I picked up the cat formerly known as "Dizzy" on Wednesday evening. The shelter wasn't open to the public but they allow people to pick up adopted pets. They gave me a packet of information and her clean bill of health. The person working the desk took our carrier back and loaded her up. When he came back up front, you could see she was very alert and looking around at everything.
The car ride home was quiet, but I could tell that she was turning around in the carrier and sniffing around. When we got her home, we brought her into our smaller bedroom/workroom that had been cleaned up and set with everything she might need. A lot of people told me that she would probably hide out in a corner somewhere. It brought back memories of when my old roommate Maya got a cat in college. As I recall, Mitzie hid under Rob's bed for several days...I don't remember seeing her the first time for about a week.
Well, we opened the carrier and "Dizzy" just went around the room sniffing everything...including my BF and I. We just sat down and watched her for a bit. Within minutes, so was already jumping onto tables and furniture. Let's just say she's not timid!
So far I'm really impressed by how friendly she is. We even invited the neighbors (Amanda and Josh) down to take a look at her. She didn't even make a fuss when Amanda picked her up.
I know it's only been two days, but I'm already glad we got a cat. Now, all I have to do is pick a new name. It's not that I don't think "Dizzy" is a good name. I just want to name her myself. And, I figure she never answers when I call "Dizzy" so there's no harm done.
Friday, February 25
Thursday, February 24
wish i had a snow day...
Headline news: Snow Frees Kids But Not Adults
It has been snowing constantly since about four this morning. When I finally got up at 6 am and turned on the news, there was an announcement that most of the schools in DC, MD, and VA had closed for the day. Unfortunately, the government hasn't closed, so I had to make it to work on time.
It has been snowing constantly since about four this morning. When I finally got up at 6 am and turned on the news, there was an announcement that most of the schools in DC, MD, and VA had closed for the day. Unfortunately, the government hasn't closed, so I had to make it to work on time.
Wednesday, February 23
i'm highly successful...
Yup...I just had my annual performance appraisal. And, even though I feel like I drag through work most days, I got a good rating. Not the highest possible, but an improvement over last year when I was only "fully successful."
The comments that were written by my supervisor (and department director) were nice...there's just something about seeing praise in writing. woohoo! Unfortunately, there is no additional monetary value assigned to my "highly successful" job. And, no promotion mentioned either. Oh well, c'est la vie.
The comments that were written by my supervisor (and department director) were nice...there's just something about seeing praise in writing. woohoo! Unfortunately, there is no additional monetary value assigned to my "highly successful" job. And, no promotion mentioned either. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Monday, February 21
another bump in the road...
On Saturday, I was supposed to go pick up "Dizzy" from the shelter. When we left the shelter Thursday afternoon, the worker who had been helping us added Dizzy and University (our 2nd choice) to our application. We when asked if there was an adoption coordinator available to tell us if there was room in the spay/neuter clinic. Everything seemed great!
Unfortunately, I got a call Friday night what put the plan on hold. Someone from the shelter called to confirm that we were going to be picking up University on Saturday and to let us know what our fees were going to be. At first I thought she was calling the wrong person...then we both realized that the wrong cat had been neutered! Even though the application clearly said that Dizzy was our first choice, someone had highlighted University and sent him to the clinic.
For a moment, I pondered whether we should take University, since we would be able to pick him up on Saturday. And, I would be able to spend the long weekend getting him accustomed to the new surrounding/cleaning any "accidents". But, I really did like Dizzy better...The new plan has Dizzy going to the clinic today, so that we can pick her up on Wednesday.
Unfortunately, I got a call Friday night what put the plan on hold. Someone from the shelter called to confirm that we were going to be picking up University on Saturday and to let us know what our fees were going to be. At first I thought she was calling the wrong person...then we both realized that the wrong cat had been neutered! Even though the application clearly said that Dizzy was our first choice, someone had highlighted University and sent him to the clinic.
For a moment, I pondered whether we should take University, since we would be able to pick him up on Saturday. And, I would be able to spend the long weekend getting him accustomed to the new surrounding/cleaning any "accidents". But, I really did like Dizzy better...The new plan has Dizzy going to the clinic today, so that we can pick her up on Wednesday.
Friday, February 18
ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
I found out that Lucky went home with his owner on Wednesday. The Humane Society worked with the owner to make sure Lucky wouldn't get out of the house again. Once I heard that I was really happy to hear it and knew that the people running the shelter really cared for the animals that came in...And, I was ready to go back down and look at the cats they had available.
So, that's what my BF and I did yesterday afternoon. Some of the same cats that we saw on Sunday were still available, but there were also some "new recruits." We played with three young cats (between 4 and 8 months). In the end I chose "Dizzy" a 7-month old grey, tiger-striped cat. When we walked into the first room, she was the first cat to get up and say hello. And, when I held her she was very calm.
The shelter is going to send her to their spay/neuter clinic today, and we will be able to pick her up on Saturday! So, today I'm going to be running to the pet store to buy all the supplies she'll need.
So, that's what my BF and I did yesterday afternoon. Some of the same cats that we saw on Sunday were still available, but there were also some "new recruits." We played with three young cats (between 4 and 8 months). In the end I chose "Dizzy" a 7-month old grey, tiger-striped cat. When we walked into the first room, she was the first cat to get up and say hello. And, when I held her she was very calm.
The shelter is going to send her to their spay/neuter clinic today, and we will be able to pick her up on Saturday! So, today I'm going to be running to the pet store to buy all the supplies she'll need.
Tuesday, February 15
the one that got away!
Argh! I'm a little mad and a little sad this morning. Mad, because the shelter volunteer that was supposed to meet with us yesterday never showed up. I'm hoping that it's confusion on my part...having wanted to schedule the appt for Wednesday but her wanting to do it last night. Sad, because I just got a call from the shelter saying that Lucky's owners finally came in looking for their cat, even though, it's after the 5 day period that they have to claim him! I was told that the shelter manager made the decision for give it back to them because they were hearing impaired and might not have understood the process. So, the cat gets to go back home and I get to go back to the shelter and pick another kitty.
Monday, February 14
adoption update...
Wow! The Humane Society here doesn't waste any time. I have already been contacted for the phone interview. It was mostly informational. The only questions that they really asked were about whether you've ever had a pet and make sure you know about keeping the litter box clean.
And, I just got a call to set the the in-home interview. I wanted to set it up for Wednesday, but the volunteer was a little "insistant" on making it today. Well, that's just fine...So, I called my BF, who gets home at 2:30 most days, and asked him to do a once over on the house.
Things are looking good! If the in-house visit goes alright, we should be able to pick up Lucky Thursday or Friday!
And, I just got a call to set the the in-home interview. I wanted to set it up for Wednesday, but the volunteer was a little "insistant" on making it today. Well, that's just fine...So, I called my BF, who gets home at 2:30 most days, and asked him to do a once over on the house.
Things are looking good! If the in-house visit goes alright, we should be able to pick up Lucky Thursday or Friday!
it's valentine's day, and i'm in love...
Over the weekend, my BF and I celebrated Festivus. We spent it at home this year. See, for Christmas, my aunt and uncle gave us a gift certificate to Dean & Deluca since they know that I/we like to cook. Last week as spent planning what we were going to make for dinner. First, we settled on having a cheese plate and salad. For the main course, I made a bacon wrapped filet with Maker's Mark pan sauce -- using a recipe from this book. Funny title, great recipes! BF made the dessert. (For some reason, he really likes to make desserts.) He made a Grand Marnier souffle! Everything was awesome...and, we only spent $1 more than the value of the gift certificate!
Then, yesterday, we went to the DC Animal Shelter to look at kittens. They had two rooms with cats available for adoption, and all of them were really cute. In the first room we saw a little, striped grey kitten. That was my BF's instant first choice because it was truly a kitten. Then we went to the other room. There were a group of 5 more kittens, most of them about 3-months old.
The cat that caught my attention was quietly, hiding in a corner cage. "Lucky", a ~year-old bengal cat, is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen. We had one of the volunteers bring him out of the cage, and the second I had him in my arms I knew I was in love! He was very calm and friendly...This was surprising once the volunteer told us how he ended up at the shelter. The animal rescue brought him in after being attacked by a dog. They did test and x-rays and determined that all injuries were superficial...Lucky is missing a little patch of fur where they shaved him to check for wounds, but other than that he's in good shape.
Yesterday, was the last day that owners could come to the shelter to claim the cat, so we put in an application to adopt him. As it was explained to us, the adoption process is very thorough. First there is a phone interview. Then, they will check with our landlord to make sure we are allowed pets in the apartment. If approved, one of the volunteers will come to our apartment to check it out and counsel us on what to expect when we bring a new pet home. Assuming we get approved to adopt a cat and Lucky is still available for adoption, we will get to bring him home.
On the application, you can choose and first choice and second choice. We didn't put down a second choice. The other cats that we had taken out of their cages didn't click the way that Lucky did. One was a 3-yr old snowshoe. Although it was a pretty cat and very friendly when you approached the cage, the second I picked her up, the cat started getting nervous and hissing. The other cat that we interacted with was the little grey kitten that my first saw. Unfortunately, it wasn't cleaning itself properly and had a little poo on its back legs and tail. While my BF was holding, the volunteer tried to clean it up a little. That made the kitten nervous and it started pawing/scratching.
Then, yesterday, we went to the DC Animal Shelter to look at kittens. They had two rooms with cats available for adoption, and all of them were really cute. In the first room we saw a little, striped grey kitten. That was my BF's instant first choice because it was truly a kitten. Then we went to the other room. There were a group of 5 more kittens, most of them about 3-months old.
The cat that caught my attention was quietly, hiding in a corner cage. "Lucky", a ~year-old bengal cat, is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen. We had one of the volunteers bring him out of the cage, and the second I had him in my arms I knew I was in love! He was very calm and friendly...This was surprising once the volunteer told us how he ended up at the shelter. The animal rescue brought him in after being attacked by a dog. They did test and x-rays and determined that all injuries were superficial...Lucky is missing a little patch of fur where they shaved him to check for wounds, but other than that he's in good shape.
Yesterday, was the last day that owners could come to the shelter to claim the cat, so we put in an application to adopt him. As it was explained to us, the adoption process is very thorough. First there is a phone interview. Then, they will check with our landlord to make sure we are allowed pets in the apartment. If approved, one of the volunteers will come to our apartment to check it out and counsel us on what to expect when we bring a new pet home. Assuming we get approved to adopt a cat and Lucky is still available for adoption, we will get to bring him home.
On the application, you can choose and first choice and second choice. We didn't put down a second choice. The other cats that we had taken out of their cages didn't click the way that Lucky did. One was a 3-yr old snowshoe. Although it was a pretty cat and very friendly when you approached the cage, the second I picked her up, the cat started getting nervous and hissing. The other cat that we interacted with was the little grey kitten that my first saw. Unfortunately, it wasn't cleaning itself properly and had a little poo on its back legs and tail. While my BF was holding, the volunteer tried to clean it up a little. That made the kitten nervous and it started pawing/scratching.
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