Possibility

A few weeks ago my boss was talking me up to the Regional Director of Revenue (Europe) and while she was on the phone I was asked if I would be interested in moving to Marrakech. I said I wouldn't say no as long as it was ok that my French is rusty and no so great on the reading or writing. I thought nothing of it as they were just chatting and really interested in me? To move me to Morocco...I figured there must be someone Europe based who would be better fit.

But now. Well apparently I'm going to be contacted sometime soon about the opportunity. (mental screaming and freaking out is going on right now) I mean I would love to visit Morocco, but do I want to live there? I love the food. It would certainly be an adventure. But what about Garren. Could he get a job? Would he be granted a Visa to work? Would we have to be married to make these things more probable? And the cats. I have to be able to take them. Will they ever forgive me for putting them on a plane? Will they be scarred for life? These are the things that filter through my brain and NOTHING has happened yet.

So yea. Marra-freaking-kech. The mental freak out continues.

Smack Down!

The above cartoon is an amazingly realistic depiction of what Garren and I experience every morning with our (or maybe I should say my) bundle of fur, Willoughby. Lately our house has been a battleground for a species domination smack down. Willoughby is determined to get what he wants whether it be attention, food or just to be in the same room as us and Garren is determined to well, kill him.

One particularly bad morning Willoughby started his tirade at 4:00am. Garren eventually gave up and went to watch TV as he couldn't sleep. He was NOT very happy. In fact I'm surprised Willoughby wasn't killed on the spot. (I suppose his restraint shows how much Garren really does love me). I have earplugs and refuse to acknowledge Willoughby noise in any way, however my lack of response is not discouraging him either. And it doesn't make Garren very happy either. That morning Garren did put Willoughby in his carrier before coming back to bed and I got up to a very SUBDUED Willoughby who had destroyed his carrier escaping.

That was a week or two ago however and Willoughby is back to his normal ways. Meowing, clawing, banging on the door, etc. Maggie secretly eggs him on. I just know it. She's so quiet while we're sleeping but as soon as I'm up she's louder than him. I have tried to pay extra attention to him in the evenings and to play with him a lot before going to bed in an effort to tire him out. It worked a little. He seemed to wait longer in the morning before starting to meow and was not as vocal. I haven't been very dedicated to my cat playing time though and we've been out of the house more lately in the evenings and this morning Willoughby was back to banging on the door. Little idiot puts his entire weight up against the door. He's as stubborn as a mule when he wants something. He's lucky he has a thick head.

I think we are going to have to try locking him in his carrier (the other one he hasn't destroyed) in the near future when he displays these habits, in combination with maybe paying extra attention to him and playing with him in the evenings. My only problem is that when I'm in bed asleep the last thing I want to do is get up, chase Willoughby around and force him into a cat carrier. I would much rather lay in bed, silently curse him and doze until he shuts up.

And so our struggle for species domination continues. Pray for me because I think eventually I'm either going to be lacking a cat or a boyfriend unless I come up with a solution or they come to an understanding that doesn't involve blood.

Food Obsessed

Garren and I are obsessed with our neighborhood restaurant, Wood Tavern. We've been there 3 times in the last 2 weeks (and that's just how many times recently). I blame my sister and Erik. They were the ones who first discovered this place down the street from their apartment which is now our apartment. They introduced us to the fabulous staff, tasty cocktails and amazing food.

To highlight how obsessed we are I give you this story:

Garren and I went to go see the movie Milk in Emeryville and we decided to just go to one of the restaurants at the Bay Street Shopping Mall for dinner. (It was there, we were there = convenience) We went to Elephant Bar, were seated, ordered and then started discussing how we would much rather be at Wood Tavern as we were shoved in a empty corner at the current restaurant and were not too excited about our orders. Then Garren said, "Let's just go." He totally thought I wouldn't go for it but at this point we had started discussing the menu options at Wood Tavern, as well as the cocktails which had me not so satisfied with my current chicken salad order.

Our food came shortly after that and Garren flagged down the waitress and mumbled about something coming up and asked her to pack up our food. We then drove home, put our to go orders in the fridge to eat for lunch the next day and walked down to Wood Tavern where I had the Lamb Rigatoni and Garren had the burger. And booze. Don't forget the cocktails. It was another great evening. And we told this story to the lovely hostess Shannon who said at the end, "Why were you even at Elephant Bar."

Our only answer, "We don't know" and it will never happen again. Obsessed I tell you. Happily.

Ady and Erik come back soon so we can all go together and bask in the Wood Tavern happiness together.