Another week of nasty weather...

Monday turned out to be a gorgeous day even though there was supposed to be thunderstorms, silly weatherman. Robby and I took our usual cruise and I finally was able to clock it on my odometer, it’s just a little over 5 miles. Came home and Heather made some chicken adobo, broccoli, mushrooms and quinoa. Teresa came to put me to bed and we went to change my SP (supra-pubic) catheter and although a little bit was coming out I started getting chills and sweating. We waited for a while and took my blood pressure and it was really high so we decided it must be a bad catheter so we changed it again and the chills and sweating were getting worse and my blood pressure was getting higher so we called Dr. Owens and got ready for a trip to emergency. We changed it one more time and a bunch of bladder slough and a gush of urine came out and my blood pressure started dropping and the chills and sweating when away. I have gotten autonomic dysreflexia a couple of times and it’s really scary, glad that is over and so glad that Theresa was here... I don’t think anybody else would have known what to do.

Tuesday I was exhausted and really sore from the night before but it turned out to be a beautiful day. I went to the sunshine Villa and got my manicure and pedicure, I got a they’re really fast because Claudia did a manicure and Samantha did the pedicure, Samantha and I play Scrabble on the iPhone and I really enjoy it. Robby and I cruised around Santa Cruz and came back just in time to eat. While we were cruising around I ran into a guy that I see all the time at the concerts at the beach Michael, I didn’t know his name until today but I talk to him all the time. Kimberly and I went through a box of material that I bought for pants that Karen found in the closet yesterday, I am so excited because there is some really cool fabric in that box. We too are the garage up a couple of times looking for it and it was in the closet in the front bedroom. Kimberly is the one who serge's all of my shirts, I cut them up and back, and she’s going to make some pants for me out of the material that I got. When I got home Heather was cooking, it smelled awesome in here. She made a lamb roast with vegetables, meat loaf, brussels sprouts and egg plant. Teresa came by and gave me a nice long hot bath and then my uncle and my aunt came over to play cribbage, it was a great day.

Wednesday every time it looks like the rain was going to let up a little bit Robby and I would start out for a little cruise and of course it would start pouring rain. I finally gave up and had Cassy come in a little early to group or tree shopping. As soon as we got back home the sun was out and it was beautiful. I did the standing frame for half an hour and then went to bed. My uncle roasted turkey across the street and brought me a turkey leg and some mashed potatoes.

Thursday I stayed in bed because they were coming to fix my chair and I couldn’t find anybody to come in early enough to put me to bed so I wouldn’t be in my chair when they came to fix it. Turned out to be a great idea because it not only rained really hard all day but the wind blew really hard all day, the electricity went out for a couple of hours. Teresa came by to give me a bath, something to eat and cut up some cheese for cheese and crackers later on tonight. Uncle Dick and and Kathy, Claudia, my mom and I played cribbage. A couple of the Windows in my driveway started leaking on the window seal inside the house when it would rain so I called Jeff from Dunton construction and he came right out, luckily it was just the holes inside the window were plugged up and making the water back up inside. He fixed it and didn’t even charge us, he is just the sweetest man.

Friday morning ended up being a long and exhausting morning. By the time we got done with personal care it was already 11 AM so I decided to just stay in bed, I wouldn’t have gotten up until 1 PM and my afternoon caregiver was coming in at 2 PM so it really wasn’t worth it. My afternoon caregiver said that she would play with Robby in the yard and that is my biggest worry about staying in bed. Of course it started raining so I don’t feel so bad. I found my rain cape and I got a cover for the driving instruments on my chair so the least we can still go out when it’s raining. My uncle and my aunt came over to play cribbage, my uncle was my partner and they skunked us on the last game.

Saturday was yet another long personal-care day, they are so exhausting, luckily today though I got to take a nice long hot bath after and that always makes me feel better... I’m just really tired after. It sounds like were going to have about six people, besides my mom and I, over to play cribbage tonight so that should make me feel better. Too many days in bed and it makes me go crazy. Hopefully everything will go alright tomorrow and I will be up and out of here no matter what the weather is like. I’m trying to watch a movie called rabbit hole, I fell asleep the first time that I try to watch it so I’m trying to watch it again... it looks like a really good movie. My uncle and aunt came over again and we played a couple of games of cribbage, we invited about four other people over but never heard from them so we just played by ourselves and had fun. Friendship is not about who came first or who cares the most. It is all about who came in your life and never left.

Sunday turned out to be a gorgeous day all day long. Robby and I got to go on an extra long cruise and everybody just seem to be happy that the sun was out. I still feel really bad that Robby can’t go on his regular puppy play dates, I was looking at the pictures today and he always has so much fun. Next Wednesday were going to try taking him to the dog park.

This weather is unbelievable...

Monday I ended up staying in bed once again, very frustrating. The massage therapist was supposed to be here at 8:30 AM but is still sick. Karen had a steady party and didn’t expect to come in until 9 AM and I knew she would be tired so we just kept it at 9 AM. It was supposed to rain all day so I kind of planned on staying in bed but still went a little stir crazy. I just watched TV and goes on and off all day. Heather came by about 3 PM and cooked a bunch of wonderful stuff and fed Robby. I told Teresa not to bother to come because there wasn’t much for her to do. I hope it doesn’t rain a lot tomorrow.

Tuesday I got up early and took Robby for a really long cruise, the usual cruise. I was supposed to go to Valley medical center for a presentation on the world's first embryonic stem cell trial but I didn’t make it. One of my tires on my van was low and wanted to get in on Friday he said it was in really bad shape and recommended I didn’t take it to San Jose until I got the tire replaced. It would’ve been nice to go but better to be safe, it was also raining that day. My uncle and my aunt, Steve, Lee and Claudia and my mom and I played cribbage, I didn’t do very good.

Wednesday morning the survey or came by to see if they really thought I needed a residential handicap parking place in front of my house, the lady told me right off that she didn’t think her boss would go for it because I had such a long driveway. You never know unless you ask? I do have a really long driveway but it’s very narrow. Robby and I went for our daily cruise and of course again I forgot to set the odometer on my iPhone to see how long it is, I’m so curious but I always forget. I came home and did the standing frame and went to bed. I looked in my cameras and I can see about four or five men coming up the driveway so I asked Cassy to see what was going on. I could see read out the front door and she said it was a fire truck and that somebody had complained about some kind of car fluid leaking in the driveway but apparently they didn’t have the address, they walked up and down my driveway a couple of times. I asked Cassy to go out and asked them if she needs to put me back in my chair in case we need to get the heck out, they said no everything was fine. Teresa came by after work to get everything ready to go in the crockpot for corned beef and cabbage dinner tomorrow, she is always there for me and I don’t know what I would do without her. Were going to put it in the crockpot tomorrow morning and let it cook all day, last year it was awesome.

‎"When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful." ~ Gene Hill

Thursday I decided to let everyone know that Robby is getting a little bit too socially aggressive so no more puppy play dates or pet therapy for a while or maybe even for ever, depending on whether I can get him back in shape. We went for our regular long cruise and I remembered to set tAhe odometer when I left so I could see how long our cruises are but for some reason when I got back it had shut itself off, maybe I hit it with my arm or something. When I got back and into the house the smell was INCREDIBLE, the corned beef and cabbage cooking in the crockpot all day. It was huge but everybody loved it so much that by the end of the day most of it was gone, I’m definitely going back to Costco to get at least one more. My aunt and uncle, Cassy, Teresa, Claudia, Rich and my mom and I finished it off. My uncle, Claudia and my mom and I ended up playing cribbage and we double skunked them... I have never double skunked anyone in my life and it felt great.

Friday was a very long morning so I just took a nice long hot bath and went back to bed, for some reason I was just really sleepy all day and the day went by fast. Cassy came by at three to treat Robby and I. Heather came by and made some raviolis with Cale, a bunch of different kinds of mushrooms and feta cheese... she had made it for me before and it was awesome. I must’ve fell asleep and slept really hard because I woke up at seven and was wondering where Karen was. It got to be 730 and I just assumed that she slept in. When I looked up there was a PM after the 730 and I couldn’t believe it, I could sleep a lot more before Karen got here at 7 AM. I can go back to sleep right now so I’m listening to the rain outside and playing cribbage online, I love that sound.

Saturday was just a really cold, rainy day. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to cruise down to the support group with Robby because of the weather. We even got really hard hail for about 10 minutes, Karen got a video of it on her camera. I didn’t really think there would be too many people at the support group but there was five, that is a really good group. We had so much fun talking about everything that the group went on for about two hours. We were talking about maybe having another potluck next support group. Cassy text me about 10 minutes to three and said that she was out of school so she would get my van and come and pick me up. It’s supposed to rain all weekend until Tuesday, it looks like thunderstorms on Monday.

Sunday it was supposed to rain all day so I already knew I was just going to stay in bed and watch movies. The night before the electricity went out four times, all after 8 PM of course. Luckily I have a generator that works in my room, the thermostat and the refrigerator in the kitchen. Unfortunately my computer has to be turned on manually each time the electricity goes out, my brother gave me instructions on how to get your computer to automatically reboot after a power outage. The last time the electricity went out was 7 AM this morning and it was out for about three or four hours. By the time Karen got here I was freezing in my arms hurt the rest of the day from my muscles tensing up. We brought the coffee pot in my room so luckily we had coffee, we both really needed it. We had fun watching a squirrel try to get some food out of the squirrel proof bird feeder, it was hilarious. I really hate not being able to feed the squirrels anymore but it just attracts too many raccoons and rats. The little neighbor girls FINALLY brought my Girl Scout cookies, I can’t wait to dig in.

A tsunami in Santa Cruz?

Monday went by really fast. I took Robby for a cruise down to the wharf and into the boardwalk and back. I was going to go with my aunt down to the public Works Department and find out about what we need to do to get a handicapped parking place in front of my residence, my driveway is just too narrow to get my new van in and out of. Too many things happened and we didn’t get to go. My uncle and aunt did go and pick up a protein drink, it’s actually a really good one and doesn’t taste like medicine. They have a friend that lost over 80 pounds drinking it so I’m going to give it a try. Steve has been staying here, he was here several months ago. He came down to see an old girlfriend who has cancer and he did get to see her a couple of times before she passed away last Saturday, needless to say he’s not doing very well right now. Tuesday after I got up I took Robby for a cruise on the wharf, through the boardwalk and as we started down the Levy I could feel raindrops... the sun was out when I left home. I hung around down on the wharf because I had an appointment for a manicure and pedicure, it’s right above the wharf. The salon that I go to is in a retirement complex, our family has known Claudia for many many years... Claudia is a lady that works in the salon. Because it is a retirement place there is always people that come in forgetting their appointment and coming in late or coming in with a don’t have an appointment, she will never turn anybody away. After we left the salon we went for another cruise through the boardwalk and around the wharf and then came home. My uncle, my aunt, Steve, my mom and I played cribbage and then I went to sleep. The last week or so I have been sleeping really good and it feels awesome, usually I don’t get any sleep all night long. Wednesday morning I took a nice long hot bath, got dressed and got up. My aunt and I went down to the Santa Cruz public works office to see what we need to do to get a residential handicap parking place in front of my house. Unfortunately the gentleman that we needed to talk to was in a meeting all day so I gave us his card and I left him a message when I got home to see if I can schedule an appointment, I would rather talk to him in person than on the phone. I took Robby for a cruise down to the wharf and back, came home and did the standing frame, went to bed and ate dinner. Time to relax for the evening. Thursday was my 16 year anniversary of my spinal cord injury, I can’t believe it was 16 years ago. I got up and took Robby for a really long cruise and then my aunt and I went downtown to the public works department and talk to a gentleman about the residential handicap parking place in front of my house. He took down all of the information and said that they would send somebody out to look around and decide whether they thought it was needed. I came home and Heather was cooking so she asked me something to eat and I watched her cook, it looks just like a dance but tastes so good. Friday I was able to make it up in time to go to the Santa Cruz skilled nursing facility with Cassy and Robby, I have missed the last two weeks. They had a big St. Patrick’s celebration and we all got four leaf clover ears and afforded clover necklace. Robby got his picture taken with three ladies in four leaf clover costumes, he was just thrilled to be surrounded by ladies. after that we went to Cole’s barbecue, I had heard about it before and it was awesome. Then we went to go see Rango and work on Robby’s theater manners, he’s starting to get up and wander around and jump on my lap and that is not acceptable. I think he just gets bored but he needs to learn to be patient. I came home and stood up in the standing frame and then went to bed. For some reason my arms, my shoulders and my neck were really tense so I took a couple of Tylenol PM’s and slept all the way through the night, I felt great the next morning. We had a big tsunami warning around here this morning at 8:45 AM because of the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan. We watched the news really closely and nothing really happened so we turn the channel and Steve came in and said to turn it on Channel 7, the tsunami was tearing up the Santa Cruz harbor. I was kind of nervous all day because I have never seen anything like that and nothing that close to where I live. Saturday night I got up and ate an awesome breakfast, my brother came down the night before and he always makes breakfast. He made blueberry pancakes, fried eggs and bacon. Robby and I took a long cruise over to Ross and I was getting ready to go in to check out what they had when I got a text from Cassy saying that she was already out of school. I told her I would meet her at home so she could take me to Costco and to the world market so Robby and I cruised home. My floor steamer broke so I got a new one at Costco and I got a couple of really cool Easter decorations at world market, I don’t really have very much for Easter. We had about eight people over for dinner and cribbage. My brother made oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, a salad and corn. Sunday it was really cold and windy outside so I chose to take a nice long hot bath and go back to bed and watched the last season of weeds.

Getting back to beautiful weather...

Monday was an awesome day. I got a nice long relaxing massage, got dressed and got up and the sun was already shining brightly. We had so many problems at puppy play date on Sunday so I decided to check out a couple of new dog parks. I started down Bay Street and pretty soon ran out of sidewalk and ended up in the bike lane. Then the sidewalk moved to the middle of the streets and it was black top, it went down by a river among some trees and it was very beautiful except the blacktop had cracks and big holes in it so I had to turn around and go back... that dog park was not going to work. I went down a couple of side streets open that I could find another way to get there but all I ran into was dead ends and steep hills. We cruised over to the boardwalk, down the Levy and to the world market and then back home through town. Robby decided to poop RIGHT in the middle of the sidewalk. Just as he finished a lady drove up on a bicycle and asked me if I needed help, I thanked her and she picked it up for me... she had the poop bags right in the basket of her bicycle, there are so many nice people around here. We cruised on a little further and I saw this big kid on a skateboard with a little pink backpack, I thought it was so cute that he was not afraid of what people thought seeing him carry it. He asked me if I had a square plastic thing and I knew he meant a credit card but there was no way I was going to give him my credit card. He needed it to opening a gate that led into an apartment complex, he said he left his key at home. I told him I didn’t carry anything with me so we decided to use the tag on Robby’s collar and it worked. He thanked me and we went on our way. It really was a great day.

Tuesday was the first Tuesday of the month so that means bath time for Robby. I got up and waited what seemed like forever on this beautiful day for them to call to let me know Robby was ready so I can go and pick him up and take him for a cruise. I got a letter from CCI that said they have not gotten a vet report on Robby since 2009, they ask that you give them one every year, so I asked them to fill out the paperwork so I can send it in. I ended up waiting most of the day for them to call and say Robby was ready to be picked up, they finally called me at 2 PM and asked me to be there at 2:30 PM so the doctor could talk to me, Robby saw a dermatologist and she prescribed either a shot every week or a spray for the dog’s mouth every morning. The doctor said we should hold off because right now, and for a while now, Robby does it have any problems with allergies or ear infections... knocking on wood. By the time the doctor came out it was already 3 PM, time for Robby to eat, so we took a cruise down to the boardwalk and came back and my mom fed Robby and I. I had a salad and while I was eating it Heather came over with some KILLER chili that she made the night before. She also made lamb sausage with cannelloni beans and some tilapia with lemon, capers and pepperchinis as well as a roasted portobello mushroom and spinach and mushrooms. I can’t wait to eat again. On Sunday Teresa made some greens with tons of garlic, lemon, chicken broth and boneless pork ribs in the crockpot... I love greens and they were awesome. Uncle Dick, aunt Kathy, Steve, Lee and Claudia came over to play cribbage and take all my money.

Wednesday was a really long morning and after the personal care I was exhausted so I just took a really long hot bath and went back to bed and watched a couple of scary movies and some TiVo. It was supposed to rain all day and I was really bummed that it didn’t since I had to stay in bed, it’s supposed to rain tomorrow but I hope it’s like it was today. By the time Karen left it was almost time for Cassy to get here so I didn’t get to take a nap so hopefully I will sleep really good tonight. Heather came by and took Robby for a walk and played with him for a little bit in the yard. I watched a movie called cold storage, very creepy movie. I also watched a movie called House of wax, I love scary movies. Just now I watched one called 127 hours, I’m not sure yet what I thought about that but I’m glad I finally saw it.

Thursday was a gorgeous day, it got up to 60°. Robby and I went for a really long cruise, the usual route. When we got back Teresa took us to Costco, I had $140 credit from them for being such a good customer all year... I LOVE Costco. We came back and Theresa put me to bed and my uncle, my aunt, Steve, my mom and I played cribbage and for the first time in my life I got double skunked. I want my money back after that but I still can’t believe it.

“The dogs in our lives, the dogs we come to love and who (we fervently believe) love us in return, offer more than fidelity, consolation, and companionship. They offer comedy, irony, wit, and a wealth of anecdotes, the "shaggy dog stories" and "stupid pet tricks" that are commonplace pleasures of life. They offer, if we are wise enough or simple enough to take it, a model for what it means to give your heart with little thought of return. Both powerfully imaginary and comfortingly real, dogs act as mirrors for our own beliefs about what would constitute a truly humane society. Perhaps it is not too late for them to teach us some new tricks.” -Marjorie Garber

Friday I didn’t make it over to the Santa Cruz skilled nursing facility again and Cassy preferred not to take Robby. I went to take Robby for a really long cruise and ran into my neighbor Andrew who works for the Parks and Recreation Department. The van that I’m going to be getting is going to be really big and my driveway is really narrow, it’s very long but narrow so I’m trying to find out how I can get a residential handicap parking place in front of my house and I knew Andrew would be able to tell me where I need to go. As it turns out right across the street there is a handicap parking place where the swimming pool used to be at the high school, they took out the swimming pool, and they’re going to get rid of the parking place and according to Andrew if they take one out they have to put one in the same area so that would be perfect. Robby and I took our regular cruise down to the wharf, through the boardwalk, along the Levy and over to Ross and back through town. One of these days I’m going to remember to use the odometer on my phone and see how many miles it is. I came back and Cassy put me to bed and Heather came over and made Porcini & Truffle Ravolis( well I bought those) with Spring garlic, Cipollini onions, Portabella mushroom, Arugula, Butter and Reggiano Parmesan Cheese, it was one of the best things I have ever had. What a great day, it was 65° outside.

Saturday was another beautiful day. I took a nice long hot bath, got dressed and got up in my chair. I took Robby on our normal cruise and again forgot to set the odometer to see how far it actually is to go to Ross and back, the long route. Usually when I get to Ross I laid back for about 15 minutes to do a weight shift, I have to do this 15 minutes for every hour, and I heard a voice saying “Tammie what are you doing here” it was my aunt. She was going to pet smart and then to Ross to do some shopping. I came back and decided to go back down to the wharf, when I went around the first time they were selling Girl Scout cookies and I didn’t get a chance to buy any when the girls came around here. I got a text from Cassy saying that she just got out of school and she was on her way so I just came home. Luckily the girls in the neighborhood had some extra Girl Scout cookies so I did end up getting some, I LOVE Girl Scout cookies but then who doesn’t? Cassy wasn’t feeling very good so we just put me to bed and she went home, I told her that on Sunday I was probably going to stay in bed because it was supposed to rain all day so not to come in on Sunday evening if she didn’t feel any better. I watched you again, very cute movie, and then my mom came down and we watched a couple of episodes of iron Chef. I have been sleeping pretty good the last couple of nights, it sure feels great. I’m not sure if it’s because we have company and I have to keep the volume down on the TV, or I feel like I have to, or if I’m just tired from not sleeping very much... anyway it feels great.

Sunday it rained all day long so I just stayed in bed and watched a bunch of movies, it felt good to just relax and have some time by myself. I did get to take a nice long hot bath.