Elston just walked across the living room. I saw something on her back so I called her over. It was a spider.
Were they playing "why don't we pretend I am a horse and you are a cowboy" in this household? Was the spider so lazy that it slipped Elston a $5 bill and said carry me closer to your owner so I can use my saved up energy to freak her out? Is the dog so creaky old that she thinks a spider can provide an adequate massage with its eight legs? Was Elston giving tours of the apartment to all of the insects? Is this a job she has on the side so she can buy greenies on the corner while I am at work?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
We are a little pathetic
I started the medication two weeks from yesterday. I'm fairly low-key about the side effects because I don't want to start analyzing every little sensation. I've had some issues with nausea and getting sick. As a result, I'm dealing with some appetite issues because I hate getting sick. I came home from work tonight and needed to rest for awhile. It was a really long day after four days off and one day working from home. I finally decided to eat something but I didn't have the energy to make anything. Cheese and crackers. Small yogurt. With my mini-boost of energy, I decided to deal with the ice maker in the freezer since it was jammed with ice.
I decided to put a bunch of cubes in Elston's water because she doesn't drink as much from that bowl and it was an easy way to fill it up. Lo and behold, a certain someone decided that she needed to eat a lot of that ice. Usually, she will pick up a cube, lick it, and then drop it on the ground to create a nice puddle. Oh, not tonight. I guess she likes ice that comes from an ice maker. Who knew? I sat down to read the newspaper. She was on the living room floor surrounded by more ice cubes. She sat up. Ears back. Yep, she was going to get sick. By the way, who gets sick from ice? My dog.
I ran outside with her. We make it into the parking lot just as she loses her dinner and various snacks (who knew that a carrot could last a day with her??). I couldn't just leave this mess in the parking lot so I went to the recycling bins to grab some newspaper to clean things up. I muttered to myself that Elston was either trying to compete with me or was trying some sympathy sickness. I suspect it was the former. As I was cleaning it up, I got queasy. I ran with her to the garbage dumpster and got sick. I am not sure if any neighbors were watching this whole scene -- dog purging, me trying to clean it up, or me halfway into a dumpster. My hope is that they didn't just see the third scene of this pathetic mess. When people wonder how I am doing, I want to point to this evening as an example of how the little things can be a struggle. Energy issues. Appetite. Solo dog owner. Sensitive human stomach. This could be a very long road as she ages and I struggle with these issues.
I decided to put a bunch of cubes in Elston's water because she doesn't drink as much from that bowl and it was an easy way to fill it up. Lo and behold, a certain someone decided that she needed to eat a lot of that ice. Usually, she will pick up a cube, lick it, and then drop it on the ground to create a nice puddle. Oh, not tonight. I guess she likes ice that comes from an ice maker. Who knew? I sat down to read the newspaper. She was on the living room floor surrounded by more ice cubes. She sat up. Ears back. Yep, she was going to get sick. By the way, who gets sick from ice? My dog.
I ran outside with her. We make it into the parking lot just as she loses her dinner and various snacks (who knew that a carrot could last a day with her??). I couldn't just leave this mess in the parking lot so I went to the recycling bins to grab some newspaper to clean things up. I muttered to myself that Elston was either trying to compete with me or was trying some sympathy sickness. I suspect it was the former. As I was cleaning it up, I got queasy. I ran with her to the garbage dumpster and got sick. I am not sure if any neighbors were watching this whole scene -- dog purging, me trying to clean it up, or me halfway into a dumpster. My hope is that they didn't just see the third scene of this pathetic mess. When people wonder how I am doing, I want to point to this evening as an example of how the little things can be a struggle. Energy issues. Appetite. Solo dog owner. Sensitive human stomach. This could be a very long road as she ages and I struggle with these issues.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Anniversaries and Raccoons
As mentioned in my last post, today is the fourth anniversary of leaving New Jersey for Oregon. I've spent the last 3-4 days thinking and writing about my approach for the next four months. I've decided that my new chapter needs to start with smaller chunks of time. I decided to focus on May-August as my timeframe to start implementing some changes. I am not going to document the specific changes on the blog because I do want some semblance of privacy on what I hope to achieve. Who knows...maybe I will report on my progress at the end of August.
I will say that I feel content. I'm not reflecting at all on the last four years, or why I feel such a strong urge to make changes. I just know it is time. Other than wanting to sic some cats on the neighbor's barking dog, I am at peace with where things stand in my life.
On a less heavy note - my dreaded neighbor did tell me this afternoon that he has seen a lot of raccoons hanging out on my deck. He would know since he is out there at all hours of the night talking super loud. God knows, the dog wouldn't tell me if a raccoon family set up camp on the deck with a fire and roasted hot dogs. I guess I should be grateful that the neighbor wanted to let me know so I wouldn't leave Elston on my back porch in the evening. Right. She would only give up her bed if a pile of greenies was sitting on the deck.
I will say that I feel content. I'm not reflecting at all on the last four years, or why I feel such a strong urge to make changes. I just know it is time. Other than wanting to sic some cats on the neighbor's barking dog, I am at peace with where things stand in my life.
On a less heavy note - my dreaded neighbor did tell me this afternoon that he has seen a lot of raccoons hanging out on my deck. He would know since he is out there at all hours of the night talking super loud. God knows, the dog wouldn't tell me if a raccoon family set up camp on the deck with a fire and roasted hot dogs. I guess I should be grateful that the neighbor wanted to let me know so I wouldn't leave Elston on my back porch in the evening. Right. She would only give up her bed if a pile of greenies was sitting on the deck.
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