It seems to me that the posts on this blog, as of late, are very much a surface evaluation of my day. There used to be a time when I would use this space to reflect my more meaningful thoughts and ideas. At least some of the time. It isn’t that I don’t continue to have these kinds of reflections on life. It is that I am having a hard time finding the words to describe my thoughts.

Living in downtown Sacramento I am faced with many sad images every day. I have written about the homeless, who are coming out in droves now that the weather is nice. On my walks home I wonder where they hid during the colder rainy months. I wonder how they ended up in their particular situation. But ultimately, I avoid eye contact and charge past them so as to dodge getting sucked into their story.

I see a handful of stray dogs, all on their own, never finding one another or a home. And my first instinct is “don’t poop by my apartment”, but my second instinct is find them a home. Or some food. Because what do these dogs eat? These instincts are met with unfulfilled actions. I am hit with the fact that it is only a matter of time before they end up at the shelter.

But what the city brings in sadness, it also brings with appreciation. There is something special about the sunshine and warm days here. It is almost surreal to me when I am walking through the shadow of a tall building, only to reach the corner and see the sun bouncing through the street. The green of the parks feels more special than my back yard in Santa Rosa because I share this space with a city and not just a handful of other residents in my building. I don’t think about basking in the sun much when I am in my suburban apartment, but here in the city, every walk on a sunny day is a treat.

I have only been here for 4 months, but having passed through the winter into the spring, I am seeing a new beauty in the parks. The trees have flowered and my walks are now bursting with color, squirrels and birds. More people are out walking their dogs. More people are throwing their blankets out onto the grass and napping. I don’t know how long I am going to stay here in the city, but I hope that I get to enjoy these activities before I go.

What is spring like where you are?

Only 9 more days kiddies…. well… really less than that since today is almost over.

And to help get your warm and fuzzy feelings for pugs going, here is a picture of my parents’ pug, Dori. She is a cutie and her love bug ways made getting a pug a simple wonderful decision.

I did a little touching up on the photo using iPhoto. So far I am enjoying the editor. Now if I only had the cord (or some other way) to hook my camera up to the computer… Don’t worry. I will have it figured out before Pebbles gets here.

p.s. Obviously the count-down-o-meter is reflecting the correct number of days left… I know because I counted it on my calendar three separate times today.

But in 10 more days Pebbles will be here.

Also, I noticed that my apartment is hot. Like too warm for me…. and it isn’t even close to summer yet.

Additionally, this is the first night this week that I didn’t have plans with someone and I am just hanging out at my house by myself. Kind of strange to not be going somewhere. Also seems strange that I am not taking this opportunity to finish something…. like the dog bed OR hemming my pants.

Maybe I will get to those things right now…

And listen to some more chick music while I am at it.

I have listened to chicks singing EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for the last two weeks. And no one complained. I can’t even tell you the last time my Tori Amos mp3s got played.

Today was a beautiful day. I mean, you can’t ask for more than a sunny 65 degree day in my book. I was also asked for money about 60 times more today than any other day I’ve lived in the city. Not only was I asked for money, but at least one person stopped me to tell me why they were on the street. His story went like this:

Him: I used to work in that building.
Me: *Looking straight ahead thinking “Shit, he knows what building I work in…”
Him: That was until I was attacked by a gang.
Me: *slowing down because how cold is my heart? How can I completely ignore someone who is talking to me? Honestly!*
Him: Boy I sure am hungry.
Me: Sorry I don’t have anything. (Which is true, mostly)

I know that this is going to sound weird, but I don’t like helping the homeless when I am walking to or from work. When I drive somewhere, I am getting into a car and theoretically driving somewhere where they will not be able to follow me. When I am walking, they could easily follow me to work or home and know where I go every single day.

I think this paranoia is something I have to thank my mother for.

So shortly after I moved into my Sacto apartment, my bathtub backed up with some discolored water. And a plumber came out and removed my toilet and snaked my drains. Two weeks passed and when I came back from a weekend in Santa Rosa, the tub was filled with dirty water again. It happened two more times since then. Let’s just say that my bathtub has been bleached more times than Pamela Anderson’s hair. But for the last two months…. no backing up. And I was kind of surprise. Happy, but surprised.

So this evening, around 7:00 there is a knock on my door. And there is a woman and the plumber who came out the first time my tub backed up. It turns out that the laundry sink down in the basement is backed up and my apartment is the only apartment in the building that goes straight to the line. Everyone else’s toilets are linked together. So as we speak, my toilet is off to the side and I have this big machine hanging out in my bathroom. My only hope is that they fix the laundry sink without causing my bathtub to start backing up again.

Oh and I hope that he finishes sometime soon so that I can pee. Because as soon as you know you can’t go to the bathroom, that is when you need to go.