Because not having travel orders is only a drop in the bucket

In an effort to be more more proactive about this whole "move to DC and start a new life" thing, I contacted the U.S. Consulate here in Nogales yesterday to get people moving on reserving a flight for me.  This way, I could start planning on getting Maggie out to DC with me.  (Of course, nothing, not even a flight reservation, is definite until I get my travel orders, but I'm working on that, too.)

Well, wouldn't ya know it, but State only contracts with USAirways in Arizona.  And USAirways policy is that small pets are allowed in the cabin, if they and their crate weigh less than 20lbs, but no pets are allowed in cargo.  Maggie weighs in around 25lbs. *without her crate*.  So it turns out that my brilliant idea of taking Maggie with me to DC has been thrown out the window.

Lucky for me, the Consulate's Principal Officer is a really generous guy and has volunteered to escort Maggie to DC when he takes a personal trip in early April. 

I am trying to be positive about this, so I am thinking of all the pros:

• I don't have to wake up anywhere from 3:30-5:30AM for the next couple of months to let Maggie out to pee;
• I now have time to prepare for Maggie's arrival - set up vet appointments, arrange for a dog walker, pick up a dog bed, nail clippers, toys, etc.;
• Instead of rushing home every night during orientation to take care of my baby, I can actually stay out - either for happy hours (apparently orientation is a time for networking) or research into countries I can bid on;

The hugest con of the whole situation is that I was already planning on being crushed by the fact that I won't get to cuddle with Grace every day, but now that devastation will be two-fold.  No Maggie either.  Who am I going to cuddle with now???