Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Gone to the dog(s)

Three of us spent 3+ hours clipping our black Newfoundland dog last Saturday.  Her coat is an incredibly thick cotton-y long one that mats at the drop of a hat.  The summer shedding of her undercoat is an especially big mess.  First we tranquilize her, so she will lay on the grooming table without trying to get down.  Then it is three pairs of clippers, including the mammoth Oster Clipmaster that sounds like a jet engine when I start it up.  But boy does it ever shear that coat off, as long as it is used on big flat areas, like her back and sides. Trimming around legs and butt and the underside of her chest and belly call for a smaller and more maneuverable set of clippers. At the end, we had a pile of stinky hair big enough to make another entire dog, and that's not counting all the hair sweat-glued to our bodies.  Once a year, thank god.

But the result is a very short coat; see for your self:


She is sulking because she feels naked and knows the other dogs will make fun of her.   But I guarantee she will not swelter in this 90 degree heat we currently are suffering through, and that's all that matters. (I do think she looks ridiculous.)

Father's day was a success, N liked his stuff, and they fit.  We all agreed that a steak dinner would be best, even though he has to cook it; but it takes only 10 or 15 minutes, so no great sacrifice to his "take it easy" day.

I started this post several days ago, so the date is from the initial writing and not dated today, the 20th.  And I don't know how to change it.  (No surprise there.)

Bumper sticker for the day:  "If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?"

Saturday, June 09, 2012

June 9th

Wednesday the 6th was our wedding anniversary, the (gulp) 42nd.  We had a nice dinner out and I got to wear the fancy stuff I otherwise never would.  And makeup.  And hair fixed.  So of course, looking my best (for now), I completely forgot to get any pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it, I looked awesome.  Really.

Number one son (there is only one, so of course he's number one) has taken all of next week off to help N. rebuild the back deck, torn out when we had sewer line problems that meant digging up the line behind the house.  It will be nice to have the whole deck again, as the narrow bit around the pool and by the stairs isn't big enough for the grill.  We wanted to use the decking made from recycled tires, but they cost $24! each!  So that's out the window.  I never realized that those decks they show on home improvement programs were 10s of thousands of dollars for even the simplest ones.  For that kind of money I'll get all new flooring in the house, thanks.

Daughter has gone to Kennywood (amusement park) today, I bet she comes home sunburned and hot, as it was near 90 today.  The deck makers gave up around 1 pm, the sun finally driving them into the house and the air conditioning.  I never ventured any further than the back yard, what with my pasty white skin's ease of sunburning. 

I did get my "port" removed on the first, and saw the surgeon for stitch removal on Thursday.  I'm all done with him until Feb. of next year; I see the oncologist on Tuesday of next week for that final checkup (for 6 months).  What will I do with all the extra time I won't have to spend in waiting rooms?  Guess that's why they call us "patients".

Here is one of the photos from our hawaiian cruise in March.  Better late than never.  My hair is no longer this virulent shade of orange, but a more normal looking auburn.  It all depends on the right package at the drug store.

Bumper sticker for the day:  "You probably don't recognize me without my cape."

Monday, June 04, 2012

Summertime and the living is easy...

Summertime is NOT a time for taking it easy. If you are like me, you have a list (in your head or written down) of chores that need to be done, like : Wash the siding with powerwasher. Get chimney checked. Paint the front and back doors,inside and out. Take mantle to be repaired and stained. Repair back deck and stain. Repair porch chairs and sofa, paint. Put a grab bar in the bathroom, (for those who are feeble (ahem). It makes me tired to read the entire list, but that was a fair representation. This weekend N and C rebuilt the porch stairs and built a storage space under the stairs. Power washing is next, I think. I had my "clavicle intravenous access port" ("port") removed last Friday. It was a "quick" procedure, in and out in a jiffy. But I think being knocked unconscious while they cut on me is traumatic any way you look at it. So I'm feeling a little under the weather. And the area around the incision itches fiercely because they put on a Sorba view(??) a bandage which is clear in the center, with stick-um on all four sides. The idea being that I could shower with it protecting the site. I had previous experience with these bandages, they are fine for about an hour. Then I start to scratch and scratch. I was home the first few hours and took off the dressing. I went to the drug store today and bought dressings just like that one, in sizes 4" square to 9" square, made to be removed after a shower. I have tape allergy on my records, but what can they do if they need to place a dressing? Just from those few hours I have a bad rash surrounding the incision, but hydrocortisone around it helps. That, or an ice pack.
 
So much for news on the continuing saga of breast cancer. There will be a celebratory do a little later when I am feeling more... robust. ANNND our anniversary is June 6 (Wednesday). 42nd. The horses are fine and so are the dogs and the cats, knock on wood. We had two days of 90+ weather, so untypical for May, it set records from 'way back. I can't imagine August, if it is that hot now.

 I wanted to do another photo course, but think I would poop out and it's a lot of $$ to just let go. Maybe later. I postpone a lot of things, I think.

Here is today's bumper sticker, "The good thing is I was right. The best thing is you were wrong."