We found Smokey a home!!

We did! My 15 year-old brother in law has been begging his mom for a cat ever since he's spent time with our little boys. She decided that, with some guidelines set in place, that they would adopt Smokey and be a two pet family (they have a cockapoo named Catherine, a real sweetheart). So my little cuddle-poo skinny mini has a loving family who will put some meat on his bones and give him boundless love! I am so glad everything worked out. This made me want even more to volunteer with this organization that helps place special needs pets. Like my aids kitty, Casey, these animals offer so much love and affection and are so thankful for everything they get in return. He's been such a good lover; I'm grateful that I did my own research about feline AIDS and took him in. He and our first cat, Sid, are the very best of friends now, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just basking in the glory of all this cat love today!!!

Sleep

I'm exhausted from this past week, but our temporary foster kitty Smoky likes to roam around the house at night bellowing and crying. He's got quite a set of pipes! Granted, he's been an outdoor-mostly cat for some time now, so it's a huge adjustment for him to not be let out. He's also in a totally new environment with two dogs. He and the dogs are getting along fine, though, which is surprising considering how neurotic Puppy and Fergus are (they fit in with my family so well!). Smokey loves to curl up with us under the blanket, it's just a matter of him getting there. If only he'd sleep just long enough for me to drift off. I just can't sleep with one of my boys crying!

It's Up To You

I really want a Pin-Up girl tattoo on my side, something focusing on the beauty of the female form and the vintage goodness that I hold so dear. Mmmm...thigh high nylons and garter belts! Maybe something kitchen-themed to celebrate my love of baking!

Being a wife

It's a challenge when it feels as if there is always something that takes precedence over me and over our relationship. It's a challenge to keep my neediness in check. It's a challenge accepting that, though in mind I am the top priority (and I truly believe in his mind I am), in action and daily life I fall behind. It's a challenge knowing there will rarely (never say never) be times when he says, 'let's skip work today and spend the whole day making love...' or 'let's run off for the weekend, leave the world behind for a few days'...It's a challenge not to sound like I'm having a pity party, and not to feel like it either (I'm not). It's a challenge being a wife.

Homeless

Home is where the heart is. Except our hearts are in between right now. As much as I hate Champaign, the house we've rented for the past year was our first home. He carried me over the threshold. It's Sid and Casey's first home, the home we got them to love each other in and where they became best friends. The home where we celebrated our first anniversary and where we first set up house. So I'm finding myself missing it more than I thought I would.

However, I'm thrilled at the prospect of owning our first home. The condo is gorgeous in so many ways, and it's in my city, surrounded by friends and family, buildings taller than four stories, and NPR programs other than "The Farm Report" and "Corn Futures." We're owners!! Well, we will be starting on the 15th...

This space in the middle is the hard part. Knowing that all of our possessions are piled in an enormous U-Haul with only a padlock securing he stuff from the rest of the world. Living in a hotel is just icky, with the questionable sheets and lack of personality. The worst is that we have to spend time apart, which is still a frowney face experience. Spending time apart from the boys (feline, not human) isn't enjoyable either. But we're almost in the clear, so I just have to keep my chin up!