Supine

I can't get up. There's a dog pinning me down. I got a lot done today but now I'm exhausted.

"Lying down is a perfectly good position to be in. I quite recommend it."

Weekend wrapup

My stepbrother got divorced and I was able to keep my SIL instead of him. I've always liked her so we're friends now. She had some stuff going on that we talked about last weekend when she came to our party. She asked if she could come spend the weekend which turned into just Friday night. We invited M for dinner too. 

The "grandparents" took Teka for the night so that she wouldn't have to deal with my SIL's dogs. I got this photo asking if she always sleeps with her toys--in her mouth. Um, no.

LOVES her new toy

I made proscuitto wrapped rosemary chicken with sweet potatoes and citrus green beans. It seemed that everyone enjoyed dinner. We hung out for while. M left and my SIL and I stayed up a couple more hours talking.

Dinner

In the morning, we got a late start but eventually took the dogs for a walk (it was too hot and she didn't understand how far "around the block" is in our neighborhood so I ended up carrying her little dog the last half.) She headed home and we headed out to our errands.

We got haircuts, went to Cabela's, stopped at Sprouts for some chips so we could go to Arriba's. At Arriba's, I found out that all the meat except the fish and shrimp are marinated in soy so I can't have the chicken which I KNOW I've had in the past. I had modified shrimp fajitas with corn tortillas, black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, and salsa.

Linner

I also enjoyed a skinny margarita.

Tasty beverage

We have a free HBO/Cinemax weekend so I'm doing a lot less than I should be but probably just as much as if we didn't have the freebies. I'm guessing.

My dog is a mess. Like me.

Teka had the large bump on her head removed a week ago and she tore her stitches out last night. I called the vet to see if I had to take her in and they had me send a photo.

pobrecito!

The good news is she doesn't have to go back and have them redone. The bad news is it looks like that.

I'm using some of my scar cream on it.

Teka looks loopy

The bump on Teka's head started bleeding this week so we had to take her in and have it removed.

They removed the growths near her eye at the same time since they will get bigger and eventually have to come off anyway. Now she looks a little loopy like me.

Dogs are kids too

Since last week, Mick set up a play pen attached to Teka's kennel and the wall next to the doggie door for her space. Cassi's playpen is attached to the wall on the other side of the doggie door and then wrapped behind a bookshelf. Of course, she is still pushing it open. I've asked him to find the other kennel and duplicate Teka's side for Cassi soon.

I came home last night and they were both at the door. Dammit! It doesn't appear they "got into it" with each other but I had to look at how Teka got out. She pulled the top anchor of the playpen out of the wall. Out. of. the. wall. Now Mick has agreed we can start her on doggie Prozac...

A couple of days ago, Cassi's cone cracked open and became dangerous. Mick duct taped it and I went to Petsmart and bought a new one. A larger one too because she had figured out how to lick her wound around the cone. She's having more trouble navigating with the larger cone and I actually already caught her getting around it once, but just that once.

While I was making dinner last night, Cassi managed to get her new cone off. Snapped it open somehow. She was behaving so I let her keep it off while she was supervised. Mick came home and found the piece that had come off but decided to let her keep it off anyway.

I went to Walgreens this morning to get Teka's Prozac. They also had a prescription for Cassi for her heart murmur. I guess Mick forgot about it (he's saying he thought they weren't medicating her until after he sees the cardiologist next week).

The pharmacist said I could save some money by buying the discount plan. Since there were 2 dogs, they could use a "family" plan. It would pay for itself in the first or second visit. So I signed my dogs up for their own family discount plan. (Cassi is the primary, in case you wondered.)

It's like having kids.... #itsnotreally.

Update: Cassi's prescription was a "just in case" after all. The cardiologist said not to give it to her.

Doggie Anxiety

Our Vizsla Teka has been an anxious dog for a long time, but she always loved going in her kennel. She would finish her morning routine and go lay in her kennel waiting for her treat before we left for the day. She would get nervous about something and go hide in there.

Not long ago, Teka didn't want to go in and I figured out that the smell I was trying to clean up but couldn't find was pee from Cassi on the rug in front of the doggie door. After I threw it out, Teka went back to being her normal self.

Then very recently, she didn't want to go in the kennel anymore. She pulled the kennel cover through and chewed it. Then again. Then through the top and destroyed a wicker basket on top of the kennel. And chewed through a cord running behind the kennel. (It was a little cord for the electric collar remote.)

Then I came home and she wasn't in her kennel. Of course, Cassi wasn't either. She doesn't have a kennel but a playpen, and it's attached to the kennel but nothing on the other end so she has taken to pushing it open. We keep the door to the room closed so she doesn't get that much additional freedom but I keep asking for a more permanent fix.

So Mick was sure I just didn't put Teka in her kennel, that there was no way she could have gotten out, but I actually had a very clear memory of putting her in the kennel that day. It sounded like it happened again to either Mick or his dad but the details were relayed to me somewhat fuzzy. So Mick just left them both in the playpen/open kennel area.

And we went to a meeting. We talked about how Teka was limping around--her toe was swollen and we thought it was from trying to get out of her kennel. She was outside one day and came running/hobbling up to me squealing like crazy until Mick yelled at her to settle down.

And we discussed during our drive how that may not have been a good idea to leave them together. But they were fine when we got home, although Cassi had pushed the pen open so they were both right next to the door.

But Cassi was not fine. About a half hour after coming home, I found a giant hole/gash in her leg. Teka fucking bit Cassi. We decided against the emergency vet but we weren't sure if she'd need stitches. So he took the day off and took them both to the vet.

Teka's toe is jammed but not broken, so she gets some pain medicine. And the vet recommended Prozac for long-term anxiety use. Mick isn't on board yet but I think she needs it. An "alternative" recommendation is Valerian, an herbal supplement for anxiety.

Teka also vomited up her last two meals so they recommended 20 mg Pepcid for a few days and something about pancreas testing. (This is from my terrible notes--I'm pretty sure the recommendation was for Teka but I don't remember the details that came at me fast and furious. We do not have Pepcid...)

Cassi got sutures for her wound and has to wear a cone for about 10 days when she can get her stitches out. She also got pain medication and antibiotics.

The vet also found a heart murmur. Cassi has ventricular premature contraction; she is on the highest side of the normal range. The vet recommended an anti-arrhythmic medication and then she will have to see the cardiologist.

It's cold!

We are making great progress on the yard. And by we, I mean my husband and his helpers. They are amazing; they just keep going, way past when I would be in excruciating pain for days. They are digging and moving rock that being delivered and even fenced in my tomatoes (against the dogs*) and covered a lot of plants for the freezing temps.


rock pile; covered trees



Moving rock

*The dogs, we presumed Cassi, have been grabbing a tomato or three off the plants. They don't even have to be ripe. The other day, I saw Teka in the grass with her nose to the ground. I went to check and she was eating a tomato. There were two more in the grass. Later, I saw Cassi in the same position so I called her, completely expecting her to ignore me. She came running, so excited, with a small round orange tomato showing, similar to those orange slice smiles we did when we were kids. It. Was. Hilarious. And cute. And I tried not to laugh since she was not supposed to have the tomato anyway. But it was adorable.

Cassi

Teka helping with the Christmas tree

Horchata Chia

When was the last time I had horchata? I don't even remember. But at least a couple years!

What is going on outside that door...

So I made this horchata chia seed pudding. It is reminiscent of tapioca.

dogs enjoying the pavers and fall weather

I added blueberries so I could call it breakfast. Or healthy. Or whatever. Not bad but the consistency varies--some of it is soupier, but some of it is very thick globs. I'm not sure if this is a keeper or not.

blueberried

 

End of summer weekend wrapup

I have a library book that I need to return. The Allergen Free Baker's Handbook seemed like a good resource but the first recipe I made, Morning Glory Muffins, was NOT good. Before returning it, I wanted to try at least one more recipe. I decided to try another recipe that had her "flour mix" in it: blondies.

her photo and my blondies

The chocolate chunks definitely made them tasty. I would use Enjoy Life mega chunks instead of cutting up 4 Choco-boom bars next time. I thought they were more like bar cookies than brownies. Mick did not care for them. Because they weren't brownies. Or something like that.

 

Next, I made Apple Buckwheat muffins, which use buckwheat flour instead of flour mix. They smell fantastic. They taste edible. I would not make them again.

Apple Buckwheat muffins

So just for the record, that cookbook was one for three. There was some good information about substitutions in the front but I can't see paying for so much hit and miss. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I think baking just sucks when everything is adjusted to me.
 

One of our neighbors had an end of summer pool party. I am not so bright and wore my swimsuit and almost no one was wearing swim suits. Because the pool was too cold to swim. And the party started in the evening.

Party cake

I feel that sun's pain. My right eye (not the more common left eye) was dripping and watering and giving me grief all night. Terrible. But I had leftover brisket and mashed potatoes. And Tito's and lemonade. And a blondie.

On Sunday, we were going to run some errands so, before we left, Mick took some photos of Teka in the grass and on the patio.

My personal photographer capturing Teka

So we went to the home show, which was much smaller than usual, with his parents. We listened to the gardening seminar, checked out the nurseries, and talked to the sales guy at Arizona Ironworks Furniture. We'll need to go into one of the locations for our order though. (Add it to the to-do list!)

Sunrise something or something....

 

Love purple and yellow together!

Next we went to Fajitas for a late lunch. But I made requested that Mick stop at Sprouts (the closest grocery store to the freeway) so I could get chips to eat with the salsa. I'm pretty unreasonable like that anymore. I also order the grilled vegetables (the vegetable fajitas have oil but the grilled don't) to go with our shared shrimp fajitas. And no one else helps me so I take the rest of the veggies home.

 

After lunch, we went to Costco to get the Vizsla photos printed for the annual photo contest. While we waited, we browsed. Mick was in love with some outdoor stereo system, like a boom box with two huge speakers that light up in time with the music. All the men were checking it out. It seems like we don't need it at all but he was enamored. I'm sure he's trying to figure out how he can justify getting it.

 

I knew I wanted to get some more organic rice milk, organic salsa, and maple syrup while we were there. They didn't have their organic lemonade, which apparently is seasonal.

 

I unexpectedly found Wild Planet tuna. I've picked it up at Whole Paycheck. I can't buy just any tuna because anything with broth or soy is out. This is tuna and salt. Seriously--that's it.

 

I usually pick up some Classico marinara. It's gluten-free and clean ingredients. I've been picking up Rao's occasionally at the grocery store but it's super expensive. (I think I paid $8 or $9 for the last jar I got.) I usually get it when I want some puttanesca (which Mick doesn't really like but I love.)

 

But Costco replaced my usual Classico with Organic Classico. I briefly checked the ingredients and decided to try it. (although it doesn't specify gluten-free...the ingredients were "clean.") It's organic so it's gotta be good, right? Well, when I got home, I compared it to the other and realized what I missed. I can eat it, and I will, but the organic has sugar. Boo. Totally unnecessary.



Costco haul



I also found vanilla beans. I have to tell you--I bought a package of vanilla beans online and they came vacuum sealed. There was 16-20 beans. After opening the package to use a couple, I put them in a container. The next time I went to use one, they had white stuff on the ends of some of them. So I put the salvageable ones in smaller containers, divided a little more. Same thing. They are okay for a little bit and then gross. It seemed like a good value since individual beans are so expensive, but I ended up throwing a lot of them away. These beans at Costco come in a couple of tubes, so they are divided, and the tubes have enough for 2 or 3 uses, depending on what I'm using them for. I'll try them as-is before I start vacuum sealing packages of 2. Because that's extra steps, extra boxes on my to-do list, extra work, extra extra!

Palm Springs Travel notes

I drove to Palm Springs for a conference. I wasn't sure I had time to stop for lunch, so I had a snack bar thing. I was hungry so I was relieved when I was able to check into my room. I was not as relieved when I realized I hadn't brought a spoon for my yogurt. So I used two coffee stirrers as chopsticks. Weird but effective enough. There was one more for my coffee--I brought a carton of So Delicious vanilla coconut milk creamer. I saved half of my yogurt for my final breakfast.

Day 1; lunch from home

Based on the email correspondence, I searched out the chef and was assured he would bring me something. This meal was fantastic. It was the best one of the trip. The salad was a great mix and the gluten free pasta and salmon was yummy.

Day 1; dinner 1

The next day, I found someone to ask about breakfast. They brought me g/f granola with berries. I also had a green juice and coffee. I used my creamer for the coffee and granola. This was a great breakfast. I had the same thing the next day but orange juice instead of green juice. (And the staff was a little less excited to help me the second morning, but then they did anyway.)

Day 2; breakfast 1

This is the green juice signage. Is it weird I took a photo?

DO MAKE THIS!

For lunch, they had a bunch of g/f box lunches but they were sandwiches made on g/f bread so they had to make a new one for me. Yep, I felt like a PITA. But it was worth it. The chicken was moist and yummy with tomato and avocado. The fruit was a good side; there was also an apple. I should have brought my chips. I had some as a snack in my room later. They are Garden of Eatin Pico de Gallo. All I can say is that they are amazing. Comparable to Doritos. But expensive. Small bag. I guess that's good cause I ate that whole bag on my trip (finished in the car ride home.) Crack, I'm telling you. Don't buy them. :)

Day 2; lunch 1

For dinner, I had steak and broccoli and salad. The people at my table were amused that I took a photo and sent me photos of me taking photos. I knew a couple of the guys but a guy I'd just met was one of those people who somewhat aggressively suggests that I'm getting something better and why can't he have some. I hate that. Y'all got an entire buffet and now you're eating cannolis and cheesecake and you want my lemon sorbet? (It was the only dessert I was offered the entire time.) WTF dude, get off my awesomesauce food.

Day 2; dinner 2

So silly.

LOL

The next day's lunch was kind of weird. It was a stack of sandwich meat with tomatoes in lettuce. And an apple on the side. It wasn't terrible but...I was happier about the photos my husband sent of my new bedroom rug--the finishing touch.

Day 3; lunch 2

Aw, my babies have a new rug.

The final dinner was a lamb chop and broccoli. Okay, that lamb chop was amazing. But I didn't feel like I ate a lot. I'm looking at my meals and thinking I ate mostly Paleo. The non-Paleo snacks I had were what kept me feeling satisfied.

Day 3; dinner 3

Final view

High Desert Hunt Club

We went hunt training with the dogs. It was a long day, watching Teka since everyone else cannot watch their own dogs or keep them on leash consistently. At least they had fun!

At the lodge

Teka found one

Weekender

Oh, the smell. What is that? I went to investigate. I found an open container of fish emulsion on the patio. And by open, I do not mean that someone left the lid off. Someone left the super smelly stuff on the patio, and Cassi chewed the lid off, knocked it over, and licked it off the ground. (It oozed out slowly it seems--it's pretty thick and looks like super thick oil or something.) While Cassi was being yelled out (by Mick, because I yelled at him and told him I wouldn't clean it up), Teka went to "time out" in the little storage ("beer fridge") room. In the dark.

Teka looking pitiful

 I'm not sure how long she was there since she. put. herself. in. time. out. Maybe a half hour.

So remorseful and sad

frozen carrot juice--too big/hard for Nutribullet

Not as good as it looks. LOL.

I made nut butter

Apple slices and nut butter--yum

Meat sauce--too runny (better-ish later)

P B and C

It's beautiful Phoenix weather and I worked at home today. I had the windows open all day long.
Both of my dogs were sick out of both ends yesterday and early today.

These things may be related.

Coincidentally, we just ran out of dog food, a brand we changed to for Cassi last year and Teka more recently. I had asked my husband about feeding the "adult" version instead of the "senior" version since they seem so skinny. After the mass purging of their body contents, I urged him to go back to the previous food.
Now that we've talked about yuckiness...

I had some leftover "panang" curry so I added some mushrooms (he does NOT eat those) and made some quick rice.

Lunch!

And after my mouth was on fire, I broke open the cocoa peanut butter cupcakes from the Gluten free bakery. O. M. G. I thought they were expensive (I can't believe what people regularly spend at places like Sprinkles O_O ) but they are SO. Worth. It.

Heaven on a plate

Climb to Conquer Cancer 2013

It's about 5 miles uphill on a paved road and another 3 miles down a hiking trail. The dogs did well and made the whole trek.

Look, ma, no scarf!

Nolan the Colon. For real.

Urgent care

My first day back at work, I caught that bug that's been going around. I felt so terrible last night, I asked my FB friends and family if a doctor visit would be warranted. I got a resounding yes, with an MS friend pointing out that it always hits us harder. I had a little fever when I woke up but maybe I was just hot. (That would be the last time I was more than warm today; mostly I was cold to freezing although I was dressed very warmly.)

I called my doctors office but they couldn't get me in and recommended I go to urgent care. Mick was like "urgent care for a cold?" But when his dad came over, he offered to take me, so I waited till they were done taking down the outdoor Christmas lights and Mick took me.

The wait wasn't bad, and the medical history was taken in an interview and a tablet which was cool and quick. The doctor examined me and said I had sinusitis and pharyngitis so he gave me antibiotics to prevent a full-blown ear infection. (My ears are killing me!)

They called the prescriptions into the wrong Walgreens but the other one was nearby. Mick was annoyed because he wanted to get home to work on more stuff with his dad before he left. But his helpers were still there when we returned. When they left, we watched an episode of Breaking Bad on Netflix and then I went back to sleep. When I woke, my left contact lens was dry and sitting on my face. I love this sleeping with my eye open thing--not! In fact last night, I tried using a sleep mask. I have no idea if it worked but I slept till almost 9 since I didn't realize the sun was up.

I'm going through a lot of tissues, but I think it's a good thing that I'm coughing stuff up. I was hoping that this journey to wellness would take a turn for the easier, but apparently, that is not to be. I notified my agility contacts that I'm retiring Teka because of her returned limp as well as to focus on my own health. I hope that is a step in the right direction.

Christmas holidays

My sister C was here this week and we did a whole lot of nothing. Watching TV. Sleeping. Hanging out. Rotating dogs, damn that little Teka. C's dogs really wanted to play with her too but they had to settle for Cassi. And watching Teka from across the room.

my first scarf photo

As my Christmas gift, my awesome counterpart husband Mick helped me pick out and get frames for my dad's paintings we brought back from Texas. They turned out great.

My dad painted it!

We were able to host Christmas Eve at our house. Mick smoked elk steak and salmon; I made mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and salad and we reheated some previously smoked ribs.

Eating as good as it gets!

It was amazing. And great fun. My FIL and MIL came over. On Christmas, we went to my grandparents' house (I took leftovers) and then my BIL's. I was hoping to see more family but that was quite enough for me. I'm going to miss my sissy until I see her again...