Runnin' Down A Dream

Tomorrow is my last day at my current job and it is bittersweet. I don't feel like it is really over because I am contracting for them after I go so I guess I still feel connected?

I am (mostly) packed up. Only a few things remain to be packed and stored here as well as the clothes and other daily life things that I am bringing with me. Everything else is staying here at the house (his idea) and I will come back in May when the weather is better. (it is currently snowing a lot here and will snow more this week. Ugh).

Last night he told me he changed his mind and that I couldn't take Rio, our black lab/husky mix. She is my world and my rock and I was devasted. He only did it out of spite and to be cruel and we argued about it and finally said I could still take her. I shed a lot of tears.

He is keeping our yellow lab who is blind and diabetic. If I could I would take him too. I worry so much about him. But as he had both dogs before me, he is saying that they are his and he is "letting me have her."

I think that it is actually getting real for him and he is realizing that we will both be gone this weekend. Too bad. You had your chance.

My friends threw me a going away party on Saturday and it was so great. My coworkers are throwing one today after work. I feel so blessed to have worked with some great people here.

I hope 2023 is better to me than 2022 was because the latter half of the year pretty much was THE WORST.

In July my husband of just over 3 years told me that he "no longer wanted to be married" and was "unhappy". Mind you he said the same thing about being unhappy the prior August when I found out he cheated on me(!!!) but we did therapy and worked through it (or so I thought.)

No amount of therapy or talking or crying could change his mind and thus began my job hunt back in Nebraska as I cannot stay here in this small town in upstate New York that is not my home and much too far from my support system of family and life-long friends.

We still live in the same house and have this entire time. The paperwork will be filed February 1 when my new insurance kicks in at my new job.

I have just over a week left at my current university and will start a new gig at the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Jan. 30.

This has been one of the worst and most trying things I have had to go through. I am taking our black lab/husky mix Rio with me, he keeps the yellow lab Charlie.

He's basically been acting like a complete jerk and piece of crap so I guess his true colors have come out.

Hi Anon,

I blinked and it is almost May. The days are long but the years are short. I feel that in my soul. Life has been happening over here lately including:

I turned the big 4-0 last month. Feels weird but at the same time, every day I feel more and more comfortable in my skin, that's a win.

My parents came to visit us in February and my hubby threw me a surprise early 40th birthday party! It was so fun to have my mom and dad here for a week. I miss them so much.

My two besties since we were 5 years old flew in from Omaha and Denver to surprise me on my birthday! It was awesome and wonderful.

I tested positive for COVID on Sunday, 4/10 at home, and since I am immunocompromised, I was able to get the antiviral pills. Work required me to get a PCR test (and didn't tell me to do that until Wednesday!) I tested positive via PCR on Thursday, got out of isolation on Friday, and felt much better by Sunday. As of yesterday, I was done with my mandatory mask-wearing (10 days after symptom onset). This morning, I tested at home again and I tested NEGATIVE. SCIENCE FTW!!!

My parents got COVID in March, got the other antiviral and both tested negative the day after they finished their medication too. How great is that?

We are all vaxxed and boosted...these varients just suck.

My husband and I bought a new camper! We got an amazing trade for ours, and honestly just couldn't pass it up! It is being delivered right now!

YOU GUYS. I was made for sun, sea, and sand.

Punta Cana, specifically the Excellence El Carmen Resort was AMAZING. 5 stars, and totally worth every penny. We had 10 glorious days in the sun, met some super cool new friends, and had a wonderful time! Just what we needed.

We upgraded to a room with a private pool (second photo) and it was great to have our own space if we just wanted to chill. The rooms were stunning and the grounds of the resort were gorgeous. I can only upload 10 photos to each post, and @nycnomad wants an update, and I know this little blurb won't be enough, so I will work on another, but just know that if you've never been to the D.R. you NEED to find a way to get there. The resorts are amazing and it truly is a wonderful vacation.

There are some benefits to living in the middle of nowhere: I am experiencing Covid symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, congestion) so I decided to go get tested and was able to make a same-day appointment at one of the clinics in town. In and out in 5 minutes, including the time it takes to check in and swab my cheeks.

I am working from home due to said covid symptoms and it was lovely not to have to try to navigate the nasty roads this morning.

We are getting snow from Izzy and it just. keeps. snowing. My husband is all iced up from snow blowing:

Last week I had my yearly visits with my Nephrologist and Cardiologist. My kidneys are doing GREAT. Stable, not getting any worse, and the levels they look at are perfect. So that is awesome. Then I had my yearly heart echo and visit with my cardiologist and my bicuspid aortic valve is ALSO doing great! No change in the size or the regurgitation amount or the stenosis. It is doing SO GREAT, in fact, that I do not have to get an echo next year because it has not changed for 3 years now. When I first started seeing this doctor it was due to a bad experience with another doc here in the small town we are in. He freaked out that I run, told me only to fast walk, mansplained me, and was a general jerk, so I told my PCP that I needed a new one, and I now see a wonderful woman at the University of Vermont Medical Center. A 3 hour drive, but WORTH IT. When she first saw me in January of 2020, she told me I would need the valve replaced in 3-5 years due to what she saw on the (crappy) echo they did at the hospital here. Then she had UVM do their own echos and she changed her mind! It most likely will be 10-15 years before we go down that road. WHAT A RELIEF.

We are still hoping and praying that we get to go on our trip to the Dominican on February 2. I NEED to get away from the cold and snow and relax and unplug. Fingers crossed!

I was recently influenced by a woman I follow on Instagram to buy Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris. Upon my further research it was said to be this amazing perfume that would become your signature scent, and lasts all day. As someone who feels like all perfumes wear off of her immediately and can never smell them on herself, I was intrigued.

Now, a regular bottle is nearly $500 and I was not about to make that much of an investment! But I found travel sizes online and with holiday sales codes and it came last week and I AM OBSESSED.

Now, I did not tell anyone at work about it, but in the 2 times I have worn it 4 people have walked into my office and asked what that amazing smell is. Imagine my delight in telling them that it is me! Two coworkers asked for the link to buy it today and one already made the purchase! #influencer?

I was also influenced to try Babe Lash to make my eyelashes grow. I have been faithful in applying it every night before I go to bed and in the few months that I have been using it. The results are pretty incredible. (Sorry for the scary-close up!!!)

The other night Charlie was laying in front of the tree being PRECIOUS.

And Rio wanted some cuddles with my husband. My HEART.

Also, can you tell I'm obsessed with her? I adore Charlie too, but Rio was my first baby, ya know?

In other news, tomorrow is my last day of work for the year. Two glorious weeks off await me! And a trip back to The Good Life (Nebraska). I'm so ready. Rumor has it that after the University-wide holiday luncheon from 11:30-1pm they're sending us home as a treat! #blessed. Never in my career have I had this much time off during the holidays unless I took vacation time. We are getting two full weeks paid and it doesn't count against the 5 weeks of vacation we get a year. Private higher ed can be frustrating at times, but there are some pretty amazing perks too!

The tree is done. My forest of trees and other decor is up, AND I'm finished shopping! It's a Christmas miracle! 🎄 🎅

Only two more weeks of work until two weeks off! I can do this!

When my husband gets off of his weekend night shift (it comes around every 4 weeks) we like to go out to breakfast together on that Monday morning. That happened to be this morning! It requires me getting up and ready to go eat by 6:15am (UGH) but it is nice and has become a nice little tradition.

This morning, Charlie the dog woke up me at 3:15 to go potty (while I was grateful he didn't do it inside, it was a rude wake up call!) Of course Rio had to come too, and it was a family affair.

When I was waiting for my husband, I noticed a few deer walking through our yard on our security cameras. I went outside to shoo them away. They were not too scared of me.

I got my Moderna booster vaccine on Friday and the only issue I had, aside from a mildly sore arm, was that I was incredibly thirsty all day afterwards on Friday. I felt totally fine. Dolly Parton FTW!

The university I work for had already told us that we would get just over a week off for Christmas, but then last week, they extended it to two full weeks, from Dec. 18-Jan 2. I am so grateful to them. As someone who comes from the TV News world where you work holidays, nights, weekends, etc. I was so thankful. My coworkers who have never worked anywhere else needed a reminder that this kind of thing does not happen in any other job in the US except for education.

It is 60 degrees and sunny today and the weather looks to be nice for a few more days...then it will all go downhill.

We are 85 days away from our trip to Punta Cana and I am so excited! I spent 30 or so minutes on the photo today with Expedia getting our flights sorted out because they had changed a few times. But now we are set and I am READY!

I ended up having to report for Jury Duty on Tuesday last week. Lucky for me, I know way too many police officers and state troopers (including the one who would be testifying in the case!) I'm off the hook for 4 years now.

I am getting my COVID booster shot on Friday (Moderna). I didn't really react too badly to the first two, just a sore arm and I was quite tired so I am hoping that I feel alright with this one as well.

I booked my plane tickets to go home for Christmas. I will actually fly home on Christmas Day which I am not thrilled about, but this is the first Christmas that we will actually spend with my in-laws and they really do it on Christmas Eve so I will at least get to be with both. The University I work for is closed from Christmas Eve until Jan. 3 (we are paid and it doesn't count against our vacation time) so this is the best way for me to go home and maximize my time off.

We are counting down the days until we leave for 10 days in the Dominican Republic! My husband and I leave Feb. 2 and can't wait.

After being married for 2.5 years I have FINALLY finished changing my name on all my stuff. It has only taken me since January (when I finally began the process) to get it all done. I am sure there are small things that I have forgotten, but the major ones (license, passport, bank cards, credit cards, etc) are done.

Oh, hello! I've been a terrible blogger as of late. Same song, different verse. I know, I know. But it is what it is. Let's recap life lately, shall we?

My husband I and went to Orlando for a 4 day weekend last weekend and it. was. GLORIOUS! Gorgeous weather, sunny, warm, and humid. We rented a mustang convertible, ate great food, went shopping at the outlets (that were right next door!) went to the beach, and spent the day at the pool. We were living our best lives.

We went because I got one of those Hilton Vacation Club sales calls back in January or February when it is horribly cold here and despite my best intentions to say no, I was weak! BUT, we got reimbursed for the hotel cost AND a $200 hotel voucher for another trip (anywhere!).

This is the view of one of the pools from our balcony! Below is the lake at the hotel resort.

When we flew home we had to drive another 2.5 hours home and THEN pick up my coworker's dog Max so he could stay with us for a week while they are also gone to Florida (Destin).

Max is a lab/shepherd mix and an only dog. He and Rio (who is the alpha) scuffled a bit when they met last week but seemed to be ok. Well, Sunday night they had some tiffs but then settled down and played together. Monday morning, I let Max outside while Charlie ate and then let him in when Charlie was done. At this point, neither my husband nor I saw what happened, but Max and Rio fought and Rio started crying and pawing at her face. My husband (who slept on the couch to ensure that there was no drama) flew off the couch and roared at Max to "Get out of here!" I shut him in the bathroom and we examined Rio to find that he had bit her on the face. She has a half inch cut on her right cheek. She was crying and bleeding and we took him home. My coworker was able to get her neighbors to watch him (we would have gone over after work, at night, in the morning, etc). But I feel bad, HOWEVER, you hurt my dog (my baby who I am OBSESSED WITH) then you're out. #sorrynotsorry

The weather here is chilly and my body is not ready. Temps in the 40s and 50s and BRRR. I pulled out the tights yesterday and today I wore one of my new dresses I got from Shein. That site is freaking awesome. (Although this dress is a little short without the cardigan I wore today over it. #tallgirlproblems).

I've been called for Jury Duty for next week so if I am required to serve then this potentially will be the only full week I will have worked this month due to vacations, a doctor's appointment out of town, and that! Craziness!

Life is chugging along and somehow, this month is nearly over, as well as 2021. We're going into our junior year of Covid now and it's kind of hard to believe!

Today I was poked with a needle 5 times for 3 separate events😳

I gave blood (I actually did a Power Red donation since I'm O-... more bang for my buck!) So that's 2 needles (hemoglobin check and the actual donation)

I got my flu shot (1 poke)

Then I ran to get a filling in a tooth that has been missing a chunk off it for about 6 weeks now. 😒 (2 more pokes to numb me).

Stuff and Fluff

While searching through my closet for something to wear today I was excited to find this dress--I had totally forgotten about it! I got it a few years ago from StitchFix and I love it! I'm known at work for my dresses, in fact, a few ladies who have offices near mine have asked me if I just have a closet full of summer dresses because they think I wear a different one every day (not true!). I just like dresses (they make it easy to get dressed in the morning) and I have amassed several over the years (after I lost weight I basically have maintained around the same size for about a decade). Plus, I get them from a variety of places; Walmart, JC Penny, Gordman's, Target, etc. I don't discriminate!

Yesterday was a sweaty and spicy upper body day and the pump was REAL. I love seeing my muscles coming back!

We went to a surprise birthday party over the weekend and I honestly only wanted to go because our friends who were hosting it recently got that sweet little angel, Ruby and we had not met yet. I am OBSESSED. She is so sweet and cute. Dogs are the best.

On Sunday, I moonlighted for the company that we use to shoot our commencement photos. They had a 2020 ceremony for one of the universities up here and they needed a second photographer to help them take the diploma shot. I am by no means a photographer, but I can take a decent photo. So I made $150 cash to take photos for 1 hour. Can't beat that!