Controlling Anxiety

Those of you who know me in real life, know I can be a bit anxious.  I hold it in my body in a sick ball.  And yes, it makes me sick.  One of the biggest anxieties about the move has been the dogs.  I've worried myself silly about them making the transistion.  The truth is animals are far more adaptable than we give them credit for. 

My mom has been coming in the afternoon to let them out - and fix the hole in the wall the movers left.  This breaks up their day and makes me feel better.  Right now I'm pulling out at 7:30 am and busting a move to be back by 4:00 pm.  This is not an excessively long day for the dogs to "hold it" but I worry about it.  I've got the dog run set up in one corner of the yard.  This is going to be the toilet area.  I despise dog doody covering an entire yard. Yuck!  We've been working on training to go to the bathroom in that area.  The dogs are almost 100% consistent with going in the kennel now.  Diva, of course, has to push the limit...

They've started supervised time in the yard.  I want them to learn to not bark at people or dogs in the area when they are out there.  This is challenging for Ryder who often gets barkitis.  He's coming along and listens well to prompts. 

The biggest stress was knowing we'd be walking in town.  I live in little fluffy dog mecca.  There are oodles of the creatures in the neighborhood.  One day I'm hopeful I'll have dogs that will happily walk past other dogs without lunging at the other dogs.  Yes.  I'm popular on the walking trails...  I realize my anxiety is part of the problem.  I need to believe in my dogs.  I'm doing a ton of work with treats and getting them to "look".  I also really focus on basic obeidience.  Heel, sit, etc.  I won't lie it takes some of the fun out of walking.  I know with time, patience and consistency our walks will improve.  Meanwhile, I'll learn to control my anxiety.

And The Truck Got Stuck

Honey, who normally makes me coffee in the morning has been out of town.  He's been going to sell his product at trade shows.  What this means is I've been stopping for coffee.  Here in the Great White North there is a popular coffee place called Tim Hortons.  I'll be honest.  I kinda don't like the coffee but it's cheap.  This is motivating.  (I get what I call a cheap girl's latte - 1/2 coffee, 1/2 French Vanilla.) 

Many of you know I drive a truck that I absolutely adore.  It's a beast.  So feeling chipper (NOT!) after time change I decided to try the drive through.  For. The. First. Time.  You see, I always walk in.  But there was no drive through line up.  It was too tempting...

Unfortunately I had already committed when I realized that the truck was not going to fit in the opening...  this was not cool... So there I am.  Vehicles behind me.  Doing the forward, backward, forward, backward, trying to get lined up with the hole so I don't scrap my truck across the bright yellow guard pole.  After successfully ordering I encountered another issue.  The turn was too sharp for my wide turning truck.  Putting my foot into it, I leaped the curb, rolled up and over the snow bank before crashing down back into the driving lane. 

The was awesome.

Seriously.

How embarrassing to look like the girl who has borrowed her boyfriend's truck and is incapable of driving it. 

Yep.  That's right.  The truck got stuck.  In the drive through... 

Country Mouse, City House

Hello??


Hello??

Sorry, I know it's been awhile...

What can I say... I was tapped out.  Tired and over busy.  Creativity dried up...

I can genuinely say that my creativity isn't all back but there is hope.  Glimmers of it popping up unexpectedly.  You could say I've been at a cross roads the last month or so.  My Honey and I have had some pretty intense discussions over the future.  Let me be clear.  Once I dig in and decide on something, nothing and no-one can change my mind.  I am not an easily led individual. 

Ready??

Well, expect the unexpected.  After much thought and weighing of options, I sold my acreage (sold in less than 24 hours and over list price.) and purchased a new house in the nearby town/city.  There are many reasons for the move.  All of them valid.  We did look at other acreages.  Unfortunately I live in a hot and expensive commuter area and anything decent is out of my (our) price range. 

You could say I'm at a cross roads.  What happens when an intensily country oriented person moves to the city?  I have lived in the country for the bulk of my life.  I have no idea how I'll adapt.  The area I'm moving to is full of parks and walking trails.  This is good.  My dad is very supportive and is happy to house Whiskey and the sheep.  In that way I'm blessed.  I have access to land less than 30 minutes from where I'll live.  I'll still drive the dogs out to work sheep.  I'll still drive to the grazing reserve for the dogs to run free.  I'll still love my horse(s).  I'm contemplating a cutting horse with some of my house money.  I still want to compete with the dogs.  And in an unexpected twist... I'm loving taking the agility classes with Ryder.  This is his passion.  I'll continue to take him to class and through the levels.  The joy on his face and his enthusiasm is priceless.  Diva will start the beginner class in May (personal growth for both of us). 

There is one thing for sure.  My animal adventures are going on a major change.  Look out SP.  The country bumpkins are moving in!!