I've so much work to do, but instead am blogging. I should take these precious moments while Lady Grey is asleep and get some writing done on a lesson plan assignment, but I'm a bit stuck. I'm hoping that once I'm done with this post my brain will provide me with some good material for my microteaching lesson.

Lady Grey has been a handful as kittens tend to be, which has made getting any schoolwork done difficult. I am grateful that we got her while things were a bit quiet for one of us (That being me; you really thought Niels would have a lull? HA!) so she can adjust into the household.

Ginger's getting used to Lady Grey and each interaction they have involves less hissing and swatting on Ginger's part. It's actually funny to watch now, because Ginger's hissing has become so half-hearted. She's this look on her face of "I'm only doing this to keep up appearences."

While home we allow them to be together, but Lady Grey's so naughty that while at work she's confined to the bedroom. I'm hoping that she'll settle in more in the next couple weeks so we don't have to lock her up because, really, I'm not digging having a litterbox in my bedroom.

Co-existing is happening, hopefully friendship will come along soon. This is the closest they've been to each other without Ginger hissing at (and then chasing) Grey.

We picked up Lady Grey this afternoon from the shelter. I'm stunned on how much she's grown since we saw her last week. We were a bit worried that she'd still be out of it due to her surgery on Thursday, but no need. She got out of the carrier and started bouncing off the walls in the bedroom where we tried to keep her quarantined. She got out at one point and was bouncing through the living room, and nearly bounced into Ginger, but as lept back at the last second and ran & hid behind the big comfy chair.

Ginger's acting as to be expected, there's been hissing, and growling, but nothing major. Lady Grey's a little perplexed on why Ginger's acting the way she is. I'm pretty sure it's going to take Ginger a lot longer to adjust than LG.

Got this from dooce. I'm so not original.

What are your middle names?
My middle name is Marie. Niels' middle name is Alexander.

How long have you been together?
We've been married a year and a half, together five and a half years.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met in September 2002, I'd say hi to him and he'd run away. He asked me out in September 2003.

Who asked whom out?
He did, he asked if I wanted to go out for lunch. .

How old are each of you?
I'm 33, he's 26. Helloooooo Mrs. Robinson. I often forget I'm older than him, I still feel like I'm in my mid 20s, but way more stable. 

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Mine, but that's only because I've a brother that lives in the area.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
The fact that we're both in school, I work part time, and used to deal with all things house related was a bone of contention, but we've since found a balance. My depression hasn't been a walk in the park for us either, but right now, the hardest thing for us is not being able to spend much time together during the week because our schedules. That's really hard. Needless to say we look forward to Saturdays when it's "our" day.

Did you go to the same school?
Yes, that's where we met. We graduated from GWU, I in Winter 2004, with a degree in English, he May 2006 with a degree in Philosophy.

Are you from the same home town?
No. I'm from Buffalo, NY, he's from Krefeld, Germany.

Who is smarter?
He is, and sometimes a bit intimidating. (Hello, 99th percentile on the LSAT.) But I'm a lot better at remembering trivial info.

Who is the most sensitive?
Ooooh, that's a tie.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Dama, an Ethiopian restaurant up the street from our apartment.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
China

Who has the craziest exes?
N/A

Who has the worst temper?
We both have pretty long fuses, but when it comes down to it, me. I've been known to throw things. He just simmers.

Who does the cooking?
Me, although I've not been very adventurous lately. It's not that he doesn't like cooking, I just gain more pleasure from it.

Who is the neat-freak?
Hands down, me.

Who is more stubborn?
He's German/British, I'm Eastern European/Italian-American. It's a tie. 

Who hogs the bed?
Niels has been known to push me out of bed.

Who wakes up earlier?
Depends on the day, during the week, it's usually me by five minutes. On weekends he can wake up on his own before the alarm goes off, and having gone to bed later than I. I don't know how he does it.

Where was your first date?
Baja Fresh. 

Who is more jealous?
Neither of us are jealous people, but I have had moments.

How long did it take to get serious?
We were pretty serious from the get go.

Who eats more?
He can eat more than I in one sitting, but I eat more through out the day.

Who does the laundry?
We both do, but I often do it more regularly.

Who's better with the computer?
Oh, for sure Niels.

Who drives when you are together?
Either the bus driver or the metro driver. We don't own a car. But when we're visiting his parents he drives, when we're visiting my parents I try to drive, but often get really nervous because I only do it once or twice a year.   

Along with some Swiffer dusting thingies, this tote came in the mail today from my parents.

Niels & I are in the process of adopting a kitten from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. We spent a good two hours there looking at and spending time with the cats as well as talking with the staff. We had originally planned on getting an older cat (4 or 5 years old) but in talking with the staff about the ones we were interested in, it was decided that with all factors considered a kitten would be the best way to go. We were a little surprised, but not completely shocked. Older cats are more set in their ways, and adjustments tend to be more difficult and take more time. Getting a kitten would allow Ginger to more easily retain her "alpha" status while still nurturing a little one.

I'm anxious to get our little kitty, but because she needs to be spayed and we have to have our house visit by one of the shelter's counselors we'll probably get her next week sometime. And you can be sure that I'll be posting photos of her!!

SO EXCITED!!!

50 Killed as Plane Hits House Near Buffalo

I can't even begin to imagine what happened, and the grief felt by those who lost someone in the tragedy. My heart and thoughts go out to all.

Things have greatly improved since last week, but my stress level was so high that poor Ginger Katzen picked up on it and began ripping fur out from her bottom and then eating it. I love her to bits and it makes me so sad that she's been doing this to herself. On the upside she's not abused herself since Saturday evening, so there's hope she'll stop soon. Additionally we're also hoping to get her a companion soon. Fingers crossed that once the adjustment period's over she'll be a much more content kitty.

This has not been one of my best weeks, not one of my worst either, but still pretty rough. I'm very grateful that the weekend is fast approaching, although I've a ton of schoolwork I need to get done that I shouldn't get too too excited. I think that Ginger's been feeling the change because she's been more neurotic than usual and has taken to ripping hunks of fur off of herself, it's disconcerting and gross. Maybe she needs some kitty Prozac.

A bright spot in the weekend is that a couple classmates are coming over, which I'm looking forward to. I've been moaning to Niels that I don't have any friends in the areas, so I and am making a concerted effort to change that.  .

It's been a rough couple days, actually just yesterday but I think it's going to carry over to today and perhaps the rest of the week. I feel like crap this morning, which isn't a surprise since I couldn't fall asleep, but it makes it really hard to have a positive outlook. I just want to go back to bed and stay there for a few days.