An Update...on Baylee

After many requests (by my mother), I am finally taking the time to update this blog. Did she want to see what I have been up to? No. She did, however, want to know how her baby, Baylee, was doing. Well mom, here you are:

Baylee has had a very busy summer. Her favorite activities have included playing with Chloe, going to the lake, and taking walks in the city. She has also amassed quite a wardrobe for a puppy of her size. As you can see above, she is prepared for the winter in her new green ski-jacket, Ugg boots, and matching collar, harness, and leash (all in chocolate brown with green polka-dots).

Notice the dark stains on her eyes? Those are a thing of the past. Late this summer we started her on a food additive that has made her eyes clear and bright. Need an example, check this out:

This is another of Baylee's favorite sweaters. She likes the blue ruffles...

This is a very sleepy Baylee in her Christmas outfit. In honor of mom's new favorite Christmas classic, Elf, Baylee will be sporting an elf hat and collar this year. I tried to wake her up for this photoshoot, but she has had a big weekend, and I couldn't get her to sit up :-)

This big weekend has consisted of multiple trips to her new home, and a trip to the groomer. Her new home, you ask? Nate, Baylee and I are moving into a house in St. Paul. It was one of the rentals that came available at the right time, and now Baylee will have a house to run, and a yard of her own. Here she is sitting on a blanket in the dining room (sorry the picture isn't the best quality).

We will be busy moving this week and next Saturday. Wish us luck!

Still here!

Hello all! It is WAY past time for an update...
I've been working! I am an Account Executive for Dominion Enterprises...an advertising and marketing company. I work specifically for property management companies looking to advertise their apartment projects, so I at least get to use my real estate vocabulary on a daily basis. I was offered another job yesterday by a client, but they couldn't touch what I'm making now...boy, that is nice to say.
It is true, I can't say right now that I am overworked and underpaid. I work just over 40 hours a week, make decent money, and have the ability to leave work at work...most days. It is a welcomed change of pace. My boss is fun, my coworkers are nice, and I am much more happy than I was. Thank goodness!
Nate and I are currently mourning the loss of summer. We have taken our last trip to the lake, marching band has started (which keeps him busy on Saturdays), and we wake up to a chill every morning. I miss it already.
I have taken a ton of pictures and videos over the last few months. Maybe I'll get them posted one of these days...but if not, know I've had a great summer and look forward to fall :-)

So here is a strange one:

When I was in college, I had a recurring dream that I was killed by a car hitting me as I was walking. Don't ask me how I knew, but I knew I was 22 years old in my dream, and I had this strange feeling that I was going to die sometime before my 23rd birthday.

Thank goodness I survived!

Then this weekend, while at the lake I had a crazy dream. I don't dream often (at least, I don't remember my dreams often) so this was particularly noteworthy. Here is how it went:

I was at the beach. Nate was there and some of our friends were there. I was wading in the water and everything was calm and beautiful. This was the majority of the dream, then all of a sudden I felt a strong undertow that pulled the water away from my feet. I turned around to see a humongous wave looming that shadowed my body. I'm talking a tsunami wave. It was instantly clear to me that I was going to die and my only reaction was to think to myself, "Thank you God, for everything," and then I went to inhale deeply (what would have been a lung-full of water) before I woke up.

It was weird because I remember being so calm...strange. Anyway, I decided I had to do a little Google research to see if I could decipher what this all meant. Here is what I found:

First, I thought I'd tackle the whole "death" thing, since that theme seems to haunt the few dreams I have. According to the online source, A Dummies Guide to Dreams, a dream about death, "...often symbolizes changes in life. Changing jobs, getting a divorce, moving to another city, all represent the death of old habits and way of life [the death and resurrection motif]. With every death there is a new birth; the new job, new home, new relationships. Treat death in a dream as getting rid of negative emotions and replacing them with positive ones." Whew! What a relief. Although the page briefly mentioned that dreams could potentially predict the future, it is highly unlikely that a big group of us will ever take a group vacation to an ocean capable of creating such a wave. It did, however, touch on a few of my life's, "current events," that made a lot of sense. I am going through a lot of changes in my life that have changed a lot of negatives to positives.

Second, the water played another critical role in the dream. On this subject, another online source, Self Healing Expressions, note that, " The size of the body of water denotes the amount of emotion that may be surfacing within you...an ocean may indicate your deepest feelings, serenity and emotional strength and force." For what it's worth, part of me feels more "at peace" than I have ever felt before. In my personal life, I feel both secure and incredibly happy. I don't question motives or second guess actions. Serene is a great word to describe it. On the other hand, the change in employment (or lack thereof) is incredibly discouraging. Still, a big change on that front may be in order as soon as the end of this week. All of my emotions are on some extreme end of the spectrum right now. Also, the beautiful, clean ocean was also symbolic: "Bodies of clear water imply that your emotions, intentions and purpose are aligned and clear. It also suggests spiritual purity and understanding." I think this is affirmed by my feeling of calm and acceptance of my impending death. All very interesting.

What did I get out of this research process? First, it satisfied my academic itch :-) I still love research and am a hopeless nerd. Second, it is interesting that my findings were so accurate with what is happening in my life. Hopefully my newfound clarity will continue to lead me into the right direction...and if this all this dream deciphering is a load of crap? Oh well. I still feel good about being right here, right now.

4th of July Weekend

Nate and I were fortunate to have 4th of July plans with his family at their lake place this year. The following is a brief photo and video account of our incredibly relaxing weekend.



Here is Nate after not shaving for three days. He thinks he looks rugged and manly :-) We spent most of Saturday afternoon on the Mullens' boat getting tan...



...or in my case, burnt. You can't tell here, but by Saturday evening, my legs were bright red. Oh well, I was having too much fun.





Meet Clara, Chris and Shelly's new addition. She is 6-weeks old now and the cutest thing you have ever seen. She spent most of the weekend in Grandma's arms, which gave Shelly a well deserved break.

The weekend, however, was really all about the dogs. Baylee and Chloe have become great friends and are very entertaining. They spent the weekend chasing each other and wrestling as can be seen here:

Baylee, our usually lazy pup, was active all week, with the exception of this moment. Nate was preparing for a little nap, and Baylee couldn't fight the urge to relax too.



And whatever Baylee does, Chloe must also do. Within a minute, Chloe also found a spot on Nate where they all shared their nap.

Baylee has been sleeping since we got home. Poor little thing is still recovering. I think I may still be recovering too...still feeling lazy. Still, I need to focus. It sounds like I may have my fourth (and hopefully final?) interview for this job late this week. Cross your fingers and say a little prayer! I need all the help I can get!

Sweet home, Minnesota

I've been away forever. I wish I had the energy to explain all the reasons why I have been missing, but I find it easier to just bullet point some highlights and move on so I can come back as a regular poster without the daunting "update post" hanging over my head.

• The big one first: Mom was in a car accident. I got the call on a
  Monday morning, hit the road for the Hoosier state, and found
  my way back to Minneapolis a full four-weeks later.
• In that time, I moved Mom to North Carolina. Long story - for another day.
• My cousin graduated from high school...and even before that my sister graduated from college. I don't think it was mentioned on here, but is incredibly noteworthy.
• I am in the running for a "good job." Still, the better the job, the longer the hiring process is. Yuck.
• I have been trying to get up to speed with people here. A lot
  happened in that month that I needed to catch up to. I am just
  about there now that I am in the middle of my second weekend back.

Enough of that. Now back to the, "here and now." I made a fresh pesto today with the basil from my "garden." By "garden" I mean the large flower pot filled with herbs on my balcony. It smells like Heaven and I am really excited to mix it with some pasta for dinner this evening. Take a look, and try not to drool.

I also have to brag about the garlic-chili roast turkey breast that I made earlier this week. It was so delicious that I haven't minded eating the leftovers basically by myself (which are still moist and perfect).

That's it for now. It is about time for dinner, and my mouth is watering!

Guess who's back?

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I've caught up on here! I guess I have been busy enjoying my new Minnesotan life. I have also kept busy making a little money. First that report:

I traveled to Nebraska with my mom to work the world's largest farm auction. Western Nebraska is not my definition of a great tourist stop, and I would not recommend it. Highlights included people with few-to-no teeth, bored and on ill-advised sexual escapades, rancid cow feed lots, and miles and miles of farm-equipment graveyards. However, if you smile at the thought of feeling dusty grit in your mouth every time you bite down, Nebraska may be just the place for you! There is nothing like the feeling of grit between your molars...I could write a book about this trip and will save more details for my best seller.

Speaking of molars (and completely off topic), MSN News published a list of cities with the best and worst oral hygiene. Western Nebraska was not on the bottom ten, but I'm guessing it is because it houses NO CITIES...or real civilization for that matter. ANYWAY, St. Paul and Minneapolis BOTH made the top 10 list, and I am proud to flash my pearly-whites in a metro teeming with full jaws of healthy teeth. Ft. Wayne made the top ten list for use of most Fluoride in the water, but Indiana cities made no appearances in the top ten overall lists. Sorry guys.

Back on topic: I have also taken on additional contract work as a Mystery Shopper. Is this a high-paying job...no. Is this a career...no. It is, however, a great way to entertain myself and allow me to earn a few dollars now and then. Yesterday I was shopping for jewelry, which is a LOT of fun. I spent my day draped in diamonds...what did you do? :-)

In other Dani-related news, I am (accidentally) a red head! Accidentally, you ask? Here's the story. Nate had a $20-off coupon at an Aveda salon, so I thought I'd spring for a professional hair color. I have been eying a short hair style lately, and decided I wanted a little darker blonde. That way, if I cut my hair short, I would still look like I had hair (instead of being all one color...my pale skin and blonde hair were dangerously close to monochromatic). Anyway, upon expressing my desire to go darker with the stylist, she asked, "Have you ever considered red?" I said NO quickly...I like being blonde...you can get away with so much more. She then suggested strawberry blonde which would, "Warm up my cool skin and bring out my eyes." I figured that couldn't be TOO bad, so I agreed to it and off she went. An hour later, she turned the chair around and to my surprise...I HAD RED HAIR.

The quality of this picture does not quite do the color justice. In the stylist's defense, in normal lighting the color does warm up my face, and my eyes look REALLY blue, but it just isn't me. I am not meant to have red hair. I'm trying to wait it out to see if it grows on me. I'm thinking about cutting it first, then having blonde highlights added if I'm still unhappy. Either way, I think the red will disappear on my next color. For my cut, I have fallen in love with an actress' hair style and want to try it. I'm not sure how it will look on me since I don't have the petite and cute features this girl has, but I'm going to ask Ann (who will cut my hair tonight) her opinion. For reference, here is the "longer" version of the cut, and here is the "shorter." Please ignore the fact that she is showing booty on the second photo...it was for Allure magazine...not Playboy :-) Funny how a women's magazine can print that and it is about being "comfortable in your own skin," and, "empowering." If she were in a men's magazine, she'd be trashy. Ahh, nothing like a little double standard.

Nate and I just rented out another property. Yep, that means that last weekend was spent cleaning and painting (my two favorite things to do). I signed the lease with the new tenants yesterday and think they will take better care of the place. I can't wait to sell these things... HURRY UP STUPID REAL ESTATE MARKET!

And finally for today, I should report that we are all happy and healthy here in the Minnie. Nate is doing very well and recently found out that he will be getting a promotion on June 1. It is well deserved, and Baylee and I are proud of him :-)

Stay tuned, more to come!

Traveling

After a quick trip to the Carolinas I headed to Vegas for an auction. I just got home, but tomorrow I leave for Nebraska for yet another money-making experience. Money is good. Being away from home is not...that's right, home. This really does feel like home, and I couldn't be more excited about it. We have a great little routine here. I make dinner, Nate does the dishes, Baylee cleans any dropped food off the floor.

In other news, my iPod was declared dead by the genius at the Apple store's Genius Bar. Lucky for me my mom gave me my birthday present early: an iPod nano. While it doesn't hold as much as my previous model, it is compatible with the Nike+ system. For those not familiar, it is a "training" system for runners (for a neat-o video, click here). I have had my eyes on this system for a while, but it would have meant buying a new iPod, shoes, the transmitter, AND the arm band. OY. Since Mom provided the iPod, I just needed the three remaining items. The transmitter itself was only $30. I found the arm band on sale...the only piece remaining was the shoes that accept the Nike+ transmitter. This leads me to my next subject:

I set out to find Nike+ shoes on sale. Not an easy task. All major retailer's prices started at $90. I decided to search at T J Maxx and Marshall's stores. As I was searching for locations, I discovered that there was a Marshall's in the Mall of America. YAY! While rummaging through the "stuff" at that Marshall's, someone asked an associate where the Nordstrom Rack was. That's right kids, the Mall of America not only has all your over-priced retail favorites, but also has my favorite discount stores! I practically skipped to the Nordstrom Rack where I quickly found a pair of Nike+ shoes in my size, on sale. Seriously. I am quickly discovering that the Mall of America, even though it is a suburban tourist trap, might just be one of my favorite things about this place. You can get everything you want under one roof...on sale. DSW, Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack...great places to start before you go to another store and pay full price. Anyway, I am now the proud owner of the Nike+ system. The weather is also bearable for running, so I will soon look like a marathoner...just watch.

Well kids, it is time for me to finish folding laundry so I can head to WalMart for some pre-travel necessities. I hope everyone is as happy and well as I am :-)

Baylee is Happy

I don't think my mom is really concerned about my wellbeing. However, I know she is worried that her precious little puppy is in good hands. I am here to reassure her, and every Baylee fan out there, that our furry friend is quite happy in her new home.

First, Baylee has always loved the sunshine. Let me tell you: while it may be cold, the sun shines WAY MORE here. Dreary, cloudy days are limited, and Baylee really loves basking in the sunlight. In the morning Baylee can be found wherever the sun is hitting. If this means she has to lay on the floor, she does it. One morning she was laying on the hardwood floor so she could maximize her sun exposure. Being the good "dog mom" that I am, I moved her bed for her. Here is the result:
She also likes curling up (or sometimes stretching out) on the rugs we have. Here she is on the dining room rug enjoying another sunny Minnesota morning:Second, Baylee has a new best friend. Her name is Chloe, and she is a dachshund that happens to be just about her size. Chloe's mom and dad just happen to be Nate's parents, so they have a play date about once a week where (believe it or not) they play and chase each other around until they reach exhaustion. One of these days I'll have to get a video of their adventures...it is quite ADORABLE.

Finally, Baylee is in love...with Nate. When 5:00 rolls around she starts to stare at the door waiting for his arrival. When he finally arrives, she refuses to hold still until she is in his arms. Her favorite activity is cuddling with him. If you don't believe me, check this little nap on the couch out:
Please note the fact that her head is completely relaxed, her arm is swung over his, and she is giving me the, "How dare you interrupt this moment," look. Pathetic. Then I think she felt a little embarrassed and decided to shield her face:Sad, isn't it? A four-pound poodle has stolen my boyfriend and there is nothing I can do about it. She is WAY more cute than I can ever hope to be.

In fun news, I will be visiting Ash and Mom next week for Mom's birthday! YAY! Any excuse to get the girls together is good enough for me. Nate will be out of town for his job anyway, so the timing was perfect, and I couldn't be more excited. We have also decided that the moment I leave town, I'll get about 20 calls for job interviews. If I hear, "You seem like a fit, we will call you when we are ready to interview," one more time, I might explode. I seem to be a candidate for about a million jobs, but no one is on the fast track to hire. Hopefully something will stick soon, as I have discovered being a housewife does not suit me at all (as if anyone doubted that), although I make a mean pork roast, fabulous cheese stuffed shells, and have discovered that onion soup mix can be used with ANYTHING in your refrigerator to make a good meal.

PS: I had to think of my Grandpa as I purchased horseradish to have with my pork. That is always how we had it with Grandma at their house.

I am a bargain hunter.

I have too much time on my hands, but I HAVE discovered a talent I didn't know I possessed. I am a SUPER bargain hunter. For example, I had to go grocery shopping. Instead of my usual, "grab the keys and just go to the store," I sat down at the computer, looked at the weekly specials online and discovered a buy one, get one sale. It was a GOOD ONE! Most meat was BOGO, so I stocked the freezer with chicken, beef, pork, and bacon. Pasta and sauce was also BOGO. I ended up spending $81, but I saved more than $47! Yeah, I'm pretty awesome.

Example number two: Nate needed more dress shirts and ties. Since I'm convinced I could be a stylist to the stars anyway, I did my research and headed out alone to shop for Nate so I could surprise him with my findings. I knew he liked the fit of Express dress shirts, so I saw they were having their, "buy one, pay $50 each; buy two, pay $40 each; buy three, pay $30 each," sale. Clearly, buying three was the better bargain. However, I also used a "$30 off your purchase of more than $75," coupon, so I paid only $20 per shirt. That is a savings of 60% off the regular price. Express has decent shirt deals, but they get you on their ties. They are $40 each at the regular price and are rarely on sale. Boo. Either way, after a little further research I found a GREAT sale at Macy's on BCBG ties. They are equally as stylish and come in the same great colors. Needless to say, Nate got three new ties too. What makes me most proud is my ability to coordinate. The ties and shirts I picked up will mix with other things he already owns, so I have actually created about 12 new outfits from three shirt/tie combos.

The job search is heating up. I have come across a couple leads by accident. While calling random people from Craigslist in search of a washer and dryer for a rental I happened upon a landscape architect that requested a copy of my resume to forward to his developer friends. It's amazing who you come across when you talk too much :-) Nate's dad has also been a great help, matching me up with someone with great connections to the City of St. Paul. Another position I applied for will be calling for interviews in the next one-to-two weeks. I'm not sure it is my dream job (it's not, who's kidding whom), but it pays VERY well. Hopefully I'll get that call. At this point I'm ready just put money back INTO the bank account.

Nate and I have been fantastic, except for a recent bout of bad luck. Thanks in part to an irresponsible contractor we have had to purchase a new (used) washer and dryer (as referenced above) for an occupied rental unit. When we sent him over for installation he, "needed a part," and was going to go back to finish. Of course he didn't, and instead left with something leaking water into the basement. This meant we had a tenant that was rightfully upset, and a new problem in our laps. Nate is at work, so I called a plumber referred to us who couldn't get there until Monday or Tuesday. The referrals I got from him didn't answer. Frustrated, unsure how much water was accumulating in the basement, and knowing I needed a drain line snaked anyway, I just called Roto Rooter. I'm sure I'll regret it when I see the bill, but knowing there will be a capable person there within an hour is worth the premium.

In addition to this morning's debacle, last night Nate called me from Fridley, a northern suburb. His car was acting up and he had to arrange for a tow to the BMW dealer. Oy. This meant he needed a ride, and the roads were treacherous from the evening snow and freezing rain. Poor guy. The good news was that his insurance covers the tow. The bad news is that we are down to one car and I wasn't able to meet the Roto Rooter guy because I'm stuck here. Good thing Nate's job is flexible. He should be there now. In fact, I just sent him the following text message:

"Don't let him leave until the washer and dryer are functional."

If I'm paying the emergency service fee, that place better perfect when they leave. What a disaster...and learning process. Oh well, I'm off to make potato leek soup. Nate will be ready for some comfort food after such a stressful week.

I'M BACK!

At the request of my mother, I'm back to send the world a little update. I have been incredibly busy with my job search, spending hours each day submitting online applications for any position I feel I am remotely qualified for. I've found that searching for a job is a job in itself. On the bright side, the City of Minneapolis has sent me a letter of interest. I hope they call for an interview sooner rather than later, but I have reason to believe they are on the slow track to filling their mid-level planner position. Too bad, because it would be great money, excellent benefits, and regular hours. Ahhh, a cushy job sounds like HEAVEN right now.

Today I signed up for my Minneapolis bank account. That's right...it's a little more permanent now! I am now the proud customer of U.S. Bank, so finances will be much easier. It also means I can deposit Nate's checks and my own at the same time. Yay for convenience, and yay for money.

Speaking of Nate, I'm quite proud of him. He got back from his two week stint in New York late last Friday night and he has already shaken up the workplace by landing two sales and a ton of meetings. I'm proud of how well he is doing and hope his enthusiasm lasts because it is so contagious. Plus, it is so much fun watching him walk out the door dressed to the nines every morning.

Anyway, Lipstick Jungle is on, so it is time for me to sit down and drool over beautiful clothes I can't currently afford. More to come! Miss you!

Do you know?

Do you know what -14 degree temperatures feel like? What about adding in the "windchill factor" to get that -34 degree feeling?

I do.

As if to say, "Welcome to Minnesota," Mother Nature decided to blast my little dog and I with frigid temps. Baylee was NOT having it this morning, so our usual jaunt around the neighborhood turned into a quick squat in the snow beside the door. Don't worry. I had her bundled up and we very quickly returned back to the warm apartment.

A little about the warm apartment. For those worried about my survival, please note that the radiator heat here is HOT. We are on the top floor, so we get all the heat from the units below us. It is so warm that we have closed the valves on all the radiators but one...and that one is only partially opened. Still, I wear shorts around this place. It is kind of funny, particularly when the dog decides she has to go out and it takes me ten minutes to layer up. I am very much enjoying the long underwear (thank you Eric and Michelle), which go under the jeans and fleece jacket, which is topped by the down coat, hat, mittens, heavy socks, and tennis shoes. I haven't yet purchased boots, but figure when things go on sale in the Spring I'll pick some up.

That's all for now!

Holy Minnesota!

Hey all! I have FINALLY moved in and spent my first "real" full day. I say "real" because yesterday was a waste. You see, it took longer than expected to get out of the Hoosier state...here is a recap:

I was working on some pretty important grant application on my last few days at work. They kept me busy through my going away party...that's right, I was still finishing as the party wound down. Either way, that meant that my desk wasn't cleaned out, and my computer was still an organizational disaster (and had a picture of my dog as the wallpaper...had to change that). Ashley came to spend Friday night with me (YAY) and ended up going out with Bryan, Angie, Ian, and I for some dinner and a drink at MacNivens. That meant we didn't get back home until we were tired (well, at least I was tired), so we went to bed.

On Saturday morning we hit up Starbucks (thank you Donita for the gift card) and McDonalds (if you haven't had the McSkillet Burrito, you are missing out), and went to the office. Ashley patiently entertained the dog while I cleaned up my desk and computer before heading back home to pack the car. I could not have gotten it packed as efficiently as I did without my sister. Ashley - I owe you BIG TIME! It was a mess, but we got all of the essentials in the car...at about 3:30 pm. This meant I headed north to Auburn a lot later than I had planned, but what can you do? The stop in Auburn meant I got to see my dad and pick up my new licence plate. Dad and I chatted for a while before I started toward the Minnie.

The drive went very well. I did make a stop north of Madison to get a 20-minute cat nap, but otherwise was smooth. I finally arrived home at 4:30 Indy time (3:30 Minnie time) and woke poor Nate up to have him help pull all this crap up the three flights of stairs :-) It only took about a half hour, but we crashed immediately afterward (clearly).

I wish I could report that we slept in and had a much needed day of relaxation together...but that would be too good to be true. Instead, Baylee wanted to potty early in the morning (this required going outside, brrr), and Nate and I needed to wake up anyway because he had to be at the airport for an 11:50 flight to New York. That's right, his training took him to NY for two weeks. Although it is not ideal, it gives me time to unpack, figure out where to shop, and job search. Speaking of job search, I got a letter from the City of Minneapolis. I am in the candidate pool for their Planner position. Some of the pros of this position include regular hours, great benefits, decent pay, and access to the developer network. Could be great, so hopefully I get a call for an interview soon!

Anyway, Sunday was a lazy, wasted day. I did, however, make it to Target. Minneapolis is home to Target's corporate headquarters and they have a downtown store that is pretty awesome. They have solved the parking problem by offering free parking in their garage with your receipt for a $20 purchase (I dare anyone to spend less than $20 at Target). It is a two-level store complete with cart escalators and very conveniently located to our apartment.

That brings me to today: my first "real" day in Minneapolis. Today's adventure included locating the downtown Lund's grocery store. I wish I would have taken a "before" picture of the refrigerator and pantry. The refrigerator contained a jar of applesauce, a gallon of milk, and a half package of hotdogs. Now it is full of real food, as is the pantry. I feel better already.

More on the grocery store for the Indianapolis planning nerds: it is everything that O'Malia's tried to be but isn't. It is in an area with enough traffic to require multiple exits with registers. One services walk-in traffic, while another bank of cash registers services those who have parked in the garage...that's right, the parking garage. It is on the first level of a condo building and also includes a dry cleaner, Caribou Coffee (the local brew choice), and a bank (I think). It isn't a huge sprawling store, but packs a great product punch. They fit a lot of products on the shelves by having just a few of everything. I'm sure it is a restocking nightmare, but I was able to find everything I usually bought in the suburbs. PLUS they have a huge gourmet selection that includes an olive bar, a cheese selection that makes my mouth water, an entire wall of just-baked REAL bread, and a great produce section that was really fresh (O'Malia's never quite figured that out). I think I will spend a lot of time at the grocery store :-)

The apartment is still looking pretty rough. I have decided to take it "one room at a time" and today was all about the kitchen. It has been cleaned up and almost everything has a home. I promise to post pictures as I get things completed.

It is time for me to make some dinner. I hope everyone is doing well!

Saying Goodbye

I'm very busy doing all the things I'm supposed to be doing before making a big move. This includes sharing lunches, dinners, and goodbyes. It started with an informal happy hour, progressed to a night out with friends, led to a dinner party, and is ending with me sharing every meal with someone. Under normal circumstances this would be great...there is nothing I love more than food and friends. However, this is starting to get depressing. I know that some of these people I will never see again. That is hard to grasp...particularly those that have had such an incredible impact on my life. What is worse is trying to express my feelings. I try to be serious, and people just turn it into a joke. I'm trying to figure out if goodbyes are just awkward, or if I'm just not the type of person people want to be serious with. Is this something I should change? Seriously, is it me?

Either way, to everyone in the Hoosier State: thank you. If you have found your way here, you have impacted me in some way. I will miss you dearly and I hope you understand that my biggest stress in all of this is that I won't have easy access to all of you. To the Minnesotans out there: you have big shoes to fill, but I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Feeling strangely sentimental this evening...

If I never...

If I never see another late model Cadillac, I'll be cool. Particularly a late model Cadillac who's rims and speakers make up 96% of the owner's net worth (ouch, that was judgmental). You see, my Indianapolis home is right on the edge of the 'hood. Its location presents a strange mix of "hooptie rides," and really nice yuppie cars. Today, on my way home from lunch with Jen, I was surrounded by an uncharacteristically large number of "Caddy Daddys." I won't miss them. I also won't miss being called a tall, vanilla treat.

No. I'm serious. You can't make this stuff up.

Taking Care of Business

There seems to be more and more work piling on my desk now that I've officially made the announcement that I'm moving. I would like to take more time to focus on the big "job search," but time is something I seem to be a little short of these days. Sometime in the next week and a half, I need to accomplish the following (among other things):

• Renew my driver's license to maintain Indiana residency (must be done during office hours...very inconvenient).
• I have already renewed my license plates online, but the new tags will likely be sent to my dad's address...need to arrange to pick them up or have them mailed quickly enough to arrive before I leave.
• Finish the big "Goodwill purge" and take the resulting trash bags (three thus far) to the donation center during collection hours (again, very inconvenient).
• Finish packing the kitchen. This will require another trip to the warehouse to track down the rest of Renee's kitchen supplies to replace what I am taking. These warehouse trips are usually an hour standing in the cold, poorly lit warehouse...gross.
• Pack the remainder of my clothes. I have a lot. I am completely unwilling to give any more away at this time.
• Disassemble my bed and move my bedroom furniture to the warehouse. It is all big, heavy, and real wood...Oy.
• Return all the things I have borrowed.
  
• Go out to dinner/lunch with everyone I am going to miss (my social calendar has filled quite quickly).
• Figure out what the heck is still going on with my teeth before I move away from my surgeon.
• Take an inventory of what stuff really needs to go with me now and what stuff will remain boxed in the garage for a while.
  
• Take down my Christmas Tree (hey, to my own credit I already have all of the ornaments and decorations off and stored).
• Get about a million finance applications out the door for the office.
• Sign a PA on ONE MORE house.
• Clear out the office laptop of all personal business (backup my own photos and contacts, etc).
• Organize the office files so that someone else could actually figure out my systems.
• Leave some sort of a how-to manual (probably a week of writing in itself).
• Update the sales workbook so it makes sense.
• File all of the important emails I have by subject to be used as reference for the poor person who replaces me...I have thousands of emails with pertinent client and project information.
• Get a new phone with a Minneapolis number so I seem legit to prospective employers.
  
• Pick Mike's brain on Minneapolis contacts so I have a chance of getting a job.
• Try to see my family before I go. I will miss them terribly.

Well, at least the dog has been groomed, and my oil has been changed. That's two things done, right?

I'm overwhelmed.

Packing Up!

I've come to find that packing for this little journey is tough for Baylee (my fur-baby) too! On one trip back from Minneapolis we stopped at a gas station so I could fill up and she could have a potty break, but the pavement was so cold she tried walking only on three legs, alternating which foot she kept elevated for warmth. I felt so bad and knew that it would probably get worse.

Yesterday, while wandering PetSmart waiting for her grooming appointment to finish, I came upon these little doggy boots in size extra small. They were on sale for half price, so I figured it was worth a shot. We picked up a matching sweater (hey, it was on sale too!) and headed home to try them on.

Baylee likes to dress up. I kid you not, this spoiled dog likes to put on her coats, sweaters, new collars...she just likes to be cute. The boots were no exception. She just kind of rolled over and put her feet in the air. Anyway, the boots were insanely cute and funny, but we need to practice our walk. This video was taken after she had gotten over the initial shock:

As you can see, we still have some work to do. Still, she's ready for the "negative degree" temperatures and I got a very good laugh out of her misery.

Now I get to spend the rest of my day preparing for the next journey. I need an oil change, to take a load of clothes to the cleaner, another load to Goodwill, and pack up the remaining kitchen items. Wish me luck!