My Plea

My mother and my husband have unilaterally decreed that I need another outlet when it comes to animal cruelty, dogs in particular. According to the verdict, I put myself in dangerous situations and need to take a more hands off approach. My mom suggested a blog. I on the other hand feel that I need to intensify my role as an animal advocate as abused creatures seem to cross my path in herds these days.

I wish I could eloquently explain my sensitivity to the subject. I know that if I tried, people would ignore the desperation of the voiceless creatures for which I speak and see my words as the eccentric despair of yet another animal rights activist. I will simply say that this goes deeper than heartache for me. I write this entry as I am hourly (ßnot an exaggeration these days) haunted by the miserable brown eyes, tail between the legs, tongue hanging out desperate for water, skin and bones dogs that burden my thoughts.

I type this as a plea to my fellow animal lovers, to the humans who do not leave their animals sweltering in the parking lots of Wal-Mart or JoAnne’s or Gold’s Gym; to the person who does not get drunk and throw his dog on the pavement outside my house; to the individual who walks his dog in the early mornings or cool evenings-not tied to the back of his bike at 3:00 p.m. during a heat wave. I compose this for the men who resist using a shock collar on their puppy as evening entertainment on my street corner; for the family who brings their dogs into the air-conditioning instead of leaving the pups baking in the treeless backyard. Please fellow animal lovers, continue to love your pets unconditionally. Dear humans with a conscience, please put the humane society’s number in your phone because not everyone loves their pets like you do. Please call the humane society and speak for the unloved animals because I am scared to leave my house these days…and I am not abused. 

The Leaving Loveland for Madison Bucket List

Adam and I started packing up the house, just small stuff like DVDs and books. While our departure to Madison has been certain for months now, the actual move has been more of a fantasy involving a contract with my ideal job, the purchase of our first home, and Mickey roaming in our lush, magnificently landscaped, Wisconsin backyard. The reality actually involves no job, no house, a dreadfully dry Colorado lawn, and the enormous cost of simply renting a moving truck. In order to make the pending move more bittersweet than just plain sour, Adam and I decided to make a list of outings we would like to enjoy before we load up the pricey U-Haul. Most of the excursions are fond memories comprising our 2 ½ years as a couple while others encompass undiscovered monuments testament only to Northern Colorado. In no particular order, we will be enjoying the following with anyone who would like to join us!

1. Batman in the IMAX

…Because I am married to Adam Mark and well, it’s Batman.

2. Walk around Bear Lake/Day in Estes

…My family made yearly trips to Bear Lake for years and I want Adam to be a part of the tradition as he has never been. Also, Estes has the Estes Brewery, sufficing Adam’s love for local beer and my passion for what I believe to be the best onion rings in the world.

Bear Lake 1988

3. Brewery Tours-Adam’s Choice

...More to come on this outing as the list is consistently amended by my husband.

4. Denver Zoo

…When we were dating, Adam surprised me with “date days.” The Zoo was one of my favorites, but followed closely by our very first date day to see the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, followed later by the Aquarium, Pike’s Peak, and numerous trips to various Denver venues.

5. A Stay at Embassy Suites for our 1^st Anniversary

…I have nothing but great memories of Embassy. After our wedding ceremony we headed to the Loveland Embassy for our reception and our 8^th floor honeymoon suite. Our second night as a married couple was spent at the DIA Embassy. From the romanticized wedding memories to the free evening drinks, I love Embassy Suites.

Our First Dance

Loveland's Embassy Suites

DIA Embassy Happy Hour

6. Picnic at Viestenz-Smith Park

…Again, Adam grew up in the Springs. He needs to see this Loveland landmark.

7. Water World

…We enjoyed Water World summer of 2010, our first summer together. Peter, Adam’s best friend (best man at our wedding) joined us and we had a fantastic day.

8. Bike the Loveland Bike Path

…Neither of us have done this. I think we should have a picnic somewhere along the way.

9. Evening in Old-Town Fort Collins-Café Vino and Coffee

…Adam and I enjoyed our first date at Café Vino in Old Town. Adam drank some sort of scotch and he purchased a chocolate martini for me. All of this occurred on November 19, 2009. On November 19, 2010 we went back to our Café for our one year dating anniversary. I honestly believed Adam was going to propose. Needless to say, there was no proposal. Not at Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Years. I decided to hold out until Valentine’s Day as Adam also took me to Café Vino on our first Valentine’s Day together…yes, we need to broaden our restaurant repertoire. On Wednesday, January 19 Adam proposed and I had no idea it was coming. Perfect Surprise.

Anniversary Dinner

Coffee After Dinner at Cafe Vino

 10. Date Night at Centerra-On the Border

…Adam’s parents threw us a phenomenal rehearsal dinner at our favorite restaurant in Centerra.

The festivities are scheduled to begin this week. On the Border anyone?!

Human Scenario #1

I wish I could say that our set moving day is approaching quickly. I say that not because I am excited to leave lovely little Loveland, but because I am a controlling planner. As of today Sunday, July 10, I have no plan and absolutely no control.  My mother-in-law has been diligently requesting a departure date, she’s a planner too.

I wish that I could sign a contract with a Core Knowledge school and that I could be teaching 7 or 8^th grade history as that’s what I taught last year and it would be great to pull out materials and tweak here and there without the requirement of starting completely from scratch.

I wish multiple sets of lovely families would make offers on our house. While I am wishing, let’s throw in a cash offer of our asking price. I bought 707 just over three years ago and I want to leave it in loving, appreciating hands; Hands with no desire to repaint my walls or put nasty carpet over the original hardwood floors that my dad and I worked so diligently to refinish.

 I wish Adam, Mickey, and I could be planning our second of many road trips to Madison. On this second road trip we would meet with our brilliant realtor, fall in love with the single family, fenced yard, two-stall garage, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, open floor plan, plenty of storage, small yard, no HOA fee, beautifully treed, 5 minutes from my Core Knowledge 8^th grade classroom, close to the bus route for Adam, move-in ready,  flawless home. Accordingly,  new teacher in-service would start August 13 meaning my mother and father-in-law, my mom and dad, their dogs Toby and Sadie, Adam, Mickey and I would load up the U-haul on August 1^st and caravan to Madison Wisconsin. This would give us up to twelve days to drive the 16 hours, unpack, tour Madison with our families, and say goodbyes.

Other than winning the mega-millions, this is the best-case scenario my narrow human brain has proposed. For months now, Adam and I have been praying for God to work out this option. Delusion, fantasy, or potential reality, it’s approaching quickly and almost hourly now I find myself pushing panic out of my perfect scenario. The idea that the Lord might hold a better plan makes my head spin. Alternatively, I am bothered twofold by the possibility of my scenario crumbling, of working at Taco Bell while we struggle to rent a studio apartment. One, I cannot decide if Taco Bell or subbing is my worst fear. Two, I should be excited by the possibility of strengthening my faith, but my head will not allow me to synonymously equate excitement with subbing and studio apartments. While I know our faith and our marriage will come out stronger on the other side, my heart and my pride hurt with the possibility of not being in the classroom and stepping back to my college days of tiny furniture cluttering my musty, non-air-conditioned, 300 square foot studio apartment. This time around I would be sharing it with my neat-freak husband and clumsy 55 pound Pit Bull.

Adam’s start date is officially August 27, in sixty-eight days. In less than 68 days we will need a new plan if human scenario #1 does not pan out. Please pray that on Monday, August 27, 2012, I will be able to blog about our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness in the Kluck household, and that I will write that blog with genuine excitement and gratitude.