All the places we'll go...
In a week and a half, we are leaving on our vacation. I CANNOT WAIT.
The first destination is Copehagen, Denmark (3 days).
Then, we are off to Stockholm, Sweden (3 days).
Followed by Oslo, Norway (2 days).
Then to Flam, via Myrdal and the famous Flam railway (1.5 days).
Finally, ending in Bergen, Norway where we'll get to cruise the fjords (2 days).
Hopefully, I will have even better pictures to share once we return. We leave on Monday, April 30th. During our 11 hour layover in Chicago, we'll actually get to leave the airport and go hang out with my family for a home cooked meal - WOO HO0!
We return home on Saturday, May 12th and get one night to sleep without the dogs around. That Monday, I start my internship and we start seriously packing up our place to move. yay.
This vacation is MUCH needed. While things have occurred since we made the decision to go that would have probably led us to NOT book this trip, I am VERY happy that we did and are going.
Goodbye to an old friend
This is a sad month, as in mid-May, I will bid adieu to an old friend (pictured here). No, not Pancho, nor Sadie (who was particularly young nad cute in this photo, by the way).
No, it will be a farewell to The Poof. The Poof which I purchased in 1998, the fall of my sophmore year in college. For 9 years, the Poof has been a great chair, napping place, and more recently, dog bed. It has stopped running dogs from careening into the radiator or other furniture. It has provided a comfortable place to sit whilst watching movies in college. It was a soft landing for my many leaps from my ridiculously high bed at Hope. The Poof has never failed me.
But, all good things must one day end. The fluff is gone - it no longer stands two feet tall, but instead is a permanent pancake, taking up far too much space. It has begun to spill its contents, with the help of some big teeth (not mine...or LHPJ's). It is covered in hair and dust and stains from dog vomit, puppy accidents, and assorted beverages that have been spilled on it over the years.
It sort of smells funny too.
This will be the final home of The Poof. It will not make the trek with us to the new apartment. It will be left out on the curb for the garbage men (honestly, who would want it now??).
The dogs will get a new bed. We have moved beyond the college years of lounging in structurally free furniture. The time of The Poof is over.
Goodbye, fair Poof. You have served me well.
We got it!
We signed a lease tonight. Woo hoo!!
While the new place doesn't have a yard (which is a downside), it has wood floors, a built-in bookshelf, 2.5 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and the best part - - - it's in Squirrel Hill, which is a neighborhood we LOVE but thought we would never be able to afford. This place, for its location, is a steal.
And, it is plenty big for the dogs.
Oh, and it has a balcony, with a view of the Cathedral of Learning - - at least in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees.
So, we move in May.
Now, maybe I will sleep better. I just won't think about the fact that everything for the rest of my classes is due next week and I take the CRC exam in 2.5 weeks and haven't begun to study. yay!
BLARGH!
Good news - we think we found a place.
The catch - we have not yet spoken with the landlord; only the tenant.
Bad news - I seem to have lost the ability to stay asleep throughout the entire night. I have become well aquainted with the general sounds of my house between 4:30 and 7:30 am.
Other news - for the past week or so, Sadie has routinely been coming into our room at 7;30 and crawling into bed. She won't sleep there at night, but seems to think that my head is a good place to sleep in the morning. Good thing I'm short - I end up with my feet hanging off the bottom of the bed, with 75 pounds of squirmy hairball at my head. Still, this seems to be the point at which I am best able to fall back asleep on the rare mornings when I don't have to get up so early.
Hmm...LHPJ just got a call about the potential future apartment....must go.
In other news...
My favorite fish from the Seattle Aquarium - I love this fish.
In other news, this past Monday night our landlord informed us that he is selling this place and that he needs this apartment empty to do all the necessary work on it before selling it. SO...we're moving. Again.
BLARGH!!!
Friendly fish
This was taken at the Seattle Aquarium on our trip to Seattle in early March.
Sled Hockey
This was my attempt at sled hockey. I actually wasn't TOO bad about remaining upright. I just got brave and swung a little too hard at the puck. Honestly, it's REALLY easy to fall over - you just have to lean a little bit too far to one side or the other. At least I actually hit the puck...
Update
Well, I passed. I have some work to do and some changes to make on my thesis, but the hard part is over.
My Mom and Dusty visited this past weekend and it went well. I will post pictures sometime soon.
Now, I have to finish up the rest of the semester and study for the CRC exam.
Our trip to Scandinavia is officially booked - more details to follow.
I have to also get certified in CPR and get a complete physical this month - woo hoo! This is required for my internship, which begins a couple of days after I get back from Scandinavia.
I think I will post a photo or two now for you, as it has been too long.
