As easy as one, two, three...right?

Ok, So I have be delaying posting for a while.  I don't know where to start!

First we have the puppy trials: Puppy training is an exhausting, tedious, time consuming, money guzzling experience.
I have ADD. -sorry puppy-
Someone once told me to enjoy the puppy phase, it passes so quickly... I'm over it.
 As cute as he is, I'm tired of needing to vacuum his shredded toy every night. Then then needing to replace said toy on a weekly bases to keep him from my slippers. I am thankful to announce that he has not shredded anything of importance! Just gets into the trash. I think he throws tantrums.
I am also discovering errors of the large breed puppy decision.
Mufasa can now see above the table, put his nose almost to my nose when I am sitting at the table, and has discovered he can reach the vase of flowers placed in the center of table. -may those beautiful Tulips rest in peace-
We are only at 7 months. He's not scheduled to be fully grown-physically-until 8-12 months. O_0
Thank the heavenly Lord almighty above for dog parks.
It's like having a huge back yard, that you don't have to mow..you just have to take a short drive. Get to meet other puppies...run around until we fall over. AWESOME! Just not when it rains.
Rain. It rains here. Not like Wyoming rain where it stops in a few minutes and there's no evidence tomorrow. It rained for like three days straight. Mufasa likes mud. and snails. Actually, I don't know about the snail part. He's certainly curious. and It's entertaining. When the rain clears here, and the sidewalks dry, dead snails every where. Stepping on snails is on my top five list of unpleasantries. Maybe even number one.
I digress...I have an adorable puppy, folks. He can be a punk, and frankly, sometimes I wish he wasn't around. But to be completely honest, I would be a total and complete mess without him. With Jeffrey gone so often, Mufasa is the reason I get out of bed! I need that. I don't like it some days.. but thank you Puppy. Thank you Jesus, seriously. He's the perfect fit when Jeffrey's gone. I can never be mad at him for long!

Secondly, We have the seemingly never-ending job search. I heard, back in the high school class room days, it's good to be early. not obsessively early, but like 10-15 minutes early.
Seems too early.
The last two interviews I survived, they seemed annoyed that I came early. No matter, didn't get that job, and have another interview come Monday. Fingers crossed! I want to work in a coffee shop again! Come home exhausted smelling of burnt beans... It's wonderful. and maybe get to dress up! I forgot how fun it is to dress up for an interview. Look all studious and professional. Makes me think if I need to re-direct my career goals. Don't worry, they are being adjusted...

Thirdly, School.
Found an Online program that will be paid for, thanks to Jeffrey's service in the Military. WOO It pays to be in the Military sometimes! It's a short, in-depth 6 months, but I will be certified Pharmacy Technician when It all pans out. That's a decent job, and it travels well. This program caters to military wives specifically so they target transfer-friendly careers. Who knows, maybe If I like it enough, I'll head down a road towards that direction.

This all sounds grand. But with the husband gone, I drag. I need to find some friends, get a job and get going on this schooling business! Then time will fly faster with more joy :)
Here's to hoping!! Cheers

The Puppy Adventures

Part one

I should start from the beginning... 

if I could have a constant video going on this fascinating creature, believe me, there would be. 

 In the beginning, (before the marriage part) my husband and I knew that he would be gone a lot with the Navy owning him and all. So we knew I would need something to keep me company. We definitely knew it wasn't baby time!

Meet Mufasa, with husband Jeffrey.
Birthday: September 22, 2012
Age in photo: 11 weeks
Breed: Siberian Husky
Color: Red/White












We decided puppy, and we got him early so that he would be less puppy, more protective dog by the time Jeffrey was deployed.

Challenge Accepted

Step one: family adjustments

First Family photo
December 8, 2012

Step Two: leash

Winning!

Almost.

Step Three: acceptance  

Toy seemed sufficient. 

Step Four: Training

Paper for potty training....no.

I believe the rest can be summed up with pictures

We hide.

Outgrow some of our hiding places

We sleep.

We tear up toys and sleep

We sleep and forget we have a bed

We look studious and socially acceptable

Sleep some more

I think he's accepted us

for many more adventures to come

To Have and to Hold

Love is patient and kind; 

Love is not jealous or boastful;

Love is not arrogant or rude;

Love does not insist on its own way;

It does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends

The first night is fine; almost enjoyable even. The second is bearable, but there is a growing darkness lingering in the corner. By the third, there is a definite storm cloud occupying my mind. Maybe it's not because of the three consecutive days and nights spent alone, but the fact that it is only day 3 of a 12 day stretch.... That's when I have to stock up the wine cellar.
I knew being a military wife wouldn't be easy. I've been exposed to enough of it all my life I thought I would have this handled. To a certain extent, I do. I'm not surprised at any "unwelcome" news or when plans change without notice at an almost constant rate. This isn't  just military any more. It isn't just the Navy. It's reactor. It's only just the beginning, and I have so much to learn.
Should I be a little more concerned that I left everything I knew (family, friends, the simple Wyoming lifestyle I've grown accustomed to, etc.) moved over 2,000 miles to the 2nd largest city of California to marry a man I hardly get to see?
The selfish, newly-wed wife of 22 says, "yes! Yes, be upset, this sucks!" The rational part sees: I am so proud of my best friend. He's a humble bad-ass who works his butt off and whenever he does get a chance to come home, I am  so glad I'm here for it. I am so proud of him, I can't express it enough.
He has one of the most important jobs on that boat, he likes it, he's good at it and he works hard at it. He makes the ship GO! (I often wonder what the other 4,000 some odd people do on the boat.) Most importantly, he enjoys what he does. Not the long hours, or the deployments/under-ways and such (the whole Navy part) but the nuts and bolts (literally) of his job. He's proud of himself and that is what makes me smile. It comforts me. My best friend is a humble bad-ass and I just so happened to marry that man. I'll suffer through some more lonely nights, but to see that smile some back home to me, it's all worth it.

141...countdown to a certain death.

How in the world did I think signing up for a 50K was a good idea?

Let's just skip the half marathon normal people start out with. Why even start with the basic beginner marathon for the over ambitious. Go straight for the Ultra-marathon,  In the mountains. While you live at sea level. Oh, you have 5 months.  

Granted, I ran 20 miles before. two years ago. 

Good job brain. How did we come to this conclusion?

Impulses. Must. Restrain....

Gives me something to aim for. Provides motivation to get up in run. Or else I'll die in June. I ran 6 miles on Saturday. 24 to go!

Something will die in June, but it won't be my spirit.

I better get a cool t-shirt for this. 

Growing pains

I didn't realize leaving my grandparents would be so hard. I didn't cry when I left my parents for college. Why is this any different? We got in a comfortable system over the summer. Not only was I a help in the small ways that I could, but I was a student. I learned so much about the human life that I can't even comprehend, let alone explain. Something about the human heart that escapes me. I wouldn't even call it my heart, but my gut aches and wrenches in an unfamiliar pain  (I can see why in  ancient history they thought the soul was in the stomach). There just isn't enough life for me. 80 years isn't enough to fullfill this aching. I need to hug my grandparents, all of them, my patents, my brothers. My closest friends. Never take a moment for granted. When such moments end, something inside breaks.