Just add water...

And the people in the metro area forget about brakes, stop signs, turn signals, and traffic lights. But the good news is everyone was okay! I was rear-ended pretty hard on the way to work today about three miles from my house. It was quite a shock, I never even saw it coming, coins from my coin tray sprinkled all over me, my body is a little sore, my boots were covered in mud from talking to the police on the side of the road… what excitement!! The Camry doesn’t look so pretty, but nothing that my friends at the body shop can’t fix. Now I just have to remember to be careful in Mom’s driveway when I get it back!

Rocks, Foundue, and Octupi

Last Saturday, I spent a couple of hours at an indoor rock climbing facility. It was challenging – my arms definitely are not that strong – but a lot of fun. It was nice to do something a bit out of the ordinary, and I got a chance to meet more people. I joined an outdoor group that does a lot of activities in and around the city. I signed up for caving in a couple of weeks, so that is next!

Later in the weekend, I visited with mom’s visitor, see the pics on her page for all the good food we ate. In honor of JT, we had a choo-choo train at the sushi restaurant and then fondue at my house. Moxie enjoyed having people over just as much as me – and she was pretty well-behaved, too.

It is raining and cold here, so tonight Moxie and I had to forgo our walk and we played our favorite game: fetch with the orange rubber octopus! She seems pretty tired, but so am I!!

Disco Fever

So Saturday night I attended a charity function for C-ville Service League. The annual disco ball was quite a draw for some very interesting people. We had a blast and maybe even tried to dance the hustle!

Our costumes fit in very well with the rest of the crowd. Several people asked where I found my dress and I was proudly able to say it was an original!! Thanks Mom!

The go -go boots were a must - and actually pretty comfortable - although I did get some funny looks at the gas station on the way home!

I also made some new friends at the party!

It was fun to dress up and step out of my comfort zone and try something new. I wish the crowd had been slightly younger because I was looking to meet new people. Overall though, I have to say I am glad I was talked into going - we got to dance, eat some good food, act silly, and raise money for a good cause! Now what's next??

Indecision

e·quiv·o·cal - /ɪˈkwɪv ə kəl/ - adjective
-of uncertain significance; not determined

That about sums up my thought process right now. So the big decision is this: to moxie or not to moxie. Seems the hyperactive little fur-person somehow broke her tie-out, jumped out of a 6-foot privacy fence and then into another 6-foot fence to visit the neighbor’s dog (who by the way was recovering from surgery and not looking for a play partner). So I now face a decision I was putting off as long as possible.

For the past year and a half, little moxie has been staying in “foster care” with an extremely generous friend while I finished school. Unfortunately, that time has come to an end due her latest escapade and the caregiver’s increasingly dwindling time. I have at most three options in my mind:

1. Finding a home for her myself. This means screening applicants and maybe giving her to someone who would love her as much as I do. However, this also means she may go to someone who cannot handle her unbridled energy and she could end up in the dreaded shelter. This idea also includes a lot of effort and internet searching to find the perfect family. But on the upside, she may find the perfect home and I could hopefully get updates and pictures from time to time.

2. Adoption society for boxers. With this option there is no doubt that she ends up in a home with a family that understands the needs of such a high energy breed, BUT (and this is a big but) I sign away all rights and never know where she is or how she is doing in her new home.

3. Bringing her home! Right now seems like horrible timing because I want to do all these new things and try to find my place after graduation. Plus my house is on the market, which is a very slow and competitive market. I have put my best friend (who happens to be my real estate agent) on a fact finding expedition. She is going to talk to a seasoned real estate veteran to find out what my options are with a dog in the house with people looking and visiting my property. So that is in the works. Then there is the task of finding ways to help train Moxie and to expel her excess energy when I get home from work. Plus the many questions that surround the balance of my life outside my home and spending more time here in the middle of nowhere. I do not have friends that live in this direction and I am an hour from work, so having a dog here means less time with others and less time at the gym that I just joined – BUT I did it before and things weren’t all bad. Plus I keep thinking: who gives up on their children? Why can’t I sacrifice some of the things I want to do in order to keep my baby? I know she isn’t a person, but she is my fur-person and that means just as much. The other part to this is that I can try. Then if after a month or two, I realize that adoption is the better choice, I can still do that. And then I don’t ever have to look back and think, why did I not even try?! The other way around (chosing adoption right away), I never have a second chance.

So these are the options and I am running out of time to decide, but I don’t want to give up on such a loving animal. She is MY Moxie after all. But maybe what is best for her isn’t being with me either. HELP – I need some weigh-ins on this one. I know that ultimately it is my life and my decision, but any advice or thoughts on the matter may help swing the pendulum in one direction or the other.

A brief recap

It really does snow here! Although it didn't last long, I took a picture as proof -a little dark, but I had to take the picture while I had the chance.

The snow was pretty, but I really hate cold weather! I cannot wait until it is ninety degrees again.

I also received a package. They always say that good things come in little packages, but I guess the phone company never heard that saying. (The battery on the right came in the box on the left)

I also saw little S. last weekend. I stayed with my best friend and her family Saturday night. We had a good dinner out, but unfortunately S. also caught the bug going around and she was a little under the weather.

And last but not least, I celebrated JR's birthday last night - Hibachi and a movie. I think after twenty-seven years, the celebrations are not quite as big, but I think everyone had a good time! I thought we were taking a serious picture but I should have known better. In the time I have known JR, I think I only have a few non-goofy pictures. But at least we can remember the fun we had!

Resolution

Resolution: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions. Everyone states the same obvious goals and most fall short of the finish line. This year, however, I decided to make one resolution – to start living, really living. Some days I feel as if I am drifting through my life. Not that I am not grateful for what I have, after all, I realize I have more than a lot of people ever will. I just feel that life is passing by more quickly than I can grasp it, feel it, experience it. I have a good job, great friends, a loving family, a nice house, a nice car, but I am missing something.

Passion! So whether it is a new place to live, a trip to someplace new, a new job, more school, or something I haven’t even thought of yet – I think this year needs to be the year I find something I am passionate about and live!!

So maybe I will go to the gym more, eat better, clean more often, not get upset at the small things, pay off debt, or any one of the many things we all mean to do, but hopefully I will see more and experience life and all it has to offer.

What will you do?

2008 is here!

The trip to grandma's was fun. It was good to see the entire family at once (well minus one uncle). I still can't believe how old the grandkids are getting! We even took the obligatory stairstep picture.

My flight home was late and I seemed to catch Aunt J's sickness, but I am feeling much better. New Year's was full of friends and game playing here at my house. I watched the dawgs play in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day and then back to work!