NS November 25th, 2007

Don’t feel like writing today. I have much to report but don’t have the energy to report it. More tomorrow. Sorry for being such a crap blogger as of late. Don’t give up on me yet!

• Banal Breakdown
• Comments(6)

NS November 24th, 2007

Ow! This hurts. By ‘this’ I mean the pain in my chest that I’ve had since yesterday afternoon and which makes it hurt to breathe deeply, move my neck or pick up anything  heavy. Not so good, no? Especially since I’m home alone with TNC today and have so much going on later — the kitty visit, meeting S for that drink, hopping on the  train to central London for the Reclaim the Night march, then on to the big birthday party. Oy vey! This would not be a very convenient day to have a heart attack.

Here’s hoping it goes away soon!

• Health and Fitness
• Comments(2)

NS November 23rd, 2007

A few things from the Thanksgiving round-up and what I’ve got coming up:

• The meal was delicious, the people great, the laughter plentiful, the stress levels  non-existent, the cleanup swift and the evening amazing. All in all, a huge success. Thanks again to Jen for her culinary and organisational skills, we couldn’t have done it so effortlessly (and tastily!) without her
• The low point of the day — phoning my sister after everyone went home and catching her and my parents while they were visiting my grandfather, who is in late-stage Alzheimer’s, at the care facility he just went into last week. My father put Grandad on the phone and I said a few things (things like hello, hope you’re well, happy Thanksgiving, I love you) but didn’t get much of a response except for when I said I loved him. He practically shouted “I love you too!” and then someone took the phone back from him. When I got off the phone, I looked at TNH and just crumbled. I cried in the kitchen, amongst the turkey bones and empty wine glasses, and hated that I was all the way across an ocean while my family sits with my grandfather on Thanksgiving. I felt selfish and guilty and alone at the same time that I knew those things to be untrue. Family crises and illnesses are the worst part of being an expat. I feel so powerless when I can’t actually be there.
• Today was a sunny yet cold day and it cheered me up to see the bright sun and blue sky this morning, despite the ever-so-faint hangover.
• TNC has finally stopped pulling her hat and mittens off every .02 seconds so I can stop worrying about her freezing to death every time we go out — hooray!
• We may have found a cat. My friend S phoned her vet’s office to see if they had any and they gave her a lady’s number. I spoke to her this evening and she has two 10 week-old black and white kittens that need a home so S is taking me and TNC to see them while hubs is at work. Fingers crossed we like one!
• Tomorrow is a really busy day — kitty visit, pet store run, drop TNC off at in-laws, quick drink with S, train to central London to attend the Reclaim the Night march and rally, then another looooong Tube journey to northwest west west London (like, last stop on the tube map west) for a friend’s 30th birthday shindig. Whew, it’s going to be a long day!

Update on the rally (hopefully with pictures) on Sunday. Have a great weekend everybody!

• Londonista , Miscellaneous Missives
• Comments(1)

NS November 22nd, 2007

It’s Thanksgiving, for you non-Americans who may not have realised. So time for the four Fs — food, family, friends and football. And that means I have spent the day preparing, shopping and cleaning. Oddly enough though, not cooking. Jen has taken on head chef responsibilities so I’m the sous bitch and merely have to help chop, stir, do washing up and whatever else she tells me to do. Yes, drill sergeant!

Many Brits don’t get what Thanksgiving is about (not that they have a reason to) and some think it’s like the American version of Christmas with gifts given or some kind of religious affiliation. But that’s the beauty of Turkey Day. It’s purely about being together with people you care about, eating lovely food and being thankful for all that you’ve got. And right now, I’m feeling pretty damn blessed.

• Expat Life , Home and Hearth , Hunger Pangs
• Comments(4)

NS November 21st, 2007

A couple weeks ago, The Noble Husband suggested we get a cat for TNC this Christmas. At first I was hesitant, wondering if she was ready, if any of us were ready for pet ownership. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

I love animals and growing up I always had a pet of some description, be it a rabbit, duck, cat, dog, horse or bird. When TNH and I moved from London to Indianapolis in 2001, we got two cats. The first, Tang, was quite ferocious and distant (we’re sure he came from an abusive home) but the other, Ziggy, was the sweetest, most docile and friendly cat I’d ever met. We loved them so much and were so incredibly sad to leave them behind when we moved back to London. Ziggy went to a good home on a farm with lots of children so I know he’s happy but it was still one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. TNH thinks I’m nuts but I refuse to watch video clips we have of him playing or even look at pictures of him. It hurt so much that I had to block him out of my life and my memory to let myself heal.

But it’s been over three years now and I’m finally ready to welcome another animal into my home and into my heart. But where to look? What to do? How to go about it? The first thing I did was contact a charity called Cats Protection League and phone the local branch. I’ve left three messages over the last two weeks, saying I’m interested in giving a home to a cat. Nada. Haven’t heard a thing. So a friend suggested I ask around at veterinarian offices as they often get patients asking for help in rehoming cats or kittens. I rang one and they didn’t have any cats available but gave me the number to another charity who might be able to help. I rang that number but they’re located too far away for me to get to without a car so that had to be nixed. I looked up another two practices and tried to contact both today but the line just rang and rang.

I finally Googled the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and left a message there at lunchtime. A lady rang back this afternoon but I was out and didn’t hear the message until it was TNC’s bedtime and we were busy getting her down and then putting up some curtains and making dinner. So I shall ring this woman back tomorrow and hopefully have some luck but I’m beginning to get a bit discouraged. Good thing we started looking kind of early! It’s going to take a stroke of luck to get a cat and everything sorted if we’re going to do this before Christmas. Wish us luck and sends lots of ‘find a nice kitty’ vibes, please!

And as if to confirm my decision, this video over at Greeblemonkey is making me chuckle. Oh, to be a cat.  I can’t wait to be owned by one again.

• Miscellaneous Missives
• Comments(4)