News. Thanks. Thoughts. And still no news.

Good Afternoon;
I have had the TV on in the background all day long- On the Animal channel-
They have had a few shows about the Animal Cops.
I have been asked *how* I can watch- which I really don't- But when I am in the room, I do look at the abuse that these animals have suffered at our hands.
This, and children being abused, have to be the worst of any imaginable sins...

What occurs to me is that, sad and revolting as these animals are to see, and to know that it happens; it is FAR WORSE that basically the same thing happens to our children.

They are as defenseless as these animals; fully dependent on others to care for them and to love them; and not to harm them.

I believe America needs those shows- about her own children. (And more, about our unsung American heroes that try to change this, bit by tiny bit).

Keep our dollars on American soil.
Feed our babies. Care for them always.

Do not fall for the sadness on your screen, or in your magazines that show children starving, dying in other countries. Yes, it is sad, and it is tragic- So are your neighbors.
We absolutely need to care for our own FIRST.

Walk down your block, around the corner...

Listen closely to what you hear-
Why is that child crying? Is it the same from day to day? Call your local police/sheriff departments, or contact your county social services...
DO something to help! (You will never forgive yourself if/when something ungodly happens.
And yes, do the same for the animal that you see/hear being mistreated, please.

OK. Rant done.

Let's see...
Along with my camera (which passed away several weeks ago), my desktop also seems to have perished... Unless Mr. Greg wishes to do an autopsy on the damn thing, I will probably have to have a service for it as I bury it in the backyard.
Perhaps I should bury the camera and the HP together?   hehehe

Thank God for my laptop! Took a while to fire up, but is doing well enough for me. Crap, a TV, a desktop, or a huge enough laptop to cover my many pictures, and a new camera too.
What the heck is going on? (I am waiting for light bulbs to flicker as I pass by). hehehe

No news on the surgery front.  Casey is at the doctors office as I type, and will be coming out here shortly after. I hope he can help. (Rumor has it that he HAS been a great influence to the Contract health dept, AND with contacting the surgeon; each doctor agreeing that to make this wait 'til October is still playing that damnable roulette game)...
Happy that we have doctors that can and will fight for their patients.

I received my new brace yesterday. Initially I loved it.
Today I do not share that sentiment.
The brace is too short to help my lower back, no matter how it is adjusted. I need a longer one. My back, neck to coccyx, measures 25", the brace barely covers 17" of that.
Not even close.

For my middle back and my upper back it is a great fit and to have it nice and snug. But I had to take it off to sleep too. Not a good thing because then I want to stretch out and roll, (something that must be done very carefully)- My brace is to maintain that while I sleep... This one surely doesn't.

The PM office called me right back yesterday morning, emphasizing that a red 'reaction' can occur after any shots, or cement procedure. She wanted me to have it checked, close up, before making an appointment to come in.
Casey checked it while I was getting the new brace. No streaks of any red, so probably not an infection. Casey said it might be a reaction to having my old brace so ill~fitting, and rubbing on an area where I have a bad disk, or maybe a bone spur...
Time will tell. I do not have a fever so am guessing it is nothing to worry about.
I will have Casey recheck it again today when she gets here.

I'd better close. I had cut two fingers open on Sunday morning helping Jim work on the lawnmower deck. They need to be soaked good, so I shall try to get my dishes done. Adding a bit of bleach because they have been undone for a few days. The hot water will pull out any infection there, and the bleach will ensure my fingers are not infected.
All this possible infection!!! Ick! Makes me want to go take a bottle of antibiotics. hehehe
But I do heal fast enough no matter what, so all will be well.

As I hope it is with all of you.

XOXO
Me

Kelli and Tim's. Demolished, Part One

   Our weather today.  Mostly...
It is a good day for sewing.



My apologies-
It has taken me over 2 hours just to upload a few pictures to Flickr.
Greg will probably kill me, but I tried to fix my dang computersaurus, and I am afraid I have only made it worse....

Sorry Kelli... As you know, I took over 200 pictures yesterday. I have only even gotten through resizing a few of them at this point.
So... For now, these 2 for you-







Yes those were both taken with Kelli standing in the same spot!

XOXO
Me



PS to Kelli:
I found your Christmas Tree stand...



hehehe

Zoom Zoom Zoom...

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Good Morning All;
Know that there is something abominably wrong with my cursor/key/board...
Seemingly, it has a mind of its own, and scrolls by itself, zooming all over. Kinda funny.
Would be funnier if, (oh never mind)). hehehe
My new 'link' posted, so I shall try to post this also.

As many of you have figured out, or know, Casey has been in Southern California for the past week.  Greg is also there, attending a computer genius' conference. He has gotten his promotion. (Say "YAY")!
When his convention came up, and given the fact that Casey has always wanted to go to California, Greg knew there would be no leaving her behind. Casey is staying with Sweet Pea; Greg stays with his work buddies at the hotel and convention center

Since they are gone I have one ear always tuned to the news, and on high alert for the word "earthquake".
That alert went off yesterday afternoon while I was reading National Public Radio.
Seems as though Utah, Idaho and Wyoming had an EQ. 
My friend Polly (think chokecherry jelly), lives in Wyoming.
I dashed a note off to her. They are well.

Gosh, even my fingers aren't cooperating today.  Grrr...
The 'backspace' key is a great friend to have! hehehe

As the 'kids' should be back this evening, I shall just catch you up on the events of the past week or so, (at least weatherwise).

We got between 4" and 6" of new snow late last week...
It covered everything!!!


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Yes, the chives have recovered- ........     And are almost ready to cut and dry!

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I wish this one would have turned out better- It really looked like a painting!
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A row of tulips, protected a bit by the bushes above them.

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The rest will open shortly!
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The hyacinths also recovered just beautifully!
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Then there was the little blossoms- this one of pears...
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Time will tell, but I believe they too will be fine. They weren't quite open yet, so were safe.
Gritters deer will be darn disappointed if they don't have pears. (So will Sue for that matter)! hehehe 
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My pussywillows...
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And of course my Punk!
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Lovin' every minute of it!
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And just an FYI for y'all who mistakenly believe it is always cold and snowy here near Green Bay, the last two days, (Wednesday and Thursday) topped out around 80°
Even warmer than Southern California!


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Not sure if the clicky~things on the maps will work for you or not...
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I'd better close and get on with my day.
First to shower and check out my toe...

Then to grab the camera and get outside!

Have a Friday!

XOXO
Me

Closed

Good Morning Everyone;
I was online earlier. commenting back at you all... Then the power went out, and all hell broke loose.

I believe I have everything reset... Hopefully. But it seems to have killed my computersaurus too. Probably the modem. Am using my laptop.
Obviously the phone lines are working, or I wouldn't be typing...


"Allison" is still raging. The warnings were upgraded yesterday afternoon to that of "BLIZZARD".
And, as the TV tells me, everything is closed-  Schools, including college campuses, some businesses, even the mall is not opening until one this afternoon. (Not sure if that makes sense because the blizzard warning goes through midnight tonight). The State has closed also- No gov't employees to report to work unless they are "emergency"

I am assuming that the garbage trucks won't be running.  Or my dumpster will  just have to keep til next week.

William, (my dear sweet William, my wonderful son in law William),  emailed me yesterday after reading my post about the shovels. hehehe 
From Prattville, Alabama he wrote, "About those shovels, it has been nasty down here also. It only got up to 61 F, and it has been raining all day.
Brrrrrr its cold! I am ready for the summer to get here."

Sorry to say if he'd been in front of me, even more hell would have broken loose. hehehe
I told him to get their backsides up here and start shoveling.
Didn't work. But he did send an invite to Prattville for the duration of Winter, with the proviso that we not miss the "cold" too much.
(It would be great to take him up on that, no)? And I would promise to never miss the cold.
Here is what the forecast claims,

"...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

* SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES WITH NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS...WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL MID-MORNING...THEN DIMINISH.

* 12 TO 16 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. 
We already have over 10" on the ground, so will count on the 14"

* THE COMBINATION OF SNOW...WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH TO NEAR
50 MPH...AND NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL LEAD TO BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS AT TIMES AND MAKE THIS A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM."

I don't think I have all my pictures posted to Flickr or I would put them here for you. Now they will have to wait until I can get them transferred to the laptop, or get the old computersaurus fixed again. (Sorry Greg).

I will add pictures to the comments below as I get to them throughout the day.

If the power goes out for any long term, I shall be writing Christmas cards and letters, in the quiet, from the warmth of my waterbed.

Ah well.  Nothing like coming into Winter gradually...

Be safe. This blizzard isn't only falling on my head.
Be warm. Layers, Baby.
And stay home. Temps will be in the low single digits tonight, with windchills to 30 below.

Love to all.  Pics as I get them...
I shall get back to my comments now

XOXO
me

Hindsight ;-)

Sunset 11/27/09

Good Morning Everyone!
Time for a "cuppa"! hehehe

I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We sure did.
That is, if you don't count the fact that dinner was supposed to be at 2PM- But that interfered with the Packer Game so no way for that time.
I rescheduled for 3- No wait, I wasn't ready at 3...
Also, don't count the burnt (adds flavor, right?) stuffing, the concrete mashed potatoes that I made after the first 'real' potatoes smelled funny to me. Sorry Greg, I am not used to making my taters out of a box, being in a hurry, and misreading the directions all at once.
I should have taken Greg up on his offers when he asked 1., If I needed any help; and 2., If I wanted him to make those taters.

While doing 'stuff', there came a ruckus from the living room...
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Just moments before there was sweet music coming from that old Hamilton piano...







Bring it on "Chopped Liver"
(Oh wait, that's Kelli's nickname for Greg)...



That's either an orb, or a target, on her backside...





After she was done beating Greg up they smooched and hugged. hehehe

Then we ate "yummo" turkey, potatoes and gravy, and stuffing too!
Mmmmmmmmm.......

Greg had doctored the concrete taters- And I still poured a wealth of gravy over mine. He even had 2nds-
(Wonder if he is well, or if those taters have since solidified in his stomach)?

I spent a ton of money yesterday!
Imagine that, me $pending money on Black Friday?!
But I just HAD TO!
AND, I spent it in record time too!  And we were home by about 9:30.

See, Sputty has been sneezing (gross), and wheezing, (scary). I called Dr. Spires on Wednesday and made that appointment...

Kelli stopped by really early yesterday- At one point she had my cat carrier, but one of her cats sorta destroyed it.  She has bought a new one; and had dropped it off about 5:30. (Not sure, but it was still dark, and Punk was still sleeping).




Sputnik in the carrier...

He did not mind being in there at all. Matter of fact since it is still here, he has slept in it twice already!



Not sure if he minded Doc Spires though...



Even after he was given that treat- (which of course he didn't eat because he cannot even smell it). But he kept an eye on the rear door to the room...
Waiting to make his escape.




After the "temp" was taken... hehehe

No fever- But an upper respiratory infection...
AND he has Rhinotracheitis.
This is the medical term for herpes. wth?
From "cat world"
"Most cats are infected with rhinotracheitis (feline herpes virus 1).  Estimates vary from 70% to 95% of cats being chronically infected but it is likely that it is closer to 90% than to 70%.  Cats are usually infected when they are young but because the virus is a herpesvirus it can live in the body long term and surface at times of stress or immune compromise."

Now the dang cat has pills too. (And oh what a wrestling match I had last night getting that pill down his throat).





He has the Clavamox pills for the respiratory infection, (and some homeopathic goo for the other).


I'd better close for now...  Maybe nap before Kelli gets here to run the dogs for a bit. (Been up since 11:30).

Oh but I wasn't done...
On Thanksgiving, my desktop computer took a doo~doo and died. Dr. Greg took it all apart, and in moments had it dx'ed- A few moments later, after hooking up my laptop, he also had the part ordered for it.
Not sure how long it will take, given that it is formally holiday season now, what with shipping and all. In the meantime, know that my pictures are wacky... 


Again, I hope your Thanksgiving was grand! I look forward to reading all of your stories and such.

...And full steam ahead to Christmas! My tree will be set up soon.
I missed out on that last year, so I can set it up really early this year, right?


Love to all.

XOXO
Me

PS
Am I the only one who thinks that Martha Stewart needs a good swift kick in the @ss?
What a witch she is! CLICK

I Lived Through It...

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A little bit of fog...
...over the marsh by I-43






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Good Morning All;
I have been having a few problems tonight with my danged computersaurus.   
Bear with me here... At least my email has been working.

I had my MRI Friday morning...
I woke about 1AM after about 3 hours (+/-) of sleep. I decided to stay up, so there would be a good possibility that I might sleep a bit (or rest?)  during my stay in that noisy MRI machine.
Casey had spent the night on Thursday; admittedly so I could wake her up to bring me.
I had planned on taking a diazepam before I went in (no driving with that).

7:30 found us at St. Marys.
It was not as bad as I had been led to believe.
Not that I had a good time... The worst of it was having to lie on a hard plastic bed, ON MY BACK. 
Not good. Deep breathing helped. (Lamaze by any other name)... hehehe

It did take over an hour and a half, but that passed by quickly enough.  I do not have the results of course, but every little 'thing' brings me closer to relief.
Next up? Tuesday I receive those shots in my back.

I had NO anxiety attack either. 
It has been brought to my attention that panic/anxiety attacks all follow one order of events. ie, hyperventilating. That if a patient is not hyperventilating, he/she does not have anxiety disorder.
Such is not the case. And could not be further from the truth.
If you missed my link this morning to ANXIETY, please click here.
(Conversely, not all hyperventilation is a sign of anxiety either).

Physical symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.

Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:

Pounding heart Sweating Stomach upset or dizziness Frequent urination or diarrhea Shortness of breath

Tremors and twitches Muscle tension Headaches Fatigue Insomnia

Hyperventilation is not even on the list. Shortness of breath is. "SOB" is defined as follows... "Dyspnea, or shortness of breath (SOB) is a debilitating symptom that is the experience of unpleasant or uncomfortable respiratory sensations.
It is a common symptom of numerous medical disorders, particularly those involving the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; dyspnea on exertion is the most common presenting complaint for people with respiratory impairment.

So much for higher intelligence/ignorance.

The new drug that I am taking FOR pain, honestly IS a royal pain, with its side effects. (I swear it not only gives me A.D.D., but renders my fingers very uncooperative with my keyboard).
Knowing how bad my back hurt before I took it too, I will put up and shut up (for now).  Am hoping those shots may enable me to be off of everything then?

Speaking of my keyboard... (Was too).
One of the little height adjusters broke off yesterday. To simply adjust the other side did not work, as it still tipped and rattled with each keystroke. So I "fixed" it right. I just broke the right side to match the left. (Whatever works, right)? hehehe
 

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Another shot of the fog.
Over Duck Creek.

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Casey has been coming out almost every day- And doing for me little things that are hard for me.

She came out Thursday, bringing a new bone for Miss Punk...

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Punk has not had a new bone in a while, and was appropriately grateful.

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"ARF!"
Which we ALL know means, "Thank You Casey!"

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As I was mowing lawn... "Bravo Me!"  ~I did it all in one afternoon! Though I might have had one little accident; (driving right into a dang apple tree).

In a split second, either to keep me humble, (or maybe just to add insult to injury); the tree dropped a nice hard Macintosh apple on my head!
So much for my pride...

But that sassy tree did break the light cover panel off, from the front of the Cub Cadet.
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Casey fixed it for me!

"ARF?" (or better, "Thank You Casey!")!!!
hehehe

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Punk is always outside when I mow the lawns.  She always lays in the garage... Recently though she has decided that it is much more comfy inside the car.
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hehehe

...Or maybe she just wants to go for a ride?!

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Casey and I sorted out a few things from the garage... She found a few really decent pairs of pants that we had gotten on one of our shopping trips to resale stores around town.

Unloading a few bags, she also found a new Sponge~Bob for Miss Punk...
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Punk with her concerned look...
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But finding those pants was perfect timing for Casey's 1st day of school too!

I giggled as she'd packed up her car...

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Yes, she is all ready!

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And who would have thought this, even a year ago, given what she was dealing with being so sick?

When I think of all the stuff she had taken for so long, it amazes me that she still is here!
Things that for me would have knocked anyone over in a heartbeat.  the body is amazing though, and even though she took a lot of prescriptions, her body dealt with it well.
She is almost off everything- Another amazing feat.
That is not to say that she does not have pain.
She is a real trooper.
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The White House on Friday dismissed as pointless the furor over President Barack Obama's plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the nation's students.

"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school," presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. "I think both political parties agree that the dropout rate is something that threatens our long-term economic success."

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Why?  So that they can spew more lies? More fear for the uninformed who drag behind them, nodding like little puppets?

But I say go ahead anyway. Like Pa used to say, "Those of you who think you know everything must be very annoying to those who do..." hehehe
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I believe I told you all that I had made some Italian Spaghetti the other day.

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Casey didn't want linguine or spaghetti in it, and chose the rigatoni instead.

She was hysterical at the picture on the box...
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Now who puts such a little dab of sauce on their pasta?
Not us, that's for sure.

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I'd better close for this morning- Have much to do today. Since the diazepam has surely worn off by now, I need to get to the store and get food etc for our Labor Day Picnic on Monday.
If you live near enough please come!

Have a "wunnaful" weekend!

XOXO
Me

PS
I'd better contend to my computersaurus too.

Am thinking this guy has the right idea, don't you agree?

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Stolen from an email..
hehehe

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How "Wise"...

Good Morning ALL!

Since the last time I have written, I have been busy. I have been frustrated. I have been happy. Sad. And everything inbetween too...

Guess that all means that I have been ALIVE!

Having been able to get online the other morning for a very short while, I did visit a few pages, insulted a few people, and just generally made the rounds...

Then came the agony of NOT being able to get back online, and when I did, I could not browse. Finally, after defragging yet again, and doing the cookie thing and all else, I gave in and made a call to Yahoo. The 1st guy, unable to do anything more for me than I had already done, finally put me through to a "level two" person. (And I sat on hold until I swore that my arm would fall off).

Finally, a "live" person picks up, and after the first sentence, we get disconnected... And I have this unbelievably sad dial tone in my ear.

She called me back momentarily... And I was on the line with her for 2+ hours. In the end, she said that it probably was something with my computer. I asked if that was the issue then why was Caseys laptop ALSO nonresponsive and unable to get online? So we went through it with her laptop too...

I do finally get online and each page takes a minimum of 10 minutes to load... I said heck with it; wondering if anyone has missed me, or if anyone has shared their own wisdoms and thoughts... I felt as though I was missing something major in my life... Even knowing it is a Holiday time and that some of you are not even around to be online...

But alls well that ends well. I am here. I am typing, and I need a bit of Sudafed. (Just be happy I am not writing phonetically this morning)! hehehe

A few residual problems here with respect to that day. My bookmarks do not work; nor can I even sign in to Flickr to upload a few photos for you. It will not even open that page for me to sign in with... Oh well. "TIME" will also cure that I am sure.

...And then you will be bombarded with pictures!!!

Sunday brought Roberta and Gabriel over; along with her friend Jessica... Roberta planted the last two trees I had saved. One for Gabriel. One for Lawrence too. Valeries and Isaiahs are on either side of the main driveway, both 8' maples that will grow strong... Just like themselves.

When Berta was done with those trees, everything seemed to happen at once...

Her mechanic showed up to (finally) fix her car and to replace the timing belt. (More on his ineptitude later)...

Kelli and Tim showed up to finish the roofing over the back entrance, bringing along Mr. Miller for Punkie to play with...

Casey and Derek came out, after stopping at Fleet Farm to pick up some extra supplies for us.

(It is these kinds of days that my yard begins to look like a Used Car Lot too)!

Roberta and I removed the grasses from by the sandbox so Master Gabriel could play without being tickled by the timothy stalks... I gave her my pitchfork so she might dig a few weeds out of the garden too. Master Gabriel, tiring of the sandbox, decided it was time to walk to the woods... And off he went...

Suddenly Roberta is saying for me to watch Gabriel for a minute while she sprints toward the house...

Why? She had put the pitchfork through her big toe.

Wrong thing to tell me about Master Gabriel, and I passed the buck off onto Jessica, (who had to make tracks to collect him, now 3/4's of the way to the woods by himself), and I went inside with Berta.

She would need a tetanus shot within the next 24 hours. And I cleaned it the best I could with the things I had here, mainly soap and water. (Roberta a bit hysterical while it was all happening too)... She did go in for her shot that evening, and they sent her home AFTER giving her IV antibiotics AND leaving the IV in her hand so she could return last night for another dose... She has a goofy shoe to wear, and her hand is wrapped in the vet wrap to protect the IV.

("Dr. Mom" has proclaimed that she WILL live)...

As for me, I did go back in to the dentist on Friday. UGH. And it actually got very interesting after they had done the xray to find where my mind~numbing pain was coming from... It was an extra wisdom tooth, and they had to remove it.

(WHAT??? I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth out about 25~30 years ago already)!!!

He said "It happens", that it was a wisdom tooth because it had those smaller roots and all. (personally I am thinking that those smaller roots just mean that there's more room for infection). I swear when that drains it tastes like a septic tank might... Just awful! No antibiotics either. But no more pain, except slightly, leftover from the infection, and gradually passing. No more tooth rubbing against the next one and not being able to get a piece of floss in there either. *Kinda proud of myself for sitting there, albeit WITH CaseyAnne, and letting him remove that tooth without having to be knocked out too! Less than ten minutes start to finish.

And NOW, I would like to order a whole new set of teeth! I am thinking that if a person can have extra wisdom teeth, then why not extra new ones all the way around?

The girls were here again yesterday and we got a whole bunch more stuff marked for my sale... The shed is very quickly filling, and I am making 'dents' with the things in the house too.

I am sure that most of you have plans for a Fantastic Fourth! I have none, and so must live vicariously through your own tales! hehehe Please tell me what your own exciting plans will be? Berta has to work, so Gabriel will be here (with Casey babysitting)...

Be safe, try to hang onto all of those fingers when you are setting off the fireworks...

Oh, and DO behave!

XOXO
Anne

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