The Freckled Diaries

Reality

So my YAY ITS SNOWING chipper self is gone and I'm back at work into the land of Dec 31st spending deadlines (which is Federal Government code for "hurry up and finish your shit now or we'll lose that money out of the budget for next year") and the mayhem that is the US Senate.

Or, not really mayhem. That makes it sound fun and interesting.  Into the......I don't know. I'm too tired to come up with the right word. But the kind of place where you figure out when (and if) you'll get something resembling a Christmas break through rumors and whispers about floor schedules and planned (or threatened) parliamentary procedures. 

Well thank you, Senator Scrooge. 8pm on Christmas Eve sounds like a swell time to hold a vote on a major piece of legislation. Most of us didn't have plans anyway, you know.

(Cue video up to 4:28)

 

I'm being overly dramatic. I personally don't have to go in on Christmas Eve so it could be worse. But the rough schedule was "out at 1pm on the 23rd unless the Senate is in session". So, like an idiot who ought to know better, I planned on being out at 1pm on the 23d. Doctor's appointment, Christmas shopping, time to pack and maybe even going home that night. No more.

Grumble grumble grumble.

Snow Video

Alright, so it's not ALL about the snow and you'll have to endure about a minute of me cooing over Penny, but it does show a bit of my apartment all Christmassy, the very beginnings of the snow (pictures from today to be posted eventually), my sweet cat, and some very amusing snowball throwing drunks.  Good god I love this town.

Oh, and to clarify (because a friend on Facebook already expressed concern)...he told me to go put some pants on because I was still in my dress and nylons from earlier in the evening--not because I ran out there in boxers or PJs (I stopped doing that when I moved this far up the street--down by the river there was far less auto and foot traffic and fewer neighbors, all of whom treated the street like an extension of their living rooms, too).

Reunited!

You can't tell but she's purring up a mighty storm in this photo. I've been away since Saturday in (or on my way to/from) South Bend, Indiana for my grandmother's funeral. 

Now, before I come off as heartless or something for not being terribly broken up about my grandmother, you have to understand that I am one of many grandchildren and the combination of the hundreds of miles of distance between us and her general antipathy toward children (yes, even though or maybe because she had nine of her own) we were never really close. I was there to pay my respects, to support my mother and to see some far-flung family members for the first time in a long time. That's just kind of how it is, and I wish the whole grandparent thing had worked out better (I never really knew any of mine--one because of estrangement, one because of an early death, one because of an early decline into Alzheimer's and one because of....her) but it didn't. So that's why I don't sound like someone who just lost a grandmother.

Anyway, because I'm generally Not A Fan of air travel (for many and varied reasons, the major two being death and destruction, followed closely by how much of a freaking hassle it is), I decided to take the train. The Capitol Limited is a train route run by Amtrak between Washington DC and Chicago, with stops at some major towns/cities (including South Bend) along the way. It leaves DC shortly after 4pm and arrives in Chicago shortly before 9am the following day. The return leaves Chicago a little before 8pm and arrives in DC at about 1pm the following day. Always looking to try something new and intrigued by the prospect of two full nights of sleep in the same week (there and back), and having noted that even first class accommodations (a sleeper car) were competitively priced with last-minute air travel, I decided to give it a whirl.

I don't know why people travel any other way. I cannot say enough nice things about Amtrak and the service. I snapped a few photos, I don't know how well they turned out though. Basically, with the sleeper car (an extra charge on top of your VERY reasonably priced ticket), you get a little private room with two (very large and comfey) airplane-style chairs facing each other. Those chairs can be pulled out to make a twin sized bed at night time. There's also a pull-down bed from overhead that makes the second bunk (if you're traveling in a pair--if not, you get your choice of bed!). You also have all meals included--and these are real meals, ordered from a menu complete with daily specials while sitting at a table with REAL silverware (none of this plastic crap) and tablecloth. In both directions I got the herb roasted half of a chicken with mashed potatoes because I've been on a real big roast chicken kick these days. You get a salad and dessert as well. Breakfast is also quite nice with lots of choices, made to order. Just lovely. The sleeper car attendant takes down what time you want your bed put together and takes care of all that. On the way there, I chose the top bunk, on the way back, the bottom. I think the bottom was all-around better and more comfortable but who can resist the top bunk?

I loaded up my iPod with Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica (yes, yes, I know) and just kind of relaxed. I got to bed early both nights, and woke up having slept for 8 or more hours feeling like a new person. It was great.

 

Entering my little sleeping area.

 
 Top bunk!

The funeral proceedings itself were simple but nice, and even though the circumstances were sad, the family was happy to be together again. It's always good to see them and every time I do, I resolve to get out to Indiana, Nebraska or Idaho (where they all live) more often.

 

Nice To Have Warm Friends

I have the two cutest cats ever. No competition. I just turned around to see this:

 

When I'm at the computer late at night, Penny (the gorgeous gray one) is one of three places: on my lap, at my feet or on the chair behind me. When she's on my lap she just wants to hang out. When she's at my feet or on the chair, she's waiting for me to head to bed (and usually when I get up, she beelines for the bed to claim "her" spot).

She and Toby are buddies, but like all sibling-cats run hot and cold with each other. It's nice to see them getting along. It's really late (even for me) and I woke them up while sneaking pictures and they think it's bedtime. For Toby, that means going off to wherever he goes at night (it changes, and it's always well hidden...he emerges once I'm asleep and sleeps by my feet), for Penny that means left side of the bed, right where my hand is going to go (all the better to provide her a pillow).

Goodnight!

More Feline Funnies

I don't want the blog to devolve into a "hey, my cats are cute" festival of crazycatladiness but they have just been so darn adorable and funny in the new apartment.  I think it's their general clinginess to each other and me (which I love and think is really cute) and the huge open space that they're not used to (video coming one day!)--basically they have a good 30 feet or so of uninterrupted running space and they use it more or less like a bowling alley.  They're the balls. Oh, and lest I forget: the exploration of new surroundings, resulting in falling into boxes, getting stuck on shelves and generally being the curious little beings they are are all cause for smiles.

It's also the new views, the excitement of life on street level (every passing car still gets perked ears and a look out the window, pedestrians warrant a full-on investigation, while loud bass booming cars and the schoolbus produce very fluffed up, frightened kitties). Add in all the strange noises from above and next door and it is quite the funhouse around here.

Basically, they are pretty funny these days. But what got me writing tonight was this: they both know what the bathtub is for, though, as they both came by to check it out while I was breaking it in on one of our first nights here.  They turned and ran once they understood "huge amount of water".  The result has been that now whenever I come out of the bathroom from having taken a shower, they are waiting for me outside the door, with looks of concern and possible disbelief that I have managed to emerge unscathed.

Funny kitties.

Lady Anchorage, with a Dagger, in a Penguin Costume

I went to a 1920s themed murder mystery night--a fundraiser for the restoration of the ice well at Gatsby's Tavern.  That was the outcome.  Though we, as witnesses knew the dagger and the penguin costume from the start, as we saw the murder happen during cocktails. One thing that bugs: the penguin costume (and the penguin stuffed animals given away when you "buy a clue" and the red herring with the penguin necklace on) was supposed to be a "clue" to Wasilla Anchorage's guilt---for the love of all that is good and holy people and for the last time: penguins are ANTARCTIC animals and Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Scandinavia are all in the ARCTIC regions.  Doesn't sound very different but seriously, vastly hugely and just....different.  Sometimes it feels like me and Encyclopedia Brown are the only two people to realize this (one of the stories that I remember from that series was Encyclopedia knowing someone was guilty because he was lying about seeing polar bears and penguins in the same exhibit in a museum).  

Anyway, beyond the penguin madness that kind of made me twitch (and the Lady Macbeth reference which was not only misquoted but just...no.  If you want to show that a woman committed a murder, Lady Macbeth is not the one to allude to.  That just points the finger at a man who she controls, at least to those who know the play), it was great fun.  We (Rebecca, Erin and I) were decked out in our finest costume jewelry and posed in front of a vintage car and all that good stuff.  We had fun. (And btw I DID buy a clue, which also got me Cecil, my new penguin...and Cecil is a temporary name.  Suggestions much appreciated.)

What else?  It's finally getting cool-ish in the evenings here.  The days are still decidedly summery (75 today) and I have come the realization that I have spent the past four years wishing, almost on a daily basis that it was 10 degrees cooler.  It is so hard to see "the leaves change" (here that basically means "turn something other than green and then die", no brilliant shows of nature's glory here) but have it also be tank top weather.  But anyway, yes, the nights are approaching the "cool" mark.  Which means hearth fires.  Which means the smell of woodsmoke.  And even if the leaves aren't pretty, they still do smell like fall leaves, and smashed acorns.  And that, even in the relative heat, smells like fall.

Bathed the cats yesterday, lived to tell the tale.  Or, well bathed Penny.  She was fine as always about it (though a little miffed after a few minutes).  "Bathing Toby" is actually a real life example of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.  It's interesting, and far bloodier than you'd expect.  I've given up attempting it though, I do value my corneas. 

And, finally.  Sigh.  It's fall, I'm blissfully happy (if slightly nervous) and all is right with the world :)

The mundane, or the sublime?

Updates from the Freckle household include:

• They delivered a refrigerator yesterday but it is too big, and no it's not my own bias against monster-fridges...the Lowes delivery guy said so himself.  I took video, I'll share it when I'm less under-the-gun assignment-wise.
• I am hurriedly finishing The Future of the Past, a great book that I'll be re-reading once I have a little more time to spend with it but as of now need to finish and write a report on it by this time tomorrow.
• Toby, my genius cat, is on the top shelf of my coat closet.  I'm not entirely sure how he got up there and he's not entirely sure how he will be getting down.  He has refused my offers of help, preferring instead to meow and look at the floor, where sits Penny who is, I'm sure, taunting him mercilessly.  

That's pretty much it.  Just another Monday, I suppose. 

Progress

The hole in the floor is as fixed as it's going to be, and I believe that a new refrigerator has been ordered.  I'm still a little miffed that I could have taken care of the fridge thing on my own, overnight and possibly for cheaper but was denied but...eh.  They can do what they want to do. My poor tummy is getting really ill from all the takeout (fridge is now blocking the stove with nowhere else to go as the floor settles into it's new fixed state) and it's really frustrating to not have cold anything.  

I sprang (sprung?) my wee minions from kitty prison and they spent the afternoon running around the apartment wide eyed and jumpy as hell.  They appear to understand that this is "home", thanks largely to the presence of their cat tree, where they are both currently perched and cleaning each other.  Toby, for all of his jumpiness (he honest to god jumps at the sight of his own shadow) has actually been quite bold.  He's led the charge whenever I've opened up a new room for exploration and was the first to perch on the front windowsill and watch life go by (Penny is a bit scared of it--the busses are quite loud). He spent ages up there and I can tell it will wind up being his second favorite spot (nothing will beat the top of the cat tree though). So if you're ever on the 800 block of Prince and see a Siamese in a window say hi to dear Toby.  They neither of them appreciate having someone living above us, and whenever the neighbor walks up there they run for cover.  They'll get used to it.

Also, the report from the vet is positive.  Besides Penny's few extra pounds and the need for them to have a teeth cleaning they are both in fine health and totally up to date with everything. Go me. This is also the first time they've spent more than that one day at this new vet (which doubles as a kennel).  The reports were entirely, and overwhelmingly positive--for Penny in particular.  They said that she was just a joy to have around, and so sweet and a pleasure etc, just exactly how she is with me at home. So to all you who think she's a bitch: pbbbbth, maybe you're just mean to her (or maybe you stepped on her tail once and she hates you forever now). I was fully expecting to hear that they were all in love with Toby and that Penny "had her moments" but no. They love her and want to keep her. They loved Toby, too and said that they spent a lot of the day "talking" to each other through their cell walls and playtime cleaning and cuddling each other and coming up to the vet tech for scratches and cuddles (and Penny apparently kept crawling into her lap for tummy rubs).

Unpacking hasn't happened for a few days because I had a huge workload for school (and still do actually) but my goal is to have it all done in 10 days time, and then paint, and then hang stuff so.....2 weeks from today to be done done done?  I don't know.  We'll see what happens.

Update time!

Oops, it's been nearly a week since I've updated. And I'm going to stop whining. Even with all the packing/moving headaches and the Bastard Landlord this situation has really resolved beautifully and I got more or less exactly what I wanted anyway so....yeah. There's lots and lots to do and iI just want this DONE already (and that's been the recent overwhelming part) but I'm doing it and I'm just going to shutup about it and plod on.  At least that's the plan--no promises :). So, What's been happening besides housing freakout?

For starters, it would appear that almost everyone I've ever known was born in mid-September and I've had the accompanying rash of birthday parties to attend, which have all been great fun (one maybe a little too fun).

I've also been mentally decorating and redecorating the new apartment which is kind of giving me a headache (and is one of the reasons I just want to have this done with already so the fun can begin).

The kitties spent the day at the vet on Thursday because they needed shots and checkups and because I wanted to keep them away from potential open windows...the painters came on Friday anyway, go figure.  They woke us up at the crack of freaking dawn, too!  I spent the morning doing schoolwork in this room (the den?  the library?  I never really figured out what to call it) and kept the kits locked up in here with me.  They did not enjoy the presence of the painters one bit and kept running up to me with saucer-sized eyes whenever a loud noise happened.  Poor dears.  The vet sent me on a bit of a guilt trip over some feline health issues but it's nothing I haven't been aware of.  I'm just going to redouble my efforts on the feline front.

What else?  School.  Work.  Work is "eh", I need a new job.  Research assistantship is just so not my game.  I've applied to a few different things at National Archives, Library of Congress, Legislative Resource Center and American History Museum's Archives Center but those are all kind of random shot in the dark kind of applications.  They are all what appear to be lower-level Bachelor's only required positions, but who knows?  And also who knows if they'd be willing to hire a student who needs flextime to go to class?  I truly don't know if I'm way over or way under qualified for the positions and don't expect to hear back.  But it would be nice to be surprised :)

School in Scotland is on the back burner for now, as I've been reminded of the little deal I struck with my dad in exchange for tuition.  Bummer.  But the option remains, and hopefully I'll gain employment someplace that really wants me to go and get the degree at their expense.  A girl can dream, right?  But really, I may wind up there this summer for a class anyway (it's still in the works--my professor is still getting funding/permission) and I think I'll investigate the option of getting this certain kind of work visa for people getting professional training for after graduation.  I think it's largely a matter of finding a place to sponsor said professional training.  So here's hoping we get the funding for the museums and librarianship class in Scotland this summer.  Birds, meet stones :)   The end of this story is that I am determined to move to the UK, and specifically Edinburgh if I have my way, at some point in the midpoint future (5 year plan).

What else?  School in general rocks, readings, classes, field trips, assignments...all.  Just having fun with it all.  Blissful :)

Finally, the futon.  What can I say?  I now have like 20 swatches and none of them really "work".  I'm just waiting for the move, and until I pick out the new paint color. This whole futon thing really is taking on epic proportions. What I really want is this:

But that's just not going to happen anytime soon.

So, that's life.  And just in case I haven't said it enough, I cannot freaking wait for this move to be over.  Maybe I'll take video before I leave to show an old vs new apartment thing.  But be warned: I'm not going to be cleaning first and this place is moving mess spectacular now that the painters are gone!

Doppelkitty!

It still amazes me just how much Emily's cat (who, we've decided, is Penny's internet boyfriend) looks like Penny.  Seeing a picture of him in his sad medical collar just makes the resemblance all the more striking.

Miette, this weekend:

Penny, several years ago:

Her eyes are usually much greener, like his are, but the light is weird in this photo.

See?