Such beautiful weather...

Monday was a really awesome day. I took off with Robby and we went all the way down to natural Bridges Beach, about 7 miles, and back. We went down through the wharf and through the boardwalk but had to come home because it was 3 PM, time for Robby and I to eat. Heather was here so she fed both of us and then we were on our way again cruising through the lagoon and back down to the wharf. There was a brown and white puppy running around all over and I was so afraid that he was going to get hit. He did come up and sniff Robby and a gentleman on a bike tried to grab him but he was just too timid and ran away. He had a collar on so I hope that somebody got him before he got run over. I saw a guy who was putting flowers at the memorial site for sky and Patrick and started talking to him. I asked him who the flowers were for and he sent for everyone but especially his son sky, I told him that Patrick was my cousin and we talked for a couple of minutes. I told him that my uncle showed me his yard and how beautiful all the flowers were, he keeps the flowers growing for Patrick and skies Memorial. He said they were like firk and Frak. I also ran into Robby’s veterinarian, Dr. Dave. I seem to run into him all over the place, he is such a neat guy. I ran into my neighbor clear down on Westcliff Drive and talk to him for a few minutes also, he is always so sweet and makes me smile. As I was cruising around the wharf I walked by a lady and she said “you are all over the place today” she didn’t look familiar but I’m sure I saw her somewhere along Westcliff. I wanted to make sure that Robby got plenty of exercise because tomorrow I’m going to be stuck in bed. Robby seems to be exhausted, I know my arms are exhausted but that’s good. I can’t wait until we can start running around like that all the time.

‎"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat."
- Unknown

Tuesday’s and Thursdays are going to suck for a while, I have no morning caregiver until May 11th. When the weather is cold I don’t mind staying in bed all day but when the weather’s nice I would much rather be outside cruising around. I guess I should be grateful that I don’t have to try to find a new temporary caregiver, I’d almost rather stay in bed than go through that. There is a couple of really good movies on pay-per-view so that always makes the day go by faster. I do get to look forward to a nice dinner and a nice long hot bath. I was having a bad day when Heather showed up and made...pan fried tilapia with arugula and Parmesan stuffed tortellini with artichokes, asparagus and tomato basil pesto. It was AWESOME and I ate it all!! Teresa came by and gave me a really nice long hot bath and now I’m in bed watching Tangled and I feel so warm and cozy.

Wednesday looked like it was going to be a really good day and then it started raining. The sun will come out for a couple of minutes and then when I decided to take Robby for a cruise it would start raining, we did get in about an hour before Cassy came to take us shopping. We went grocery shopping at Safeway and then to the mall to look around for a while and get some plant pulleys for my hanging plants on the front and back porch. I came back and my mom was making banana avocado bread and my uncle was making chili. I didn’t get to try the chilly yet but avocado banana bread was awesome. We played cards last night with Lee and Claudia and my aunt and uncle and everybody enjoyed it. The last game we decided to play for two dollars and we got skunked so it cost me four dollars for one game BUT we had fun and it was good company.

Thursday I was stuck in bed again and of course it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. It looks like at least on Tuesdays I won’t be stuck in bed all day because treason is going to come and try to get me up, she has an hour and a half between classes. I think I would go crazy without her.

Friday I had an appointment at Seton in Daly city to find out why I’m having stomach problems. The doctor thumped on my belly a couple of times and said “yes you have a problem” he put me on an elimination diet and then I go back in June on Monday for an x-ray and then I have to take this weird little pill and then go back again on Friday to see where all the little particles in the pill are having problems getting through. the first thing I had to cut out is all dairy, that won’t be too hard for me because I don’t eat that much except cheese and butter. And then beans and peas and then fruit... it probably would have been a lot easier if you gave me a last what I CAN eat. If it works it will definitely be worth it. After the doctor’s appointment Teresa and I went to Olive Garden for lunch, it was awesome and we ate too much. I had the little pastries stuffed with cheese and herbs with beef and she had the same only with chicken. I also had sausage and potato soup that was Keller. I have been craving that place for a while and it didn’t let me down, I can’t wait until my next visit. I tried to find Dr. Crew, he was my wound care doctor in January 2010 and after my flap surgery he came to visit me every day in the hospital, he is so sweet. I’m really not sure that he would remember me but it still would be nice to see him, I’ll try again next time. Before we went to Daly city Robby and I got to take a cruise to the wharf and back and after we came back we went down to the boardwalk, down the reservoir to pet Smart and then back through town just in time for Cassy to put me to bed. Lee and Claudia, uncle Dick and aunt Kathy and my mom and I played cribbage. Not ready to talk about the outcome yet...

Saturday was a gorgeous day, it got up to 70°. I started my day off with a massage and then after I got up I went to our monthly support group. There were six people there and the guy who started the face of the page, Ricardo, showed everybody how to maneuver around face book, I thought I knew a lot about it but I really learned a lot. He changed the name and the people that you did it more than doubled. It’s getting to be pretty popular not only around here but also oversees. He changed the name to neuro disability newsfeed. I get more and more excited about the support group and everything that’s going on with it every month, the people are just amazing. When I came back from the support group Melissa was painting my windows for spring, we decided not to do Easter because then I can keep it up longer. I was supposed to start eating five meals a day today but it didn’t happen. I had a protein drink this morning and then forgot to eat again before Karen left, by the time I got back home it was almost 4 o’clock so we began after Cassy put me to bed. Tomorrow I swear I’m going to do better.

Sunday was another long, exhausting morning so I just decided to take a bath and go back to bed, I hope I’m not going to be sorry because it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to eat five or six smaller meals every day. I think I’ve pretty much have it figured out, I hope it works. I was going to relax and watch a couple of movies but I fell asleep most of the day so now that I’m wide awake I’ll give the movies a try.

Nice weather and great family...

Monday was another bad day stuck in bed, I can’t wait for my doctors appointment on the 15th and I hope they can find out what is wrong with me... really tired of this. I called Hill wrong to see if they could come out and take a look at my bed, the function lights on the side rail keep locking up and sometimes they just don’t work. I had the guy come out once before and he showed me how to unlock it but it just keeps happening and now the only way I can get them all to unlock is to unplug it and plug it back in and now only works for a while. I kind of hope they don’t come out today because I would rather not be in my bed when they’re looking at it but I’m glad to see them whenever they get here.

‎"I have found that when you are deeply troubled there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source." 
--Doris Day

Tuesday was an absolutely beautiful day and it was so nice to be able to get up and get out. Teresa took Robby over to Westside animal Hospital to get a bath and I went over to him waves and curls in sunshine Villa to get my hair dyed, manicure and pedicure. Teresa and I went to try a new Chinese food place and it was pretty good. The Thai place we usually go to wasn’t open and it was right across the parking lot so we decided to give it a try. After we got back Teresa waxed my face and then she put me to bed, it was a really long day for her. While Robby and I were at the spa she washed the winter comforter and curtains in the spare bedroom and got out the summer set. Teresa is awesome, I really don’t know what I would do without her.

Wednesday started out to be a really good day. Robby and I took off for our regular cruise and the sun was shining. I got down to cost plus and found a couple more things that I needed for Easter. While I was there I ran into a gentleman whose wife was on the last stages of the interview to get a canine companion for independence dog, they had waited about a year and were very excited. I hope I run into them again after they get their dog. On the way out I ran into Foster, he founded an organization here in Santa Cruz called shared adventures. They are always doing something. Last year I met him at one of the concert on the beach and got to talk to him for a little bit before the concert, she is very sweet man. The next time I ran into him was almost literally, I was late for a movie and I needed to take my dog to relieve himself and I was just going to fast. I apologized and then hurried on my way. When I ran into him today at cost plus I talked to him for a little while and then came back home. Cassy came by and took Robby and I to the dog park in Scotts Valley. When we got there there was about 10 dogs there, Robby and I were so excited. Immediately this big brown boxer came over and kept trying to mount Robby. It was so annoying and the owner did nothing to control his dog, he looked like he thought he was a big macho guy and was probably proud of his dog... I should’ve told him that Robby was a guy? Finally it got to the point where Robby was growling and barked at him so we had to leave, Robby is not supposed to do that. I was so angry that we had to leave because of this one stupid guy and his dog, out of all the 10 dogs in the park Robby was the only one his dog was annoying. You just ruined the whole rest of my day. I came home and went to bed and had dinner. It’s amazing how just one thing like that can ruin your whole day. I kind of wish now that I would have said something but it look like the same group that was there probably every day, they all seem to know each other, and they probably would have just laughed at me anyway. Next time we are going to bring a squirt bottle.

Thursday turned out to be a really good day even though it was raining on and off. Teresa and I went to lunch at Ristorante Italiano, one of our very favorite places to go and we are never disappointed. We got fried calamari and fried shrimp, garlic bread and we both ordered spaghetti with seafood, I got scallops and Teresa got shrimp. Needless to say it was awesome. I Got a coupon from goupons. We went to the nursery to get a couple of Easter plans and ended up also getting a couple of parrots beak plants, I just love the way they look. I hope this time I can keep them alive, I just have to remember to have somebody warn them of a lot. We were going to go to Costco but we were afraid it would start pouring down rain as soon as we got out so we decided to go on Saturday instead, the weather is supposed to be nicer. We are both really tired and full, it was so good and we ate way too much. We just came home and Theresa put me to bed and we watched the dog whisperer for awhile. I watched the doctors TV show and last week they had a episode on knuckle replacement for arthritis. My uncle has arthritis really bad in his hands and he has tried everything so he was really thrilled when I showed him the episode, I really hope that it helps him.

Friday was a great day although the weather was not very nice. After I got up I started to take Robby for a cruise but when I got outside big chunks of ice were falling from the sky, not hard like hail but really soft chunks so we came back inside and waited for it to stop. After it stopped I met Teresa at the taco bar downtown and we had a couple of tacos and wait to see the new movie Arthur, it was really funny and we both enjoyed it but not nearly as funny as the original. We stopped in a couple of stores to look at shoes and then came home and Teresa put me to bed. Before we turned off my cell phone my niece Corinne text me and said that her and her dad are coming to visit tomorrow, hopefully we can go have Spam sushi.

"If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons." - James Thurber

Saturday was a beautiful day but it was really windy. Robby and I took off and we got about halfway down the wharf and the wind was getting colder so we decided not to go any further. We cruised through the boardwalk but it was so crowded it was really hard to get through so we turned around and came around the outside. We cruised along San Lorenzo reservoir to Ross and then back home through town. When we got back my brother Stanley, Janet and Corinne were here, they came down for the weekend. We went to have dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Robby and I met them up there. I had the Carnitas plate, usually enough food for at least two meals. We came back and after I got into bed we all played cards with my uncle and aunt, I actually won several games.

Sunday after I got up we all went out to breakfast and then Janet, Corinne and I went shopping at the Capitola Mall for a dress for Corinne’s dance. She found two really adorable dresses so her mother got them both for her, she looks so cute and both of them. We went to Ross and looked around for a while and Robby and I cruised home along the reservoir while they drove the van back. Teresa came to put me to bed and we had pizza, what a great day. My brother and my family went home and now I’m just sitting here trying to get warm.

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer...

Monday turned out to be a gorgeous day. I had a dentist appointment so Robby and I left early to go on an extra long cruise, it has been a while since we have been able to and it sure felt great. We took the long way home through San Lorenzo Park, and back through the boardwalk along the Levy. I forgot to start the odometer until I left the dentist office, it was almost 5 miles... that’s just one way.

Tuesday was also a gorgeous day. Robby and I cruised down Westcliff Drive to natural Bridges State Park, surprisingly there was not a lot of people but some really beautiful sites. I saw something in the water that I thought was a seal but I think now it was an otter. The caregiver that I have for Tuesdays and Thursdays told me today that it wasn’t really worth her coming all the way out here just to do care giving, she was giving me a massage on Thursdays and I think that’s really what she wants to do. She is also very busy because she works on a form. I will miss her but she still doing alterations on my clothing and making me some new camps to wear, I have to have elastic around the waist and no pockets so I will still get to see her every once in a while. My uncle, my aunt, Lee and Claudia, Lee’s sister and her kid and my mom and I played cribbage and ate cheese and crackers, I love to taste different cheeses. My uncle was my partner and we didn’t do very good, everybody was really tired but glad we did it.

Wednesday was another gorgeous day, just keep them coming. I took Robby for cruise over to the wharf, around the boardwalk and back. I knew that we were going to go and look at a couple of dog parks later so I didn’t want him to get too tired. The first one was in a nice area but there was no dogs around and it wasn’t very accessible, I would have to watch from the outside. It is the only one we could find in Santa Cruz that is enclosed so I think I will ask Dr. Owens if she wants to go and try it out. The next dog park that we checked out was in Scotts Valley, it was really really nice. I remember going there for the Woof to Woof dog festival last year, Robby and I did a demonstration for CCI. There was a one-year-old German shepherd puppy and a little brown yappy dog that wouldn’t stop biting Robby on the butt. Then a lady came in with a little black lab puppy and that was just what Robby was looking for. Robby was really nervous at first and wanted to play with the dogs but stayed in the middle of two chairs and then he ventured out. Since we were in Scotts Valley we stopped to get Robby some dog food, that is the closest place that carries his brand of food. When we got back Heather was cooking in the kitchen and it smelled wonderful, everything was still warm but I couldn’t eat yet because I had to do the standing frame first. I did the standing frame for a half an hour, went to bed and then ate a salad and some chicken.

My cousin is an awesome chef and she has her own website...http://snailsview.com/

Thursday was Kimberly’s last day to do personal care and massage, I really enjoy having her around but she is so very busy. She’s still going to be doing some alterations and sewing for me so I will still be able to see her once in awhile, not to mention face book. We had a really rough morning and I wasn’t feeling very well so I just stayed in bed, I did make an appointment to go back to Seton to see if I could find out what’s wrong with my stomach. Robby still looks like he’s exhausted from yesterday so I don’t feel too guilty. There are a couple of movies on pay-per-view that I would like to see and I have a couple of Netflix movies to keep me busy. Teresa came by and gave me a nice long hot bath and put me to bed, all snuggled in.

Friday was really nice in the morning and then it got HOT. Robby loves to help so much we decided to pose him with a big garbage cans so that it looks like he is pushing them out to the street, it turned out so cute. I started to take Robby on our morning cruise when I noticed that he was limping so I brought him back so Teresa could take a look at him, she found a little rock or something embedded in his pad and we went back out and he was fine. We went down to the wharf because the wind is cooler, down to the boardwalk and then back to the cooler wind on the wharf. When Cassy came I had her take us over to Toys “R” Us so I could get Robby a little pool for the yard to cool him down when it gets warm, I am really jealous because it is so cool. It has a cover over it and you can hook a garden hose to the top and it will spray downward like it’s raining. I can’t wait to see him play in it. I got to bed and got settled before the bed decided to break down, none of the functions on the side rails are working. The last time the technician was here for that problem he showed me how to reset it but it just keeps coming back on. Of course this happens on a Friday at 6 PM. Hopefully somebody will be around tomorrow and I can get somebody out to take a look at.

Saturday was another perfect day, not too hot. Robby and I went for an extra long cruise and did some shopping, is it still shopping you don’t buy anything? We looked around for a while in Ross, the world market and one of the stores that I like downtown. Cassy text me and asked me if I wanted some spam sushi, she has been telling me about it for a while now so I decided to try it. She gets it at a Hawaiian place and it was actually really good, I will definitely have it again. I got back and just as Cassy was ready to put me to bed her mom called and said that the dogs ran away, they have three. Her mom was on her way home from Valley medical center in Santa Clara and she got a call from a lady who found the dogs so Cassy went to go get them and luckily they were all safe. My uncle and aunt came over to play cribbage and my uncle and I actually double skunked my aunt and my mom, I think that was the first double skunk for me and it felt AWESOME.

Sunday was another draining long morning so I ended up staying in bed and of course it’s beautiful outside. I was going to go get a couple of tacos with Heather and then go to the movies with Heather and Cassy to see Paul, I’ve been wanting to see that for a while. I can’t wait until my doctors appointment next week so I can find out what is wrong with my digestive tract. Jess and Teresa took Robby over to the beach to run off some of his energy, Robby just loves the beach... luckily he gets a bath on Tuesday.

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.