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Five years ago today I posted this photo on Facebook:

And two years ago today we went from close friends to being nearly inseparable. I’m going to be disgustingly sappy, but I’m so thankful I found everything I ever dreamed of and more all rolled into one amazing guy. And he’s mine.

Here’s a photo from the first night we went out in public as a couple. Steph and Nathan just got engaged so we went to The Lift and Fong’s to celebrate (where else?).

Here we are at Welch Ave. Station in Ames (again … where else?). One thing I love about Mark is that I’m not the only one geeking out over 80s tunes when he’s around. Full-on belting occurs when “Come on Eileen” or “Take on Me” is played.

February 2010 — Night of the Living Prom — this is our Billy Idol pose. Rock.

New Year’s 2011 (man I looked bad with RED red hair!). This is an ill-advised hair moment for both of us. Advised by who? Me. Of course. I kept dying my hair red while telling Mark he should grow his out again because it’s so cute … [thanks to Justin for the pic!]

Spring 2011 (I may have put this one in just because I love my hair and earrings combo here). For the record, I LOVE BEARDS. I didn’t like facial on men before I fell in love with Mark. Now I realize that fur on the face makes the man.

And at Steph and Nathan’s wedding in May of 2011 (yeah we came full circle here!). Thanks to Kelly for this pic. I included this because Mark looks awesome in a suit and I absolutely adored the flowers we got to carry.

July 2011. Last photo of us together … most likely because we haven’t gone out forever. Mark bought a car in August and I’ve been pretty much worked to the bone since July. We’ve been hitting up La Fuente like nobody’s business, but otherwise have pretty much spent our nights at home with Netflix and Buffy, Kevin Arnold and zombies.

Happy two years, babe. I hope we have many many more.

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On Sunday, Kelly and I took Barney for a walk.  She’s trying to cross off as many items on her 30-before-30 list and walking a dog was one of them. She’s always had cats, so she never had a chance to walk a dog. Plus, I think she might be scared of bigger dogs (as am I — only when I’m running or when they run up to me out of nowhere — hey, I’m tiny).

So, we went to Wal-Mart and got Barn a sweater (not as fancy as the coat I want to get him from Noodle and Friends).  Then came home and suited him up.

And we’re off. Well. Kind of. Somebody had to sniff everything and pee first.

This photo caught me pulling my shirt down and caught Barney at the beginning of a shake. He likes to shake off. A LOT.  He stopped several times during our short walk to shake.  Propeller ears!

Yay!  Kelly walks a dog for the first time ever! 

Proof that Kelly likes dogs. Well, at least this one.

We took Barney over to the Drake Stadium and had him meet up with the giant bronze bulldog statue.  He was pretty scared at first (that’s a HUGE bulldog!), but I got him to stand on top of the bulldog for a few pictures.

I’m not so sure about this, mom …

All in all, it was a pretty productive dog-walking Sunday.

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I received the most awesome birthday gift ever from my parents. His name is Barney.  Barnabus Stinson II.  Named after the infamous Barney Stinson, played by one of my favorite celebs, NPH.

The name Barney hadn’t even occurred to me until my friend Kelly suggested it since she had a friend or relative or something with pets named Fred and Barney.  AND she said that it would be fitting because of NPH and Barney’s legendary awesomeness.

So it was between Barney and Walter.  Barney ultimately won out over Walter.

I took him to a party on Saturday night. There were large dogs there. He wasn’t a fan. But he dealt with it. He almost stole a cookie from Kelly.  He snuggled up on the couch and fell asleep though.  Totally cute. Everybody loved him (except the pit bull mix that tried to love him but he was not going to have that).

Here’s me and the Swarls (yes. Swarls. look it up) at Erica and Jesse’s on Saturday.

Anyway … my dog is awesome.

Except, he barks.

A lot.

Only when people are gone though. He has abandonment issues (like his mommy).  I left him home alone on Sunday for a couple hours. Sure enough, he was still barking when I got back.  I left him home on Monday for 4 hours while I went to work. I came back from lunch and there was a note on the door from a polite, but probably pissed-off neighbor asking to get rid of him since he’d been barking for SEVERAL hours straight.

Now, you’re asking, don’t I live in a non-pet-friendly apartment?

Yes. But other people have dogs here. They tend to look the other way unless people complain. But barking. 4 hours straight. That’s not even fair in a pet-friendly place.

So I had to call in the backup plan. My mom and dad have him until I move out, but he’s still MY dog.  Mom is sending me a picture of him a day and I can come visit him and talk to him on the phone.

It was only a few days, but that dog just *knew* I was his mommy.

He stayed with my friend Molly on Monday afternoon and she had a pillow and blanket of mine at her place from when I was staying with her.  She put out the pillow and blanket and he seemed to calm down and enjoy it because it smelled like me.  That dog followed me around everywhere.  Such a sweet little loving doggie.

So, when he learns not to flip out when people leave him alone, I’ll get him back. Until then, grandma Deener gets to take care of him (along with her other grandbaby, my niece, who is just as cute).

Here’s today’s photo of Barney:

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I follow Who’s Your Dachshund and every once in a while they have a cute little story/photo/video that makes me miss my poor old dog, Jake.

The doggies in this are super cute, and really make me miss my doggie.  I guess I never blogged about the death of my dog. It was about two months ago and my family put him down because he was really sick, old and had cancer. He wasn’t getting any better and the quality of his life had pretty much deteriorated. My parents let him live through his 14th birthday and gave him his annual birthday meal of pancakes….but then a week or two later, they took him in.  I didn’t really get to say bye to the little guy because I live 3 hours away.  I took him on what I figured would be his last walk the time I was home about a month before that, which I’m glad I did.  He was a good doggie, and as soon as I’m able to get a pet…I’m rescuing a doxie.

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