Ack.... it's been a month!

Can't believe it's been a month since I blogged and we are on our eighth month in Alaska!  We've been doing so much it seems so much longer.

Still alive, busy, and happy!

We are both on our second jobs.  We bought Stevie.  We had our first visitor last month and my Mom will be visiting in August.  We survived a winter and are gearing up for another winter.  Joe was told by someone at a store "winter is coming"!  We have actively been downsizing to get ready for future endeavors.   In August we will keep up the downsizing and in September we will be in full PURGE mode.  

We signed a lease for a studio place we found on AirB&B. We are going from a two bedroom apartment condo to one big living area with bathroom!  Oh, and there is NO T.V. in the studio. Are we crazy?!  Nah....our goal is to be living out of a van or truck camper and this will be a good transition step for us. Oh... the AirB&B is furnished so by 1 Oct all of our furniture will be sold/donated/or trashed!  We were able to meet are AirB&B "landlord" and see the property, or as he said do a "site visit".  The place is on his property and the studio is an addition to his house which is also small.  Nice yard and a fire pit that will come in handy in the winter months.  It's in an established neighborhood so it seemed quiet and chill.  We will be walking distance to some decent trails and closer to all the things to do and see in downtown.  No more visitors though LOL  If we get guest they are on their own for accommodations! 

Joe and I are still narrowing down are rig for traveling but we have a good direction. All the blogs/pics/and groups that are out there of people doing what we are planning on doing are awesome to learn from. 

Like I mentioned we had a visitor this last month.  My friend from Utah came up for a week long visit the beginning of July.  We were busy but not too busy :)  We checked out the Highland Games, I took her to Alyeska, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where we saw some bears, took in Seward, and relaxed!

Amanda and I

Highland games.... Love the shag!

Alaska!

Silly in Seward!

Unfortunately since my last post we have not taken Stevie out.  We hope to change that in August and take a little vacation out and show my Mom as much of Alaska while she is here.

Trusty Stevie

Headache and Self Care

Today is Tuesday and tomorrow I am taking a mental health day for which I am grateful for due to having a splitting headache for the better part of the day :(
Since the New Year we've been working and doing our thing.  We've had a few date nights enjoying the local area.  We've been busy but not terribly busy.  We enjoy the weekends that are never long enough but we do what we can!

A quick weekend away is scheduled for next weekend...a music festival with beer of course :P. It should be a good time to get away from here for a little staycation near by! 
Joe is enjoying his new job and adapting to the civilian way of work having to have had to hire and fire someone in about a couple of weeks of starting and is in the midst of hiring two more people.  Although I am working in a civilian function for the government there are tons of similarities between my work environment and being military.  Which adds to my work stress.

Work is full of typical work stressors along with the stressors that come with this type of work.  The balance of meeting the client where they are at but also aiding them in finding their motivation to move forward.  
The work of acknowledging that I will not always be the person that will help them forward and to be accepting of that.  I am human also and sometimes there is not that therapeutic connection that is needed for someone to be vulnerable to fully engage in therapy.  Some days it's a struggle to fully believe that and not beat myself up for not meeting my high expectations or expectations that I think others have for me.

My work is fulfilling, draining, amazing, and frustrating all in one day.  I get home and I'm mentally stressed and exhausted.  It's important for me to be tuned into my self and also make myself a priority...thus my mental health day tomorrow and my goal for taking at least one day a month off!
I'm so looking forward to unplugging tomorrow!

Loss of a pet

On 10 January Joe and I sent Sami on to the the Rainbow Bridge to wait for us.  Saturday I had to work and Joe texted me during the day about his concerns with her.  Sami had started to urinate without even realizing it and her depression seemed to just increase with each day.  She was still able to walk, although short distances, when we took her out but it was as if she was forcing herself for us.  Her spunk had left her and we decided it was time.

I called our vet on the way home but they were starting to close so we wouldn't be able to get there that day but they gave me another vet that could assist us. I got home and we decided to have one last night with Sami before sending her on her way.  

We had popcorn and wine that night....well we had wine and Sami had popcorn and she got tons of love and cuddles.  

Sunday morning we casually started our day and shared some boiled eggs with Sami, another of her favorites before I made the call to take her in.  We were blessed with a very nice vet who explained everything and was empathetic to our pain.  The process is peaceful and goes quickly and as hard as it was, I know it was for the best.

Afterwords we were in no hurry to get back to the apartment so we went to a local donut shop and had a treat before driving around looking at trucks.  We are adapting to her not being here, not having to rush home to take her out, or think about plans of when we leave and how long we've been gone. Tux is now getting more attention, and more exercise that he needs...Sami use to take over the red dot game and Tux was turning into a chubby kitty.  

There are always two sides to every experience, choice, situation and it's our job to gain understanding of these sides and embrace the pain and the joys.  I got a nice card from my coworkers, another from our vet, and flowers from a friend...all which touched my heart.  When we open ourselves up to people and animals we become vulnerable to truly experience life to the fullest, in all it's pain and glory. 

I am grateful that Sami was such an awesome presence in my life. She has been with me throughout breakups, severe depression, and has moved more times than some people that I know.  She was an amazing spirit.

We probably won't get another dog anytime soon due to our tendency to travel and take quick road trips.  Tux is a good traveler and low maintenance so he may become a traveling kitty ;)