The one week marker has arrived. One week no jobs. Not just me and my room mates either, a lot of people in other professions and states have been out of work for a week or so by now. It is still a very weird feeling. I have been working since I was sixteen! I also never thought that the restaurant industry would be a shaky one. As long as I’ve been working in restaurants it has been a very reliable source of income, very flexible, and successful. I was able to move across the country on a whim, practically, knowing I would find a job as a bartender or server at the least. And now here I am. Here we all are.

Believe me, I am not complaining about the extra time to spend with my pets and my boyfriend. There’s almost nothing I love more than being at home with them. It’s just the uncertainty of the situation that is unsettling. How do you prepare and plan for your future when the world is on pause? You don’t. You enjoy the now. And you know what today has to offer?

Puppies. That’s what! One of my best friends is a Speech Therapist, and works in the school system, so she is mostly out of work right now as well. She decided this would be the perfect time to adopt a new puppy! This has actually been one super positive outcome of the self-quarantining/lay-offs, a lot of people have decided to adopt pets, and some shelters are almost empty! As the good friend that I am, I fully supported this decision and rode out past Colorado Springs with her to check out the potential cuddle buddies. Golden freakin Doodles. Fourteen freakin weeks old! Kill me now!! They were so fluffy. So cute. So sweet. I wanted to bring one home myself, but alas, found myself lacking an extra thousand dollars… Tough times.

After making a special connection with a little guy named Hobbs, we drove another twenty minutes South to Red Rock Canyon Open Space for a little hike. With a little extra spark than before, knowing that Miss Blyss would have a new little family member in a week’s time, we skipped up the red rocks of Colorado’s country side. This is why I love it here so much! It’s the middle of March, and it’s still in the 50s at 6,400 feet of elevation. I’ve always loved nature and being outdoors, so it is such a blessing to have views like this in what is practically my backyard. I can go to bed with a smile on my face tonight. Things are going to be okay.