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!