Sometimes Its Just a Question of Character

I just finished catching the tail-end of The Story of Us. Every time I see this movie, it gets me. Marriage is hard work. The payoff is excellent if the necessary commitment--by both parties--is realized.

I see married couples everyday all day at my job. It's very easy to distinguish those who have put in the work and those who have not. It makes my day to hear the happiness in the voices of those who have taken the time to strengthen and maintain their relationship, long term. Like I said, marriage is hard work.

I didn't leave the kingdom on a whim. I tormented with the decision for some time. I attended marriage counseling, solo. But just two weeks after I had left, I began to get reports from neighbors--three, in fact--letting me know that JB had began seeing someone else on a consistent and regular basis.

I don't begrudge him for this. I just wish he had been honest. No, really--I expected him to be honest.

But his actions are just the confirmation I suspected would validate my decision to leave.

Everything Old Is New Again

I am six weeks in my new place. The city-girl and I are getting more acclimated every day.

Blue has settled back into a leash routine. Thank goodness he is a Puppy Kindergarten graduate (10 years ago!). I take him out about 6:00 or 6:30 am each morning. One of the nice things about living in the city is no one takes notice of a middle aged woman walking a dog wearing a bathrobe decorated with dancing demons at the crack of dawn. The majority of my neighbors are night owls so I believe I'm safe!

I make coffee before Blue and I go out the door. By the time we make a lap around all the oak trees and I gather up his morning business in a Target bag, deposit it in the dumpster at the end of the lot and race back to our living space, it's done. I can smell the Folgers when I open the front door.

We are establishing a routine.

I am adjusting to a smaller kitchen and have learned--begrudgingly--that I really don't need all those cake and muffins pans. But my daily cooking and baking has made this new space smell like home.

Lina is loving the deep window sills!

She has developed a morning routine of her own which involves watching playful squirrels off the back patio. We have 3 or 4 that are quite brazen and go nose-to-nose with her at the patio doors in the living room. Her tail twitches and she squeaks until she can stand it no more. Then she stretches her full length up the door like a ferret. This always makes the squirrels run away scared.

I am still sorting things and have a new found wardrobe via the divorce diet. Back in my size 8s, it's like getting a new wardrobe! How great is it that I have a new wardrobe and haven't had to spend a dime?

My large plants are spending time with Momo and Pop until I find more permanent homes for them.
I have far too many plants here at the new place already and am forced to pick and choose. This is a difficult task, but I am getting there. The back patio area is shaded and I have planted pansies and I am considering a few bleeding hearts.

More photos to come, I promise. I'm still arranging and rearranging as I settle in to my new place.

Side note: I am attending BlogHer in August. Are you??