To Walk, or Not To Walk

I don't think I could do it.

Turn my back on life and just walk away. 

My father posted on his blog about a man who did, who went for a walk and just kept going, and never went back, and I don't think I could.

There's so much stuff, so many people, so many attachments.  I mean, for instance I am married, which I presume this man wasn't.  Or at least if he was, he can't have liked his wife very much.  I happen to like my husband.

And then there's Everything Else.  I mean, if I were single and unattached, as I presume this man was, the comforts of life are just... rather pleasant really.  Take my pillow for example - I mean, I even take it on overnights with me now.  (or rather, I take a carbon copy [it's not actually carbon]). 

Friends, well other than my husband I think I could keep walking.  I have friends, but over here they're more like acquaintances and back home is already a long way away so I don't think I could walk further.

I think I would be lonely though.  For awhile I would enjoy the quiet and I could even talk to myself - I do that a lot anyway.  There's something about talking to yourself.  I always understand what I'm talking about and usually I have some pretty good responses, solutions, you name it.  But I do depend on other people.  Sometimes I do need a shoulder to cry on, or an opinion other than mine to ask for.  And sometimes it's nice just to have someone else there.

Sometimes I would like to do it.  I'd like to just say 'FINE' or 'you know, WHATEVER' or 'I'm DONE' or whatever else comes into my mind when I'm altogether over it.  To fling down whatever I'm doing and just walk.  To keep going.  Sometimes I consider getting into my car and just driving.

But then I wonder what I would do when I got there.

And of what I left behind.

And how would I get back?

And I get scared and stay where I am.  And let's face it, that's where I'm going to stay, because however tough life might seem in an instance, and however an argument might just be TOO MUCH, or I just can't handle it any more and work, or home, or life itself is just drowning me, there is always tomorrow.

Or quite often, there is 5 minutes' time, when I've taken a deep breath and realised that I've got it pretty good.  That I've got a loving husband, a good job, a nice apartment - a new puppy, even - AND two pretty awesome pillows - and I don't think any of that is worth walking away from.

So I think I'll stay here.

And be.

It's been a bit wet here in Brisbane.  These three puppy dogs at the edge of a flooded road look like they agree with me.

I normally run down this street.  On the left is where the Criterium Track is (bicycle racing) and there is a track that routes down to Toombul shopping centre.  Or at least, there usually is, but not today.

There was a bit of a cyclone going on up north, Cyclone Marcia, which hit the Rockhampton area as a Cat 5 cyclone yesterday morning.  By the time it got down to Brisbane it was classified as only a "Tropical Low" but it hasn't stopped raining for 3 days.

This is the lower car park at Toombul shopping centre with the train overpass, and of course somewhere in there is the track I run on.

A closer view of the car park.

The shopping centre from the opposite direction - from the road - obviously closed!

The rain seems to be easing now...

Puppy!

My puppy was born on Wednesday, and I almost missed out on her altogether.  

Due to my not reading my emails properly and a misunderstanding between me and the breeder, she thought I wasn't bothered with choosing, and I thought she just hadn't sent me pictures yet!

Anyway by the time I realised the mistake, three puppies were already sold.  Out of 3 caramel and 6 black and white, 2 caramel had already gone - but thankfully the one female was still available!

Here she is!

Sooo cute, right??

I'm sure the drama of realising I was almost losing out on a puppy altogether almost gave me heart failure...

...and Kurt was left virtually banging his head on the table at my not realising the email had attachments...

...but it all worked out okay (phew!) and in eight weeks little puppy will be joining our family :)

Valentine's Day 2015

We went out last night, for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, we met on 13 February, and secondly, Valentine's Day itself is bound to be crazily busy, so why not celebrate the day before?

We went to Hogsbreath, because it's relaxed and they have great steak, two things we enjoy, and frankly, we're not really classy people.

I insisted on a photo, because we don't take very many photos of ourselves... unfortunately it is only an iphone selfie, but there you go!  Don't I have a handsome bearded husband? :)

Today was weird, because this is Kurt's first weekend working in a couple of years.  He is training for his final rating which will mean he will be doing proper shift work including nights and weekends.  So it was very strange being at home on a Saturday and him not being there.  He did get back early afternoon and after we wrapped up cooking up a large batch of chicken tikka masala, we went out and bought a crate and bed for the new puppy!

By the way, it's still not born yet... just a few days until its due date.

Our New Puppy

I am sure there are going to be many posts on this topic, but this is the first.  We are getting a puppy!  It will be approximately 10 weeks until we actually have the puppy, as she is not even born yet.  In fact, we don't even know if the dog will have a female puppy, as there's no way of telling until the litter is born.  They are due on 18 February, and we have first choice on a female puppy.  I've no particular reason for wanting a female, as it will be spayed anyway, but for some reason I do.  However, I may change my mind if she only has boys...

The (future) puppy's parents are called Matilda and Mandrake, and they look a little like this:

Matilda, the mother, is a tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Mandrake, the father, is a apricot toy poodle.

The colour of the puppies is yet to be seen, but the last litter was caramel and white.  By the way, those aren't actual pictures of the parents, they're just pictures from google images, all credit given to whoever took the photos... it wasn't me!

Our next step is to puppy proof the apartment.  This shouldn't be too hard.  The main changes will be keeping the doors to the bedrooms closed (the bedrooms are carpeted, that doesn't combine well with a potty-training puppy!) taping down the cables to the sound system, keeping our shoes in order (I don't like the idea of chewed shoes) and finding somewhere out of reach to put Kurt's x-box controllers and remotes!

The guitar will probably be moved to the bedroom.

Oh did I mention, the puppy will look a little bit like this:

Maybe.  It might have patches of white, or black, or who knows really?  Apparently they look like little mice when they're born but I'll be able to see the colour to choose anyway.

They grow to about 30cm high (1 foot) at the shoulder, and should be a lot more active than the likes of a chihuahua so I should be able to go for a slow jog or fast walk with the dog.  I am definitely not a handbag puppy person...

Also, hopefully due to having the poodle father, the puppy should be either no-shed or low-shed.  That of course is the plan, although with having a Cavalier mother (which is high-shed) the rules of the genetics are that the puppy could inherit any of the parents' traits so... luck of the draw, a little.  Anyway, Cavoodles (the cross) are usually low-shed and intelligent creatures as both Cavaliers and Poodles are intelligent dogs.  They are bred as companion/family dogs.

Matilda is having an ultrasound in 2 weeks (which is weird because the pups are due in 2 weeks...) and then I will find out how many puppies she is having.