#bereal

Those whale days. They just never stop haunting me. 

I have a choice. Sit and take it; get up and fight it. 

I'm in. 

#friendship

So moving across an ocean makes old friendships challenging.  In my 20's, everyone was a friend, and it didn't matter how many of us there were, everyone was a bestie!  After getting married, after working in way too many restaurant/bars, and despite my best efforts, after turning 30...I became so much more particular about who I spend my time with.  Investment became my tool rather than quantity.

After moving to Oahu, and even before, I knew that two things would happen - loneliness would hit me, at some point, and "friends" would pop up everywhere asking to come visit.  After agreeing to have guests the first two months (almost back to back), I've learned who my friends are, who my not-so-much-friends-just-using-me-like-a-hotel-maid-cleanup-feed-me-service are, and I've learned more and more how to say no.

My sister in law is really the most wise person I know.  And yet, she's always gracious.  (At least when I come visit.  Who knows.  Maybe I'm a good guest?)  And she is the one person who  I can count on for honesty - such as "perhaps you should take a break from guests?" or "be kind and gracious; it'll get you through anything".  Sometimes I want to yell "YOU CAN'T WASH A DISH?"  And then I remember my sweet sister in laws face...she's saying "kind and gracious...kind and gracious..."

It's been lonely here, and I'll admit I'm not great with female friendships.  I ran with a new girlfriend today (and she paced me perfectly; I loved every mile!) and I may have found a new friend :)  We'll see. I always come through in the end - sometimes it takes some time and the right female.

This is my friend Stacey.  I adore her...and she and I just might make it here together.  She lived across the street and helped us move in to our new apartment...and took me hiking...and introduced me to Lanikai beach, Lanikai juice...and Lanikai Pillbox hike!  (See the Mokes in the background?)

a real runner.

The other day, I set off at 9:00 am in Kailua for a four mile run.  I'm training for my seventh (whoa) half marathon, and this was an "extra" training run but I was feeling all out of sorts. (Running seems to the best thing for that, at least in my world.)  I left the dogs at home as Peanut has been quitting a lot lately, right around mile two.  That's no good for me.

I started jogging to warm up my muscles and thought about how hot the weather was.  No matter how hot it was in Arizona, it NEVER felt like this particular piece of summer has felt on the windward side.  I'm aware that it is summer, thank you, but but rumors promised me rain and easygoing trade winds almost daily...

I got about a mile in and realized sweat was flying off of me like it hasn't in a long, long time.  I felt tired and a bit nauseous, then cursed myself for eating chocolate and drinking stout for dinner the night before.  I knew that poor fueling was my own fault, but man, I was wishing for a big bowl of spaghetti in this particular moment.  Even my morning coffee (standard before anything less than five miles; most foods upset my stomach during short runs) felt like a hundred years away.  I kept thinking about that stout - wondering why it wasn't fueling me more.

And then I realized.  I just finished three miles.  I didn't even think about it.  The last I could remember, I was at a half mile.  I JUST REALIZED I BECAME A REAL RUNNER.  Not the "I'm going to run an ultra" real runner, but the kind that doesn't quit because I'm tired.  I told myself I was going to run four miles and I did...I ran, without thinking, without convincing myself to, OH MY GOSH I GOT LOST IN THINKING WHILE RUNNING!  I've been waiting for this day since the completion of my first half marathon, Phoenix, 2008.

My mind cannot wrap itself around this.  I feel amazing.  I'm a real runner.  The kind that keeps going, no matter what.  I'm joyful.

#weight

I have struggled my whole life with weight-too much, too little, the 60s pin up figure I've had since I was 15...it's just been this battle for so long! 

Then I finally come to terms with my body and acceptance, and this "trainer" (she will remain unnamed) tells me "if you really want Jennifer Anniston's body and you're willing to work for it, I can get you there."

She is crazy! First if all, I'm not built like that - my frame is just not that slight. And to have a "trainer" tell me I could have something unrealistic after telling her I've had body dysmorphia since my teens makes her behavior unethical.  And don't get me started about how women in figure competitions eat...

Anyway. Tangent. (I'm still upset, clearly...)

I have been hovering around 131 for months and months now, whether doing cardio, lifting, all that.  I have also been stuck restricting myself to 1600 calories I get the last ten pounds off.  I did some research and upped my calories to 1900 because I moderately exercise at least four days a week. 

What do you know. Three days and I'm  down to 129. Maybe food really is the key...

#hotellife

This last week, I learned about people.

It wasn't good. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good. I got hurt.

I learned that people may not always make you feel the way you want to feel. I learned that people are who they are, they act the way they are used to acting, and they often think only about themselves. 

I've learned that unless I say something, no one will know how I feel.

So my expectations should be higher, for myself, so that I might influence others. It really is all about me.

Let your light shine. And always, always, love first.

#family

One of my favorite things to write about is my family.  There are two kinds of family.  This kind (the kind you design by marrying your bestfriendintheentireworld):

And the kind you grow up with.   I don't have a picture of that because frankly, my family is not that nice.  (I said frankly.)  I mean, I have four stepsisters (remarriage when I was...16?) and they are all lovely women, in their own way, and I am close to one of them.  (Well, sort of.)  She's delightful and charming but will cut you with one remark if you aren't careful.  Whatever.  I'm older now.  It doesn't matter.

But here's the thing.  My sister (biological) is one of my favorite people in the entire world.  She would probably be surprised to know that she has always been one of my favorites, though I often did not treat her well when we were growing up, or even in our 20s.  It actually took the insufferable act of another family member (I could just...) to bring us back together.

Here's us:

With my momma and sister's baby girl.  Such a great day.

Happy weekend, y'all!  Here's to being grateful for the ones we love - especially the ones that love us more in return.

dolladolla bills, y'all

Tomorrow is the first paycheck of my new job.  I can't stop thinking about it. I don't know why, but I just cannot stop thinking...I've arrived.

I mean, I still work for the same company, and I still have the same supervisors and the same job duties - I just don't have any clients yet.  I've made some contacts here and I'm thrilled that people are really encouraging me to get this work done and implemented here on the islands.  I don't feel discouraged and I definitely don't feel like this is going to fail.  I do, however, feel as if its going to take some time!  Hawaiians are notorious for "island time" and they live that way.  Tommy and I are certainly beginning to live like that as well.  It's interesting...if the islands are meant to be for you, you'll just sort of...well, phase into it.  It happened really naturally for us!

That is my view every afternoon or so.  It's really, really breathtaking.

Tommy and I planned this move for five years.  (Yep, y'all, we had the "what IS our five year plan?" talk.  It works.)  We arrived on our one way flight, and after picking up the dogs and plugging our new home in the GPS, we realized...I think this is actually our forever plan.  Who knows?  Life is good here.

#aloha

#vacation

So many of you have asked me "do you work, at all, with all of these pictures of the beach?"

Yes.  I work.  I work hard!

But for right now, while I am working on gaining connections and writing a proposal, I'm mimicking Tommy's hours and working "mainland shift".  That means we get up super early (like five am) and work our butts off until 2, or 3, and then go to the beach.   This won't last much longer, as I'll work more "normal" hours when I begin seeing clients. The sun sets late here (around 7) and that means EVERY DAY, we have a few hours of beach time.  Today, however, I have to go to the post office and pay for my safe deposit box for the CPES Hawaii office!!!

It's hot this week, and I feel like I should have looked for a house with a/c.  However, it hasn't rained in, like, three days, and even three days ago, the rain felt like nothing!  The windward side of the island is supposed to get rain daily, and when we don't...man, it's sweltering!  So we are suffering through the day, trying not to cook, and hoping for a break in this heat.  I know, I know...compared to AZ, its NOTHING!  (it's like, 87 in our house right now.  Hot, but not like AZ could be.)

But nothing beats a good Saturday in the sun...here's a bit of our weekend!

We have officially been here a month.  We have our stuff, our cars, the dogs, car insurance, license plates, put the bikes together, and jobs.  Now...the last step.  Drivers licenses!!

#friendrequest

Funny thing happened yesterday.  I got a friend request from my dad.

A lot of people would think this is no big deal.  However, the last time my father spoke to me, it was to tell me that my husband "would never amount to anything" and "you should have married whatshisname" (the one who called me fat).  So, it seems odd that he would choose facebook as a means to talk to me again.  After two years of nothing.  After telling my sister off.  After no contact?

It is not that I don't love my father.  I actually quite like him.  But he married my stepmom when  was 16 and things just...well, they changed.  He became colder...harsher, and really, money just became this all important thing, all the time.  I would bring a bottle of booze to the house in the summer for a pool party, and they would tell me they spent so much on food and ask me to chip in.  It just seemed, well, cheap.  And really, as parents, isn't that what we do?  And he became all about the car he drove, the pool in the backyard of the house, the presents we got at Christmas and "being fair".  It became about a summer timeshare in Mexico and buying a house in Florida.  I just don't get it.  I moved to Arizona and they flew out - to Sedona - and didn't tell me.  So I stopped trying. It just became the way of life.

So yesterday we arrive home from snorkeling at Lanikai beach and I check facebook...and pow!  A friend request from my dad.  What's weird about it is that I just don't understand why he has a facebook.  He never cared about that stuff - I'm surprised he has a phone that sends text messages!!

I just wonder why he would choose facebook.  I mean, if you want to talk to your daughter, call her.  Send her a letter.  Social media?  Please.

a day off

So I love to run.  My body, most days, is on board with this.  But since moving to Hawaii (and thus, outdoors physical activities) I have been on the go almost every day.  Yesterday, I ran four miles in the morning.  Felt amazing - fastest run since we moved.   Then, after workday was complete, we grabbed our snorkel gear and hopped over to Lanikai beach for some waves and rejuvenation.  (Totally worth it; we saw a honu (sea turtle)!)  But we swam/snorkeled for an hour, so man, my legs were tired this morning!

I hate rest days.  I mean, I love them, really, because I can relax and foam roll and hang out and not worry about didirunhardenoughdidicounteractallofthisfood.  But I have a hard time letting my body recuperate - and that is NOT a great mindset for a runner.  Rest days are SO important!  And really, your body will not run at optimum health if you do not give the pieces time to repair.  (I know, I know. I hate it, too.)

I'm thinking about walking the dogs this morning.  I know, I know.  I have issues.

Happy running!

beginnings.

So the long story short is...

I've been given the chance to open the agency I was working for in Phoenix out here, in Hawaii, on the amazing island of Oahu.  We knew we were moving here whether or not they said yes to my proposal, but having Tommy work remotely gave us the chance to have at least one income while we adjusted to our new way of life.  Our new way of life looks like this:

And this:

Today, I began my work on the first (of many) proposals to the state agencies of Hawaii to provide mental health services in contract with the Department of Health/Division of Developmental Disabilities.   One thing I've learned in the last four weeks?  Being a pioneer is NOT designed to be easy.

I was thinking about great innovators in our country - even in the last 20 years (I appreciate Ben Franklin and the guy who invented the reusable coffee mug as much as the next guy, but they certainly get plenty of attention already).  But I mean...every time one of my friends falls on their face through facebook or twitter or rumgr or whatever....someone always talks about how Steve Jobs tried to sell Pixar, invented the Apple Lisa, recruited the wrong CEO.  I mean, we all make these gigantic and monumental mistakes in our careers, right?  If the amazing and wonderful and catastrophic Steve Jobs can make these mistakes, shouldn't we be embracing them?

I'm sure Steve (and George Lucas, and Barack Obama, and [enter name here] had those days they chose between peanut butter and jelly or ramen noodles.  I'm sure they balanced a checkbook to see if they had enough for groceries.  It happens.  The key is what you DO with that, right?

Section I.  Background and Summary.  Go.

july.

AH!  The beginning of our first full month in Hawaii!  Is this real?  Someone pinch me!!

Today started with a four miler with Roxy, who got distracted about three miles in and tried to jump into the canal.  (she was chasing a bird, I think...)  I'm inhaling an asiago cheese bagel with cream cheese (NOT the smartest post run food, just FYI) and wishing we remembered to go to the grocery store yesterday.  We do have an excuse though...

Yesterday was Mashable's social media day, and we figured no better way to spend a Sunday than at Ala Moana Beach Park...so off we went!  Those of you that know me well remember that I worry about making friends...not just acquaintances, but FRIENDS...you know, people who invest in you and cry with you, buy you shots when you get promoted, teach you how to surf.  FRIENDS.  In my six years in Arizona, I can count on two hands the amount of really invested friends I have...and starting over is never easy!  So thanks, to all of you!!

I met like ten people I genuinely like.  I mean, I got a few eyebrows raised at "I'm a therapist" but that sort of comes with the choice to psychoanalyze peeps for a living.  So, we'll just have to go with that and laugh, saying "oh, everyone needs a therapist!"

Even Marley had fun...this is the car ride home!

This is gonna be great!  New friends, social media, so excited!  (And today I start my proposal for DDD.  I'm super thrilled!)

#justdoit

The interesting thing about Hawaii is...well, aside from everything...we just never want to be inside.

There is something to be said about being active and being outdoors, right?  It's good for your heart, good for your soul, probably better for our pocketbook (man, are we broke!).  But being outside changes you - you cannot control the weather (I was rained on three times during a four mile walk with Marley and Peanut on Friday...), you cannot control the other people (ahem, tourists), and you cannot control the ocean (I met some coral with my left leg yesterday...ouch).  But what you CAN control is your activity.

Here's us climbing Diamondhead...

And us at the top....

That GoPro is amazing!

So here's the thing.  In Arizona, I was a half-hearted fitness buff - I worked out because I felt like I should, and yes, I ran half marathons (at least one a year) and yes, I hired a trainer (that did not work out so well...) and I tried to justify joining a gym (never did).  But I never saw change.  Tommy and I got into a semi-heated discussion about how running never saw me the results I wanted from it (pardon my grammar) and I argued that it was because I didn't strength train at the same time (can't see change and evolution unless you work ALL aspects of your body).  So...what to do, what to do...

We came to the conclusion that we are going to continue to hike and do things like surf, boogie board, and run around the island on the weekends. During the week, it's run 3x, swim 2x, and do strength training at least three times (squat challenge, ab challenge, etc; no gym for this girl when we live in paradise!)

My goal is to look good to myself. Lofty, but I'm going to do it.  Aren't our brains just interesting...no matter how much you love yourself, you are your own harshest critic!!

Happy adventuring!

#trust

Sometimes you just have to trust yourself.

All the worry and all the wonder about moving to an island, and all that wonder and worry got me was a bunch of wonder and worry.  Now...I know...you re-read that sentence to see if there was a deeper meaning.  There was not.  As Tommy always says, "worry is like a rocking chair...all that work and it gets you nowhere".

I talked with my friend Ashleigh on the phone this morning (she's helping me with some perspective work) and I realized that moving was not that hard.  But most people, at least when you tell them you are moving to Hawaii, say things like "you know, its really expensive there" (really?  you've lived there?) and "you know it's an island, right?"  (really?  no way!).  But most people have NO idea what Hawaii is like...

The day we arrived, our landlord put coffee and creamer in the house and pulled a mattress into one of our bedrooms, with clean sheets, so we would have a place to sleep the first night.  She also asked if we needed anything "breakfasty" so that we would not have to worry about the grocery store.  A day later, when the POD arrived with all of our stuff, our neighbors came and helped us move EVERYTHING in.  And this was AFTER we asked her, at eight in the morning, to move her car because it was in the way.  I'm just saying...no neighbor in Arizona ever helped me with moving - my friends didn't even help us move half the time!

So really, the only thing you need to know when considering a move is whether or not you WANT to go.  Do you?  It's not vacation, it's not permanent vacation, it's not easy.  But what it IS for you...that's what you need to figure out.  That's what'll get you here...

#loveandmarriage

So, today marks one of those days you both cannot believe is happening and feel like you wait forever for...our anniversary!  Four years later, Tommy still says "I love you" every morning when he wakes up.  The day we got married was so perfect, and each day I am so thankful to everyone that made it happen.

To some, four years may seem like nothing.  I mean, when you have been married for 70 years, I can see how, in perspective, four years may seem small.  But some days, I feel like this four years took a hundred.  (some days?  our wedding feels like yesterday.)

You see, when we got married, both Tommy and I felt like maybe we wouldn't get married (his mother sure thought so...she still thanks me to this day for coming into his life).  We were both in our late twenties when we met, so not exactly "old"...but I think in some ways, the idea of marriage was not on our radar.

And so now, four years and four dogs later,

I remember yelling at Tommy to get out of the water at Pacific Beach so I could eat (oooh, I'm a cranky mama), turning around to yell again for him to hurry up, seeing him kneel in that water and knowing our lives were never going to be the same.  That ring sparkled like the day is long and I still, to this day, catch my breath thinking, "I'm married to the best man in the entire world!"

Add one sparkly, pretty anniversary band, selling a house, moving into a double-the-cost-half-the-size apartment on Oahu, transporting four dogs, a POD, and two cars over an ocean, and here we are today.  Turns out the move was not nearly the trial I thought it might be...we even laughed a few times while eating airport muffins the size of our heads at five in the morning waiting for our one way flight.  He's a good man, that Tommy.  I cannot wait to celebrate four hundred more.

xo

#failure

I was inspired by zenhabits this morning...a blog that I actually have delivered into my email so that I do not miss one lovely word.  He talked about his failures, the ways that he has defied the world and made his own path, the measures he has "measured twice cut once" that have not worked the way he wished for...over time, over dreams, over the best of intentions.

Most of you, those who follow us and our dreams anyhow, know that Tommy and I rarely share our failures - part of that is because there are not many, but part of that is also because we've always reframed our failures into opportunities and chances for growth.  This is essential to not only who we each are as human beings, but also who we are to the world - a therapist, a helper, a strategist, a friend, a neighbor.

One of my favorite theories to use during times of failure is reality therapy.  Developed by William Glasser and based in choice theory, reality therapy stresses that we have four basic "wants".  Without getting into the specifics of his theory, go read it if it intrigues you.  But here's what strikes me -

We have a choice.

Yes, we are confined with rules and regulations and all "the man" stuff, but we have a choice.  Struggle with working out?  Make the first choice and get off the couch.  Struggle with good food choices?  Make one change a week.  Compulsive spending?  Leave your credit card at home.  Compulsive drinking?  Don't say yes when the poor influence asks if you want to go out.  Yes, I KNOW some of these things are simpler said than done.  But you have a choice.

So make it.  You're the only one who can. Be well.

just smile about it.

Some days, you wake up and the world feels like a bigenormousgiant weight on your shoulders.  Then some days, you wake up feeling like this:

I had just walked across the stage at Orpheum Theater in Phoenix, Arizona to accept my masters degree.  Now, with that degree I earned a nice chunk of student loan debt; however, this day was this huge, monster sized accomplishment I kicked my own ass to get.  I wore a cap that flattened my bangs (ain't nobody gonna hold me down), my lei began to wilt in the summer heat the second my husband lei'd me (ain't nobody gonna hold me down) and my Program Chair almost forgot my name (ain't nobody got time for her!).  But this day stood for so much more than flat hair and some lady I'll probably never see again.  (and don't compliment her shoes - she can see right through flattery.)

And now, less than two years later, I'm in the place of my dreams (the state, not this apartment) with the man that I love, four furbabies slowly learning how to scratch at the door when they have to go potty, and an opportunity to change the state of Hawaii and how they approach mental health.  Really, how much more can one person handle?

We'll just have to wait and see, hmm?  I'm off to run.  Go out and do something about it!

#hawaii

I would totally blame the no posts this weekend on being busy...wait.  There's no such thing as too busy for documentation.  But man, did we play this weekend!

We got up on Saturday morning all sorts of motivated to climb koko head trail.  If you live in Hawaii or you've been here a few times, you have heard about this old trail.  Basically, it's 1,048 steps that become more and more steep as you climb up.  Wow...the views are worth it.  This is Hanauma Bay from the top of koko head...

It took us about 30 minutes to climb to the top and about 20 to climb down.   There's a bridge in the middle that could freak out the strongest of stomachs, but there is a trail that you can use to go around.  It's just amazing.

So Sunday we wake up and meet our new friends Chris and Erica to do an "easy" hike...I'm not really sure what we were thinking, considering Makapu'u isn't exactly "easy"...but wow... the view from the top is also breathtaking.  We were treated to a little rain on the way up, resulting in this view below us...

A rainbow.  Below us.

Anyhow, our life is so different here than it ever was in Phoenix.  It's crazy to me that my husband is now all willing to do physical activity and such.  I'm blessed and lucky...

Go out, make some change, do a rain dance.  Make life happen.

sometimes life just surprises you.

So yesterday, we finally received the official news from my company - I'm opening a branch here in Hawaii!  This idea would not have crossed my mind if my husband did not push me to be the best I can be, work harder than I think I can, do more than I thought possible.  I cracked a joke to the CEO of my company after telling them I was moving to Hawaii to fulfill our dream...and that "cracked joke" turned into a conversation, which turned into a proposal...which turned into a job!  (I did have to sweat a little in the middle...)  Like, an amazing opportunity for me to grow, change, learn, and be influential in the state of Hawaii mental health care system.

So we call the five people we know on Oahu and they all come to celebrate...we walk to the local bar (yes, walk...after five years of driving a half mile to Walgreens rather than walking or riding my bike-the epitome of laziness) and find people are really...friendly.  It's nuts.  Everyone here wants to know our story.   There is a "Bears fans parking only" sign on the wall.  They have blue moon on tap.  Even the checkout woman at Costco last week asked where we were living and whether or not the island feels like home yet...

All this worry, all this fear, all this is-this-gonna-work-out-or-will-I-be-stuck-wondering-why-the-heck-we-did-this escaped out the lovely sunset view window of our tiny apartment, freeing me from the chain of "how am I going to make sure we're happy".  Because really...what happened?  I let go.  I allowed myself to trust the universe - I finally practiced what I preach...the universe gives back what you give away...whether that be kindness, desire, charity, or hate.  Don't you worry; no matter what, the guy who left you a five percent tip will be paid back in kind.

Time to take a deep breath.  I've got work to do.

a little humility, please

Yesterday, after our workday was done, Tommy and I decided we would go for a little explore trip to the North Shore.  Now, I will not proclaim to know much about Oahu, and I really have so, so much more to learn (feels quite intimidating, actually).  So we pack up our work stuff (working from home is hard to separate...) and off we go.

I was taken aback, first of all, by the sheer beauty of the north shore.  It's breathtaking, and that doesn't even begin to describe what happens to me when we drive up the H3 and along Kamehameha Highway.  Everything is green, lush, looks like a waterfall is about to start trailing down the side of bamboo forest.  It's really something, and while I tried to capture this on my fancycameraiphone, my efforts were totally futile.  I literally had to drink it all in while staring out the window.

The thing that struck me, when we arrived at "turtle beach", was the amount of people crowded around Oakley, this massive male sea turtle on the beach (napping, apparently).  It hit me, in the same way my disappointment over the "I can't capture this on my superfancyiphonecamera", that everyone was trying to do the same thing - catch the moment of seeing this massive phenomenon.  And no amount of shaka or "i'm not stepping over the line, I swear, but hurry capture this on camera!" could really catch the beauty of that turtle, sleeping completely unaware on one of the best turtle spotting places on Oahu. He was blissful, peaceful, and completely unaware of all those cameras snapping his face into family photo albums.

Over the last year, I've been trying (with the help of my ashleighhenne) to capture the essences of our lives rather than make sure I have everything all in a row for the best shot.  Why not live, we say, for living sake, rather than for doing sake? Who are we trying to please?

I did capture this, though.  So pretty.

Live well.  Love yourself first.  Be happy and experience the life we have.

the first week.

So we survived the dog quarantine, the house hunt, the too many thousand dollars we shelled out, and the airport food (thank you @noellephx).  We arrived relatively unscathed and even had a little fun on the way.  The four dogs were relatively easygoing, eating freeze-dried “organic all natural” food patties because I refuse to give them kibble.  They slept in four different houses over three months, peed outside in the rain, survived a six-hour plane ride without too much pee, and even smiled at me a few times. 

I have worked out in some fashion every day this week – swimming, running, walking the dogs (holy hills here, batman!), hiking.  We met some lovely people along the way (even in the first day!) and our landlord is only marginally batty.  (She’s just lonely, I think.)  I feel like this may be the best decision we have made in our can-you-believe-we-have-been-married-for-only-four-years-whoa-its-been-four-years? I don’t know if I will be lonely, freak out, make this job thing work, whatever.  But I’m damn sure gonna do my best.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit better about myself than yesterday. Some days, I focus on feeling like a ginormous whale…I mean, I figure I’m not a whale, but some days, my brain just refuses to think any other way.  My skin is clearing up (thank you, Clarisonic combined with salt water!) and I think I may actually have found a way to make myself wash dishes by hand every day.  (Ugh; no dishwasher.)  The dogs have only peed in the house a few dozen times (I get it, no doggie door and they totally egg each other on) and don’t get me started on the first night when we forgot to crate all of them…poop party!

Anyhow, I woke up motivated to share our story and our life.  We are already connected socially, but I’ve wanted to start blogging again anyhow.  And now, with only one little full time job rather than one-and-a-half, here we are.  You ready for a Pierucki journey?  I am.