Saturday, April 27, 2013

Lucky Socks & Lucky Dog

Today I took the train down to see my parents.  It's only about an hour and twenty minute drive, but taking the train takes some of the stress of driving off of me.  I hate driving.  I told my dad I'd go to Seminole Hard Rock Casino with him.  We only spend like $20 each.  He can make his last an hour.  Mine lasts about 5 minutes.  We only play the slot machines, well because that's all I can play.  I don't know how to play any of the card games and I'm sure I don't have the money for them anyway.  My mom came with us this time.  She won $16, me and my dad...zilch!  I wore some lucky socks too for the first time today which apparently didn't work.  I told my mom I was going to burn them when I got home.



On the way back to their house we saw a lucky dog though.  This Golden Retriever had a big ole head on him/her.  He/she sure was enjoying the convertible.  It was a beautiful day outside.
 
 
 
I got two days behind on my dog toys.  So tomorrow I will finish braiding my last two piles that I've already cut, then I will cut the other 9 yards of material I have and will get those braided over the next week. 
 
 
I called my insurance company on my mammogram too because that's been irritating me that I have to pay for it.  I actually don't have to pay for it at long as it is a mammogram only (which includes diagnostic) and does not include an ultrasound (which it doesn't).  I found out the reason why I had to pay at the one place is because they are actually a hospital outpatient facility even though they are in a separate building.  They are trying to get a separate federal tax id number so they will not be affiliated with the hospital because they have lost a lot of patients because of this.  Insurance companies always charge, if not more, because of this.  I am going to an independent imaging facility.  Now I'm just waiting for them to call and confirm my appointment on Monday and also confirm that I will not owe anything.  If they tell me I do, I will cancel yet again.  But according to my insurance company I should not have to pay.  You know how that goes though.  I can call there 5 times and get a different answer every time.  I don't know which one I hate more lately, insurance companies or doctors. 
 
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Pooches and Plants

My plant seems to be hanging in there. It's creeping up the trellis pretty good and doesn't show signs of dying yet. That's always a good thing in my yard.



This was Lucas at my work one day this week.  I only took him twice this week.  He's been trying to get over a bout of diarrhea for the last two weeks so I wanted him to rest at home some.  I think this medicine he's on is messing with his system.  Poor guy.
 
 
 
This is Holly keeping me company in the bathroom.  One is never alone in this house with either a dog or cat that will accompany you into the bathroom.





We're starting to get back into the afternoon thunderstorms I believe which means summer is just about here, although it already feels like it to me.  I tried to beat this one home to let the dogs outside before the sky broke loose, but I didn't make it.  Thankfully hubby got home before me and let them out before it started.
 
 
 
I'm actually starting on my dog toys again.  I braided one stack (11 toys) today.  I figured if I do a stack a day and try to stick to it, I could get these things done and out of here hopefully in 2 weeks.  Next Saturday I plan on going down to see my parents so that doesn't count those 2 days as I'll be behind in house stuff like laundry and cleaning.  Plus I still have to cut 9 more yards of material which usually takes me a couple of hours.  I know 11 toys doesn't sound like a lot, and it isn't.  I can tell you that my back feels it though just from doing those.  I'm determined to get them done.  I've put them off too long and those dogs need them.
 
 
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend.  Don't work too hard if you can help it.  Enjoy!
 
 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Plant, Skin and Rain

I feel like I almost accomplished something today.  My hubby wanted to go to Harbor Freight this morning so we made the trek down south, and I went to the Dollar Tree and he went to his store.  I've been trying to find little things to put together another Mother's Day basket for my our moms and sisters.  Last year it was a garden themed basket.  This year it is just miscellaneous stuff and not as much this year.  I found 2 little things at the Dollar Tree.  Then on the way home, one of the cities were having a community yard sale.  Well I found 3 more things there, and also 2 presents to stash for Christmas.  So the Mother's Day gifts are completed.


My mom bought me this plant and I bought a trellis for it last weekend.  It really is starting to take off some.  I just hope it lives long enough to cover the trellis because it looks like it would be really pretty if it did.



Last weekend I found this snakeskin in our yard.  Thankfully no snake.  Although I did see the ass who lives behind me throwing sticks and other various items at a snake a couple days prior to get it out of his yard and into ours.  Like I'm sure he doesn't mind if my dogs step on it or anything.  I think next time I see him I'll tell him I've seen 2 very large snakes in his yard. That'll keep him paranoid for awhile.  This is my hubby holding the snakeskin.  The skin had the mouth and eyes even.  It was real creepy. 
 
 
 
It's been raining on and off since about noon one this afternoon.  I'm so happy because our yard really needs some water, and so do my few other living green things outside. 





I have to say thank you to The Quilting Doberman for giving me the extra push.  I called my friends husband (my friend who passed away in December) to see how he was doing.  I've thought about him and the boys, their 2 Beagles, for quite some time and never really knew what to say.  I was so relieved to hear his voice.  He sounded good.  He said I was the first to call, which I was pretty shocked.  He said he's doing okay, learning new stuff every day, on stuff he hasn't had to do around the house plus stuff he's had to deal with on the death of Barbara, like getting names changed on the phone and other such things.  I know when I used to call up there her voice was always on the machine and I was just waiting for it to pick up when I called.  He said when he called to change the name on the phone account they signed him up for something else.  Well when they did this he lost her message as this was one that was set up through the phone company.  He was very upset as he used to call it just to hear her voice.  I could understand.  I can still hear it in my head.  But soon I know it will fade, and I feel horrible for her husband.  He wanted to hang on to it.  I don't blame him.
He also told me he got rid of the boys, the Beagles, Bruiser and Buddy.  I think I wanted to die myself when he said that.  I was hoping he didn't turn them into a shelter.  He told me he called the breeder where they got them from and told them his situation.  They had no problem taking them both in, and they told him that they would keep them and he could come visit them whenever he wanted.  He told me that Barbara even discussed it with him before she passed.  She suggested maybe that he might find another home for them.  He works long days and doesn't really have the time for them like Barbara did.  I know as long as they are together, they are okay, and Barbara is happy.  I hope her husband continues to push forward and make it through each day.  I know he misses her.  I told him how much I missed her too.  I told him I won't wait so long to call next time either. 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Overflow!

Well let's see.  Got up, took a shower to go out and get a little shopping done.  Went into my other bathroom and seen the toilet water looked high or low.  Actually I couldn't tell because I didn't have my glasses on and I feel like I'm becoming so darn blind lately.  So I flushed the toilet.  Toilet overflow!  Instead of turning it off, I yelled for the hubby.  By that time it stopped overflowing.  Luckily it was clear water, if you know what I mean.  Well as clear for a toilet as can be.

Long story short, after several attempts my hubby finally called the plumber.  Turns out we need the septic tank pumped.  Almost $900 later I decided to go do my shopping before they came out because I was already stressed, and I had to go to the bathroom. :)  So I left hubby to do the dirty duty.

It's so funny because whenever I have plans to go out and get some stuff I've been needing, not nothing expensive or anything, something like the septic tank expense comes up and I usually end up putting my shopping excursion off.  Well I said pfffttt!  I went and spent my $50 on my stuff I needed.  It actually felt good too!  I always put myself last, but I think I'm going to start changing that a little. 

Now I'm sitting here waiting for this septic pump truck to come, after they should have been here 2 hours ago, so I can start some laundry and try and wash the floor once again to clean up Lucas' leaky faucet.  Everything is delayed now and the later it gets the more interest I'm going to lose into doing anything around this house today.  Guess I can go finish cutting the other 9 yards of material I have for dog toys.  I actually did finally cut the first 9 yards about 2 weeks ago and it's still sitting on the table. 

Enjoy your day!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Lonely Day

Today was the first day I didn't take Lucas to work with me in about 3 weeks.  I had something to do after work and unfortunately he wouldn't be welcome where I was going.  It was quite unusual without him there after him being there every day.  He's nice company, except for the barking when someone knocks on my door.  I even decided to just block him in my office so when I open the door he can see who it is so I don't have to hold his collar (so he doesn't run out the door), but sometimes he'll bark at the person.  The person is usually a deliver person.  Don't know what it is with them delivery people, he just likes to bark at them. 

Tuesday we had another follow-up with the neurologist with Lucas.  We go back on the 23rd and she will start him on Prednisone.  She wanted to wait until then as I just started Lucas on an incontinence medicine to help with his leaky faucet issue.  Both doctors are still not sure if it is associated with his retained testicle (testosterone) that was removed, or with his age.  If it has to do with testosterone it might go away in a couple of months.  Of course if it's with age if probably won't go away and he'll need to stay on the medicine then.  We'll keep our fingers crossed for the testosterone.  I'm hoping he will learn how to play right with other dogs soon too instead of pissing them off.  My little tough guy he is.

Thursday Lucas had his staples removed.  The vet said everything looked good.  There's one spot that's a little funky looking but because it's in a crease of his belly when he lays down.  It seems to be taking longer to heal right.  Other than that it looks good to me. 

I was supposed to get a mammogram done next week.  They wanted me to do a 6 month mammogram because of my needle biopsy last year.  With my insurance mammograms are free so I didn't have a problem with that.  Well they confirmed my appointment today and told me I had a $300 copay.  I told them my insurance covers it.  They said that I was getting a "diagnostic mammogram" not a "routine mammogram" and that makes the difference.  So basically now I'm screwed because every mammogram I supposedly have from now on will be a diagnostic mammogram because of the biopsy, even though everything came back normal.  I was so peeved I just canceled the appointment.  I will wait until I go to my primary doctor and see if there is any way around that otherwise I will not be going to get one done unless I feel some kind of pain or something.  If I would have known this last year before I had the biopsy done, I wouldn't have had it done.  I had a feeling it was nothing and even the doctor said he thought it would be benign but he wanted to do it to make sure because of my moms history.  I'm so done with doctors.  Unfortunately I have an ENT appointment in 2 weeks for my acid reflux. 

I think about my friend Barbara who passed away last December just about every day.  I've been missing her a lot lately. 

Well enjoy your weekend everyone, wherever you are!  Here's a few pictures to leave you...


Lucas watching me eat breakfast at work.
 
 
Lucas bored at my work.
 
 
Lucas getting loving from Grandpa on Easter.
 
 
Besides our bedroom, this is the only other piece of carpet
in our house.  Holly loves sitting on it.