ABQ, Part Four: Pet Sitting For Semi-Feral Cats & Feeding Road Runners In An Old & Run Down Casa! (Feb. 11th-26th)

The base of the antique lamp that sits on the desk where I wrote and taught my lessons. I was endlessly fascinated by the intricate details... I imagine it was entirely hand-painted and must have taken many hours to complete. Additionally, the artist had to have a very steady hand! This was my favorite antique piece in the house. (It was originally on the kitchen counter, if you can believe it! I moved it to the living room desk when the source of light hanging next to the desk -- a very ornate chandelier -- ceased to function!)

It was something of a shock to make the transition from Marie's home--which was so Zen, simple and tidy--to this next, Trusted Housesitters gig in an old, run down casa near the center of town. As you will see in the photos, there is an appalling amount of stuff crammed into this small, strangely laid-out home. (Strange, because you have to pass through the only bedroom to get to the living  room from the kitchen! Among other features!)

The "stuff" in this home mostly consists of a great variety of antiques. Some of them  are actually interesting; the rest, a seemingly random, odd assortment of "junk". The home is in terrible disrepair, all except for new (or refurbished?) hardwood floors and--equally incongruously--a brand new Honda CRV, which sits in the ramshackle backyard. 

I am familiar with the concept of hoarding --my own father having been a prime example--  but I simply can never fathom how anyone can live like this.

The woman who owns this place is an old hippie, in addition to being a seriously crazy cat lady (more about that in a bit). My main charges were four (mostly feral) cats. She also required me to feed wild birds, and she harbors a few coy (presently hibernating in ugly, backyard tubs, completely overgrown with pond scum and algae).   

I DO have to admit that I grew fond of two of the cats--whom you see in the photos below-- mostly because both actually mustered enough bravado to befriend me. The beautiful black and white one, Paco, even joined me on the bed occasionally. 

Still... the funkiness and clutter of the place was challenging for me, and by the time I completed my 15 day pet sitting stint, I was overjoyed to high-tail it out of there!

He may be mostly wild, but he--Ted-- is still a "yoga cat"!!! WHAT flexibility!!!

This one, my favorite--Paco--is actually very sweet! It took him a little over a week, but he finally warmed up to me. He and Ted were the only ones who actually let me pet them... Paco purred and rubbed up against my fingers.  

One of two road runners who got fed meal worms and black sunflower seeds by me in the front yard. They were both somewhat tame and unafraid... most unlike the "scaredy cats" who perpetually ran away every time I entered a room where they were! All except for the sweet black and white one... 

Now for the full scoop about the "crazy cat lady": She had the audacity to send me a novel-length text message upon her return on the 26th, with nothing but complaints. To wit: why had I "starved" her cats?! She lamented that they were "crying & clingy"...there were way too  many cans of tuna and jars of baby food remaining... acting like they were seriously malnourished! (Mind you, what I recall her stressing was to use them sparingly, because they were expensive!!! AND I pointed out that animals are manipulative...clearly, she spoils them!) Furthermore, why was there birdseeds on the front windowsill (I swear that was where she told me to scatter them) and NONE in the back of the house?She considers reporting me to Trusted Housesitters... sounding an "alarm", as it were... 

My response was to let her know that her cats are extremely overweight--certainly anything but "starving"!-- and overfeeding animals is a way to ensure shortening their lives, same as with humans. I reminded her about telling me that the "wet" food (and yes, true story-- she feeds them real cans of tuna and baby food made for humans!) was expensive and to use it sparingly... so I spent my days perpetually refilling several dishes of the dry kibble for the 4 cats... who ate it in copious amounts throughout the day. Furthermore, I told her that I deserved appreciation for how THOROUGHLY I cleaned her place (to the best of my ability, considering the extreme clutter and dust); gave the animals lots of care and love, and went beyond the pale, especially considering this "job" was only in trade-- not a paid gig, as I would normally do through the Rover app. 

I ALSO pointed out that I tolerated locks that barely worked; a front security door--and multiple cabinet doors--coming off their hinges; frigid air that came pouring through the open cat door in the kitchen (she wouldn't replace the broken flap because the fattest cat would no longer fit through the hole!!!); no doors on ANY of the rooms (and thus the cold air blew directly into the bedroom from the kitchen); two "splitter" devices that were impossible to regulate in order to sufficiently heat the rooms; having to kill several cockroaches in both the kitchen and living room; the wifi going out on me for one full day (thank goodness I was able to tap into her neighbor's wifi!); barely having room for my things in her home; a bathroom faucet that was clogged and barely trickled out water; a malfunctioning toilet that had to be plunged upon my arrival; and on and on and on. And SHE has the nerve to threaten to report ME for--what, some kind of negligence regarding feeding the menagerie of animals?!? Beyond belief. See what I mean? Crazy indeed. 

Several days have past since I left the "horror house", as I have now come to think of it. She told me she would write my review over this past weekend... none forthcoming so far. God help her if she even utters a pip of a negative comment about me! All that I have written above will not only go on HER review, but will get reported to THS. Truly, she should be banned from the site! No other unsuspecting traveler should have to be subjected to what I am STILL recovering from!!!

Below: various shots of the different rooms, so you get a small taste of what I am talking about!!! 

A postscript: unbelievably, a full week later, the crazy cat lady sent me yet ANOTHER lengthy dissertation via text, which I am posting here. (Mind you, I only met her ONCE, very briefly, to discuss what was required for the cats and other animals. Yet... for weeks now, she has felt inclined to include myriad details about her travels and travails... as if we were besties! Except, that is, when she finds yet ANOTHER item to complain about, as you will read. Truly, the woman is beyond belief!!!) 

"I’ve been feeling quite ill since I returned. I pushed myself that day I had to go to the other apartment....[no idea what she is talking about, of course] have been so fatigued,nauseous, headache and generally bad. Have considered contacting my doctor for tests several times

 I may go through with that tomorrow if I don’t improve

I’ve had other flights this long to New Zealand and didn’t feel this bad for this long 

I haven’t had the energy to write a review on THS [Trusted House Sitters...I myself have held off writing anything, waiting to see what she writes first. AND I have been attempting to talk to someone there...a next-to-impossible feat! NOT accomplished as yet and most infuriating!]

 I will write one 

I did find two dead roses on the dresser where I have the candle…

I’m happy to leave those out in a bag for you if you’d like on the front stoop…. I just don’t know when I will have the energy to meet 

Doing my best to get back in the swing of things of my pool exercise and other commitments 

it’s taking every ounce of energy I have. [I am not hard-hearted... I do feel sorry for her, with her mental AND physical challenges, to be sure...]

I was able to fix the chandelier…[Yes, something else...it stopped working; it was the sole source of light over the desk--where I worked--in her living room] ... In less than an hour and a half, and I was able to get the bottom of the pot you left on the stove clean… Maybe something burned… Did not damage the pot. It just looked bad…. I’ve had that happen…. I like to keep these pots in excellent condition, I bought the set I think about eight years ago 

it would cost over $1000 to replace the set now… my goal is to keep and use them the rest of my life ...."

[Again, they are cumbersome, appear quite ancient, scratched and stained...just generally horrible!! In fact, I reactivated tendonitis in BOTH elbows, just having to lift the heavy things to be able to cook! Why no one uses cast iron anymore!!! Really, the NERVE of this woman!!!!]

I really and truly look forward to being able to put this whole nightmarish experience behind me, and as soon as possible!!! Unfortunately, there is a piece of mail-- that was delayed--that is supposed to be coming to her house...that was a huge mistake!!!