A Weekend Away

Two weekends ago the dogs and I packed up our bags (and my dirty laundry) and hit the road for a long weekend in VA Beach. Despite sitting in terrible traffic on the way up there, the trip was incredible. We stayed with my "big sister" who gave me my class ring in a beautiful lantern ceremony during our boarding school days at Chatham Hall. We've remained dear friends since our high school days - she's the kind of girl you can go a year without speaking to, and the moment we see each other it's as though nothing has changed! Our friendship always falls right back into place, exactly where we left it, no matter the time or distance between us. Of course, add to the equation that she loves animals, and so kindly opened her home to me and two dogs, and you've got yourself one fun weekend!

The dogs had a great time! Hush got to see the ocean for the first time, both pups got to race on the beach, and basked in the attention fawned on them all weekend!

I'll post more about the trip soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to share this picture of the girls and I. I had spent the entire day at the beach, did not have on a lick of make-up, and my hair was still full of ocean water. That said, I think the love my dogs and I share just makes this photo glow. I've even considered photoshopping poinsettias into the background and using it for my Christmas card picture this winter.

Memorial Day Weekend: Milly's Trip

Word on the street is Milly had a great time at Kitty Hawk. With the exception of an upset tummy on day one, she was happy as a clam, and active the whole time. I still haven't seen her yet, but here are some of the pictures from her trip! Aren't you jealous?? I wish I could go to the OBX!

Milly's Beach Getaway (without moi)...

I’ve often joked that my dogs live better than I do, and I now think this is actually true! Milly has a surprise in store for her this weekend – a trip to Kitty Hawk! I am green with envy that she’ll be spending the weekend on the beach, playing in the surf and sand, and having attention fawned on her, while I’ll be in sticky, hot, old DC.

As you know, I sometimes let my ex-boyfriend keep Milly for anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks at a time. Whenever he has her I use the time to focus on organizing my life, and training Hush. Two dogs can be a lot of work at times, especially while living in a small apartment, working full time, and trying to maintain a social life in a bustling city as a single 26-year old with a tendency of over-committing herself. Add into the mix that one of those dogs is in heat, and training to be a show dog, and sometimes it’s enough to make me want to rip my hair out. Of course, I adore my dogs, and I would not trade them for the world, but there are moments where it is stressful trying to manage everything.

Each year my friend Tina, you might remember her from some posts about apple picking, or know her from Love, Tina Marie, organizes a trip to the Outer Banks over Memorial Day Weekend. My ex and I have many of the same friends, and Tina is one of the many friends we share. The OBX trip is always planned many, many, many months in advance, and when the invitations went out I was not sure what sort of terms I would be on with my ex, he RSVP’d first, so I opted out. Next year, however, I plan on going on the trip! :)

When I got a gchat from the ex today asking if he could see Milly for an afternoon or a couple of days, I said sure. He asked when he could see her, and I told him I’d have to figure it out. Then, he asked if she could go to Kitty Hawk this weekend. Well, I couldn’t think of a single reason why I should say no. She’ll get exercise, she loves the beach, and everyone going on the trip loves her. Of course, I couldn’t make it that easy for my ex, so I promised he could take her with him under one condition… he return her with some wonderful portraits of her at the beach. The ex is a great photographer, and he was happy to oblige with my terms. So, tonight I’ll be packing Milly’s beach bag, and he’ll pick her up tomorrow night, then at noon on Friday they’ll hit the road.

Of course, I sure do wish I had some fun locale to escape to for the weekend. Oh the irony, my Golden Retriever lives and vacations better than I do.