*2blog*

D is for delicate (genius) doctors, driving, diapers, dogs & dachshunds

I feel like writing tonight, even though it's past my bedtime -- which lately has been early since Charity started going to Seminary. Scott takes her in, and then he drives halfway back and I meet him and pick her up at the grocery store. It's pretty easy now, but winter won't be fun when it's cold and dark. Maybe by the time Ian starts Seminary in 2 years, Charity will be driving. :)

I'm finally almost over my anger about the Delicate Genius. Just kidding.

So anyway, I had a productive day today. Despite some family troubles that I've been dealing with -- long story, I accomplished a lot. I was able to make 5 fitted cloth diapers and 2 fleece diaper covers for Jordan. That polar fleece stuff -- it's fairly waterproof, so it makes a good diaper cover. I'll post photos tomorrow when I (hopefully remember to) pick up batteries for my camera.

Obi is doing great. I'll also try to post some pictures of him as well. He's had 2 baths, so he smells better, and he's had most of the burrs and mats brushed out. We had to cut the mats out behind his ears, but it will grow out again. He's been treated for fleas and ticks. His loose stools have -- tightened. ;) I'm thinking about giving him his rabies and his 7-in-1 shots tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. I've never given rabies shots before, but I'm sure I can do it.

Actually it's not really Obi that worries me. Shelties are fairly tough and forgiving with shots. It's Piglet, the 5 lb. dachshund that scares me, LOL. I can't even trim her claws without a huge fight. She starts yelping before I even get the clipper to the nail. I will not soon forget the last time I gave her shots, which unfortunately was a year ago. I think I'll stuff her into a pillowcase this time. ;)

I read a little to Christopher (The Fellowship of the Ring), and to Ian (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) today. I need to be more consistent with reading to them, especially since the school year has officially started here. Plus, it's so much fun. I really do love reading aloud.

Well, I'm now officially tired enough to go to bed -- or at least to lie down and read.

The Delicate Genius?

Well, yesterday I went to the doctor for my annual checkup. Guess what? I had this appointment that my mom set up for me months in advance, right? I got in there and waited to see the doctor and then was told that Dr. H doesn't take new patients, and hadn't for 4 years -- and would I like to schedule an appointment with Dr. C? Heck no. I walked out of there. That really ticked me off. How in the h-e-double toothpicks did I get an appointment and get mailed a reminder -- with a doctor that wasn't going to see me? So I'm pretty irritated, but I see little point in fighting a telephone war over it. I doubt Dr. H had anything to do with the misunderstanding, but I'm not going to see this other doctor just because they royally screwed up. I mean -- what happened to apologies? Why didn't they get to the bottom of the appointment mishap? Why did I leave feeling like I was stupid for thinking I could see Dr. H? And why didn't they go ahead and let me see Dr. H? I mean, I did have an appointment for that time. Would it have killed her to see one new patient? Now I'm wondering what it takes to see this doctor. Does someone need to die or move away before she sees someone new? Is there some secret waiting list? Arrgghhh! I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode The Kiss Hello -- and George's reaction to the doctor that charged him for missing an appointment without giving 24 hours' notice, but then took off and went skiing with Elaine and missed his appointment without 24 hours' notice to him. This just adds to my total dislike of most doctors.

Doctors, schmoctors

Obi is re-adjusting well. I think that after 6 months of basically no human contact, he's doing very well. It makes me so sad for all the time he spent scared and alone. But at least it's over now. By last night, it was as if he were never away. He is almost back to normal except that he doesn't jump up on my lap yet. He used to come jump on my lap several times a day when he got spooked. But I can tell he's thinking about it. ;)

Today I get to go in for my annual checkup -- except that it's been a decade. Don't gripe at me -- at least I'm finally going. I got scared off by a lot of the doctors I had to see when Scott was in the military. I could have filed for a few malpractice suits. I'm not saying all the doctors and nurses were bad -- some were quite good. But so many of them were -- losers -- doctors who had no bedside manner and/or didn't know what they were doing. It's hard for me to go to a doctor that I don't know and trust. And of course now Scott and I no longer have health insurance. It's really not a big deal, because we hardly ever get sick. When I get sick, the first thing I usually do is call the health food store. It never fails to help. So anyway, I'm going to see a female doctor today that is my mother's gynecologist. My mom thinks she's wonderful, so I'm not nearly as nervous as I would normally be. I think it's much better to pay for seeing the doctor I want to see than almost all the "free" health care we received as military dependants.

Obi's Homecoming!

That's right, we caught him! I got a call this morning from the camp host telling us he was in the trap. I rushed up there and picked him up. He was very dirty and somewhat thinner, but overall he appears to be fairly healthy. I gave him a bath and took him outside on the leash. He has loose stools right now, but I think it's from his varied diet -- who knows what he's been eating all this time -- and he's stressed. I'm very sleepy with all the Benadryl I've been taking, so I'm going to try to go back to bed. I just wanted to get the news out that I have my dog back. I'll try to post some new pictures of him when I get his coat brushed out. Thank you for all your prayers! :)

Itchy & Scratchy

Yep, that's me. I was setting out the Obi trap yesterday. I thought I had everything I would need with me -- except one thing -- INSECT REPELLENT. And so the CHIGGERS got me all over. If you don't know what chiggers are, don't brag and make me hate you right now. ;) And so now when I'm not in a Benedryl-induced coma, I'm busy itching and/or scratching and rubbing anti-itch cream all over me -- which doesn't really work, but it gives me something to do. Itching is about all I can think of right now, and it makes me ANGRY. And yes, I did try the nail polish last night. I've already scratched it all off. :(

But the good news is that something visited the trap last night and ate most of the food. And yes, my impatience made me go ahead and set the trap. Whatever it was got away without stepping on the --- thingy that shuts the trap, but managed to set it off later by trying to pull the towel I laid in there through the trap's mesh. I'm encouraged, because the towel had been Padi's, and I think Obi wanted it because it smells like her. Scott and I moved the trap over next to the host's camper. She's a really nice lady that is living at the park and who cleans the restrooms, etc. She has been feeding Obi, but is keeping an eye on the trap for us now. She will have the park rangers call me if he gets caught. This lady is great. She said she would really love to have a puppy someday if Obi ever has any. I told her we have a female sheltie, and that when Obi and Padi (hopefully) have puppies someday, she can have the pick of the litter. I really feel like it's because of her that Obi is still alive and healthy, since she said she has been feeding him for awhile now and trying to get him to come to her. He'll stop and look at her, but he won't come to her yet.

Tripping and trapping

I was doing some searching about trapping a lost dog the other night and found this website. It has some great tips that I wish I had read about 6 months ago. However, I really don't think I would have been willing to try this back then. I really didn't know what to expect. I seriously thought Obi would calm down and let us or someone else catch him.

I bought a Havahart large raccoon trap yesterday. Actually, Jason bought it. It was difficult to find a sheltie-sized trap that was also affordable. This was $60 and was the last one -- as opposed to another feed store that wanted $200 for a slightly larger one -- as if! The "bank of Jason" is always handy in times like this -- a couple of days before payday. ;) I'll pay him back in a few days. I should actually be setting up the trap this morning, but I don't have everything I need. Plus I'm really sleepy. I'm going to try to go up there tomorrow morning. I wasn't about to leave a trap up there without a bike lock or something to chain it to a tree. I can't have it walking off. I'd like to think nobody would steal the trap, but I'd hate to be wrong.

Later...

Okay, I went ahead and drove back up there. I saw Obi again -- running away. I didn't see another living being except countless squirrels, 4 wild turkeys, and a sherriff's deputy. I talked to him for awhile, but he was no help either. Of course, he's seen Obi before and tried to catch him. He, like everyone else I talk to, asks me why Obi won't come to anyone. I'm beginning to feel paranoid -- like they're wondering if I abused him or something. I guess I can't waste energy worrrying what they may think. I know that I would never harm a single hair on my sweet dog, nor would anyone else in my family. He's just terrified because he isn't at home.

When I got home, I called the Forestry office to make sure they would let me use the trap. It will be okay to do that. They also suggested that someone may try to steal the trap, so they suggested I hide it well. (see, I wasn't paranoid that time) I'm definitely going to chain it to a tree. ;) I'm going to put my name and phone number on the trap as well. I need to go up there early in the mornings to bait the trap and hang around and wait to see if I can see him. Then I'll go back in the evenings and check the trap again. ~~sigh~~ I really hope it won't take long.

Obi

I've been feeling a little under the weather for a few days. I haven't been in the mood to blog. I started a couple of posts, but then I didn't follow through.

Anyway, today I finally saw Obi! I got a call a few days ago from a park ranger that some people have been seeing him regularly in the mornings at about 7 am. So the last couple of mornings I have driven the 20-something miles up to the park, and this morning Jason and I saw him. It was just a little more than a glimpse, but it was encouraging. Since he has a routine now, I'm going to buy a large humane trap as soon as I can and set it up where we saw him. I hope that we can catch him. The smart thing to do will be to keep it unset for a few days and let him have the bait. After he gets used to the trap, we can set it. I really don't want to fail. I want my dog back. He's such a sweetheart -- just a very shy disposition. I know that faith and prayers are working, and I appreciate those who have kept Obi in their prayers. We pray every night about our dog, and even though it's been almost 6 months, I feel like we're going to get him back now. And let me tell you -- it will be party-time when we do! :)

More than I can chew

Yes, it's been a week. I can hardly believe I'm really posting. I've been going in too many different directions lately. Well, it doesn't take much for me to get overwhelmed. I have a very low tolerance for stress.

I went to get a Bush bumper sticker at the Republican headquarters and walked away with a bunch of phone numbers to call -- 250 people! -- don't quite know how that happened, LOL. Anyway, I'm letting Jason make the calls. I did a few, but it really freaks me out to call people. I would starve if I had to earn a living making phone calls. I told him to make as many of the calls as he wants. After he gets bored, the list is going into an envelope and getting mailed back. If I don't do that, that lady will talk me into more phone calls.

I also volunteered to hem some baby quilts for a church service project, plus I'm making cloth diapers and diaper covers for my grandson, while also making wedding gifts for a former student in my Sunday School class.

And then I got woke up by a call this morning from a friend who wanted me to babysit her 11-year old -- not a big deal, but it is just one more thing.

Anyway, I've griped enough. I think the biggest stress is the whole phone call thing. I really hate it when I agree to do something and then I don't follow through...

Okay, Jason has also had enough of the phone calls, so the lists are in an envelope with a note to get mailed back. I'm such a coward.

Wictory Wednesday

I've seen a few versions of this around, so I thought I'd make one too. BTW, I chose "Yes". ;)

If you would like to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush campaign, please do. Get involved. Here is where you click to find out more about Wictory Wednesday if you're interested in joining. Here are the other Wictory Wednesday bloggers:

Monday Madness

1. What's "it" all about, anyway? Cousin It was a character on The Addams Family -- very hairy. But if we're talking about life, "it's" about living a good life, learning, and finding true joy.
2. What radical political ideas do you have, if any? Joseph McCarthy was an American hero.
3. Do you believe that you 'fit' the profile of your astrological star sign? Yes, in many ways I fit the profile of a Pisces.
4. Will blogging survive 2005 or is it a fad? It will survive.
5. Do you Ebay? If so, what and how often? Is it a full-time job, part-time hobby, or just to clear the junk from your house? I rarely buy from Ebay. I prefer buying stuff at a set price. I don't like losing auctions, which is dangerous. ;) If I need to get rid of stuff, I usually give it away.
6. True or False: When I vote, I am all for one party. Mostly true. I'm a registered Republican as of this year, but have been voting mostly Republican since I started voting. I would consider voting for someone of another party, but I'd have to be very impressed.
7. Meat or veggie sauce on your spaghetti? I like both.
8. Would you ever be on a TV Reality Show? Not unless it were something really special -- like that BBC one called Castaway where they lived on a remote island and all worked together.
9. What is one thing (or place) that you would like to do (or see) that you have not yet done (or seen?) I would love to visit Great Britain.
10. Do you answer memes honestly? Sure -- what would be the point of lying? If I don't like the questions, I don't play. ;)

In Memory of Odell

Brother Stevens passed away on Saturday afternoon from cancer. I have mixed feelings, but mostly I'm glad for him. I know he has suffered so much in his life from all kinds of pain, and I know that he has a break from it now. I feel kind of bad that the last time I saw him was Wednesday. I talked with him then, and even though he could no longer talk, I know he could hear me and understand me. It was hard to see him in that condition.

He was never much of a looker to put it nicely, but when you got to know him -- he was a very cute old guy. He had a big heart. He had become like one of the family to us and other people as well.

Odell worked for about 30 years catching chickens -- backbreaking work from what I understand. He mostly lived and slept on the road during that time. He had a lot of physical problems that had to make that excruciating. I don't know why he ended up doing that kind of work, but I assume it was because of limited choices. Even though he had no close family left, he was loved by many and will be missed.

15 minutes to blog

I'm giving myself 15 minutes to blog this morning. I've been MIA for a few days. I finally took a break from typoGenerator, and went on to obsess over a game Jason bought the other day -- Tropico -- a strategy game where you are the dictator of a small tropical island. It's way too much fun.

In addition, I'm setting my timer for 15 minutes while playing to take small breaks to clean. My husband came home to a very noticably cleaner house yesterday. If I continue to use my timer today I will get a lot more done around here. I only enjoy cleaning in small doses -- otherwise it begins to feel too much like work. ;) It's fun to see how much I can get done in 5-10 minute increments several times a day.

And so that about wraps up the time I have. I will try to keep my blog updated more often with the exciting details of my life, LOL.

Okay, it took 16 minutes, but at least setting the timer kept me from my perfectionistic ways of dragging it out way too long with the "all or nothing" attitude I tend to have. 17 minutes... Bye!