Pepe died. A few weeks ago. I came home and found him on the floor near the front door. I don't know what happened. He had been improving, eating on his own and having more energy. I did everything I think I could have done. I just don't understand. My heart is broken.

The ceiling in my bedroom fell in again when it rained the other week.

I had another panic attack last night. At first, when Aengus didn't come to the door when I got home, I thought he was sick and hiding. But after searching every nook and cranny, I couldn't find him. He wasn't in the apartment. I started searching outside, and a neighbor pointed me in the right direction. I found him scared and cowering near some steps 2 buildings away. He's okay, thank goodness. He must have fallen or jumped out of my window where the screen is torn.

So, with the exception of Pepe, all these things really aren't that bad in the grand scheme of things. I know that. But I need some relief. I've been stressed out basically non-stop for the past two months. I'm so tired. I'm just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.

Tags: aengus, apartment, pepe, stress
Current Mood: gloomy

Thank god. I have some restored faith in the American people again.

I have to say that I wasn't that excited about Obama in the beginning. I really just didn't want McCain to win. But after listening to all of his speeches and plans, I really like him. I hope that he can accomplish even half of what he wants to do. He's got such wonderful ideals and dreams of what America can and should be. He is a man of true integrity. I really respect his honesty, and I appreciate the fact that he tells people straight out that things aren't going to turn around overnight. He's realistic and at the same time is a visionary. I've never been this excited about the political process, and I hope this is the start of some good changes to come.

Current Mood: ecstatic

Okay. So I went on vacation last month. Big ship, good food, Caribbean waters, lots of sun, tropical fish and coral reefs. Lots of fun. Then I came home and my world exploded. Five minutes home and I was running back out the door to the vet emergency room. Pepe is sick. After three days in the hospital and weeks of force-feeding and pills at home, he is starting to act normal again, although he still has really low energy. And all the muscle mass on his back is gone. Doctor's think he has pancreatitis. The poor thing was so nauseous. He just vomited all the time. Couldn't eat a thing. But now he's coming to greet me again, and he eats by himself. It's going to be a slow process of rebuilding his muscles. Did you know that cats metabolize muscle before fat? I do now. I think he'll be on the steroids for the rest of his life.

I would like to add that I came down with a horrible flu/illness during that same bad period when Pepe was really sick. So we both had diarrhea together, and I was in the worst part of the sickness deliriously cleaning up cat vomit and poop and it was just wonderful.

Anyway, Pepe and I are both much better now. Crisis averted. And then it started to rain. I reported a leak in my roof over a month ago, right? They came out two weeks later to do some work, but it actually made it worse. And so, last week, the ceiling caved in. In the bedroom and living room. The bedroom wasn't too bad, but when it kept raining, it was like a waterfall in my living room. I live in the ghetto. It's horrible. I had an argument with the property manager on Monday over whether or not the carpet guys had been there to get the water up. I know they hadn't been there. The place stunk, the carpet was still soaking, and the buckets I left out were still all over the floor. So she said she would have them go out there "again". Well, Monday night, what a difference when they actually show up! I'm still worried about mold, though, since the carpet sat there soaked for 6 days.

The cats and I have been living in the complex's two-bedroom furnished model, but I suppose we need to move out tonight, since all the work that is going to be done on my place has been done. Supposedly the "roof patches" have been fixed. And a guy was there to fix the inside ceiling. He basically just plastered up the holes. I'm waiting for it to rain again, because I know it's not fixed. Oh, and their "model" apartment? There is a leak in the ceiling of one bathroom from the air conditioner. One of the faucets in the other kitchen doesn't shut off. The garbage disposal in the kitchen doesn't work, and water doesn't drain through it at all. The ceiling fan and light in the living room don't work. Oh, and there was an ant infestation until I sprayed all the windows and wall cracks. And I'm positive that employees use that apartment for all sorts of things. The only good thing I can say about that apartment is the air conditioner is quiet and gets really cold.

So. I would love to move, but I'm totally broke. My lease is up in March, and I should have my tax return by then, so I'm definitely looking for something else. Ugh. I hate moving. I really don't want to box all my shit up again.

The only positive thing that's happened this week is that I'm moving to a new office. It's actually an office with an actual door that shuts. In fact, it's a corner office, and not only does it have a door, it has three big windows. So I'm pretty happy about that. AND it's on a quieter side of the building, so I won't have to hear the snot-horker anymore!! Yay! The ironic thing is, I'm angling to get a different job in a new unit in about a month, and that will mean I have to move back out of that lovely office. lol Sigh.

Tags: apartment, pepe, sick, work
Current Location: Hell's loudest cubicle
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: work mix

I'm not going to answer questions the way you want to hear. Golly gee, you keep looking to the past. Joe Six-pack, Hockey Mom: I'm going to give you straight talk, goll doggit. We need to ramp it up. We need that maverick to get in there and get it done.

Bless their hearts, their reward is waiting in heaven.

You betcha.

Current Mood: frustrated

( See some pictures of FAMU's vineyard )

Current Location: home
Current Mood: mellow

I just made jelly! I went to FAMU's vineyard yesterday and picked the grapes with my own two hands. It's so satisfying to hear the POP! of the jars sealing themselves. Now I think I've got enough grapes to make a second batch, but I'm not sure if I should. I was going to try to make some grape juice, but I don't have a pitcher. I do have empty jars, but I'm not sure I'll ever get rid of so much jelly. lol

My mom and I also sat in a wine-making demonstration, and we're thinking of making that a little hobby. It sounds fun, but it takes forever!

Tags: crafts
Current Location: home
Current Mood: pleased

I keep freaking myself out by repeatedly and compulsively checking the National Hurricane Center website for storm predictions and tracking. Christ. Not only am I watching the progress of various named storms, but everytime I go on, I see all those colored circles of potential activity coming across from Africa and I fret a little more. What if another storm hits us? But really, the question is, What if my cruise gets canceled?

Tags: bad weather, cruise
Current Location: the quietest cubicle known to government
Current Mood: anxious
Current Music: Norman Greenbaum

So it rained for something like 36 hours non-stop this weekend. I felt really stir-crazy for some reason. I mean, I normally do nothing on the weekends but knit and watch movies and read anyway, but knowing that I couldn't go out made the routine unacceptable. I only lost power for about 3 hours on Saturday, which was a miracle, because some people at work lost theirs on Friday and still don't have it back. The rain stopped late morning on Sunday, but I was awakened at 5:30 this morning by a vicious crack of lightning right outside my window. I didn't want to leave home this morning. Aengus is so scared by thunder. He was so pathetic and terrified, and he kept running/slinking to the closet and then to my feet and then to the pantry and back again. None of his normal hiding places were protecting him, and the building was actually vibrating with the thunder. And now another band of heavy rain is about to move through. They are closing roads and bridges around the city, but the State still hasn't closed our office!! (Not that it really affects me besides my desire not to be here, but some of my coworkers don't know how they're going to get home.)

Oh, and did I mention that my ceiling started leaking on Saturday? In three places. I left a message with the emergency maintenance people, fully expecting nothing to happen since it was STILL POURING. I called the office this morning and was told that they have some workers coming down from Georgia but they had no idea when my place would get here. Nice, huh? It's supposed to rain all week. I would like to use my stockpot, but it's currently serving as a drip bucket. Thank God, the leak in my bedroom happened 4 inches to the left of my bed, because my bed is too heavy for me to move!!

Tags: aengus, bad weather
Current Mood: distressed

Today was a good day. Not my most eventful birthday ever, but it was happy. My friend Teresa surprised me this morning with a lovely basket of yarn. Tonight I had a nice simple dinner with my mom and Kathy, followed of course by Grandma's famous chocolate layer cake. Delicious! Now I have to make myself bring the rest of it to work tomorrow and not horde it all at home. lol

I've been staying up watching the Olympics all week like a freak. I'm not sure exactly why, but I've been completely captivated. I suppose I have to admit to myself that I enjoy sports a little bit. I've actually been yelling at the screen. lol I do wish that NBC would show a few more sports than swimming and volleyball, though. I know they're doing it live and all that, and some other cable channels that I don't get are showing some other stuff, but I'd rather they didn't show the stuff live so they could give a better variety. I want to see some Judo. And archery. The synchro diving was awesome.

I've been in remarkably good spirits recently. My medicine is really working well, and I've got tons energy. Actually, I think I'm running slightly manic sometimes, but I'm not going to tell my therapist that, because I really like it. lol

Now, only 23 days to vacation!! Yay!

And in sadder news, I saw this online when I got home tonight:

http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment/20080814/ENTERTAINMENT-HARRYPOTTER-DC/

Booooo

Tags: birthday, hp
Current Location: Home
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Olympics broadcasting

I hate myself a little bit for digging on this song. It's David Archuleta's new single. Be warned, I have a sick compulsion for some meaningless pop.


Damn, well the embed didn't work, so go here to listen if you are curious. lol

http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/davidarchuleta/crush.html

Current Mood: amused