Pied Piper

I guess I'm just going to have to accept it: I am the pied piper of strays.

Seriously. Shortly after I moved here, I found Stella and then 3 days later I found Buster. Though Buster went to another home briefly, he returned here and has remained one of my "permanent pack."

Then 4 months later I found Brimley. And a month after that, he went to his new home.

But the busiest season has surely been this past month. Three weeks ago, I found Annie and Oliver, as posted. Annie is getting closer and closer to finding a home . . . The Artist really wants her and as long as her boyfriend likes Annie when he meets her in a couple of weeks, Annie will be placed. Sadly, we're still searching for a home for Oliver.

Then last weekend Henry (my indoor cat) escaped the house and I couldn't wrangle him before I had to go to rehearsal. When I returned after 11pm that night, he wasn't to be found near the house. So, of course, I go looking for him, calling his name.

Behind my house about a half block, I call his name and in response I hear this very little "mew." Those that know Henry, my very talkative cat, know he doesn't make diminutive sounds. He's a man's cat! So I just called "kitty, kitty, kitty" and before I knew it a little kitten is running out to me. No, I'm not kidding.

Here she is:

Fortunately, I have a local friend who has been talking about getting a second cat since September, so I immediately checked in with her. As long as nobody claims this sweet girl (I'm calling her Clementine), she's going to The Writer next weekend. I'll be really sorry to see her go . . . she's the most affectionate, mild mannered kitty I've ever known. And as tempting as it is to keep her, I know she'll be better off with The Writer and my cats will be happier. Yes, I did eventually find Henry.

So I'm feeling pretty confident about two of the three current strays moving on by mid-March and that the household will calm down a bit . . . when Taco decides to enter my life. Yesterday morning, I'm out walking my permanent pack when we come across this little Chihuahua mix. I don't recognize him from the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. He is, OF COURSE, without a collar . . . and very friendly. He comes right up to us and meets my pack. And then proceeds to follow us home. Yup. Every step of the way as if he belonged with us. All the way to the fence and into the gate.

Well, naturally I brought him inside, fed him, and gated him. I immediately checked craigslist, but nobody was searching for a Chihuahua. Not one posting. SIGH.

So I post I've found him and proceed with my day.

When I returned from work, he had jumped his gate and was hanging out with my pack. I guess they like him. But there were no phone calls from anybody looking for him. So I head back to campus for rehearsal and when I get home at my usual 11pm or so, lo and behold there are TWO messages!

I listen to the first, a friend of somebody looking for their Chihuahua, but the description is a little off. I listen to the second, the actual owner of that dog, and again the description is off. It's too late to call back, so I deal with the bedtime ritual of two packs and keep Taco with my pack. When it's time for bed, my pack falls into its routine (Zoe on her dog bed, Stella and Buster in my bed), and Taco makes himself at home on my bed, too. Yup. He's so integrated into the pack in one short day that he sleeps on the bed with no fuss from any other dog. In fact, he cuddles right up to me and spends the entire night next to my right shoulder.

So this morning, after dealing with dogs and cats, I call the owner of the missing Chihuahua. And sadly we determine that Taco is not her dog. SIGH. I'm bummed. He's a GREAT little dog. He's well mannered and very sweet. Surely somebody must be missing him! Here he is:

And I once again have a funny feeling that it will be up to me to place him. I don't think he'll be a tough one to adopt out. In fact, a good friend in Maryland has already said she'd love to have him. And a colleague knows a Chihuahua rescue in town . . . so he'll be all right.

So I'm currently caring for 6 dogs and 3 cats. My friends think I have an addiction. But I'm really not going out LOOKING for these animals! They quite literally show up at my house or follow me home. I really am a pied piper of sorts.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Why do I do this to myself?

When the department administrative assistant e-mailed the interview itineraries for both me and the other candidate, I chose NOT to investigate the other candidate. I figured ignorance is bliss and I would be better off in my interview not knowing what I was up against.

I was right.

'Cause today I decided to investigate. And now I am convinced I won't get the job. This woman has a much stronger "pedigree", loads of professional experience, AND has been the head of her own area when she's been teaching. Her skill set is far superior to mind for what the department needs and I'm wondering how the hell I even made it to candidate. Oh yeah . . . by law don't the HAVE to invite the internal candidate???

SIGH. So I spent the rest of the day, beating myself over the head and convincing myself that I'd be leaving this red state in the middle of the country.

Not that that would kill me . . . or even disappoint me, really . . . but it does have an impact on my self-esteem. So my confidence level tanked just as I was preparing to start rehearsals for a HUGE show. Even my classes were a bit wonky today. UGH.

So just when I'm feeling especially low and tired (I was up at 4:30 AM with the dogs), I get the mail. I see a very slim envelope from another school to which I applied and, as I'm tearing into it, I assume I got the big SORRY.

Well, I'll be damned if I didn't make the first cut!!! Sure, this is by no means an invitation to campus, but I've been so worried I wasn't competitive that I had given up all hope any other school would be even remotely interested. Surprise! My paperwork is still working on some level. So that was a nice bright spot in my day.

That and my mom's valentine card. :)

So what is it about us that makes us do that which we know isn't smart, or good for us? I had made a choice to ignore the other candidate for this posting, but in the end, curiosity killed this cat. I just couldn't avoid the temptation. I just HAD to know.

This woman, at least on paper, ROCKS. And should the university here offer ME the job, I just may lose all respect for them. 'Cause if you compare us on paper, there's no question who should get the gig.

It kinda makes me want to go watch her teach. Yeah, this cat has a big problem.

Puppy Possessive

Today I had two people come to meet the dogs as potential adopters. One was The Artist and one was the roommate of one of my students.

The Artist has been wanting a dog for some time. However, her boyfriend moves in with her this summer and though he's excited about a dog, too, he wants her to wait so they can choose together. I don't blame him, but I told the Artist I would be happy to foster until he could meet the dogs when he comes to visit in March. She was really excited about Annie and though she couldn't promise me anything, said if Annie were still around in March that she'd bring her boyfriend by.

My student's roommate was a nice guy. No longer a student himself, he owns his own home and has a good job. But his house has no fence in the back and both of my strays need a fenced in yard. He originally came to meet Oliver, but by the end of his visit, he was more interested in Annie. Uh-oh.

Still, he needs to think it over and whatnot. Secretly, I hope he decides the timing isn't right. And I could put my foot down about the fence. I do hold all the cards, right?

It's funny . . . when anybody expresses a desire to meet the dogs, I experience relief and a little jealousy. I've only had these dogs for one week and already I'm a little possessive and protective of them. I know these dogs would make any number of people happy, but in my crazy brain I wonder how many people can really make the dogs happy. It's ridiculous.

Yup, I'm already attached. It doesn't take long with me. This morning I took Annie and Oliver on individual walks. It helped a lot and already I could see the different techniques that would work to train each one. I'm seeing a big difference in their behavior toward me as Alpha now and I am beginning to fantasize about how I could keep all five.

INSANE, I KNOW. You don't have to tell me. I am not stupid. I will continue to seek good homes for both . . . but secretly harbor a desire to hold onto them. And time will be the final judge as to weather they stay or go.

My head knows what is best for me, but my heart says otherwise.

Managing the Menagerie

Well, I survived the interview process. It was two long days, but all went well - even the "research" presentation. I'm exhausted, but relieved to have it over and now I can concentrate on other, more pressing tasks.

I start rehearsals for Oedipus on Monday night. I'm excited, but still scared to death. The design elements are all coming together and I'm really looking forward to working in a more "organic" way with the cast, but we'll see how it goes. The mask designs are stunning, I have a live percussionist, and the ensemble is buzzing about getting started. Still, I have a LOT of homework related to the project and will be spending much of tomorrow working on it.

And of course there is just keeping up with my regular work. I have a bunch of grading to do as well, but I have decided today is a day of "rest" after my crazy week. A bunch of us are going to celebrate a friend's birthday later today by seeing a movie and eating bad movie food. I can't wait. :)

But of course the most pressing task is dealing with the new strays. I am calling them Annie and Oliver - the only orphan names I could think of - 'cause they need to be called SOMETHING. They are sweet dogs, but have absolutely NO LEASH behavior so I cannot walk them. And I'm still needing to deal with them as a separate pack for now.

I went to Petsmart today as they were having an adoption event with three local shelters. I figured I could talk to them in person and hopefully convince them to help me out. Well, as I figured, they have no room to house the dogs, but if I am willing to foster them, they will try to place them for me. So . . . it looks like they're mine for the foreseeable future.

Knowing that to be the case, I sought out the dog trainer there and have set up a "private" session with her to introduce the two packs. I figure if they're going to be here for a while, it would be helpful to have them all getting along! We'll see how it goes.

Of course this mean two new visits to the vet and most likely I will be spaying and neutering them. UGH. My friend PhD suggested I just apply for 501(c)3 status just so I could take donations. Perhaps she's on to something.

And, should it take longer than I would like to place them, I may have to get them into obedience school. Seriously. They have a lot to learn.

Still, they're sweet pups and deserve a good life. I know they can make somebody very happy. And per lifestudent's request, I've posted some photos.

This is Annie.

This is Oliver.

Any room in your home and heart for these fabulous canines?

If not, I'll continue to manage the menagerie . . .

You Couldn't Write this Stuff

It is said life is stranger than fiction and considering my life in recent weeks, I would have to believe it. But I choose to focus just on this week for this post because THIS week, I have my job interview.

WHY are job interviews always ridiculous times for me? WHY?

Tomorrow I begin my on-campus interview for the job I currently hold. I have to, in a way, pretend I don't already have a working relationship with these people and go through the full, tradition, arcane, insane interview process. I begin at 7:15 tomorrow morning and won't really finish until 3:30 Friday afternoon.

In between, I have TEN "meetings" of some fashion, a "research" presentation (huh?), and I get to teach in front of the people who saw me teach last year. Great fun, isn't it?

But wait, it gets better.

The Universe appears to want to screw with me - or at the very least get my attention. On Saturday night, TWO (yes, I said TWO) lost or stray dogs just SHOWED UP at my doorstep. I am not lying. They just showed up. Naturally, being the bleeding heart animal lover that I am, I took them in. But it's more complicated than all the other strays I've taken in because, as there are two of them, they are their own little pack and as such I cannot introduce them SAFELY to my pack. So I am having to keep them separated.

In essence, I am having to do double the work.

It's a shame, too, because they are sweet dogs that just want my attention when I literally have no time to give it to them.

But wait, it gets better.

When I left DC, I left the house of my dreams. True, it was a rental, but it was a huge row house on Capitol Hill, with hardwood floors and exposed brick, a fenced in back yard with a deck, two blocks from a metro stop, and just a block and a half from Congressional Cemetery where I could walk my dog off leash. As I've continued to debate being in Missouri, I've checked in with the property management agency that leases that house to see if it was listed again. Sure enough, yesterday I discovered it was going to be free beginning in March. YUP. My dream house was free again!!! Granted, a little early, but available none-the-less.

But wait, it gets better.

I get home, and in my mailbox is a letter from my CURRENT rental agency. Even though my lease expires MAY 31st, they want to know by FEBRUARY 16th if I intend to stay another year!!!! WHAT THE *#$!?

So what do you think? Is the Universe speaking to me? And if so, what EXACTLY is it saying? 'Cause really, I don't think I can take another plot development.