Last night while we were relaxing, I noticed a sore on Kentucky’s tail. He has a cropped tail, but it is cropped a little longer than normal. Most likely it was a shoddy job done at the damn puppy mill he was rescued from. Anyway, we pinned him and I got a fairly good look at it. It was a dark patch of dry skin with a very raw lesion on the very tip of the crop. The tissue under the lesion was swollen and hard. Luckily, we are good dog mamas and our dogs have health insurance. So, a trip to the vet was in order.
I called the office as soon as I got going this morning and secured an appointment for 4:00 this afternoon. To say the least, I love our vet for a number of reasons.
1. They got me in for a same day appointment. Kentucky’s old vet usually could get me in within the week, but her hours were very limited and same day appointments were for emergencies only.
2. The lesion on his tail is simply that. It’s an abrasion, probably caused from him sitting down too quickly on his tail or dragging his tail on the cement. It was, however, very infected and the tissue underneath was getting pretty inflamed. So, we came home with a $97 bottle of antibiotics and some antibiotic spray. That was the entire cost of the appointment. Had we not had insurance for him, the appointment would have cost me nearly $400. Thank goodness.
3. Kentucky has never been an aggressive dog, so the weird behavior lately has been very sad and frustrating for me. He was fine until we got into the confined little space of the exam room. Then suddenly any time the vet techs or the doctor would try to approach me, he turned into the snarling, howling beast. Usually, I am so concerned with the person that he is lunging at that I do not have an opportunity to keep an eye on his behaviors and postures. The lashing out in the exam room really helped with that. Since the doctor and her assistants were not afraid of him, I got a chance to really see what was going on. The doctor and I agreed that he was trying to protect me. And definitely not in an aggressive way. He is barking and howling, but his tail is still going and his ears are still forward. There are no signs of aggression. Just him warning people to stay away from me. We decided that the exam would best be done in the back room without me present. And, according to the doctor, that was exactly what needed to be done. Once I was out of view, he was completely relaxed and didn’t snap or behave nutso in any way. So, we at least have a starting place to work on this crap. Doc suggested we start with a refresher obedience class (mostly for the socialization and stimulation) and then work on desensitizing him to strangers by asking people that we know to approach him with extra special treats. So, that’s the plan for now. Finding an obedience class. Gonna try to find something that starts right after the holidays.
4. We have tried a Gentle Leader with him in the past to help with pulling on his leash, but it didn’t seem to work. I couldn’t get the darn thing fitted correctly and he just kept pulling it off of his nose because it was too loose or licking the air constantly because it was too tight. Doc thought it would be really helpful. Something about him needing to know that I am in control and the leader and I am perfectly safe and he doesn’t need to take care of me, because I am taking care of him. I told her about our previous experience and the vet tech offered to come with me up to the collar department and help me get him properly fitted for one.
Now I’m not going to say that Kentucky is thrilled with the idea of the Gentle Leader. That would be an out and out lie. He ran around the house for the first thirty minutes rubbing his face on anything and everything he could reach. But walking him went wonderfully. It felt like I had just as much control as I do with the prong collar, but I had to use much less force and effort. I took him for a brief walk and then a car ride for fun, constantly passing off pieces of cheese as rewards for not pulling and not barking. We didn’t encounter any strangers, but the walk itself went well. Baby steps, I suppose.
When we got home, he resumed the attempts to remove the halter and after wearing himself out, he finally resigned himself to falling asleep on the couch in it.
So Sunday evening. W is at work for a couple hours so I’m trying to get a blog post written and a little work done so that when she gets home we can have dinner and watch some trashy television together or something equally domestic.
I received a very cut and dry, scripted email from the customer service folks at Microcenter. Basically it just reiterated the same thing again. They were sorry. They would look into it. They had spoken with the local manager and would get back to me when they figured out what was going on. I’m starting to feel as though not much is going to come of the “excellent customer service” that I was so excited to see. Call me jaded, but we’ll see what happens.
We’re in the hardcore phases of apartment/duplex/house searching. Friday night we were supposed to view a great little house with a perfect fenced yard, and the damn landlord didn’t show up for our appointment. Probably for the best as we discovered while standing in the front yard of the house waiting for the idiot landlord that there was a domestic happening in the house on one side and the house on the other side had music playing loud enough that it was shaking the windows. We wouldn’t have liked the neighbors one bit. We’re a pretty quite family.
Yesterday was downright disasterous. I lost my driver’s license. The Boy™ and I got into a gigantic argument. And the cherry on top was a letter from my mental health clinic. I missed an appointment on Monday. It was my own damn fault and I fully acknowledge that. But I guess I went over my limit of missed appointments, and now I cannot be seen at the clinic any longer. I’m devistated about it to say the least. It drove me into a damn deep and heavy panic yesterday and I struggled through most of the evening with it. I was in a total panic. It’s pretty common knowledge that our area, and most other parts of the country from my understanding, are experiencing a shortage of available appointments for services. There are waiting lists at most clinics. Some clinics will not even make a medication management appointment for you until you have been seeing a therapist regularly with their clinic for three to six months. Without medication, I am not well. I generally end up hospitalized within a couple of weeks of discontinuation. It is an absolute disaster for me and for my family. The letter I received had a list of clinics that I could attempt to make appointments with. I’m going to start the process of making phone calls tomorrow.
So, if you follow this blog at all, you know that on Monday night I was pretty disappointed with Microcenter. To make a sort of long story sort of shorter; I wanted a laptop. Found one on their website that was a refurb but fit all my criteria and was cheap. The website showed one in stock. I went to the store to be told that they did not have any in stock. I was sad. Disappointed. Almost cried. Drowned my sorrows in Ben and Jerry’s Everything But The icecream and wrote a ranty blog post about it.
This morning, I found a comment on my blog from Microcenter Customer Relations! Really? Yep! You can see it here. I’m pretty flabbergasted! That’s some awesome customer service right there! I replied to the comment and to “Albert” the customer service rep that left the comment. We’ll see what happens next! I’ll keep you posted.
Horray for finished mittens! And just in time really. Today was the first day when my hands were actually icy while walking the dogs. So, damn it’s a good thing that I forgot about The Boy’s student council meeting and showed up to pick him up a half an hour before he was ready to leave. It gave me time to sit in the truck, listen to NPR, and finish knitting up these puppies:
The faire isle makes it a particularly warm pair of mittens, so pretty darn perfect for the weather that seems is rollin’ in to this part of the world. And being my very first completed faire isle project, I must say they turned out fairly well. So well I believe I’m going to make another pair in different colors. Since I haven’t bought a winter jacket yet this year, I may have to wait to choose my yarn colors though.
I’m getting a pretty nasty knitter’s callus. And because the weather is so cold and the air is a bit dry, it’s started to crack open. It’s painful. I really need to figure out how to prevent this. Other than wearing a bandaid all the time, which if I’m knitting with more delicate yarn leaves icky gummy crap on my projects.
yeah. Most. boring. post. ever.
I woke up this morning in a bit of a blur. All I really remember is that Riley dog jumped up next to me and i asked him if he would like to play a game of Scrabble with me. Now, I know that dog is smart as hell, but um..Scrabble? Not *that* smart.
I was incredibly excited because I found a laptop on Microcenter’s website for well within my price range. It was a refurbished Presario, but it met the specs that I had decided were the minimum I would consider and it was over a hundred dollars less than I had initially planned on spending. I was PSYCHED. I immediately emailed W and asked if she would mind going with me after I picked her up from work. I double checked the website about eighty times to make sure they had them in stock. Still at this very moment the website claims there is one in stock. ONE IN STOCK. But when we got there, the high-pressure salesman informed us that they were considered “M Shelf Stock” and that they did not have any in the store room. Whatever the heck M Shelf Stock means in Microcenter speak, I’m assuming translates to “lying to get you into the store so we can try to sell you something more expensive” in English. I was near tears when we left the store. I was so so so excited and then nothing. I pouted for about an hour and then ate a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. I’m better now.
Oops. Slip up number one. Since I didn’t write last night, I guess I’ll have to write twice today.
My sleep schedule has been incredibly screwy for the last week or so. So last night when I actually felt sleepy at midnight, I figured it would be best if I just let myself crash instead of staying up to type a blog post. Daylight savings time is really messing with me. So, as of tomorrow morning, I’m giving up soda for awhile. I can’t get myself to give up coffee. Coffee is one of the few things that I actually look forward to every single day. It’s a ritual for me and I’m not yet ready to give that up. But the soda? Soda can go. It’s a treat that I take too far. A little bubbly yumminess that goes from one can to four in two hours flat. It’s just too easy. And the caffeine really just does not work well with this chronic insomniacs sleep rhythms.
So I’ve done the NaBloPoMo thing for a week now and I’ve reached the point where I always end up giving up. it’s the day that I have nothing good to talk about. The Boy and I just spent the day homeschoolin’ and knitting. We went out for Chinese at the classy joint by the U of M campus that keeps a wedding party table up at all times, just to show you how beautiful it would be to have your reception there, right next to the gigantic backlit photograph of the Great Wall. Now we’re watching Survivor.
Oh! Beast #1! So, I tried the prong collar. When I intially put it on him, I felt like the worst dad mom in the universe. It looks downright evil. It’s big and bulky and pinchy looking. But I wrapped it around my own thigh last night and gave it a pretty hefty tug, and though it was uncomfortable, it was not painful. This morning, I slid it on over his neck and decided that I was just going to be confident about it. I knew that he trusts me above everything else and that if there was any chance that he panicked or was in pain, I would be able to keep him calm long enough to get the collar off him quickly. And I can say without a single pause or any hesitation at all….
IT WAS AMAZING!
He walked so gently the entire time. He was not scared or nervous with it on. He would pull just slight, just enough to make the collar tighten half an inch or so and then he let off. He did that about three time and from that moment on, he walked in a perfect heal. He walked so well that we took a walk around the entire block this afternoon! I haven’t been able to walk him more than to the end of the block and back for over a month now. This evening, he got a bit startled by a bike that rode past, but within a few minutes, he got back on track and did really well.
I love how well it is working, but I’m so scared that he’s going to lose this personality:
I’m totally copping out on the NaBloPoMo posting tonight! After PoppyMom did it on her blog and requested that we all do it, I decided that it would be the easiest way to make a post since my brain is rather frazzled and out of it today.
Rules:
Link to your tagger and list the rules
List 7 random facts about yourself
Tag 7 people
If you’re tagged, play along and pass it on!
1. Trying to come up with seven things to say about myself that are not hateful and negative is incredibly difficult. Incredibly. Here I am on #1 and I’m already dwelling on that fact.
2. I *heart* toe socks. In a big, puffy paint, seventh grade crush kind of way. I love that my toes never feel sweaty and that I can see each individual toe without having to look at my toe hair! Yep. I said it. Toes hair. And my lovely girlfriend? They creep her out to no end. Especially if I rub them up against her leg.
3. I went to camp the summer before sixth grade. It was a YMCA camp. I didn’t know anyone else going, but I was convinced it was going to change my life. Instead, it just made me look like a huge loser when I started middle school that fall and ran into people I had gone to camp with. They had all gone with big groups of friends that they had attended elementary school with, and I was the only person from my school there. I spent the entire camp by myself or hanging out with the counselors, who had obviously taken pity on me. It was horrible.
4. Shopping is my worst addiction. Which really if you know me is kind of strange coming from me, because I’m a fairly non-material oriented person. I’m used to losing my material possessions, either through my own doing or no fault of my own. It just seems to happen. So I don’t tend to connect to objects. But I *love* to shop. So I tend to shop for things that naturally deplete, like lotions, makeup, shampoos and office supplies. Compulsively.
5. When I read something on the computer, I highlight it first with the mouse. I then proceed to drag and click all over the text as I read. No idea what started that habit.
6. The Professor gave me a prong collar tonight to think about using for Beast #1. We’ve been having some problems with him lunging and barking at people like some sort of raving maniac. Now mind you he is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met, but something has thrown him off lately and now he’s being a ass. The collar will be my absolute last resort, and I’d only use it after I have talked to his vet and done a shitload of research. It’s sitting in my bag right now and I can’t quite bring myself to look at it.
7. I may possibly be purchasing a laptop tomorrow and I’m about ready to jump out of my own skin with excitement about it! Yay portable goodness!
And um…if there are even seven people who read this on a regular basis? You’re it.
Posted by Amelia on Nov 4, 2008 in
Holidays 2008,
November 2008 NaBloPoMo We’re heading to Saint Louis for Thanksgiving. To say that I’m a little bit nervous is an understatement. I’m trying to keep my thoughts on the fun parts, like the arch, and the food (Oh the food! W’s cousin is a chef! YUM!) and I cannot forget the shopping on the day after. Black Friday is something I always say that I am going to skip, but I lie. Every single year I end up shopping on Black Friday. I’m not one of those folks that ends up sitting at the doors and getting into trampling fights over the last cashmere pashmina, but I do like to hit the stores once the crowds die down a bit.
Last year I spent some time shopping online before I actually hit the stores. I found alot of deals, but none of the spectacular deals that I hear are out there. So, this year, I plan on doing even more research! I found a site (blackfridayonline.com) where I can look up the Target Black Friday Deals, as well as a bunch of other stores like CompUSA, ToysRUs, Wal-Mart, and Costco. I’m going to be keeping an eye on that darn site so that the very moment they release the “bargain of the century”, I’ll be right there to find out about it!
W and I were up and to the polling place shortly after they opened the doors at 7:00 this morning. We’re lucky to live less than a block from the community center where we vote.
Full of anxiety about the results of the election, to be completely honest. I have not been very politically active in the last few years, at least not in comparisson to the level that I was in 2004. I think I really just kind of….well I felt so utterly defeated that my heart was a bit broken. And watching the complete downslide of the country in the last decade has broke my heart even further.
I am certainly not a democrat. I don’t align with any particular political party. I suppose if I were forced to choose I would join the Socialists. I do not see Obama as the savior of our country or think that he’s going to be able to fix everything. But I do believe he is capable of great change and that this country truly needs great change. I’m a realist and I have come to realize that I need to work within the system instead of against it. Because that’s the only way to help create the country that I can be proud of and be proud to raise my son and future children in.
So, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed and coloring in my own personal electoral map as the poll results come in. I’ll also be drinking some beer and trying to be hopeful for change and hopeful that someone will actually listen to the voice of the people.
