No Longer Nameless Furball

I just want to say "thanks" to everyone who participated in my recent Name That Kitten poll. A plurality suggested calling her "Esme", a name which appealed to me because it was both simple and unusual.

After several days of trying, though, I have to admit that the name just doesn't suit her. Instead, I've come to the conclusion that this one's an "Izzy":

( yet more kitten pictures )

"Izzy" just seems to better match her wild hair, frenetic energy, and overall air of juvenile delinquency*.

Also, it's easier to pronounce ...

*That last photo, where Izzy looks so determined? She's clawing her way up my pantleg. Which is all well and cute, now, since she still weighs almost nothing, and since her claws are still too short to cut through my jeans. However ...

Bye Bye Belmont

I finally turned in my keys to my old fourth-floor walkup on Belmont, Wednesday.

Things I will miss about living there:

1) The dramatic views of downtown
( final glances out the window )

2) The kitschy murals
( specially for dlasky )

3) Being right on top of five downtown bus routes
4) The neverending supply of abandoned free stuff in the laundry room
5) The pink flowers that bloom on the hedge out front in the spring

Things that I won't miss about living there (of which no photos are necessary):

1) My cramped little studio
2) The drafty, poorly-insulated windows
3) The ineffective electric heat
4) The old wiring and recurrent power outages
5) The high staff turnover
6) The smell of urine in the elevator
7) The new neighbor with the little yippy dog

There are pluses, there are minuses, but on the whole this move has been a substantial upgrade. I'll post some more pictures of the new place, once I get my wall art up.