Cats in an RV

by

Connectivity, Comfort, and Cats

My high speed internet was supposed to be activated today, but, of course, the plug and play modem didn’t work. I chatted with a Telus rep and he concluded that it’d be best to send someone to check the wiring. I don’t think a single one of my tenants has had any luck with getting the internet to work right off the bat.

What made me laugh is that the tech rep had a hard time understanding that I wasn’t home. I mean, the first thing I asked is “Do I need home phone service to have internet?” (nope). So he knew I had no phone at home and if I was chatting with him, then the fact that I don’t have internet at home should have been pretty obvious. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had this conversation with tech reps from different telecom companies over the years! The tech rep was very good, my joking aside. He acknowledged that I’d done everything at my end and didn’t make me feel like an idiot.

At any rate, no high speed internet till tomorrow afternoon. I’m just grateful that I got an appointment so quickly, that I don’t need to pay for a phone line I have no use for, and that I have my cellular internet access!

I’m also happy to report that my furniture arrived! Wheeeeeeee. I can set up my home office tonight. I don’t think the chair they gave me is going to work, though (no arm rests or wheels) so I may be bringing my chair in from Miranda after all, but I’ll try this one first and see how I like it. Soon as I am set up I will share pictures. 🙂 I have to say that I somehow managed to get stuff that looks good together rather than like a hodgepodge. Geeze, even the curtains that Jody lent me complement the loft curtains! It’ll be nice to be in a lovely place for six months. The only thing left to get now that I have furniture are some more floor mats so I don’t have to walk on the drop cloths all winter.

I have a couple of ‘my cats are amusing’ stories. Before going to work this morning, I put Jody’s curtains in the tub to soak since they smelled strongly of cigarettes. When I came in at lunch, the apartment was very humid and reeked of cigarette smoke. So, I rinsed the curtains and took them outside to dry over the balcony railing, then I left the patio door cracked. Neelix promptly pushed his cushion so it was by the open door and plopped down! As for Ms. Bitha, I came in this afternoon to supervise the furniture delivery and noticed that the undersink cabinet door was cracked open. Tabitha was curled up in there, pressed tightly against the wall. If I catch her there again, I’ll let her know that that can be her safe spot by putting a blanket down for her. I hadn’t planned on using the cabinet anyway.

by

This Is Going to Take Some Getting Used To

Tabitha didn’t let me sleep a wink last night, so around 6:30 I gave up and got up. First order of business was coffee. Oh, waitaminute. I brought up all the coffee supplies except the kettle and French press. *shakes head* So I threw a skirt and sweater on over my jammies and schlepped out to the rig. It was cold out!

Next, I had to put water in the kettle. Ooh, I can drink what comes out of the tap. What a novel idea! Now, to put the kettle on the stove. There’s a knob, but where’s the starter… oh, right, no starter. It’s now time to boil water, which takes forever on an electric stove. Water is boiling at last, put some in the French press and some in the mug, put kettle back on stove. Why is it whistling again? Oh, right, electric stoves give off heat even after being turned off.

Another thing I need to get used to is the sound of the fridge cycling off and on. I haven’t had to sleep in the same room as my fridge since ’98-’00.

by

Moving Day

Today’s agenda was to finish destriping and Poliglowing the driver’s side, pack up, and move to the apartment. I was quite a bit behind schedule, but with Gary and Jody’s help I made it!

I was ready to move the rig around 4, so they helped me out and off I went to gas up, dump, and park the rig outside my building. The first thing I brought in was the cat supplies, then the cats. I locked them in the storage room with everything they needed to be comfortable except a window. It must have felt like a prison cell to them. 🙁

After, I did several loads, bringing up the contents of the fridge and freezer, the bedding, and some kitchen supplies. Gary and Jody met me at 6:30 to help me move in my bed and some furniture they are lending me (wait till you see my headboard!). We then debated how to best park Miranda, reached a consensus, and I was able to square her away. I then drove back to their house to pick up my car (and some curtains since my loft curtains aren’t quite enough and some fresh baked bread).

Back at the apartment building I went to Miranda to grab toiletries, a few more kitchen things, some clothes and my computer.

Before I left, I let the cats out. When I got in around 8, Neelix was roaming around, but Tabitha had literally vanished. I was really puzzled but not worried since she’s done this to me many times. I couldn’t wait to find her secret safe spot, but I thought I’d examined all the possibilities. Then I just knew. The pallets! Sure enough, Tabitha was under the bed! She let me pet her, but then retreated further under the bed, just out of reach.

By this point, I was famished but in absolutely no mood to cook and I can’t use my new microwave until I get an extension cord. So I decided to walk over to the McDonald’s a couple of blocks away. I was so hungry and exhausted by this point that my vision was blurry, but the food and fresh air did me a world of good.

On the walk home I realised that I’d forgotten to grab some pajamas and a skirt to wear tomorrow so I went back to the rig to grab them as well as my little green machine so that I could wash the recliner and ottoman Gary had pulled out of storage. What was one more chore by this point when it meant that I could enjoy the chair tomorrow evening. 🙂

Then, it was time for a most satisfactory shower. I was pleased with the shower head, water temperature, and the water pressure. It’s not much fun having to step over the edge of the bath and wrestle with a shower curtain, but I won’t miss my shower as much as I thought I would.

Now, I’m lying in bed with the kitties. I don’t usually use the computer in bed, but it’s either that or the floor! 😀

I am completely at peace with where I am tonight. The only place in Canada where I can winter with my RV is the second most expensive place in Canada to live. There is no way that I could do the $1,000 plus a month it would cost me to live in BC in addition to the taxes there. I badly need to see a doctor and this is where I’ve found one. The price to pay is living in this apartment. I will make do. I mean, I have a cozy temporary abode, no commute to a job I like, and good friends living close by. This is the perfect set up for me to get my health issues sorted out and I feel very grateful to be here.

by

Tabitha’s Great Escape

Last night, I made sure the front door was locked and then I went to bed.

It was COLD in the rig this morning and I discovered why as soon as I managed to get out of bed: the front door was wide open!!! The stupid thing doesn’t shut right unless you slam it.

My first thought was MY CATS! But then I calmed down. Neelix had been with me all night. Tabitha had never been outside and would surely be too scared to leave… or would she? A quick check of the rig revealed my worst nightmare; my girl was gone.

Trying to stay calm, figuring that she’d have been too scared to go far, I threw on a warm sweater and some shoes and went out. I called her for about 5 minutes and she appeared by the front door, mewing pitifully. I went to pick her up and she bolted, probably thinking I was mad at her. She took refuge under the rig, right behind the driver’s side rear tires where all I could reach was her tail. She continued to meow but would not let me get close and the minute I let go of her tail she bolted again. Thankfully, it was back to the stairs by the door where she waited for me to let her in.

I have no idea how long she was outside, but my five minute ordeal probably took fifty years off my life.

RV tip: don’t just do a visual check that the door bolt is in the ‘locked’ position. Physically check that the door is actually SHUT!

by

Enjoying My Weekend

The last week of July and first week of August were busy at my apartment management job. I worked 12 days in a row since I had to go in for a few hours both days last weekend. It’s nice to be able to stay home this weekend even though I took on five small transcription jobs.

Between transcription bursts, I’m still working on destriping the rig. The driver’s side stripes are tenacious! It’s taking way longer than did the passenger side, probably because it’s not in direct sunlight. I don’t have much longer to get this project done so I try to do a little bit every day that I’m not completely swamped with apartment management, fliers, and transcription.

The weather gets very, very hot in the afternoons and Miranda becomes uncomfortable, even with windows open and the fan going. Add to that a Macbook Pro that runs very hot and I can’t get much work done between 4 and 7.

Yesterday, I put on my walking shoes, grabbed my iPod Touch (and new armband for holding the device), and went for a long walk, listening to several chapters of an audio book, enjoying the slowly cooling air. I then came home, put the iPod Touch in the dock (bought for my old iPod, but working great with the iPod Touch!), and continued to listen while making, having, and cleaning up after dinner.

iPod dock

I love that the days get so hot but cool right down at night so I can sleep comfortably. My cats aren’t struggling with the heat at all. They lie by the fan, the door, or an open window, and I put a couple of ice cubes in their water in the morning so that they have cold water all day. Both are eating me out of house and home, so as long as that keeps up I’m not concerned!

Back to work I go. 🙂