Nothing's wrong. Are you kidding me?

Sigh. Nothing is wrong. NOTHING.
I had the endoscopic ultrasound yesterday, and the doctor said, everything looked great. The 2 cysts they saw on the MRCP were benign, and he recommended I get them checked out yearly, to make sure they do not grow.
This sucks.
I mean, its fantastic that nothing major is wrong. No surgeries, no hospital visits, or prolonged treatments. The bad news is, I still have pain. Not hideous pain - maybe a 3 on the pain scale, but its consistent. It makes me miserable.
So, with nothing wrong, I have to change my mindset. I have to live with this, so I have to change my frame of mind.
So, the next step is to start tracking everything I eat. Everything. Sigh. Everything I eat, and note how my side feels - pain, fullness or overall aching, and the pain scale. Perhaps I have a sensitivity to food? People can have 'food intolerances', causing pain and gas. Biggest one I have read about so far is gluten or wheat. Crap.
First this week, I will eat as normal and track. Maybe I will track for 2 weeks. I'll look at patterns, and start eliminating food from there.
This SUCKS. But at least I am ok.
I'm gonna wallow in self pity for a little while today, feel sorry for myself, and then get it together, for tomorrow.

Something's not right with George.

George is our cat. Our 14 year old cat. And, no, its not a mental problem, although she's crazy. :)
We found a lump or rib ribs 2 months ago. We were not sure, it actually felt like rib muscle. It actually felt the same as the rib muscle on he other side, so we thought we were being paranoid. We decided to wait it out.
Nope, its a lump. Something's not right. Larry noticed it last night. It has definitely grown. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I love this cat to pieces. I adopted her in college. She's seen me through pretty much all of my adult life. She (and Max, the other kitty,) kept me company during the years I lived alone. She made me laugh, and made me feel better when I cried. She was the first pet I ever had (on my own.)
She is a piece of work. Fortunately, we have not seen a change in her behavior, so hopefully, its just a lump, nothing bad. In her old age, she has found the backyard. She figured out the dog door, immediately after we got it. She goes out there, lounges in the dog's beds, 'patrols' the back yard, and defends us against all the leaves in the back yard. (Those leaves might get together an strom the house, you never know. Hee hee hee... ...) She's out there rolling around in the grass, showing off in front of the dogs. She'll roll around on the bad, waving her paws around right in front of Sherman, like 'look at me! look at me!' Ah ha ha ha!
I've never had a pet die. Well, I remember the dachshunds we had as a little girl died, but I had no clue what that really meant. So, I have never seen a pet die. I have no idea what I'll do. Poor Larry. We've already had the discussion for all the pets- we will not do any major treatment if it is only the prolong their life for several months. If it is the dreaded 'c' word, (no, not that word, I mean cancer,) we'll not pursue any treatment, except for pain management. And, as soon as the pain management starts to not work, we will let her go. I do not want her to suffer. I will be a disaster, and Larry will have to deal with me, a bumbling mess. :) (Larry is so good to me. I love him!)
Here are some fun shots of George and Max (both girls,)

George loves coffee. And tomato sauce. I don't get the tomatoes. However, we have to watch our mugs.

George patrolling the back yard.

Still watching the back yard.

Sleeping in the dog beds. Little passive aggressive, huh? Note- the dogs never chase her out of their beds. They lay in front of her looking pathetic, until she moves.

'Look at me! Look at me!'

When we moved to Phoenix, the best source of moving boxes were liquor boxes from the state stores. (PA does not sell beer or liquor in food stores, they only sell beer and wine coolers in beer distributors or bars, and liquor at state stores.) Anyway the boxes are sturdy and free. We ran out of room storing boxes (we only lived in a 700 sq ft 1 bedroom condo,), so these were stored above our kitchen cabinets. George loved hiding in the boxes. We almost packed her several times, since she'd bury herself in the full boxes too, before they were taped up. We gave up looking for her around the condo, since she thought she was stealth, and explored all the boxes. We'd hear randomly tumbling boxes, and thought, 'George strikes again!'

4 weeks!

4 weeks! Ugh. ASU sent an email today, they received my grad school application, and it will take up to 4 weeks to process. Ugh. That's a long time to wait, since I am so excited to start school again. Getting my master's as put a spark in me again. A purpose. I am sooooo excited, yay!
The requirements for admission are-

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a related field - GOT IT.
  
• Grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the last 60 units of the undergraduate transcript (or for the last 12 units of the post-baccalaureate transcript) GOT IT. 3.91 on my bachelor's from University of Phoenix
  
• GRE not required - WHEE! Yay! No tests!

I hope this happens!

Why Patton hates me with the fire and passion of 100 suns

I knit a new scarf with some fun new yarn !!!!

When I finished it, I needed to photo it, and I needed a model. Larry wasn't around, and I'm not thrilled about posting my image all over the Internet. Next best model? Not Larry, not a friend, not Sherman, (he's too dignified for that,) but the one and only, affectionately called 'Cheesey Peessy,' Patton:




He loves his momma, but if he catches wind I posted him in his girl-y scarf on the internet, He's gonna poop in my shoes.

I think I am going back to school.

I graduated from UoP 2 years ago with my Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. I think I want to return for my Master degree in IT.
Why?
It will make me more marketable in my career. It will enhance my career, and allow me to make more money. It will open more opportunities for me. I'm bored, I like school. I like the structure, and the stability of it. Financial aid will not be a problem, and it is a 60 week program. I can pound it out in a little over a year.
Am I crazy?

Insomnia might be good for me.

I can't sleep. In bed by 9, up, and wake awake at 2:30. Bah. This has been going on for 3 weeks. I have tons of anxiety, between the medical stuff going on, and who knows what else.
However, this might be good for me. I'm wide awake, and ready to go! This morning, I-
--balanced the checkbook.
--surfed the internet, caught up on news, facebook, and the message boards I read.
--read and cleaned up email.
--finished cataloging my new fiber - including pictures, and put it all away
--re-organized my knitting bookshelf
--cleaned up my knitting/spinning room (it was a disaster - I brought home 6 new books, and about 5 lbs of wool, which was not put away) fiber and books everywhere!
WHOOOO. That's stuff I have needed to complete; but at the end of the day, I am so beat, all I want to do is sit on the couch and relax. Well, duh - I'm beat, since I am not sleeping.
So, I am raring to go, chomping at the bit to get my day started. When I get home @ 3 this afternoon, I will be napping like its my job.
Anxiety sucks, but perhaps sometimes, its a good thing?
Here's a gratuitous shot of Sherman doing what he does best- lounging in my knitting/spinning room, while I am working on something.

Dissapointed with the pirates.

Pirates, pirates, pirates. That's all the news talks about. I was fascinated with the news yesterday, covering the pirate going to trial. Pirate this, pirate that, However, I was disappointed- the pirate apparently was a crying mess. Pirates do not cry! They drink rum, say "Argh," and wear hats and eye patches. What gives?

Pirates!

First off, let me say that it is terrible people are taken hostage, and in danger. There is an American who is being held hostage, and it is terrible for him, and his family and friends.
However, I am in hysterics over the fact that its pirates! I watch the news all the time, and on my days at home, I have it on in the background all day. On Thursday, when the hostage situation began, it was all pirates, all the time on the news. I was giggling, watching the news anchors, sitting there seriously, talking about the pirates. Also, watching reports ask the White House press secretary, "We do not negotiate with terrorists, will we negotiate with pirates?" Seriously? If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was a parody in Saturday Night Live.
Now, I'm obsessed with the pirates. Do they have a ship with cannons? Do they wear the hats? Oh, God I just want to see them in a hat or eye patch.
I'm fascinated that Navy ships are surrounding the pirates. Pirates! Wheeee!
I pray the hostage is released unharmed. I pray that this can be resolved peacefully.
But come on, when the news asks who do you negotiate with a band of pirates? That's silly.

SOOOOOOOOOOO stressed out!

Long story short. Last July- terrible pain in my abdomen. No one could figure it out. Gallbladder removed. Pain never went away. Low grade pain since. Last Friday- pain skyrocketed. Saturday - ER trip- everything was fine. Tuesday - saw the specialist- thinks is 'sphincter of oddi dysfunction'- he cannot diagnose, or treat - the procedure is pretty specialized, an only 2 clinics in AZ do this. Bah. Now, we are in the insurance waiting game. However, the pain has subsided again, whoo!
So, I have not slept all week. In bed at 9- wide awake at 2:30. In the beginning of the week, it was pain and stress over work and deciding wether to go home on vacation. Now, we've made the decision to go, its now the stress of getting everything done that I haven't done since Saturday to get ready. Laundry, clean the house (Sandy is staying here while we are away,), get clothes to pack, change the oil in the car, do a little shopping for jeans, bills, etc. Oh, and work.
AHHHH!
I am sooo stressed, byt very excited to get home!

A boy and his futon: a love story

Just because - pictures of Patton's love affair with the futon. He jumps up there, and 'nests' until he can get the pillows 'just right.' I've never seen a dog arrange his own pillow to sleep.
He makes me giggle.

No workouts for me.

ARGH! As much as I carry on about working out, and the eating plan, I miss it. I cannot workout right now, for fear of triggering more pain in my side. I cannot really follow the eating plan, since I need to eat bland foods, and really the only things that appeal to me right now are saltines and applesauce. I do not like this change in routine. It SUCKS. I've made some real progress in the past 2 weeks, and don't want to lose that momentum. Yikes.
Dare I say, I have come to enjoy my workouts- they are not as much as a chore as I thought they would be.

I love my sister

Why did it have to be that I move 2000 miles away that we got closer? Sigh. Going to school is good for her, and I am proud of her. We have finally been able to push all our crap aside, and go to each other for advice, and help. She's been a great comfort to me over the past several weeks, while I have been down. I love her, and miss her, and cannot wait to see her.
Although she's no help in the gallbladder pain. "Oh, when I had the same pain I had huge gallstones." Lucky her. Ah hahaha ha kidding. Love you, Russel.

I cannot sleep!

This is crap. I am having so much anxiety over my pain right now. How to juggle vacation, potential medical procedures, and not being able to determine what is happening. This is crap!
Grrr.

I think I am the only person to sob hysterically in the ER when told everything is ok.

So, my side has been hurting. In the gallbladder area. For almost a year. Had the gallbladder removed, and still had pain. Low grade, manageable pain, but pain nonetheless. Friday night, the pain skyrocketed. Oh, its bad. Hurts to breathe, hurts to move. Hurts, period. The only relief I can get is laying on my bad, taking shallow breaths. Friday night is was bad. Saturday, it was worse. Jen (who I am lucky to have as a friend,) met me at the gym for our morning workout, and said, nope - you're going to Urgent Care. Not in Maricopa, since they Ahwatukee, 20 miles away. I couldn't drive, and Larry is on call, so Jen took me. Urgent Care couldn't figure it out, so off to the ER. Damn. No, no, no, no, no, no, no! The last trip to Chandler ER was HORRIBLE, so we went to Gilbert Mercy.
Ah, so much better than Chandler. They gave me a bed, instead of a 'recliner,' and everyone was so kind. Nurses continued to check on me, and everyone was very nice. (Chandler was horrible- we'd have to look for a nurse for help, and they were not very warm or compassionate. They looked at me like I was just looking for drugs.)
So, long story short- everything was normal, so they sent me home. When the doctor told me that, I fell apart. I was still in a lot of pain, and nothing helps. Bloodwoork, ultrasound, all normal. Only problem they saw was pain. Morphine didn't really help, in fact I felt worse after the morphine. THey sent me home with painkillers, that did nothing but make we tired.
Oh, did I sob. I couldn't help it. I am so tired of pain. Oh, they were big, uncontollable, nose running, blubbering sobs. The nurses were so kind. They gave me some tissues, and tried to give me a little comfort, and let me compose myself before we left. (As opposed to Chandler, who discharged me so fast- Larry had left to get something to eat, so he was not there when I was discharged. The made me wait in the ER waiting room until he arrived. Talk about no compassion.)
So, here I am this morning, in pain, still. Nothing relieves it. Thank you to Jen, who is trying to help. I know I need to be my own advocate, but yesterday when we got home, all I wanted to do was be miserable in bed. :)
This morning is a different story. I have been researching my symptoms all morning on the internet. Reading message board posts, blogs, and medical journals. I think I may have some kind of answer.
So, I am going to blow out my printer this morning, printing everything I can find, and then Monday, work on an appointment for a doctor.
I am terrified this is going to cause a problem with my trip home. Sigh.
Thank you to Jen and Jonathan. Jen drove me out to Urgent Care and then the ER. Jonathan opened the store for her, until she could get back. I cannot thank them enough for their help.
To make me happy, here are gratuitous picture of Patton and Sherman.
I am always amazed how they manage to 'drape' themselves over their beds to sleep. I think they are silly.

Oh God, I HATE traffic.

Sigh. When we moved to Maricopa, we knew we'd be driving. ALOT. Maricopa is considered to be a 'bedroom community.' Mostly homes, some shopping centers, and that's it. Everyone must commute to work. The town was only incorporated 5 years ago. That means its only been 5 years that the city has started to grow and build itself up. We now have a city council, local government, etc. Eventually, we will attract companies to 'set up shop' here, I do not see that happening for quite some time.
When we bought the house, I worked in South Chandler- about a 20 mile commute. Not much traffic, not a big deal. When I was hired with my current company, I could not pass up the oppurtunity, and accepted the 35 mile commute (one way) into downtown Phoenix. Oh God, its nuts. Its all major highways to get to work, which means hideous traffic.
Do they even have traffic reports in Reading? I live by the traffic reports here.
I used to commute a long distance from Lancaster to Morgantown when we lived in PA. It was about the same distance, and the commute was a breeze. 222 and the turnpike. No traffic jams, no craziness. But commuting in Phoenix- nightmare traffic.
I was able to alter my hours to work 6-2, and can avoid the traffic. I also work from home 2 days a week. Yay!
However yesterday, it was Orbitel's (our internet provider) quest to make me crazy. Our internet died yesterday, and I was working from home. That meant I had to run into the office, and stay a little later than normal. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I drove home yesterday at 4. The traffic was HORRIBLE. Start, stop, start, stop, start, 5 mph, stop, start and so on. All the way home. What is usually a 45 min commute turned into an hour and 15 minutes. Oh, not happy. Oh, and we have those stupid speed cameras. What that means is if you are speeding at least 11 mph over the speed limit, it takes your picture and sends a ticket. No one knows how to drive. Everyone drops to about 5-10 miles below the limit, when they pass these cameras, making the traffic flow even worse.
Poor Larry, he greeted me at home, trying to give me a hig hug, but I was so ramped up with frustration from the commute, I all but bit his head off. Damn, that meant lots of apologies. I'm lucky to have such an understanding husband.
But, put him in that traffic, I'll bet he does the same thing.

I love diet coke, but its the devil.

Sigh.

I love diet coke, but it hates me. I am soooooo tired of water. But, I stopped all soda last week, and lost 2 pounds. Yay me, but sucks.
Its interesting. Sunday is my free day, and I had several diet cokes. Wow, did I feel like hell. Dare I say, I am feeling less fatigued since not drinking diet coke and all that artificial sweetener? Its interesting.
Larry quit diet coke too. He's seen a difference in his energy, and overall well being.
Damn. I had to idea is was affecting us so poorly.

I wish I was 20 an careless again. Actually, let me rephrase that. I wish I was 20 and careless again, but with my marriage, and career. Ah hahaha. Wishful thinking.

I'm gonna take the rest of the diet coke we have, and get some mentos, for some diet coke explosions.

A little retail therapy goes a long way!

Last night, I took some 'me' time, and when shopping. Whoo! Larry gave me a gift card to my favorite local yarn shop, Tempe Yarn and Fiber. Whoo! Guilt free shopping!

I bought a new flyer for my spinning wheel. It is a high-speed flyer, since I am Full Throttle Kelly, I spin incredibly fast, and the high-speed flyer will help slow me down. (The flyer is what controls the speed of your wheel when you spin, and winds the spun fiber onto your bobbin.)

I also bought some gorgeous (expensive - but worth it) Optim™. Optim™ is Merino Wool that has been stretched to make it softer, with a luster like silk. I have been eyeballing this for months, and finally took the plunge. Whoo! I cannot wait to spin it!

I also bought a book - "One Skein Wonders." I have a ton of stash, and want to knit through it, so this will give me some ideas how to use miscellaneous skeins. (Its April, and I have only purchased 1 skein of yarn! And that was necessary for a project in progress.) My resolution is not to buy any yarn this year. I have a redicuously large yarn stash, so I'm on a yarn diet.
However, that never extended to fiber!

The calmest puppy I've ever met.

This is Bear. He's a lab-pit mix (they think.) This is the calmest puppy I've ever seen.
Unfortunately, in our area, there are a lot of people foreclosing. A lot of people came out here, for the lesser expensive homes, and either took a loan they could not afford, or are 'dumping' their home, because they are upside down now. Grr. Everybody is upside down, now, AZ has been hit hard, but that's a different blog.
Anyway, the collateral damage of all these people leaving their homes, are their pets. People don't want to take them, or can't take them to a smaller house or apartment. Therefore, the pound and local rescues are filled to the brim with unwanted pets. (Adopt rescue animals - do not purchase a pet from a store- that only continues the problem of too many unwanted pets. - But that's a different blog.)
So anyway, my friend Amber calls the other night. Jen and I are trying to have a marathon of Big Love, but when Amber calls, and says "I have a puppy!!!" - I can't resist.
I was expecting some squirmy, crazy, little puppy, who is a bark-machine. However, Bear was calm, quiet, and sweet. Her neighbors were leaving there home, and couldn't take Bear. They told her he's going to the pound, and Amber couldn't let that happen, so she took him. She says she wants to foster him, until she can find him a home. (But I think she'll be a foster-flunker.)
Bear's an angel. No chewing, no barking, no marking, no craziness. Just a cute, happy dog. I've never seen a puppy like this. Even Patton who was 2 1/2 when he came home to us, was a goofy, rambunctious knucklehead.

Gratuitous pic of Patton when he first came home.














They say "God makes puppies cute, so you don't kill them." Ah ahahaha. Patton - true - he was crazy, but cute, and that cuteness made this insanity a little easier to take. Bear - this doesn't apply - he's cute, and a good puppy.

I love to play blackjack!

If you have a gambling problem, and live in Maricopa, the temptation is great. Why? We have 4 casinos within 25 miles of us, the closest, is 10 miles, right down the road. The Valley has a lot of Indian casinos- actually, they're all over AZ. Maricopa is surrounded by Indian reservations, which is why one is so close to us.
We go every once in a while. Larry and I used to go to Atlantic City, for an overnight trip. We'd go into a casino, maybe play $20 on slots, walk around the boardwalk, play a little more, walk along the beach, play a little more, and so on. There was a lot to do, besides gambling. However, the scary thing about the Indian casinos, is that there is nothing else surrounding the casino. No where to go to get away from the gambling for a little, and there is really nothing else to do, except gamble, eat, or drink at the bar. Completely different than AC.
Well, for Larry's birthday, we went to the casino with a bunch of friends for an all-you-can eat seafood buffet, a little drinking, and a little gambling. Larry loves to play blackjack, and I enjoy to play, too.
We had a great time, we played for several hours, won, lost, won, lost, and won again. We didn't walk away with any money, but we had a great time together. We played some slots, I won $60 bucks, whoo! Yay me!
We had a lot of fun with our friends, thanks, everyone! xoxoxoxox

My side hurts.

Becuase I'm not posting pictures of a gallbladder, I'll give you some gratuitious pictires of the boys.

This sucks. My side is bothering me today.
Meh. For those that don't know, last summer, I had my gallbladder removed. I has having a ridiculous amount of pain, and no one could figure out what was wrong. I ran the gauntlet of tests- ultrasounds, cat scan, mri, xrays- NOTHING. No stones, all my bloodwork was fine, no one could figure it out. So, I finally had a gallbladder scan, and although my gallbladder performed normally, in the last part of the 2 hour test, I had an enormous amount of pain, and was feeling very sick. The specialist said that is inidiciatve of a gallbladder problem, so lets remove it. When the surgeon took it out, he said it was inflamed, so, they think that was it.

However, I still have pain. About a 2-3 on the pain scale out of ten, every day. I am okay, its more of a nuciense. I don't want to go back to the doctor. They'll run me through the gaunlet of tests again, with no results. Last bloodwork I had done was all completely normal. All I want to do it relax, no more doctors, since I'll end up with a bunch of specialists, who do not know what is wrong. Running into Phoenix constantly for tests, with no results.
Meh. I can function, I am not sick, so I'm in a bit of a holding pattern.
OW.

My legs are KILLING ME.

So, Jen & I started the Body for Life program. I've gained some weight over the past 2 years, between the issues with my neck pain, and the gallbladder mess. So, I'm not happy with that. So, in the middle of December, we got a trainer (Jen and I) to help us get a jump start.
It was not a really good experience. He really could have cared less, in my opinion, didn't listen to our concerns, and pretty much walked through the motions with us, not focused. I lost no weight. I trained, lifted, exercised, ate well, and no results. Talk about a bummer. We'd work out on weights, and I was never really challenged, and never felt any soreness the next day. I spoke to the trainer about it, and he kept telling me just follow what I am doing, and you'll be fine. Huh? I was getting nowhere.
He was always late, and never apologized to us. Hey, I'm paying you- BE THERE ON TIME AND LOOK INTERESTED!

So, Jen, who is better at confrontation than me, fired him. Whew. Thanks Jen.

We decided to start the Body for Life program, and work out on own own. I like the food plan - very customizable- eat a protein and a carb and some veggies with every meal & portions the size of your fist. 6 times a day- little meals. Easy. The program gave a list of foods you can eat- yummy- chicken, fish (ew), lean meats, whole wheat breads and pastas, and veggies. And, on the 7th day- no restrictions. Eat what you want (within reason- although I want cake all day, that pretty much negates everything I did that week.) :)

So, Jen and I have had 3 sessions of weights on our own. Its been so much better. We help each other, keep each other on track, and have worked together to get through the exercise smoothly. Let me tell you what, we are obviously working very well together, since I feel like I got hit by a bus. Arms hurt, legs hurt- the workouts obviously are more effective. We are journaling too, what we've been eating, our workouts, and our thoughts. I like it!

Thanks, Jen! Even though all I want is to stuff my face with cake all day, you help me stay on track! :)

Who wants a cat?

George is making me CRAZY. She is my cat- I adopted her in college. She (and Max) have been with me through thick and thin. She's listened to me rail about bad boyfriends, bad jobs, and when life has sucked in general. She's always up for a cuddle, and sleeps at the foot of our bed. However, she's 13, and has become a pain the ass with old age.
When she can see the bottom of her food bowl, she freaks out like she will starve to death. It doesn't matter if the bowl is full, and all the food is pushed to the side of the dish, she sees the bottom of the dish, and the world is going to end.
So, last night, she wakes me up. Pulling and chewing my hair. I shove her away. I want to sleep. Really, that's it, sleep. Nope, George thinks I need to be up, and feeding her. I'm half asleep, and shoving her away, and she's relentless.
Finally, I get up, half asleep. Full bowl of food. The bottom of the bowl is barely visible. I curse at George, fill her bowl, and she happily eats.
George, I understand you are getting crazy in your old age, but this food bowl obsession is making me crazy.
All bitching aside, I love that cat to pieces. Besides her food dish insanity, she's a great cat. Crazy as hell, but a good cat.

I need a slap chop!

I need a slap chop. Its the most annoying commercial. I see it all the time on the news. Almost makes me as crazy as the damn snuggie.

Ok, so I am trying to eat healthier, cook more, and stay away from processed foods. So, I bought a slicer since I hate to chop veggies with the fire and passion of 1000 suns. Really. And, I want nicely sliced of veggies.
Well, I start to use it, and realize the stupid handle on it that you use to hold the vegetable is awkward, and I stop using it. Who wants to guess what happens next? Yep, I slice the top of my finger off.

Of course I do that on the first veggies I am slicing. I am making lasagna. The noodles are in the pot, meat is on the stove, I am in a time crunch, and now I am bleeding like I lost a limb, not just the tip of my finger. :( OUCH. And it stings!

So, Larry's the best - nursemaid - no, I mean NURSE STUD, not nursemaid, as Larry informed me, to help me bandage my finger, and cook, to help me cook the rest of dinner. And clean up.

So, I need a stupid slap chop. Something to chop my veggies and protect the rest of my fingers. Larry says he'll buy one for me. I can't get over my embarrassment to order one for myself. Ah hahahah.

Stupid slap chop. Stupid slicer. This reinforces the idea that I should only eat fast food. No cooking, I'll have no fingers left.

Its the beginning of the rest of my life.

I had to color my hair today.
Why is it the beginning of the rest of my life?
Because I will have to color my hair. Forever.
I'm getting too may greys. Meh.

I have been noticing the greys for a little while, lately. More have been appearing lately. I have been thinking of coloring my hair, but terrified of it, since the last home-dye job turned me into Ronald McDonald, and was a very expensive repair.
But, beer was involved in that one, so I learned, no beer and hair color should mix. Ever.

My birthday is coming up. 34. I don't like it. At all. I am moving from my early 30's to mid 30's. Soon, I'll be closer to my 40's than I was my 30's. Its okay that Larry is in his early 40's. He's a guy. I don't think they really care. He's been grey for awhile- its his style. He looks quite distinguished with it. I don't care- I'm fighting the grey hair every step of the way. I'm Larry's mid-life crisis. I can't be grey. Ah ahahaha.

So, I'm talking to my girlfriends last night, saying I'm finding more greys, and I don't like it. My girlfriends look at me, and one goes, "Oh my God, it IS getting grey! I just saw it when you moved your hair!" That was her first reaction. Oh, God. This is the end. Sh*t!

Early this morning, I put my big girl panties on, and went to the store. Picked out a nice golden brown, held my breath, and dyed my hair.

Its beautiful! I love it! Its a nice, rich brown, that lighens up in the sun. Yay, me!
But, I will have to color it for ever. This blows.
I love the color, and don't mind dying it. What I don't like is the reason.
Meh!

Larry loves it, and my girlfriends love it, so its all good.

2009 Maricopa Mutt March!

I love our little town. We're far away from everything (20 miles from the next town,) surrounded by the reservation, but I love it.
Sherman, Patton, and I participated in the 2009 Maricopa Mutt March, yesterday.

Maricopa needs a bark park. I never heard of a bark park until I moved to AZ. Basically, it is a fenced in area of grass for dogs to run loose and play. I sometimes take the boys to a bark park about 20 miles from home, and they love it. They get to romp and play with other dogs. When we first brought the dogs home, the bark park was a great way to socialize them. Also, in their younger days, they would sprint in all their glory, remembering their racing days. Now that they are older, they are happy to trot around, and pester all the other owners to pet them. Ha!

Anyway, Maricopa does not have a bark park. The Mutt March was developed as a fundraiser to provide additional funds to build a park park. (The city has finally designated land for the park, and we should see one by 2012.)

Anyway, yesterday was the Mutt March - it was so much fun! It was a 2 mile walk, and exhausted the boys, and there were a lot of vendors to peruse and visit. We hung out at the GPA-AZ booth (Greyhound Pets of America - AZ chapter,) where the boys were simply loved on by all that passed. Sherman also took the opportunity to sleep. God forbid he does not get enough sleep.

The boys dressed up for the occasion, and everyone loved them. The played in the temporary bark park they had set up at the event, they walked in the march, and shopped at all the vendors with dog treats. (I swear Sherman is a doggie garbage disposal - he ate tons of treats while we were there, all the vendors wanted to give him a bone, and of course he took them.)

Patton was so well behaved! Its been over a year since his attack. Ever since the attack, he has been dog-reactive while on his leash. Basically, he becomes Cujo, and is thinking, "I'll eat your face off before you eat my face off." Poor Patton. However, after over a year of hard work, he has become less tense, and less reactive. I took him to the even yesterday, and he was a totally different dog! He was calm, allowing dogs to sniff him- big and small- with no snarling, growling, or teeth-baring! I was SO HAPPY! Yay Patton! (After the past year of his Cujo behavior, it is so nice to see my old, happy-go-lucky Patton back.)

Thanks for the herpes.

No, I don't have herpes.
That was on my birthday cake.
Really.
And, I had a spongebob candle.
Seriously.

I have the best friends in the world! My birthday is on Tuesday, yay! My friends, Amber, Wayne, Jen & Aaron were sneaky, and surprised me! I wasn't expecting anything for my birthday, nothing exciting, but they got me!

Last night, Larry, Sandy (his mom) and I went to our favorite little restaurant, the Sunrise cafe. In the middle of dinner, our friends came barreling into the restaurant, with balloons, cake, flowers, and presents singing "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs. I was floored. Larry, Amber, and Jen set it up. I was completely floored- they did a good job!

Amber and Jen actually went to our food store, and asked the bakery to write "Thanks for the herpes" on the cake. They said the guy almost freaked out. That's hysterical. That's what makes it funny - they had to walk into the main food store in Maricopa, and ask for that with straight faves. Ah hahahaha. We know the owner of the Sunrise cafe, who saw the cake, and thought it was the best thing! She took it to the kitchen to show her employees, and you could hear the shrieks of laughter! THere was a family with kids, who were sitting across from us, and the kids saw the cake and kept pointing at it. All I kept thinking was please do not ask to look at it - no-no-no-no-no. Ah hahah. My friends are praksters.

Jen gave me a gift card to Olive Garden, yummy!! and Amber have me a gift card to Subway yummy!!!!!! LOVE those restaurants! Sandy knit me a gorgeous wrap, and Larry actually walked into my favorite knit shop to get me a girft card. Amber and Jen also tourture me with Twizzlers and Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies, which I could eat all in one sitting. The are in the kitchen right now, begging to be eaten. :)

I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband, and good friends. Amber and Jen are silly, always up for a laugh, and thoughtful and caring. I could not ask for better girlfriends. I love them to pieces.

Even if they are sorry about the herpes.

Patton marks EVERYTHING.

Seriously. I know dogs mark. Really, Patton is it necessary to pee on EVERYTHING?
Patton is always marking. I have never seen this dog simply pee. Nope, he pees with purpose. In our backyard, out in public, anything new, he's gotta hit it.
When we adopted Patton, he came straight off the track. He had never been in a home, as a pet, until he came home with us. Before greyhounds race, their urine is collected for drug testing. They are taught to pee on a traffic cone, so the handlers can get a sample before the race. We were told to get an orange traffic code, and put it in the backyard to help with his potty training.
Do you think he ever peed on this cone- of course not. Its more fun to pee on-
-The house
-The fence
-The grill (ew, I scrub it constantly.)
-Every tree
-The back porch
-The poo garbage can.
-Any piece of lawn tools left outside.
-Ok, anything left outside in the back yard that he can hit. My shoes included.
-Every piece of lawn furniture outside.
-The AC unit. (He freaked once - jumped at least a foot in the air when it turned on while he was peeing on it. But that didn't stop him.)
-Sherman's toys (I have to wash at least 2-3 toys a week.)
-Sherman. (Seriously, I have watched him pee on his head.)
Sometimes he doesn't even have to pee, but he's still got enough to squirt on stuff. I've watched him, and he'll lift his leg and give a little squirt on several things, if he can. We were at a friends house, and he hit all the bushes 2x in one walk around the backyard. He's git skills.
He's a nightmare when we are out in public. He wants to mark EVERYWHERE. Inside, outside, it doesn't matter.
So, when we are out in public, or at other people's homes, P wears his bad-boy-belly band. Its a strip of fabric that is fastened around his hips, so if he lifts his leg on something, he pees in the band. If we are in Petsmart, he gets banded. If we are at other people's homes - banded. He looks like a tool in his band, but that's better than him leaving his mark.
Before we got the dog door, he's mark in the house - whenever we left. I knew it was not because he had to go, since he never unloaded, just little squirts around the house, as if to say, "I'll show you." However, once we got the dog door, he's decided its more fun to mark stuff outside. (Thank you.)

I am trying not to be a greyhound snob.

Some of you have kids. We don't. The dogs are our kids. We do not want children. So, we spoil the dogs. The have too many toys, too many rawhides, too many beds. They are our companions. They go with us when we take day trips for hiking across AZ. They are funny, loving, and always interesting. To some of you, they're just dogs. To us, they are our 'kids.'
When we adopted them, we adopted through a rescue group. We did a lot of reading about them before hand, so we were prepared. Greyhounds are a little special-
They need to learn how to be a pet. They have only known the track & kennel life. Not a life that includes toys, fluffy beds, and bones to chew whenever they want.
Greyhounds have a different metabolism and different enzymes than other dogs. This means-
--- They cannot be left outside all day. Ever. They cannot handle the extreme weather of AZ. Most dogs can be outside in the summer with lots of shade, and lots of water. Not a greyhound. If left outside with shade and water in the summer for several hours, it could kill them. They do not have a lot of body fat to help absorb and combat the heat (or cold.)
---They cannot metabolize anesthesia like other dogs. If your vet is not very knowledgeable about greyhound chemistry, they could easily not wake up from the anesthesia. This has been documented many times. Take them to a vet who has experience with greyhounds.
---They cannot have some of the rawhides that normal doggies get. They cannot have the white rawhides - usually the white or 'natural' rawhides are dipped in arsenic to get the white color. Greys cannot metabolize that, and they could get very sick. No rawhides made outside of the US. Rawhides made in Mexico, China, etc- the chemicals used on those rawhides could make greys very sick. They can have compressed rawhides or rawhide made in the US only.
--- Little tears in their skin could turn into a major tear requiring stitches, easily. They have such thin skin, a brush against something could turn into a tear. This has actually happened to us twice.
--- Do not send your greyhound to a kennel where they are kept in cages all day. Greyhounds were kept in cages their entire track life, and will most likely not adapt well to going back in a cage all day long.
--- They needs lots of fluffy places to lay. Since they have very low body fat, they do not have a lot of cushioning when they lay on a hard floor.

Whew, that's a lot. Its really not that bad as it sounds. Our vet understands greyhounds, both dogs have gone under twice, and are fine. We found a greyhound-only sitter who we leave them with when we go back to PA. They have coats, a dog door, lots of compressed rawhides, lots of toys and lots of beds.
But, I have been a bit of a grey-snob. Their vet was once the track vet at Phoenix Greyhound Park, and is considered the best around. Their sitter only sits greyhounds, where the sitter understands the breed, and knows their idiosyncrasies.

The problem? The vet and sitter are SOOOO far away. The vet is a 70 mile round trip, and the sitter is about a 90 mile round trip. So, I have been trying not to be a grey-snob, and trust people.
We have seen a vet in Maricopa. She is knowledgeable about greyhounds, and have treated several. She has also treated some at the greyhound farms outside of Maricopa. We really need a vet in town. I cannot keep traveling the 70 mile round trip. So, I am working to trust the vet in town for regular items. Major issues, such as Patton's corns, and when Patton was attacked, he goes to our original vet.
There is a sitter in town who I am meeting with on Saturday. She has an in house sitting business, but takes all dogs. She is as competent as my sitter who only sits greys, but she sits all breeds. I have to trust the boys will be fine. I will leave instructions, and of course check in on them, but I cannot treat the dogs with kid gloves. For my own sanity.

Patton vs, his arch nemesis

Any dog on the other side of the fence.

Everyone in our neighborhood has a 6 foot privacy fence surrounding our backyard. This was new to me when I moved here. Any home older than 10 years out here in the Valley has one. I struggled with this when we first built the house. I remember as a little girl, running and playing in everyone's backyard. It gave you a sense of community. However, after living here awhile, I have come to love the fence. We have complete privacy - love it!

Anyway, Patton was attacked last year but a pit bull. My friends out here remember how bad it was. The side of his head and ear where torn up very badly. It was horrible. We were out for a walk in the evening, one street away from our home, on our regular walking route. Out of no where comes the pit and latches on to Patton. It took 3 neighbors to pull him off. The only reason P survived is becuase it was a puppy.

Ever since then, Patton has been a mess. Anytime he hears another dog on the other side of the fence he cannot see, he loses his mind and becomes Cujo. I don't blame him. He cannot see the other dog, and is terrorized by the attack. Over the past year, we have worked with him, and he is still very attentive to dogs he hears and cannot see, but does not lose his mind on walks.

However, he has become a mental case in the backyard. Both next door neighbors, and the neighbors behind our house have little yappers. They make Patton mental. He runs to each side of the fence, barking, snarling, huffing, and growling. Everytime we hear him, we're out there with water bottle spraying him.

Now, he has become sneaky. I've watched him. He runs to the fence, looks at the house, barks, looks at the house again, waiting for one of us to come out. I'll run out, hit him with some water, he'll look at me, bark, and then dips his head, waiting for the hit of water. I swear, that dog lives to make me nuts.

Sherman? Angel dog. He just sleeps.
Patton - loves to make me crazy.

Why I am mad at my doctor's office.

Sigh. I'm sick. I feel like crap. I'm at the doctor's office, miserable.

They have a TV in the waiting area, that they usually run DVD's of comedy sitcoms, or child-friendly movies.

Not yesterday. Yesterday they had some DVD about nature. Like something from the Discovery Channel about the plight of polar bears and antelope.

I watched the part about the polar bear and her cubs. It goes on and on about the cubs, and shows nothing but cute footage of them playing. Then, as the segment ends, the program explains many cubs die, and do not make it in the wild. Huh? I was all warm and fuzzy inside from watching the cubs, and then bam! I'm hit with the note that they'll die anyway. I know its nature, but that's not I wanted to hear, in the doctor's office, miserable. I want cute, fuzzy and adorable. Not death.

THEN, the DVD moves to some antelope, something like that. Its showing the babies. How cute- little babies, playing, running with their mom, so cute! Then, the program shows a wolf approaching. The wolf eats these animals. Oh, no, yes they did. They showed the wolf chase one of the babies, catching it, kill it, and then eat it.

Now, I'm crying like a fool in the doctor's office. I hate nature shows. I don't want to see the cute babies eaten by their predators. I know that's the circle of life, I just do not want to see it. Especially in the doctor's office, sick.

Photo Source: Reuters