My favorite place... Dunes of Sand!

Ah the Sand Dunes, one of my all time favorite places on this planet.

We went camping this weekend with the family.  Great time with a campfire, family time and dune fun!  I'm glad Jake had a good time too.  He wants to bring Samuel back.  I told him that this was like a kid's paradise.  I mean, I can appreciate it but after a while, as an adult, I just get sick of being dirty and sandy.  As a kid, that doesn't matter in the slightest.  You can really get down and dirty and enjoy everything the Sand Dunes has to offer.

Don't get me wrong, it's still fun as an adult.  If you haven't been, make a trip next year.

After all the family fun, Jake and I went and hiked Zapata Falls, which is a creek from snow melt.  He found out just how sensitive his feet were to cold.  Good times.

Moving moving... moving...

I've decided to move and rent my house.  Partly financial, partly in hope of what else is to come in life.

This is a hard choice because I love having my own space and my own house.  Course it would help if I was there more often so I could get more done.  Since Jake and I have been serious I've spent more time at his place than at my own.  It's getting to be an expensive place to keep my belongings rather than my home.

Financially, in order to afford my new car, this makes sense too.  I can make a profit off of renting rather than just scraping by.  All in all, it makes sense.  Plus I'm renting to someone I know and trust so I'm not so worried about that.  Still, it is a bitter sweet.  I don't feel like I've been able to really settle my life somewhere.  I feel like I have been on the move or just not quite settled enough to really take a deep breath and relax.  I haven't felt like that in a long time.  So hopefully just a few more moves before I get that feeling.

So where am I going?  Theo will be vacationing with my parents for a while.  He'll be so pleased to be with my mom, whom he loves, and have a grand old time bullying my dad to put him outside on his tether so he can spend time communing with nature and possibly catching birds.  Whitman will be with me "at Caitlin's house".  My things will probably be all over the damn place again.  My parents will probably get some and I'll bring some to my sister's house.  Then I'll have some with me wherever I am at the moment (probably Jake's).  So again, unsettled.

Hopefully it isn't forever though.  My sister is going to go through some treatments so maybe I can help her out at home some.  Or at least not stress her out more.  That's the goal.

I have to say though, I am purging my stuff FOR SURE this time.  Where do I get this much stuff?  I have no idea.  I honestly think that some of my stuff gets together and buys the rest of my stuff a drink and then more stuff is born.  I would like to get rid of 2/3 of everything I own.  I am not really materialistic so I wonder where I got all this.  It will feel wonderful to shed myself of anything I haven't touched in the last year.  That's quite a bit of stuff.

I MUST do this because I am not moving all this crap again.  I HATE MOVING!  You wouldn't know it though since I end up doing it all the time it seems.

Anyway, here's to the future!  Homeless again!

Princess!

Meet Princess, my current foster dog.

The poor thing has had a hard life.  I guess she was a 9 Lives, which is what the rescue was called before we started Lucky Dog Rescue, dog.  9 Lives adopted her out when she was a year old.  Seven years later, her owner dumped her and her brother at the humane society where he was euthanized.  I hate people that give up dogs for stupid reasons but doing it to a senior dog is so much worse.  Princess was given up because a family member's allergies were too bad... after seven years.  Bull crap.  How much do you want to bet they have another dog already?  Anyway, that's beside the point.  Princess was dumped at the humane society and thank goodness they scanned her chip.  That got them in touch with an ex-9 Lives member who got a hold of us.  I got the sad email about this senior lab dumped at the humane society with nowhere to go so, of course, I volunteered to foster her.

When I first brought her home she was so nervous that she couldn't settle down and wasn't eating.  It was a full 36 hours before I could get her to eat.  She was overweight, limping from a bad leg break that never healed properly, had cloudy eyes and had the worst ear infections I've ever seen in a dog.  She was also itching herself so bad that she was opening sores.  She really just broke my heart.  It's hard to see such a sweet dog that has gone through so much.

It took a couple of days but she finally calmed down and her very sweet side came out.  She loves pets and scratches, follows me around and loves carrying around bones or toys.  We had a few scuffles with the other dogs, which is funny because this old girl has the boys in line.  She has no problem telling them what for.  Most of the time she's just as sweet as can be.  She's great with my cat and good with the dogs as long as they aren't showing interest in her food or bones.

Her health has gotten much better now that she is on a good diet.  She's lost a lot of weight, though we still have a few pesky pounds to go.  Her coat looks so much better and the itching has gone down dramatically.  Both her eyes and ears have cleared up.  She doesn't have a hearing problem.  She also doesn't have any training but we're working on that.

Overall, she's a really sweet dog.  I do enjoy having her around.  Jake may not feel the same way but the way he says "Princess" is hilarious and oh so cute.  I do like her but I would love to see her adopted.  Sadly, several people have come to see her but they realize she's an elderly dog and walk away.  Sure she's elderly but she has lot of good years yet to live.  She's so sweet that she deserves those with a happy family that loves her.  I hope we find that home soon.

Memorial Day

Many people think Memorial Day is about celebrating our country or supporting the military.  It has become a day where people do red white and blue things.  It is a day to celebrate our country and support the military, though we should be doing that everyday.  More importantly, Memorial Day is a day to remember those brave citizens that sacrificed everything in the line of duty for this country.  We are free but freedom isn't free.  Someone had to sacrifice.  Someone laid down their life for that freedom.  We should thank them and their families everyday but most especially on Memorial Day.

I spent the day wondering around Territory Days with Caitlin.  Street fairs area always good fun.  This one was especially good because I got to see my man all dressed up in his military blues.  He was serving on the Color Guard holding the Army flag and he looked good.  Poor guy must have been hot but still... he looked good.  I'm proud of him.  I am proud of my soldier and I love him.  I also hope that I never have to remember him on Memorial Day.

Jeep, ah Jeep Jeep Jeep!

I bought a car!  It's a pretty Jeep and I love it.  See!

The gas mileage isn't great but I've ALWAYS wanted a Jeep.  I envisioned myself with a Cherokee but a Liberty will do.  I actually think that it is cuter.  And white.  My first car ever was white.

I eventually shall name her.  I only just put my magnets on the back and hung something from the rear view mirror.  It will feel like it is officially mine when my back seat cover comes in.  That way the dogs won't tear it up.  I've never really cared about the condition of my car but when you're still paying it off it does make a difference.  Maybe I won't trash this one.  Though... there will always be dog hair in my car.

I'm a Jeep OWNER!

Time for a new car

My car died last year.  My sister was kind enough to lend me her car for a while but lately it's been chugging more lately.  I feel very fine chugging around in my POS.  I think it's time for a reliable automobile.

Problem is, I'm freaking poor.  I do have a plan to solve that but I'm not ready to post that here.

Anyway, went out with my father and Jak to look at cars today.  Found a few I like.  I should have new wheels sooner rather than later.  Now, I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing about cars.  Nothing.  I'm the stereotypical woman who wants a good cup holder.  I want a smaller SUV with all wheel or four wheel drive with a big enough back seat for dogs and enough room in the back to haul stuff.  Those are my needs.  I've always loved Jeeps.  Now I like Subarus because I like my Outback.

Went out about and found some cars that I'm interested in.  I bet I bothered the crap out of my dad because I was like, whatever you think it good, but honestly I have no idea about any of it.  So we just kind of looked around.

Found two cars that I'm interested in.

One- 2007 Jeep Liberty Sport

Ain't she pretty?

Two- 2000 Lexus Rx 300

There were some others that I was interested in but so far these are the top two.  I really don't want to take on a car loan but it's time for a new car.  I just really don't want to go through the hassle of GETTING one.

Damn this stupid adult thing.

That destruction thing

You know, human beings are strange creatures.  We crave attention and companionship which lead us to form and put up with all sorts of societies.  We love each other and express friendship and relationships in one breath then turn around and systematically destroy the ties we've spent so much time cultivating.  We leave destruction, hurt and anger in our wakes at the same time we feed the fire of our own hurt and anger.  It turns into a vicious cycle of bitterness and self loathing.  Yet we do it over and over again all over the world.  It's amazing we obey laws when they tell us not to steal or murder.  Sometimes it's amazing the human race manages to continue without snuffing ourselves out.

I've spend the last 24 hours witnessing such a destructive act between two people I both care for and respect.  Things were said that were both unfair and cruel.  A relationship, a multi-layered relationship, went up in smoke for no good reason.  I wish I could have headed it off.

First, I was reminding myself that people grieve in their own ways.  Sometimes that means lashing out.
Second, I was reminding myself of my own advice of "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
Third, I was trying to stay on top of all the shit flying around while being respectful to both parties.
Fourth, I was shocked by the mushroom cloud of the explosion and didn't know what to do next.

Fifth... deal with the fallout.

Hopefully the core group of us that have managed to keep ourselves mostly clean from the shit flying around can come together and form a stronger group.  Maybe we'll be stronger after we lick our wounds and move on.  Those of us that can keep a clear mind and head above the storm clouds can do our best to pick up the pieces and find a new way for them to fit together.

It sucks though.  I wish everyone could have taken a couple deep breaths, counted to ten, dealt with their hurt and anger in a mature way then sat down in a couple of days to work everything out and come to an understanding.  But that frisky human desire to destroy got in the way.

Damnit.