So, last night in between carrying Dog up and down the stairs, when I finally was able to get some sleep, I had some of the most bizarre dreams Ive ever had. I frequently have quite vivid dreams, and I am one of those people who have tactile dreams (ie, I go swimming in the dream, and I can feel water lapping at my skin). This has both benefits and drawbacks, but thats not the point.
The point is this:
Last night, I dreamt that I went swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and got stung by a jellyfish. Then, I slowly morphed into a doughnut. Yes, a jelly doughnut. The transformation was slow and painful, and I remember thinking God I hope I dont lose my legs in front of a police station.
Yes, I am a wierd, wierd humanoid. At least for the time being.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Bummer
So, Dog slipped on the ice yesterday. She cant put any weight on the leg she had knee surgery on back in the fall. I have a sinking feeling poor Dog is going to need to have a second surgery on that knee.
:(
:(
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Upper Gauley
Last night, while watching a movie I really shouldn't have been watching, MO and I discussed the possibility of an adventure trip this summer to West Virginia. While West Virginia itself conjures old people with straw in their mouths on rocking chairs, moonshine, rickety guns, and meth zombies for me, it is also home to the best Class V rapids on the East coast. The Gauley River runs through the state of West Virginia, and is classified as Upper and Lower, based on a couple of factors, but the one that matters to me and MO is the rapids classification. The Upper Gauley is about 10 miles of more difficult water (IV and V), whereas the Lower Gauley is about 11 miles of easier II and III.
*
Now, anyone who knows me and MO in real life, knows that we are both a bit obsessed with adventure sports. And they also know that we are more than slightly preoccupied with a movie called "The Descent." "The Descent" takes place in a National Park in West Virginia; we are already squealing about how we are going to act out scenes from the movie.
We've been climbing a lot more frequently this year than in years past, and we're working on getting qualified to take a lead climbing course. I do not know if we've decided to go caving and climbing while we're in WV, but I wouldnt be surprised if we do.
*
So, this is exciting. I love beaches and all, but I think this might be the highlight of the summer. Here's hoping we can get our friends together for an adventure!
*Photos arent mine; not trying to pass them off as mine, or profit from them. Google images, ladies and gentlemen-- not mine.
*Now, anyone who knows me and MO in real life, knows that we are both a bit obsessed with adventure sports. And they also know that we are more than slightly preoccupied with a movie called "The Descent." "The Descent" takes place in a National Park in West Virginia; we are already squealing about how we are going to act out scenes from the movie.
We've been climbing a lot more frequently this year than in years past, and we're working on getting qualified to take a lead climbing course. I do not know if we've decided to go caving and climbing while we're in WV, but I wouldnt be surprised if we do.
*So, this is exciting. I love beaches and all, but I think this might be the highlight of the summer. Here's hoping we can get our friends together for an adventure!
*Photos arent mine; not trying to pass them off as mine, or profit from them. Google images, ladies and gentlemen-- not mine.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Success!!
As evidenced by my previous post, I had nearly come to the end of my rope and was considering tying some knots in it and swinging from tree to tree with said rope after the nightmare that has been apartment searching. I use the past-tense now because....I found a place!
It was no small feat. Let me explain.
I have been looking in an area that is more metropolitan than suburban, mostly for my mental health. The housewives of Suburbia look at me like Im a wierd combination of Wh*re and Leper. (Please. Like I would ever go near your fat, short, bald husbands, you judgy harpies. I aint interested.) At first, I thought it was all in my head, and then someone else mentioned it to me, and I felt less insane. Which was nice for a change. Usually I feel like Im taking crazy pills, so any sense of sanity is appreciated.
ANYWAY
Like I mentioned, this metropolitan area is notorious for its rather steep rent, and for its centrality to lots and lots of jobs, young people, stuff to do, fun bars, public transit, and museums. (My favorite!) I had seen some seriously scummy areas while looking for an apartment. None of which included parking. So, these tiny, scummy apartments in less-than-safe neighborhoods, which were what I could afford, would have an additional charge for parking, for pets, and to say nothing of utilities. I was most seriously dishearted. All of a sudden, the $900 apartment was $1200, for something the size of a billards table, and was unsecure at best.
I live alone. Im female. I really can't sleep if I am afraid someone is going to break in.
I found a place that included parking, heat and hot water in the rent. And the landlord is an animal lover, so there is no extra charge to have Dog with me. I think I stood in that apartment for all of five minutes before I decided I was going to rent it. Its clean, its bright, its well-maintained. I think itll be a good fit for me and Dog. Yes, it is a bit small. Its a studio apartment, so there's not a lot of free room. Luckilly, Dog and I dont really need much space. I just needed a place that would allow me to have her. I am thrilled to be moving in less than a week.
Also in less than a week? Key West. Aww yeah.
It was no small feat. Let me explain.
I have been looking in an area that is more metropolitan than suburban, mostly for my mental health. The housewives of Suburbia look at me like Im a wierd combination of Wh*re and Leper. (Please. Like I would ever go near your fat, short, bald husbands, you judgy harpies. I aint interested.) At first, I thought it was all in my head, and then someone else mentioned it to me, and I felt less insane. Which was nice for a change. Usually I feel like Im taking crazy pills, so any sense of sanity is appreciated.
ANYWAY
Like I mentioned, this metropolitan area is notorious for its rather steep rent, and for its centrality to lots and lots of jobs, young people, stuff to do, fun bars, public transit, and museums. (My favorite!) I had seen some seriously scummy areas while looking for an apartment. None of which included parking. So, these tiny, scummy apartments in less-than-safe neighborhoods, which were what I could afford, would have an additional charge for parking, for pets, and to say nothing of utilities. I was most seriously dishearted. All of a sudden, the $900 apartment was $1200, for something the size of a billards table, and was unsecure at best.
I live alone. Im female. I really can't sleep if I am afraid someone is going to break in.
I found a place that included parking, heat and hot water in the rent. And the landlord is an animal lover, so there is no extra charge to have Dog with me. I think I stood in that apartment for all of five minutes before I decided I was going to rent it. Its clean, its bright, its well-maintained. I think itll be a good fit for me and Dog. Yes, it is a bit small. Its a studio apartment, so there's not a lot of free room. Luckilly, Dog and I dont really need much space. I just needed a place that would allow me to have her. I am thrilled to be moving in less than a week.
Also in less than a week? Key West. Aww yeah.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Oh, the Humanity!
Clearly, this is a post with a very maudlin, hypermelodramatic theme. Just go with it.
Ive been looking for a place for me and Dog to live for about two months now. Its become most seriously annoying. Every place that allows dogs is about $9,024,957, out of my price range, and even then is still the size of my car. Oh, and the places that are in my price range? Size of a matchbox car, and they dont allow dogs.
Poor Dog, she's starting to get a complex. She's a snuggly quiet little nugget o' love who only occasionally misbehaves. And the misbehaving is never chewing shoes or tearing carpets or barking. Its always running around with a toy in her mouth, mooing, while she tries to get me to pay attention to her at a moment when Im otherwise occupied. I know every dog owner thinks their dog is the BEST DOG EVER, but I think Dog actually is. She is quiet, non-smelly (except the faint wafting odor of Fritos since her last grooming), non-farty, and exceptionally cuddly. I would trust her with a newborn baby on the floor covered in peanut butter and steak.
Needless to say, I am having a hard time accepting that prospective landlords are unwilling to even negotiate on the issue. Its been really frustrating. I always mention upfront that she has to come with me, and that I am willing to pay an extra $100/month for her and have the rugs cleaned (if there are rugs) when I move out. So far, nothing. I keep looking, because god knows if I stay where I am, someone will be leaving in handcuffs. My April move-date might have to be pushed back, though, if I keep encountering this kind of rejection.
Ive been looking for a place for me and Dog to live for about two months now. Its become most seriously annoying. Every place that allows dogs is about $9,024,957, out of my price range, and even then is still the size of my car. Oh, and the places that are in my price range? Size of a matchbox car, and they dont allow dogs.
Poor Dog, she's starting to get a complex. She's a snuggly quiet little nugget o' love who only occasionally misbehaves. And the misbehaving is never chewing shoes or tearing carpets or barking. Its always running around with a toy in her mouth, mooing, while she tries to get me to pay attention to her at a moment when Im otherwise occupied. I know every dog owner thinks their dog is the BEST DOG EVER, but I think Dog actually is. She is quiet, non-smelly (except the faint wafting odor of Fritos since her last grooming), non-farty, and exceptionally cuddly. I would trust her with a newborn baby on the floor covered in peanut butter and steak.
Needless to say, I am having a hard time accepting that prospective landlords are unwilling to even negotiate on the issue. Its been really frustrating. I always mention upfront that she has to come with me, and that I am willing to pay an extra $100/month for her and have the rugs cleaned (if there are rugs) when I move out. So far, nothing. I keep looking, because god knows if I stay where I am, someone will be leaving in handcuffs. My April move-date might have to be pushed back, though, if I keep encountering this kind of rejection.
Monday, February 14, 2011
My New Challenge
Aside from my love of travel, those who know me in person know how much I love a good challenge. I can be goaded into almost anything in the guise of a challenge. I say "almost anything" because I dohave some limits. Heh.
SM challenged me to see who can travel the most this year, and while we have decided upon very, very subjective criteria to decide who has the "coolest" trip, it promises to be a very fun one. (I hate to brag, but while SM has taken an early lead with a trip to Mexico, I am shortly on my way to Key West, and then to Portland Oregon. If you're reading this, SM, you're goin' down!)
This is not, however, the challenge Im talking about.
My latest challenge is to really learn how to rock climb. Im not talking about just going up any ol' route. Im talking being able to pick a route, stick to it, and use technique to get up to the top. Ive been doing some low-key bouldering for a while now, but Ive decided that it's time to kick it up a bit. Im looking to take a class on technique.
HB loves to climb on belay. I am not a belay type of person. I lost a piercing when my parachute deployed, and it was so painful and traumatic that I resist wearing a harness when I climb at all costs. I prefer the bouldering wall, where gravity is your worst enemy, and you know you're going to fall flat on your back. Hopefully you hit a mat, and not an unsupervised child running over your mat. (More on that some other day.)
Ive been climbing V0s for the last two weeks. Im getting progressively better, which is nice. I am not quite able to climb V1s yet, which is disappointing because theyre the next level up. Something to work at I guess. I need V0.5 so that I can improve a little without the frustration.
So far, its been a fun experiment. Ive been unable to open doors for the last few weeks, but thats how that works sometimes...
SM challenged me to see who can travel the most this year, and while we have decided upon very, very subjective criteria to decide who has the "coolest" trip, it promises to be a very fun one. (I hate to brag, but while SM has taken an early lead with a trip to Mexico, I am shortly on my way to Key West, and then to Portland Oregon. If you're reading this, SM, you're goin' down!)
This is not, however, the challenge Im talking about.
My latest challenge is to really learn how to rock climb. Im not talking about just going up any ol' route. Im talking being able to pick a route, stick to it, and use technique to get up to the top. Ive been doing some low-key bouldering for a while now, but Ive decided that it's time to kick it up a bit. Im looking to take a class on technique.
HB loves to climb on belay. I am not a belay type of person. I lost a piercing when my parachute deployed, and it was so painful and traumatic that I resist wearing a harness when I climb at all costs. I prefer the bouldering wall, where gravity is your worst enemy, and you know you're going to fall flat on your back. Hopefully you hit a mat, and not an unsupervised child running over your mat. (More on that some other day.)
Ive been climbing V0s for the last two weeks. Im getting progressively better, which is nice. I am not quite able to climb V1s yet, which is disappointing because theyre the next level up. Something to work at I guess. I need V0.5 so that I can improve a little without the frustration.
So far, its been a fun experiment. Ive been unable to open doors for the last few weeks, but thats how that works sometimes...
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