Amber & I'm Not Dead Yet

Photographic proof that I am quite the opposite.

Remember my professional colleague Alison?  She is here as a clue to my whereabouts.  I am, as you can tell, excited to see her.

Amber & Surprise for Kevin's Cats!

Surprise, kitty boys!

Erl baked you a cake!

But, since you live in New York and your cake is was in San Francisco, and also since you don't eat chocolate cake, she gave it to Alison for her birthday.  (Happy Birthday, Alison!)

But, just pretend, boys, that you got cake when you eat your wet food tonight.  Nom nom nom.

(James photo)

Still: Surprise!

Amber & They Grow Them Big

Earlier today, a professional colleague sent this photographic evidence that the diet of sour dough bread really spurs growth in the pigeons in San Francisco.

That pigeon is practically man-sized. Maybe I need to worry less about the ape revolution and more about a winged rebellion?  It has happened before, after all...  and near San Francisco, no less.

Think feathered friends are just too small to be menacing?  Just ask 'Tippi' Hedren what it's like to be smooched in an unfriendly way by a seagull.  (Especially if that seagull is a smoker.)

Still not convinced beaked buddies are your worst nightmare?  Watch the darn movie.  Or just watch this quick summary in less than two minutes.

Amber & Going Viral

Remember my meme?  It's gone viral.

I'm telling you: I know what the kids love.  They love putting my baby's cover on their face.  Or something like that.  I know all about the Internets and the social media.  The glasses are an excellent embellishment, though.

Amber & Travel

I've spent the day cleaning the mess that accumulates in an apartment inhabited by four cats when their owner suddenly becomes a frequent traveler. As frequent readers know, I was in San Francisco a short time ago for work and then also a day of recreation and Redwoods.


Then, I was home for one week, but never really got back into a normal routine or got on top of the entropy. And then, I traveled to the world of Freakshow Injuries when I got whiplash while blow-drying my hair. (No, really. I really got whiplash. Apparently, my muscles were cold and then I shocked them with heat and then moved in the exact wrong way. Beauty hurts.)

And then I had to take off, unable to turn my head to the right, to face my old nemesis, Washington, DC. The kitties were alone from Tuesday AM until Thursday evening on account of not being able to get a sitter. I left out tons of dry food, a day's worth of wet and seven water bowls (and two Woody paw-sip glasses full).

Photo by James, 2005

Mysteriously, when I got back on Thursday, there were no barfs at all, proving that no cat sitter vs. cat sitter makes no difference in kitty puke habits.

On Friday, I had more travel in store! I ventured to Brooklyn for a chiropractor appointment. Mysteriously (again), my left shoulder hurts like crazy since that visit, but I can totally turn my head to the right. Hello, right side of the world!

The sad and happy thing about my Brooklyn journey was that my chiropractor is in Amy & David & Hazel's old neighborhood. It made me sad that I haven't seen them in forever, but it made me super happy that they are such good people and, with a little effort and a little less travel ahead, I can see them soon. And maybe just in time for the second snow of the season.

By the way, I don't have any hot water today. Not ideal for cleaning nor for whiplash soreness. WTF, building? Why do we never lose hot water when it is warm outside? And why wasn't there even a warning sign this time?

You thought my hair was gross when I had to wash it with conditioner....

Amber & Out of the Frying Pan

I have returned from the Bay Area. All of the kitties are fine: Woody's nose is 99% healed, Tiggy only puked once (and not on my bed!), Ginger is shedding like crazy from a week of not being pet, and Pickles needs to be right next to me everywhere I go. I have some cleaning to do (six days of cat shedding, plus laundry) and some work (no meetings today!).

But, it is really really really hot. Oh man is it hot. I went out to get cat food and an iced beverage and almost sweat myself into a shriveled heap.

I really would move to San Francisco... if it wasn't going to fall off into the ocean in the next 30 years.

Amber & Pop Ups

So, as you may know, dear reader, I am on a biznus trip to San Francisco. What you may not know is that, on Monday, I had a retreat with my professional colleagues upstate which featured stormy brains, projects made out of concrete, and Marin County nature.

This is a photo document of that project with some editorial help from Alison.

One thing you can say about my division is that we are diverse in size and shape and species.

Amber & Professional Colleagues

Today, I am in all day meetings with my Mother Goose Magazine
coworkers. The sure work hard here and have high ceilings.

Amber & Suppenkuche

Bring it on, Bratwurst with sauerkraut and spaetzle. And Congratulations to Marnie and Brian.

Amber & Brunch

Cafe Andre! Bloody good times!

Amber & BART

What if... the BART strike started right now and they took us all
hostage?

Amber & Sunday, San Francisco-style

After a delightful flight, we have arrived. Diana is changing for her
wedding in the ladies room, and Kevin is checking for retail
compliance of Mother Goose magazine in the terminal bookshop. Fun times!

Amber & San Francisco Treat, NY Times Style

Look, ma! It's my job. And there is a photo of my co-workers I just met in San Francisco.


For those too busy to read the whole article: The economy is in the toilet, so I need to work hard to make sure I still have a job next week. Still, better than furlough so far.

Amber & Back to It

I am home safe from San Francisco. I had some waking up trouble this weekend, showing that I really had adjusted to California Time better than I had believed while I was there. Plus, we lost that hour. And, I lost another few hours just staring into Woody's eyes.


But, now I am back in my morning routine. Only, I've been gone so long that Ginger seems to have forgotten he's not allowed on the counter, that the weird machine makes coffee, and that I promised to protect him from all small kitchen appliances when I adopted him.


This photo can't convey the hissing coming from both the coffee steam and the baby cat.

I love New York.

Amber & Progress

Getting closer. Via AirTrain.

Amber & Homeward Bound

We're on our way. Via BART.

Amber & Fitness

Look at me totally at the gym, post-workout before 8 am local time!

Amber & Complimentary Beverage

I am enjoying my Hotel Rex complimentary Merlot after another day of
meetings. Next, I have dinner at the big boss's house.

Amber & Hotel Rex

This is my bathroom and the pretty lamps in my hotel room. It is nice
and cozy. And there was adventure this morning worthy of Jessica
Fletcher. my bathroom ceiling was leaking, and, because CRD and I
watch so much Murder She Wrote, I was sure there was a dead body in
the bath tub. But because I was so tired, I told the front desk
instead of going up to investigate in true WWJD style. (To be clear,
the J there stands for Jessica). Since the leak has stopped, they must
have cleaned up the crime scene. My money is on the secretary.

Amber & Arrivals

We're here! And eating breakfast. It was a long day of travel (thank
you, snow) and a short night of sleep, but we are here.