Happy Birthday to Us!

I didn't sit on the jury, didn't hear the evidence and don't have an opinion.  Lots of other folks seem to feel they have some inside poop though. What is it about this case that has created such a stir in the US?  You would think it was a sporting event, the way people were fighting for seats, the tv coverage, etc.

Watching the Sox beat the Jays....and feeling great.  I worked out today, came home and took the doggies for a swim in the pool, nice!  Then I loaded up Truman and Rocket and went to Backus to pick up Sandy.  We took the dogs to Deb Saunders for their PT appointments and then hit Harry's on the way home.  I had a hot lobster roll that was fabulous!  The best around I swear.

I'm feeling pretty good lately.  I started the green smoothie routine and have lost three pounds in the past week.  Nice!   I decided that my system can't handle using kale in the smoothie thought...too much roughage for my delicate constitution.  I've been spending my nights in the bathroom again.  Can't afford to get back into that routine.  I guess I'll have to stick to spinach (yum), lettuce, parsley and other green leafy things for now.

We are headed to Dummerston VT this weekend, for an agility trial.  We love going up there, it's at a campground so we can park the RV right near the ring...so convenient.  We'll be seeing some old pals up there and Hopie said maybe she and Mary would come down to visit.  Hopie is an old Army buddy and we were recently reunited via Facebook after not hearing from each other since the mid 80's!  I love Facebook for that reason...I have been reunited with so many old friends...it's wonderful.

Speaking of old friends, I went to our class reunion Saturday night with my cousin Fran.  It was WONDERFUL being out on the town with Fran again.  We used to hang out all the time when we were kids, I've missed her so.   We saw quite a few old friends from our class and the class before us, who shared their reunion with our class.  I saw people I haven't seen since we graduated...in 1967!   We didn't have a huge turnout and I hope we can do it again next year for our "real" reunion.  It will be our 45th!  It doesn't seem real.

Anyway, had lots of laughs with old friends and caught up with quite a few of them.  We had a great time and closed the place down...well, not really, but we were among the diehards who stayed late.  It was a wonderful evening.

No fireworks next door this year, thanks to Carol who spoke to them about how we feel about the annual celebration.  They would shoot off fireworks and we would have to close all windows, run the AC and put the tv up loud...oh, and pull all the blinds....to decrease the stimulation for Bubbles.  She would be beside herself all night.  Carol and Mark would have to put their dogs in the car and ride around for two hours until the celebration was over.

The next day the neighbor would come into our yard and pick up all the pieces of cardboard from the fireworks to be a "good neighbor"....you should see the size of the stuff they would pick up!  Big hunks of stuff.  Last year I was out on the deck and heard this big THUNK...it was a big piece of cardboard  hitting our glass table on the deck!   I thought it would break the glass!

So, this year cooler heads prevailed and we are grateful for that.  There were some stray booms from other neighbors and it freaked Bub out, but at least the explosions weren't right next door!

Now my tummy is upset...ugh.   I am very tired, I think that makes me sick.  When will I learn?  Never.

Time to shut off the computer and go up to bed.  Early.  I need to do this more often.  No more staying up to midnight.

Nighty night!

By Popular Demand.....

Happy Birthday Birgitta!

Pam wrote and inquired when I was going to do another blog post as I  haven't been too faithful.  I seem to be on a once a week schedule.

Worked this week, doing a new "scenario"...medical error.   The student has made an error which resulted in me being admitted to the hospital.  They have to admit the error, apologize and tell me that their system to make sure that it never happens again.  Well, they are not recognizing that the scenario says that THEY made the mistake, they are saying that someone in the practice made an error...it's all very interesting.  And, they aren't too good about coming up with a plan of correction.

I used to have to submit Plans of Correction when the Health Dept would inspect the homes and find deficiencies.  We had to develop systems to insure that the deficiency wouldn't happen again.  These students need to learn how to do that.

I point out to them that a lot of folks, when they sue, make the statement, "I'm not doing it for myself, I'm doing it to prevent this from happening to someone else."  Hence the importance of telling the person what you are going to do to accomplish this!  No brainer...

It is an interesting case though and it is a curve that the students are not expecting.

I'll be working two days a week for the next couple of months.  Nice.   I'm also working Monday on a different case, one I've done in the past, but I can barely remember.  I'll have to brush up on it tomorrow.

Got a bad fingernail, again.  This happened the last time I weeded out back, I got an infected nail.  I weeded again the other night and lo and behold, the same nail comes up infected.  It's all hot, red, swollen and, unfortunately, filled with pus.  UGH!   I went on line to find out what to do and guess what?  It was exactly as Sandy told me!  Ha!  I'm hoping the home remedy works and I don't have to make a trip to the doctor.  I don't have time next week for that.  It does make typing difficult with a big bandaid on your finger.

Went for my CA 125 test Monday and haven't heard a peep from them about the results.  I went to have this test before the three months was up because the last test was elevated a bit--although still within normal limits.  Still 16 is a bit more than the 2 that I had been at for some time.  Anyway, I'm not calling to get the results--bad mojo I think.   I'll wait until July 20 when I go back to the doctor, because that's how I roll through life.

Bob and Mike came down for dinner Wednesday and we were so happy to see them.   We had a great time, talking talking talking...as we are wont to do whenever we get together.  We showed off the RV and they may the appropriate cooing noises.  Mike was telling me lots about green smoothies which he and Bob prepare at home.  I like the sounds of the whole thing and will be looking into buying a good blender and then stocking up on spinach, kale, etc.   Trudy used to call me and beg me to eat green leafy vegetables as they are great cancer fighters.  Well, they are great for a lot of things and I'm going to get with the program.  I want to increase my fruit and veggie intake, per Michelle Obama's orders, and a smoothie is a good way to get both!

So, thank you Mike!

Our neighbors are already preparing a huge launch area for their illegal fireworks for next weekend.  UGH!   Bubble freaks out, we have to keep all the windows closed and the AC on...pull all the blinds, turn on the lights and turn up the volume on the TV.  The light show next door goes on for about two hours!   The next day they come through our yard and pick up debris....large hunks of cardboard from the works.  Unbelievable.   Carol and Mark have to take Porter out for a ride while this is going on...he can't stand the noise and lights.  They were going to talk to the guy to tell him not to do it, but I don't know if they did.

Last year I let him know how much it affected our dogs and their dogs, but that doesn't seem to faze him.  If someone had told me what I told him, I'd feel horrible and I would never do it again.  Not this guy.

I think we will be calling the cops.

The governor is going to be starting the layoffs.  I'm sure I will know people who will be losing their jobs.  So sad.  The deal he was offering was not that onerous, I don't understand why some union folks would rather see their co-workers lose their jobs.   I think they think it won't affect them...they will be wrong.  Everyone is affected by lay-offs.   I was a manager and I hated lay-offs.   It caused such heartache and pain for everyone involved.   The job picture in CT is going to look bleaker.  Who knows, maybe I'll be one of the ones who gets a lay-off notice.   I am a state employee after all.

On that note I'll sign off and go back to concentrating on the Sox game...they are losing.  I'm beginning to dislike these interleague games.

Later,

I'm watching hockey for the first time in my life since the famous USA over Russia game in the Olympics...so many years ago.  But this year the Bruins are in the finals and the games have been interesting.  Maybe as I age I don't mind the lack of scoring....I can appreciate the battle going on between the two goalies; I don't always need ACTION and SCORES.  Whatever...it's been fun watching it.

We had early Father's Day last weekend.  Maria came down Friday and we went up to get Bob and Wini on Saturday to come to the house to stay over.  Saturday I took Wini clothes shopping at Kohl's--her first time in the store.  I got her to try on crop pants which she swore she would never wear...well, she bought a pair of them.  It was hard finding her size...she's an 8 or 10 petite.  We found some tops and two pairs of pants.

Maria stayed at the house with Bob, who was happy to see Wini when we returned.  I don't think he was always remembering where he was and who Maria was.  He did all right though.

Steve came on Sunday and we all went back to Kohls after having a "picnic lunch" to buy sneakers for Bob.  Steve and Maria helped Bob pick out some walking shoes that look fashionable.  Oh, Maria and I took Bob and Wini to church in the AM, dropped them off, went to the flea market and then it was time to go pick them up again.  Bob looked spiffy some of the new clothes I got him, new slacks and nice blue and with striped shirt.  He insists on wearing a suit coat.  Oh well....it's what he wants.

Saturday night Bob got out of bed after a particularly close lightning strike.  I heard him and Wini talking and then he opened our bedroom door and then closed it.  I went out and found him confused in the bedroom and Wini was trying to talk to him.  When he saw me he seemed to realize that he wasn't home.  I took him in the bathroom as I thought that's what he was looking for.  He told me he wanted to go to sleep...so I took him back into bed, tucked him in and kissed him on the head-told him nighty night.  Didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the night.  Poor guy.  Wini said he was sitting in my office chair out in the hall as he didn't know what door to go into, all of them were closed.

Wini still doesn't accept how impaired Bob's memory is.  She has very unrealistic expectations and gets upset when Bob doesn't remember or is unable to do what she wants.  I told her that even though it mostly means that she is going to have to do tasks herself, it is easier for her to do them then it is to expect Bob to be able to do them.  She agreed....let's see if she remembers.  I don't think she will.

One thing I'll say about hockey, you can write an entry in a blog like this while you are watching the game...it's like baseball in that regard I guess.

We got the RV back from the shop yesterday.  It's great seeing it out in the driveway again.  I vacuumed it out, put sheets on the bed and got the fridge started up today.  We are taking it to Greenfield MA this weekend for an agility trial.  Hope it doesn't rain...it seems like everytime we go to Greenfield there are wicked t-storms.

Rocky killed a squirrel in the yard today.  He's not that good at killing things efficiently...he grabbed it by the tail and shook it.  It didn't die and he went nuts on it...shaking it.  I was hoping Bubbie would take it from him...she knows how to kill things swiftly, silently and efficiently.  Rocky will learn.  I finally got them to come in the yard and I went out and got the poor thing and dumped it in the trash.  It was a big 'un.

Therapy appointment and work tomorrow.  Then home to pack up for Friday's trip.   FUN FUN FUN!

Later.

Trial weekend. Well, Sandy had a trial weekend. I stayed home on Saturday with Bubbles and then she and I joined Sandy and the boys at the trial yesterday. It was fun watching the boys run again and seeing some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.

Saturday Bub and I slept until almost 11! WOW! I felt like a slug from all that so I got busy as soon as my feet hit the floor. Cleaned and did laundry. Then I took Bub for a walk in the neighborhood. When we got back I threw on my workout clothes, kenneled her and headed out for the gym.

I did a good 50 minute workout and then my stretches. Put up Ovarian Cancer flyers in the locker room and then hit the road.

Went up to Colchester to deliver two huge trash bags filled with Husky memorabilia. Old posters, megaphones, media guides for UConn and the Big East and a basketball autographed by Rebecca Lobo and Big Girl. Actually, it was originally autographed by the entire 94-95 championship team, but the other autographs wore off over the years. Now I know that you have to apply a fixative to keep the ink from fading.

I took the bags to Lisa's house and dropped them off with Drew. Lisa's granddaughter is going to be the beneficiary of all this treasure. She is four now I think and already a huge Husky fan.

It felt good to be ridding myself of all this stuff and having it go to a good home. It also felt good to see Drew again and on the way back I swung by Charmine's and visited with her...that was good too.

Then it was go home, shower, change and get out to the Sun for the game. Good game, Sun beat the Mystics in fine fashion. Home again, wrote up my game article and then tried to sleep.

Bad night. My stomach was very upset---reflux to the max---probably from the decaff coffee I had at the game. I won't be doing that again.

I had to OD on Pepcid in order to get the acid under control and then I could sleep. Got up at 5:45 to get ready to hit the road with Sandy and the dogs to go to N. Smithfield for the agility trial.

Bad night again last night and I am getting sick of this. Don't know why the bowels are in an uproar again...maybe the reflux, maybe something else, but I have to get this back under control. I hate the multiple trips to the can all night long...losing so much sleep.

Looks like we are going to have great weather next weekend for Maria, Bob and Wini's trip to our house. YAY! We will be having Father's Day early here and I can't wait. It's going to get very very hot mid week and I'm glad I have no obligations during the day on those days. I can sit in the AC and stay cool.

Think I'll hit the gym again tomorrow. I felt so good after my workout Saturday...the best I've felt in a loooooong time. Hoping to reproduce that feeling.

I'm enjoying the Sarah Palin Comedy Road Show. That trip to the Old North Church was a winner. Looking forward to future stops and her take on history. It's all so entertaining. She's earning every penny she's getting for this trip. Who is paying for it I wonder. She has to be getting paid, she doesn't do anything for free.

Life is good, Sox are on a roll, I have my laptop back, the pups are all lovey-dovey and I'm going to get to spend time with the majority of my family this week.

Later!

Got my laptop back from the shop...it "only" cost me $400+ and another $18 for a keyboard protector. Should have purchased the latter when I bought the laptop...would have saved me the $400+

It's good to have the laptop back, and just in time for tomorrow night's CT Sun season opener. I just got the news that they picked up Jessica Moore! That means they have Tina, Jess, Renee, Asjha and KG...five former Huskies. Who's next? Ashley Battle? I think it's cool that they are getting all the Huskies here...they certainly know how to play the game. J Mo will be a great compliment to Tina under the basket.

Went to the therapist yesterday and talked a lot about how Sandy and I interact--the problem part of it anyway. Had a good session and talked about it a bit with Sandy last night. There was some hollering and fussing, but we came away with some mutual agreements and understandings...good talk. I'm trying to change how I interact and I realize that I hold too much in and then shut down...not good for resolving things.

Today I was going to go to the gym but the weather was so nice I stayed home and puttered around outside with the dogs. Just left them for the time it took to run down to New London to get the laptop at the shop. It was gorgeous out there.

Oh, I did work in my "office" a bit more and got more stuff squared away, dumped, recycled or stashed neatly away. I still have some boxes of pictures I need to go through with the family; some work pictures and a couple boxes of "toys"....gadgets I had in my old office when I was working. I'll see if Maria wants some of it to sell on Etsy.

Otherwise I think I'll end up recycling the whole lot.

I got a new pump for the pond. A small one, just to use to help with aeration. The pond is looking kind of scummy. We may need to drain it and clean it. We did it the year we moved here, but that was four years ago! Time to clean it I think.

The tornado the other night was so scary. I was watching on Channel 3. They do the best job of keeping people informed. I was disappointed though with that Lt. Vance (or whatever rank he is) of the State Police. He was asked about what advice the State Police had for people who might be out on the roads when a tornado hit and all he did was reiterate the advice Channel 3 was posting about get in the basement, away from windows and put a mattress over you. Hey, how about telling people to get out of their cars, seek cover in a ditch, avoid highway overpasses, etc.? Stupid.

Anyway, I am very familiar with the areas they were showing on the news where the tornado hit. We travel that way when we go to the Big E. It was eery seeing familiar sights, with trees and cars all blown all over the place.

We didn't get the storm. I could hear thunder off in the distance when it was hitting Plainfield, but it barely rained here. Maria said the lightning was awful. Multiple strikes at once and it just kept on coming.

I have a little dog curled up on my lap and it feels soooooooo good.

I went to Bob's on Wednesday and cleaned some more in his room, then went shopping for clothes for him. He had no summer shirts, needed underwear and socks and I also got him some slacks as he has gained weight and his pants don't fit him now. I'm glad he has put on some weight, he needed to.

Wini and I had a good talk and we came up with a plan to provide her with some relief. She was very honest and open with me and I told her I appreciate it. I need her to be that way with me. I told her we don't want her going downhill...if it is too hard, she needs to let us know so we can help. She promised she would. She also told me that she would let me know when she can't do it anymore.

She told me that Bob told her "when I can't live here anymore, I'll go live with Ann." That's a plan, as long as he doesn't try to pet Truman and Bubbles gets used to him!

Watching the Sox now and hoping that they can turn their latest fortunes around. They haven't been doing too good.

The little dog just snuggled in more on my lap and then heaved the little sigh....I love it when he does that.

Okay, I'm off now to watch the game.

Later!

Having problems with the laptop since I spilled coffee on the keyboard. Al Joslin came and checked it out and then did some research and thinks I need a new power button as it keeps shutting off if I leave it idle for about 16 seconds.

I called the local place that works on Apples and they say they have to do a diagnostic test ($100) to figure out what's wrong. I'm going to have them do that, but will tell them that if it comes out that Al is right and it needs a power button, then I'm not going to pay for the diagnostics!

It's been an up and down situation here lately. Went to cover my first Sun game last week, the day after I went to Steve Bousquet's funeral. I'm still not used to saying that. I can't believe he's gone.

It was a huge wake and a huge funeral....a wonderful tribute to a wonderful human being. One of the best I've ever known. I feel so bad for Katy, Jen and Jeff and all the rest of the family. Such nice people and something horrible happens....it's unbelievable.

I have been doing more lately. Making myself go to bed early and get up early. I make myself move around and keep active. It's good and it's hard at the same time.

Got a bug up my ass about Sandy one day and went on a cleaning and organizing tear...threw out a lot of my stuff, made piles to donate and went through all my drawers sorting and organizing. I feel better but depressed. I don't want to be just like her...with her OCD stuff, but my clutter causes problems even if it isn't that significant. So, I'm making it sterile around here, just the way she likes it.

It's easier that way.

Going to Bob's tomorrow to clean his room some more and get him stuff he needs. I didn't make it last week because I ended up going to Putnam twice in the week, for the wake and then for the funeral. I couldn't take another trip in the week.

I'm changing Father's Day on him...I thought it was the second Sunday in June and made all my plans accordingly...then I find out that it's really the weekend AFTER that...UH-OH! So, I asked the gang if they could do it on the second weekend and they are okay with it. So it will all work out. Good.

Maria is going to come down on the Friday night, we'll go clean out Bob's stuff on Saturday and Sunday we'll take Bob out for dinner and the boys will help us move the boxes. I can't lift them.

I'm sure we will find some treasures in those boxes....I have already found some great things in the stuff I've been able to go through thus far.

Have to find someone who wants those opera and big band 78's that he has. A LOAD of them.

Bob doesn't recognize Loretta in pictures any more. He still recognized my mother and people from long ago. I wonder if he will know who Maria, Phil and Steve are. He sometimes knows who I am, but mostly not.

I go back to see the therapist this Thursday and have plenty to talk about...lots of sadness lately, for obvious and not so obvious reasons.

Oh, I went to my first meeting of the CT Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and really enjoyed the gang. They are working on a 3k walk/run at Hammonasset State Park on Sept 24th and I'm going to walk/run it. I'm going to start a team-to see how much we can raise. The money goes to raise awareness about the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer...which most people don't know anything about.

I also volunteered to go to health fairs around the state and hand out literature, etc. Most of the women work and aren't always available to cover these events. It's important that we have a presence at the health fairs, so I'm willing to help anyway I can.

I also am going around to different places asking them to post the symptoms of ovarian cancer in their ladies rooms. I hit the Norwich Senior Ctr today and will be getting them up in my gym too. Anywhere I go I'm going to ask if I can leave the literature around for women to see.

Okay...I've typed enough...can't pause or the computer shuts off...so my stream of consciousness is done for tonight...

Later!

Starting all over again. Eating two eggs and a cup o' joe for breakfast this AM. Huffed and puffed and had sweat running in my eyes yesterday at the gym.

It felt good being at the gym. Until about an hour later...when I went into the "coma." This has happened several times before, when I return from the gym I go into a fugue state, where I lie prostrate on the recliner and can't move or react to things.

Fortunately, Sandy was outside, pulling weeds with the dogs, and didn't bother me when I was in that state. I rouse after about an hour or so and then I feel ill. That passes in another couple of hours and then I'm fine.

It happens just about every time I work out at the gym. I mentioned it to Dr. McCourt, but didn't get a reaction. Hmmmm....

It isn't going to stop me from going to the gym. I think next time I'll take an energy drink on the way home from the gym. I do drink the G2 in the car as soon as I leave the gym and I had a protein drink when I got home, but next I'll throw in the energy drink.

Yesterday was busy, after we finally dragged ourselves out of bed at 10 am...(THANK YOU BUBBLES). I made pancakes for breakfast, then cleaned upstairs, doing more laundry and changing sheets, vacuuming etc. Then I got in my exercise togs and went to the gym.

OH! Rocky got one of his squirrels yesterday! He is always "stalking" them, in a crouch and moving slowly, cat-like, and then he spends a looooooong time sitting five feet away from them, watching them eating sunflower seeds. We were beginning to think that he wasn't interested in catching them, just in stalking and watching them.

WRONG!

Sandy looks out and says, "Rocky has something out in the yard." I said, "glad this happened while YOU were home, and continued playing Cityville-I had rents to collect and crops to plant...important stuff.

She went out back with a big hunk of steak leftover from Friday night's supper. That got him. Thankfully. Usually he doesn't want to give up something that he has....he grabs it and runs away. What a mess that can be. He will drop things for Bubbles, but then we didn't want to have to use Bub in that way.

So, he coughed up the squirrel and Sandy was able to haul it away. WHEW!

It was a long time before the squirrels ventured back to the feeders.

Speaking of feeders, here's a list of birds spotted/heard in the yard so far this Spring:

hummingbirds

Rose Breasted Grosbeaks

Northern Orioles

Wood Thrush

Mockingbird (haven't had one in the yard since we lived on Sunrise Street)

Two Scarlet Tanagers-buzzed through once...hope they return

Carolina Wrens are back in their houses

And the permanent residents are singing: sparrows, finches, cardinals, goldfinches, blue jays, starlings, downy and hairy woodpeckers, mourning doves, flickers and our resident hawk: the cooper's hawk who swoops through our yard to Cliff's and then to Mark's...very impressive.

We are planning a trip in the RV to New York in June, to an agility trial up there. The RV is still at the shop getting things done to it...they are trying to figure out how to install the switch we want that automatically turn the generator on should we lose power. They have never done this before and are "putting their minds to it."

Speaking of therapy....should I get a complex because that office STILL hasn't called me to set up an appointment? I'm going to go over there today en route to the studio. I want to see their faces when I tell them I've been waiting for three weeks! DOH!

I have lots of things to do now...more phone calls to make, got to do my Mortality Review stuff and email it off...can't go to meeting tomorrow, have to go to Putnam to take Bob to the eye doctor to get his new glasses. YAY! I'll get the financial info too so I can finally do that Westview Application and I'll take a box or two of his records home. He has all these boxes of old records up there and by records I mean the music kind. I have to look through them and catalogue them...so I know how to dispose of them.

Oh, if you get the chance, check out The Borgias! The old episodes are available on "On Demand" and if you can, get it!

Deliciously Wicked!

Later!