It's almost the end of the month. I must be premenstrual. That would explain this odd feeling. Yes. That must be it."

Outside: Crying in the middle of Target for no reason.

ZPJ- A Tribute

We celebrated the old man's birthday this week. Some highlights (and highlife):

My favorite picture is (obviously) the last because it demonstrated with such startling clarity that I married That Drunk Guy. I love him. Even if he is old.

Notes on a Poo

The other day, ZPJ and I were making a late-night run to the store to pick up some cat food, but they were out of the kind we normally get, so we settled for a trashier substitute. This new dry food had exciting shapes and colors that seemed to be trying to simulate tiny little fishes, and it seems that my cats loved it because they ate the whole bag in two days. But apparently their stomachs did not love to digest it because for the last two days I have been cleaning up a monstrous amount of pink poo and pink vomit that has appeared all over my apartment. Yuck.

I am so happy that this picture came up when I googled "pink poo" because that is exactly what it looked like.

Decision Made!

Thanks to all for your advice- it was all right on point. The tricky part was, I was thinking that I would actually like the jobs about equally, so I didn't know what to do. In the end, though, I thought that I would go for the MOST flexibility so that I can keep teaching as much as possible and stay at the place I know and love AND learn an important new skill- grant writing. So I went with Job #2!!!! I'm feeling really great about it; even though it pays a little less, I'm working for a company that I've already invested a lot in and with people I love. I'm the new Development Associate for APT!!! Yay me!!! Also, the thing I never mentioned before about Job #1 is that they are 100% musical theatre. I'm feeling really good about my choice. Yay!!! I'd like to go out and celebrate, but I won't be getting a pay check for another month, so I'll just sip some tea and cheer for myself, I guess.

Thanks again, y'all!

Request for Opinions

So, I find myself in a strange situation and my thinking is a little cluttered so I need you all to help me sort things out.

The Jobs:

Job #1: This is the job that I was going to interview for but it was filled and then it seemed it wasn't filled so I actually did interview for it. It is a great position- manager level, part-time, lots of responsibilities, pretty much ideal for the kinds of things I want to be doing in the future, good pay, somewhat flexible schedule. Great job if I want to be a Director of Education someday.

Job #2: This job is with a company I already know, love, and work for. It is part-time and VERY flexible, associate level, decent (but not great) pay, very exciting range of responsibilities, primarily grant-writing and fund-raising, but not education-specific. Great job if I ever want to have my own company or be marketable outside of educational theatre.

The Situation:

Job #2 has called and made an offer. Job #1 still hasn't scheduled second-round interviews.

The Questions:

• How long can I keep Job #2 waiting for an answer? They know it will be a couple days, but it looks like it might be a week.
• Should I give up a chance for the better-paying, higher level job so that I can have the sure thing?
• Is it better to have a job that develops skills I already have or a job that gives me new skills?
• Which of these jobs is going to help me most down the road?
• Which of these companies would I rather work for?

Now, you may not be able to help me with all of these questions, but I implore you to weigh in on some of them at least. All things considered, it is not really a bad thing to have two good options, but I still don't know what to do!!!

A Break

I'm slowly getting used to having free time. Guilt-free free time, that is. I've been sleeping a lot, reading a little, shopping, drinking, catching up on laundry. Now I'm heading to Bean Town for the weekend to see some friends and do more of the same in a different town. What shall I do when I return? Start a new job? Remain unemployed? It's so hard to say...

It has happened!

I turned in a completed copy to my thesis defense committee yesterday.

Complete.

Title page.

Abstract.

Table of Contents.

95 pages of text.

83 pages of appendices.

5 pages of bibliography.

I anticipate that my committee will still send me back with further edits, but I am praying hard that they will not be substantive. I can't celebrate yet, as my defense isn't for another four weeks, but at least I can stop feeling guilty about not working on it enough.

The List Is Too Long

It would take too long to talk about all the things I choose to do instead of finishing my thesis. I'm at the annoying proofreading stage and I hate it but I desperately want to be done so I'm trying to push through. Pushing through looked a lot like reading a book in the garden this morning, though. I think that I'm transitioning into my post-thesis-self before the thesis is actually post. That isn't good. But I'm close, dear readers! I'm desperately close! ZPJ and MNS have been helping me proofread, which is good because that is the part I really, really suck at. I am seriously ready to turn this thing in, do the defense, put those two letters after my name, and be done with it. But I have two days left of work, so I need need need to keep working. I'm sick of looking at this thing. But I have to. For two more days.

Deja Poo

I'm all dressed up for an interview, and heading to the same spot that a week ago cancelled as I was on my way out the door. Turns out their position ISN'T filled after all, so I'm putting on my makeup, sticking my comb in my bag, and nervously clutching my portfolio on my way to the train. Of course, the trains are actually running today, so that is a sign that this might be a better experience than last week. Wish me luck.

If this one doesn't work out, I'm just freelancing. I know I keep saying that and yet keep interviewing for jobs, but I'm serious this time. Well...maybe one more interview after this one. But that's it!

Highlights and Hopes

Highlights of 27:

• Seeing a lot of puppet shows
• Making a couple puppet shows
• Teaching a whole bunch and feeling good about it
• Meeting some writers that I like and respect
• Finishing my *&#% $ thesis proposal
• Almost finishing my thesis
• Successful in my attempts to be more reflective
• Finally transcending the intern/assistant threshold
• Knowing that I'm good at what I do
• Knowing that I still have a lot to learn about what I do
• Getting a real, grown-up, apartment
• Becoming a gardener
• My cat not dying
• Becoming an aunt
• Travelling a lot- North Carolina, Oregon (thrice!), Jamaica, Canada...
• Being in love
• Getting control of my debt (parts of it, anyway)
• Loving where I live

Hopes for 28:

• Working more than part time
• Being challenged, but not burned out, by my work
• Easy defense of the thesis, then moving on
• Becoming a better gardener
• Revising my 5-year plan
• Making even more puppet shows
• Being in love
• Loving where I live
• Reading A LOT more than last year

I reserve the right to add onto or take away from this list at any point for up to one week.

I Have Two Hundred Things to Say!!!

Here, for my 200th post, I give you a photo collage of my adventures in July:

I drank an overpriced fruit-flavored martini on top of Central Park:

I kissed a dinosaur:

I went and saw HP5: The Movie at the IMAX (3D!!!!!!!!!!!):
Got stuck in a shitty airport for a really, really long time: I got rained on in Seattle:

We got hijacked by a U-Haul full of chairs: We set up hastily-procured tents to shield us from the rain: My brother got married (under one of the tents):I went up to the mountains and sat in the sun for awhile:

I hung out with my niece, who is really cute...: ...and takes making farty-faces very seriously:

I tried to fight off the baby-making urges:

I went to a festival of brewers:
Kidnapped a seven year old:

And went to go see HP5: The Movie, again, at a different IMAX (still 3D!!!!)

And had one hell of a sunset on the last night of my trip:

Then I came home and got kissed by kitties:

The end.

Really?

I think that the universe does not want me to have a job.

First, I was disturbed by the terrible heat and humidity that would surely make my hair/makeup look less than professional for my interview today. So I packed a bag with water, a comb, and some extra powder for my nose.

Then, I was distressed by the widespread MTA disruptions due to what is being called a "tornado" this morning, so I called the office I was headed to and told them I might be late if the trains weren't running.

Finally, when I called, I was dismayed by the news that the position I was supposed to interview for had actually been filled two or three weeks ago and I just never got the message.

Fortunately, ZPJ can't make it into work either, because there are actually NO trains running from Bklyn to downtown right now, so we're just chilling on the couch watching movies, avoiding the "sauna"-like conditions outside, and wondering if either of us will ever work again.

Home Sweet Brownstone

I made it home this morning with a minimal amount of adventure; no delays or missed flights but it did take almost 12 hours, a bus, two trains, two cars and a plane. I also had a minimal amount of sleep on the flight, so I just took the most delightful nap on my new bed with my two old cats. They fill me with love and comfort.

It seems NYC is really pulling out the stops for my return. A heat index of 100 today! I'm debating whether I should travel to book club and brave the mugginess, but I think I might have to. I can't let this city defeat me when I've only been back one day!

My birthday is this week, so look forward to the annual "Highlights from 27, Hopes for 28" post on Thursday. Also, if you haven't RSVP'ed for my party, the 20th Anniversary of Lauren's 8th Birthday, you are lame. You know who you are. You are the one right now with the "wow, I am lame" look on your face and your handle in the "undecided" section of the evite. I will not be handing out extra party favors to those who do not come.

Worst thing about being back: the weather.

Best thing about being back: ZPJ and my cats. In that order.

No contest.

I leave you with this question: Why is the strawberry kid handing the muggy cloud money and why does one of the clouds have a skull cap on?

From the Southwest to the Northwest

The southwest of Canada, that is.

I'm back in B-ham today, hanging with family. My mother-in-law is doing her best to recruit me into moving here.

"You know, this is a very affordable area...the schools are so wonderful...we have several local theatres...did you know that they're spending 11 million on a new children's museum? Surely they need someone to do drama with them...the DA's office is hiring...isn't it beautiful here???"

And it is beautiful. Can't argue there. It's gorgeous. But I'm happy that I'm heading back to the Northeast and my very own little NYC tonight. It's been a long trip with many transportation-related adventures and a great deal of reflection. I'm thinking a lot about the future these days. What I want my future to look like. Conferences are good for that. So is travel. So I'm hopping on a bus then a plane and heading back and maybe I'll make some decisions about things while I'm on my way but more likely than not I'll just read and listen to some music and hopefully sleep for at least an hour or two. And then I get to see ZPJ and my kittie cats!!! I am going to kiss them all, and some of them will lick me back. Who knows, maybe all of them. Tomorrow I will post a photo journal of my trip. You will enjoy it. I promise.

Frustrating Things

Sometimes frustrating things happen during travel. Like missing a train. Like spending more money than you anticipate. Like trips taking twice as long as you think they might. Like not getting to see friends for as long as you would like. Like being kind of tired of living out of a suitcase. Of course, all these things which are frustrating coexist with things that are wonderful. Like seeing friends for even a little while. Like seeing large mountain ranges. Like getting inspired. Like learning new things.

My most frustrating thing about today (and, I anticipate, the rest of the week) is not being able to use my cell phone because of evil roaming charges ("what do you mean Canada is a different country?!?!") and not having much internet access. But at least I have a little bit, so I'm going to try to make do. But I don't like it. I already missed a schmoopy call to ZPJ that I feel bad about.

Another thing that is not a frustrating thing so much as just a thing is that I learned that I didn't get the job that I had the phone interview for a week ago. But I did learn that I might still be able to freelance for the same company and I might have some other freelancing options on the horizon as well. I like freelancing, and secretly (or not actually secretly but just if you ever asked me) I didn't really want this full-time job that I was applying for because I like freelancing so much, but I felt like I should want it because it was a great job with a real salary and benefits, but actually I'm going to be much happier just keeping on like I keep on. Ha! You can't tie me down!!!

I'm saying hello to Canada for you all. It loves you. It really does. It's sending kisses. I am having fun sharing lots of things with someone with whom I share one or two very important distinguishing characteristics, and one thing that we are sharing this week (besides a hotel room) is a constant stream of comparisons between this country and the one that we usually live it. It would be irritating if we didn't keep it to ourselves, mostly. Maybe there is an overheardinvancouver.com website, though, and you can keep an eye out for people overhearing our nation-reducing generalizations. In the meantime...this country is much cleaner than the one that we are from.