Weird things at the Guggenheim

Today I took off work and met Janae to walk through the Guggenheim, have lunch in Central Park, then go on the water after.

There is a lot of crap at the Guggenheim but also some cool things here and there. 

I did like all the hanging plants.

Oh, and since I was packed for going on the water, including a full change of clothes just in case, security wanted to know all about my backpack.

Not my dry bag though, weirdly...

There is a back pouch in my backpack.

The security guard said he wanted to look in there.

I said "My bra is in there..."

He said "I have to check..."

So I had to show my bra to get into the Guggenheim.

Stalking Janae.......

Fork Fish

My key still does not work, the Parks Trust doesn't know why and has called tech support.

And it still isn't just my key......

The water was calm tonight.

Mostly I sat sideways on a Prowler and drifted around, it was just that kind of night.

There is too much going on in my head.

Back at LaG

My friend's daughter is a Junior dancer at LaGuardia, and junior projects were tonight.

I always like going back to LaG, even though I also don't miss Daya being in high school.

Mr Sinacori was there and it was nice to see him.

I sent pics of Juilliard and LaGuardia to Daya, just in case she's a little homesick.

(She probably is not homesick, I wouldn't be either in Italy.)

102 Class & Pebbles Update

Tonight I taught the 102 patrol/self rescue/assisted rescue class at the boathouse.

I also got my yearly self-rescue done in 2 boats which is nice.

(We have to certify being able to self-rescue every year, and it's different in different boats.)

The water is still a little cold but wasn't too bad.

Soon I'll start swimming on Fridays, especially when it's hot.

If it ever stops raining.

***********

On another note, here is a Pebbles update:

I have reached the end of my sanity.

Pebbles peed on my bed this morning, right in front of me and right next to Isis.

Isis even got mad-she growled at Pebbles and left.

If you have ever seen a cat give off a "WHAT THE FUCK" expression that was it, from Isis to Pebbles.

My bed was covered so I only had to wash the 2 blankets but still.

Pebbles is also peeing on Daya's bed. (which is also protected)

It is not from a medical problem, it's her anxiety, and I have been putting up with this on and off for all 12 years I have had her.

I broke this morning. Just.... broke. Finally.

The appointment to put her down is June 26.

Daya wants to be there and that's literally the only day she can do it.

The other thing is she isn't responding to treatment.

She is not a healthy cat, not with the digestive stuff and her heart issues.

She doesn't weigh enough and the only thing really keeping her appetite up is prednisone, which is already messing up her liver.

Pebbles is definitely sick and Isis knows and is attacking her. (cats will do that)

It's only a matter of time....she's not actively dying but she's not doing well and I think if I leave it alone it'll be a slow expensive process. I don't think she will make it through the year.

Either the prednisone is going to ruin her body or she'll essentially starve to death from not eating/absorbing her food.

I do not want her to be in pain, and I do not want to prolong anything just for the sake of prolonging.

It's time.

I have a few weeks to process it... it hasn't hit me yet and there are a lot of feelings because I do care about the cat but also she has caused me SO MUCH stress and I'm just done.

Salty!

Today's bag of fresh bagels.......

It's me! I feel so seen!!

Rainbows on the Beach

I can't deal with this stupid awful neverending rain.

It rained today.

I stayed in.

Until I couldn't anymore, so I went to the beach.

I did get rained on while walking the beach... but there were a lot of rainbows and it was worth it.

5.5 miles walking the shore at Rockaway tonight!

The sea was glowing green under the stormy sky.

I could never live anywhere that isn't by water.

These birds were sharing a bagel.

Terrible AI Transformations with Deck Boats

Friday paddling for volunteers at the boathouse has finally started!

I signed up as keyholder for tonight's shift, and discovered MY KEY ISN'T WOKING!

It worked a couple weeks ago!

I should have 24/7 boathouse access, and I feel so sad and a bit lost without it!

Like I can't get into my apartment or something!

Wow, what a bummer...... we are checking into it... apparently a whole batch of the new keys and a few older keys aren't working either. 

It's so good to end the week on the water.

Well, except when there is thunder... we had to wait it out.

Jenny and I were wishful paddling...

Hannah turned this into an AI portrait...

It's terrible but also fun!

As you can clearly see, AI is terrible with hands and we don't really know how the kayak grew one.  Creepy!

We finally made it on the water.

I took a deck boat out tonight, which was a nice change.

An update

Unbelievably, Daya's aunt seems to have come through after all.

This morning I found an email with info for an Italy to SA flight!

I don't know when she's coming home but that's ok.

Just Now and Now Now

Daya went to Italy yesterday. She's doing the same dance program she did last year.

The problem with this trip- and I somehow seem to be the only one who thinks this is troubling- is that Daya does not have a return ticket booked.

*******

Back in November I wrote about her aunts in South Africa coming out of the woodwork, and a June trip for both of us to South Africa was proposed. Her Aunt J works for the government and said she could take care of the flights from her end because she gets diplomatic discount or something like that. 

Daya was supposed to go to SA right from Italy. I was supposed to join.

First it was We'll talk at the end of January. Nothing but ok.

I brought it up again end of Feb.

Oh, there is still time, I'll get back to you last week of March/first week of April.

Nothing.

I said to Daya, if this is happening I need to know how to plan.

Daya reached out and the response was sorry, sorry, I promise I'll be ready to talk on April 7th.

On April 8th I wrote the whole thing off as a fake invite that isn't happening. Whatever.

*******

Well, Daya has been in touch with them and they keep telling her they'll take care of it.

LAST WEEK they asked for her passport info. LAST WEEK!!!!

Also last week Daya still thought she was going to SA after Italy.

I asked do you have a flight? No.

Where are you staying? I don't know.

THIS IS TROUBLING.

Now the story is she can't come into SA from Italy, she has to come back to the US first and something about it being a problem getting her a visa.

That one is especially good because....

AMERICAN PASSPORTS DO NOT NEED A VISA TO GO TO SOUTH AFRICA.

It's right there on the SA Consulate page. Less than 90 days, no visa. Just go.

Also government officials can book travel and make arrangements very easily.

This is something her aunt should have done months ago and it's nothing for her to do it.

So Daya is in Italy with no ticket out of Italy because her aunt has told her she'll take care if it but absolutely nothing has happened. Daya isn't upset in the slightest. Says I shouldn't be either.

I told her she's not being treated well and she got upset with me and told me it isn't my situation and her Aunt J knows what she's doing.

....Except it will be my situation if her aunt doesn't come through getting her out of Italy and I'm the one who has to get my stranded daughter back to the United States.

Also I don't like people who lie to my child and give her a bullshit runaround.

I had a chat with my internationally- versed friend about this and she told me I need to prepare to get Daya out of Italy.

I guess we'll know in 2 weeks.

*********

This morning I went down to the boathouse for a little while.

It was cold and slow.

Spelling clearly doesnt matter anymore....