#scratching pad

I love those pads of blacks sheets that you got to scratch to let appear color below. It make for beautiful art without taking too much time.

(┛❍ᴥ❍)┛彡 ✿ ✿ ✿

Cats & Cancer

Apologies to those who were waiting for an update. I've been between Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and New Jersey for the past few days. Sometimes very bad things happen in pairs, and this unfortunately was one of those times.

---Skip this part if you came here for the cats ---

About a month ago I got a phone call from my dad. They found a desmoid tumor (non-cancerous) near his small intestine that needed to removed. About two weeks ago he had the operation at Columbia Presbyterian. Three days ago, the surgeon called me and said it was actually cancer and a really rare one - leiomyosarcoma, but they removed the entire thing. Yesterday, during a routine bypass surgery she found that the tumor came back.

He's going to be in the hospital for a few days and once the final lab report comes out they're going to figure out treatment options. One of the doctors at Columbia Presbyterian is a world class expert on sarcoma, so I think we have a shot. But Google search tells me it's a very long one. 

--- End of personal non-cat related things ---

I also decided not to save the lease. My roommate, Kevin, who was a godsend in taking care of cats in my absence, also unfortunately turned out to be someone I don't want to interact with on a daily basis and who was financially insolvent. Even if I extended the lease I don't have a way to get him to move out, and so I'm surrendering the apartment. 

The plan is to take some cats to my parents' place in NJ and spend the next few months there - at least until my dad fully recovers. Even though I'm all about cats, I have priorities to the ones who raised me, and I need to be there for them right now.

---What this means---

I'll continue to update this blog to document my adventures in NJ and as a 20-something who had to move back in with the folks (the shame). 

If you contributed to the Gofundme and have raw feelings that I wasn't able to save the Pad please PM me and I will refund you 90% of your donation (Gofundme takes a transaction charge). If not, I'm happy to roll over all the benefits over as soon as I secure a new place in the fall.

Or if you have a favorite animal charity I'll make a donation on your behalf. 

What you can do to help

If you or anyone you know can foster or adopt any of the cats at Scratching Pad now would be an awesome time to let me know. The vast majority of the cats here are Kevin's, and if he has to move he'll be unable to take most of them with him. What this means is that some of the cats might end up in a shelter. 

Hello friends of the internet. I recently got this eviction notice from the landlord.

"This letter is notice to you that your current lease/rental agreement for the above described premises will expire at midnight on (date) 06/30/2014  and will not be renewed. You are required to surrender the premises to Landlord/Agent upon lease expiration. Please return the premises to the same condition as you found it upon move-in, normal wear and tear excepted. You are required to return all keys when vacating the premises."

This means no more cat photos or videos. And more than twenty cats will end up homeless again.

Those who lord over the land is trying to kick us out because we haven't been able to pay rent on time for the past few months. My roommates have had some financial struggles (including medical emergencies) and after all the cat expenses I don't have the savings to cover their portion of the rent. 

But, we have one last-ditch effort. If I can somehow raise enough for July and August rent I might be able to talk the management into letting me renew the lease.

If this doesn't happen, I'll see if I can apply the entire amount for a temporary sublet so that we can find all the cats homes by the end of August.

Once again I'm putting my faith in the mysterious powers of the internet and the wonderful people who love cats and the other wonderful people who believe in what I'm trying to accomplish.

Please click here -> http://www.gofundme.com/scratchingpad

---

If we can raise enough money so that I can focus completely on the Scratching Pad a few really cool things will happen.

1. I'm working on a screenplay for a cat reenactment of a popular TV series, using the green screen. I even bought a green spandex suit for some reason.

2. I'm talking with some interior decorators about making the room downstairs into a really awesome cat room with livestreaming cameras. 

3. Potentially converting the rest of the basement into an informal cat cafe and being able to host more visitors. 

---

SUBLET A ROOM IN THE SCRATCHING PAD

Hello virtual reality friends of the internet. You now have a chance to become a reality friend of the real world.

There is exactly 1 bedroom that's unoccupied in the Scratching Pad for immediate move-in. The apartment is located in Bushwick two blocks away from the L train. 

All my dreams would come true if you happen to be someone with graphic design / illustration skills or some knowledge in social media marketing.

But if you're cool and have a love for cats and want to see Barb poke things in 3D - this might just be your pad.

Full specs of the room are below: