Brief update - things are fantastic! - thanks for checking!

I recently received two comments from blogfriends asking if things were OK.  I cannot believe how quickly time flies and that it's been over a year (!) since I've updated.  (And thanks for still caring about me -- I think of the people I met through here often, even if my actions don't reflect that!)

I still plan to start updating this blog more frequently, and will write a lot more after Saturday, June 4.

The past year has been the absolute best year of my entire life.  I still shake my head in amazement sometimes that this life has happened to me, especially when I consider how sad and shocked I was when (what I assumed would be my) lifetime marriage came to an abrupt end.  The me of 4 years ago had no idea that that would be the best thing that ever could have happened!

After going on more than 60 disappointing first dates, last February (2015), I decided to entirely give up on dating and just focus on creating an amazing life.  I became much closer with my friends and family.  My mom and I took a trip to Europe -- a trip she'd been dreaming of for years -- so that she could see where I lived as a high school exchange student 20 years prior.  I decided to pursue an extremely challenging work designation that will skyrocket my career (level 2's exam is on Saturday, June 4, so that's why more extensive updates will have to wait until after that date), which led to a promotion and huge raise.  I ran marathons in more states (12 down, with Maryland, Nevada, and Hawaii coming up later this year.)

Max, Calypso, and Andreas are thriving.  We've been in our house for almost three years now, so they have the routine down and are very happy animals.

While I was out living my life and not dating for over half the year, I met an incredible man and we've been dating for 8 months.  Isn't that so cliche? -- you find what you need when you're not looking for it.  As I'd met my ex-husband so young, I hadn't really had any real dating experience; certainly not as an adult.  What a difference being with an emotionally healthy man makes!  He celebrates my accomplishments, compliments me frequently, and loves baseball -- three things I had no experience with in a partner.

And, he loves the parrots!  Being prey animals, they are necessarily wary of intruders, especially as they've had me to themselves for so many years.  And my boyfriend is 6'3" -- not sure they knew people that tall even existed!  But he is so patient and kind.  He asks to spend time with them without me, finds their favorite types of music and has dance parties with them, and makes sure to give them plenty of praise and treats.  He doesn't get frustrated when it takes them longer to warm up to him, and delights in small progress, like when Max will perch on his hand instead of flying away.

Once I am through with this test, I will have 6 months or so until I have to start studying for the next test (hopefully level 3, the final level, assuming I pass level 2) and I will definitely be blogging much more regularly!  I have had some really fun experiences over the past few years of limited blogging, and would like to have committed them down so I can reread at some point!

Love and miss you!  More soon! XOXO