Hello February

So we survived the EPIC implementation of our new electronic medical records system here at the hospital. It involved many days of waking up at 4am and working a 12hr shift, a couple of lost weekends, and a fair amount of anxiety and grumpiness, but it is over. The process actually went much smoother than anyone anticipated, thanks to the fact that Gainesville was the guinea pig of sorts and we managed to avoid most of their pitfalls.

I haven't had much energy to think of things other than work. Between finishing up my online certification in December, teaching classes here at work, and trying desperately to move up in the ranks, dog training has gone to the wayside. Of course Xander has not been neglected, in that he demands activity and exercise on a nearly daily basis, so we have continued playing frisbee and going to the park, and have made it to the practice field at least once in the last few weeks. We haven't competed, however, since early December, and will be doing a four day show here in town. I was almost dreading it, considering that I will be chief course builder, which is an exhausting job. However, it has been quiet here the last two days at work, and given me enough of a reprieve to build back some stamina and a desire to go play. I have no expectations for the weekend, aside from being a bit rusty, but it should be fun neverthless.

Agility has shifted in my mind in the last few months. It is an expensive sport, and more of a luxury than a necessity. I have found recently that life goes on regardless of whether we are earning ribbons and titles or not, and that money is needed for a great many other things in life. Buster and I have talked a lot about where we are, where we want to be, and the sacrifices it will take to get there. It is hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars playing a game when we have so much debt to get out of. If we can sacrifice some things now in order to get to a place where we can actually afford more things in the future, it will be worth it. Besides, we can play the game in training with friends, and I will still get to go to the home club trials (such as this weekend) as well as a couple of others that Buster and I both enjoy.

We are also moving in a couple of weeks, to a bigger place for the same amount of rent, and to a place that has a backyard. A teeny, tiny backyard, but a backyard nonetheless. This means an extra 20 minutes of sleep for me in the morning, because I won't have to walk the dogs to go potty, I can just let them out the back door! And we will have an attached garage, and lots more storage space, and even a spare bedroom! Very exciting. And then there is our wedding in May, which will be here in no time I suspect. Our friends Mike and Ashley are actually getting married this weekend, in Michigan. Yes, they are insane. Ok, their family is there, but seriously, who goes to Michigan in FEBRUARY?! Oh yeah, Buster. Who is in the wedding. I am a little bummed that I won't get to be there for them on their day, but we couldn't both afford to go, and someone had to take care of the dogs, and go to play agility....

My birthday is also coming up, and I guess Valentines Day the day after, but who has time to think about that? We get our new place that week, and I have to reserve a rental truck, and shop for a new bed since we are upgrading to king size to accomodate our large bodies, and we need wedding rings, and to figure out how our wedding day is actually going to go, and do taxes, and clean our old apartment, and update our address with all our bills, and make sure to pay all the bills, and get a marriage license, and figure out how I change my name......

Being a grown up is hard work!