katbulue

Dog Ramble Warning

2012-01-29T19:42:00.001-05:00

Haven’t been anywhere so Teddy has had no excuse to poop on my bed again.

After some serious thought I have decided I really shouldn’t get a dog for the dog. I would be a hoarder if I could. I have had as many of four dogs at a time in the past.

Once I went camping for a week-end in a van camper with a Great Dane, a German Shepherd, a Standard Poodle and a red heeler.

I was fostering the German Shepherd for my daughter. The dog had been a breeder at a puppy farm and had to be house broken as well as introduced to steps, TV’s, doors, the outdoors, etc.

At a puppy farm the only thing the dog has to call their own is their dishes.

I was cage training her with a huge cage by saying “kennel up” and then throwing a treat into the cage. It worked the first day. The second day, not so much, I was boosting her into the cage instead of throwing treats.

That evening she took her food dish and put it by the front door. I think she wanted to run away from that cage. She did get the training eventually and headed immediately for the cage when told to.

She slept by the bedroom door. I tried putting down a cushion for her but she wouldn’t use it.

When spring came I opened a window by my bed. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong when she paced between the window and the door half the night.

She was trying to figure out which opening to the dangerous outside world was closer to me as I slept so she could protect me. Her final decision was the window.

German Shepherds are amazing animals. I really wasn’t sorry when she found her forever home. All that serious obedience can be demanding on the owner.

So until I leave the house again I won’t have to worry about Teddy’s problems. He doesn’t much like the hats I am wearing to keep my clipped head warm. He peeks at me out of the corner of his eye.

Next time I will give him two pills and put him in his cage.

later….

Do You Really Really want to know what I did last night???

2012-01-26T16:10:00.001-05:00

I decided to give myself a hair cut, arranged a small mirror on the counter and found the best pair of scissors in the dog grooming bowl. I like wooden bowls and use them to store things like whistles and rocks and pine cones.

But I digress. It’s hard to cut the back of your hair so this “buzz” took a long time. Little hairs were floating in the air. I sneezed and wet my pants. I sneezed again and wet them some more, thru the undies and long johns and corduroys. A few expletives deleted.

I headed for the bathroom, removed wet garments, cleaned up, and headed for the bedroom for dry clothes.

During the gathering of items for redressing I found dog poop on the bed that I hadn’t noticed before, so the pill I gave Teddy before I left hadn’t worked so well.

I showed it to him, let him sniff it and then headed for the back door saying “OUT”. Half way there I realized I had nothing on the bottom half. Oh well, first things first.

He stayed out, in the misty evening until I was properly attired.

I put him in his cage for the night but then relented and let him out.

Lory says the only solution is to get another dog to keep him company. I’ll start looking right away. No more bassets as they are too heavy for me to lift and they are stubborn.

We’ll see what I find

later….

Phishing & Dr. Appointment

2012-01-25T19:45:00.001-05:00

The other day I signed into blogspot to edit a blog and clicked the box to stay logged in. The next day I went to my blog to see what I had written the last time (old timers moment). I found a bright red screen saying that this site had inappropriate content or links to other sites that were dangerous.

A screen came up for me to object to that message. I was to put in my email address and other personal information. I didn’t fill it out. Later when I went to my site the red screen was not there. Everything was fine. I signed out of blogspot and won’t stay signed on again.

I don’t understand all I know about this computer stuff but I think I was being phished. I hope none of my readers got the red screen.

Doctor appointment and chemo today. Nothing new really. I gained a pound for a change – up to 126. I know, I get no sympathy, everyone else is trying to lose weight.

I headed to the health food store and got some rice cheese as well as frozen desserts and a lactose free pizza.

My hair is falling out bigtime. I may not be able to avoid getting it buzzed off. After my shower this morning I thought there was a white mouse climbing out of the drain.

The Dr. recommended vitamin B-6 for the numbness in my right foot. I was taking that but it ran out and I forgot to replace it.

Teddy has been getting hysterical when I am gone. He is hoarse from barking and whining and if I don’t put him in his kennel he poops on the floor or bed.

So today I drugged him a little. I gave him one benadryl. He seemed much calmer when I got home and no pooping. He will just have to get used to being an only dog.

We all have to get used to change sometimes. Just maybe this is as good as it will ever get.

Later….

Busy Day

2012-01-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a very busy day. In the morning I went to the grocery store and filled the cart. Since this past week has been a week off from chemo I stocked up for the next couple weeks when I might not feel like shopping.

In the afternoon Lory came and worked in the garage. We sorted through boxes of “stuff” and found some items to take to the booth.

We went to the barn – temps in the 50’s for a few hours encouraged us. A cold front was coming and the wind was fierce but it was not freezing. The barn is not heated during the week, just on Fri. and Sat. when it is open to the public.

Lory removed all the Christmas stuff and I hung Easter eggs on the small tree. Then Lory rearranged items, took out some and added others. I wrote price tickets for unpriced things.

We took out some items for family members. I’d rather give nice items to family than sell them.

I slept very well last night. Today I don’t have much planned. Tomorrow is an oncologist appointment and chemo. I plan to stop at the health food store on the way home and get some more cheese made from rice.

My hands and feet are still healing from the last kind of chemo. I’m still putting Udder Cream on them. The skin on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet are kind of like old leather now.

Tax info is starting to arrive. I need to make a file so I don’t misplace anything.

later….

Another Buzz? Antique Booth

2012-01-20T20:52:00.003-05:00

This morning the house was chilly but then it usually is. When I checked the temperature it was 60 degrees inside. That brought on a change of batteries in the programable thermostat. That didn't help.
Looking at the furnace didn't help either so I called the service man. He was here in less than an hour and his bill says he cleaned out the drain line. I don't know where a drain line is but apparently it fixed things. I ran my gas fireplace and raised the temperature by 4 degrees by the time he arrived.
I ran my hand through my hair today and came away with ten or fifteen hairs. You know how we women are – we can’t keep away from things like that.
Buzz cut time? Maybe I’ll just wait a bit. I don’t like finding hair in my food, on my handkerchief, in my mouth and on the computer keyboard. I’ll wear a hat to catch it and see if it really means it or not.
Our booth at the Butter Street Barn needs redoing. I say OUR because Lory now shares it with me and does most of the work. The Christmas stuff has to come out and we Lory needs to go through stuff in my garage to see what different items should be offered for sale.
It’s really just a half booth and we cram it pretty full. I’ll try to get some pictures of the redo job.
later….

The Amazing Light In the Sky

2012-01-18T10:02:00.001-05:00

Had blood drawn at the local Dr. office yesterday. Also picked up a few things at the store.

It rained all day yesterday, an inch of rain, then turned to snow pellets and flakes. All this with a little lightening and thunder thrown in now and then.

But this morning the sun is out, the snow is gone even though it hasn’t gotten above freezing outside. That amazing sun can melt snow at 28 degrees.

This says it is 1/18 9:35.04 20% humidity, 67 degrees inside, 28 outside. That little face never smiles – some people are like that. If I push the button and the base it talks to me – in a Chinese accent.

This is my 2002 Jeep.

I am getting the hang of my camera but haven’t reliably figured out where the software puts the pictures. So far I’ve been able to find them with “RECENT PLACES”. I’ll figure that out..

later….

Winter Has Arrived

2012-01-14T11:40:00.001-05:00

The snow has arrived as well as the cold temperatures. We have very little snow right here but the roads are slick and the wind keeps blowing the snow back onto the road.

I am hibernating. Susan brought me some Ginger Ale and Gatoraide to help with my uncertain stomach. The new chemo (Epirubicin) is playing heck with my digestion.

Lory came and helped me take down the big dog kennel in the living room. She also swept up the stuffing from a destroyed dog bed. The room seems really big now.

I was gathering up all the doggie blankets and beds to get them washed but when I came to Bandit’s favorite I was blocked by Teddy.

See that determined look? “You will not take this one.” So it will not be washed for a while and will be wrapped around Teddy when he comes in the house with snow on his whiskers.

I have been studying my new camera off and on, between naps. This is the first picture from it. Why do they make these things so complicated?

Shopping on the internet I found slippers that you can put in the microwave and heat up the insert in the sole. They also have aromatherapy. The inserts contain eucalyptus, clove, and cinnamon.

I can’t walk in them very well so they are for bedtime or naptime only. But they sure feel good on cold feet.

I am also enjoying my fireplace in the bedroom as I get ready for bed and read for a while. Thanks Bob.

Later….

Bye Bye Bandit

2012-01-10T19:36:00.001-05:00

After a few phone discussions with the basset rescue people it was decided to put Bandit down. So this morning he went to the vets and I left him there.

He was in pain from his old joints and since he couldn’t stand being around other dogs his size he would have gone to an unheated kennel instead of another home. Some rescue people have 5 or 6 dogs.

Anyway – Teddy has been searching for him all afternoon. He will require some extra attention for a while.

I also took the digital camera I bought back to Walmart and got one that actually has some instructions with it, a Kodak M5350. Now I will do a little studying and have some pictures for my blog.

Tomorrow is the day I get the second round of the new chemo. My hands and feet are still red from the old chemo. The red skin is hardening and getting ready to peel. I’m still putting Udder Cream on it.

Today was a beautiful sunny day. I even had the car window down for a while. How many more days like this? Snow is predicted for Thursday.

later….

Double Trouble

2012-01-06T20:20:00.001-05:00

When you stop one kind of chemo on Tuesday and start another kind on Wednesday you get a mixture of side effects. That’s my excuse for spending the last two days on the couch.

I have made a call to the Ohio Bassett Rescue to come get Bandit. We will see if they respond in a timely manner.

Both of my daughters have threatened to call them for me so I went ahead and called. He is just too much for me now and I have caught him abusing Teddy.

I enjoyed him for the first eight or nine months but enough is enough.

Today was a beautiful day in the 50’s. This has been a very mild winter so far – knock on wood.

Some bulbs have started to grow – silly things.

later….

New Chemo Drug

2012-01-04T13:33:00.001-05:00

The Dr. called yesterday to forewarn me of the fact that I need to change chemo drugs. The pills had helped at first but had stopped working according to last weeks PET scan. AARRRGGG.

That information is pretty depressing. I put up with all those lousy side effects and then find out it was for nothing.

The new one she recommends is Epirubicin (<—link), pronounced (ep-i-ROO-bi-sin). It is given by IV two weeks in a row, then a week off. Weekly blood tests to monitor red and white blood cells and liver function. My liver function continues to test normal.

All the usual side effects seem to apply such as fatigue, loss of hair, nausea, etc. etc. At least my hands and feet should return to normal. If my hair falls out again (50% chance) I still have all my hats and scarves and wigs.

I received the first dose of the stuff today and it doesn’t take long. They were offering cookies and snacks and warmed blankets in the chemo room.

People watching in there is interesting. Some women crochet or knit, some complain at the family member who brought them, some eat and some doze. There are individual TV’s for each chair but few people watch them.

The sun is shining today and it should get up to 40. WOOHOO.

I learned how to use the remote starter on my car. I thought he had said push once to start and twice to turn it off but that was backwards. Maybe I heard him wrong. It does work if I can remember to turn it on before I’m ready to go.

I’m sure the colder it gets the better I will remember.

later….

Remote Start Installed

2012-01-02T20:30:00.001-05:00

This morning I met my daughter, Susan, at Ziebart at 7:30 to leave my car to get the remote start installed. She brought me home which just happens to be almost on her way to work.

Last week when I called them to make the appointment they said it would take all day. I tried to picture what I could do all day at Ziebart. I thought maybe a nap on their floor. Then my kids came up with the solution.

Lory picked me up and took me back to pick up my car. Kids are great things to have around when you need a ride.

I had forgotten that it is still dark at 7:00 a.m. I stuck to secondary roads and did a few didoes on the roads at stop signs. Yesterday it rained, a misty rain, then pellets of snow fell, then snow. That left the roads a little slippery. I heard they had a 50 car pileup in Kentucky.

I have become that little old gray haired lady who has both hands on the steering wheel and is leaning forward peering over the steering wheel, going just under the speed limit.

That means stay out of my way on the road!

I also managed to wash dishes, do a load of laundry, and put the trash out today. Such energy!

Bandit got into the dogfood bin while I was picking up my car so he got no supper tonight. I ~~think~~ hope he has a stomach ache. I am moving the dog food to a cooler with a latch on the lid. I will not be defeated by a dog!

later….

Looking Up

2011-12-31T18:30:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Since the diarrhea stopped and I’ve stuck to the BRAT diet until tonight – I had a bacon and egg sandwich. We will see what that does to my system.

I forgot to mention that Susan and I went to see “We Bought a Zoo” on Christmas day. If you like a lot of shooting and car chases and drama this is not a movie for you. It is based on reality.

Today I mustered some energy and put the license plate sticker on the RV. Also started the RV and its generator and let it run for a while. Then I cleaned some stuff out of the RV and car and installed the locking gas cap on the car.

I came back in to find Bandit had opened the plastic bin I keep dog food in and was gobbling as fast as he could. I keep a 5 lb. weight on top of it. I may have to figure something else out.

He had also peed in the mud room ARRGGGG.

Poor Teddy just looks guilty when he knows Bandit is doing something he shouldn’t. He is so touchy that he went and hid when I pretended to pet a stuffed animal toy of his.

My new year’s plan is to go to bed at the regular time and hope the neighborhood doesn’t set off a bunch of fire works. If they do I may take advantage of the noise and fire one of my guns.

later….

Lazy Me

2011-12-29T20:39:00.001-05:00

I haven’t been very good at blogging lately. No good reason except the same old stuff is still the same old stuff.

Tuesdays I go down the street and get blood drawn. I try to combine that with other trips. I got groceries this week and did laundry. We haven’t seen any snow that sticks as the ground is still not frozen. We have had some ice on bridges.

My PET scan was yesterday and my appointment to hear about the results is next year ( next Wed.).

I started the next round of Xeloda pills tonight in spite of having diarrhea for several days. (Buy stock in toilet paper.) I am on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) even though I don’t have bananas just now.

The diarrhea is a possible side effect of Xeloda which hasn’t shown it’s ugly head until now.

Luckily I had bought a frozen packet of rice so it was quick to fix and very tasty. I’ll cook some of my own rice when the packet runs out.

Bandit continues to wear diapers at night. Periodically he pees in the mud room. He likes the door open to that room even though it makes a cold draft.

I trimmed his front toenails today by myself. He really didn’t seem to mind very much except when I had trouble squeezing the cutter. His nails are huge and hard to cut plus they are black so I am guessing where the vein is. I think one bled a little but he wouldn’t let me look at it.

Teddy immediately ran and hid when he saw what I was doing. He doesn’t mind being brushed and combed but toenails are a different story.

The Christmas items in my booth will be marked down to half off for a couple of week-ends and then they will go back in the attic.

I am enjoying playing Words With Friends on Facebook. Scrabble is a good game to keep your mind alert. I mostly lose but that’s okay. Once in a while I get a really good word.

later….

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:20:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas.

I enjoyed seeing my family Friday night. We had a wonderful meal and secrets were being whispered around the room.

The first gift I received was from Lory & John. It was a glass canning jar with a Monarch butterfly in it. It was fluttering around and moving it’s wings like a real one. It is actually a fake butterfly on a tiny wire and it moves when the jar is disturbed or you tap the top. Amazing. A new pet that I don’t have to feed.

I also got lots of nice soft fluffy socks and a huge box of rice crispy treats with encouraging messages written on each of the 40 treats inside the box.

Also a couple of sweat suits for warmth and comfort.

And I mustn’t forget the Christmas pin and earrings and the fingerless gloves for my sore hands and the two whistles for my whistle collection.

There was one gift with some assembly required – a remote starter for my car. If I leave the heat on and aim it at the windshield I can start the car from inside the house and the windshield will be cleared of frost before I go out. I plan to get it installed this next week.

Everyone was happy with their green pieces of paper in the envelopes I gave them.

Lory and John took me since I don’t drive the thruway at night anymore. It was nice to be a passenger and see all the lights.

I am so grateful for my family and friends who are there for me.

A phone call from my sister in New Mexico where they are getting snow and 20 degree temps was very nice. Their home on wheels wasn’t meant to endure those temperatures but they are coping very well.

I’ll eventually get pictures.

later….

End of Eighth Zeloda Chemo Cycle

2011-12-21T19:04:00.001-05:00

Now I get a week off and a chance to recover a little. My hands tremble, my nose drips, my eyes water, my palms and the soles of my feet are very red. One foot is so red it looks almost black. Every step I take is painful. I welcome the week off.

But that doesn’t mean it is safe for me to go around lots of people. My immune system is down, I catch whatever is going around.

Enough complaining. It does no good.

The weather continues to be cloudy and/or rainy. No white Christmas this year. The twelve years we lived the New Hampshire we had two Christmases that were not white.

In New England they plan on the snow and cold and use it to create fun. Baseball fields were misted to make skating rinks. All kids got skates for Christmas. Snow mobiles are really fun and allow you to see the woods at a time of year you don’t normally see them.

So here in Ohio we endure winter instead of enjoy it. My dogs seem to think rain will melt them so they must be booted out the door. I dry them with a towel when they come in, hoping that will make them more willing to go out.

Friday night my family is getting together to celebrate Christmas. I will try to cheer myself up for that. I enjoy my computer and play games on it, I enjoy reading books. But I do get discouraged at times.

later….

Vehicles and Grumps

2011-12-14T20:34:00.001-05:00

Got my car back this afternoon. It needed front brake pads & rotors, a transmission fluid flush and change, and the hood wouldn’t stay up so it needed a new part. Upkeep on vehicles is expensive – merry Christmas to me.

I still need a locking gas cap for it. Anyway now my driveway is full again of vehicles that are in good shape.

Downloaded a book from the library that wouldn’t download the other day. I don’t understand all I know about how this works. It wouldn’t even let me sign on the first few times I tried, then everything worked great.

I’ve been cutting on my hair now and then. I know I’ll be in trouble with my beautician – my daughter. But I can take it.

We are supposed to get a thunder storm in the night tonight. Wonder if Bandit will be able to get into the bathtub.

The weather has been in the 50’s for a couple of days – it will just feel all the colder in a few days when it changes.

The dogs have enjoyed the warmer weather, rolling around on the ground and staying outside extra long.

It’s the middle of my two weeks of chemo pills so I’m a bit grumpy.

later….

Vehicles

2011-12-13T19:09:00.001-05:00

The car is at the garage getting checked from bumper to bumper. I hate it when they ask me about a noise a car makes. When I start it on a cold morning it kind of moans. At least they didn’t ask me to try to make the noise.

The RV is in the driveway. On the way home from picking it up I got $50.00 ($3.14/gal.) worth of gas put in. That brought it up from 1/4+ tank to almost 3/4 tank full.

The RV now functions as an escape from the house if the power goes off. The carburetor was all gummed up on the generator due to lack of use. I’m going to have to mark the calendar and start it and let it run for a while once a month.

After I had blood drawn this morning I went to the Dollar General store across the street. Since our grocery store closed over a year ago the Dollar General has started carrying more food items. It is really handy. I found a couple of food items and a pair of long johns. Since I had to throw out a pair this year I replaced them today.

You need to take advantage of things when you find them.

later….

The Boys in the Band

2011-12-12T19:06:00.001-05:00

My granddaughter, Andrea, her friend Chris, and my grandson Jake took me to the show last night. My other grandson, Will, is the one in the middle, the blue t-shirt. This year they named their band “Caveman and the Neanderthals”.

Back in the USSR–Beatles

Jailhouse Rock–Elvis

Everyone was wanting more when they got done.

I learned that you do not hug a rock star right after a performance. A thumbs up seemed to be the limit of approval he could take.

I got the trash and the recyclables out to the street this evening. Yeah!

I hesitate to brag on Bandit but he is doing some better on making puddles. I find if I give him some attention before I take a nap he does a lot better. So – some of his puddles are emotional, not physical.

We are having some warmer weather which is just a way of making the really cold weather seem worse.

Tomorrow I take the car to be checked over and pick up the RV. And go give blood to the local doctor’s office down the street.

I haven’t accidently pushed my emergency button since the other night when it went off three times. I must be sleeping calmer.

later….

Busy Friday, Relaxing Saturday

2011-12-10T19:13:00.001-05:00

Got a lot done Friday, groceries, bank, drug store, and barn.

The barn looked wonderful with all the Christmas decorations etc. Last Sunday was a house tour for the local town. Only four houses signed up for people to come into their homes so they let a veterans museum and us (10 antique dealers in a barn) be part of the tour.

We are hoping we get a lot of new customers, people who normally wouldn’t notice us, and maybe they will spread the word about us.

There are rumors that my oldest granddaughter is planning to elope in Jan. Is it still eloping if you invite everyone to come along?

I lost some weight with that cold I had last week so I am working at gaining it back. So far I’m making headway on it. Cooked a small pork roast in the slow cooker today. The smell drove the dogs nuts all day. Tough tootie, dogs, that’s people food.

Somehow Bandit got out of his diaper last night. I must have slept like a tornado as the alarm button on my wrist went off three times. I refuse to jump out of bed a 3:00 a.m. and run to the kitchen (actually quickly shuffle) to turn it off before it calls. So every time I told them I was okay.

They should have a cancel button right beside the alarm button on my wrist. The last time it went off was 6:00 so I just stayed up. It scares the dogs out of their wits as the voice from it is quite loud and sounds like a person is in the kitchen.

I am to test it once a month so I marked the calendar for a month from now.

All I did today was scrape the old stickers off my license plate and put the new one on. I also removed the paper plate and put the regular plate on the back of the car. Since it was below freezing outside I didn’t go for the front plate. Don’t know why we need a front plate anyway. I’ll put it on when it is warmer, like in the 40’s maybe.

later….

Sunshine!

2011-12-08T19:23:00.001-05:00

We had sunshine today. I took a short walk to the back of my yard and closed the gate to the garden area. Teddy has been escaping from somewhere back there and coming back with burrs and animal dodo on him. He seems very happy about it.

His favorite blanket is pink with kittens on it. Maybe this macho thing involving crap and burrs is his way of rebelling against the blanket’s image.

My pills arrived and were the right count. They are now distributed into the holders for the next two weeks.

I found some old forgotten packets of tomato cup-o-soup. All I have to say is – they spoil with age.

One day of sunshine – tomorrow they are predicting snow, not much but some. Winter seems to really be here.

later….

Dr. Visit & License Plates

2011-12-07T18:47:00.001-05:00

The doctor says to continue with the five pills per day for the next two week round of chemo. They are to be delivered tomorrow by UPS and I have to sign for them.

Since I switched from six to five pills the last round left me with 14 extra pills. I only need 70 pills for two weeks now so they needed to ship me 56 pills. 56 pills plus the 14 I still have equal 70. When they called today they said my portion of the payment would only be a few dollars more?!?

We will see how many pill I get tomorrow.

I stopped by the post office and got my new title for my Jeep. Took it to the license bureau, transferred the plates, and got stickers for the RV and the car for next year.

It didn’t rain today. There was even a split in the clouds that showed that somewhere the sun was shining.

I get that old urge to get into a vehicle and drive south until I find the sun. I know it is there, I have faith that it is there. We are supposed to see it tomorrow. I may beat a drum and blow a whistle.

later….

Slow but Sure

2011-12-06T18:42:00.001-05:00

Slowly but surely I am a bit better each day. I overslept all Teddy’s efforts to get me up this morning.

We have this system where I email Susan as soon as I get up – just an “I’m up” message. Sometimes an expletive deleted is added. Well, about 9:30, when Susan noticed she hadn’t gotten my email, she called and woke me up.

WOW! Okay I was reading a good book last night till midnight but that is still more sleep than I should need. It felt really good though.

The rain was supposed to stop today so I hung a doggie belly band (diaper) out to dry. Hah. It is still nasty and 33 degrees and sprinkling off and on.

I didn’t get the trash put out yesterday. That will make a double dose next week.

Tomorrow is my Oncologist appointment in the afternoon and Thursday is the UPS delivery of the next round of chemo pills. So I am pinned down.

Errands are pilling up but I think Friday Lory will be helping me out.

Thank goodness for my Nook book. I can get library books and return them without leaving my house.

And thank goodness for my dogs who let me sleep late and forgive me for being late in feeding them.

later….

More Miserableness

2011-12-03T19:51:00.001-05:00

I got rid of the pleurisy but apparently not the infection that caused it. Started running a higher fever Thursday evening.

So Friday morning I called the Dr. office. The end result was a prescription of Levaquin 500mg.

The side affects are daunting but the results are impressive. Susan picked up the antibiotics for me, I took one at 5:00.

During the night I woke up twice wet with sweat. It will still be a long haul to get over this. I think this may be what I get for going to a three year olds birthday party.

I need to get well enough to go to my grandson’s musical performance next Sunday evening. The big music store in town has organized a band and they have been practicing.

Last year their performance was delayed twice due to weather. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.

I actually ate three meals today. So I’m really on the way up. Everyone has offered to help. Just their offers make me feel better.

Now, does anyone want to stop by and learn how to diaper a 54 lb dog? with very short legs? about 10:00 p.m.?

Just kidding.

later….

Couple of Miserable Days

2011-12-01T18:55:00.001-05:00

Two days this week I laid on the couch with a heating pad on my chest. I had pleurisy. Yuck.

I have very specific instructions about when to call the Dr. A fever over 101.4 is one of the major rules. In the afternoons I got to 100.4 but then it would edge down to 99 before bedtime.

So I didn’t call anyone, just used the old fashioned cure and it seems to have worked.

I’m still not back to my normal but I am eating today, regular food, not chicken soup.

The dogs were very patient with me. I have found if I cover Bandit up with a light throw he is very happy. He didn’t even get up when Lory and John stopped by.

We did have enough snow to cover the grass and put a cap on one of my bowling balls. I get colorful bowling balls at thrift stores and put them around the yard as gazing balls. The snow had melted by noon the next day.

There were a lot of accidents and some black ice. I’m grateful I have a warm house and don’t need to go out if the weather is bad.

Planning to feel a bit better each day.

later….

New Stuff for Old People

2011-11-29T19:46:00.001-05:00

When I stop reaching for the gear shift on the steering column instead of on the floor, when I get used to the window controls being on the console between the two front seats, then maybe I’ll realize I have a different car.

My Nook book reader turns the page when you touch the right side of the screen. I found a paperback I wanted to read and I found myself touching the right side of the page to turn it. It didn’t work.

Does all this confirm that it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks? Or once I learn a new trick I have a problem switching back.

I have recently learned how to diaper a 55 lb. Bassett. It’s called a belly band.

We are still getting rain and they are predicting it will turn to snow sometime tonight. It’s 33 degrees outside now.

I still haven’t studied out my new camera. I can only handle so much at a time.

Later….

Explanation

2011-11-28T21:55:00.001-05:00

Let me explain something about the last posting. When I was expecting my first child I went to a couple of doctors in partnership. One month I would see one and the next month I would see the other one. They didn’t agree on the subject of weight. Every other month I would be prescribed diet pills.

I kind of knew this was not right but they were the doctors. I ended up gaining 60 pounds! Within a couple of months I was back down to my normal of 106 lbs. She weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs.

A couple of years later I gained 90 lbs with my second child and he weighed 9 lbs 1 oz. It took me six months to lose that weight. I CAN COUNT! With the third child I dieted and gained only 40 lbs. and she weighed only 7 lbs. She looked very thin to me.

Everyone is different and I must be one of those people who need to gain a lot of weight when I’m pregnant. I lost it every time. I was so proud when I hit age thirty and had reached my minimum weight for my height – 130 lbs.

We have had a lot of rain which upsets Bandit. He has a very hard time getting into the bathtub now. I refuse to help him. If he is very upset I give him a couple of benadryl capsules hidden in a piece of hotdog. That seems to help.

My dogs had fleas! I tried some of those over-the-counter flea drops and they didn’t work. It turns out that Teddy is allergic to fleas and was getting a bare spot on his back. So off the vet with a large bill for the appointment and the meds to kill the fleas.

They don’t have Medicare for dogs do they?

I had a great Thanksgiving with family. Yesterday I attended a third birthday party for my great grandson. The balloon that I couldn’t get tied after blowing it up was a big hit as it flew around the room. After letting it fly around the room about 50 times I recruited someone else to do the blowing.

My toes are not bleeding anymore. I guess the reduction of one pill has helped.

Later….

Doctor’s Visit & New Camera

2011-11-17T20:21:00.001-05:00

Wednesday was a regular every three weeks appointment with my oncologist. My blood marker test was 86, last one was 85, so that is good.

I showed the Dr. my feet and she was sympathetic to the open sores where my big toe nails used to be. She asked if I had any fever, worried about infection. She also suggested that I should reduce the 3000 mgs of Xeloda that I take each day to 2500 mgs.

She even suggested I might reduce it by 500 mgs more if they didn’t start to get better. Now I understand why this medication comes in 500 mg pill.

I went totally wild and bought myself a camera that I can turn off and on. Now I just have to figure it out from minimal instructions by someone whose second language is English.

It’s a blue Sanyo, very small. My old memory card fits it.

I got a lot done this week in spite of being pretty lazy Monday and Tuesday. Maybe I have to work up to a few busy days.

Forty eight years ago today I became a mother. When they hand you a baby they hand you guilt. Did the drugs they gave me cause her a problem? Did I do everyone wrong? But then I look at her determination, her pride, and her industriousness I have to decide somebody did something right. Most likely a higher power.

later….

Confessions

2011-11-13T19:01:00.001-05:00

I’m fessing up here. I cannot turn on my camera with my sore fingers. It’s a Kodak DX6730, an older camera. You push down on a button between two ridges and turn the dial to turn it on.

Maybe I’ll remember to ask someone to turn it on for me the next time I have visitors – or maybe I won’t remember.

The young man who used to live next door came over today to mow my lawn. He did a good job and it took care of a lot of the leaves. He also took the tomato cages out of the garden area.

He was happy to have a temporary job at Kohl’s for the Christmas season. He plans to do such a good job that they will keep him on. I wish him luck, he’s a good worker.

Another confession.

Yesterday I had a senior moment. In the early evening I turned on the gas fireplace in the bedroom while I treated my feet and changed clothes. I left it on and closed the door.

By the time I was ready for bed at midnight, unusually late for me, the room was way over heated. I opened two windows to get a cross draft but even that took quite a while to cool things down. I only needed a sheet for cover. Luckily the low for the night was in the 50’s.

I just noticed that my Nook is updating something – all on its own. Wow, that thing scares me sometimes. Is it watching me while I’m watching it?

I took the stick tree to the antique barn Saturday and went around looking for small bottles to put on it. It looks really good. I may have to add some Christmas stuff to it.

later….

New –to me- Car

2011-11-10T17:45:00.001-05:00

Today I bought a silver colored 2002 Jeep Liberty with 64000 miles on it. It seems to have more bells and whistles than I am accustomed to. It will take me a while to figure them all out.

It always takes longer to deal for a car than it should so I am very tired. I just barely got home. We got there at 1:00 and it’s 5:30 now.

I test drove the Jeep and the Hyundai and I really liked the Jeep much better. It’s already getting dark so I can’t get a picture tonight.

The dogs were happy that I came home in time to feed them.

And yes, there were some snowflakes in the air. They just said there would be more tonight. It’s not cold enough for it to stick – yet.

That’s all for now.

later….

Busy Week

2011-11-09T21:44:00.001-05:00

Had a very busy Tuesday. I went to the doctors office for a blood test, the Dollar General Store (got left over halloween decorations to make capes for great grandsons), the drug store (got more Udder cream), the bank (deposited check received for the jack in the box – it sold for $135. on ebay), voted, and picked up mail. Then I went home a took a well earned nap.

This village is so in between larger towns and cities that our news gets ignored. I still don’t know if the school levy passed or who won our mayor race. It may have scrolled across the bottom of the screen Tuesday night but I can’t read it unless I’m a foot from the screen.

I received two belly bands for Bandit. So far the review is mixed. One wet one, one dry one and one moved so a puddle was left.

The question of whether to paint the stick tree or not is solved, John and Lory stained it. It is great and I can’t sell it, oh well, maybe they will make more and I can sell them.

Lory has decided she wants to buy my car since she can’t find a good used car in her price range as good as mine. So I have been car shopping. Tim (son-in-law) is helping. I want another small SUV. My Mazda Tribute has been good and I like to be up a little above traffic.

Lory and John went with me yesterday to check out a Hyundai Santa Fe. It was being detailed so we couldn’t see it. The salesman drove us around in a Jeep Liberty Sport with leather/heated seats.

I really liked the Jeep and the salesman called later that afternoon to lower the price.

Lory has tomorrow off work so we will probably do some more looking. Even though I wasn’t thinking about a different car it’s kind of fun.

My feet and hands still hurt so I am taking more pain meds. Where my big toe nails used to be there is are running sores now. Yes I had all my terribly ingrown toenails removed several years ago.

Today was a “receive UPS delivery of pills” day. Tomorrow morning I take the last dose of this 2 week round. Next week I see the oncologist. I hope maybe she will let me reduce the dose in the next round.

The weather man used that four letter word in the forecast – SNOW. He also mentioned a good hard freeze, in the 20’s. I am hoping that will help my drippy nose and eyes.

Time will tell.

Later….

Sunday & Time Change

2011-11-06T09:57:00.001-05:00

Had a nice Saturday. Lory and John took some Christmas stuff over to the barn and took out the halloween stuff. We are as bad as the big stores.

Andrea and her new special friend, Chris, came also. See I remembered his name. He is into old stuff but isn’t yet in the selling mood. I tried to give him some stuff but he didn’t take it. I’ll have to work on him.

Got a call from my sister because I posted so gloomy. She suggested I just put my feet in a plastic bag at night. DUH why didn’t I think of that. It works great with a sock over it to keep it on.

I do get gloomy and discouraged. I hate to share that part but it is real and it is probably normal. I reread the side affects of Xeloda and depression is one of them.

I have decided Bandit needs a lesson in who is the boss around here. All I do is make him lie down on his back when he doesn’t want to. He won’t look me in the eye or I would out stare him. Also I am limiting the water in the evening. It worked last night – no puddle this morning.

John is making me a stick tree. It is in the process of being built. The tiny bottles will go on the branches. Now we just have to figure out how to make it stand up.

Do you think I should paint it?

Got all the clocks changed, now I just have to change the dogs’ clocks.

Later….

Solving Problems

2011-11-04T23:23:00.001-04:00

Okay, I can be creative. If I lay out the two pieces of plastic wrap before I grease my feet it is easier to wrap them. A little easier.

The Bandit problem is being worked on. The rescue people have suggested a dog belly band to help stop the peeing inside. They have offered to send me one and I have ordered a couple on ebay.

They wrap around his belly and, hopefully, remind him to wait to go outside to pee. Some of them are just plain diapers, some come with a way to add throwaway padding. It’s worth a try.

Watering eyes, running nose, and an occasional coughing fit are all that’s left of my cold. I think a big part of the problem is allergy to ragweed. When we have a hard freeze it will improve. We have had several light frosts so far.

I have been 6itchy today- this week. I am having negative thinking – wonder why? Whenever I have a cold it seems like it will be around forever. My eyes water so much I have to keep wiping them to read. My nose drips unexpectedly into the dogs water so I go back to the faucet for fresh water.

I’m taking meds that make me miserable so I can stay around a little longer in this world and take more meds that make me more miserable. There – I said it.

I’ll be more cheerful ….

later….

Did I Say Usual?

2011-10-28T19:47:00.001-04:00

I have a cold! I hate colds. My eyes water, my nose drips, and my throat hurts. It feels like I am swallowing razor blades.

I have gargled with vinegar which actually has helped some. I was able to eat something after that.

Don’t ever complain about things being usual, the germs and viruses are out there.

We had a good time yesterday at lunch discussing plans for the Christmas season. That’s probably where I encountered the evil cold bug.

Wrapping your feet with plastic wrap is tricky. My Dad used to tease me about my big feet saying I would have been a lot taller if they hadn’t turned so much under for feet.

Actually 8 1/2 is not all that big today but in the 50’s that was big. The wrapping is a challenge. I put the Udder Cream on, then my hands are slippery as well as my feet. Getting the plastic wrap out and tearing it off with slippery hands means the wrap gets all stuck to itself. You get the picture.

It makes bedtime a long process with two dogs watching. They expect a special backrub and belly rub at bedtime.

Bandit’s blood test came out normal. I called the Bassett Rescue woman in charge of placement and explained the problems I was having.

Bandit doesn’t get along with any other Bassets, he doesn’t do well at a kennel. He is 12 or 13 years old. He has been in many homes and snaps and snarls at the other dogs.

Teddy is meek enough that they coexist but there is almost no interaction between them. Well, maybe when Bandit tries to dominate Teddy. He stands on his tiptoes and tries to look down his long nose at Teddy. Sometimes he blocks the backdoor so Teddy can’t come in the house from the backyard.

The ultimate conclusion I got from the Rescue lady was that she would try to rehome him but she would almost rather have him put down that try to find him another placement.

Evil me was almost hoping he had kidney failure. Bad on me. I just don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to take care of him if he can’t get in and out of the house without my lifting him. Today he did fine. Only time will tell.

Sniff sniff – yuck

later….

More of the Usual

2011-10-26T16:22:00.001-04:00

Not much happening – thus not many posts. Took Bandit for blood test yesterday – testing for kidney function.

I tried giving him some glucosamine and he threw up. He can barely jump into the house from the deck. It is only a little higher than a regular step. I’ve had to lift him in a couple of times. Front half first, then back half. We do the same with the car.

I had my appointment with the oncologist today. They called yesterday and asked me to be a little early, so I was. Then they were running a little late. Nothing unusual. It only took an hour. I am to continue the xeloda and come back in three weeks. The cancer marker is hovering around 70-80-90.

My hands have been really sore lately. She suggested I put the Udder Cream on and wear rubber gloves at night, also wrap my feet in plastic wrap.

I remembered some very expensive gloves I bought at a trade days in Fredericksburg, TX several years ago. They don’t have finger tips in them. I’ve been wearing those during the day and they really help. They are really soft.

So I’ll put the plastic wrap in the bedroom so I can wrap my feet at night.

Going out to lunch tomorrow with friends. It’s supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. I’ve got to get my lawn mowed one more time before winter and I’ve lost my neighbor’s phone number.

Went searching in the attic for Christmas stuff. Found a huge artificial wreath that half the lights didn’t work. So I took the lights off, that took an hour or so, and took it over the the barn. It was all one string of lights so I cut it off at the point where they stopped working. If I can remember how to do it I will reattach the plug to the half that works.

We are having a family discussion about how to handle Christmas gifts this year. Draw names or have an obscene heap of gifts that aren’t what people want.

later….

Shopping

2011-10-21T22:08:00.001-04:00

When you put off grocery shopping it just gets bigger. Walmart has about everything I need and it isn’t spread out over an acre. They are $100+ richer today and my cupboards are almost full.

I walk much slower than I once did due to sore feet and one numb foot. Walking slowly you see more. If you see more in a grocery store you buy more.

Susan and I were laughing about what will get us to go shopping. She said her bottom line was pancakes and home made syrup for breakfast. Mine was graham crackers and juice for breakfast.

Home made syrup is sugar and water boiled down to syrup. I invented this on a camping trip when we had forgotten syrup. We continued to make our own syrup after that.

We camped in a pop-up camper. The kids could get up in their footed pajamas and climb rocks.

Those are fun memories for all of us.

later….

Whining and Complaining

2011-10-20T21:55:00.002-04:00

If I made the rules – I can break them – right? Or if I made the plans – I can change them!
So all I did on this rainy day was write out checks, lick envelopes and apply stamps – also put away laundry from a couple of days ago.
I need to go grocery shopping and Susan has offered to do it for me. I want to do it myself, I want to have the energy to do it myself.
Maybe tomorrow, the list gets longer the longer I put it off.
Bandit has been improving his bathroom habits each day. I don’t think there were any puddles today.
This was the last day of the two weeks of xeloda pills. Now I get a week off. I forgot the last pills after breakfast so I took them after lunch. This break is just in time as the creases in my hands are getting bloody cracks. If I use the Udder Cream often enough they seem to heal up a little. Opening jars and bottles is a trial for sore hands.
I drink a lot of ginger ale as it helps keep my stomach settled. I drink it room temperature and let the fizz out. I was surprised this week when I had trouble getting the top off.
Actually these pills are pretty easy on my stomach. I was trying to keep protein and starch separate but now I can mix them a bit. I had a chicken sandwich for lunch with no after effects.
I’m enjoying playing “words with friends” on facebook. It’s a scrabble game and I play with my kids and sister and niece and sister-in-law. I even win sometimes. Got to keep the old brain active.
later….

Talking to Myself

2011-10-18T11:12:00.001-04:00

It’s hard to set yourself down and have a stern heart to heart talk. Talking to myself? Yes.

I’ve got to fight the fatigue more. Yesterday I took the weed eater to some backyard weeds. Also took my new clippers to some of the stuff in the garden area.

The dogs loved getting back there in the tall weeds and investigating all the smells.

The squirrels ate the sunflower seeds. They pulled the plants down to get to them. Bad squirrels! Maybe they buried some of the seeds. Maybe I’ll have sunflowers all over the yard next year.

Lory and I had a good week-end at the barn. She sold her Blue Boy picture and I sold a large mirror. We will go Sat. to pick up our money.

There was a lot of talk of the Christmas season coming up. The barn is on the Christmas Tour this year so we are to go all out with decorating.

Bah humbug.

Okay – more talking to myself. I’ll get into the attic and see what I can find.

Went this morning for my weekly blood test then went to the drug store for a prescription. Also picked up two bottles of chewable calcium pills, and some gel shoe inserts. When I paid for my items there was a $4.00 coupon on the sales slip.

As I walked toward the exit I somehow ended up in the candy aisle. Hmmmm. I used the coupon for dark chocolate.

later….

Rain!

2011-10-13T17:57:00.001-04:00

It rained on our sale which was set up outside. Books and papers were quickly stuffed back into boxes and moved inside.

The rain let up and we slowly moved some of the items back outside.

I had filled the back of my Mazda Tribute (Ford Escort with Mazda on the front) with collector books, antique price guides, etc. I just put the back door up and let people look. I sold $11.00 out of there.

Then the crowd picked up and we were very busy for a couple of hours. Part of the fun was sending people out to the shed in back of the barn and telling them to ring the doorbell. That shed is all decorated for Halloween and the doorbell makes a plastic hand come down and touch your finger.

Some people scream, some just pull their hand back real fast. Then just inside your motion makes a gruesome picture with lit up eyes start asking for help in a creepy voice.

You don’t have to be crazy to work there but it helps.

Lory and I stayed till 3:30. I am very tired and my feet hurt but then I’m often tired and my feet often hurt.

It’s supposed to rain some more tonight and maybe tomorrow and then turn windy and colder on Saturday. It’s fall.

later….

Wheels Again

2011-10-12T12:13:00.001-04:00

The car got done yesterday. They straightened the right front backing plate (that was causing the rattle) and welded an exhaust hanger and replaced the rear windshield wiper for a total of $65.91.

Some day I’ll need tires, they are “cupped” because I never had them rotated. There is still a lot of tread on them.

I really appreciate that garage, Phil’s. They know I’ll be back so they treat me well.

Getting ready to try to sell a bunch of books this coming week-end. I have antique value guides dating way back. I also have a bunch of old paper backs and hard backs.

Lory helped this afternoon. She ran into a very strange book titled Failure of a Mission by Sir Nevile Henderson. It has everything you would expect, up to and including a prologue. After that all the pages are blank. The contents page lists the chapters with 000 for the page. I have looked on the internet and found this book with quotes from the content. So this one has to be rare.

My feet are sore from the chemo. The more I walk the sorer they are. They are peeling now and very red. The Dr. says I am tolerating this chemo well. I’m sure it could be worse so I take an occasional pill and try not to make extra steps.

Of course, the dogs want to go out and in a lot and Bandit doesn’t want to come in at the same time as Teddy. He wants the door opened just for him. I’ve had other dogs like that.

The weather is drippy today. Bandit looks out the back door and shakes as if he is already wet. Teddy runs out and runs right back in. I tell them that black dogs don’t melt but I think they hear “blah blah blah”.

later….

No Wheels

2011-10-11T10:21:00.001-04:00

The RV went to the shop yesterday to be winterized and to get the generator working.

Today the car went to the shop to figure out what is making a rattle when I make a left turn.

The car garage guy also heard a rumble that I hadn’t noticed. That is probably the tires. The car has 88000 miles on it and as far as I know those are the original tires.

They gave me a ride home so here I sit with no wheels. So I went outside and trimmed some brush with my new clippers. Things you don’t want to grow in places you don’t want them seem to do the best.

That went well until I accidently stepped in dog dodo. Now those shoes have been cleaned and I am wearing slippers.

Took a Bandit urine sample to the vet yesterday. I put it in the refrigerator for a while before I took it in. Apparently that is a nono. I am to stop giving him the prednisone and get another urine sample next week and not refrigerate it.

The spot where his cyst broke open is almost healed.

The weather has turned chilly after a week of really warm days. The trees are turning and the tops of some plants have been nipped by frost.

Since John isn’t supposed to use a lawn mower with his heart condition I have asked the neighbors if they would take care of it. They have agreed to do it.

I didn’t have any big plans to go anywhere today but without wheels I can think of lots of errands I could run.

I’ll have wheels ….

later.

Homecoming Parade

2011-10-06T22:16:00.001-04:00

I was just getting ready to feed the dogs this evening when I heard a band. Sure enough there was a band in the street in front of my house. They were playing, then dancing. They have been practicing since last year. Maybe a new band teacher?

The band was followed by trucks carrying students, even one for the 7th grade volley ball team. Then came the convertibles with the freshman thru senior candidates for king and queen.

There wasn’t much of a crowd watching so the kids threw candy at the truck or car behind or in front of them.

Two very noisy fire trucks brought up the rear and finally turned the corner and released traffic.

I think the cement truck was very happy to go. His load is a bit time sensitive. I learned about that from Bill, husband #2.

He was a construction inspector and carried a thermometer to check the temperature of cement before it was poured. If it had started to heat up he would recommend the driver go buy several bags of ice and come back.

If they had poured it while it was heating (starting to set) it would have powdered off and been weak. A big all day pour with several trucks lined up could become a problem. Bill’s nickname was bulldog. I thought he was more like a pussy cat.

I started the Zeloda tonight. I’ve made appointments for blood work at the local doctor’s office. Also trimmed the hair on Teddy’s feet so I could find his toenails and cut them. He wasn’t happy about it.

later….

Doctor’s Appointment

2011-10-05T11:46:00.001-04:00

I saw the oncologist today. The original appointment was for 9:45, then changed to 8:45. Of course, when I got there on time I had to wait for about 1/2 hour.

Maybe next time it will be me that needs more time with the doctor so I won’t complain.

The news is all good. Last time the report didn’t even say how many spots were in my liver, just that there were a lot.

One of my kids started learning to count (about age 2) by saying “one two three lottsa”.

This time there are less spots in the liver, still no count of them but less is good. All the bone spots are still there, the same as before. It’s the liver spots that are the biggest concern.

I will start taking the next 14 days of 3000 mg of Xeloda on Thursday night after supper.

The palms of my hands and the bottom of my feet are peeling which is a side effect of this chemo.

In celebration I stopped at the Salvation Army store and did some shopping. I found a pair of corduroy slacks, a belt, a large pair of rubber boots (in case of deep snow), and a pot of silk poinsettias. All for $10.65. Wednesday’s are 1/2 price days.

So I’m already starting to decorate for the holidays by setting the poinsettia on top of a dog cage.

The weather is great. Days in the 70’s and nights in the 50’s. The trees are starting to turn color. I love the fall season.

Guess I’ll do some laundry this afternoon.

later….

Company Gone

2011-10-02T18:27:00.001-04:00

My dear sister sent me a t-shirt that said “I can’t remember if I’m the good sister or the evil one”. She didn’t get one for herself. I have friends who have t-shirt skills so I ordered one for her.

So here we are in our t-shirts. And below we are deciding who is who.

Bob asked if there were any jobs that needed doing. Aha! He might not do that again. He cleaned out the eaves and put a screen over them. He also mowed the front yard.

It’s sad to see them go but there was ice on my windshield this morning. When you have wheels on your home you tend not to stay around for cold weather.

John is home from the hospital and is doing just fine. He is to wear a vest with sensors on it for a while to monitor his heart. We all had dinner last night at his house.

Tomorrow I get a PET scan. Then Tuesday I have to stay home for the delivery of Zeloda pills. Retirees tend to plan one thing per day.

later….

Cookies and Cemeteries

2011-09-30T18:47:00.001-04:00

I have always baked molasses cookies and I used to mail them to family at Christmas time. Somehow Linda missed the training our Mother gave me as to molasses cookie baking.

Linda did most of the work, I mixed the spices together so they would be evenly distributed thru the dough. Of course, there was a lot of taste testing along the way.

You have to get your hands right into the dough and since my fingers are peeling I opted out of that job. I get into baking but that would be a bit much.

We visited several cemeteries and I learned a few things. In the older parts of a cemetery there may be a zinc monument. It is tricky to identify them. They are a slightly different color, a greenish or bluish tinge.

My company received their mail they were waiting for so they are ready to go. I may have to let some air out of one of their tires.

later….

Company

2011-09-25T21:30:00.001-04:00

Company just arrived, once again I have a large RV in my driveway. Linda & Bob arrived just as I was taking my last bite of lunch.

There is a joke payback in the following picture. Linda & Bob live fulltime in their RV so mail is hard to receive. Since they knew a while back that they would be visiting here they had their mail forwarded here. One of the packages that arrived was from Terrapin Farms. Bob said there was an actual turtle in the box and I would have to feed it soon.

I panicked since I only pick up my mail about once a week so it could have been at the post office several days before I picked it up.

I was thinking I would need a container for this turtle – if it was alive – and food – what do turtles eat?

There was no turtle in the box, just some special food they had ordered. SO I was on the warpath for paybacks. I tried to borrow a real turtle, I checked about actually buying one, I looked on craigslist.

Finally at the last minute Amy (at the Butter St. Barn) gave me a small concrete turtle. Better than nothing.

I opened the box, took out two bottles of their chipotle and slipped the concrete turtle in.

This is a picture of Bob finding his turtle.

The news about John is good. He is being moved out of ICU today and into a regular room. He may get to come home on Tuesday. Of course, he will go home with a bunch of prescriptions and instructions. But home is where he needs to be. You really can’t rest in a busy hospital.

Played peek-a-boo with Teddy this morning. It started when I pulled the covers over my head to try to get him to leave me alone.

When I peeked out to see how he was taking it he did his gleeful wiggle thing. So I did it again. Then he turned his head away and then back quickly – his version of pulling the covers over his head.

I had a problem believing he was doing it on purpose but after several demonstrations with lots of happy wiggles (on his part) I have to believe he was playing his version of peek-a-boo.

Now that I think about it I’ve seen one year olds do that so maybe it’s not so surprising.

I’m enjoying my company now and….

later….

Flowers Etc.

2011-09-21T18:48:00.001-04:00

Temptation won at noon time when Susan called and asked if I wanted anything special for lunch. I asked for a foot long hotdog with chili sauce on it. Heartburn here I come. It really tasted good.

Lory’s significant other, John, is in the hospital with heart problems. He has been moved to ICU so he can be monitored more closely. In ICU there are two patients per nurse whereas in a regular room there are ten patients per nurse.

It seems the top of his heart is not agreeing with the bottom half. They may have to shock it to reset the rhythm.

The other day I took some pictures of the flowers in my yard. Today I will post them.

Morning glories have taken over the railing on the front porch.

The above picture is not flowers, it is a new, bigger electric pole that proves the cities intent to widen the street next summer. The new sidewalk will be this side of it, shortening the front lawns by several feet.

Last year I wanted blue morning glories so John saved me some seed. It was successful as you can see.

later….

Beautiful Week-end with Sadness

2011-09-18T22:48:00.001-04:00

Blogger pulled a fast one but I figured it out. It came up with the tab on “Insert” so I clicked on home and found the usual screen.

The weather has been wonderful for a while now. It makes me sneeze and it gives Teddy an ear infection. It is still beautiful. Chilly at night and warm enough during the day.

Received my fourth round of Zeloda pills Thursday and started them that evening. So far I’ve only forgotten to take them within half an hour after eating one time. I waited a couple hours and ate again and took them.

Bandit is still getting his pills. Only once has he found them in his piece of hotdog and spit it out. I had to force his mouth open to get it down him.

Friday my granddaughter graduated from beauty school, went to lunch with her Mother and then had an auto accident that broke her wrist and caused her to need 60 stitches in her knee.

Also on Friday my nephew was killed in an auto accident.

Then on Sunday a cousin passed away. He had a full life and hadn’t been well for a long time. That’s the normal order of things.

For people who believe things happen in threes – that’s it – enough.

Later….

Another Wednesday

2011-09-14T22:09:00.001-04:00

It’s going to rain. I can tell because Bandit is panting and worrying. Well, the weather man predicted it also.

Bandit seems to be doing okay with all his medicines. I used one of my pill holders to try to keep all his pills straight. I put the pills into the middle of a piece of hotdog and down they go.

Finally got a call from the pharmacy today. I answered their questions and gave them permission to take the money out of my account. The pills will be delivered tomorrow.

Of course, I had planned to go out to breakfast with my friends. So far the UPS delivery has been close to noontime but if I leave the house in the morning – Murphy’s law would apply. The delivery would come and I wouldn’t be here to sign for it.

The other occasion I will be missing is my Granddaughters graduation from beauty school. She has a job starting next Tuesday. I’m very proud of her. Her Mother is also a beautician so I should always look good – right!

I did actually get a hair trim to make the sides that are growing in match the top that never fell out. All of it seems to be curly. I could have gotten a perm and skipped the cancer and chemo.

I know – I have a strange sense of humor.

later….

Dog Emergency & Chemo Break

2011-09-13T16:14:00.001-04:00

Last night I noticed blood spots on the floor of the bathroom. I had cut one of Bandit’s toenails earlier – I have to cut one at a time. So I checked his nails and while doing that I found a large wound on his hip.

He had a large fatty tumor or sebaceous cyst there ever since I got him a year ago. It was about the size of my fist. At first I thought he had somehow scrapped it off but now I think it burst. It was too late to call the vet so I waited till this morning.

We got a 2:30 appt. and he got a large area shaved and got the wound cleaned out. The spot had actually shrunk over night until it was only about an inch across.

So now we have pills, three kinds – (1) Prednisone 20 mg give 1/2 tablet every 12 hours for 5 days, then every 24 hours for 10 days, then every other day till gone.

(2) Gabapentin caps 400 mg. Give 1 capsule every 12 hours for pain management. After 2 days give 1 per day. May cause mild sedation.

(3) Cephalexin 500 mg capsules. Give 1 capsule every 12 hours until gone. Give with food. (antibiotic)

Got all that? It’s more complicated than my pills. I am to leave the wound open and let it heal on its own. I’m not to let him lick it very much.

I was able to get him into the car and into the vets office by myself. Of course, as soon as he realized where he was he wanted out.

When we got home he had trouble getting out of the car. I waited while he assessed the situation and he finally figured it out.

I will do you a favor and not put on a picture of that wound. I guess I can’t call him lumpy anymore. He still has a couple of other small lumps but nothing as big as the one that is gone.

I’m getting an extra long break from my chemo pills. The doctor’s office didn’t get the prescription sent in till late. I would normally have started the pills Monday night.

Now I don’t know when I will get them. They haven’t called to ask if I am in the hospital or hospice or a nursing home or getting home health care. If I answer “yes” to any of those four questions I don’t get the pills.

Things will work themselves out….

later….

Groceries and Doctor Appointment

2011-09-12T15:55:00.001-04:00

This could be every dog I’ve ever had.

At the grocery if there is a cart that goes thump thump thump or pulls to one side or the other – I get it. The store puts bumpy tile in the area where the carts are kept so you can’t identify those carts before you pick one.

So I thumped around the grocery store turning left only with great determination.

I had planned an early trip yesterday but my eyes weren’t cooperating. Everything was fuzzy until late in the day. Probably all the pollen in the air. So the place was packed by the time I got there.

I got the last available handicapped parking space. I did find everything I wanted. I got doggie pee pads and spread them out in the mud room. This morning there was a puddle on one! YEAH! Bandit cooperated.

He just has an old dog’s problem. His annual check-up is coming up soon and I will need help getting him into the vet’s office.

My nose doesn’t need to be broken again. It looks okay from the outside but the septum is deviated. One nostril is almost blocked. Okay, I know, I should have gone to a doctor right away.

Have a doctor’s appt. this morning.

3:30 After Dr. appointment

My blood cancer marker was 91 – down from 171 last time. This is good news. I got Zometa, a bone strengthener. I get it every two months now.

The doctor looked at the bottoms of my feet and the palms of my hands. The feet are blistering and peeling. The point of all the Udder Cream is to keep the feet and hands soft so when they peel the skin doesn’t tear and make a bloody sore.

Do you know how hard it is to NOT pull off dead skin? I asked for patience once, I guess I’ve got it now. If I wait there is new skin under the peeling blisters. It doesn’t make walking much fun but I can live with it.

It is a beautiful day today. It’s supposed to be nice all week and turn chilly at the end of the week. Maybe I will catch the computer guy and get my G and H put back on.

Later….

My 9/11

2011-09-07T20:18:00.001-04:00

The radio said that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers in New York. I thought – some little plane piloted by a crazy person - but when I turned on the TV it was pretty clear.

I called my daughter, Susan. She turned on her TV. We stayed on the phone the whole morning except for when she made a quick call to her boy friend (later her husband). We cried and shared the experience.

I kept picturing what those people in the planes had thought and felt as they approached the building.

When they reported the flight had gone down in Pennsylvania I was horrified at first and then very proud. We were fighting back in the only way we could.

That evening there were two great big BOOMS. The radio reported that a plane had flown into the veterans cemetery. Now they are bombing our dead veterans?

Eventually it was decided the booms were sonic booms. A plane had broken the sound barrier over our area. I should have recognized the sound but it had been a long time since I had heard it.

My guess was it was the escort for the president’s plane heading for Washington. I also think they were flying a route that passed over military bases, like Wright Pat.

Later in the day I heard from my friend, Jeanne. She and I had made plans to set up to sell our antiques and collectibles at the Springfield monthly show on the coming week-end.

We had paid the fees and chosen our site. Should we still go? Would anyone be there? We left it a question for a day or so.

On Sept. 12 I was to baby-sit my four year old grandson. His Mother and I decided he should not watch much TV as they kept showing the twin towers being hit and collapsing over and over.

I let him watch it once and then turned it off. We talked about it. He came up with the idea that we needed a super hero like batman or superman. I agreed but wondered how we would know he was a super hero if we found him.

He gave me one of those “adults are stupid” looks and informed me that he would have a cape! (awww 4 year olds) We decided the president needed a cape.

He helped package his cape up and send it to the White House. He dictated a letter to go with it. He eventually got a letter from the president thanking him.

Of course, then he was without his cape so he magically received one from the American Cape Co. (grandma).

Jeanne and I decided to go set up at the antique show. If people showed up someone should be there for them to see. We always stayed in the RV during the show.

I took a tiny black and white TV along and we watched it outside after the show closed. Other dealers clustered around it to watch the news.

I think it was Friday when we first saw a plane in the air and everyone was pointing at it. It was probably an Airforce plane since Wright Patterson AFB is very close.

We didn’t make any profit that week-end. There weren’t many customers and the ones who came were very quiet and solemn. We sold out the few flags we had and people asked where I had gotten the bunting that I always hang on the front of the RV.

The newspaper printed a full page flag and people taped them in their front window.

There are people in this world who hate us, they don’t want what we have, they just want to destroy it and us. They don’t want freedom, they want to destroy ours.

There are citizens of our own country who think we need to destroy our political system. They think they can do a better job. Gun sales are up. I have no problem with that – I own a few guns myself.

Will our system survive? Maybe – maybe not. But I think we will fight to the end to preserve it. At least lets hope so.

Later….

G & H and A Week off Chemo

2011-09-07T20:06:00.001-04:00

I sometimes eat while on my laptop, or maybe snack is a better word. Today I tried to type and found a large cookie crumb under the G.

I have pulled keys off and popped them back on before when something got under them so I tried it again. This time it didn’t work. Two little plastic things flew off and I couldn’t figure out how they fit back together.

So I pulled off the H so I could look at how it looked underneath. It also flew apart. Clumsy fingers.

As you can see they are still off and I am typing on little buttons for the G & H. Maybe tomorrow I’ll stop by the computer shop up the street and let him fix it.

Lory was here and she couldn’t figure it out either. She did some laundry and we went out to lunch.

Tuesday I went to the bank, the post office, the gas station, and the Dollar General. Wow such energy.

This is my seven days off Xeloda chemo pills. I try to get as much done as I can during the week off. It may just be in my mind that I feel better during this week. Whatever it is I will take advantage of it.

It has been drippy all day, a good kind of rain that will soak in well. There has been no thunder or lightening. So why is Bandit trembling so badly his teeth rattle?

The last time I tried to give him pills he swallowed one and spit out the other. I tried every trick I knew to get his mouth open again but no luck.

So I put the second pill in a piece of hotdog and cut a couple of other pieces. I gave him the non-pill piece first, then the pill one. Success. The third piece went to Teddy just for fairness.

So I am pushing drugs on a dog but I think I just heard him climb into the bathtub anyway.

Later….

Labor Day & Cool Weather

2011-09-05T19:47:00.001-04:00

The weather finally turned cooler today, like 20 degrees cooler. A bit much – I’m wearing a sweat shirt.

Labor Day has been designated Teddy’s birthday. I got him when he was 2 1/2 years old, about Feb. of 2007. So I picked Labor day as his birthday. When I got him he had been kept on concrete by day and in a cage at night.

He wasn’t house broken and got car sick all the time. He didn’t know about grass or steps or TV’s or having his own food bowl. He had a lot to learn.

Housebreaking didn’t take long. Maybe two mistakes in the RV. I walked him a lot to give him the opportunity to do his business outside. I even stood him beside a telephone pole and lifted his leg for him a couple of times to give him the idea.

The third time we stopped by the pole he lifted his leg – didn’t do anything but it proved that he was trainable.

So Teddy is 7 years old today. Middle aged. He got a trim this morning and I combed out a lot of his knots. He is like a long haired cat with an under fur that balls up. If his fur is kept short enough it makes it easier to get the knots out.

Happy Birthday Teddy!

Later….

Nothing Much

2011-08-30T17:27:00.001-04:00

Nothing much happening. Just doing a little shopping for food and paper towels and laundry detergent etc. I even found a bar of Lava soap!

RAMBLE WARNING

Years ago when I was going to business school in Columbus, OH, I worked part time for a music store.

They repaired musical instruments and sold music scores. Their main customers were schools all over Ohio. They got dirty and messed up the bathroom sink with slimy soap.

I hate to admit that one of my jobs was to clean that bathroom. So when we needed more hand soap I bought them a bar of Lava and cleaned the sink.

They were very impressed with the new bar of soap and how it didn’t leave soap scum on the sink. I told them it was hand soap and showed them the wrapper. Farm girls do know a few things that city folks don’t need to know.

I got paid $1.00/hour for that job. That was the minimum wage then.

I lived in an old house with thirty girls. There was a kitchen in the basement. There were several refrigerators and we were designated a quarter of a shelf to keep our food.

A lot of blind dates were arranged. I accepted a blind date to the school’s halloween party. It was with an Airforce man. There is something about a man in a uniform.

Our dates consisted of a coke with two straws sitting in Isaly's playing chess. Six months later we were married. It lasted 23 years and three kids.

Gosh that was a long time ago.

Enough ramble.

later….

Sunflowers

2011-08-24T20:33:00.001-04:00

Lory stopped by and took some pictures of our sunflowers. The first two pictures show how close I am to the pizza place. It shows a little in the background.

The one above is a bit fuzzy but the bees love it.

Not really much to tell today except that Bandit found a way to get into the garden area and didn’t respond when I called. I was afraid he had gotten away.

It is very overgrown along the fence so you can’t see much. He finally got done sniffing the garden and started barking.

He couldn’t remember how he got back there so I had to walk back and open the gate. He was very happy to see me coming. He actually ran all the way to the back door.

Susan stopped by on her way home from work and Bandit showed her how he got to the garden area. We fixed it with twister ties. A hillbilly fence deserves a hillbilly fix.

Later….

Cancer Marker Test

2011-08-23T20:51:00.001-04:00

The marker blood test is called CA 27-29. When I search for that on the web I get some explanations and discussions. It is a way of monitoring the cancer activity and the effectiveness of the treatment.

The best I can figure, it looks at a protein that is in the blood when you have certain kinds of cancer.

The three tests before this latest one (171) were right around 50. So a jump up is not good. The Dr. said these pills I am taking (Xeloda) take a while to build up so we will stay with them for six more weeks. After that I will get a PET scan to look at the spots.

If the spots have grown and multiplied the chemo treatment will be changed.

This doesn’t really change anything in the day to day stuff. I have accepted that this is not curable. My affairs are in order, I have even purchased an urn for my ashes. Actually it is a box.

So life goes on and I’m not depressed. I’m enjoying each day for what it is. I am taking Cymbalta which is an antidepressant, that probably helps.

The sun flowers that Lory planted in the garden are blooming. I’ll try to get a picture soon.

The rabbits have eaten all the bean plants. There are rabbits living under the deck. Bandit pees on the deck. I think he is trying to tell the rabbits something. Of course, he pees in the middle of a board and it doesn’t go down under the deck at all.

Bandit is no longer able to get up onto the couch. He likes to stay in the bathroom so I got him a cushy dog rug for in there. He is about 12 years old I think. I’ve had him about one year now.

He had to stay in a kennel before I fostered him. If I have to give him up he will probably go back there. He has some bad habits but he has improved over the past year.

He only barks when I am getting his food fixed and he has never howled. I think he is happy as he comes and lays nearby wherever I am. I give him a massage every night before bed. When I get done with his legs and back he rolls over for the tummy part.

We could all do with that treatment.

Later….

Doctor’s Appt. & Chairs

2011-08-22T18:19:00.001-04:00

Dr.’s appointment today to talk to the Dr. and get a blood test. They were very busy so it took a while. The appointment was for 1:45 and I got home at 4:00.

The only news I got was that my most recent blood marker test was 171 which is not good. This Xeloda chemotherapy has to build up in your system according to the Dr.

I had an anonymous request to ask if I was on Twitter or Facebook. I do not twitter. I am on Facebook but do not post there much. I just like to see what other family and friends are posting. I feel like a stalker sometimes.

I do like to get comments, apparently someone liked my ramble.

Susan Tim and Willie came and picked up the trunk yesterday. They also took a piano chair that I got at an auction and haven’t been able to sell. For a while there I was into chairs.

Old but sturdy chairs. I have one in the bathroom that I painted and put some sunflowers on with glue and then sealed over it all. Decoupage I guess.

I stack extra towels on it since there isn’t much cupboard space in the bathroom.

Here are some pictures of my chairs:

Bathroom chair

Rocking chair and big old chair for holding stuff like clothes etc.

The school buses were out this afternoon and the school zones were also blinking red lights. Some of them started last week. Poor kids just got used to sleeping all day and staying up all night. It’s kind of like when you bring them home from the hospital as newborn.

Later….

An Old Trunk & Blind Chess

2011-08-19T18:29:00.001-04:00

Ramble Warning

This past week my daughter, Susan, asked if I had a trunk that she could use for a coffee table. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I can get rid of one more thing!

When my maternal Grandfather died in 1963 I lived a long way from home, in Gainesville, FL. His home needed to be emptied. My parents saved an old trunk for me.

My Mother explained it’s origins, it had belonged to her brother, Harry. Harry was killed in a hunting accident on Jan. 1, 1920 at age 18.

She explained her brothers didn’t have dressers or chests of drawers in their bedroom, they each had a trunk. They had pegs on the wall for some of their clothes and everything else went into their trunk.

The metal corners and edges were very thin metal that had split and jagged edges stuck out. I ordered new ones. I used paint remover on the rest of it and it cleaned up real nice.

The new lock broke just like the original one had broken.

I put stuff in it that I didn’t know where else to put. Like the unfinished embroidery of my Mother’s, my old report cards, doll clothes, an old geography book dated 1883 that had belonged to my uncle Harry. (a clue to spelling the word geography – George Elliot’s Old Grandmother Rode A Pig Home Yesterday).

Also the data from a computer program that my first husband was writing, a program for blind chess. Blind chess is a whole other story.

It takes three people and two chess sets to play blind chess. Each player has their own chess board and set of pieces, neither player can see the other players board, the third person is a referee.

We found a TV tray tipped up in the middle of the table was pretty good to keep the players from seeing one another’s boards.

The referee can see both boards. When a player makes a move the referee blends the two boards in their mind and says either “white has made a valid move, black to move” or “white has made an invalid move”. If the move in invalid white has to keep trying until he makes a valid move. Sometimes the call was “white has made a valid move, pawn captured, black to move” and then the ref has to remove the pawn.

Don’t ask me why anyone thought of this game – why do college kids do anything. Being referee made me dizzy but it was usually my job. I was glad when they thought a computer could do that job. I don’t think they ever perfected it.

The geography book is politically incorrect as it says “The caucasian, or white race, is superior to all others, and is the most numerous.”

It also says “ The United States is a Republic, consisting of 46 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia. One of the territories, Alaska, is not organized.”

The whole book is interesting.

Maybe I could slip some more stuff into that trunk before they come to get it on Sunday. HAHAHAHA (evil laugh).

Later….

Chemo Pills and Trash Day

2011-08-15T20:29:00.001-04:00

Today I stayed home so I would be here when UPS delivered my next round of chemo pills (Xeloda). They came just after 1:00. I washed dishes while I waited.

So far this kind of chemo seems to allow my hair to grow and I have more appetite. Food even tastes better. Is this good? I don’t know. Does chemo have to make you miserable to work?

Only time will tell but I’ll take these improvements while I have them. The next PET scans aren’t until the end of September (I think). So far the scans have been about every three months and June 27 was the last one.

I finished the second round of these pills this morning so now I have a seven day break before starting the next two week round.

I’ve been getting small tomatoes from the garden. These should be large tomatoes. Maybe it was the excessive heat that is making them small. They are very tasty and they have made a small sore at the corner of my mouth. They are worth it.

This is trash day and I got mine out to the street. I walk very carefully as the bottoms of my feet are red and sore. That is the major side effect of Xeloda. I haven’t figured out how to get along without walking. I use the Udder Cream that they recommended and it does seem to help.

The weather has been beautiful for several days now, nice warm days and nice cool nights. I even left the storm door propped open so the dogs could go in and out in the evening. At least I did until the flies started coming in.

later….

Fun Overdone Thursday

2011-08-12T21:05:00.001-04:00

Thursday was the beginning of the Butter St Barn’s monthly barn buster sale. Lory and I took a carload over to the sale.

I helped a little with the set up, not much. Mostly I sat and chatted with people and drank some of my ginger ale that I had carried in my purse.

Susan came by from her work and we went to Subway for lunch. About then I realized that the ginger ale had leaked in my purse. Those water bottles they give you at the hospital are crappy.

There were almost no customers so we brought our stuff in after lunch and I came home and took a nap.

I took everything out of my sticky purse and wiped it off and rinsed off the purse.

After the nap I remembered I was supposed to go pick up a prescription. So off to the drug store. I went thru the drive in window as I didn’t need anything else.

On the way home I passed a huge church rummage sale. Actually I didn’t pass it. I stopped.

I found a manikin of just the top half of a female, but cloth covered. I dealt for that but didn’t have that much money with me. After all I was just going to the drug store and my purse and contents were all still wet.

I went home and got more money to pay for the manikin. Went back and looked around some more to be sure I had seen everything.

I found one more thing I wanted.

It’s a very old jack-in-the-box. It says Germany on the bottom. Three of the corners of the box are split and I think jack was holding something in his hands originally. There is no crank or music box. Must be you just opened the lid and he popped out.

I’m afraid to try to glue the corners. Jack is leaning on the side and he would probably push that side back out anyway. So Lory & I put a rubber band around it.

That face is very scary. We used to scare kids – maybe we still do. That’s not a bad thing. The world is scary so they need to get used to it.

After all that running around I pretty much stayed on the couch today. My feet are sore.

later….

Usual Stuff

2011-08-07T22:35:00.001-04:00

Nothing much happening around here lately. Just the usual stuff – like Bandit in the bathtub because there was a dark cloud overhead and some rain fell.

It had just started when I was feeding the dogs. Bandit left half his food and started the pacing back and forth that he does just before he gets in the bathtub.

Since Teddy was done eating his food he thought he would help Bandit finish his. When Bandit saw this he decided to reclaim his food bowl.

Teddy produced a sound that was very much like a large cat purring – that’s his growl. I had to put food bowls up on the counter to prevent a dog fight – or at least more ~~purring~~ growling.

Only my apple fritters can get Bandit up onto the counter.

My lockbox for the door key arrived. I had to read the instructions to figure out how to set the three letter code. I think I got a very good deal when I bid on it on ebay. I paid just under $14.00 including shipping. It is new, made in Taiwan. It is now hanging on the front door knob.

That is much better than picking various places to hide it outside. In winter it is pretty obvious where your tracks go when there is snow on the ground.

Actually a little snow sounds okay right now, it has been so hot. I know I’ll wish for some of this heat next winter. Some people are never satisfied.

later….

Chemo & Diet

2011-08-02T19:20:00.001-04:00

Apparently my appetite is coming back as the scales show I have gained a couple of pounds.

I have started my Xeloda chemo pills again. All this chemo would make me an expert on telling if someone was being poisoned. Tired? No Energy? Messed up digestion? ETC ETC. Enough pity party.

In managing my diet, trying not to mix protein and starch in any given meal, I tried salmon patties and meat loaf by using ground up dried peas and agar in place of bread crumbs. That was edible. Well, it got eaten.

The next experiment is using ground up dried mushrooms in place of bread crumbs. My sister sent me some white powder (ground dried mushrooms). The four small meatloaves are now in the oven.

I make small loaves and freeze them. There is just one of me after all.

While I was at the doctor’s office yesterday Bandit, the short, long bassett dog, did some counter surfing. He ate two large pastries I bought as my reward for shopping.

When doggy supper time arrived he got the empty box for his supper. Teddy got his regular dog food. I had to intervene to keep Bandit from bullying Teddy away from his food.

Poor old Bandit who can barely get in and out of the house can stand on his hind legs and get food off the counter. HAH!!

I’ll let you know how the new recipe for meat loaf turns out.

later….

Teddy Pushes My Button

2011-07-31T21:12:00.001-04:00

I didn’t have to wait long for “something” to happen. The morning after the machine was installed Teddy pushed my button.

He sleeps on the foot of my bed and in the morning he politely waits until he is sure I’m awake.

He snorts now and then and if I snort back he snorts again. If I snort back again he gets so pleased he squirms to the head of the bed and greets me.

His greeting included a foot on the button – which triggered the machine in the kitchen to start saying “EMERGENCY”. It says it three times before it makes a call.

I made a dash for the kitchen and pushed the “Clear” button before it called.

Now if Teddy figures this whole thing out he will know how to get me out of bed in a hurry.

It would have been appropriate for me to have fallen while dashing to the machine, thank goodness I didn’t.

It is still hot and humid. If you are in a store with lots of air conditioning and walk out into the hot, humid air, your glasses steam up.

I was on my way to Walmart this morning at 8:00 a.m. and was home by 9:00 a.m. I avoided the worst of the heat. There are still some bags in the car. I just brought in things that had to go in the refrigerator.

My feet hurt, especially the right one which is swollen all the time. This is probably due to the long term effects of chemo I’ve taken and the radiation I had last Oct.

When I mentioned this to the doctor she gave me a prescription for something for nerve pain, gabapentin. I haven’t taken it yet. I read the paper about it and have decided I don’t want to take it. It can cause swelling of the extremities – duh – I’ve already got that so do I really want to make it worse?

Some of the other side effects don’t sound so good either so I will do without that one.

I go tomorrow afternoon to get a blood test and Zometa. I still get Zometa every two months. It’s a bone strengthener. I had it monthly for two years then they dropped it to every two months.

I’ll get to see my friends in the chemo room.

Later….

Emergency Button

2011-07-29T16:56:00.001-04:00

Today Susan stopped by and we set up my emergency button. It had arrived the other day but I have been looking at all the papers and avoiding the issue.

It came without the button you wear so I called them and they sent it overnight. It arrived today.

Also they wanted $3.00/month for a lockbox on the door to keep a key in (so emergency people can get in if I’m not able to open it).

I got on ebay and found one for about $14.00. It will be delivered next week. It has a three letter code to open it.

Susan set it all up and we pushed the button and I talked to the guy on the other end. We tested different rooms and he could hear me in every room downstairs. Susan went upstairs and she had to stand at the top of the stairs for him to hear her. I don’t go upstairs much.

I am to test it once a month so I have marked my little calendar book that I keep in my purse. The button is on a black cord around my neck and I’m sitting here waiting for an emergency.

This could get boring.

later….

A Movie and UPS

2011-07-27T22:46:00.001-04:00

Wednesday had been a very busy day. I did three loads of laundry, including stripping the bed. Then I got a phone call suggesting that I join some friends at a movie in the afternoon.

We went to see Bridesmaids at a second run theater. The tickets were only $3.00 but the snacks and drinks were out of sight. $5.00 for a small bag of candy. We just watched the movie.

It was very funny and sexy. The foul language was prolific. It seems to me that the writers didn’t have a very big vocabulary. But then I don’t get out of the house much.

The UPS man came this morning with my next round of Xeloda pills. They start next week.

He also brought my emergency button system. I haven’t really looked at it yet. I’ll take it out tomorrow and try it out.

There is a bunch of papers to fill out and send back. Some of them will take some thought. Like do I want them to call 911 first or my contacts first. I’m thinking they should call my contacts first as maybe I just fell down and need help getting up. One of my kids could do that.

It’s been a very busy day. G’nite.

later….

Friends & Walkers

2011-07-23T20:19:00.001-04:00

My two daughters went out to lunch together on Friday. Susan had to go back to work but Lory came over to visit me. Since Friday afternoon was an appointment with my oncologist, she came along.

The doctor wanted to know about the side effects of the Xeloda. She examined the bottoms of my feet and the palms of my hands. That is one of the possible problems with this chemo. It can cause blisters and peeling. The bottoms of my feet were a bit red but no blisters.

So far so good, so I get a week off and then another 14 days of Xeloda.

Teddy shared my shower on Friday morning. He wasn’t at all happy about it but he is a lot cleaner. He also got his bangs trimmed so he can see better.

Today I went to visit my fellow friends/dealers at the antique barn. They are way too nice to me. They got me a very fancy walker, with a seat and a basket and wheels on all four legs. Of course, I’m still waiting for the rear view mirror and horn.

Thanks don’t seem sufficient at times like that.

THANKS!

later….

Weather & Walker

2011-07-20T22:10:00.001-04:00

Forgot to mention the shower I took yesterday before going to the blood work appointment. It rained a bit in the morning – Bandit paced for a while and then headed for the bathtub.

It came time for my shower and Bandit was still in the tub. So I managed to fit in with him, turned on the water, used Head & Shoulders to wash him. Well, at least one side and his back. He didn’t move a bit. He was even blocking the drain so I know my feet got a good soaking.

After I got me washed I managed to pull him aside so the water could drain. I dried me and then him, as much as I could as he still wasn’t moving.

He finally got out with help. Then he ran all over the house rubbing on the floor and any rug he could find and shaking all over the place.

Next shower I’ll take Teddy in with me so he will be clean, too. Don’t want him to be jealous.

Today I ran a couple of errands. I stopped at the thrift store and found a walker for $3.99. It folds up and has wheels on the front. When I went to check out I discovered it was half price day – so I got a slightly used walker for $2.13. It isn’t a fancy one with a seat but it will do for now. Of course, I’m not using it yet.

Bandit is back in the tub this evening as we had a little wind and rain earlier.

After the camera flash he decided to get out.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day so far. The heat is supposed to break next week. I sure hope so. This is worse than winter. When the low temperature for the day is 82 at midnight, that’s too hot.

later….

Blood Work & Shopping

2011-07-19T10:08:00.001-04:00

Since I had blood work this morning at the general practitioner’s office I combined it with a small shopping trip.

The blood was very simple, draw it and go. They said it might be two days before they got the results to the doctor. It takes a half hour or less at the oncologists office.

Our local grocery store closed over a year ago. Now the Dollar General has taken over about a third of the grocery store space and is selling some groceries along with all the other items they usually carry.

A lot of items on a grocery list are not really food so I did well at the Dollar General.

My kids and friends are getting on my case about getting a medic alert system installed. You know, one of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” things.

That’s the kind of thing I, like most people, resist. I may give in and get it just to shut people up.

later….

Xeloda

2011-07-15T10:39:00.001-04:00

The new chemo, Xeloda, is going okay. I have a booklet to fill out with the time I take the pills and any side affects I have. I’m trying to remember to fill it out.

My hands and feet tingle now and then which reminds me to put Udder Cream on them.

I have been having a headache but I lay that onto the fall I took while trying to put Bandit in his kennel.

My nose is still sore and may have a permanent bump in it. While it was still numb from the fall (I was still on the floor) I pulled it straight. Of course, that made a bigger blood puddle but not enough to make a CSI expert think there had been a murder.

Makes me think of the time Shadow (the Great Dane) stepped on a piece of glass and cut her foot very badly. We had just moved here and the ground was frozen so the glass was embedded in the ground, sticking straight up.

After trying to stop the bleeding myself I put her in the car and headed for a vet’s office. It happened to be Wednesday afternoon when most of them are closed so I headed for the emergency vet’s office. They didn’t open until 5:00.

I panicked, she was bleeding to death in the back seat and I could do nothing about it. I finally thought of one more vet I could try and found them open.

She got emergency surgery to put her foot back together. They were surprised that I was willing to spend that much money on an 8 year old dog.

Then there was the problem of the blood that soaked through the quilt and into the back seat of the car. I found a place that said they would do it for a reasonable price.

They didn’t even ask why there was blood all over the back seat. Made me wonder what they would have done if I hadn’t explained that it was dog blood.

Shadow recovered and lived to be 10 years old.

The weather was so nice yesterday that I sat outside at the picnic table and read my Nook for an hour or so. I’m supposed to stay out of the sun so a hat was required.

I need to water the potted plants today.

later….

Storms and Black Eyes

2011-07-12T13:57:00.001-04:00

Bandit is in the doghouse today. Yesterday evening we had a thunder storm. He gets very upset about them. I was trying to put him in his kennel (cage) and he wanted to get in the bathtub.

He won the battle and I did a face plant on the floor. Results? Two slightly black eyes, a busted lip and a bloody, bruised nose. He has four feet drive and I’ve only got two feet drive.

Is that his I’m sorry look?

In spite of all that I got a urine sample from him this morning and took it to the vet. He is fine. The conclusion is that he is built so low that he can pick up urinary tract infections from the grass. Maybe that’s why he pees on the deck and patio.

I have taken two doses of the Xeloda and have had no major side affects yet. I take three pills twice a day. My hands tingled shortly after the first dose last night. I didn’t notice it on my feet but they are still pretty numb from the first chemo, Taxol.

I am to use Udder Cream on my hands and feet several times a day. One of the possible severe side affects is blisters and peeling of palms of hands and soles of feet. I will be getting more flexible as I check the bottoms of my feet each day.

When you start a new treatment they give you a bunch of info on it. If it is very expensive you get a LOT of stuff.

One packet was given to me at the doctor’s office, the other came with the pills. So I have two pill holders, two recipe books, two zip bags, two tubes of Udder Cream, and a whole lot of pamphlets. Just one pill bottle though.

Can’t figure out if the headache today is from the fall or the chemo. Maybe I’ll figure it out….

later….

Pills & Carson’s First Garden

2011-07-11T16:54:00.001-04:00

10:00 a.m.

Tell me I have to stay home and I can come up with ten errands I should do. And if I hadn’t been told to stay home and wait for a UPS delivery of pills I would have happily stayed home.

It’s the childish rebellion still going on in this old lady.

Yesterday Lory, Jake, and Carson came over to do some planting in the garden. At four years old Carson is old enough to learn about where food really comes from.

It may be a little late in the season for planting squash but it has been so wet – we’ll just have to see what we get.

1:30 p.m.

The pills arrived. One of my concerns was that they might be too big for me to swallow, but they are not. I have them put into their little pill containers, 14 days, 3 pills after breakfast and 3 pills after dinner.

I will start tonight.

later…

System Restore

2011-07-10T18:03:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I decided I wanted to try a game I’ve heard about called angry birds. I started to download the first website that came up.

Then I noticed it was putting a lot of spyware on my computer. I stopped it as soon as I could. Then I went to uninstall and started taking it out.

It was all listed under “ShopperReport”. I uninstalled it. It was still there. I uninstalled it over and over until I got a message “Error launching installer”.

I thought I could ignore it but periodically a strange picture would pop up on my screen, this happened when I wasn’t using the computer as well as when I was using it.

Next I went looking for System Restore. That finally did the job – at least it isn’t listed anymore as being on my computer. My computer is set back to what was on it two days ago.

It would be nice if people came with a System Restore. Hmmmmm. Not sure where I would want to be restored to. Some things I wouldn’t want to do over again. If it came with a memory of what had happened before it might be a good idea. Oh well.

later….

Pills to Arrive on Monday

2011-07-08T18:58:00.001-04:00

After several phone calls the new chemotherapy pills (Xeloda) will arrive on Monday via UPS. They have to be signed for so I will stay home that day. That won’t be a problem, I’m a homebody anyway.

I was told my insurance, Medicare, was refusing them at first. It was a week ago today that the Dr. put in the request. Each time I get these pills I have to answer questions about my status.

Questions such as “do you live in a nursing home”, “are you in an assisted living facility”, “do you receive assistance in your home” etc. I think I would not get the pills approved if I answered yes to any of those questions.

I understand that they want to spend their money on people who can benefit from it. I told them I lived alone with two dogs and the only help I had was someone to mow my lawn.

It rained a lot in the night so I didn’t have to water things today. I went over to the antique barn for a while this afternoon. They were very busy since they were having a sale. It was nice to see the customers coming and going – going with packages!

I might even have to take some more stuff over there….

later….

July–hot & humid

2011-07-05T17:49:00.001-04:00

Sunny, dry days require watering plants. I refuse to carry water back to the garden so those plants are on their own. The lot for this old house is 200 ft deep, 60 ft wide. The garden is in the back. Maybe two 100 ft hoses would do it.

I would say I had a quiet 4th of July but starting Friday evening there were lots of fireworks in the neighborhood.

The noise doesn’t seem to bother Bandit much which makes me wonder about his hearing. Teddy gets upset but I don’t comfort him. I’ve heard that just encourages a dog to be upset. I just tell him I heard that, too.

I used to give Shadow, my late Great Dane, some beer or wine when she got upset about storms or noises. It didn’t calm her much but she liked it.

Something that had not occurred to me before was that the sound of fireworks upsets some veterans. That makes people setting off fireworks seem cruel.

I have arranged for my blood tests to be done at my local general practitioners office. Lab people come there once a week on Tuesdays so I have appointments for the next 4 weeks. They will fax the results to the oncologist’s office.

Still haven’t heard anything from the new pharmacy about the new chemo. Medicare has to sign off on it which isn’t reassuring. If I don’t hear something tomorrow I will call the dr’s office.

Maybe Obama care is already in force and a committee is deciding who I might vote for next election.

– that was very politically incorrect.

Later….

New Chemo and Happy July Fourth

2011-07-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A

WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY.

Took a nap this morning.

I had an appointment with my oncologist this afternoon. They drew blood and gave me a shot of Neupogen (<—link). That jazzes up my blood.

The results of my PET scan showed that the chemo wasn’t working very well. So I am in the process of getting a new kind of chemo.

Xeloda (<—link ) pills will be the new regimen. This involves getting some paperwork from Medicare so it will be next week before I get the pills.

These pills will be delivered by Diplomat Pharmacy. (<—link) I had never heard of them. I guess there’s a lot of things I’ve never heard of.

I will have to get blood work every week but I can go anywhere to get it done. It just has to be faxed to the oncologist’s office.

So I won’t be seeing the folks in the chemo room for a while. I’ll miss some of the people.

I’ve started a grocery list. Bandit is on antibiotics again and I have to hide the pills in a piece of hotdog. Hotdogs are at the top of the list.

I had no problem getting a urine sample from him this time. I even remembered to carry the lid to the container outside with me. I am trainable.

I’ve had to water some plants outside, would you believe?

Later….

PET Scan & Birthday Pictures

2011-06-27T16:51:00.001-04:00

The PET scan went as usual. Their radio station had very bad reception. I should have had them turn it off but didn’t want to interrupt things.

It took 2 hours, one of those hours was napping in a very comfortable lazy-boy style chair with a warmed blanket over me. The scan itself takes about 30 minutes so the rest of the time was getting signed in, etc.

Of course, it was raining on the way there and the way back and it’s supposed to rain tonight. Right now it is just cloudy.

I found poopy dog messes when I got home. Luckily I had kept the dogs in the kitchen and mud room. Don’t know what they ate yesterday but it sure upset their stomachs.

I’m going to try for another urine sample from Bandit tomorrow. Wish me luck.

The pictures from Carson’s fourth birthday got forgotten on the camera till now.

Carson is thrilled with his blue drink.

Jaren, not thrilled so much.

Four year old muscles.

Lilies blooming in my yard. The orange kind are seen along many country roads. I always think there must have been a house there at one time or another.

Later….

Sunday

2011-06-26T21:30:00.001-04:00

Miscellaneous Ramble Warning

It’s raining, it’s pouring,

The old man is snoring.

He bumped his head when he jumped in bed

And he couldn’t get up in the morning.

Remember that old tune?

Something I’m eating is giving me some itchy hives. I am on a quest to find out what it is. Today we are sticking to known items like chicken and rice. I suspect onions. Bummer.

I get a PET scan Monday morning. The hospital has called 4 or 5 times this week, once to set up the appointment. The other times were to get my information. I get a PET scan every three months. I’ve already had two this year. I’m still the same person, I have the same insurance, the same birth date, the same social security number, etc.

Maybe they have too many employees to keep busy. I have seen two people slowly pushing a cart of stuff down the hall, chatting as they stroll. No wonder their bills are so high.

I spent Friday afternoon at the Butter Street Barn visiting with ~~the other dealers~~ my friends. Very few customers interrupted us.

Later….

Tuesday

2011-06-21T13:54:00.001-04:00

Under tools, internet options, browsing history, settings, I can increase the size of my temporary internet file. I increased it from 250 MB to 350 MB. I’ll see how that works.

My sister’s comment on the last post gave me the clue I needed. Thanks, Sis.

There is a beautiful salt water fish tank in the doctor’s waiting room. Yesterday when I was leaving a man was working on the tank and there were no fish visible.

I asked him what he did with my fish!

Now an old lady with a grey mohawk hairdo cannot be taken too seriously so he laughed – first – then he looked a little scared. The following pictures may explain why.

Above – bro-in-law Bob & me, between us we have a whole head of hair.

Paula, my favorite chemo nurse, and me while getting chemo. My sister took this last week. As you can see, my mohawk hairdo continues clear down the back of my head.

Since I had my whole head buzzed on Dec. 10, 2010 the longer hair you see has kept growing. It never fell out. The sides continue to fall out. I don’t know why. If I had left that top hair alone I could have had a comb-over, or comb-down hairdo like some men do. Oh well.

So the poor scared fish man explained to this crazy looking lady that the fish were all hiding because he had been cleaning the tank.

He pointed out my favorite grey, fat, buggy eyed fish, I thanked him, and then I left.

Today the sun is shining which is appropriate for the first day of summer. The trash and recyclables were taken away in the night.

The ground was soft enough so Lory built her bamboo teepee and planted climbing beans all around it. Should be fun for the grandkids – maybe not so good for the beans.

Both my daughters were here for a while last evening. They shared some of their triumphs and trials. We all had input for one another. This is what family is about.

later….

Chemo & Nook

2011-06-20T18:56:00.001-04:00

Went for chemotherapy this morning. They give me some IV steroids before the chemo which peps me up a little bit for the rest of the day. So I went grocery shopping at Walmart.

I pooped out on bringing all the groceries into the house so I brought in the refrigerator stuff and left the rest for later. Actually I left it for Lory who stopped by and brought it in for me.

Yesterday I tried to download some more books from the library to my PC and then onto my Nook ereader. It didn’t work! Then I noticed that I had asked for some books that weren’t in the right format.

I removed those books from my list and tried again. No luck. I ended up sending an email to the library computer person. Their expert, Vicki, called today and we discussed the problem.

I tried downloading again and actually read the message I got when it didn’t work. What a concept – reading the error message!

It said something about not being able to find the “temporary internet” file. So I went into “tools” which is now a gear or cog shaped icon, went to “internet options” and deleted the temporary files.

AHAH – I downloaded one book, the second book got the same old message. So I moved the first book to the Nook, then deleted the temporary files again – downloaded a second book – no problem.

I called Vicki at the library and told her what my problem was and how I had solved it. She said she would add that to their knowledge that might help other people.

Now I need to find out how to increase the size of my “temporary file”. It obviously is too small – or maybe the books I want to read are too big.

Anyway, I have books to read on rainy days – we have those often.

later….

Quiet Around Here

2011-06-18T15:53:00.001-04:00

I forgot to mention the shaggy rug my sister washed for me. It was the one that stayed in the mud room, just inside the back door, where the dogs come in and out of the back yard. It was VERY dirty.

She used my method of putting it in the bathtub but she didn’t get in with her feet. Maybe she didn’t want to ruin her pedicure. The first wash, with about four inches of water, made the rug invisible with dirty water. It took at least four rinses to get the water to come out semi-clean.

It hung on the clothes line through several rains before it finally got dry. I’m sure I thanked her but I will do it again here. THANK YOU!

The floor under the rug is actually concrete painted to look like bricks. It looked good till the paint started to chip off here and there.

Also my company gave me a cure for my over heating laptop computer. It is a fan thing that goes under the computer and keeps it from overheating. They weren’t using it so I gratefully accepted it. No more “there I fixed it” methods.

By the way, it says CoolMax on the top.

It’s awfully quiet around here since they left. I’ve been reading the books I downloaded for my NOOK from the library.

Speaking of the pedicure my sister got, she was going to invite me to get one too until she remembered that I don’t have any toenails. I had them all permanently removed several years ago.

In fact I tried to have some of them permanently removed more than once. If my health insurance was on the ball they might have noticed that I have had 15 toenails permanently removed. It doesn’t always work but must look rather odd on the records.

They were extremely ingrown to the point of the two sides almost meeting in the middle. My theory is that it could be reverse evolution, toenails going back to claws. That would be okay if it weren’t so painful.

This evening there is a birthday party in my backyard for my 4 year old great grandson. I may stay in the house and lock the doors. It is hot and humid outside and my patience isn’t what it once was.

later….

Odd Jobs and a Great Visit

2011-06-15T09:18:00.001-04:00

Using family to help get jobs done.

One problem was a very easy fix but if you don’t know what that easy fix is it might as well be an impossibility. The motion activated lights on the garage stopped working quite a while ago. So did the lights inside the garage. No one could figure out what was wrong. I even got a new bulb but that didn’t work.

Then came Wonder Bob. He flicked a couple of light switches just inside the garage door and - taa daa – the lights came on.

The remote control for the gas fireplace is now working. Bob just had to read a lot of instructions.

The hand braided wool rug that his Mother made got mended also. Some dog tried to rearrange it and some stitching came out. Teddy helped with that job. Bandit did too but he saw the camera and ran off.

They visited the Veterans Museum in Germantown.

There’s a nice smile from Linda while she looks at some of the museum displays.

Bob enjoyed the museum.

We had a wonderful visit. Linda and I even got into the geneology stuff and solved a few problems with my family tree maker program. Our ancestors didn’t have much imagination when it came to names. There are many John’s and William’s in each generation. We decided to put their birth year in as a middle name to try to keep them straight.

Linda went with me to my doctor appointments. She liked my doctor but wondered when they started letting young girls be doctors.

Got a dose of chemo Monday. I get a dose of steroids before the chemo so I was pretty energetic Monday and Tuesday. Today I will probably crash.

It will be awfully quiet around here with the visitors gone. They may stop by again next fall.

later….

Number 3 Child’s Birthday

2011-06-12T09:16:00.001-04:00

Parental Ramble Warning…………………………

June 12 is my daughter Susan’s birthday. She was a 7 lb 8 oz. 22 inch long baby. I think they stretched her too much when they measured her as she didn’t grow any taller for several months. In fact the pediatrician had us coming for extra visits until she finally grew taller at about 8 months of age. She is 5’ 4” now.

She was my wild child. She was tiny and blonde. She liked big things. She collected elephants and wanted to play the tuba.

She worked at every carnival that came to town. Once I had to go to the next town to collect her from the carnival when it moved on. They were relieved to see me.

At the local renaissance fair she got the job of giving elephant rides. For a girl who collected elephant figures this was wonderful.

Of course, when the Palestinian man showed up at our house a few days later she was a bit upset. She had been mowing the lawn and they sat on the front steps (not inside – she was a bit wild but not that wild).

He explained that she shouldn’t be mowing lawns. So it was okay to lead an elephant around for him but she shouldn’t mow her own lawn. Whatever she said to him worked as he never came back.

She was a gymnast and did very well at it. She broke her arm twice, once nearly broke it off. Eight hours of surgery put it back together. She could do one armed cartwheels with a cast from shoulder to fingers.

After a few troubled years she went to school and got an associates degree. Now she wears a hard hat and steel toed shoes and tells the men what to do.

I am very proud of her. I depend on her good sense. She is in charge of things for me.

I am sorry I wished her children like herself. I love her very much.

Happy Birthday Susan!

later….

Pizza Night

2011-06-10T07:37:00.001-04:00

Proud great grandmother warning.

Linda and I baked cookies Thursday morning. They came out a little different than usual but they will be eaten.

Thursday evening the company came.

Carson, who will be 4 years old in a few days, and Jaryen, who was 2 last November, found their toys in the house.

Carson is a very busy boy and got a time out. Great Gramma’s tomato plants barely survived.

Soon they were playing with their Home Depot tool box. Outside is better for kids since my house isn’t very child proof.

Uncle Jake will be a sophomore next year.

Lory, know as G-ma, and Mama are having a good time.

Aunt Andrea is in beauty school and got her hair colored recently. What color will it be next week? Good question.

We had pizza and portabella mushroom sandwiches from Frisch’s provided by Lory.

Great Aunt Linda and Great Uncle Bob enjoyed seeing all the family. Our generation has forgotten just how much energy those little ones have.

The visitors were given a tour of their motor home.

The adults were worn out and I think the little ones were tired also but they couldn’t let on.

A thunder storm came through in the wee hours this morning so Bandit got in the bathtub. He got out for breakfast. He even went outside after breakfast.

Looks like today might be a good day for resting up and doing inside activities.

later….

Enjoying Family and another Nook

2011-06-08T22:04:00.001-04:00

My sister and I have been trying to take turns talking but sometimes we don’t make it. It’s great to have time to catch up with one another’s lives.

They brought me some farm fresh eggs from the area we grew up. I still had one from the grocery store. Here is a picture of the one from the grocery with one of the free range chickens eggs. Big difference! It tasted wonderful. I have to find a place around here to buy this kind of eggs.

There was a new version of the Nook coming out and I had put my name on a list at Barnes & Noble to see one of them when they came in. I called yesterday and they said their first shipment had come and gone already. My name wasn’t high enough on the list yet. BOO!

This morning we were doing some shopping at the Health Food Store which is close to Barnes & Noble so we stopped in to see if they had one of the new Nooks to just try out. They did so we checked it out and I decided I wanted one. They even called someone to see if they really wanted the one reserved for them – but they couldn’t get hold of them.

When we got home there was a message on the answering machine – telling me they had a Nook for me at the store. The message was left about 10 minutes after we left the house.

Someone else had decided not to buy the one they had reserved so that brought my name up. It was MY phone number they tried to call to see if I wanted the Nook now reserved for me. Sheeeesh!

Dear sister and bro-in-law had other errands (Sam’s Club and a pedicure – which person had the pedicure? you figure it out) to do in the afternoon so they picked up my Nook for me.

We spent some time reading instructions and trying to follow them. Then a phone call to my niece in CA got us to the final solution. I now have a book downloaded from the local library on my new Nook.

I plan to try to do it again soon to be sure I can do it. At my age the learning curve gets steeper.

Tomorrow night is a pizza night in the back yard with kids, grandkids, and greatgrandkids. I’ll try to get some pictures of the greatgrands if we can get a 4 and 2 year old to hold still long enough.

later….

Company Arrives

2011-06-04T22:58:00.001-04:00

The first picture is my grandson being attacked by dogs. On the floor is a dangerous place around here if you mind being licked.

My sister and brother-in-law arrived this afternoon. My kids came to see them.

There was a lot of catching up to do. We talked in the house and in the driveway and on the porch.

They are parked in my driveway with their RV.

They live in their RV full time and travel around the country.

Tonight we are having a thunder storm so Bandit is in the bathtub. Maybe I’ll be able to get him outside one last time – and maybe not.

later….

My Chemo and Bandit’s Urinalysis

2011-05-31T19:05:00.001-04:00

My chemo appointment was at 10:30 so that could wait. The first order of the day was to take a used plastic container with a snap on lid, the creamed cheese size, and get a urine sample from Bandit.

At 6:30, after a no puddles night, I was sure I could get it. I was in slippers and robe. It worked well for a very short time. As soon as he realized I was there he stopped but I thought I had enough.

I started for the house carefully holding my container level – I hadn’t thought to bring the lid.

Everything was fine until I caught the edge of the door jamb with the toe of my right foot. Slooowly I went down to my right knee, then my right elbow, then my butt.

I probably could have caught my balance if I hadn’t been determined to keep that plastic container level.

Not a drop was spilled. Cussing, then laughing didn’t help me get up so I sat there a moment thinking how this would make a good comedy routine. Maybe I could sell the idea to Tim Conway.

By 8:30 the sample was at the vet’s. To make a long story short, Bandit has an infection. I picked up the pills this afternoon. He is to have 2 pills every 12 hours. He gobbles them down when I put them inside hollowed out pieces of hotdog. Of course, Teddy also has to have tiny pieces of hotdog too.

I had 2 mashed boiled eggs for breakfast, took my shower, mailed some packages, and made it to my appointment 10 minutes early. My blood was good and I got my chemo on schedule.

My next stop was Barnes & Noble to talk to them about their different models of the Nook.

There is a new one coming out next week that they say is simpler to operate. I put my name down for one but I’m not obligated to buy it. It’s black & white touch screen. It can surf the web and download books from Barnes & Noble or the library if WIFI is available. It’s a bit smaller than the others and the battery life is longer. We will see.

Later….

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T20:21:00.001-04:00

Finally after going to several sites and downloading different programs and making notes about what to do first and second and third – I was able to take Adobe Flash Player off my computer and then put it back on.

Now things are working okay. I don’t know if this was a trick played on Adobe or if they made the mess themselves. There were plenty of sites with suggestions on how to fix it which means lots of people had the problem.

I am running the air conditioning and the ceiling fan this week-end. The heat was on last week.

There was a small parade this afternoon. It woke me from my nap. I had forgotten that the Memorial Day parade is always very quiet.

The band’s drum beat woke me. There were several tow trucks and fire trucks. There was one very nice SUV that said “confiscated by drug enforcement” on the side. There were even some baby’s in strollers in the parade.

I didn’t get any pictures this year. Yesterday I dug out some bunting and put it on the front porch rail. Had to iron it first, I don’t iron very often.

Relaxing Saturday and Electronic Problems

2011-05-28T20:03:00.001-04:00

The Nook is going back to Barnes & Noble. I called today and after waiting for 15 minutes to speak to a person I finally just kept pushing the “0”. That finally got a real person, then that person handed me to another person whose second language was English.

According to ebay I had 14 days after receiving it to send it back. They kept asking when I ordered it and I kept telling them when I got it.

I eventually won. I now have an address to send it to and a number to put on the outside of the package. It will be 2 to 3 weeks before I get the money back. I was supposed to pay for it right away when I ordered it.

Oh well.

I will probably go to a store and look at all the models and buy a new one. This one did not work properly. It wouldn’t turn pages.

The other problem is with this laptop. It was turned off last night and shut itself down normally. This morning it said it had shut down under abnormal conditions and needed to reset itself. I let it do that. Then it wouldn’t do some things, kept telling me I needed to download Adobe Flash Player. I tried that and it didn’t work.

I know this laptop gets too hot at times. Maybe I need to set a fan on it.

The relaxing part of today is a couple of beasts who share this house.

Bandit is still in trouble with 2 puddles today. Maybe he has a bladder infection. Of course, that didn’t occur to me until today. It will be Tuesday before I can see a vet. Collecting a sample is always fun. You follow the dog around with a pie pan and slip it under him at just the right moment.

RIGHT – and his legs are about 4 inches long.

I thought Teddy was asleep when I took this but I see his eyes were open. I also see that he is overweight. I don’t take them for walks anymore and he doesn’t like to stay outside very long so he gets very little exercise.

The stubble of hair on the sides of my head seems to have stopped falling out. The doctor thought the Navobine wouldn’t make my hair fall out so much as the Taxol.

It’s just taken it a while to make a difference. I still have a stripe of hair down the middle of my head that hasn’t fallen out at all. Of course, it’s only been growing since I had my head shaved in Dec.

Aches and pains come and go. The weather makes a difference. I have all kinds of drugs for every possible problem, even drugs for side effects of drugs. Lucky me.

The rugs on the clothes line have worked, no rain today!

Later….

Tricking the Weather

2011-05-27T20:51:00.001-04:00

Can washing your car make it rain?

Can hanging rugs on the clothes line, hoping the rain will wash them, make it stop raining? It’s worth a try.

Actually I don’t think you can fool Mother Nature.

I spent about 15 minutes in the cellar the other night because of storms and sirens warning of tornadoes. I escaped with no damage but many people had their property or cars damaged by hail and wind.

There was tornado damage south of here and some northeast also.

My damage is coming from a dog that has forgotten he is housebroken. This dog is rather short and very long. Even outside he has decided the patio is his bathroom. He will be spending a lot of time in his kennel.

He and I had a staring contest after the last puddle. I met a dog trainer who had never heard of that. If a dog looks you right in the eyes you have to be the last one to look away. It’s a dominance thing.

Then a little later he tried to keep little Teddy from coming into the house so we had another run in. Maybe it’s the pecking order of things.

Right now he is confined to the kitchen and the mud room. He can hold it all night in his kennel so there is no excuse for him. I let him out and in at least 6 times a day.

My favorite Aunt Ellen’s services were yesterday and I’ve had 2 phone calls giving the details. It sounds like it was a very nice service. She never drove a car but never lacked a ride, people lined up to take her wherever she needed to go.

Later….

A Safe Place, Chemo, and Aunt Ellen

2011-05-23T17:25:00.002-04:00

We had a thunder storm in the night which means Bandit spent the night in his safe place, the bathtub.
I got him outside and back in. It seemed that the storms had passed. I got in the shower since my doctor appointment was at 9:30. It wasn’t long until I had company. It must have thundered again.
I told him it was raining in here, too, but he didn’t seem to mind. After all it was warm water. So I showered with a dog. He got a bath, too. He’s been needing a bath.

I dried me first which seemed like a good idea. It’s good to start the day off with a belly laugh.
Chemo was normal. The doctor said my blood markers were stable which is good.
The last of her generation, my Aunt Ellen, passed away yesterday. She was 102 years old, her 103rd birthday would have been next month.

This picture was taken on her 100th birthday. We love you Aunt Ellen, rest in peace.
later….

Salman Patties

2011-05-20T21:19:00.001-04:00

My effort to eat a diet where a given meal does not include both protein and starch has gone to new heights. Vegetables can be included with either one.

The problem arises when I make meat loaf or salmon patties. Both those have always included protein, meat, and starch, bread crumbs. I went to the health food store looking for a bread crumb substitute.

My sister suggested dried mushrooms. The store was out of those but I found some dried peas. The salesman also suggested Agar Agar. I had never heard of it but I bought some anyway.

Turns out it thickens things and is made of algae. I put the dried peas and the agar agar in the blender and ended up with the mixture pictured below.

The patties looked a bit odd with green specks in them.

But the finished product looked and tasted fine. Problem solved!

The only thing I would change next time would be to let the mixture set longer so the pieces of dried peas could absorb more liquid and soften more.

Stuff was taken to the garage sale site this evening. Tomorrow will be a very busy day.

later….

Nook Learning Curve

2011-05-19T16:23:00.001-04:00

Lucky me, I have people helping out all the time. John mowed my lawn last night even though the grass was still wet.

I continue to play with the Nook a bit each day. I had to drive to Barnes and Noble to learn that the cable for the charger also works as a connection between the computer and the Nook.

They also informed me that books have to be downloaded to the computer then transferred to the Nook.

I have downloaded software and tried to get a library book but couldn’t find it on the computer.

The next move is a trip to the library in the hope that someone there can explain why I can’t find the book I tried to download. Also someone to tell me how to move it from the computer to the Nook.

Today about noontime I was slopping around in my nightshirt and a pair of corduroys when I got company. Lesson learned – get dressed in the morning. No real problem as old friends don’t mind that stuff.

The group of dealers at the antique barn are setting up at a citywide garage sale on Sat. It will be fun. The weather is supposed to be nice, in the 70’s.

Lory is selling some of her things and has been helping get my stuff ready also.

Friday evening Lory and John and I are going to take the stuff over and get ready for Sat.

I probably won’t stay all day, maybe take a break in the middle. I’ll be tired plus the dogs aren’t used to be left all day.

later….

Before and After & Nook

2011-05-17T17:29:00.001-04:00

Sorry about the hazy “before” picture. The camera had been in the cold car and was steamed up in the warmth. You can still see that he was just a pile of hair. Believe it or not I cut an inch or so off him a month ago.

I wondered how I would get Teddy out of the house without bringing Bandit along but it worked out fine. Bandit was sleeping when we left and he was still asleep when I got back home.

When I brought Teddy home Bandit wasn’t sure who he was and is still chasing him around the house trying to check him out. Bandit even did a barking “Bandit 500” thru the house just now.

Lory called today to tell me it is raining. I told her “thank goodness the draught is over”. I think we are all a little goofy from all the rain. I think I have moss growing between my toes instead of athletes foot. There are mushrooms growing in the lawn.

I think the Cymbalta is starting to have some affect. I feel pretty cheerful lately. Nothing like being a happy cancer patient.

I played with the Nook some today. I didn’t want to go asking questions before I even knew what questions to ask.

I now know what format I want to download the books. I don’t see why I need to put the software to do that on my laptop when the Nook can get on the internet the same as the laptop.

I do have a problem with my big fingers and the tiny print on the Nook. I can make it bigger, that’s one thing I figured out.

When I am on the library’s website and it asks what device I want to download to, Nook is not one of the choices. I think I need to investigate Barnes & Nobles website for advice.

If I figure it out for myself I’ll remember it better. I’ve been told I’m cussed independent.

Later….

Blood, Shopping, & Nook

2011-05-16T15:33:00.001-04:00

My appointment to get my blood checked was at 9:30 today. Everything was fine so I went on to do some errands.

Dog food and health food store were at the top of the list. I even had enough energy to check out the thrift store that is close to the health food store.

I found 2 velour sweat suits that fit. They were very nice but the 2 of them were still less than the price of 1 new one.

I still had energy left so Walmart was next on the list. It was 12:30 before I got home. My Nook ereader was on the front porch.

Since then I have been reading about it and getting it charged up. I registered it on the Barnes & Noble website but did not give them a credit card number.

I plan to download books for free from the library. I’ve been on the library site looking at the FAQ about what software I need to download.

I may have to go there to talk to them about what I need to do. I can get on the internet with the Nook if there is a WIFI connection available. It has a touch screen and a tiny touch keyboard that came up when I registered it.

I apparently need to download a special version of Adobe eBooks to both my computer and the Nook. This will take a while to figure out.

Tomorrow Teddy is going to the groomer, I’ll try to get before and after pictures.

later….

Suddenly Summer

2011-05-13T14:47:00.001-04:00

There has been a strange light in the sky the last 3 days. It is ominously quiet. I look out the window and there is no rain. We are having a 3 day draught. It’s been in the 80’s.

It should be over this afternoon.

I went shopping on the internet yesterday. I ordered a Nook ereader. First I called the local library and they explained that I can go to their website and download books onto a Nook or a Sony reader.

They said they did not support the Kindle, it just works with Amazon.

Then I checked out both Sony and Nook readers and decided I wanted the one with the most gadgets. So I ordered a refurbished Nook from Barnes & Noble.

I have bought refurbished items before and never had a problem. It’s a little bit of savings. Sometimes it is just a cable that got left out of the package. I figure it just got an extra inspection.

When I go to the library I sneeze and my eyes water. Something about all those books in one place gets me.

My hair continues to fall out. It grows a bit then falls out again except for the very top which still grows. I have some nausea the day after chemo so I take a pill for that.

I’m taking my blood pressure every day and writing it down. It varies widely. Today I go have them take it at the doctors office.

My tomato plants seem to have grown overnight. I’ll enjoy watching them on the back deck.

later….

Mother’s Day + One

2011-05-09T19:10:00.001-04:00

While I was writing yesterdays blog John was mowing the lawn and Lory was outside. She had told me to stay inside so I did.

When she came to get me to come outside I was wary of what she might have done.

Background info: last fall when my granddaughter moved she couldn’t take all her furniture and boxes so they were stored under my carport. The carport is actually kind of a patio with a picnic table. The picnic table had not been seen all winter.

When I went outside the carport/patio was all cleaned off and a plastic table cloth was on the picnic table with clips holding it down. WOW!

Where did all that stuff go? I’m afraid to look in the garage.

Went for chemo this morning then stopped at Home Depot and bought 2 tomato plants. I planted one in a large pot. I have a 5 gallon plastic bucket that I have cut holes in the bottom. I will pick up some good dirt to put in it for the other plant.

I bought heritage plants, not hybrid. The seeds from these tomatoes should grow into a duplicate of the plants. You can also take a branch from a tomato plant and put it in water and it will grow roots.

This has been a beautiful sunny day, I got my hands in the dirt – that’s about as good as it gets.

I want to refer you to my brother-in-law’s blog. When her son-in-law posts something like this you know she was a good person. http://www.because-we-can.net/Because_We_Can/Journals/journal.html

later….

Mother’s Day

2011-05-08T19:05:00.001-04:00

Since I really don’t need anything my kids did work for me for Mother’s Day.

Susan, Tim & Willie cleaned out the weeds from the area at the front of the house and put away stuff on the front porch, like the snow shovel.

They arranged rocks and bowling balls and sea shells. Tim hung up a wind chime that had been down for a year.

As I write this Lory and John are mowing my back lawn. They also brought me chocolate which is always welcome. Lory gave me a hand made card.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

But then the memories start to intrude. Sixteen years ago my Mother slipped away the night after Mother’s day. She had been in a nursing home for 6 weeks after breaking her hip.

I guess when you get old there are always memories, good and bad, that can intrude. I just have to look at the good ones and push the bad ones out.

later….

Sunshine and Poke Greens

2011-05-05T19:00:00.001-04:00

Having complained extensively about the rain I now have to compliment the sunshine. I even went out and pulled a few weeds.

I also found several small poke weeds growing. I fight them every year. I picked some as I remember eating them as a kid. Then I looked poke greens up on the internet and decided not to eat them.

The website I chose –>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed said if you want to eat the young leaves you should boil them three times and throw out the water each time. They are toxic.

I know my Mother didn’t do that when we ate them. I remember them as tasting strong and a bit bitter but edible with a little vinegar added.

I guess I don’t need to add any toxins to the chemo treatments I’m getting. So I will throw out the poke greens I picked.

Maybe I’ll pick some dandelion greens next.

later….

Blood Pressure & Rain

2011-05-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

Kept the appointment with my general practice dr. today. She changed the anti-depressant I am taking. She said the other one caused high blood pressure.

The list of side effects are scary. I may get irritable etc. It’s one I see on TV – Cymbalta.

I also bought a regular blood pressure, on the arm kind. The old one I had just had a finger hole and didn’t measure the same as the one at the dr’s office.

It may have something to do with the fact that I am supposed to use my right arm for blood pressure tests, since I have had a mastectomy on the left side.

I just checked the weather predictions – rain tomorrow, but Thursday is supposed to be sunny.

The sun did shine for a few minutes today but not enough to dry anything out.

The farmers haven’t been able to get in the fields to plant crops. Some of the fields are under water.

Lory wants to plant some garden but it’s just too wet.

Maybe things will dry out….

later….

B-Bye Osama and Chemo Day

2011-05-02T20:20:00.001-04:00

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Osama Bin Ladin is dead!! YEAH!! The song from “The Wizard of Oz” keeps running through my head “The wicked witch is dead”. Maybe it should be "warlock”but it doesn’t flow with that word.

Rain – the normal condition around here – is still falling and falling and falling. The Iris are struggling to bloom.

They were fully open yesterday between rain storms but today they have tried to close up. Poor things.

I talked with the doctor today. I asked for a handicapped parking thing. She wrote me a prescription for one. It is good for 5 years. Is there a message there?

I took it to the license bureau and got the thing you hang on your mirror for $3.50. It seemed strange to take a prescription to the license bureau.

When I told my daughters that I was going to get the handicapped thing they both offered to go shopping with me. Such thoughtful children.

I stopped at a Wendy’s on the way home and got some of their fries with sea salt on them. It was wasted on me as they didn’t taste good at all.

This chemo is much quicker than the other drug I was getting.

After I got home I got a call from the nurse. The doctor wants me to go to my general practitioner about my blood pressure. I have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. It is always high when I go to the oncologist. 180/90 today. When I check it at home it is fine. I think they call that white coat syndrome.

I will take my blood pressure meter with me tomorrow and check it against theirs. Mine is one of those that you just stick your finger in. We will see.

Later….