The world is just awesome – well, most of it.

It’s easy to be cynical and grouchy (I oughta know, I play that game), but it’s also no great feat to find people doing really cool, generous things. Today I found out about Secret Agent L, a fellow Pittsburgher who has taken it upon herself to do random acts of kindness for people in the city. It might be some money tucked into a bar menu for the next patron to find or a goodie bag left at a bus stop – just little things, “day brighteners,” without any kind of hitch or ulterior motive.

First of all, I love it. And even better, she’s inspired other people to reach out in similar ways. Of course I wish I’d thought of it, but still…makes me very proud to live in this city.

It sounds like such a simple, silly thing to do, but it’s just those simple, silly, completely unexpected things that can make someone’s day and that’s a very positive force. I remember one day I was walking up Centre Ave and I happened to turn my head to look in a store window and I saw a little sticker on the window that said, “you are so beautiful.” Now obviously whoever left it didn’t leave it for me personally, doesn’t know anything about me, wasn’t speaking directly to me, but seeing it there lifted my spirits. I’m sure I smiled and said hello to a lot of random strangers  that day, and maybe that had an uplifting effect on their moods, too.

We all have to start somewhere.

*

In other news: I have a job! Yes, I am finally formally employed once again – go me. I’m now an assistant/jack of all trades/extra set of hands/etc at Vanilla Pastry Studio, aka the awesomeist bakery in the city. And it’s not all eating frosting and gazing at cupcakes, either (which disappointed me at first, I’ll admit) – this is serious business and they keep me seriously busy. You would be shocked by the number of cupcakes I haven’t eaten. But I have the opportunity to get my hands in pretty much every aspect of the shop, so it’s been a great experience so far.

Plus the owner actually pays a living wage which is, you know, very sweet. (See what I did there! Ha!)

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News from the home front is not good. The always lovable and amazing Beagle that’s been a member of our family for twelve years (wait…twelve? or thirteen?), the irreplaceable Little Pocket Rocket aka Rocky aka Bucket aka Fat Hound Dog is in a bad way. My parents are doing their best to keep him comfortable, but that’s all that can be done at this point.

Seb is the dog that’s in the forefront of my life right now, but Rocky has always been my # 1. He’s absolutely the best dog in the world and I can’t even imagine a world without him in it. I’m going back east soon to say goodbye and kiss his sweet white face and cry buckets.

Rocketman on his birthday, 4-1-2010.

…The whole thing seems so surreal.

The joy of having a common name…

…or, “I love my job and my job loves me.”

Me (on the phone): Hi Sally*, it’s Cate.
Sally (coworker): Uh…hi…Cate? Help me out. Who are you?

*Names have been changed. Except mine.

…sigh.

I am drunk on this fragrance.

(miss you.)

Kitties and plants strain towards the sunlight…

Sometimes at work I have to cover the front desk – field calls, handle appointments, direct deliveries to their destinations, etc. I consider it one of the most stressful elements of my job, because there’s so many opportunities to screw up and so much to juggle.

Anyway. Yesterday I was covering the front and one of the delivery guys showed up with a big dolly of boxes. Some for my office, some for other offices in the building. One was a 1800Flowers box and he asked me if the person was in my office or another.

The name on the box? Mine.

Apparently my darling Joe felt guilty for not being in town to help me move – which is unnecessary but sweet – and sent me flowers to make up for it. Roses, to be precise. 27 of them (my boss counted). They are lovely. And smell wonderful. And I’ve been getting lots of compliments, both on the flowers and how sweet my boyfriend is (as if I didn’t know!).

hello lovely :)

hello! hello!

The crappy pictures don’t do the colors justice. And they’ve opened up a bit more since I took those. Really, just gorgeous. Oh, boyfriend. You done good.

When I got home there was another nice surprise waiting for me – a box of goodies for the fundraiser I’m organizing (which is THIS SATURDAY already). It was like Christmas in July. I dug through it and got very excited and Josie came over to help/supervise.

not amused.

As anticipated, she loves the kitchen window. It looks out over the backyard and a bunch of trees where birds gather. She can see all the goings-on. Last night some people were grilling and she watched them for a long time.

the great, great outdoors

what's that over there?

josie is disturbed by the lack of petting

She’s settling in, I think. Still absolutely obnoxious in the morning, but it’s understandable. She must be bored out of her mind, alone all day and ignored all night. Poor Josie. Pooooooooor Josie.