My Four-legged friend

Happy 4th Birthday Brady!

Little O

This cute little guy stayed with my parents for a week after x-mas. It was so nice to be able to spend time with my favorite little guy who lives 8 hours away. I was amazed at how well behaved he was, and by as much energy a year & a half old has. I wish I could just bottle up a teeny tiny bit and use it for my big races this weekend. Oh, and of course Brady made his way into the picture. He had to stay close to O to keep an eye on him but far enough away from getting his fur or tail tugged on.

Poor little puppy!

This poor little guy puts up with all kinds of abuse from me. He tolerates it when I put him in his little backpack. Just look at that expression on his face! And then he tolerates it when I have mornings like this morning where I'm just not awake yet and I accidentally dump his food into his water bowl and not the empty food bowl. A soggy breakfast for him and he never complained once!

Struggle

A year later, I still have days where I struggle. I'm still friends with my ex-husband on facebook. I can't help sometimes but to look on his page to see what he is up to. Sometimes, it makes me fell better about the decision I had made a little over a year ago to leave. Sometimes, I long to see him. I'll start to miss him, then I feel all sad and empty inside. In someways life was easier then...I had a house that was a mile from work, there was a fenced yard for the dog, he took care of paying our bills, our combined salaries permitted us to travel regularly, I didn't have to worry when I went to the mall if I could afford the new pair of pants that I needed since I somehow manged to eat a few too many pieces of pizza and my old ones got tight. Maybe if I saw him just one more time the past would fade and life would be just how I dreamed...a happy couple living together and compromising with one another when disagreements came about. And then I take a step back and start to think about how completely miserable I was. How every time we had a family vacation planned with my family, he somehow found a need for us to leave a day early. How he hated my friends for no reason. How I would ask politely if he could mow the lawn since I just cleaned the kitchen, only to be cussing and swearing a week later while I was stuck cutting through the jungle that become the front yard. How I was constantly criticized for eating something, doing something, saying something, that just wasn't within his views. I think of how much fun I had with my family last year over the holidays when he wasn't around. I think of how proud I am of myself for staying true to my beliefs and surviving the first year. I think of how the dog is thriving and now getting the love & attention he needs. Oh, that little dog, I just think of him now and it puts a big smile on my face. I know I made the right decision and I know that I am better off, but sometimes I just need to remind myself of that.

Love. this. guy!

Isn't he just the cutest?

Random Five Favorites of the Day

1. The Sun Shinning!
2. People's Food Co-Op
3. My iPhone
4. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme
5. My two running buddies, Brady & Megan!!!