When it all began…

My gosh April is a busy month for us – so many important dates to keep track of! The last day of the month is one last very important anniversary: our first date. The first date wasn’t when we got serious, but without a first we could never have had a second, third, fourth, etc, and might have never gotten to where we are now, so it’s a day I hold very dear. Though I never would have thought that at the time…

At the time, I was adamantly opposed to dating anyone. I was having a good enough time doing my own thing and didn’t want to have to worry about anyone else’s feelings or needs. Joe was sort of the opposite, he felt like he was ready to commit to somebody.  Despite our different expectations, we chatted for a while, liked each other, and figured we’d meet up for dinner.

I chickened out on him the first time – after all, this felt like a date and I wasn’t dating – but by the next day I’d gotten my act together and agreed to meet him at a little bar up the road from my house, the Squirrel Hill Cafe aka The Cage. We hit it off right away, had some food and a few beers and chatted for a couple hours. It was really nice to talk to somebody who I thought was interesting and was interested in what I had to say, but I still insisted he was going nowhere but the Friend Zone.

After dinner we were going to get ice cream, but the line was crazy long and we didn’t feel like waiting. Somehow we ended up at Rite Aid instead, trying on goofy sunglasses and floppy hats. It was silly but also a lot of fun. How many people can you do that with, especially the first time you’ve met them? Wow, I thought, what a fun friend this dude will be!

When we were all done, I refused to let him drive me home – we weren’t on a date, right? – and I walked back down the hill feeling sort of excited. He hadn’t been creepy or obnoxious, he was easy to talk to, he had a big laugh and I was loving those dimples…too bad we weren’t ever going to date and I’d probably never see him again anyway.

A couple days later I told my mom about our thing that wasn’t a date, which I’d never done before (why bring up guys I very emphatically Wasn’t Dating?). I think I told her it was fun and he was nice but there was nothing else going on there. She said something like, that’s too bad, there are others.

And then I went to Ecuador for a few weeks and when I came back…well, that’s a story for another day.

Spoiler alert: I was totally full of crap.

I’m a terrible person! The worst! Ever!

Tonight as Joe and I were taking out the trash, I had a sudden and alarming thought: I forgot Josie’s birthday! My Dad’s birthday is tomorrow and I remember Josie came into my life on the Wednesday before his birthday, two years ago. (It’s not her exact birthday, of course, but it’s a celebrate-able day for sure.) I rushed back inside to check the calendar and, sure enough, I missed it. She turned (more or less) 3 years old on April 23.

Happy belated birthday, my darling girl!

You've got a lot of nerve, jerkface!

Let’s stroll down memory lane, shall we?

I got an email one day in 2008 from a friend who was looking for a new home for her cat. My friend was about to move in with her boyfriend (now husband) and sadly his son was very allergic to cats (luckily, his allergy seems to have cleared up…even more luckily, she didn’t demand Josie back). At the time I was living in a big house with four other people and we already had a cat, Cosby, so I didn’t immediately think I’d be the one to take Josie.

Like Cosby, Josie had started her life as a stray (as far as I know). She was about the same age as Cosby (1 year) and had already had a litter of kittens (poor girl) so she was pretty runty. Cosby was also runty. And he was a grey tabby. And the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I mean, come on…what are the chances? I asked my roommates if they’d mind if we adopted another cat into our little family and they agreed and then…Josie came home.

At first she just hid in the basement or under my bed or on a shelf. Cosby tormented her. They fought constantly, hissing and growling whenever they caught sight of one another. My roommates thought she should go. I argued that we should give her a chance to settle in before making any rash decisions.

And then I went to Ecuador for a few weeks. When I came back, Josie and Cosby were getting along. My roommates (with the exception of one, who is convinced that Josie peed on her bed, though I maintain that I think it was Cosby) had accepted her. Josie was here to stay.

A year later, when we decided to split up and move into our own places, Cosby went with one roommate and Josie came with me. Nevermind that I was moving in with Joe and he was bringing his dog and we’d have no way to tell whether they could live together until they were actually living together – somehow I just knew it would all work out. And I was right. I can’t imagine my life (or this apartment) without her in it!

Some pictures of our time together…

One of the first pictures I ever took of Josie - she looks so young!

Watching birds out the window in the old house.

It must be so hard to be a cat!

Love that speckled belly!!!

Chasing after a shiny string - note the concentration!

Sleeping on my fresh laundry...Josie's no dummy.

Out of her mind on catnip - what a trip. Literally.

Excuse me. I'm much more interesting than those dumb flowers.

Napping with my books this afternoon - a cat after my own heart!

In short: Josie is an awesome cat whose enormous personality cannot be captured in words and pictures. She keeps us laughing and cuddles like a champ and I am so happy to have spent these two years with her – the first of many, I’m sure!

In which Joe does me a MAJOR solid…

Let me set the scene for you: Night. I’m alone in the apartment, taking a shower. Joe and Seb are outside having an evening poop (Seb is, anyway). I hear a noise! A noise that couldn’t be Josie! It sounds human! Could someone be in the apartment?!?!?!

Enter Joe.

Me: (as door opens, cowering behind shower curtain) JOE?! JOE IS THAT YOU?!
Joe: It’s me. What’s up?
Me: I heard a noise. Like a whistle. Did you whistle?
Joe: Nope. Wasn’t me.
Me: (minor heart attack)
Me: (recovering) Will you check the apartment for intruders?
Joe: Absolutely!
Me: (huddled in one corner of the shower, shampoo bottle at the ready to squirt in a Bad Man’s eye or whomp him over the head)
Joe: (walking from room to room, turning lights on, checking hidey places)
Joe: All clear!
Me: (alive, thankful)

It’s possible that dear Joe was just choosing his battles wisely; not long before this conversation, I’d demonstrated that I had a case of the weepies and he probably wanted to ensure it didn’t go all the way to full-on hysterics.

It’s also possible – I would argue, more likely – that Joe is just an awesome guy who’s not afraid to peek into dark corners, both literal and figurative.

Weekend in Review

Friday afternoon, inexplicably, our electricity cut out. Like any sensible young people, we decided to wait at the bar for it to come back on.

In our case, “the bar” was Sharp Edge Beer Emporium – yes sir, an EMPORIUM of beer! – and we arrived in time to take advantage of happy hour. Joe is not a huge fan of Belgian beers, which of course is their speciality, but they have enough other things that he was happy. I was happy too, because happy hour means cheap beer means I can try different things. I only had two, but they were both good.

Beer #1: De Konninck

Beer #2: Bavik

As it turns out, the Belgians can also fry a mean onion. Mmm onions.

Saturday, Joe took off to play with his friends and I watched season two of Tool Academy. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a GENIUS show about men who are tools and the women who love them, but wish they weren’t tools. So they trick them into going on a reality TV show where the men are enrolled in therapy and couple-strengthening challenges and eventually (we hope) come to realize that they shouldn’t be such tools to the women they love. It’s great – and it makes me appreciate Joe (my non-tool) so much more.

Ooh, such quality!

While I watched, I worked on a new necklace – pale pink rectangles and some darked pink squares. Used the leftovers for earrings and voila…I have successfully made a jewelry set! I find it very soothing. And pretty.

Later my friend came over to watch a movie and catch up. He also brought his Puggle, Aston, who’s a little over a year old and SO CUTE. I used to live with Aston and I wasn’t always his biggest fan, but you know how it goes…you move apart and learn to appreciate each other a little more.

Josie and Aston used to play, so I thought she’d be happy to see him, but it was Seb who really had a blast. I’ve never seen him play with another dog like he and Aston played. It was pretty adorable.

Then they laid down and napped for awhile. Awwwwwww.

Sunday I had a pretty lazy day – rebeaded my bracelet on new jump rings and now it’s strong and pretty. I even had some left over to make earrings. I am a MACHINE. I doubt I’ll be able to translate this to a money-making venture like I’d hoped, but it sure is fun.

Then me and Joe (mostly Joe) made Indian for dinner and I don’t want to talk about it. Ugh. Samosas.

And then the weekend was over. Not like it matters, though; when you don’t have a job, every day is the weekend.

Que sera, sera…

One morning last week, I was laying in bed thinking about how much I liked being unemployed. Except for having no money (and, honestly, being broke is old hat by now), being unemployed is kind of awesome. Nobody tells me what to do. I don’t have to get up early and go to an office and do a job I don’t like. I have time to write, read, bead, make soup, bake, watch Doctor Quinn, etc, etc – all those things I used to wish I was doing when I was at work. I get to see Joe and Seb and Josie a lot more than I used to. I’m no longer an insignificant cog in a big, boring machine. I think I’m, in general, happier and more relaxed.

I’m sure the universe had a good chuckle at my expense when, less than an hour later, I got called in for an interview at one of the 50-some places I’d sent resumes.

My interview was yesterday and, well, I don’t think my unemployment is going to be ending any time soon. And that sorta stinks, even if being unemployed is basically a non-stop party.

Martha is seriously disturbed.

At first I was determined to be grumpy for the rest of the day, but Joe wouldn’t let me (what a jerk, that guy). We had lunch and then went grocery shopping and segued into a little date night: some beers and mac’n’cheese at Kelly’s, some cupcakes from Vanilla and some pizza (for later) from Pizza Sola. My man knows how to treat a lady.

BRRRRR-ing...BRRRRR-ing...hahaha, get it?!

Then we came home and warmed our chilly bones by the fire radiator. The animals were happy to see us – and by “us,” I mean “Joe.” He has some kind of voodoo magic going on in the apartment and all the creatures flock to him. Not that I’m jealous or anything.

Not pictured: that girl, what's-her-name...

So I probably don’t have a job (still), but at least I have a nice boyfriend and some goofy critters to keep me entertained and a little humble. That’ll do.

Verdict: Awesome.

I’ve long held the opinion that Joe and I are one of the coolest, bestest couples around. When me and him hooked up, the sun shone a little brighter, the birds sang a little louder, the world just got better all around. I know, I know, as one half of this power duo I’m probably biased about how cool we are, but I’m pretty sure it’s a scientific fact. It’s not bragging if it’s true, you know?

Anyway, I’ve known it for a long time, but in case we have any doubters out there I have something that I think will change your mind.

mmmmm! sloppy, meaty goodness!

Midnight Manwich. I think that’s all I need to say.

In which I am cast aside for a feline. Again.

Now, look, I think it’s great that Joe and Josie get along so well. But their love affair is getting ridiculous!

Hello my little succulent morsel...

Purrrrr purrrrrrrrrrrr I love you purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Purrrrrrrrrrrr no other woman shall have you PURRRRRRRRRRR

PURRRRRRR are you ready, bee-yotch? PURRRRRRRRR

PUCKER UP, SWEET CHEEKS!

Don't talk to HER, you traitorous cad! You're MINE MINE MINE!

Victory is mine, you pathetic two-legger! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaappy New Year!

So, it’s 2010. I feel weird about that. For one, “2010” is strange to say in a date. Like, “9/1/09” is “nine-one-oh-nine,” but “9/1/10” is “nine-one-ten.” That’s strange. Or is it just me?

2010 is a weird year for me in general. It’s a year I won’t be in school. It’s a year I might move across the country. It’s a year I might buy a car. It’s a year I’ll turn 25. All sorts of milestones – but I suppose that’s what makes up a year, any year.

Anyhow. To ring in the new year, Joe and I got all dolled up and went to his cousin’s house for a fancy, mature party. Within an hour of our arrival it dissolved into a massive game of Flip-Cup, but who says you can’t play college drinking games if you’re wearing a sparkly dress or a nice shirt and tie?

This is the second New Year we’ve spent together, although last year’s dress code was more casual: PJs and sparkly “2009” glasses. Plus we were in Portland. Maybe 2011 will find us there again…

And here's to many more!

TuesDate Night

(HA! See what I did there?)

Tuesday after Xmas, Joe and I took ourselves out in the Zipcar for a little date night. We started out with some grocery shopping (so romantic!) at the Waterworks. I’d never been there before and, I dunno why, I thought it would be really small and run-down, but it was…pretty normal.

After we stocked up on the necessaries, we headed down to the Church Brew Works and had some good beer and food and conversation. Joe let me vent about a lot of stuff and I let him try my pierogies. That’s love, folks.

Then we drove around for a while. In the very early days of our relationship, we used to drive around the city together, so even though on the surface it was just a car ride to Mount Washington it felt special.

I have a lot of good memories of these rivers and bridges.

As much as I talk about being ready to leave, I do love this city.

Or maybe it's just the company.

Afterwards, we took the long way through Mt Washington and the Hill District and Bloomfield and Squirrel Hill and every which way to Gullifty’s for some dessert. Joe had carrot cake and I had some kind of decadent chocolate thing that turned into a sloppy soup before I could finish half of it.

Mmmm...

And then home again, home again, to tuck my tired butt into bed. At least it’s only a two day work week to get through!

I have a serious, SERIOUS crush on this man.

Joe: michael buble is coming to pittsburgh on march 17
me: NO WAY
me: can we go joe? can we can we can we can we???
Joe: hell yeah we can!
me: yaaaaaaaaaaaaay
Joe: !!!!!