This morning I woke up and went to a foster training. Each year I have to do a certain number of credits in order to keep my foster certification. Today I went to a training about Transracial Adoption. It is about adoption families that adopt kids from another race.
It is important that if you adopt a kid that is from a different race that the kids culture, traditions, religion, and food are made an important part of your family life. They did a few activities that were moving. They had us write down 5 different things we considered important (family, friends, pets, work, neighbors) and then we had to get rid of one of them by crumbling one of them up. Then a second and a third and fourth and finally a fifth. Then they asked how we felt if we lost all those things. That is what happens to foster kids. They lose everything (their family, friends, pets, school, neighbors, teachers) when they get removed from their parents and get put with a foster family. It is a hard exercise to do.
Then they asked for volunteers to talk about something they have lost. No one was putting their hand up so I did. I spoke about losing my previous foster kid. Yes, tears were spilled.
It was a good training.
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
UPDATE ON HAPPI
Well, Happi was much better today. She ate tremendously and seemed to balance better. I think we are entering a phase where she has good days and not so good days. I will hope for more good days. I am worried about the cut on her little paw. When she tries to stand up, the cut keeps opening. The vet says he isn't worried about her getting an infection. I keep cleaning it with alcohol and try to keep gauze on it but she keeps taking it off.
I have been taking Lucky for longer walks to get her weight down. She gained a pound since her last check in at the vets. I think she needs more sustained exercise. As do I!
Until tomorrow...
I have been taking Lucky for longer walks to get her weight down. She gained a pound since her last check in at the vets. I think she needs more sustained exercise. As do I!
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, February 27, 2020
TIME TO BE HAPPI'S PROTECTOR
This is a very hard post to write. If you are the type of person that things make you depressed, you may not want to read this.
My dog Happi has been living with me for 15 years. Her 15-1/2 year birthday is May 5th. That is the date she came to America. Happi was born in Palau and was a street dog. All dogs in Palau are street dogs and the people in Palau feed the dogs on their porches. Happi was hit by a car when she was about one year old. A visiting microbiologist saved her life because Palau doesn't have a veterinarian able to do surgery. My veterinarian at the time worked with the Humane Society program that went into rural areas to spay and neuter animals. She just happen to be arriving in Palau and saw Happi. She redid the surgery on Happi's leg and removed the whole leg and shoulder. She also spay her. Then she put Happi on a plane (or planes) for three days to get to America.
Once she got to America I got the call "would you be interested in a cute dog named Happi?" You see my dog Taiko had just passed away while my veterinarian was in Palau. Taiko had stomach cancer. I said fine bring Happi over and that is how I got Happi. Of course Happi never left. Happi is the happiest and chillest dog ever. She wants every dog in the dog park to be her friend and loves every person. Happi has always been my protector during difficult times. When she was 8 years old I got her a sister named Lucky. After a few years, they are now best buddies.
Happi has been having a hard time for the last year. Her kidneys don't work so well. Her hips don't work so well. Her front leg doesn't work hardly at all. She can hardly hear and I think her vision is going. She is having a hard time standing up and staying up. She can't walk hardly at all anymore.
Now, it is my turn to make a decision. I have to decide when and if it is time to be compassionate and let Happi pass on. I am not ready yet but the time may be nearing. I have to think of her and not of my feelings of sadness and fear and pain because I know she will be my forever protector and stay on this earth as long as she thinks I need her. It is my turn to be Happi's protector.
Until tomorrow...
My dog Happi has been living with me for 15 years. Her 15-1/2 year birthday is May 5th. That is the date she came to America. Happi was born in Palau and was a street dog. All dogs in Palau are street dogs and the people in Palau feed the dogs on their porches. Happi was hit by a car when she was about one year old. A visiting microbiologist saved her life because Palau doesn't have a veterinarian able to do surgery. My veterinarian at the time worked with the Humane Society program that went into rural areas to spay and neuter animals. She just happen to be arriving in Palau and saw Happi. She redid the surgery on Happi's leg and removed the whole leg and shoulder. She also spay her. Then she put Happi on a plane (or planes) for three days to get to America.
Once she got to America I got the call "would you be interested in a cute dog named Happi?" You see my dog Taiko had just passed away while my veterinarian was in Palau. Taiko had stomach cancer. I said fine bring Happi over and that is how I got Happi. Of course Happi never left. Happi is the happiest and chillest dog ever. She wants every dog in the dog park to be her friend and loves every person. Happi has always been my protector during difficult times. When she was 8 years old I got her a sister named Lucky. After a few years, they are now best buddies.
Happi has been having a hard time for the last year. Her kidneys don't work so well. Her hips don't work so well. Her front leg doesn't work hardly at all. She can hardly hear and I think her vision is going. She is having a hard time standing up and staying up. She can't walk hardly at all anymore.
Now, it is my turn to make a decision. I have to decide when and if it is time to be compassionate and let Happi pass on. I am not ready yet but the time may be nearing. I have to think of her and not of my feelings of sadness and fear and pain because I know she will be my forever protector and stay on this earth as long as she thinks I need her. It is my turn to be Happi's protector.
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
GOT MY REAL ID FINALLY
Today I drove about one hour to a DMV office where I could get an appointment before my license expires next week. I arrived before my appointment time but they let me in. At first there was some confusion about whether I filled out the online application or not. I knew I did but the woman kept hearing that I didn't. I had another person help me and got it sorted. I had all my documents ready and moved from window to window. I only had to sit and wait about 15 minutes for my number to be called. The woman who assisted me was super nice. Plus she commented on how much weight I lost since my last drivers license 20 years ago! I was taking 20 mg of prednisone then and was puffed up like the Michelin man.
I passed my vision test easily with my new glasses and lenses. Then I went over to get my temporary license and get my photo taken. The man in charge of the photo booth was hysterical. I absolutely love people who love their jobs. He says he hears the DMV announcements in his sleep! I said after my 30 minutes in the office I was able to repeat the announcements already. He thought that was funny. I hope my photo was decent. I have to wait 2-3 weeks for my Real ID to arrive.
Then I got home and made a last minute appointment for Lucky to get her bordetella and rabies shots, nails done and anal glands cleaned. I had to make it last minute because I realized that I had until Sunday to pay for her City license or I had to pay a large fine. So Lucky and I dashed over to the Vet's office and got super lucky with free street parking. Lucky was a champ but I thinking she is sleeping now from the excitement.
Now I am making roasted romanesco and broccoli. It is so easy to cut them up and pop them in the oven with olive oil and spices. I love roasted veggies.
Until tomorrow...
I passed my vision test easily with my new glasses and lenses. Then I went over to get my temporary license and get my photo taken. The man in charge of the photo booth was hysterical. I absolutely love people who love their jobs. He says he hears the DMV announcements in his sleep! I said after my 30 minutes in the office I was able to repeat the announcements already. He thought that was funny. I hope my photo was decent. I have to wait 2-3 weeks for my Real ID to arrive.
Then I got home and made a last minute appointment for Lucky to get her bordetella and rabies shots, nails done and anal glands cleaned. I had to make it last minute because I realized that I had until Sunday to pay for her City license or I had to pay a large fine. So Lucky and I dashed over to the Vet's office and got super lucky with free street parking. Lucky was a champ but I thinking she is sleeping now from the excitement.
Now I am making roasted romanesco and broccoli. It is so easy to cut them up and pop them in the oven with olive oil and spices. I love roasted veggies.
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| Romanesco |
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
THE WIRE IS FIXED
The phone company came today and checked out the downed wires in my neighbor's backyard. Over the past few days we had the cable company and the electric company. We narrowed it down to the phone company.
The man from the phone company looked at the wires and assessed pretty quickly that the wire that went to my house was a dead line. I was not convinced and made him prove it to me before he cut it. He showed me that there was a new wire and he cut it. Then I made him prove it to me again after he cut it. I wanted to make sure both my phone lines worked before he left. I may seem suspicious but I have heard "trust me" from technicians before and then the (fill in the blank) doesn't work the minute they pull away in their truck. Once my wire was cut, he proceeded to reattach my neighbor's wire. Then I asked him to go on my roof and remove the dangling wire from where he cut it. I didn't want to see that dangling wire every time I looked out my window. Then he pulled the truck around and cut the dangling wire from the pole at my request.
Once it all looked neat and tidy, the telephone man took off. Yes, we had a long conversation about corgi's and corgi con. Who doesn't like a corgi? Who doesn't like a corgi running on the beach?
Until tomorrow...
The man from the phone company looked at the wires and assessed pretty quickly that the wire that went to my house was a dead line. I was not convinced and made him prove it to me before he cut it. He showed me that there was a new wire and he cut it. Then I made him prove it to me again after he cut it. I wanted to make sure both my phone lines worked before he left. I may seem suspicious but I have heard "trust me" from technicians before and then the (fill in the blank) doesn't work the minute they pull away in their truck. Once my wire was cut, he proceeded to reattach my neighbor's wire. Then I asked him to go on my roof and remove the dangling wire from where he cut it. I didn't want to see that dangling wire every time I looked out my window. Then he pulled the truck around and cut the dangling wire from the pole at my request.
Once it all looked neat and tidy, the telephone man took off. Yes, we had a long conversation about corgi's and corgi con. Who doesn't like a corgi? Who doesn't like a corgi running on the beach?
Until tomorrow...
Monday, February 24, 2020
IT IS A MOUSE
The pest guy came today to check out my pest problem. He looked at the area by the neighbor's chickens and once again there is a hole. I need to discuss this with my neighbor but first we need to deal with the downed wire situation.
Then he went into the garage and checked all the areas. He only saw the mouse poop in the box that I found. His theory is that the mouse got in and made a home in the box and left. There is no evidence that he was anywhere else. Fingers crossed.
He set the trap outside again. The trap was tripped but no mouse was caught. I think we have a Ratatouille situation going on. The mice are too smart.
I made an awesome soup this evening. It is Tuscan Kale Soup. It is so tasty and so quick to make. I just orzo in a soup.
Until tomorrow...
Then he went into the garage and checked all the areas. He only saw the mouse poop in the box that I found. His theory is that the mouse got in and made a home in the box and left. There is no evidence that he was anywhere else. Fingers crossed.
He set the trap outside again. The trap was tripped but no mouse was caught. I think we have a Ratatouille situation going on. The mice are too smart.
I made an awesome soup this evening. It is Tuscan Kale Soup. It is so tasty and so quick to make. I just orzo in a soup.
Until tomorrow...
Sunday, February 23, 2020
NEW GLASSES
I went to pick up my new glasses. Okay as we discussed before, they are the same frames but new lenses. I can see the smaller print now and will probably pass my vision test when I go for my Real ID this week. If I wasn't in such a hurry I may have gotten other frames but I was in a super hurry to get these glasses in time for my vision test.
Until tomorrow...
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, February 22, 2020
PARK TRIP
I went for a long drive and went to the park with a friend. It was a nice day to spend a few hours in a park. I brought some snacks and we walked a bunch. When I got back I was a bit exhausted and worked on my taxes a bit.
Until tomorrow...
Until tomorrow...
Friday, February 21, 2020
WHO OWNS THE WIRE?
I had to do another road trip today and I was super tired when I got back. I had to wake up at 4:15am and that is not my favorite hour to open my eyes unless it is to get up and pee and go back to sleep.
When I got home my neighbor pointed out that a wire came off my house and his house. He thought it was an electric wire so he called the electric company. They came and it wasn't their wire. They said it was the cable company's wire. I called the cable company and they made an appointment for Saturday. Late this afternoon a cable guy rang my doorbell and told me the wire was not the cable company's. He said call the electric company. At this point it was feeling like Hot Potato! I called the electric company and I have an appointment for Tuesday. If it is not the electric company's, I don't know who to call next!
I can't wait to see who owns the wire and when it will be fixed. My neighbor is being really nice about it.
Until tomorrow...
When I got home my neighbor pointed out that a wire came off my house and his house. He thought it was an electric wire so he called the electric company. They came and it wasn't their wire. They said it was the cable company's wire. I called the cable company and they made an appointment for Saturday. Late this afternoon a cable guy rang my doorbell and told me the wire was not the cable company's. He said call the electric company. At this point it was feeling like Hot Potato! I called the electric company and I have an appointment for Tuesday. If it is not the electric company's, I don't know who to call next!
I can't wait to see who owns the wire and when it will be fixed. My neighbor is being really nice about it.
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, February 20, 2020
ARTHRITIS SYMPOSIUM
Tonight I went to an Arthritis Symposium. There was a Rheumatoid Arthritis doctor who spoke and some activities to do.
First the doctor spoke about RA. Most of the information I knew and could have given the talk myself. Then he started talking about setting goals. That was when I realized this talk was about how to set goals and how to communicate them to your physician. We talked about our goals as a breakout group and how we could attain those goals. We talked about what difficulties and what we would talk to our doctor about in an appointment. We talked about communication with family, friends and people at work.
The most interesting part were the other people at the symposium. There was a couple (he had psoriasis and she had RA), an older woman and a very vibrant and talkative woman. The older woman, it turns out, needs to find a new doctor since her doctor spends only 5 minutes with her in her doctor appointments. The woman of the couple is about to start Xeljanz so I was interested in her thought process in choosing this medicine. The talkative woman was VERY talkative. She is not taking any medication because she is afraid to take any medication. I find this approach very interesting but if she wants to white-knuckle her RA flares, bless her. That is not for me.
Anyway, I am glad I went. It was nice to be around others with RA and be able to talk about it without getting the "oh poor you" look. We laughed so hard and told our stories.
Until tomorrow...
First the doctor spoke about RA. Most of the information I knew and could have given the talk myself. Then he started talking about setting goals. That was when I realized this talk was about how to set goals and how to communicate them to your physician. We talked about our goals as a breakout group and how we could attain those goals. We talked about what difficulties and what we would talk to our doctor about in an appointment. We talked about communication with family, friends and people at work.
The most interesting part were the other people at the symposium. There was a couple (he had psoriasis and she had RA), an older woman and a very vibrant and talkative woman. The older woman, it turns out, needs to find a new doctor since her doctor spends only 5 minutes with her in her doctor appointments. The woman of the couple is about to start Xeljanz so I was interested in her thought process in choosing this medicine. The talkative woman was VERY talkative. She is not taking any medication because she is afraid to take any medication. I find this approach very interesting but if she wants to white-knuckle her RA flares, bless her. That is not for me.
Anyway, I am glad I went. It was nice to be around others with RA and be able to talk about it without getting the "oh poor you" look. We laughed so hard and told our stories.
Until tomorrow...
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