About that figuring it all out

Hi everybody it's me again. I am at work and looking at wedding stuff and thought that I would post again. This blogging is turning into a bad habit. Not nearly as bad as some people but yeah I do it a lot. So for the past 3 months or so Beth and I have been living together and man this is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I never had to really share a living space with someone like this and the adjustment is definitely different. Throughout college I had a roommate for one year and then I was an RA so I had the room to myself and did as I pleased. When I was growing up I shared a room with my brothers but let's be honest I was in charge and I told my brothers how things were going to go and still did as I pleased because I was the oldest. On top of trying to adjust to another person and there likes and dislikes, throw in Murdock and the wedding plans and it is enough to make your head spin.

Now the reason I bring this up is because I have been acting like jackass for a while. Looking back at the past three months I feel really bad. I have not been the most courteous person in the world and it is taking a lot longer to think about how the things I do in the house effect Beth but I am getting there. I feel bad mostly because Beth is so stressed beyond imagination. Between the wedding plans and getting stuff figured out, making sure we get bills taken care of, family and house things that come up, dealing with my absent-mindness (sometimes), etc. It can be a real pain. So I have been trying a whole heck of a lot harder as of late to help her out and take care of things. I don't work near as much as she does so I try keeping the house in order and running any errands she needs done during the day. I also have been trying to help with the wedding planning and money management stuff but there is only so much that can be done there. I hope that doing the little things will be a help to her and she can feel a little more at ease.

The point of this whole post is two-fold. First I am realizing the wrong in my ways and I am trying to make amends for it. This sounds corny and sappy but I honestly feel like a different and changed person (in a good way) and am 100% invested in making sure this marriage, nest, relationship, and anything else we are involved in works like a well running machine and that we have as few bumps as possible. I know I can be a jerk and right now is definitely not the time to be one. We need to work together like we have done so well in the past and we will be OK. Second I want to give Beth all the credit in the world that she deserves and then some. As stated before she is stressed out and doing way more than she has to but she does it anyways. I am very grateful to have her in my life and wish I could've been more of a help from the beginning. But at least I realized my bad ways and am trying to change. I know things will work out and we can both be better for it.

Here we go, look alive!

So I noticed that neither Beth nor I have posted on here lately so I figured I would take the time to do so. I thought since I am bored at work that this is how I will let the time go by. So I figured I would dedicate this post to Murdock.

I have been home during the day with him and then I go to work and Beth comes home. But the reason I state this is because is the large amounts of time I have spent with him he has done some of the funniest things I have ever seen a dog do. So there is no purpose to this post but to maybe make you life or at least smile. I know I do just thinking about what he does. So here we go:

These are in no order whatsoever

Incident #1-(I don't think Beth has heard the whole story) Two weeks ago I was attempting to paint the kitchen (that's not the funny part). I had everything cleared and covered in drop cloths and was getting ready to paint. Well there was one problem I thought a white dog with green paint was not a good mix so I put a barrier in the hall way to keep him out of the kitchen. So I am in the kitchen painting and I have the can open and poured out so I can roll it. I hear the phone ring and had to grab it. Murdock saw that I could walk over the barrier and figured he could to. So he hopped a 3 foot high barrier and went into the kitchen. I come back and his head is in the paint bucket and he was drinking the paint. So I yell at him and run to get the paint from him and he pulls his head out and has green all over. To make things worse he starting running in the kitchen to get away from me. Well his traction in the kitchen is bad and with the cloth down it was worse. So I have this green-headed dog running and slipping and sliding and pulling up all the cloth in the kitchen getting paint everywhere while all I wanted was to clean him up. To make it worse he forgot how he got in there so we kept going in circles in the kitchen. I was ticked and laughing at the same time because anyone watching from the outside would think that this is the dumbest thing they had ever seen and I would've agreed. In the end I got a hold of him and cleaned him up but then spent the next 45 minutes reorganizing and making sure there was no paint on the floor or table.

Incident #2-One morning Beth and I decided to sleep in and Murdock didn't like that. We were warm so the comforter was sitting on the floor at the edge of the bed. He proceeded to sit on the end of the bed and bark at us. I sat up and he started to back up. The problem is there was nothing to back up on. He continued barking and backed up right off the bed on to the floor. It was funny to witness but might not be funny to you.

Incident #3-I decided to take Murdock when I went running in the morning. He knew what his leash meant and was excited to go out. So we went on a little less than a mile jog and when we got back he was beat. I got myself a drink of water and so did he. Murdock then went into the living room and crashed on the floor. I thought I would reward him and went to give him a milk bone. I called him and wouldn't come to me so I went into the living room and he wouldn't even look at me. I held the milk bone and he wouldn't acknowledge it. So I put in on the floor and jumped in the shower. I then came out of the shower and sat on the couch. He proceeded to get up and go into the other room. About 4 hours later he finally acknowledged me. I am pretty sure he was mad at me. I got a kick out of it.

Incident #4-Another running one. As we were running one day, Murdock was being his hyper self and running in diagonals on the side walk. I know if you ever tried running behind a dog doing this my suggestion is don't. For the whole mile or so we jog he tripped me and I fell flat on my face 3 or four times. The best part is that I run in the neighborhood and the neighbors would be getting the paper or going to work and would see this big guy lumbering down the sidewalk and get taken out by a 30 pound dog. I guess he got me back for the first time I took him running. But for the record he loves going running with me now and the one day I didn't go he whined all day so Beth and I went for a walk later that day.

Incident #5-So Murdock and wildlife do not get along. One morning he was at the back door barking and I went to let him out. I put him on he leash and he tore out the back door. I look up and there is a rabbit in the yard...wonderful. he chased the rabbit and when he ran out of line broke his leash off and continued to chase it. We have this big bushes in the back yard and on the other side is a parking lot to a hospital outpatient center. Well I was thinking oh crap and went after him. Now picture this you are parking your car and getting out to go to work or a doctors appointment and you look to your right and out of the bushes comes this guy in his boxers and all he says is "I am getting my dog". And I swear Murdock has a smirk on his face, if he could, and was laughing his butt off because when I got on the parking lot he was just sitting there looking at me with that "what's up Tom" kind of an attitude.

Incident #6-Another wildlife one. I was cleaning in the kitchen one morning and I hear Murdock barking. It was a mean bark but the bark he does when he is playing. So I walk out into the backyard to see what is going on. When I get out there I find Murdock standing on top of a seagull! He wasn't biting it or clawing at it but standing on it barking at it. I yelled at him and he got off and the bird flew away. I went back into the house thinking wtf?

Incident#6-Rabbits again. So I was in the back yard doing yard work and Murdock was chilling under the patio chairs to stay out of the sun. A rabbit comes out of the bushes and Murdock is eyeing this thing as it hops across the yard. I am sitting thinking great he's going to kill this thing. So he springs into action and goes after it. He gets near it and swiped its back legs out from underneath it and the rabbit ended up on it's back. The funny part is that he jumps in the air to pounce on the thing and how he looked in the air had me rolling on the floor laughing. He was in the most awkward position and the rabbit had time to flip over and take off. When Murdock came down he was all mad and turned around and started barking at me like it was my fault.

Incident #7- OK so I had to get up early for work yesterday and I realized I was freezing in our room. When I looked at the blanket I realized it was around my waist and I tried pulling it up but couldn't. Side note: Murdock hates being under or wrapped up in blankets. So I look and he is at the bottom of the blanket stuck because the sheet was tucked in is Murdock. So I am watching him flip out because he can't get out and I am trying to pull on the blanket. Eventually he gets out and runs into the living room and stayed there until I came out. Sometimes I question his intelligence.

Incident #8- Alright so I was playing with Murdock and his tug-o-war rope. He was getting frustrated because I wouldn't let go of my end. He kept stopping and barking and I wouldn't budge. So I was watching TV and still holding on to the rope. Well he was pulling and pulling and let go he ran around the coffee table behind me and nipped me! I jumped and let go of the rope and he ran under the table snagged his rope and left. No that was smart on his part.

Incident #9-So one morning I hear Murdock rustling in the back yard. I go out there and he has my charcoal bag and is shaking the bag in the yard and briquettes are going everywhere. I go out there clean it up and hide it under yard tools. He goes moves the tools takes the bag and does it again. I discipline him and then bring him in. Well he decided the take this long stick looking toy he as and start shaking his help and the stick. Well Beth had neatly stacked all our boxes and stuff from our shower the day before and now Murdock was knocking all of the over. I yelled at him picked the stuff up and as I was doing that he grabbed a gift bag full of tissue paper and other gift bags a proceeded to shake that until everything was out of the bag and then proceeded o trot to the corner of the living room and chill out and watch me clean it all up.

These might not be too funny to you but I chuckle every time I think about any of them. In talking to Beth last night I think she nailed it on the head. It is only fitting that we got a dog who has just as much of an attitude as we do. he is so smart, sometimes he is too smart, and he knows what he is doing when he is doing it. I am very glad we have him and can't imagine who would abandon a dog like that. For those who don't know when he was very young his previous owner took him to a vet to get dewormed and never came back for him. He then was placed at a high kill shelter and then the adoption agency found him. We then found him and brought him home. I have a feeling he loves us and we love him. I kid about his being a pain and a dummy but really he is just a baby and is hyper, curious, and too smart for his own good. Hopefully you enjoyed this and I will try to update you with any other funny Murdock stories. Later!

My Newest Addiction.

Would you believe me if I told you I was addicted to something?

Would you believe me if I told you that I was addicted to something that's good for you?

And free?

Still believe me?

I can't lie any longer.

I love water. Plain, cold water.

Within the last two months, I've made it my goal to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I know it sounds daunting, especially for those of you who don't drink much water to begin with.

I was once a minimal water drinker, but I overcame, and so can you.

It's unbelievable the difference I began seeing in just a week of increasing my water intake. Almost instantly, I was less hungry. My skin was more hydrated, too (I used to put on hand lotion once or twice daily at work because it would be so dry -- lately -- once a week, if I remember!). Coupled with my effort to eat less and exercise more, I was losing weight -- not just a pound or two, but noticeable weight loss.

I'm sure there were more benefits that I don't realize, but that is what I saw quickly, and that was enough to make me a believer.

The secret?

I keep a 1 liter water bottle at my desk at work. I fill it up in the morning and try to drink it before lunch (4 cups). After lunch, I refill it, and try to drink it before I leave (another 4 cups). This way, I can still indulge in a soda during lunch or coffee in the morning, and not worry, because I've already gotten my 8 cups. Any extra water I drink (especially during workouts) is just icing on the cake. Lately, I find that 8 cups just isn't enough for me anymore. Now, I find myself drink 9-10 on a daily basis, and still getting thirsty at night!

Did you know that the less water you drink, the more water weight you have? Ironically, the more water you drink, the more water your body wants to shed, helping you lose weight. Once your body starts consistently getting enough water, it feels secure enough to start shedding the excess, helping you lose the water weight. If you're not getting enough, or not consistent with your water intake, your body clings to any water that enters your body, for fear of not having enough.

Makes sense to me. I'm a believer.

Honestly, give it a try. Keep 8 pennies on a counter, a windowsill, or at your desk. Each time you drink a glass, move a penny to a second stack. It's a simple visual reminder that also gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Report back with your water drinking, stat. Trust me, in weeks, you'll be singing its praises, too!

$10 Custom Doormat -- Genius!

How stinkin' cute is this doormat?


(via DIY geniuses over at Imperfect, who I believe copied this from Martha...)

For about $10, they snazzed up their old doormat into something cute and personalized.

I'll be storing this in the back of my mind until I find some time to attempt it...

Mastering the Master...

With wedding details winding down and a whole, practically empty home just waiting to be "Bethified," I'll occasionally be showcasing plans for our decor renovation.

Our new place is really spacious, has some great vaulted ceilings, gorgeous oak mouldings and woodwork, and just needs some new paint and furnishings. We actually bought all the paint before we even had keys to the place! :)

We're moving at a slow pace in actually getting things done, but, as anyone who knows me can guess, the ideas for design are already planned in my head.

Without further ado, I present to you the first of many "Inspiration Boards," a culmination of pictures that showcase what we have and what we want, in order to demonstrate a mood or theme for a particular room.

This is for our Master Bedroom. The room is relatively large, has high vaulted ceilings and a huge picture window on the West side. We already have our furniture -- a complete set of gorgeous cherry furniture. We have a cherry four-poster queen bed, 2 nightstands, a long dresser with two attached mirrors, a highboy, and a cheval standing mirror.



The walls will be a Robin's Egg Blue (Coastal Blue by Grand Distinction, if I'm not mistaken). White will be the overall accent, with long white curtains flanking the picture window, a crisp, fluffy white duvet on the bed that will pop against the dark red wood, and a few white decor elements. The chair will sit in the corner under the window as a quiet reading spot for me. I love the graphic print against all the other solid, mellow objects in the room. The small white birds, a quickie birthday present to myself, will be displayed on a small white shelf above the chair, accenting the bird print in the chair itself. We'll get similar lamps to sit on each nightstand. They flow with the room, but still add an interesting element themselves. The candles mimic the lamps, and will be placed in clusters on top of the dresser, as well as in the attached master bath to help link the rooms (more on that room later!). I'm commissioning a custom piece of artwork for the room, which will remain a surprise and be showcased later! It will be centered above the bed and will anchor all the different elements, and bring a personal touch to it all.

The overall feel for the room is calm and relaxing, with a sophisticated and slightly earthy tone. I absolutely CANNOT wait for this room to be completed, because I know that this will quickly become my absolute favorite! Completed pictures at a later date!

Am I Sure I Want To Marry This?: Part 1,251,503

Whenever I see a picture of Tom with his thumb up and his tongue hanging out, I always question the sanctity of our impending marriage.



Tom has been blogging about his Colorado trip the entire time as part of a project (though he failed to tell me this until yesterday!). It's a group blog, so please refrain from commenting there --- leave 'em here.

Colorado May Term blog

On Top of Old Smokey...

Tom sent me this picture from the top of Pike's Peak yesterday...


When they started the trek up, they were at 7,000 ft. above sea level. At the summit of the mountain, they were at 14,000. He said they went from average weather to lower than thirty-one degrees, and this picture was taken at the edge of a cliff with a 3,500 foot drop off! Eek!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...

Well, surgery was a success (if you discount the fact that he peed on the vet as we were leaving!), and he's almost 100% again.

He was SO good this weekend --- he didn't once try to lick his incision, he played more gentle, he slept a lot, and he cuddled (which he rarely does!). Even his barking has been reduced!



As witnessed by the picture above, I've found him more and more up on the couch, something we'd like to break him of doing. Pre-surgery, Murdock HAD to be in the same room as one of us, no matter where we were or what we were doing. Now, it's like playing hide and seek with him. If we don't hear him running around in the living room, we have to check the bedroom, where he's been known to curl up in a pile of laundry, instead of on his bed which is 2 feet away. Occasionally, and this is the biggest surprise of all, we'll find him sleeping in his crate with the door open.

I think he's becoming more comfortable in his surroundings, and has learned what is his and what is not (which is reducing the trouble he used to get in). He's responding better to commands (he finally responded to "Go get a toy" and went to his toy basket and brought one back to me last night!), instead of just staring and wagging his tail. I was also working on "lay" with him last night. Once we get "come" and "no bark" figured out, we'll be all good! :)

On a side note, Tom is currently in Colorado studying how athletes respond to different altitudes during training. He was at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs yesterday (and was in the same building as Michael Phelps, who actually refused to meet the tour group, butthead), and will be visiting the National Strength and Conditioning Association (who awarded Tom an All-American award last year), the United States Air Force Academy, Coors Field (where the Rockies play), and a few other places. In addition, he'll be hiking Pikes Peak!

Hopefully he'll be able to sign on and give everyone a complete recap of his trip, including pictures!! :)

In Your Thoughts...

Though I know it's just a routine procedure, I can't help but still be a bit unnerved about Murdock's surgery today.

I met the vet who has been taking care of him since he was rescued today, and I really liked him. We were waiting in the parking lot for the office to open, and he was the first one in. Instead of waiting for an assistant, he helped me out with the paperwork, kept Murdock entertained while I filled it out, and talked me through some of the options for today.

I couldn't help but get the feeling that I was at the auto repair shop, though, being told that I needed more services or else my car was going to crash. The surgery, paid for as part of our contract with the rescue, doesn't cover IV fluids or pre-surgical blood work. From what I've read, that seems to be pretty standard, so I was a bit irritated when I had to pay an extra $100 for those. Since he was already there and sedated, I decided to go ahead and finish up his shots (particularly Rabies, which is SO important). Murdock was first rescued from a high-kill shelter as a puppy, and had contracted hookworm. This was 2 months ago, but the vet thought it'd be a good idea to check to make sure he is fully recovered. Oh sure, put it on my tab. Oh, and don't forget we'll need to start him on heartworm pills today, too.

Don't get me wrong --- I love this dog and don't mind spending money to keep him healthy and well. I just wish I knew for a fact that it was 100% necessary and not optional. I also feel the same way about my car. Haha.

PS -- Good Luck at Nationals tomorrow, Thomas! :) I am soooo proud of you!

Teething & Toys

I am beginning to feel like Tom and I got a baby, not a puppy.

The past few days, Murdock has begun teething (losing his puppy teeth). Just as with a baby, this had made for a very cranky puppy who has decided to chew on pretty much anything he can sink his missing teeth into. Well, almost everything. Given the circumstances, he's been pretty good. We haven't lost any shoes to the cause yet, though he did get my umbrella. (In my defense, he hopped up on a chair and grabbed it off the table when I was cooking dinner and didn't see him --- I didn't just leave it lying around).

He's (thankfully) turned to his toys to help soothe his gums. But, in true kid-style, every time I put a toy away, I turn around and four more are on the floor. It's never-ending! I walk into the other room to throw away the stringy remnants of his rope toy, and by the time I come back, there's twice as much string on the floor.

He's scheduled for a neuter tomorrow, which should just take the edge off of his dominant personality. Well, not the personality per say, but his more "aggressive" behaviors. Once he's fully recovered, we hope to start him in some basic puppy training classes, for both behavioral and social reasons.

He's a pretty good dog, he just needs some help in the barking area. If we can get that under control, and brush up on some basic commands (stay and come), we should be in the homestretch in no time...

Decor on the Cheap, Sort Of...

If I had a free afternoon and was told to leave the house, I know where my car would be headed. I could spend HOURS in stores like HomeGoods, and in fact, have. Several times.

While I by no means profess to have mad interior design skills, I do have an eye for colors and textures, and have the lucky gift of visualization. Before Tom and I had even moved one single box into our new digs, I had been to the hardware store three times for paint chips, and had already begun sketching layouts for the furniture.

Despite the fact that we haven't picked up a paintbrush yet, I'm still working on finishing the space up, even if it's only mentally. I'm always on the hunt for a piece of artwork that I love on Etsy, always looking for a luxurious steal on Overstock.com, or waiting on baited breath for some tips from the youngsters at This Young House.

So, during a moment of boredom on my lunch hour, I decided to peruse the home decor "aisle" on Overstock.

How fun would this be on a coffee table (or even a dining room table) filled with little white tea lights? Of course with Murdock, there's no way we could do this...

I've been hunting for a silver framed mirror, preferably with a beveled edge and a bit of a "romantic" feel to sit on top of the mantle above the fireplace. I've determined that a 16" x 21" is too small, but a bigger mirror becomes quite pricey...

I love candle sconces lately. I think they're pretty impractical, though beautiful. I'm not a fan of these because they're gold, but these would look fabulous hanging side by side in an entry way next to a mirror...and for less than $20, c'mon!!

And these, these are the pillows that inspired this post. Sigh. I wish I had a space for these right now. I LOVE them. They'd look fab as an accent on our master bed (dark cherry wood, pale blue sheets, crisp white duvet). Le sigh. And again, for $28 for 2, these pillows are seriously cheap!!

Anybody know of any fantastic place for bargains? (Specifically a mirror? ;) )

The Problem with Cooking for 2 People...

...is when one of them isn't around for dinner.

As I try to be an industrious housewife, I sit with the grocery ads on Thursday, find what's on sale, and try to create meals around them. This week was going to be AWESOME:

• Grilled steaks & broccoli cheese casserole
• Marinated chicken & roasted parsley potato wedges
• Garlic butter pasta with shrimp
• Turkey burgers and onion rings

Last night, as Tom noticed the menu on the fridge, he remarked, "Those steaks sound good, except I won't be home that night." Umm, okay. We'll do it the next night. "Nope, won't be home that night either." Okay, lame.

Tonight neither of us are home for dinner. Tomorrow night Tom has an awards banquet. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Tom has track meets.

So, this girl will be eating Ramen all week and freezing all the meat she bought. If any one would happen to take stock of what's in my freezer right now, this is what they'd find:

• 2 lbs. frozen ground turkey
• 3 lbs. 93% lean ground beef (the only kind Tom will eat...)
• 4 lbs. chicken breasts
• 2 lbs. chicken tenders
• 2 ribeye steaks
• 2 lbs. pork loin roast

I figure if I continue stockpiling meat, we'll have no shortage during grilling season! ;)

OK...My Turn

While I love this dog to death i honestly think we got the one pup in the litter that had ADD. For example, Beth and I were in other room one day andbecuase we wer enot paying attention to him, he tried to eat a cup. Are you freaking kidding me?!? But I realize a major problem is that he does not see both of us all the time. He spends most of his time with Beth and when I finish school I will be moving in with him and I hope things change. He challenge her on a daily basis and sometimes it's funny, sometimes it is not. But I will work with him as much as possible to make sure he is trained to the best of our abilities.

Now when Beth said she wanted to get a dog, I was ecstatic because I wanted a dog real bad. I did not realize she wanted a small dog though and that took some getting use to. I have had a large dogs my whole life. When she found him and we went over to see him. I really liked him. He was a lot more calm at his foster home and now that he is in our place he is on a 24/7 sugar rush. I really do like him. He is a very intelligent dog and he picks up on things quickly, which is good and bad at times.

Overall I love dogs and he is no exception I just hope that Beth and I can come to some agreement on a training method. Right now what is going on is not working so we are hoping that thing swill change. But these past couple of weeks have not been the most consistent. As mentioned earlier I was finishing up the semester and not able to be at the house. When I am there with him he is alright, still a little misbehaving but not terrible, but when I talk to Beth on the phone I can hear him barking and doing God knows what in the background. But after today I will be at the house permanently and able to help Beth with the Little runt. We will keep you updated on our progress. Wish us luck!

I Need an Accessories Intervention.

I have an unhealthy relationship with accessories. It's a bit masochistic, really.

Just like a needy teenage girl gravitates towards loser boys with a long rap sheet, I gravitate towards accessories that are useless and cause me strife.

When I buy purses, I tend to get trendy, colorful, seasonal handbags. That doesn't sound so terrible, does it? It's not, if you are one of those uber-trendy people who consistently switch up their handbag weekly. I am not.

I buy these purses with that goal in mind, but I have been known to carry a spring purse around during Christmas, and vice versa.

My adorable robin's egg blue leather Coach satchel? Bought in August, carried around until May, in Ireland, when it was no longer large enough to hold my passport, hotel card, travel itineraries, and souvenirs. I bought a HOT black and cream tote, carried until July, when the handles ripped the day I left for vacation. I hastily bought a cute yellow and canvas summery tote at Target, which I carried until October, when my new 1154 Lill clutch arrived. This clutch, which I am still carrying, has become the bane of my existence. Once, I was careful to not get it dirty, to keep it lightly packed, lest I ruin its shape, and was determined to not overuse it. Now, I throw spare change in the bottom (discoloring the gorgeous fabric that I personally picked out for it), cram every piece of technology (BlackBerry, iPod, camera, GPS) I can into it, and have brought it everywhere.

After being told my numerous people (family, friends, coworkers) that I need to get a new purse, I embarked on my mission to find the right bag. It needs to be big enough to hold all my garbage, but not so big that I start carrying around useless stuff. It should be fun and bright, because that's how I roll. :) It should be sturdy, but not ridiculously priced.



Sigh. I love this. But purple? Really? I own nothing purple. So why would I want a purple tote? Because I like purses that are bad for me.

And this, this is a masterpiece. I love it.


I don't care if it's big enough to transport a small family. I want it.

And then look! It's counterpart, but a clutch!

I know what you're thinking...but Beth, you don't need a clutch. You are trying to get rid of the clutch you have now so you have a spare hand to open your front door, carry an umbrella in the rain, etc., both of which you were unable to do yesterday...

I know. But I want it.

Guess who's going to Target to check all three of these out this weekend?

This girl.

10 bucks says I come back with something completely ridiculous, and likely in fall colors.

Puppy = Parenting

When Tom and I decided to get a dog, this was our criteria:

• Must be smallish/medium-sized. Under 35 lbs.
• Not a puppy.
• Non-shedding a plus.
• Calm demeanor
• Easily trained

This is the kind of dog we got:

• Small now. May grow to 40 lbs. Or more.
• 14 week old puppy.
• Short-haired, shouldn't shed, but does. (I'm covered in white hair, and I wear a lot of black. Awesome.)
• Crazy. Loves attention. Usually goes crazy when not receiving enough attention.
• Doesn't listen.

We really picked a winner, didn't we??

I'm convinced that having a puppy is like being a parent. The catch is that we are SO not ready to be parents yet. In a perfect world, we're at least five, if not more, years out from even thinking about being parents.

So why am I looking into daycare, keeping track of doctor visits for vaccinations, calling Tom when the dog misbehaves saying "You will never believe what YOUR dog did...," and speaking in baby talk?

More similarities between puppies & babies:

• They both need structure/schedule in their lives. We have feeding and bathroom schedules pretty much down to a science in our house.
• When Tom's not around, I feel like a single mother, and when he walks in the door, he is usually greeted by me saying "Your turn. You deal with him."
• Dog walker = baby sitter. I never wanted to be the person with a dog walker. Alas, I'm spending more money on this than I do on myself in three months...
• Parenting strategy. Tom and I already started playing the good cop/bad cop game. Not a good idea...
• Boundaries. We set them, he tests them. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
• Being constantly interrupted while on the phone. "What? What do you want? Why are you barking [crying]?"
• They climb into your bed at night. No joke. Okay, so I let him sleep with me 1 night. Then I stopped. Then Tom let him once. Now I wake up every morning to find him on Tom's pillow. Well done, Murdock. Well done.

So in summary, this puppy, while giving us much joy, is a TON of work. Hello, parenting.

Introductions...

This is us:


(circa 2005 - look at how young we were!)

And this is our ridiculously cute but at times ill-trained puppy, Murdock.

This blog will follow our transition into marriage, our adventures parenting our puppy, our experience as we "build our nest," and just our general day-to-day musings.

This is our story thus far: (abridged version)

Tom and I (Beth) began dating in the fall of 2003. It was quickly obvious that we were headed into a long-term relationship, which eventually gave way to a long-distance relationship once I went away to college. The next several years encountered many good times, and a few challenges. But, we've persevered and will be getting married this August. Currently, Tom is finishing up his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. He is also becoming a certified K-12 teacher, and will have two minors, in Health Education and Fitness and Health Promotions. Tom is an All-American in Track & Field, specifically the weight throw and shot put, and is planning a professional athletic career (specifically in the hammer event) once he graduates. I am a writer at a small media company outside of Chicago, with a degree in English and Business. While no one can say for sure where we're headed, we're planning for a cross-country move in a year so Tom can begin professional training!

Stick with us in the coming months --- we can't guarantee it will be a smooth ride, but I promise, we're fun!