…is a known side effect of the type of chemotherapy I was on last year. It’s called peripheral neuropathy and affects hands and feet. Symptoms very from numbness to tingling, hypersensitivity to cold, swelling, pain, prickling, and some impairment of motor function. Even nicer news, it’s damage to circulation and nerves by the chemo, and while it’s pretty sure what causes it, it varies in severity and in duration. In some, it’s lifelong. In some, it partially goes away. In some it goes away. The culprit is the ‘novel platinum analogue’ part of oxaliplatin. But since it saved my life, I’m figuring it’s cheap at the price.
The fact it has highs and lows, good days and bad, indicates to me that there is healing going on—or at least change, and it has been on an upward curve since about December, when it was at its worst and I couldn’t feel the little pills I’m supposed to take for another problem. Now I can. And I can type far more accurately. Cold water is still painful, but I can stand it when I have to, and the swelling in my thumbs and first two fingers has mostly gone. So it is still improving.
That’s what’s delayed getting books done. But Alliance 2 (title uncertain) is underway again, our publisher is endlessly patient and sympathetic, I’ve caught up to where I was when the cancer intervened, and I’m back at work in my work station for hours on end. For those of you new here, I had colon cancer, which threw Jane off her schedule to get 2 hips replaced, while she took care of me (and my biweekly sessions in the chemo lab and two days later getting the inserted line disconnected) until I was through chemo, then a gallbladder attack sent me taking her to the ER clinic at 3 AM in a snowstorm and she ended up having emergency gallbladder removal at 10:30 the following morning. A week before her rescheduled first hip replacement. So that was how we spent OUR 2020. She’s now had her second hip replaced, and I’m recovering nicely, past the tests, and we’re both vaccinated and will be fully-aged-and-immune come this THursday. Yay!
Anyway, yep, I’ve tried 2 editions of Dragon and it still can’t punctuate or paragraph on its own. So I will type while I can poke one key at a time on the keyboard. Jane is doing her final edit on her book, Homecoming Games, before I hand her the half-completed Alliance for HER gothrough and writing of the next scenes in our collaborative effort. Then I’ll take it back, etc, etc.
You are two tough ladies, continuing to write during all the personal turmoil, and COVID like a poopy cherry on top of the crap sundae.
Autocorrect is a stinker in most cases 😛
Pray continue to recover and we will await the new books as can.
I’m so sorry to hear of the stress you are going through. But am glad to hear of the progress. Keep it up.
CJ, wishing you and Jane all the best. We will wait for books; your health and wellbeing come first … just more opportunities to re-read and find hidden gems we didn’t notice before. So take the time you need; we’ll be here. The same hand and foot issues (different causes, same effects) have kept me nearly sofa bound since January; some speculation the vaccine may have triggered worsening for me. Still I am grateful to be vaccinated and TRY to accept what I CAN do; books are a lifeline.
I worried when I got the vaccine, because things I eat and consume can cause a flare-up — I very much wanted the mRNA version of the vaccine, because it’s all chemistry, not the biologically complex cocktail of a killed virus and accompanying antibiotic. Well, it did flare a bit, but calmed down. A person whose name I wish I could recall sent me some CBd hand cream, and that is VERY good for calming that down. I knew it was a risk, but Covid -19 is NASTY. I hope all my readers who possibly can are getting their shots! I want all you guys to be around.
Oh I so agree! I worried, knew flareups might happen, but got in line as soon as I could … being sure getting Covid would be so much worse. I’ve been using a nice rechargable handwarmer from some Kickstarter friends. I have an extra, CJ, if you’d like one? We look forward to the 14 year old grandson getting his vaccine SOON; as of last night he’s nursing a mountain bike fractured tibia. At 14, he’s proud of his “trophy”, in little pain, hopping around on 1 foot, and eating double rations … healing you know LOL. Mom’s following him around in a fever dream from her second shot, saying “I know I bought fruit popsicles, juice & snacks … ?” Luckily Dad the paramedic is on the job at home 🙂
There is this little motto I have a jpg of: “Note to Self: I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment. But I am going to need more yarn.” Words to live by. Take care of yourself and each other. I am waiting patiently for Irene to step into Bren’s shoes when he retires to Najida.
Indeed, WOL :). Hands too sore to finish the knit project on the needles (SO close, so close …) I consoled myself with some new skeins of special yarns from Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Even if all I do is stare at the colors … Irene as Bren’s apprentice is a delightful thought!
Had a friend who underwent chemo and had similar reactions in his hands. He never would tell us how bad it was, or how bad HE was, until one night, he said he would chat with us from the hospital. the next day, he was gone. He had LOTS of issues, which thankfully, you do not have.
I was lucky. Had I waited any longer, it could have easily gone much worse. Chief symptom—exhaustion. Shortness of breath,
That is a lot to go through, and a lot of suffering, and I am very glad to hear it is in your rearview mirrors. Such good news about improvements to your hands, and being able to work, and Jane recovering from that major surgery — I hope you’re both able to get out and enjoy being able to move around more widely together come this Thursday!
We’re pedaling as fast as we can, we say. And we’re getting there. We each do what we can
CJ and Jane, bless you both. That is a lot to go through, and I’m glad you have each other. It’s good you’re seeing a little gradual improvement. I hope it’ll soon be behind you.
“Novel platinum analogue” — Well, a platinum novel sounds pretty good, even it it’s tough to have platinum foil on an ebook cover! 😀 And gee, it’s been a long time since I’ve ween an Analog magazine issue. 😉 — Could not resist the bad puns and teasing.
I think I’d said last year or early this year that I had done a reread / re-listen on the Chanur books. I had in mind to take notes on all alien words to make lexicon entries, and to pass that along to na Spence in case it might add any to his hani language notes. Of course, I’d said then that I’d gotten so into the story in the 4th and 5th books, I had stopped taking notes. Whee the audio voice actor reads (and sometimes pronounces) in a very different way than I hear the story and characters in my head, it was also a fresh take on the books. I got new things out of the reread, either way. I’ve lost count of how any times I’ve reread the books. That I can still get something new out of them and love to reread them after all this time, says a great deal for your writing and storytelling. I was glad to get lost in the story and stop taking notes, but I still want to go back and check again.
Ooh, glad to hear Jane is working on a new book. That will be good to read. — But is it in her Netwalkers series or the cat and vampire books or something else? Interested in any case. — As always, I’m looking forward to the new Alliance Rising book 2 and the next Foreigner book. … If you get other A/U or Canur/Compact or some brand new idea, hey, go for it.
—–
I just watched the 2017 completion of the Classic Doctor Who story arc, “Shada,” with its bonus material. The necessaryy transitions back and forth to animation were a bit hard to get used to, although I’d understood why, because they hadn’t been able to finish filming back in the 70’s. But it was a satisfying show, and interesting how they stitched together the 1970’s live action and 2017 animation and voice-overs, and wonderful that they could use the original actors reprising their roles. — Much of classic Doctor Who is new to me, although college buddies introduced me to it in weekend watch parties when it ran in late evening reruns in the 80’s on PBS, nearly all of what I saw was only the Tom Baker era and rarely others. — I was therefore an ear fan for the 2005 and on reboot, but unimpressed with series 11 and 12, unfortunately. (Nottoo hopeful for series 13, but I’m hoping series 14 will get back on track.)
Today has been sort of a wash; not much progress, did not find old emails and will have to ask the two local friends to re-send info and do a bit more hunting to complete some things, then get back on track with what I’d been doing.
So I’ve been downtrodden today but I hope I can get progress going. Discouraged and trying to keep motivated and get myself out of my funk.
I did have a good time yesterday evening with Brindle and Goober being especially nice. I needed that and I think they did.
Joe, I’m glad you can be back again. Good to see you posting. Glad to see old faces and some new ones here.
I’m going to relax a little more, video or audiobook before I crash for the night, still too keyed up from the day. — Wishing everyone well.
Wacky World — It seems some company is selling a foot of land in Scotland to American citizens, and then claims to plant a tree on that square foot of land. They say that anyone who owns land, even that square foot, in Scotland is by law a (Scottish) Lord or Lady. To sell it further, the commercial has someone who has come to a couple’s house to read aloud an (alleged?) decree by the Queen (of the UK) naming them a lord and lady. I had to wonder how thrilled the couple will be to pay taxes to Scotland and/or the UK, ultimately to HRH Queen Elizabeth II. I seem to recall we Americans had a slight disagreement with the Crown over that point almost 250 years ago. The ad claims, oh, this is all perfectly legal, and it probably is, but it’s also very funny. Unfortunately, they show the husband’s reaction, in which they bleep out his words because he curses in disbelief and laughs. Not, perhaps, the most classy reaction a new honorary lord could have to his ennoblement, whether Scottish or American. Sigh. This was a YouTube ad which aired while I was watching news clips while eating breakfast.
It as so bizarrely funny, I thought I’d share for the humor value. — One does applaud them if the tree planting helps the environment, which is the hook to entice the customer, aside from the prestige and humor. (One also wonders what’s done with the trees and where. Caveat Emptor.)
—–
Personal stuff is still up in the air. Didn’t locate what I thought I had received in email, must search my text msgs. Likely will have to call the two local friends and ask them to re-send so I can get printouts and copy down website and case numbers.
I am so down, overwhelmed with everything. It feels like every time I get something done, there is another problem still to solve, and some of them just keep recurring, esp. the apartment situation. Trying hard to keep going forward. I expect to take a break from paperwork nonsense today to sort maybe-dry laundry, put together the silly clothes rack for drying, and maybe a little more to get the place under control. At least it should work fff some steam and is something tangible done.
Searched emails, still must search text msgs, but looks like I’m going to have to call the local friends again to re-send website links and case numbers to prove those assistance forms were filed. Beyond that, other paperwork’s further down in the stack, still needing to be solved.
Nothing new yet towards a place to move. I am so fed up with the apartment situation, I long to move; just not sure how I can get anything good or hold onto it at this point.
The cats are doing OK, being good, though they are not sleeping with me. (In the same room or nearby, though.)
My two local friends have not emailed me regarding the rent assist form sites and case numbers, so I can prove this myself. It looks like I’m going to have to call them both again. The one friend was supposed to make another payment today, but after we talked over how the apt. mgmt. has been doing, I’m not sure he’s going to, as he’d said t was better to put it toward a new lace. IMHO, yes, but the payment still needs to be made. I just can’t win. This has me very down and worried. I got between 4 and 5 hours sleep last night and tried to sleep in.
Got both cats their flea meds last night, but not sure if Brindle got hers fully. She felt the liquid, heard the sound, and startled and jumped away, later wagging her tail, much affront. If she knew how much that’d help her, she wouldn’t be displeased. Goober was fine with it. But he avoided, evaded his daily med dose last night.
This morning, Goober spit up on the bed. Whether because he didn’t get his meds yesterday or because he was unhappy I wasn’t up to feed them at the usual time, I don’t know. So the bedspread is washing, I have discovered I don’t know where the other oldest one got to in rearranging, and…meh. Fed the cats. Medicated Goober. He’s OK now for the day. Got to break out the better bedspread to use while the oldest one dries.
I am rebelling today: I’m going to watch a video or two and do some writing, whether it’s usable or not. I’m so frustrated with things I can’t stand it, and yet I’m going about my business as if nothing’s unusual, because at this point, this IS usual. But the constant state of stress and incompleteness is not good.
I hope I can write something that’s good story/char/plot/scene material. I have been so stuck in feeling like I wasn’t writing anything original enough, so feeling I was including autobiographical / real-life stuff intruding (I was), that I think I had lost sight of the fact that all storytelling reuses bits of plot structure, tropes, archetypes in characters, but the key is to put things together in an interesting, unexpected way, and to write engaging characters especially. Seeing some of the stuff put on TV and in movies lately, and how that has divided several fandoms, has reminded me how much character matters more than plot in stories, while plot and substance are still important. Some of the recent TV and film content has me again thinking, gee, I could do better than that. So I need to keep trying and to figure out what I’m unhappy with in my writing and fix it.
Talented, skilled writers like CJ and Jane and others, books and TV and Film are still out there doing quality stuff. If I could get even close to that level of storytelling, I’d be thrilled. I like some of what I get done, yet I still have trouble getting it all together and getting a whole story and not wandering off somewhere in there.
I saw a YouTube video critique of a well-known author’s book in a well-known franchise novel from days gone by. The review was saying he didn’t think the writer got the feel of the characters and universe right. I’ve never read that book, but I know that author always wrote quality stories. So now I’m curious to see what I think of it. While it’s possible for a good writer to get things off-key in a given story-universe, and while some books are commissioned, or are written to pay the bills, well, I have trouble thinking that author could turn out a book that misses the mark. I doubt it’s in ebook or audiobook, and it’s likely out of print, so no idea if it’ll be cheap enough or if I can get a copy that’s readable, given my eyesight now. Parlty, I want to study it to see what I think I’d do if I were writing it, and learn from how she wrote hers. Partly, I just want to see if I think the reviewer was the one who was off-kilter. Given the franchise in question, it’s possible a novel in it was iffy, even from good authors, because the two big franchises doing novels then had a mixed bag of ones that did and didn’t work. (I presume they were commissioned, but they may have been submitted pitches that were then accepted and developed. Or both.) — I’ve never read a bad book from that author. Didin’t know she’d written in that series. But plenty of good veteran and freshman writers did back then. My instinct says it’s how nebulous the given franchise was then and maybe writing on commission or to pay the bills. The thing is, that writer, like many established SF&F writers then, wrote for various franchises as, in effect, professionals who were fans and who were sought out or who volunteered, because hey, there was a demand from the publishers and the fan base for books, and ya gotta eat. So I dunno, but I still think the book in question is likely fine, not as off as the reviewer made it out tone. Given that author, it should be an entertaining read anyway. (I got the idea I would’ve liked a couple of the minor characters a lot more than the reviewer, too.)
But maybe I can get an entertaining read and maybe I can learn a little if I’m sharp enough to figure it out.
I like that author’s other books, regardless.
I guess it also shows that even the best writers can’t please all of the public, and everyone has a creative work that isn’t as successful as they were aiming for, there’s always something they’d tweak or rewrite.
Gee, I didn’t intend to go quite that far down that rabbit hole. Now I feel awkward. I like that other author’s work and doubt she wrote a truly bad book. I do think it’s more the way franchise books were done back then. I’m just hoping to learn a little on how to do or not do things.)
Wow, the day is whizzing by fast!
Oh! The cookbook a friend here sent arrived! Thank you! It was still in its envelope and didn’t get damaged from the cat’s difficulty this morning. It is now in a box, pending read-through and usage.
Brindle has now been here 6 months! Goober has been here 14 years and 6 months and 1 week! — Somehow, Goober lost his collar in the apartment this evening. I’ve got his spare ID tag and a fresh collar on him until the old one turns up, so I can get the tag. I’ve ordered a new spare tag for him in case, and a bright collar for them both.
It’s been either 2 or 3 weeks since I got groceries, 3 I think. I will order on Monday. — No news good or bad re my situation.
@BCS, you are so careful to protect ‘this author’ and the franchise that I have no idea what specifically you are talking about, apart from a longish report on what you are doing and thinking. That makes it hard to think of a response beyond just listening.
If you want to try to spark a discussion, about the qualities of this book, or the effect of writing for franchises, or something where others here can chime in, I think it would help to provide some ‘hooks’ that people can pick up and respond to. People who like or dislike the franchises or that book could chime in.
Not all hooks will pick up a response, but carefully sanding them all off wil ensure that no-one can really find anything they can pick up and continue on from.
If you can look at what you’re posting through that lens, it might diminish the feeling of talking into the void. Listening to a friend talking about their life is part of friendship; but commenting on other people’s lives is generally not welcome. Except perhaps in specific circumstances with close friends, not in public like on the Internet, so those posts are hard to respond to.
I was trying not to mention the author’s name out of respect for her, and since fans and CJ and Jane would know her. Also, I haven’t read the book in question to know what I think. I just thought the review was unusual and said something about how different people et a different take on a given book (or episode), or author or franchise. Maybe I’m being too protective or cautious about it, since we all have opinions on what we read, and criticism, positive or negative, goes with being an author or other artist creator. I don’t know whether I should just give the author and book title or not. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. That’s one problem of an author’s blog versus a fan forum for discussion of SF&F in general. I miss that. One of the key forums I used to visit all but shut down a few years ago when other platforms came along, which shut down a very active fan community. So I’m torn whether to simply give the book title and author or not. I did find the book in a Kindle edition, cheap, which surprised me. It’s one of the Star Wars Legends franchise books from the 1980’s or 1990’s. The review came up in my YouTube recommendations, and I was so confounded that I replied here. I had thought what I did say would be enough for a discussion, but I guess not. Sorry, folks.
Thanks for clarifying that the book in question was about Star Wars, because at first I was pretty confused (thinking, “are you telling me that you find an author’s worldbuilding about /her own world/ unsatisfying somehow?”), but it makes more sense now that you’ve clarified that it’s a book set in the Star Wars universe.
Having said that, I would personally (ymmv) would not be surprised about such a review, nor would I be particularly bothered by it. There is /so much/ out there in that universe, that I would not at all be surprised if a person got a particular sense inside their own heads about how it was — their own mental model — and then someone else’s worldbuilding didn’t mesh with it (your point about the nebulosity of the Star Wars universe at the beginning is spot on). If the critic were unable to recognize that their own mental model isn’t universal (for example, if they were saying something like, “this author is terrible because her model doesn’t conform to mine!”), then I myself would just chuck the channel into the bin entire.
I hope you’re able to get some writing done, but more, I hope you’re able to get some more stability on your situation vis-a-vis your home. I would 100% understand how that would take up all your brainspace at the moment.
Very glad to hear that you are trending up health-wise ! And Jane is finishing a new book? Nice! Post us the publishing info when you know it please.
It’s good to hear your hands are improving, and that Jane is through her second surgery and feeling well enough to work on her book.
I’m very happy to hear you say
“Jane is doing her final edit on her book, Homecoming Games,” – I really look forward to reading her new Netwalkers book!
I heard one is 8-10 times more likely to get clots from Covid-19 than from the vaccines, after focus settled on them.
Errrm, did I forget to change my costume this month?
What I got was carboplatin, and yeah, peripheral neuropathy. It’s improved, slowly, over the last three years, but it’s still a bit of a problem in my left foot. (Could be much worse. I can walk without a lot of trouble, and usually pick things up with my still-slightly-tingly fingers – just thumb and index finger, for me.)
I have a tiny touch of nerve damage in the tip of my middle finger after tangling with a table saw, many years ago. Mechanically, rather than chemically induced. If I stretch my finger full extension it feels odd.
I’m so excited to hear Alliance 2 is underway again. Whatever timetable. And that you’re feeling well enough to start it up again. I really enjoyed the first one and love getting back into that universe in general.
Got my second Moderna shot a while back and have a day or two left until I’m fully marinated. Had a few weird things with the second one so I was glad I took the day after off and ended up having to take another half day as I couldn’t work through it after I made the attempt, but worth it in the end.
I’ve been catching up on some tv through all that. Finished season 2 of “For All Mankind”. An alt-u NASA period piece drama on Apple TV. It was made just for me as far as I’m concerned. A 3rd season is already filming so that will be something to look forward to. Also started on an anime called “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” which is… unique. If that title draws you in just Google to learn more. It’s hard to explain. It’s on Crunchyroll free with ads in any case.
Cheers for continued improvement, and best wishes for doing and enjoying all the things you love. Rereading all the Cyteen/Alliance-Reunion books currently, and picking up on details missed (or, more likely, forgotten), and bouncing with glee that there’s more to come.
Hi, all. I don’t know up from down today. For the past half a week, Goober, my senior cat, has been spitting up once or twice a day despite meds, and then yesterday through today, he has spit up something like 8 times. Each isn’t major, but that’s still worrisome. Then this morning as I was getting ready, he jumped up to get his food, “Meow!” just as if, no problem, showing good will to live. He’s been sleeping more all week.
I called the vet to make an appt.; up until that point, I’d been expecting to have to call and say I was bringing him in for his last time, thinking this was it. But with a solid response like he gave for breakfast, huh, OK, kitty; so I reported in to the receptionist and got the appt. for tomorrow for a checkup. His regular vet is not in this week, but the vet on duty has seen him before. So I don’t quite know what to make of this. I’ve had only a couple of hours sleep, but right now, I couldn’t get to sleep if I tried, so I’m up for a while, at least. I will be watchful for Goober today; don’t know if he’ll continue havintrouble or if he’s OK for a while. But that also goes into overall whether he is well enough or too far down. Since he was so chipper, I’m leaning toward, false alarm, let’s give him some more time. But after the last 24 hours, cleaning up, etc., I’m worried for him. He is still his sweet, non-assertive, retiring self. — He is due for more moist and dry food in the special vet diet, not yet due for a pill refill.
Meanwhile, Brindle is frolicking, very happy with herself, getting good attention, and basically being a spunky and rather chunky (yet mostly muscle mass) six month old kitten (no, 7 or ore months, she’s now been here over 6 months). She/s recovered fine from being spayed. One thing though, I am only sure of one cat (Goober, I presume) pooping; no evidence of them doing it elsewhere in the apt. that I have seen. Not entirely sure what, if anything is going on, but not convinced I need to bring her in for another checkup. No evidence of ill health from her. Every indication she is doing great. And if anything, she could use a companion her age to work off some of that energy.
It’s supposed to be building up for a heavy downpour today and tomorrow. I need to order groceries and esp. drinks, as I’m out of all but tea, but I don’t feel like fooling with a delivery (and cat nonsense) today, too worn down. Maybe tomorrow or maybe Friday, but it will have to happen so I can be supplied. (I’m not low on some items, out of others, it’s odd.)
I’ve been watching YouTube commenters on classic and revival Doctor Who, along with a slow rewatch of revival (Eccleston and after) Who. Enjoying the now-old eps. — I watched some of the Tom Baker era in college on reruns, but haven’t watched a lot of the classic DoctorWho, only enough to know it’s good most of the time, and ignore the old production values of TV back then. I’ve also been doing a slow rewatch of DS9 and VOY. I’ve been enjoying them. Don’t know if/when I will get to watch Lower Decks or Star Trek: Prodigy, but I’m interested.
I’m looking forward to the Orville and Stranger Things and Lost in Space (Netflix), but unsure if I’ll get to subscribe by then. Sure hope so, as those have ben great.
I want to reread Alliance Rising and I wish the audiobook was out.
I’m all dressed up, as I was expecting to go to the vet. Guess I will get back into old clothes and relax. I will try to write some and likely continue rewatching shows. Very much at loose ends, concerned about Goober, hoping he can get better, but so worried before that this was it for him. I intend to spend time with him if he’ll put up with it. He likes the attention but also wants to be “around and with” but not fussed over. Everything else, including drinks (sodas, juice, milk, etc.) and groceries are on hold today and tomorrow morning due to this.
I hope everyone is doing well. I’ve been down in the dumps all week and haven’t shaken it but need to. — I have also been missing Ned the Little Nipper; Brindlereminds me of him, probably related. — Mystic, the big lug of a sweet stray / outdoor cat — I have not seen him since Brindle got out before being spayed, now over a month ago. I have heard cats around, but any time I’ve looked, no cat to be found. Mystic may be gone or may be still around, but again, I haven’t seen any of the local stray or outdoor cats, only heard them, since Brindle was spayed.
My current plan is, after Goober has been gone a bit, to seek out a cat around Brindle’s age if one doesn’t show up, so she can have a buddy and play. But if a cat shows up on his/her own, of course no telling how old or what kind. If I end up getting a cat through the vet or a shelter, that/d be cool. I do want a mellow cat, enough energy tand strength of mind to balance young miss thing. But who knows what will happen. This is, I hope, some time yet down the road. — Mostly, right now, I just hope Goober does OK. I was expecting the worst today, honestly. I love the goofy old fellow. He’s been pestered by Brindle, but not as bad as others, and they have made little progress lately. Not huge, but a little. But now, I am at least faced with, he is having trouble and may not have long, unlesss we can find something that hasn’t shown up yet, and without throwing a ton of money at it. I know he can’t stay forever, and his health seems to be declining again. He’s been one of the best cats I have ever had. When it does come his time to go, I am going to miss him so much; it will be a big deal adjusting to that. I am already trying to get used to the idea, but not liking it.
He/s napping again. I’m going to give him a little attention and let him sleep and then do my thing. Need to fix myself some food too; oatmeal, most likely.
Take care, all. The real world out there continues to be uncommonly crazy. So I hope all here are doing better. I’m frazzled. Times like this, I wish I had a roommate or someone special or at least close local friends. Just taking it one step at a time, I guess.
Goober has done OK today and I got in a short nap, which helped. We haven’t gotten the big downpour yet. But — sometime today, either I have misplaced my spare keys or a certain young feline has absconded with them. I’ve looked, haven’t found them yet, and I’m very aggravated. (I have to turn both sets in when I move out, or report them as lost if I don’t find them.) But I do know I haven’t been outside today, so they are somewhere inside. Dang. When I find them again (I’d better!) they will be put up where I know they can’t wander off and get lost. But, dang. Goober’s other collar and tag have not shown up either, but two cat balls, with and without bell, have been retrieved to be cleaned and returned to play. So…normal? Except the keys. I’m usually good about not losing them and not leaving them out. Sure hope I find them.
I think your suspicions about a certain feline absconding with them as toys might be spot on!
Tough, anxious times with Goober and a lot of emotional roller-coaster. Take care of yourself too, BCS. Pats to Goober.
Thanks, y’all. Goober’s still fine this evening. I don’t know what was throwing him off so much last night and overnight. He’s been mostly sleeping, though. Brindle’s fine, happy.
I haven’t found the keys yet, or the old collar and tag. It’s also possible Brindle could have moved the collar, since she’s liked fiddling with one before (the bell, plus something she can bat at, chew, and chase). No telling how long it’ll take me to find the keys. — I had ordered a new spare tag for Goober.
And…Brindle (and surely previous cats) had chewed on two cords, one for my graphics tablet, one for my USB hub. I wasn’t sure what cord to get for the latter, so I ordered a new hub. That old one is many years old. I lucked out and found the L-shaped cord to replace the one for the graphics tablet, and ordered it. Sure feels funny not having the stylus and tablet to use with my computer. I looked, and if I end up having to replace my graphics tablet, a similar model isn’t so expensive now. Hoping to avoid more, since I have the vet bill and Gober’s Rx diet refills plus groceries this week.
Given how Goober’s doing, I’m guessing he can hold out a while longer. I was so worried this was it.
Nothing much going on today, and tomorrow morning will be taken up with the vet appt.
Raesean and Chondrite, thanks again. — Counting today as a win and a narrow miss. Maybe on the weekend, I’ll feel like cooking something and maybe a cake. Please hang in there everyone. It has been unusually quiet around the apartment complex the past few days. Not sure why, except that the news keeps being circus-level freaky and the mgmt. is still thundersome. (Huh,fairly sure that’s not a word, but it sounds good. Interesting.)
At least I found my spare keys. Yay. Vet appt. later today.
:-/ And…I’ve missed the cab or it’s missed me. Goober’s doing better today; he only spit up once in the past 24 hours. I slept some, but I’m wiped out. (Stress catching up? Anxiety about him catching up to me?) Yet I don’t want to try to sleep during the day if I can keep from it. My sleep/wake cycle is always wonky, but has been more so the past month. I called and rescheduled for Tuesday, and hope Goober will be OK. The vet’s office is open until noon, I think it is, on Sat. (why did I not think to ask?). I’ll need to pick up more of his special diet, and did think to ask about that, so they can have it in stock. The vet’s office understood more than I might. I’m frustrated with myself, but also very frazzled.
Later today, I’ll need to put in my order for groceries. The computer parts should be in today and tomorrow, Amazon says. I feel like I’m forgetting something. Will try to get a little done today’s but I think I’m going to try to write, mainly, give myself a breather, and maybe call it an early night.
Today’s wweather is a very unseasonable cool day; we started with a low in the 60’s and the high is expected in the 80’s. Good, my A/C might catch up, it’s been running behind lately. The forecast says dry and sunny, then more chance of rain for the weekend and into next week.
— I saw the post in reply to my ramblings about the book review, and I’ll reply later. 🙂
Heh, the cats have decided it’s a lazy day and are both taking it easy. Good for them.
I feel so far removed from a normal life these days. Job routine, personal interaction. And I keep feeling like I’m slacking, while expecting so much of myself and then feeling unhappy that I haven’t met those goals and expectations. This feels like a weird depressive slump, in a funk. Sure hope I get better about it, but I don’t want to go into overdrive and burn out either.