DOG SITTER MEETING

I spent the day cleaning today.  I had to get the house organized because I had a new friend coming over and I wanted the house looking nice.  She is going to watch Happi and Lucky in the future when I go away on a trip.  We talked about what she would have to do and if she wanted to take on this daunting job.  She does so I was happy.  The dogs love her.

It was a long day.

Yesterday my friend's kid came over and trimmed my hedge and moved some stuff and took out my recycling and change the bed.  He is a good kid.  He showed me his Prom Posal.  It is so cute.  He is going to his Junior Prom.

Until tomorrow...

HAIRCUT SAVINGS

Today I got a haircut.  The hairdresser (do they call themselves hairdressers anymore?) hairstylist said he had never cut my hair when it was still short.  It is usually long when he cuts it.

See, years ago I saw this show staring Suzie Orman.  She was giving money saving tips.  Of course she said things like stop buying coffee from places like Starbucks and make it at home.  She also said if you let your hair grow a week or so longer than you would usually, you will get one or two less haircuts a year, saving the cost of one or two haircuts with little difference.  Well I have taken that to larger lengths.  I sometimes go 3-5 weeks longer than I should get a haircut and my hair is in my eyes.  Sometimes it is pure laziness and sometimes I am too busy to make the appointment.  But each time I think, there is $50 saved!

My haircut looks great.  

Until tomorrow...

FRIENDS KID OVERNIGHT AGAIN

I had my friend's kid overnight again.  This time we went for Thai food.  I found out that he liked the same Thai dish that I like Pra Ram Pak.  It is tofu, vegetables and peanut sauce.  Yum!  He got a serving of fried spring rolls as a side dish.  We chowed down.  I was SO hungry.  

It was a nice dinner and good food.

Until tomorrow...

MORNING OF TASKS

This morning I spent an hour taking care of business. You know what I mean. I called the vet to get more dog medicine ordered. I went online and bought a couple of birthday presents to have delivered. I ordered a present to be delivered to a friend who's home I am visiting. I made sure Happi's fancy dog food has been shipped. I ran the dishwasher. I know there were some other things but I can't think of them right now.

Afterward I felt much more organized and like I had accomplished so much.  It was a good feeling.

Until tomorrow...

PASSED MY HOME INSPECTION

My home inspection was at 8 am today.  I passed it with flying colors.  It was mostly my social worker asking me questions.  Did I have a pool?  Did I smoke?  Did I have a gun?  Are my knives locked up?  Are my prescriptions/OTC drugs locked up?  Are my cleaning fluids locked up?  Is my alcohol locked up? etc.  Yes.  My house is locked up tighter than a safe. 

I went off to occupational therapy when the inspection was complete.  I am still having pain in the tendon.  I am wearing Rock Tape to help give support to my arm.

Until tomorrow...

HOME INSPECTION TOMORROW

To keep current for my foster/adopt program I have to have a home inspection tomorrow. The only time I could schedule it was at 8:00 am. I spent this evening cleaning and polishing so it looked nice. I also had to secure all the "bad" stuff. Knives, scissors, alcohol, cleaners, paint, prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, dog drugs, etc.

Hopefully I pass the inspection tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI SHOTS

Today I took Happi to the vet to learn how to give her glucosamine-type shots. I was excited to do this if it meant she would be better.

Happi has been having issues with her back legs. Since she has three legs, it is much harder to walk when she is having issues with her back legs. It is hard to tell if the issue is her legs or hips. Either way her legs are splaying outward when she is on a slippery surface. My whole house is a slippery surface with hardwood floors and a type of recycled linoleum.

The vet said these shot would make it better. Well, Happi was so anxious at the office the tech could barely give her the shot. I took the medicine but I am not sure I will ever be able to get her calm enough to do the shot. The vet also gave me some pills that will work just not as well.

Hours later I noticed a change already. It was amazing. Her legs were standing up and down.  I'll see if there is a difference with the pills.

Until tomorrow...

FRIENDS KID FOR THE WEEKEND AGAIN DAY 2

This morning we got up and went to Costco.  He had never been to Costco before.  I told him he could have any of the samples he wanted but only one.  He was loving the samples!  We looked at all sorts of things at the store.  It was fun.

We had lunch and it was time for him to go home.  We had a wonderful time.  It has been nice giving his parents a break.

Until tomorrow...

FRIENDS KID FOR THE WEEKEND AGAIN DAY 1

I had my friend's kid for the weekend again.  This time I warned him that we would not be doing "fun" things.  They would be fun but not in the classic sense.  It reminded me of when I was a kid and visited my dad and stepmom and we did errands and they tried to make them fun.  I did the same thing.  Today we went to the supermarket.  We needed food for dinner and breakfast because this weekend we were not going out to a restaurant.  We were going to cook.

At the supermarket we checked out all sorts of foods.  We walked around the store and checked everything out.  We made it fun.

Then we went home and walked the dogs and played a game.  We ended up having our first argument when I told him he could not watch a certain movie that I deemed inappropriate.  He did not like that and went into the guest room for 30 minutes.  He came out and we ate dinner.

Until tomorrow...

HIGH SCHOOL SWIM MEET

I went to my friend's son, E, swim meet today.  It was wonderful to see him swimming with a team.  He did very well in his third meet.  It is just so weird to go back to a high school and sit to watch a high school function.  It brings back memories of my high school days.

E was so happy to see me at the swim meet.  He likes to show me what he has accomplished.  He is a really good kid.

Until tomorrow...

DOG UPDATES

After days of Lucky not eating hardly anything today she decided to eat. She gobbled her food.  I moved her food into another room to eat so she could not see Happi eating and would not stress Happi while she was eating. It seems to be working out better all around. Happi does gobble her food out of fear that Lucky will come over and eat her food. Lucky is sequestered with only her food so she has the time to eat all her food.

I spoke to the vet today about Happi. We decided to keep her on the current regimen for one more week. I told him her peeing is better, her energy is up, her eating is better, her attitude is better, but she is still chattering, she gets anxious and chattering at night, she is clingy.  He asked about her quality of life and I said she is walking pulling me around the block.  She seems happy. But she is having issues with her arthritis in her back legs. Since I can't give her the meds I used to give her for inflammation.  He said that is easy to fix. So I am going in for a demo on a new medication. He said it should help her joints.

Until tomorrow...

FLAT TIRE #2

Today I was driving to a client meeting at 1 pm.  I was driving down a surface road and some guy in a car pulled up next to me and started yelling something at me and pointed at the rear of my car.  I pulled over my first chance.  I looked at my blinkers and they worked.  I could not check my break lights by myself.  I didn't see anything else so I drove on my way.

I got on the freeway and started to hear "thump, thump, thump".  I got over to the first exit and pulled off.  I drove off the exit and slipped into the small slice of shoulder on the exit, threw on my emergency blinkers and called AAA.  I called my client and told them what happened.

A complication was that I have locked lug nuts.   I have a special key that unlocks them so no one can steal my tires.  When I had my accident months ago, I took everything out of my car when I took it to the body shop and never put the items back in the trunk.  I thought the lug nut lock was in the pile of things waiting to be put back in the trunk.  That would have meant I would have had to get the car towed to the tire place or the dealer and then I would have to figure out how to get the lug nut lock at home.

I waited outside the car as is suggested by the professionals and listened to some music.  I walked up and down and danced while I waited.   About 45 minutes later a Freeway tow truck showed up and changed my tire.  He found the lug nut lock in the trunk of my car with the Mickey Mouse spare.

I got in my car and drove to the tire place and got a new tire right away.  While I was there I noticed that the tail light on the same side as the tire was out.  So now I don't know if the guy was yelling at me that my tail light was out or that my tire was going flat.  I can't believe I could have driven that far with a flattening tire so it must have been about the tail light being out.  Maybe when I pulled over to check the car I ran over a nail?  Who knows.

The nice guy at the tire place fixed my tail light for free so now I have no problems.  I was too late for the meeting and rescheduled it for Friday so I went home and took Happi for a walk.

Until tomorrow...

LUCKY IS NOT EATING

I am not sure what is wrong with Lucky.  She does not want to eat her food.  She got a little of Happi's food and now she doesn't want to eat her own food.  Happi's food is too expensive to feed to both dogs.  Lucky was fine with her food until that day. 

Now she won't even eat the cottage cheese that she loves.  I pulled out the baby food that she likes and she ate that down.  It is not good for her but I needed to give her something. She is also eating the snacks that the dog walker is giving her so I know it is not her stomach. 

I am worried it is her teeth.  Of course it would be her teeth now that I am leaving for vacation.  Every single time she has a toothache it is always just weeks before I am leaving for vacation and I can't take care of it until I get back.  I can't leave a dog sitter with this crazy dog who won't take medicine. 

I guess I need to take her in to the vet.

Until tomorrow...

TDAP HYPERSENSITIVITY

This morning I called the doctor and he said I have a hypersensitivity reaction to the Tdap shot.  I am not exactly clear on why this happened but I have been told I may not be able to get a Tdap shot again.  The CDC recommends that anyone who has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of DTaP or has had severe pain or swelling after a previous dose of DTaP or DT vaccine should not be vaccinated again.

I am supposed to monitor and see if it gets worse.  If it does get worse or if it doesn't get better, I need to contact the doctor on Friday.

It reminds me of the old joke: Patient says "Doctor my hand hurts. What should I do?"  The doctor stomps on the patients foot.  The Patients asks "Doctor why did you do that?"  The doctor says "does your hand hurt anymore?"

I am certainly not focused on my shoulder.

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWO WITH MY FRIENDS KID

Today we got up early to make banana pancakes and get to the early bird movie to see Isn't It Romantic.  It was funny!  Okay, I dozed off once.  I am still really tired from the Tdap.  My arm is killing me.  It hurts more than my torn rotator cuff.  After the movie we had lunch and then I drove him home.  It was a fun weekend.

I am planning on calling the doctor tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

DAY ONE WITH MY FRIENDS KID

I woke up this morning and my arm where I was given the Tdap shot was very painful.  The spot where the shot went in was swollen like a golf ball, it is hard, it is red, sore and stinging.  It felt like a beesting.  Just wearing a shirt hurt.  I felt tired and worn out.

But I had to get up and get going to meet with my tax preparer.  So, I got up and got myself together and drove to her house.  I met with her and she had the not so happy news I hear people all across the country are hearing.  Don't expect what you are used to in your tax return.  I was prepared.  I gave her my stuff and we talked a bit and I got back in the car and came home.

At 12:30 my friends kid, J, showed up.  He was spending the night again.  This time I was more prepared and had things planned to do.  We were going for a long walk to go to lunch for burgers.  Then we went to visit the library and pick up my DVDs.  Then to the supermarket to buy food for dinner.  Then home to play board games until we prepared dinner.  After dinner we watched Cinderella II and III.  Yes, there is a Cinderella III. 

Until tomorrow...

TAXES TAXES TAXES

This morning I was at physical therapy at 7 am only to find out the therapist was out sick.  I had to be at the building across the street at 8:15 so now what?

I ended up going back home and doing some work.  Then I went back and got my tDap shot. 

I had to be home to meet with the Pest guy. He thinks a rodent got into my outside wall and died. Ew. He plugged up the hole and set another trap.

Then I began to work on my taxes. I have been working a few nights this past week but didn't get far. Usually I am super prepared. This year I basically did it all in one day. Luckily I am pretty organized so that helps. I meet with my tax preparer tomorrow morning. Of course my house is a mess and I have guests arriving at 12:30 tomorrow.  But my tax prep is done!

Until tomorrow...

MAKING A DECISION

Have you ever had a big decision to make and don't know how you are going to make it?  Some folks use the pros and cons system.  Some folks use the "call a friend" method.  I have heard of the 10-10-10 method (that is where you analyze if you will be pleased with your decision 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years from now).  Lastly there is "Trust your gut". 

This week I used the "call a friend" method.  I consulted my friends and professionals.  I think I need to try the pros and cons and the 10-10-10 methods to see how I feel. 

I think I need to gather more information and then trust my gut.

Until tomorrow... 

DINNER WITH THE BOYS

I went to occupational therapy this morning for my wrist. As usual the parafin was wonderful and warm but the ultrasound and scraping I could do without. I know it promotes healing but it hurts and leaves bruises. This time he put a strip on my arm along the tendon to give it support. We will see if it works.

My brother and his husband are in town and they took me to dinner as a birthday surprise. We went to my favorite vegan Mexican place. The food was great. Then we walked to an ice cream place and had a scoop. I had chocolate sorbet. It is SO fudgey.

My other brother and wife sent me a birthday box. It is a box of vegan goodies.

I am such a lucky girl.

Until tomorrow..

PRIMARY DOCTOR VISIT

I went to see my primary doctor for my annual physical. Other than I need to eat better, I am in great health. We talked about my worsening tennitis. It may have gotten worse from the car accident or from when I banged my head in the summer. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done.

We also talked about my problem getting Orecia. We need to get more aggressive.  Then I left and we forgot to give me my Tdap (tetnus shot). Now I have to go back this week.

Until tomorrow...

THE INSURANCE-COMPANY-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED SUCKS

The INSURANCE-COMPANY-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED is a pain in the butt. I have been trying to get on Orencia for about three months now. They keep denying.

Last spring we decided I should go on Orencia. I had to get the Shinrex shots first. There was a shortage of the shots. I finally got a shot in October (that is 6 months later). Then I had to wait two months to get the second shot. But I had a weird reaction with the first shot so I waited a bit longer, to January. That was the day I slipped and fell in the rain and fractured my wrist and tore my rotator cuff.

Now I finally had the shots I could get Orencia. The INSURANCE-COMPANY-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED said I had to go on Enbrel first. For long time readers you might remember I was on Enbrel for about 10 years from when it first came out. Then I got meningitis and spent 6 days in the hospital and almost died. I had to get off Enbrel. Humira is the same type of medicine. So I can't take either if them.

I get a letter stating I have to try Enbrel first. Huh??  I call and say what are you talking about. Look in your records.  They say the doctor has to write an appeal.

I go to the doctors office and my doctor says maybe we put you on another medicine. Now I am angry. I want him to fight. I ask him where I contact someone and appeal. I may have to change RA doctors. He is nice but nice is not getting it done.

Anyway I am beyond irritated.

Until tomorrow...

HACKED

What an afternoon!  I was just finished food shopping and cleaning my house because my brother is coming to visit today.  I was about to start working on my taxes when I looked at my phone and I had an email to me from me.  What??!!

It was an email from a Russian hacker demanding $1000 in bitcoin. He was very polite and even funny.  He said my email had been hacked and he would lock me out of my business email if I didn't pay the money in 48 hours.  He also said he would contact all the people in my contacts and send them a video.

I was so panicked that I am not really sure what the email said in full.  I immediately called my provider to check it out.  That was the longest 6 minutes of my life.  It turns out that they have been having this happen to a lot of folks that use their service.  I was told to change my password and make it super long and complicated.  My emails were not compromised and no one got in my emails.  Although he didn't explain how someone sent an email from my email.

At the same time my phone banners turned red.  They were clear and now they were red; bright red.  The whole thing just unhinged me.  Did this guy get in my phone too?  It turns out that probably when I was shopping I must have hit the Battery Saver button and that turns the banners on the phone bright red.  So they two things were a coincidence that occurred at about the same time.  

It was very stressful.  I had to sit and relax before I could start my taxes.  If I could have taken a bath, I would have but my taxes were calling me.

Until tomorrow...

CAPTAIN MARVEL

I went to see Captain Marvel today with my friend's kid E. It was his reward for getting his grades up.  I held back watching any trailers or reviews.  I didn't want any preconceived ideas.

The movie was great.  There was just the right balance of story telling and action.  It was a powerful women's movie in a different way than Wonder Woman.  I liked Wonder Woman better because it was a lighter movie but this movie was good in it's own right.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY LUCKY

Today is Lucky's birthday.  Well, it really isn't her actual birthday.  I don't know what day she was born since she is a rescue.  Today was the day she was rescued and now her birthday.  She is between 10-12 years old so I decided she is 11 years old.

We didn't do much for her birthday because it was raining.  Tomorrow we will go for a walk if it is sunny.  I just gave her loving and let her sleep on my bed.

Until tomorrow...

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND HAPPI'S MEDICINE UPDATE

I went to physical therapy for my shoulder today.  I have new exercises to do this week.  I had to sign up for 4 more PT appointments so things are not progressing as good as expected.  I am hoping it will move along faster in the next few weeks.

Happi also tried her new medicine and so far with some good results.  She took the prednisone and went the whole night with no accidents.  That is really good news.  She didn't chatter her teeth either.  I slept all night.  She even slept on the bed with me which she has not done in over 6 months.   Fingers crossed this new medicine works.

Until tomorrow...

DAY OF DOCTORS

I started my day at Occupational Therapy for my wrist.  I was late because the bus didn't come.  It was raining and I stood there waiting but no luck.  I walked down to the connecting bus and then had to wait for that bus since now I missed the bus I was supposed to get.  I finally got to OT about 10 minutes late.  Since the appointment is only 30 minutes long that was a huge chunk of the appointment missed.

The OT told me the range of my wrist is almost back to normal (which still isn't good from my RA but normal for me) so that is really good news! I still have pain and I was given new exercises to do for the next week.

On the way home I stopped by the post office and picked up three boxes of birthday presents.  I got two exciting presents:

A bottle light from my sister-in-law and her family.  It is super cool and made by a friend of hers.

Vegan chocolate bars!  I think there are 6 or 8 of them.  My friend R knows me too well!  All sorts of yummy flavors.

I also bought myself bowls that match my china with some money from my mom.

Then in the afternoon I went to see the dermatologist.  This is a long overdue appointment.  I have had a rash under my nose for more than 6 months.  I also have this weird skin issue and two rough spots on my face.  I needed her to assess my face.

First the rough spots.  The one on my nose is pre-cancerous so she froze that off.  The one on my eye lid might be a wort.  Yuck!  She froze that one off.

Then she looked at my face and the rash.  It is Seborrheic Demeratitis and Contact Dermatitis.  Along with some Rosecea.  So basically my face is a mess.  That explains the redness and flaking and itching I have been having.  I now have a bunch of medicine and a process I have to follow to get rid of this. This makes me so happy.  I am tired of this rash and the rough spots.  I want my nice smooth complexion back again.

Until tomorrow...

CHANGE IN HAPPI'S MEDICINE

I had a long talk with Happi's doctor today.  We decided it was time to take a more drastic step with Happi's medicine.

We put her on the special (read stinky and expensive) food.  She liked it at first but now she barely eats it.  Now the question is does she not like it or does she not feel like eating?

We put her on Forta Flora which is doggie probiotics.  She ate it at first but then she would not eat it.

We put her on this bitter powder medicine.  She hated it on the food but now I put it in a pill pocket and she eats it.  I can't give her the full dose but she gets almost 1/2 dose.

We gave her succulfrate and she takes that 3 x a day.  She is fine with that.

I occasionally give her Galliprant as an anti inflammatory.

The new plan is:

5 mg of Prednisone (she is now taking more than I am!)  It will make her eat!

Keep giving the bitter powder medicine.

Keep giving her succulfrate

NO Galliprant.

If I can give her the Forta Flora again, great!

We will see if that calms the IBS more effectively.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO MONTAGE

For my birthday party I made a photo montage that I played on loop on my TV on mute during the party.  People would come into the room and just watch the photos go by.  There were photos from when I was a baby all the way through to today.  

Today was the anniversary of my Uncle Joe's passing.  I thought of him and his wife Aunt Doris this weekend because they were in one of the photos in the montage.  I thought about the fun times I had at their farm.  They owned a farm not super far from where I grew up.  We would go over to visit and we would get to play on the farm.  My younger brother and I loved to have adventures in the forest part of the farm.  We would swim in the creek and make a fort in an old cabin.  One time we were swimming in the creek and the largest frog lifted it's head and scared the bejeesus out of us.

My favorite memory is one Christmas we were visiting and the cows got out.  (Oh, did I forget to mention that it was a working farm.  They had cattle and bulls.)  They got a call saying their cows were all in the street.  So my Uncle and someone else went to corral them back in the pasture.  The cows have to come down the driveway to go back in the pasture but there is a fork in the road that goes one way to the barn/pasture and the other way to the house.  I (with my cousin) had to stand at the fork in the road and yell and wave my arms to keep the cows going to the barn/pasture.  It was quite fun and unforgettable.

I miss going to my Uncle Joe's farm and I miss Uncle Joe. 

Until tomorrow...

POST PARTY

Today was a day of rest.  I took a bath.  I took down some decorations.  I welcomed Lucky back home.  I put some things back around the house.

I like the house so not cluttered I think I am going to really think about what I do put back.

I laid down and watched a movie Nobody's Fool.  It was funny but I still fell asleep and took a nap.

Then in the evening I invoiced all my clients so I am starting the month out right.

The decorations on the ceiling will have to stay until I have someone to take them down.

Until tomorrow...

PARTY DAY

Today is the day of my party.  I have been planning this for months.  I skipped having a holiday party because my brother's wedding was in early December and traveling in early December didn't leave much time to plan and execute a holiday party.  Instead I decided to have a birthday party.

Since I can't raise my arm or lift anything heavy with my wrist, my two friends S and A came over early to help me decorate, vacuum and carry things around.  A was a super decorator and she made the place sparkle.  There was a red room with all red decorations and a multi-color room.  There was a doorway with circle things hanging.  The whole place looked great.  A also vacuumed the whole place which was above and beyond.  S helped with decorating, carrying stuff up from the garage and  food pick up.  They were the best!  I could not have done it without them.

Lucky was sent away with the dog walker and his daughter.

I think Lucky found a new friend. I hear they played together and slept together.  Lucky is surprisingly really good with kids.

I think everyone had a good time.  Even though I said no presents, some folks brought gifts which was nice.  It was a costume party and about 3/4 of the folks dressed in costume.  It was a 1960's party. I went as a beatnik.  I think I looked great.  There was a lot of tie dyed.  One dashiki.

There was so much food.  I got hummus, dolmas, falafel, two kinds of skewers (sesame tofu and teriyaki squash) and tea sandwiches with hummus & avocado and tofu spread and cucumber.  Then there were cupcakes.  I made alcohol and non-alcohol punch.

Folks ate, talked and then we played charades. I have not played charades in years!  It was fun.

I think folks had a good time and I remembered to take photos.

Until tomorrow...

PRE-PARTY PREP

Today is the pre-party preparation day.  I have a million things to do to get this house ready for guests.  Of course I am limited due to having one arm.  So no lifting or carrying anything heavy.

This afternoon I went to physical therapy for my shoulder.  I basically got yelled at without getting yelled at.  I haven't been doing the exercises because they hurt.  He said just do them less and fewer times but still do them.  I will.

I had to clean the house, the whole house.  The only thing I could not do was vacuum.  My friend A said she would do it for me.  I also had to food shop for all the drinks and a few snacks.  The rest of the food is being catered.  I decided I was not going to spend any time in the kitchen this party.

I need to have the house ready to decorate.

Until tomorrow...