My apologies for no post from this weekend for you all to devour. My 30th birthday began of course at midnight on Saturday the 13th. Normally I wouldn't be up so late but our friend Scott was leaving for law school the next day so we went down to our local watering hole to say hello. Upon our return, Apollo met us at the door. Usual. Nothing out of the ordinary. We assumed Turk was sleeping on my pillow where we often find her when we come home later. We go up to our bedroom, no Turk. I call for her, check the closets (find some poop in Aaron's closet. Awesome) but no kitten. I start to get my jammies on and I hear a strange rustling by the clothes pile. The laundry basket was downstairs so we had just accumulated a few chef coats etc on the floor where the hamper would be. I lean down and hear the sound coming from what appears to be the heat/AC vent. I pause. Two eyes staring back at me. "Is that a mouse?... OMG TURK!!!" Yes. The first 20 minutes of my 4th decade of life was spent panicking because "someone" left the vent uncovered int he bathroom reno and the cat got into the air ducts.
Aaron, seeing my panic, tells me it's OK, we'll get her out, just be calm. Images of our cat stuck are terrifying me. He moves the dresser like a hero who lifts a car, normally it takes both of us, moves it and digs up the vent. Turk vanishes into the recesses of dark. I call to her lovingly, so she doesn't run. Aaron gets to the other side and lifts that vent. Apollo races between the two vents, looking up at us with horror "where's my kitten?" Obviously during the Kitten Crisis of '11 I didn't think to photograph. I will not share a photo of the vent so you can get an idea of why I was freaking out.
Picture eyes and a tiny orange cat through that vent.
Eventually she came out to Aaron because I had to walk away to calm myself a little. I didn't know whether to laugh of cry. Talk about giving me a run for my money. And then I was 30.
Later that day I was busy living it up NYC style (again). My husband took me to The View, a revolving restaurant that overlooks NY near Times Square. It's 48 stories up and the views are spectacular, pics don't do it justice, but I tried!
In the next picture please note in lower left corner. Aaron kept on the look out for his "sex".
It was pretty awesome. Food was to die for. I will do anything for a well done fillet mignon. I was accused of being crabby because I didn't eat lunch (excuuuuse me for living) and my husband got his dessert and it had a crab shaped cookie on top. Natch one of the crab claws ended up in my dessert.
And man was it good! And I promptly "tore it up".
Next we were off to Times Square and the obligatory "picture of ourselves somewhere interesting".
I looked for Tina Fey. She wasn't there.
It's important to know that I have loved Barbie's since I was a kid. I have the first 10 Holiday Barbie's, including the original which means I am awesome. I was thrilled to get to Toys R' Us in Times Square and see the Barbie department. This years Holiday Barbie pictured above. Lovely.
Beautiful weather and my fave city in the world. It was good times. We got to meet up with my friend Erica for a Magnolia cupcake run and she escorted us back to Grand Central...us silly farm-folk always get lost. (I heart Erica. We would have gotten lost)
Yesterday was spent GLUED to my new Kindle. Hunger Games. That's all I can say. I had nightmares last night and woke up with pain my back and hurty eyes. Yet it didn't stop me from pulling over on my way into work and reading for 20 minutes in the famed Christmas Tree Shop Plaza. I can't get enough of this book. I got the trilogy as an awesome e-gift from Sara (thanks again! My husband says he misses me). Seriously, if you haven't read it, you may want to pick up a copy. Riveting.
I will cut right to the chase as I know you are all wondering about the bathroom. I know I was. After this weekend Aaron guessed that I'd come home Sunday from my day trip to NY that much of the room would be done. It would at least have come together enough for me to gauge if it looked good or not. I rode home on the train excitedly after a sunny (and very hot and humid) tour of the financial district. Delightful lunch and delicious gelato, catching up with my friend Erica. Who could ask for more?
I should also remind you all that my FAVORITE landmark in NY is Lady Liberty. The Statue of, that is. It was very bad visibility because of the heat over the water, but there she be...
It was great to get to the city and it was even greater that I wasn't home for the reno project because I am not a major fan of our "contractor". Day one- an hour and 45 minutes late. Shows up with a clipboard, pokes around in the bathroom with Aaron for 15 minutes while I was working on the wedding page of blog. Minding my own business at the computer in the dining area and I suddenly hear what sounds like a saw or drill digging through the wall VERY close to me. I look around, I can very clearly hear Aaron and the guy upstairs talking about how there had been a hole in the bathtub etc. I look up and to my horror, this comes through the ceiling above the dining room table where I'm sitting.
That is a screwdriver, through the ceiling. To my horror. It reminded me of a very specific scene from the episode of "Friends" where Joey building an entertainment unit for the living room and driving Chandler crazy with how long the project is taking and how awful it looks.
Then they both came trotting down the stairs and were "shocked" that it lead to the dining room. I was less than pleased with this. And yes, to answer your question, the screw driver is most assuredly still in the ceiling now. Back to the story...I came home yesterday after my day exploring the streets of Manhattan and raced into the house with excitement. I couldn't wait to see my bathroom!! My pulse quickened as I turned the corner to our door...I burst through the door and saw more items in the foyer than I expected. OK, maybe they still got things done even though he was 45 minutes late Sunday. I don't know.
Heading upstairs...to this...
Hmm. So weird, because I was told the tub at the very least would be installed. But that large tub-shaped box looks like the tub. Clearly I've been getting fed lines. I flip on the bootleg light switch to see this.
Nothing. They worked on the "plumbing and electric" which was "really messed up". They installed part of the ceiling. At this time, I make the decision that though I love antique homes, I cannot get involved with reno because I HATE IT.
To the far end you'll see the recessed lighting that Aaron spilled the water on at Lowe's. It works as does the fan Aaron installed himself. The contractor will be back tonight and tomorrow since next to nothing is done. I'm sure the electric takes time. However, I can't help but think that should have been expected given the quality of the rest of the "craftsmanship" in the 1980s built condo. Commence the hair pulling and sorrow drinking.
Now I'll change topic (since I don't want to start sobbing at my desk so early in the work day) and that is Turk's obsession with our master bath. This cat is addicted to toilet. It's normal, of course. They are attracted to the sounds and the water and such. Apollo was when he was a wee kitten too. He fell in once when Aaron left the seat up (grrr) after that we made it a habit to close the lid. The toilet is the direct path to the sink. A wonderful place for kittens to sit, explore, sleep in, and dirty up with wet paw prints.
Look at that little toilet kitty!
She really digs the toilet. She forever has her little face in the crack (no pun intended) to try and see in. Newsflash, cat: there is nothing in there you're going to want. I will now share with you the reason that when Turk fell into the toilet on Sunday morning after Aaron left the lid up, his reaction was "Revenge!". Sounds harsh, I know. And it was...even after what happened in our bed Saturday night. (This is rated G, so don't gasp).
As we're settling in for the night I realize little girl isn't in our room. That's odd for this time of night. I call for her...nothing. I hear Apollo but not Turk. I get back up and go down to the living room and there she is, just hanging out. I pick her up and she's purring away. She knows it's bed time. I plop her down in the bed (per the usual) and she is batting at our feet beneath the sheets. A moment or two passes and Aaron says "my back feels warm. And wet.." I put my hand on his lower back and it feels like sweat. It wasn't too hot so that didn't add up.
I pull back our $100 wedding-gift-sheets and see spots everywhere. This is so weird...Turk is at the foot of the bed and there are little baby paw prints in moisture on the bed. What is going on here? Have you figured it out yet? The cat peed. On Aaron's back. And then tracked it all over the bed. I'd like to take this time to thank Bob's furniture for forcing us to buy the protective topper for our Bob-O-Pedic mattress that I didn't know had a rubber bottom thus stopping kitten waste from assaulting our new-ish mattress. Aaron was pretty upset. I was trying my damndest not to laugh. I picked her right up and brought her down to her litter and she went more. New rule: I'm not allowed to carry her up to bed now. "She'll find me when she's done her business" per Aaron.
And that's why Aaron wasn't upset when she fell in the toilet. I can't help but wonder if he did it on purpose. It did backfire however. She couldn't have cared less. That's my girl :)
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Update: I forgot to add one little anecdote. I made fun of the waitress at lunch because she was wearing a see-thru-back shirt and I thought it was wildly innaprop. After taking a few steps out the door, I remembered what I was wearing.
That's me...in a see-thru-back shirt. Oops. What are the odds??
