It's been a while

It's been a while since I've blogged about anything...I've been avoiding it because the last post was so unhappy, and I didn't want to deal with anything unpleasant again so soon.  Instead, I will blog about what my days are like here in housewife-land.

My days start out early.  I take Jake to school (some days earlier than others).  I go back home, and fall back asleep for a few hours.  Then, I wake up, try and fill my time, I usually make some food, clean a little, and maybe watch some tv.  Then I drive back onto Post, pick Jake up, and take him back home.  I fix him lunch (usually a sandwich, salad, glass of milk and a snack), then I drop him back off on post.  Go back home, noodle around some more, pick him up from school, make dinner, clean up, etc.  I also do the laundry when it needs doing, and just tidy up in general.  There are a lot of errands that I run throughout the week.  I am deep into housewife land.  I have to say that while cleaning doesn't come naturally to me, it's not so bad.  At the same time, I know that this life will not fulfill me forever.  I am already looking into volunteer opportunities as well as some job opportunities.  I have taken up Zumba (really fun, really good workout) and I have enjoyed all the cooking that I've been doing.

Some of our stuff is getting delivered tomorrow.  I'm getting quite excited about it!  We purchased a couch a few weeks ago that got delivered last week, so now we actually have something comfortable to sit on.  Before that, we just sat on the floor, which was fine, but it really does make your back hurt after a couple of weeks.  We also bought an incredible air mattress that has totally saved my sleep life, but I'm ready to sleep on a real bed again.  Really ready.

We also have a new family member!  Her name is Twinkie.  She's a wonderful little kitty who keeps me company during the day (and night!), and while she hasn't replaced Yoyo, it's been really nice having another critter around.  She really is the cutest cat ever, and she has the funniest little personality quirks.  She is always on the wrong side of the door, and she really hates being kept out of a room!  She talks to me while I'm in the kitchen, and likes to sleep on my computer when I'm using it.  She also walks around with her tail straight up in the air - always.  We got her from the pound, and I think she's about a year old.  She's my baby.  Here's a picture of her:

she likes to sleep in a kitty-loaf!  all body parts tucked under her, even her tail.

:(

A few days ago, I made a very hard decision.  As you know, I brought Yoyo out to California with me with the hopes of a better life for him.  Once we arrived, his behavior got out of control.  He started marking the walls, pooping in the house, shredding any paper/cardboard in the house, stealing food from the counters, having extreme separation anxiety from me, and having aggression issues.  He bit Jake and Andy (our friend who's staying with us until his apartment is ready), growled/barked at Jake every morning , etc.  Our landlord called me to tell me that the dog had to stop barking.  All of the other tenants called him and complained because whenever I leave the house, Yoyo barked constantly the entire time.  All of the problems together were incredibly overwhelming.  A lot of the issues that he was having were problems that he had when he lived with Nana, but not with my Mom.  I was especially concerned about his aggression issues with men, because Jake has a lot of friends and I really didn't want anyone to get hurt, or for Yoyo to get taken by animal control.

I decided to have him put to sleep.  I was realistic about the situation.  I didn't want to continue living like that, and I knew that no one other than my dead grandmother could handle living with him and his problems long term.  I didn't want to take him to the SPCA and abandon him with strangers, that would have been devastating to him.  So, I took him to the vet today and he fell asleep in my arms for good.  He joined my grandmother, and when his ashes get back I'll spread him in the San Francisco Bay where Nana was spread.

It was incredibly difficult and I cried. A lot.  I talked to the vet about it, and when I told her about the biting (not the first time he's bitten people) she agreed that it was the right course of action.  After it happened, he looked like he was sleeping. I feel like I made the right decision, and he's in doggy heaven now.

Summer Lovin'

It's officially summertime, and it's hot as hell.  I actually believe that my version of hell would be to live in the South with no air conditioning? I don't know, I don't believe in hell, but it's just a figure of speech.  I'm currently trying to figure out all the details of my move.  I'm back in NC, which I kind of hate.  I love seeing my family again, but I really miss Jake and California.  I miss Jacob more than I miss California, but I really miss California weather!  This climate is too hot for me, it makes me want to stay indoors and sleep all day!  I was so active in CA, and since I've been home, I've been the most sluggish person in the world!  It makes me feel bad, and my body doesn't like it.  I'm excited to start walking everywhere again.  As far as our move goes, things have been all over the place.  First we thought they would ship our car, so I was flying out with the dog.  Then, we found out they weren't shipping the car, and we thought we'd have to sell the car and buy a new one out there. Then, I settled on driving across the country.  I am still not so sure about this.  It's a very long way to go, and it's expensive.  We will get most of the money back that we spend, but it's still a lot of cash to fork out at one time.  I think it will probably take me 6 days to get across the country.  The dog will ride with me...so I won't be totally alone.  If I wait until after July 11th, people could potentially come with me...but July 11th is so far away!  That's a whole month away!  I would really love to be out there by July 4th.  I want to see the fireworks with Jake (every other year that we have been together we have missed the fireworks.  I am determined to see them this year!).  But, the USAF does come and pack up our stuff, and ship it (for the low cost of 380 dollars? again, I was told this was free, but there actually is a fee - you would think that the military would be super organized, but bureaucratically they are the most disorganized organization ever!).  Currently, most of our stuff is stuffed into my tiny bedroom in my parents' house and it is hard to move around in there!  Our stuff should get to us at the end of July.  When I drive, I'll load up the trunk with more of our creature comforts.  This was such a disorganized post, but I just wanted to give everyone who checks this (all 3 people?) an update on what was going on.  It's been a month since I last posted, because I got married 1 month ago today!

Married!

It's official!  Jacob and I are now Husband and Wife!  It was the most perfect ceremony that I could ask for.  The Justice of the Peace was SO nice, and everything that she said was perfect, and there was no mention of God whatsoever.  She had us say traditional vows, and then let us say our own vows right at the very end before we kissed.  The JOP was very busy, so we didn't have time to walk down into the Riverwalk to get to the more private places, so we did it at one of the entrances (the one across from the Alamo).  We went down some steps and there was a very pretty water area with some fountain stuff, and that's where we did it.  It's actually the Wishing Well portion of it, I found out, so that seems kind of perfect :).  Since it was a public place, there were plenty of strangers.  A crowd gathered to watch us get married, and it was a little disconcerting at first, but it was nice that they shared in our moment!  At the end they all clapped for us, which was nice.  2 guys from Jake's Flight happened to walk by, so they stayed until it was over.  I think one of the guy's dads videotaped part of it, so Jake is going to try and get a copy!  They also signed as our witnesses, which we didn't need, but it didn't hurt to have them!  After we were married, we got 2 coins (quarters, obviously the best coin) and tossed them into the wishing well together.  It was perfect!  We don't really have any pictures of the wedding, maybe 3 of when it was happening, and we also don't have any pictures of us at the spot from after it's over.  We do have a ton of video from a camera, but the audio is really bad!  But, seeing it is almost as good as seeing it and hearing it...lol.  Jake's vows were the most perfect thing I have ever heard in my life.  He made them personal, and they were sweet, and he vowed to embrace my love of Harry Potter.  When I heard that, I just burst out laughing!  There's some video of it, it's pretty funny....and it was the most perfect moment ever.

Change, Change

Just so everybody knows:  California is awesome!  The family I'm living with is awesome, the babies are adorable and sweet (and at times completely overwhelming) but I'm having the time of my life, and I'm sad that come June I'll have to leave.  But!  On to a new subject:

In 3.5 hours, I will drive to the airport, board a plane, and go to San Antonio!  I'll fall asleep, wake up, and see Jake for the first time in 8.5 weeks.  That's a long time to go without your man, but I've had a pretty good time without him :P.  On Friday, at 1:45, we will be married, hopefully on the Riverwalk!  I have to write my vows.  I'm so excited.  I've never felt so happy in my life, and in some ways I just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I'm hoping it won't!  Peace out!

Of Course

On my one day this week to sleep in, I of course wake up at 7 in the morning.  How is that right or fair?  Let me answer that - it's NOT!  Lol.

Yo-Yo the Tiny Dog

My grandmother had two dogs.  She loved them both, but Yo-Yo the tiny dog was a little bit more special to her.  Both dogs were very very naughty, because she wasn't the best doggy parent.  Not big on rules.  Anyways, after she died, Nelson found a new home, and Yo-Yo found a new home in our home.  He has to compete with 4 big dogs for affection, but he found love in myself, Sydney, and my Mom.  My evil twin (not really, just my little sister who is such a TEENAGER) hates Yo-Yo.  She hates small dogs, and hated him as soon as he came in the house!  He did have bad habits then (peeing in the house, being kind of aggressive, barking a lot) but he's gotten a lot better about all of the bad habits (and is completely housebroken).  Evil Twin continues to exacerbate the poor dog, and purposefully antagonizes him!  What a meanie!  So, it has been decided that Yo-Yo the tiny dog should come and live with me!  And, since Jake is a SAINT, that is what is happening :).  When we get a house or apartment, tiny dog will come fly out and live with us in the great state of California.  Yay!  I had kind of dreamed of getting our own pet, one that we picked out ourselves, but Yo-Yo was so special to my grandmother, and my grandmother was so special to me, that I don't mind keeping her doggy around.  Plus, he actually is incredibly sweet and loving and cuddly.  Can't complain about that!  Here's some pictures of him (he's so darn cute!):

Snoozing on the couch!

In his 4th of July bandana, before heading to the Eno Festival

 Sleeping with Jake!  Aw!

In his bomber jacket...oh for crying out loud, he's so darn cute!

Now, I did make it seem like it was all because of Anna that he's coming to live with us, but actually it's not.  With all of the big dogs around, there's a lot of competition and stuff, and he really wants to be Alpha, but is at the bottom of the totem pole!  So, we think that it will really be best for him if he's the only dog again, like he was before Nana got Nelson.  Did I mention how saintly Jake was?  He's not Yo-Yo's biggest fan, but he knows how important it is to me!  He's a good man.