dodgy things

I've just returned home from an all-too-short trip to visit Sir Hefley in D.C.

And boy, what a trip it was. It all started Friday afternoon.

As I wandered around Dupont Circle on Friday afternoon....by wandering I mean hopelessly looking for somewhere to rest my weary feet...I was lucky enough to stumble upon the only open seat at a starbucks (lame, I know, but beggars can't be choosers...especially since coffee shops in D.C. don't believe in providing seating for their customers). I sat down in my prized seat, a stool in a row along the window, and pulled out my dazzling copy of "Beyond Smoke and Mirrors:Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration." I read for awhile, sipping my scalding hot tea in silence, and hoping with all my heart that it would be one of the last times I ever had to sit in a coffee shop alone. After about an hour had passed, I decided I could no longer sit in silence and got up to leave so I could make my way back to the metro station and eventually back to Conley's apartment, where I intended to pass the rest of the afternoon vegging out in front of the television. As I walked out the door, a well-dressed man in the midst of an obnoxiously loud phone conversation followed close behind me. I thought nothing of it until this man sidled up to me (no longer on the phone) and asked:

"would you like to model for me?"

Now, I'm no fool--I know I'm not the modeling type. I've also watched too many crime dramas and read too many books about sex-trafficking. My instant response was a polite, but sure:

"no, thank-you."

Apparently, this was not enough, because the man continued to badger me, saying things like,

"I know it has a bad reputation, but I really think you'd be good for it," "you should have confidence in your abilities," and "you might like it."

He outdid himself, though, when he said:

"Don't worry. I'm not looking for thin models."


I mean. How is a girl even supposed to react to that one?

"thanks, creepy man, for first making me uncomfortable by asking me to model and then for making an ambivalent observation about my body type?"


needless to say, I told the man "no thanks" once more, and then made some excuse about having to meet somebody for a coffee date. I quickly walked into the nearest shop, and watched to make sure the guy walked in a different direction than I did.

I am still not sure what to think about this scenario. Did I almost become the next day's missing persons headline? Or did I miss my chance for a plus-sized modeling career?

__________________________________________________________________

I was still mulling these events over in my mind the next day as Conley and I hopped on the train so we could go out for brunch. As we stood, waiting for our stop to come up, I noticed an older gentleman stealing glances at me. I peeked out of the corner of my eye, and saw that he was sketching me in his sketchbook. Although quite flattered, I couldn't help but wonder what made it painfully obvious that I didn't belong in or blend into the D.C. environment. I blame these chipmunk cheeks of mine.

Unfortunately, my sense of vanity and curiosity has gotten the best of me, and now I can't help but wonder what will become of that sketch?

Cat for Rent

FOR RENT:

one female cat: chunky, demanding, vocal, always-hungry.

availability: nightly, from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

interested patrons must be night owls and must be willing to play cat games from 7 hours straight. Games include but are not limited to: fetch (which involves you, the human, throwing, and picking up the item after the cat has chased it so that it can be re-thrown), hide-and-seek (you hide, cat seeks) and dangling bits of string around for cat to chase.

patron(s) must also have a hefty supply of top-quality cat food, to be administered when you can no longer handle the whiny "mraow" that becomes all to frequent and loud around 2:00 a.m.

If you feel that you are a good match (good match meaning: you stay up all night, aren't allergic to felines and have no bias against hefty girls) for said feline, please, please, please, please, contact her owner. You will be able to recognize her by the bags under her eyes (owner, not cat).

Kan-Sas, not Canada

Today after a rather insightful sex-trafficking and human rights class (I say insightful because it was one of the better days for observing human behavior--more on that later), I meandered over to the post-office to send a package to my mum in Kansas. After waiting in line for a few minutes, I finally made my way up to the counter, where I proceeded to explain to the lady working that I just needed to send the package to Kansas. She handed the package back, and asked me to write Canada on there. I looked at her confusedly, and repeated that I wanted to send it to Kan-Sas, not Canada. This banter went on for a few more seconds. Finally, she looked at me and said: Kansas!?, as though I'd made up a new state. Eventually, it all got sorted out, and hopefully, the package is on its way to my home state. Needless to say, I left the post office in a bewildered state of mind. Although I've always realized that Kansas isn't a particularly popular, well-known or even well-understood state, I never thought it could be forgotten completely, especially not at the POST OFFICE. I know better now.

New Things: Blue Things

Ugh. I am not very good about updating this. Sorry little blog, I will try to do better in the future.

Queso and I are all settled in to our lovely new (huge) apartment in Chicago! And, let me tell you. Chicago is beautiful this time of year. All of the trees in my neighborhood have started to turn colors. There is a perpetual flow of 'leaf rain' into the streets, making everything look like this enchanted orange world. I love it. Autumn is by far my favorite time of year, for this very reason.

Autumn, however, is nearly the only thing I am happily enjoying at the moment. Other things...like adjusting to life in the city and trying to integrate myself into a completely new and different school system is much less enjoyable.

Amongst the most important of other new things is school. I'm three weeks in to my first quarter at this wonderful school, and these are the observations I've made and thoughtfully posted:

1. This school is comprised of a great number of introverts. I know these kids are smart and are here to study,
but

there is absolutely nothing wrong with being social and having a little fun sometimes.

2. This school is full of mumblers. People mumble out sentences left and right. This, i assume, is a direct result of
number 1. How on earth is this institution producing so many people that are a part of important things going
on out there in the great beyond? I bet their writing is even mumbly.
You can't possibly have good faith in a bunch of non-communicative mumblers.

3. For the first time in my life I am in a perpetual state of not knowing what it is I am doing. I feel so lost at the moment and it is terrifying.
It doesn't help that I am completely surrounded by people and still manage to feel completely alone.

So, there's that. And there are other things, like:

4. It's been really hard adjusting to living on my own. I really miss Conley a lot. So does Queso. In fact, Queso has made it quite clear that
I don't play right--not the way Conley plays. She's been quite grouchy lately....probably due to the diet I've put her on.

5. I still don't have my own internet signal....and I have to wait until November 1st to get one. Things are looking up.


Things are kind of rough right now, in my privileged world (a world in which I am very thankful to be a part of, by the way)
If it weren't for the fact that it is autumn, it is quite likely that I would fall to pieces completely.

the mystery of krycek's ever-changing hairstyles.

Even though I have forgotten to update the blog lately, and even though much has happened...the only thing I want to write about is the continuing mystery of Krycek's hair.

Yes. Krycek...the absurd man who continually tries to sabotage Mulder and Scully in their quest for the truth. This man has a different hairstyle in absolutely every episode he appears in. But why? This is my question. WHY, KRYCEK? Why must you confuse me every time you show up? I can't be expected to positively identify a man whose hair is changing every 45 minutes. Especially when these hair cuts are hit and miss on the "o.k. hairstyles" list. I expect stability when I devote myself to a show. Stability and familiarity with the characters. Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Cancer Man and even the 'source' don't put me through this,so why must you krycek?

the humans are up to something

Something fishy is going on around here. Boxes have taken over the apartment, and articles of furniture are mysteriously disappearing. I suspect the humans.

So, being the svelt, savvy feline that I am, I've taken it upon myself to do some investigating. Thorough investigation of boxes, hampers and bags have produced enough evidence to surmise that these humans are, in fact, shipping all creature comforts out of the apartment. They are stark-raving bonkers. I have taken the necessary precautions to protect myself: favorite toys are stashed under the refrigerator and bed, and I've started shredding bits of newspaper to leave as a trail,in the fashion of those children....what were their names? Hansel and Gretel, just in case these humans accidentally pack me in one of those boxes. You never know what irrational things they might do.

Whatever happens, I hope they bring back my chair...this floor is unacceptable.


queso

Our last days in Manhattan

With two weeks to go in our beloved Manhattan, we have managed to pack up an absurd, but treasured, collection of books, numerous artifacts from ACMEgift and a strange and wonderful assemblage of kitchen gadgets. Packing would be significantly easier if a certain someone would keep her voluptuous body out of the boxes. Packing would also be easier if we weren't more interested in amusing ourselves with our friends.

Only three or so weeks left until the great D.C. move of 2010 for Conley, and only a month until Queso and I migrate to chicago.
I think these weeks approach much too quickly for my taste...I've only had 7 months to ease into the idea that we will be dual-city dwellers very shortly!