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Finally, I have nothing major to report on. Pride Weekend is over (though we still have Tacoma Pride this month and Alki Beach Pride next month left to go), as are the end-of-life issues for Guru—for both cats, it should be noted.
There is the slightly eerie issue of the absence being felt so keenly in the condo. There are so many things we keep doing out of habit that are no longer necessary because the cats are gone. Shobhit had left the guest room door open and when I went to close it he said, "We don't have to close that anymore." Even he keeps closing the master bathroom door, which is a slider so it makes that sliding noise every time, which we only did to keep Guru out whenever we were not in there to supervise and make sure he didn't shit or piss on the floor.
Even the blinds in our bedroom are part of this, although it occurs to me now that this was actually more about Shanti, who used to sit and lick the blinds if she could reach them, like a weirdo. I always drew the blinds only down to where they would be just out of her reach. I don't have to do that anymore either.
It's all very strange.
Gabriel called me last night, and he started by telling me he did not want to be part of the onslaught of people leaving arguably pat comments on my Facebook post—I actually get that—but he was still sorry to hear the news. I did not particularly expect anything from him about it anyway (and there is no judgment in that observation; it's something that just is), as I noted to him: "I know you're generally anti-pet anyway, so." He kind of chuckled and said, "Well. The jig is up!" He admitted that he was actually calling me about something else, but Lea had reminded him that I had just put my cat down.
I did mention something to him I find a little bit backward: the outpouring of condolences and support in the wake of both Shanti's and Guru's deaths are deeply appreciated, I want to make clear. But, I also got more response on Facebook to both of them than I did when
my mother died. I honestly did have a closer relationship to my cats than I did to my mom, but I still think that's just a tiny bit fucked up. People can talk about how their pets are "their babies" all they want. Human people are still more important, and it's weird to me when people behave otherwise.
Anyway! I actially went to a movie with Laney last night at Pacific Place, and we saw
A Quiet Place: Day One. I stand by the solid B I gave it, even though my review is packed with nitpicky complaints. The previous two movies were way better, although all three of them contain significant lacks in logic when it comes to the premise, and I can't stop thinking about who the hell designed and constructed whatever spacecraft these alien monsters traveled to our planet in, if the creatures themselves are just violent predators. As I told Gabriel last night, it's like a bunch of wolves decided to travel to Mars or something—or, I guess, a planet in another solar system that also has a breathable atmosphere. What? Do these creatures even know what an atmosphere
is?
Okay I'm falling down that spiral again already. We enjoyed the movie but agreed that it wasn't nearly as good as the others. Done. I had ridden my bike but I walked it with Laney up to Broadway where her apartment building is. The best part is that we no longer have to sit through that fucking movie's trailer before literally every other movie we go to see. I guess now it'll be the trailer to
Twisters, which I am so excited for I still haven't tired of that trailer.
— पांच हजार छह सौ बयालीस —
— पांच हजार छह सौ बयालीस —
In other news, Gabby
brought me flowers at work today, the second time she has done so in six weeks. Let's hope she doesn't have to again for a long time, if ever. I really appreciate it though, and found the card in particular to be quite beautiful. I nearly cry every time I look at it, and its obvious visual reference to "the rainbow bridge."
On a lighter note, she is also being super insistent that we mark the occasion of my work anniversary, even though at 22 years it's hardly a milestone. She told me last week, "I think after 20 years it should be a big deal every year." It's very sweet, and a little ridiculous. She even asked if I wanted a party, for the whole office or for the department. I kept saying: "Maybe at 25 years."
In our 1:1 meeting last week I was like, fine: how about we do something with just our team, the three of us, with Gabby and Amy. Then Gabby suggested the possibility of a Happy Hour, and I was like, "Ooh, I like that idea! Let's get wasted!" She blocked off Wednesday, August 7 for this as that's the day we'll all be in the office together, closest to my actual anniversary which is August 5 (easy for me to remember because it's also my dad's birthday).
In our team meeting this morning, Gabby made it clear she was still brainstorming ideas, and as she knows I love skyscrapers, she suggested the bar at the observation level of the Smith Tower. I got genuinely excited by that. Yes! I've been up there many times, but haven't been
2019—a year I went twice, after the remodel that turned it into a bar lounge. Five years is enough of a break, I'm happy to go back.
Gabby said she knew I liked the Fog Room too, and that is actually much closer to the office, but whatever. I love the Smith Tower idea. And actually I'm thinking already that maybe we can make it an annual tradition of going to a different rooftop bar for my anniversary. This is a great idea!
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[posted 12:33 pm]
