Omg I'm so glad to be home! I love my family but there's more than one reason for me living faaaar away from them. Oh the drama! Lol. My sister's graduation went wonderfully and she's strutting around proud as a peacock. She already has job offers from California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada. The rest of my family in Indiana seems to be doing well enough. It was an interesting trip that's for sure. I even found and bought my wedding dress! It's a cream colored 1940s style skirt and top outfit that I'll be wearing cowboy boots or moccasins with. I also found and bought the lace for my hair at an antique store along with some golden cream pearl earrings. I don't know if I'll be wearing the earrings though. My mom wants to get me the other set we saw over there which were the beautiful 70+ yr old cameos. They were slightly out of my price range as you can imagine! I'm so excited to have gotten things for the wedding despite it being almost a year away. Makes it more real. Eric is happy about it too except for the fact that he's not allowed to see any of it for a year hehe!
He did a wonderful job of taking care of everyone and everything while I was away and...he even managed to capture Libby's siblings! Turns out there were 4 siblings altogether! Three girls and 1 boy. So for the moment we have Liberty (girl), Justice (girl), Freedom (boy), and Revere (girl). Believe it or not we actually are considering keeping Liberty. She went with someone else for two days and was so depressed and upset that she became quite ill. She's been my little lap fungus ever since I got home. We're so in love with her and so concerned with her reaction to being away from us that we're wondering if it's best to keep her. What's one more pup to love? (this won't be said again....) Do you think we're being overprotective of her and would be absolutely insane to keep her? I welcome any and all advice. Justice, Freedom, and Revere will be going to a rescue program as soon as we've put a little weight on them and done some basic obedience. We're their fosters/sponsors until theyre ready for adoption. Justice is almost an exact replica of Liberty. Freedom looks like he's part Giant Beagle (i do know theres no such breed but thats what he reminds me of lol) and is the shy one of the bunch. Revere is the dominant and rather outspoken one which is why Eric named her Revere...she cries out the news!
I also want to thank everyone for their suggestions for my layover time. It went well with the exception that when I was on the planes I was motion sick and sitting by the engine every time. Just my luck lol! So, this may be a bit odd but here's a hug for the whole lot of ya! I'd write more of an update but I'm so tired and ready for sleep lol

Sorry I've been kind of out of it since I last posted. It's a good thing I'm leaving for Indiana tomorrow morning. My great aunt passed away Saturday. I didnt really know her all that well but every time I was with her she gave me memories of a wonderful warmhearted person. I feel guilty in a way because I've not had any time to grieve. The day before on July 4th we obtained a foster. There has been a boxer/? mix mama dog wandering around my neighborhood with her 3 pups for a a few weeks. I've been trying to get animal control to get them so they wont get run over or worse and the deputies that patrol our area have been watching out for them and I've been trying to coax them over myself. We were coming back from town and saw her and 2 of her pups in the street so without a word exchanged Eric stopped the car and I got out and went after the pup that went to the left as Mama and Sibling went to the right. I got her. Poor baby is injured badly and was infested beyond belief with tics (so badly her ears were poofed out from the number of them in her ears and her gums were almost white). Her tail has been almost severed near the middle and her left hind leg has a hole big enough to stick your fingers in right at the joint. Her whiskers are burnt mostly off and considering it was the 4th of July that gives you an idea of why she has a hole in her leg. Of course she's also very skinny. I refused to call animal control to let them have her. They would have put her down immediately. I named her Liberty or Libby for short which she answered to immediately. Good news: The hole is thankfully a rather neat wound and with much cleaning and flushing out and antibiotics and bandage changing it's already healing wonderfully and there doesn't even seem to be any nerve damage. Her tail is also healing quickly though we have to check it every 15-30 minutes because she wants to chew it. Her gums are a nice healthy pink as she's now being properly fed and watered and is free of tics. She's already put on a couple of pounds. Call me crazy but I refuse to let anyone with any thoughts of taking her away come within 500 feet of her before she's fully healed and completely healthy. We're still trying to catch the mom and sibling (I told Eric if we manage to get the other pup it has to be called Justice :P ) and fear what may have happened to the 3rd pup. As much as I'm already head over heals for Libby (I bawl at the merest hint of giving her up) we can't keep her. We have a lot of critters as it is and there comes a point when we have to draw the line. She's a wonderful girl who wants nothing but love and despite having her wounds touched and prodded and all she never once did anything more than cuddle against me and give a sigh of contentment. Thank God for men like Eric as he volunteered to foster her by himself while I'm away! If anyone knows of anyone who would be willing to give her a home once she's healthy please let me know. I really don't want to have to give her up to a shelter where she may just be killed anyway. Ugh I'm crying again. I'm such a mush. Anyway here are some pics! I dare you to resist that face!
[IMG]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x204/ladydarkpoet/Liberty.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x204/ladydarkpoet/Libby.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x204/ladydarkpoet/Image002-2.jpg[/IMG]
The bath is the only time she was uncertain of our intentions but she just gave us that look and kissed our hands like "Okay I don't understand but I'll trust you anyway."
[IMG]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x204/ladydarkpoet/Libster.jpg[/IMG]
Isn't it amazing that after all she's been through she can give that beautiful smile without hesitation?
It's gonna kill me to let her go but it's in her best interests. I'm sure she'll find a wonderful home where someone will love her just as much. Feel free to e-mail Eric at ookamicirekun [at] gmail [dot] com if you know of anyone. I'll miss these boards while I'm gone! Take care everyone and thank you all for everything you do!

How wonderful it is that you'll be there to support her and see your family after such a long time!!! And of course, people here will answer Eric's questions. As far as flying and anxiety....depending on how severe your symptoms are I'd say....

#1 when you start to feel panicked remind yourself that, although what you're feeling is very real (heart racing, sweaty palms,ect) you are safe. Anxiety attacks are like allergies.....it's your body responding with a false alarm to something. Many people feel better realising this alone and calm themselves down.

#2 distract yourself. If you're nervous the whole time it will feel like eternity! So lose track of time and read that book on the plane!

#3 If you have a more severe case you can call your doctor for help. Flying is a common fear and I can see after experiencing 9/11 how you'd be fearful. I fly often and I can tell you I don't think anyone 'likes' to fly anymore. It's a hassle.

depending when your layover is, we could have a quick get-together. i work at the airport (technically although it's really about a 10-min trip to the terminals.