Yes we moved! Yes ... I'm late reporting it ...

... BUT: We moved twice in 3 weeks. Got all settled into the temporary place and then found a permanent place 2 weeks later, so we moved again just 3 days ago ... Still settling in but update will be coming shortly, once I find my head and some other things ... whew!

Putting the Pug in Pugnacious

SB Doggy Park Fun

Window Shopping

Mother and Child

SB Sunset - Miramar Beach

Aaaaaaaaaaaah. So happy to be home though!!! Auf bald!

Happy Birthday Finster!

Newborn Finley - looking slightly constipated.

Finster at 1 month - during what appears to be one of his very last naps.

Finley at 2 months - pigbellied, er pugbellied, and snoozing.

Finster at 3 months. Wild-eyed and bushytailed.

Finley at 4 months - Who's stinkin' cute?

Finley at 5 months - with crazy eyes and a touch of innocence.

Finster at 6 months - including brandnew toofers.

Finley at 7 months - add a snaggle.

Finley at 8 months - temping as alarm clock.

Finster at 9 months - trying out for most photogenic pug and working the crowd.

Finster at 10 months - all grown up and with stylish new harness.

Yoda, er Finley, at 11 months.

The Finster at 12 months - still the center of attention - LITERALLY.

Finley's birthday was this past Monday, October 24th. My little baby is ONE year old and I decided to chronicle his first year with pictures. Enjoy :)

Moving Date - November 6th

My god, I haven't been so happy in a long time.  My date for the move is set for 10 days from now and I found an awesome little place in Montecito, a couple minutes from SB. It's gonna be a somewhat temporary situation there, but it gives me time to find the perfect place and I couldn't really envision staying in the desert any longer.  I have been eagerly working on my cases, finishing as many as possible and am pretty much ready to leave. The ones I am taking with me can be worked at from SB.

Finni will have a blast too. Lots of doggy friends there and a couple really great daycares (unlike here!). We've been heading to SB a lot and Finster seems to be an entirely different dog there. So much stimulation, he reminds me of an ADD kid, even more so than usual.

Haven't really found a part-time gig yet. I wanted to get a little somethin' on the side while I set up my practice, but I'm sure something will materialize in due time. I have faith.

And so my stay in the desert will come to an end. I lasted 6 months and 9 days and that's enough for a lifetime. Granted, it was during the hottest months ... But, like I said, I'm not regretting it. I'm going home with a better outlook on life and more gratitude to what is given to me in SB. I definitely needed the little adjustment in perspective.

A Quick One

SB Coastline - I just can't wait to be back here again!

Finni keeping watch outside the Natural Cafe

Charlie and Finni enjoying an early morning tan on the couch.

I smell trouble ...

Best buds

Finster's K.O.

Riding with style in a 1971 VW bus

Pug Convention at the Beach

Finni being a dog...

Finni taking a quick break on friend Ashleigh's head.

SB Sunrise

Been a little stressed and busy lately, trying to finish up biz here and planning my move back home ... however I am NOT neglecting this blog again ...( even though there's almost no text in this post) ... BUT: a post is a POST! ;)

Happy Weekend my little e-Friends!

Six Weeks till Departure ...

... and I cannot wait. No offense to the desert, but it's time for me to go! I gave notice at the firm that I will not be renewing my lease in November, my daycare lady fell off the wagon and no furchild of mine will be cared for by a drunkard, and the heat doesn't seem to let up either... Yup, it's time to go. And my god I've not been this excited since I had the grand idea to pack up Pug and move HERE! Hah. Tho something tells me this latest idea is much wiser than the last one I had... tsk, tsk, tsk.

Finster is snoring happily beside me while I'm fixing up my web pages, my State Bar Profile, my business cards. Ever since we switched to Fall, he's become a lazy bum in the evenings. Suits me just fine right now. I started working from home more and I'm grateful for the uninterrupted time I get, even if it is sparse at times.

I dug up some more pics of him from all over the place, including his BT buddy in Santa Barbara ... enjoy!

Peek-A-Pug

Olive and Finni in a "stare down" ... well, Olive could care less.

Could barely keep his eyes open at the dinner table.

Madness

Contempt

Daycare Fun

Instantly humbled after Mr. Bigmouth mouthed off

Cookie Trance

Has it really been 4 months???

I've been sitting here trying to get back into the swing of things with this blog but it doesn't seem to be easy. First off, I feel bad for having abandoned this place because it gave me so much comfort through some very dark times (Sparky and all). Second, I can't really say that life's been easy lately and I probably should have moved my butt over here and shared about it, since talking about it normally works well. But newp, stubborn German background prevented me from talking about the fact that I feel like I made a ginormous mistake moving out here to the desert. I DO NOT LIKE IT! I've been homesick since I got here. I don't know what I was thinking moving 220 miles southeast of all my friends of the past 20 years... Guh! And I can't really say Finley is liking it much either, understandably. So I've been *visiting* a lot with SB friends in SB. I'm slowly trying to inch my way back there ... hoping to open my own practice there and getting back to normal. I didn't realize how much stuff was going on in my head before I left Santa Barbara, pretty much all attributable to my own sense of unhappiness, and I didn't really realize that I would take my *stuff* with me. Normally, that's the problem with running from things ... you take yourself with you.

Well, another lesson learned. I can't really say I regret moving here, as it has opened my eyes and taught me a bunch, but I'd rather be back home now, where my friends are and where I have a sense of belonging. Here, I just feel out of place and awkward and my heart's not in it to give it a better shot ...

However, even though I may not be the happiest here, lil Finster has flourished and grown into an 11 month old, 17 pound bundle of terror, eh joy. He's got so much personality and wit, he charms everyone wherever he goes and generally is the center of attention. See below:

Thanks for stickin' with me my little eFriends ... I really, really appreciate your support and friendship.

Desert Daycare

Finster is enjoying himself immensely at the daycare here in the desert. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!