Miscellaneous Friday Observations

Kickin the Habit

So I heard a news tidbit on the radio this morning on my way to work. Evidently, there's a chimp at a Chinese zoo for whom they're trying to kick her smoking habit. She's been hooked for 15 years... started by picking up and smoking cigarette butts discarded by zoo visitors.

Okay, so how wrong is that? *shaking head*

Left in the Air

So there was a bit of a miscommunication between IHOP Buddy and myself yesterday. We got it straightened out, but we'd already gotten snippy at each other, and I'm not overly confident that we're all good yet.

I guess my part of the miscommunication lies in the fact that I'm not really good with asking people for help. First and foremost, for not being able to be self-sufficient... but also the awkwardness of relying on somebody else... being indebted to them. It leaves me feeling on an uneven playing field and I guess I can be a bit hypersensitive to anything having to do with the situation. Strangely enough, I have no problems being on the other end of the stick... I enjoy helping other folks, and the feeling of being needed. Somehow it seems hypocritical, but one just can't help gut reactions.

So the favor in question is helping me get my couch moved. The activity has been postponed for one reason or another... the most recent one being that IHOP Buddy completely forgot that her family had planned to take a trip to Branson this weekend. She feels bad about it, but I'm not overly upset. It's been put off this long... what's a little bit longer? In fact, I was beginning to like the idea of having another week to get my library together, since I'll be hostessing dinner again once I get the new couch moved, so I can show off the place.

But in our chat yesterday (IM can perpetuate a LOT of miscommunications), I somehow got the impression that they had a change of plans, and I asked about them being available Saturday morning after all. The way she seemed to correct me immediately made me feel stupid and that I was giving off the impression of desperation / impatience about moving a stupid couch. She got all defensive... I got all defensive... we got it straightened out, but there was still a feeling of uneasiness. She also explained that she was out of sorts because she felt jerked around by a few other things going on in her life, and I realized part of my immediate irrational reaction could have been picking up on her irritation.

Unfortunately, rationally understanding what happened in a situation never totally erases the bad feelings that come from it. I tried to call her last night... left a voice mail and never heard back. I tried to chat her up on IM this morning and she almost immediately signed off. There could be any number of inoccuous reasons... yahoo has been having issues lately and giving misinformation... and we don't ALWAYS call each other right back when we leave messages. We have a pretty easygoing and lackadaisical relationship. But if she IS avoiding me... well, my first guess is that she just needs some time to step back. Hopefully she'll have a chance to regroup from all the shit going on in her life right now, during her vacation this weekend. And she'll probly be ready to start a fresh take on things after that. I totally understand and respect that.

I just hate leaving things in the air like this. *sigh*

Friday Morning Downpour

Welp... the drought and scorching Summer days are definately over. I woke this morning to an odd sound that was reminiscent of wheels bouncing over roof shingles. Almost immediately followed by the start of a rather impressive thunderstorm... and then the cat puking. So the best I can put together from my half-awake memories is that somebody finally got up to my roof to get at least some sort of stop-gap coverage for the leak before the storm hit. And since Ms. Pukesalot gets an upset stomach from fussing over a mouse in combat boots five blocks away, it was probably inevitable that she lost the contents of said stomach from all the early morning noise.

I did my best to ignore that fact and just enjoy the sound of the thunderstorm until I realized she probably was in need of some reassurance. So I finally hauled myself outta bed. My alarm clock said I was long due for it, anyway... even though I don't recall the thing going off at all. I also checked the dining room, and the ceiling didn't seem to be leaking, so I'm hoping my supposition about the roof noises is a correct one.

Weekend Possibilities

Amway, that is the extent of my morning so far. I'm very glad it's Friday... and I'm thinking of suggesting to Mom that we go see "The Brothers Grimm" in the theatres this weekend. We usually only go to movies on those weekends when Pop works, though... so she may decide to wait. She hates thinking he'll feel left out, cuz he can't do movies anymore due to his sensitive ears. But she's been having a bad time of things recently, too, and she may just need a girl's day out. And I owe her, anyway, for doing my curtains.