Forgive me if this is super introspective and lacking in content here. I've been working on trying to get some more self expression going on for a long time. There was a time when I would write and write, almost every day, on almost any topic, and I'm feeling more and more like I need to get back into that. Hopefully this here is going to be a start of a more regular thing, as I feel like I have a lot to say, I'm just out of practice in writing it down and sharing it with tons of random people.

Back at the end of August I lost my best friend, my best companion, my familiar. Kaya was the most beautiful and sweet golden retriever anyone could ever ask for, and tragically she ended up with an untreatable spleen cancer and I had to put her down. While it was one of the most horrible decisions I've ever had to make, I also knew that, despite how painful it was to go through the loss, it was the best thing to do for her, the vet said she had maybe a week left and she would weaken and eventually be unable to breathe, so I spared her that suffering and let her go peacefully.

That all being said, after a couple of months of grieving and being sad and not really talking to anyone, I decided that I should do a favor to some dogs who needed rescuing. I adopted 2 beautiful but rambunctious dogs, a hound mix originally from Mississippi who I have named 'mija', and a lab/pit bull mix, Maceo. While they can never replace who I've lost, they're both great dogs and I love them a lot. My life just feels so empty without something or someone like that to take care of. I felt like I've got this whole house, this big fenced yard, and a lot of love to give, so I should do that and bust a couple dogs out of jail. Its been challenging, sometimes frustrating, but over all I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Its been a challenge to do all of this because this summer I traveled a LOT for work, but luckily I've got a great roommate who's happy to help and lots of friends who are more than happy to lend a hand when needed. Sometimes I wonder if they dogs even remember who I am when i get back home.

Now that I've got better than 2 months free of work-related travel its great to be home, to be able to sit and collect my thoughts and be able to think about things and decide to start writing stuff down on a page.

This blog is just kind of an exercise to get my brain back into shape for doing more regular blogs, so keep checking back, hopefully I'll have some interesting stuff to say!