Wordless Wendesday: Puppies anyone?

Building Character

Building character, that's what they call it when you're going through a hard time.  Its the positive outlook way to see things.  I'm trying to be positive, but, man, am I tired of building character.  Its tough stuff.

Going through this break up has been really rough; worse because I'm not even certain why it happened.  The "how to fix this" conversation didn't even occur.  He just kind of bailed out.  And I'm working on moving on.  And all things considered, I really think I'm doing a stand-up job.

Today was my "big" interview.  I suppose it was a grand experience to sit and talk to said professor.   But he had absolutely no interest in me as a graduate student.  He just told me about the process and gave me ideas on where to apply and how to go about it.  I'm grateful, but I knew most of that stuff already.  I've already applied places.  No one has interest in me.  Wildlife is difficult that way.  You can't simply "get into" a school.  You've got to find a professor that likes you, they've got to already have a position in mind, and they've got to have it fully funded.  Makes life difficult.

I guess today was just another one for the books.  But it's ok.  I'm getting used to this let-down thing.  Its getting easier at least.  Building character.  Yeah, I can do that.  Why not.  I'm sure I'll be better for it in the long run.  Its just hard right now.

One thing is for certain though.  I have the MOST amazing and supportive people around me anyone could ever ask for.  And I guess you don't really realize how great of a fan base you have until you go through things like this.  Its hard going through everything all at once, but the support I have?  Unbelievable.  The moments I don't believe in myself, when I doubt, when my confidence waivers, someone gives me the lift I need.  Phenomenal.

Now...if only the weather would cheer up a bit!  This dreary winter thing?  I'm over it.  Mr. Sun and I are long overdue for a date.  Until then though I have puppy therapy.  This is my new nephew:

Silas, a long-haired Weim.  Pretty boy.  His mom is a super hard worker and is in school.  Tuesdays and Thursdays she can't be home with him so I've volunteered to babysit him those days for the first month or so.  He's only 10 weeks old.  Hard to believe the little chunker is gonna reach 90lbs one day!  Kenai likes him so far, wishes he was a little more rambunctious though, I think.  But that will come with time.

I had lunch today with an old friend, Tim.  (Weird that I can say "old friend".  I feel old...gah.)  It was REALLY good to see him.  Its been awhile since we got to sit down and talk.  He got married to his dream girl back in May and they're expecting their first, a little girl, at the end of June.  I'm super excited for him.  He was really hoping for a girl, probably one of few guys who would admit that.  I'm really excited to get to knit super cute little girl hats.  Did the boy thing already, now for little girl hats.  And knitting with ribbon, and fluffy-fuzzy yarn.  Ooohhh excitement.

For now...watching the few minutes of Gilmore Girls I've NEVER EVER seen!  My season two disc four skipped when I owned it before, so I finally emailed WB before break and now have my replacement season!  Its PHENOMENAL.  I'm super excited.  The first minute of never-viewed footage was really good, I have high hopes for the next bit too.  Its little things like this that are getting me through.  Haha, pathetic.  But man, I LOVE Gilmore Girls!  And my love for them is going to lead me to finish this post with one little phrase:


COPPER BOOM!

Nowhere to go but up

I've had the roughest of weeks.  I hit rock bottom and became emotionally spent.  I was broken.  I had nothing left around four o'clock on New Years Day.  Nothing.  But the good thing about hitting rock bottom? You have no where to go but up.

So, I called girl friend after girl friend until I got a voice instead of just a voicemail.  Caitlin was having a late Christmas celebration with family.  I broke my news to her, crying, but told her to please not worry about it.  Carly was 30 minutes away.  I told Carly I needed to horseback ride, right then, right there, and I broke my news, still crying.  While talking to Carly another called back.  I put Carly on hold and answered Erika.  I told Erika what had happened and she invited me to Charleston, a three hour drive.  I accepted and told her I'd leave my house by four.  

Caitlin paid me a surprise visit while I was packing.  She gave me a big hug, a shoulder to cry on, and we talked for a bit.  And then, I went into gypsy mode, and I left.  I drove a little, cried a little, drove a little more.  Sped a lot.  

Upon arrival we let our pups play.  Erika got hers a month before I got Kenai.  Cooper is a year older though, she adopted him.  So we let them play, I told her about everything I'd been through in the past few days.  She sympathized with me, lent encouragement, and then we went into our 24 hours of get-over-or-through-it therapy.  

I showered, our friend Ryan came over and we went to TGI Fridays.  I love that place.  Ryan went home and Erika and I returned home to talk and watch Dexter.  I love that show.  

Sunday was the best.  We went to the mall and had some window shopping retail therapy.  Tried on some ridiculous clothes and RIDICULOUS heels.  Absolutely great.  This was followed with a two mile run with the pups and then showers and leftovers for dinner.  Ryan dropped by for a bit. 

Right after he left the fun began.  Randomly.  Cee Lo Green's song "F**k You".  The MOST upbeat craziest song ever.  I LOVE it.  LOVE it.  Erika and I started into this crazy dance party.  Intense, jumping, spinning, bootilicious craziness.  Just the two of us.  SOBER.  (Two beers each but that's nothin'.)

We played the the timer on my camera some too.  Trying to get our jumps just right.  

And then, after an hour plus of pretty intense dancing in walks Danno.  He owns the house and lives there and had been in Georgia and Rocktown shooting photography and climbing with friends.  He walked into this scene:  Two red headed twenty-somethings bumpin' around the living room, speakers and subwoofer blaring Bubba Sparxxx "Miss New Booty".  Cue: Danno, front door.  HILARIOUS.

So, Danno, lover-of-all-women grins real big, drops his pup, Raina (who looks like a miniature Golden retriever) and flops on the couch until we encouraged him off to dance.  It was great.  Then, we put "F**k You" on and started REALLY dancin' again.  This prompted Danno to run out to his car and bring in all his sweet camera gear.  And then more fun began.

'

And then we all tried our hand with the timer.  Oh, fun.  I love these people.

Hair whippin' good time.

Nowhere to go but up.  I'm going.  And I hope everything will just keep getting better.  And stay there this time.  No more rock bottom for me, baby, no way.  And the dance parties?  And being a gypsy?  Those are sides of myself I'd like to see a little more often.  

The "in my pants" rule and Christmas

So we left all this snow in West Virginia and traveled south...

The roads were less than desirable until we got out of WV, but they were clear by Roanoke and we had smooth sailings from there.  Lots of family time has commenced since arrival.  Eleven of us.  Three grandparents, four parents, four cousins, and three dogs (and a partridge in a pear tree).  So many people in one house for this holiday made it all the more special, though overwhelming at times.  Decorations are my favorite part about Christmas (second to the music!).

Christmas Eve started slowly for the cousins.  We stayed out till 4:30a the night before drinking and being merry.  So for us, the day began with burgers and brauts, Wii gaming, and lots of visiting with family.

Christmas Eve traditions consist of church service followed by, you'd never guess, DRINKING GAMES.  Yeah, my family is weird like that.  So my aunt and uncle and mom and I (dad headed for bed) along with my brother, cousins, and two of their friends gathered around the kitchen table for a rousing game of Circle of Death.  The most entertaining part of the game were definitely the rules that were created.  The first was an easy one so my mom, aunt, and uncle could get the hang of things: Only drink with your right hand.  The second made things a lot more interesting: You must end all sentences with "in my pants".  Promptly after the creation of this rule my mother says, "Are you going to play - in my pants?"  Hilarity ensued.

Christmas morning started late, but we ended up having a great day.  And, the most surprising thing of all, SNOW!  The area's first white Christmas in half a century. (The below pictures do no justice, they were taken around ten when it started sticking, now there is about 6 inches and it looks more like the picture at the beginning of this post minus the icicles!).  Expected to have up to 10 inches by morning!  Which is awesome, but also tough because we are slated to drive back in the morning...  It started around 4 am this morning and has been going ever since.  Real heavy snowman-making snow.  We went on a hike in it and Kenai disappeared for a half hour.  Despite everyone yelling and whistling he wouldn't come.  I was a WRECK after 15 to 20 minutes when I thought he wouldn't be coming back.  But, he did.  Thank goodness!

Kenai about to open his present

After he'd ripped the paper off, a DUCK!

Will perusing the scrapbook of all the productions he's been a part of.
If you look closely you can see him with Michelle Obama on this page!

Ben painted a tiger for Nana and Papa

And a hummingbird for his grandma

Other than my pup coming back and not being lost, my favorite gift was definitely my iTouch.  I've never had an iPod, I'm thrilled to finally have all my music all the time.  And the facetime feature is great!  We finished the day the proper way by stuffing ourselves with a phenomenally large dinner of awesomeness and lay around the house reading and watching movies.

 So from our family to yours, Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!