Guess who's back?

I was at work today and I started thinking, I really need to make more of an effort to post on this darn thing, especially for my friends and family who I don't keep in touch with all that often.

So here I am. Let's see how long I'll last this time.

Well, what has happened since the last time I posted? Probably a lot, but I won't go into detail. Roderick and I went to Venice and then departed on our Mediterranean cruise, which took us to Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. It was an incredibly relaxing trip, we got to meet a few other couples who we got on really well with, and yeah, just a really nice time.

We also decided to put in for an extension, which would mean a 3rd year here in Pakistan. We enjoy it, and we've got nothing holding us back, so why not? I told Rod though, that the only way I'd stay another year is if we had our German Shepherd, Mya, shipped over. So that's what we did. It's been really nice having her around, and good for my health as well, as I've been walking her daily. And I hate walking without a dog, it's just not as fun.

Our next trip is in October. We're off to Kenya and Tanzania. It'll have been 4 months in between vacations, which is the longest stretch we've gone since being here. It's a hard life, eh? 

One month to go!

Only one month until we touch down in Pakistan, I cannot believe how fast the time is going. Fortunately I've managed to stay pretty busy, being unemployed, with appointments here and there for all sorts of things. We've been running around like mad trying to get everything sorted before leaving. There have been countless doctors visits, vaccines, dentists, meetings with the people who do the move, paperwork for loans, visas, passports, credit cards, and calling all different places to make sure that we have everything cancelled and all the addresses changed. It's just nonstop. Today a man came over who works for the housing organization on the base, to do an inspection and make sure we didn't destroy the place. Then on Monday a guy is coming in to estimate how much stuff we are shipping with us, and how many boxes he will need, as the military pays someone to pack it all for us. That is a huge bonus and such a weight off my shoulders. The only thing I need to do is create an excel spreadsheet of everything we own, including value and serial numbers, if need be. And since our spare bedroom is now emtpy, I've started putting everything that we're shipping with us in there, to make it easier on the movers.

This whole process is just so exhausting and I just can't wait until it's all over and we're finally there!

I've just returned from a quick trip to Oshawa. It was nice to see everyone, as usual, and even managed to have a going away party at Rod's parents place. We weren't sure if we would have time for one the next time we come down, but it looks like we will, so we planned a little get together for some of our friends to come over for drinks. It was a great time and I hope we're able to do it once more.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my animals with my in-laws when we left. I looked into it, and it would cost $10,000 just to ship Mya, my 80lb German Shepherd. The two cats, Fawkes and Cougar, probably wouldn't be so much but Cougar's getting old and I don't know if he'd make it on a 20 hour flight, and I want to keep them together anyway. I am devastated, to say the least. It was so weird coming home, opening the front door and not being greeted with kisses and meows. Broke my heart.

As it stands right now, and unless something goes terribly wrong, we will be back in Oshawa the last weekend of June. So those of you who live out of town, if you're able to make it down to see me, that'd be awesome. Because who knows when you'll get another chance. After Pakistan, we're hoping to be posted to British Columbia so it could be quite some time before I see anyone again.

Anyway, you've all been warned so if I see ya, I see ya.

I'll be missing you

Well Roderick is home from his two week training course in Virginia/North Carolina with a sweet as tan! (And no, that is not a spelling error.) He had a good time, but what man wouldn't when he spent his days shooting guns and playing paint ball? Lucky duck.

I had my first minor meltdown the other night when he informed me that we'd most likely have to say goodbye to the animals in two weeks time. Two weeks? That's far too soon. I was hoping we'd say goodbye the night before we left, even though I know that's not realistic. But two weeks? It just broke my heart to think that I may only have two weeks left with them, and what if I never see them again? I know I shouldn't think like that, but it's true. What if something happens to me? Or them? Cougar is getting up there, he's 10 years old now. If we stay in Pakistan for four years, he'd be 14. And while Fawkes and Mya are both still young, anything could happen. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to do this. They are my babies and this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.

In saying that, I hope nobody takes that the wrong way. Of course it's going to be difficult to say goodbye to all of you, especially my parents and my siblings, but I've done this before. I moved to Holland. I moved to Ottawa. And while Ottawa really isn't that far away, I only go home every 3-6 months for a couple of days, spending only a few hours with everyone. Nobody ever calls me, and while I try to call people every once in awhile, sometimes life gets in the way and I just never get around to it. Whereas when I lived in Holland, I made sure to call every week or two. So it's almost a guarantee that I'll talk to my family more when I live in Pakistan, than I do now. Sad to say, but it's true.

Anyway, back to the point... I already know what it's like to leave my family behind. But I have no idea what it's like to leave my babies, my animals. They are always here for me, no matter what. I take Mya for 1-2 walks everyday, she keeps me busy and I love spending time with her at the dog park or just wandering around base. And Fawkes and Cougar are such cuddle bugs, if I'm having a bad day I know they'll be there to snuggle up with and watch a movie.

Yep, it's safe to say I'll be a freakin' mess when that day comes!

"Every step I take, every move I make

Every single day, every time I pray

I'll be missing you"

Animaniacs!

When we first found out that we were going to Pakistan, we weren't sure what we were going to do about the animals. Do we take them with us? Do we leave them behind? What kinds of food do they have there? Could we buy a two year supply here and ship it over there? Are there dog parks? Who would take care of them when we went on vacation? All these questions were going through our minds, and we were so confused. One day they were coming with us, the next day they were staying behind.

But it's finally settled, I think. Roderick's parents will take care of them for the two years (or longer) that we're gone for. I really don't want to leave them behind but their quality of living won't be the same there as it is here in Canada. I want to bring them, because they really are my babies, but it just wouldn't be fair to them. Not to mention -- the big reason we aren't bringing them, the 3 months of quarantine they would require! I have an 80lb German Shepherd and there's no way I could put her in a tiny kennel, all alone, for 3 months. She'd never be the same again!

I'm really going to miss my furbabies while we're gone but I just need to keep reminding myself - It's all for the best!

 Mya, our Sable German Shepherd. She's 2 and is such a good girl!

 My baby Fawkes, Rod gave him to me for my 24th birthday! He's named after Dumbledore's phoenix in the Harry Potter series. Yup, cause I'm a nerd like that.

 Fawkes and Cougar, the newest addition to our family. He's a Tonkinese and is such a cuddle bug.