The infamous conversation

1L had mentioned a post or two ago that I'd fill in the conversation that I had with S/karah before we left town on Sat, so here it goes. Keep in mind that, although I'm trying my best to be objective, I'm sure I'm not.

On Sat, after I woke up coughing and feeling like it was hard to breathe again, I told Sedwick I needed to get away. So, we made plans for 1L and I to let him know where we'd be, and he'd meet up with us after he went skydiving.

I figured someone should let Karah know what was going on, especially since we weren't taking Poledra and Henry. So, first I drafted an email to her, which I ran by 1L, and then, hearing she was up, went upstairs to talk to her.

I went up assuming, 1. she'd find another place for the cats at the end of the month, 2. she'd promised Sedwick she'd keep them up in her room until she could find a place for them, 3. surprised to have seen one of them wandering around the house, both the night before and that morning, 4. she'd told Sedwick that she'd move in to her parents' and figure out what to do with the cats in Jan, should the job situation still not be promising.

I let her know that, because of my allergies we were going to be gone that night, and perhaps the next, and asked if she could keep an eye on Poledra and Henry. I also said that, as I'd told her in July, I'd been worried that my allergies would be worse once we had to close the house up for the winter, and it looked like I was right. I told her I was sorry it'd come to her having to find a place for her cats, but I appreciated that she'd leave them up in her room whenever she could until the end of the month, by which time I understood that she'd find a place for them. I also mentioned that it'd help out a lot if she could keep them upstairs whenever possible. She told me that she couldn't keep them up in her room because, since they'd been up there the day before (1L and I had put them up there on Fri, once it became clear I couldn't work at the library (they don't allow battery charging, making it hard to work on a computer) - at about 2, until about 5), one of them had peed in her (the cat's bed). She then proceeded to tell me that she wasn't sure what to do, since her parents wouldn't take the cats, and threw in a "how's that for unconditional love" comment - which I'm pretty sure wouldn't go over too well with most parents. I said I wasn't sure what to do, and listed the allergy medications I'm currently on (Zyrtec, Veramyst, Singulair, eye drops, and a decongestant). I also mentioned that I had worked at Panera on Thurs, but I couldn't keep doing that. She pointed out that I didn't need to buy anything there, but could just hang out there. I didn't point out that I shouldn't have to leave where I live so I can breathe, and instead pointed out that I couldn't keep sitting in those chairs, as then my back would start to hurt as well.

I suggested that, until she could find a place for the cats, we could try them in the basement, and see how my allergies were with that. She said that that wouldn't work, as one of them would tear everything up, and she might as well move down there too. I suggested again keeping them in her room. She said that that wouldn't work, and there was no where for a litter box. I agree it wouldn't be nice to sleep in a room with a litter box, but she'd gotten a smaller third one that I'm pretty sure would fit in there - especially if she move things around, but I didn't point that out. I suggested that, if it came to it, had she looked in to no-kill shelters. She said there was no way she could give the cats up. (Which made me wonder how she'd move to her parents' in Jan, but I didn't bring that up). I said again that I was just trying to figure out a way to breathe. She said she'd been having allergy problems too, and was going to see an ear nose and throat person. I then suggested asking Ryan if he could take the cats, since he now has an apartment. She agreed to try that. (Which was a no-go).

So, after me getting quite very upset when 1L, Sedwick, and I were up in Maine and NH, I decided to go with what 1L said, and Sedwick endorsed, that I'm not letting the cats drive me out. I stayed up in my room Sun after bowling, which helped. And I got an air mask to wear while downstairs. 1L asked me if this was just to make a statement. After thinking about it for a while, I decided it was, in part, to make a statement (although I'm sure that the statement would be lost on Karah), but also because 1. I want to be able to occasionally go downstairs and 2. I want to prevent breathing problems, rather than constantly checking to see if I'm feeling light headed or coughing to breathe, and 3. I want to avoid stressing out my allergy response system even more, in hopes that, if the cats ever do go, I'll still be able to be around Henry and Poledra, as I've always been able to do up until now.

I think that's about the highlights. If anyone can think of anyone who's willing to temporarily care for Karah's two cats (since she seems willing to be separated from them temporarily), let us know!