Those Germans

Although I must cheer German skepticism of Scientology, I also must express concern about their drivers. I referenced one unusual driving incident in a May 30 post and now I find one involving chickens. Although the circumstances are amusing, I probably shouldn't laugh at this mass murder. (Driver Kills 300 Chickens)

Wendi, this one's for you!

Bath Time

So, since the cats are going to be indoor cats, I decided that they will get semi-regular baths to help with the shedding and overall cleanliness. I decided to wait a few days so they could get over travel trauma before I gave them something new to stress them. Today was the day. I rounded them up in the bathroom and decided to wash Garfunkel first. He's a squiggly little guy and gave me a few scratches which is very unusual for him. Also unusual was the screaming he did. I've never heard him swear at me so loud, his voice would have made a sailor blush. Even now I'm waiting for that follow up from animal control based on my neighbors' reporting. Simon, ever the sympathetic brother watched this all nonchalantly from the rear edge of the tub. After I rinsed the soap out and got him toweled off, it was Si's turn. Considering G's noise, I was dreading washing Simon because he's known for mouthing off about EVERYTHING and I assumed this would be at least twice as bad. Not a peep! Yep folks, Simon endured an entire bath without uttering a word. It might be the longest he's been quiet while not asleep in his entire life.

Update

Well, I did not go downstairs to ask my neighbor to turn up the radio, but this morning I can make out the words. Apparently this neighbor has some diverse taste as I've heard everything from Johnny Cash to Kelly Clarkson

Apartment Life

Today I should probably continue to unpack, but I took my dad to the airport this morning and now being alone in Syracuse for the first time I can fully sit with what I've done. I MOVED CLEAR ACROSS THE UNITED STATES!!!! And why you ask, I did it because I could. I woke up this morning to jackhammering below, it's the second day of it. I'm beginning to wonder if they're trying to remove the foundation of my building and if I need to look for another place. In the breaks between jackhammering, I sit and try to figure out exactly how loud one has to play their stereo in the apartment below to make my furniture vibrate. I've been trying to cover up the noise by listening to my records. I finally got record inserts for my 45s. I'd been trying to find them for a long time, but as not knowing the official name of them, had been unsuccessful. Fortunately I saw a stranger in Portland who had a picture of one on his shirt and accosted him for the information. He seemed startled and perhaps a little scared. But, I finally can listen to my 45s, and really, it's all about me, isn't it?

Speaking of scared, Si & G aren't big fans of the noise either. At first they ran from room to room looking for safe places until I decided that maybe if I closed the windows and turned on the air, it'd be quieter in here. Lucky for them, I will delay bath time another day so as not to further traumatize them.
Simon Being Scared


I'm still trying to figure out how I own so much stuff. I keep unpacking and there is just more and more. Some of it entirely useless such as the elephant water gun that McDonald's gave away with the happy meal when Disney opened that game park type thing in Florida. Why can't I get rid of it? Because Jeannette and I used it to train Daphne not to get into trouble. And besides, it was so much fun to see visitors eyes widen when I'd say "Hurry Jeannette, get the elephant gun!" And that is why I have so much stuff.

One of the reasons I chose my apartment was because it had a washer and dryer in it. So yesterday, I decided to wash a blanket. When I turned it on, the washer groaned as if it were going to work, but there was no water pouring in (call me Western, but water is a prerequisite for being clean). So Dad pulled the unit out and flipped a switch and water began pouring in. Even though it was set on cold, the water was ridiculously hot. Further investigation showed that the cold setting yielded hot water and the hot setting yielded nothing. So I called in a work order.

After hauling everything I own up two flights of stairs, Dad and I nixed the idea of finding me a couch. Instead I hunted on Craig's list for a chair which brought me this delightful specimen.

I really lucked out as it is quite comfy. Now I only need a footstool as I cannot get Garfunkel to stand still long enough.

In the meantime I'm thinking of going downstairs and asking my neighbor if he (or she) could turn the volume up so I can at least hear the words.

Leaving Las Portland

I wrote the following for another blog, but then realized I didn't want to write something else for this one. So I apologize to my cohort members for the duplicate writing that results from laziness

Today Dad & I packed up everything I own and took two angry cats on the road. We have a huge truck because my dad did some fancy math and decided it was more economical, so I'm driving to New York, with enough room left in the truck to take about 15 homeless people on vacation. Since we're staying two nights with my uncle in Vancouver, we didn't load the car onto the trailer yet so I spent my driving alone time thinking of the things I'd miss. I ordered onion rings at DQ (yeah, I know, NY is retarded without DQs) and drove out Wilsonville Road, listening to Comfortably Numb (apparently it's a real tearjerker) and crying the whole way. I said goodbye to the sign that says "blueberry's for sale" without out even internally mocking the grammatical error by saying (exactly what is your blueberry selling?) I started thinking about our top ten lists and how when I come back for my final defense, I'm going to be trying to do so many things I've missed. As I drove into Portland, the sun was beginning to set behind the West Hills and I thought about how much I love the people and the culture of Portland. I glanced around at my fellow drivers thinking about how, in every other city I've been in, drivers are pushy and rude. But no, not good old P-town, I'm going to miss those nice drivers. I've heard rumors about New Yorkers, how pushy and impatient they can be. Lost in my reverie, I notice a white Corolla coming down an on ramp. Trying to be a nice Portland driver, I slow down so she can go ahead of me, but she won't, so I try to speed up as we're rapidly running out of two lanes. And then, she rams on her gas nearly sideswipes my car, cuts in behind me, races to the left side of me, flips me the bird and drops the f bomb out her passenger window. Ah sweet reality...I'M SO OUTTA HERE!!!!

Smarter than They Look

Welcome to Scotland, where a gull steals chips.
Video

Similarities

These pictures caught my eye...Honestly, I'm not trying to pope-bash, I just couldn't resist!