You guys, this is why I can’t work in an office

This has been one of those weeks.

You know the kind… you find yourself plugging holes while desperately trying to make progress.

• I have a ton of deadlines.
• John’s been out of town.
• It’s been pouring, which means finding where the roof is leaking and making sure that nasty water isn’t messing up our stuff.
• And then, you know, the kitten.
• Plus, another cat and four dogs, one of which has to be separate from the cat most of the time…
• Oh, and did I mention deadlines?

Overall, I’ve made progress, but I’ve had that nagging feeling of neglecting the dogs. They haven’t gotten enough walks or training lately. Then, if we’re not there for close supervision, either Molly needs to be in her crate and Newt is out, or Molly’s out and Newt’s in her room. We try to adhere to a schedule to keep it even, but now there’s a kitten in the upstairs bathroom….

So, I did what any normal (can we still use the word “normal” in this house?) person would do and decided to take my very long morning call in the bathroom with the kitten. No barking dogs. No switching anyone around. Plus, playing and helping her socialize!

I set up my laptop and phone, got my notebook, pulled out some cat toys, and called into my conference. She climbed all over my lap, up my arms, onto my shoulders. She chewed my air, chased my typing fingers. Just generally had a blast.

About 30 minutes into the call, she popped down off her perch on my elbow… toddled over to her box… climbed in, and…

Here’s where I’ll take an aside to say: This kitty has a very upset stomach.

Second aside: She is very clumsy. Her back legs do not do what she thinks they’re going to do. So, when she tries to bury… things… it mostly ends up all over her. I’m talking ALL. OVER.

And that was the exact moment it was my turn to present on the call.

She finishes her business and attempts at burying…

I’m talking away….

she wobbles over…

and climbs straight up my legs and arm, up to my shoulder – her favorite perch – leaving a substantial trail.

Again, I did what any normal (yeah, I think I need to strike that word from here on out) person would do. I finished the call. Swept up the crumbs. Put her back in her box. And, since I had to walk from the upstairs bathroom through the rest of the house – and past all the dogs and cat covered in potentially disease-ridden and definitely worm-ridden fecal matter – I just stripped and made it across in my undies.

(Which reminds me of another story…)

But, you know what?

Call complete. Kitten socialized.

What more could I ask for?