Blog Archives

The week in review

 

     This has been a long week.  Very cold weather and now today, more snow.  Dang, we were just getting to see some grass peek through the last dumping of snow we got.  The furnace has been working overtime keeping the house warm.  Eeks!  We have frigid weather and another inch or two of snow predicted for this weekend.  Take note people, with this surge in cold weather stocks in long underwear companies should rocket.  Hurry up spring! 

     Meanwhile back at the pond, the waterfall is frozen but the fountains are running.  We need a few days above freezing to thaw the filters and the waterfall.  There’s no ice on the pond, due to the cattle trough heater, but leaves clogged the basket on top of the pump, thus the frozen filters.  It took me two hours to get the fountains flowing.  Ah, wet hands and frigid weather, what a lovely combination.

     Gavin and Patty are as sick of snow as we are.  Neither one wants to be outside long.  Our normally quiet dog barked when she saw some people outside today.  It seems that Patty has taken to complaining to the neighbors about the weather. 

     DH had a bad week.  We’re hoping next week will be a better one for him.  He’s going to skip his Avonex dose on Monday.  We’ll see how that goes.

     Here’s hoping for warmer days, melted snow, and DH feeling better.

Driver license pictures—Oh, crap

 

Smile for the camera!

     It’s driver license photo time again.  Groan.  The last one I had done was horrible.  This time I think I’ll try to get to my hair stylist before I go for the picture.  I will try to remember to wear a flattering colored top and not the neon green T-shirt I wore last time.  Looking back at the last time, I do remember I wasn’t in any mood to have it done.  It shows. 

     The poor woman took three pictures and not one of them was good so we picked the best of the three.  She was willing to try for more but I wasn’t.  By that time, I just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and pull the covers over my head.  I prayed I’d never have to show my license to anyone.  No such luck.  It seems that ever since that awful picture became my ID everyone has asked for it.

     At least I have over two months to get the picture done so I have time to plan.  Oh, sure, like that ever works in this house.  The best laid plans and all that malarkey.

DH considers discontinuing Avonex

 

     DH has been on Avonex for many years, since way back when his now secondary progressive MS, was relapsing remitting.  Lately he’s had a terrible time the day after his weekly injection.  That first morning after he’s much weaker, can’t walk, or even sit up and in general, feels like crap.  These are not the flu-like symptoms often connected with the use of Avonex.  He had those in the early days of his Avonex use.  These are different.

     This worries me since Avonex can prevent further damage to the nerves.  However, DH is determined.  He has agreed to discuss this with his neurologist and I plan to be there when he does.  I’ve done tons of research, hit all the MS sites I could find, and yet there is very little information on secondary progressive MS and what can happen if one discontinues the use of Avonex at this stage. 

     I plan to bring a list of questions, what ifs, what we might have to expect if he stops the drug.  I also plan to ask about Fampridine, if the FDA approves it, when it will be available. 

     I would appreciate hearing from people who have secondary progressive MS and their reactions to the information and care they have available.

Cold weather dogs? No sirree.

 

       How fitting that I have dogs who don’t like the cold.  Bull Terriers are not cold weather dogs.  Believe me the days are very cold right now, colder than we’ve seen in many years.  Neither Gavin nor Patty will tolerate a coat even on the coldest of days.  They give that ‘she’s-crazy if she thinks I’m going to wear that’ look.  

     I’ve never seen either of the pups so quick to go out and come back in.  Miss Patty, of the very thin coat, goes a few yards into the yard, does her business, and comes flying in the back door as if shot from cannon.  Gavin walks only a few feet from the back steps, squats like a puppy and trots back in.  He wants us to think that the cold is no big deal to him.

     Miss Patty heads for DH’s lap or the settee, which is warmed by the radiator behind it.  (Gavin hasn’t discovered that feature yet.)  Gavin wants his chair or my lap, preferably the latter.  I’ve resorted to turning the space heater on for a few hours at night in the kitchen since that’s the coldest room and is where Gavin’s crate is.  Even though his crate is next to the radiator in there, he is noticeably quieter when the space heater is on.  Therefore, I know he’s more comfortable.

What if people hibernated?

 

     I don’t know about you but it’s during cold weather like this when I often wish that we were creatures who hibernate.  No shoveling snow, slip sliding on ice, or braving 40 mph winds to go to the store.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to crawl into a nice warm bed, pull the covers up, and sleep until spring?  Then we’d wake up slim and ready for warm weather.  

     Yes, I think about these things. 

     I think about this when I’m snuggled deep under my covers.  Warm and snug not wanting to get out of bed knowing that the wind I hear outside is as cold and fierce as it sounds.  Knowing I have to go and face the cold as soon as one of the pups wants out, I want to pull the covers over my head and doze some more.

     Isn’t it spring yet?

It is ccccooold!

 

Grrr, it's freaking cold!

Grrr, It's freaking cold!

 

     It’s cold weather like this that makes me wish for a home on a tropical island.  The pups didn’t want to go out today unless they absolutely HAD to go.  Yeah, it was THAT cold here.  The next few days are supposed to be colder yet. 

     Oh, my dear Canadian friends please keep your arctic air to yourselves.  I don’t want to share.  The 9 degrees predicted for tomorrow is not my idea of nice weather.  Hey, I’m no polar bear. 

     Spring cannot get here fast enough as far as I’m concerned.  We’re supposed to get ten days of BRRRRRRRRRR.  Please, Mother Nature, send that cold back to the frozen north, and let us have some nice 40 degree weather.  I can live with 40 degrees for a few months.

     Poor Miss Patty has a thin coat so she zips outside and back in as fast as her legs can carry her.  Gavin’s coat is thicker, probably because he’s from Nova Scotia, and he’ll take his time.  However, if I have him out, he will hurry because I tell him I’m freezing my buns off and there’s an extra cookie in it if he gets done faster.  Yes, I sink to bribery.

Happy New Year!

A toast!

      A toast to my dear readers…

     May most of your wishes be granted.

     I’d never say all, for a person needs to dream.

     Good health.

     Long life.

     May the love of friends and family warm you.

     Smell the roses.

     Dance as if no one is looking.

     Sing with joy.

     Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds.

     And please keep on coming back here.

Who stole the garlic?

 

     I made spaghetti sauce today.  I had help in the form of two four footed helpers.  Their sort of help consists of stepping on my toes, standing between the counter and me, blocking access to pots and pans, and stealing three cloves of garlic.  I turned my back for one minute and the garlic POOF disappeared. 

     “Alright you guys, who stole it?  Who stole my garlic?”

     Two Bull Terriers did their best to look innocent.  Patty ran for her crate and hid in the back.  Guilty or not she always does that.  She doesn’t do confrontations.  Gavin danced around the kitchen sassy barking at me.  He always does that when it’s near dinner time.  I wasn’t getting any answers.

     I had a good idea who did it.  Gavin doesn’t often put his paws on the counter edge and he’s not quite tall enough to snitch anything from there.  However to be fair I smelled his breath.  “Phew, stinky breath but no garlic on it.”

     I went to Patty’s crate and leaned down.  I didn’t have to smell her breath.  Fumes of garlic panted from the back.  I didn’t have the heart to scold her.

Muse versus little editor

 

     Today my muse sauntered in and sent me off on a flurry of writing.  As my fingers flew over the keyboard I swore, I wasn’t going to look back until my train of thought derailed.

     Out of nowhere, my little editor appeared and began to jump about on my shoulder screaming for attention.  I do wish they’d arrive on different days or at least take separate vacations.  Two chapters in and my train screeched to a halt.

     “You know, this would be a great place to throw in a red herring.”  My muse sat back in the chair behind me and stretched.  “I’m sorry I left you in a lurch but I really needed a vacation.  How about this for a what if scenario?”

     “Oh, that’s good.”  My fingers waltzed over the keys.

     “What if your main character gets backed into a corner here?”

     “I like that.  It works.”  The waltz became a boogie woogie.

     “This looks like a great place to start a new chapter.”

     “You’re right.  It will perfect.”  We were rocking now.

     Something kicked me in the left ear.  “Ow.”  My little editor had announced his arrival.

     “Reread that.  Your grammar sucks there.”

     “I can do that later, I’m on a roll here.”  My typing slowed and I reread the paragraph he’d pointed out.  “Crap.”  My finger hovered over the delete key.

     My muse bolted upright.  “Don’t do it.  Move on.  I have more ideas.” 

     Too late.  The train had stopped.  I flipped off my little editor and asked, “Why don’t you go on vacation?”

A soggy trip

 

     It is still raining and our yard is soggy.  After my last trip out there with Gavin so am I.  I do mean trip.  Gavin was wandering along the fence line and I walked back toward the shed.  The wind we had last night knocked a small branch or two off the magnolia, I didn’t see the one that sent me flying until after I’d landed splat in the deepest puddle out there.

     Gavin is always ready to play and when he saw me hit the ground, he thought PLAY TIME!  Sixty five pounds of wet dog landed on me.  I started laughing, I was laughing so hard I couldn’t get up.  Well, let’s say that the laughing and the extra sixty five pounds didn’t help my efforts.  Never laugh at or with a Bull Terrier, it makes them sillier.

     By the time we made it back inside, I was soaked, muddy, and cold.  Gavin was muddy, wet, and full of himself.  Furthermore, he had the nerve to beg for a cookie. 

     I was about to remove my muddy coat when Patty rang the bells—she wanted her turn out.  She had a quick trip.

     My coat and jeans went into the washer.  After a hot shower and a cup of Bengal Spice tea, I was feeling warmer.

Santa’s little helpers

 

     Sometime around 11:00 tonight I’ll take the pups for a walk.  First I’ll walk one around the block to the east of us and then I’ll walk the other to the west.

     What makes these walks special?  The dogs will wear sleigh bells.  Any children still awake will have the thrill of hearing Santa pass by.  I do this every year.  In fact, I’ve done this for 36 years.

     It’s a hoot because I’ve heard about ‘Santa’s Bells’ for years from parents and kids.  They’ve yet to figure out where they come from.  😉

     Have a Merry and a Happy everyone!

     The two pups enjoyed their reindeer walk.  However, of the two I think Patty was the one who enjoyed it the most.  I’ve never seen her trot so happy or proud–she loves the bells.  She extended the walk by a couple of blocks.  Gavin had fun since he ran into a young woman who thought he was very clever to be wearing bells but he didn’t want to walk as far or as fast as his sister did.

Hit and passed the 50,000 mark!

 

     I get to go out to dinner!  To everyone who helped, thank you!  A special thank you to Delaney for that 50,000th hit.  I’ll think of all of you when we are sitting in a restaurant for the first time in a long time.  You all twisted Dear Hubby’s arm by helping me to win the bet. 

     Usually, if I don’t want to cook, he’ll order delivery food.  I mean that’s wonderful and I love him dearly for it but it also means I still have to do dishes afterwards.  At that rate, I might as well cook too.  For once, I just want to go out for dinner.  Let someone else cook our meal and clean up afterwards.  Let me relax and lounge over a cup of coffee without thinking about doing the dishes.

     I’m a cheap date.  To make me happy it doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive, or even come with drinks, though dessert is a necessary given.  What’s dinner out without a dessert too?  I’d be completely happy with one of several local diners that serve exceptional meals at a nominal price.  Four of which have the most wonderful cheesecakes.

     I’ll leave it up to him.