FLORIDA DAY 1

I woke up at 4 am to get to the airport in time to get my flight.  The dogs were not happy that I was leaving.  I called for my cab and the cab driver that I seem to get all the time showed up right away.  I got to the airport very early and had time to kill.

My flight was pretty uneventful.  The guy sitting next to me was a tall athletic guy that man spread all over the seat.  I slept most of the way.

I landed and drove to my cousin G house where she was having some friends over for New Year's Eve.  I changed my clothes and cleaned up.  The gathering was fun.  We had food and drink.  Then the ball dropped and I was ready to get some sleep.

But first I had some things to do.  I wanted to make some last minute donations.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI THE MIRACLE DOG

I took Happi to the vet today.  He thinks she has a urinary infection.  He put her on antibiotics right away.  He ran a test and we won't find out the results until Thursday due to the holiday. 

He called her the Miracle Dog once again.  He can't believe she weighs 25.5 pounds again and is bounding up stairs.  Her fur looks healthy. 

She hates going there so much because she has to get in the car.  I forgot to give her the anti-anxiety medication so she was so upset in the car.  She was so drugged on the way home once the drugs kicked in. 

Until tomorrow...

HEALING

I have been feeling better after my fall.  My side still hurts and I went to get my urine tested just to make sure there is no blood in it.

My eye is not healing as well as expected.  I am starting the antibiotics to see if that works.

I am healing slowly.

I was supposed to get a CT scan done but I was told the cost would be $800.  I decided to wait and see how I feel for a week or two and see if I still want to get it done.  For almost $1,000 I think a few weeks to ponder it is wise.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI IS AGITATED

Happi has had a difficult time.  She had a difficult night on Christmas Eve and I almost took her to the pet Emergency Room.  I was convinced she had a urinary infection.  Then the next day she seemed fine.  It would have been her first infection since her surgery more than one year ago.

She seemed find for days then last night she seemed agitated again.  I am not sure what is wrong but I am hoping I can get her in to see the vet on Monday.  Other than these bouts of agitation she has plenty of energy and bounds up the stairs.  She eats like a horse.

Until tomorrow...

CHRISTMAS PUZZLE PROGRESS

I have been working on my Christmas puzzle for many days now.  The border is exceptionally hard.  I finally finished it today.

Now I am working on the center pattern.  It is various bears and animals dressed in Christmas attire.  This puzzle will take some time.

Until tomorrow...

MAMMOGRAM 2019

Today I got up and got ready for my yearly mammogram.  Things went a bit wonky this morning and I forgot my tiara when I ran out the door.  I hope this isn't an omen.  This will be the first time I didn't have my tiara in many years.  The tiara has kept me safe all this time.  Fingers crossed.

The mammogram went well or as well as a mammogram can go when your boob is squished in a giant machine.  It went fast and the woman performing the procedure was super nice.  Now I wait for the results.

While I was waiting, I was able to reschedule my CT scan and BRCA test.  I also ordered my Orencia to be delivered tomorrow.  I went in for my urine test on my way home and should get the results by Monday. Then I went by the bank and library.  It was a very successful morning. 

I am still working on the puzzle that I started this past weekend.  The boarder took me three days to get most of the way done.  It is a hard puzzle.

I probably should have gone with the other Christmas puzzle I have.  Well, next year.

Until tomorrow...

CHRISTMAS 2019

The Pastry Santa visited again this year.  He bakes me scones every year and slips them under my gate every year.

Lucky and I opened presents this morning.  Lucky got SO many toys.

She is so funny!  The top toy says OH, NO! instead of squeak.  The bottom toy says Naughty on one side and Nice on the other side.

I hung out and took Lucky and Happi for a walk.

Until tomorrow...

CHRISTMAS EVE 2019

The house is all decorated for the holidays.  The presents were all under the tree.  Lucky is all ready for Santa to visit:

Until tomorrow...

FIRE TRUCK CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

I could not sleep all night last night.  My back around my kidney area hurt terribly.  I could not get comfortable all night.  I had to wake up early this morning to get a CT Scan of my abdomen.  I went to the appointment but the tech agreed that this was not a good time to get the test done.  We agreed that I should talk to a doctor first to make sure my kidney is okay before I get the test done.

I went home and rested because that evening I was meeting a friend to do a tour of the city lights.  We were on an old fire truck that drives around so you can see the holiday lights.

It was a lot of fun. There were Christmas songs playing and we stopped at giant Christmas trees for photos.

Until tomorrow...

FRIENDS FOR TEA

My friends came over for tea and cookies today.  It was nice to see them.  We do not get together enough.

Once they left I rested up.

Until tomorrow...

DIDN'T ATTEND TWO PARTIES

Just a quiet day of recovery.  I am sore again all over.  I took a long bath and laid around a bit.  I was supposed to go to two parties but didn't attend either one.  I was just not feeling up to standing or sitting around a bunch of people.  Plus one of the parties was a bring a dessert and I could not make the cookies I was going to make.  I stayed home and watched Lifetime Christmas movies.

Until tomorrow...

SLIPPED ON STAIRS

I wasn't going to write about this because it was really embarrassing but time has passed and not too much embarrasses me anymore.

The roofer came today to finally fix the leak in my roof.  It was not a big leak but it has been raining hard here and it has been damaging my ceiling in the guest room.  It is a small crack around a pipe on the roof.  It is fixed now so all good.

That is not the embarrassing part.  The embarrassing part is that when the roofer was here I slipped on the front stairs.  After the first fall on the stairs where I was wearing socks, everyone said to me make sure to wear shoes on your feet on the stairs.  So when the roofer was here I wore shoes to go down the stone front stairs.  Unfortunately they were not the right shoes on the wet stone stairs.  So I slipped on the stairs.  I didn't fall fall, I more slid down the stairs.  I unfortunately landed mostly on my right palm.  I thought I was okay for the first 3 hours after I fell then it became hard to ignore that my fingers were swelling a bit and starting to tingle.  My wrist hurt so bad that I could not move it at all.

So off to the ER I went again.  I got a bunch of x-rays and nothing was broken.  Just a bad sprain.  I have to wear a wrist guard thing for a few days.

I think the humiliation hurt the most.  Also, that will teach me to wear shoes on stairs!  I should have followed my instincts and just gone barefoot.  Then I would not have fallen!

Until tomorrow...

BLOCKED TEAR DUCT

Right in the middle of this whole mess with the fall, I got a blocked tear duct.  At first it was not bad but I think because I was falling asleep sitting up and now I am on Orencia, the blocked tear duct got bad very fast.  It looked horrible.  Imagine a large pimp on your lower eye lid.  That is what it looks like.

Today I went to the eye doctor to see what they had to say.  I have been using the eye wash and the gel medicine but it isn't working the way it has in the past.  The eye doctor said I have to put hot compresses on my eye 6-8 times a day for 10 minutes.  Now, I understand that is what they want but think about your day for one minute and think about how you would find time to put a sterile compress on your eye (oh, and make it hot but not boiling) 6-8 times a day for 10 minutes.  Yeah, that is what I said.  I will be lucky to get it done 4 times a day.

She also gave me a prescription for some antibiotics if I need it since it is the holidays.

Until tomorrow...

STILL RESTING AND MOVING SLOWLY

I went to work for the first time in about a week.  It is slow going.  I still need to rest. 

Here's a picture of Happi resting with me.  She looks so cute.  I bought her a new bed but she doesn't know it yet.

Until tomorrow...

POST ACCIDENT DOCTOR APPOINTMENT

I woke up and went over my primary doctor's appointment.  He checked my bruises out.  He confirmed that nothing was broken.  He thinks that I hit my spine very hard and that caused some temporary nerve issues that seem to have dissipated.  He also said that my contusions were deep and the bruises are now coming out as the blood is seeping to my spine area. 

He thinks my progress has been good so far and in another week I will be much better.  He thinks in 12 days I will be in really good shape.  If I am not he will do what he can to help out.  I have a follow appointment in a month.

I came home and took a long bath.

Until tomorrow...

IMPORTANT CLIENT MEETING

I went into my clients today for an important meeting.  I have a strong feeling that they were going to tell me that my contract was ending and they were not going to renew it.  I was close.  They told me that my contract we ending and they wanted me to stay for a month longer to train new people and then I would be gone.  I said I would consider this option. 

I went home and rested because the trip to their office took a lot out of me. 

In the evening my friends came over for tea and cookies.  We had some very nice conversation.  It was good to catch up before the holidays.

Until tomorrow...

TWO PARTIES

After taking it slow this morning.  I had to get ready for a noon potluck.  The potluck was nice.  I brought some of my cookies.   Almost all of them were eaten. 

After the potluck I went home to rest until party number 2.  I was going to make some more cookies for the next party but didn't get around to it.  I took a short nap while waiting for the guests.

I had a friend and her husband over for hot cocoa and cookies.  We chatted about everything.  It was quite fun.  We are going to have game night next time.

When they left, I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done.  

Until tomorrow...

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

Today was a day of rest. I took a bath and that helped a lot.  Before the bath, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my medicine.  I had run out of prednisone and had to pick it up.   I relaxed most of the day watching a few Lifetime Christmas movies.

I don't think I have mentioned that I also have an eye infection that is bothering me.  I get these eye infections every now and then.  They are caused from me getting "junk" in my eyes and then it causes my ducts to get clogged.  Then they get infected.  Well, my dry eye (Sjrogen's) has caused my eye to dry up and get some stuff in it.  That caused the duct to get clogged.  Now my eye looks horrible.

When it rains it pours!  I am hoping my eye clears up quickly.

Until tomorrow...

GASTROENTEROLOGIST APPOINTMENT

After more rest today, I had an appointment with my gut doctor. I made the mistake of driving to the appointment. Yesterday I drove to the post office but that is close by. The doctors office is so much further away.  My back and leg were killing me half way there.

The gut doctor checked me out and agreed with me that we should check me out and see what is going on. Three bouts of what looks like food poisoning in a month just doesn’t seem right and maybe something else is going on. Or maybe nothing. But better to check and see. So I am going to get a CAT scan.

The good news is the I have an appointment to see my primary doctor on Tuesday about my injuries from my fall.

Until tomorrow...

GOT OUT OF BED

Today I tried getting out of bed. Mostly because I needed to pick up a box containing dog food from the post office or Happi and Lucky would start eating me in my sleep! The box arrived last Friday but  I didn’t pick it up and then I had my accident. Every day I crossed my fingers that I didn’t run out of food.

Then in the evening my friends came over for tea and cookies. Luckily I got out all my Christmas china before I fell so I had very little to do before they arrived. The cookies were made and the tea was out so all I had to do was boil water and sweep the floor.

We had a good time catching up. Lucky loved that they came over and could barely calm down. I was good for 30 minutes and then the sitting started to bother me a lot. This is the first of many tea and cookie gatherings.

Until tomorrow...

STILL IN BED

Today I worked from my bed. I have been having the dog walker come and take Lucky to entertain her and he takes Happi out during the day so I don’t have to.  I skipped the painkillers so my head was clear to do the work project I needed to do.

Instead I took some Advil once the project was completed.  I called my primary and he out of town. I called an orthopedic surgeon and they said they didn’t think they could help me since it sounds like a soft tissue injury. So I wait it out until my doctor gets back.

Until tomorrow...

BEDRIDDEN

Yup, I am pretty much bedridden. I can get up and walk but every time I do, I get nauseous so staying horizontal is best. Yesterday I took a whole painkiller but today I am just taking half. I don’t need to be so stupid and sleepy.

I mostly slept and watched TV all day.

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER ER VISIT

Last night after posting my blog post, I gathered a bunch of items that needed to be taken downstairs, turned off the lights, covered the bird, and started down the stairs. My stairs are about 20 stairs and then two stairs. I made it down the 20 stairs and went to turn the light on and down came Lucky. I turned and wham! I was on the floor. Well, on the stairs.

I lay on the floor for about 20 minutes because I could not get up. Dogs were peeing on the floor because I could not get up to let them outside. Once I got up I new this was serious. I took some Advil PM and went to sleep.

This morning I worked from home and then went to work at lunch time. After an hour there I went to the ER. I could barely sit in a chair. Walking is hard and every time I moved I got nauseous.

The ER was a circus. I finally saw a doctor and got x-rays.  Nothing is broken. I am just bruised and humiliated.  I got some anti-nausea meds and pain meds and sent on my way.

I was supposed to go to another doctor appointment and have guests over tonight. I had to cancel both.

I came home, ate some food and fed the dogs. I got into bed and promptly fell asleep. I think this will take a bit of time to recover from because of how I landed on the stairs.

Until tomorrow...

COOKIES COOKIES COOKIES

I baked cookies all day.  I started with Sandwich Creme Cookie - Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies.  They are two chocolate chip cookies with an Oreo cookie baked in the middle.  I thought it would be easy but it was not as easy as I thought to make.  They look tasty.

Then I moved on to baking the vegan shortbread cookies.   I had to get them in the fridge.  Then I made the vegan sugar cookies and got them in the fridge.

After a short rest, got the sugar cookies cut into Christmas shapes.  Then I cut the vegan shortbread and got them in the oven. Once the shortbread cookies were done, I iced the sugar cookies and decorated them.  Then I was done!  I cleaned up and put the cookies away.  I put my feet up and watched some TV.  I think the cookies are good.  I am a bit worried about the shortbread cookies.  I am not sure about the taste but I am super critical.  My first guest for tea and cookies is tomorrow evening.

Oreo stuffed cookies

Until tomorrow...

IS ORENCIA WORKING?

I have been on Orencia for a while now and I am not sure Orencia works.  When I went on Enbrel, I felt a change in the first month.  I am not feeling the same kind of change.  I am not feeling the same kind of fatigue but I am still feeling pain in my joints.  So I guess I need to talk to my doctor and find out if this is the right drug. Maybe it takes longer to work.  I did have to go off the medicine twice so far due to infections.

Until tomorrow...

NEW GENETIC TEST

Today I went to get a new genetic breast cancer test. It checks more genes to see if I carry the genes that make me more apt to get breast cancer. I took the Brca test years ago and I was negative. My new doctor wants me to take this new test that checks more things.

I went today to take the test. No one told what the test entails except that I would have to spit. The nurse gave me this giant tube that needed to fill up to a line with spit.

Now it was 8:30 am. I really had not had much to drink yet since I had to rush out to get to the appointment.  I also have Sjogren’s and that gives me dry eye and dry mouth. My mouth was so dry there was no way I could fill the tube. The more I sat there stressing the drier my mouth got. I finally got up and left. I asked for my co-pay back and left. I need to reschedule and plan for this appointment. It can not be first thing in the morning when I haven’t had much to drink yet and my mouth is dry. Probably the middle of the day is the best. After I have been hydrating for hours.

Until tomorrow...

CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS

The decorating has continued. My little Christmas tree is up.

I have a deadline of Monday so I have to really work this weekend. Plus I have to make cookies. I am making three different kinds: sugar cookies, shortbread cookies and chocolate chip cookies with Oreos inside.

Until tomorrow...

ORENCIA DELIVERED AFTER ALL

Yesterday my Orencia was supposed to be delivered.  I got a phone call from the Orencia pharmacy saying it got delayed due to the weather.  Then I got a text saying it was delayed.  Okay, it was delayed.  I was supposed to take it tonight but okay I will postpone. 

Then at 4:30pm I got a voicemail from the pharmacy where I get it delivered to saying it was delivered.  What?!  I got myself together and went down and picked it up.  I guess UPS got their lines crossed and they got it delivered after all.  So I could do my shot last night.

Until tomorrow...

EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM

In my town we have an emergency warning system.  It is an old fashioned outside siren that goes off once a week and then an electronic voice says "This is a test".  If you have lived here a long time like myself, you basically know what time it is and what day of the week it is when you hear it.  "Oh, it is noon on Tuesday."  It is supposed to alert us if there is a tsunami or contaminated water supply or radiological attack. 

I just found out that they are going to disable the system for two years to upgrade it.  I am not sure what in the world will take two years in the upgrading but that is what they say.  I worry what will happen if there is an emergency during those two years.  Yes, there is a text alert system but our area has also been having rolling black outs so depending on alerts that depend on electricity does not seem like a good plan.  What if you don't have your phone with you?  You would not hear about the emergency. 

I want the old fashioned emergency system working.  It seems the most reliable since you can hear it anywhere in the town. 

I started decorating for Christmas.  I have been bringing box after box upstairs.  I have LOADS of stuff to use to decorate.  This year I am going all out with the Santa collection.  I took out a Frost King and Queen that someone gave me years ago and I have never taken them out before.  They are big and SO beautiful.  I will post a picture in the future.  I have the stockings hung and some wreaths up and I am working on getting some lights up.  It is a long process.

Until tomorrow...

NO PARTY THIS YEAR

I decided this year that I am not having my big holiday party.  I am instead having folks over individually for tea/cocoa and cookies.  I can catch up with people better when I have just a few people over and not a house full.

Until tomorrow...

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

I finished watching Season 3 of The Crown.  Wow!  It was good.

My Christmas cards are done.  I am just waiting for the stamps to arrive to mail a few more.

I started bringing up the Christmas decorations.  I started the first step: taking down the unnecessary items and dusting.  Now I can start putting up the decorations this week.  I am thinking about whether I am getting a real tree this year.  I hear there is a shortage and the trees are really expensive.  I love a real tree but I can do without this year if I need to.  I have my little Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

Until tomorrow...

TEA ADVENT CALENDAR

It is still raining.  I walked down to the post office to get my packages.  I got my English Tea Shoppe Advent Calendar.  I am so excited.  I got one last year and it was so much fun to get a new tea bag each day.  Plus I get to count down to Christmas.

I started working on the Christmas cards.  I also ordered stamps.  I didn't have enough and the post office ran out of the Christmas stamps.

I started watching The Crown.  It is really good this season.

Until tomorrow...

BLACK FRIDAY

It is Black Friday and I am staying inside.  It is raining and I am going to hibernate.  I am going to take Lucky for a walk between the rain drops.  I ordered my Christmas cards and went to pick them up.   I am excited to send them out this year.  I think they are cute.

I am just watching Christmas movies and relaxing.

Then I had to take Lucky and Happi to get their nails done.  Poor Happi got herself so worked up that it takes us SO long to get in the car and to the vet's.  I am going to talk to the vet to see if he can give me some anti anxiety meds for when I have to bring her to the vets office.  Since the car accident Happi and I were in, she hates the car.  I can't blame her.  She doesn't understand.  We got in an accident and then she was rushed in to have surgery that saved her life but she doesn't know that.  All she knows is that she was sleeping in a car when she was thrown when something hit the car.  Then instead of making her feel better, she was taken to the vet and given tests that confused her and then rushed into surgery that hurt.  Then weeks of recovery.  Poor baby.  No wonder she hates the car. 

Until tomorrow...

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving was pretty nice this year.  I got to talk to most of my family before I headed out to my friend S mother's house.  Her mother was gracious enough to invite me to her family Thanksgiving feast.  I was warned that there would be nothing for me to eat so I brought my own food.  I made myself: vegan mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, vegan loaf and glazed carrots that I brought for everyone.  I didn't think the carrots came out that great but people ate them and complimented me on them.  The glaze didn't firm up enough.  Oh, well.  The carrots tasted good.

The folks at dinner were very nice.  They played games and had lively discussions about the English language.  It was nice to be included.

Until tomorrow...

SOME UPDATES

Stove: the stove was not broken.  Turns out the stove has not been "on" for the past few weeks.  The $10 thermostat that was in the oven broke and was stuck at 200 degrees.  So the oven guy came out and there was nothing to fix.  The oven is fine.  He does say that it is cooking 50 degrees less so I have to be careful when I cook things like cookies.  So he suggests I go buy another thermostat. 

Roof:  It poured last night.  I had a dream that the whole roof leaked and that water was leaking through on the whole top floor.  The spot where the ceiling showed water leakage is damp in one little spot.  So it is leaking a bit but not much.  There isn't supposed to be much rain over the next few days.  Last night was the worst.

Until tomorrow...

IT IS RAINING

Okay I should be happy it is raining.  I am happy about it but I wish it was raining next week.  After my roof was fixed.  I am worried that the leak in my roof will get worse.  It is a little leak but I don't know how long it will rain and how long the leak was here last time it leaked.  I don't really go around and look at my ceiling in all my rooms.  I guess that will change now.  I will have to do monthly ceiling checks to see if I have any leaks.  I had no idea that there was anything on the roof that could leak in that spot so I didn't know to look there.

Hopefully my roofer will be well enough next week to fix the roof before more rain comes.

I got a two phone calls with my new watch and could not figure out how to answer them.  New tech with garbage instructions.  The instructions tell you how to Decline calls but not how to answer them.  The directions say "swipe to answer".  Swipe which way??  Up? Down?  Right?  I figured it out, it is right.  Up declines the call and sends it to voicemail.  It takes a bit of time to get used to the watch.

Until tomorrow...

IT ARRIVED

It arrived!  My new watch arrived.  I haven't been excited to have a watch in about 25 years.  I stopped wearing a watch long before cellphones mostly because I got annoyed I had to keep replacing the batteries.  I have a whole drawer full of watches with dead batteries.  I guess I should take them out before they rot. 

My new watch!  I have only had it for a few hours and the first hour was charging it.  I haven't really figured it all out yet.  I got it all connected and I sent a text.  It was too late to make a phone call so I will have to try tomorrow.  I don't know how to change the volume or how to efficiently send a text.  So there is a lot to work on.  But I am excited!  A new toy. Merry Early Christmas to me!

I got an email response from my gut doctor today.  She is out until 12/13 but I have an appointment with her when she returns.  I can get everything checked out then.

Until tomorrow...

NOT LUCKY'S DAY

I got super angry at Lucky today.  I was downstairs folding laundry, okay ignoring her, and she decided to begin climbing on the furniture.  She is not allowed on furniture and she knows it.  When she feels I am not paying enough attention to her, she gets mischievous.  She steals things like pens, tissues, paper towels, small things and takes them in her cage.  She doesn't really chew on them but just takes them in there because she knows I will notice they are missing and come get them.  To get them out, she gets a cookie.  I think she thinks this is a game.

Today she climbed on the furniture when I was downstairs.  I would not have minded it so much if it was just the couch but it wasn't.  It was the coffee table.  I think she was trying to get at a pen that was clipped on a pad.  To get to it she knocked over a cup of black tea.  In a lot of cases this would not be a big deal but my "coffee table" is really an old foot locker from college that I covered with cloth.  So the cloth was covered with spilled tea.  Then the pad of that I was writing on is a special pad called a RocketBook Everlast.  It is a pad with special "paper" that you write on over and over with a special pen.  Each "page of paper" can be wiped off when you are done with it.  It has a special app that you take a photo and it saves the page to your computer or emails it to someone.

I love my Rocketbook but I had not thought what would happen if my dog spilled a cup of liquid on it and I lost everything.  Luckily I think I saved everything by putting paper towels between each page.  I was so angry at Lucky.

Then later in the day she got angry at Happi and started to attack her.  She doesn't understand that Happi can't hear when she gives her the low "get away" growl.  Happi keeps getting closer to see what Lucky is doing and Lucky doesn't like it.

Today was not Lucky's day.

I took her outside to play ball and pack up the outside furniture.  I decided this year to fold up the table and chairs and put them under the deck to see if that gives them one more year of life.  I put some plastic chairs and a makeshift table out for the winter months.

Until tomorrow...

ATE FIRST SOLID FOOD

I ate my first full meal.  I am not sure how I felt after I ate and I hope nothing happens. Still eating rice based food.

Until tomorrow...

ROOFER UPDATE

I spoke to the roofer and he will not be coming soon. He is really sick.  He sounds horrible.  He promised me the rain that is expected to come on Wednesday is not going to come to my area and will not be hard rain.  I hope he is right.  I feel bad for him and want him to get better but I also need my roof to get fixed.

Until tomorrow...

VACATION PLANNED

Made a big decision that I am going to take a vacation after the first of the year.  I am going to take off and go to somewhere warmer.  I had to get the pieces together: dog sitter, flights, rental car, friends, etc.  I got it all to work and I am super excited that I am going.  I still have to find a hotel but I will.  I just want to go have some fun!

Until tomorrow...

LOOSING A CLIENT

Yup, I am going to be loosing a client.  I have been with this client for over 1.5 years.  Overall it has been a good experience.  It is time to leave.  My contract is expiring in a month and I will not be renewing it.  I am not sure if they would want me to but if they did I would not.  It is time to leave and I always know when it is time to go and when I stay longer it never ends well.  It is sort of like a sitcom.  You need to know the sweet spot of when to end the show; before no one is watching but not while the fans still want to see more.

I am feeling a bit better.  I didn't go out today and stayed in my pajamas all day.  I worked and tried to eat some bland food.  I am still on the antibiotics and anti-nausea meds.  I am a bit afraid to eat food.  So I am sticking to rice, bread, broth, apple sauce, bananas and tea. 

Until tomorrow...

EATING SOLID BUT BLAND FOOD

The anti-nausea medicine is working.  I took some last night and two today.  I have not felt nauseous today despite not eating much food.  I think the antibiotics are working.  Last night I slept really good.  I have three days of antibiotics to take.

The only thing that is not getting better and I have emailed my doctor, is my throat.  I think the curry burned my throat very bad.  Everything hurts my throat when I swallow.  I tried to eat rice and it felt like glass going down.  I am going to try broth tonight. 

I went to my ob/gyn today.  It was my first time with this doctor since my doctor moved to a rural area to work with low-income and undocumented people who need health care.  My new doctor was super nice and we got along great.  I convinced her to keep me on the medicine I have been on despite my age.  I do not want to change medicine.  I said what difference is one year?  She said she would not take me off the medicine I liked.  She is sending me for a newer BRCA panel.  I got a BRCA test many years ago when it came out.  I was targeted for the test since my mom had breast cancer twice.  Now that more people in my family have had it, she wants me to have this panel.  I have to schedule it soon. 

Until tomorrow...

SICK AGAIN

I made soup yesterday and ate it at about 7 pm.  About 3 hours later I felt horrible.  By 11 pm I was seeing the Curry Soup again.  I was vomiting it all up.  It was a replay of two weeks ago. The only difference is that curry burns like heck when it reappears.  I had tears in my eyes.

Oh, I got very little sleep last night as the food left my body.  I can't imagine what is happening.

I had to be at my clients office at 8:45am because I was the one letting a new employee in the office the first time.  At 6am I woke up and snoozed again until 6:30am.  Poor Happi peed on the floor multiple times during the night since I could not take her out between running for the bathroom.  I cleaned up the floor and little by little got my self together.  I took a cab to the client's office and did the meeting and then came home and fell asleep.

I called the gut doctor and she was out this week.  So I called my primary and he said he thinks I picked up a bacteria during my trip.  It is unusual for the bacteria to make a reappearance two weeks later but, as we know, if it is going to happen to someone it is me.  So I start a round of antibiotics as soon as the pharmacy gets them ready.  He also gave me some antinausea meds just in case.  I am to stick to bland foods for now so I am back to eating rice and saltines.

I was supposed to take my Orencia tomorrow but now I have to skip that for a week until I get off the antibiotics.

I finally got the meds at 8:30pm.  The pharmacy has 1/2 their employees out with a cold/flu.  I hope they work.  I need a good nights sleep.

Until tomorrow...

MADE SOME SOUP

I made some lovely Curry Butternut Squash, Kale, Quinoa Soup.  It was delicious.  I ate it while on the phone with my dad getting the latest family updates. 

Today was a lazy day.  I took the dog for a walk and went food shopping.

Until tomorrow...

NO ROOF FIXTURE

This morning I was supposed to get a small leak in my roof fixed. I called to remind the roofer and he  sounded awful. He has the cold that is going around. The roof is going to have to wait until later this coming week to get fixed.  The leak is the seal around a pipe on the roof. The seal got old and cracked. It just needs a patch.

Until tomorrow...

HAIRCUT

I got my haircut today.  After my haircut I went and got Thai food. Last night I had Thai food but not the Thai food I wanted so today I got the food I wanted. It was really good.

Until tomorrow...

MOVIE NIGHT

Today I called my roofer. Before I went to Sedona I noticed that there is a leak in the ceiling in my guest room. It was an old leak but it was still a leak. It had not rained in a long time so it was dried. My roofer came over and checked it out. He said the seam around a vent had dried out and it needed patching but my roof looked great. He said he would come later that week and fix it. I did not need to be home.

Well, he didn’t come and then I was away and then sick and then catching up. Today I called and he said he would come over on Saturday. The weather report didn’t have rain so no worries. Then it rained. Of course it rained. It hasn’t rained in months. Today it rained.

Tonight was movie night. My friends S and B came over and we got Thai food. We hung out and watched a movie. We chose an older movie Blue Jasmine. It was an interesting movie to watch for movie night. I didn’t know it was a Woody Allen movie. I am not a fan of his work or him personally but this movie was not like some of his other work. It left us with a lot to discuss afterword.

Until tomorrow...

SUCCESS

After days of trying to get Disney+ I am now one of the million subscribers of the Disney+.  Tonight I tried one more time and to my surprise, I got through.  I don't mean to criticize Disney but whoever designed the directions to sign up for the platform really needed to do some quality control before launch.  There are very few directions and you get weird messages.  I got an email saying I was signed up.  I was ready to start watching.  Then I got another email stating I changed my account.  I never changed my account.  So I have no idea what is going on.  The Live Chat function had a wait time of over 30 minutes.  I figure if something goes wrong I will find out sometime in the future and deal with it then.  The rush will thin out once the free 7 day trial is over.

I feel like I should win a prize or something.  I guess getting Disney+ is the prize but I feel like I should get more.

Until tomorrow...

DISNEY+

I tried to get Disney+ today.  You would think I was trying to get Hamilton or Madonna tickets!  The website was down and then it was just the twirly wheel.  I guess Bob Iger didn't plan for the overwhelming desire for Disney+.  With all the promotion Disney did, he should have known.  This morning, Good Morning America spent the whole two hours talking about Disney+. 

I assume some day I will get Disney+.

Until tomorrow...

SOUP AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today I made an awesome soup.  Cannelini Bean, Carrot and Kale Soup.  I made it before but this time I made a little change and it tastes better.  I switched out the jalapenos and added some hot sauce instead.  I added just a few shakes and it added just the right amount of punch.

I want to wish my niece a happy 8th birthday.  We had a conversation for a few minutes today but then she "had to go".  I am not sure what an 8 year old has to rush off and do but she had to go.

Until tomorrow...

DAY OF ERRANDS

Just another day of errands like food shopping and going to the library to pick up movies.  I want to make soup tomorrow.  I finally took down the Halloween decorations.

Still resting.

Until tomorrow...

RECOUPERATION

Today is a day of rest.  I need to recoup from my week of illness. I watched TV and movies all day curled up on the couch.

Until tomorrow...

SICK DAY 5

Today I went to work for a full day.  I ate a actual food.  It was rice and peas but it was food.  It stayed down so I am happy.  I think I am going to be okay.

Until tomorrow...

SICK DAY 4

I ate solid food today.  I ate a piece of toast.  I went to my clients office for a few hours.  I needed to get some work done.  I came home and slept.

Until tomorrow...

SICK DAY 3

Late last night I was sick again.  I was up all night again.  I think it will never end.  There can't be anything left since I haven't eaten anything.

Today I am feeling better and ate some apple sauce and crackers.  I feel lightheaded and weak but I think I am on my way to recovery.

Until tomorrow...

SICK DAY 2

Last evening I was hungry so I ate a big bowl of pasta.  Boy was that a mistake.  About 6 hours later it made a reappearance.  I vomited for hours and then it started coming out the other end.  I have not been this miserable in years.

I laid on the couch and in bed all day.  I had a headache and stomach ache.  I tried to drink tea, ginger ale, and broth.

I watched TV all day except when I had to run to the bank to pay a bill.  It was torture to go.

Until tomorrow...

NOT FEELING TOO GOOD

The day started out okay.  I didn't feel that great but I thought I was just tired from my day at the airport and my late flight.  As the day wore on I didn't feel much better.  I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and I was okay.

I am going to sleep.

Until tomorrow...

STUCK AT THE AIRPORT

I woke up early to catch my flight.  I mean really early.  I said goodbye to my parents and drove from Sedona to the Phoenix airport.  It takes about 2 hours.  During those 2 hours (unbeknownst to me) my flight was cancelled.  I got the airport, returned my car, got to the check in and the machine would not let me check in.  It said my flight was cancelled and the next flight was in 10 min.  I went to the counter and it was obvious I was not going to get the next flight.  It was 6:30 in the morning.  I guess everyone else got a text message and I did not.

They told me I was going to be stand by for the 6:10pm flight and I had a seat for the 8:50pm flight.   What do you do for 12 hours in an airport?  Especially Phoenix airport.  Phoenix airport has nothing to do.  No vegan food.  No comfy chairs.  Not like places like SFO where there are lounge chairs, yoga, meditation and great food.

So I hung out for hours.  I spoke to people.  I called friends.  I watched TV and movies.  I walked around.  I got on the 6:10pm flight.  I was the last stand by person on the plane.  Hallelujah!

Thank goodness my dog sitter could stay with the dogs for the extra hours.  Lucky was SO happy to see me.

Until tomorrow...

SEDONA VACATION DAY 3

I started my day with a hike.  I hiked to the base of the Bell Rock.  It was a great hike and it was cleansing.

Bell Rock

We went to two small towns today.  First we went to Jerome.  It is a small copper mining town.  It was having an art festival that day and we decided to drive through and not stop since there was nowhere to park.  We stopped to take photos.

Then we went to Cottonwood.  There we walked around and ate some lunch.  Then we went shopping.  It was Día de los Muertos so there was Day of the Dead stuff everywhere.  My mom bought me something to remember this trip.

After we got back, we went to an art fair.  While my parents walked around, I got a chakra balance and reiki healing.  It was so interesting.  The reiki master just knew so much.  I felt so much lighter after the energy healing.  I am not sure my parents were convinced.

We went out to dinner for our last night together.  The TV was finally fixed a bit.

Until tomorrow...

SEDONA VACATION DAY 2

Today we went to see Sedona Uptown.  Why they call it Uptown I don't know.  It is the downtown but they call it Uptown.  We walked around and bought some stuff and then we went back to the restaurant from yesterday since we liked it so much.  After lunch we went for a drive to the Red Rock Information center.  It has a bunch of information about the Red Rocks.  It also had a short movie.

Bell Rock

We came back to the house and I went to Uptown to shop some more.

Until tomorrow...

SEDONA VACATION DAY 1

Happy Halloween!

I was up at 2:30 am.  I had to be at the airport at 4:30am for my 6:15am flight.  I landed in Phoenix at 8:30am.  I got my rental car and drove to Sedona.

I met my parents for lunch.  Then we had time to kill.  We went shopping and drove around to take photos.

Every picture is like a postcard.

At 4pm we were able to get in the house and we went and I unpacked and settled in.  That is when the TV saga started.  The TV didn't work.  Well, it worked but the Direct TV didn't work.  So there were calls and more calls and upset people.  No TV.  The guy came and got Netflix to work so people were calmer with something to watch.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #60

Blog Challenge Day #60

What is the one national park you have not visited but want to?

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. For some reason it looks beautiful to me.  I would take a horseback ride and do a hike.  See the amphitheater. 

Doesn't that look majestic? 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #59

Blog Challenge Day #59

What is an important lesson you learned recently?

I learned that I have already learned to relax more and that I am less tense.  This was a good thing to learn.  I learned that I hold my stress in my gut.  I need to deal with my stress in a more effective way.  Meditation or yoga would help.   Holding stress in your gut is not a good thing because it causes all kinds of issues.

So I need to work on this.

Until tomorrow... 

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #58

Blog Challenge Day #58

What was your favorite toy growing up?

My favorite toy growing up was the dollhouse my mother made for me.  My mom could not afford to buy me one of those fancy dollhouses that I saw in the dollhouse magazines.  So my mom got some wine crates and made me my own dollhouse.  She partitioned off rooms and wallpapered the walls.  She put flooring down and lighting.  There were windows and doors cut out.  Curtains were made as well as furniture.  She even made some food like little cakes and fruit.  Dollhouse furniture is expensive so she only bought the pieces we could not make ourselves.  For my birthdays and Christmas I got furniture and items that I needed to complete the house.

That was my favorite toy growing up.

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Lucky is doing better already.  She likes the medicine and is feeling better already.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #57

Blog Challenge Day #57

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

I have a vegan pizza obviously with vegan cheese.  From a pizza parlor I mostly get mushrooms and cheese with red sauce.  When I make my own pizza I have vegan cheese and red sauce and mushrooms, spinach and black olives.  That is my favorite.  I love making my own pizza.  I can buy the pizza dough at the supermarket and then I just have to add my toppings.  It turns out very good.

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I had to take Lucky to the doctor this week.  She has been acting really aggressive around her food bowl and not eating.  I thought it was her teeth but they checked her out and her teeth are fine.  Turns out her poor little tummy and intestines were full of poop and gas.  They gave me one medicine but she would not take it so we went back and they gave me another medicine and she loves it.  I am hoping she will feel better soon.  She is so angry that I am fixing her and she is so hungry. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #56

Blog Challenge Day #56

If you could have any pet, what type of animal would it be?

I have always wanted a tortoise.  I was in a park years ago and I saw a person with a tortoise.  It was a rescued tortoise.  The tortoise was walking around with all the dogs.  I thought what a great pet.  The only downside is they can live 100 years.  I am not sure I want a pet that outlives me.  I think I would want almost any pet but I am not so keen on the snake/lizard family.  Also rabbits are cute and cuddly but they mate like, uh, rabbits and they are really messy.  So I am not a huge fan of rabbits.

I used to want a pig but then I found out that those mini pigs are not so mini after all.  If they were really mini I would like one.  Pigs are cute but not a 300 pound pig in a city.  That sounds like a movie I once saw Pig in a City.

I think people should only have domesticated animals as household pets.  No exotic animals such as monkeys or tigers.  They should be in the wild.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #55

Blog Challenge Day #55

Who is your favorite artist?

 I like very colorful art so I tend to lean more toward modern artists.  Peter Max is one of my favorites.

It is called psychedelic art.  He was very famous in the 1970s.  He had his art on clothes and US stamps.  He is my favorite.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #54

Blog Challenge Day #54 

What would you say to a younger version of yourself?

I would say to my younger self to not worry so much about things like what others think about you.  Not worry about what you look like.  Not worry so much about your weight or your height or your (nose, hair, thighs, etc.)

Spend more time with friends and seeing the world and tasting new foods and learning about different view points and just get out of your bubble.

Learn all you can.  Read all you can.  Stay in school.  That's what I would say.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #53

Blog Challenge Day #53

Make A Recipe Post

Today I made Moroccan Lentil Chard Soup. It is so yummy. It is just a bit spicy but not too much. It has a tomato base so it has a vegetable flavor. I love a chard soup but I rip the chard leaves small because to me there is nothing worse than trying to get a big piece of chard leaf in your mouth while eating soup.  I made this soup before and it is always a winner. The best part is how easy it is to make. It only takes one pot and very few kitchen utensils. 

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I checked in on the dog walker and he is still laid up. He will most likely not be able to walk the dogs tomorrow. I have set Plan B into action just in case.

I had the pest guy here again. The chickens next door are attracting unwanted visitors in my wall. Good news though he thinks it maybe a mouse this time and not a rat. Never thought I would be happy for a mouse.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #52

Blog Challenge Day #52

What is your favorite TV Show.

I have a lot of TV shows I like but the best TV series I like would have to be the Law & Order shows. I have probably seen all of them and many of them more than once. I liked Law & Order. Then I liked Law & Order SVU. I never really liked Law & Order Criminal Intent.  I never watchedTrial by Jury, True Crimes or Hate Crimes.  I think I watched Law & Order LA for a bit but it wasn’t on for long.  

You just know when L&O is coming on because you hear the “dun dun”. Once you hear that, you don’t even need to look at the TV to know what is coming on. Just like 60 Minutes with the ticking of the clock.

That is my favorite series. 

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I got home at 4:45 pm and there was no Lucky in the house. 5:00 pm no Lucky. It is now feeding time. Where is Lucky? 5:30 I text the dog walker. He is injured. He dislocated his knee. He is at home with all the dogs from his run. He thinks his knee will pop back in in a short time. At 7:30 pm I text I better come get Lucky she needs her meds. I drive over and get her and she is fine. The dog walker looks terrible. 

Lucky looking concerned for the dog walker.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #51

Blog Challenge Day #51

Write about a topic.

Earthquakes. We get them. We have been getting them lately. They just come out of the blue with no warning. Some people call this earthquake weather:when is is hot and dry at a time when it normally is not supposed to be. I am not sure I buy that. I think earthquakes are a lot like your car.  The car runs along with no problem for months maybe years. Then all of a sudden a hose bursts.you had no idea the hose was going to burst, no early warning system. The hose got old and there was too much pressure and boom. Just like an earthquake. Tectonic plates are down under the ground.one plate moves one way. Then boom.  No warning. Lots of pressure. Then boom. 

Until tomorrow...

 

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #50

Blog Challenge Day #50

Why Did You Start Blogging?

I started blogging because I was giving my family and friends updates about my RA and my friend said why don’t you start a blog instead.  She also said I was funny. I think I have moments of humor.  I started my blog about havingRA but expanded it to my life living with RA.  So I talk about my animals (probably too much) and the foster care process because they all effect my RA. 

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I made a big mistake. I picked up my months worth of Orencia today and was in a huge rush to get home and feed the dogs. Then I got a phone call. Then I ate my dinner and watched some TV. Then I screamed. I forgot to put my Orencia in the refrigerator. I ran over and put it in the fridge. Did I ruin a months worth of Orencia???  I will have to call and find out. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #49

Blog Challenge Day #49

What Top Things Do You Wish You'd Known When You Were Younger?

I wish I had known that it isn’t important how skinny you are because 20 years from now the styles and sizes that are popular will be different.  A example is that when I was younger Twiggy was a popular person. Now it is Beyoncé. Completely different body types.  Things change.

So focus on your personality and education. Those are more important things to focus on.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #48

Blog Challenge Day #48

How Do You Stay Productive?

Oh, stay productive. Usually I don't have a problem when I am working. I love working. I am very productive when I get into a project. I forget to eat, feed the dogs, go to doctors appointments, and do other tasks I am supposed to.

When I am supposed to do personal tasks or tasks I don't want to do, I am less than productive.  I have to use tricks to get me to do them.  I will promise myself I can do something or get something once I finish the task.  I also listen to music or a Disney movie.

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I took Lucky to the vet today. She has been not eating everyday and has been super aggressive around feeding time. I have gone back to chaining her up when I feed her so she can't try to attack me

The doctor thinks there is something wrong with her tummy. He took blood and we will find out the results on Monday.  I have to give her liquid medicine twice a day.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #47

Blog Challenge Day #47

What Do You Enjoy Doing Outside Of Work?

This is going to sound repetitive. I like to spend time with Happi and Lucky. I like to watch TV especially British TV. I like watching movies and occasionally go to them. I like to read books and recently got into audiobooks.  I like to eat out or order in food.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #46

Blog Challenge Day #46

What Keeps You Creative?

I am not a very creative person in a regular sense. If don’t paint or draw. I scrapbook. I take pictures.

I don’t do it as much as I want to. I need to make more time for being creative.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #45

Blog Challenge Day #45

What Is The Top Thing You've Learned Over The Past Year?

I learned:

• that falling down on the pavement is no fun and can fracture bones in strange places.  It produced a long recovery, lots of doctor appointments and too much time in physical therapy.  It was no fun!  It didn't bring any happiness.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #44

Blog Challenge Day #44

What Are You Passionate About?

I am passionate about living life and finding my joy. I may not be jumping out of planes but I try to make the most up of each day. I am trying to spend as much time as I can with Happi since we don’t know how long she will be around.  I carry her up and down the stairs to eat and pee.  Right now she is basically spending all her time downstairs since going upstairs is hard for her and, I think, confusing.  I want to give her the best ending to a hard but wonderful life.  So I guess you could say I am passionate about my baby Happi.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #43

Blog Challenge Day #43

How Do You Show Yourself Love?

Bathes. I take bathes. I love a hot and bubbly bath.  I have a whole set up. Some times I bring in my iPad and watch a movie or show. Some times I read a magazine with music playing. I sit in that hot water and relax. I sometimes put Epsom salts with eucalyptus in the water. That seems so decadent.

That is my happy place.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #42

Blog Challenge Day #42

Take A Word And Write A Post Inspired By It.

Happiness

I think happiness is important in a life.  I try to have as much happiness as I can.  I spent too much time in my life being unhappy and now I just want to be happy.  I want to do things that make me happy.  Be around people that make me happy.  Eat food that makes me happy.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #41

Blog Challenge Day #41

What Is The Worst Thing You've Ever Done?

One day when I was a kid we went to the 5&10. I was little maybe 4-6 years old.  I really wanted this cute eraser and my mom couldn’t buy it for me. So I decided to put it in my pocket and walk out of the store with it. My mom saw me holding it on the way to the car. Oh, was she mad. She marched me back to the store and made me give it back and apologize in front of everyone there. It was humiliating but I will never steal anything again.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG sHALLENGE DAY #40

Blog Challenge Day #40

Nobody Knows That I...

Have a tattoo. But I think most people know I have a tattoo so I don't think this is a shock to most people.

I can't think of anything else.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #39

Blog Challenge Day #39

What Is Your Favorite Way To Spend A Day Off?

Okay, I am going to sound lazy.  My favorite way to spend a day off is to sleep late. You see, my dogs get up in the middle of the night to go outside. Well, Happi mostly. So I usually only get about 3-4 hours of sleep at a time. So sleeping late is a luxury.

Then after feeding my managerie of animals their breakfast, I will sit down with a cup of tea and my breakfast and leisurely have breakfast.

Then I might watch a TV show that I had recorded. Then take a long bath.

Then it will be about lunchtime. I will make a nice lunch and eat it in the backyard with a book if the weather is good.

Then maybe take the dog for a walk or take a nap or both.

Then it is time to feed the dogs again. Then time to feed me. I would order take out food and eat while I watch a movie.

A relaxing day.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #38

Blog Challenge Day #38

What's On Your Current Playlist And What Does Your Playlist Say About You?

My playlist is eclectic.  I have pop, rock, hard rock, alternative, punk, country and blues.

I have everything from:

• Missy Elliot
• P!nk
• Led Zepplin
• Justin Timberlake
• Taylor Swift
• Tina Turner
• Kid Rock
• The Beatles
• Indigo Girls
• Billy Joel
• En Vogue
• Katy Perry
• Jimmy Hendrix
• U2
• Melissa Ethridge
• Prince
• kd lang
• and so much more!

 This mix of music says that I love many types of music and am not set on one genre.  I like so many types of music and I can't settle on one type. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #37

Blog Challenge Day #37

What Are The Best Events That You’ve Been To Last Year?

Wow, in the last year.  Since I have had a foster kid I have gone to less events than normal for me in the last year. 

1. I went to my brother's wedding in NC
2. a number of parties
3. a bunch of movies
4. a painting party with a friend
5. the conservatory of flowers at night
6. A Christmas Carol
7. Protests
8. My birthday party extravaganza
9. Guests at my home
10. Cousin's bat Mitzvah FL
11. Visited my friend in KY
12. Family Reunion in NJ
13. Trip to Monterey

I guess I have had a busy year.  It didn't seem that busy.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #36

Blog Challenge Day #36

Best ________ (Fill In The Blank. Example: Photography) Tutorials.

I don't really use tutorials much but recently I used a Youtube video to help me figure out how to transfer photos off my phone and onto my computer.  I did it before but I forgot how to do it so I Googled and found a video of how to do it.  I found it very helpful.  Sometimes the people on the videos go too slow but this person was just the right speed.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #35

Blog Challenge Day #35

What Is The Best Gift You’ve Ever Received?

Probably the down payment for my car when I graduated from college.  I wanted a new car so much and my 1975 Ford Mustang was falling apart.  I wanted a new car that I didn't have to carry duct tape around for when things fell off.  I didn't want to have to bleed my own brakes anymore.  I wanted a car that smelled like new car and wouldn't break down. 

I got the down payment and went and bought a VW Fox.  It was a great car.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #34

Blog Challenge Day #34

What Is Your Favorite Memory?

Do people have just one favorite memory?  I am not sure I have just one favorite memory.  I have a bunch of happy memories. 

• Being at the top of a mountain in Sedona
• Holding my nieces and nephews when they were babies
• Loving up on my fur babies Happi and Lucky when they are all cute and cuddly.  Also my Taiko who passed.
• Driving my car with the top down and the music up loud on a freeway

Those are some good memories.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY #33

Blog Challenge Day #33

If Your Favorite Book Hasn’t Been Made Into A Movie Yet, Who Would You Cast For The Characters?

A Fine Balance is my favorite book and it has not been made into a movie yet.  

• Ishtar would be played by Kal Pen
• Om would be played by Dev Patel
• Dina would be played by  Parminder Nagra
• Maneck would be played by Naveen Andrews

It would be a great book to be made into a movie.

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #32

Blog Challenge Day #32

Who is your favorite fictional character, and how do you think you are alike?

Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Charlie loved chocolate.  He was a very responsible young man.  He had never won anything in his short life.  He knew if he won he would take care of his family. In the Chocolate Factory he was careful to follow all the rules and Willy Wonka gifted him the Factory because of it.  Charlie moved his family into the Chocolate Factory. 


I feel I am a very responsible person.  I LOVE chocolate (ask anyone).  I take very good care of my immediate family (Happi, Lucky and Sunny) and my foster son.  I an a rule follower. 

So Charlie and I are a lot alike.  I just wish I was gifted the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory.  That is my secret dream.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #31

Blog Challenge Day #31

What is the toughest part of being a ___FOSTER MOM______.

The toughest part of being a foster mom is having some control but not all control.  Having a foster child is like having temporary custody of your house.  Imagine having a house but you don't get to make any decisions about that house.  You can't choose the color or where the furniture goes.  You can't decide what happens in the house and who visits the house.  To get the house, you have to give all your information (financials, medical, background check, etc) to the house. 

That is what having a foster kid is like.  The kid lives with you but you can't make any decisions and your life is no longer your own because social workers, therapists, etc are making appointments when they want not when you want.  Those people know everything about you because you have supplied them with all the information about you. 

That is the toughest part of being a foster mom.  You are a mom but not a mom.  I just want to be a mom.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #30

Blog Challenge Day #30

What kind of lessons can anyone learn from what you do in your career?

I do human resources consulting.  I learn every day.  I learn about people and what they are capable of.  I learn how to read people.  I learn how to navigate difficult situations.

Dealing with people every day means I have to be calm, discreet, stone-faced, and a pretty good liar.  A liar because people will ask me secret personnel things to my face and I have to lie that I don't know what they are talking about.  I can't let on that I know anything. 

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I went shopping and bought 6 pairs of jeans on sale!  I was down to two pairs of jeans that I can wear in public.  I wear jeans every day so I needed to get some more.  I hate shopping so I buy a bunch at once when I find something that fits.  I got faded jeans, dark blue, regular jeans, plumb colored jeans, green jeans, and these funky silver/purple jeans.  I also got a jean jacket.  All on sale!!!

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #29

Blog Challenge Day # 29

Come up with a Truth vs. Lie post.

I was talking to my foster son for 10 minutes each night.  All of a sudden one night my foster son told me that he can only talk to me for 5 minutes.  Each night since then when I call and he tells me he can talk for 5 minutes.  Last night we spoke for 5 minutes and after we hung up, I called back and asked how many minutes we are allowed to speak.  They said 10 minutes and it has been 10 minutes for some time.  So he had been lying.  Turns out that once confronted, he admitted that he lied because he sometimes only wanted to talk for 5 minutes so he could do other things. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #28

Blog Challenge Day #28

Who is the one person you could definitely couldn't live without?  and why?

I don't have one person I could not live without.  I don't believe for me there is a person I could not live without.  I am a realist and I know that we are all on this Earth for a limited time and we all need to make the best of the time we are here.  I have family I love and I would like to spend time with them.  There are friends I love and I would like to spend more time with them. 

I guess it will be hardest for me when Happi passes.  Happi and I have been through a lot together.  I love her with all my heart.  But I know she is going to pass away some day pretty soon.  She has had a good life I hope.  A better life than she would have had in Palau on the streets.  At least a cushier life here.  When I was a teenager my grandmother and my dog died very close together in time.  I loved my grandmother but I was not very close to her.  It devastated me when my dog died.  I had her almost all my life.  She died at age 13.  She was supposed to be the family dog but she was closest to me.  I always wanted animals. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #27

Blog Challenge Day #27

What if you were told you were going to die on Friday and today was Monday.  What would you do?

Okay, I would want to spend it with my family and my foster son.  I am not sure how I would do all that since they all live in separate places.  But that is what I would want to do.  I am not sure what we would do except spend time together.  Maybe get a good meal.  I would want to spend time with Happi and Lucky.  Take a walk with them.  I guess that is it. 

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #26

Blog Challenge Day #26

How do you stay healthy?

I am not sure right now I am that healthy. That is why I needed to start the Orencia.

I eat pretty healthy food. I stay away from processed foods as much as I can. I try to eat fresh as much as I can.

I don't smoke, drink alcohol or do any drugs.

I try to get exercise but this is where I am failing right now. I am more sedentary than I want to be. I carry my 22lb dog up and down the stairs many times a day.

Overall I think I am pretty healthy.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #25

Blog Challenge Day #25

What would you want to improve on in your life?

My energy level.  I hope that Orencia will help with this issue.  I have had the Orencia for about a month but due to fears of an infection and then the fear of surgery, I didn't start the Orencia until last night.  Now that I started the Orencia, I am hoping it will help with my horrible fatigue.  I get so tired some days that I can't keep my eyes open.  I actually fall asleep in the afternoon.  I can't keep my eyes open.

I have a bunch of health things going on.  The fatigue, my feet are killing me, and my wrist is still hurting me.  I have hopes that the Orencia will help with these issues.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #24

Blog Challenge Day #24

If you could have witnessed an event in history, which would you choose?  And why?

If I could have witnessed a day in history I would have witnessed Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his "I Have A Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.  It was such a momentous occasion for people to see a black man on TV or the radio giving an address.  It was a defining moment in the civil rights movement and one of the most iconic speeches in history.  

As a kid I found a magazine that was celebrating an anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech and I read it and I kept it for many years.  For all I know, I may still have it.  It meant so much to me reading that speech and drinking in those words.  "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"  I read that to mean that people would not be judged by their skin or their sex or their sexual orientation or their hair color or their weight or their height or their economics or their _______ but by the content of their character.  Even at my young age, I read that to mean that we need to see past all those things and judge people by if they are people who have integrity, are honest, are good, are responsible and are positive.  For me, if my dogs like them.  My dogs are never wrong.

That is where I would want to go if I could.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #23

Blog Challenge Day #23

If you could invite 3 people to dinner, who would you invite? And why?  What would you talk about?

Oprah, Tina Turner, and Barack Obama/Michelle Obama.  I would want to invite another person: Gordon Ramsay because someone would have to cook!  I would never be able to cook for these people. 

Oprah would be invited because why not.  How else would I get to meet Oprah and get to talk to her?  I would probably let her direct the conversation because that is what she does, right?!  We could talk books, music, world events.  Oprah can talk about anything that is why she is a great guest.

Tina Turner would be invited because I would love to hear about her life directly from her.  She is so strong.  Plus Tina and Oprah are such good friends.  I want to be their friend.

The Obamas would be invited because they are so interesting.  They can talk about any subject also so I feel like it would be such a great dinner party. 

Of course Gordon Ramsay would cook a great meal and then join us when he was done cooking. 

I think it would be a great dinner party.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #22

Blog Challenge Day #22

If you could go anywhere in the world with anyone where would you go and why?  Also why did you choose that person?

I would take my foster kid to Disney World. What kid doesn’t want to go to Disney World? That would be where he would want to go. He loves Disney.

I would want to take him camping at one of the places I went camping as a kid. Campgrounds in forests with rivers we could swim in. Forests we could hike in. Campfires we sat around. Games we played. It was so much fun.

Until tomorrow...

BLOG CHALENGE DAY #21

Blog Challenge Day #21

What is the next vacation you would like to take?

I don’t have a vacation planned. My life is a bit up in the air and planning a big vacation is not in the cards right now. I am planning a short trip to Arizona for the weekend. I will be spending the weekend with my mother. It is also hard to travel right now because of Happi. Happi requires a dogsitter who will stay at the house because she has a hard time walking, can’t hear and has to pee constantly. No doggie daycare will put up with that.

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I went to a train museum today. It was interesting and fun. I rode on a very old train on a very old train track. The museum was run by volunteers.

Until tomorrow...