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November 30, 2007

Friday cat blogging

Retrospective:

Forward looking:

Looking backwards:

Posted by Moxie at 1:29 AM | Comments (5)

November 29, 2007

the not-so-easy holiday spirit of giving

Two stories.

In the process of moving and it being nearly the Holidays I took 2 full truckloads of perfectly good furniture and clothing over to Goodwill. The Salvation Army's soonest pick-up date was mid-December.

The first trip was a box of clothing, mostly gifts with tags still on the items. A big man came out put on a GLOVE and picked through the box, like it was HIV infected blood.

Do you have pets? he asked. Yes, but they didn't hang next to my clothes like bats, I said. He didn't want to take the clothing until he spotted a pair of faux leather pants, and then he changed his tune.

Apparently, the California liberal bullshit means po' folks are too good to have clothing from a home with pets. When I was just out of college and starving to death, sleeping on a hardwood floor -- I would have accepted a heavily used mattress from a whorehouse.

Meanwhile a couple of guys dropped off a working microwave and a few nice glass end tables. The big burly man said, "Thanks bro, you gave me a lot more stuff to throw out tonight. More work."

I thought that was bad -- so to torture these people, and gather more stories for my blog and radio show -- I brought over 3 perfect bookshelves, a lamp and a few framed pictures today. Didn't think I could hear anything worse than I did the day before. Damn it, I was wrong. And I hate to be wrong.

A different burly guy came out and said, "we don't take beds." I told him it wasn't a bed, it was a bookshelf. You know, you can put books on it, those things people read. Someone could even use it for clothing but not a mattress. Unless you are doll-sized, blonde with big boobs and date (but never marry) Ken.

So he had to investigate. "Damn that nice." I agreed and said I enjoyed it for many years and no longer have the space for it.

I hope you are sitting down for his response.

"Time for those n*ggers in the hood to have it. I see how you people work."

Oh and now I am enlightened and see how his people work. I didn't realize there was a difference but there is -- if someone gives me something -- I thank them. Even if it ends up in the trash. Or god forbid at Goodwill.

It's hard to enjoy giving things to charity when they act like they are doing YOU a favor.

It's even worse when you are made to feel guilty for donating something you could have sold for real money. If you are giving it away, it's not the holiday spirit, it must mean there's something wrong with it. And that's plain old wrong.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you about a lovely, lovely lady in my old neighborhood. I call her the curb enforcer.

Love,
Mox

Posted by Moxie at 9:08 PM | Comments (12)

November 21, 2007

the move

It's over, but not nearly over.

Some local folks might wonder why they won't be invited to my housewarming party.

It's because a grand total of 2 people have offered their muscle. And it's not because I think I deserve help, it's because helping out is what true friends do. Ask any friend of mine, and I use that term loosely -- I've ALWAYS offered to help -- and several times been taken up on my offer.

Aaron, of course is exempt from this rule, as he delivered Bentley respectfully to the pet mortuary, and has 6 kids and a wife to take care of. But the rest of my friends? Ostensibly -- not friends.

It took 3 guys 10.5 hours to move HALF of my stuff. Don't get me started on what a racket the moving business is, it cost me 1k to move furniture about a mile and a half. But here's the best part.

They wrapped every single piece of furniture, like it was a baby in liberal-mandated swaddling protective headgear and mouthpiece.

The bad news is, the protective gear they wrapped my furniture in -- smelled like a homeless intellectual's crusty ass. And I wish that was a joke. Sadly, it's not. I expected to discover lice and bedbugs, but so far, no itch.

In terms of the stink, Frebreze is my best friend.

So I'm still moving the OTHER half of my stuff.

Pray for me.

I've been to hell and back, about 50 times in the last 2 weeks. And right now it looks like a short guest list for the housewarming. And that's fine with me.

So I'm leeching wifi right now, to let everyone know that I have no internet access.

Will be back soon, driving around Los Angeles looking for free hot spots. Doesn't that sound like a John hoping for a whore with sores?

Posted by Moxie at 3:56 AM | Comments (17)

November 18, 2007

Phoebe

Posted by Moxie at 1:44 AM | Comments (5)

November 12, 2007

update

I never, ever thought this would be so difficult. Don't get me wrong, my heart was crushed and I've barely stopped crying since Thursday night. But it has been made even worse watching Phoebe grieve. Bentley was her hero, she loved him so much it's hard to comprehend.

Phoebe has spent the last few days and nights running all over the house, howling, looking in his hiding spots. She's checked every corner, closet and even looks at my now empty lap with this look of intense sadness and confusion.

Yesterday, I called Puff and Phoebe with the usual, "let's eat! Who's hungry?" and she ran AWAY from the food bowl and instead went to the foot of the stairs waiting for B to come running.

People say cats have short memories and that is clearly not the case. She's as depressed as I am. The tough part is that I can't adequately explain to her what happened.

Again, I've read and felt comfort from all the wonderful emails you have sent. I will start responding to them when I feel a bit better. Right now, I can hardly eat, sleep or function.

But it can only get a bit easier each day. So I hope to be feeling kinda human in a few days.

Love,
Mox

Posted by Moxie at 1:42 PM | Comments (19)

November 9, 2007

Breaking News: one good friend located in Los Angeles

I want to thank Aaron, from the bottom of my heart. And Steve of course, for correctly suggesting that there was indeed one good friend of mine in Los Angeles.

Aaron showed up at the crack of dawn, and worked his usual unofficial rabbinical magic. First by calming me down, then by being respectful of my beloved pet and thirdly by locating and delivering my precious kitty to the pet mortuary.

I type while wearing my best friend Bentley's collar as a bracelet. Aaron was kind enough to remove that for me.

You see, I expected if someone would drive over here and remove my beloved pet from the laundry room, that I would have to ride along -- if not drive over myself with Bentley to the final destination. Not so, with Aaron who assured me everything would be taken care of. And shortly afterwards, he called and I am....

I am so very grateful.

Aaron...it would be impossible to thank you enough. And Steve already used the "rolling on Shabbos" line, so I can't be funny either.

And I thank all of you for your kind words, the past 12 hours have been nothing short of a nightmare. I miss my bunny.

Here is a famous Bentley adventure story from the past, it was one of Cathy's favorites.

Posted by Moxie at 11:31 AM | Comments (12)

rest in peace, my love. BENTLEY 1993-2007

My heart hurts so much, and there are no letters, which form words, so I can type and pour my tears into something productive.

My best buddy Bentley died last night at the age of 14 yrs 8 months, sitting by my side.

Feels like my heart has been ripped out. And I can hardly breathe. My Mom keeps calling and reminding me how beautiful it was that Bentley sat on my lap and slept next to me almost every minute of the day and night for the last 2 weeks, "He wanted to spend his every last minute with you."

Tonight, he made some sounds that made me want to do anything for him and scream, NO....not yet Bentley. Then seconds later he stopped breathing. I picked up his limp body and put it into the kitty bed I bought him for Xmas a few years ago. I cried, called out his name again, told him that I love him so much it hurt and kissed his little, soft furry cheek.

Carried him into the laundry room and closed the door. Called a few "friends" to see if someone could drive me over to drop him off at the vets for cremation. Because I'm not strong enough to handle that. I looked briefly an hour later to make sure he wasn't faking me out and then started sobbing.

It nearly killed me to pick up his limp body and put him in the kitty bed. Even I have limits.

Obviously, he is still in the laundry room. Because I have no friends.

Unless "friend" means self centered, arrogant asshole. In which case I have loads and loads of those. If you'd like one, I have many to give away. Free for the asking.

Not even my next-door neighbor would drive me and Bentley to the vets, so he could rest in peace with dignity. I'd do it myself, even though it would nearly kill me -- but crying and driving do not mix.

My best friend, my housekeeper, is arriving in the AM. And we will drive him over to be dropped off. I hope she can handle picking him up and putting Bentley in the car, because I sure can't. She always called him her "sweet, special friend".

Bentley was my world, and I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to sleep tonight knowing he is curled up, dead downstairs.

I'm so dehydrated, it amazes me that tears are still flowing. And I'm just completely broken.

Godspeed, my darling, I'm so empty, heart is broken. I love you, Bentley. You are still my best buddy, love of my life.

Posted by Moxie at 2:15 AM | Comments (63)

November 8, 2007

MoxVox today at 7 PM Eastern, 4 PM Pacific

Go to NowLive.com to listen and watch me on the studio cam!

See you later.

Posted by Moxie at 2:37 PM | Comments (0)

November 6, 2007

Landlord Tenant Legal Question

Surely someone out there must know.

Here's the deal:

I live in Los Angeles.
I have been month-to-month for 5 years.
Gave my 30 day notice.

Now my landlord would like to hold "open houses" for perspective renters EVERY SINGLE DAY starting tomorrow, from 11-5.

I work from home. I am packing. I have valuables and pets that could get out and hurt.

Does anyone know if there are limits on the number of times or hours that a landlord can enter the premises?

There is also something called "abuse of the right to enter". But I'm having trouble finding specifics.

I paid rent, therefore this is still my home until the end of the month, right? How inconvenienced must I be before it crosses the line?

Posted by Moxie at 1:03 PM | Comments (13)