Dear friends & family who follow my blog,

On September 9th, 2009 Dave and I became husband and wife in the Chandler Justice Court. We have been together for 3 years and 10 months. The judge who married us was Sam Goodman, a former acquaintance from church a few years ago. He told us that the rings on our fingers remind us of the commitment we share with one another, and they also show others that we are not available, that we belong to someone. He said we need to make time to spend together, whether it’s a date once a week or a few minutes a day. To honor, cherish, and keep each other always.

Dave and I looked into each others eyes the whole time, and he was starting to choke up. I thought he would cry. Even though it wasn’t the wedding I had been dreaming about, I was just so elated to finally be marrying him. The person I have been so close to, and someone who has always been there for me is my husband now. He is my absolute best friend. He has taught me so much about patience, love, understanding, friendship, and hardship. We will be together for the rest of our lives and I know I couldn’t have found anyone who is more perfect for me.

I will be finishing veterinary assistance school in May of next year, soon after Dave plans to start culinary school. Maybe some time after that, in 2011, we might think about having a baby. But for now we are newlyweds. I’m still so unused to referring to him as my husband, and I’m a wife! I’m Dave’s wife And I love him. I do.

Sincerely,
Adrianne Heather Bliss

I’ve enrolled for the veterinary assistance program at Apollo College, and I start September 3. I’ll be done in 9 months.

Dave and I are getting married the weekend prior to school starting. We’re getting married up at the family cabin, with only about 20 people from our families there. We’ll have a ceremony, dinner, and some dancing and cupcakes. I’m going to get a really simple dress, Dave can just wear a church suit, and we’ll honeymoon there, too. I know it’s quite quick, but with money always being so tight I just don’t think we could ever save up for our dream wedding. Also, we’re really going to need each other’s income since Cooper and Black went out. I’ll get more financial assistance if I’m married, and I think we’re just tired of putting it off already. I’m kind of nervous, but it has to happen sometime.

If anyone has any ideas on the wedding (cheap things to do to make it better) I’d love to hear them.

School
I’m in the process of deciding on a trade school to enroll in for veterinary technology. I will have to take time off work to complete school, so my family and I are trying to figure out what to do. Dave and I could get married so his income can support me while I’m in school, or I could use my savings.

Plans
Not too long ago I had plans to visit California for about a week with one of my best friends, her boyfriend, and Dave. We were all going to chip in for gas, a hotel room, and concert tickets to Coldplay. Well none of us were able to meet the finances needed for that trip, but we have all decided to at least try and go up to Flagstaff for the fourth of July. Nice weather is so picnic-inviting. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. So far we’re all good to go, as long as no emergency expenses pop up.

Work
Work is slowing down again, due to lack of manpower for Cooper & Black. When FAS sends us properties to complete, we have the option of declining because we can only handle about 6 trashouts a week. The thing we were unaware of is that it lowers our business’s score. In an attempt to generate work and revenue we all tried to get as many trashouts done as possible, but as a result some of the properties didn’t pass inspection. In all honesty, FAS is a very difficult company to work under. They will literally deny payment if we don’t send a picture of ONE fan being dusted. We send over about 500 photos for each property. The longer they can deny payment, the more interest they make. Dave and I haven’t had work for 2 days. I’m starting to get worried that I may need to find a new job. Which, I suppose, is a good thing considering I’m not really enjoying it as much as I used to, but making $15 an hour will be hard to find elsewhere, and it’s what I need to keep myself up.

Family
Dave’s siblings are planning a trip up to Denver to visit their sister, Shelby. She is staying at the children’s hospital there until she gets a heart and thankfully, she’s first on the list. I didn’t know quite how time-pressing her case is, because she can take a turn for the worst any day. I asked Dave if we could plan to go up for the holidays, because we are both strapped for cash. He said she won’t make it ’till then if she doesn’t get a heart. I’m very worried. I really hope she can get a heart.

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged anything on here. Well for about a month my job was going through the ringer and then for a while I didn’t have one. But it’s safe to say I am back at my job for now. Working for family has proven to be much more difficult and stressful than I originally thought it would be.
I’m finally all moved in to my town house, the cats are settled in and loving the extra space. I had a talk with my parents about career options and education. Maybe shooting for veterinary school is a long shot right now, so I’m going to get into the field as a veterinary technician. I’m going to try and enroll at MCC this fall for their veterinary technology program. It will only take a year or two and then when I’m done I’ll have work available to me because I’ll have the education to back it.
Hopefully during that time Dave will figure out what it is he wants to pursue as a career and make the transition back into school when I’m done.
I hadn’t written about this before because I wasn’t sure how long it was going to last, but… Dave and I have acquired yet another cat. It happened shortly after I moved into the town house. During a clean out (when we go to a house right after it’s been evicted and remove belongings) we came across our first encounter with an abandoned pet. People have been leaving their pets to die in their foreclosed homes and it’s been all over the news. An upstairs closet was bolted shut and we heard a little meowing coming from inside. The carpet underneath the doorway was ripped up. Dave kicked open the door and a little calico burst out.
We took her to my place and got her some food and water. I suppose she’s only a few months old. She fit right in despite having been left for dead for over a week. She warmed up and laid in my lap the rest of the evening, purring and soaking up the attention. I had worries about keeping her because Isabelle is so easily stressed out. But everything has been working out so far. Her name is Cali.
As for some rather unfortunate news, Dave’s half sister is at UCLA for an indefinite period of time, waiting for another heart. We are all hoping and praying that one will find her in time. She is very tolerant of everything she’s had to go through to keep her heart in good function.
Well that’s about it for the updates. I’ll try to blog a little more often.

Work is going smoothly for me right now. I’ve got enough properties to maintain so that I can provide for myself. Dave and I are doing great together. I feel like our relationship has reached a new level of independence and maturity. Not sure when we’re getting married. I don’t feel like we have to do it anytime soon, we’re comfortable where we’re at for now.

But, I’ve been thinking. When Dave and I do get married, more income will be needed if we are ever to buy a car, a house, have children, etc. I’m not ready to have children. I’m not even sure I want to. I know Dave doesn’t want to do recut services forever, and neither do I. I’ve looked at several career options, including massage therapy, interior decorating, sign language interpreting, and various others. I always come back to animals.

I know for sure that is where my heart is. Veterinary technicians and assistants don’t make enough to support a family, but veterinarians do. I feel the urge to do something with my life, pursue an education, and have a career. I don’t know if I’m cut out for 6+ years of veterinary medical school though. It’s a lot of money, it’s a lot of time, it’s far away, it’s disciplinary. I know I’m smart enough. Dave has expressed much support, saying if I needed financial help he would provide while I study. I’m so lucky to have him. I appreciate his encouragement.

Even if I complete pre-requisites for veterinary school, I may or may not be admitted. There are SO many issues to factor. I know I’m still young, but I can’t help noticing that every year is going by faster, all the while I’ve done nothing with myself but work meaningless jobs here and there.

I’m stressing myself out. It would be extremely difficult to get started on this. I would have to move away, and I’m so afraid to be away from family. I wanted to stay in this town home for many years, at least until I can buy a home. Any advice, ideas, encouragement, words of caution, constructive criticism, and practical reminders are totally welcome. I need to make a move for my future, and I don’t want to make the wrong one or wait around for something while the right one passes me by.

Here’s the floor plan of my new town home. I sit on a small slope overlooking a lake with lots of trees.

Throughout the next month or so, I’ll be getting things to add a more comfy feel to it. My apartments have never had area rugs, wall hangings, plants, or anything really decorative. Since I’m planning to be here a while (3+ years), I want it to really look like home.

I’ll also be inviting some family over in a few weeks to have dinner and check the place out.

Last week Dave and I had a route in Surprise. We go there often for work, but this time we had a couple of new properties to maintain. As Dave was hacking the weeds with the weed whacker, a little brown ball flung out from under the trimmer line and into the yard. It began to scurry around in a panic, and we heard the saddest little death cry coming from it. I thought it was a gopher, but as we approached the creature we were horrified to discover it was a baby bunny. It tried to escape but it’s back leg was completely broken in half and only attached to the bunny by a bit of ligament. It’s front paw was broken as well.

We weren’t sure what to do. I didn’t feel like it needed to die, it seemed as though there could be an option of recovery. Even if the poor thing could just have 3 legs and live at a rescue, I surely felt that was better than leaving it in the back yard for it to die.

As Dave finished the yard, I gathered up the little guy (or girl) in an emergency blanket from my roadside kit. After our route we took the bunny to his brother and sister-in-laws house for examining. They currently have 5 rabbits and she’s had extensive experience with them. Dave’s brother is also in medical school so we figured if anyone could help us after-hours, it would be them.

After 45 minutes at their place, Dave and I returned to my apartment with the bunny, by now I named her Chancey, in tow. They informed us that once bunnies go into severe shock, their bodies shut down to try and repair itself. Unfortunately, the shock is often too much for it to handle and the body will just shut down completely and die. They advised us to make her as comfortable as possible for her passing.

When we arrived at my apartment Chancey had already died. We laid some hay on top of her and put her in a shoe box, taped it up, bid farewell (and due apology), and put her to rest outside in the dumpster (sad place, I know). Goodbye Chancey, we hope you’re hopping ever so happily through endless fields of clover in the sky.

…hopefully I have nothing to beware. I’m moving into my new apartment, err, town home on March 15th! I was going to hire movers again, but last year they took waaay too long to unload the truck because they were getting paid by the hour. And they charged me a $50 gas fee! For a 7 mile move! It was ridiculous. So I’m renting a U-Haul and Dave, Brad, Max, and Chris are going to help me move.

I’m quite excited, as you can imagine. I’m already thinking of how I want everything to look, and I’ll even have a small budget for home decorating, which I’ve never had the novelty of enjoying before now. I really like deep reds for the living room and kitchen, and my master bathroom is definitely going to stay themed as Spongebob. The guest bathroom will be black and white, as it is now.

My first 2 large investments after move-in (besides rent and necessary expenses) are going to be a HUGE cat condo

The next is going to be a fully and completely stocked pantry and kitchen cabinets. I’m talking about canned corn as far as the eye can see and endless string cheese. Okay, I don’t really live on those 2 things, but you get the point. Wish me luck! I’m so excited! I tried to get the cats excited too, but they’ll just have to see for themselves when I take them over there to check the place out.

Okay, I know I said I had decided on the apartments at Borrego. But I was thinking of the pros and cons of living there or the town home on Power. The only pro Borrego has over the town home is price. Which I can make up for in difference, it’s only $80 more than my original budget for rent. And that was when I was hoping for an ideal 8 houses a day, instead of the regular 10-15 now.

I think the thing that had the most impact on my decision is that Borrego isn’t close to anything. The freeway is one street away, and there’s a hospital on the corner. But there are no grocery stores, gas stations, etc. And I consider that to be an important factor in where I live. Right now, there’s a QT gas station practically in my back yard. I can walk there literally in 2 minutes. There is one of every grocery store (Albertsons, Bashas, Frys, Safeway) within one mile of my apartment, and all down the same street. I’m fairly close to everything else like entertainment and dining.

And at my old apartment in Mesa I was in the same situation, even across from a movie theater and shopping center. So, maybe I’ve been a little spoiled for the past 2 1/5 years, but I like to know I don’t have to drive too far for something, especially at night when Dave has gone home and I run out of toilet paper or something.

So I’m going to put the deposit on the town home this week. I’m moving out in only 30 days. I can’t believe I’ve already been at City Scape for one year! I say I won’t now, but when I move out I’ll miss this place. Never had any bug problems, and I’m on the first floor!

I think the city of Tempe is just not my place. Too many college students, which means noisy neighbors and lots of partying/drinking. Even though I’m only 21, I really prefer a quiet place away from all the ruckus. Heck, maybe I’ll move into an old folks community,.

UPDATE: Here’s the town home web page

Dave and I departed from my apartment at 6pm, hoping to have enough time to arrive to our reservation early. The Tiburon restaurant was in Litchfield Park, over 45 miles away. Luckily there was no traffic. We arrived 10 minutes early and were seated 20 minutes later.

We ordered an appetizer of shrimp cocktail for $12. When it arrived we were absolutely flabbergasted to behold 5 little shrimps on a bed of lettuce. That made 2 1/2 shrimps for the both of us. We were quite dismayed at this, but looked forward even more to our entrees.

Dave ordered a 12 oz Ribeye steak, complete with mashed potatoes and asparagus on the side. It was absolutely delicious. I had been looking forward to swordfish ever since I found out they served it, so I ordered the Swordfish “steak” (which was too tough, dry, and quite small for it’s lofty price). It was served on a bed of cuscus in a very strange dressing, so I ordered a side of mashed potatoes. Feeling badly that my plate didn’t have very much food on it, Dave kindly gave me a chunk of his steak. The food overall was quite yummy, but the prices were quite nuts. I’ll never understand the overpriced shrimp cocktail.

Oh yes, and you are facing a large aquarium with various fishes and little sharks swimming about. I wasn’t able to take any pictures because I didn’t want people to feel I was photographing them. So after dinner we got tickets into the zoo’s aquarium and enjoyed the 3 exhibits. Enjoy the pictures below!