So, Hec, are your and JZ's birthdays just one day from each other?

Actually, I'm fairly certain it's six years and 364 days. t /unbearably pedantic

Hec is fast asleep, all tired out from sitting up celebrating the march of his birthday across the continent.

gives the hamster in Raquel's brain a bowl of alfalfa pellets and sunflower seeds to distract it

Jobma and salaryma and working-it-outma to you, in abundance.

And happy Deb and Nic Day!

Happy Birthdays, Nic, Hec, and Deb!

Raquel, I'll note only that the federal government is notoriously slow when it comes to hiring matters. So, I'm not too surprised that things are moving slowly.

Actually, I'm fairly certain it's six years and 364 days. </unbearably pedantic>

That is unbearably adorable.

And an update on the saga of the adopted kitties. When we last left you, we had just adopted two 7YO Himalayans (Max and Marie) that had been abandoned at a local boarder. They were kept in a spare room while we made sure it was safe to introduce them to our 11YO, Teddy, who's always been an only (and especially lately, seems to be a lonely) cat.

Over the weekend, we started letting Max and Marie out to explore the lower floor, where Teddy rarely goes. Max and Marie had other ideas, however, and eventually got up the stairs to Teddy. We kept things supervised, just in case either of the new cats had leukemia or FIV.

Max and Marie had the blood test last night -- negative for nasty illnesses. So now they're given fulltime run of the house.

Introductions are going about as well as can be expected. Max is very friendly and is getting past Teddy's defenses fairly well. Last night, I saw them laying down within 2 feet of each other, reasonably relaxed. Marie is more shy. Teddy is trying to get to know her, but she's actually hissed at him once or twice.

Hubs gave them breakfast this morning, and it turned into a disaster. He put the 3 plates in the same place (where Teddy's used to eating). Apparently, nobody was comfortable eating around the strange cat(s). Hubs tried to encourage mutual eating. Marie ended up hissing at Teddy. Hubs scolded Marie, and she ran off to pout.

When we left the house, Teddy was sulking in a corner of the bedroom, and Max and Marie were hanging out together in the living room.

I think this is going to take a while.

Happy Birthday, Hec!!!!

I'm getting my hair cut at 2:00 today -- consider that your birthday present. Perhaps there will be pictures. (Though pictures today are doubtful because I well and truly have a bad-ass cold and not only feel like ass, I look like ass, what with the red nose and puffy eyes with dark circles under them. So not worthy of a birthday-haircut picture.)

Fred, that is so cute! And also familiar. Himilayans can be pretty temperamental, can't they?

And yeah, having been hired twice as a federal employee, and declined once (two years after I passed the Foreign Service exam, they gave me a start date. By that time I was making 2.5 times the starting salary as a contractor) I know they are slow. But the embassy is supposed to be more agile.

It's not a huge deal, of course...it's not like I'm going anywhere. But you guys know how job stuff goes - when you don't hear, it makes you wonder if they are still interested. OK, dating and job stuff.

Happy Birthday Hec (and also Deb, though you are probably not here to read my good wishes I will make them anyway)

Oh, poor Teddy. He's evoking my memory of Julia standing over by the hearth at our old house, just shaking her head "no" when we brought Christopher home from the hospital.

Good luck, Raquel.

Mmm, Himalayans. Sounds like they are all behaving in proper feline fashion.

Timelies, all.

<whine>In mememe news, two great things that don't go well together: hot coffee and my breasts. I had a coffee delivery system malfunction this morning and ow! No blisters (thanks to a quick application of aloe) but the burned area is red and sore. Now my bra (I'm a D cup--bras at work are not optional) is rubbing against the burn and did I mention ow? 'Cause yeah. Ow.</whine>