Process of Moving

http://idonotrecallhavingamemoryproblem.blogspot.com/

So far there is one little boring entry, but it's a start!

 

 

MIA

I know, I know - I am MIA as far as you guys are concerned! It's not shyness or anger at AOL. I have a systemic infection of pseudomonas aerogunosa or something like that and while I will spare you the details of this rebound effect, let me say that I originally went to the learned dermatologist who always discusses the book I am reading with me. He told me my rash was nothing to worry about, and handed me a tube of Topicort. I disagreed. We argued! He assured me it was nothing major and the Topicort would cure it in a week or two. I still argued with him. He finally offered to culture it. I agreed enthusiastically. He was shocked! Then he told me if the culture showed nothing, he would need to biopsy one - totally cut one of them out and have it tested. I totally agreed! We were both shocked!

That was a Monday, 3 weeks ago. On Friday a girl in his office called me to say she wanted my pharmacy number to call in a script for Cipro. I asked what I had? I was told she didn't know anything. I was tempted to just agree with her, but asked her what was in my file. She said there was a lab report. I asked her patiently to read it to me. She gave me the name of the infection and nothing else. I have called back at least 3 times to leave messages to get information. I haven't talked to him yet.

At the end of the week, I still had some spots not healed. So I called the office and said I still had some and had read that I should take the Cipro at least 2 days after the rash was gone and requested another week. I was told I didn't need it and not to worry, everything was going to be fine. I disagreed, but was again talking to someone other than the doctor. So I let it go, deferring against my better judgment. I had a strep throat rebound on me once, and I know a rebound is very intensive.

This weekend I realized it was back. Not on my skin, but internal. Like my mouth. Not a rash, but a coating. My throat, etc. I was terrified that it did this and went to my internist, since the infection was no longer just a rash on my skin. He was a bit mystified by the whole thing. He called my dermatologist to get the best possible antibiotics because sometimes they prefer to give two for this, and the lab would have provided the names. I am now on Cipro for 3 weeks, as of Monday. No improvement as of today, Wednesday. If anything it's maybe worse.

If no one can tell me how to get this out of my mouth I am not eating anything or drinking anything other than a few sips of water when I can't take being thirsty any longer. I will not give details as to why - just trust me. For one thing, my mouth tastes like an ashtray and I do not smoke. I can't think of many tastes that are more abhorrent to me. But I could still eat, if it was just the taste. I have left a message now with my dentist, and for my internist, letting them know I will not eat or drink. Next the same to my dermatologist.

My vertigo is worse or I would go sit in someone's office until I get some answers. I also need to call the neurologist, since I had blamed the taste change on the new sleep stuff. It started a few days after being on the new sleep stuff. I need to find out if the new sleep stuff ever encourages this infection.

I will set up and start writing in my new journal soon, once I can eat and this crap is out of my mouth. I have decided, irrationally, that this infection caused my vertigo. I believed this when I had the skin rash, that if I had Cipro long enough, the vertigo would go away. I think I maybe got it in January.

This is very odd, since I have the immune system to beat all - I haven't even had a cold in a billion years. But this is an infection that immune-suppressed people get in hospitals. I can't recall being in a hospital for any reason except a few weeks ago when I was already on the Cipro and had to pick a friend up. I was in the recovery room for maybe half an hour and then we left. Before that, I guess it was the outpatient hospital for my shoulder surgery almost 2 years ago?

 

Keyed

I received the keys to the new place. Now I need some time to organize and decorate!

 

 

Blocked and Locked

I opened a blog at Blogger today like a good girl. I used the same name of this journal. I didn't write anything there yet, and I just went to look at it. My blog is blocked and locked because they are investigating it as a spam blog, whatever that is.

We already aren't getting along and I didn't do anything. I did what they said to do in order to get the door opened back up. Honest, I don't even know what a spam blog is.

Nothing much has changed here, and it seemed silly to write a lot of entries about Life with a Blind Dog. Molly is somewhat less depressed, and I have actually been out of the house for up to 3.5 hours, but I am still here most of the days without leaving at all. It will take some time until she is comfy without me here. I have the time, and she will take as much as she needs.

I will write again when I am unblocked, which could take 20 days. I don't think that is going to help me much with trying to move on like the rest of you have. Maybe they don't like people who sign up and don't immediately start moving the furniture in. I had no idea!

Well, you know how to find me once I get the keys, at least. Maybe we will like it there better once we get used to it. I suppose we might as well plan to!

 

A diagnosis for Molly

By the end of the evening on Monday, Molly was totally blind. A flashlight didn't even get her attention. A flashlight towards Baby caused her to skittle away from a 6 foot distance, and they both used to react the same. Molly had no reaction at 6 inches.

Molly's vet called me back the following morning. She also felt it could be a brain tumor. She even mentioned vaccine-induced encephalitis, which I have to admit creeped me out a bit. She suggested I take Molly to first an ophthalmologist and then a neurologist. I said I needed to think about it for a while. I was in a bit of shock. Hasn't Molly been through enough?

I called back within a few hours to ask for the number of the ophthalmologist. I figured that to be a waste of time, since Molly was totally blind, but there are some blindnesses that can be reversed. I didn't want to leave any potential stones unturned if they could help Molly. I made an appointment for 2:30 pm today. My wonderful walking partner offered to assist. She has heard stories of Molly on Valium and figured it would be worse with a blind Molly. Very true, that. It was not easy.

The veterinary ophthalmologist did many tests on Molly. Some were simple - tossing cotton balls in front of her eyes. Others were a bit more complicated, but nothing was invasive or painful. The last one involved red and green lights, but I didn't see anything because I was trying to hold Molly still, which isn't easy when I am always feeling like I am moving.

Finally, the vet returned and explained it to me. Molly has SARDS. Suddenly Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. That means that Molly went blind very fast and there is nothing that can be done to give her back any sight. Nothing needs to be done at all. I have a totally blind dog and she will stay that way forever.

Molly is a bit depressed. I haven't been able to leave the house since Sunday afternoon, other than taking her to the vet today. I hope to be able to leave her for a short period very soon. I fear that if I stay with her too long it will make it harder for her to adjust. I fully intend for her to adjust. She gets around the home with eerie accuracy. She even jumps on the bed by herself at night and finds her favorite spot. She almost never bumps into anything at all, and if she does, it's usually Baby who doesn't yet understand that Molly isn't going to move for her any more.

Mostly, Molly finds me and stays by me. I am OK with that for now, but she hopefully will accept this new assault on her person and continue on using her other senses. It's a rotten deal, but we can try to make the best of it. I am not treating her much differently than normal, but I am watching her carefully to see if she has navigation issues any where here so I can lead her carefully around them a few times until she has them imprinted, however they do that. She can't navigate at all while on a high dose of Valium, so I am happy she finally calmed down and went to sleep.

She has already gone to the front door a few times and hit the servant bell to be taken outside. She hasn't done that for days, maybe longer. Baby goes so often that Molly just tags along.

If you are worrying about the illness, there are generally about 4000 pets a year who come down with it in the USA, so it's not very common. It's more common than Addison's. Early signs can be watched for - extra appetite and extra desire for water. Molly had those. It often happens overnight. It is irreversible, so an early diagnosis isn't really going to make a difference other than peace of mind for what it is. Since it's fast, the dogs often don't have time to learn their ways around without sight in their homes, and many get depressed and scared for a while. The pupils become very large and won't contract. Molly's did contract twice on Monday night, and she was able to see once for about half an hour, and again later for about 5 minutes. She spent most of that time looking at my face, which breaks my heart. She wants me to be what she remembers seeing best. It's how I knew she was seeing - she got perky, and ran up to me without error and looked at me - I moved my hands, and she followed with her eyes.

SARDS does not reduce a lifespan. We will be just fine as long as Molly doesn't go running off a cliff. Not too many of those around here.

 

Molly

I was just leaving for my massage appointment when I handed the dogs their treats and noticed that Molly hadn't taken hers from my hand. I looked down, and she didn't even make an effort,although she looked very enthusiastic. As usual when I see something odd like that, I moved it around to test her vision. She could not see the treat. I put it to her mouth, and she took it and ate it. I gave them a second treat - same thing. Third - they were in hog heaven, but Molly did not see it.

I walked around and watched Molly following me. I stopped and stood still. She walked back to the pantry, but bumped into something on the way. Molly does not bump into things. She wasn't going very fast. She tended to stay fairly close to walls and furniture, but did not touch them. I think she can maybe see a little light. Maybe not.

There have been times over the last two months or so that I felt Molly could not see or hear me. When I waited a few minutes, she could. I was never sure. I hope this passes, but I am not optimistic. Not at all, not this time. This time I am positive she cannot see. 

My last dog, Maggie, was 14 years old. I went away for a weekend. The child was with her. When I came home, Maggie was totally blind. The child hadn't noticed, so perhaps it had just happened. Two weeks (or maybe two months, I honestly cannot remember) later, Maggie went into a seizure that lasted all night, and continued on until I could get my then-boyfriend over to carry her to the car for me because Maggie was too big for me to lift while she was in a seizure. She had never had one before that night.

Because of that night, I wanted smaller dogs from then on. Maggie suffered all night, not even able to control her bodily functions or even to pull her own tongue into her mouth. It was the worst night of my life. It was the last of hers. She had a full, happy life with us after having been turned in as an abused puppy at the local humane society.

Molly is 9 years old. She is a beagle with nice papers, although she is fixed. Her Addison's Disease has nothing to do with this.

Maggie had a brain tumor. I am terrified that Molly does too. I am not afraid of a blind dog, we can work with that, but I do not know what caused it. I have to drug her with Valium to take her to the vet, and it's too late today to have enough time for the Valium to work. She has had sezizures at the vet's office before. I can't risk that. Not now. She has never had a seizure any where else.

Molly's urine is clear, I had it tested over the weekend. So it's not the UTI keeping her back now. It's something much more serious. Maybe a brain tumor - I don't know. I will probably find out tomorrow. Tomorrow is also my birthday.

Keep Molly in your thoughts.

 

Perchance to Dream

I have been taking my new sleep medication for 2 weeks now. It's amazing! I actually am getting deep sleep. I must be - I wake up feeling almost alive! Anyone who has ever seen me first thing in the morning - well, they wish they hadn't. I stumble, I trip over the pattern in the flooring, I whack shoulders into doors, I forget where I am, I drop things, and any improvement is not going to happen for at least an hour. I don't cook in the mornings because I will burn myself on the pan. Or drop a dozen eggs in the dishwasher.

If someone called on the phone and woke me up, it was obvious I had been sleeping. Within a few minutes, I could sort of carry on a conversation. Maybe not a normal one, but I would always try. If someone is calling at an odd time, they usually need someone to talk to, and I am happy to be a good friend.

My dreams used to be vivid to the point that I made jokes for a long time about them being so much like movies that all that was missing was the credits. Then, one night, I dreamed those, too! For real. It made me laugh, but it did happen. My nightmares were as real, sad to say. Dreams hadn't been quite as prevalent as in the past.

Suddenly I am jammed into deep sleep within a few minutes of when I feel the effects of the medication. Not much time seems to be spent in the lighter sleeps at first. I am awake, and then I am history. A few hours later, I am awake, and I must take a second dose, and then I am history. I do wake up briefly off and on when I hear something, or I move over, whatever, but I am right back out within seconds.

I am remembering dreams again. I always seem to have one right before waking up. They are so real that they feel more like memories than dreams. None have been nightmares, so far. They are even more logical than dreams usually are.

One odd reaction from this medication, and not just with me, is that I wake up all of a sudden. I am in a deep sleep, and then I am not. Bingo presto, I am awake and functioning like a human! I walk like one, I talk like one, and even the dogs are trying to figure out if this morning mom is a ringer. Aliens have taken over our chef!

This morning I woke up at 7:49 am. Within 15 seconds of that, ST called me. I wasn't expecting to hear from him early this morning, it was just a total coincidence. He did not know I had been sleeping just before he called. He could not tell. No daytime drag with this stuff! I even remember the conversation.

There are some downsides. No alcohol within 4 hours of ingestion. Seeing Baby puke up her antibiotic was enough to cure me of even being curious. No food at all for 2 hours before I take it. I am rather used to a late snack, and often I forget to eat dinner and now I just have to go without. It hasn't been a problem, since I haven't been very hungry, either. At any time of the day. Oh, and no naps. The chances of me being able to nap are slim, but it doesn't matter because I have no desire.

I feel more alert all the time. No dragging my ass around after an hour or two of doing anything at all. I am not up to the pace I used to keep, but I sort of have some wishful hopes now. My memory is a tad improved, but not any where near where I hope it gets back to. My skin seems less dry. My hair feels better. Sometimes I think my vision is sharpening, maybe just a tiny bit. Parts of my to-do list are getting shorter.

I am hoping I can stay with the program and continue using this medication. I feel really quite good! It's amazing what loss of sleep was doing to me.

My reading is even better. Before, with the previous sleep medication, I needed an hour lead time before it started to really work. However, the sedation and the hypnosis would start sooner, and I would forget in the morning what I had read the night before. I sometimes had to do some re-reading. Not any more - I take the medication and go to bed. I remember what I read! I haven't been able to do that for 20 years.

The dogs are happy, too. When I am awake too much I toss and turn for hours. It's ruins part of their 20 hours a day of beauty sleep.

 

Counting pills

Both dogs had to go see the vet last Friday. Molly was still not perky and Baby has a rash. They won't go without each other anyway, so they might as well both have something to be looked at. I wasn't feeling that perky myself, what with the "vertigo" making me feel like I am living in a permanent earthquake. Nothing like two dogs in a car to spruce things up.

Molly had to have Valium, which doesn't make her sleepy. She turns into a wild, crazed, clumsy food-seeking shark. Or maybe a missle. Her eyes seem to glow. The vet, meaning well, brought out a small packet of treats. Molly spent 2 hours trying to leap off my lap and onto the counter top to get the treats. Even after they were all gone, she was trying to leap up there. I finally set her up on the counter and let her sniff around. It didn't help any. She continued to try to leap up there. I had no idea vet's exam rooms were so indestructable. Baby was a real lady this time. She was watching Molly's leaps herself, wide-eyed with confusion.

The reason I waited so long to take Molly in was because I didn't have anything definite to provide as symptoms. She was eating fine, pooping fine, peeing fine, but not very active. She was lagging on walks, and balking entirely sometimes. I could see pain in her face, but nothing specific seemed to hurt when I pushed on things. The vet found nothing either. Finally I took Molly outside for a pee sample.

Voila!! Very very bad bladder infection. Normally Molly will go out and pee multiple times per visit if she has a UTI, but not this time. I never had a sign. So, she has been assigned an antibiotic pill every day for weeks. Maybe a month. A long time.

Baby's rash - no idea what it is, but she has to take 2 antibiotics a day. Different ones, of course. She didn't get along with them very well - Saturday she threw up her entire breakfast. Holiday weekend, no vets in sight. I decided a rash can wait until Tuesday. We talked to the vet and got some instructions, and so far (cross your fingers - that was hard to get off the carpet!) she hasn't urped again yet.

Molly already gets a shot every 4 weeks and a pill at least once every morning, and more if she gets any kind of stress. I was very stressed and clawed up after the vet visit, butprednisone won't help me. So I gave one to Molly, figuring all that freaked out leaping for food was probably stressful. She finally went to sleep after 6 hours of being hyper. So did I. So did Baby. I bet the vet did, too.

Molly should be back to normal soon, since it has been almost a week, but so far, not much improvement. If her issue isn't only the UTI, she has to get an MRI for possible neurological issues. I feel her pain. This isn't the first time Molly and I have had similar tests done. I was having thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal gland tests done when Molly was diagnosed with non-functioning adrenal glands.

I wonder if I should stop at my vet, I mean doctor's office, and pee in a cup?

 

A/C question - anyone know?

While in general I cannot fault the architecture on my condo, there is one major fault that I don't like. The a/c unit is outside right next to my bedroom window. Whenever it goes on, I wake up. Roomie's a/c unit is right next to it - often when hers goes on, I wake up wondering why mine is going on since it's set to 82 degrees at night. it drops to 75 degrees at 8 am, it goes on, and I wake up. Who needs an alarm clock?

Lately, mine sounds like it has rocks in it. I am wondering if the lawn service has actually knocked some small rocks in. If so, how do I get them out? I think this happened in my former house, and the thing continued to slog on day after day for 25 years, but I probably run my a/c less than most people do. I like to be warm and damp ;-)

Any suggestions?

I tried going to Google and typing in "my a/c sounds like it has rocks in it," and I got way more information than I need about a certain rock and roll band - ac/dc. So I decided to ask the experts.

You guys do know, right?

 

 

A Wake Up Call

It took many phone calls to finally get the doctor who did my first sleep study to send a copy to the new neurologist. It doesn't seem complicated, does it? It was. Luckily, I managed to get them sent before I went back for the results on the recent sleep study.

In 2006 I had the first study done. I had moved a week before, and was definitely deep into chronic fatigue as a result. I went into a "normal" (stage 3) sleep for 9% of the time. I never reached the deeper, stage 4, sleep, at all. Not for a minute. The rest of the time I was lightly sleeping or awake. All night long. It was a somewhat normal sleep for me.

This time, I felt I had slept more hours. I certainly gave it my best try, since I know they need to read the brain waves. They also read waves off my legs, but if it makes them happy, who cares?

Results? He was explaining to me some of the results in terms that I really don't totally understand. I suspect he was talking out loud to himself more than anything, trying to digest what he was looking at. I didn't fit his preferred pattern, and he was a bit confused. Finally, I said that I had slept 9% of the time last study, and asked how much I had slept this time.

"None. Zero. No minutes at all." I was confused at first, until he told me that I did not ever sleep deeper than stage 2. I was basically coasting all night up and down from awake, stage 1, and stage 2 sleep. People can be in stage 1 and even stage 2 sleep and swear they never slept at all. They are very shallow stages.

So, it seems I have a good reason to be tired most of the time. Who knew? He also thinks that lack of adequate sleep is probably playing havoc with my memory. I think he said that, I don't remember for sure.

I get to try a different medication to help me sleep, hopefully getting me to a deeper sleep. I might even have it by tomorrow, but probably not.

I would prefer to be taught to sleep, if it can be done, without any medications at all.

According to the doctor, even people who swear they have severe insomnia will generally drop into a good sleep within 5 minutes during a sleep study. I had to take more medication that normal just to try to sleep for him at all, and I didn't doze off at all for 25 minutes. I had even added a Xanax so I would be relaxed in the foreign environment.

I think he is still shaking his head. Sorry. I tried.

I asked if he has sleep problems. (Yes, same as I asked the foot surgeon if he has foot problems.) This neurologist is also a psychiatrist, I believe, and some sort of an electrical engineer and has degrees in all kinds of odd things. He said yes, he does have some trouble getting to sleep because practicing medicine these days is very stressful. He wishes he could try the medication I will be getting, but it's very controlled and he doesn't qualify for it. Then he changed the subject.

He still doesn't want to deal with my "vertigo." He said he wants to deal with the sleep issues first and he feels some of my issues will resolve if I can sleep. He again said he thinks he knows what it causing it, and said either he doesn't think he can fix it or it will be very hard to fix. Or both. He was mumbling at that point. Probably tired.

When I left, I asked for copies of my records. The receptionist told me she isn't allowed to give me a copy of my first sleep study. I let her talk for a while, sadly said those are my records, and I should be allowed to get them, and what do I need to do so I can? Meanwhile, she copied them along with everything else and handed it to me. She also told me that I will be receiving copies of my case notes every time I have been to see the doctor.

I have the typed notes from the first appointment. I need a medical dictionary for some of it. However, this I do understand:

"She had an episode of acute disseminating encephalomyelitis, autoimmune encephalomyelitis...The question now is whether she has a progressive demylinating disorder...Deep tendon reflexes are trace to absent."

Tired people will sleep for the nap times, he said. How many minutes did I sleep at 8 am, 10 am, noon, and 2 pm? Zero. Not even stage 1 sleep. I was awake; couldn't even doze.

I tossed out the fact that ST was in the process of moving when I had the study done and that I miss him very much. It's the only time thedoctor smiled at me.

This line I am OK with: "I don't think I can justify doing a LP at this time because I don't think she has had any recent attacks or episodes."

That means he isn't planning to do a lumbar puncture and suck some spinal fluid out. I am OK with skipping that experience. I have refused to have it done before, and will continue to for as long as I can. Nor will I easily consent to nerve conduction tests. I am just not into pain.

Meanwhile, my head feels like it's bouncing along on its own private little cruise in a storm, and "we" don't want to deal with that yet.

I am sure hoping that getting some sleep can get me off this ride, but who knows?

This entry is more for me to be able to come back for the information than anything. I am not feeling miserable or nasty or crabby or anything. Yes, I miss ST, but I understand he had to move. He understands how I feel.

Meanwhile, summer is slipping away. In two weeks it will likely be cool here. It's hard to imagine, but it is going to happen.

Hopefully, I can sleep through some of the colder weather this winter.

 

 

 

Which one works?

Theoretically, if you make a wish to come true on the only shooting star you ever saw in your state, and then make the same wish a week later on a regular star - then reverse it immediately to have the wish not happen, which one comes true? The wish or not-the-wish? Or do they cancel each other out? Is there a punishment for reversing a wish?

I have to think about something when I can't sleep.

I had my sleep study, along with the nap study the next day this week. It was awful. I carefully read the paper I was given and instead of telling me that I had to go to bed at 11 pm like last time, it said, "The sleep study will begin once you feel ready to go to sleep (usually at or before 11 pm."

That does not say I had to go to bed at 11 pm, does it? Noooo. It implies that I got to choose my bedtime. I had three books and my computer with me. Luckily I also had some Xanax and some sleeping pills. I took a Xanax to be able to allow the tech to paste electrodes and wires onto me. I took double my usual sleeping medication to be able to keep from running out the door screaming. I did sleep a little. I tried hard to sleep. The tech turned the bright lights on in my eyes at 6 am, after insisting that I absolutely had to be in bed with the lights out and trying to sleep at 11 pm. She didn't care what the papers said. (I decided it wasn't prudent to point out the typing errors in the papers. There are two of them.)

This is supposed to simulate a night's sleep for me? I sleep roughly from 2 am to 8 am. I sleep with a window open for fresh air if the low temp for the night is above 45 degrees. I leave the blinds open so I can wake up gradually to sunlight, or perhaps the kids behind me playing basketball. Or birds. Maybe the dogs barking at a dozen deer dancing in my back yard. I never wake up to someone turning on a light in my face.

Even if I am not sleeping alone, no one turns a bright light on in my face if they get up first. If it did happen, I am sure they wouldn't do it twice. My ex-husband didn't. Turning bright lights on in someone's face is just rude.

Two hours later I was expected to nap for 20-30 minutes. Very, very funny. After that rude awakening (and I really wasn't even sleeping at 6 am, so I heard her coming), I wasn't likely to nap at all. I didn't. Not at 8 am, not at 10 am, noon, or 2 pm. I was supposed to try again at 4 pm, but the tech gave up on me at 2:30 and let me go home. Each two hours I had to lie down in the dark and pretend to sleep on the bed.

I never nap in a bed. If I do nap, which is rare, it will be in my recliner. Once I am up at 8 am, I do not return to the bed for sleep until night time again. Even at a time like when I had my shoulder surgery, I didn't return to the bed for a nap. I also don't sit in a small room with no sunlight from 9 pm until 2:30 pm.

No one asked me what my usual sleeping hours are, or how I might nap, or anything. I was told to wear a t-shirt and shorts, but this being my second sleep study, I wore a tank top and sleep shorts. Electrodes have to be pasted on the shoulders, too.

Have I mentioned that I am allergic to adhesives? Recently I had an incident with a perfectly normal band aid. I must have shaved something too close, and I was bleeding under my arm. I put on several bandages throughout the day, as the bleeding continued for about 12 hours. I am not a bleeder by any means. When I removed the last bandage, I noticed blood leaking under my skin. It was very blue, then purple. Over the following several days, it went through the normal bruising colors. It also swelled up something ugly and was very red. It got dry, very dry, and is only now almost normal. Very weird stuff. Also, it was only from one side of the bandage, not both sides.

So, I wasn't very comfortable having adhesives on my face, scalp, neck, chin, legs, shoulders. The worst reaction was actually my shoulders, oddly enough. It's all better now.

Fat chance I would ever do another sleep study unless someone can come up with a really, really good reason or if I can take my dogs, who were left home with the child for the night. I was supposed to sleep without a beagle or something equally furry pressed up tight on each side of me?

I think not.

I think my next star-wishing will involve no more sleep studies in my future.

Or is it bad luck to tell someone your wish? I just don't remember the rules.

 

Free Stuff!

How often do you see a child under age 21 drinking in public? Probably not that often any more. Bartenders are generally instructed to check ID on anyone who looks under 40. Party stores are monitored for sales of alcohol to minors and can lose their licenses after being caught a few times.

How often do you see a child under 18 smoking? Oh, all the time, right? Is it legal? Hm. No. But no one does anything about it, do they? There is some smoke and saber rattling regarding sales to minors, but in general, any teenager or even preteen can get their hands on cigarettes and can smoke in public. I used to see grade schoolers smoking at bus stops on my way to work. Surely police saw them also. No one cares enough to enforce that law. Smoking while driving? Not so much an issue as drunk driving. That is a good justification for letting children slowly kill themselves.

How about stealing? Not so much a problem, is it? All you have to do is get someone's credit card information and have a good time. What are the chances that anyone will follow through on prosecution? Small charges, who cares? After a few billion, someone should. I am not researching the stats, but use your imagination.

In April or May my account number was changed on one of my credit cards. I called to find out why, and I was told they are making some change or another in their system and I should not be concerned. I was leaving on a trip, so I was concerned, but the new card came in time for me to take it with me. I shredded the old card into small pieces, and separated them into separate containers before tossing. Some pieces went in my pocket and were dumped in a trash container at a mall or gas station. I am careful with these things.

Imagine my surprise when I checked my balance online today on an account and found two charges that I didn't authorize - on the old account number. One was to blockbuster.com and one was to napster. I called my credit card company, wasting a half hour. They told me to call the two companies. So, I did that, wasting another hour or so. Neither would remove the charges from my account, although they were able to verify that they were fraudulent. I had to call the credit card company again, and at that time found out that someone had also charged something to iTunes to my account. Another hour or so of being transferred and having explanations pass back and forth. I also heard that email accounts were opened by "me."

Bottom line? Nothing is going to happen to the children who charged their music on my account. I am sure they did it on other people's accounts too. Why not? It's not any more risky to them than smoking in public. No one really cares. Everyone does it. I assume it's children based on what was charged. The amounts for each were small.

These are brave children. Two of the charges were made a week apart.

No one is going to do anything about it.

Sure, the charges are removed from my account now. But do you ever think about where they go? I do.

I don't know the stats here either, but my guess is we probably pay 50% more for goods than necessary, due to illegal activities like this. Or employee theft. Or bills just never paid. And so on.

Those of us who pay for what we buy are kind of stupid, aren't we?

Conspicuous consumption. At it's finest. If you can't afford it, buy it anyway. You deserve it, right?

Why?

So the rest of the people can pay for it for you?

Everyone can have a setback at times. These times are hard, too. But some people make it a lifestyle to see how much they can get without ever even intending on paying for it.

I do not know how they sleep at night.

They keep me awake sometimes.

 

 

OCD or nest?

Just from casual observation, it seems to me that most of us who use our computers on a fairly regular basis keep the computer area in one of two ways.

1. You are OCD, and there is never a piece of paper or lint in the wrong spot. Once you see an errant thread, you grab that offender and file it under "t" in your trash containers.

2. You keep a nest. In the general area of your computer, you have pens, pencils, paper, post-its used and unused, some snacks, a drink of your choice and perhaps even a dirty glass or empty can or bottle, maybe some lotion or a nail file, reading glasses, spare shoes or slippers, a book or seven, a lot of pet hair if you have pets, a comb and/or brush, a phone and a place for your cell phone, plus maybe a decorative plant, real or plastic. A lamp, and a lot of little notes.

Am I close?

I am a nester. I admit it freely. My computer area is my sofa where I have a recliner. My feet go up, I lean back, and my laptop goes on my lap. Next to me is a small end table with my junk on it. Two beagles are at the other end of the sofa, sleeping.

 

 

 

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Need Input, when you stop laughing at me

Today was a Big Day for me. I managed to get both the builder guy out and the carpeting people in the same morning! Wooo!!

Yesterday I met the child to do her a favor. We went to lunch afterwards, and she agreed to a) come to my house and help me clean so I wouldn't be so embarrassed when they showed up this morning and b) work with our iPods so we can share music. We actually like a lot of the same styles of music, so we want to be able to share songs.

We left the restaurant. I dropped her off back at her place so she would have her own car here to go out afterwards. She also needed to grab her iPod and computer. I came home and took care of two dogs who were quite upset that I was about 2 hours late for their dinner. Molly really isn't feeling well - she didn't prepare a meal of her own.

Back up on that. Molly has been "quiet" for at least a week. She seems to be ailing a little, but I don't know exactly what to tell the vet. She is quiet? Not enough. It's not from the Addison's. But yesterday morning she pooped black, and I worried about internal bleeding and decided to drop off the sample at the vet's office. I couldn't recall giving the poopers any different treats or foods that had dye in them to make the color so dark. While I was at lunch (of course), the vet tech called. Had Molly had any different foods? No, I said....then said Oh, I am so stupid! Last night I dropped an entire pint of blueberries on the floor and Molly did eat a few! Maybe as many as a dozen? Baby had less, so her poop didn't get so dark. We had a good laugh - the poop was further analyzed and Molly was declared to have healthy poop after all.

The child showed up here and we started to play with our music on our computers. It was reminiscent of dueling banjos. Listen to this song! Remember this one? I want that song! Oh, I haven't heard that one in forever! Having no idea of how to move songs, the child was confused. I pretended to know what I was talking about, as I figured there had to be a way to do this. 

This took us about 4 hours, and then she needed to leave. We didn't even run the vacuum. It was 9 pm, and by that time fatigue had bitten my butt and I said, eloquently and with poise, "screw it."

At 1 am she called me with a few words from a song that has been eating up a friend of hers. She wanted me to tell them the song. I had no idea, until the friend tried to sing the line for me. Within 3 minutes, I stuck my phone against the computer speakers so they could hear the song, since I had found it for them. Obviously, I hadn't had any sleep yet, so child offered to show up at 10 am to help me clean. I recovered from the shock, and went to bed about 2 am.

At 8 am, I got up after a long, long night of vague and bizarre nightmares. I haven't had those in a long time. I was twisted in the sheet every time I woke up, and the poor dogs just dealt with my flapping around, since every time I woke up they had moved to accommodate my restless sleep. I had a quick breakfast after meeting the usual morning needs of the my support crew (beagles), and realized it was almost 9 am. The guys were expected between 9 - noon, and I still had to make a list up for them. It had to be very detailed.

At about 10 am I had finally printed out two copies of all 5 sheets of issues in the house for me to present to the builder guy, Brian. He showed up while the ink was still wet. Yikes! I still hadn't even vacuumed. Oh well. Nothing to be done for it.

We went through the list, item by item, and I asked him to tell me if they were refusing to fix, or agree to fix, and as of what date. He was very cooperative, seeing as how I had presented a list a year ago and it was not completed. One of their employees was laid off, and so Brian told me my paperwork was just misplaced. I assumed he was told to make me happy, so I was content. He really didn't refuse any of the repairs, although I suspect some of the contractors he is going to send will refuse some of them.

Meanwhile, the carpet guys came in. I thought they were coming to look, but no, they showed up with tools and proceeded to fix the carpeting.

Of course, every 10 minutes I had to take the dogs outside at their request.

Poor, considerate Brian agreed to use an 8-foot ladder to try to replace a burned-out bulb in my ceiling fan in the living room, even though they did not have anything to do with the fan. He tried, but thebulb had exploded, and it turned out to be a special size, so he couldn't replace it. He did offer to install one for me if I get the right size. I will get a dozen, if I need to. I am in no position to go up ladders right now.

I asked him about the appliances. When I bought, I was offered to pay more for appliances. I asked if that meant better appliances or prettier ones. I was told they are the same, but I could get stainless or black. I passed and took the bisque, and I am happy with the standard color, but the appliances just plain suck. The oven door has two pieces of glass, and something was able to leak between them and I couldn't get to it to clean it. Also, there is no way to clean behind the handle. I can't explain it well, but trust me and it drives me nuts. He said, hm, you probably have to remove the handle to clean behind it.

After they all left, I was making spaghetti sauce and spilled some behind the handle. Realizing that it could stain the light color, I decided to test the "remove the handle" solution.

Bad move. Removing the handle meatnt most of the door came off. Good news, bad news. I was able to clean all of the glass, but I am not able to put it back in.

Once I stopped bleeding, I called Whirlpool. I told them I hate my stove, but said it as nicely as possible. Repairs would be about $200, she said, although it was a wild guess. I asked if I could get a trade-in deal, since I really dislike the damn thing so much and it's only two years old. I want a better one. She said no, but she could offer me a 15% rebate if I get a new one. But I have to keep the old one, too. I had already decided to donate it to some place that needs a stove that works, but that is about all it does. Of course, they would need to put the door back on.

So, do I get a gas line put in and get a gas stove, which I prefer? Get another electric? Stoves generally last me about 20 years. I am very easy on appliances. I will call the builder tomorrow and see if they are willing to offer me any deals since Brian suggested taking the handle off, but my guess is they will either say no or offer me full retail for ALL new appliances. While I would like all 5 appliances upgraded, I don't need that big of an expense right now. Do I stick with bisque? Really, color is not a big deal to me - mostly I was content with white in the past after flirting with trendy colors. I already did black and stainless years ago. One word: Fingerprints.

My inability to meet deadlines due to my brain damage from encephalitis (not the only change in me) has once again cost me a bundle. All because I had a vaccine that I argued vociferously against.

Maybe I should stick with electric before I blow up the kitchen or burn it down.

The child? She called after Brian was here, and I told her not to bother. She went back to sleep.

 

 

 

You ROO she all

A little information on poison oak, ivy, and sumac. All three contain the same oil that causes rashes in humans. The oil is called urushiol, and is pronounced you ROO she all. It makes the leaves shiny, if you have any skill at actually finding the plants before they find you. A dead plant does not mean you are safe - the oil is still there. You can get the oil off anything that has touched the plant - pets, clothes, gloves, shoes, hats, toys, other people. Do not ever burn the plants. If someone does burn some, run away fast so you don't get the smoke in your lungs. Where the smoke touches your body, you can get a horrid rash. Ask Cindy and my friend Doug. Both were almost totally covered by smoke from burning poison ivy plants. The smoke can also carry it to your lungs, which is very dangerous.

In general, poison ivy/oak/sumac is not dangerous, though. You might not enjoy it's results, but the rash will pass within usually a few weeks. Nothing need to be done unless the itching is intolerable. Treatment is usually corticosteroid creams or if the itching is really intense, cortisone pills and/or shots. I have needed all the above at some point. Almost all people are allergic to urushiol oil. Once a rash happens, sensitivity tends to increase in the future. I can attest to that! It would be more pleasant if we could develop a tolerance over time, but it's the opposite.

Here is a direct quote from a web site by the Mayo Clinic:

"Often, the rash has a linear appearance because of the way the plant brushes against your skin. But if you come into contact with a piece of clothing or pet fur that has urushiol on it, the rash may be more spread out.

The reaction usually develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure and can last up to three weeks. In severe cases, new areas of rash may break out several days or more after initial exposure. This may seem like the rash is spreading. But it's more likely due to the rate at which your skin absorbed the urushiol.

Your skin must come in direct contact with the oil from the plant in order to be affected. Spreading blister fluid from scratching doesn't spread the rash."

Normally, for me, I get a rash in five days. ST said he has had it happen in less than a full day. This time, it was longer for me. It must be severe, according to the Mayo Clinic, because it has been popping out for over a week after the initial rash appeared. My first few rashes were not very linear, but some of the later ones are. The ones in the center of my stomach are the worst, and they came out last. Normally, the first ones are the worst, and they decrease in intensity.

Because rashes and blisters can appear in new locations as secondary and tertiary sites, people believe that once they have scratched a rash, it spreads. It doesn't. The fluid in the blister is like the fluid your body produces to heal and protect itself from anything similar. Once the oil is washed off of you and your clothing, pets, whatever it got on, you are not contagious. This is why I knew I was safe for a massage - I had many showers with soap from the time I was infected until my massage.

After contact with urushiol, you can avoid a rash if you immediately wash with lots and lots of soap and water. If you cannot get to soap, use lots and lots of cold water. That might sound uncomfortable, but warm water will spread the oil. Picture putting cold water or hot water on cooking oil - same effect.

Ladies, if you squat in the woods to pee, look at what is on the ground first, lol! Ask Cindy.

I had to ask a lot of questions regarding poison ivy after I had a very bad outbreak on my right hand and wrist at one time when I was working in Children's Protective Services. Every day people touched me - the children I interviewed often hugged me, kissed me, shook my hand. Some kissed me if I didn't move fast enough. Amazingly, I never caught lice or even a cold during the years I spent around young children who were often sick (Children having untreated lice or other untreated medical conditions sometimes was a reason for CPS to go out and investigate). Their parents shook my hands, sometimes hugged me for helping them get out of a bad situation. Police, doctors, judges, attorneys, school teachers, principals, therapists, counselors - all day long, I was around people who shook my hand, hugged me, used my pens, etc - I needed to know if I could infect anyone. If so, I had a few people I wanted to go see...but my doctor assured me it was safe. Clients' dogs and cats rubbed me, plus the occasional horse or other pet.

Molly was an only beagle for a year and a half, and on occasion she went with me to see kids. She helped break the ice a few times. She was especially useful for seeing preteen and teen boys who needed to tell me about sexual abuse. I wish I could have taken her more often. It really wasn't an approved technique.

So, if you aren't already asleep, you have more information on poison ivy/oak/sumac than you probably wanted to know or ever will need to know. We hear stories about spreading poison ivy, or that poison oak is worse, or other urban tales.

It is best, truly, not to scratch it. Scratching can cause a secondary infection from germs under your nails and then of course cannot heal as fast. I have actually taught myself to believe I am itching elsewhere. It is hard to explain, but I do not ever scratch a rash or bite. I rarely will scratch anything unless I look first - it really burns to scratch poison ivy, spider bites, or shingles. Especially shingles. I had that when I was 23 years old.

Enjoy the outdoors, and try to remember, "leaves of three, let them be."

Or: If ST has been in the woods, send him to the shower and don't touch his clothes.

 

After AZ

It's a good thing that I like to be amused, or I could get depressed and angry at times. Instead, I laugh, and the dumbest things can make my day.

Last Sunday I realized I had a, uhm, rash. It was near my waistline, and in a few other areas. Nothing big, but it was the day before my massage and I didn't recognize the rash. Keep in mind I am a redhead and have fair skin. If anything can happen to skin, I have had it or will have. This includes skin cancer, twice. So, I looked at this rash and tried to decide if I wanted to risk giving it to the Vampire and the rest of his patients - since I couldn't identify it, I had to assume it could be contagious. Normally, I would ignore it for a while and see what developed.

In order to be a Good Citizen, I decided to go late to our first block party and headed up to my doctor's clinic. Yes, the same clinic that did not catch my encephalitis, even though I was sitting right there looking for help when I was in the midst of it. The same clinic where the nurse misunderstood my "ear infection" complaint for a "urine infection," which led to a mighty odd set of questions and answers.

After answering another 5,093 questions by the nurse regarding a rash she didn't ask to see, the doctor strolled in. I believe the guy might have Tourette's Syndrome. He certainly has something. It's hard to describe his mannerisms, so I decided he must be a very good doctor to get where he is acting like that! Assuming is a dumb thing, isn't it?

He listened to my heart. For a skin rash. OK, he is thorough. I had no idea he could learn much in less than a second, though. It was more of a touch the skin routine than actually listening to anything. I thought, wow, he must really be quick!

Then he asked me if I have pets. I said yes, two dogs. (Wondering: are we going to discuss allergies again? That led to me getting tested by an allergist which led to her insisting I get a pneumonia vaccine that I strongly protested against, which led to - encephalitis. And may be leading other places still.) He said that dogs can give people ringworm. I probably have ringworm.

Would he perhaps like to see the rash first?

He looked at it, and proclaimed it to be ringworm, since dogs can give people ringworm. Without telling him that my dogs don't have ringworm so they can't give it to me, I said, logically, "Does this look like ringworm to you?"

"Well....no, not really. It's shingles."

I looked again. Yep, rash is still on both sides of my body. "Does this look like shingles to you, on both sides of my body?"

"Well....no. It's ringworm."

AIEEEE!!!

"Does it really look like ringworm to you?" (YES, we really did go through this! I should have an audio of the conversation. Then again, a video would have been interesting, too.)

"No, it really doesn't. I will give you something for ringworm."

"I don't want anything for ringworm because it's not ringworm. Do you have any idea what it is?"

"It's shingles."

"It's not shingles. It's not ringworm. What is it?"

I don't know. I see ringworm all the time, more than you do. I see shingles all the time. It's ringworm."

"It's not ringworm."

"Do you want me to take a scraping?"

"No, I want to see my dermatologist tomorrow."

"OK, good idea. I have no idea what it is."

Nurse: "No co-pay today. You are free to go!"

Next day: Dermatologist

"What are you reading?" (grabs book from my hand)

"Just an old book. Remember the last time I was here and was reading "Fifth Vial? You said you had read it too? My problem with that book is if she dreamed the whole thing, what happened to the gun shot wounds she should have had?"

"Gosh, you are right! She should have had physical evidence from that. It does kind of ruin a book or movie when something like that is so obvious, doesn't it? So, what kind of rash do you have? Let's see."

"Here, and here...."

"Hm. It's on both sides, so it's not shingles. You had shingles once, yes? Can't get it again. Poison ivy."

"I was out west."

"OK, poison oak."

We proceeded to look at his maps on the wall showing pictures and locations for poison ivy, oak, and sumac. I said that with all the trouble I have had with poison ivy, I have not learned to recognize the plant. He said he didn't, either.

He also told me that all three plants have the same oil, and are equally nasty. I didn't know that before. Listening to him try to pronounce the name of the oil - something like ururishol - made us both laugh! My rash really hadn't itched all that much, and was not showing the usual poison ivy pattern, so I had not recognized it. He gave me a small sample tube of Topicort to use, since the rash wasn't that big.

The next day, it started to pop out all over, but not in huge areas. A few days later, it started on the middle of my stomach and still ITCHES. Usually the later rashes are less itchy.

I still am not sure how I got this. It seems unlikely that I got it in Arizona - I didn't see that many plants, and I am used to avoiding foliage anyway, just in case. The other possibility is that ST came here the day before I left for the trip. He had just left a 45-mile bike ride, partly through a park and woods, and was very happy to see me. Most of my rash is on my chest and stomach, with a little on my face and neck. Most of those areas were not exposed in AZ. Once before, he gave me poison ivy on my ankle, possibly off his shoes. I hadn't been any place to get it. Even if I needed to know, there probably isn't a test to separate poison ivy from poison oak.

It's not gone yet, but it's improving a little. It's not contagious, so it didn't affect my massage.

After leaving the dermatologist's office, I stopped off to see Cindy, my Nature Girl friend. We were on her patio. I pulled up my shirt, she said, "Poison ivy."

Next time, I go to Cindy first, but it won't be nearly as entertaining.

 

 

In AZ

I want to stick these silly things in my journal before I forget them. They are too good to lose!

The reason we were in AZ in the hottest time of the year was so Late and Son could do what they needed to do for Son to start college. I had to drop them off in downtown Tucson two days in a row and entertain myself for many, many hours.

The first day I sort of hung around campus. Eventually I got a phone call from my gynecologist's nurse. My answers got to the point where I had to clearly state that I was in a public place and had to be careful on my answers. Mostly, it had to do with my estrogen levels and my testosterone cream. Even so, it was a bit embarrassing. Then I realized I was probably paying by the hour to park so I went in search of directions to the mall. Hey, it was 110 degrees. Where else was I going to go?

Late assumed I needed directions only to the mall when we discussed it later. I had to clarify that I needed very specific directions as to how to get off the campus, also.

Keep in mind, I-10 has most of the exits closed in Tucson. The second night I missed the last open exit and had to frantically call and get directions in the dark to backtrack. Scary stuff, for me!

The second day I decided to go hiking in the morning before it got "hot." I hit the Catalina State Park around 9 am. I had a nice talk with the ranger at the park regarding what I needed to worry about. I felt I had enough water, but he said once I got past the "wilderness" sign, if I got injured, my only hope for rescue was by helicopter. Since there were few cars in the lot, I was concerned. If I lost my balance and got hurt, who would know? I had a mirror, but in the sunlight, who would have any idea there was a hiker in distress?

By that time, I was out of the car and thinking I needed to pee first. I hit the outhouse in the park first, rather than find a nice rock later on. I am a setter, not a squatter. That particular place had nothing to set on, so I proceeded to squat uncomfortably. Sure enough, I peed all over the back of my shorts before I realized it. Luckily, I was in the desert so I was dry in ten minutes.

I stopped by some picnic benches to put my backpack on. I noticed "things" by my feet, and it wasn't too long until the term "fire ants" hit my brain and I hurried up. Red things. Nope, don't want to try to make friends with those little buggers.

I started up the trail on my own. By that time, it was over 100 degrees and the sun was harsh. I put on my hat, and headed up. After only a few miles, I realized I hadn't seen another living human and I was a bit, well, dizzy. Off balance. It seemed a bad decision, so I headed back down.

I was ashamed of myself for letting heat get to me, but proud that I was being sensible. I enjoyed the hike, but not nearly enough of it.

I tried not think about having peed on my pants. I really lack the squatting skill.

I went and walked around a nearby store. I was still sweating and still thirsty, so I figured all would be well within a few minutes, and it was.

More stories to come later - it's 5 am and I need a shower! Molly is getting her last shot at 8 am from ST. After this, I need to find a new "vet tech" to help me for her monthly shots. He is moving out of town in a few weeks.

I am very sad.

 

 

Yet another pearl of wisdom

Pearl:

If you meet a nice, sweet, sexy, brilliant man who tells you he will eventually move to another state due to his career, well, then, believe him.

Try not to fall in love in the interim.

 

 

Testing

Today was my lucky day to see the neurologist. I got to him via the ENT and the ear specialist. Once we knew it wasn't an ear problem that makes me feel like I am sitting in a rowboat in a storm all the time, I was told to go posthaste to see the neurologist.

I was not looking forward to this appointment. There was nothing he could say that would make me feel better. True to form, he didn't. He said I have ADEM, or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. This makes me off center balance-wise, causes me to have a crappy, inconsistent memory, and all kinds of lovely other effects. It seems that after I had that pneumonia vaccine, something happened that triggered my immune system, which woke up long enough to attack my brain. How rude is that? What did my brain ever do to my immune system? Maybe since I never get sick my immune system decided it might as well find something to do. Luckily, it's usuall monophasic, meaning I should not ever go through that again. Unluckily, the changes in my brain are probably permanent.

At least there is an explanation for my personality changes, my sudden inability to maintain proper records and files, my loss of memory, my reaching for words I just knew an hour ago. I took notes while he explained things to me since I knew I would not remember.

My sleep issues of course excited him. I tried to dissuade him from delving there, but he wants me to have a sleep study (again). Again, I am being accused of having narcolepsy. I disagree, but I am not a neurologist. I need to find a dog sitter for an overnight - I will actually be gone about 24 hours. I have to do the nap-thing the following day. I think they expect me to nap for them. Right. That won't happen unless either a) they give me napping drugs or b) I am in the middle of some serious chronic fatigue. If I get upset worrying about the sleep study, I can probably satisfy them via option "b." At least this time the rules are I try to go to sleep when I am ready to. The other place made me try to sleep at 9 pm. That is just a joke - I normally lie down closer to 1 am. But, this one will also get me up at 6 am. Yuck.

He mentioned a few new medications. I balked, and he sent me home with some brochures on the drugs. I will read them. If there is some obscure little side effect that one person got and it's hideous, I will get a second hideous little side effect that no one else has had yet.

Off topic, on my way home I drove by a telephone pole or whatever they are called now and one of the little round gray things hanging on it was smoking. I don't know what the thing is called - the word "transformer" came to mind, but it's probably wrong. I see these things all the time, but never saw one exhale before. It's half a mile from my house, unlike the neurologist, who is a mile away. I decided to call someone regarding the smoke.

First, I thought, call the police. Then I decided no, fire station. Then I wished I had the phone number on me so I didn't have to remember to look it up, etc - eventually it hit me that the correct number is "911" and I called it in, sounding very ignorant since I didn't know what the thing is called. If they go look for it, they will find it. It's the only telephone pole in the area with smoke coming out of it and lots and lots of wires nearby. It's over 90 degrees and very humid outside, but I hope someone goes to look at it anyway.

I need to go read up on these potential medications. One is for improving memory and one is for sleep, but isn't a sleeping pill. I know nothing about either one, but I will in 15 minutes.

More to follow later regarding my trip out west. This was just an annoying medical bulletin so I can come back to it later and say Oh wow, I forgot all about that!

 

 

Where is it?

Everyone else goes on trips and comes home and describes all the fun things they did. I didn't go any place new except the caverns, and I will instead write about the Other Things, the things people also have happen to them but try to pretend they didn't. I will start with the ending, from when I got home, and work back. I find these things amusing, and they do not ruin my travel experiences. They just make them more unique.

Even some of the worst housekeepers still have some little thing that they are retentive about. I never had a stainless kitchen sink before, and I can't stand seeing water drops on it. I keep my sink clean enough to, uhm, eat off of. I constantly wipe it, and never allow water drops on it, or on my faucet. Ever.

I don't like a dirty bathroom, either. What with two dogs and my own (odd looking) hair, that means daily sweeping to get the hairs off the bathroom floors. The mirrors get wiped daily to avoid looking at spots on them. My bedding is washed religiously at least once a week, and the spread sometimes several times. Vacuuming is done generally more than once a week. Dishes are not allowed to pile up. Laundry is never more than one load behind. Ever. Even after my shoulder surgery, I carried items one at a time to the washer if necessary.

I was gone ten days. My home was inhabited by three nieces, one not even quite to her teens yet. The amount of neices here varied daily. Sometimes one, sometimes all three, sometimes maybe more. All of them live in very nice, neat, homes. Obviously, the cleaning is done by their parents at home, and while they all love dogs, none have any at home.

If anyone has a secret recipe for getting dog poop out of white grout on a bathroom floor, please share. Otherwise I have to go get grout cleaner and sealer. I hope to replace these tiles fairly soon as I hate them, but just knowing I have tried to clean those stains with a toothbrush and several chemicals isn't adequate. I know the floor is clean, but the stains are not sitting well with me. The dogs have lived in this condo almost two years and have never once gone in the front guest bathroom. All three rugs were stained. I am still working on the rugs. Diarrhea.

My living room carpeting had three red stains on it. I was told they were from Baby having thrown up. Dogs don't throw up that kind of red stain. Yes, it was Baby who got sick. My 7-year-old beagle who never gets sick, got sick. About 2-3 days into my trip, I got a call, "Aunt Susan, Baby is throwing up and won't eat." I was in the car, luckily riding instead of driving, and I had to give the niece explicit directions on how to cook and prepare plain chicken and brown rice only for Baby. The refusal to eat worried me almost enough for me to leave and go home, but by that night Baby was eating again, and the limited diet did the trick. Did she have diarrhea, I asked? Oh, no, I was told. I was told neither did the whole time. If Molly has diarrhea, her medication is not being given correctly and could lead to her death. Baby never gets diarrhea. She is like a machine - healthy as an ox, no health issues. Molly, the 9-year-old beagle, is the fragile one. Just don't tell her that during her nightly 2-mile walks.

The nieces were advised to curtail long walks due to Baby's problem. I also didn't want them walking Molly during the sunny part of the day. The nieces love my beagles, so I don't really worry about their care of the dogs, unless they love them to death.

So, red stains on carpeting, poop in the bathroom on the floor and the three throw rugs. I wandered into the kitchen (remember, I had been up about 30-35 hours by this time). The sink had obviously not been washed or wiped in ten days. The dishwasher was full. The dishwasher had been run, but not emptied. The rest of the dishes from 10 days were in the sink (I don't put dishes in the sink), on the counter, and elsewhere in the kitchen. My blender base was on one counter, and the glass part on another. I asked where the niece found the blender, since I hadn't used it but once or twice since I got it and didn't even know where I kept it. She couldn't remember. I realized a few days later that the connecting piece is missing, and so far, I haven't found it.

The top sheet off the bed was on the sofa for the dogs. A very old single bed sheet was on the bed. When I removed that, I realized one niece had encountered her time of the month while I was gone. So did my sheet and mattress pad, and no attempt had been made to wash it out, as far as I could see. I am still working on that, too. I am very grateful to my friend Cindy for teaching me about waterproof mattress pads several years ago. Thanks to having dogs, I use nothing else. I would have gone ballistic to find blood stains on my new, expensive mattress set.

Usually I come home to find all my towels in a soggy, wet, mildewy pile on my laundry room floor. I will happily toss them in the washer and listen to the pleasant swishing sounds. Not this time. Well, there was a pile, but smaller than usual. I checked the linen closet. They had actually done a load of laundry! Towels were oddly folded in strange piles and put into the closet. Even a kitchen towel was in there. Nice attempt! I refolded the towels, moved them around, and dragged the kitchen towel to the kitchen.

There is something on one of my windows, but I am not sure what it is. It's not water, or it would have evaporated by now. Oil? Jello? I am not sure what it is, or how it got there. It's a large area on the window, and will remain one of those mysteries of life until I get around to washing windows. I hope this happens soon.

The nieces happily gave the dogs a shower in my bathroom. I am not sure why, although Molly does have something stuck on her fur. My guess is syrup, but I could be wrong. The shower was not cleaned once, nor the floors swept or vacuumed any where in here, for ten days. Does anyone wonder what an opaque mirror looks like? I had no idea the shine on a sink could be entirely obliterated. I have two mats on my shower floor. They were some very interesting colors, and I had no idea that much dog hair could harbor underneath them. They went in the washing machine too, after I did the towels and sheets.

My two new All-Clad pans that I have carefully bought on sale because they will last me forever? All-Scratched pans. Next time I will ask them to use only non-metal on the pans. If they can make that one little change, I will be happy. I had meant to hide those two pans in my car when I left, but I just forgot. One of them did pull out all my pots and pans and lids and put them in neat piles, so I guess that was a reasonable trade off. I wonder what prompted that? I hope nothing fell on any toes.

I just quietly sighed, and thanked the girls for taking good care of my dogs. That is what counts, right? I can clean and repair everything else. I know they weren't drinking, partying, taking drugs or having unreliable boys over. The nieces are good kids, and love my dogs. They just don't know how to clean, or perhaps considered themselves on vacation too. I get frustrated, but I am OK with it.

Meanwhile, I was rushing into the (dirty) shower as ST was expected within the hour, and the nieces were enjoying my high speed cable access, wirelessly. I had had to show them how to use it, which surprised me. They had to use their own laptop. Ruining my laptop would have made me cry.

Luckily, they decided to pack up and move on back home before ST showed up. I was exhausted. I took him on a tour of my home, saying, "Just in case you think I never do anything around here...." His good manners did not allow him to comment on the shower.

The toilet. I guess one of the nieces had some sort of explosive issue. At least twice, since I have two bathrooms. I cleaned that up, and tried not to think about what she might have eaten to cause that sort of disturbance. ST didn't have to deal with that surprise. At least it missed the walls.

After he left, I crashed and slept hard for two hours. In the middle of the day! Me! I needed it. The next day I got up at 8 am, took care of the dogs, curled up on the sofa with them, and slept until noon. The day after that, same thing. I napped until the child called me at 11:30 am. We went out and had fun for a few hours.

No, I didn't take any pictures of my home. I just did the tour to see what needed to be fixed and agreed again to fix the dress the one niece tried to make. She obviously never sewed before. It will take me hours just to remove her stitching. She must have used heavy thread and a backstitch set too tightly on the machine, but I think I can fix it. I had needed her to try it on before I was willing to redo it. The pattern was not her size, either, but I think I can work with it.

I will try not to dribble any Red Pop on the fabric.

 

 

Next?

I came back from AZ on Tuesday. It was a red-eye flight that was to leave there at 10:30 pm. However, seeing as how Murphy was an optimist, I was prepared to camp out as long as necessary. I knew we would leave late because for the first time I convinced Late that we should be at the airport at least two minutes before our flight was due to take off.

A woman on our plane on the flight to AZ decided the rules do not apply to her. She went in the tiny little airplane bathroom before takeoff and had a cigarette. Then, in the air, she had a second. There was a delay in deplaning so the police could politely escort her smoked ass off the plane and take her to new accommodations. Eventually, they shuffled us on, about an hour late, and we sat a long time. The woman next to me was chewing gum with her mouth open for the entire time, and just as I was reaching for either my iPod to drown her out or the cord for it to wrap around her neck, they decided to explain the problem to us.

A fuse was not working properly. A mechanic was needed to "sign off." Personally, I would rather have the fuse working as intended. Mechanics are required to be available 24/7, but "ours" decided to go home and was not responding to calls. We were eventually deplaned and told we would be put on another plane. That took another two hours or so.

Once we got on the second plane, and all settled in, I considered removing the gum from my seatmate's mouth. I didn't want to be escorted off and have her fly home, so I was reaching for my iPod again, when we were told that we were delayed due to, I think, missing fire extinguishers, and the mechanic needed to....

We eventually flew out four hours late. I don't mind late flights as much on the way home as I do on the way out, but it's painful for most people on a red-eye flight. Me, I don't much care where I don't sleep.

Just before take off, my cell phone rang (just as I was reaching to turn it off!) and Late said she had a spare seat next to her in the front exit row - did I want to move up? I did, yes, and after we were in the air a flight attendant approved the move. I was then sitting between Late and a Very Large Man who told me he was going to snore, and I should whack him if he gets too loud. I happily opened my book, clipped on the reading light, and read quietly all the way home, between two snoring people. To me, that is almost as good as listening to my favorite CD. Peaceful. So the guy snorted loudly a few times - he didn't mind my giggles.

Arizona itself was a good trip. It was hot, of course, running 105-111 daily. A dry heat, though, you are thinking. Well, dry is relative. It was dry to us, compared to the humidity we are used to. However, it is the rainy season there, and we had storms every day. It always rains when I go - they should send me a ticket whenever it gets too dry. This time we had an added attraction - sand storms. I hadn't run into this before. Late at night, I was driving us home from Bisbee (somewhere down not too far from Tombstone, I think?) and we had storms off and on all the way, about 100 miles or so. Thunderstorms don't bother me much. As we got closer, where there is still construction and some bare dirt, I would have a block of heavy rain, then no rain and heavy sand. Then heavy rain, then no rain and heavy sand. I was looking out for locusts, but only saw some harmless looking crickets. I couldn't remember the word for the events I was thinking of - is it the Scourges? Pestilence and all those nasty things?

We went every place. We went to a cavern that had 99% humidity at 71 degrees. Felt like home :-). We walked around Bisbee some, went to the Desert Museum. Now that was an interesting visit. I have been there maybe 5 times now, and I just love the place. However, the desert walk section was closed due to "a problem." Of course, I had to ask more questions. I had heard about a javalina biting someone, but now I know more.

It seems there was this wild javalina who tried to join the tame herd at the museum to look for a date. He was all nasty and stinky, and the females at the museum are regularly groomed by the vet. The wild guy was not accepted by the ladies. He became a bit irate about his rejection and ended up biting a human male. Jealous, perhaps? So far, the museum people had not been able to trap the wild guy and release him to another area where maybe he can find himself some nice wild gal to hook up with.

I rarely took my camera with me because it was too hot to leave it in the car and I am too lazy to drag it around all the time when we were some place I didn't need it. I did get a few pictures when we went to Mt Lemon and also when I went alone to Catalina Park. Late and Son spent two days at UofA for orientation for Son, leaving me to entertain myself. No problem, I am easily entertained.

What I came home to will have to be another entry. Let's just say for now I had multiple teenaged nieces in my home for ten days and a sick dog here with them, and no maid was in sight.

Sabino Canyon

Also Sabino Canyon

Catalina State Park

I think this was from our start up towards Mt Lemon, but storms sent us back down.

 

 

 

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Pearl

Do not try to describe a new haircut to a hairstylist to try the day before you leave for a trip out of town.

Just trust me on this one.

If you do try a new haircut, don't let her spray hairspray on it and then get you hair so sweaty it has to be dried with the hairdryer.

You will end up with butch hair and no time to have her fix the cut.

Not that I would know anything about a situation like this.

It's even worse for an asymmetrical cut.

I have no more to add on this topic, since it's theoretical.

 

 

Not my ear

Way back when my journal was just in its infancy I wrote an entry about a visit I once made to my doctor's off-hours clinic. I had thought I had an ear infection, and the nurse misunderstood me. I didn't understand why she asked me if it burned, and she didn't understand why I said loud noises were painful. We came to a meeting of the minds when she handed me a plastic cup. I then announced, "NO! Not a urine infection! An ear infection!"

This time I have been consistently saying my ear doesn't bother me, although the doctors have been telling me it does and is the cause of my vertigo. It doesn't feel like it's my ear, it feels more like the center of my head. But I figured the inner ear isn't that far from the center, so I must be off a few centimeters. Still, no pain or discomfort in my ear, although the vertigo can knock me almost off my feet at times. I cannot stand still - I weave like a happy drunk sometimes. I make other people dizzy who are trying to converse with me and keep eye contact.

So, today I went and had all the lovely, time-consuming tests for my ears. I had cool and warm air blown into each ear twice, and each time caused intense dizziness. I had been warned by others who have had this done that I might lose a meal. Or two. ST suggested I have grape juice and avacado after I mentioned that I might want to go for an interesting splatter pattern. Lucky for all involved, I didn't get very nauseated. I was glad for that, since I forgot to pack a second set of clothes, just in case.

I was made to wear a high tech head piece during the air tests, and also during another test while I tracked a light on a light bar. I wasn't too far into the tests when I realized that as annoying as they were, both ears felt about the same. Uh oh, I was thinking, what does this mean? Am I off in my thoughts or are they both having issues, or neither?

I was wired up to electrodes onto my face, neck, hand, and throat. Some test was done that way to see something that happens on my neck muscles that relates to the inner ear. After that, I had another hearing test. Then the doctor evaluated me, at least 3 hours after the first test began.

There is nothing wrong with my ears besides some asymmetrical hearing loss. I have lost hearing in my right ear, as I already knew. My dizziness is not caused by my ears. Is that a relief or not, I wondered? He again stated that he feels my symptoms are consistent with encephalitis. I must see a neurologist. I asked if he could send me to one closer to my home, since it took me an hour to get to his testing site today. He said I could see someone else, but that if I don't see someone who is very investigative, I am going to have 15 tests and nothing will be found.

His words - "What you have is not common. I deal with dizzy people all over the midwest. You don't have an ear problem. This is something for a neurologist, something in your brain."

I have had two MRIs in the last 2 years - one for the sleep study, and one for the ENT in the spring. Both say, surprisingly, that my brain is normal. I was just happy they confirmed I have one.

Meanwhile, I am leaving for a long trip and I am off balance for hiking over rocks and other uneven surfaces. Maybe that doesn't matter too much, since AZ is having some serious heat going on. I don't mind, but Late and Son might balk on occasion.

Maybe I should change my hair color so I can be a dizzy blonde. Who ever heard of a dizzy redhead?

Really, though, I don't feel dizzy. I feel like I am riding in a rowboat in a storm. All the time. Or sitting on a plane in rough weather. The intensity varies, but never ends.

 

Gotcha!

All I wanted to do was wash my car. It wasn't hard to tell if it really needed to be done or not. The last time it was washed was January when I had the oil changed. Easy stuff, car washing.

It should be easy enough. The beagles like to go where I go, so I tried to stick a stake in the ground to tie them for safety. No dice. No matter how hard I pushed, I don't weigh enough to push a stake through whatever is in the ground. I hope there are no videos of that attempt. So, no dogs. Next - hose. Last year I was not thinking when I bought my hose and it's kinkable. OK, so am I, but it's not a good thing in a hose. I had to unkink it and try the squirter thing on the end. Hose unkinked, squirter thing squirted all over me. Eventually, after much tugging, I was able to disconnect the squirter thing and toss it into the garbage. Back the car out of the garage. Just barely miss three bicyclist going down the road. Some day I will adjust to a shorter driveway.

Dogs are pushing each other away from the little window next to the front door and whining. I sigh, loudly, and go inside to put warm water into a bucket. On second thought, I add about 1/4 teaspoon dishwashing detergent to the water. Six months without being washed? I figured I needed a litle soap, although I normally use only warm water in the bucket and rinse with the hose. I also break from my own beliefs and use a brush to scrub the car. We pygmys cannot reach the top of the car, nor can we reach the entire hood of the car. I can work with it, but I decided I needed to do this fairly fast before my vertigo knocks me on my backside.

I turned on the hose, and started to back up to get it all neatly unkinked, and I hit the curb with my foot. I danced to keep from falling because I was way off balance - I didn't fall, but I did rip the strap out of my sandal. OK, I decided to wash the car barefoot; no big deal.

Just as I got re-started, my neighbor, the one who owns the little puppy, brought her over. It seems that the little one, Maddy, was not producing any poop. There is something about my lawn that encourages dogs to dump, so she brought Maddy over. Maddy proceeded to lick my bare toes, which were now wet. Then she licked my shins, and that really tickles! Meanwhile, I turned the water off and started washing the car. Maddy continued to not produce.

Another neighbor stopped by on his bicycle to critique my work. We were talking, enjoying the weather, waiting for Maddy to produce, and I finished the washing and decided to rinse. I had to turn on the hose again. I apparently had missed a kink, because suddenly the hose went flying and hit the neighbor, soaking his left flank quite thoroughly. His yelp caused Molly to start banging on the little thingie that keeps doors from whacking the walls. I call them bawoingees, but I don't know what the real word is. She was in the laundry room, banging away on it. Maddie continued to not produce, but she was having a great time. I have told her mom that she won't produce because as soon as she does, her mom takes her back inside the house. Neighbor on bike decides to go back to riding with the hopes that he dries off. I hope I don't get an email from his wife about that.

Just before I finish the car, the neighbor across the street wants to borrow a lawn tool. I found one, handed it to her, and she and her roommate proceeded to dig up their yard with it. I finished drying the car. Molly was still banging on the bawoingee. I walked with Maddy and her mom to the side of my yard and Maddy produced. Mom was all excited - a double load! *sigh*

I went back inside to put things away. The beagles started to carry on, so I had to drag them back outside. Maddy's mom is back, trying to get her older dog to produce :-). I dragged the beagles around for awhile, he got all excited watching that lovely female beagle bitch form walking, and he produced too. I dragged the beagles back in, changed out of my car washing clothes, and put on my dog walking clothes.

Yeah, it wasn't tiring enough to wash the car, I had to walk a few miles. We got partway around the complex and picked up another beagle and her owner, who walked the rest of the way with us. 

I hope it's less eventful when I clean the inside of the car.