Avatar review

Okay, here’s my true opinion about the movie Avatar.  It was made by Hollywood.  That’s where they think we are interested in their political opinions just because they can act.  Acting involves pretending you are someone else, saying what is in the script and doing what you are told, how you are told, when you are told. 

The movie has wonderful special effects. 

The story is on another planet, the natives are very large with pointed ears and green stripes.  The evil Earth military is their enemy as well as the evil Earth businessmen.  The Earth tree huggers are wonderful.  Sound familiar?

If you can ignore the political agenda and just watch the movie for the beauty and scenery, then it’s a good movie.  That’s how I watched it. 

Oh yes, don’t drink a lot of water before going to this movie, it is almost three hours long.

Later….

Winter

More snow and wind.  Nasty weather.  Lets hope it is February’s last gasp.  Think I’ll venture out to the Butter Street Barn today.   I do need some other things that I can get in that direction. 

I’m not worried about my driving – it’s all the other nuts on the road that scare me.  I once saw a car at a filling station spinning his wheels to try to get down to pavement.  On closer observation his front wheels were aimed straight at the pump, so if he ever did get traction he was going straight into it.  I left.  Somehow I didn’t want to know the end of that story.

When we first moved here from New Hampshire we got blamed for the 1978 blizzard.  There had been a little snow before it came and out of habit we threw that snow about 3 feet back from the driveway.  That’s to allow room for the next several snows – in New Hampshire.  Our neighbors laughed at us.  But after the blizzard came (17” of snow is a blizzard here) we were the only ones with a cleared driveway in the neighborhood.  The wind did make it a blizzard.  One of the vents on top of our house ended up in Pennsylvania I think.  We had snow in our attic until we got the vent replaced.

That storm came on a Thursday which was my usual grocery shopping day.  We were out of bread so I baked biscuits.  Luckily we were not out of power. 

I think that was the winter the kids still had ice skates that fit.  Ice skates were a staple part of kids wardrobe in New England.  The fire department made ice rinks at the parks right on top of the baseball fields. 

So my kids were used to skating on ball fields, not ponds.   They got an offer from some friends who lived near a pond to go skating.  I took them over and came home.  The phone was ringing when I got in the house.  One of my darlings had fallen thru the ice.  Trying to read the sign that said “Thin Ice” was the excuse.  No harm done, just wet and cold.  Cheeesh.

Later….

Pets

Teddy is getting the “down” command pretty good and he wants to shake hands all the time.  He is shaking hands for a tummy rub instead of food.  The trick with him is to find him doing the trick and then say the word and also make the hand motion. 

He spent so much time with no human interaction that he still flinches when I pet him too fast.  He’s okay if I start slow and keep my hand on him as I pet.  If I move my hand from one area to another without touching on the way, he jumps and looks frightened.  I think he will probably always do that since I have had him for 2 years now. 

The hand motions are because he didn’t know words meant anything.  I’m trying to get him to connect the word and the action with the hand signal.  He is a slow learner.  Patience is a virtue.

Speaking of patience - I had an African Grey parrot years ago.  I had been wanting a parrot for a long time and had heard that the African Grey was the best talker.  Things had been pretty depressing for my family in 1984 so I decided to find a parrot.  I have always turned to animals for comfort.  Animals live in the moment which is what people need to do sometimes.

So I called the local pet shop and they said they did have an African Grey.  I rushed over and found this small bird in a tiny square cage down under the counter.  His wings had been clipped so badly that there were scabs on them, no long feathers on his wings at all, just fluff and scabs.  He was a Timneh, not a Congo parrot.  The most common one you see is the Congo which is bigger and has a bright red tail.  The Timneh is smaller and has a purple tail.  In Africa they fly in groups like crows do here.

They only wanted $250 (cheap at that time) for the bird but the cage and accessories brought the bill up to over $400.  I bought him.

We had just moved so there was an empty closet in one of the bedrooms.  According to the “book” I was to take him into an enclosed area and make friends with him.  HAH  I came out bloody every time.   I felt like a lion tamer without a whip or chair.

I finally went back to the “book” and got some more hints.  I got a large dowel rod and cut off a six inch piece for a small perch that I could hold between my hands.  He managed to sit on that a few times. 

I had 30 days to decide if I wanted to keep him so as the end of that time came near I was panicking about taming him.  One Friday night after work I put a footstool by the front of his cage to sit on and took his food dish in my hand and held it in front of him.  He was as far from me as he could get on the top perch.  After a while I put a peanut on top of it, his favorite snack.  With short breaks I sat there for 5 hours before he took the peanut.  What a breakthrough. 

It seemed it was hands that frightened him.  So, brave person that I am, I put the next peanut in my mouth and held it at the door of his cage.  He took it, very gently, almost immediately.

I’ll tell some more about Smokey, the parrot, another time.

Later….

Movie

Went to see the  movie AVATAR Wednesday.  It’s a great movie.  Go see it if you get the chance.  I went on Wednesday afternoon as that is cheaper for senior citizens but the price was still pretty high - $10.75.  I guess that’s for the 3D glasses they pass out.  I have often wondered if anyone ever says they are going to one movie and then slips into another in those big movie complexes.  There were only 6 people in the theater I was in.  That doesn’t seem worth the price of the electricity to run the movie and heat the place. 

I also visited the pet food store and the health food store.  Busy day.  I buy cheese substitutes made of rice as I am lactose intolerant and try to avoid soy if I can.  Some soy products contain hormones and since I am getting hormone blocking medicine that would not be a good idea.  Some large grocery stores have the soy cheese but they don’t carry the rice kind.  I get some of the shredded cheese and sprinkle it on top of rice.  That gives it a bit of flavor while sticking with rice. 

Snow in the air, just a dusting on top of what was left from before.  More is predicted.  It’s still Feb.

By the way, I wrote a 2 over the 3 on the fire department sticker on the back door where it asks how many dogs live in the house.  The 3 was faded so the 2 shows up fine.  So now the sticker can stay on the door.  I think maybe there is a single edge razor blade in the tool box.  It might be the tool box in the RV.

Later….

Medical Insurance

In going thru stuff out of the RV that was unpacked in a rush I ran across a form I had to sign at the hospital in Florida.  It is titled NOTICE OF LIMITED LIABILITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 1012.965. FLORIDA STATUTES

The last sentence is very long but it says it all:

The law provides that “neither the state nor its agencies or subdivisions shall be liable to pay a claim or a judgment by any one person which exceeds the sum of $100,000 or any claim or judgment, or portions thereof, which, when totaled with all other claims or judgments paid by the state or its agencies or subdivisions arising out of the same incident or occurrence, exceeds the sum of $200,000”  (section 768.28(5), Florida statutes).

The employee who gave it to me to sign said “it says that no matter what we do to you all you get is $100,000”.  Her explanation was much shorter and to the point.

Sounds like tort reform to me – and a state did it.  I wonder if it has had much effect on the doctors malpractice insurance in Florida.  So maybe doctors feel free to drop their rubber gloves on the floor and use them anyway?  That’s sarcasm. 

If one state can do it they all can.    I’m for it. 

I am fortunate to have worked for 15 years at a company that provides a free supplement to Medicare coverage plus a prescription card that makes no prescription cost more than $6.50.   My medical bills are really very small for the expensive treatment I am getting. 

My step-granddaughter had breast cancer, a very small, few cells kind, thank goodness.  She was without insurance at age 21.  She contacted the Cancer Society and was told her bills would be covered after she had paid $2000.00.  That sounds like Major Medical insurance.  Everyone should have that.   

Having stayed away from chocolate chip cookies and sausage for a day or so, my belly is doing much better.  Darn.  I am still tired of a bland diet but can see it will be worth it if it makes me feel better. 

Later….

Rambling

My daughter has pointed out to me that old people ramble.  They start on one subject and ramble around to other subjects until no one remembers where the conversation started.  So I decided to show her what REALLY rambling was like. 

Monday’s are trash day here, I have to gather up all the trash from the whole week and put it into a plastic bag and get it out to the street before dark.  It is picked up during the night when there is less traffic on this busy road.  It’s a busy road because it’s a state route and many semi’s use it.  The trash in the bathroom is seldom full unless I’ve been cleaning out the cupboards in there, which needs doing.  I found a very ancient tube of anti-biotic ointment in there the other day.  Don’t know when I bought it but I think it was for when I had my ingrown toenail worked on and that was back 6 or 7 years ago, maybe as long ago as 9 years.  It went into the trash.  Then there’s the laundry room trash, always has lint in it.  You should clean out the lint trap every time you use the dryer.  If you use those dryer sheets to soften the laundry you should really scrub the lint trap once in a while as it can become clogged with that softening stuff in the sheets.  That’s a fire hazard.  I have a sticker on the back door aimed at the fire department, if they should ever have to come.  It says I have 3 dogs, which isn’t true anymore.  I could always get another dog in which case the sticker would be true, or I could try to get that sticker off.  Getting stickers off you need a single edged razor blade which sends us back to the bathroom searching thru cupboards.…

By that time both my daughter and I were laughing so hard I couldn’t continue with my “ramble”.  We never got to Tuesday.  I am an expert rambler given the opportunity.  Usually I get interrupted before I get too far.

I’m back to being more careful with the diet.  Maybe I rushed things a little with that whole box of chocolate chip cookies.  Time will tell.

Later….

Above freezing Saturday

Give me the green light for buttered potatoes, sausage, eggs, potato chips, goat cheese, cookies, chocolate and watch the pounds pour on.  I’ve gained back a couple of the pounds that I lost.  Hibernation, naps, and a few good night’s sleep on a new mattress are doing wonders.   Sun shine helps the mood also.

Lory, daughter, was going thru some of her stuff and found a boys class ring from 1981.  She had no memory of why she had it.  There were initials inside and the school name on the top.  I tried putting it in lost and found on craigslist but no luck.  I called the school Friday and they cooperated by giving me the name and phone number of the owner.  I called and his Mother answered.  At first she was skeptical of a stranger calling, then when she understood, she was very happy.  She gave me her address so I could mail the ring to her.  I quickly packaged it up and mailed it.

I also managed to get my property tax paid even though I never received the bill.  For an extra $15 I could have paid online with a credit card but I called them and they suggested I print off the page with the info about my bill and mail that with the check. 

I’m checking things off that to-do list!  Now if I could just clear out all the clutter.

Later….

TGIF

Thursday – Went out to lunch with Susan, daughter.  Went to the Frisch’s where Lory, daughter, works.  I had a cup of vegetable soup and a small fish sandwich.  I did not sample Susan’s french fries.  And I had my sausage for supper.  Heck with the stomach, the mouth wants taste. 

I think it got above freezing today as there were a lot of puddles and icicles were dripping.  The snow was a bit slushy but I didn’t feel like cleaning up the driveway.  It will eventually go away.  There was even a little misty rain on the windshield in the afternoon.

Friday – Doing a little organizing around the house.  It is badly needed and never seems to get done.  Moving things from one place to another doesn’t work.  A big trip to the thrift store with a carload of donations might be the answer, maybe more than one trip.

Later….

Thursday

Last night I had a potato with margarine on it – and a hotdog with mustard, had to include the old favorite applesauce.  My stomach wasn’t very upset this morning, just a little.  Of course, it could have been the snacks I ate also.

My new mattress came yesterday so I got busy washing all the bedding so I could start completely fresh.  There was a slight musty smell on the old mattress.  Either that or my nose has gotten very picky.  I don’t even know how old that mattress was, at least 15 years old, and it was once stored in someone’s basement.  I bought the cheapest one they had.  Anyone who can sleep on an RV couch folded down into a bed with a big crack in the middle is not a picky sleeper.  Sitting down can be dangerous for falling asleep sometimes. 

No matter that it is now a full size bed – Teddy wants to sleep touching me.  Sometimes his head is draped over my neck so his snoring is right in my ear.  Other times he lays across my legs.  

The truck that delivered the mattress made a good path into my driveway.  First they pulled in, then they backed out turned around and backed into the driveway.  They still had to wade thru snow. 

My blood has thickened up some since I got back from Florida.  It doesn’t take long.  I don’t mind the cold so much as I did at first.

Later…. 

Wednesday

The sausage spoiled!  Oh No.  I forget when I thawed it but it could have been the first few days after I got home.  I had been wanting to eat it but my stomach was too uncertain.  Last night I cut it open to cook it for my supper and it didn’t smell good.  Oh well, I’ll just thaw out some more.  My diet is almost back to normal.  I just don’t get very hungry so I have to watch the clock and feed the eat. 

I did absolutely nothing productive yesterday.  I’m kind of waiting for any possible side effects from that shot I got.  If there are any I won’t be able to avoid them as I could with pills.  I’m kind of stuck with them.  So far the only thing I notice is a sore butt.   That’s good news.

Today I am doing laundry and getting ready for my new mattress that I ordered Monday.  Not much new snow today but I can barely tell where my neighbor shoveled yesterday.  February in Ohio.

Later….

Tuesday Feb 15

Teddy and I are working on shaking hands now instead of the violent sport of sock pulling.  He doesn’t know the command “down” very well either so we may start working on that one.  He is very food motivated so it should be easy.  He can sit up and beg for food.  He can also steal it off the table or counter.  I have to turn the bar stools with their backs to the counter when I leave the house so he can’t get up onto the breakfast bar.  So I guess jumping isn’t a problem for him either.

Okay, I’ve looked up the new drug I am getting, Faslodex, (or Faxlodex) and it is encouraging.  Some people say they have been on it for years and it has kept their cancer under control.  It is for people with advanced breast cancer that has metastasized only to the bones.  Sometimes you have to look things up to find the words that the doctor doesn’t want to say, like “advanced”.  The next thing, if this doesn’t stop the spread, would be chemotherapy.  So I am on a quest to gain weight before then.  The diet is progressing slowly.  I carried a banana to the doctor’s office with me and ate it on the way home.  Nicely packaged fruit, bananas.  Right now I am sitting lightly because of the shot yesterday.

My neighbor shoveled my driveway again yesterday and I didn’t even see him do it.  I’ll have to get him paid somehow.  He doesn’t like to take anything for his work.  There’s a challenge I can take on.

There is a 65 pound poodle in that picture, can you see her?  She doesn’t think anyone can see her.  I will admit in all the snow she is hard to find but she also does this in other kinds of weather.  She has an appropriate name.

Later….

Snowy Monday and Dr’s Appt.

The furniture movers came on Sunday.  Actually it was my Grandson, Jake,  and my daughter’s guy friend, John.  They moved the single bed I’ve been using upstairs and moved a double bed downstairs.  They also took away an antique Singer sewing machine.  It was given to me and Lory, my daughter, admired it greatly so I gave it to her.  That frees up some room in there and the room actually looks bigger with this new arrangement.  The ultimate goal is to get a natural gas fireplace installed in the old fireplace.  How cool is that?  A fireplace in my bedroom.  Plus it would be an alternate source of heat in case the electricity ever failed. 

The dogs are totally confused by this change.  I laid on the bed for a moment, took a break from cleaning and arranging, and they got a clue as to what was happening.  The arranging isn’t done.  It will take a while to decide just how I want it.  Plus there are some boxes of “stuff” in there that need to be gone thru.

The doctor appointment today was a challenge to get to as it is snowing pretty hard.  My car has 4 wheel drive and I used it part of the way.  The news is good and bad, as usual.  The cancer has grown and is also starting to show up in my spine, a tiny bit.  That’s the bad part.  The good part is it is still only in the bones, no soft tissue is affected.  I got a shot of Faslodex (or Faxlodex) today.  That is a hormone blocker that is given with a shot in the muscle (butt).   The doctor spelled it with an “x” but on the internet it is spelled with an “s” .  Do I have a doctor who can’t spell?  I will be getting these shots every month for a while and then there will be more tests to see if they are slowing the cancer down or not.  Fun fun.  Maybe when I go in March there won’t be a snowstorm going on.

Now I have to do dishes and watch some olympics.  This silly program thinks I misspelled olympics.

Later…. 

Happy Valentines Day

 

A beautiful sunny morning today.  The weather is  supposed to get nasty later.

Yesterday I ventured over to the antique barn to visit with my friends.  There were gifts waiting for me, food I can eat, flavored applesauce.  Also some Little Kings beer.  Apparently light ale is supposed to be good for your bones.  I’ll vote for that.  Little Kings is my favorite.

I received some carrot cake (one of my favorites) on my birthday and was afraid to eat it due to my uncertain stomach.  It sat there tempting me, encouraging me.  Last night I ate some in defiance of belly aches.  This morning my belly is no worse, even some better.  WOOOHOOO!   Patience has paid off and I seem to be on the way back.  I’ll still be very careful with an occasional venture into chocolate,  carrot cake, even a potato with butter on it, and a beer.

Last night I let the dogs out and then got busy with other things, ate my supper and read a book for a while.  Then it occurred to me that things were very quiet in here and there was noise outside.  THE DOGS!  I had forgotten that they were out.  They were not happy with me but they were really happy to get inside.  Silly has always played a game of not coming in when called.  She stands behind a twig or branch and pretends I can’t see her.  I have to close the door and wait a few moments, then open the door just for her, then she comes.  Either that or go out to get her.  It’s her game.  Well, she hasn’t played that game today.  Can an old dog learn new tricks?  Maybe.

Later….

Cold Week-end

Teaching Teddy to play.  He has always carried toys around and arranges them for his comfort.  When Red was around she never allowed him to play with me much.  We started with a  sock with a hole in it and a knot tied in the middle.  The knot is to distinguish it from random socks he might find.  He got so excited about pulling the sock that he got his teeth on my hand too often.  When I did what the TV dog trainers recommend and yelped he stopped and licked my hand for a while to apologize.  After about the third time he quit.  He won’t pull the sock with me anymore.  He is way too tender hearted.  We will wait a while and try again. 

We had several doggy bathroom accidents in the house right after we got home.  I blamed it on the change in location and the loss of the doggy boss.   The accidents have stopped now.   Everyone is eating fine.

I watched the opening of the winter olympics last night.  Very impressive.   I also watched a movie on TV yesterday called 8 Below.  It was about sled dogs and antarctica.   Maybe I’ll look for something set in warmer places next;  maybe something about an unbearable heat wave if I can find it.

Later….

70th Birthday

….and I don’t even remember being on top.

Okay this is it.  A big one that ends in a zero.  I know it’s just a number – but it’s a big one.  I’m happy to be here for it.  I don’t want a party.

I think this birthday gives me permission to be a little more outspoken and even rude at times.   I’ve been working up to this for quite a while.  If I get really good at it people won’t be so sad when I’m gone.  That’s a favor I can do for my friends and family.  Aren’t I a thoughtful person?  My Dad once said the only reason he would go to that man’s funeral was to make sure he was in the coffin.   So if I am cynical once in a while I come by it honestly.

Had the PET scan this morning early, first one of the day.  When it was time to get up my left arm was completely numb.  It came back awake quickly.  I stopped at the grocery for a few items.  The potatoes in the bags were trying to sprout.  They know it will be growing time soon.  They have faith.  Then I headed home to two very happy dogs.  Teddy barked at me several times.  I’m not sure if it was happiness or a reprimand. 

I have received several birthday cards, some made by computer and some that hit the nail on the head.  A friend stopped by yesterday with a bag of goodies which I can’t eat right now.  That’s okay – hope springs eternal.

No more snow until Sunday.

Later….

Charity

Going to talk about charity today.  I have two favorite charities.  The first one is is The Salvation Army.  They have never had a scandal that I know of.  They don’t get a lot of press like the Red Cross or United Way but both those have had very public scandals.  They quietly go about their business of helping people.

The second one is KIVA.  They make loans to people all over the world, they’ve even started making loans here in the United States.   These are small loans for small businesses.  Each person can only donate $25.00 to one business.  When the loan is repaid you can withdraw the money or loan it to someone else.  My favorite one was to a woman in Afghanistan who was starting a school for girls.  How great is that?  That loan is paid back along with a couple of others.  I just received a gift certificate to KIVA for my birthday.  I donated it to a group in Vietnam who deal in poultry. 

I have given these gift certificates for Christmas to family, including children.  They all used the certificates and had fun picking their person or group to loan to. 

The other charity is the kind I receive from my friends,  family,  and neighbors.  It’s so much fun to give but I’m having to learn to receive also, that way someone else gets to feel good.  That is a goal because I’m not quite there yet.

Later…. 

Tuesday Snow

More Snow, light, fluffy, 6 – 8 inches of it – and it’s still coming down.  I tried shoveling the driveway – hah!  Then when I took a break I got a call to remind me that I have a PET scan on Thursday and I shouldn’t do excessive exercise tomorrow.  I decided I shouldn’t do exercise today either.  I asked the neighbors to come help me out.  There used to be a couple of strapping young men over there but now there’s just the dad and a little boy.  The dad came over and shoveled it out in just a few minutes.  WOW!  He didn’t want to take any money but I explained that I was getting the Social Security that he is paying into and I wanted to share a little.  He took some money.  Everything is shut down today and probably tomorrow.  It’s supposed to keep snowing most of the day and then blow around for another day or so.  It’s nice to have good neighbors. 

Later….

Sunny Monday

Survived the CAT scan, or more like the getting ready for it.  It doesn’t take long at all but the 24 hours of prednisone are a bummer.  I think I slept one hour last night.  Now I get to crash.  I didn’t insult anyone or bite anyone.  I was very good.

More snow tomorrow.  Goody goody.

I got a sympathy card from the vet who put Red down.  I have been switching vets more often than usual.  The one I considered “mine” refused to see us when I needed her.  Actually her receptionist refused by saying their day was completely full and they had no x-ray machine.   I have been tempted to try to talk to the vet herself to see if she knows what her receptionist is saying on the phone.  We didn’t need an x-ray machine to tell Red was paralyzed. She did refer us to new vet  who worked us into her busy day.  So I think maybe I have another new vet.  The boss is responsible for their employees and what they say on the phone.  It was a problem I didn’t need at that time so it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Now I am even boring myself so….

Later….

Cold Sunday

Just had to post a couple more snowy pictures.  This one is a hobby horse that just won’t go away.  It was purchased at a garage sale in 1964 in California for $5.00 and was well used at that time.  It has been thru a lot but looks pretty fancy with a snow decoration.  It appeared on my back deck while I was away.  I guess it will entertain my great grandsons when they visit.

The other one is kind of a guy thing, since Teddy is a guy.  Don’t eat yellow snow.  He decided he wasn’t getting off the deck since I didn’t shovel the back yard for him.  What a wuss.  He does pretty well for a short legged fellow.

The snow has stopped for now and it looks like the weather will not interfere with my appointment on Monday for the CAT scan.  I would sure hate to take all that prednisone and then have it cancelled.  I might have ‘roid (steroid) rage.  The next snow is predicted for Tuesday.  It would be all right with me if it waited till….

Later….

Feb 6, 2010

Friday – Went over to the RV repair place to pay the bill and hear the news that he thinks my roof needs sealing and the corners need to be taken off and resealed.  They did a lot of work and I paid for what they have already done.  I’ll have to save up for the rest of it.  He said it should be good for the rest of the winter.   At lunchtime my daughter used part of her time to give me a ride so I could pick it up.   They are predicting a big storm for later today and tomorrow.  I picked up a few things I might need in the next few days like ice melt stuff.

I am trying to rush the recovery from this bout of diarrhea.  Since it was a shorter time I think it will work.  Jello and crackers and bananas seem to be okay so far.

Saturday – Lovely morning.  The snow came but not as much here as they got a bit north of here.   The view from my back gate toward the road.

ks

Bunny tracks, poor little things.

“What in the world did you put all over the ground?”  Teddy doesn’t care if the rabbits are out there.  He just wants me to sweep some more snow so he can get around.  It is up to his belly in the back yard.

 

Just had to share the beauty of winter.

Later….

No Nap

Tried to take a nap this afternoon.  The phone rang time after time until I finally gave up.  I called the doctor’s office this morning to explain that I would NOT be taking any more of those pills so they called back.  They are moving up the CAT and PET scans to next week.  That was another call from Jason.  He makes the appointments for tests etc.  He has a sense of humor and a lot of piercings and big plugs in his ears but I like him anyway.

Then the RV place called to tell me to stop by so they could explain about how the roof is leaking and needs to be sealed.   If they think I am climbing up on that roof to verify their info they can get another think coming.  I’ll just have to take their word for it.  Maybe I’ll take my camera over and have them take a picture.

The first call was my brother and we talked for an hour about health and politics. 

I am in a little better mood this afternoon than I was last night, being able to stay out of the bathroom for a few hours can do that for me.  It seems the doctors don’t have patience either – since they moved up my tests.  It just occurred to me that those pills weren’t doing any good as they never stayed in my system long enough.  So that means I have been off hormone blockers for a long time. 

The last and final interruption was my daughter who dropped by some of my mail she had forgotten to give me.  So now I am no longer in the mood for a nap.  I’ll sleep good tonight.

Later….

Reality?

Tuesday – mud mud mud.  I had to speak harshly to two dogs who spent some time outside visiting up and down the fence with the neighbor dog.  They were dismayed that I took offense at the total muddy balls that were dog feet they brought in the kitchen.  They had to lay down and let me dunk their feet in a dishpan of old dishwater, still warm, and remove chunks of mud from between their toes.  They are ignoring me for a while, which isn’t a bad thing.  They can do some bonding.

The garage called my cell phone and left a message at 2:00 this afternoon to tell me the car was ready to be picked up. My cell phone doesn’t get a good connection here at home, so I leave it turned off or it runs out of power while searching for a signal.   So I patiently waited until 5:00 to call them about my car.  They were ready to close up at that point.  They will come and get me in the morning so I can pay them and pick up my car. 

Wednesday – Got my car back first thing this morning.  Locked the house when I left but when I got back I didn’t have the key.  So I drove back to the garage and looked for it but no luck.  So it was very lucky that I had neglected to lock the back door this morning when I let the dogs out and in. 

Then I quickly got ready and left for my doctor’s appointment.  It was good to see familiar faces at that office.  The doctor wants me to try again with the aromasin under more controlled circumstances so here we go again.   I had lost 10 lbs. since my last visit so they reduced the amount of zometa I get.  The nurse says that will not go back up even if I gain weight, I don’t know why, they have their rules and statistics.  There are several other options of hormone blocking drugs.  If they all fail they will try chemotherapy.

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and by then it was 12:30 so I picked up a few extras, being a little hungry.  That is good for me.  I hate to grocery shop so hunger makes it easier.

When I got home there was a message that they had found my house key in the parking lot of the garage.  Yeah!

I am putting the dogs on leash and walking them in the back yard avoiding the  muddy spots.  Poor Teddy runs out to check the car every time he gets a chance.  That’s how Red left.  Maybe I should bring her cage back inside from the front porch so he can get a better idea that she isn’t coming back.  I would have brought her body home and buried her here but the ground is too frozen for digging.  That way the other dogs could have satisfied their curiosity and maybe dealt with it better.

Thursday  8:30 a.m.  It was at least 7:00 p.m. yesterday before the pill started making me sick. Right back to everything out of me and 2 trips to the bathroom in the night (1 in a complete sweat from a hot flush) and another first thing this morning.  Back to the BRAT diet – NO more pills for me.  I’m just drinking gator aid this morning. 

I would like to know how much you readers really want to hear.  I don’t enjoy writing about diarrhea.   Do you want reality?  This morning I am pretty discouraged and tired and shaky but I’m sure I’ll feel better soon.  I get more scans in early March so I won’t know if the cancer has spread until at least the middle of March.  Patience is a virtue.

Later….

Home

Okay, readers, I’m home now.  I may only post once a week while I’m at home.  Get over it.  If you really like to read travel blogs check out www.hitchitch.com.  That is a list of a lot of different RV’ers blogs.

Poor Teddy didn’t eat all his breakfast this morning so I spent some quality time with him.  He ate his supper just fine.   He will just have to get over the loss of his dear Red, as I am doing.   Too many changes for him all at once what with switching from several daily walks on a leash to being turned out in the fenced back yard and losing his friend.

I am busy doing laundry, didn’t pop a circuit breaker today, and putting things back where they belong.   I forgot to get my bag of batteries out of the RV so they are at the shop.  I need to replace the batteries in my atomic clock.  I really miss it.  I use old purses for things like batteries in the RV. 

Tomorrow the brakes on the car are scheduled for maintenance at my local garage.  They are just down the road and they bring me home and come and get me.  That’s old fashioned service. 

Then Wed. is the Dr’s office.  I’ll hear what they plan to do with me next.

Later….