Good News

I got a letter in the mail yesterday. My blood is free of Babiosis, so it wasn't me that caused the man with the liver transplant to die. What a relief.

Oh what a day

I spent the ENTIRE working day on one file. One. And even now, I'm not done. Tomorrow will be another long day. Oh the working life. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to get here. HA!

Saturday Eliz and the kids and I are going to the Greenwood mall to see Hello Kitty. Sofi is a big fan. Hopefully I'll remember the camera to take pictures & I'll post one or two.

Olympics

Anyone watching the Olympics? Last night I was up until after midnight watching swimming and the men's gymnastics qualifying rounds. Can you BELIEVE the Chinese on the pumel horse, rings and paralel bars? OMG! They are AMAZING to watch!

On a whole different subject, today, for the first time in months, probably, I put in my hearing aids. EVERYTHING is so loud! If it wasn't for the need to hear people I wouldn't wear them. I can live without hearing the clock tick. =)

I may have killed someone UPDATE

I called the blood bank and asked if the results were in yet. She said they had to send the blood off to the CDC for complete testing. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. On the one hand, they'll probably run it for every disease known to man to see if it may have affected that poor man. On the other hand, what if they find something that didn't hurt the guy, but isn't good for me?

The lady said she should know something in a week or two and she promised she would call me with the results either way. As soon as I know I'll pass the news along.

Hummingbirds and other lovely things

We have a hummingbird feeder that is well loved by both the local hummers and me. It's amazing how fast they can eat (drink?) the feeder empty. I make my own syrup which is MUCH cheaper than the store bought mixes, and better for the birds, too. So far, I can tell there are at least 3 different hummers that eat at the feeder. They are a pretty, shimmery color of green. And one ruby throated hummer. They are so pretty and amazing to watch.

Today I was driving down the street and one of my neighbors had a bunch of stuff at the end of her drive with a Free sign. To my joy, she had a medium size Weber grill... Nothing wrong with it at all. I thanked her and trotted home with the grill. I can't wait to make steaks on it. Yes, we have a gas grill. But does anything really rival the taste of charcoal grill flavor? And it's so much easier to use hickory chips and other such flavorings with charcoal grills. So tomorrow we'll celebrate the new find and grill some steaks. YUM!

I may have killed someone

I'm not having the best week. Last week I got a call from the blood center. Apparently TWO YEARS ago I gave blood that was subsequently was given to a guy who had a liver transplant. The guy died because blood he was given was tainted with Babiosis which is mainly passed on by ticks and is similar to Lyme disease. So I live in the Midwest, and who that lives in the Midwest has not at some time in their life been bitten by a tick? Anyway, most healthy people don't get sick from Babiosis, but if you are immuno-compromised it isn't a good thing. They told me this last week and asked me to go to Columbus Indiana to give a blood sample so they can test it to see if I'm the one that did the guy in. I said, "That's 40 miles away! Can't I just have my doctor's office take a sample and send it to you?" She said no, but that she would check with the hospital here and see if they can do it. She called me back Friday and said I could go to the hospital this am and they will take the sample and a courier will pick it up. So, I did that this morning.

**OK. I KNOW. I may have killed someone with my blood and I'm worried about driving 40 miles. How selfish and self-centered am I? Well, truthfully it was a knee-jerk reaction, and I wasn't thinking about it. The price of gas is that bad.**

Back to why it's still a bad week. When I was giving the blood, the gal needed FOUR tubes. She got the first one just fine. Her hand was shaking slightly. Hangover? Nervous about Babiosis? Inexperienced? I will never know. The second tube didn't go well. She pushed just a little too hard and went right through my vein. ouch. She tried to adjust the needle. Ouch again. She slid the needle back a little and blood spurted out of my arm, but not into the tube. Oh joy. So, we had to try the other arm. Do you think it's Karma for being a butt about not going to Columbus?

Here's the REAL kicker. I'm on call. Someone died in an accident in southern Indiana. Guess where I had to drive right through? That's right. Columbus. Two times today.

I'll update you when I find out if it was me or not. I don't think it was my blood, but you never know. I hope it wasn't.

How Old Do You Think I Am?

Yesterday, Sarah and I took a road trip to Goodwill. Normally when we go to Goodwill, it's to take stuff, and I just pull up to the drive-thru and drop stuff off. But yesterday, we went inside in search of pants for Sarah. She had three pairs of pants to her name, all of which are pants that aren't pants that should be worn in public. Two have holes big enough to make them obscene to wear, and the other is a weird orange-y color. One of her bosses made her promise not to wear one of the pairs of pants to work anymore. I decided action was in order.





So the good news is that Sarah found 3 pairs of pants and two pairs of socks for $14.95. What a deal! And no holes, stains, or weird colors!



The not-so-good news is that as we were checking out, the kid ringing us up (he looked like he was maybe 25 tops) gave me the total. He then looked at me and said, "People 55 years and older get a 50% discount today." I looked stunned, felt stunned, WAS stunned. Then I started laughing. I looked at Sarah, and she looked appalled. I said, "Well, maybe I SHOULD start dying my hair again." Poor kid, belatedly realizing what he had done tried and tried to make it right, but there was just no going back. Stuttering claims of "I ask everybody." are unbelieved.



Maybe I should sign up for that show "10 Years Younger", and go back to see that boy after the makeover. We'll see then if he "asks everybody". HA

Back In The Day

The night before last it was really cool outside, so we turned off the air and opened the windows. Yesterday it was still fairly comfortable so we left the air off and the windows open. Today, the same. But I'm lying on my couch taking a nice Siesta this afternoon, and if it wasn't for the ceiling fan, I'd be miserable.

Which made me think about those movies I'd seen as a kid where women would be lounging on their couches wearing flowing white floor length dresses, not a drop of sweat to be seen. Two or three boys or men wearing only some sort of white wrap around their waist, but not floor length, would be standing around the (Egyptian, I'm assuming) woman fanning her with some sort of large tropical leaf. If it was me and I was the "fanner", I'd find some way to get some air going for me, too.

Further reflection brings to mind my child hood and how there were no ceiling fans, box fans, stand fans or air conditioners in my home. My room was upstairs (heat rises, remember....) and I can remember nights that it so hot and the air so still, that falling to sleep was just about impossible. We had a HUGE industrial strength fan that Mom would put in the window at the top of the stairs. She would set it to blow air out the window, and hopefully to draw the cooler outside air into the house. I don't recall it making much difference, other than sounding like an airplane engine was in the hallway outside my room. Or, maybe it did make a difference, and goodness knows how horrid it would have been without it.

Anyhow, the dogs and I are still laying around, and all of us are grateful for the ceiling fan, waiting for the cool night air to come back. Where's that darn Egyptian boy? He could at least bring me a cool drink...

Yawn

Two of my siblings are making me tired. Teresa is moving Wednesday. Ray is moving later in July. Just the thought of moving exhausts me, since a mere 5 months ago I moved.

The crazy neighbor is now putting up her own fence. She only has to put in one long side, since my fence provides a long line in her back yard and the neighbor on her right has a fence already up. I noticed she put the posts "close to" but not "tied to" my fence and the other neighbor's fence. At first I was really distressed by this. But then, I realized - yet again - that she's crazy. There's just nothing you can do about crazy except shake your head at it and try not to get sucked into crazy yourself.

I'm supposed to be getting a prescription for a c-pap machine sometime soon. I'm anxious to see how that's going to pan out. I really hope it works because I'm tired of being tired. :::yawn::: Maybe if I wasn't so tired, my siblings' impending moves wouldn't be so draining. ha!

Another Crazy Neighbor Story

We found out that our Crazy Neighbor thought we put our fence on her property. She said "someone" moved the boundary markers. The boundary markers are buried deep in the ground for that very purpose...so no one can move them. Even if the top is taken off, the surveyors use a metal detector to find the pen.

So, she had her land surveyed, and she has decided to put up a fence of her own. She is going to put it so there is one foot between our fence and hers because she wants to be able to "walk the land" and go behind her fence. She's nuts.

The neighbor to our left talked to Crazy Neighbor and told her she thought it was very nice that we put up a fence to avoid conflict with her. She said we are all supposed to be looking out for each other, not feud. Maybe that will help her calm down.

Ah, the joy of home ownership.

Maizy at 2 months and 6 months

I have a crazy neighbor.

OK. My neighbor behind me is apparently dog-phobic. We moved here in January. She has spoken to us a total of three times, despite our efforts to say hello and try to be friendly. She literally turns her back on us and walks away, except for the three times she has "talked" to us. All conversations having to do with our dog, Butch.

Butch went into her yard shortly after we moved here. The back door was open and I didn't realize it and Butch went out. She yelled at me, "PLEASE keep your dog out of my yard. I don't like dogs and dogs are supposed to be tied up." I apologized and tried to talk to her, but she turned around and walked away. The second time Eliz & the kids were here, and everyone was outside. Butch started over toward her yard, and I called to him to come back to me. He hadn't even made it to her yard yet. She came out on her deck and literally screamed at me, right in front of Eliz & the kids. On and on and on.

THEN, she called the sheriff and told the sheriff that Butch was pooping in the neighbor's yards. He hadn't pooped in anyone's yard but ours. We told the sheriff that that wasn't the case, and the neighbor apparently just doesn't like dogs.

SOOOOOOOO. We decided to put up a fence and put an end to the whole entire matter. The fence went up today. And it's right on the property line. Joe came home from work, and we went out to look at the fence. As we were walking around behind the fence, the crazy neighbor came barrelling out of her house and started pointing at me and telling me to stay off her grass. I was taken aback and said, "Excuse me?" She started going on about my dog and how I didn't listen and keep the dog tied up and I am to stay off of her grass. I just didn't even know what to say. Joe tried to talk to her, and she just ignored him. She told us we have three weeks to stain the fence or do whatever we have to do to it, and then we are to stay off of her grass!! She turned around and started to walk away. I said, "Ma'am. we put up the fence so that our dogs won't bother you!" She just repeated herself and I said, "I am really sorry you feel this way. I don't know what else to do." And I turned around and left.

Joe decided to stand on her yard since he has three weeks to do so. Apparently, our effort to end the war didn't work, and has just heated up the battle.

Butch, hair, sleep

Butch is getting so old. We went for a walk today - maybe 2 miles. I thought I was going to have to carry him the last block. Poor guy. Long walks are a thing of the past for Butch I think.

I got my hair cut today. The old color is almost gone. We are getting very close to no artificial color hang-over. Which means we are mostly gray now. It's a lot of work going gray. I keep wanting to DO something about it. But if I do, I'll just have to start all over again some day.

I'm signed up to do a sleep study on June 9. Joe tells me I need to get checked for sleep apnea. When I was in Louisiana with Suzanne, who says she can sleep through anything, she told me I need to get tested for sleep apnea. Apparently, I snore like a freight train and wake myself up trying to breath. I'm not really sure what to DO about it if I have it. Can I sleep hooked up to some machine? Will I need surgery? My dad says that surgery is horribly painful. A guy I work with got it and was pretty much knocked on his butt for a month.

Brown Headed Cow Bird

We have Brown Headed Cow Birds in our neighborhood and they frequent my bird feeder. Cow birds are really sneaky. And lazy. They lay their eggs in other bird's nests and let the other birds raise the young. Most of the time the babies quickly outgrow their nest mates and the "real" babies starve to death because they are pushed out of the way by the Cow Birds.

Anyway, I just heard a bunch of racket outside, and saw 4 birds land on the bird feeder shepherd's hook, and a smaller bird land on the suet feeder. The smaller bird was getting food from the suet feeder and flying up to feed the "babies", that were already bigger than it was! Geez. poor thing!

Yuki spends the night with Grandma

Eliz and the kids came down to Bloomington today. We went for a really long walk (well, it SEEMED long) about 2 miles. The good news is it really tired Maizy out. It tired Elizabeth and I out too. The kids, not so much.

Some how, Yuki decided he should say all night with me. So here he is. No nap for Grandma. We tried. "Yuki, watch this movie. Grandma is going to sleep." (Never fear, I was in the same room.) Eventually it was clear I wasn't going to get a nap.

Plan B. I'm dog sitting for a co-worker so we went to visit the dogs. When we left there we decided to go see Joe at work, and since it was about 5, we all went to McDonalds for supper. Then we went to Target and Bloomingfoods and home. 7:30. Bedtime is 8:00.

Currently it's 9:10. Guess who is still up and who doesn't want to be? It's hard being a Grandma.

Yawn.

Maizy

I took Maizy to the vet today to get her stitches out (spayed last week). The vet office we go to has 3 vets, and it's just a walk in kinda deal...you get which ever vet is on duty that day. So we've seen 2 of the vets before today.

Vet #1 (when she was 8 weeks old) - She's gonna be a big dog! Maybe even 120-140 pounds! She sure is pretty.

Vet #2 (when she was 12 weeks old for booster) - She's going to be big...maybe 80-85 pounds. She's a beautiful dog. (We were a little disappointed. But this vet has more experience than Vet #1, so we thought Vet #1 was maybe being a little enthusiastic.)


Vet #3 (today - 19 weeks old weighing in at 45.5 pounds) -I said, "So what do you think, Dr. Bob? How big is she going to be?" Dr. Bob laughed RIGHT OUT LOUD. "She's gonna be HUGE. Somewhere between HUGE and LARGER. She's got paws like a polar bear!" More laughter. She's a really pretty dog. This is the vet with the most experience.

At least they all agree she's pretty.

Of course only time will tell. I'm hoping for HUGE and a raise at work so I can afford to feed her.

HAHAHA.

Grrrr Grrrr Spring Fever Grrrr

Oh my gosh. I am in such a bad mood right now. I don't want to be at work. I have a beautiful view of a beautiful day and I'm stuck inside trying to return phone calls and work files.

Yuck.

Maizy and her frog.

One day when Maizy was a baby (ie, when she only weighed about 20 pounds) we got her a stuffed frog that makes a ribbet-ribbet sound. I'm frankly amazed that it has lived this long. Normally Butch tears up ANYTHING with stuffing in it. Somehow, Butch knows this is Maizy's toy and doesn't bother it. She LOVES it. Here is a picture of Frog and a video of Maizy playing with it.

The Joy of Bird Feeders

I have a shepherd's hook outside my living room window. I have a tube feeder, a thistle feeder and a suet feeder all hanging from this lovely contraption.

Today has been the best yet. Several goldfinches on the thistle feeder, a beautiful red wing blackbird on the tube feeder (singing to me. I'm sure it really was me he was singing to...) and a small woodpecker on the suet feeder. It was awesome. And, a testament to good bird food. I'm convinced the birds in the neighborhood can scope out the best food. So, I guess if you don't want to go through a tube of food every couple of days, get the grocery store stuff. It will last until it rots in the bottom of the feeder. If you want pretty birds get the good stuff. I recommend Wild Birds Unlimited Deluxe blend. I know you didn't ask, but I just like to share good stuff.

Earthquake 5.2

So, we had an earthquake this morning around 5:30 am. It was a 5.2, rivaled only by a 5.4 earthquake years ago in this area.

I am sad to say I missed it. Slept right through it. So, I've slept through tornados, hail storms and now an earthquake.

A girl needs her sleep. Never let anything come between you and your zzzz's.