Catching Up

Well, Brian is almost a month into his externship in Batesville, AR. It was pretty tough at first, and although it's still PAINFULLY lonely at home and I have trouble sleeping, it's getting a bit easier for both of us. :) We'll be ready for December, that's all I can say. I went to visit him a few weekends back, and we had a great time. He comes home on weekends, but this weekend we decided to go camping close to where he lives. It didn't work out though, because young kids kept driving around the campsite and we were worried about the dogs, and it's not the most relaxing feeling to keep seeing people driving- some of them speeding- throughout a campsite! We packed up our things and decided we should just climb in bed at his apartment and watch the Arkansas football game and drink beer instead. :) It was a good decision (although the Razorbacks didn't make for a great game that night against Alabama...). He lives in a cute apartment that looks like a cabin! It's wooden on the outside and is one long story of 6 or 7 apartments. It's got new carpets and a dishwasher and is clean, so we're grateful we found it at the price we got!
Work is going well for Brian. The doctor he's working with has told him he's doing a fantastic job and even called a doctor in Little Rock for us to see if he needed anyone (it's a 65 year old guy in his own clinic downtown close to the Clinton Library- we were fantasizing about him retiring soon and selling his practice to Brian after having him under his wing for a year or two...). It may pan out, but we'll see...
Work is busy for me. The restaurant is going well, and I'm currently 4th in a National Sales Manager contest for banquet sales. It goes through the end of December, and if I win I get a trip for 2 to Napa Valley, CA for 3 days!! That would be VERY appreciated after Brian gets home from Batesville!!! I don't know how much of a chance I have, but I'm doing fairly well so far, so we'll see... I know it would be a GREEEEAAAATTTTT trip if we were to go- Ruth's Chris doesn't skimp when it comes to these things. They'd pay for everything and we'd get into exclusive wineries and meet really cool people- it would be SOOO fun!!
My photography business is also doing pretty well! I took some bridal pictures this past Sunday, and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I'm taking a friend's wedding pictures on the 20th of this month, too. I've been staying as busy as I want to be with my other job into consideration, and I haven't advertised at all, so I'm very proud of the work I've been doing!
The "girls" are doing well. They miss their daddy (especially Emma). She gets so anxious after he leaves on Sundays. :( I also feel terrible that they have to stay cooped up at home while I'm at work and Brian's not here to entertain them! It was good for them to go "semi-camping" with us. We did go on a great hike, and Brian almost stepped on 2 snakes!!! The second time his foot was en route to the snakes head, about 6 inches away! It was a pretty big snake, too!
This separation has made my heart grow fonder, without a doubt. I realize everyday the things we take for granted in seeing each other everyday, and it makes for great weekends together with no bickering or whining. We just enjoy each other's company and get to re-live why we decided to spend our lives together. :) I get confirmation all the time that I made the right choice in snagging this guy up! :)