Update

Wow! Typically breaks don’t last very long, much less a year & a half… but I guess it’s better late than never?

Plenty of things have happened in that t ime, bad and good. All of my critters are still around, slight illnesses here & there, but nothing a night spent in the clinic couldn’t fix. Small victories!

I’ve started running this summer, which is good, so far. I like it as exercise, and I don’t obsess over my time. One of my friends that I run with sometimes, does, and while I love her tenacity to push herself to be faster, I’m so content with just being out there moving, and being able to free up my mind while I do so! I wouldn’t mind getting one 5K under my belt before 2014, but I’m not going to die if I don’t.

The biggest thing that’s happened, or I guess I should say will be happening, is a niece on the way. Around this time next month, she’ll hopefully be here, and I could not be more thrilled. The time has flown by, from hearing the news that I’d be an aunt, to now, which I’m grateful for. I can be a touch impatient at times, so it’s great that time’s moved quickly!

I’ve got to run now, but I promise to try & do better with updates!

The First Week of April is… Rough

The title says it all, pretty much. First week of April is rough, for a couple of reasons, one of which I can’t talk about on here, but some of my friends may know.

The other is because the first week contains the 6th (obviously), and this year will mark 3 years since I lost my forever dog, Bubbs. (if you’re new, click on his name in the tags & you can find out some more about him).

I know I’ve said it before, but he really was the best dog. I still have his pink bed tucked in the back of my closet, because it still smells like him (yeah, I’m a weird dog person, I own it). His collars (which he had quite a few of since he had a new one every few months) are tucked away in a bag downstairs until I can figure out a project for them, just because I don’t feel like I can bring myself to let another dog wear them. His bowl is tucked upon the top of my fridge, for the same aforementioned reasons.

I guess you don’t really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease. – Joe Garagiola

Oh, how I miss him so… the way his ears smelled, the way his paws smelled like corn chips, the way he was always throwing his paw up, as to “shake”, when he felt he wasn’t getting enough attention. Heck, I even miss his panic attacks during storms, and sometimes whenever weather sets it, my mind tricks me into thinking, “oh no, I need to get home to take care of Bubba”, then I’m quickly brought back into the reality of the situation.

Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives. – John Galsworthy

I know (more so pray like hell) that he’s in a better place, where he doesn’t have to take any yucky medicines everyday, and where every fault in his body has been restored, and his lungs and heart are brand new & function like a puppy’s. & I hope he’s playing with our other dogs that have crossed that bridge. I know it’s only a matter of time before I’ll get to see him again, and he’ll be perfect!

He is my forever dog, and though I know that no dog will ever take his place, my Olo is doing a pretty good job at trying.

I have a necklace that I love, someone I used to know gave it to me, and though we’re not friends anymore, I still treasure the gift. I don’t wear it as much as I use to, but I love it, nonetheless. So here’s a picture of it, followed by some that I don’t think I’ve posted before.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master. – Ben Hur Lampman

Lucky

I am lucky, and I need to remind myself of this more often.

I have material things, such as my cell phone, and I don’t have to stress over whether or not the bill will be paid. I have a vehicle, I have a nice camera, I have cable!

I have a job I love.

I live in a house, with a yard, space for my dogs to run.

I have wonderful pets, 3 cats who like me, 4 dogs who love me (& might just think the sun shines out of my ass), 2 turtles that keep on kicking, and my beautiful horse Gypsi. I was blessed with 5 wonderful years with my Bubbs, not nearly long enough, but I am grateful for the time I had, and the lessons I learned while he was here, physically with me (even now, he’s always with me).

I have a family that, for the most part, supports me. They are always there to make sure my needs are met. I never have to worry about being sick and not having help – be it for myself, when I’ve been terribly sick, or in the case of needing help dealing with my pups. I have a wonderful mother who does so much for me. I have a father who made one of my dreams come true almost 3 years ago when he got my precious Napoleon for me, when I thought I’d have to wait until I was at least 25 before I would be able to get a Frenchie of my own. My sister’s not too shabby, either.

I have awesome friends who are there for me. I’m lucky enough that one of them lets my horse live at her house, which I will admit does allow me to save money, but even more, allows my horse to live the way I would like for her to, in 2 pastures, with plenty of space to run and frolic to her heart’s content, as well as have a pasture buddy to play with.

I’m also lucky enough that another friend lets me ride her horses (fo free!) when we can coordinate our schedules. She also lets me borrow her saddle since I have yet to find one!

Another special friend helps me through many of my struggles, is there to vent to, even over the stupidest things!

I live comfortably, and have never had to wonder when I would eat my next meal, or when my pets would eat, for that matter. I’ve never had to worry over if I’d be able to heat my house during our short winters. I’ve never had to worry about if I’d have a bed to sleep in.

I am lucky that so many people I know are expecting and that there will soon be babies all around me!

I’m sure there are tons of other things I simply didn’t think of while writing this.

This can somewhat sum it up –
“I am somebody’s granddaughter,
The spitting image of my father (even when I hate to admit it).
& when the day is done,
My momma’s still my biggest fan.
Sometimes I’m clueless and I’m clumsy,
But I’ve got friends who love me,
And they know just where I stand.
It’s all a part of me,
And that’s who I am.”

Phone Dump

I don’t have much to write about, so instead I’ll give y’all a massive phone picture dump:

The newest addition to my extended family, baby Lillian, & me.

Moose is a big boy now!

Napoleon with his present on Christmas Eve.

Bleu snuggled up under the covers.

Ali snuggling with me.

Ladybug chilling on my computer…

My cousins with me at my Papa’s memorial race on New Year’s Eve.

Gypsi with her new halter, a Christmas present from Mo!

Sadie, one of the sweet dogs who lives where Gypsi is at.

Riding SoBe along with Molly & Flint my bad, Lizzie – I didn’t even look at the picture (& it was cold!)

Facetiming with my friend Carrie for her birfday! (since Chicago is way too far to drive!)

Busby (my parents’ cat) vegging with me on the couch.

Blaque, my sister’s cat (also Bleu’s brother) loving on my duffle… I bring it home, my kitties sleep in it, and when it goes to my sister’s house, her kitties are all over it.

Snuggling with my nephew Barker, who got to sleep in the bed with me!

Last, but certainly not least, I got to see a news van reporting on the coward who, after pleading guilty to murdering (among other things) a 7 year old, “committed suicide” in jail… (maybe the prison community just did us a favor!)

Disney Gave Me Unrealistic Expectations… & Some Other Topics

So I know my last update said I was moving blog names, but it turns out it’s going to be a little difficult… so an unofficial poll, do you like Naked Jelly Beans or “Best Dress, Fearless” better as a blog name? I’ve heard from one or 2 people, so now it’s your turn to speak! Moving on…

So my family celebrated Christmas since my last post. It went pretty swell.

I didn’t really ask for a ton of stuff, I got a saddle pad, and my mom surprised me with a Kindle Fire, which I like so far… there are some books I just want to have in physical form, but otherwise it’s working out pretty nifty.

I got a turquoise Natalie D shirt from my sister with this on it:

… it’s pretty cute!

Currently dealing with some not so nice stress in my life, ready for it to gtfo, and hopefully I’ll hear some good news in a couple of weeks concerning what, could be, a pretty big deal for me. More on that in a few weeks.

Now onto the Disney stuff. Disney totes gave me unrealistic expectations, and I’m not talking hair here (raise your hand if you thought I actually paid attention to their hair? Nope? That’s what I thought). I remember watching cartoons when I was little, where they would have WILD houses – i.e. the current day show about Jessie the Nannie (or something?) The lizard cage on there is freakin’ bad ass! It takes up an entire room! I mean, Disney was great for my imagination – but I was never going to be able to build a mini-coaster anywhere, couldn’t dye my hair unnatural colors in HS (pretty sure at least one character did so), and everything else that was extravagantly done, that was done on the sets or whatever – i.e. I’m not referring to stuff like Wizards of Waverly Place where ‘magic’ is involved.

So, there’s my little ramble. I’ve included a video by Jenna Marbles, who shares her Disney Expectations story with the world. There’s a crapload of cussing in it (f bombs included) so either don’t watch or don’t watch around youngins!

Peace!