I just checked the current weather in New Zealand.
I just might die.
It snowed last night.
I have never been good at cold weather.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
This is becoming my international pet transportation blog, sorry
Bear with me. I am eating that dark chocolate with almonds bar I keep in reserve for times of need. This is one of those times.
I got the phonecall from my vet. The phonecall that I prayed would be a happy phonecall. It was not. Ness failed her second titer blood test which means she does not have enough rabies antibodies in her blood to travel internationally to NZ. I am floored. After crying a lot at work, calling Guy, calling my parents, and leaving work a bit early... I made A LOT of calls.
I called my pet transporter, who I am SO THANKFUL FOR (James is a calming voice to my hysterical outbursts of sentences). They said they have never known for an animal to fail their second titer test. I hate being the case that people are baffled by. The cause for the second failure could be a litany of things and it is hard to pinpoint what exactly went wrong. First of all, it can be Ness. Her kitty physiology may just refuse to produce antibodies. Maybe it is her saying "F- You Mom, I'm not moving to NZ." Secondly, it could be the vet. Perhaps he stored the vaccine wrong, or sent the sample (aka blood) incorrectly, or mishandled something in the process. Thirdly, it could be the vaccine itself. Maybe it just doesn't work and the manufacturer screwed up, making a lot of animals out there not actually ready for a rabies attack.
This was my plan of action. I had a big cuddle sesh with Ness telling her all the excitement that is to await her in NZ (TWO people who love her, lots of birds to listen to outside, tons of sunshine pouring through windows, so many rooms to run around in and explore). Then I made an appointment with a NEW vet who can administer a different vaccine brand. Then I called the manufacturer of the first two rabies vaccinations to say "WTF? What did you do to my cat"??!?
After many many tears, a ton of phone calls, I feel better. I have an amazing amount of people around me who want to help look after Ness to make sure she makes it safely into my NZ lap. I love them all very deeply for seeing the sadness in me and wanting to do whatever is in their power to help out. It is a blessing to know that my parents love me and are a wonderful ear to my woes. And that I have a supportive boyfriend whose first reaction upon hearing this frustrating news is to curse loudly at work because he knows how crazy-cat-lady I am, even though I try not to be.
Thank you everyone for reading. Sorry this blog has mostly become a chronicle of moving to another hemisphere with a cat who won't pass her tests. In NZ related news: they fully support gay marriage, have banned stupid names for kids, and created this comedian who sang an amazing cover of silly song.
I go to Hawaii next week for my cousin's wedding. I'll post pictures. I have never been. I look forward to the mental and physical getaway with the family.
/chocolatebar
I got the phonecall from my vet. The phonecall that I prayed would be a happy phonecall. It was not. Ness failed her second titer blood test which means she does not have enough rabies antibodies in her blood to travel internationally to NZ. I am floored. After crying a lot at work, calling Guy, calling my parents, and leaving work a bit early... I made A LOT of calls.
I called my pet transporter, who I am SO THANKFUL FOR (James is a calming voice to my hysterical outbursts of sentences). They said they have never known for an animal to fail their second titer test. I hate being the case that people are baffled by. The cause for the second failure could be a litany of things and it is hard to pinpoint what exactly went wrong. First of all, it can be Ness. Her kitty physiology may just refuse to produce antibodies. Maybe it is her saying "F- You Mom, I'm not moving to NZ." Secondly, it could be the vet. Perhaps he stored the vaccine wrong, or sent the sample (aka blood) incorrectly, or mishandled something in the process. Thirdly, it could be the vaccine itself. Maybe it just doesn't work and the manufacturer screwed up, making a lot of animals out there not actually ready for a rabies attack.
This was my plan of action. I had a big cuddle sesh with Ness telling her all the excitement that is to await her in NZ (TWO people who love her, lots of birds to listen to outside, tons of sunshine pouring through windows, so many rooms to run around in and explore). Then I made an appointment with a NEW vet who can administer a different vaccine brand. Then I called the manufacturer of the first two rabies vaccinations to say "WTF? What did you do to my cat"??!?
After many many tears, a ton of phone calls, I feel better. I have an amazing amount of people around me who want to help look after Ness to make sure she makes it safely into my NZ lap. I love them all very deeply for seeing the sadness in me and wanting to do whatever is in their power to help out. It is a blessing to know that my parents love me and are a wonderful ear to my woes. And that I have a supportive boyfriend whose first reaction upon hearing this frustrating news is to curse loudly at work because he knows how crazy-cat-lady I am, even though I try not to be.
Thank you everyone for reading. Sorry this blog has mostly become a chronicle of moving to another hemisphere with a cat who won't pass her tests. In NZ related news: they fully support gay marriage, have banned stupid names for kids, and created this comedian who sang an amazing cover of silly song.
I go to Hawaii next week for my cousin's wedding. I'll post pictures. I have never been. I look forward to the mental and physical getaway with the family.
/chocolatebar
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Adventures in unknown size expectations
I want to bring my bike to NZ so I have something I can get around on because: 1) Christchurch is crazy super flat, unlike SF and 2) I am putting off learning to drive on the WRONG side of the road for as long as possible (much to Guy's dismay). So how do I go about getting this done? Effort. Lots of effort.
First I had to go to two bike shops, act dumb and pretend I didn't realize I needed an appointment. I have a friend's car this week so this is the ideal time to get things taken care of. A guy at the second bike shop took pity on me and said it would be done by Wednesday, but it was finished on Sunday afternoon. Score!
I head over to pick it up after a long day at the racetrack for a friends birthday, so please imagine a tired, slightly sunburned Ann wearing sunglasses and an overall bedraggled look. I pay for the bike to be put in a box ($45??!?) and the charming young man pulls out my bike for me. It is in a HUGE box. For some reason I imagined it to be roughly the size of a suitcase to be easily transported which, in reflection, makes no sense because of the body of the bike which is one piece. The bike box, which is almost too big to pick up with my limited arm span, makes it out into the parking lot and into the car.
I then call Air New Zealand to make sure this counts for one of my pieces of luggage and I don't have to pay extra for it being oversized, since it sure looks oversized to me. I ask the Kiwi on the phone if he would like the dimensions in inches or millimeters. He says millimeters, but centimeters would be better. Dumb American-Ann. Lo and behold, it counts as a piece of luggage. I will look silly as heck with a huge bike box I cannot lug around easily, a suitcase, a big backpack, and a regular backpack for my carryon.
First I had to go to two bike shops, act dumb and pretend I didn't realize I needed an appointment. I have a friend's car this week so this is the ideal time to get things taken care of. A guy at the second bike shop took pity on me and said it would be done by Wednesday, but it was finished on Sunday afternoon. Score!
I head over to pick it up after a long day at the racetrack for a friends birthday, so please imagine a tired, slightly sunburned Ann wearing sunglasses and an overall bedraggled look. I pay for the bike to be put in a box ($45??!?) and the charming young man pulls out my bike for me. It is in a HUGE box. For some reason I imagined it to be roughly the size of a suitcase to be easily transported which, in reflection, makes no sense because of the body of the bike which is one piece. The bike box, which is almost too big to pick up with my limited arm span, makes it out into the parking lot and into the car.
I then call Air New Zealand to make sure this counts for one of my pieces of luggage and I don't have to pay extra for it being oversized, since it sure looks oversized to me. I ask the Kiwi on the phone if he would like the dimensions in inches or millimeters. He says millimeters, but centimeters would be better. Dumb American-Ann. Lo and behold, it counts as a piece of luggage. I will look silly as heck with a huge bike box I cannot lug around easily, a suitcase, a big backpack, and a regular backpack for my carryon.
.JPG) |
| Ness helped me show off the size of the box |
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Artless
Today I took another step in getting ready for my move: I took down all my art. My walls are now as barren as when I first moved in. The only joy I have on my walls are some lousy cheap blue target curtains I bought 8 years ago. I never knew I loved art so much until I had to take it all down.
My closet is even more clean after a major Goodwill donation. I can see the floor in there! (Much to Ness' dismay, she has no dirty clothes to lay on)
86 days to go. Feels like I just moved in. It's an odd limbo. All I can do is treasure those small moments I have and keep eating this dark chocolate and almond bar.
Thank goodness I have this lovely piece of art my (work)friend Dasha gave me ;) It will be the first framed piece of art in my future Kiwi home.
My closet is even more clean after a major Goodwill donation. I can see the floor in there! (Much to Ness' dismay, she has no dirty clothes to lay on)
86 days to go. Feels like I just moved in. It's an odd limbo. All I can do is treasure those small moments I have and keep eating this dark chocolate and almond bar.
Thank goodness I have this lovely piece of art my (work)friend Dasha gave me ;) It will be the first framed piece of art in my future Kiwi home.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ANOTHER bump in the road
So I just got the call from my vet I have anticipating for the past three weeks....... it wasn't what I was hoping for.
I took Ness in to get her titer test done three weeks ago which counts the level of rabies antibodies she has in her bloodstream. In order to move to a rabies-free country, such as New Zealand, she needs to have a level over 0.5 at least three months before departure. She barely had a 0.25. Turns out she probably never had the usual kitten vaccinations which leads me to believe she came from an atypical household the first three years of life before I adopted her from the SF SPCA. So tomorrow I will bring her in to get a SECOND full rabies vaccination (her second shot of this in two months). It will most likely be torture for her. Then we have to wait at least three weeks before her antibodies build up to standard levels. Then we have to wait to get the results back from Kansas, which usually takes about 3 - 4 weeks. It is a good thing I like ramen so much.... these tests and vaccinations aren't cheap.
All-in-all, Ness will have to leave after me. Ness will have to go into the loving hands of someone for a couple of weeks who will take her to the vet once or twice before her departure. It seems that no matter how hard you try, you can't plan life. Perhaps this plan is for the better. I will get to NZ, have some time to be with Guy then set up a happy home for Nessie. This waiting period is killing me. I just want to be in the Shire already! With my furry hobbit in tow!
I took Ness in to get her titer test done three weeks ago which counts the level of rabies antibodies she has in her bloodstream. In order to move to a rabies-free country, such as New Zealand, she needs to have a level over 0.5 at least three months before departure. She barely had a 0.25. Turns out she probably never had the usual kitten vaccinations which leads me to believe she came from an atypical household the first three years of life before I adopted her from the SF SPCA. So tomorrow I will bring her in to get a SECOND full rabies vaccination (her second shot of this in two months). It will most likely be torture for her. Then we have to wait at least three weeks before her antibodies build up to standard levels. Then we have to wait to get the results back from Kansas, which usually takes about 3 - 4 weeks. It is a good thing I like ramen so much.... these tests and vaccinations aren't cheap.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Why
So why New Zealand? Why am I moving to another hemisphere? Why is my cat coming with me? Why am I putting such crazy amounts of stress on my current life to save money, sell everything, and say goodbye to those I love? Because this is a time in my life that I can easily do all of this and I could use the challenge. (Plus this adventure, unlike other opportunities, has its own romantic perks)
The last time I challenged myself to do something like this was when I moved to San Francisco from Encinitas. I was accepted into SFSU for a major I wasn't sure I could get into (turns out nursing was so impacted I had to do health education instead) and I moved to a city I had only briefly visited on a long road trip prior. I had no friends in the city. I had no idea what city life was like. I had no idea how much I would miss my family and my first boyfriend. I remember after the long drive in a rental van (where my parents sat in the front seats and I sat in the back of the van on a lazy-boy chair chained backwards to the front seats, facing the back of the van, with no windows, [true story]) we ended up at a HoJo's in South San Francisco. I would be moving into the dorms the next morning. This was the site of my first ever panic attack. My Mom walked around the HoJo's parking lots with me until I got tired. She listened to my fears and wiped away my tears and did her best to fortify me for my upcoming adventure. It worked. I slept like a log and dove into my terrible dorm situation with enthusiasum.
Now I move again to a city I know nothing about. To a city where I can count those I know on one hand, most of which I have never met in person. To a situation that is completely new to me. It may not be another dorm this time but it is a living situation WITH A GUY. Omg. I always said that my next apartment would most likely be with my "plus one," I just never had any idea that the apartment would be in a place where there are no Thanksgivings.
I am excited for this challenge but am weary for the panic attack that I am sure is on the horizon. Where is my Mom and a HoJo's parking lot when you need one? I take comfort in the thought that my friends are close by, my family can always be reached with a phone call, and Ness will always be at my side (covering everything in fur). 112 days to go...... but until that countdown on my phone app hits zero I will continue to live life according to my 2013 motto: "Save money. Pack. Do good". The outcome will be well worth the wait.
The last time I challenged myself to do something like this was when I moved to San Francisco from Encinitas. I was accepted into SFSU for a major I wasn't sure I could get into (turns out nursing was so impacted I had to do health education instead) and I moved to a city I had only briefly visited on a long road trip prior. I had no friends in the city. I had no idea what city life was like. I had no idea how much I would miss my family and my first boyfriend. I remember after the long drive in a rental van (where my parents sat in the front seats and I sat in the back of the van on a lazy-boy chair chained backwards to the front seats, facing the back of the van, with no windows, [true story]) we ended up at a HoJo's in South San Francisco. I would be moving into the dorms the next morning. This was the site of my first ever panic attack. My Mom walked around the HoJo's parking lots with me until I got tired. She listened to my fears and wiped away my tears and did her best to fortify me for my upcoming adventure. It worked. I slept like a log and dove into my terrible dorm situation with enthusiasum.
Now I move again to a city I know nothing about. To a city where I can count those I know on one hand, most of which I have never met in person. To a situation that is completely new to me. It may not be another dorm this time but it is a living situation WITH A GUY. Omg. I always said that my next apartment would most likely be with my "plus one," I just never had any idea that the apartment would be in a place where there are no Thanksgivings.
I am excited for this challenge but am weary for the panic attack that I am sure is on the horizon. Where is my Mom and a HoJo's parking lot when you need one? I take comfort in the thought that my friends are close by, my family can always be reached with a phone call, and Ness will always be at my side (covering everything in fur). 112 days to go...... but until that countdown on my phone app hits zero I will continue to live life according to my 2013 motto: "Save money. Pack. Do good". The outcome will be well worth the wait.
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