When I went to the Livejournal site just now, it said "Welcome back, skippytoad" as it usually does, but I felt that today it was especially apt, since I don't think I've even been ON LJ for weeks. But lots has happened! Here are some Things That Happened:
1) I have been getting better at my job: getting faster at making breakfasts, making sandwiches, and washing dishes. In fact, I think I impressed my little 18-yr-old Mexican coworker, who is usually faster than me at just about everything, because I did all but like 2 of the dishes (incl. pans and pots and things) in the time that he had his break and went to the bathroom. Muy rapido! Also, I am totally learning how to say things in Spanish! Like, for instance, if someone asks me, "Me presto tu carro?" I know to say, "No, lo siento." Though really, I don't have a car, so I could say "Si" if I wanted. No loss for me! :P (Translation: Can I borrow your car? No, sorry.) Anyway, I am still not The Best At Everything, and I have a ways to go before I am at manager level, but I think it's going pretty well.
2) We have cats! Plural cats! We got them from
Red Door Animal Shelter" in Rogers Park and their names are Panda and Makkuro Kurosuke (Makkuro for short). Panda is (of course) black and white and Makkuro is black with a teensy tinesy white patch on his tummy and a few salt and pepper hairs on his back that you only notice when you're up close. Panda is the attention whore and Makkuro is the closet cuddle bunny who hides under the futon most of the time but comes out for cuddles when we're on the couch. He's getting bolder, though. Also, Makkuro is prone to urinary blockages (bladder stones) so he's on meds and prescription food. That's fun because Panda is Always Hungry. He's learning that Makkuro's food is Off Limits, though. For the most part. When we're home, anyway. Well, now he has dry food that he likes so hopefully he'll stay away from Makkuro's prescription food.
3) Brent and I are doing really well. We have been cleaning the apartment all weekend in preparation for
kpooka17's visit next week (yay!) and have been doing pretty well. We got a lot of stuff cleared away, sorted, recycled, and tossed that needed it. There are also a lot of clothes that need sorting for donation. Brent has a lot of t-shirts......
So yeah! I'm feeling really good about life right now. I miss people back in Germany, but I try not to dwell on it too much. I can't help feeling a tiny bit like I left Nina all alone in the big bad Germany, which is silly because she's got lots of friends and family and her studies. It's really just a symptom of wanting everything. Also, there are the mind arrows. Not everyone has mind arrows. Anyway, we will see each other soon enough, and until then, we will both have lots of things to keep ourselves busy. (Ich hab' dich lieb, Nina!) :P And of course Nina's not the only one I miss in Germany! Hallo Stammtisch! :)
Today there is a wedding of a friend of Brent's to go to, and the rest of the living room to clean up... I had better get on that.