Bear is the only one of us...

Bear is the only one of us who gets in the pool every time it's open. He's like a little kid. The excitement never gets old for him. 😂😂😂

Balloons this morning!

Balloons this morning! I'm not awake this early lately because of bad sleep, but I am today. For now, anyway.

I did these this past Monday, so they're slightly grown out...

I did these this past Monday, so they're slightly grown out because I just photographed them today.

It's nothing fancy, but I haven't dressed my nails up in months, so it feels really nice to have some color on. I keep a hard gel overlay down and that's the most effort I've been putting into them. I'm also doing a new shape. I've never been a huge fan of square nails, but I realized at some point recently that I'd been filing my sidewalls down super short to get my claws and was losing strength in my nails because of it. So I've put a lot of effort over the last few months into growing my sidewalls back out, as well as making sure my c-curve is tight when I cure my gel. I've had a lot fewer issues with breakage because of those things.

I'm really hoping I'll have time to get back into nail art soon. It's a little hard with a toddler dog around. He wants to help with everything and when he starts zooming, he parkours all over the place. 😂 I never know what he's about to do.

Anyway. This is what I'm wearing until next weekend or so.

Polish:  'Ard as Nails - Carol Anne

Stamping Plate:  Maniology - Spiral Illusions (M401)

I want DoorDash to put...

We had a loss in the family recently...

We had a loss in the family recently - my MaMaw Langley's twin sister.  I wasn't very close to her, but as far as I know she lived a long and more or less happy and comfortable life.  And it got me thinking...

I bet a lot of you know me pretty well - even those of you I haven't met.  I'm a pretty open person who posts the good, the bad, and the ugly.  For any of my newer friends:  Yes, things have been pretty great since I graduated college at the end of 2020.  Before that, there was years of poverty, my house falling down around me, my body failing, depression and anxiety, and I was carrying the weight of the lack of animal rights/welfare in Alabama on my shoulders (though thankfully not alone).  I don't usually do throwback posts, but they are definitely there if you ever feel like searching.

I don't want to die yet, but I'm saying that IF it happens, please take comfort in knowing that I am loved, happy, and content.  I feel more safe and calm than I ever have in my life.  I'm socially (in a physical way) more isolated than I've ever been, but it has brought a much-needed peace to my life.  I have my husband and my kids and my non-human companions with me, and they are my inner circle.  I have given back to my community and reached educational and financial goals that I never dared to dream possible 10 years ago.  I (of course) have personal projects that I want to finish and more growth to do, but if I died today I would have no regrets.  I have loved and been loved.  I am taking care of those closest to me, and that's all I've ever wanted to do.

I guess I woke up this morning feeling grateful, (which is not unusual), but with the recent loss came a new perspective on how we view those who've passed.  When I die, please take solace in the fact that I am undeniably living my best life - and not only that, I fought damn hard to do it.  ❤

I'm stupid excited because...

I'm stupid excited because I just decided for sure that I'm going to migrate my polish database to the app I'm using to track my stamping plates. I guess I know what my winter project will be!

Houdini is exploring his new house! ❤️❤️❤️

Houdini is exploring his new house! ❤️❤️❤️

We got his heat tape today, so could finally complete the setup and move him in. He's been alternating between exploring his new setup and chilling in his warm hide.

I'm happy to see him moving around. I hope he'll eventually make use of the higher basket and hanging ball. So far, he's only gone into the bottom 2, but he's got all the time he needs to find the comfy, cozy spaces.

In other animal news... The neverending vet bills continue. Shaun and I woke up to a message from Kira saying that Leon (our Gramson) had blood in his pee. Our wonderful vet office worked him in, and he has bladder stones, too. Antibiotics for now, surgery the 23rd. Kira's medicating and keeping a close eye on him. At least she's excited to see him in a cone. 😂