the easy and the not so easy

I do love things that can be taen care of with a phone call – I just spent a total of about two minutes arranging for my cell phone service to end a few hours after I leave. I don’t love things that should be simplified by now and aren’t – my credit card company, a very large bank who have no excuse for not being up to date, won’t let me do paperless billing, though even that pales in contrast to the ordeal that was getting the copy our marriage record. That last was particularly annoying since getting my birth certificate, from the same state, was so much easier. Then there are the things that turn out to have complications I should have anticipated; the buyer for my truck was supposed to come get it last night only I hadnt realized a notary would be needed and that they’re not easy to come by at 7PM on Saturday night. (He’s coming back tomorrow afternoon. My next door neighbor brokered the sale and is translating for us – I think this guy works for his brother-in-law. His English may even be scantier than my Spanish, hence the translator.)

Then there are the things that are complicated by their nature. The ardest part of leaving Friday will be corralling the cat. He’s sitting on my lap and leaning on my arm to make it difficult to type this, but he doesn’t like being picked up or even close to a nonsedentary human, so he will somehow divine my intent and try to hide under the bed, as usual, when the time comes. Also, the transport is a little tricky. For international flight, the carrier needs to be vented on four sides. Our old ones had vents on only three, so I picked one up but I think I’m going to trade it in for a larger one because it’s supposed to be tall enough for him to stand up in without touching the roof. I did try to measure him before I bought it but when I collared him first he wouldn’t stand up and then of course he ran and hid under the bed. I think these carriers are designed for dogs, and the one I got is rated to handle well over his weight, but cats tend to be taller for their weight than most dogs. Who knows, maybe he’ll like a bigger one better. Also, Friday morning I have to figure out how to attach a gerbil bottle of frozen water (the vet’s suggestion) without getting the cat alarmed by seeing me messing with the carrier. I may give up on that and just use the little dishes that hook to the door.

On the plus side, I think there’s enough room in my air freight allowance to send a small suitcase plus the big one, which would mean I only have to manage the one big case, plus cat plus carryon when I go to the airport.

And you think all that is complicated, you should see my full schedule of things to get done this week.