Ticking items off the list

It is headed for 3 below tonight. Getting things done for departure is taking precedence. I had Delores print off Dr. Cohn's forms. My printer was on the fritz. Nice little visit with her and others at my old office. Took said forms to my Primary doc. I got a prescription for an Oxygen Concentrator but the one I thought I wanted I didn't want after talking to the vendor. I went to Lincare- my oxygen vendor. The blue behemoth I have is their portable model and can go with me.  Maybe I will wait awhile. I have some appointments for blood draws and an appointment with Cardiologists in Casper on Friday. Between now and then I hope to have many other details taken care of: mail forwarding, automatic payments for electricity, insurance, etc.

The Droid replacement arrived-it was here on Friday but my regular UPS guy wasn't, so the substitute slapped a notice on my Van! Bill brought it today. Wonder of wonders, Google had all my apps remembered  and the thing is completely restored. That is kind of creepy but convenient.

Crummy news is rolling in. Great Aunt Eleanore Bosco passed peacefully at age 92. That is not so sad-that is the way of all flesh though it is sad to say goodbye. Our friend Rene in Quebec is backsliding on his brain tumor. We had been so hopeful that he would get another Florida season. Canadians have to get permission from their health care insurance to travel to the U.S. because our costs are so much higher. Anybody with pre-existing conditions can get slapped with a huge deductible-like $20,000. We are all feeling bad about this.

Jeanne said the gossip at the campground is that I had a pacemaker installed. Criminetly! Makes me want to hide or change campgrounds (like there is a choice!) Maybe I'll rent a walker and have some fun with them.

White Christmas

It is snowing, cars are creeping down the highway, PBS has Andre Bocelli and other stars singing David Foster's over the top Christmas arrangements, warm and toasty in here. The music is working its magic-banishing the "bah humbugs" momentarily. I'll enjoy the mood tonight and hope it goes away by the morning.

I have Cardio Rehab in the morning and I would like to go if the roads are not too slick. I feel like I have been making good progress on my own but I would like the benchmarks to be noted. I also have a few questions for Rita, R.N. Not worth going in the ditch, however.

Just talked to Daryne to warn him the roads are slick. He has been driving their semi today so he knows. Macey is 16 and has been driving the kids to school and I was worried about that. Kristi will drive. My work as a fussbudget is now over.

Jason sent some hilarious pictures. Lori's mom's Christmas Tree toppled. A Christmas card was born.

Nuke 'em, Danno

A new Emerson microwave fit exactly into the spot the Carousel came from. It is a little lower power than the old one but it has some nice features for $54.00. It is more quiet. Heats water for tea and coffee and those are the biggies. Unfortunately it makes the rest of my stuff look shabbier.

I have been freezing all day, except when in the Van. It is 21 degrees and the humidity is 64% out there. I took quite a bit of exercise today (walking). I got winded twice but it doesn't take too long for me to catch up. The doggies tried escaping several times but the electronic collars brought them back. Honey has gotten chummy with a dog across the street- my worst nightmare. We need to get on the road to Florida! David's big party is the 11th and I want to be there to take pictures. That is one of my most popular albums on the web. Last year some pictures got 225 viewings.

One of those days!

I was looking forward to a quiet day. The Droid was supposed to come (but didn't) and I was looking forward to programming and piddling with it. In deference to the UPS man (Bill) I brought the dogs in for the middle of the day. They were like kids-running and wrestling in the house which amuses me but when I let them out they disappeared. I called and called, whistled, used the electronic collar pagers, got in the Van to search, told Daryne, and he went looking-borrow pits for bodies, asking other neighbors, and all. Eventually he called. He spotted them a couple of pastures over-having a ball in the wetlands. I made eye contact and called them. Daryne's cattle and the guard llamas saw them too and gave chase. It served the naughty dogs right and it was pretty funny to watch. They know they did wrong but I don't think the lesson will last. I was hoofing it and moving right along. I am definitely on the mend but I was vexed and worried. I do not need that.

I decided to heat some water for tea and my microwave bade me farewell with an impressive flash. I don't understand. It has worked perfectly for 20 years. I will replace it tomorrow if I can find something to go in the same space. Microwaves have come down a great deal in cost. 

I started getting a little superstitious- is the Universe sending me a message? Chaos and wearing things out.hmmm.

Thankful

I've just partaken of the generous "dividend" Janet fixed me on my way out the door from their Thanksgiving Feast. I asked for one of her homemade rolls which I couldn't get around on the first go-around. Got way more than that. I had great calls earlier in the day, a laidback excellent feast at 1:00, a good visit with old friends and new and they had their woodstove cooking so I had a fire to back up to on this cold day-one of life's real pleasures.

Turkey and dressing, salad, cranberries, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cheesecake with blueberry sauce. Earthly Delights!

Max said, "This is how you are supposed to look after Thanksgiving Dinner."

Backing up to the fireplace after a tour of the unfinished parts of the house. Their guests from Kinnear turned out to be friends of Mike and Diana who had also asked me for Thanksgiving. They are building also. They were interested in the house.

I needed a nap after we got home and I fed the doggies. Had a nice long chat with each of my boys this evening. A great day. Lots to be thankful for this year (and every year).

Minus 9 degrees

The day started cold and got a little better. Layering up? Try 5 layers. I stayed comfortable as I trotted around. My  Droid was supposed to arrive but the UPS tracking thing was goofy so I went to town to check the UPS place. (The phone was delivered)  I did my Wal-Mart Cardio. Pushed a cart through the obstacle courses at a good clip. Black Friday fever is besetting the Natives. Bought some coffee and some hostess offerings Ghirardelli chocolate, a Good Housekeeping apple clove candle, and fresh flowers for tomorrow's table at Guy and Janet's. I delivered them today thinking the flowers would fare better at Janet's than here.

I was excited about the Droid but I had forgotten about the micro-SD memory card which was necessary to restore all my applications. Off to town again to buy one. I settled for a smaller card than that I had in the old Droid. I can live with only twenty or thirty hours of music. The new Droid would not accept the card-the phone slot was screwed up. Gnashing of teeth! Asurion got a call. They dispatched a replacement of the replacement. Due in Friday. We will see.

Eve called. A get-well call. We had a nice visit. I still marvel at how two people can have such completely different "takes" on the same events. The Florida kids bought her a first class ticket for 8 days in Florida for Christmas. We had a nice time last year when we coincided. I will look forward to the same. She is having nine guests/carry in food folks for Thanksgiving. Mostly members from her "Dream Group." It sounds like a very interesting time. Son Matt is going to give this a pass and be with friends.

Brother Rich is putting Valerie on the plane for a "girls time" with her daughters in Sedona, AZ for Thanksgiving. Spa time. Rich will go to his daughter and Tom's for the truly gourmet feast they put on. He will enjoy that and I think he may may even enjoy a little "down time" though he does not do awfully well alone. We will talk I am sure.

The current is fluctuating here tonight for the second time. I called High Plains Power and put the screws to them: "What about my oxygen if the power goes out?"  Heh, heh.  The power has been interrupted a lot in the past few months. If the power goes out I will waste no time getting in the van. I will freeze before I draw my last gasp. They need to do better. If it hadn't been better for the past 25 years, they might be able to get away with it. I am turning into a Senior Screamer! Condo commando next.

Maintenance

I was due for a coumadin level test and about 9:30 was the midpoint of the active life of the dose so I loaded the pups and we were off to the hospital. I still have impressive needle marks from the whole ordeal but this draw went well. I noticed walking through the blustery wind into the hospital that I had decent energy and felt pretty darn well-the happy hormones were coursing. And that is the way the morning progressed. Took my Cardio-Lab report card to Dr. Hedgecock and she wanted to see me. My  BP was 128/78- a record low to my knowledge. While I was there my coumadin report came in and I was given a prescription for .1  mg more.  She had received the fat Cardiology report from Casper. We visited. She said, subject to Dr. Pickrell's agreement she saw no problem with my driving to Florida. She wants a coumadin related medicalert bracelet. She said her mother carried on for thirty years after her atrial fibrillation was diagnosed.  I had an appointment in Casper with Dr.Pickrell and company tomorrow but just had a feeling I should check to see what the agenda was and if, indeed, I had an appointment that they remembered. The doctors were, in fact, to be elsewhere so we skipped this appointment "with a mid-level practitioner" and I will keep the one on the 2nd of December.Their report intimates they may want to try to straighten out my arrythmia with drugs or electricity. We shall see. A positive morning feeling good.  

In my enthusiasm I overdid a little this day. Got way tired and had to take two rests. 

I called Verizon to see about replacing my Droid. The customer service person was a fun black lady of a certain age. We visited away. Told her I had lost the phone after my heart attack and we relived some of the better shticks of "Sanford and Son."  She told me I was insured! My new phone is on its way. The old one will probably surface now.

Lovely Rita, Oximeter Maid

Fifteen degrees this a.m. but my appointment wasn't until 11:00 a.m. We trekked to Lander and after a 40 minute wait to put us in our place, I was outpatient admitted. Rita, the R.N. in charge of the Cardiac Rehab, however, was a welcome exception. "Tell me your story." And I got to ask questions and show and tell my purple spots and fatted calves. I learned  how to work an oxygen tank. The Lasix was on overtime. We went over the papers I brought and the meds list. I did the treadmill-not quite 2 minutes- I was not a natural on that machine. Two other pedalling machines were better. I was hooked up to a heart monitor and BP and oxygen were monitored frequently. Heart and lungs and my very impressive stomach rumblings were listened to and there were no secrets. Conditions were named and explained: "atrial fibrillation," "pitting edema," congestive heart failure. Coumadin and its purposes: atrial fibrillation tends to make clots. Coumadin prevents clots.  Atrial Fibrillation sometimes comes and goes, sometimes never goes, can sometimes be helped and sometimes can't. Top of the heart is essentially dithering, the bottom of the heart is doing all the work. All in all, very valuable and I will look forward to continuing. 

Did a little shopping because it was snowing and I didn't want to get caught short. Got home and gave the dogs time to romp, I called them in and we went to the bed. Nap time and Oxygen. Rita thinks I did well at 2 l.p.m. oxygen on exercise but thinks I may need more "at rest." The snow didn't amount to diddly.

Sunshine

Got some noonday sunshine through the windows, the space heater I picked up yesterday provides just the degree of toastiness I needed and has some to spare, and I felt pretty darn good all day long. The purple patches on my thighs are lumpy but receding. Jason and Lori have called two days in a row with a generous offer to ship my Van to Florida, and send one of David's planes to take my sorry carcass to Florida. I am mulling this seriously but my bottom line is I ought to be functioning well enough under my own steam before I leave home. I think I am functioning that well but a bit of what they have in store for me in the way of evaluation and therapy will put me in better shape to do better and build confidence. I have coumadin tests, and a meetup with the Casper Cardiologist, Dr. Pickrell, on the 24th. Jason did get me on his Doctor's patient list-I jumped at that. Couldn't be better. Dr. Cohn was a head of Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic before he entered concierge practice. That means ease of access and lots of time with patients. So I have a Florida Cardiologist and will get the ball rolling on getting records sent. That said, anymore dodgy stuff from the medicos in the area and I am out of here. Knowing there is an alternative and a backup plan means the world.

I took a little fresh air today-it was kind of brisk so I didn't overdo. I searched for the Droid some more. I think Buddy knows where it is. I sure don't.  The doggies stuck to safe territory today. I've been buzzing them back and they are not above sneaking but they did well.

Jeanne sent campground pictures-improvements and my paved campsite. Those Florida skies are BLUE. Nicole and Andre arrived today.  I am anxious to get there.

Trending Upwards

Friday was just a day but pleasant enough. Consumed a little protein and some pie. Took my meds, fiddled around. There are some ups and downs within a day but a little rest with the oxygen on usually does the trick. The night-time oxygen really seems to help the healing. I am encouraged. I am getting some good numbers on the oximeter at times. I can't really attribute them to anything I am doing other than the meds which seem to be working as designed.

I am being religious about the electronic dog collars. The wandering was getting way out of hand. They were also not as quick to respond to a call as they should have been. Buddy is definitely the instigator but he wouldn't be wandering without the backup of the big girl. The drivers are getting sloppy about speeding again, though the BIA is patrolling and stopping folks.

I need to do some racing around today. A real cold spell is coming upon us and I'd better get some preparations taken care of. I hate it but must endure the cold for awhile longer. Today may be the last bearable day to be outside for awhile.

Good Day!

Slow start to a warmer day but it kept on getting better. I had plenty of air last night, next to no movement, and arose after 8:00. Went to the store this morning and almost needed to rest on the way in, but the movement helped and before long I was gabbing and visiting with people I knew. Grandpa Harry was in fine form and I showed him my oximeter-his is not as nice, he said. Brag, Brag. Our levels were pretty good. Mine got to 95 which is a new high since this began. Checks since then were a little lower but no 80's so I felt good about that as well as feeling well. 

Daryne brought Tye down for a visit. Tye had picked up that I spent the night in Casper and needed to see if I was all right. He wants to go with next time. He has a great teacher this year and his language is getting so much better. I was impressed.

Mike called- we had some belly laughs.Human folly, mostly our own, sets us off!  Richie called on his way back from Powell, WY. He had a great tale about Rodney Garvin and Rodney's Excellent RV Adventure. Rodney left his Toyota tow car in gear and pulled it up the west coast quite a distance. $12,500 worth of ruined. Rod has more money where that came from so he kind of sees it is funny. Rod got real Christian some time ago and swore off swearing.  His wife nearly popped a gussett watching him swallow cursewords. The whole tale is worth a long story or short book.

Dinner was one sliver of pumpkin pie from a $3.00 special at Wally World. It was good and it was sufficient.

Get by With a Little Help From My Friends

Recent nights have been hard, mornings hellish, afternoons, tolerable. The oxygen got turned up a notch (once again, no instruction-just the #3 on a prescription- I am now at #4) and that seems to help-breathing is not so laborious at night but the nights have been short. Awakening at 3 a.m. with no winks left and 15 degree temps outside is kind of depressing. Feeling poorly in the a.m. gives way to feeling OK as meds, moving, and bellowing improve things. I have fading patches of purple on my body. Between the Riverton Hospital laboratory and my local doctor, the coumadin got way high. I have been coasting for two days on that medication. The appetite is still dodgy. Certainly ready to eat until I actually do eat. But the "medical (transcriptionist) team" from the NW has been very helpful, allaying fears, advising, and informing. Sooz and Bon have heard it all.  The Cardio-rehab meetup will be Monday. They hadn't heard word one from Dr. Pickrell's office. I think it will be helpful and Debbie answered my questions -(what do I wear? BYOB oxygen? (no) what hours? what do we do? where is it? I picked up some sweats from K-Mart today. Sweats and suspenders in the Cardio unit. A fashion statement to be made I am sure.

Get-well cards and calls from Susie, Harry, Jackie, Richie, Matt, Audrey, are cheering. The doggies are trying- very trying. Without adult supervision they have tended to wander making me worry. My Droid phone has been misplaced-I have a glimmer of doing something with it but when you are working on light oxygen...

Better days ahead I am sure. Bolting to Florida has crossed my mind more than once. I know they have Cardiologists down there. Maybe they even remember you.

Human Pincushion

I am not an "easy stick" but the phlebotomists gamely bleed me in as kindly a fashion as they can muster. I am really kind of annoyed-the specialists seem to know what is up but they seem unwilling to share with me. I got a fat pack of material in Casper of which three small paragraphs and a checklist pertain to me: mostly stuff I am supposed to do. Nothing is really named. From the prescription for the Cardio Program in Lander, the risk stratification is checked at the very worst level. Whether that is legal, motivational, or medical is anybody's guess. It is hard not to take it as medical. Coupled with an array of new meds and sensations, pains, and feelings, it is hard to remain optimistic let alone calm every time a gas bubble pauses on its way up or down.

Of more help is a website called "The Manual" written by CHF people. I was gasping and my limbs were numb and it advised to pay attention to those electrolytes. Thirty minutes later I am energized enough to moan and complain.  I would still be "on hold" to one of the geniuses I am paying to oversee my case. Other useful information: Lie down on the right side only: can't breathe in any other position. I was finding that out in a pretty stressful fashion. Drink no more than two liters of liquid daily. That piece of information would have been useful weeks ago. The cigarette situation has gone backwards a bit. I am doing about ten per day-mouthing them, play smoking, and otherwise playing with them before lighting up and guiltily stubbing them out at the halfway mark.
 
I stopped by the Oxygen place yesterday and got an oximeter. Pretty marginal levels but better this afternoon with electrolytes on board.

Foul to Fair

Way cold this morning and humid to boot. I couldn't get warm so we took to the Van and used the heater to get us to Wal-Mart Parking lot for a solar bath. Then I went inside for my "cardio" walkabout. My medicated rear was dragging but after some distance and some quick visits, things began to look up. Jason called for a good visit. I returned a call to cuz Ann banking on her judgmental tight derrierre being on a pew in Grand Prairie, TX. Called that one right. Took a family size rotisserie chicken home for Sunday dinner. Loved the cranberries. We had family time, after lunch, on the bed, Oxygen for me, wrestling for the fuzz-faces while I truly enjoyed the first decent Bronco game of the season.

The dogs went afar toward dusk, raising my anxiety and ire. Cuz Jim called, Richie called. Matt called last night. People are being so solicitous that I wonder if they know something I don't.  I have figured out from the papers from the doc's office that this heart episode has ramifications but I am not writing myself off.

The National Christmas Tree

The picture deserves a click, as this 81 foot tree starts its journey to the White House. Wyoming's first national Christmas tree. Janet sent the picture and with the Teton's in the back it is a great one.

It was a mixed bag day for me. Up early in the cold, cold, to go the hospital for tests. Dr. Pickrell said I needed to be tested daily for my coumadin level-too much and I bleed out, not enough then it is not effective. Results to be faxed to his office, feedback to me. Only they didn't feedback. I was calling around at 4:30 pm-playing Dr. Games with the phone systems. Got dumped twice. Annoyed isn't the word. Enraged comes closer. Since I was in the neighborhood for the earlier tests, I popped over to my old offices to see Delores and Mike and reassure them I was fine. We had some good laughs. Mike's war stories about his heart attack were helpful to me. The new med regimen does seem to be helping the water flow. Doggies got Arby's, I got nothing.

I spent some time surfing the Web for Oxygen Accumulators-portable. My new best friend makes a big difference in my life. I can take a lie down with air and coast for a few hours after that. The problem is the Medicare issued one is too big for the car-sucks a lot of juice, too. I want to own rather than have Medicare rent one for me to the tune of $140.00/ month. The market is like for those scooters such as the "Rascal." About $1000.00 if you could buy it retail but if Medicare buys it they get $4,000.00. A total screw job. More searching to do. Cylinders are good for about 3 hours. Florida is a 24 drive time.

Janet, bless her soul, brought some wonderful chicken soup. Wild rice, and lots of veggies and yummy stuff in it and I did a better job eating it than anything else I have tried for days. She came as the Fegler's were cleaning out their truck van. Jock Cross from Dubois called them and said "Come get your cattle." So the pasture is filling up and the high meadows will likely be filling with snow very soon. Cozy thoughts with homemade chicken soup, cattle in the pasture and snow in the high country.

I am looking forward to a quiet day tomorrow-no more docs until Monday.

Busy Day after it got started

Delicious uninterrupted sleep last night with the aid of the oxygen concentrator.  I was able to wangle an appointment with my Doc at 3:30. That left some nap time before then. Daylight Savings going off has me all screwed up anyway. I took my packet from Casper and was mostly interested in how I was supposed to access lab services locally to do my Coumadin monitoring. Casper did not modify my  normal prescription protocol but added some to achieve their goals of relieving pressure on my enlarged heart and getting a better beat out of it. I scored some free samples of Plavix which is a pricey drug that I may only require for a month. Wal-Mart is so busy that their prescription call in line had not even disgorged my prescriptions to be filled after an hour. I was fading a bit after a two hour wait. 

Dominos did dinner- the doggies were very impressed with the wings. I was up to my current trick-really hungry until that first piece of Hawaiian pizza got to my gullet-then it was all over. Hope it keeps well.

The doggies time alone cemented their relationship-they are snuggling each other now. Buddy was on top of, under, through, into, around everything. I take pride in being able to locate stuff in my messes. Perhaps, no more.

Thayne, is my " unofficial god child." I had told him there was burger in the fridge for the dogs. This morning he arrived with burger crumbles and bread for the dogs. He said our vet, Gunda, told him that bread and butter was a good treat for dogs. Thayne was virtually a silent child when I started hauling him to and from school those many years ago. His dad told me when I bought ice cream for him and my dogs, Thayne decided I was "all right."  That said, I need to find something very nice to do for him.

The Kindness of Others

A time comes when you need to depend on the kindness of others-strangers as well as friends and family.  Mine came Monday night when I was stricken with feeling very, very ill and my looming suspicion I was experiencing a heart attack. I called Thayne and he dropped the trailer from his pickup and picked me up in front of my house. He skilfully sped to Riverton Hospital where they took one look, took my word, and went to work. They consulted with Dr. Pickerel, Cardiologist, at Wyoming Medical Center, who O.K'd a shot of clotbuster. Then I was packed up and Life-Flighted to Casper in the new fixed wing ambulance. Thayne. bless his soul .waited the three hours while tests, X-Rays, etc. took place, then promised to take care of my dogs. A huge load off my mind. Brother Richard met me at the Wyoming Medical Center.

The next morning I was prepped for an angiogram-wires up the arteries to check things out in the heart. The clotbuster medication had done its job-my pipes were clean as a whistle but I have an arrythmia, and an enlarged heart that doesn't contract as well as it should. Dr Wick's surgical tech said she had never seen so large an aorta. One is awake during this procedure and a third Dr., Eisenhower, weighed in on what was being seen and should be done. The strategy for me is to strengthen the heart beat through rest and rehab-medicines. After one of my room attendants noted that my level of oxygen at rest was below 50, this was evaluated, and I came home with an oxygen accumulator. Rich brought me home-he is a good brother.

No way in hell will I be leaving for Florida by the 12th. I have weeks of med adjustments head of me. I am glad to be alive to make the adjustments. The Riverton Emergency personnel said it was a classic save. I remembered to take my aspirin. Treatment began within an hour of being stricken. They would have preferred that an ambulance transported me but they weren't the ones in pain and I trusted Thayne's driving on 17 Mile Road more than any occasional driver. He did save my life.

In the Slammer

Thayne called last night. His horsebrush disappeared. He had told Guy to just leave it on a bale of hay. He looked all over for it then remembered how Buddy was "helping me" clean the Van: grab and run. He wondered, if by any chance, Buddy might have misappropriated it. Officer McHoney and Sgt. McGrump took all of ten minutes to check his caches. Guilty as charged! He is a little thief but fortunately he likes his stuff and keeps it together. His toys always come back.

A Nice Surprise

Mike called this morning and he and Diana wanted to take me to dinner. We decided on a repeat at the Little Wind River Casino because it is a central 25 minute drive for us both-they come from Kinnear. Although this bad camera phone picture doesn't do her justice, Diana looked mahveleous, simply mahvelous. She is having some peaks. Her trip to Arizona to get her Finalist Award for the Willa Prize was top-notch. It was held at a posh dude ranch where every morning at breakfast 100 horses were herded past the dining room. The food was great, the readings were great, the workshops were great and her book is being very well received. Mike just beams on her. The Casino knows how to leave us smiling. Mike's "offers " totaled $30.00, Diana's $5 and mine was $5. All in aid of the next junket, I reckon.

A very nice bon-voyage gesture and always a treat to be with them. Nice, nice people. When we wired his self-built garage we had a good natured competition between the "Greek" and the "Italian." We "got her dun"-and it hasn't burned down...yet.

I was puzzled yesterday at the doctor's office. The lady who took my blood pressure asked about my dogs. I don't know her. The Dr. asked about my dogs-we talked dogs for awhile. New territory. When I got home I glanced down at the brand new black pants I put on to go to the doc-they were covered with Honey hair. They get points for observation skills, I get points off for being oblivious. They moved downtown into my old friend John Hursh's law offices. Lots of heavy wood-western style, handcrafted furniture. A comfortable place to be. Lots of space. John being at least 68 has decided to retire I hope. He has a unique home in the Wind River Canyon. His first wife, Nancy, was a running partner of mine post divorce.

Another Task Out of the Way

My doctor was generous with her time, thorough, had good advice, good judgement and we had a nice visit besides. I am not a big doctor visitor and they had lost my file again- I guess you have to go more often than once a year. But the doctor stopped  by the waiting room and we visited a little there so the always new staff members knew I was legit.

I was disappointed- I had only lost 5 pounds since last year but that beats a gain. My BP was a little high and she tweaked my meds for that. Told me not sweat the Uric Acid  unless I get gouty. She said to take the Saw Palmetto faithfully, take another test in the spring and we'll see if I need to go to the urologist. You can bet I WILL take the Saw Palmetto faithfully-those guys love their scalpels.  She is knowledgeable about supplements and is of the "whatever works" school. The Iron up here is a good idea, ease off in Florida. There is a med that will help with the altitude transition. Going to try a supplement called Thyroid support. I can pick up my prescriptions. It is a little bit like a confessional- we discussed the "three bites thing,' and other stuff. Having unburdened myself, I feel...unburdened.

Always good to get past this milestone.

Honey continues to improve. She got in the mud today with her partner in crime. It is too cold for me to supervise 100% of the time. Buddy definitely needs to settle down a little. He is also getting pudgy. That needs to be curtailed though he is just a riot as he scoots everywhere.

Northern Climes

Andre sends this picture of the snow in Quebec: Nicole in their yard. Their condo is in a ski resort but they are ready for Florida too. Old bones...

Brother Rich called this morning and wanted to meet for lunch at 11:30. We met at Austin's, a former Golden Corral that is much improved as an independent. We had a good visit. Some good laughs. Family is easy-you tend to think the same things are bizarre. The cousin who is going to do nothing about his head cancer is seeking a source of funds to get his gold crowns on his teeth replaced. We were not very nice- not judgmental, but riffing on the macabre. We think we are funny. We are all bat-s__t crazy.

I traded in a full bottle of Buster's .8 Thyrosyn for a full bottle of .1's which is Honey's size. I hope that doesn't tempt the devil like it did with Buster. She is perkier and getting around fine. I am waiting for her to give Buddy "a lesson." He needs one.

The O.F. Remembers

I remember when you had to wait for the newspaper to tell who won elections and there were actually policy discussions in them and no self-respecting editor would publish scurrilous accusations unless there was an arrest. Candidates actually had platforms they ran on.  It was more about the candidates defining themselves instead of defining the other guy as the biggest scoundrel in the universe. Then after the election the business of governing would begin before the campaign for the next election. Opponents sometimes even liked each other. It seems quaintly civilized in this day of instapundit and a professional chattering class. We now seem to be set for two more years of stalemate. A whole lotta hooplah for maintaining the status-quo.

Yesterday, at the Vet's, Gunda planted a seed of doubt. I asked about Honey's itchiness. She maintains that low thyroid is a major underdiagnosed condition and itchiness is a common presenting problem. They saw no fleas. Then I went home and Honey went directly to the warm bed and diappeared and I thought-"I am going away, don't know the vets in Florida-I'd better get her checked." So we went in again today. Honey was about 1 point below where she should be. A tiny pill divided in two, twice per day. She got one at dinner. The change was almost immediate. I got my bouncy girl back.

Buddy was awful at the Vet's. He marked  four times. In retrospect, I think he was mad about the attention, her nibs gets. They both like to go there. Honey is almost social with them.  Buddy is obviously pretty relaxed.

Leftovers tonight. I am still not eating much but I am, disappointingly, not wasting away very fast.

Scary

A dusting of snow by the side of the road and the Snowplows were out! They were headed for the mountains because the roads were dry here in the valley today but the sight of one was a warning.

Honey got her soft wrap today. She has to be careful for two weeks while her muscles re-build. The leg was pronounced sound, the sore was all but healed. She got sedated again but is doing just fine, had some dinner and is complaining about not being outdoors. Buddy and I had to leave the Vet's office because he was busy marking everywhere. He can be a complete love and a complete nuisance. I stopped at the locksmith to get a Van key for my wallet, went to the Vet's, went in to see if the coast was clear, and came out-he had locked the door. I stayed ahead of him for once-the key works.

Blogger friends in Casper have gone back into the pet mode. They have a rescue Brittany who has attached himself and I can see by photos, the graft has taken. They also got a used cat. Newly retired, their days are going to be fuller now. They are very responsible pet owners and the walks and doting will now commence. Lucky all around-they got good critters and the critters found a great place to be.

My doctor appointment is Thursday afternoon. I'm making notes. I always forget something.

A nice email from Janet. They rode the river on horseback on Sunday. Many hours in the saddle. I envied the picture but not the reality. Once upon a time I did that sort of thing and enjoyed it immensely but I would have not lasted. They found 11 of 12 cows they were looking for.

A welcoming email from Jason. I need to be clear that my whining is sometimes just venting. He wondered if I needed help with my insurance. The money  involved is just a pittance in the grand scheme of things I just hate being taken for a ride.

Speaking of whining, the Feglers have weaned their calves. There is a great din in the pasture and the coyotes are coming out of curiosity and hope. Those calves are pretty darn big. No worries. They are also getting winter coats- I love them when they are fuzzy.