Up Close and Personal

I've never really gotten too personal on this blog, but I think it's about time you really got to know me.

So here I go...

My name is Erin A. I was born on January 23 (just so you guys know in case you wanted to send gifts or anything...) and we moved from Texas to California when I was about 5...maybe 5 1/2. I went to UHS for high school which is on the CSU campus and is geared towards music students. I sang in the choir all four years. I was an alto for three years and then in my senior year I asked to be moved to Soprano (yes I can sing both) because I was tired of harmony. Besides singing I can play the violin and the alto sax. One of my violin's at home is named Janet (pretty cool story of how it was named, ask if you care) and the other's name is Steve (why? It's a pretty name ;) ) and my Sax's name is Raoul. I know, it's a pretty saxy name (haha! I kill myself). And now, here I am in Scotland at the University of Aberdeen to get my MA (which is the equivalent to BA in America) in English and Celtic Studies. What do I want to do with my life. Funnily enough I want to be a Blind Rehabilitation and Orientation Specialist. That means I basically want to be a Mobility Teacher for those people who are blind or are visually impaired. I would LOVE to work for the VA office and help veterans who were hurt in an explosion or some other war injury. How did I think this up?

I raise Guide Dog Puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind based in San Rafael, CA and Boring, OR. I didn't think about being a Mobility Teacher until just recently which is why I am still here in Scotland doing my MA in something that won't really help me become a Mobility Teacher. I had already paid my tuition and I figure and degree is a degree and I can still wave it in peoples' faces. But, it's something that I really want to do. Anyway, so far I have raised two dogs for GDB. A female black lab named Freya who was recalled into formal training on February 20, 2010 and graduated in May with her new blind (well, technically he's visually impaired) partner. She's an amazing Guide! My other is an 8 month old yellow lab named Rocco. I had to have him transferred to another puppy raiser when I decided to move across the pond. So he's still a puppy in training, but I'm sure he'll graduate too. Please visit my Guide Dog Blog if you're interested in my puppies or the Guide Dog Website if you're interested in raising a puppy or adopting a Career Change or, Gee, just want to send them money. They are non-profit you know.

Now, for the really personal stuff.

I am in a relationship with a wonderful guy. I left him at home in California to come out here and I miss him terribly. I believe in fate, but I don't believe that fate is set in stone. I think you have to power to shape your own ending if you really want to. Now, Ryan and I met only a month before I came over here. You might say that it was ridiculous for me to get involved when I knew we only had a short time together and that my fate was in Scotland. I say that it was me changing my fate. I changed it to where I have a constant support system from someone outside of my family and someone to talk to things I don't want to talk to my parents about and someone to keep me going here. I could think about my parents, but I really don't care if I disappoint them. I've done it before and I know I'll do it again. I could think of my brother, but I already do that for a number of other reasons, so I needed someone stronger. Now, whenever I have doubts (which has been a lot in the past couple of days) I think of Ryan and how badly he wants to come over here to see me and how "happy" he was for me. I can't just deprive the poor boy of having someone to visit over here in the UK can I? Of course not! So, he's my crutch I suppose even if we aren't with each right now. Anyway, I REALLY miss him.

Other things that I miss? My dog Arwen. I miss her a lot. She's an 8 year old Golden Retriever and no matter how everyone tried to say she was the "family dog" everyone knew that she was really mine. Dogs, especially Goldens, latch onto one special person. They like everyone else of course, but they have their person and that person is theirs for life. I was Arwen's person just as my dad was Brandy's, Arwen's mother, person and my mom was Molly's person. I miss Arwen a lot. If I could have I would have taken her with me.

That's about as personal as I can get for one day besides letting you know that my favourite colour is green/teal/purple (really though I LOVE the rainbow), favourite fruit is apples, favourite vegetable is broccoli, and favourite smell is lavender (though Ryan is a close second).