Various and sundry

So - my Onion horoscope this week?

You will learn that he whom the gods would destroy, the gods first treat to a whole bunch of delicious pancakes.

Yep - we went to Walker Brothers, and then the Earth exploded. Also? I kinda had a bad few days.

I am planning (planning, mind you) to write up a great VividCon report, both from the regular con-going perspective and a bit of behind-the-scenes as well - we'll see if that actually happens, since I'm kind of busy apartment hunting.

Which brings me to my current quandary. I have found, on my first search, on my 15th apartment, a space which could work out quite well for me and for merryish. It's close to the Sheridan El stop, it's in our price range, it's got style, it's got a tub with jacuzzi jets, it's got central air/heat, and a parking space.

Photos are here, and a badly drawn floor plan is here.

So, what's the problem, you say?

Well, the problem is this. I found a place my first weekend looking that will serve, and is cool, but this leads me to believe that I could do better if I keep looking. It's not even September, and I'm looking for an Oct. 1 lease. Oct. 1 is a huge moving date in Chicago; there will only be *more* apartments available in the coming weeks. And the place does have drawbacks - not a whole lot of wall space, since it's all lofty, and I have lots and lots and lots and lots of bookshelves. The closets are smallish. There is no porch or patio of any kind. Street parking for visitors is tough. And, the biggest one -

I have a cat. Merry has two cats. This wouldn't be a problem if my cat weren't so darned persnickety. She pretty much won't spend time where there are other cat scents. In my current apartment, we have a radio fence blocking off the back of the place where my bedroom and office and bathroom and whatssnoo's bedroom are. This gives my cat lots of space that belongs to her. Her litter box is there, her water fountain is there, etc.

In this place? Pretty much I could block off my bedroom. Which means she'd almost never leave it. Which means the litter box would have to be there.

Not exactly what I'm looking for.

And yet? This is a rockin' apartment with all the stuff on my list that I want/need.

And, as you might have guessed from all this angsting over where the cat will live --

THE CAT WILL LIVE.

Yes, I took Artie to a different clinic today, and they did a full examination from nose to tail. I had to leave her for a few hours (I went apartment shopping, natch) -

She has ... <drumroll> ... AN EYE INFECTION.

Imagine! That's why her eye was bothering her! Crazy, huh?

Gah. So I have some antibiotics to give her and stuff. Whoopie. But? Not so much with the "month to live" thing.

So remember, folks - pancakes? Harbinger of the Earth blowing up. Just an FYI.