Me. In Paragraph form.
Work is a big stress ball. That should get a lot more heart attack inducing before it gets better. April and I won’t be friends, I suspect. Breathe in, breathe out, remember you love paychecks. 
I’m lost again in thoughts of the future and making plans for it. I love a good plan. It makes me feel warm and cozy inside. I can see my life on such different paths (one as parents, one as not, one in TX, one in CA or WA, rinse, wash, repeat) so figuring out which to pursue can be tough!
A wonderfully charismatic circus of a mutt, Atticus, passed away last week. If you’ve read this blog for over a decade (and I was shocked – some of you HAVE!!), you’d remember when I lived with my dad and we adopted her and her sister. They were previously abused shepherd mix puppies and she was QUITE the trouble maker. I adored her, ADORED HER, and would have stolen them both away to TX when we relocated if my dad wouldn’t have been crushed for life to lose his pups. Simply put, I am crushed. We sent out money to cover her cremation so that we can get her ashes, but I doubt either of us will forgive ourselves for putting off a CA trip to see her one last time.
It reminded us that there needs to be a balance between paying off debt and living life. It really put a spotlight on priorities, and reminded us to continue refining our budget to allow for seeing family and friends frequently. Yes, FAMILY. Because she was. In fact, I kept pushing back a trip because I didn’t want anyone to see how much weight I’ve gained – and I missed out on seeing her because of it, and it really reminded me how much I put life “on hold” because of the weight gain. Which means…
I am getting FORREALS about my health and weight issues. It went from, “Hey, this is embarrassing” to “Hey, this is actually causing health issues.” Improving my health can help my allergies, psoriasis (did I mention I now have PSORIASIS and feel like the plague?!), sleep apnea, yada mcyada vegetables and exercise.
Progress with Gizmo is back and forth. He now walks at night regularly without the laser pen, and we tried our first daytime walk this weekend. It was fairly successful until we passed 3 loud children on the sidewalk, and he went as flat as possible and had to be carried home. We’ll get there! He lets me pet him now from time to time, but randomly decided Sean was SCARY, and they are back to rebuilding their bond from scratch. Sean is remaining patient and it’s slowly improving. We also realized his sense of smell and sight are fairly poor (which could explain why tall deep-voiced Sean is far more scary at night than daytime), but his hearing is great – so Sean now announces his standing or moving and narrates everything he does.
Allergies are in FULL FORCE and I am ready to remove my eyes and hose behind them. I’m going to the doctor today to see about testing and beginning immunotherapy treatment. Has anyone had success for tree pollen? As in, “Doesn’t still use OTC allergy pills”? Because if we can’t find an agreeable solution to the allergy issue soon…
The life plan will include moving OUT of this state. Which changes a whole lotta everything, as the places we’d move to are Much More Pricey, which plays a lot into which life plan we could actually afford! ‘Tis the ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiircle of life (HEY HEY) and it mooo— oh. Right. Where was I?
And that’s all folks! 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so sorry to hear about Atticus passing. I’m sure she was wonderful.
It’s rough when something like weight gain starts affecting the way you live your life. Getting all healthy can be fun though, especially because it boosts your confidence so much! I’m in this weird phase where I’m actually losing weight but, as my boyfriend attempted to put it gently & failed, am “getting flabby.” We’ll all get serious about those vegetables & treadmills together.
xoxo
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Brittney Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
LOL Sean says the same thing about himself. He’s like, “I’m thin… but I eat junk and sit on the couch!” so he’s swearing to join me in this “Let’s Not Live On Taco Bell” mantra.
Gracias about Atti! I feel awful but I am hoping it was enough to spark me into taking better care of myself, so maybe it has a positive note!
Are we healthy yet?!?! We talked about it enough. I assume that is how this works…
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I’m so sorry to hear about Atticus. Didn’t you name the other one Scout? I may be losing my mind, haha.
Ugh allergy season is horrible
It will be here soon enough for me in Canada, but tomorrow we are having 25cm of snow. Yuck!
Can’t wait to see which one you guys choose.
I keep getting inspired every week to get healthy – and then by the next day my motivation is gone and I find myself facedown in the teddy grahams. The cycle. Yick.
All of your paths sound exciting
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Brittney Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I did! And she’s so depressed, she won’t eat Arby’s (yes – that is the update my dad emailed me).
LOL that’s how mine goes. Healthy and pumped from 8am-7pm. By 7:30, I’m like WHO WANTS BUTTER?!?
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So sorry to hear about atticus.. Our family pet passed away a few weeks ago. It’s so sad… like i told ben she’s been in our family for almost half our life. Too bad dog’s live’s aren’t as long as human ones.
Hey melanie, it sounds like you’re in my part of Canada, we’re in the middle of a snow storm too (Calgary by chance?).. and yes allergy season. I’m still sticking to the over the counter stuff, but frequently have to change when one stops working. Let me know how immunotherapy or whatever it’s called works
.. I”ve still got another couple months before i’ll have to deal with it.
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Brittney Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I will! I’m the same way. I bounce between Zyrtec, Claritin, Bendadryl and Nyquil just to function, and half the time, am a moron and double up just to BREATHE. I’ve tried one prescription spray and it left me with migraines and a bloody nose, so I said NO THANKS. So far, it sounds like I’ll have to go off any antihistimine for a week (zomg, I will die) and then they’ll do the allergy scratch test… then from there, I’ll give myself shots over the course of a year or so, but 85% of people who undergo it are CURED from their allergies or “significantly” improve — ie I might pop a pill if I am outside mowing in the wind, etc.
FINGERS CROSSED.
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