Rudy and Lucia

These are our two wonderful doggies! While Jim was gone I had several travel obligations for work, thanks to my mom and dad who graciously agreed to dog sit--Lucia and Rudy went on a little doggie vacation to Danville, VA. Words cannot describe how much I missed these 2 little critters.
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that with when I have no sense of responsibility I flounder. When Jim left, I still had the responsibility for caring for our dogs and once they were gone I only had responsibility for myself. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself--however, call it a mothering instinct or whatever--I feel more put together--more of a sense of purpose when there is someone in this world relying on me. Rudy and Lucia have been home for several weeks now--and I can already see a difference in my life and how I go about taking care of business. I have a greater sense of purpose--I am more effective. I am learning that I am completely motivated by staying busy---and these 2 little guys keep me busy!
Since thier trip to Danville, they have been readjusting to being home. Every time they go away--they return with little bad habits. Lucia loves to knock over the trashcan--I HATE IT! Rudy is so introverted that it takes me weeks to get him to come out of his shell. He loves to lay under the bed or in his kennel and rarely comes out to play. I am hoping that if I continue to work with them on these little things they will eventually get back to normal!

Trials and Tribulations of being engaged to a US Marine

So--if you have been reading my blogs you will knows that Jim has completed boot camp, and just finished his MCT training. He is now in CA for his MOS training that was supposed to begin this week. (Supposed to being the operative words) I received a call from him tonight and his training will not begin until Jan 2008. They are keeping him in CA on "work parties" until then. So what was only going to be 2 more months of him being gone has turned into 5 months away from home. Not a happy girl :o(

Wedding planning has begun waaaay sooner than I ever anticipated it would. I know from working in the hotel industry that brides begin planning far far in advance--but I thought by having such a small, fun ceremony at a beach house would be so much easier with less advanced planning. I WAS WRONG. You can't just rent a beach house and have a party--you have to seek out a specific event beach house and you have to have event insurance for the beach house and there are only about 10 beach houses in this area that are classified as event houses. So I had to sacrifice my original wedding date for Oct. 11, 2008 beacause that is when the house was available. So my somewhat summerish beach wedding may wind up being a little chilly. So I have the house, I'm looking for the dress, I have family reseraching invitations, bridesmaid dresses are being evaluated, flower arrangements are being shopped, decorations are being purchased, etc., etc., etc. This is all happening so soon! Thank goodness for my best friend Niccole--she keeps me grounded and when I start freaking out about this moving too fast she just puts it into perspective for me. Love her!