My side of the story

Mom went away and left us. This is Baby speaking, of course. Molly is snoring on the sofa, and mom is trying to clean the house. I decided I needed to tell what happened when mom went away.

Mom decided again she needed to be Some Place Else. Molly and I do not like that. Mom gets out this box she calls a "suitcase," and Molly and I get upset. Molly once ate a book that mom left next to the suitcase, but mom got over it, after she was through laughing. The cat used to jump in the suitcase and shed all over everything, but the cat is gone.

Mom was on the phone a lot, talking about finding a "dog sitter." What is up with that? We don't want to sit. Mom needs to be looking for a walker or a feeder, not a sitter! Eventually she found Waldo's brother to sit for 3 days with us and Linda for 3 days.

Waldo is the nice cocker spaniel down the street. We like Waldo. He is kind of old and slow, but we like to walk with him and his mom. Linda is Rocket's mom, and they live around the corner. We like Linda because she gives us lots of kisses and food. Rocket is another beagle. Rocket wears an e-collar instead of a leash, which sort of makes us jealous. Rocket is also old and sot of slow, unless food is involved. Molly and Rocket once disagreed over who was going to eat a treat. Next thing we knew, Rocket's ear was bleeding and I was trying to hide behind mom. Molly needed more drugs when we got home, but she looked awfully proud of herself.

Mom made a big mess packing. That is kind of fun. We get to sneak into the closet and smell stuff. Then she dragged her little suitcase out to the car, and we knew it was a done deal. Mom was up all night, and we were not happy that she stayed up two nights in a row. We need out beauty sleep, you know.

Mom left. She didn't make a big deal of it, but we knew by the suitcases that we were in for a long haul. You think one week, we think almost two months. Waldo's brother came over and stayed with us almost the whole time for three days! He did go to work a little bit, but we were tired from playing with him, his mom, and his dad, so we barely realized he was gone. It was great fun!

Mom had told me to keep an eye on Molly. Molly has Addison's Disease and can die if she gets too stressed and doesn't get enough prednisone. Mom explained the illness carefully to Waldo's brother and to Linda. In great detail. Mom is a worrier. She also had pages of typed directions just in case. She left her cell phone number, saying to call at any time for any little problem or question at all. Mom wanted Molly to be fine.

I have noticed that people think only "bad" stress counts. Oh, no. "Good" stress counts, too. Molly needs more pills if she plays too much, has too much company, or anything like that. Mom always knows, or Molly tells her.

Oh, no! All that playing with Waldo's brother and his parents - please give Molly some extra medicine! Will someone listen to me? Molly needs more pills. Look at her, can't you see her face is a bit drawn and her eyes are a little goopy? OK, so I cleaned up her eyes for Molly, so maybe they missed that. Doesn't anyone see that Molly is stressed? Mom, come fix Molly! Molly, keep getting in Waldo's brother's face and demand those pills!

Waldo's brother doesn't seem to understand. How do I get attention for Molly? Oh, I know something that always gets attention. Well, if I use beagle logic, I know that any stress to Molly, good or bad, means she needs medicine. So, therefore, any attention will do, good or bad. Maybe if I do this on the floor when no one is looking they will think Molly did it and give her medicine.

Oh look! Here comes Linda and Rocket! Oh boy, Linda is mom's friend, she will give Molly more pills. Molly, go get in Linda's face!

No, Linda, not kisses! Molly needs medicine! See how drawn she is, her poopies are softer, she is sick! Someone help Molly! I better do something else for attention for Molly.

Where is my mom? Molly, are you OK? What did Linda just say? She is leaving us alone at 2:30 am to go home to sleep? She thinks we will go back to sleep?

Molly, don't worry. Someone will give you pills. Here, let me get some more attention for you. Someone has to take care of Molly! What else can I do for attention?

Molly, are you OK? Why are you throwing up bile like that? Molly? Oh, Molly, you look awful. Mom? Come home, mom! Linda? Waldo's brother? We have never, ever spent a night alone. Never. It's OK, Molly. Please stop throwing up. You have been doing that for hours now, and I am scared! I need more attention. Let me try over here. Molly! Please don't throw up again!

Molly, please be OK. I know you can die very fast without any prednisone in your body to replace your cortisol. Mom will fix it. I wish we could sleep, but Molly is sick and I am so scared.

I think I hear mom's car! It's maybe half a mile away, but I know that sound! Oh boy, oh boy, I need to get some attention. This looks like a good spot. Molly, are you going to make it? Mom is almost here! Molly, stop throwing up! Listen! That's mom's car!

Oh, sorry, Molly, don't listen! You got so excited that you are throwing up again!

Mom, mom, mom, where have you been Molly is so sick and I am so scared I am sorry I didn't protect Molly I tried so hard to get enough attention so someone would give Molly her medicine oh thanks mom for taking us outside we really really needed to pee hurry mom oh look Molly is getting several pills when she usually just gets one with breakfast oh I am so hungry thank you mom yeah Molly threw up all over the entire condo but we are so happy to see you don't go away again thank you for giving Molly her medicine she will be better in a few days won't she mom I am so sorry I couldn't make it all better yes we want to curl up on the sofa with you and take a nap even if you don't sleep we are so tired we really missed you I am sorry about Molly I tried so hard Molly move over you are going to be OK and I want to be close to mom and I am really t i r e d zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

If you leave that suitcase out, mom, I am going to pee on it. Darn, there it goes, into the spare closet again.

Hybrid part 2

Sometimes I feel like a hybrid, too. A cross between maybe a human and something fey.

There I was, in a brand new house, alone, with two beds and four folding chairs. Late has only recently bought the house, and they haven't furnished it yet. It was about 6 pm, and again I was very tired. The subdivision is huge, and I barely understood how to get in there. I wasn't about to try to get out in the dark. There are no street lights there, and it's in the middle of nothing. One wrong turn, and the buzzards would find me in a few days. Maybe.

I decided to make myself comfy, since I couldn't make dinner, and get online. Oops. No can do. I still don't get it - I sometimes had a five-star unsecured signal, but I could not tap into it. I tried to get on, gave up, and spent time clearing out some old files on my computer. It's amazing how much junk accumulates when you don't look, isn't it?

I read a book. Most of a whole book. Late called to say she would be late due to the snowstorm I managed to miss. We had almost a foot of snow the day after I left the state. Hey, it wasn't my fault! Still, I was secretly pleased. Don't tell anyone. It's always a pleasure to be some place warm and miss a snow storm.

About 2 am I convinced myself that I really needed some sleep. I drugged myself and went to bed. Late told me in the morning that she came in around 3 am, but I heard nothing. That is rare for me - even with a sleeping pill, I wake up at the drop of a dime.

In the morning we decided to eat, walk, and shop. I need to eat something in the mornings due to medication, we always walk, and she needed to pick up a lot of stuff for the house. I drove, figuring we would be gone just a few hours. She directed me about 40 miles away to a little restaurant, which we hit about 3 pm. By then, I really wasn't even hungry any more, but I ate a little. I reminded her - walk, then shop.

She directed me to a Target store, where we bought four of everything. Of course, it was dark when we left the store. No walk. I managed to drive through the mountains in the dark without any street lights and get back to her house, where we unloaded her stuff andset it up. Most, of course, was kitchen stuff. It was kind of fun, playing with all new things. We opened packages and boxes and put things away. We made sandwiches for dinner, and sat down and talked for a few hours. 

The next morning we got up and walked. I was determined to do that! We probably walked only 4 miles, but at least it was nice out. Her subdivision has walking trails throughout it, with little water stations for people and dogs, plus little doggy doo doo disposal posts, complete with little bags. Very cute. There were occasional playgrounds for children, too. Afterwards, a friend we used to work with showed up, and we went out to lunch together. We went to a Chilis. I was happy to get a huge salad.

Late and the friend went on to some furniture stores, but I begged off. I had driven separately, and I wanted to try to get on the Internet while waiting for another local friend of mine to show up. I never did get online, but he did show up. We went for a beer, then for a hike in the Saguro (I spelled it wrong, didn't I?) National Park. I believe we walked in a gully wash or something like that? It was my fault we didn't go farther into the park - I was getting edgy again about driving in the mountains and all. I am such a northern girl sometimes.

When I returned to Late's house, she wasn't there and didn't answer her phone. I rather expected that, so I got my book out again. She returned, we had dinner, and then we went outside.

We went in her backyard first, but the porch was in the way. We walked out onto the driveway, and looked up. The stars were just incredible. I was highly impressed. I have seen stars in a lot of different locations, but that was the most beautiful I have ever seen the sky look. The Milky Way was very evident. I could clearly see the sword of Orion - I don't think I have ever seen those three stars so clearly. I was totally awed. I can only imagine how beautiful they must be farther out in the desert, or on top of a mountain. The trip was worth it just for that few minutes of standing on Late's driveway in my socks.

I told Late that her casita was to be called Susita's Casita, because it is mine. I left something of mine there to stake my claim, but she said she went in there and didn't find it. That makes it mine, right?

My last morning there, we went for another walk, about 4 miles again. I packed up, and we drove back towards Phoenix in tandem. (Late returned to her house that night, and just came home tonight from AZ.) I was meeting another friend; she was meeting another former co-worker. We all met at a mall, but not in the same places. My friend and I went to dinner.

We had a great time, laughing and giggling and drinking and eating. I had to go to the ladies' room, and as soon as I opened the door I almost ran into Late. I had no idea we were eating in the same restaurant, and neither did she. She and her friend came back to our table to say hi for a few minutes.

By this time, I was getting very jumpy. I had already driven 100 miles again through the desert, and didn't want to get back in the car and get on the freeway in the dark to find the offsite car rental return area. I really, really did not want to do that.

My friend got in her car, let me follow her, and led me to the airport, and then all the way to the rental site. She was my angel that night for sure. Once I parked the car, I didn't want to move. I just sat still and breathed for a few minutes. I don't know why that made such a wreck out of me, but it was my second meltdown over one trip.

There is a good chance I will be returning to AZ in the next couple of months. I hope if I can swing it, that I will get to hike a lot more. I feel I get more from a new place when I am on foot than any other way.

My fears on doing another airport security check were unfounded. No one felt me up, no one made me stand in a separate area looking guilty. One nice man noticed my sling and lifted my suitcase up on the security counter for me, after asking me if it was my shoulder or collar bone. He has been where I am, and he said he felt my pain. I thought that was sweet.

As far as my luggage that I had to drag all over, I only had a pilot bag and a carry bag. My purse would have fit in the carry bag, if I needed it to. I travel light, and even more so when injured. In fact, I was oneshirt short. Late loaned me a pj top so I didn't have to wear a shirt twice. It sort of looked like a regular top. The pilot bag has a handle that allows the carry bag to hook onto it, so I only had to drag the pilot bag. However, I usually switch hands off and on, and I had to totally rely on my left hand this time.

We left the Phoenix airport about half an hour late. I got to the Detroit airport about 6 am, and was home in my house at 8 am. We sure did have a lot of snow! It was snowing when I was driving, but I am used to driving on icy bridges. It's desert roads I am not accustomed to.

Molly was not in great shape when I came in. The dog sitter had left about 2:30 am, to take herself and her dog home to sleep. She assumed my dogs would just go back to sleep after she left. (She sat 3 days, Waldo's brother sat 3 days.) They didn't, from what I could tell. I was obviously late for their first outing of the day, and they were very hungry and highly stressed. Molly needed 2.5 times her usual dose of prednisone, and I am not sure that was enough. I had to give her 2 times her dose yesterday, and 1.5 times today. We took a 2 mile walk with Waldo and his mom today, and I think Molly is back to herself now. Today was a little warmer here, around 45 degrees, and the snow was melting.

Baby is still leaving me little packages every time I go out of the house. She is, I think, expressing her displeasure at my having been gone.

Tonight I picked up the third lesson of my class, since someone else had to teach the first two lessons for me. The class is the email and Internet one, and no one in the class has a clue. It will be great; they will learn so much by the time we are done. I should have taken pictures in AZ and emailed them to my sub, who could have shown them to the class, but I didn't. I will, next time.

We are back to normal routines here. I think I need to plan another trip! I have a new dogsitter and I plan to use him all I can.

 

Hybrid

The car I rented in Phoenix was a Honda Civic hybrid. It wasn't the original car they gave me. The original was some sort of tiny little Ford that didn't allow me to see over the steering wheel. There I was, up two nights in a row without any sleep, in a lot of pain from dragging around luggage, and they stick me in a car I can't see out the windshield. Even I was thinking short person jokes. The steering wheel did not adjust. Of course, I discovered this small inconvenience after I had lifted my luggage into it.

I asked if they had another car. They pointed to the Honda, and I smiled. I may be from the Motor City area, but give me a Japanese car any time. I want one that will run. I crawled in (remember, I was very tired) and adjusted the steering wheel and the seat. The seat even moved up higher, so I was perfectly content. I knew I could adjust from driving a SUV at home to driving a little car because I used to drive sports cars when I was younger. I kept reaching for the clutch with my left foot in the Honda, but I got over it. The car had several minor scratches and hadn't been cleaned, but I told them I didn't care, if they would just remove the used water bottles from the last people.

I couldn't get a phone signal where the cars were. First, I was in a panic thinking my phone wasn't going to work in AZ. No, I just needed to get out of the basement. I was so tired, so very tired/stupid, that I could not process the directions the desk people gave me, plus they had no idea where my nephew's street was and no one had a better map. I called Remo.

The poor man very patiently repeated the simple directions to me about 20 times. Cops and social workers drive from place to place for a living, and we give good directions. We don't just say, "Turn left on this road," we add that it will be 10 miles before the turn, and maybe add in the name of the road before it or some other indicator. I finally decided I had it down pat and got back in the car.

I do not like to drive on freeways. I used to use them daily, but now I am not ever in a hurry and I like to drive surface roads and enjoy the drive. I had to hop on one freeway, switch to another, then find an exit. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? Luckily, it was. I found my nephew's house without an issue. I still have no idea whether I was going north or west or whatever most of the time there.

My nephew had told me his garage door code so I could get in. He told me that it doesn't always work very easily. He is correct. I probably had to put the code in 10 times before it took. I dragged my luggage in and made myself at home. That wasn't hard, since I was the only one there.

Well, the only human, that is. I already knew they have three dogs - two HUGE great danes and one min-pin. Someone forgot to tell me about the three lions. Well, theoretically they are house cats, but I never saw that much fur on three cats in my life. They looked at me and ran, I looked at them and sighed. I have recently developed an allergy to cats. Who needs to breathe? I was in AZ, the sun was out, the dogs were outside, and I was long without sleep. 

The sofa was mine. I called my nephew and left him a message, asking him to direct me some place to get something to eat. It was lunch time, no one fed us on either flight, and I was tired and hungry. I decided to try to nap a bit. The dogs were outside, but I was not comfy letting in 310 lbs of dog when 160 lbs of them never saw me before. They barked every 90 seconds. The cats walked all over me and licked my hands.

I decided that I didn't need any sleep. I got up off my sofa and decided to brave the streets. I had no idea where I was, but I figured if I didn't go too far in any one direction I would be able to find my way back. I needed to get some diet Pepsi, some dinner, and a street map. Give me a map, and I will get there. Finally, I found places that sold me all three plus some Corona. I had to make two trips to the car, since I can't carry with my right hand. Besides, I was on the phone talking to another friend who lives in the area. She helped me find my way around too.

Eventually I realized that even though I had arrived in Phoenix at noon, I had lost the day. It was already dark. My nephew showed up around 8 pm, I think. His wife was later. Luckily I had eaten while I was out. My family is into benign neglect. I had already noticed there was no food in the kitchen.

My nephew and I shared a couple of beers. My niece, who is extremely pregnant, went to bed. He and I chatted and caught up on family news. I started trying to do the math and realized I had been up for 65 hours. I spread out the blankets and the pillow that had been handed to me, grabbed the min-pin, curled up with him, and slept. I slept 7 hours without hearing anything. The dog never moved. When I rolled over, I had to grab him and move him with me. He would growl, but that was it. He didn't snore much, either. I decided that ten pounds of growling, snoring min-pin would fit better on the sofa with me than two 150 lb great danes, but I missed my beagles. The cats walked over me now and then, checking me out and making me pet them.

Once the 7 hours were up, so was I. Wide awake. Still tired, but no longer sleepy at all. I picked up the min-pin, he growled, I tossed him outside, and I tried to figure out how to spend my day. I had lunch with a friend, met another to walk through the mall. We all had a good time. I did not spill my lunch all over myself this time. I am a big girl now.

I returned to my nephew's house for dinner. Silly me. He called, told me they had a baseball game to go to. I said fine, I would take them out to dinner after the game. I spoke with another friend, and was reminded of a mall I went to last time that is outdoors. I needed a walk - this was my second day there and I wanted to walk outside. I thought walking in an outdoors mall would be a good idea, since I would probably still be there after dark and would feel safer than trying to guess which streets were safe by my nephew's house. My niece returned home before I could leave. She decided to skip the game, and I ended up chatting with her so late that I just stayed in. I didn't even want dinner by that time.

Another 7 hours of sleep after delivered pizza and the rest of the beer. The min-pin was getting comfy with the sofa instead of sleeping outside with the danes. I folded my blankies and packed up. I was stopping in a mall to meet the friend again, and it was on the way to Marana, which was my next destination. I said goodbye to my niece and nephew, their 3 dogs, and their 3 cats. I hope to be back not long after the baby is born so I can give her a hand. I should have two working hands by then.

My friend and I walked outside the inside mall so I could get some real fresh air that was above freezing. I hadn't seen any in at least a month at home. It has been really cold. It felt wonderful - I was outside in warm weather, with a lovely friend, and getting some exercise. Does it get much better than that?

Marana and Phoenix are almost 100 miles apart. I live in Michigan, and the terrain is considerably different than the desert. For one thing, it's sort of flat here. We just have glacial gouging. That means some rolling hills, but nothing that resembles a mountain of rocks. Everything grows here without effort. When it's not the dead of winter, everything is green and growing, whether we like it or not.

So, I hopped in my little hybrid and hit the freeway. I-10 was my main road out there. I still don't like freeways, but at least it was a direct route. I don't get it - Tucson and Phoenix are 100 miles apart. There is almost nothing between them except desert. Nevertheless, the freeway is jammed with traffic. I put on some good music and drove straight through. One hundred miles is no big deal, but I also drank two bottles of diet Pepsi.

My friend who is always late, whom I call Late in this journal, recently bought a new house in Marana, near Tucson. I was to meet her there. However, due to flight issues, etc, I arrived before she did. Of course, her flight was - guess - late!

This is long enough, isn't it? I will write the rest later. I could just say, "I went to Arizona for 6 days and had fun," but I am not a woman of few words, now, am I?

 

A pearl of wisdom

 

Do not try to travel too soon after a shoulder surgery.

Bonus pearl: Do not forget to get out the little quart baggie of liquid items in 3 oz or less size bottles and hand it to someone. You will be wanded, felt up, and kept around for 20 minutes or so, even if the baggie is all ready to go and you just forgot to get it out because you were trying to get your shoes, two jackets, a laptop, the laptop case, a cell phone, keys, and whatever else off and onto the counter for the checkers to paw through. I think that lady touched me in places no one else ever has.

I think this is the first time I have ever explained a pearl. Blame it on the fact that I haven't slept since Friday. Tonight's not looking too good either, but I hope to get in a few hours of sleep, at least!

 

 

 

 

A Confession

I wish to confess that it was me. I had an affair. I am not proud of it, but it was lots of fun.

I am the other parent of Anna Nicole Smith's baby. Her hair is really red, like mine, but they dyed it so no one would be able to tell.

My people will be talking to her people.

I am not looking for publicity or anything, I just thought we should keep the record straight. I am not a lawyer, or a photographer, and she never asked me to make her a princess, but there you have it.

 

*really I am just covering for Remo, who probably is the only person who won't claim to be the father.

 

 

 

 

Waldo's brother

I have called everyone in two counties to dog sit. It seems that winter break starts when I leave for Arizona. Everyone who dog sits is already booked.

I can't believe how desperate and creative I have been. I even called a painter who is pretty much retired to finish up my old house, and asked him if he happened to know anyone who dog sits....

I am a nervous wreck about this. I finally, in a last bid of total desperation, walked down the street to ask Waldo's mom if she has a sitter she uses. Waldo is the biggest cocker spaniel I have ever seen. I took a pen and sticky notes with me, because I was going to leave a note on the door if no one answered. No stone left unturned was my motto. I can hyperfocus with the best of them.

A young man answered the door. Waldo's brother, I figured, since I knew the mom's sons were moving in with her. I started to ask him if he would take a message for his mom, and explained my situation.

He looked at me while I explained my problem. He said, What kind of dog? I said, Two spoiled beagles.

He said - I am single, I live with my parents, I work part time at the mall. I will be happy to do it for you.

Obvious relief flooded me!

We exchanged phone numbers so we could have him and the beagles meet and greet, and besides, my phone rang. My company for tomorrow was confirming.

Not everything is falling in place yet, but the hardest part is over. I half expect my phone to ring with Waldo's brother telling me he just realized he is already busy that week out of town or his mom just came home and said they will be gone and will need him to watch Waldo.

What is unusual about this surprise good luck? Someone sent me a prayer for a dog sitter and a safe trip. I am an atheist. I am also aware of studies done in hospitals and people praying over sick people, and that they get well faster than those without prayers. I am grateful for the prayer and for the nice young man who recently moved in with his parents.

He is even a non-smoker and is not worried about giving medication to Molly.

I wonder if he is hoping to hold out for a meet and greet with the child?

 

 

 

Need a watcher

Everyone needs to pick a month. I need a watcher. Not a dog sitter, but a watcher for ME. Someone needs to be sure I don't do things like depend on my child to take care of me after surgery, or schedule trips without a dog sitter, car rental, or a place to stay the first 3 days. I will somehow get it all sorted out, but I maybe need to plan ahead a little better sometimes.

On a better note, I was sort of able to use a hairdryer today for the first time. Just 3 weeks after surgery! My PT was impressed, then told me to lie down. She stuck her hand on a part of my shoulder, and I tensed. She said, "Oh, is this spot tight? How did I know it would be?" Busted again. Hey, I need to be able to do my own hair one of these days, don't I? I can't do wash and shake forever - my hair is neither curly nor straight. It has a mind of its own, and someone needs to take a whip to it now and then.

I also saw my dermatologist, who said not to worry yet about the incision sites. He said the current swelling is normal, but they might need some cortisone injections in a month or two. He had also been to the same shoulder surgeon, but decided to opt out. He was very impressed with my healing progress at just 3 weeks, especially the lack of bruising. It's gone! The Great Map of China in brilliant colors is gone! One person who reads my journal had asked to see a picture of it - she didn't ask for more after she got one. I suspect she is still looking for her dinner from that night.

I still don't have a dog sitter plan made. I forgot I needed to rent a car. How could I forget that? My brain just slid over it. My nephew, who said, "Come back any time!" hasn't responded to my email request to "come back" soon. Mostly I worry about being able to pack light enough. Bigger backpack, lighter pilot bag? Lighter backpack, heavier pilot bag. Tough call. How many books to take? How many shoes - that is a big question. No soda bottles this trip, not allowed through security any more. How will I function without diet Vernor's?

When child recently went to Florida, a security officer tried to take away her new lip gloss. Let me just say, she still has it. I can picture that one, and wish I had a video of it. With audio, of course.

My dogs are lying here next to me. Molly is pressed against my right leg, snoring away. They are so innocent, not realizing they are about to be thrust into several days of turmoil and change. I almost had a chance to send them to a nice home with two female beagles, but the owner was already sitting for a cat and has finals, so won't be home enough to give them enough attention. Drat. The blood sucker never called me back. I don't like that, nor do I trust her now - she doesn't seem trustworthy at this point.

It sucks to be me, since I will have to go see the blood sucker the day after I get back from vacation. That appointment was set up 3 months ago. I hope she is gentle with my veins.

This is turning into a thought salad! Remember how Molly prepares her own meals if I am late? Today I was 20 minutes late for her dinner. Molly has an internal alarm that is very reliable. (In fact, she is now squirming for her 9:30 pm treat.) When I got home 20 minutes late for her dinner, I found my jammie top in the middle of the foyer with the bottom button chewed off. I had left my jammies on the heated bathroom floor because she had been sleeping on them while I took my shower. The button is damaged and can't be reused. Nothing else is damaged, not even the place where she bit it off from. Now how did she do that?

I am already in pre-travel freak mode. Do not expect any coherent statements from me for a while!

 

Tickets, vet techs, and keys

I am very proud and pleased to announce that I did secure tickets this morning. It was quite a hassle. Last night I felt like I was in Las Vegas, trying to win the best deal on the flights. Sometimes that scares me - do they pay the pilots less for those flights, or use the oldest planes? The prices almost doubled before I went to bed around 1 am. I was discouraged, sad, and ready to give up.

However, while I have ADD, I can hyperfocus with the best of them. I got up this morning, and went at it again. The prices were down a bit, and I am good with what I finally paid.

First, I had called the blood sucker to see if she can dog sit. She would love to, other than the 5 days she will be gone. I tried to work around her schedule, my schedule, Late's flights (going to stay with her at her new house - I bet her flight is late!), available flights, and the price whims online.

The best I could do still left me with 3 days of no dog sitter. I booked it anyway. It took me hours to get to that point, and I think it was the best I was going to get. I then called the vet to find out 1) if any vet techs could dog sit, and 2) what about Molly's tests from last Thursday?

1) No. My favorite vet tech, who charges $25 per dog, is already dog sitting on those days. Of course. She will check with another vet tech who has a friend.....this reminds me of babysitter days.

2) Molly has an e.coli infection in her bladder. The vet started to explain that to me, when I said, "Molly has the Honeymoon disease? Molly, what have you been up to?" She also still has calcium crystals in her urine, to be checked yet again (at $32 a squirt) after the current dose of antibiotics is gone. This time we are going 2 weeks instead of 10 days. Her electrolytes are perfect - her Addison's disease means she cannot balance her K (potassium) and Na (sodium) herself, since she does not have any functioning adrenal glands. She doens't have any natural aldosterone production. Her medication balances the electrolytes. The prednisone replaces the cortisol, which is also producted by the adrenals.

Soon I will call another vet's office or two and seek vet techs for sitters. It's going to cost me more for dog sitting than for the airline tickets.

Thanks, child. Go ahead, lock yourself out of your apartment again without shoes. See if I drop what I am doing and run to rescue you.

I am her mother. I probably will.

 

 

 

Leaving, on a jet plane...

Stick your hand up if you remember my child saying, "I realize that if I don't watch your dogs you can't go on vacation. I will watch your dogs." Remember how sweet that was?

The honeymoon is over. I was gone all of two nights last May. That was my last trip, other than the one I took her on in October to Toronto.

I called her this evening, since she didn't show up to help me clean as promised today. My vacuum cleaner is getting dusty - it hasn't been used now in three weeks. The Swivel Sweeper can only do so much, but that is all I can handle. I heal fast, but I am not a robot. I thought she might feel guilty. Remember the $100 she borrowed for a few days at New Year's? I don't have that either.

My ears are still ringing. She said she wasn't yelling, but my hearing is good. She was yelling. I have no right to assume that just because I want to go some place that she is going to want to watch my dogs. She is a busy person, you know. It went on and on. I said never mind, I won't go. No attitude in it, I just gave up, but I said it conversationally. I am not a manipulator. It's my job to be sure my dogs are safe, and if I can't be sure of that, I don't leave.

She said I had no right to give her attitude. She is busy. She is getting ready to go out. No, she can't watch my dogs the few days I want to go because she agreed to watch someone else's. Also, she is going away over her spring break.

Give me a break - she is 27. Spring break? She is going back to Florida. I said I had no idea she was going away, and that it would be nice if she let me know these things.

She said she doesn't need my permission (!). I agreed, she doesn't. I said there is a difference between keeping in touch and getting permission.

She decided she maybe could watch my dogs but she really doesn't want to. I said I would get back to her. (That was the one thing I said that really wasn't true.)

I spent a while, in tears after the conversation, looking for the name and number of the girl who sucks my blood out at the doctor's office. She said she would watch my dogs for me sometimes. She used to suck blood from dogs - she was a vet tech. She likes dogs. I was too upset to call her.

So far, I still don't have tickets to go to Arizona, even though I found a real sweet deal on tickets - which you know will be gone by tomorrow. I will call the blood sucker tomorrow. If the tickets are still available and cost less than my condo, I am going.

I haven't been avoiding giving the news on Molly's tests because I don't have them yet. It one of the reasons I hadn't booked my tickets yet. But she should be OK in the hands of a vet tech, right? I can call the vet's office first, anyway, and find out why the results that were to come in on Friday haven't been given to me yet.

My brother is out of the hospital and doing fine.

My friend's mother isn't, and I went to the funeral home for her today. I will miss her mom; she was always nice to me. She lead a very happy and active life. I have known the family since around 1973. That friend now lives in New Mexico, and while bittersweet, it was nice to see her today.

It's a good thing I have been doing my best to keep my condo clean, since I am obviously not getting any help. Child said she spent a week here helping me.

She was where doing what?

 

 

Demi-news

Molly on Valium is quite a trip. She gets very stoned. Humans tend to get mellow on Valium, but Molly gets hyper. She is A Very Happy Stoned Dog on Valium. Baby goes along for the contact high. The car ride is hard enough with them when I don't have a sore right shoulder (Baby climbs on my shoulder when I stop the car).

We managed to get to the vet in pretty much one piece each. I took along Molly's favorite toy, a stuffy squirrel that has TWO squeaks in it. She knew it had one, but the day I showed her there were two, she just thought that was the most exciting thing she ever saw. She spent hours squeaking the "new" squeaker.

She ignored it today, of course.

Molly was taken from me by the vet owner of the clinic. My regular vet called me early this morning to tell me she was sick and going home, but Dr T could take care of Molly. Of course he could - he was our vet for years when he first bought that clinic by himself, as a hotshot young new vet. He isn't so young now, but then neither am I.

So, they took Molly and sucked urine out of her bladder with a needle. It's called cytocentesis. They need a sterile draw to culture so they can be sure she is getting the right drug for the right nasty buggie. She wasn't too happy about that - I heard the screech. I tried not to. Baby cried on my lap when she heard it. No one has a right to take away her bigger sister! (Baby is actually bigger than Molly, but they both seem to believe that Molly is huge.)

After that, they drew blood. Molly was either OK with that or they gagged her for it. I didn't hear anything.

Then, they took two x-rays. I asked them to try not to lay her on her back, because she really doesn't like that unless she is getting a belly rub. Maybe she got the belly rub, because one of the x-rays has her spine right in the middle.

Baby bounced off the walls while Molly was gone for almost an hour. Usually she makes me hold her up (35 lb dog) to the window in the door of the examining room so she can see what's going on in the lobby, but I wasn't able to do that this time. That requires two arms, and one of mine isn't capable right now of holding 35 lbs of squirming beagle. So, she contented herself with bouncing off the walls and me. She also shed about 10 lbs of fur and showed a lot of white in her eyes. The beagles do not like to be separated.

Finally Molly came back with the vet. She was still wobbly from the Valium, but calming down. The vet said she did just fine for her tests. I didn't ask him about the screech.

We looked at the x-rays. He showed me where the bladder is, and where stones would be. There was nothing. He showed me one kidney, and where stones would be, and there was nothing. The other kidney was obscured by other inside parts, unknown to me. Molly was, as the vet professionally said, "Full of poop." Was that supposed to surprise me? Of course she is full of shit. Who doesn't know that? He said she looked healthy to him.

The urine results and the full blood screen will be back in a day or two. Well, the urine cultures might take a little longer. There was some discussion of her lymph nodes, but he said my regular vet will go over the x-rays herself. That made me nervous, but I was glad to see a lack of stones.

Molly has her own, just not where the vet was looking.

Meanwhile, I get an email from my sister-in-law. My only sibling, her husband, is in the hospital. I am hoping he will be fine, because I don't want to drive two hours to watch him sleep in a hospital bed. He doesn't talk to me much when we are in the same room. Please keep him in your thoughts?

I will update when I hear more about Molly. Right now she is sleeping off her drugs. Later she will tell me all about her horrible experience at the vet's office. I am just glad she didn't have any seizures.

This will cost me several doggy treats. The vet gets everything else I own.