The Summer Chronicles: Part 2

My lovely Summer has made some improvements since my last post. She is able to sleep outside of her kennel now; well technically she starts off in her kennel then works her way to a blanket next to my bed then by the time I awaken she is on the bed with me. I am mostly just glad that she does not have any accidents all night.
She has also become a pro at riding in the car with me. Our first few months were rough, with me trying several methods to keep the both of us safe while I was driving. My mother gave me an old car seat of her dog Foxy and it has worked. It took her a while to adjust to not being able to get in my lap but now she has no issues.

I have started working out at home again recently and this is still a confusing time for summer. She doesn't understand what I am doing or why she can't get in my lap or face during the floor work. See her pictures below; and don't let the puppy eyes fool you :)

Here she is helping me with my video for Youtube

Here she is helping me workout

My riding partner!

The major events of my life 2012

At the end of a year it is normal to hear others talk about how important the past year was.

This has never been more true for me, at least not that I can remember

Gainfully employed to broke college student

This past year I went from a full time state employee to a full time student with an internship, and part time work responsibilities. I struggled so hard with the decision to leave my full time employment, trying to convince myself that I could do what others could not. Work full time while completing internship hours of 32 hours weekly. I was worried about my bills and lack of health insurance. I am so enjoying being in school without feeling torn toward work and vice versa. I am also enjoying getting into other fields and out of my former comfort zone. I have found that I really enjoy my part time work, I am able to help the same population as I previously worked with, but in a short term low stress way. Luckily the Lord has seen fit to provide for me during this time and finances have not been a problem.

Single to Happily off the market

I also went from being single and unhappy about it, single and adjusting to it, and finally unsingle and weirded out by it. I had been single for 5 years and had just been thinking that even though I thought I wanted to be in a committed relationship, I may not be able to transition for an independent single woman to a woman that did release some control within a relationship. So when I suddenly became unsingle I was totally unprepared. I could not get over the "weirdness" of going away for a week single and coming back in a relationship. I think now it is no longer as weird and I am allowing myself to feel excited, though for me with that automatically comes the whole "well what does this mean?" I am fighting this evil question away daily now.

Dancer to disillusioned dance teacher



Just a few months ago I was still dancing and teaching at the studio I had been with for the past 5 years. When I left my full time employment I was no longer able to afford the expense of continuing to take dance classes. Around this time I was also offered a position teaching at another studio with more class opportunities. I left the other studio to accept this position. At first I was bursting with excitement for this opportunity and then I started to feel the first signs of regret. I had neglected to factor in how much I would miss the familiar and those that I had left. I then ran into issues with students not wanting to learn, which was something I experienced at the previous location as well. As I started to feel that I had made the wrong decision or no longer wanted to teach, I realized that the majority of my issues with the move were centered around the fact that I missed dancing myself. Being a dancer is my passion, teaching for me is fun but without the passion I felt ruled by the emotions of the students I taught.

Pet parent of one- Pet parent of two - Pet parent of one

I started out this year the proud, pet parent of a bird named Daizy. For years I had wanted to bring a dog into my home. I even had a dog for about a week five years ago, that needed more than I could give. As I was leaving my full time employment I felt that I would have more time for a dog. For about a month I did some visits with a puppy because I know that a puppy can seem cute for a short period of time and move in and change. On my birthday I brought her into my home and had two wonderful pets. As I adjusted to my new doggie, I noticed that my bird was not quite herself. Though she really hadn't been since my move into a new apartment. She seemed to be bouncing back when out of nowhere she died. I am again a one pet home. My dog Summer continues to make herself at home and improve. I have learned from her to be more flexible and loving. Though I still miss my Daizy bird.

The Soundtrack of my life 2012

 

Its common place to see a list of the best songs for a year at its end

For me these songs got me through this past year

Not all of them were released in 2012, but that doesn't lessen their importance to me in the past year.

 

1. Beyonce: Countdown, End of Time, Love on Top, and Dance for you
2. Adele: One and Only, Love Song, Right as Rain, Cold Shoulder
3. Big Sean: Dance
4. Nicki Minaj: Roman Holiday, Roman in Moscow, Stupid H**
5. Pitbull, Sean Paul, and T-Pain: Shake Senora
6. Joelle James: Fading Away
7. Shakira feat Pitbull: Rabiosa
8. Tamia: Lose My Mind
9. The Weeknd: Wicked Games
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
11. Kimbra: Cameo Lover
12. Karmin: Hello (Laidback Luke Radio Edit)
13. John Legend: Tonight
14. Gotye: Somebody That I Used to Know
15. Frank Ocean: Thinkin' Bout You, Pink Matter, Pyramids, Bad Religion
16. Elle Varner: Sound Proof Room, So Fly
17. The Dream: Dope Chick
18. Nelly Furtado: Big Hoops

These are not in order of what I would consider the best songs necessarily, just in the order my brain works. If you haven't heard of some of these please check the out. 

The Summer Chronicles: Part 1

So my Summer is a rambunctious, active dog usually. She is often skittish with new people so I was fairly worried when she was supposed to meet my new boyfriend. When she simply smelled him and then went on as if she had known him a while I took it as a good sign. .When I left her alone with him I was still a little worried, when I arrived to find her asleep I thought all was well. That is until I saw the vomit on the floor next to her. .The rest of the night continued like this with her sleeping and waking up to  vomit. And the same the following day, so I decided to take her to the vet. He scared me a little with the possible X-ray and surgery thing. So when in two days she seemed to be her old self I was excited.
The new problem now? The doctor told me to give her chicken the first day after the visit and now she won't eat her own food. ugh So she has been starving herself holding out for something better. This on top of the four days she was unable to keep any food down. So I have resorted to mixing her  dry food with some wet, and so far so good. But when it is finished we will just start our food stand off.
The other issue with my Summer Love is... since my week long cruise, she refuses to sleep in her kennel. She wants  to sleep in my room preferably on my bed, though she will accept a place  next to my bed. If I insist she sleep in her kennel she will whine all night, and that is no exaggeration.... ugh I am going to try making her sleep in her kennel for at least a week and hope that she remembers this was the way it had been with no issue for 3 months.
It must be love because if anything else prevented me from sleeping it would have to go.
She has also been attached to my hip even more than usual since I returned, though I can understand why it is ever so slightly annoying :)

So cute when she sleeps, which is most of the day

A funny thing happened.....

On my way back home from Mexico

So I went on my cruise to have fun and unwind from the daily grind of work (internship), school, dance, and being a new pet parent. I thought at most there would be clubbing, drinking, and mild flirting. I sit here almost a week later with in a romantic relationship. So I guess my contribution to the ideas on single life will be muted for the time being. 

Of all the things I thought possible, this was not really one of them. So glad that I am not on control :)

And I'm out

In just a few short days I will again be aboard a Carnival cruise ship on my way to Mexico. Can you say exciting? This trip I am looking forward to relaxing, the last trip was more a work/vacation. My previous dance studio performed and took classes aboard the ship and all of the activities were planned for me without input. So this time I am going with my best friend who is of similar interest and I cannot wait.
I will have to be unplugged, though I know I can do this because I did it before I am unsure of how. I mean my Sims are going to die (the drama). And who will know what I am doing on Facebook? But how important will I feel when I open my inbox on the 9th to find hundreds of emails just for me? :)
I am planning to read, lounge, attend activities, shop and journal. Here at home it is too easy to watch TV, browse the net, talk on the phone, or blog instead of really talking to myself. I often have epiphanies while blogging but they are not as deep as when I simply write my feelings with no regard for other's interpretation. Though I will not be having a true traveling the world moment, I am going for an Eat, Pray, Love type of experience. So wish me luck, anchors up!

Sunny side of single

So often I find myself thinking about the things

I don't like about being single...

I forget at times that there are things I enjoy

or areas in which I have grown as a single woman.

So of course the obvious is that I can come and go as I please..

Not that I go anywhere often but I have become so used to not factoring in another person it really is nice. I can have a random change of plans and the only one upset is me.

I also see that I have grown to be much more independent, I think as an only child and having the other history I do I was always independent. This has only been strengthened by really only doing things on my own. With this romantic love drought (so dramatic I know) I have really come to know myself. I can understand the things I do and what drives them so much better that I used to be able to. I also have a much better idea of who I want in my life and who I don't. Which means I am usually able to weed guys out before dating them, much to my dismay. Sometimes I will feel the need to go back only because I want to have dates. But though this keeps my social calendar empty, it protects me from harmful guys. Which means I have more time for my friends, when they have time for me (hint, hint).

 

It is so easy for people to see there being two options for singles: chronic daters and the sad/ lonely lot. I know that at times I focus on the lonely aspect of being single, but I like to think of myself as a singleton who is happy with me. Who else is there that knows me this well and can entertain me so efficiently? I mean when was the last time you hurt your own feelings or didn't talk to yourself? :)