I am not a cat person.
Today I was trying to work on my newspaper article (done! yes!), and Lulu the Dying Breather wanted to be in my lap and get some attention. That charmed me for awhile, until she started to get cat hair all over my keyboard. Also, she has really bad breath.
I am all itchy now, and my nose is stuffed up. Argh, allergies!
Oh well, it's worth it; I mean the cats are a very small price to pay for the chance to be in a different place for a little while, and I don't hate them. They are pretty well-behaved and keep to themselves mostly, except when they want to be petted (Lulu) or drink out of the bathtub faucet (Pould). Besides, just about any creature under the sun would be better than the insufferable Leo, whom I miss not at all.
Speaking of animals, I thought I might go to the zoo today, since I have the day off. Then I thought, maybe I should get my eyebrows done. Can't do both, which will it be? Education or beautification?
I leave it to your imagination. You should know me well enough by now.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Housesitting
I am writing this from a nice little apartment in North Hollywood, where I am housesitting for a friend and taking care of cats. I don't know if I am a cat person or not. I think I would be if I weren't allergic to them, because honestly they are wonderful to cuddle with--when they are in the mood, that is.
My friends use some stuff called Allerpet on the cats, so I haven't had any trouble with allergies. What I have had a little trouble with is the fact that one of the cats wheezes worse than I do when my asthma kicks in, and I worry that any second she is going to die. My friends left a note for me with various instructions, including the injunction to not worry about her dying because that's just how she sounds, but I can't help it. She sneezes alot too, and I wonder if she's allergic to something. My lungs hurt just listening to her breathe!
But at least she is very friendly. I like cats that like to be petted, and that like to curl up on your lap and purr. That's what cats are for.
It's nice to have a place all to myself for awhile. There are lots of books here, and all sorts of guitars. I'm going to try my hand at the 12-string later, if I can figure out how to tune it!
My friends thoughtfully left me a gift certificate to Trader Joe's, my favorite grocery store in the world. Just walking into Trader Joe's makes you feel healthy and organic. They have all sorts of specialty foods, as well as wines and juice and soy milk. I like soy milk. They also have great dark chocolate. Trader Joe's was one of the things I missed most during my time in New Zealand.
The other thing, of course, was In-N-Out, which isn't healthy at all. Hmmm.
Well, I am rambling. I am also (shhhh!) procrastinating on finishing another newspaper article. Yikes! Better get back to it. But first I'm going to play with the cat, if I can find her. Oh wait, I'll just follow the sound of her breathing...
My friends use some stuff called Allerpet on the cats, so I haven't had any trouble with allergies. What I have had a little trouble with is the fact that one of the cats wheezes worse than I do when my asthma kicks in, and I worry that any second she is going to die. My friends left a note for me with various instructions, including the injunction to not worry about her dying because that's just how she sounds, but I can't help it. She sneezes alot too, and I wonder if she's allergic to something. My lungs hurt just listening to her breathe!
But at least she is very friendly. I like cats that like to be petted, and that like to curl up on your lap and purr. That's what cats are for.
It's nice to have a place all to myself for awhile. There are lots of books here, and all sorts of guitars. I'm going to try my hand at the 12-string later, if I can figure out how to tune it!
My friends thoughtfully left me a gift certificate to Trader Joe's, my favorite grocery store in the world. Just walking into Trader Joe's makes you feel healthy and organic. They have all sorts of specialty foods, as well as wines and juice and soy milk. I like soy milk. They also have great dark chocolate. Trader Joe's was one of the things I missed most during my time in New Zealand.
The other thing, of course, was In-N-Out, which isn't healthy at all. Hmmm.
Well, I am rambling. I am also (shhhh!) procrastinating on finishing another newspaper article. Yikes! Better get back to it. But first I'm going to play with the cat, if I can find her. Oh wait, I'll just follow the sound of her breathing...
Monday, September 12, 2005
Movie Time
I have a strange relationship with the City of Angels. Born and bred here, I still know less about it that lots of people who come here from other places. I have never been one for the "scene"; in fact, I'm not entirely sure what the "scene" is, but if it involves going out to clubs in hopes of getting hit on by drunk, not-so-up-and-coming screenwriters with sleazy grins and over-developed senses of self-importance, not to mention spending the bulk of weekend nights just looking for parking on Sunset or Hollywood or wherever to avoid paying $10 or much more in a lot, so you can go to said club and get hit on by said guys, I can't say I'm particularly interested.
You can take for granted that anyone who says they are a writer in LA means they are a screenwriter. If you threw a rock in the store where I work, you would: a) probably break a few computers, but b) knock out a screenwriter or two. A big difference from the Bay Area, where everyone writes novels and short stories and obscure poetry about their inner children, or maybe the ghosts of those children, who sit in some lonely corner of the forgotten soul crying out with keening voices about being devoured by the black hole that is the universe. San Franciscans are progressive, you see, where Angelenos are progressing...it's just no one knows quite where they are progressing to. Which can be a little awkward, as you can imagine.
I admit I've considered screenwriting, if only out of a sense of curiosity. I like to write dialogue. How about this for a movie scene?
Boy: Hi there. My name is Joe.
Girl: Joe! No one's named Joe anymore, especially in the movies.
Boy [disconcerted]: Oh really? I had no idea! What should my name be then?
Girl: I don't know. But maybe we should kiss now. After all, a few minutes have gone by.
Boy: Well, alright. [Starts to lean in]
Girl [stopping him]: Wait! You have to say something romantic first.
Boy: Oh, of course. Sorry. [Thinks] You're pretty.
Girl: That's good enough. [They kiss]
Boy: Oh by the way, what's your name?
Girl: Why, I...don't know!
Boy: Oh well. Let's kiss again. [They do]
Boy: Now what?
Girl: Well, there's still a while til the movie ends. Why don't we hijack a car, rob a bank, and blow up a building or two? I'm sure the resulting chase scenes will be a good adrenaline rush for audiences, and we won't have to talk alot. Then we can have sex too. I'm sure by then we'll know each other's names and it won't seem quite so awkward.
Boy: That sounds cool! I like shooting things. Can I have a gun?
Girl: Sure. Let's go shopping. I want a shorter miniskirt.
[Exeunt]
Ok, so it needs a little work. I won't be quitting my day job or anything.
You can take for granted that anyone who says they are a writer in LA means they are a screenwriter. If you threw a rock in the store where I work, you would: a) probably break a few computers, but b) knock out a screenwriter or two. A big difference from the Bay Area, where everyone writes novels and short stories and obscure poetry about their inner children, or maybe the ghosts of those children, who sit in some lonely corner of the forgotten soul crying out with keening voices about being devoured by the black hole that is the universe. San Franciscans are progressive, you see, where Angelenos are progressing...it's just no one knows quite where they are progressing to. Which can be a little awkward, as you can imagine.
I admit I've considered screenwriting, if only out of a sense of curiosity. I like to write dialogue. How about this for a movie scene?
Boy: Hi there. My name is Joe.
Girl: Joe! No one's named Joe anymore, especially in the movies.
Boy [disconcerted]: Oh really? I had no idea! What should my name be then?
Girl: I don't know. But maybe we should kiss now. After all, a few minutes have gone by.
Boy: Well, alright. [Starts to lean in]
Girl [stopping him]: Wait! You have to say something romantic first.
Boy: Oh, of course. Sorry. [Thinks] You're pretty.
Girl: That's good enough. [They kiss]
Boy: Oh by the way, what's your name?
Girl: Why, I...don't know!
Boy: Oh well. Let's kiss again. [They do]
Boy: Now what?
Girl: Well, there's still a while til the movie ends. Why don't we hijack a car, rob a bank, and blow up a building or two? I'm sure the resulting chase scenes will be a good adrenaline rush for audiences, and we won't have to talk alot. Then we can have sex too. I'm sure by then we'll know each other's names and it won't seem quite so awkward.
Boy: That sounds cool! I like shooting things. Can I have a gun?
Girl: Sure. Let's go shopping. I want a shorter miniskirt.
[Exeunt]
Ok, so it needs a little work. I won't be quitting my day job or anything.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Prayer
In this world, I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's One who holds my hand,
the rugged road through barren lands...
In your love, I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to thee.
--Alison Krauss & Union Station, "A LIving Prayer"
With no place to call my home
But there's One who holds my hand,
the rugged road through barren lands...
In your love, I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to thee.
--Alison Krauss & Union Station, "A LIving Prayer"
Haunted
The level of my delight at finding this article today can only be imagined:
Landlord Sues Restaurateur Over Ghosts
I can die happy now.
Landlord Sues Restaurateur Over Ghosts
I can die happy now.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Checking In
Ack! It's been--let's see--three days since my last post! I'm slipping terribly. My apologies to you all...
(Becca says that maybe I just wanted to leave my picture up longer for everyone to see. I said maybe she's right. Ah, vanity, vanity!)
I don't actually have much to say today, except this. Customers can be very frustrating people. I am utterly mystified by them at times. For example, they have this tendency to be aggrieved when you are out of stock on particular items that they want, as if they suspect you did it on purpose, to spite them. Or they act like they suspect you of not telling the truth, that in fact you have HUNDREDS of whatever it is they want in the back, and you are just telling them you don't have it so you can go into the breakroom later and laugh at them maniacally behind their backs with all your mean-spirited co-workers.
Let me assure everyone right now that this is not the case. If we don't have it, we don't have it, and all the moaning, groaning, questioning, and angry gesticulation will do absolutely nothing to make it appear. Trust me on this, ok? Please. if not for the sake of my sanity, then for the sake of your blood pressure. Your health is a precious thing; don't break it over not getting an iPod Nano or something like that before everyone else on your block does. For the love...!
On another note entirely: I noticed finally that the days are growing very short. It is dark already and only 7:30pm. I love the autumn, and am looking forward to it eagerly, even though I live in California where autumn doesn't happen in any sort of spectacular displays. But it does get cooler, and sometimes you smell woodsmoke on the air if you go for a walk in the evening, and that's good enough for me.
(Becca says that maybe I just wanted to leave my picture up longer for everyone to see. I said maybe she's right. Ah, vanity, vanity!)
I don't actually have much to say today, except this. Customers can be very frustrating people. I am utterly mystified by them at times. For example, they have this tendency to be aggrieved when you are out of stock on particular items that they want, as if they suspect you did it on purpose, to spite them. Or they act like they suspect you of not telling the truth, that in fact you have HUNDREDS of whatever it is they want in the back, and you are just telling them you don't have it so you can go into the breakroom later and laugh at them maniacally behind their backs with all your mean-spirited co-workers.
Let me assure everyone right now that this is not the case. If we don't have it, we don't have it, and all the moaning, groaning, questioning, and angry gesticulation will do absolutely nothing to make it appear. Trust me on this, ok? Please. if not for the sake of my sanity, then for the sake of your blood pressure. Your health is a precious thing; don't break it over not getting an iPod Nano or something like that before everyone else on your block does. For the love...!
On another note entirely: I noticed finally that the days are growing very short. It is dark already and only 7:30pm. I love the autumn, and am looking forward to it eagerly, even though I live in California where autumn doesn't happen in any sort of spectacular displays. But it does get cooler, and sometimes you smell woodsmoke on the air if you go for a walk in the evening, and that's good enough for me.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Alright, Just This Once!
A rare sighting indeed...I don't usually post pictures of myself here, but I did my hair again and thought you might like to see. And last time I posted a picture of my hair, but not my whole face, there was this to-do about how the picture was really all about my eyes, so to avoid that, here is the real deal!
Coloring my hair has almost always been more a result of boredom than anything else, really. This past weekend was very long, especially since all I did was sit around the house because I was sick. By last night I was feeling a bit stir crazy. I was also having a slight asthma attack and couldn't find my inhaler. I thought I'd go to the pharmacy and get a new one, and then I thought, "Hey while I'm there why don't I get some dye and color my hair! That'll give me something to do tonight!"
And it did!
Coloring my hair has almost always been more a result of boredom than anything else, really. This past weekend was very long, especially since all I did was sit around the house because I was sick. By last night I was feeling a bit stir crazy. I was also having a slight asthma attack and couldn't find my inhaler. I thought I'd go to the pharmacy and get a new one, and then I thought, "Hey while I'm there why don't I get some dye and color my hair! That'll give me something to do tonight!"
And it did!
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