February 27th

Happy Birthday Charlie Brown!!  
the whole Peanuts Gang litter turned 4 today.
yippie!!! 💓💖💗

Charlie got 3 crinkle-pets, plus a GoDog alligator, and a football treat holder..
plus 3 bags of treats, and a canister of vitamins (those might go to Dude or Gwen)
I made a banana-flavored cake from PoochCake..
and gave it to Dude, Gwen, and Buckets with carob-flavored ice cream from Pooch Creamery.

that was all I did today..
a whole lot of nothing.. 

so long.. 
farewell..
auf wiedersehen.. 
good night.. 
🌙 😴 💤

February 26th

many dreams that I didn't want to end.
but Charlie is intent on always waking me up on my days off.. I heard him run down the stairs, and felt him jump on the bed.. and then he shoved my chest.. so.. I got up 

I facebooked for another an hour.. then fed chickens feed mix.. and grabbed the 1 egg..
then fed the cats.. he started class so I scanned checks and invoices.. 

3 red vines for breakfast
ghirardeli caramel chocolate
wheat sandwich with salami and cheddar for lunch
ferrero dark chocolate
a chunk of marzipan
potato casserole with pork and bacon, with ricotta and sour cream, with green onion
cheesecake with caramel ice cream

The Descendants   2011

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania   2022

De-Lovely  2004

February 24th

I was up early.. on my day off.. woke up at 7:25. too early so rolled over to go back to sleep.. or so I thought. next I knew, it was 7:33 - a whole 8 minutes later. the cat was next to me and I pet her butt. Charlie saw my movement and jumped up, stepped on the cat’s tail, she freaked, Charlie pounced on my chest.. so much for sleeping in any longer. 

the whole town is COLD. 13 when I got up.. 5 when he noticed it but the sun was already on the sensor at that point. holy Moses that’s cold. I am wearing longjohns with sweat pants, and a long sleeve shirt with a tshirt.. I had a poncho hoodie too but eventually got warm enough to take that off. 

I didn’t have the mood to do anything today. day off so wasn’t going to eat, but I was hungry and trying to fight through it. then he made potatoes and bell pepper with 2 eggs.. so I ate. 

we got another new egg from Emma. the chickens are happy even though it’s cold as Alaska. 

I cleaned up the mouse that Mr Grey brought us yesterday. I had forgotten all about it last night. I’m amazed I didn’t step on it when I came home. 

late afternoon lunch finishing the pizza from yesterday - 1 small piece Margherita, 2 pieces pepperoni & pineapple. 

that’s what happens when you eat on your day off 🤦‍♀️

I haven’t eaten the big brownie however. only the small smidget leftover from yesterday

I made the bed.. tossed kitchen trash in the can.. cleaned the peepees on the floor. 

I made 2 small trays of fruitseed and wild birdseed for chickens.. I'll give in the morning..

From the Vine  2019 

Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood  2002  

Tom Sawyer  1973

February 22nd - 2-2-2sday

we went to bed at 11.. 

and I was still awake at 1..

so I didn't get up from bed until after 10am..

I woke up at one point with half my nose clogged.. 

and another time choking on my own spit.. so I'm a hot mess today 

we were in this house - but also at Lee's, with the hill in the back. there were a lot of people here, perhaps it was a party. and it was civilized like in olden times.. like Little Women, or Sense and Sensibility, with the dresses, the decor..

I kept thinking that I needed to scoop "poop hill". it was daytime, but throughout the whole dream, I never.. scooped.

1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣.6️⃣

it's cold today.

it was supposed to snow at 7am. then start again at 1pm.

next they said it was supposed to snow at 3.. and 7-8pm.. and 10p-6a..

now it's coming at 10p-5a.. then tomorrow at noon.

it's all dry out there. 39⁰.

the one chicken still randomly lays eggs.. I figure she'll stop since we will get more snow - but today we have a new layer 

🤦

I forgot to put the Midazolam back in the safe. 

everyone joked last Friday that I took it to lunch in my pocket.. 

but I'm pretty sure I'll get reamed about the fact that it's been on my shelf since Friday, and not in the safe.. oops.. will have to sneak it in that morning after the staff meeting.

and with the snow we're supposed to get - it will be 'fun' to have an 8am staff meeting..

we'll see how our appointment schedule ends up.

today was going to be my "dinner only" day.. 

but I was up half the night because my stomach was growling and gurgling..

I don't know if I'll make it on just coffee..

and water.. 

and Tang/KoolAid/Gatorade..

and we have chocolate and candy and cookies and crackers..

oh joy..

I took 2 Ibuprofen for my headache.. took it with coffee..

now to counteract that with extra water.. can't really win..

4 episodes of House..

plucked fluff off the carpet.. the bird is eating the area rug under the pee pads.. well, shredding.. not eating.

I caved.. finished the crumbs from the cheezits, and ate the crumbly bit's from the Tostitos..

then a few spoons of black cherry yogurt with a small spoon of cottage cheese.

Never Been Kissed  1999

The Ghost and the Darkness  1996

mushrooms and spinach, with pork chops for dinner ❤️

coffee cheesecake with caramel ice cream 💓

time for sleep

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night..

🌙😴💤

February 21st

we went to bed at 9 and I was awake awhile.. i thought I'd sleep better since it was close to pull time (usually 2 or more hours apart) but didn't seem to matter.

don't recall my dream.. it might come back to me - or it might not 🤷

crawled out of bed, dressed, ate breakfast, checked chickens, fed cats. 

took my own car today since "it shouldn't stall" on me.. I started it and check engine light was on.. but it didn't stall at 4way in Frazier, and took off right away.. got all the way to 4 way in Lebec and as I slowed down for that, the 'oil' light came on 🥺

it still didn't stall but now I'm paranoid for lunch.. we'll see..

DC asked about my dad but I told her I didn't visit Saturday because I didn't want to ruin my birthday with fighting.. DC hadn't remembered my birthday.

at morning muster she said "first, we need to do something about Heidi".  my options were to go out to lunch today, or to order in on Wednesday.. I opted for Wednesday so I could come home for lunch today (instead of risking breaking down at 11 at night)

I worked on fax forms most of the morning.. I helped with distracting a doggie for blood and urine and temperature..

then back to fax forms until a German Shepherd came for blood work and a vaccine.. highly wiggly and highly shrieky..

back to fax forms for a bit then time for lunch..

went home for lunch.. my car was fine all the way until the last bridge by the skate park.. the oil light came on halfway up the hill, then off-n-on the rest of the way home. so I took the truck back to work..

I don't want to be afraid of my car..

I don't want to hate my car..

I helped with vaccines for 2 cutie Labrador puppies.. 

then worked on a few prescription requests.

got a border collie in for an exam.. he is very sweet and very timid/fearful..

we pulled labs on him as well - he is scared of loud noises or sudden movements so there were a couple things that made him drop to the floor 😢

next was a Cattle dog mix for exam.. and lab work on her as well.

then was a little shih tzu for his first exam and lab work with us.. he is a rescue from a hoarding situation, a BYB.. also fearful..

finished the prescription requests.. and then pulled files for Wednesday..

updated some drug logs but still have catching up to do.

so so happy to be home.. 

it is 27⁰ out there.. 🥶

Wednesday is going to suck because we have a staff meeting at 8am, and a snow-day the day before.. so I think I might be a bit late 😒

15,470 steps today

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night..

🌙😴💤

February 20th

slept rather well.. woke up at 9:40 when the phone rang..

I had a dream there was a Starbucks coffee near Crows Cookies.. that I got another caramel macchiato iced, then went to Crows for donuts.. 

but they weren't open yet so I just milled around the parking lot until they opened.. 

it had the foggy appearance of being on the coast, looked cold.. 

but I work a tank top, shorts, flip flops.. 

of course I had the body of someone much skinnier than I..

checked chickens and fed the cats.. 

weighed myself ( 1️⃣4️⃣2️⃣🔹0️⃣ ) and brushed my hair..

then breakfast of runny egg with ham and mayo on sourdough.

2 episodes of House

cleaned truck cab so it's more 'normal'.. the back I don't care about. I know it is used for Ace and the dump.

cleaned trash in cat bathroom.. 

then trash on front porch..

2 more episodes of House

fed the doggies their extra meal..

Overboard  1987

The Love Punch   2013

leftover lasagna for dinner & choco-coffee cheesecake for dessert 😋

a fun-filled day of work tomorrow 😒

supposed to be getting snow Tuesday 1pm-5am Wednesday..

it was supposed to include Wednesday as well - but looks like not now.. I might still end up driving the truck Wednesday to work... depending on the amount of snow we get, and what the rest of the mountain gets.. 🤷

he is working on my car tomorrow to have it ready for my interview Tuesday.. but I haven't decided if I'll go. 

I'm thinking I won't be able to afford it.. 9-2.. $15 per hour.. 

plus commuting to Castaic.. 

I might not make enough..

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night.. 

🌙😴💤

February 19th

I'm officially old-er.. 

47 now..

you're only as young as you feel - and I feel it.. 

I feel that 47..

I feel old.. 

and I think I LOOK it too 😫

yuck..

there's no going back now..

in bed at midnight-ish.. 

crawled out of bed at 10-ish..

my usual "forever" to fall asleep..

woke up several times in between..

I'm going to splurge today because it's my day.

small bite of corned beef hash.. 

3 RedVines.. 

coconut Ferrero Rocher.. 

dark chocolate Lindor truffle.. 

homemade Chicken Alfredo Lasagna.. 

caramel ice cream..

Thursday I was not in the mood to eat but he made dinner so 🤷 

yesterday my body wanted to overcompensate for lack of food on the day prior.. 

haven't decided if I'll cut back on food the days I'm home (I eat dinner those days) or the days I work (I need energy and strength on those days) 

so perhaps ONLY dinner on days off and everything else on work days.. 🤔

spoke to my mum. she called for my birthday and told me about the latest Christmas gift as well as the present from the year prior.. she still has this year's.. but she thinks 2020 accidentally got tossed. it was a blanket of squares that she'd made.  

she also told me about my birthday gift.. 1 came to me, the other to her - but it wasn't how she'd wanted.. she'd sent a cake which was supposed to come with an ice pack and yet it hadn't.. it was pure mush. she was going to have them resend to me but didn't want me to receive the same mush. she ordered something else for me that will come Monday or Tuesday.

I asked about my dad.. she said he's doing fantastic, would never know anything is wrong.. they still go for their daily walks..

I'm thinking maybe she doesn't remember she never told me ? so I'd still never know if they hadn't sent that text message.

watched my 4 episodes of House.

Ladies in Lavender  2004

Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber  2005

watched our 3 episodes of Reacher.

now time is up..

4️⃣7️⃣

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night..

🌙😴💤

February 18th

head is really throbbing today. cried on the way to work, plus twice before appointments started - once when telling DC, once when Sarah gave me a hug - and then again when De Ann gave me a hug. she came in with tears of her own.. so we're all having a day..

I dreamt I was at work as if nothing else was going on.. I was dressed for an office job.. blouse and slacks.. but ended up holding puppies and kittens through my whole dream. it was a short dream because I really haven't slept a whole lot since Wednesday. 

another short dream with my sister and her husband and the baby.. and her ex (he had goats in the dream..) her husband gave me a test that was so confusing even though it was supposed to be easy - copy/paste - but the questions had nothing to do with the answers I was supposed to give.

started the day with 2 surgery admits.. one owner had joked Wednesday that I was calling at 8 when I should have already been home relaxing. this morning he asked how quickly I'd gone home. I told him not until close to midnight.. another client said "you were here until midnight?! but you had a day to rest.. right?!" uh yeah not really.. haven't been sleeping all that well.. work stress, other stress.. the first client thanked me profusely for the work I do.. 

our other surgery admit puked (it's what they do.. they get morphine..) the owner tried to scoopit up with a towel but then she threw the towel on the counter.. so I had to mop the floor, and wipe down the counter and wall 🤢 (but thank you first client for letting me know..)

next a large large dog.. he's sweet, but a Baby Huey.. thinks he can disappear -- at 90#

next we had another dog admitting.. she was the Keeshond who hurt a rear leg Wednesday night..

next a German Shepherd for progress exam and suture removal (she had already removed her surgical staples)..

Lunch Break !!! chicken-flavored noodle ramen, 2 Famous Amos cookies, and a few Cheezit and Biskit crackers.. drank some coffee but I think that just dehydrates me more, so drank more water to compensate. 

after lunch I helped with hip x-rays on today's spay.. then leg xrays on the Keeshond.. then i worked on prescription requests.. kept getting interrupted (and getting in trouble for it..)

1 appt for an exam on a 12 year old standard poodle..

then an appointment for progress and prescriptions on a 14 year old Weimaraner..

I pulled files for Monday and prepared those.. 

I helped bag up lab samples for one laboratory..

finished preping files..

sorted through some of the controlled drugs..

finally home at 13.57 hours.. with a weekly total of 39.4 hours..

.. and a daily step total of 17,325..

my sister emailed me again today asking how I was feeling, saying that my feelings are probably based on Dad's eventual departure - no, they are based on my family not including me in their secret for over 2-1/2 months!

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night..

🌙😴💤

February 17th

I had a dream.. and I think it was pretty good one.. but once I woke up I remembered the news I’d found out after midnight, just before going to bed.. and I forgot what my dream was about. I just know it was a happy one.. that's all I know.  I hadn’t cried last night, but I tossed and turned and it took a long time to fall asleep. 

my family texted yesterday while I was at work.. “Mom has no one informed the Texans of the change in Dad's medical status?   “His brothers and sisters should be informed I think. If I was ill and I or drew didn't mention it I think you all would be pretty upset w us. I was going to mention to Emma but assumed dad already had.   “I haven't. But Dad has told whoever he talked to, maybe Lolly, that his cancer wad back etc.”

so.. the cancer is back. he turns 91 in April.. very weak and fragile.. walks with a cane when he walks.. and what is the ‘etc.’ of that statement? and.. the rest of my family seemed to not think this the news of the day.. so how long have THEY known??

I emailed 1 sister and messengered another to see if I can find out more information. the messengered sister read my note, but didn’t reply. she’s also probably working so perhaps lunch - if she’s not busy with the baby. 

I’ve had coffee today.. but no food. not really in the mood for it. 😑 watching my 4 episodes of House (sort of.. not really paying much attention to the fine details of each episode..) then I need to feed the cats and get gas in the truck and get the mail. I would much rather hide under a rock for awhile… like, weeks.. or months?

the emailed sister eventually replied. she found out when she was visiting them, because she took mom and dad to their doctor appointments. so everybody has known since sometime between December 7-15? she said Mom is in denial.. if she doesn’t tell someone then she can pretend it isn’t happening. and yet somehow no one else thought to mention it. I know we don’t talk much but wouldn’t that be a reason to pipe in? a phone call, an email or text to call them? the 'etc' of Mom's statement had to do with the fact Dad is becoming demential..

today I've had water.. and, water.. have another chuck eye in the sous vide for dinner.. 

Practical Magic  1995

Reacher S1:E2- E5

ugh.. back to work tomorrow.. it's going to be a very very long day

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

goodnight...

February 16th

ugh.. Ronnie got up 4:30.. he JUMPED out of bed and ran to the bathroom.. so I was up several times before crawling out of bed at 7:43. 

I had a dream of trying to go to Disneyland.. it was in Van Nuys, not Anaheim.. but took time to get there.. walking towards elevator I saw someone pushing button, door opened, then walked in and door closed.. 

same for the next person behind them.. 

when I got there, elevator opened and I walked in.. it was a big room like freight elevator - but the door did not close. I pushed the button inside and the room spun upward like a corkscrew, with the door open..

finally got to the "top" to find my group.. but my phone battery was dead and I couldn't find my sleeping bag (??)

crawled out of bed and dressed.. went upstairs and warmed up my Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches.. he made coffee since he'd been up since 4:30. problem was he'd had a flowing bloody nose (hence the jump-and-run) I grabbed a cup, and putting the canteen back my arm was shaking.. I was explaining to Ronnie, and my arm was doing it again.. we thought snow and ice wasn't so bad so he didn't scrape truck.. once I got outside I saw we were wrong.. so I was incredibly late to work. Sarah did opening duties..

but DC was MaD!¡! 😕

I got in the first patient for surgery and remembered the file.. DC did her pre-op exam and the dog went back to mom..

the next patient was an exam and blood work.. and i forgot to grab the file for that one 🤦

next I was helping with a catheter on the dog.. he was very flinchy (been very vocal since he arrived..)

I got him set up with his iv fluids.. went to sit with him to keep quiet.. then they gave me his Meloxicam and I noticed his needle was coming out.. retaped, but retaped backwards so untaped - and went to retape again but the tape was no longer sticky 😖

then gave his ampicillin while trying to pet him at the same time.. no easy task to hold syringe AND catheter AND pet dog all at the same time.. 😵

DC gave me a new torbugesic bottle to "code" and grab a log for... sat in office to do that and both arms were shaking, head throbbing, heart pounding.. ugh..

then went back in office to call on ultrasound report and chest x-rays.. once I finished, Sarah asked me grab dry metabolic cat food plus dry Rd dog food.. we had neither so I went in back to tell her and DC said Sarah was busy so to tell her.. I repeated it and she said "no we HAVE metabolic cat because I saw it there" so I went back out to 'rescan' every shelf - no metabolic cat.. went in and told her again "don't worry about, we don't have any then.." REALLY?!?!? 🤬

went to faxing insurance and sending lab work to oncology.. they brought me in the surgery dog to keep him distracted and  quiet.. he just cried and whined and "sang" in my office.. 

Lunch Time!! yes!!

Hot Pocket and DelMonte pocket pie.. the Hot Pocket tastes yucky, vinegar-y.. 🤢 Philly Cheese pocket pie too.. hope I'm not getting sick

none of us are having a good day.. 😭

after lunch jumped right back into surgery.. running back and forth hooking up for anesthesia while DC took dental xrays.. it was making me dizzy and making my head pound.. 

when Diana came in, she took over for me and I went to my desk to prepare a file for an afternoon appt that was added.

next I was sending records from a request in my box.. no sooner had I scanned the records then I took over for Guadalupe who had to leave for the day.. again trying to keep up with surgery.. 

and lumps for formalin.. 

and start and stop times of each procedure.. 

and injection amounts and times. 

De Ann took over when she returned from lunch, and I went to send the records I'd scanned earlier..

then another appt was added on because the dog from last week's neuter had removed his own sutures - so I had to prepare that file.  

De Ann worked on phone calls so I went BACK to surgery 🤦

surgery was FINALLY over.. and I took in our first afternoon appointment for lab work.. 

back into my office to fax insurance claims, and pull files for Friday. 

another appt got added on at the end of the day so got those Keeshonds into a room for their exam.. once taking exam history, back into my office to finish pulling Friday's files..

prepared what Friday files I could, then went on the hunt for missing files.. and prepared those..

a dog from earlier in the day came back, so I brought her into the treatment area for the doctor to check her ears.

back to files and stickers and forms..

started to help with labs but some paperwork was incorrect.. so back to files and stickers and forms, again..

finally home at 11:35..

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

goodnight..

🌜😴💤

February 15th

I was in this house, in another dream house, in my childhood house.. house was a mess and I was trying to clean.. laundry and couch pillows in the kitchen sink (covered in food mess..) there was a zucchini on the counter, but it was so old it was one with the counter.. 

more dreams.. but I can't remember right now.. only glimpses.. I remember a tree house.. and I was trying to hide things on top of the patio cover..

I was awake shortly after 7:30 (so I'll probably need a nap today..) 

up at 8am.. 

checked on the chickens..

fed the cats..

filled the downstairs humidifier..

ate some cottage cheese with yogurt but it didn't fill me 🤷

I'm already dreading tomorrow..

I can't even live for just today..

fixed the bathroom clock more..
now just need to hang it on the wall..

totinos and chicken-nuggets for lunch
plus Bear Creek vegetable beef soup

She's the One 1996
I Can Never Be Your Woman 2007

Hannah S3:E5 & E6

Reacher S1:E1

Palak Paneer with Past-a-roni, and pork chop

February 14th ❤️

dreams.. oh dreams..

I was in Papua.. it was specifically not New Guinea, but you coulda fooled me.. the people seemed Guinea-ish, and it was a foreign dialect to me.. 

I was there with Ronnie but he was leaving shortly.. so we were hanging out together before his flight. I remember wondering how I would commute with anyone without him there.. like such a thing would make a difference whether he was there or not. it was kind of dusk, and everything was an orangeish color.. there was also a set of picnic tables like you'd see at Rancho Park or Corriganville.

first appt was for 2 newfiedoodles.. 

one huge but friendly.. 

the other smaller but always suspicious and growly and wiggly.. lab pulls on both.. then an exam for the small..

next I worked on pawprint cards.. once done, I grabbed a ShihTzu for lab pull and Adequan injection.. 

I checked out another client with an AmStaff Aussie, and Mastiff Lab..

then checked out the owner of the ShihTzu..

back into the office to start emptying deliveries - as those block the handicapable entrance.

we got a tabby kitty in for a blood pressure.. he had come in last week as his ophtho wasn't able to get a bp so he couldn't put him on any meds..

LuNcH BrEaK!!  chicken rice bowl with refried beans, guacamole and sour cream.
I have a lingering headache today 😕

once back from lunch, I handled a kitty for an exam.. a large kitty.. 19lbs + 😬

then I helped with 2 dogs for anal expressions. the puppy was VERY fearful, the new dog not so much..

next was a Dobie for urinalysis..

then a pit mix for an exam - she was growly when I tried to check her elbows.. 1 checked one, mom helped with the other.. and mom showed me her teeth..

next I held a terrier mix for a vaccine..

I held a ShihTzu for a vaccine..

I helped hold the growly pit mix for blood work..

THEN I sorted through fax claim forms.. and pulled files for Wednesdays appointments.. 

just slightly more than a 12-hour day..

home sweet home for Valentine goodness 💕💓💞

pork chops & mashed potatoes & green beans 

February 13th

dreams, oh dreams.. driving on Cochran.. around Tapo Street/Tapo canyon.. 
all the driving, I still stayed in that same area..
someone was finding people to foster dogs.. I couldn't
a lady said "how about cats? 20?"
I can't.. I work 13 hours a day.. I'd have no time..
suddenly that made me the enemy.. everyone else was going for the dogs..
but.. even if I fostered cats.. why 20??

he got up 7:30.. I slumbered until 8:30.. he came downstairs at 8:45 and that's when I got up..
checked chickens.. raked doggie poops.. I fed the Mr Grey
he wasn't out there, but half of a little mousie that he killed & ate was..

more episodes of "House" 

I pulled the vcr from his classroom yesterday, to install today.. but haven't installed it yet..
I deposited my checks finally and scanned and paid the water bill.. to eventually find I'd already paid it..

today is superbowl sunday.. we have no way to watch it..
but i've seen 'ads' about the commercials, and heard about halftime.. 

fed the doggies their yum yum.. and the kitties too..

i pulled the clock to put in our bathroom..
i still have to 'white' it so it can be seen..

1 episode of Flipper
Joy Luck Club 1993
Weird Science 1985

February 12th

I had a dream I was on a helicopter flying to the rocks of a cliff.. they didn't land on the airstrip, they landed in the bushes.. another time I was in a car we borrowed.. a British car with the driver seat on right side.. we were driving left side.. the car was actually bigger than a car.. like a mini-den of a house.
it took me awhile to wake up.. I just couldn't snap out of it.. he got up way early and I knew I wasn't getting up then.. the dogs left a few different times. when I got up it was just me and the cat.

he was up but getting ready for class. I checked on chickens - still no eggs.. fed Mr Grey on the front porch. I watched 4 more episodes of House.. I'm on episode 9 now.. there are 23 total, and 9 seasons total.

after House I washed some dishes.. cleaned upstairs toilet.. cleaned litter boxes.. made the bed..
tried to clean mirror in our bathroom but didn't work..

had my 3 RedVines, a baggie of black licorice Scotties, some bbq chicken cheezits, chicken-in-a-biscuit, ham-swiss sandwich, chicken-rice bowl with beans..

redemption 2013
enemy lines 2020

February 11th

again.. strange dreams .

I was in my own house, although 1 story not 2, and there were hidden valentine's decorations.. lots of them.. hearts everywhere.. you couldn't see them depending on the angle.. I was also at work, flushing syringes with chapstick, since, obviously, that's how it's done.. 

I thought I had slept okay, didn't wake up too much.. but come morning, felt like I'd hardly slept.. I feel like as the weeks go, each day gets SO much harder.. just the waking up is extremely harder..

ugh.. gotta get through today.. 

🙏  it's not another 12+ hours - it was 13.87

started the day with a high-strung pointer.. he actually wasn't too wiggly or resistant.. but the pitch of his whines was hitting a nerve..

next we had a sweet Aussie Shepherd.. she was in for pre-op lab work.. blood and urine are new to her, so it was a bit of a struggle -- had to call in the reinforcements..

next we had a little Maltipoo with claws.. more resistant than the pointer, and those claws were very a lethal weapon..

next was a little miniature poodle, a very sweet little girl but she had never been to us so she was terrified. always trying to wrap herself around her daddy's neck..

I'm really fighting to stay awake.. been randomly cleaning a little, toss things in trash, scrub down a counter.. if I stay still, I'll collapse..
lastly was a terrier/cutie/fluffy mix.. he came to us for surgery weeks ago. he hasn't been feeling good since. he came to us for progress exam, then he went to the ER.. and today he came back to us. we did xrays and labs.. by the time he left he was feeling more upbeat.. was vomiting but not with us. he had "yellow" poop but not with us.

Lunch Break.. 

1 meatball hot pocket plus 1 Del Monte plantbased chicken pocket pie

next we had a little chihuahua for an anal expression and a nail trim. he was very resistant to both. mom is a little kooky.. but dad not so much, he seems more frustrated/irritated/impatient with her. we had never gotten records on the chi.. I called the vet's office again and they have a note to only send records to HER, not to any other hospital. so they sent to her and we see if she provides to us. 
I scanned and sent off some records, then I called the hospital I sent to. I also called the hospital I sent records to on Wednesday as well.
we had a cat come in for blood pull. sweet cat, small carrier.. he was actually content in there. I opened the door for him to walk out - he closed the door again. so I took the carrier apart and he kept climbing back inside before I could 'hide' the carrier away. we got our blood pull, I got weight and temp, then put the carrier back together - he helped me get it back together again :)

a friendly border collie for a progress exam. he's had issues with one toe, and his eye. the eye was better but the toe wasn't. 
there was an emergency on Thursday, vomit and diarrhea. the dog came back in today for a progress exam and to check her weight and temperature.. owners say she is now doing better.. had slept all night Thursday and most of the day Friday. her owners fed her and she was able to keep it down. 

pulled Monday files and prepped them all.. 
it's any wonder I didn't get out of there sooner..
I always get very antsy as the day goes..
as the night goes..

ate some bell pepper with ranch dressing at work.. (thanks to Sarah!!)
finally home, I just want sleep.. 

February 10th

oh, the crazy dreams again.. I was in a house with lots of hallways.. hallways of stuff..
boxes of flooring.. boxes of blinds.. supplies.. décor.. all boxed up causing clutter.
I wasn't supposed to be in the house.. it was a maze of hallways.. and I thought no one was even there.. but all of a sudden there was.. so I was running even faster.. faster and faster.. not to be seen..
I woke up hyperventilating.. heart racing.. 
I was already awake when Ronnie got up.. was awake for awhile..
then fell back to sleep for a few hours.. 

got up and checked chickens.. 
the chickens haven't laid an egg in almost a week now..
and they've picked more at the baby mouse they killed..
then I remembered that I left my phone in the truck..
so I went out the side gate and drove to the mailbox to grab the mail from the past week.. 
covid tests haven't come yet.. ethernet adaptor for starlink hasn't come yet..

camped out in my chair and watched 4 more episodes of "House" (still on season 1..)
once his 2 classes were down, I started the first load of laundry, moved and refilled the hall humidifier..
and refilled 2 of the bedroom humidifiers..
the hall humidifier is on.. level 3 (was at level 2)
the bedroom humidifiers are off, prepared for tonight..
I cleaned our master bath toilet.. but haven't cleaned other toilets.. maybe tonight ?
I cleared the trash in the upstairs bathroom.. but haven't cleaned anything else in that bathroom..
I also tried to clean the dragon in the fish tank.. and the air bubbler.. it didn't change much..

Ronnie worked on my car again this afternoon.. he drove it around and it seemed to be better.. 
I drove it around twice.. then parked it.. neutral.. drive.. neutral.. THEN the check-engine light came on.

Mr Grey brought us another present.. a mole I think.. it was partly eaten, and still warm.. 
I picked it up to toss it, after saying thank you a few times.. he tried to take it from me..

Little Men (1998) with some chicken tacos for dinner..

back to the humdrum of tomorrow.. then it's another weekend.. 
our surgery cancelled, and 1 afternoon appointment cancelled.. but 1 appointment got added in..
so we'll probably get all filled up.

schedule will be changing.. right now i'm m/w/f.. and the occasional m/f/s.. 
we'll be varying on our days off now.. once in awhile there will be an extended weekend..
plus memorial and labor are coming up.. eventually.. 

showered and washed my hair.. it always feels good once I'm in there..
but when I get out, I don't feel any cleaner.

February 9th

I feel like I hardly slept all night.. we went to bed at 9:30 and I was so incredibly tired just before then.. thought maybe perhaps my sleepy pills would actually help me sleep for once.. but no. I was wide awake for hours, I think maybe from Ronnie's snoring.. and he can't help it.. he has breathing troubles of his own as it is.. whether a nose whistle, clogged sinuses, or snoring to get breaths.. I was tempted to go sleep on the futon couch, but knew I'd wake up in pain.. I stayed in bed and did eventually fall asleep (don't know when...). I woke up around 3 because I was trapped by the doggies and couldn't easily roll over.. I slept on my stomach most of the night and woke up with neck pain.. but I slept.. I woke up again for a bit when he got up around 5 or 5:30.. then I crawled out of bed around 7:30 because I had to be at work at 8 (got there & clocked in at 8:03)..

I had weird dreams.. still at my same work, but at the same time it was different.. it was an animal job and I was doing paperwork, but not my regular paperwork.. I also, strangely, had the 118 commute into Simi Valley - that included big dogs, and bears, and foxes -- on.the.freeway.. 

I was also getting there at 8:35, the reason I jumped up frantic at 7:30 

staff meeting was 'okay'.. they are never great fun.. I did my osha talk, and we did all the rest of the meeting topics.. 

our Border Collie surgery dog RJ arrived at 8:40.. so we sort of rushed through the rest of the topics.. but there was no 'limbo' time to put away meeting supplies..

our first appointment was a German Shepherd, our surgery dog from last week, for a progress exam and checking sutures.. she's not dog-friendly so the owner came inside without her to let us know he was there and make sure the coast was clear. I went out to get him once I had an exam room available. as we came in I saw that our surgery dog was in the lobby waiting as well, after getting his morphine injection.. (both he and his owner were very nervous about today) and I let Rosie's owner know there was another dog present and we'd be rushing across the lobby into the exam room. 

big non-dog-friendly Rosie came in the door and rushed up to young little RJ barking in his face.. 

the owner didn't keep her on a tight leash.. 

the owner didn't keep her under very much control.. 

I had to help block little RJ and continue them along through the lobby.. 

after that encounter Rosie was otherwise okay for the rest of her appointment..

next was a Cane Corso (mastiff) Ranger for a progress exam for dual ear infections.. his head was huge! I got him into a room after Cat had taken his history.. I prepared an ear thermometer but set it with his file for after his appointment.. 

next was little Sophie a ShihTzu for lab work.. she's a little sweetheart - unless you're turning her on her back, or dealing with her booty.. she was fine for her lab pull, fine for her weight, and the attempt at her ear temp.. but NOT thrilled with her urine pull, or poop sample, or successful rectal temp.. 

lastly was a pit bull mix Arlo for his lab work and a nail trim.. he frightens easily. he was fine for his lab work and ear temp, FLIPPED OUT about his nail trim -- that was traumatizing..

then I worked on the invoices for controlled drugs.. 

I also received a request for records to be sent as well.. 

I helped a newer client with a e-cone for his dog since she refuses to leave her swollen toe alone.

LUNCH TIME!! 😁

more leftover rigatoni..

upon return I finished sending the requested records to a specialist.. 

I helped a client with medications but they were highly upset.. their dog keeps having recurring giardia.. he gets meds for 10 days, then 10 days later he is reinfected again.. an ongoing issue that insurance ISN'T paying for because it's pre-existing..

now back to appointments again.. a little bitty teacup Chihuahua named LittleDear for a progress exam before giving happy drugs so we can do a blood pull and x-rays.. she's a screamer when she knows you're about to do something, anything.. and she's small enough that I'm sure she knows it will hurt her no matter how hard we try to be delicate.. she's 4#, nothing is easy for her.. and happy drugs did absolutely nothing.. she has a "set of pipes" to rupture an ear drum..

next was Lola, a husky, for an exam and annual lab work.. the owner says she's bashful - I think she has a short fuse.. 

because she gets aggressive the more we do.. 

at this point I started working on files for Friday and had them all pulled and finished by 6:30 - or so I thought..

the final appointment that I worked with was a Cattle Dog named Haku in for his bordetella vaccine.. he's gets very terrified. he's working his way up, but we don't want to lose the trust we have so carefully gained..

back to work on faxes, and the final file that was added on to Friday's appointment schedule.

then I put the lab samples together before the courier could come.

we got those all packed and out in boxes just as the first courier arrived..

I worked on the drug logs before they get too out of hand..

helped with writing the invoices in 2 files, and I counted the cash drawer.. 

then went home!

13.88 hours for today..

LONG day since I'd gotten there half hour earlier than otherwise.

home to eat some broccoli and a Salisbury Steak tv-dinner..

so long..

farewell..

auf wiedersehen..

good night 🌙

February 8th

I had a crazy dream about the house where I grew up..
someone had busted in the front door..
I dream about that house a lot.. I'm a stalker..
in my dream the mother had also died of cancer and dad is just raising these kiddos alone.
in actuality, the kiddos are all grown now.. they bought the house 24 years ago..
I last saw them in 2012 (?) and the youngest was about 11 or 12.. so they're already mostly "raised". 

I crawled out of bed around 9.. coulda kept sleeping.. didn't want to lose the day. found some good warm clothes because I can never seem to dress right anymore. I need to do laundry for work, but he's teaching right now.

ate my cheese croissant danish.. then checked the chickens for eggs - there were none. but I saw that their water was still frozen, and that they killed a baby mouse :'(
I came back inside and grabbed 3 red vines while boiling water. also grabbed the cauliflower crumbs for them.

watched 4 "House" episodes.. from season 1. 

ate some more leftover rigatoni. 

then Toy Soldiers 1991
then Preacher's Wife 1996

more cauliflower-tatos for dinner..
forgot to do laundry today.. was waiting for his classes to end.. 
and forgot my sleepy pills almost an hour late..
ugh...

February 7th

ugh.. it was so impossible to wake up this a.m. I had to force myself to sit up to wake up.. otherwise I could have slept all day.. my brain didn't wake until almost 9:30.. maybe later. 

I shoveled 2 bowls of frosted flakes into my face, and packed my lunch.. I forgot to put on deodorant..

I grabbed my things and went to leave.. remembered to shave, got ready to run out the door and realized I forgot my jacket.. ran up, ran back down, ready to run out the door and realized I forgot my phone 🤦

ran back up and grabbed that.. fed Mr Grey then left.. 

sorry CritterBugg ☹️

got to work at just past 8:45.. prepped all the a.m. 'stuff' then appointments started.

first was a small Chihuahua for lab work before his exam.. he had no peepees 😒 so that was done last.. but we did a nail trim as well.

next was a chubby CorgiChi for labs and exam as well.. 

next came an emergency from PMC.. a calico kitty, drooling excessively.. when she got here she was fine, no drooling, no behaviors of any kind -- other than her disgust with us, and what we had to do to her.. exam..  temp.. blood pull..

next came a Frenchie for an exam.. his owner had noticed him vomiting a couple days ago, and she was worried about aspiration penumonia. he was much better today so she turned down the x-rays she had originally requested. 

next were 2 kittens for a vaccine.. both sweet shy kitties..

Lunch Break!! hooray..

ate some more leftover rigatoni..

next we had a large kitty for exam and lab work and a microchip.. his exam appointment was made because of constipation - but then the owner says he's not constipated, never was, that was never his concern.. okay..

next were 2 little mixed doggies.. a fluffy Chucky female, and a dachshund male.. the dachshund male turned terrified once you left the room, so I couldn't check anything except his weight.. all other things had to be checked with mom and dad in the exam room.

we had a small tuxedo kitty cat, who was at Death's door the last time he came in? so not at Death's door today! his foster said he turned into a raving lunatic when she tried to trim his nails yesterday, so she knows he's not dying anymore.. 

a cat came in due to inappropriate litterbox behaviors. he's been peeing and pooping all over the house, but not in his box. he peed on himself in his crate on the drive down - so I helped clean him up. he seemed to really enjoy it.

I printed a list for Wednesday, and faxed insurance claims in between appointments..

next we had 2 Labradorable puppies.. they had kennel cough, or a cough, at their last appointment. the owners said they still cough, but they play hard! one girl gained 6#. the other not so much, only 3#, but she also lost her lunch on the drive down.. puke and poop.

some more faxes, and then we had a princess calico kitty for lab work.. her mother is a talker so that is always an extended appointment no matter how quick it would seem to be..

back to a couple more faxes, then helped with another kitty.. he came for a secondary opinion as well as for blood pressure. no other vet's office could get a blood pressure on him. he wasn't a fan of his blood pull or his blood pressure.. but eventually we got it done. he sees an ophthalmologist and they couldn't prescribe meds until they got a true blood pressure on him.

now for (finally) finishing those faxes and working on Wednesday files.. 

I got home shortly after 10, and ate cauliflower-tatos.. with garlic and butter.. so tasty 🤤

February 6th

crawled out of bed at 8am..
Saturday was a 17,542-step day..
Friday was a 16,999-step day.. 
exhausted..

plopped myself on the couch for a few minutes before putting on my boots and jacket to give the chickens layer crumble feed.. they were happy to see me.. I'm the giver of the food..
I scooped a few poops, and chuffed off my boots, then plopped back on the couch..
we ate some Denver omelet for breakfast and watched the movie "Hero" from 1992..

then outside for the car..
he worked on it an hour and a half (the quickest hour and a half I've known..)
had to find the old O2 sensor..
then remove the old O2 sensor..
the replace the O2 sensor..
my car still sucks.. I hate to say it..
don't get me wrong, I love my car..
but it's befuddling

we also need to work on the truck.. but they would require an alternate vehicle..
he changed the brakes and routers.. but we still need to replace the calipers and the tires..
we have the calipers and tires but no way to inflate the tires to put them on the truck.. 

but slumming the rest of the afternoon..
I haven't done my laundry (thankfully I still have some clothes yet..)

salted caramel yogurt with cottage cheese for lunch..
plus some froot loops and a couple slices of salami too..

rigatoni pasta for dinner.. leftovers from last night...

February 5th

so tired today. it was completely impossible to wake up this morning. no time to make coffee because I woke up 25 minutes before I was supposed to be at work.. and I couldn’t make any last night since I needed to grind beans. 

I shoveled 3 bowls of froot loops into my mouth, and gave the chickens some mixed slop (luckily THAT I had prepped last night) then off to work I went. 

I started the day with 2 wildly crazy active beagles. oh, what fun that was. both are mildly overweight so more of a workout than “normal” beagles. 

I processed as many insurance faxes from Wednesday as I could, and briefly held a kitty cat for a progress exam and vaccine, while ALL the other staff worked on a highly aggressive/highly fearful/highly VOCAL dog..

then I helped shortly with temps on 2 little cutie adorable chihuahua mixed doggies.. from then I continued/finished insurance faxes. 

Lunch Break!! we were going to have tacos from the taco truck, Bob was bringing.. however he had not yet gotten them so I ate cold leftover pizza I had brought and sat in my truck to relax. 

back to work, I finished writing the insurance faxes I’d sent. 

then appointments started over again. I took in a sweet black lab for exam exam and vaccine and a nail trim. 

Next was a blood pull on a sweet little chihuahua, notating all her medications she’s on— and when last given. 

I helped hold a husky puppy for temperature and vaccination. 

Next we did an exam, lab work, and a vaccine on a paralyzed Cattle Dog. 

then I helped with X-rays on a painful little chihuahua who was owner protective. 

finished with temps on 2 wild and crazy Boston Terriers. 

one of the Beagles had lab testing throughout the day, I held for every one. plus her nail trim and her exam. 

and her wild n crazy beagle brother-husband.. I held for his exam and lab work and nail trim as well. 

it was a long day.. ate my pizza for lunch - 1 taco from the taco truck - piece of shake n bake chicken, before coming home and eating 1 bowl of rigatoni 😋

beddy bye time.. hooray 😴

February 4th

so tough getting up.. it's always hard after 3 days home, I don't want to go back.. ever.. 
but I was up early enough.. fed myself.. and chickens.. and cats.. 
then off to work I went, arrived very close to my scheduled time. 

blood pulls and nails trims on 2 doggies from one family.. a little Chihuhua and a bigger Rottweiler-type doggie.. both very sweet - both VERY wiggly and giving endless kisses. 
then a progress exam and an injection for Jack Russell.. blind but still feisty, fidgety..
we got ready to go into surgery with a large German Shepherd for lumps and dental cleaning,
that is when a family with a little ChiDoxie walked in.. he was scheduled next week but owners felt he was going downhill - fast.. they had an exam with doctor who gave them their very limited options.. quality of life was not there, they had a tough choice to make.. let him struggle, or say good bye.. by the time they decided we were in our lengthy surgery.  
she was a large, very large, but very sweet German Shepherd.. very round lump on her tail.. and a mammary tumor. she was intact and had had a litter some year ago.. owner suspected that mammary gland was large because all her pups had nursed there.. he was only concerned about the lump on her tail.
she also had several teeth that were worn flat, and some were worn to spikes. he did not want any diagnostics on the lumps, he did not want her to be spayed. it was over 4-1/2 hours of surgery..

I and another girl had gone on our lunch breaks, she went before me.. I clocked out, went to the bathroom before warming up my food -- when I got out of the bathroom, there was a client waiting up front.. I helped him with an order he had requested 2 days prior.. an order that nobody had started.. so I spent part of my lunch break helping him.. I clocked back in momentarily, and got in trouble for it later.. I thought it would be a quick fix to grab what he'd ordered and check him out.. not knowing I would have to process it all from start to finish.. so my lunch was way late, which meant the girl I was supposed to replace went to lunch way late (and "lucky" for me she was actually close to on time today, so she ended up actually being late for her lunch).. then I finally actually did go on my lunch, sat in the truck in the 'warm', making it that much harder to go back to work..

I went back, took over for said girl and started monitoring anesthesia.. another girl, an extern, was there so she ended up monitoring while I stayed on the sidelines to jump in and help out..  
as appointments continued, we had another Jack Russell.. not blind.. and not so feisty, fidgety.. for exam and lab work.. he was a sweetheart and very willing to go along with whatever we needed to do..
next was a Shih Tzu for an exam.. upon exam we saw he still had staples from a surgery from 5 weeks ago.. so I removed those much to his dismay.. that's when the wiggles came out.. he wanted to give kisses.
I returned to trying to do faxes from Wednesday appointments, hoping to not get interrupted.. I of course got interrupted a few times..
one technician took an appointment with a Border Collie/Aussie mix.. while I took an appointment for an exam on a little adult Maltese. owner later tells me 'sometimes she bites'.. thankfully she did not.
a small MaltiPoo came for a progress exam and lab work plus a diabetic monitor.. he's a sweet heart.. blind but a wonderful little dog.
then our ChiDoxie with no more quality of life returned for his final goodbye. he was a sweetheart as well.. so tiny and frail, but you could tell he wished he could be loving and cuddly.

I attempted to clean up from surgery, a few different times.. I also had all those faxes to do.. and the delivery driver arrived for our lab samples, so I prepped those for pickup.
our surgery German Shepherd was not happy in her cage so we let her loose to wander. the Doctor asked that we keep all doors closed so she could roam - then not 3 minutes later, the Doctor leaves the doors open to the lobby..
a lobby full of other dogs..
and a roaming German Shepherd who was not dog-friendly..
that could have gone badly, really badly..
someone grabbed her and detoured her before she saw the other dogs. 

I was finally able to START the files for Saturday.. sometime around 8:30.. 
had 2 more to prep, 1 more to find and prep at around 10:15.. called it a night to finish in the morning.
had to stop for gas halfway home.. almost fell out of the truck, slipping on the step back in..
was so incredibly cold, I really need to remember to take a bigger jacket.. 

Froot Loops for breakfast..
fried rice stir fry for lunch..
4 slices of cold homemade pizza for dinner before heading to bed.. 

February 3rd

so I was up relatively early again today.. tended to chickens while he was in class.
we had one cracked egg in the nest box..  
I also uploaded a credit card statement while he was in class :) 

I shaved the Gwen - that took quite a while of back-breaking sitting-on-my-stool hunched over.
forgot to do her feet, and need to brush out her rear legs. but she's done for now. 
with Charlie you can't tell he was even shaved.. but the grocery bag of black hair proves he was..
I can't shave any of them bald because yesterday and today were only in the mid to upper 40s.
maybe in March we'll go shorter. it is still winter after all..

fed the doggies their mid day grub, and set up a new humidifier. 
the humidifier was a little bit confusing.. and not sure it will last long.. I mean, between refills..
also sorting cleaned up my sewing room. had to move some things for the humidifier. 
still have to move ALL the boxes out.. 

"breakfast" was a piece of shake-n-bake chicken..
"lunch" was salted caramel yogurt with cottage cheese..
"dinner" was a 'chicken' hot pocket with 2 corn dogs.. 

watched "Made of Honor" from 2008

Friday we have 7 appointments and 1 surgery - lumpectomy & dental on a large shepherd..
Saturday we have 12 appointments.. 6 appointments, and then 6 appointments..

February 2nd

so we ended up in bed at 12:27 am.. yikes!! 

the new blankets and sheets made the bed feel fantastic. I was very comfortable all night long.
I got up at 8am.. but I could have actually slept longer though.

I was going to go to the park for a number for food commodities.. but it was only 27°  😰
figured I'd go once he finished class.. nope.. still freezing cold.. didn't go to the park today..

fed chickens, raked doggie poopies, and fed cats.. that wind was horrible..
hid in the house the rest of the day. 

one of the sheets from yesterday wasn't clean so re-washed today with January's towels and scrub pants from Monday and a scrub shirt from the day before Christmas Eve.. 

I shaved the Dude but the clippers were crap. I had shaved Gwen's face yesterday and the clippers weren't charged so didn't last long. I figured by today they had been charging 24 hours but no, still not working well. I plugged in for an hour.. then shaved while plugged in from then on -- both Dude and Charlie Brown. Gwen is saved for another day - she is her own shave day anyway, as long as both boys plus extra. I contacted the company to see about a replacement battery.

I've just been on Facebook the rest of the day.. 

we ate stir fry.. rice, beef brisket, tofu, anaheim peppers, bell peppers, water chestnuts, tomatoes, and spinach/

watched "the Andromeda Strain" from 1971
watched "Tears of the Sun" from 2003

February 1st

it's a new day.. new month.. new start.. 
I did not wake up as early as I would have liked..
but he was not yet in his 9:00 class. gave the doggies their NuHeart meds and fed kitties at 9:57.
he had a 9am, 10am, & 11am class. I sorted my bills while he taught..
once he was out of class, I washed our sheets and made the bed with new sheets.
also changed the calendars and put out new towels and decorations for the month. 
that was pretty much my whole entire day.

we had more sous vide steak for dinner.. with 4cheese raviolis 😋

we watched "The One" from 2001. 
we watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" from 2008.