July 3rd, 2007:

The short version of all of this is that Jess and I need someone to watch our cats for 5 weeks (from 7/30 to 8/31). Ideally, someone would just live in our house for the 5 weeks. Second to that would be bringing our cats to someone else’s house. Third to that would be finding someone (or several someones) willing to stop by and check in on them every couple of days. Our final option will be to board them for that time, which I’d rather not do. If you can help, read on for more details.

Jess and I are taking a two week vacation into the Great White not-so-white-during-the-summer-months North in August — the weeks of 8/13 and 8/20 to be precise. As you surely know by now, I am traveling back and forth between Syracuse, NY for business. I’ll be in Syracuse for two weeks prior to our vacation, and the week after it. Therefore, I’ll be gone for 5 full weeks — from 7/30 to 8/31.

Now, I could fly back to Texas the day before my vacation starts and then fly out the very next day and then do the same thing in reverse when I return, but that’s just silly. On top of that, we have to drive from Toronto to Sudbury anyway, so I may as well just drive from Syracuse. And, then I don’t have to buy a plane ticket for myself at all. So it just makes sense not to come back in between.

The last part of the puzzle is Jess. While Jess can fly from DFW to Syracuse alone on both sides of our 2-week vacation and we can arrange for someone to drop her off and pick her up, she’d really prefer to be with me in Syracuse during all of that time.

Hence the need for a cat sitter for 5 weeks.

Don’t feel obligated in anyway to help us out. But, if you can, please let me know.

This Sunday, July 8th, 2007 marks the first day of the last year in which I can claim to be a 20-something. After that time, I’ll have to resign to being “nearly a 20-something” when trying to pick up younger girls online or “only 30!” in situations where a lie could be easily detected. I expect you all to be in supreme celebration mode for this joyous (yet still utterly depressing) occasion that only happens ONCE in a life time (barring the silly use of time machines).

I won’t hold it against you if you’re early but I’ll hate you forever if you’re late, so feel free to send your words, photographs, promises, and gifts of praise and admiration my way at any time. I’ll do my best to check my email every few minutes in order to keep up with in the inflow and prevent myself from exceeding my storage quota.

For that added effect or to present a literal personal touch, appointments for visitation are being accepted up until midnight on the 8th. Perhaps you’d like to get a very special photograph with the birthday boy or take advantage of the private viewing lounge we’ve established for just this occasion. This is first come first served so be sure to act fast as time is limited.

A portion of the afternoon and evening of the 7th (That’s 7/7/7 for you coincidence junkies) will be spent at a Skill Toy Festival near Mansfield. If you’re interested in attending, contact me for details. If you don’t know what a Skill Toy is, you’re really missing out and are therefore required to attend.

This evening I will be seeing Transformers the movie at Tinseltown Grapevine at 7:40pm. If you’d like to join in, contact me for details.

Sunday afternoon I will be sharing a very Transformers birthday with my Brother-in-Law at my parent’s house. This will be complete with a Transformers cake, Transformers party supplies, and Transformers themed party games. Aren’t you jealous? You should be!