MECHANICAL PENCIL

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

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

Until tomorrow...

LENTIL KALE & QUINOA STEW

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

I am looking forward to tomorrow night's dinner.

Until tomorrow...

UPDATE ON HAPPI

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

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

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

Until tomorrow...

HIKE

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

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

Until tomorrow...

THE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

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

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

Until tomorrow...

ICE CREAM TO GO

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

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

Until tomorrow...

DOG FLU

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

Until tomorrow...

POOR HAPPI

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

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

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

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

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

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY SPOKE TO THE RA DOCTOR

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

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

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

Until tomorrow...

VOICEMAIL

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

Until tomorrow...