We were busy this week, as usual.
I worked this weekend, so that pretty much took care of the weekend. T.S. Worked for some of it.
Tuesday we had our guitar lessons, and we did well. Then we got BAR CHORDS. For non guitarists, these are one of the most difficult things to learn, especially as a beginner. Of course, T.S., not being a beginner, already has them figured out. However, we learned one of the things he really wanted to know, which was how to figure out which ones were which. So, he was happy. Me, I am struggling. BUT, I am determined to learn them, because once I do, a whole world of stuff will open up. No new songs this week, though. So, I am practicing the old ones in between finger exercises and bar chords, which make my fingers ache.
In other news, I have been exercising every day, and adding a few more minutes to my cardio. Drinking water, and also eating very well. I'm being a little more stringent so when we go on vacation I can not stress if the only thing to eat for lunch is a hamburger.
Suzie Q is doing okay - I finally saw her cancer, and it's bigger than I thought it was. She is doing okay though. I'm not doing so hot.
I am down to one card left in my tarot studies - Le Mat - aka The Fool. Yay ME! I am not sure what I want to do next. I am thinking I will spend a few weeks with each of my decks, and do readings, and make notes. That will take me a LONG time, I have over 150 decks. I'm thinking I will go in order of purchase, too. I have a great tarot journal to put stuff in.
Oh, if you like to write in journals with pens, or if you are a notebook junkie like me check out this site, Michael Rogers Press they have the most fabulous journals! My personal favorite is the Jumbo Book, which is the book I use for my tarot journal. I am ordering several when I come back from vacation. And maybe a few other things as well.
I have been accomplishing everything I want to do, although I wish I had just a bit more time for practicing the guitar.
Other stuff that's been on my mind; Suzie, and the confusion with the vet about the phone consultation.
Our vacation, and getting ready for it.
The new bands I want to get CD's from, but have to wait until AFTER vacation.
What I'm going to do with the other black journal I bought.
How soon I can take all Mom's journals down to Mary. I want them out of here.
The week ahead. Work out, work, keep plugging toward vacation.
Weekly gift...T.S. got me two really cute tops. One of which I will actually be able to wear in public some day. He's such a sweetie....
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Hot, Hotter...
This week was a little better than last week.
Although I am still sad about Suzie, she's not in bad shape at the moment - or no worse shape than before we took her in and she was diagnosed with the "C" word. I have a call in to the veterinary oncology to find out about treatment options; if any.
At her age (13 or 14, which is about 108 in dog years for her size) and with her other medical problems we hesitate to put her through too much crap. At the same time, if there is a way to buy her some more time, without putting her through too much, we would do it.
If she was a younger dog (even just 3 or 4 years younger) we wouldn't hesitate. We probably wouldn't do it ourselves, at the corresponding age. So. There it is.
I also had fun with doctors this week. My toe had gone "bad" again - infected and ingrown - and on Wednesday after work I decided to go in to urgent care. With my schedule, and Ken being so busy at work Urgent Care was my only option until next week. I figured I would go in, and like last time I went they would look at it, and say, yep, ingrown toenail, here are some anti-antibiotics. After I am on the anti-antibiotics for a week then they go in and fix the toe. INSTEAD, we got a really cool doctor, who said, "Let's do it now!"
On the one hand, I was happy, because now I won't have to go back, it's done with, and it will certainly be healed by vacation! On the other hand - I was planning to schedule my appointment so I would miss little, if any, work. But, oh well. It's done. So Thursday I was home, elevating my foot. I got a lot of guitar practice in, and played WoW, and did laundry, and finished my housework. I took long rest breaks between chores - I didn't have many left.
As far as other things in my life go, I have been meeting my goals. Health-wise I am really being careful about what I'm eating, and exercising for over an hour a day (except this Thursday, when it was FORBIDDEN) and drinking water. I have exceeded my goals for my Marseille tarot study (aka the Sword of Damocles) and will hopefully finish August 5.
I've been doing better at work - having projects helps.
Over all, it was an okay week, although with a few rocky places. I am still in a little pain from my toe (although it's MUCH better) and I still cry about Suzie sometimes.
My goals for the week ahead are simple. Work on my tarot cards (La maison, La Toille, and La Lune), exercise every day and drink lots of water. Eat well. Clean the house. Survive the heat of the weekend.
Write. Do well at guitar lessons, and practice at least once a day, ideally twice a day. Practice piano twice.
Clean the house, and enjoy next weekend when I will have THREE DAYS OFF! Although, thanks to Mr. Toe, I won't be quite as burned out as I would have been. So, there is a silver lining to that cloud.
Although I am still sad about Suzie, she's not in bad shape at the moment - or no worse shape than before we took her in and she was diagnosed with the "C" word. I have a call in to the veterinary oncology to find out about treatment options; if any.
At her age (13 or 14, which is about 108 in dog years for her size) and with her other medical problems we hesitate to put her through too much crap. At the same time, if there is a way to buy her some more time, without putting her through too much, we would do it.
If she was a younger dog (even just 3 or 4 years younger) we wouldn't hesitate. We probably wouldn't do it ourselves, at the corresponding age. So. There it is.
I also had fun with doctors this week. My toe had gone "bad" again - infected and ingrown - and on Wednesday after work I decided to go in to urgent care. With my schedule, and Ken being so busy at work Urgent Care was my only option until next week. I figured I would go in, and like last time I went they would look at it, and say, yep, ingrown toenail, here are some anti-antibiotics. After I am on the anti-antibiotics for a week then they go in and fix the toe. INSTEAD, we got a really cool doctor, who said, "Let's do it now!"
On the one hand, I was happy, because now I won't have to go back, it's done with, and it will certainly be healed by vacation! On the other hand - I was planning to schedule my appointment so I would miss little, if any, work. But, oh well. It's done. So Thursday I was home, elevating my foot. I got a lot of guitar practice in, and played WoW, and did laundry, and finished my housework. I took long rest breaks between chores - I didn't have many left.
As far as other things in my life go, I have been meeting my goals. Health-wise I am really being careful about what I'm eating, and exercising for over an hour a day (except this Thursday, when it was FORBIDDEN) and drinking water. I have exceeded my goals for my Marseille tarot study (aka the Sword of Damocles) and will hopefully finish August 5.
I've been doing better at work - having projects helps.
Over all, it was an okay week, although with a few rocky places. I am still in a little pain from my toe (although it's MUCH better) and I still cry about Suzie sometimes.
My goals for the week ahead are simple. Work on my tarot cards (La maison, La Toille, and La Lune), exercise every day and drink lots of water. Eat well. Clean the house. Survive the heat of the weekend.
Write. Do well at guitar lessons, and practice at least once a day, ideally twice a day. Practice piano twice.
Clean the house, and enjoy next weekend when I will have THREE DAYS OFF! Although, thanks to Mr. Toe, I won't be quite as burned out as I would have been. So, there is a silver lining to that cloud.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
24th Anniversary Today - Dying Pets
T.S. and I have been married 24 years today.
Although I got my Strat, this has not been a good anniversary. Or a good week, particularly.
My dog Suzie probably has cancer. We found out yesterday. I am hoping it's just an abcessed tooth - but they think it's cancer. I had always hoped she would die in her sleep someday. That we wouldn't be faced with the decisions coming soon.
Because, there has to be a line in the sand when an animal is terminally ill. When is it time?
With previous pets who have been ill we have changedthe line. The dog we had for fourteen years who was a HELL dog, we put to sleep before we really needed to. He wasn't in pain, but we had to take him to the vet every few months to get tumors removed. Finally we decided it was time.
Mischa, our cat with kidney failure, our line was when he couldn't control his bowels anymore. Not because he was messing up our house, but because it made him miserable. And, he didn't feel good more than he felt good. We gave him IV's at home, fed him special food, but as long as he felt good more days than not, it was worth it to have time for us to say goodbye.
Our other animals were more immediate. Tasha, Bonzai, and Tor were all so ill they were euthanized during the vet visit. All of them had things that we were trying to cure, but ended up going bad. Our other cats were probably eaten by coyotes, all but Squirt, who I still think was stolen. Pip the bird got eaten by Bonzai. (My fault. I still feel horrible about that and it's been over 10 years ago.)
Our little animals all died of old age, Cheerio, Spot, Waco, Spike, Opie.
Now, it's Suzie's turn. We got her from the pound. She was four years old. She is a Rottweiler, German Shephard Dog mix. I had reservations, but Ken had fallen in love with her. Finally, it was her last day before the Big Sleep. We took her. She turned out to be one of the best dogs we've ever had. She's 14 now, 108 in human years for a dog her size.
My line in the sand - when the good days out number the bad. Already before this cancer thing we have been talking about her eventual demise. Her hind legs are a little shakey. Yes, she can get up and down fine, but some days it takes her a long time. Her eyes shine, and sometimes she still bounces up and down on her front feet. Some days she still prances the way she did the first time we took her out of her cage at the pound. But mostly, she sleeps, or lays on the cool floor. Nemo, our other dog, checks on her once in awhile. He no longer comes to get her when there's something going on outside. She's still the boss, but he's taking over some of her patrolling jobs.
We will still have Nemo, Kiel, Tinkerbell, Turdie and Ernie, and the fish of course. And Suzie will be around for awhile. But it's time to start saying my goodbyes.
Although I got my Strat, this has not been a good anniversary. Or a good week, particularly.
My dog Suzie probably has cancer. We found out yesterday. I am hoping it's just an abcessed tooth - but they think it's cancer. I had always hoped she would die in her sleep someday. That we wouldn't be faced with the decisions coming soon.
Because, there has to be a line in the sand when an animal is terminally ill. When is it time?
With previous pets who have been ill we have changedthe line. The dog we had for fourteen years who was a HELL dog, we put to sleep before we really needed to. He wasn't in pain, but we had to take him to the vet every few months to get tumors removed. Finally we decided it was time.
Mischa, our cat with kidney failure, our line was when he couldn't control his bowels anymore. Not because he was messing up our house, but because it made him miserable. And, he didn't feel good more than he felt good. We gave him IV's at home, fed him special food, but as long as he felt good more days than not, it was worth it to have time for us to say goodbye.
Our other animals were more immediate. Tasha, Bonzai, and Tor were all so ill they were euthanized during the vet visit. All of them had things that we were trying to cure, but ended up going bad. Our other cats were probably eaten by coyotes, all but Squirt, who I still think was stolen. Pip the bird got eaten by Bonzai. (My fault. I still feel horrible about that and it's been over 10 years ago.)
Our little animals all died of old age, Cheerio, Spot, Waco, Spike, Opie.
Now, it's Suzie's turn. We got her from the pound. She was four years old. She is a Rottweiler, German Shephard Dog mix. I had reservations, but Ken had fallen in love with her. Finally, it was her last day before the Big Sleep. We took her. She turned out to be one of the best dogs we've ever had. She's 14 now, 108 in human years for a dog her size.
My line in the sand - when the good days out number the bad. Already before this cancer thing we have been talking about her eventual demise. Her hind legs are a little shakey. Yes, she can get up and down fine, but some days it takes her a long time. Her eyes shine, and sometimes she still bounces up and down on her front feet. Some days she still prances the way she did the first time we took her out of her cage at the pound. But mostly, she sleeps, or lays on the cool floor. Nemo, our other dog, checks on her once in awhile. He no longer comes to get her when there's something going on outside. She's still the boss, but he's taking over some of her patrolling jobs.
We will still have Nemo, Kiel, Tinkerbell, Turdie and Ernie, and the fish of course. And Suzie will be around for awhile. But it's time to start saying my goodbyes.
Friday, July 07, 2006
After the Holiday
A very busy week.
We both had Tuesday July 4th off, and it sounded like a war zone around here - minus heavy artillery. Nemo the dog was so spooked he wouldn't even go outside. We had to take him out, and stay with him the entire time, and even then it was a nervous giant dog. I don't like them, but I think next year we will be getting some doggie drugs.
I did all the usuals. Exercised, ate well, drank water, blah blah blah. Actually, it's starting to pay off - and I am very happy about that.
Didn't practice as much as I would have liked, I am having a difficult time with this lesson - it's a little more difficult fingering, and I have been tired at night and not as productive. I've even gotten up earlier so I have time to practice in the morning, and been defeated by circumstance. I keep plugging along, and even if I can't play it well this lesson, I will play it.
I have been thinking a lot about perception, because of something that happened at work. I got a complaint that I was rude, and nasty, and unpleasant. Basically. We are in such a vulnerable position at that desk, people hear everything we say, and we forget they listen. Not sure if it really WAS me being rude - but it was a good reminder to watch it. Sometimes people think we are talking about them, and we are not.
My Goals - Pre-vacation
Finish my Marseille Tarot studies.
If I do three cards a week, I will be finished before vacation.
Loose 6 pounds.
My Goals - this week
Three Tarot cards
Practice guitar every day.
Practice piano 2 times
Wash sweater.
Play WoW twice
Play Sims2 at least once
Write every day
Get 3 things for our trip
Weekly Gift
This week wasn't our anniversary, but I got my anniversary gift, my STRATOCASTER!
Quote of the day
"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
Bertrand Russell
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