So today I went to Petco to pick up some stuff for Ribbon. Namely a kitty litter catcher so that when he kicks his litter around it's not all over the carpet and a cusion thing to put on top of my clothes so that my clothes don't get all furry and I don't have to be a towel short.

Anyways I was on my way home at the stoplight waiting to get on the freeway and what do I see but this tiny dog trotting across the intersection with a collar and a leash trailing behind him and no owner in sight. Well he makes it across one side of the intersection and proceeds across the other. Then there's me in the car not sure what to do seeing all these other cars just slowly trying to go past the thing and beeping hoping he'll get out of the way. I was terrified he was going to be run over in front of me. My light was still red and the dog was kinda heading towards me so I roll down my window and yell puppy and he stops IN THE MIDDLE of the intersection to stare at me.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I put the car in park put on my hazard lights and got out of the car to go get him. The poor thing was terrified. I felt so bad for him. As I'm getting back into my car with the dog this woman pulls up next to me and asks if he's alright. I said yea but he's scared and he's not mine. She suggested I try the car dealerships on either side of the street in case he belonged to a customer and had gotten away. So I did to no avail. By this time I'm a little freaked out. What am I going to do with this poor little dog who is clearly winded and still slightly scared himself? I can't take him home as we already have a dog and a cat and are allowed no more pets and who knows how they'll react. Although by this time I'm thinking if I have to I'll take him home for awhile.

I called Sumit and he was not suprised that I somehow ended up with a dog in my car. He suggested I drive around the area trying to see if anyone was loooking for a dog, which I did. Still panicking I called my friend Jessica who's been really involved with animal shelters in the area. She didn't answer her phone, but called me later, and then I had a flash of brilliance, I would go back to the Petco. Maybe someone there could help.

So I get to Petco and the poor dog is still freaked out and it took a lot to get him into the store. Anyways once I get there I feel like I must be babbling. The employees were nice enough to take him and say that they would give him some food and water. If anyone came by to claim him they would give him to the owners, if no one came by they would give him to the ASAP who do not kill the animals but try to place them so I felt better but still bad at the same time as I was leaving the poor thing. I felt so bad like I was abandoning him. I still don't feel good about it and I was so scattered that I didn't even think to leave them my name and number. I think I might try and call them tomorrow.

Anyways I feel like I should have done more. Tried to look harder, taken him home and just put an ad in the paper. I dunno. I just feel like I just left him there all alone and scared. Like I gave up and handed it off to someone else, which I kinda did. Poor little dog. I hope his owners find him.

....until I have Harry Potter, and the Order of the Phoenix in my hot little hands. Who's going to pick it up at 12:01am Friday night/Saturday morning? Oh I think it's me. If anyone would like to hear an excerpt from the book, go here.

I am back in the land of the living for I now have digital cable at my house. I can reach the oustide world and check cementhorizon daily and watch my soap! Now I just need to buy my laptop so that I don't have to use my housemates computer.

Anyways I know some of you are going, "Yea! But Nuala enough about cables and computers we need details about the new job!" Well details you are about to get although I confess I really don't have much to say.

I started at SYR on Friday and man do I need to get used to getting up early again. The earliest shift starts at 7:00 so I have to be out of my house by about 6:40am. It's not very fun, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. The best part is it takes me 15min to get to work at there is NO traffic. It's a freaking blessing.

But yes the actual job. It's good. I feel like I keep screwing up, but then again I keep getting the comment, "You're doing so well" I wonder what kind of idiots they had before that they think I'm doing so great. I feel like I'm not catching on fast enough, they seem to think I'm catching on really fast so.....

It's beautiful there, but there is of course this stress of trying not to offend these guests that are paying anywhere fromm $499 - $4100 a night. Right now it's a bit stressful and I think I expect too much of myself, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time. Basically the work is pretty simple. Running reports, checking people in, making reservations, processing requests, checking people out, etc. Nothing too complicated, it's just trying to remember what kind of stuff SYR does and what kind of requests we can complete and who I need to call for that or who at SYR I need to ask to do it, etc. It's just gettting to know the procedures that sucks.

But let's see the perks. Free lunch/dinner every shift. (It's not really very good, but hell it's better than having to pay for food) Eventually I get benefits after my first 3 months after which I can also go to the resturant but only Mon-Thurs at 6pm with prior approval from your manager with only up to 4 people and the meal is 50% off. All the restrictions are ridiculous. I mean shouldn't we know what the resturant is like before we reccommend it to the guests? But whatever. (See we should have gone that night) I get paid extra if I work designated holidays, but after my first 3 months. And then after I've been there a year I can go to another Relais and Chateaux hotel and stay for two days at only $50/night.

Basically I like it, but I know I don't want to be stuck at the front desk forever. Basically I'm going to take my time there and learn as much as possible and then I'm all about finding my way into management.

Anyways things are going well. Ribbon is doing much better. He's still not too fond of the house. He likes staying in my tiny room, which I will try and take pictures off with it all finished and post later. I think we're both still a little unsettled but things will get better. I miss the bay area quite a bit right now.

And tonight I'm going out with Jessica and some of her friends from work to Dargan's for Quiz night. That should be fun. Anyways I have to go and run some more errands, but now I have cable so my posts will not be so infrequent.

I just wanted to shout out another thanks to Michele, Kristen and Gene for driving me and my crap down to SB. You guys were great and crazy for leaving at the insane times you did. Gene, I'm sorry we couldn't do anything more exciting than watching a movie. Next time you come down I promise we can do the IV thing so you can oogle to your heart's content. Girls I wish you stayed. I miss you horribly.

The room is small, but more organized than it was when you guys left. I've got the bed and the TV. My life is complete. The landlords still aren't quite done. All the painting is done. Now it's just some more electrical stuff and they're putting a shed in the back for extra storage. They're awesome people but I'll be glad when they're done with everything.

Ribbon is still a bit freaked out but much better. He even went out on his own last night and made it back in one piece. I'll be glad when the roommates move in so that he is not so freaked out by an empty house.

I have orientation tomorrow for work. I keep looking at my closet and seeing nothing to wear. It is very disturbing. I'm a little nervous but I think it will all work out. This on the whole will be a good experience for me and as long as no one moves farther away I'll be home to visit and see you all. Jade, you are to move closer. That is an order...hee hee.

Right anyways. I still have tons of stuff to do and I want to get it done before I'm working 40 hours a week. I miss you guys tons but I'm glad Cementhorizon's around. Once I have internet at my house I'll be updating more regularly.