Curious George

Little Miss Cali is definitely a curious one... her little nose always going a million miles a minute and she just runs from spot to spot exploring.  When people say dogs learn from what we do, they are totally correct.  Everything Q or I do, Cali is right there under your feet sniffing and looking at what you are doing.  It is very easy to tell that the little wheels in her head are turning, thinking and studying what you are doing.

She has learned her name and is slowing getting the whole potty outside thing.  Each night she gets better and better and I think she is going to be quiet all night long here soon.

Yesterday was extremely hot in VA reaching temperatures of 104 degrees but feeling like 115.  It was miserable outside and poor little Cali did not want to be outside in the sun.  During her walks she walked mainly in the shade and only went potty in the shade.  She was being very picky.

Since it was so hot, we decided to get Cali a little pool to try and get her used to the water and playing in it.

She wasn't too sure about it.  We tried to get in the water and have her see that it was okay.  She came in one time and started to get used to walking around but her little feet kept sliding so it was making her nervous.  We will keep trying and hopefully she will get the hang of it.

New Beginnings

What a busy week we have had...

This past weekend, we went down to Ocala, FL mainly to get my drivers license and for Q to get his car title but of course this was only a fraction of the adventures.  One of the highlights of every trip to Florida is seeing Panda (the dog- Poodle).  She is so cute and full of energy and Q's little baby!

I also got to experience for the first time inshore fishing. Reminded me a lot of fishing back home with my dad on the lake but with different fish.  The drum was my favorite because of the drumming sound they make (I had no idea they actually made this noise).  I also started to enjoy the shrimp we were using as bait; I was a little skeptical at first of touching them but I got over it and had fun.

Since then we have been settling back into our routine and Q getting ready for Infantry Officer Training.  I wish they would just start already so we can finally get somewhere with what we are doing here and that just means we can find out where we are going next!!!

The highlight of the week by far is getting our new bundle of joy, Miss Cali Hoffman!

She is so cute and small that she melt Q's heart within 5 seconds.  She is only 8 weeks old so of course she knows nothing yet and bites, pees, and of course cries ALL THE TIME!  Last night was a little rough as she woke up every 2 hours and you would have thought we were murdering her.  Q had to get a little stern with her but we seemed to get her screaming under control to a small whimper at least.  Lets hope she gets this under control soon because I can't stand the ear piercing screams.  But her cuteness makes up for her craziness.  There will be many pictures and updates on little Miss Cali I'm sure.

Why Me?

Yesterday started as such a good day, ran 3 miles and then decided to go to the pool at our apartment complex... it was the hottest day in DC so far this year (around 96 degrees) so EVERY small child in the neighborhood was at the pool.  I tried really hard to deal with the kids and screaming and actually stayed for about 2 hours.

When I left the pool, I noticed a boy, about age 9 years old, standing awkwardly outside the gate to the pool.  He kinda kept looking at me weirdly but I ignored it.  He had run to the building across the street from the pool... or so I thought.  Next then I know he is walking a few yards behind me.  I kept turning around to get him to realize that yes in fact I did notice him but he continued to follow.  I thought that I should walk to my car and get in it instead of going up to our apartment but then I thought to myself, "No he won't follow you, he is only 9 what harm could he really cause. I am just over reacting."  Well I was wrong on all counts.  I walked up to the stairs to go to our apartment and I notice that he stopped right at the entrance to our building.  I decided to turn around and I asked him if I could help him with something and he stammered and said softly, No.  SO I continue up the stairs as he watches me.  I get all the way to the door and give him a glare that had to say, "okay now your freaking me out." As I walk inside, he looked to be walking away.  I hurry inside and lock the door.  I am sorta freaked out and tell myself how weird that was that the boy acted like that...

By the time it takes me to think this, I hear a knock on our door.  I have a slight moment of panic and think, "this can't be him."  Sure enough I look through the peep hole and the boy is standing outside, knocking on OUR door.  I slowly walk away and go to the far back of our apartment into the bedroom and shut that door.  I was freaking out at this point.  "What could this kid want!?"  After about 8 minutes I finally decide that I can't handle this and decide to go find the apartment's main office number.  As I walk into the spare bedroom to get the number, I see out the window the little boy is standing on the sidewalk looking up into our window RIGHT AT ME!!! He then walks back to our door and knocks again.  Meanwhile, I call the front office and the lady tells me she is going to send over a maintenance man.  Sure enough within a couple minutes the maintenance man pulls up in a golf cart and tells the boy to get in.

Needless to say I am completely traumatized!!! Why did the little boy choose me? I was completely minding my own business and he had to come ruin it.  What a good day, ruined.

Perfection

As someone who is obsessed with Pinterest and organizing, it came to me today how sometimes I can be such a perfectionist.  I want to ask myself... why??  

What is "perfection"? Why do we, as American's, see the need to fight for perfection?  This is why we are going so far into debt, fighting, divorce rate skyrocketing, and children growing up with such depression, lack of self confidence, etc. We are constantly trying to keep up with the Jones.  

It is one thing to be picky about what you want in life and how certain things should be but to be constantly fighting for perfection only to be let down is not the way to live life. 

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.  ~Harriet Braiker

I have noticed that over the past year, I have been in a constant state of trying to reach perfection.  Finishing college with straight As was my goal and I knew that if I did not reach that then I was going to be very disappointed in myself, and for what? Was a B really going to kill me? I stressed and stressed about it for that small fraction of a difference for what? Planning my wedding was another "perfection" moment.  I tried very hard to make everything just perfect and probably spent way more money on the small stupid things just to make my crazy self feel better when in the long run I keep thinking about all the things I would have changed.  Why did I try to be a perfectionist only to be sweating the small stuff now... pure stupidity.  

I hate this characteristic about myself sometimes.  It causes such stupid issues that could be avoided if we all just RELAX!!!  New goal in life!!!

This is how I plan on keeping myself busy while I am here in Virginia...

Somewhat normal scene around here today, Quinn came home around 1:30 ish again today, which is turning into a common thing these days during IOC Prep training.  They don't seem to be too busy just yet; just waiting for training to start in a couple weeks then I get to say goodbye to my husband for a while except for that one hour at night before he goes to bed probably.

So there are probably very few more nights like these ahead

In my news...

I have been looking for a job, doing something in the medical field to gain some experience, but I am not having much luck. The process is very frustrating because I don't know where locations are around us to know how far things are so I have to Google EVERYTHING and I don't have any certifications except CPR so pretty much every job is out of my league.  I know something will come up so in the meantime I will just blog.