Just another Manic Monday! 11-18-13 (Callie)

We had a pretty major storm system blow through yesterday. The rain gutter was torn off my garage. Probably not enough to file an insurance claim though. I will have to deal with it when I get back.

I am just hoping that the wind dies down a bit before my flight. I hate flying and a bumpy flight just makes it that much worse. We are having 56 mph wind gusts. Yuck.

Julie, glad you didn't have any major damage.  Seeing the coverage of the storms was scary!  I hope your flight isn't too bumpy.  

Callie, sorry to hear you've been down and out.  

It's beautiful here today and another warmer than normal day for us with a high in the 80's.  

It was super humid earlier this morning and my hair lookd crazy fluffy. lol  I have a meeting this afternoon so I hope my hair settles down a little.  I'm rocking the big hair look right now.  :)  

The wind here was fierce over the weekend but no storms.  Julie have a safe flight, I hope you get to have a bit of fun while you are there.

@JackieG

 I'm rocking the big hair look right now.  :)  

LOL, is that the 60's big hair or the 80's big hair.  :)

It is cold here again this morning.  I really wish it would decide if it is winter or not.  Not that I like winter cause I dont, but the back and forth thing is not good.

From Saturday, Doug, so happy to hear that Piper still has pep in her step :).  

Callie hope you are improving each day. 

My thoughts and prayers for all of those that had losses in the storms.

Jackie - that's why I've left mine long.  I can wad it back in a scrunchie, or twist it into a bun and look quasi respectable fast.  That works.  

Julie -- have a good flight.  My stomach can 'feel' everything you said.

Storms - it's too early for that!!  *sigh*

I'd take anyone's good thots & prayers actually - I wound up getting referred to a pain mgmt dr -- but **this** guy seems to be trying to stop what causes all the muscle spasms/pain spasms in the first place.  If anyone knows anything significant about "gabapentin" I'd love to know about it.  I know it's totally addictive (it's an old seizure drug that they don't use for seizures at all any more) BUT if it will stop the insane muscle spasming I've lived with for so long I will be an unbelievably happy woman.  Now if I can just continue to take it.  **so far** I'm coping with it and don't seem to be experiencing any bad negative side effects.  It's supposed to keep certain 'nerve bundles' from firing.  I *am* making progress.  Hallellujah for that.  

Hopefully today will be a little less insane so I can breeze thru occasionally.

Callie, it's good to see you back.  I'm sorry you've been having such a rough time.  I'm not familiar with that medication, but I hope you continue to tolerate it well and it gives you long-term relief.

I did chuckle a bit at the image of you lying down, holding a Kindle over your head, trying to type.  If you accidentally dropped it, you'd likely break your nose!  Reminds me of reading hardcover books while lying on my back in bed.  As I get sleepy, I nearly drop the book on my face.  Thus, I try to get paperbacks for my bedtime reading.  :-)

Julie, I don't envy your potentially bumpy flight.  Sending good travel thoughts your way!

I'm in the fuzzy/big hair club, too.  Not exactly a desirable hair type to have when you live somewhere that has damp, rainy weather 3/4 of the year.  I have an arsenal of weapons to try to combat it:  smoothing shampoos and conditioners, de-frizzing creams and lotions, special sprays, flat irons, and when all else fails, up in a twist with a scrunchy or clip.  

My friend and I are going to see the 2 Cellos tonight.  I'm hoping it's not another rain-soaked night like when we went to see Hanson.  High winds are due later today, but hopefully it's not super heavy rain.  We're going to the same fabulous Thai restaurant we went to before Hanson -- it's called Pok Pok.  I can't wait to try something else on the menu!

Hey all! I have so much to catch up on but it's likely hopeless to try to type it all up - I do want to say congrats to Doug & Piper on a good wellness check and also putting up some birds! Good girl Piper!

I am still running like a fool and I don't see a whole lot of indication its going to significantly slow, which is good and bad. This week is a second version of 'hell week' - I am off to Winston Salem in a bit and the rest of the week is full of at a minimum 10 hr days. The bags under my eyes are real LOL

Let's see - the Bugsmeister is doing OK. He has had some fabulous days and weeks and then he seems like he's hurting or creeky other days (today being one of the latter). We have done 3 of the adequan shots now and he is doing OK with receiving them and I am pretty spazzy in giving it but he's tolerant and patient - all for a spoonful of cottage cheese in his bowl.

I took him swimming on Saturday - the air was warm but the water was cold - he did fine but I made sure he came out of the water a few times to keep him from getting too cold. He made a new friend, a big female black lab or mix, that was very timid around other dogs - in fact she runs away from them. You know who won her over and her owner was amazed :) They had a blast - he retrieved his toy and she her tennis ball. I think she was mostly just pleased that when she offered him her tennis ball he was totally not interested, "you keep it kid" LOL

I don't really have much other news - Autumn is here and we've had gorgeous days, the temps are all over the place. It was very cool last week (lows in the 20's) and this morning at 5 am it was 68*. Right now it's 76* and fabulously sunny.

I am looking forward to some time off at Thanksgiving but as of now have no intent on making a big meal - it will just be us and it seems silly to me so I may just go to the food bank and volunteer for a few hours then just snack and watch football!

Karen -- I am glad to hear about Bugsy -- I was thinking of him Saturday.  We're doing some extra training classes and there is this little mix-terrier something (looks like there is border terrier there) who is a total pistol and the owner is completely ignorant -- the first class the guy was smacking the dog for barking, and lunging (the dog is totally aggressive - he clears a 6' circle around himself for his personal space!!).  By Saturday the guy was "rewarding" the dog literally so close to a single breath that he was actually rewarding the barking ... but at least he wasn't smacking the dog (how he got in this CGC class is a mystery).  

This dog is SO dog aggressive ... and he decided to tackle Luna ... and she just stood there and did her usual "Hi - I'm short, but I'm really a big dog and I'm totally no threat to you so you really don't need to be snarky why don't you just settle down a bit?" ... David and I were watching this happen -- Luna's the only dog this dog can be next to and not have it freak out.  She's like Bugsy -- a total master at "calming signals".  

Tracy -- you're right -- I *have* popped myself in the nose but mostly I can't spell for stink.  I couldn't fall asleep if I tried -- I get so frustrated it hypes me up for hours LOL.  But then I can't fall asleep *doing* anything else.  It's impossible for me -- but when I'm not "doing" something (looking, watching, reading, searching, etc.) then I'm ZONED in a heartbeat.  It's like how something will go into sleep mode if it's dormant for 15 minutes?  My "off" sleep mode happens in about a minute.  Soon as I put that thing down I'm GONE.  But as long as I hold it I'm riveted - no matter how boring the subject matter LOL

Hey Kar !!

Good to hear from you, girlfriend !!!

Deb W.

Callie, have you had your magnesium levels checked?  Three years ago I was getting muscle spasms in that soft squishy area between the neck and the shoulder. And they were intense....felt like labor contractions in the third stage.  You might want to have that checked.  Other than that, all I can say is I hope you can continue to take the meds, and I hope you are doing better really soon.

Fingers crossed for a good flight Julie, and at least some relaxation in CO.

Yesterday we had 55 and drizzle making it feel colder all day, but today is bright and sunny.

So, yearly check up tomorrow, and I'm really hoping the doc can give me something so I can have my voice back.  Tough selling when the voice breaks like a teen aged boys!

Yes, Glenda thanks - I had bloodwork done 2 weeks ago -- looking specifically for magnesium, or calcium/magnesium ratio or Potassium to be low, high or weird.  And my bloodwork, including thyroid, was perfect.  Everyone was telling me to "supplement" and I had done some with NO effect - but I didn't want to barrel into taking more and more and screwing something up so I asked for bloodwork to be done again for this.  Thanks, tho -- that was exactly the kind of input I was hoping to get.  

I need a xanax. But I took 2 dramamine so I better not

Karen it is so great to see you.  We miss hearing about Bugsy antics too.  It sounds like you have been very busy glad to hear you are going to catch a Thanksgiving break.

Julie...no, I would not take the xanax right now.  Of course I never have taken either one of those but it just sounds like maybe you shouldnt :)  I can be knocked out for hours with benedryl so I am a light weight.

Getting a bit loopy yet, Julie?

Callie, who would of thunk it would be magnesium for me.  I get pretty comprehensive bloodwork done, but for some reason that slipped right through the cracks.

Karen, it's VERY good to see you around again.

Thanks all. I miss everyone too, hopefully now that it seems you can stay logged in I may be able to check in easier.  With my schedule and only cell access its been impossible to make a flying visit. 

Gin, last week when it was cold Bugsy was a wild man. He loves the cold! DH & I laughed and laughed at his antics.

Luna, good girl. Even the awkward need friends. Hehehe one of B's girlfriend's has no other friends as she is so dog aggressive. Loves the B man though. Always makes me wonder how they are communicating