in which: we room and we wait

Well, the answer to previous question ended up being no kitten after all. The day I was going to go buy him, I found out that Alycia & I weren't getting the apartment we wanted (they had jacked the price up $60 a mo. just as went to sign). BUT, that same day Alycia informed me of a friend of hers that was looking for roommates. And then there were three :) As the Lord would have it though, she has many allergies - one being cats. So that was that, I got my answer. But I am so much happier to have Rin (new girl) and a better apartment in exchange!

Rin 

So we found another place and find out today if we get approved or not for it. It's a 2bed/2bath in a really nice complex but definitely a higher price. Which is why Alycia found Sam - our newest future roomie.

Sam

And then there were FOUR! Olli, Alycia, Rin & Sam. 

Rin also discovered a great condo that I would be psyched to do if we don't get approved for this apt.

We shall see by the end of ze day.

I am
Olli

in which: there were animals & gifts & rain

Feels so good to sink back into this luscious bed again. It's been along month of house & pet-sitting. And it's not over yet! I'll be off to pet-sit for my good friend Lisa on the 11th for a few days. For now though, I'm  enjoying the break - and today being my day off doesn't hurt either.

This last week I sat for my good friends Buck & Dori Adkison, whom I go to church with. They were off in sunshiney California while I stayed to care for their cat & dog (the Muppets, as I've taken to calling them).

Zion 

&

Checkers

Zion is a crazy spunky little Shih-Tzu who loves his walks and licking Bucks toes at the end of the day (ew). Checkers is a fat, sweet old girl who will cry relentlessly until her dish is filled but loves being scratched on her back & belly. They're a fun pair :)

I picked up the fam (Buck, Dori, Chris-16 & Jamie-13) Sunday night at 12:30am - drove Buck's monster diesel truck all the way to the airport. We were all exhausted the next morning but I was greeted with coffee and a warm Dori hug (the best) and later we watched an episode of the awesome show, An Idiot Abroad. 

And check out the critters Dori got me!! They are mosaic and beautiful and perfect. She said they had other frogs sitting in various positions but then she saw this one with the crazy leg stickin out and thought, "Yep, there's Olli!" She also gave me this killer satchel bag that I've been using all day. I feel so spoiled!

And to top it off, we finally got some rain last night. Some real, crashing thunder, lightening show rain.

God is so good :)

I am

Olli

in which: i called the humane society

Jess, or I guess Mia's original owner came and picked her up yesterday.

*sigh*

We'll miss you, girl. 

We loved you.

I am

Olli

update.

No word on Jess yet... Humane Society is supposed to keep me updated but I'll probably end up calling tomorrow. I know we'd probably get along fine without her but, truth be told, I miss her.
God, give her sweet sleep tonight & help her to not be afraid. 

In other news, Civil Disobedience has come to an end. I am waiting for an email that will declare the winners! I already know who won the Grand Prize - but there is hope yet for at least a signed book! We'll see :)

More in the days to follow.

I am

Olli

in which: jess goes to jail...

Jess was picked up by Animal Control yesterday...

Apparently a neighbor called to report a dog "roaming at large". And she has been since our property has no fenced in yard (or a yard at all for that matter). I called the Humane Society this morning (they were closed by the time I found out yesterday), and apparently they were able to track down her original owner. Now it's basically a waiting game as he decides whether or not to take her back or sign her over to the HS. He took great care of her, kept up to date with all her shots & vet visits; in the end though he just didn't have the energy to keep up with her. So he gave her to family he knew. Since then they have let her get out a few times (never bothering to look for her), she's quite behind on vaccines and I personally suspect some physical abuse, as she runs away or cowers when large stick-like objects are lifted near her. 

An officer at the Humane Society told me that the "owner" doesn't want her to go back to the family he gave her to, but has to figure out if he can keep her, or has the energy for a dog anymore. They've put down my info in the case that he does sign her over. Now I just need to find a place to keep her... I'll definitely be charged with a citation if she continued to just hang around the yard. AND she'd be impounded again. 

Another thing they told me was that the original owner, as well as the other family, live about 30-40 minutes from our town. Good grief... how did she get here?? IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?? It's so bizarre and Meemo is convinced that someone just dropped her off in a nice neighborhood, figuring someone wealthy would find her or something. Yep, that's us... rollin in the dough. HA! That might explain her car-related fears though... maybe.

The HS didn't hear from the man today but will be calling me tomorrow to give me an update on what he decides when they call him. In the mean time, I pray.

OH! 

And one more thing...

Her name is (or has been),

Mia.

I am

Olli

in which: meet jess

Last week, Peanut & I were leaving my house when we ran into this beautiful sheila. She was just standing in the driveway, several feet from the back door. Almost... waiting for us. In the beginning she was very skittish and wouldn't come near us and yet, had this strange attraction to my driveway... she would run off down the street and then turn right back around for my house.

We whistled and called for her, "Come here girl, come on, where'd you come from? Who's that girl? Who's that good girl?" After which, sparked the name Jess, after Zooey Decshanel's character on one of our favorite shows, New Girl. You'll understand if you listen to the theme song.

Anywho, a few hours after finding her (or her finding us), I was able to lure her with some ham. Since then? She's been all over us! She is surprisingly obedient, with knowledge of how to sit, stay, come - even shake hands. She has a collar but no tags, and seemed pretty well cared for (wasn't malnourished, had clean ears & teeth), so she definitely belonged to someone. Yet all our attempts to find the owner have led no where. We've put up signs, an ad in the paper, asked neighbors and people around town, took her to a vet and had her checked for a microchip - which she has, but it's not registered to anyone. Apparently a tech was able to find out that the chip came from a Dog Rescue, however attempts to find record of who adopted her from that Rescue have not been found.

For now, this is what we know.

JESS LOVES:
-people
-other dogs
-playing games
-running
-WATER!!

JESS ISN"T TOO FOND OF:
-baths
-lots of cars in one area
-car rides (yet)
-walking on a leash (yet)
-big stick-like objects (she runs away if you pick one up)

She'd also really observant and very smart - I'm amazed how quickly she adapts and catches onto things. So... do we have a new dog? We shall see very soon. But I hope so!!

                              I am
                              Olli

in which: i need to learn to speed read

Started a new book yesterday. I don't need to be doing that though with stack I already need to finish... A sad thought occurred to me a few weeks ago that I will probably never get to read all the books I want to. As soon as I open one, five more come out that I want to dive into. It also doesn't help that I work at a bookstore. I constantly have a pen and scrap paper in my apron pocket for when I come across those gems that I remind myself to look up one day.

Shaun, like the dog above...

has obviously been a great help.

NOT.

Two & half days more of house/pet-sitting.

I am

Olli

in which: meet shaun

This is Shaun.

He's Bill & Dorothy's dog. When I worked at a vet clinic an older couple brought him in saying they'd found him on the side of the road with another puppy. He was very sweet and obedient for an 8 mo. old dog. I told B&D about him and within a couple weeks, they brought him home. He's my buddy. He loves toys and walks and cuddling and jumping (I joke that he's Italian since his hardest habit to break has been using his front paws - jumping, playing & pawing at people.) He hates his crate. He has to wear a shock collar when he gets put up or else he yodels like a demon. I'm serious.

It'll make your eardrums burst.

Shaun when I first saw him.

Found a few awesome new blogs/websites today I thought I'd share.
The photography makes my eyes drool:

• Freckles & Ivory
• Home Edit
• That Kind Of Woman

I am

Olli

in which: i house-sit a lot

A drawing of myself
by myself.

Been house/ pet/ teen-sitting for almost a week now for a family who gives me cooking lessons. Tomorrow I will switch to house/pet-sitting for another family who will be in China for about three weeks. Whooo!! I like feeling like I have my own place. These are the events of the week so far -

Thursday-Day 1: Work. Pizza for dinner. Ashley comes over and we make Alina a banner. Teen2 said he got the mail but I discover it all over the front lawn around 11:30pm. He left it on the porch.

Friday-Day 2: Teen2 sets off alarm at 6am. Woman knocks on door around 9am to hand me Chase Bank Statement she found in the road. Work.  Get home and find another bill in the yard. Teen1spends night at friend's house. Make awesome chicken dinner. Talk to Teen2 about mail.

Saturday-Day 3: Go to early work meeting. Come back and Teen2 has disappeared. I text/call him, start to worry (even though he's probably at a neighbor's house). He comes home as I leave for work. Boyfriend stays at house. Work. Church. Teen1 spends night at friend's house. Teen2 is late and later tries to ditch church for hanging with friends. Mrs. Hernandez has a talk with him. Teen2 spends night at friend's house. Drink beer and watch tv/movies with Hernandai.

Sunday-Day 4: Breakfast with Hernandai. Work. Come home and make quesadillas for dinner. Teen2 doesn't feel well, eats soup, gets out of doing laundry and is sent to bed. Watch the Oscars. Teen1 gets home from date and tells story of how stranger paid for their dinner.

Monday-Day 5: Teen2 still feels sick but goes to school. 2 hours later school nurse calls to tell me Teen2 is not feeling well, but that he is also a frequent visitor and this is his 20th visit this year... he is sent back to class. Teen1 has work. Teen2 gets home and makes hot dogs saying he feels much better. "Ate a lot of dry food today." Eats 2 ice cream cones. Forgot to ask him about homework...

Today-Day 6: Teen2 sets off house alarm at 6am. Teens leave for school. Fiddle around on computer. Prepare lunch/dinner. Get ready for work - parents get home tomorrow.

Tomorrow night I will just be watching a dog and the house he lives in.
Till then!

I am
Olli