only a couple more days! I'm getting excited, but still have a lot to do. One less stress factor I can remove from my list; I managed to make an appointment for a wax late Friday night. Not ideal, but there were no other options, because Thursday's a holiday, and almost all stores are closed, and I work until six on Friday. Thursday I'll have time to pack, and Wednesday I'm seeing my sister off, and have to go shopping! Hopefully I'll be able to find a nice dress/outfit I can wear to his graduation. Still haven't decided what to do about getting to the airport.. but I might just haul my suitcases to the station and take the first train at 5.15am. Ugh. 

Working at a pet store has opened my eyes a lot.. I always used to hop in a pet store and just gape at the cute little furballs they have. What people don't know, half the time when new animals come in, there are always going to be a few weaker ones, either sick, or just so strung up from all the stress they've gone through, going from a breeder to a supplier, on a long ass car ride in small overcrowded crates to buyers to finally end up in a store. In the first week, you can count the casualties on, sometimes, two hands. I think I've seen/dealt with more dead and sick animals in the past couple of months than I have in my life. Sometimes you can already tell an animal's weak. We wait it out a day or two, see if it improves, if it doesn't they are put to sleep in the most humane way possible. It's a sad thing, but personally, I'd rather have it done that way, than wait until it dies of starvation, or because one by one its vital organs stop functioning. I'm also sure that a lot of people never wonder what really happens to animals that aren't sold. Guinea pigs and rabbits, ferrets, whatever they sell at a pet store, they don't remain small, cute and furry. They grow bigger, and they lose their appeal. I know at my store, we tend to keep the animals as long as possible, hoping someone will buy it, even up to half a year. After that, we have to let them go. They simply cost too much in maintenance.

So what happens? The supplier comes back with a new batch of animals, and the old ones are taken. The supplier either finds a buyer that's specifically looking for older animals, or more likely, the animals are (humanely?) euthanized and disposed of. Which kind of makes me sad. I take care of all the animals like they're my own, and to see them go again, knowing it won't end well puts a damper on my day. I guess a lot people aren't aware that even though they sell cute furry stuff, pet store are still just a business.

Now, we don't sell anything bigger than rabbits, so no dogs and cats. And after working at the store, I'm thankful we don't. First of all, they would not get the attention and love they need as a pup. I've seen the stores where they keep dogs, all in crates. I'm sure they are given good food, and are vaccinated, but that's just basic care. And what happens when they grow big, and no one buys them? Are they sent to shelters, and then maybe are found a home? and if they're not found a home, will they be put down too? It's definitely been an eye opener. When we're getting a dog, it's definitely going to be either from a breeder or a shelter. Yes, when you buy it at a store, you'll save the one dog from spending weeks and weeks in a crate with minimal exercise, but you'll enable the seller to buy ten more dogs that way, and so the cycle keeps going. It's a tough business. Maybe it's just me, but it just doesn't sit right with me.

And then something completely different; the fact that I'm actually going to move and get married is finally settling in now that things are getting closer. For my family and friends that is. I've gotten used to the idea months ago. As I was saying people are finally realizing I'm marrying, and all of a sudden they're starting to ask weird questions.. So are you going to start having kids soon? Let just set this straight right now.. Hell. No. I'm dead serious. Marrying does not mean instantly popping babies. What the hell is up with that?! I'm 24, and have ABSOLUTELY no desire to be running after kids any time soon. Yes I want kids at some point, but most likely not until I'm 29-30'ish.  Luckily, even though Jim has 6 years over me, he agrees with me wholeheartedly. Besides, he just finished up his Bachelor's degree, and is starting on his Masters in September. Things will be busy enough as it is. Kudos to people having their kids young. Whatever floats your boat, but it's definitely not floating mine. But we'll see. I never thought I'd ever get married, when I was 17 I said I'd never want kids, and thought I'd be done with college by now, when in fact I haven't and still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.. Ha. Just goes to show you that sometimes minds change about things and that things don't always work out the way we planned. Though I doubt I'll change my mind about this one. =]

As far as clearing out my room goes. I've been procrastinating.. I've cleared some shelves,  but instead of sitting on my shelves, they're now packed in bags sitting in my room, and still need to be donated and brought to the hospital. I've just had no time! It's been so busy lately, and a lot of things  are still coming up, and I don't see having time in the next two weeks either, as my sister is flying over from Austria with her daughter for me. It'll most likely the last time I'll see her before I move(assuming the visa is actually granted). What's sad is, is that it was a trip she decided on only 3 weeks ago, so I haven't been able to take off days from work to actually spend time with them. Sad Face. And after she leaves,  I'll have three days until I fly out myself to see Jim for his Graduation. I'll have to work on all three days, and I'll have to get up 4am in the morning on Saturday to catch my flight. I don't even know when I'm going to find time to pack! This has turned into a wall of text. I could keep on going with all the things that are going on and bugging me right now, but it would turn into a bible sized post. I can't wait for those two weeks off! Finally time to relax.

for some reason I'm not good with phones.. I always end up dropping them one too many times. Half the texts people sent me don't arrive and vice versa. Which explains why my sister and Jim didn't reply to my texts... Of all people, I know they'll always reply no matter what. Maybe I somehow damaged the built in antenna.. ugh. What a drag.