My Beautiful Barbie Doll, Reagan!

So one year ago, on April 17, 2015 I stopped off at the Nevada Humane Society after work to meet a dog that they had emailed me about.  With Cody's passing being so recent I was struggling with the idea, but I decided to go with the helpful prompting by my mom and my boss.  My mom meets me there and we find the dog that I was emailed about but he was soooooooo  much of a barker and jumper and was trying to climb out of the kennel.  I sadly decided he was a bit much for me, especially knowing that sparky was going to have such a difficult time as it was accepting a new sibling in the house.  She also has a history of beating the crap out of every dog she has ever met, regardless of their size.   As I am walking form kennel to kennel I come across this very calm, timid, quiet blond girl.  I kind of fell in love with her at first sight.  We arranged to go to the meeting area and she was  so sweet and independent.  No interest in playing with the ball though.  No barking, no jumping.  Just very chill.  Well, at that moment I decided that she was a new member of the DarkNite Manor Family.  So Home we went.  Well, actually it was more like to Petco we went, since I had NO Doggy supplies for her.  We spent a few hours at Petco buying everything needed for her new home and then we headed home.

The name the shelter had for her was Felicity.  That was just not suiting for her at all.  So I renamed her Reagan.  Yes, she is named after one of my biggest heroes, Ronald Reagan.  She is a 10 year old girl who had obviously just recently had puppies.  That absolutely broke my heart.  Who lets a 10 year old dog get pregnant?  how could they let that happen.  Then I discover while going over all of her documents that not only was she pregnant and just recently gave birth but she was also found and rescued while living on the streets fending for herself.  Turn on the tears.  This poor sweet girl!  She was so calm and so loving.  Who could do this to her. She will never spend another day in her life ever wanting or needing a thing.  She and I made a deal at that moment that she will have a loving home for the rest of her life and be happy and safe in exchange for me spoiling her rotten every chance I get.

Sparky was not so welcoming.  She stood in the laundry room entrance to the house and screamed at Reagan refusing to let her in the house.  Poor Reagan was more than willing to oblige so she turned around and headed back out to the car.  No, no, no...  Lets move past this now.  So finally, after hiding behind me, Reagan finally scurried past Sparky and Sparky was chasing her down the hall letting her know she wasn't welcome.  Ugh....

Reagan quickly become a fixed member of the family and a fixed part of my heart.  The first week or two was interesting as we adjusted to each other and new routines on both of our parts.  This is when I finally had to accept the reality that my sweet Barbie Girl was deaf.  Yep, Deaf.  She couldn't hear anything... well except for the occasion really really loud noise.  This would explain why she was so calm and never barked.  Not to mention she was soooooo hard to wake up int he mornings.  She fought me like a toddler when it came time to get up.  If I turned the light on she would take her paw and cover her face.  If I tried to egg her on by lifting her head or her paws she would let her entire body go limp so it was like lifting dead weight. then when I let go she would roll over and face away from me  She is NOT a morning girl.... Just like her mommy ;) LOL

There was one time that she actually intentionally barked that was not in her sleep.  About 3 months after she moved in, I had a tree trimmer at the house cleaning up my trees and while Reagan and I were chilling on the couch he walked up to the door to ring the bell.  The blinds on the window by the door were open so she was able to see outside and all of a sudden she went from laying down to sitting half way up and alert and barked THREE times!  in a row!!  But that was it.  She didn't get up.  She didn't move... Just barked three times then laid back down.  LOL  Lets not get crazy with the effort expected out of her.   I was looking at her so stunned and with my jaw on the ground that I almost forgot to go answer the door.

As the months went by she started moving a bit more stiff and slower than usual an her swollen baby belly wasn't tightening up at all. I was a little concerned but figured since she was 10 years old then she probably doesn't bounce back like she used to.  It didn't matter,  every day and week and month that went by gave me cause for more ways to spoil her.  She now has not only 7 beds in the house.  One in the bedroom, One in the Art Studio, One outside in her kennel, one in her crate in the kitchen, one in the kitchen next to her crate, and Serta dog bed in the living room and last but most certainly not least... She has a human twin size air mattress set up in the living room for her.  That is by far her favorite.  A few months ago she stopped being able to jump up on the couch so I thought she deserves to have a comfy bed she CAN get on to.  So she has the bed, pillows and blankets on it all for her.

After a visit with the Vet it was determined she was probably closer to 12 and her swollen belly was actually enlarged organs.  The days we have together are certainly numbered and each day together is a gift.  She has outlasted the time that the vet first estimated we would have together and I think we love each other so much that we will make the best out of the time left.  She is the sweetest girl and the most loving.  Sweet, Calm and such a personality it kills me.  She is so smart and definitely knows how to play mommy, but that's ok.  Mommy doesn't mind it one bit.  :) 



I don't know how long my sweet Barbie Doll and I have together but she will be completely spoiled rotten for every moment that we have.  Every minute and every hour.  She will know nothing but love and safety and comfort.  That is my promise to her.

We have now celebrated a birthday and our 1 year anniversary with each other. Looking for many more reasons to celebrate still.

I love you my beautiful Reagan!  Sweetest girl in the world!

RIP Cody, My Sweet Baby Boy

My sweet loving baby boy Cody passed away late at night, the evening of April 7, 2015.  It was very sudden and unexpected.  He passed from Feline Cardiomyopthy and passed very quickly and in my arms.  I truely did not beleive I would survive the grief and heart break.  I often still don't think I will. He was just barely 13 years old and full of playful energy just meer hours before his passing.

Sparky (Left) and Cody (Right)

Sparky (Left) and Cody (Right)

Sparky (Left) and Cody (Right)

His sister, Sparky was in terrible mourning as well.  Unable to handle being alone yet not really wanting me around at first either.  I let her come into the room and say goodbye to him so she would understand that he was gone and that he would not being coming back.  As much as she liked to pretend she didn't like him, she very much loved her brother more than anything.  She was so lost without him.  She stopped eating and lost over half of her weight during her time grieving.  It was a stressful time for us both while I tried to force her to eat again so she would not get sick and leave me too.  It took her over a week to come back into the bedroom where Cody died.  She wouldn't come in at night to sleep with me at all.  She wasn't ready to face the room again.

I cried multiple times daily for months after Cody passed.  I was angry he was taken from me so soon.  I wished I could die with him.  I couldn't imagine my life without him with me. I didn't want to. I still miss him so much and I still cry often.  I had him cremated that next morning and his ashes were home with me by that evening.  The cremation company also created a clay imprint of his paw that I carried around with me for weeks.  I found comfort feeling the creases and wrinkles from his paw.  I also received a pendant necklace that has a small amount of his ashes in it.  I know it's silly but I wear it whenever I need to feel his love and support and I can always feel him with me and close to me when I do.

I love and miss my sweet baby boy every day.  Not a single day goes by where I don't think of him and miss him terribly. RIP Cody.  I <3 you to the moon and back!

I'm a slacker! Brief Update

Ok, So I know I am a major slacker right now.  I haven't posed on here in a long time.  Well a lot of good and very bad things have happened in the past year.
New job position, Yay!!
Discovered my relationship was a complete sham.  Turned out to be a complete lie, and was being used as a bank account till the favors and money weren't needed anymore and  then came the bullying and threats.  So of course that was followed by a major depression and more major trust issues.
Next my sweet baby boy cat, Cody, passed away expectantly which absolutely destroyed me!
Then I rescued a sweet and wonderful deaf dog named Reagan who has saved me from some horrible times and I love her to the moon and back.
I've reached my 7 years Sober Birthday.  7 years.  Wow.  Big pat on my back. :)

I plan to make some special posts for these two babies but I figured I needed to jot some thoughts down now.

Sorry for disappearing again.  I can't say it won't happen more because it probably will but I can say I will try not to let it happen for too long.  ;)

Carnival Cruise to Baja California Vacation

Every vacation I take, I make a photo book.  I have one for my trip to New York City in 2006, Europe 2011, Europe 2012, Oregon 2013 and now this Baja California Cruise 2014.  I love making these books and displaying them in my house.  Here is a link to the book I made for vacation this year.  Carnival Cruise to Baja California.  Fabulous time, I can't wait to book my next one.  

Click here to view this photo book larger

Going Back To School At 36 Years Old

So I have been keeping this quiet since January, but I figured now I can announce it.  I am officially enrolled to go back to school.  I started the enrollment at TMCC (Truckee Meadows Community College) in January and not that the tuition is paid and books are bought and enrollment is complete I feel confident that I'm not backing out now.  LOL  I start school for the 1st Summer Session which happens to start the Tuesday after I get back from my cruise. My first day back to work after vacation is also my first day of school.  Eeks!!   Good timing huh??  LOL 

I am feeling pretty good about it.  I have actually already registered for a summer session 1 class, Summer Session 2 class and also registered for my classes for the Fall Semester.  I'm ready to go.  

I was very lucky that all of m credits from my time at University of Phoenix transferred so I have most of my gen-ed credits already.  

The only part that really sucks is now it is required to have 14 credits of a foreign language to receive you AA.  Ugh.  Of course this would happen.  Boys and Girls, This is why it never pays to put things off and procrastinate.  Now I have no chocie but to get through these.  Which of course equals 4 semesters so this is going to take 2 years at the minimum no matter what. They may be the only classes I'm taking those last semsters but it is still going to be what hold me up.  Oh well.  Best to get it started now so I can get it done and transfer back to UNR (University of Nevada, Reno) quicker. 

Here is to learning and becoming educated!!! :)  

Vacation in 12 Days!

It's getting closer.  I am now starting to get excited again for this break from my reality.  In less than 2 weeks I will be on a plane headed down to LAX to then board the cruise ship and escape everything and everyone here at home in Reno, NV. 

Ok, Vacation... Let's Do This!!!

I'm 6 Years Sober!

A gift from my friend, Brandi. Thank you! 

So today I am 6 years sober.  Wow!  6 years!  I can't believe it. Most days I feel like it has flown by, but I will be honest and say the past 6 months has made this journey feel much , much longer.

So today means a little more to me than past anniversaries.  It's been a very difficult 6 months, but I managed to not have a drink through it, so that is saying something, right?  I know I was having a difficult time the beginning of last year too but this year was much harder for me.  I am still recovering from it and just like my sobriety, I am taking it one day at a time.  It's the best I can do, and I'm great with that.

I'm patting myself on the back and giving myself a huge hug.
I think it's about time for my next Tiffany and Co. charm too.  I haven't had one since year 2. Time to treat myself. :)

New Couches!!!

So about 11 years ago I ordered new couches that, when delivered, turned out to be the wrong patter. Unfortunately the company that I ordered them from was going out of business and not able to replace them. So I took them as they were because I needed couches.  They had this flowery pattern, which were sooo NOT me.  I do have to say though, those were the most comfortable couches I have every had.  I mean, INCREDIBLY comfortable.  So I made due with them for the past decade.  Their coloring was very neutral so I was able to over look the flowers.

Well I finally decided to get some new one.

These ones are Brown Leather (well leather blend but close enough).  They will be so much easier to keep clean with my cats and all of their hair, and they too are SOOOO Comfortable.   They were delivered on Saturday. So Excited so I wanted to share how they look in my living room!

Sunday Confessions

Happy Sunday everyone!  I can't believe it's already almost over.  I need to start booking some Mondays off to have some extended weekends.  Since this is the beginning of a no holiday period for a while.    

Well my confession today is that I LOVE and am obsessed with binge watching TV shows.  I spend pretty much all of my free time watching full series of some show beginning to end.  Examples of some favorites are:

Just to name a few.  They have been keeping me pretty busy and keeping my mind distracted for a while.  Which lately is something that I have really been needing.  But now I seem to be caught up on these and need some new shows.  Any suggestions out there?  Don't hesitate to share please. :) Obviously I am a fan of crime dramas.  LOL 

Who else Binge watches?  What are your favorites? 

* Thank you Alyx, for her Sunday Confessions Inspiration.  Check out her confessions here:

My Cute and Sassy Little Munchkin

So I was sitting in the computer yesterday afternoon and I turn around and see my munchkin Cody sitting in the back if the sofa chair with his tongue sticking out. I was sure he would pull it back in any moment but he just kept sitting there like that while looking at me like I was the crazy one acting weird. I grabbed my phone to take a couple of pics. He still kept the tongue out. That is, until I decided to have some fun a I reached over to grab the tongue. He wasn't amused. Lol. Poor Cody. He's so picked on. Then again. HE was the one sticking his tongue out at ME so he may be the doing the picking. Lol. He's still so cute!