MECHANICAL PENCIL

Today I went to look for my pencil and I could not find it.  It was one of those plastic mechanical pencils.  I looked everywhere.  Then I heard CRUNCH. I looked in Lucky's cage and there was my mechanical pencil being chewed up.  Lucky decided I was not paying enough attention to her and she went up on my coffee table and stole my pencil.  She took it in her cage and started to chew it into a number of pieces.  No more mechanical pencil.

It was my fault for leaving something chewable on a place Lucky can reach.  She is basically a 2 year old child who wants to put everything in her mouth.

Until tomorrow...

LENTIL KALE & QUINOA STEW

Tonight I made Lentil, Kale & Quinoa Stew.  It looks fabulous.  I made it so late that I didn't get to eat it for dinner.  It made the whole house smell so good.

I am looking forward to tomorrow night's dinner.

Until tomorrow...

UPDATE ON HAPPI

Just a quick update on Happi.  She is doing much better.  She is back on the stomach antibiotics and she has been feeling so much better.  She has more energy and wants to play more.  She wants to go for walks and wants more attention.

She has also been a naughty girl by sneaking up on the couch when I am not home.  I know she feels better when she gets sassy.

I am hoping she stays this way for a long time.

Until tomorrow...

HIKE

I went on a long hike with a friend today.  We walked along the shoreline.  It was such a nice day.

I came home and my ankle was bothering me so I took a long bath.

Until tomorrow...

THE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

I took my friend's kid out for the day.  It was his Christmas present experience.  We went to a fun type of museum.  It had all these funny exhibits.  We went into an art gallery and a store that had nothing but hot sauce.  The hot sauce place made my nose tickle and my eyes water.  Then we went to Applebee's for lunch.  Applebee's has nothing for vegans.  I left starving.  He had a big lunch.

Then in the evening I went to another friend's party.  I was a bit tired so I made an appearance and left.  I had to wake up early the next morning.

Until tomorrow...

ICE CREAM TO GO

I went for a training today.  It was near a place I used to work.  It had a Ben & Jerry's and believe it or not, I never went there.  It was new and constantly had a line.  Today it was a bit cold and there was no line.  Not even a person in the store.  I decided to get two scoops to go.

It was so yummy and just the right thing after a 4 hour training.  PB & Cookies and Carmel Almond Brittle. 

Until tomorrow...

DOG FLU

There is a dog flu going around the area.  It is just like the people flu but only dogs get it. They get a runny nose, cough, and breathing problems. Next Friday my dogs are getting their flu shot.  Until then they are being kept away from other dogs.

Until tomorrow...

POOR HAPPI

Did you ever just feel bad for a dog?  Maybe you saw a dog in a collar of shame.  Maybe you saw a dog with a disability. 

Last night I felt horrible for Happi.  She had horrible diarrhea. All night long.  Almost every hour she had to pee or poo.  And I say poo but I mean something much worse.  She was miserable.  At 3 am I almost took her to urgent care.  But then she fell asleep for two hours.  I got to sleep for a few hours.  I am running on empty right now. Plus there were raccoons outside one time we went out and I had to chase them away.

At 6:30 am I got up and put her in the car and took her to urgent care and had the doctor look at her.  She has been on antibiotics and one week ago she finished a 6 week course.  She seemed better.  Well, last night I think the stomach bacteria came back with a vengeance. The doctor put her back on the medicine for a much longer course.  He is also testing her poo to see if it is another bacteria.  He gave her a shot to calm her tummy, some fluids to perk her up and we went home.

She is really tired and moving slow.  It took a lot out of her.  It took a lot out of me.

Oh, we also had another earthquake.  It was small but enough to feel it.  No earthquakes for years and now two in a week.  I do not like this.

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY SPOKE TO THE RA DOCTOR

Finally spoke to the RA doctor.  My blood test showed that my SED rate had not increased.  That is a common test that shows if you have increased inflammation.  I have historically not had elevated SED rates.  My doctor is new and he will soon learn that SED rate testing is not an accurate test for me.

He told me he wants me to increase the Prednisone to 10 mg.  I told him I won't do it.  I worked too hard to get down to 5 mg and lose the weight.  I won't go back up to 10 mg.  I would rather be in pain, I told him. 

So we decided that I would increase the hydroxychloroquine.  I currently take 1.5 pills and I will increase to 2 pills starting tonight.  After a couple of weeks I will call and let him know if it has changed my situation. 

Until tomorrow...

VOICEMAIL

I called the RA Doc this morning to get the results of my blood tests.  I waited all day for a call back.  Nothing. Nada. Zip.  Then I get home and there are two messages on my home voicemail.  I am guessing that his assistant didn't pass on the message to call me on my cellphone.  So I will have to talk to him tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

CHEESY LENTIL BOLONESE CASSEROLE

I made a super casserole today.  Vegans don't really have a bunch of casseroles in cookbooks.  For some reason there just aren't many vegan casseroles.

The other day a fellow vegan sent me this recipe: Cheesy Lentil Bolognese Casserole.  The title is deceiving.  There is no cheese or bolognese.

The cheese is Daiya cheese and the bolognese is made with mushrooms and lentils.  It really tastes "meaty" and hearty.  It was a filling dinner.

Until tomorrow...

WOMEN'S MARCH 2.0

Today is the Women's March.  I have my sign ready to go and I am ready to march.

I am just happy it isn't raining like last year.  When it was over I took a nice long hot bath.

Until tomorrow...

PHONE CALL FROM DOC?

I have not heard from the RA doc.  I thought he would call me today but no phone call. I guess I have to wait until Monday.

Until tomorrow...

PHONE CALL WITH RA DOCTOR

It was a doctor filled day. 

First I took Lucky to the vet to get her bordatella (puppy cough) shot and to get her nails trimmed.  She did great.

While I was there I got a phone call from my RA doc to talk about me having costochondritis. The doc wanted me to increase the Prednisone dosage. I told him I don't want to double my dosage.  It has always been difficult for me to decrease my dosages of Prednisone. It has taken me years to decrease last time. Each step down sends me into a flare.

We agreed that I would go for blood tests and then we would talk again. I am pushing for some other option.

This afternoon I went and had four vials of blood taken. I will find out the results tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

COSTOCHONDRITIS

I have been having pain in my chest. It hurts on my chest beneath my bra and in the center of my chest.  Over the last two weeks it has been getting increasingly more painful. I have had costochondritis many times before but this time it doesn't feel like it has in the past.  I am not sure what this pain is. I spoke to my RA doctor and he said to talk to my primary doctor.

Today my doctor checked me out. Looked under the hood. He poked and prodded. I am sore from the poking.  It is costochrondritis. For some reason it just feels different this time.  

Tomorrow I am calling the RA doctor to figure out what to do. I know he will suggest increasing my Prednisone but I refuse. I have such a hard time going up and down on Prednisone. It has been two years since I had meningitis and had to go off Enbrel. It is time to start taking another medicine to stop this inflammation. Let's see what they come up with.

Until tomorrow...

EEK

My dog walker is afraid to come in my house. Only she didn't tell me.  I finally got it out of her yesterday. She is afraid of spiders and a spider has taken up residence right next to the door knob of the service entrance that she enters.  It is so big and scary that she named it Eek. I thought "how bad could a spider be?"  Of course I am not scared of spiders. I am that person who catches spiders and takes them outside and sets them free.

She sent me this photo of Eek:

I immediately said I would get rid of Eek.  He needs to go somewhere else.

Goodbye Eek.

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY MADE THE SOUP

I bought the cilantro today and was able to make the soup.  It is delicious.

I made Curried Lentil, Tomato, and Coconut Soup.  I was a bit worried that I would make it and not like it but I was wrong.  I love it!  It is the perfect soup to make if you have a stuffy head or nose.  The curry and ginger cleared me right up.  It is creamy from the coconut milk.  It is also filling from the lentils.

It is the perfect soup to eat with a salad or a grilled cheese.  Don't forget the lime on top!

Until tomorrow...

ALMOST SOUP

Today I went to the store and bought all the ingredients to make soup.  Or so I thought.  It was dinner time and I got out all the ingredients I bought and had in the cupboard.  I was missing the cilantro.  It was a prime ingredient for the soup.  The soup is a curried lentil, tomato and coconut soup.  It takes 1/2 cup of cilantro.  Not something that can be left out or substituted.  

I will have to go to the store and buy some cilantro tomorrow and make the soup.  I can't wait.  I love a good soup.

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY A HAIRCUT

I finally got my haircut.  I last got my haircut in November before I went to Sedona.  My hair was so long and thick, it was annoying.  At night I wore a hair clip to keep it out of my eyes when I watched TV.  It is nice and short again.  Just like I like it.

I met my friend H for lunch and caught up on our lives.   It is such a good feeling to meet with a good friend and find out all the things you missed about their life.

I am still working on taking down Christmas and putting it all away.  Lugging the items up and down the stairs is time consuming.  I love the holiday but I don't like the deconstruction.  

Until tomorrow...

SLEEP

Another Friday with nothing to do.  I have been working so many hours that I am super tired on Fridays.  I try really hard to watch a movie or something but I inevitably fall asleep before it is over.  I wake up and some other thing is playing on the TV.

It probably means I need some sleep. 

Until tomorrow...

PUTTING CHRISTMAS AWAY

I have to take down the rest of the Christmas decorations.  I started last weekend but I have so much that it takes forever to take it all down.  I also do not have my helper this year so I don't have an extra strong set of hands to carry heavy bins.

It is a bit exhausting to drag it all up and down the stairs.  It will take some time to take it all down and put away.

Until tomorrow...

LUCKY PHOTOS

Lucky seems so happy that her dog walker is back in town.  Here are some of the photos from the last month:

My favorite picture

Someone is in my bed

Queen of the log

Day at the beach

Lucky frolics now.

Lucky has really come out of her shell.  It is wonderful seeing photos of her running and playing with other dogs. 

Until tomorrow...

FIRST EGG

My neighbor's chicken had her first egg. 

My neighbor has a chicken coup with 4 or 5 chickens.  When they first got them, they accidentally got a rooster and had to send him back.  We found out when one morning we heard a "cock-a-doodle-doo".  Lucky ran through the house barking.  The company swapped the rooster out and now there are only chickens.  They cluck loudly sometimes and someone told me it means they are laying eggs.  I am not sure that is true. 

This week I got a text with a photo of a hand with an egg. 

The first egg from the chickens.  They have told me when the chickens start laying a lot I will get some.  I know I am vegan, what will I do with them?  Happi and Lucky will love to eat some eggs! 

Until tomorrow...

DOG WALKER IS BACK IN TOWN

The regular dog walker is back in town.  She was in Costa Rica for a month and we had a substitute dog walker for that month.  He was great and we liked him but the regular dog walker is back.  She is wonderful and loves the dogs so much.

Little Lucky was so excited to see her.  She kissed Happi when she saw her.

Until tomorrow...

SOUP LIKE A STEW

I rested up and went to the supermarket to get food.  I decided to make soup for the week.  It is cold and wet here and soup sounds delicious.

I made White Bean and Barley Soup with Tomatoes and Greens.

  It was so tasty.  It becomes more like a stew.  I love it with a big hunk of fresh bread.

Until tomorrow...

RESTING UP

I am staying inside and watching TV.  Movies and TV.  Resting on the couch.  Taking a long bath.  That is my day.  Anything to keep from getting sick.

Until tomorrow...

KEEP FROM GETTING SICK

Everyone here is sick.  Coughing, sneezing, home sick, at work sick, and blowing their nose.  I am washing my hands constantly.  Not touching my face.  Using paper towels on doorknobs.  I don't shake hands.  I carry hand wipes everywhere. I wash off my cell phone.

Okay you may think I am a bit neurotic but I got influenza A two years ago right after having meningitis and I don't want this flu.

I am staying in this weekend again.  The less I am out in public, the better.  Stay home and rest up and keep warm.  That is the plan.

Until tomorrow...

EARTHQUAKE

At 2:30 am this morning we had a 4.7 earthquake.  It was shocking because we were all asleep.  Me, the dogs, and the bird.  Everyone went crazy when it struck.  It was not that big but it was deep and close so we really felt it.  Nothing broke or fell.  Just barking dogs running around the house.  A hysterical bird flapping around his cage.  I was just trying to calm everyone down. Of course I could not fall asleep for hours after that.

When I first moved to the West Coast there were more earthquakes but for the last 10 years there have not been as many that can be felt.  I think I felt one about 4-5 months ago.  

Until tomorrow...

NEW YEAR UPDATE ON HAPPI

Update on Happi: she is doing better.  She is now on two medicines - one for her tummy and one for UTI that she may or may not have.  The doctor says it is best to just finish the medicine.  She is in better spirits and wants to go outside.  She tries to play with Lucky with their new toys.

Until tomorrow...

ALADDIN

After a good work day, I went to see Aladdin the play. I am not sure what I expected but it was fantastic!  The Genie was the star of the show. 

While watching Aladdin I just could not stop thinking of Robin Williams. How he played the role in the Disney animated version and how he would have played it in the theatrical version.  How much he would have enjoyed this version of Aladdin.  How much I miss his humor. 

If you get the chance where you live to see the traveling show of Aladdin, I strongly suggest you think about going.  It was money well spent.  It was entertaining and a feast for your eyes.

Until tomorrow...

RESOLUTIONS 2018

I am still taking it easy.  I do not want this cold/flu that is going around.

I wanted to look back at my resolutions for 2017.  Here they are:

• Have the patience to fine the right child for me
• Remember this process is for the good of the child
• Work on having patience with difficult clients
• Remember your joy!
• Do things to bring joy!

 Considering the year that I had in 2017, I think I worked very hard to meet my resolutions. 

I spent some time thinking about 2018 and if there was anything I wanted to accomplish.

• Have the patience that the right child will come to me
• Learn to relax
• Do things that bring me joy!
• Practice meditation and mindfulness.

Happy New Year!!

Until tomorrow...