LeahAndMark.com

After a grueling day of work (more preparation in general for the telecommuting from China, and then also just general stuff that I had to get done that… is actual work but it’s the type of thing that no one knows you do even though it saves everyone a lot of extra work if you do it) and then it was time for the Yelpy Office Hours Event @ Java Vino.

This event was run/submitted by the regional Yelp boss, Deanna J. and she rocks - because when it’s an official yelp event (or somewhat) you get free stuff, like free drinks and then of course… there’s always free yelp junk like um, yelp stick, stickers, buttons, and all this other stuff that I never really take. But it’s still cool cause again, we get to hangout with people that we can have great conversations with and who actually have lives and goals. It’s just so different from other online social groups - AND it doesn’t have that whole ‘networking’ feel that most ‘events’ have for people in our age group.

Deanna is the one in red wearing the I *heart* Yelp - of course.

Java Vino was a nice spot for this, especially since it was a small group of around 7 people and we had a good time talking to each other about stuff - even though as far as guys, it was just me and one other guy. But our friend Yuna was there and it was really great to get a chance to talk to her for a bit about Korea and just getting to know her in general. (She’s the one the first picture with the blurry hands.)

We also got to talk to Laura D. - the person there sitting on the table. Here’s the thing about Yelp events, you never really have to worry about not getting around to talking to people because eventually, you’ll get a chance to actually talk to them beyond the ‘hello I’m Mark T.’ introduction. You initially want to have some sort of conversation with these people who you’ve known ‘online’ but then if you’re awkward like me, you freak out when you actually have to meet them in person the first time… so usually I don’t actually talk to these people until at least the 2nd time I meet them at a yelp event.

I know. This may have been a totally boring entry. But still. I can’t keep talking about China - it’ll get better when we actually fly out on Tuesday morning.

Oh yeah. I got a haircut - by my favorite Cambodian lady who cuts my hair at the GreatClips on Windward Parkway.

Oh, and one more - This is Three-Four, I’ve been giving him reiki everyday since I got my chakras attuned. He’s really come around. Whereas when I first started, he really wouldn’t sit still for it, and he didn’t really absorb any at all. But now he totally relaxes and stretches out - more than he’s ever done before in his life - and these last few days he’s been absorbing A LOT of energy. It’s an interesting feeling and when I reiki either of our cats I feel them pulling much more energy than any of the actual humans I’ve given reiki to… anyways… it’s just cool.

This is Anna. She and her boyfriend Chris are going to be watching our cats One-Two and Three-Four during the month that we’re away. We furiously cleaned our house over the past two days so that they could come over and we could give them the rundown of how to refill the automatic feeders and change the automatic waterfall that they drink from. And then also give them the calendar of days that they absolutely must come in order to refill the feeders.

So then I’m trying to explain everything and show them how to work the machines when Anna is like… can’t I just come over everyday and feed them?

Ha! We bought all these electronic gadgets to feed them automatically so that they wouldn’t absolutely have to come over everyday, and could come over at least every other day and have some leeway. And then Anna’s just like… it’d be much easier if I just came over everyday. She totally side-swiped us with both the simplicity, but mostly her efforts. We just didn’t want to be THAT much of an imposition (even though we’re paying them a fair amount of money - but it’s not about that obviously.)

So they came over last night, we had a pizza from Mellow Mushroom and then Leah and Anna went in the back room and Leah gave Anna a Reiki Session.

They’re awesome and although both Leah and I were slightly worried about leaving our cats for a month, it helps to feel much better knowing that we have Chris and Anna to watch over them and that they would do anything to make sure they’re both safe and doing well while we’re away.

We have two cats: One-Two and Three-Four

I got them when they were kittens and only two months old. I didn’t really know how to take care of them and sadly, I have to admit that I just wasn’t very good to them at all. They didn’t receive nearly the amount of attention that should have. I’m amazed that they’re not introverts and constantly go running away and hiding in dark closets. They rarely do that if ever. In fact, they’re about as social and friendly as you can imagine.

This is Three-Four:

This is One-Two:

They’re brothers obviously but their personalities are quite different. In fact, I can honestly say that I didn’t even know One-Two until Leah came into our lives and brought him out of his shell. Up until then Three-Four was the only one who really showed any affection towards me, while One-Two most ignored me.

When Leah showed up, he really took to her, he really bonded with her which is why the picture below is a regular (and I mean daily) occurrence:

I know, I posted this photo a few days ago, but it’s the epitome of their relationship. It’s a real depiction of how One-Two feels towards Leah - and I’m so grateful that they’re both in my life.

If it sounds as if I’m talking about my cats like they’re human well you’re exactly correct. I am. Simply because they actually do have personalities and before I owned pets, I had no idea what that meant. What sort of personalities can a cat or dog actually have? When you spend enough time with them, just like with people, you get the chance to learn.

Even though we’re extremely excited to be leaving the country for our month in China, we’re also concerned/worried about One-Two and Three-Four. They’re probably some of the MOST social cats I’ve ever seen and for them to be without us for such a long period of time, will honestly probably be difficult for them. Sure we’re having people visit and take care of them every other day (we bought automatic feeders and flowing water) but still… just like it’s different to be away from them for such a long time, they’ll probably feel the void of us being gone.

While it again seems as though I’m taking this too far… I can tell that they miss Leah when she’s gone for a few days, out of town. I can definitely tell when she comes back and One-Two responds to her voice the way he does. He has a connection with her that I don’t, even though he’s warmed up to me considerably over the past year, it’s still not the same.

They’re both special and each has their own qualities, but One-Two can actually give and absorb reiki energy. Leah is currently a level-two reiki practitioner and when she radiates the energy from her hands, One-Two is right there, soaking it up. He’ll climb up onto her and sit on her hands. Leah says that she can feel him channel the energy through his own body.

Three-Four much like me, doesn’t have this natural inclination towards such metaphysical efforts. But that’s okay. They’ve both kind of developed like that, where Three-Four is more like me, and One-Two is absolutely more like Leah.

Three-Four:

So that’s our cats. They’re great. They act like dogs. They fetch. They run around like crazy. They like to meet new people - seriously, it’s hard to keep them off of new people visiting the house.

When we move to China (or someplace in Asia) in a few years, we’re bringing them. No matter what.