…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.
Hi, all. Oh, good to hear you’ve got your first shot, Hanneke, and you’re fully vaccinated, Raesean! Very glad you got to spend time with your family.
Brindle is still adjusting. She’s finally learning she can meow a question to me when she wants attention or food, but still doesn’t come to me to do so, or to sleep with me. She will come at other times on her own, but not when I call. (I re-confirmed her hearing.) But extra attention seemed to make a difference yesterday and tonight. Maybe she just needs the right associations to get the idea. Or maybe she’s just odd about this. Heh. Anyway, it’s working out. She is chunky, and I’m going to have to find a way to fed her less without making her to hungry, before she gets too overweight. She really loved the attention and it seemed to get through to her. Not sure what’s up, there.
Just now, the middle of the night, I’m still awake, and I heard a cat outside, I thought. So I went out to check. I didn’t see a cat, but then, before I went in, I heard at least one kitten. It’s across the parking lot, but I can’t tell where it is, over the fence or in the parking lot or in a vehicle. So I went back in. Not ideal for the kitten or mama, unless the kitten’s in an apartment’s privacy area / porch. But I also can’t do any good looking for kittens I can’t see, and I won’t separate them from mama without very good reason. Plus, I don’t want run afoul of an angry mama cat defending her babies. So I don’t know anything yet, just that, once again, a mama cat has had babies around the apartments. Sigh. It mightt be the calico I have seen before, but it has been more than two months since I’ve actually seen any strays around; I have only heard them rarely, fighting or mating.
No other news yet at all. I will need to see about getting vaccinated myself, as I’ve not heard any word from the local friend. It’s been almost two weeks since Goober’s been gone. I think I’m about used to it now, but caught myself the other day saying his name along with Brindle’s, old habit, when talking to them.
It was mostly sunny yesterday, supposed to be sunny but more rain possible for Memorial Day and later. My sleep/wake cycle is nuts after all this, trying to get back into a pattern, but it never sticks.
I’ve seen news that Amazon has bought MGM, which means, among other things, Amazon now has the rights to the whole Stargate franchise. (Irony: Amazon’s rights to show Stargate lapsed a few months ago, so now they’ll have to update so people can watch on Amazon.) — Word is already getting out through fandom, that the latest talks from the old show runners of the TV franchise had been in the rounds for restarting a Stargate TV series. Now, that may get more serious with Amazon’s purchase of the existing back catalogue and franchise. — I had been wanting to rewatch anyway. — I see I still have Stargate (most of it) on Apple iTunes / TV, so yay. Hopefully, something good will happen.
Yikes! Somehow, my kitty’s gotten into fleas or something, which means a round of cleaning the apt. is required, plus another dose of flea meds for her when she’s asleep. (It startled her last time, so I’m not sure if she got all of it.) I did a little scrubbing with a baby wipe to help her, rather than attempting a full bath. I’m not sure if she remembers what a bath is like.
I did not hear the mama cat and kittens during the day, and haven’t checked tonight. I still don’t know quite where they were. So although I keep hearing cats outside, I haven’t actually seen them or been greeted in two months, since before Brindle was spayed, and still no sign of Mystic, the friendly outdoor cat I’d thought was going to make a home with me a couple of years ago. It is what it is.
Doing so-so today, hoping to be productive tomorrow.
Word of advice: The commonly found flea treatments you find at say, Walmart, etc. don’t work. I found that Revolution worked for three of my cats, and gave the other two very bad open sores at the application point. (Vet said that 20% of cats cannot tolerate Revolution). He gave me Cheristin, which is a biologic. It’s not cheap, but it works. Also, use Knockdown spray wherever the cats happen to traffic. Don’t put it on their beds, but in corners, under the couch, furniture, etc. It interrupts the growth cycle of the flea. Cheristin was $85 for a 5 pack and Knockdown is about $25 for a big spray can.
Thanks, Joe, I will need to remember both. I use Advantage II vials for their at-home treatment, and I think my local vet uses an Rx version of Advantage, if it isn’t something else. Either I’m never completely getting rid of the fleas in the apt. (carpet, most likely) or else when I go out, I’m picking some and they jump in, via the grass / lawn or at random from the cats and dogs that roam around the apt. complex.
I gave Brindle her new dose a day or two ago now, but she was awake and again startled from the contact of the vial to the nape of her neck, the feel, sound, smell, something about it gives her a jump-scare when she’s awake, and so I am not sure if she got the full dose this time either. She’s doing better with it and since I’d scrubbed her problem areas (base of tail and nape of neck in case) before giving her the dose.
It gave us a heavy downpour flash flood this late afternoon / early evening. I still have not heard that stray kitten or mama again since a day or two ago, so I hope the mama moved the kitten to safety. Since I never saw them, I don’t know the age of the kitten; I only heard one, though. No sign of the others around. I keep hoping against hope to see Mystic again, but I think he’s gone. If I did let a kitten or mama in, they’d need to be separate, since Brindle is healthy, spayed, and vaccinated. It will soon be two months since she was spayed, and seven months since I’ve had her. She is around 8.5 months old now, at a guess from how big she was when I first got her.
She’s earned the nickname of Miss Chunk, and resembles a Hershey’s Nugget now, Bobby, stocky build and borderline for weight, nearly alll muscle, too much mass for her size. I’ve got to find a way to cut back so she doesn’t get too heavy. She wants to eat anything or beg for more, and she’s still growing, not yet adult sized, so I don’t want to be drastic. I am still trying to get her to come when I call and to realize she can come to me when she wants and ask for food or attention, which she doesn’t do much. Yet she’ll meow to ask me from the other room, and she loves to soak up attention when I spend time with her, pick her up, etc.
Looks like we are in for heavy rain for a day or two. I’ve got to check when I last got groceries. I need drinks again, a few other things, but mostly still have plenty due to getting what I did last time.
I had Thistle to the vet for her post-surgical recheck and they pretty much gave her Revolution for mites routinely [hedgehogs tend to routinely get mites]. I didn’t fuss much, though I don’t look forward to all the house cleaning, as her health check was good. I was dealing with the veterinary surgeon not her exotics specialist or the grumbling would have been louder.
It looks like it’s 8 days since I’d seen flea dirt on Brindle and given her flea med. shortly thereafter. I’d said two or three days ago she had spit up. She’s done so at least three times since then, only a little, but it’s surprised us both. I don’t know if she had already eaten dry food this morning before I got up and fed her, but she’s never not eaten moist food before (canned, wet food). So I’m going to watch her today and see how she eats. Otherwise, she seems fine. I changed her collar yesterday, to an adult cat collar, but not yet sure if it’s well made, so as not to be a hassle. I may have to change it. If I see Brindle isn’t eating or if she spits up any worse, I’ll be making a vet apt. to see what’s going on, as she’s been fine until now. I’ve tried to cut back n feeding, but she’s been doing fine until this trouble. I’m not too worried yet, more like just puzzled as to whether there’s a real problem going on, illness or maybe she ate something she shouldn’t have. Output seems OK, and I’ve switched to both water bowls, and will switch one again, as it’s been a few days. Did have a nice bit of quiet time petting her last night. I’m hoping it’s nothing, hoping not to need vet visit, but we’ll see.
I’veordered from Amazon Fresh to try it. I didn’t need very much, just out of a fw things. (oops, forgot to get milk. Well, it will wait, I don’t want to order just that.) Since I didn’t need much, but did order some frozen goods, I didn’t want to empty my Kroger’s cart. If there’s a way to save a cart in Kroger’s website, I’m not aware of it. Delivery should be this afternoon. Hoping all goes well.
I don’t know what’s going on with me: No motivation to do anything on the apartment today, so I’m just going to let it be and tell myself I need to work tomorrow. I’m tired withoutt being tired, if that makes sense. No real energy. So I’m taking it easy.
Brindle has now been with me over 7 months. Tomorrow marks 3 weeks since Goober’s been gone. I caught myself saying his name along with Brindle’s last night when talking to her in the hall.
thought I was past that.
I heard a cat fight (or something) last night, but didn’t find anyone when I checked a few minutes later. So I know there are still strays or neighbor cats around, but still haven’t seen them. It feels weird.
We have the same problem with Zorro, aka Plumptious. Junior is a very casual eater, and will graze off and on, a few bites at a time, all day if there is food. Zorro, OTOH, will guzzle all the available food as fast as possible, and may barf if she has overindulged (a Roman in a previous life, visiting the vomitorium during a party?) This means we have to monitor Junior’s food carefully, or Zorro will swoop in and eat it all! He is a skinny old man, and we want to fatten him up, not Zorro.
Raid has flea bombs that we have found very effective at killing infestations (they are purple cans, ‘set and leave’ foggers.) For an apartment your size, I’d suggest putting Brindle in the bathroom with food, water and a towel on the bottom of the door, setting off 2 bombs according to directions, then sit outside with a drink and audiobook for the suggested duration. If she wouldn’t complain all the while, perhaps put her on a harness and leash, or in a carrier to sit out with you. If you can get her to take a small tablet, Capstar is a virtually instant flea killer our vet recommends, and will kill any flea on Brindle for 24 hours.
I’d go with taking her outside with me in a carrier, or for a day trip ./ overnight to the vet for boarding, for the duration, which is what I did with Goober some months back
Either I’m not sensing the dang fleas enough, or it’s one spot, or something, since I don’t detect a bad problem. That’s why finding evidence (flea dirt on her hindquarters) surprised me. Hoping a good cleaning of the place will do it. — Capstar, I’ll keep in mind. I’ve got Advantage II vials on hand. Unsure how effective an “Adams” flea powder was at carpet treatment some one while back, except that one treatment knocked me for a loop with allergy / cold symptoms for weeks after I’d overdone it, when I’d first moved in here and treated the carpet that summer. Heh.
Brindle is free of flea dirt and feeling better today. She had the smell of that flea med. for about 24 hours after application, so I now think she got most or all the dose.
Brindle’s taken to getting fright underfoot and weaving in and out between my feet at feeding time, hoping to encourage me to feed her more moist cat food. 😀 Miss Chunk is clever about this.
(Zorro and Junior sound much like Brindle and Goober.) — I had not realized how much Goober was outputting in urine, not just poop, until he was gone. I’m almost concerned. whether Brindle is not pooping often enough. If I see this continue, she might need a checkup.
I still haven’t seen or heard that kitten and mama cat, or any other cats, since about Sunday.
(Had to stop typing and check: There’s a smell of someone grilling, running through my A/C. This happens periodically; it’s been a while since it last occurred. So I checked my place, no sign of anything, then checked outside. With the rain, it’s hard to tell, but I think it’s a neighbor bbq grilling. But it bothers me to smell it so much inside my apt.)
Continued heavy rains this afternoon and expected through the weekend. Doing OK so far.
I haven’t had any note or call from the apt. complex ye. Hoping things are OK about rent assistance. No idea, though. Looks like I get to call and ask both Mr. Patel and Billy M. about that, as I’ve had no word.
I stopped doing much of anything on the apt. before Goober was gone, and haven’t done enough since. So I’ve got to get back into that to be ready for whatever happens. Very aggravating and discouraging. Trying to re-motivate myself. My sleep pattern is still more wonky than usual. – I don’t know yet when I’ll end up getting another cat as a companion for Brindle and me. I’m not really feeling urgent about it, so letting it be. Time to heal is still needed, I think.
I just saw a neat video about wolf behavior: https://youtu.be/y5S31HGNGSc
on Anton Petrov’s YouTube channel, “We were wrong about wolves and wolf packs” (the approximate title). The video cites new research that the previous ideas about alpha, beta, gamma, omega wolves came from research on wolves and packs kept in zoos and enclosures, which further research on wolves in natural wild environments doesn’t bear out as much.
I tend to think the alpha, beta, omega idea is still useful, but less stringent, maybe more under given conditions.
The video suggests (to me) that wolves (and perhaps humans and other mammals) turn toward stricter rules, stricter hierarchies, and more prone to violence or extremism under crowded or confined conditions, but my guess is, this could have implications or applications for social settings like stressor environments, school and work environment, military and police settings, urban settings like apartments or other housing, subdivision homes, and so on. In other words, to me, it seems like there could still be useful info and conclusions for the alpha.omega theory, more for certain given conditions, but in general in a loose sense, stricter in a more stressed or crowded environment.
Thank you for the video link! It would totally make sense that a group of creatures would need more rules to deal with each other when they’re in a larger group. The rules & dynamics of a group of, say, 20 people, is entirely different than a city of 2 million. I’m going to go check this out!
Here you go… The number of possible interactions between N people, or as some would say the number of ways N people can cause trouble, is N(N-1)/2.
It’s one of the first things mathmaticians learn of Graph Theory. Graph theory itself is typically dated as beginning with Leonhard Euler’s 1736 work on the Seven Bridges of Königsberg.
Although the experiment was much about overpopulation, it also impinges on social heirarchies and their collapses. q.v. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-mouse-utopias-1960s-led-grim-predictions-humans-180954423/
just wondering how @CJ is doing now and if improvement in the hands continued? Been a while since last update but it seemed to hopefully be getting a little better a few weeks ago. Best wishes anyway.
I’m ging to have to check out that mouse crowding / utopia article when my eyes aren’t so tired. But thanks, Paul. I think I may have seen something about that (or a similarr study) in science class in school. I recall something like that at some point.
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Looks like I need to replace Brindle’s kitten collar with an adult cat collar. — I ordered a wand toy for her (misplaced the previous one). This morning, we had a play session, extra long, which she loved and which gave her plenty of good exercise chasing it. I will try to give her more play time and exercise as a way to tor,k off the weight she’s accumulating and so she’s not so bored. She’s been doing a lot of window sitting and sleeping. She’s had one instance of spitting up, so I don’t know what happened, but will continue to check. Nothing since then, earlier this morning.
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It has been very quiet here, possibly because of a recent tragedy in the local news. But it’s summer, and despite the rainy weather, I would’ve expected kids would be out playing some today. Either the weather is just rainy enough, or it’s due to the virus finally hitting home with people, or else it’s due to that local tragedy. But it struck me as very strange not to have people out this afternoon or morning. And…I athink some people just should never be parents or step-parents or sitters. …That, when there are so many kids who need good, loving homes, and people who would make good parents. (I won’t go into a rant on it. Just…hard to understand, and I suppose it may be the reason people aren’t out today around here.)
Going to rest my eyes and maybe nap before I get busy on anything again.
@BCS, how are you doing with the audio recording?
The quiet should be good for that!
I am having real trouble reading print on screen too now, and I’m very frustrated. I’ve been feeling down and haven’t been productive at all, since early May. I’ve been rewatching videos some and occasionally trying to write, but the writing hasn’t been producing anything I’d consider usable; I’ve been deleting most of it.
I was very unhappy with my results trying to read from the very small print from my old college French literature survey textbooks, and set that aside. — I’d started looking at videos on doing audio, via YouTube, and had started checking the links on the page one of the salads here had sent about Audible, but I got discouraged and got distracted, and haven’t picked it up in a while. I need to do this. My eyes are giving me fits, tired and difficult. (It took me two or three times the normal amount of time just now, to change info so I could log back in to Yahoo mail, which had my old mobile phone number instead of my new one.)
I will get back on doing tests, then auditions for audio, and I need to do more towards cleanup and packing towards a move from my apartment, but no news on that so far. 🙁
* Brindle seems to be doing OK. No spitting up in the last 24 to 36 hours, so far as I know. She’s used the litter box once or twice. She’s eaten a little, but her food intake is down from what was her usual. I’m thinking maybe she has come to the realization that if she overeats, it makes her tummy upset or makes her spit up any. I’ll be watching today and tonight, and if she doesn’t seem like she’s eating enough, I’ll make a vet appt. So far, she seems happy and feeling OK. As far as I know, she hasn’t eaten anything she shouldn’t (like string or cardboard or a bug or something). I’m, just nervous, since it isn’t like her not to eat a lot, and since Goober had had what seemed to be related to old age and gastro-intestinal trouble, but which didn’t seem to be related to what he was eating or drinking. I’ve changed both Brindle’s water bowls. Aside from a couple of trips to the dumpster and mailbox in the past two weeks, and a few deliveries, we haven’t gotten anything from outside, and she has not been out except a few minutes once about two or three weeks after she was spayed, and I got her back in without too much trouble. Other than that, only her flea med, but that is the same brand she’s had before while here, at least three times. So I am just being careful and hoping I am viewing this with the right amount attention, not overdoing it or undergoing it.
Today marks 3 weeks since Goober’s been gone. I think I’m doing better, though as I’d said, I caught myself saying his name along with Brindle’s the other night, automatically.
Last night, Brindle got attention while on my desk and headboard, whereas she has mostly been in the kitchen / dining area window or living room window, or else my bedroom window (kitty TV) otherwise. She generally does visit me a little on the desk, but staying on the headboard and desk last night was more close than she has been in a long while. It was good, and she didn’t seem to be feeling bad, so I took it as a good sign.
I am sure she is bored, although I’ve played with her a few times, and one long play session over the past weekend. I am not sure if she misses Goober. She has meowed a few times when seeing people passing by, but hasn’t reacted, so far as I know, if she has seen or heard any cats outside. (I still haven’t actually seen any cats outside, but hear them infrequently now.) She has meowed a few times, seeing people pass by. 🙂 — She still has not figured out she can come when I call her or come to ask for food or attention, although she is always somewhere around in the apartment. I think she’s just used to this being the status quo. I haven’t seriously considered looking for another cat yet, but ultimately, I do want a second cat for her and me as a companion.
So…I am at loose ends and I know it. I’m at a loss for how to get myself really going again. I still feel tired, fatigued, and my sleep habits are still off from their normal weird lack of much pattern. My eyes keep bugging me. I am, however, doing OK on basic routine, eating, fixing meals, doing laundry when rarely needed. I’m not just staying in bed like I did back between my first and second go-rounds in college; I’ve never done the since I got back to working and college that second time. But I am not yet back to being truly productive or in high gear, which I feel I should be.
I haven’t heard from Billy M. or Mr. Patel, so no one local, or from my cousin or my uncle. I haven’t called them either, though.
I thin this will self-correct if I just keep at it. I keep thinking I’ll push through it, but it hasn’t yet gotten to that.
I’m glad Brindle seems OK and hoping I’ll see a return to normal eating habits or not so prone to overeating, and no spitting up. If she does well the rest of today and into tomorrow, I think we’ll be OK. Otherwise, I’ll need to get her to the vet for a checkup. — I’ve realized I don’t have any mineral or liver oil as a quick digestive aid for her, just olive oil on hand, and I do have Greenies treats which she gets each day, plus her usual dry and moist cat food. I’m low on milk, but I don’t give her milk. I’m telling myself not to overreact yet.
Today, I’m planning to write a little more and take it easy. I still feel washed out. I had about six hours sleep the night before last and I’ve had two four hour sessions in the last 24 hours.
It has been way more quiet than normal around the apartments. But there have been some items of local news, including one tragedy involving a very young child, so that may be why people are subdued. But I’ve noticed it’s less than normal, and even the kids are not out playing that I’ve noticed,.
Oh — my delivery from Amazon Prime arrived late but was fine. I didn’t know it had arrived, so things were a bit melted, but everything was there. I forgot to order milk, however, and didn’t feel like making an order just for that, so it’ll wait.
Doing so-so. Just sort of bumbling along. I’m hoping I’ll kick back into gear this week.
Milestone: Brindle will have been here 31 weeks this Thursday, so she is probably almost 3/4 of a year old now. Nov. 5th will be her first anniversary with me.
New problem: Yesterday, I tried to check my P.O. Box, but apparently, sometime since I last checked (maybe up to two weeks ago?) they have changed the facings and the locks, because neither my main nor my spare key works. So it looks like I have to call the nearest post office to ask about this, and possibly the apartment complex too. The last time I tried to talk to the apt. office did not go well. And, just to make it more interesting, I went too far and came up on the half-height fence or gate for another apartment, which woke the dogs and the people. So while I was trying my keys on my mailbox, the man and wife both confronted me from a few feet away, saying they had me on security camera. OK, fine, I wasn’t trying to do anything, just went to get my mail, and did not open their gate or enter their privacy area. If they did have it on camera, they should’ve seen my mistake and reaction. So I’m really not worried there, and I doubt anything will come from it. Besides this, there’s some construction, new facings on some or all the exteriors, with wood lying around. Great. So…weird start to my day, pre-dawn. I figured I’d go with my flashlight and try the mailbox with both keys before calling today. — No notice given, unless it’s in the mailbox. No email, no written note. Great. So I am going to try calling the post office before the apartment complex. I would expect I have to get the new keys from the apartment complex, but will ask the post office. So I may have to get the local friend or else take a cab across the freaking street. I am not happy about this, as I don’t want the office doing any side discussion, I’m really tired of it.
Are the mailboxes provided by the apartment complex? If so, I would check there first, because they are responsible for maintenance on the boxes, including changing locks.
eta: Is there a chance you got the wrong box?
Just found the Balticon videos on you tube and watched CJ being given the heinlein award.congratulations @Cj !
Also some interesting interviews. I was really impressed with the virtual convention. It’s been years since I attended one in person (my attendance petered off after having some sproglets sadly and When I tried to re-engage they’d become these commercial behemoths not the passionate amateur events I remembered so fondly) but the balticon one really brought back some lovely memories of those 90s conventions run by super-fab committees. Best memory is a tie between a hilarious talk given by Harlan Ellison on writing for TV at 10am on a Sunday morning in a room full of die-hard but hungover acolytes and the heart-stopping scream I gave when I opened my hotel door at Ashton-under-lyne in 95 at a Dr Who con to take delivery of a room service pizza… which had been intercepted by a cyber man in full costume. A 6 foot cyber man holding a pizza box towards me at 10.30 pm after a few too many ales nearly finished me that evening. Anybody else got convention stories to share or could point me towards any good stuff on you tube?
Best con memory I have is from one of the very early HawaiiCons (they’ve only been active for less than a decade, so YMMV). Strangely, none of the con organizers had apparently thought to give the GoH the traditional lei greetings. I was able to give Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, John Scalzi, and Claudia Christian’s brother (passing it along for a friend who knew them online) all lei! Also, elevators are great meeting places. All but 2 of the resort elevators had broken at one time or another during the con, and we bumped into Ms. Nichols and Jonathan Frakes en route to events at various times. Ms. Nichols is a lovely tiny lady; she complimented me on my necklace. I restrained my SQUEEEE!
I attended two cons many years ago, when that con was just starting out. I don’t know if the group is still active. — But I’d arrived not too early, I thought, at one of these, the second year, I think. People were just setting up. There was a little old lady, grandmotherly type, sitting at a desk, not the dealer room but where they were doing admissions. I don’t recall if I said hello first or she did. I didn’t know who she was., but when she introduced herself, oh, my! She was Ardath Mayhar. I had to confess I knew her name, knew she was a well-known SF&F author, but I hadn’t read her books. (Hmm, I need to remedy that; I think they may not have made it into storage, not sure if I have her ebooks.) For about 20 or 30 minutes, I sat with her, having this very nice conversation with a supremely personable, warm, grandmotherly lady. I was very impressed. At the same con, I think it was, I did meet a Scaper who either was already on the Kansas / Terra Firma forum, or later joined there. She was in the dealer room and we got a chance to talk a little. Another local fan and I had the chance to talk to a young couple with a baby, and they were wearing wolf t-shirts for conservation. I might be mixing the two cons, it’s been a while now. But these were highlights of the con. I was sorry to hear a few years ago that Ms. Mayhar had passed away. She was quite something. — Chondrite, wow, that’s fantastic!
—–
I don’t yet know anything more. I called the local investor friend, who was out of town but was going to check with the apartment complex about the keys and confirm when my lease term is up. (About the 20th of this month, I think.) I didn’t hear anything today, and am hoping to hear something tomorrow.
Had a little excitement with.a delivery of moist cat food — I’d thought Brindle was sound asleep in the other room, so I didn’t move her or close the door before opening the door to the outside. She darted out while I got the order inside. But luckily, just as she was celebrating having snuck out, a car in the parking lot turned on its engine. Little Miss MisAdventure decided that was too adventurous for her today, and she turned right around and darted back in before I was out to herd / chase her back in. Much, much better than her behavior staying out a full day before she was spayed, two months ago! So she is fine, I was much relieved, and praised and fed her moist. She has had extra attention today besides. All in all, a very good outcome. — She has not spit up in about 48 or more hours now, appears to be ding fine otherwise too, and she is eating normally, and not overeating. Possibly, she has finally connected the idea that overeating will make her feel bad. I think that and the flea med combined to give her a double whammy. At least, I hope that’s all it was. But if that gets her into better food habits, then the three days worrying were worth it. — So I am happy she’s feeling better. — My eyes are still giving me fits.
I didn’t do much today. Wrote a little, which was barely a rough draft and some world-building and thinking up the initial situation. What I wrote needs to be rewritten, but it was the best I’ve gotten out in almost a month since Goober took a downturn. So I am OK enough with that. I watched a bit on YouTube. I guess I needed some down time. I still need sleep and eye rest. But today worked out a little better than I’d hoped, except for the key and overall situation.
— Ah, no, I made sure with each try. That is indeed the right P.O. Box I was trying to open; tried both my usual key and the spare and no-go. Yes, the boxes are banks of P.O. Boxes from the post office but on the apartment complex grounds, and when I moved in (previous landlord owners) I got the P.O. Box keys along with my apartment keys. So yes, most likely, it’s on them.
Checking local TV news, there have been a rash of mail thefts across the city and other burglaries against people or housing, and cases of road rage and shootings and a tragic case about a a little boy. All within the past few week, more than usual.
I hope to hear about my keys tomorrow or the next day.
— Oh, I’ll want to look for the con with the award to CJ! Well deserved!
Also going to spoil Brindle some more. She is making a little progress, bonding a little more. Tomorrow is her 31st week here. 🙂 hard to believe it will soon be 3/4 of a year.
One other bit of science fiction turned fact news: There have been two local TV news articles publicizing that a local airport will be the new base of a new spaceport. No, not kidding, a commercial and private enterprise spaceport. I believe that was supposed to be based at Ellington field airport, here in Houston.
And Amazon has bought MGM, which means Amazon has the rights to Stargate, once ownership and rights issues are ironed out. The creators of the TV franchise have been working on another attempt for a fourth Stargate series in the TV franchise continuity. But even if it’s a done deal as soon as possible, it will likely be some months before we know if a fourth series will really happen. Still, this is good news, and I’ve seen reports that most of the prior casts would love to do something for a new series. Keep your toes and symbioses crossed, then! 😀
Yes, I think I heard that SpaceX is expanding its spaceport options. I know that one small coastal town in TX was largely bought out and turned into their current test facility; maybe they want liftoff capacity nearby.
I am waiting for MGM to finish its review of the Stargate SG-1 tabletop RPG (a Kickstarter thing). Waiting. Waiting. Waiting…
thankyou jackalgirl
I live to serve! : )
I’ve found Dial The Gate on YouTube, and I’ve seen news that Stargate tabletop RPG game, by Wyvern Games, I think it is, is in development. There’s even a video conference of some of the SG-1 and SG-A stars playing a test run, and I’ve forgotten the website link off the top of my head. But for gamers, it looked encouraging. — I’m a total noob at tabletop RPG’s, but still, that is other good news, that new things are happening. I’m enjoying my rewatch slowly.
Not really any other news. P.O. Box is still not resolved; haven’t heard anything back.
Brindle is doing better. She is not eating a full can of moist food at a sitting, but that is OK. She’s eating dry periodically. Her appetite is not as big as it was, but she hasn’t lost weight yet, and no drastic changes and no further spitting up. She’s got her energy back, chipper as usual. All good news. However, she doesn’t seem to be pooping much, and I may need to call about that. Not drinking much that I can tell. I may add a little water to her moist food. But all in all, OK. I’m no longer worried about her.
She has started talking to me more, but _still_ has not learned to come when called. She is doing slightly better about saying she wants food or attention, but rarely will come to me to ask for it. I think she’s mostly content being in and looking out the windows, but I see I need to work on more play time with her, and I see also that if she could get outside, she’d love to do so. I think I was very lucky last time, the other day, that she high-tailed it back inside when she heard the car, when she had zipped out. So I am still being extra careful, trying to keep a door closed as an “airlock seal” so she can’t get outside and get lost.
I keep hearing cats outside, only very Arely, and then don’t see them if I go out; probably taking too long. So I suspect that the calico and the grey-black tomcat may still be around, but not really sure. I haven’t heard or seen signs of that kitten, now a week or so ago. No sign at all of Mystic, now two and a half months, since the last time I saw him was just before Brindle went in to be spayed. I miss the big lug and hope someone got him to a home or shelter, so he can have a home, rather than some accident or demise.
I still catch myself saying Goober’s name once in a while, talking to Brindle, but of course not calling herby his name. I’m still not feeling an urgent need to adopt a new cat as a companion for me and for Brindle, but that is the eventual plan. — And as always, I’m not going in with expectations on what the cat looks like or personality. I would only want a cat that can get along fine with Brindle so they are buddies, not jealous rivals for my attention. I think my best chance would be a cat within two or three months younger than she is, or up to a couple of years older. But as usual , either a cat will appear or a friend may have one or I may get given one at random from around here, rather than going to a shelter to adopt, which would be my other option.
I think the local strays around the apartments must have been thinned out by the management change and any construction, as it’s been so notably quiet compared to before. As long as they got to shelters to be given homes, that’s OK.
Hmm…Brindle is on about something, meowing in the other room. Going to see. Might be she’s seen something outside, or is just bored and hoping for attention. Good that she is communicating, though.
Brindle has resumed an old habit. For the past few minutes, off and on, she is hanging on with her arms and head through the window blinds, playing, looking outside, watching me. I am trying not to encourage this by laughing or playing with her, but having a hard time. I had hoped she had outgrown this. Trouble is, I’m worried she could get tangled up and hurt herself, fall, etc., or ruin the blinds. When she bursts up from the table and box into the window, likewise, I’m worried she could hurt herself or break something. But that window is over my bed and a cart where my printer sits. There’s not really a good option to move things. LOL, she is still hanging there, just looking at me! Silly little character. She knows she is being cute and seeking attention. 😀 She is so odd about not sleeping with me or seeking much attention oherwise, and then she’ll do this. I’m going to get her untangled from the blinds and pet her and play a little. Maybe that will satisfy her. Hahaha, she’s adorable like this, such a little character. — Oh, she got tired of that and has dashed to the other room. I’ll play with her, which is what I think she wants, attention and play time, bored. 🙂
Have a good day, everyone. She is a character, unique, unlike other cats. I’ve never seen quite this personality combination and behavior before. LOL. Love her. Atlest from this, I know she hasn’t given up on me either.
Oh wow, sudden heavy thunderstorm here, with *hail*. It’s mid-June. Hail is _very_ weird this time of year. We had a high of 99 yesterday or the day before, low to mid 90’s for all the week ahead. So hail is…weird. There’s a couple of tropical systems out in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic which have been building up, but were only expected to give us more rain here for a night or so. Wild. Have a good evening, everyone!
Good News / Bad News / Maybe / I don’t know?
Hi all. It’s been too quiet where I am. No news from the friend, who was supposed to call about my mailbox. This morning, I discovered a note had been put in my half-height gate to my porch/patio area, which I had not seen before, dated 06/17. The note shows a surprisingly low balance due, which might otherwise be for less than one month, from a maybe-new person at the office. So I will call the friend later to see about this. Maybe we can make some progress. My lease should come due for renewal either any day now (this month) or sometime next month. No word from the friend about progress finding a place to live. I don’t want to stay here, but as I see it now, I might have to renew and stay, if there’s no better alternative available. At the end of the apt. lease term, it goes into month-to-month with an increased rate until and unless there’s renewal or move-out.
Still not much progress otherwise, and I keep feeling inordinately tired, and my eyes keep giving me fits, having trouble seeing. I’ve been sleeping more often and watching videos, listening to audio, doing some now and then to the apt., but more needed.
However, one bit of unexpected progress: Brindle has been bored, with just the two of us, and she’s eating too much or it’s staying on, though she’s still more or less not quite overweight, just :extra chunky.” It feels like it’s nearly all muscle, and she is still growing, at somewhere over 9 months od. (Thursday will be her 33rd week with me, not quite 3/4 year yet.) So I’ve had a fw play sessions with her with a wand toy, which seems to be her preference, other than a ball with a bell inside. (A couple of catnip mice and balls without bells are hiding somewhere throughout the apartment, along with a recent crinkle ball.) (I ordered a catnip banana with a peel, which she might like.) We had a longer play session yesterday which she really liked. — And she decided to stay on the bed! Then when I went to bed after being up during the night, aha! she stayed; we slept together with her sleeping on my arm and occasionally grooming my arm, haha. This is a breakthrough, and maybe it will last. I was very pleased, since it should help us both feel less lonely and help us bond more. She’s been slightly more vocal, “asking” things with her tone of voice, like, “where are you?” or “can you clean my bot?” or “more food / treats” or “change my water bowl?” (I know these from whee she is when she meows and what she does when I get up and respond.) So we are communicating better. She may be close to learning (at long last) to come to me when she wants something or when I call for her to come.
So at least in that, I am encouraged, happy at the progress. She’s realizing she gets the attention she wants. She’s well behaved, with only occasional flubs or some comedic misses. 🙂
I’ve had spotty luck about Kroger’s website, with a few times when I couldn’t get it to show found search items. So my last grocery purchase was from Amazon Fresh instead, and that worked fine, except I didn’t hear when they came by, so it was out there a while before I got it in. I am expecting to put in another smallish order this week, since I’m out of milk and nearly out of juice and soft drinks, plus a few other items, but no major needs there/ I expect to put in my order, either Fresh or Kroger’s, tonight for tomorrow or Wednesday delivery.
The few times I’ve heard cats outside fighting or mating, when I’ve gone out to see, I haven’t found them. In particular, nothing about the kitten I’d heard, now maybe three weeks ago. But so I have not seen any of the former regulars or anyone new, as far as cats, and I’ve hardly run into any neighbors outside. I have very seldom heard kids playing outside either, which is odd. People are still around, and I don’t think my nearby neighbors have changed. Not sure.
So that’s where things stand. I’m up early, but may go back to bed, as I still feel tired. I don’t think I’m sick, just…I don’t know. It also doesn’t particularly feel like depression. But I am fatigued, very, and my sleep/wake pattern is out of whack, and as I’d said, my eyes are bothering me more than usual, which feels like it may be a new, unwanted normal.
I’m going to check this week for a nearby location for vaccinations, with a first try being the Kroger pharmacy. No phone call or text message or mail, and of course, I haven’t been able to access my mailbox since earlier this month.
Take care, everyone. The local and national news has been not good, and I’m hoping Tommie and other Gulf Coast folks missed severe flooding or damage from the recent tropical depression / storm Claudette. We missed it entirely here, and expected hot and sunny and drier than usual here for this week.
I haven’t yet really considered getting a second companion cat, as I’m sort of expecting that if I do move, then it wold be after that when I’d get a second cat. But I don’t know. No cat has shown up to adopt him/herself in, haha, so it might be a trip to a shelter when I do. Brindle and I are doing OK, but a second cat would help us both balance, I think.
I hope everyone’s doing OK.
@BCS, some time as an only cat may help Brindle to bond with you.
I’ve found that now I have two cats, little sister is much more off on her own. Big brother gets jealous when she gets attention, and tends to jump her as prey and bite her neck after, so she doesn’t seek me out unless she’s sure he’s locked downstairs. Only after she is sure he can’t see and can’t come in to where we are will she approach me. Then, she really comes asking for pets, but still doesn’t dare settle too close for long.
Both solitary cats I had before were more attached to me, and at peace in their solitary territory. Big brother now is very attached to me, and likes to tease his sister, but he is clearly limiting her free enjoyment of her place here. She’s not unhappy, but clearly keeps herself away to not infringe on his prerogatives.
From my limited experience, getting a second cat in the same territory may not always be better for both. If Brindle is enjoying her time with you, and you can play with her and give her the attention she needs, having you and your home to herself may be fine. No need to hurry in any competitor for your attention.
I’m leaning to that advice, Hanneke. — I know Goober felt slighted when I took in Brindle. But I am glad I took her in. — We’ve definitely had a breakthrough. Extra play time, interactive, has helped her bond and start to “talk” to me, and last night was the second night she slept on the bed with me. She’s been enjoying the bed today in between her other usual routine, and she’s been more active, which is good for her, since she needs the exercise. I’m having to adjust to the idea that she is just built very sturdy and stocky, more compact, a lot of muscle there, and she weighs more. But I’m trying to be more careful about her eating too. She’s somewhere over 9 months old, and abut 6 weeks away from being with me 9 months. She’s happier, the past week, for which I’m grateful. So time one on one has helped. I’ve been giving her more attention too, because I’ve needed that.
So I’ll wait a while and see how things go before adopting. I did look at PetFinder.com through Special Pals here, to see the selection that day. I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t really tell enough about the cats and kittens without actually seeing them. They all looked cute, of course! 🙂 — I was reminded of Ned and of other cats I’ve had. — I think I’m finally used to having a girl cat, the first time in ages except for when Peppercorn and her kittens were here. I’d probably look for.a boy cat, but I’m not going to put any limits on what kind of cat I’d look for, as long as they have a good chance of getting along with Brindle. (It’s funny, I’ve never had a “lilac” color cat before, the light phase of a brown cat. Anyway, for now, it’s a future item. Maybe it’s best for Brindle and I to be a pair, at least for now. — I am still being super careful not to let her out, since I don’t want a repeat of last time. Overall, I’m very happyy she’s made progress. She still hasn’t learned to come when called, but for her to know she can sleep on the bed, and with me, and a better bond, those are big wins.
—–
Groceries — Amazon decided several items in my cart were unavailable when I wanted to place my order, and then again today. Kroger’s website says they’re having “issues” with my cart. So nothing got ordered today, so it’ll be later this week, tomorrow at earliest, to place my order. I will be out of everything but tea to drink by Thursday. A few things, I’m out of or low on, but the drinks are the only real urgent need. I’ll get by; I’m just irritated. That “food insecurity” is a real thing.
Today was the first time in a while that I’ve felt mostly like myself. So maybe I will be more productive and get more done the next few days.
I hope CJ and Jane are OK and just busy. Haven’t seen a few of our regulars on lately, so I hope they are all OK.
Intermittent showers and heat here, but no real effects from Claudette, which is way past us here. I hope folks are OK and having a good summer. I’m hoping to have better news, but nothing new yet.
EEgad. I had changed my phone settings for text-to-speech, etc. — I hadn’t called or checked it in a few days. Just tried to enter my passcode and it doesn’t want to accept it. I’m entering the right code, as far as I can tell, and it’s not taking it. So it’s disabled itself for a few minutes.
I did get to see it was from Billy M., the in-town friend. So I was able to email him from my computer. Hoping that will clarify. I’ve asked him to call me or come by if I can’t get a call out to him, but at least that lets him know I got the call and I’m OK.
Very, very aggravated at my phone. If I can get it to unlock, I’ll go in and set the setting back to how they were. Hoping I don’t have to go in to get my dang phone reset. VErY aggravated.
I got a note from apt. mgmt. late last week of a balance due, but only for an about about half the current month’s rent, so I don’t know what’s going on. Their maintenance people have been (I think) changing out the exterior facing boards throughout the complex. No word, though.
I was able to put in an Amazon Fresh order, but it didn’t have everything available, so I will likely have to put in another. Couldn’t get Kroger’s website to do right, it was saying it had issues with the cart and try again later. Not my week, I guess. My eyes are giving me trouble too. Makes everything more difficult.
Oh boy. My phone is taking all the digits for the passcode, but it’s saying it’s not valid. I’ve tried my passcode plus the other passcodes (digits) I’ve sed before for other accounts, even though I don’t think I’ve forgotten my phone’s passcode.
It looks like I’m going to have to get that friend to come by and take me to get my phone serviced to unlock that so I can use it again. This looks like the accessibility text-to-speech options are clashing with the phone’s functions. I don’t see how the code could have been changed without me doing it. It isn’t a payment problem.
I am very freaked out and aggravated simultaneously. My phone is a key tool for me to do anything. I sure hope I can get with Billy tomorrow, the day after at least.
And I have to be here for my grocery delivery , so I can’t miss that. Billy might have to come back, if he even gets here tomorrow morning. I really do not need any more complications. And my reaction is way too upset / panicky, and I know that, but still it’s getting to me. I will be OK. But this shouldn’t get me so shook up. I’m better than this. I guess I’ve been through so much the past few months, that everything is getting to me lately. My eyesight is seriously bothering me in my ability to do things and my self-confidence. I’m off overall.
There must be a way to get back on track and get things done. I’ve been so down and so fatigued, which hasn’t helped. But things have got to work out.
Today and yesterday afternoon were the first days I’ve felt more like my usual self. Didn’t need something to mess with that.
I really want to get myself in gear, and I really hope between me and Billy or whoever, that I can get things resolved. I am so tired of dealing with all this, or not dealing with it, or not being able to because my eyes are not up to it.. Blast.
I will let you all know when I know anything more. It’s now over an hour or two since I got the call and couldn’t get the phone to work to answer.
I want a life again. I feel so alone and outnumbered, and for the past month, I’ve been so down, I haven’t been helping myself enough. Just so tired of the whole mess. I want a good life again, a way out. I’m worried maybe y sight is down too far now. — I just want this all solved, some way to have a decent life again, and I am tired of being alone and without help and without my own initiative either. There must be a wa for things to work out. — I’ll bet I’m making a ton of typos too. :-/