Well folks, I'm back in the office, and feeling a lot better today. Dr. P called in some meds for me.. Aciphex for my ulcers-in-training, and Prednisone for the other stuff that ails me. Heck if I know what that's going to accomplish.. not like I need steroids. But he's the doctor, so I'll do what he says. Apparently he is pretty smart, cause I feel much better. Doctors are funny like that.
Speaking of which, Mom is trying to tiptoe around hers again. She's got some social worker who gets her all worked up daily about sending her home next week. Meanwhile the doctor knows nothing about what's going on and the social worker hasn't read mom's chart. I mention this to mom, and she says that the social worker is "in cahoots" with the doctors. What exactly in involved in "cahoots?" I'd really like to know.. It seems to me that being "in cahoots" would mean that the doctor would know not only of the social worker's existence (which he didn't when I talked to him Monday), but also her name and what she was planning (which he also didn't).
This situation is an ongoing cluster f*&^ and I am tired of it dominating my every thought. It's making my ulcers develop quicker, and lord knows they don't need any help in that department. Nobody is listening and nobody is communicating, and damn it, I am not responsible for my mother.
So, moving on.. The fridge guy came out this morning. L says they have to order a part, and we should have refrigeration again as early as tomorrow. Tonight we are having an effing FEAST at our house! We should theoretically also have air conditioning by the end of the week. Praise the Lord and pass the ice packs.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
&^%$ What Are the Odds??!
There are so many appropriate titles for this post. So many to choose from, like "WTF?!" and "Why Now?!" and "You have GOT to be effin kidding me!" and even "What, we don't look hot ENOUGH without any AC??"
What am I raving about?
The refrigerator just died.
(*&^!! What the &^%$ing (*&^ )#(&*!!! The refrigerator and the freezer too. Did I mention a recent trip to Sam's for chicken and pork chops and salmon and shrimp, not to mention the ice cream and dogsters that are slowly defrosting under ice in the cooler? :(
And I still feel like crap. The doc called in a few doses of Prednisone and some Aciphex. Hopefully that will do some good. Meh. I can't believe this!
What am I raving about?
The refrigerator just died.
(*&^!! What the &^%$ing (*&^ )#(&*!!! The refrigerator and the freezer too. Did I mention a recent trip to Sam's for chicken and pork chops and salmon and shrimp, not to mention the ice cream and dogsters that are slowly defrosting under ice in the cooler? :(
And I still feel like crap. The doc called in a few doses of Prednisone and some Aciphex. Hopefully that will do some good. Meh. I can't believe this!
Some More Pictures
A few more of my attempts at photography. :) I especially like the last one, with the lamp..
Some Words
I am home sick today.
Trying to work anyway, but feeling all hot and sweaty and gross and sick is not making grant proposals any more interesting than they are at the office, that's for sure.
So i think I'll post some more pictures and then go lie down somewhere.
Trying to work anyway, but feeling all hot and sweaty and gross and sick is not making grant proposals any more interesting than they are at the office, that's for sure.
So i think I'll post some more pictures and then go lie down somewhere.
San Fran Pictures, Anyone?
L is making friends with the Dolly Llama (that is its actual name, folks, I promise).
L at The Rock.. I was inside the cell taking the picture, but he looks like the one behind bars here..
Yours truly, looking unsuitably fluffy in wine country.. Those are pinot grapes behind me..
The view from the top.. actually from the back of a trolley car.
Here we are on the Alcatraz ferry.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
No Dust-Covered Fans, Please
Let me start by saying that I feel absolutely horrible today. Since the air conditioner is dead, L brought the oscillating fan from the living room in last night, and it blew right in my face all night. The problem is that the fan is choked with dust, so you can only imagine my predicament this morning. I feel like I've swallowed a giant ball of yarn soaked in rubber cement. I can't breathe and I feel like I could toss my cookies at any moment.
Now there's a lovely thought for a Tuesday morning.
So. It's hot at home, and it's freezing at work, and I feel like calling today a complete waste (at 7:26 am) and going back to bed.
Meh. Yesterday just plain sucked as well, although at least I didn't feel like this. Yesterday Mom had an episode and I had to call the doctor. Mom says that regardless of her health and safety, she needs to be back in North Carolina, and going back there will solve all of her problems. She doesn't care if the trip kills her, or if she spreads a deadly bacteria halfway across the country and infects the whole family, she wants to go home and there is no reasoning with her.
The doctor says that (ironically enough) her physical condition is improving somewhat, but her mental state is declining at the speed of light. I know this new inability to control her thoughts and what comes out of her mouth must be terrifying to her.. but there is something terribly wrong with withholding that kind of information about symptoms from your doctor, and then telling your family members that they have to do something about it. Like it has to be some secret and she doesn't want the doctor to know.
I have no clue what could possibly be done to stop that kind of thing. The only thing I can do is continue to give myself ulcers. Mom seems to think that there is some sort of conspiracy afoot to keep her in Arkansas forever as a lab specimen or something. I am quite certain that her doctor would love to send her packing back to NC and never have to set eyes on her again, and given the circumstances, I can't really blame him. She's unreasonable, out of touch with reality, and she doesn't care about anything except what she wants regardless of what the consequences might be.
AAAaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrgh. I feel like I'm on some big, incredibly stupid carnival ride that keeps going around and around and around and nothing you can do or say will make a difference or make any of it make sense.
I should try to get some work done.. maybe then I won't feel so bad.
Now there's a lovely thought for a Tuesday morning.
So. It's hot at home, and it's freezing at work, and I feel like calling today a complete waste (at 7:26 am) and going back to bed.
Meh. Yesterday just plain sucked as well, although at least I didn't feel like this. Yesterday Mom had an episode and I had to call the doctor. Mom says that regardless of her health and safety, she needs to be back in North Carolina, and going back there will solve all of her problems. She doesn't care if the trip kills her, or if she spreads a deadly bacteria halfway across the country and infects the whole family, she wants to go home and there is no reasoning with her.
The doctor says that (ironically enough) her physical condition is improving somewhat, but her mental state is declining at the speed of light. I know this new inability to control her thoughts and what comes out of her mouth must be terrifying to her.. but there is something terribly wrong with withholding that kind of information about symptoms from your doctor, and then telling your family members that they have to do something about it. Like it has to be some secret and she doesn't want the doctor to know.
I have no clue what could possibly be done to stop that kind of thing. The only thing I can do is continue to give myself ulcers. Mom seems to think that there is some sort of conspiracy afoot to keep her in Arkansas forever as a lab specimen or something. I am quite certain that her doctor would love to send her packing back to NC and never have to set eyes on her again, and given the circumstances, I can't really blame him. She's unreasonable, out of touch with reality, and she doesn't care about anything except what she wants regardless of what the consequences might be.
AAAaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrgh. I feel like I'm on some big, incredibly stupid carnival ride that keeps going around and around and around and nothing you can do or say will make a difference or make any of it make sense.
I should try to get some work done.. maybe then I won't feel so bad.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
List Number 427,659
1. The wine tour was great. Everything about the whole day was great, until after a phenomenal dinner, where I might have gotten a good buzz on, after which L told me that he could always tell when I was feeling the alcohol because that's when I started talking. I get serious about making a point, he said, and most of the time it's a point that doesn't need to be made. Why that infuriated me I have no idea. It's most likely true. But I spent the rest of the night in a cold fury. He has no idea, of course. I didn't say a word about it.. just let it steep in my mind until I was furious at the world and most of all myself for ever having anything to say in the first place. Stupid, stupid, stupid.. but unexpected anger happens a lot these days. Thankfully at least I kept my mouth shut.. at last I managed to do that. So everything is fine and now that I'm sober, the comment is rather innocuous.. not the smartest thing he's ever said by a long shot, but not quite the worst. It's certainly not the worst I've ever heard. So anyway.
2) While we were gone, the brand new compressor in the air conditioner crapped out somehow, after only a few days on the job, so once again we are without air conditioning. It's a million degrees out, with 100% humidity, as usual. I spent some time at the pool today with a thick Stephen King novel, then cooked steaks on the grill. L is sprawled on the couch watching a movie and trying not to sweat too much.
3) Mom is not doing well. I think her disaster magnet status has once again been upgraded, because apparently now she has more than one infection, perhaps more than two. It's really hard to say because she is slurring her words and talking out of her head. Worst of all, she realizes it and pulls herself back from it for a minute and I can tell that it terrifies her that she has been talking about god-knows-what for minutes at a stretch and not a word of it makes sense. It's a very scary thing.. I hope I hear something from the doctor tomorrow on what could be causing this newest (worst) development.
4) Jet lag sucks. This morning I felt like I had the hangover to end all hangovers.. but I didn't so much as sniff a drink all day yesterday. Right now, 9 pm-ish eastern time, it's 6-ish in San Francisco, and while I don't feel all energetic and ready to go party, i don't feel like sleeping either. In fact, I don't feel like much of anything at the moment.
5) Tomorrow it's band practice again, and before that I will drop in on my golden boy. I should hear from the trainer sometime this week about Trigger's trip to school. Got a lot going on, as usual, but not so much I want to write about at this second. So I guess this is the end of the list for now. Sorry it isn't more interesting.. but I am feeling remarkably uninspired at the moment.
2) While we were gone, the brand new compressor in the air conditioner crapped out somehow, after only a few days on the job, so once again we are without air conditioning. It's a million degrees out, with 100% humidity, as usual. I spent some time at the pool today with a thick Stephen King novel, then cooked steaks on the grill. L is sprawled on the couch watching a movie and trying not to sweat too much.
3) Mom is not doing well. I think her disaster magnet status has once again been upgraded, because apparently now she has more than one infection, perhaps more than two. It's really hard to say because she is slurring her words and talking out of her head. Worst of all, she realizes it and pulls herself back from it for a minute and I can tell that it terrifies her that she has been talking about god-knows-what for minutes at a stretch and not a word of it makes sense. It's a very scary thing.. I hope I hear something from the doctor tomorrow on what could be causing this newest (worst) development.
4) Jet lag sucks. This morning I felt like I had the hangover to end all hangovers.. but I didn't so much as sniff a drink all day yesterday. Right now, 9 pm-ish eastern time, it's 6-ish in San Francisco, and while I don't feel all energetic and ready to go party, i don't feel like sleeping either. In fact, I don't feel like much of anything at the moment.
5) Tomorrow it's band practice again, and before that I will drop in on my golden boy. I should hear from the trainer sometime this week about Trigger's trip to school. Got a lot going on, as usual, but not so much I want to write about at this second. So I guess this is the end of the list for now. Sorry it isn't more interesting.. but I am feeling remarkably uninspired at the moment.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
San Fran Disco
Ok, the title means nothing. I just thought it was cute.
I actually have quite a bit to say, but not enough time in which to think if all out so as to present it clearly.. or interestingly enough that anyone would want to read it. So, a short list:
1) San Francisco is an awesome city. We have been having an excellent time so far. Last night we had an unbelievable Italian dinner. Last night was good all the way around. We ended up staying in our hotel room when we went up to put the things we bought away before going to look for a bar.. we skipped the drinks and it was just fine.
2) Mom is back to scheming with the social workers to try and go home. She is also angry with me again because she says I don't care about her because I won't go to the doctor again with the exact same question I asked him 3 days ago regarding her ability to be transferred home. I am not going to rehash with her again the same reasons why that can't happen right now. When the doctor thinks it is safe and reasonable to send her home, he will tell us. Until then, I do not have the time or energy to waste worrying about that. I'm much more concerned with getting her well and getting rid of the MRSD and the other infection she has somehow contracted (don't ask me how. I have no idea). If that makes me a bad person, well ok. I own it. I am a bad person, and I suck. Do I look sufficiently depressed? Ok.
3) On a much happier note, I have the perfect boyfriend. Maybe I am bragging a little bit here, but I can't think of one thing I want in a man that he isn't. He rocks.
The time difference here in SF versus home means that we wake up a lot earlier than we normally would.. There is something... magic.. about waking up to someone watching you sleep, touching you just because they want to touch you and no other reason. Maybe I am goofy when it comes to "romance" but that does it for me.
Yes, Muffinhead/Juliet , I am spoiled rotten.
4) We did a very involved, very tough example case study in my class today and yesterday, and I got every question right! I am quite proud of myself, even though it's not as if this is a major accomplishment. Still kind of cool. :)
5) I miss Trigger and Monster and the doggies. I have petted a few store cats here, but they just don't compare to my own furry chilluns.
Now I am off to change my clothes and go do a little shopping. :D
I actually have quite a bit to say, but not enough time in which to think if all out so as to present it clearly.. or interestingly enough that anyone would want to read it. So, a short list:
1) San Francisco is an awesome city. We have been having an excellent time so far. Last night we had an unbelievable Italian dinner. Last night was good all the way around. We ended up staying in our hotel room when we went up to put the things we bought away before going to look for a bar.. we skipped the drinks and it was just fine.
2) Mom is back to scheming with the social workers to try and go home. She is also angry with me again because she says I don't care about her because I won't go to the doctor again with the exact same question I asked him 3 days ago regarding her ability to be transferred home. I am not going to rehash with her again the same reasons why that can't happen right now. When the doctor thinks it is safe and reasonable to send her home, he will tell us. Until then, I do not have the time or energy to waste worrying about that. I'm much more concerned with getting her well and getting rid of the MRSD and the other infection she has somehow contracted (don't ask me how. I have no idea). If that makes me a bad person, well ok. I own it. I am a bad person, and I suck. Do I look sufficiently depressed? Ok.
3) On a much happier note, I have the perfect boyfriend. Maybe I am bragging a little bit here, but I can't think of one thing I want in a man that he isn't. He rocks.
The time difference here in SF versus home means that we wake up a lot earlier than we normally would.. There is something... magic.. about waking up to someone watching you sleep, touching you just because they want to touch you and no other reason. Maybe I am goofy when it comes to "romance" but that does it for me.
Yes, Muffinhead/Juliet , I am spoiled rotten.
4) We did a very involved, very tough example case study in my class today and yesterday, and I got every question right! I am quite proud of myself, even though it's not as if this is a major accomplishment. Still kind of cool. :)
5) I miss Trigger and Monster and the doggies. I have petted a few store cats here, but they just don't compare to my own furry chilluns.
Now I am off to change my clothes and go do a little shopping. :D
Friday, August 18, 2006
The Woods
The latest news:
We're not out of the woods, but at least we can see the sky now and there isn't so much underbrush. Mom came through the surgery, but she lost a lot of blood, which is not good for someone who won't take blood transfusions. : Anyway, she's okay for now, which is excellent news. She will be taking a new, experimental antibiotic to try and knock the infection out, though MRSA is apparently the #1 antibiotic resistant skin infection in the United States. It won't be easy, but I think she will come through this.
In other news, I went to a fundraiser for the Sertoma Club tonight. L was a perfect date, perfect gentleman, hilarious dance floor confederate, as usual. He cracks me up! And apparently several other ladies were rather unhappy that he was so "attentive" and actually talked to me most of the time we were there.
I did dance with my friend C, who plays sax in the band. That was so funny.. I kept trying to lead, and he is so much taller than me that my feet didn;t touch the ground most of the time, so it really was an interesting sort of dance. It was great... we all had fun.
The dinner at the place sucked out loud, though. The barbecue was so salty that I will have to drink at least 3 gallons of water to rehydrate, and if I should happen to die in my sleep, my body will still be perfectly preserved several millenia from now. Really. It was horrible. And they only had BBQ, potato chips, and baked beans. The tickets were $25 each.. come on, at least give us dessert! We had fun anyway, but ... meh on the food.
Tomorrow: Packing for San Francisco, calling Mom, and cleaning house.
We're not out of the woods, but at least we can see the sky now and there isn't so much underbrush. Mom came through the surgery, but she lost a lot of blood, which is not good for someone who won't take blood transfusions. : Anyway, she's okay for now, which is excellent news. She will be taking a new, experimental antibiotic to try and knock the infection out, though MRSA is apparently the #1 antibiotic resistant skin infection in the United States. It won't be easy, but I think she will come through this.
In other news, I went to a fundraiser for the Sertoma Club tonight. L was a perfect date, perfect gentleman, hilarious dance floor confederate, as usual. He cracks me up! And apparently several other ladies were rather unhappy that he was so "attentive" and actually talked to me most of the time we were there.
I did dance with my friend C, who plays sax in the band. That was so funny.. I kept trying to lead, and he is so much taller than me that my feet didn;t touch the ground most of the time, so it really was an interesting sort of dance. It was great... we all had fun.
The dinner at the place sucked out loud, though. The barbecue was so salty that I will have to drink at least 3 gallons of water to rehydrate, and if I should happen to die in my sleep, my body will still be perfectly preserved several millenia from now. Really. It was horrible. And they only had BBQ, potato chips, and baked beans. The tickets were $25 each.. come on, at least give us dessert! We had fun anyway, but ... meh on the food.
Tomorrow: Packing for San Francisco, calling Mom, and cleaning house.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The Verdict is In
My mother is now on morphine and stoned out of her mind. My uncle is out there with her, and she's going to surgery tomorrow morning.
The doctor called me and said that it's MRSD. This is the worst possible news at this point. It's a superbug, and it means that she can't leave Arkansas, because there won't be a transport company willing to take her anywhere. She's an infection risk to anywhere she is transported, and the infection has basically taken over her whole body, with the exception of her abdominal cavity. The object of tomorrow's surgery is to try and clean it out of her deep tissue and hip joint area, to keep it out of her abdomen and hopefully stop it in its tracks.
We don't really know what her chances are of surviving this thing at this point. It's terrible, made more terrible by the fact that I am not in control here and I am having a hard time dealing with that.
No matter how much I protest, MRSD is not listening. It doesn't give a shit what I have to say.
And God is beseiged with prayers on her behalf, from JWs, from Baptists, from Pentecostals, from Wiccans and atheists and hippies. Funny how we all sound the same in times like this.
He has not forgotten, Mother. Listen to what he is trying to tell you and know that whatever happens is His will. He is in control, not any of us, as hard as that may be to accept.
*sigh* A person's entire life cannot consist of bouncing from one crisis to another. It can't be possible. Something good has to be on its way, because we've already been through all of the adversity and tribulations allotted to at least three lifetimes.
It's the only thing I can hold on to: He has not forgotten.
The doctor called me and said that it's MRSD. This is the worst possible news at this point. It's a superbug, and it means that she can't leave Arkansas, because there won't be a transport company willing to take her anywhere. She's an infection risk to anywhere she is transported, and the infection has basically taken over her whole body, with the exception of her abdominal cavity. The object of tomorrow's surgery is to try and clean it out of her deep tissue and hip joint area, to keep it out of her abdomen and hopefully stop it in its tracks.
We don't really know what her chances are of surviving this thing at this point. It's terrible, made more terrible by the fact that I am not in control here and I am having a hard time dealing with that.
No matter how much I protest, MRSD is not listening. It doesn't give a shit what I have to say.
And God is beseiged with prayers on her behalf, from JWs, from Baptists, from Pentecostals, from Wiccans and atheists and hippies. Funny how we all sound the same in times like this.
He has not forgotten, Mother. Listen to what he is trying to tell you and know that whatever happens is His will. He is in control, not any of us, as hard as that may be to accept.
*sigh* A person's entire life cannot consist of bouncing from one crisis to another. It can't be possible. Something good has to be on its way, because we've already been through all of the adversity and tribulations allotted to at least three lifetimes.
It's the only thing I can hold on to: He has not forgotten.
Get Motivated! Everything Sucks!
I went to the famed Get Motivated! seminar yesterday with everyone from work. It was actually quite interesting.. The speakers included Steve Forbes, Zig Ziglar, Steve Spurrier, and Rudy Giuliani. They talked about goals (of course!), finances, investing, and interpersonal relationships, and the Presidency. Overall, I was glad I went because I am in dire need of motivation.
However, whatever cloud I had managed to climb onto dissipated like a match blasted by an economy sized fire extinguisher by afternoon. People started calling the second I turned my phone back on.. they wanted their grant paperwork NOW, etc. And there were dread rumors about my mother's condition, which unfortunately have been substantiated this morning.
The doctor called about an hour ago, and it has taken me this long to process everything in my confused, overworked, overwrought little brain. Mom is severely infected and they are going in to remove the joint completely tomorrow morning. Her blood count is dangerously low, and she isn't budging in her refusal to accept a life-saving blood transfusion, should the need arise. They're planning to put in an antibiotic implant and keep her on IV antibiotics for the duration.
What this amounts to is 3-4 months in an Arkansas nursing home after this surgery. Followed by starting all over with a completely new hip replacement. Followed by 8-12 weeks of recovery time from that operation. What that will mean is that next March she might be able to come home. She will have been there almost a year by then.
My uncle is going out there tomorrow to be with her, and I am leaving for San Francisco on Sunday for training. I have a feeling that this is never going to end well. My head hurts.
However, whatever cloud I had managed to climb onto dissipated like a match blasted by an economy sized fire extinguisher by afternoon. People started calling the second I turned my phone back on.. they wanted their grant paperwork NOW, etc. And there were dread rumors about my mother's condition, which unfortunately have been substantiated this morning.
The doctor called about an hour ago, and it has taken me this long to process everything in my confused, overworked, overwrought little brain. Mom is severely infected and they are going in to remove the joint completely tomorrow morning. Her blood count is dangerously low, and she isn't budging in her refusal to accept a life-saving blood transfusion, should the need arise. They're planning to put in an antibiotic implant and keep her on IV antibiotics for the duration.
What this amounts to is 3-4 months in an Arkansas nursing home after this surgery. Followed by starting all over with a completely new hip replacement. Followed by 8-12 weeks of recovery time from that operation. What that will mean is that next March she might be able to come home. She will have been there almost a year by then.
My uncle is going out there tomorrow to be with her, and I am leaving for San Francisco on Sunday for training. I have a feeling that this is never going to end well. My head hurts.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
The Weekend and One
I've been trying to find time to write for several days, but there has been so much going on that I haven't been able to. Add that to the fact that I'm not feeling particularly creative, and the words seem to just stick sometimes, and you've got slow times in blogville.
So here's the weekend at a glance:
Saturday we went to Clinton Anderson's show. L was a real trooper.. he sat through an entire day of horse training, and even ate lunch at Skin's hot dogs. Hot dogs are not his favorite choice for lunch. Not by a long shot. That evening, however, made up for any shortcomings in the culinary department.. We ate at Pixie & Bill's, and man was it good!
Sunday I spent the day with my friend Joy and Trigger. Trig was a bit attitudinal at first, but once he realized who exactly was in charge, he calmed down. This was after he slipped in the mud and fell down because he decided that if I was going to make him move his feet, he was going to move them as fast as he possibly could!!!
Monday I was busy at work, and then Mom called and the saga continued. She has apparently damaged her hip AGAIN, and the jury is still out on whether or not she will require another surgery. She didn't tell anyone this time when she hurt herself because I guess she figured that she'd get to go home quicker if she just let it go. Instead she now has a messed up hip again, a blood clot or two, an infection, and a bad attitude. The rehab hospital has refused to take her back, and she's back in the hospital at UAMS. Her surgeon is thoroughly sick of her, and I am just about at the end of my rope with her as well.
It's like she doesn't think. It's like she doesn't even TRY to think about the consequences of not following the doctor's orders. She was supposed to call his office the minute she had certain symptoms, like drainage from the incision site. Instead she said nothing and now she's in worse shape than she was before. At least she didn't complete re-break the hip.. she just moved the prosthesis around some.
Damn! I need a vacation.
I am going to San Francisco on Sunday, even though my mother really wants me to come to arkansas again instead. : And now I have work to do.
So here's the weekend at a glance:
Saturday we went to Clinton Anderson's show. L was a real trooper.. he sat through an entire day of horse training, and even ate lunch at Skin's hot dogs. Hot dogs are not his favorite choice for lunch. Not by a long shot. That evening, however, made up for any shortcomings in the culinary department.. We ate at Pixie & Bill's, and man was it good!
Sunday I spent the day with my friend Joy and Trigger. Trig was a bit attitudinal at first, but once he realized who exactly was in charge, he calmed down. This was after he slipped in the mud and fell down because he decided that if I was going to make him move his feet, he was going to move them as fast as he possibly could!!!
Monday I was busy at work, and then Mom called and the saga continued. She has apparently damaged her hip AGAIN, and the jury is still out on whether or not she will require another surgery. She didn't tell anyone this time when she hurt herself because I guess she figured that she'd get to go home quicker if she just let it go. Instead she now has a messed up hip again, a blood clot or two, an infection, and a bad attitude. The rehab hospital has refused to take her back, and she's back in the hospital at UAMS. Her surgeon is thoroughly sick of her, and I am just about at the end of my rope with her as well.
It's like she doesn't think. It's like she doesn't even TRY to think about the consequences of not following the doctor's orders. She was supposed to call his office the minute she had certain symptoms, like drainage from the incision site. Instead she said nothing and now she's in worse shape than she was before. At least she didn't complete re-break the hip.. she just moved the prosthesis around some.
Damn! I need a vacation.
I am going to San Francisco on Sunday, even though my mother really wants me to come to arkansas again instead. : And now I have work to do.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Fab Friday
Today was a good day. L and I went shopping at the outlet mall, with a stop at a certain Ginormous Rug Outlet with a certain hyperactive blonde spokesmodel. Anyway, we bought two rugs.. one huge one for the dining room, and a smaller one for the foyer. They'll be beautiful when we get them home.. and as L said, the next house we have will incorporate the same color scheme as this one. The rugs will dictate it. They were far too expensive to do otherwise.
Then we came home, where I retired to the creekbank with a couple of cold beers and a good crime novel. It was excellent.. but I was wrong about who the real perp was, as usual.
My mom's doctor's office finally called and told me the latest on her progress. The doc is out of town, which explains the lack of communication earlier in the week. Mom is there for at least another 3-4 weeks, so I can breathe easier about the upcoming trip to San Fran. GF is in KY at Jean's, so all is good on that front as well. A3 called, and things are not so good at the barn-- Trigger bit her today. She said he didn't hurt her, but I am glad that he is going to the trainer just the same. Here's hoping that we can work out both the kicking and the biting issues while he's there.
When I got back up to the house, I saw that L had cooked dinner.. pasta and shrimp with cream sauce and garlic bread. (Did I mention that I love this man?) We ate, and then I noticed that he had visited the movie store while I was reading.. and set up the Super Fabulous Outdoor Theatre, complete with tiki torches and our plastic adirondak chairs. We watched Dreamer on the big screen (Not only does he cook me dinner and set up a theatre quality outdoor place to watch movies, he gets horse movies for me!!) and of course I loved it, not for its subtlety or some serious film-as-art reason, but because it had a little girl and a horse!!!
It was very romantic, with the tiki torches and the shrimp and everything.
I admitted I am a dork a long time ago. Don't look at me like that!
And now it's time to put the dogs in their crates and go to bed.. Tomorrow, Clinton Anderson at T Ed Garrison. :D
Then we came home, where I retired to the creekbank with a couple of cold beers and a good crime novel. It was excellent.. but I was wrong about who the real perp was, as usual.
My mom's doctor's office finally called and told me the latest on her progress. The doc is out of town, which explains the lack of communication earlier in the week. Mom is there for at least another 3-4 weeks, so I can breathe easier about the upcoming trip to San Fran. GF is in KY at Jean's, so all is good on that front as well. A3 called, and things are not so good at the barn-- Trigger bit her today. She said he didn't hurt her, but I am glad that he is going to the trainer just the same. Here's hoping that we can work out both the kicking and the biting issues while he's there.
When I got back up to the house, I saw that L had cooked dinner.. pasta and shrimp with cream sauce and garlic bread. (Did I mention that I love this man?) We ate, and then I noticed that he had visited the movie store while I was reading.. and set up the Super Fabulous Outdoor Theatre, complete with tiki torches and our plastic adirondak chairs. We watched Dreamer on the big screen (Not only does he cook me dinner and set up a theatre quality outdoor place to watch movies, he gets horse movies for me!!) and of course I loved it, not for its subtlety or some serious film-as-art reason, but because it had a little girl and a horse!!!
It was very romantic, with the tiki torches and the shrimp and everything.
I admitted I am a dork a long time ago. Don't look at me like that!
And now it's time to put the dogs in their crates and go to bed.. Tomorrow, Clinton Anderson at T Ed Garrison. :D
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Trigger Has a Bath
Here's my boy, all wet once again. He's so pretty! I love him! And his tail never gets tangled. 
Here we are, post-brushing and Parelli-ing, and pre-bathing. I am sending him to a trainer in September, by the way. He will be there for 2 months, but the man assures me that I can come visit anytime I want. :)
Here is A3 riding Sundance. She has come a long way with him! She had him trotting around the ring yesterday, and she's riding in nothing but her halter and lead rope, bareback!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Let's Pretend
I am in that kind of mood today... It's a good time for a game of Lets Pretend. Or, as we used to call it when I was a kid, Pretend Like.
Ok. So Let's Pretend that my Mom isn't on her way to the Emergency Room for a blood clot that has now moved to her neck. Pretend like the doctor has called me back, and it's really nothing. I like that a lot better than what is actually going on right now.
Pretend Like I am not developing narcolepsy or something. I went to bed at 8:30 last night. Let's Pretend it was 11:45, shall we?
While we're at it, Pretend Like I have just won a million dollars and I am exempt from paying taxes on it. Shoot, make it $300 million. We're pretending here. I would also like to pretend that I weigh about 25 pounds less than I actually do right now, and that I have a magic talisman that makes everyone who comes in contact with me love me, love themselves, and love the world. That would be pretty cool. I could solve all the world's problems by walking by every so often.
Let's Pretend that all of the policies in place at work are actually enforced. Except the internet use policy. That one, not so much. But the harrassment policy and the signature policies.. those I could really enjoy seeing enforcement. *sigh* But I think that qualifies as a digression.
Pretend Like they discovered a huge reserve of pre-refined gasoline underground in kansas somewhere, and that it's free. It also turns back the clock on your car, so that every 100 miles you drive, your car loses 100 miles of wear and tear. Eventually you have a brand new car. Once you're back at zero, then your magic gasoline starts adding on features. Towing packages. CD players. Speakers. Halo lights. Jaws of Life. Hood Ornaments. Whatever.
Ahhh. Pretend Like my sister gets hired as an image consultant for Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton or somebody and makes a zillion dollars a week just to go party and pick out cute teenybopper clothes. That would rock.
Hm. I feel better already.
Later: Trigger Pics!
Ok. So Let's Pretend that my Mom isn't on her way to the Emergency Room for a blood clot that has now moved to her neck. Pretend like the doctor has called me back, and it's really nothing. I like that a lot better than what is actually going on right now.
Pretend Like I am not developing narcolepsy or something. I went to bed at 8:30 last night. Let's Pretend it was 11:45, shall we?
While we're at it, Pretend Like I have just won a million dollars and I am exempt from paying taxes on it. Shoot, make it $300 million. We're pretending here. I would also like to pretend that I weigh about 25 pounds less than I actually do right now, and that I have a magic talisman that makes everyone who comes in contact with me love me, love themselves, and love the world. That would be pretty cool. I could solve all the world's problems by walking by every so often.
Let's Pretend that all of the policies in place at work are actually enforced. Except the internet use policy. That one, not so much. But the harrassment policy and the signature policies.. those I could really enjoy seeing enforcement. *sigh* But I think that qualifies as a digression.
Pretend Like they discovered a huge reserve of pre-refined gasoline underground in kansas somewhere, and that it's free. It also turns back the clock on your car, so that every 100 miles you drive, your car loses 100 miles of wear and tear. Eventually you have a brand new car. Once you're back at zero, then your magic gasoline starts adding on features. Towing packages. CD players. Speakers. Halo lights. Jaws of Life. Hood Ornaments. Whatever.
Ahhh. Pretend Like my sister gets hired as an image consultant for Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton or somebody and makes a zillion dollars a week just to go party and pick out cute teenybopper clothes. That would rock.
Hm. I feel better already.
Later: Trigger Pics!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
The Never Ending Soap Opera
Well with a title like that, you already know what this is going to be about.
Mom has a blood clot in her arm, which is very dangerous this soon after surgery. She is on every blood thinner in the book and is not being allowed to do her therapy until they get it under control. She also is trying to tell me that the last day she will be in the hospital will be the 17th. The social worker told her that's when her Medicare runs out. I tried to explain to her that this doesn't mean that's when the doctors will release her.
She doesn't listen to me. Anyway I called Dr. E's office and left a message. He doesn't know about the blood clot either according to Mom. Hmmm.. maybe I should send him a quick email...
More later. About something besides my mother, I promise.
Mom has a blood clot in her arm, which is very dangerous this soon after surgery. She is on every blood thinner in the book and is not being allowed to do her therapy until they get it under control. She also is trying to tell me that the last day she will be in the hospital will be the 17th. The social worker told her that's when her Medicare runs out. I tried to explain to her that this doesn't mean that's when the doctors will release her.
She doesn't listen to me. Anyway I called Dr. E's office and left a message. He doesn't know about the blood clot either according to Mom. Hmmm.. maybe I should send him a quick email...
More later. About something besides my mother, I promise.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Obsessive Onion Ring Dance
Ever get something on your mind? Something that latches on like a retriever on a piece of steak and shakes and worries away until you're ready to beat the crap out of it? Every once in a while that happens to me. And every once in a while it's not one thing, but a succession of things. They don't stay long, but whenever one leaves there's always another there to take its place.
Last night was one of those nights where that happened for some reason. A list (for your reading enjoyment) of stupid things I found to aggravate myself with last night:
1) Mom. Do I really need to add anything more to this topic? I thought not.
2) My sister. I could come up with 42,000 suggestions for solutions to the things she talks to me about, but none of them involve anything she would ever consider doing. They involve long workweeks, dating people she might consider boring, and being a stick in the mud conservative like me. But then that's what makes me happy. I can't imagine living the way she does, and she can't imagine living the way I do. Why does this bother me?
3) So let's say a couple dates for 6 or 7 years, then split because one partner wants to get married and the other doesn't. L says that after that long, the partner who doesn't want marriage has already made his/her position clear by not proposing marriage. What drives me nuts is this: How long before that message has supposedly been communicated? How long does the other partner go on thinking the relationship has a future when the other partner is just along for the ride? This is not a current issue for me and L, but as usual I am worrying 4-5 years down the line. Which is stupid of me because I think both of us have made it clear where we stand on this issue. Still, I manage to let it take up brain power.
4) Does my horse like me? He acts like he does most of the time, but then there are those days.. And yes, I know that he is an animal and that it is all relative to whether or not I am feeding him or protecting him from predators. Still, I wonder if he is happy and whether or not I should send him to a trainer or a boarding facility.
5) Why do I never meet friends who treat me the way I treat them? Or am I missing something vital in the world of friendships? This is not so prevalent among my male friends.. they are always considerate and I never feel like they're being subtly catty. But the women...
That's the abbreviated list. And I woke up this morning to the screeching alarm, in the middle of a strikingly vivid dream. I was in a livestock arena and there were HUGE semi-circular onion rings performing some sort of synchronized dance in the arena. I could even smell them. It was extremely bizarre. I don't even really like onion rings!
Last night was one of those nights where that happened for some reason. A list (for your reading enjoyment) of stupid things I found to aggravate myself with last night:
1) Mom. Do I really need to add anything more to this topic? I thought not.
2) My sister. I could come up with 42,000 suggestions for solutions to the things she talks to me about, but none of them involve anything she would ever consider doing. They involve long workweeks, dating people she might consider boring, and being a stick in the mud conservative like me. But then that's what makes me happy. I can't imagine living the way she does, and she can't imagine living the way I do. Why does this bother me?
3) So let's say a couple dates for 6 or 7 years, then split because one partner wants to get married and the other doesn't. L says that after that long, the partner who doesn't want marriage has already made his/her position clear by not proposing marriage. What drives me nuts is this: How long before that message has supposedly been communicated? How long does the other partner go on thinking the relationship has a future when the other partner is just along for the ride? This is not a current issue for me and L, but as usual I am worrying 4-5 years down the line. Which is stupid of me because I think both of us have made it clear where we stand on this issue. Still, I manage to let it take up brain power.
4) Does my horse like me? He acts like he does most of the time, but then there are those days.. And yes, I know that he is an animal and that it is all relative to whether or not I am feeding him or protecting him from predators. Still, I wonder if he is happy and whether or not I should send him to a trainer or a boarding facility.
5) Why do I never meet friends who treat me the way I treat them? Or am I missing something vital in the world of friendships? This is not so prevalent among my male friends.. they are always considerate and I never feel like they're being subtly catty. But the women...
That's the abbreviated list. And I woke up this morning to the screeching alarm, in the middle of a strikingly vivid dream. I was in a livestock arena and there were HUGE semi-circular onion rings performing some sort of synchronized dance in the arena. I could even smell them. It was extremely bizarre. I don't even really like onion rings!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Mom Wars: Episode MCMXXIV
So last night I called Mom to see how she was doing. She can't really decide. First she is doing so well that they are going to have her walk home this week. From Arkansas. This is a fine hospital! She has money.. CASH MONEY, she says. She saved it to pay the taxes on her house in NC. She is going to use said cash money to buy a plane ticket to fly home. She figures if she buys a ticket, the doctors will have to release her.
When I tell her that I'm not coming out there or helping her buy a plane ticket until the doctor releases her, all hell breaks loose. Everyone is leaving her (GF is finally going home after 100+ days there, and because GM is having surgery the 14th, and because mom has been frantically trying to get him to leave for the past 2 weeks), and that she will get another infection or fall down again if I don't get her home because this hospital is every bit as bad as the last one.
All of this after I talked with the doctor yesterday afternoon, and he sounded very positive about her prospects for coming home... in 6-8 weeks when she can take care of herself again.
I lost my temper with her when she said "Just think of ME for once! How can you be so selfish?" Jesus H Christ, she drives me insane. I am being selfish because I don't want to break her out of the hospital and have her get a blood clot and die, or fall down and break her leg again, or any of the other terrible things that can happen to someone who has an open wound in the side of their body the length of my arm??? The staples are still in, for God's sake!
And of course she starts the "Oh Jehovah" nonsense, which seems calculated to make my eyes bug out. I couldn't help but tell her that if she had ever had occasion to learn about when to trust God, now would be it. But she doesn't and never has. She might pray until the cows come home, but you can't tell the Almighty exactly how to do his business and expect anything to get accomplished. He doesn't take orders. Sorry Mom.
Blargh.
The bottom line is that I am sick to death of melodrama. If anyone ever says to me again, " How could you do this to me?" about something over which I have no control or choice, I am not going to get angry. I am just going to laugh until I puke.
And now I am going to bed.. with nice clean sheets and a big fat novel.
Oh, and I watched Glory Road tonight. It was surprisingly better than most sports movies of its type. Lots of hilarious one-liners.
When I tell her that I'm not coming out there or helping her buy a plane ticket until the doctor releases her, all hell breaks loose. Everyone is leaving her (GF is finally going home after 100+ days there, and because GM is having surgery the 14th, and because mom has been frantically trying to get him to leave for the past 2 weeks), and that she will get another infection or fall down again if I don't get her home because this hospital is every bit as bad as the last one.
All of this after I talked with the doctor yesterday afternoon, and he sounded very positive about her prospects for coming home... in 6-8 weeks when she can take care of herself again.
I lost my temper with her when she said "Just think of ME for once! How can you be so selfish?" Jesus H Christ, she drives me insane. I am being selfish because I don't want to break her out of the hospital and have her get a blood clot and die, or fall down and break her leg again, or any of the other terrible things that can happen to someone who has an open wound in the side of their body the length of my arm??? The staples are still in, for God's sake!
And of course she starts the "Oh Jehovah" nonsense, which seems calculated to make my eyes bug out. I couldn't help but tell her that if she had ever had occasion to learn about when to trust God, now would be it. But she doesn't and never has. She might pray until the cows come home, but you can't tell the Almighty exactly how to do his business and expect anything to get accomplished. He doesn't take orders. Sorry Mom.
Blargh.
The bottom line is that I am sick to death of melodrama. If anyone ever says to me again, " How could you do this to me?" about something over which I have no control or choice, I am not going to get angry. I am just going to laugh until I puke.
And now I am going to bed.. with nice clean sheets and a big fat novel.
Oh, and I watched Glory Road tonight. It was surprisingly better than most sports movies of its type. Lots of hilarious one-liners.
Weird Sort of Crunch
Yes, I am feeling better. Thanks for asking.
I slept nearly all day Friday, except for the time it took to feed horses and cook dinner for me and L. We had chicken (garlic, herb, cirtus, baked) and potatoes au gratin. Yum. But the salad had gone bad, so we were out of luck on the green, leafy department.
Anyway, today I fed horses, worked both of them. Sundance is moderately good at the porcupine game, horrible at the driving game, and getting pretty good at yo-yo. He's a sweet boy, but he has a bad attitude. Kind of like a high school football player who thinks he's going to be that cool forever.
Trigger had one issue today. Otherwise he was a little angel. He played porcupine at phase 1. He drove from zone 3, he yo-yo'd at phase 1. He circled at phase 1. But then he started trying to haul off in the opposite direction while I was trying to lead him at a trot. The problem with this idea was that my right arm was wrapped around the rope for leverage, so when he took off, the rope slid down my arm and caught around my right hand.. So, 1200 pounds of pressure, a nylon yachting rope, and ...my right hand. Any guesses who won?
I did, of course. Trigger went the way I wanted him to go, at the speed I wanted him to go. However, my hand is black and blue and quite painful at the moment. I don't think I broke it, but it did make a weird sort of crunchy noise. Ick.
I slept nearly all day Friday, except for the time it took to feed horses and cook dinner for me and L. We had chicken (garlic, herb, cirtus, baked) and potatoes au gratin. Yum. But the salad had gone bad, so we were out of luck on the green, leafy department.
Anyway, today I fed horses, worked both of them. Sundance is moderately good at the porcupine game, horrible at the driving game, and getting pretty good at yo-yo. He's a sweet boy, but he has a bad attitude. Kind of like a high school football player who thinks he's going to be that cool forever.
Trigger had one issue today. Otherwise he was a little angel. He played porcupine at phase 1. He drove from zone 3, he yo-yo'd at phase 1. He circled at phase 1. But then he started trying to haul off in the opposite direction while I was trying to lead him at a trot. The problem with this idea was that my right arm was wrapped around the rope for leverage, so when he took off, the rope slid down my arm and caught around my right hand.. So, 1200 pounds of pressure, a nylon yachting rope, and ...my right hand. Any guesses who won?
I did, of course. Trigger went the way I wanted him to go, at the speed I wanted him to go. However, my hand is black and blue and quite painful at the moment. I don't think I broke it, but it did make a weird sort of crunchy noise. Ick.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
I Hate Being Sick
It's 8:51. P.M. I just woke up from a long nap. I have about as much energy as a soaking wet towel right now. I actually went to the doctor today, and he doesn't know what's wrong with me. He took some blood, so we'll see what the lab has to say on Monday. He also gave me some medicine for acid reflux to try and see if that improves the situation any.
I still have to come up with a good date night plan, and I have to feed the horses this weekend because the A's are out of town. I also have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning for the filling, so it looks like I will be playing it by ear tomorrow. Papa Ridgeback, if you are reading this, I will give you a call about lunch. If I feel up to it after the dentist, we'll go eat. If not, we'll reschedule. I may not be very good company.. it just depends on how I feel after going back to bed in just a few minutes.
Meanwhile, L is eating popcorn on the couch, watching a movie or something. He didn't cook dinner tonight because I don't feel like eating... so I feel kind of bad. But then I already felt bad anyway, so I guess it's par for the course.
The air conditioning guy came by today and told us that we need a new compressor. He has to order it, so we are without AC until the part comes in and the guy decides to come back and put it in. Unless the weather changes, I see a lot of sitting naked in front of the fan in our future. So make sure you knock before you come in the house. ;)
I still have to come up with a good date night plan, and I have to feed the horses this weekend because the A's are out of town. I also have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning for the filling, so it looks like I will be playing it by ear tomorrow. Papa Ridgeback, if you are reading this, I will give you a call about lunch. If I feel up to it after the dentist, we'll go eat. If not, we'll reschedule. I may not be very good company.. it just depends on how I feel after going back to bed in just a few minutes.
Meanwhile, L is eating popcorn on the couch, watching a movie or something. He didn't cook dinner tonight because I don't feel like eating... so I feel kind of bad. But then I already felt bad anyway, so I guess it's par for the course.
The air conditioning guy came by today and told us that we need a new compressor. He has to order it, so we are without AC until the part comes in and the guy decides to come back and put it in. Unless the weather changes, I see a lot of sitting naked in front of the fan in our future. So make sure you knock before you come in the house. ;)
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
I Should Have Read the Apocrypha
Ok, so there's this Bible in my office. It is there because we have a Women's Group every Thursday at work where we discuss scripture and other things. So this Bible is the one I bought for Religion 106-107 at Anderson College a few years ago, and it has all of the Apocryphal books in it as well as the regular Bible books...
So I pick up this Bible and open it randomly. Here's what I come up with:
Sirach 22:13
"Do not talk much with a senseless person or visit an unintelligent person. Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble, and be spattered when he shakes himself off. Avoid him and you will find rest, and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense."
Now if I had only read that before I married JF, I might have had the sense to run screaming in the opposite direction.
So I pick up this Bible and open it randomly. Here's what I come up with:
Sirach 22:13
"Do not talk much with a senseless person or visit an unintelligent person. Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble, and be spattered when he shakes himself off. Avoid him and you will find rest, and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense."
Now if I had only read that before I married JF, I might have had the sense to run screaming in the opposite direction.
Down to Business
Let's get right to the point:
I'm copying my good buddy and putting in a playlist:
Tift Merritt , especially Tambourine
Funniest Thing I've Heard All Day:
"No, it's not counterintuitive!!! It's just backwards!"-- Heard at work.. where else? :)
Last night we had one of the best dinners on record. Fresh corn on the cob, grilled in the husk, baked potatoes, and steak (of course!) with a very interesting citrus marinade courtesy of L. It was so good I was very sorry when I finished eating. It was unfortunately too hot for wine, though. The air conditioner is still on the blink, so it was 86 degrees at 8 pm in our house.
Then we watched Hotel Rwanda. I am surprised that I didn't have nightmares. That is a very powerful movie, for two reasons: 1) I've been to Africa and seen first hand how quickly a situation like that can arise. A mob can form there it the split second it takes to open a car door. 2) It really happened. We really abandoned those people and left them to be killed by savage, crazy renegades. They really had to "shame" us into helping. Now I am normally politically conservative, more libertarian than anything else.. but that bothers me.
It also gave me that same anxiety, clenched-stomach, sick feeling that the concentration camp stories used to. I can't understand or fathom what makes some people tick.. what has to be wrong with people for them to think those kinds of actions are acceptable?
But that's way too deep for this morning. I am honestly struggling to stay awake and coherent. Can't really say why. I could sleep straight through for a week. And I have 2 days to plan a date night. My original plan (which was a very good one) is out, because it's 105 degrees outside and nobody wants to walk around anywhere in that heat, even if it is the lovely botanical gardens. Meh. Well it's back to work for me.
I'm copying my good buddy and putting in a playlist:
Tift Merritt , especially Tambourine
Funniest Thing I've Heard All Day:
"No, it's not counterintuitive!!! It's just backwards!"-- Heard at work.. where else? :)
Last night we had one of the best dinners on record. Fresh corn on the cob, grilled in the husk, baked potatoes, and steak (of course!) with a very interesting citrus marinade courtesy of L. It was so good I was very sorry when I finished eating. It was unfortunately too hot for wine, though. The air conditioner is still on the blink, so it was 86 degrees at 8 pm in our house.
Then we watched Hotel Rwanda. I am surprised that I didn't have nightmares. That is a very powerful movie, for two reasons: 1) I've been to Africa and seen first hand how quickly a situation like that can arise. A mob can form there it the split second it takes to open a car door. 2) It really happened. We really abandoned those people and left them to be killed by savage, crazy renegades. They really had to "shame" us into helping. Now I am normally politically conservative, more libertarian than anything else.. but that bothers me.
It also gave me that same anxiety, clenched-stomach, sick feeling that the concentration camp stories used to. I can't understand or fathom what makes some people tick.. what has to be wrong with people for them to think those kinds of actions are acceptable?
But that's way too deep for this morning. I am honestly struggling to stay awake and coherent. Can't really say why. I could sleep straight through for a week. And I have 2 days to plan a date night. My original plan (which was a very good one) is out, because it's 105 degrees outside and nobody wants to walk around anywhere in that heat, even if it is the lovely botanical gardens. Meh. Well it's back to work for me.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Early Morning Dysfunction..
Last night I went to band practice, which went pretty well, considering that our guitar guy couldn't make it. But band practice always leaves me so sleepy the next morning that I sometimes almost forget to get dressed. (I have started to get too lazy to do my makeup in the mornings! But I don't want to talk about that...) They're changing it to Thursday nights starting next week, and maybe that will work out better, since I don't have to work on Friday mornings. Except this Friday morning I'd rather go to work... I have to go back to the dentist instead and have a cavity filled. Bleh.
Last night I thought I'd be cool and set the coffee maker to brew automatically this morning. I forgot to check at what time it would start, however. Last time we did that was when I had to leave for Arkansas at 4:30 am.. so we had coffee in the middle of the freaking night. Yay me. At least it was still warm when I got up, and I am dutifully drinking it now.
L found an infestation of bees in our front yard yesterday when he was trying to water the flower beds. The hose is still lying in the middle of the yard where he left it, because the bees were flying around deciding whether or not to swarm him. He is going to Home Depot today to buy them out of wasp killer. So, to recap, so far we have a snake, many, many spiders, and a truckload of bees in our front yard.
L also got a package in the mail yesterday containing a special collar for Barney that emits a highly annoying noise every time he barks. This is in theory supposed to stop him from barking at night. In reality, it goes off every time he shakes his head, scratches, breathes, or thinks about breathing. Poor guy. L decided last night to see if it would still work if it wasn't on his neck. He put it on top of their crate. I don't know if it worked or not, but at any rate, Barney didn't bark.
On tap for today: A meeting over at the FD building. Project work. Some house cleaning when I get home. And hopefully steak for dinner, if I'm lucky. :)
Last night I thought I'd be cool and set the coffee maker to brew automatically this morning. I forgot to check at what time it would start, however. Last time we did that was when I had to leave for Arkansas at 4:30 am.. so we had coffee in the middle of the freaking night. Yay me. At least it was still warm when I got up, and I am dutifully drinking it now.
L found an infestation of bees in our front yard yesterday when he was trying to water the flower beds. The hose is still lying in the middle of the yard where he left it, because the bees were flying around deciding whether or not to swarm him. He is going to Home Depot today to buy them out of wasp killer. So, to recap, so far we have a snake, many, many spiders, and a truckload of bees in our front yard.
L also got a package in the mail yesterday containing a special collar for Barney that emits a highly annoying noise every time he barks. This is in theory supposed to stop him from barking at night. In reality, it goes off every time he shakes his head, scratches, breathes, or thinks about breathing. Poor guy. L decided last night to see if it would still work if it wasn't on his neck. He put it on top of their crate. I don't know if it worked or not, but at any rate, Barney didn't bark.
On tap for today: A meeting over at the FD building. Project work. Some house cleaning when I get home. And hopefully steak for dinner, if I'm lucky. :)
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