random happenings

So great news on the home front, the monkeys have fled the premise! However, we are now house sitting for one such crazy cat lady in Kathmandu, who apparently owns a cat wearing a tiger suit. No joke, this feline is craazy. She races around the house and then pounces in mid air landing on whatever is in her way, usually me, and clings on with her talon like claws. I have the scars to prove it.

I used to be one of those kids that was obsessed with animals, I don't lie. I wanted to be a veterinarian for the majority of childhood, and when I found out what really goes on behind closed doors at the vet, I decided it would be better to be a zoologist. I used to spend hours watching PBS nature shows, National Geographic, yea I was one of those kids.

Well that dream is long gone, along with my love for animals. I wanted another dog for years after we had to put my beloved childhood pup down, but now that I live in Asia (or anywhere where the dogs roam freely on the streets) I am seriously reconsidering. I won't deny that I have might have even thought about kicking an animal these days, on more than one occasion. I am no animal abuser, but these rapscallions are nothing to mess with. I probably feel about the same way about stray dogs as I feel about those monkeys in my bed, and you all know how that is. We are not on the best of terms, and now the cat! I feel like I just crushed all my own childhood dreams.

I just don't see a way around it. I mean, I know I said I would be a dog walker or dog sitter, or whatever but I think might also really reconsider that offer. You do not want to mess with any animals in Nepal; dog, feline, monkey. Even the water buffaloes are a just a little scary. So rather than writing my blogs for work, this is what my life has come to. whoopsie. There needs to be some kind of post traumatic animal rehab center set up or something. I have acquired an unusual fear.

There is good news though, I finally took my rockin mountain bike out for a spin. When I say rockin I mean, well, it's actually about the size of a whale, or a tractor, or a cycle rickshaw. At least I feel safe on it because I pretty much take up half the road so no one can even pass me if they try. While it feels a little silly to cruise around on this monster of a ride, I really could care less, and I'm just ecstatic to be back on some wheels again. I think I was probably either born kicking, or pedaling.

If you don't have a bike, you need to get one. There is no better way to explore and discover new places. Not to mention, when you have a bike, there is no excuse for not being somewhere. It's so fast, that now whenever I walk somewhere I actually start running sometimes because I just can't deal with taking so long to get there. One of those weird habits I probably picked up from spending years running sprints on the soccer field, I just can't move slowly I guess.

The other fun thing about cycling in Nepal is I don't have to walk around mean mugging all the men anymore, I get to do it on a bike! It's pretty funny to see people trying to holler at me while they whiz past, three four five on a motorbike, or rickshaw, or plow. They still think it is totally acceptable to spit game in the middle of five lane traffic, oh wait, there are no lanes here. The traffic flow is pretty much a free for all, and people do whatever they want, at all times; it can get a little wild.



Well that is about all I got for now. I have to go check off all the rad things in Nepal I have to do before I leave. There are too many!

happy fin de semana amigos.