Adventures

Lawdog wrote a good thing. Read it. :) Articles matter of fact, common sense, rational approach to things left me wondering if Col. Jeff Cooper bequeathed LawDog his pen.

That said, I find myself terribly distracted of late - between job-hunting (and after a year effectively out of the market laid up recuperating, that's a darned scary and distracting project) and the evilly seductive ways of a New Years present from a Russian friend of mine (Seasons 1 & 2 of House on DVD) I'm not writing as much as I should if I'm going to get back into the swing of things. BAAAD blogger! BAD!

Watching the misanthropic antics of House (not unlike the simple joys of Worf in STNG, or Denny Crane and Alan Shore on Boston Legal...or reading the Garrett, PI series...) is a guilty pleasure - an admission that far more folks than I'm readily willing to admit have difficulty tying their shoelaces in their morning, probably shouldn't handle dangerous implements like rubber spoons, and have occasional significant issues with veracity.

Perhaps I'm a wild-eyed optimist, but I still can't bring myself to believe that we benefit from dumbing down our society to the level of the lowest common denominator. A free society that actually acknowledges the rights of its' members as rights and not privileges is not risk-free...but it's a helluva lot nicer to live in.

The church down in Palm Springs called, happily enough, and asked me to knock out their Jan/Feb newsletter which should bring some needed lucre over the threshold, and it's been an adventuresome day or so otherwise. Two good job interviews that, while the positions pay for beans, felt really good - something about the phrases "over-qualified", "would we provide you enough challenge", and "gee, you've got a great resume" all tend to provide a warm fuzzy feeling when re-entering the job market.

Tonight, however, was the culmination of a recent series of events with two friends of mine..a couple. Call them Runt and Rotund. At 5' and 100lbs soaking wet, Runt certainly merits his name, as does his taller and more spherical partner, Rotund.

Seems Rotund is the soft-hearted sort, taking in not just cats (don't forget the cat) but two-legged strays as well. He's a good guy, as is his partner, Runt - Runt is just more practical. As is often the case, the two-legged variety occasionally turn out to be parasitical vermin, something Runt has a finely honed instinct for detecting.

This was/is the case with Rotund's roomie, who recently won the Bad Roomie Award w/ Gold Sphincter Cluster...after apparently making off with R'n'R's watches and a pair of rather nice rings they'd recently presented each other in recognition that "gee whiz, things are serious enough I wanna spend the next 40-50 years together". Vanishing metalwork is bad enough, but if sentimental value is attaches, say, like unto a wedding ring or similar trinket...the stakes go up.

BR miraculously found the trinkets, but not surprisingly, damage had been done. Tonight was the night of the Big Surprise Move.

'Bout 3/4 of the way through BSM, BR walks in...with broke-down furniture, dismounted curtain rods, and big packed boxes everywhere. Woohoo. Big diva queen fun. BR starts going on that since Rotund had supported/fed/clothed/bought trinkets for him for 6 mo (and covered the rent)...that Rotund OWED him various items of furniture Rotund had purchased, a computer, and sundry other items and services.

Runt, Co-conspirator, and I all stood back respectfully...and departed gracefully when asked to do so by Rotund so that he might...more freely express himself. Further deponent sayeth not. But on return, BR was gone, and we finished loading the cars and completed the "non-professional" phase of the move...oh, and did I mention cats?

Seems Rotund has an absolutely charming Maine Coon/ShortHair Something cross (I can't guarantee the Maine Coon...but it has everything but the tufted ears and the long hair, including the massive size) that is a bit reticent about travel. Kitty has found exciting ways to make its' displeasure mightily clear in enduring fashion. First off, a nearly 25lb kitty can make a really impressive argument about the notion of climbing in a cat carrier...but this was merely the warm up argument.

Upon start-up of R'n'R's vehicle Kitty shared a little gift that by itself shouldn't take more than a week or so to air out of the Volvo...but Rotund being a kindly soul, once the car was sealed, took Kitty out of the carrier to comfort Kitty....and hopefully reduce trauma. This was, of course, all part of the evil Kitty plan.

I never knew that cats could projectile vomit. Never would've guessed. Just didn't seem to think they'd be built that way. Still don't know what alternate dimension they stow a seemingly endless SUPPLY of the vile stuff...certainly they don't have sufficient internal volume to re-paint an entire windshield, dash, and leather front seats.

Most of the time, having a bum arm rather sucks. Now and again, however, exists a silver lining...say...when asked to help unload clothes and electronics from a stinking vomit-volvo, it can be *nice* to be able in all honesty to smile sorrowfully, point at the scar, and say "sorry, 8lb load limit - I can hold the door (and my nose too, at the same time)". Rare moments, certainly, but it seems silly to discard silver linings....

Kitty was still recovering in her new home when I left, and the boys, nauseated, unclean, and emotionally exhausted...but...with all that could've gone wrong, having it max out at Evil Kitty Plan seems like a pretty good outcome.

Off to see the Doc in the morning...get all checked in w/ the 2" of medical triviata from Palm Springs, and breakfast after. Woohoo!