I have a fiancee... and here are some pics already.

Ok, ok... for all of those who have been hounding me, I think this is as good as it's gonna get. At least for tonight. Jeff is passed out face first in the other room from jet lag... still in his jeans, lol. I think I wore him out taking him to Quinn's orthodontist appointment, with Quinn's very talkative 8 year old "charge" in town (Quinn was babysitting the neighbor kid). So I thought I'd do a couple quick cell phone shots in my jammies for the sake of blogdom and getting something posted for my loving blogger family.

The top pic was just added (had to come back and update the blog) after I finally got it off Jeff's phone which has horrible reception out here. This is taken en route from the Portland airport to Carl's Junior. Yes, Jeff handed me my ring on the way to Carl's Junior and asked me to marry him. Can't think of any better way- I was really hoping he'd be casual about it because I've never been much of a romantic! It was funny.

The "f" word is very strange still. It works, though :)

Dawg Portraits

Beth got a new studio! She needed to check her lighting, and I am always an eager vounteer. This time she had an upcoming doggy shoot for the following weekend, so she asked me to bring in a "subject." I chose Lucy because, well, she has been having all these problems and I am not sure how long she will be with me. I thought this was a nice opportunity to get some professional portraits done. I love them!

This one is called "Lucy catching a treat."

This is my favorite. It's very modern looking, I am going to frame it for the house. My goal is to have a ton of nice doggy head shots all over.

I love this one. This is totally candid. We were just kissing, and not to be a dork, but it reminds me of how happy Lucy makes me when she is just being sweet.

Lucy looking inquizitive.

This was so much fun, I am trying to find a time to take the Corgis in. I would love some great pics of them! Beth does an amazing job with animals. If anyone's in Portland and wants pet pics (her prices are even reasonable) her website with contact info is http://www.tallgrasspdx.com/.

Where to stay?

Need hotel suggestions. Trying to plan our move to Houston, which could happen anywhere in the next 3-4 weeks depending on when the house closes, I was thinking of who will be riding with me and who will fly (dog-wise), and also where to stay. So I am looking for dog show friend advice here...

I'll be taking the route of I5 through California (we'll stop and say hi, Carolyn... and won't make you do nails!) and then cutting over on I10 to drive through Phoenix since I have 3 friends currently living there and grandpuppy Sedona to meet! Then I10 all the way into Texas. Do you guys know of any dog friendly accommodations along the way? I know everyone has shown at least down through California, so I figured y'all might have some tried and true places you use.

So far my riding candidates are Bunny (she has first dibs on the car) and Lily. Bunny is too old to deal with the flying crap, and Lily has some odd breathing issues that I worry about. Cosmo will ride if we can squeeze him in so we can save a bit of money on airfare. We're going to trial run that tomorrow. Lucy (airplane veteran) and Bud (though I hate to do it to the old man because he'll be terrified, he is strong as a horse and extremely car sick) will fly with Quinn. I really wanted to rent a cargo van and drive them all, but cargo vans seem to be in-town rentals only.

Also, what is everyone's take on sedation while flying? What do you use, and is it a good idea? I seem to remember all dogs getting downers pre-flight and then all of a sudden everyone is against it. Some airlines won't even fly sedated dogs.

Thanks for any advice! There's an awful lot to this moving stuff. Forget packing... coordinating everyone is craziness!

Lucky Charms

And joining the brood soon is... Lucky!

All my dogs have stupid nick names, and I always call Lucky "Lucky Charms" when I think Jeff might not be listening. He's really cute, albeit a total pain in the arse. He should fit right in.

Mandy wanted to see pics because we are wondering if Lucky is a purebred Heeler. What do you think, Mandy? Jeff found him running stray in some small crappy town in BFE Texas, and just the other day (3ish years later) found that there is a breeder in that same small crappy town, and the dogs on their webpage look just exactly like Lucky. If he is one of their dogs he had definitely gotten away, and was "Lucky" to have been found and brought home. He's well fed and loved, but wasn't doing so hot when Jeff found him.

New House!

Jeff is signing the papers on the offer we agreed to with the sellers as I blog this! 2100 square feet, 4 bedrooms, Either 2 or 2.5 baths (I think there is a toilet in the laundry room) and on a really cute street. So excited!!! Everyone come visit! Just not all at once!

I heart Corgis. At the end of probably one of the most emotionally exhausting days of my entire life, I am laying in bed with precious Cosmo, his cold nose nestled into my shoulder. Very little is better than that!

I took the offer on the house. Much debate and angst went into the decision, but it's done. It feels really good, too. I was so ready for it. Thank goodness I will be in Houston by the end of February. Basking in the sunshine, holding hands with Jeff as we walk into Thai Gormet and Lupes, going on walks with the dogs, decorating the new house. Hanging out with Cheska! I can't believe we're moving back at the same time! I'll miss all my friends here, but I'll have the ability to come out and visit if any of you want to keep me : ) I am already thinking of how Bunny and I are going to make it to some dog shows.

On my to-do list for tomorrow is getting the house ready for inspection (dishwasher needs fixing), finding out prices for shots and heartworm meds, and determining the most cost efficient way to get myself, a teenager, and 5 dogs to Texas. Apparently renting a cargo van isn't as easy as I thought when you're driving cross country. Any suggestions?

SOLD... I think

So, sitting on my kitchen counter is an offer on my house, which needs respondng to by tomorrow morning.

It's not a bad offer. It would have been a better offer had my realtor remembered to tell me about excise tax to the tune of 3 percent. But short of doing a lot of work, raising the price, and sitting around for another few months, this is an offer I should probably jump on. I have talked to several people now, completely uninvested in whether or not I sell this property, and all but one has told me to bail now.

I thought of keeping it as a rental until the market goes up, but I would be upside down $200 each month and that doesn't even include repairs that renters might want. Factor in the new gutters needed soon, the new fencing needed soon, and the clean up needed every time you switch renters... it started to look like a bad prospect. Plus Jeff's parents sent me the tax rules for renting and they don't look very advantageous. If I held for a few years til the market goes back up what I would make off the house would probably break even with what I would lose. Not interested. So glad Jeff's dad has an IRS background and sent me that info. Thanks, Howard! Renting made me feel in over my head financially every time I thought of it, and now I know it's not worth feeling in over my head.

Should have sold last year, but life happens wen life happens, and you've gotta move when you've gotta move. There will be other houses to gain from. I should just be grateful to be getting a nice down payment for our Houston house as well as a little extra money.

I am sad but happy... do they call that bittersweet? It's the last house my mom lived in. Thank goodness I have her things to put all around the new house. I also really like La Center, and Washington, and have some good friends here. As I told Cheska earlier, though; I am trying to remember that we live in a mobile society. I can visit, and I can ever come back in a few years if I want, or buy a vacation cabin here. There are many options, and living cheaply in Houston for a while will open up so many options I would not otherwise have.

On to the good things- we are very close to having our offer accepted on an amazing house in Houston! They did't want to take a contingent offer, and amazingly I got an offer on mine the day we put the offer in on theirs. The stars really aligned on that- I almost should not question it. I will put up links once our offer is officially accepted. I am super excited, though! It's 4 bedrooms, which is what we wanted, with the master downstairs and the other 3 upstairs. It is also 2100 sq ft and in a very nice neighorhood. I'm really, really happy!

I am also going to get to be near Jeff! Finally! I can't wait to go on dates again, and decorate our house, and be able to see each other all the time. It's going to be really great.

It is also good timing because Cheska moves back to Houston next week. So we will be able to hang out and have fun once again, and I am hoping I can coax her out of the inner loop and down to Richmond once in a while!

I better get to sleep now. I have to be at the realtor's office at 8:30am to sign those papers. Sniff... wahoo!... not sure which one to go with.