As if that’s unusual. But we have gotten somebody to fix Closed Circle, and bring it up to speed with some major Word Press goings-on.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch—I’ve got another sinus infection and am taking heavy antibiotics. You know you’re sick when antibiotics make you feel better. Finity is driving me bonkers. She’s reached adolescence. And is wild as a March hare, too skittish to allow outside. I’m going to find the leash and harness and see if we can make that work.
Sunday is our anniversary, and the garden is obliging with many blooms.
Neighbors had not one but two fights last night. Third or fourth night I hardly slept and so tried to sleep morning or afternoon. Now way to solve this.
No news about the rent house. I expect to renew my apt. lease next month. Maybe this is OK. Better than higher rent at another apt. without knowing how it is.
Flea and everything foggers due 27th. I plan to board the cats for a day and spend my day elsewhere, come back and pick them up and head home to clean up.
Wacky kitten playing with keyboard and everything. Good thing I have cat toys. LOL.
We ARE cat toys.
Can you get a month to month rental agreement without getting raked over the coals? At least it would give you more flexibility when the new house comes through.
IIRC, when the lease term ends, the renter goes into monthly mode until renewal or termination, with an increased rate both for each month tardy and for renewal; whereas if I renew before it’s up or within the grace period, the rate remains the same.
The good point is, if I move out before the lease is up, then as long as I give sufficient notice (60 days, IIRC) then I’m free without paying any remaining lease term. Downside: if they determine damages beyond known repairs, premises dirty, and so on, then I could have to pay a fee or lose deposit. Note also, the pet fee is paid every month, for two cats. My stance is, as long as I’ve reported all known repairs needed, and turn over the place clean and undamaged before move-out, as required, then I claim I’m good, shouldn’t be charged. But I’d be willing to pay if it’s not ridiculous, just to be out of it.
I’m going to call tomorrow or Wednesday to see what’s up with the rent house, and once I’ve done some more cleaning / straightening / reducing, I’ll call about the flipping’ garbage disposal, plus resubmit the same old repairs noted as such.
Way too much undried laundry, some of which will have to be rewashed / redried, but otherwise beginning to catch up. Kitten supplies are almost all in, with at least two items ordered weeks ago due around month-end. (Masks ordered at start of shutdown, I may have to get a refund, if they don’t arrive.) Irony: Masks ordered last week arrived today.
LOL, Tommie, yeah, I think the kitten is just shy of thinking my hand is a chew toy. He’s been mostly very gentle, but now he’s oder and getting more feisty and healthy and testing how to be a real cat. I don’t want him in that habit, and keep redirecting him. I think it may work; nothing serious so far, and he’s very bonded and a. little timid about some things still. Still a little kitten, not yet started adolescence. Still require the pee pads, as he doesn’t yet climb well enough, and has an accident once a day or so. But only pooped once, an accident due to scary stuff going on outside plus his hew-mon was preoccupied out of the room for a minute. So I don’t count it against him.
Dang it, I must be 3x the 10 line limit. — I will try to cool it again.
Neighbor couple fussed at each other briefly this afternoon. I’m glad I ocouldn’t hear last night or today all of it, just caught words here and there, but… they need to separate at the frequency and over-impassioned level of fighting (verbal only afaik) going on. I also presume the kids can hear their mom and dad/uncle/boyfriend/whoever he is, yelling at each other. Really, really tired of it. Tired of needing repairs not done, tired of my own flaws too. But trying to get back ahead of things if I can. Too much in my life feels too negative and hard to overcome, and I hate being so unhappy and venting so much like this. I need a good way out of this to a better life. Blamed if I know how yet.
Oh, if I could ship out on a starship…. (With cats, mind you.)
New kitten plus me equals another sleepless night. Also, Goober is still self-banishing due to kitten and/or fleas. I’ve reduced the fleas but not entirely rid of them yet.
Had two incidents with the new kitten, which proved he still has big separation anxiety, plus hasn’t learned to climb up/down to the litterbox from the bed, or that it’s permitted, expected, and likewise once in the box. It made me realize banishing him to the carrier may not be the right answer either. Changed sheets once. Second time, he got a pad, so no harm done. But I’m down to a throw for the bedcover until bedspreads dry or are washed. Also may have gotten across, playing rough with me hurts. Once he wound down, he did OK again.
So I had a sleepless night through no one else’s fault, then too twitchy to sleep. Fixed oatmeal, so I might sleep some now. I wish Goober would join us and wish kitten would outgrow this. But I see he still needs lots of patience and love to do so. — I’ve ordered what is supposed to be a lightweight coverlet bedspread, in hopes of something easier / quicker to dry. — I am so out of practice and see how much I have forgotten or don’t know about raising a very young kitten on his own. I have to get him through all this, bedwetting plus learning appropriate play plus fulfilling his hunting instincts, at least until and unless Goober decides to befriend him. Goober may be mellowing. Slowly. My hours are all turned around and I am too tired to sleep, but going to try anyway.
BCS: remember to self-edit to 10 lines.
Delete all vwls. W’ll dd thm bck. 😉
Oops, sorry. Got carried away there.
I looked over just now, and young sir hath fallen asleep in his food dish, purring away. This is twice since he’s been here. Thursday will be three weeks. I am mostly amused and only vaguely alarmed. He’s still building up to thin; I can still feel every bone, it seems like. He’s not a perfect angel, but times like this make up for when he’s not. Got a good laugh out of it.
Still have to get Goober and kitten to be good together, but had a good step today and will keep at it. Goober is self-isolating and thereby missing his share of attention. But convinced him to stay on the bed a little while this afternoon.
Urchin. He has all of those moving pointy bits…
Artful Dodger? Oliver? (he is an orphan, and [possibl;y a Baker Street Irregular…))
Heheh, if he were ginger, I might have considered Copperfield. So far, he does not show much tendency towards pickpocketing, but since I’m his sole playmate, he keeps wanting to nibble / nip / paw / grab my hand. This was and still is generally feather-light and innocent, but now when he gets charged up, “Ow, no-no, don’t do that.” He doesn’t understand why he shouldn’t; to him, that’s normal and light, probably. Goober is mostly avoiding him, jealous and passive-aggressive, but not wanting to really harm him.
He might well be a Baker Street Irregular, but Oliver Twist, Artful Dodger, and Fagin don’t quite seem to fit him. (Oliver might. I like Dodger but have never named a cat that.) — He’s very brown. Tweed? Still leaning toward Raga Muffin. Something spicy, woodsy, or earth-related? — He resembles Gizmo, the Mogwai from Gremlins a little, heh, I finally figured that much.
Those flea foggers can’t come soon enough. Plus I still need to reorganize in the bedroom. Hoping to board the cats for a day, get them a flea bath and double-check that kitten is indeed dewormed and Goober hasn’t caught any, and if the kitten is old / big enough for flea meds and his first round of shots and tests, do that. Meanwhile, I’d set off the foggers before I go, and spend the day elsewhere somewhere, then pick up the cats that afternoon or the next day. — I need to see how long you’re supposed to stay away so the fog can dissipate, so it’s safe for us. — Foggers I ordered claim they do fleas, spiders, ants, roaches, everything, for 7 months. I ordered 1 per room, and if it’s overdoing it, good! Closets and cabinets will be open, except for dishes. If I could vent it to space….
Happy Anniversary!!!!
My apologies, I’ve been running around getting my preparations for surgery taken care of. This is the second surgery on the same elbow in a little over 7 months. Back to physical therapy again. I’m finding more evidence of creeping osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. My rheumatologist might have to either increase or change my medications. In the meantime, no pain meds except acetaminophen until after the surgery.
Good luck with the surgery, Joe! When is it scheduled for?
Thank you Raesean Wednesday, May 27.
Joe, good luck, I hope it solves the problem or at least makes it easier for you.
Joe, best wishes. I hope this surgery has a positive outcome for you. Are they doing elective surgeries in your area, or will you have to wait?
And I’m sorry about the arthritis and the pain.
They are allowing elective surgeries in Ohio now. This could also be considered essential, as I can’t use my arm properly, and I’m in constant pain. But then, I’m in constant pain from the RA, anyway.
Oh, ow! Hope it goes well and there is no need for further rounds!
Weird phone calls, two right in succession. Neither has a name under Whitepages. One’s in CT and the other’s either for a nice hotel in a busy, upscale part of town, or else disconnected. I got curious and returned it, something I never do with unknown calls, and found it disconnected. So someone’s doing something screwy. Why my phone didn’t detect and block it, I don’t know. Also, recently I had a phone call with a missing last digit, so no way to look it up or block it on the phone. What the heck is that? How I wish there were a ban or block on such b.s. How I wish all calls had a caller ID’ed in a reasonable way. ̵ately, the majority of calls I’m getting are spam of this spooky, no info kind.
The county judge yesterday extended the stay-at-home / shutdown order, presumably to the end of the month. With all the talking heads, after some 20 minutes, I gave up on hearing the actual announcement. Our state wants to phase in back-to-work, businesss-as-usual terms, while my county is still seeing cases increase.
I will check my phone to find that “Ring only for contacts list numbers” option. Handy.
I ignore any call where I don’t recognize the number, because 97% of them are SPAM or someone spoofing a number to get past call screening. If you want to get hold of me, leave a message.
A problem is, lots of businesses have multiple numbers and they only give you the main number. So they return your call, or call to set up a delivery or something, and the number is local but nothing you recognize. I don’t see why land lines–which have seemingly shifted to VOIP now–have caller ID and cell phones don’t.
Re. Not recognizing a known business’ phone number(s): my day job is at a social services agency in which staff are now pretty much entirely operating out of their homes. Clients still call into our main number, then leave a message. Key staff pick up messages then call the client back from the staff’s own cellphone. As you instantly questioned—yes, our clients are often deeply suspicious of this call claiming to be replying to them but coming from an unknown telephone # (especially because a fair number of staff are deliberately blocking the cooler I’d on their private phones). This is not a business model to continue.
I’m also working from home, but my company phone is forwarded to my cell phone and if I make a call, I go into the phone software at the company and initiate the call from there. The phone software calls my cell phone and the customer and connects the two “lines” internally, the customer only ever sees my company number.
I’ll be in the office for the first time in nine weeks this coming week…
Hmmm… we should be trying this, and perhaps we will be. Communications in my department at least have been “scant.”
Caller ID is an extra-cost option on land lines – at least in my area. The phone is set up for it, but I havent’ signed up. (I can generally recognize a spam call: I can hear their phone equipment kerchunk my line to a live person.)
I have my iPhone set to not ring for any numbers not in my contacts list. If it matters, they will leave a message. This setting is, for me, fantastic.
I do the same with my land-line and answering machine, especially during political campaigns. But I’m careful not to leave any clues about my business; “Well, I don’t know. For one reason or another, I didn’t get to the phone in time. Well, if you’re not a ‘bot’, you know what to do. Talk to you later.” I’m also very careful about using words of assent; some scams get one to say, “Yes”, to some innocuous question, record it, and attach it to a “purchase”.
CJ, any update on when we will see Resurgence (Foreigner Book 20) on Audible?
:bump: Bumping this so it won’t get overlooked. Like ChiefTom, I’m eager to get Resurgence and Alliance Rising on Audible audiobooks. @CJ, any idea when they’ll be released? Thanks!
I’m also hoping for an update on when the audible version of Resurgence will be available.
Hope all is well and a Happy Belated Anniversary from the other side of the state!
Cautious Optimism: It’s been about half a week since the last kitten-bedwetting incident. Both Goober and I also reached a limit on the kitten’s nip-nip, paw-paw roughhousing, and the kitten has been better about it so far. He is now able to jump confidently from dresser / makeshift desk to chair to bed and back, but has not yet mastered up and down to the litterbox. Very close to that and therefore to waist-height, and from there to full climbing. So the two most pressing issues may be solved or on the way to it. If he can manage those, the most urgent civilized cat / pet behaviors may be set, and then it’s on to adolescent rebellion before full kitty good manners.
Goober and the kitten still have not made friends and Goober is still self-isolating and only nibbling at his food, but eating the dry. Hoping they can make friends at all. I am very tired of missing Goober with me.
Drat. Kitten did it again. Bed changed, damp underneath. 🙁 Vinyl tablecloth back on top.
Ordered a throw almost full/double bed size which claims it’s waterproof, pee-proof, baby and puppy / kitten safe. (But isn’t it still porous?) Going to try it.
Kitten had major separation anxiety after doing better lately, while I changed the bed.
Goober’s having other issues not dealing with his food and water, despite me changing them. Not sure what’s going on. But he won’t stay in the bedroom or on the bed. Effectively, he lets the kitten run him off rather than put his foot down and demand his own turf.
I don’t know what to do with either of them. Tired. Didn’t sleep last night but no noise from neighbors after about 1:30am. Noise from 9:45pm to 1:30am, yes. I may give up being nice and do whatever I want in the middle of the night too. Nuts.
Somehow didn’t know it was going to be Memorial Day on Monday. I am so disconnected from the rest of the world.
I was writing checks this morning, couldn’t even remember the date, and was having trouble figuring out what it should be, even knowing that Monday after next is the one-th of June. But the bills due in the next week are paid….
I’m gonna nickname him Quick-Draw. Little so-and-so let loose while playing on the bed sometime while I wasn’t looking, as best as I can guess. Naturally, at the edge not covered by the dang vinyl tablecloth.
This morning, he managed to hop down on his own to use the litterbox to poop, maybe to pee. But I am not convinced we’re past bedwetting yet, and I am oh so nervous he’ll make it a bad habit. Doing my best to circumvent it by plopping him into the box before and/or after eating and before bedtime. He only had one pooping accident, not repeated, thank heavens.
Any ideas how to get him out of this before it’s a bad habit? He is on the verge of being able to climb up and down on his own, I think, but he’s not yet confident enough to do it reliably. He also acts as if getting out of the litterbox requires permission, even though I’ve never made it a timeout. (I haven’t tried giving him a timeout. If he’d learn that too, great.)
Good thing I was still in the kitchen. My microwave had ended heating and the bowl was still waiting while I washed up. The microwave whirred again. “What?” Then again. I got the bowl out and saw, yes, “End,” on the readout. I don’t think it was venting hot air. It was new when I moved in, to replace my very old one, so it’s had 3-1/4 years. I decided, better safe than sorry, and have ordered a new one, a best seller on Amazon, Toshiba brand, cheaper than I’d expected. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow or the next day. If I need to use the current one, I have it, but unplugged it, in case. Should I ask maintenance to check the electrical line / plug to be sure too?
Thinking about Joe today, wishing him the best of luck with tomorrow’s surgery.
Indeed! All good thoughts…
Thank you. I’m about as prepared as I can be. My niece will be picking me up in about an hour for the trip to the hospital. It’s a different one from before, same surgeon, though. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thank you all again for the good thoughts.
I hope it goes fine with a swift recovery, Joe.
Foggers arrived late yesterday. But I can’t get ahold of the vet clinic this morning, plus I woke up with the runs, so I don’t feel like leaving the apt. anyway; stomach etc. still unhappy. I hope I’ll feel well enough in a day or two to fog the apt with the cats at the vet for the day or overnight, another checkup etc. for kitten, just in case for Goober too. Then schedule repairs again.
I’ve been watching The Colony, pretty good but a bit too dystopian, hitting a bit too close to real life, oddly enough these days, so not quite doing it for me. However, I want to watch the rest. I think that or reading / audiobook is about it for today.
surgery went well. One minor complication last night, the incision started bleeding and I woke up with a bloody soaked pillow. I thought maybe it was just some residual blood, but it kept bleeding, so I went over to the doctor’s office and asked them what I should be doing, they sent me to the ER for additional stitches. Now, I’m also on an antibiotic for the next 2 weeks, and can’t take my RA medications. Physical therapy starts tomorrow.
Oof. Leakage notwithstanding, it’s good to hear you came through surgery okay. Good luck on the next phase, PT.
My best wishes for your speedy recovery, Joe! And good luck with the physio.
I also hope the RA doesn’t flare up now you have to pause those medicines.
Joe,
Great to hear that the surgery went well; you’re home… and now doubly-well stitched! Physical therapy as a formal medical practice is one of the great (if frequently also rather painful) recent inventions/codifications that can make all the difference in the world for one’s body!
First follow-up with the surgeon yesterday. Xrays look good and he’s happy. He did a lot more grinding, as well as freeing up some adhesions. I have much better range of motion than before, still some pain. The incision is draining, although much more slowly now, and it’s not something to be worried about. I have a double bandage over the seepage area, and can replace the top bandage as needed. Physical therapy started right after I saw the doctor, and I have another session tomorrow. Stitches come out next week….
Hi Joe, I’m glad to hear your mobility has improved, and the doctor is content with your progress.
Best wishes for your further recovery!
Good for you, Joe! Happy to hear it!
Glad you’re OK, Joe, and stitched better. I hope your recovery and PT go wel
Not much luck with the vet’s office. Going to email them and set for Monday. They’ve been very busy and I got my message in once, but twice, they’ve asked to call me back, or it would have been today or tomorrow. So I’ll try for Monday. Not real happy with them, as I couldn’t reach them twice yesterday, and what should’ve been simple today, prolonged, delayed, not done. So we go unlogged all weekend, dang it. Kitten’s been here over 4 weeks now.
Vet’s office finally called back, hadn’t seen my email yet — but now I’m scheduled for Monday. Turns out tomorrow would’ve been OK, but since they’re too busy, I thought Monday would be better. After 4:30pm now. They need two receptionists.
I may have to report the garbage disposal tomorrow, but I have zero confidence they won’t show up Monday while the apt is getting fogged and I’m away, even if I specify this, from prior experience. — Had to replace the light over the sink. Special weird stick, fluorescent or LED. Goober had to knock over the other 3 new bulbs, so I had to order more today. Darn cat. I don’t know whether to be amused or aggravated. I settled on shaking my head and grumbling, but I love him. Of course he was curious and knocked it over, because: cat, it’d get my attention and it was a curious, knock-off-able object. Because cat.
Stuff keeps happening lately. Rot the luck.
Things here were quietly quarantined here, until my husband decided to prune one more branch of our apple tree, earning an ambulance ride, hospital, and surgery for a shattered ankle bone and broken, dislocated fractures of the end of tibia and fibula. Dire predictions by surgeon of extended rehab etc.; next morning he was up hopping around with a walker, and the ward by nightfall. Moved him to rehab unit last night; full 3 hours of therapy today, small stairs, shower and more. Tomorrow he gets a scooter and full stairs. Little swelling, no meds needed, and only an occasional Tylenol at night … ??? May be due to a fabulous temporary set done in ER by a gang of young hot shot doctors and PA; who were high five-ing each other for hours after setting.
Wow Cathy, that’s a very quick recovery!
I noticed something similar when our uncle was taken to a hospital in Switzerland one holiday, around 1999 or 2000. Another patient was brought in at the same time, with a broken leg (I don’t know what was broken exactly, ankle or shinbone or knee). The next morning that man was hopping about on crutches, learning to walk the corridor and small stairs, with a smaller, lighter cast than the big unwieldy plaster casts Dutch hospitals were still putting on, and putting patients on bedrest with, at the time.
The Swiss doctors were so used to seeing people with broken limbs from rock-climbing and skiing that they’d figured out that getting the patients moving again immediately, including moving the broken limb as much as was practicable (while lightly supporting the break), gave way better results than the heavy immobilizing casts that were commonly used then.
It took years for that Swiss better practice to slowly be adopted in our Dutch hospitals. It sounds as if your young hotshot doctors fully endorse that better regime. Wishing your husband a speedy and full recovery!
Owie owie owie (as I said when I broke my wrist)! Hope your husband comes through with flying colors, although it sounds like he will MAKE that happen. Why are all our salads having to make ER runs during a time when if at all possible the hospital is a place to stay out of??
eta: Sitting around here waiting to see the next SpaceX launch, with a live crew this time. Fingers and toes crossed it goes spectacularly well…
Ow, ow, ow, don’t do that! I hoe he gets better fast. Good on the talented docs and physics. Real skill is to be appreciated. Hmm, tell that apple tree it needs to give a good crop for jelly, sauce, something. And ouch, Please everybody be OK there.
Kinda glad I took off for today. Kitten and I had a slight dust-up last night he got too big for his britches, but we came out of it OK I think, back to good, and maybe he learned some boundaries, and that he’s still loved. I also learned a little.He/s so new at everything and doesn’t know his own strength or intend anything. So we’re good.
I’m cautious: took off the vinyl cover, no bedwetting fora few days, he may be over it.
The neighbors may be gearing up for a fight, but currently just partying. Probably I will be up too; too noisy. Hope they don’t fight….
Otherwise OK. Hoping to get a little done this weekend. Monday fogging and vet trip and me hanging out outside for most of the day.frtp78-[
Perfect launch today by SpaceX and NASA. First stage safe on OCISLY. Docking tomorrow morning.
It was nice to see the first stage landed right on target.
And the “dragon” (actually a dinosaur) plushy is amusing. (I saw it briefly right about the time the second stage shut down.)
now maybe we can get hotels and tourists in low-earth-orbit. Then we’ll see cool stuff happening.