Mission Accomplished

Today is my last day as a full time manager of the factoria tux shop. I'm still staying on staff to be on call for busy weekends or when someone is sick/needs to fill a shift. I went to Riverdog and got myself a job on my birthday. I waited more than an hour for an interview, but it was worth it. I'll be a staff member for doggie day care. Its not a well paid or a glamourous job, but it is a place to start in my pursuit to find my dream job. I get to work w/ dogs all day, so we'll see if that is my calling.

*(I won't be pulling cesar millan tricks for a while though)

It's about time!!!

Wow, it's been a while. Usually I at least post once a month, so I'll be curious to see if anyone is actually still checking my page and reads this!

My time at the tux shop is coming to a close. I have both enjoyed and despised this job, but I've finally come to a point where I'm ready to move on. I won't leave this job until I have another one lined up. I'm understanding more and more how important it is to have a job that you love, that your heart is in. That's why I'm pursuing a job at Riverdog (a dog boarding/training facility in Issaquah) http://www.riverdogk9.com/

I love dogs, I'm at my happiest when I am around them. I also am very interested in learning more about dog behavior/psychology. I've spoken with the woman in charge of hiring. They are looking for a FT and a PT person to start at their dog C.A.M.P which is a daycare/training program. They also have an unpayed 20hr/wk apprenticeship starting in September for people to learn how to become a dog trainer. Its three months and they hire the best of their apprentices as dog trainers at their facility.

I've also started thinking about teaching again. Mostly because I'm seeing Julia have the whole summer off plus all kinds of holiday time and get paid a decent salary (more that me). That seems like a pretty good gig. We'll see...

Take Care!

Yo Peeps What Up!!!

Yo, I got sick of checking my own blog and seeing the same post over and over... I've sat down to write a few different times, but just didn't know what to say. So, in the spirit of just getting a post up...

Every man should dress up in a really nice tux at least once a year. If for no other reason, do it for the woman in your life (if you have one). You'll feel like a million bucks, and any woman who likes a dressed up man will swoon. I'm telling you, every man who comes into my store in normal clothing and puts on a tux increases in attractiveness like 100 fold. Additionally, I literally watch their confidence increase and their mood elevate in a matter of minutes. It is not uncommon for the guys to spontaneously do a little tap number in their shiny shoes as they check themselves out in the mirror. It is also not uncommon for gushing girlfriends/fiances to bust out their camera phones to start getting permanent images of their transformed men. Of course there are exceptions to this rule in the case of really grumpy/jerky/and/or snobby men, but they are in the minority.

A word of warning for the younger men out there: DO NOT BRING YOUR MOTHER TO PICK OUT A TUX. Unless you have a really laid back mom, this will only serve to stress you and your poor salesperson out so much that the two of you will need to take turns restraining each other from knocking your mom unconscious w/ a cane and shoving her into a garment bag. Your mom will probably think she knows exactly what you should wear, what goes w/ what, and what is absolutely out of the question...she will probably be highly passive aggressive in trying to get your salesperson to take her side and coheres you into wearing a dorky bow tie and cummberbun set w/ pearl and gold studs because that was what was popular 20 years ago. In general, whatever you like she will have objections to and she will continue to whine and make comments intended to make you change your mind until she has surrendered her visa (to pay way to much for something she is sure the salesperson has over charged her for). If you are a baby and a mamma's boy you will probably leave the shop wearing an entirely different outfit than you would have chosen had you talked your mom into staying home and doing your laundry. Think about it.

Let's just say I'm not going to miss prom moms. There are a few cool ones--most of whom I never meet because they give their kids their credit card and stay the hell home--but most of the moms that come in the store drive me and my staff absolutely nuts!!!! They are soooo freaking obnoxious!!!! Just let your son dress how he wants for *his* prom, let us do our jobs, and shut the f*** up! Okay, that felt good...much better.

What if...

What if you took it all away...all the color, lights, and mirrors
And all that was left was you
Naked and cold in the harshness of your own reality

What if you stood for more than a moment in the quiet...away from the noise and lies
And all you could hear was you
Screaming, crying, wailing for more

What if you held yourself there long enough to really feel it
And all you could feel was fear
Terrified of the truth and no longer able to comfort yourself with the lies

What if all your defenses were gone...nothing to numb the pain or to ease the ache
And all that was there didn't seem like enough
Unsure of yourself and disconnected from your strength and your truth

What if your life seemed empty and your hope seemed gone
And your only option was to come into the light of your truth
Small and weak and shielding your eyes from the brightness all around you

What if your truth was too big and your courage was too small
And you knew going back was death, but staying in the present felt impossible
Trapped and confused and longing to be hidden in the shadows once again

What if you broke out of the boundaries that kept you so small
And you found yourself still living and breathing for even a moment
Encouraged and empowered, if only a little

What if you built on that tiny seed of strength
And you got up each day a little bit stronger
A little bit braver, a little more you

Checking In

My sugar detox lasted almost a day. Then I decided not to do a sugar detox.

I've started going to s-anon meetings (for codependents of sex addicts). I told John I'd go to an OA meeting by the end of the month.

Works going okay...I have days I want to quit so bad I can barely get myself there, and I have days when things are going smooth and I feel like I can stay there.

The dogs are doing well. Shadow has put on quite a few lbs--I think it is from getting older, eating puppy food for the last 6 months or so, and possibly being dewormed (if she had worms). Emma has started to do tiny little mini swims where she lets herself float out to where she can't touch and then does a paddle or two to get back to the safety of a rock or shallow area. We work on it a lot.

John and I are doing pretty good. We are each doing a lot of individual/couple work, there are times when emotions are pretty raw, but we are handling it quite well I think.

Just a spoon full of sugar...

Today I am beginning detox--detox of sugar. My plan is to cut out all sugar foods (candy/ sweets /juice/jelly/pop/etc) including sugar substitutes and fruits for 2 wks. After 2 wks I'm going to add back in the sugar subs and the fruit and do just that for at least 2 more wks. I've noticed I've been binging on little debbies and other sugar foods a whole lot lately. I've gained weight, I am irritable, and I haven't been working out. I started eating lots of sugar when I'm stressed/depressed, but then it ends up making me feel more that way, so I'm stopping the cycle. I'm also recommiting to my training plan--I sure hope I can do it. Its been hard balancing life lately, but I know it is important to do good things for me.

I'm Registered

Well, if I live through training, and then live through swimming a half mile in cold open water with seaweed, I will have completed my first sprint triathalon on August 20th. Now you peeps can stop harassing me about registering!!!!!