Monday, Monday

This weekend I spent some time sitting out back on the deck, reading. I don't do either of those things very much, but I have to say that I enjoyed doing both. It's been warm, of course, but I think the humidity must be down, because it was quite comfortable sitting out there. I think I'm going to go get one of those outdoor lounge chair things so I can sit out there and read more often. I keep telling myself I need to read more. I have several unread books on my shelf and no real excuse for not reading them.

The book I'm reading is one that one of my Facebook "friends" recommended. It's called The Force is Middling in this One: And Other Ruminations from the Outskirts of the Empire, by Robert Kroese. It's quite entertaining, and very funny. It's actually a collection of blog posts, so it covers many topics. It's an easy read. I highly recommend it. If you're a Dave Barry fan I think you'll especially enjoy it.

There are two types of mosquito bites. First, there's the minimally annoying bite. It itches a little and lasts for about two days. Then there's the extremely itchy, wake-you-up-at-night, lasts-forever bite like the one I have on my wrist right now. I don't know what sort of mosquito bites like that, but I'm pretty sure that it first exposes the victim to some sort of chemical that causes her to be oblivious to the insect's presence. I know this because, if it didn't, I'm sure I would have seen and felt something that evil piercing my skin. I literally woke up last night itching like crazy, and couldn't go back to sleep until I started to feel the effects of some anti-itch cream I slathered on.

Mosquitoes are one big reason I don't go outside much. I'm one of those people they love to bite. If you're having an outdoor party,  you want to invite someone like me to keep the mosquitoes away from everyone else. Because they like me so much, I'm always spraying poison all over my arms and legs to keep them away. (Obviously, I occasionally miss a spot.) I can't help but wonder what this is doing to me - what sort of disfiguring, painful, slow-killing disease I might end up with. Yesterday I wondered if there is some sort of "personal insect net/tent" for sale that I could use when I go out to read. If not, there should be. Maybe I'll "invent" one. I imagined something shaped like an umbrella with insect netting that reaches the ground. It would have to be designed so that it could be used in either a sitting or a prone position.

On Facebook I've "liked" a group called "I wish mosquitoes sucked fat instead of blood." Can you imagine the sort of spa treatments (or would it be considered plastic surgery?) we'd be able to have if that were true? You'd be nearly naked and go into a room filled with hungry mosquitoes. You'd probably have your head covered, as well as any areas on your body that didn't need slimming. What would we do about the itching? Would we tolerate it to be thin? Would we be prescribed large doses of something that would numb our body (or brain) until the itching passed? How would we make sure the fat sucking was done evenly? What if it wasn't? We'd have to come up with some way to direct the fat-sucking mosquitoes to the "problem areas." Maybe, instead of a room full of mosquitoes, there would be little devices we'd wear, say, on our thighs, that would be full of mosquitoes. We'd strap it on and slide open a little panel that exposed the problem area to the mosquitoes. "Full treatment again, Ms. Smith?" "No, I think I'm just going to do the love handles today, Pierre."

I feel bad, sometimes, that I don't take the dogs outside more. They can go out whenever they want to because I have a doggie door, and they know how to use it. But they prefer to be inside. So while I was out on the deck reading, I was thinking that it was nice for the dogs to get out. Especially Rosie, who doesn't get enough exercise, and walking around, exploring the back yard was exercise. Not as much as she needs, but more than she gets now. So imagine how I felt when Rosie's eye started to look like it might be infected, and a resulting trip to the vet showed that it was a result of her getting something lodged into her eye as a result of our outside time. She actually has something in her eye. Not something you can wash out or remove with a cotton swab. Something actually stuck in her eyeball. And this something could cause some very serious trouble - including blindness and loss of her eye - if it doesn't get better. I'm treating her with two medications, both which go into her eye, and we're hoping that they, however they work, remove the thing from her eyeball. (I have to remind you, at this point, that there is a "contribute" button in the right margin!)

Here's a picture of what I see when I'm sitting out on the deck and I look up:

 

This tree is key in keeping the temperature down in my house in the summer. It's quite large and its branches cover most of the house. Strangers frequently stop by and ask if I want them to trim the branches for me. I usually respond, "Yes, if you'll do it for free." Then they leave. Same thing happens when someone wants to mow my front lawn.

I got a great deal on a new lawnmower. I was having problems with the old one in spite of having changed the air filter and the spark plug. I put some gas in it and it started right up. When that gas was used up it stopped, of course. I added more gas. But I guess the mower decided it had worked enough that day and refused to start again. I tried several more times (on different days) to get the thing to start again so I could actually mow my lawn (which I don't really mind doing myself), but with no success. So, like most decadent Americans, I decided to buy a new mower. I grabbed my Walmart credit card and off I went. I was going to buy the cheapest mower they had, which was $175. On the way into the store I noticed a lawnmower sitting all by itself with a sign that said $153. It looked very much like the $175 mower that I'd planned to buy. Of course I asked about it. The story was that someone had bought it and decided they didn't want it, so they brought it back. It looked like new. It worked fine. It was just "used," so it was discounted. The big surprise was that it wasn't the $175 mower I'd been wanting, but a more expensive model that I wouldn't have been able to afford ($275, if I recall correctly). I snatched that baby right up!!

This new mower is self-propelled, which is great, but makes me feel a little guilty because I'm not getting as much exercise as I did with a push mower. Oh well. We have to make some sacrifices. In case you're not familiar with how a self-propelled mower works, I'll tell you. There is a thin bar you have to squeeze in order to start the motor and make it run, just like push mowers. Then, to make the mower move forward, there's a handle you squeeze. The more you squeeze, the faster you go. Now, maybe it's because I'm getting older, but sometimes I forget, when the mower get going too fast, that all I need to do to slow it down is to release the handle. If you were to watch me mow the lawn, you'd know exactly when this happens, because for just a second I look a little awkward, walking very quickly behind the mower! I'm strongly hoping that continued use of this mower will eventually accustom me to the speed control. If not, I might put out a tip jar for when the neighbors are watching.

Truly Amazing

Long day today. First, I didn't get any sleep last night. When I finally got tired enough to go to bed, a certain part of my body decided there would be no sleeping. I'll spare you the details. Suffice to say that a dose of Immodium took care of that. But not until it was almost time to call the Vet. You see, my beloved Rosie has been having issues in the last week and a half. She's been going outside much more often than normal, drinking a lot, and last night she "wet the bed." So first thing this morning I called our Veterinarian.

I took her in at 11:00 (after I spent $20 to get someone to come over and jump start my car). After a urine sample and a blood sample I was told that she has diabetes. And I guess it's bad enough that the vet wants to get her started on insulin first thing tomorrow. So I will take her in and drop her off at 7:30 tomorrow morning. The vet will inject, watch, and test (I think) until he figures out the exact dose that will get her sugar levels back to normal. This will go on for two days, and I will be able to bring her home overnight tomorrow, and for good on Friday afternoon.

Rosie is 11 years old, and the vet assured me that the diabetes is a result of her age, and not of anything I did or didn't do. (In fact, she has lost two pounds since her last visit to the vet. She was overweight, and still is, but that's not a factor as far as having diabetes.)

Bad news, but I'm coping.

Rosie and I have been to this vet many, many times. And I've taken my other dogs, and my cats, there, too. So they know me. We talk. We joke around. We have a good time. They're good people.

After the visit to the vet I went to the bank to cash a check. I earned over $40 by reading e-mails and doing surveys with inboxdollars.com. If you should decide to go over and sign up (fat chance, I know), please let me know so I can get credit for your membership!

After the bank I went to the Post Office to check my mail box.

After the Post Office I went to Walgreens. I had some photos to pick up and I also purchased a few items. I have friends who still work there so I said hello to them. There were six people working there today when I went in who know me. I said hello to all of them.

Then I went to Walmart for groceries and such. I first went to the Vision Center and got myself some new glasses. (I've been wearing my sunglasses ever since I broke my other frames several weeks ago!) I was in the Vision Center for about 15-20 minutes. The only customer there. Got along well with the person who was working there. Ordered my new glasses. Then went shopping. I also know several people who work at Walmart, and I said hello to each one that I saw. I guess I said hello to at least a half dozen friends there. And I had a nice conversation with the cashier as she checked me out.

All in all, except for the bad news about Rosie, it was a pleasant and full day.

So what, you may be thinking, was "truly amazing"? Well, I'll tell you. All day long I was wearing this shirt, without a jacket or sweater.

And not a sole - not one single, solitary person - asked me if I knew the way to San Jose! And that, Dear Reader, was truly amazing!!!!!
✖

A Pussy and a Pillow and Pet Pus

Well, two pillows, actually. I ordered them about a week ago - two solid foam pillows from Overstock.com. I'd had solid foam pillows for many years and loved them, but never replaced them a few years ago when they wore out. (They're hard to find.) I missed them. I had been thinking recently that my regular, store-bought pillows actually felt kind of hard. So I went online and found two very reasonably priced solid foam pillows and I ordered them. (I only really wanted one, but the price at Overstock.com for two, together, was better than the price of one at other places.)

Ooooh I love my solid foam pillows. They are so soft and comfortable and not at all "hard" like the other pillows were. Hard to believe I waited this long to replace the old pillows. Thank goodness for the Internet.

I would have had a great night's sleep with my new solid foam pillows, except that Gracie (one of my cats) decided she wanted to spend the night on me. She slept on me for most of the night. She was on my stomach when I was sleeping on my back. She was on my hip when I was sleeping on my side. I'd get up and use the bathroom and as soon as I came back to bed she'd climb up on me again and go to sleep. I'd switch positions to get more comfortable and she'd patiently wait until I was settled and climb back on. Eventually she decided to sleep somewhere else (thank God) and I and my solid foam pillows thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the night!

I took Celie to the vet yesterday because she has an inflamed sore on one of her legs. I didn't think much of it. Figured she'd get some antibiotics. Roscoe had a similar sore awhile back and that's all he got - antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. But the vet decided to scare me a little - just a little - by suggesting a test for cancer because Celie's lymph node was swollen. Great. Long story short - it wasn't cancer. But Celie HATES THE VET and it didn't help when the vet stuck the inflamed area TWICE with needles so she could test for cancer. Celie will never get in the car again.

Catch-up

Not the condiment.

I worked six days in a row. The last two, Saturday and Sunday, were 10-hour days. This is what happens when you're already short-handed and someone goes on vacation. I don't mind too much. It means a bigger paycheck, and I can always use extra income. But it also means my normal two days off will be separated. I'll be off Monday and Friday instead of Sunday and Monday. That hurts. I normally need a day off to sleep, and then a day off to get things done that I need to do. With only one day off I'll sleep, and nothing that needs to get done will get done.

I don't sleep so much because I want to. I sleep because something is wrong with me. I don't know if it's hormones or thyroid or what. I just know that I never feel rested, like I used to. If I didn't have to get out of bed I'm sure I could sleep for days and still not feel rested.

I have been scheduled for lab tests for several months. The problem is that, if I take a day off work to go get the tests, or if I plan to go on my day off, I end up not getting out of bed to go to the hospital. I sleep. I need tests to find out why I'm always so tired, but I'm too tired to get up and go have the tests done.

I know you're thinking, well, just get out of bed and go!! I've thought that myself about a couple dozen times. It's just not that easy. This is not normal tiredness.

So anyway, I've only got tomorrow off. Or today, actually, since it's after midnight. I have to take Rosie to see the Vet. I got a late appointment so I'd have a better chance to actually get out of bed and go. And I really need to mow my lawn. If I get Rosie to the Vet, I'll be able to mow the lawn after we get home. But that's all I'll be able to do.

I cleaned my bedroom/office last "weekend." That was a big job since I'm such a slob. Being tired all the time affects housework, too. The rest of the house needs attention, and I'd finally talked myself into cleaning, but that won't happen tomorrow. Probably won't happen Friday, either. But I'll be back to my normal two days off starting next Sunday, so I'll clean some house! Oh wait! Maybe not. I just remembered I'm going to a Democrat barbeque on Labor Day. I guess housework will have to wait an extra week. (No, we're not barbequeing democrats!)

I still plan to write about my trip back from California to Texas. I haven't forgotten. I just need to have more time and not be tired. Those two things don't often happen at the same time.

Now I'm going to go to bed. It's one of my favorite places!! Good night.

Wait, I forgot. We got two new Umbrella Hat Society members today!!!!!!!