Hello Again, DK Friends!

[Frannie & Callie]

Hi All! I've been off of DK for a while, but got so many sweet holiday messages that I wanted to post a quick (it's me, so quick AND wordy!) blog entry to catch y'all up! I've missed my DK "family", but sometimes life just gets in the way!

So, back towards the end of June, I got a foster named Lucy. Poor Lucy was scared of everything (especially me) and she ran away about an hour after I got her back to my house. Needless to say, the two weeks she was missing were among the hardest of my life. I felt guilty that she escaped under my watch and just didn't know how we were going to capture a dog who won't come within 10 feet of a human. When she finally walked into one of the humane traps (baited with a pound of sausage!) on 7/7/11, I was one of the happiest people on earth! Lucy has gone on to a fantastically happy tail...she is now part of Nina's pack and has been re-named Lacey. We would all probably agree that if we were a lost and scared doodle, we would want Nina to take us in too!!

Sometimes, with great highs you get correspondingly low lows. The very day that we got Lucy back, I got laid off from my job. I had been there for 10 years, helped start the company and was devastated to be told that they were letting me go because "I made too much money" (I of course didn't think I made enough!). I am sure that many of you have been in this position or know someone who has been. Deborah Vaughn (Emmett's mom) was sweet enough to step in and take Lucy until Nina got back in town from her daughter's graduation. Then, Nina got Lucy/Lacey and their happy ending got to start!

I spent the next several months looking for a job. It was depressing. It was distressing. I didn't take on any fosters during that time...I knew that I had to take care of myself before taking on additional responsibility. And, since Murphy and his Law (not your sweet Murph, Jane!) like to assert their presence in my life, I also had to have two root canals, two crowns, threw my back out, and turned 40 (guess which of these was the most traumatic?!)

The longer I spent looking for a job, the more I felt like it was time to make a real change. I'd been in purchasing and marketing for 18 years, but took the plunge and am now proud to say that I'm an independent insurance agent now, representing Aflac. It is financially terrifying, because it's a straight commission job, but I seem to have an aptitude for it and I LOVE getting to sell products that I believe in so deeply (I've been an Aflac client for many years).

Callie loved my unemployment and is also enjoying my new job, because I frequently work from home! She is my #1 assistant, but we definitely need to work on her typing and filing skills! I've taken a new foster (I'll blog separately about her...she's too sweet for me to give her two lines at the end!) and am happy to be inching back into the doodle world!

Thanks for reading. This was a lot of sharing/oversharing and appreciate each of you for reading it. I hope that y'all have had a fantastic holiday season, and that your 2012 is off to a wonderful start!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Here's to a great 2012 for you, Callie, and your new foster!  Hope you have smooth sailing - you deserve it!!! 

[BG and Gavin]

Glad to hear from you Frannie and Callie the hat girl!  Sometimes a forced change brings about new and better opportunities (ask me how I know lol).  Happy to hear that you have your feet underneath you and are moving forward with new choppers.  And forty is where life begins in my opinion.  Young enough to have fun and old enough not to care what people think anymore :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Frannie, it's so great to have you back on DK!  I really admire the way you have come through the "tough times" this year.  Job hunting in this economy must have been a nightmare, but it sounds like you now have a very promising new opportunity...you go girl!  As for turning 40.....are you kidding me!  You are so young...this is a great time of life.  My 40's were awesome, and I'm sure yours will be too.  You are such a giving person, Frannie.  You're right back into saving our precious Doodles....thank you!

[Phoebe's Mom]

It seems that despite some rotten 'hiccups' in 2011, you have pulled through.  I hope that 2012 brings happiness, stability and health your way.  Looking forward to reading about your new foster, too.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know I missed you here on DK and I am glad you are back. I am sorry for all you went through in 2011. It never ceases to amaze me that loyalty and hard work are not always rewarded by Employers. It sounds like you did an amazing job of rebounding and I hope 2012 finds you happy, healthy, and rolling in the dough...LOL!!

[Leslie and Halas]

We've missed you! I'm happy to hear that things seem to be going your way now.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Frannie, You have been missed! I am sorry to hear that you were going through such a rough patch but really excited to know you have come through it so courageously. Congratulations! I hope you and Callie are a huge success in the insurance world. I'd love to read about your new foster. I remember reading all about Lucy/Lacey and the results are awe inspiring!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Frannie, I have missed you.  I am so sorry that you lost your job.  I hope your former employers get what is coming to them - what goes around, comes around - in loss of their own job security.  I am so glad that you have started a new venture and wish you the best.  I know I would feel guilty if a foster got loose on my watch, but it really was not your fault.  Poor Lacey/Lucy just did not know you were her savior - yet.

For many of us this past year has not been the best and I am counting on 2012 being much, much better for all of us.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Welcome back Frannie, we had been wondering about ou. I am sorry you've been through so much but glad to hear it sounds like you at the lighted end of the tunnel. We look froward to seeing more of you.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Glad to hear that 2012 is going to be a fantastic one for you! Kudos to you for taking the plunge and working for yourself!