"Friendsick"

Ok, I am not home sick per se...but god I miss my peeps. I have had dinner with Todd every night since we arrived, sans 3 days last week when I went to Cherbourg. Sure I love eating with my husband, but I miss the interesting conversation with our friends. I just want to call up a friend and have them come over for dinner and wine. I miss that...a lot. I also miss my morning walks at the dog park with Ruth, Purita, and Amy. Even having to deal with Bernie's crazy mom wouldn't be too bad. I know what you are saying: "Oh, Katia you will meet lots of new friends!" Of course I will, I am Katia...duh! However, I still miss my peeps. Missing my friends will be something long term and I don't see any reprieve in sight. I miss everyone including their dogs. Uh...I am hopeless.

Capoodle

So we have decided that we are tired of golden retrievers and we want a poodle. However, being that we have spent...oooh now a couple grand on this dog we have to make due with what we have. So after a shave, VOILA instant poodle! Or sheep...whatever she looks like.

Actually, just kidding. She got the haircut from hell and instead of the groomer (actually not a groomer I have learned) using shears to trim a golden (as you would normally due) he just put the clippers on 1 and shaved away. By the time I realized what was going on, it was to late. So now she looks like the story book character where you take the head of one animal and attach it to various other animal body parts and see what you create. She has the head of a golden and at any time the body of a lioness, a bear, sheep, poodle, or even a lab. You choose! God I hope it grows back quickly and thank GOD she doesn't realize what happened to her. First quarantine and now a bad haircut! Will she ever forgive us? BUT she does seem a lot cooler and happier, so that is one positive thing.

GOTCHA!

We got her! Here are some pics from our journey home from Sydney. We stopped at Warattog State Park on Friday night and Crescent Beach on Saturday. We had the time of our lives. The scenery was gorgeous and the weather was top notch, 82 no clouds and lots of sun. You could not ask for a better weekend. I finally feel complete and content. I am finally in Oz, I got my boy, my dog, my friends, a great program, and a great place to live. Life is good and for the first time in a long while I am the happiest I have been in years, not to mention that weird feeling called contentment. I wish I could bottle this feeling and save it for a rainy day...wouldn't that be a money maker?


Quarantine-Sydney


Crescent Beach, New South Wales

Road Trip

I have been wishing away this week. God will it ever end? All I want to do is get on the plane, collect my dog, and head north along the coast until I find a beach I like. Geeezzzz, is that so hard?

We spent most of today packing our camping stuff and being bums. I had class yesterday, so I have nothing pressing to read for next week. I can't really start working hard on my job until I meet with the outgoing coordinator. So I have nothing to do. It is really taxing on my brain to have nothing to do. I don't do it well. Sucks for me. However, I am resting up for pizza night tonight. Supposedly, this Arab guy down the road makes the bomb ass pizza.

Here is a picture of Cappy in her sleeping bag which strangely looks like my mom's...hmmm. I don't think she will need one this week. It is going to be in the 80's with lots of sun!

Finding a house: CHECK

Our househunting is officially over. We have a place on Lennon St. It was meant to be! Todd's favorite artist is John Lennon, so we figured it was a good sign. We put in an app on Saturday and they called us today to say "Congrats, it's yours". THANK GOD! We move in mid-April. We have a big backyard, fully fenced for Capper's, a huge granite counter kitchen, and 3 bedrooms. We are set! I have a short bus ride to school/work and the added bonus is that we are next to the largest dog park in Brisbane. The park is next to a creek so the dogs can swim and I am told it goes on for miles. Ahhhh, home sweet home!

The count down for Cappy is on. She had her clearance check from the quarantine vet and they will move her to the "out-going" housing wing. It is away from the new arrivals to make sure she doesn't pick anything up before she is released. I am glad this is all coming to an end. It is affecting me a lot more than I thought, and I don't like it one bit. I am consumed by it.

Oh, check out the National Zoo's update on Tai-Shan. He is so big! I love him!