Sublets, synchronicity and camels

Please note that no camels where harmed in the creation of the photograph above. I think he was just tired, and decided to take a little rest on the sands of Cappadocia (sort of central Turkey). I feel a little like he looks at the moment, worn out with thinking and planning. And trying to figure out how to reduce the stuff I want to take with me to the size of something that might fit on that poor camels back.

I'm trying to work out the apartment sublet situation. I have to find someone I trust to live with my stuff, pay me on time, and pay up and move in at the drop of a hat as I have a feeling everything will just HAPPEN and I will have to go right away. And of course money is an issue. I just realized that after three years of working for a non-profit I have no savings but I do have debt. Before I started there I had savings and no debt. My current debt is equal to the savings I had three years ago. Ugh, ugh, ugh. In this particular case I am not a fan of symmetry.

Example number 426 of synchronicity in my life regarding Turkey: I went to the library to look for a specific book but couldn't find it. I started randomly browsing. A business card fell out. It was the card of a Turkish business man located in Istanbul. This stuff happens to me almost every day.

I want to shout, "I get it! I'm supposed to go! But could you please tell me what I'm supposed to do there?" Instead I just laugh and walk out of the library. I guess I got what I came for.

First Impressions

Walking home today through the wind and blowing rain, carrying my little dog in a bag, I noticed a small old woman giving me a sideways look. I figured it was one of those "why do people have those little accessory dog" looks. The ones that make me want to say "but I'm allergic and it's the only kind of dog I can have and anyway my dog is fabulous and I'm just coming from the subway because I had to take her to the vet".

But then I looked again and she gave a little smile at my dog and made a beeline for us. And I noticed she looked like an apple-- all red-pink-orange, hair and skin all one color, delicate but sturdy. With a sparkly smile. She patted my dog and asked her name and then told me to "be careful with her". Sweet as can be, and on her way she went.

Jury duty!

Here is where my rose colored glasses really come in handy-- jury duty!

I'm sitting here in the Brooklyn Supreme Court building. It's really nice, who would've thought! There's free wireless, comfy airport style chairs, lots of space, and most surprising of all it's clean with lots of natural light. Much better than my previous jury experiences.

So, instead of sitting at a desk all day I am sprawled out pecking away on my computer. And joy of joy the guy who is listening to music on his cell phone full blast just drifted away.

The only complaint I have so far is that my feet and the bottom of my jeans are still wet from the teeming rain I had to walk through to get here, but I really can't blame that on our justice system.

I am also amused by the people who are complaining because they took us upstairs to sit outside a courtroom and then brought us back down a few hours later. They thought it was "ridiculous" and were highly offended by the "waste of time". Obviously the case we were possibly to hear was settled as the culprits (I overheard, they plead guilty) were coming out of the courtroom one by one with their lawyers telling them what they had to do (parole, programs, etc.) We were sent to lunch and told to report back to where we had started. I guess those women thought riding 16 floors in an elevator was a waste of time, but really, who cares where we wait. You have jury duty. Suck it up, expect to spend the day, and be glad it's only one day!

I am just happy I will get home earlier than usual and be able to climb into a hot tub with bubbles and fizzy things from LUSH (http://www.lush.com/)

In fact, that's the one improvement I could suggest: big clawfoot tubs. If we could watch the trial on closed-circuit television from a bubble bath. With free wireless.