A lull in the conversation at my breakfast table gives me an opening to lob my missile. "When my lease ends this month," I say, "I'm moving to a one bedroom apartment in my building." My tone is cheery, despite knowing reactions will not mirror my mood. I am prepared for brickbats, so I relax in my restaurant chair, as comfy as if it was upholstered.

Leap Before You Look has long been my motto. The image of me jumping into new experiences, absent of dithering or second guessing, helps to explain my 17 moves to other homes and cities; and my half dozen jobs, some lasting barely three months.

I was always proud of this swiftness, which combined with my safety net, If it doesn't work out, I can always move back/quit, allowed for these jumps.

The elevator door slides open and before I enter I know the scene playing out inside. There is silence, which upon entering, I brazenly break by boosting a cheery "Good Morning!" Six attractive heads slowly rise to measure the cause of interruption. Some grunt a response; others ignore me and return their focus to their iPhones.

Good morning, Elaine," she said. The tall, dark-haired woman was standing at her locker in the woman's dressing area, smiling in anticipation of my returned greeting.

 "Good morning, um..." And there I stood, silent and stomped as to hername as well as the celebrity's name I had glued to my gym mate, which I had believed to be a helpful clue. Sadly, neither the identity of the star, or the woman, had yet emerged from my brain.    

Hi Pooch Pals!

So sorry I haven't been in touch sooner, but it's taken me a few weeks to train my owner and I haven't had a moment to myself. She is totally obsessed with me and as example; I have red smudges atop my head from the amount of times she kisses my noggin. We Jack Russell mixes are flexible, but there's no way I can lick that off in my personal daily wipe down. (Actually, when she leaves the house -- I am uncrated and can roam free -- I do manage to steal a few used wipes from the bathroom wastebasket. But still...)