meme time

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I had been in Austin, Texas for about a month. I literally got in my car and three days later arrived in Austin to finish a job I had started. The plan was to stay for the summer; I stayed five years! There was a terrible heat wave, and it was triple digits every day. I think it had hit as high as 110F. On the good nights it would cool down to 90F around midnight.

I was staying with my boss/friend (who is no longer either) and clearly was starting to wear out my welcome. I think by this point B, who was still back in the Bay Area, had been laid off. I also believe that by this point I was left alone at the house for the weekend (well, Daisy, the dog, was there), and arrived home to discover a yellow post-it note on the door that said "Get Out!"

It turned out that my friend had rented from someone who didn't actually own the townhouse. This person was doing a rent to own agreement and it wasn't working out. Instead of moving on, she decided she would rent the place. Ironically the rental was done through an agency, and not just an ad in the paper. It was too bizarre.

I was, needless to say, freaked out. To make matters worse my friend and her girlfriend could not be reached. My friend was on a business trip, and as it turned out missed her connecting flight, so she was actually heading back to Austin. She had been asked to move to the back of the plane to accommodate a Muslim family (this was before 9/11), and in the process her carry on needed to be checked and her agenda went missing. In an effort to look for it, she missed her flight and there were no more flights that night. Her girlfriend was driving down to San Antonio to pick her up.

Thankfully I never had to confront anyone. I had been at the house most of the day and went out for about an hour after dinner. It was while I was out that the true owner of the property came by. I was worried that the dog would get out if they entered the property, or that they would send the police. How the heck was I going to explain myself? I looked for a lease, but couldn't find anything. Luckily I didn't need it.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

Mail out cards, put together package, upgrade Flickr account, open Share Builder account, and wash the tablecloth.

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Chocolate is always nice. Good chocolate.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Do lots of good; have lots of fun.

5) Places I have lived:

The Garden State (07306, 07307), The Golden State (95926, 90805, 90807, 90713, 91335, 91343, 90034, 92604, 92660, 92657, 92608, 94704, 94608, 94404, 91789) The Lone Star State (78757), The Land of Lincoln (60601), and Cambridge, England. I have moved 27 times, and am in the process of move 28 which has been going on for two years.

6) Jobs I have had:

Envelope stuffer, phone book delivery person, veterinarian's assistant, crisis line worker, AIDS worker, Group Home counselor, quality management manager & marketing manager.

7) Bloggers I am tagging who I will enjoy getting to know better: If you haven't, please share. :)


on the night stand :: This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness