E.P. and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day May 9, 2008
Posted by stylishhandwriting in drama, grown up things.trackback
It struck me yesterday when we were driving home from the Hub City that I am actually moving — I am renting an apartment, I am buying furniture and I have a job in a new city that I will live in for at least a year. And while it is all really exciting, I am completely overwhelmed that it is all happening and beginning in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.
It also struck me that I am about to embark on a long-distance relationship. And while I am completely OK with this because I want us to work, I know it is going to be one of the more challenging things I have done. Because the last time I had an LDR? Well, let’s just say it failed miserably.
More than anything, I am anxious about my new start. I want to get my feet on the ground quickly once I get there. It’s going to be a lot of fun, but the whole getting to the point where all my belongings are packed up and ready to go is intimidating.
In response to all this newly discovered stress, my roommate and I ventured to the two animal shelters today to see what kind of dog I can get once I settle into my new place.
(For the record, I have been wanting a dog for about two years now, so this decision is not a random one — it has been calculated for a very long time, and we figured today would be the joyous start of it all).
We decided to go to the city pound first because we were positive it would be more depressing. Oh, we were wrong. The people were friendly and took us straight in to see the young, adoptable dogs who could possibly be in that weight range. The lady who showed us around was really excited that I wanted to adopt a dog from a shelter instead from a breeder or pet store. And I was pleased with what we saw and with her enthusiasm.
So we hopped into my car to drive to the second shelter, the one we thought was going to be so much better. Boy, were we wrong.
We got there, looked around and when we had questions, the director of this shelter was a HUGE bitch to us. What I don’t understand is that we want to take one of these dogs off your hands and give them a home, and she ignored us, pretended we didn’t exist when we finally MADE her notice us, she was rude. No, thanks.
Driving home, I was incredibly emotional about this. Who runs an animal shelter when they could give a rat’s ass about who these animals live with? And when the boy and I spoke, I cried about it because I am a baby.
There was a dog there who could be the perfect puppy for me. She was the right size and was so friendly and exciting to be out of her kennel. But I don’t want to go back to that awful place or have to deal with the atrocious woman who runs it. And that’s not the dog’s fault, but I can’t help but wonder how many people have gone other places to look for animals because the director of this shelter was so unpleasant to them, too. Probably a lot.
So when we got home, I spoke to my mom, and she tried to convince me to come home for the weekend. And I want to go home so badly (and I hope that I can), but gas is SO expensive. I don’t have any money either, which adds to the stress. I want to do so much, but you can’t do things without money in this world, and when you don’t have it, options are severely limited. And it sucks.
And to top it all off, our TV is broken, so I didn’t get to watch The Office or ANYTHING ELSE tonight while I was hanging out at home alone because all my friends have finals, are out of town or are working. Yeah, awesome.
I know things are going to get better once I am more organized and the time approaches, but it’s just so stressful getting to that point. It will be OK, everything will straighten itself out and what will be will be, but that doesn’t soothe the headache I have from attempting to organize it all.
I just have to keep telling myself that the move and the stress that accompanies it will be over in less than two weeks…
1) Ugh. Don’t let the stress get to you (although I - of all people right now - completely get it.
2) You’re so smart to follow your dream job to a new city. The LDR won’t be as much of a problem as it would be if you’d limit yourself to be close to him.
3) Animal shelters have gotten so strict with their adoption policies these days that I truly think they’ve gone too far. Here it can take up to a year, five references, three home visits, budget and time plans before you can actually help them by adopting an animal…it makes me sick.
You know how much I love dogs too. That really burns me up about unpleasant woman at the shelter. Un-good for everyone.
On a lighter note - google “project free tv”, go to “tv shows”, “the office”, “season 4″, and theres a link up for last night’s episode - 4×13. michael is as impossible as ever but some good jim, pam, and jim/pam goings-on…
I know you are so stressed, but this is a good thing, and you and Boy will be Ok, it is not like last time. You know that, but it is hard when you are facing down the mouth of a change. Try to enjoy it. This coming from someone who would be having the exact same thoughts as you!
Bravo to you for giving an animal a home. Just when I thought I couldn’t love you anymore!
I am so sorry she was rude. Try to remember you are not adopting a dog, you could be saving a poor sould from the likes of her. Maybe that would help. Either way I am so proud of you!
Also, Hulu.com is awesome. You can watch the Office there FOR FREE! Anytime. As well as other fun stuff!
And God, after Ben’s comment I am shocked by the adoption policies too!
Hugs.. if I was you I would drown my worries in a vat of alcohol and prank call the animal shelter numerous times but Im pretty immature. Things will be fine and cheers to you having a much better weekend! I want to see happy tweets!
ok first you should get that puppy from the awful shelter to save it!!!!
secondly, my tv (dish actually) was broken last night too!! i couldn’t watch any shows. i had to go to a friends house to watch the cavs game
thirdly, you are allowed to be a bit anxious and stressed. duh, you are moving and about to start a new job!! you’re going to be wonderful : )
Yay, puppies! I am with Alexa– you need to rescue a puppy from that awful shelter, so there is one less.
And I missed The Office last night, too! Stupid balcony. At least NBC has the decency to allow us to stream them online…
Oh, and don’t worry about the LDR. You are committed to making it work, you know what you need to do for your relationship to thrive. Keep communicating, and it will be ok.
I’m sorry for your horrible day.. It would really bother me too that the woman at the shelter was soooo rude to you. Are you sure she was the top one incharge.. Cause I would call and look to spoeak to someone else.. If you loved the puppy - then reconsider it, I know you don’t want to deal with the rudeness and you shouldn’t have to - so maybe someone else can help you out - or find out when the lady is out and go back - I’d be sneaky - LOL… Hope you have a better weekend..
Cheer up everything will work out - Promise!
Your shelter story made me so sad, but I can completely understand it… I got my dog Jack from a horrible shelter. They were horrible when I went to look at him (they didn’t even know he was a boy–they told me he was a girl), he looked so sad and thin and wouldn’t even look at me. When I brought him home he had 3 different worms and nearly died from distemper. When I decided to get a second dog, I wanted so badly to go rescue another dog from that place, but I just couldn’t bring myself to go back there. Instead I got Ellie from a no kill shelter where the people were warm, friendly, and truly loved the animals there. She just had to have one round of deworming medicine as a precaution and was totally healthy other than that.
I don’t ever regret the fact that I brought her into our lives, but I do sometimes wonder if I could have helped another dog more that died or lived in hell for longer than he or she might have otherwise.
God, that was depressing!! Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you aren’t alone in feeling that way, and I’m just so glad that you’ve decided to adopt
I’m excited for you and am sending you good vibes
Being in transition makes life feel chaotic! I hope there’s a way for you to find peace and rest in the midst of it all.
First of all, i just found your blog & I am loving it! You have such a great perspective! Second, congratulations on graduating, i just finished last week and it is so exciting/ terrifying!
AND a puppy is pretty much the happiest/ most loving companion you can bring into your life, perfect for going through the transition to a LDR (a constant cuddle partner!), and a great way to explore a new city (an excuse to walk and wander/ people always come up to pet puppies/ are friendlier), but (and im sure you know this) they are also huge drain on the wallet (just to factor in..). But i guess thats the case with all good things.