The irony

I got my first temp assignment this week. For one month (if I can endure it that long) I am temping at another temp agency. Let me say one thing, don't put a picture of yourself on your resume. That's what I've learned so far.

Is it too late to cancel that order?

After a long day of roaming around the city, we were heading for a train. I was starving so I thought I'd grab some kabob chicken from one of those stands on every corner. I stop and ask the guy for 1 chicken. He looks at me and says "Chicken or beef?". Again I say 1 chicken, please. Him sounding a little agitated, "Chicken or beef?". 1 chicken. I was not being quiet and Craig he didn't understand the man's confusion.

From this point it got weirder. He was really slow putting the chunk of bread on the stick and getting it for me and kept asking me questions in this really accusatory way. "Are you Pakistani?" No, I say and try to conintue my conversation with Craig. Again he asks, "You are not Pakistani?" No I say. What's with this guy? Then he asks me "You KGB?". At this point we are kind of freaked out and he looks like he's ready to beat me with that chicken. "Nope, I'm not." I say. "You are not with the KGB?". What is with this guy. Finally he's handed me the chicken and is taking my money. "You are Jewish?" "No". At this point we practically run down the subway stairs halfway expecting this nutjob to chase us. Seriously this guy was crazy. And to top it all off, my chicken was not even done and I didn't realize this until we got down in the station. Maybe that's just how he gets his kicks or maybe he's a really bad spy. No more street vendors for me for a while.

Kurt Vonnegut

One of my favorite writers, Kurt Vonnegut, was on the Daily Show this week. He's just as sharp as ever. A good quote from him last night, "I think our planet's immune system is trying to get rid of us and should." I think he is completely right. A hurricane is just like a good fever.

If you have not read any Vonnegut, I suggest Galapagos or Slaughterhouse 5 as good starters. I also suggest going to the Daily Show website and watching the interview. I was never one to reread a book, but I have read several of his books multiple times.

NY strikes again.

After the trip to the shelter, all the kittens seemed a bit quiet and slow. Probably from the vaccinations and blood taken, etc. By that night, though, most were back in full swing with the previously sick kitten gaining weight and spunky as ever. The runt never got her full pep back and yesterday she kept throwing up. Wouldn't eat. I couldn't sleep worrying about her and as soon as I opened the bedroom door I could smell death. Poor tiny twin died. No idea what did it--illness, shots, genetic defect just waiting to strike? It is weird that a kitten from a seemingly very healthy (esp. for strays) litter would just die. Now fat twin is looking a little ill, so I'm on kitty watch (and waiting to hear from the shelter). She at least is nursing, which is a good sign.

I just went outside for a walk to get a break and about 3 minutes out, it started to poor. I think NY was trying to drown me. You'll have to try harder than that New York!


Apparently my home town also kills. 5 murders just in the last 9 days. They are on a roll. 2005 is already past the total for 2004 and there are still several months to go.

Maybe it's me...

I get 20 miles to the cat!

Two things.

1. I was at the ASPCA over three hours to get the kittens evaluated. Luckily they did fine on the behavior portion and appear in good health. As long as their bloodwork does not revel any horrible diseases the kittens go back next week to go up for adoption. While waiting, I had to sit in a tiny room with a crazy cat lady talking about how other people are crazy cat people, but not her. When I'm president, I'm pushing for my spay/neuter program for humans. Who's with me?

2. I read on cnn.com that some guy in Germany (Koch) has been using a fuel mix that included dead cats. He calls it an organic diesel fuel -- a homemade blend of garbage, run-over cats and other ingredient."I drive my normal diesel-powered car with this mixture," Koch said. "I have gone 170,000 km (106,000 miles) without a problem." This does not seem like a good solution to the fuel problems. There certainly aren't enough readily available dead cats to mass produce this stuff and I don't think many people will back cat ranches for the purpose of killing the kitties.

UPDATE: While the guy now claims there are no cats in his fuel, I still find this idea amusing.

Alive and evil

Warning: unless you are really bored or really love cats (something I still do not do) this is not an entertaining entry.

The sick kitten still doesn't seem to be eating much kitty food (but perhaps is nursing enough). Be it mother's milk or the plaster under the sink they all seem to be so fond of, she's back to her perky self. However, several of them are vomiting regularly and their digestive tracts are producing strange outputs. Off to the shelter for health evaluations tomorrow, though. Fingers crossed that the ASPCA will take them.

Despite all these symptoms that should make them lethargic and pitiful from dehydration, they can still find the energy to dig those claws into me at every chance. At least one kitten in particular--we call her trouble kitty or fat twin. As I inspected one kitty she ran and leapt onto my back last night, really digging in, and then proceeded to crawl up to my shoulders. She's always doing that sort of thing to me.

What's that noise?

It's our doorbell. It's fixed. Now we don't have to wait on our stoop when we are expecting someone. Funny part about getting it fixed. The electrician came a couple of hours early but he couldn't ring to let us know he was here, so he fixed it and then buzzed us. Brilliant.

In other news, NY may be killing again. One of the kittens seems to be pretty sick! She's usually the spunkiest/quickest one but now she's got the runs and no appetite for over a day! I was going to buy her some pediasure (or whatever it is for babies) to rehydrate her but I was too cheap to pay $12 for it. If she's still sick tomorrow I'll have to find something for her. More to come on white-face kitty's condition. All other kitties seem too healthy. That means troublesome and destructive.

New York kills

First, New York killed one of my beloved plants. I have never seen this plant anywhere else (botanical gardens, etc). It has thrived for years, and as a slow grower was finally filling out to be a lovely plant. Two weeks in NY and it just died.

Now our dear Miss Tang has suddenly passed away. She has never been as robust as Stanley-Bob, but yesterday she seemed her normal self. She was shedding. I was going to feed her today, but when I uncovered the tank.. Well, it was horrifying. She was lying there on her back, pale and lifeless. It looked as though portly S-B had taken a chunk from her poor dead tail. Her body looked as if she had hemorraged. Poor Miss Tang. Her life was short, but hopefully good. S-B is certainly heartbroken. He adored his woman. They made it through stalking, then seemingly good times, and some spells of domestic abuse. Was Stanley-Bob really to blame, though. Miss Tang bore him no children.

Both funerals were short, and the burial containers were white plastic. What or who will be next, New York? Am I next?

What I am qualified to do for society.

Finally, I heard back from one of the many "job" postings I have responded to. I am qualified to do a drug study!! They get to see how a drug (or placebo) affects my short term memory. The drugs are FDA approved sedatives, in case you were wondering so nothing wacky. Me, I get $200 and a free health exam. What more could you ask for. At this point I think it's between that and applying to be an escort. I'm open to suggestions or opinions.

Tom Cruise, I've escaped your clutches of evil!

Short version, we ended up in a Scientology center last Sunday. Slightly longer version, some Russian kid was handing out sheets of paper (just like everyone in NY) and he looked so sad that I took one off him. Free ticket to see a Dianetics video, so we let him lead us there. Just the fact that he seemed so incredibly excited about our acceptance of his offer added to him having to lead us all the way there, was pretty creepy. He probably got to have dinner that night because of us. Well made video, but nothing too out there. They have to ease you into it. I was strong and practically ran out of there as they tried to question me about the video and sell me books. The whole time I felt like they were going to suddenly surround me and tie me up until I joined their religion. Much eerier than watching the Mormon video on Salt Lake.

Broken Doorbell

Our buzzer is broken. This creates problems such as visitors being on our front stoop and us having no clue they are there. It also means we don't get our deliveries. We recently missed a much anticipated delivery from out west and that meant I had to go to the post office to pick it up. The package was not addressed to me but I thought I had the appropriate signatures, etc. on my little form to pick it up. I walked all the way there, mostly ignoring all the racial harassment I oft endure around here, only to be told I did not have all the identification, etc. that I needed to get the package! Before I got irate I noticed one of the postal guys smiling so I smiled back and the shameless flirting ensued. He asked where the recipient of the package was and I told him "at work". He said he's never leave the house if he lived with me! I hope he didn't memorize the address. Needless to say I got the package.

One surprise in the package was Jalepeno Salt seasoning. It's fiery and delicious--I suggest it to fans of spicy foods.