Friday, January 25, 2008

terribly early in the morning

I’m Alive!

...and I can breathe, and I’m no longer going through Puffs w/ Lotion at an alarming rate.  It was truly the world’s most disgusting cold.  I learned how to use a Neti Pot (not nearly as gross as you’d think, and it worked really well to clear out my sinuses, and it was only $10 at Walgreens) and how to blow my nose.  Okay, not really learned, but I have a huge aversion to nose blowing.  I don’t like the sound.  I don’t like the feeling.  I just don’t like blowing my nose.  And frankly, I don’t like you blowing your nose either.  You know, if we’re going to be honest and stuff here.  However, this cold required copious nose blowing.  I zipped through a small box of Puffs w/ Lotion, but then decided I didn’t want to keep going through the wussy little boxes, so I upgraded to the big box.  Finished that one off today.  But today...it only required one nose blow, which made me so very very happy.

I appreciate that you guys, my loyal pals, were concerned about me.  I just felt so crappy and tired that I mostly laid in bed reading or sleeping...or sat at my computer in a daze, reading The Huffington Post’s entertainment section.  Plus, I kept up a bit on the election news.  I’m sad that running a successful campaign for POTUS requires millions and millions of dollars.  That is not how we’ll get the best people to lead us.  It’s too bad that Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson had to drop out.  I don’t particularly like what’s left.  Of the three front-runners, there’s no one who thrills me.  I would gladly vote for Elizabeth Edwards, but unfortunately she’s not the Edwards running.  I think she would be a terrific president.  I will vote for the Democratic candidate, but I hope that Hillary (I think she might win) or Barack will pick Bill Richardson as a running mate.  He’s the only one with real experience.  If Michael Bloomberg enters the race and has a good chance of being elected, instead of being a spoiler, I might consider voting for an Independent.  If Mike Huckabee is elected, I promise you that I will do everything that I can to move to Canada.  He’s a very charming and witty wingnut, and I think that if he’s elected (hey, people voted for Bush...TWICE, ugh - they should all send out apologies to the rest of us with their yearly holiday letters), the country will keep pushing their religious “values” on the rest of us, and being gay, that’s a frightening prospect.  Anyway, I was sick and didn’t do much of anything.  I didn’t even watch any tv, except for hockey and the football playoffs last weekend.

I’m still in the final throes of the cold, as it’s one of those colds that doesn’t want to let its claws out of you, so you get better in baby steps.  I’ll write more later today or tomorrow about something hopefully more interesting than my phlegm.  Although, it’s now coming out in neon colors, so it’s hard to beat that for fascinating, but I’ll try.

Monday, January 07, 2008

late evening

Sickness & Exhaustion Permeates Our Residence

We went out “partying” on Leigh-Ann’s birthday for sushi dinner.  We topped off the night with Ilona’s arrest by a parking lot ninja (pictures soon to follow), but she charmed her way out of it with the old “I’ve got children waiting for me at home” expression.  Okay, no wait, she didn’t.  They didn’t care.  Also, no arrest, but that would’ve been way more exciting than a shiny yellow boot strapped to her front tire because she accidentally parked in a mall management spot (on a Saturday night, when no management person in their right mind would’ve been at the mall...not to mention, they really don’t get such great parking spaces either, because my legal space was much closer than Ilona’s), which cost $40 to have removed.  We did make a quick trip to the grocery store afterwards for some pet food and some dog water.  Yes, our little dogs get bottled water, don’t yours?  Okay, Phoenix gets it so we don’t ever have to pay for bladder stone surgery again, but still...spring water for the dogs.  Anyway, to help end the night on a cheery note, after the three of us gave up every last dollar we had (they only take cash, the jerks!) to get Ilona’s car out of car jail, I found a $20 bill on the floor at the grocery store, and there wasn’t anyone around for me to ask if they dropped it, so I claimed it.  I felt deserving.

Leigh-Ann woke up the next day (yesterday) very sick.  In fact, she didn’t really exactly wake up until late late last night for a little bit.  Luckily, I learned how to take care of all the pets while she was gone, so I made myself useful and took care of everyone.  The birds got a little more junk food than they normally get, but I’m sure they got more nutrition than I did.  Well, I did eat carrots & Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk dressing, so my eyesight won’t suffer.  But anyway, she’s been suffering from a nasty cold, which we thought was better, but has gotten worse, and I’m suffering from mental & physical exhaustion.  Well, mostly my back is killing me.  Cricket’s injured back means that she has to be carried up & down the stairs these days.  My back has said “Ow!”

New Year’s resolutions and pictures & details from Ilona’s Really Terrible Very Bad Parking Night.  A tantalizing teaser.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

the wee hours

My Girlie is Here, 2008 is Here, All is Right With My Little World

I’m exhausted and sore, and totally collapsed physically once Leigh-Ann came home, but I think it’s probably just that I’ve been holding all the stress in and it went whoooooosh, and I went zzzzzzzzzzzz.  I’m just totally wiped out.  I held it together until we got home from the airport, then crashed.  Better to crash at home, than at an airport.  Honestly the International Terminal in Las Vegas has to be one of the world’s most boring places.  Unticketed passengers aren’t allowed to go upstairs to spend their hard earned money at Borders or Starbucks, so I mostly watched big screen commercials for all of the Vegas shows.  I’m about done with Robin Leech’s voice now.  That’s all there was to do.  There is some check-in downstairs, some airline offices that were closed and a totally empty baggage claim area.  We’re lucky I didn’t fall asleep.  Anyway, Leigh-Ann arrived at around 8:15p, and everything was dandy.  She was sick and tired, but all in one piece.

I opened a few presents, but not most of them, so if I haven’t thanked you...it’s coming.  I must now collapse in bed for another twelve hours of sleep.

Monday, December 24, 2007

terribly early in the morning

Some Xmas Videos - Happy Holidays to My Friends, Near & Far (mostly far, really far)

Not meant to be depressing - I was going more for the Las Vegas & Elvis flavor.  I already miss Leigh-Ann, since we’re together pretty much 24/7.  Nonetheless, I’m happy she’s having a white Christmas with her family, for the first time in 13 years.  That’s way too long to miss the holidays at home.  Hopefully, next year we’ll have it all figured out so that she can be here for Xmas Eve and we can both be there for Christmas Day.  And, I wouldn’t mind a Leafs’ game to add to it...and some snow, but not too much snow...or too much cold.

One more.  I’ve been awake for an hour or so waiting until it was time to give Cricket her meds.  I don’t want to let her get off schedule because the meds are helping her pain tremendously.  No panting since yesterday after she, uh, took care of some business that she was in too much pain to take care of before.  I’m guessing the position is very painful for her.  However, the combination of Tramadol, Robaxin, & Prednisone is keeping her comfortable.  She’s sleeping, she still has an appetite, and she isn’t making me want to cry when I listen to her pant and whimper.  Best of all, she isn’t following me everywhere I go in the bedroom, which was also making her pain worse due to all of the activity.  I tried sitting on the floor with her and petting her to calm her through the pain, but it didn’t work.  She wanted to be glued to me...but she was still in extreme pain.  However, add another fan of better living through chemistry to the household.  She’s much closer to being the happy Cricket we know and love.  So, I’m off to give her a lovely Hawaiian bread doughball (mmm, nothing but the best for my baby - plus, I can occasionally sneak a pillless doughball) with some lovely Tramadol & Prednisone.  And, I’ll see you at 8am for the Robaxin doughball.

A fun one!

I appreciate all of your good thoughts for us (in previous entries and emails), and we’re hoping for a better and healthier 2008, for us and for our furry beings.  This year has sucked in a whole lot of ways, but we’re both grateful for the amazing friendships we’ve found online.  You’ve all enriched our lives, and we wished you lived closer.  I’m hoping to at least be able to track down Laurie & Dana (our Ontario pals) and their boys (Dana has THREE boys!!!, as of last Friday - she wins for best Xmas present ever) for next year’s Canadian Xmas (or fall, fall is good) vacation.

Friday, December 14, 2007

terribly early in the morning

Caught!  In Bed!

TJ and Dobby were looking so cute, I couldn’t resist tracking down a camera to take a picture of them.  When you have so many pets, there are instances of cute every day.  Click on the picture to see the cute expression on Dobby’s (she’s on the right) face.

In other news, please help me, I’m addicted to Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses.  I don’t even like white chocolate, but I looooove these.  I’m so sad, I only have one left, and in a minute or so, I’ll be out of them.  How will I go on?