Vaca Is Over

Vacation is over and it was back to work today.

Sunday - my last relaxing day of vacation we went and saw the movie It's Complicate. I liked it - it was cute and Meryl Streep is as good as ever. The casting did show the double standard of our society though - Alec Baldwin has gained quite a bit of weight over the years but he was cast as one of the leading men - you certainly wouldn't see an older actress who has gained weight being cast as a leading lady. It just shows again the double standard in this society between men and women. After the movie Linds packed up all her belongings to go back to her apartment - sad :-( K had packed up earlier and headed back to school around noon - there was still lots of snow in Wichita Falls and the roads kinda slick so best for her to get going well before dark. It was sad to see them head back as well as their cute little pups - Kara and Bailey. They both have such cute personalities.

Monday - packing and flying home were the tasks of the day. The flight home was a little bumpy - I kept Muppet in her crate the whole time - no getting yelled at by Flight Attendants this time around. My flight was full of soldiers again - this time they were heading home a two week furlough instead of shipping out for a tour in Iraq. Got home around 6 - the cats were fine. I left them home for the 10 days with no one looking in on them - left 2 big bowls of food (they only ate one) and an automatic watering system - I'm not even sure they knew I had been gone for 10 days - when I walked in the door Buffy acted like she does every day when I get home from work and Niki was sleeping on my bed. They did sleep with me last night though - all curled up tight - so they may have missed me just a bit.

Tuesday - Back to Work! It was a little slow moving this morning but I got to work by 830 - no too bad. I always feel a little scattered when I come back from vacation - trying to catch up on things that happened while I was gone - answer every one's "I Need This Now" questions and requests - remember what needs to get done this week because it is Month/Year End. No time to just catch a breath. I am hoping to get to work earlier tomorrow so I can get a handle on everything. I made an appointment today to go see the Neurologist - next Tuesday 12/5 at 815 in the morning. He doesn't look like McDreamy but hopefully we can get this all figured out. Headaches is borderline under control for the time being but the ringing in the ear is still here.

L - seems to be getting a long OK. She didn't get the job at KinderCare :-( She is still looking for work. She has applied for and received food stamps through DSHS - our tax dollars at work. At least she took the initiative to do it though - hopefully she does the same with her unemployment so she has some type of income coming in.

Muppet - must be very happy to be back in her house, with her bed, her dishes, and no one trying to be her friend - I just caught her playing with the Santa Monkey toy she got for Christmas! She is a happy pup!

This Blog - I can't believe that it has been almost 2 years (495 Posts) since I started this. It started out as a way to get out of a comfort zone and to also keep everyone apprised of what was going on with L. There has been drama, joy, sadness, frustration . . . The title is A Year In The Life of De and L . . . it has been more than a year and L is no longer living here. I think I need to make some changes/adjustments to the blog. I am open to any suggestions for a new title. Here are a few ideas:

• The Year As A Walking Pharmacy
• What Else Can Go Wrong
• The Crazy Cat and Dog Lady
• Empty Nester
• A Year With De - How Long Between Trauma Dramas

With no L drama . . . knock on wood . . . . I am always looking for topic suggestions.

I am going to head to bed . . . kinda tired . . . the Condo is a bit chilly . . . . nothing exciting on TV . . . . work tomorrow.

De

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas Day -

The Kids (pups) - got us up around 730 in the morning. It was like they knew there was something different about today. We went downstairs and sent them all outside - then Santa filled their stockings - lovingly made by their Nana! When they came back in Little Emma was sniffing at her stocking! But . . . . they had to wait for J to wake up. In the Meantime - T made a run to Starbucks - Yes . . . . . .there was a Starbucks open Christmas Morning. Linds and C made their breakfast casseroles. Tradition is . . . Stockings then Breakfast then Gifts - opened one person at a time so we can all see what everyone got. The "kids" opened theirs first - Linds filled Bailey's and K filled Kara's so that the Mama's could be surprised! The kids were very excited with their new toys. Bailey guarded her new stuff! It was very cute! Linds, K, and J opened their "replacements" stockings - Tess replaced Linds, Lexi replaced K, and Emma replaced J! Mup didn't have much in her stocking because she's not really a toy or treat kinda girl. She did chew on a small rawhide for a little bit but not really excited Christmas - everyone was pleased with what they got and how everyone liked what they gave them. We all settled in wand watched movies on the TV and played Scrabble! No . . . . . not the kind of Scrabble you are probably thinking of . . it wasn't on a board with solid tiles with everyone sitting around the table playing! This was an application on the iPhone and iTouch which allowed us to carry on individual games against each other! Family Game Time in this electronic world!!

Christmas Dinner - made by T - was barbecued Flank Steak and real mashed potatoes. Really - really good. Muppet had some of my Flank Steak for her Christmas dinner - she loves flank steak!! I think Christmas was a fun day for all and tuckered some people and "kids" out - Linds and Kara didn't even make it to bed! They fell asleep in front of the fire!

Today we did the traditional day after Christmas thing - we hit the mall!! The Musielak girls know how to shop - they get it from their Mom! :-) We hit the mall - then Best Buy - then Target! I bought Muppet a snuggie at Target! J bought a Snuggie for Emma before Christmas - each of the little dogs took turns wearing it - Tess loves it! She has been in her jammies and the snuggie since Christmas morning. She is like the little old lady in her pajamas and bathrobe!! All she needs now are some rollers in her hair! Linds says Tess is a little bitty and if she had furniture it would be covered in plastic!! Each of C's 3 dogs have their own little personalities - Tess the prissy bitty, Lexi the treat lover, Emma the cute white one! I'm not sure what the other 2 are yet - they are such puppies - Kara and Bailey are best friends - chasing each other around - wanting whatever the other one has - they are typical "cousins"! I remember Linds, K, J, and L being the same way when they were little. Muppet is the loner - she doesn't play with the other dogs and growls whenever they get too close. I think she is going to be very happy to go home. She has been very good here though - she's learned to bark when she wants to go out and the bark at the backdoor when she wants back in - and she hasn't picked up the habit of barking at every little sound at the door!! Yay!!

I just have one more full day here then it's time to fly home and back to the reality of work and L. This vacation has been so relaxing for me - I have had fun just hanging out with the Musielaks and not stressing about chores, bills, work, etc . . . . Can I just stay down here on permanent vacation!!

De

The Dogs Got Christmas Jammies!

Merry Christmas From De and Muppet, Linds and Kara, Colleen, Tess, Lexi, and Emma and K and Bailey!

Christmas Eve in Texas

Snow . . . . . In Dallas!!! Flights are cancelled and the one highway from here to Wichita Falls - K's school - are closed due to snow on the road and jackknifed semis. Glad K is already here. The snow probably won't stick for very long - supposed to "warm-up" to 44 tomorrow.

The only ones who had to work today were C and Linds. C for 2 hours - yes, her boss made her some in for 2 hours today how ridiculous is that! Linds worked a half day. We all met up with her at Grimaldi's for lunch - a really good pizza place. The restaurant wasn't crowded but the streets and parking lots sure were - all those last minute shoppers! J had to go to Target after lunch - he is one of those typical boys who waits until the last minute to finish up his shopping - his sister Linds went with him to help out - shopping for a girl! Linds called us on her way back home from . . . . . . . SONIC!!!!! Wanted to know if we wanted anything - my first request was a Lemon-Berry Slushie but then everyone else placed orders for ice cream so I changed mine to a banana split. Very Very Good!! They so need to put one of those closer to me. I understand there is one in WA - down in Puyallup - not going to drive 1+ Hours for a Slushie.

Right now everyone is just relaxing - we just finished watching Julie and Julia - a cute movie. I liked Meryl Streep in this one - I forgot that it was her and really believed she was Julia. **News Just announced that there is 7" snow in Wichita Falls** T is watching a movie on his computer - C is reading a magazine - Linds and K are up in K's room wrapping packages I believe - J is asleep on the floor by the Christmas Tree, I think he was up late last night. Emma was just sleeping on me but now she is asleep over by T as is Muppet - yup. . . . Muppet moved from me to T . . . . .it only took her 1/2 of our vacation to warm up to him. She still is not a fan of the other dogs though - I don't think she will warm up to them at all. The dogs are so funny when C comes home from work - they all get so excited and run over to her to get their rubbin's from Mee-Maw!! They get excited when T come home too but I def think that C is the pack leader here.

I need to get my packages wrapped - the box I sent down arrived safely yesterday. I bought wrapping paper, tags, and tape when I got here. We have also rented Angels & Demons to watch later so I should go do the wrapping now. Yup . . . .time to get off the couch and go upstairs! I really hate wrapping gifts! Linds offered to wrap them for $1 a gift . . . . . . I think I might wrap hers and have her wrap everyone elses! It will probably be worth it! I also need to straighten up my suitcase a bit . . . . it is so not organized anymore. Should take my meds now too so that I don't over sleep tomorrow. Yup . . . . . everything I need to do is upstairs!! Kinda putting it off
:-P

**News Break . . . . . McKinney should expect snow to fall for the next 1.5 - 2 hours with the possibility of accumulating 1" - 3" . . . White Christmas in Texas!

OK - heading upstairs!

De

Half-way There

I can't believe my vacation is half over already! Yesterday the weather was 70*! It was so nice and warm - me in my short sleeves and the others in their sweatshirts!! It feels weird to have such warm weather at Christmas time - Christmas is supposed to be cold. It is cold today! 33* and snowing! How does it go from 70 to 33 in one day. Not sure I could live like this - never knowing what to wear!

Yesterday we had lunch with Linds in Plano by her work. We went to Canes - a place that serves Chicken Fingers - that's what they're known for. They were good - the special sauce was really good too. Then it was off to WalMart - I wish I had a WalMart close to me!! Someone needs to turn the old Albertson building into either a WalMart or a Super Target!!

I baked Lemon and Mincemeat Tarts last night - they must have been good cuz they went pretty fast. We watched The Hangover and then Four Christmases.

Now - we are getting ready to head out to lunch with the whole family - Linds just got off work and everyone else is here. Going to Grimaldis.

De

Special Edition

OK - just heard from one of my regular readers that they aren't getting their monies worth for their subscription because I didn't post! So here is Monday and Tuesday all in one! It's a Special Double Issue!!

Muppet - Monday and Tuesday she woke me up at 730 - which is 530 Seattle time - she just doesn't have this sleep in on vacation down yet. She'll probably figure it out on the day we leave to go home. She is enjoying having a backyard as am I - no having to go down flights of stairs at night in the rain - just open a back door and out she goes. I thought she was getting used to the 5 other dogs in the house - until the growled - barked - and snapped this morning. Of course - my hand was in the way so when she snapped she ended up nipping my hand. Yup - Muppet was put in timeout!

Activities - Monday the only person who had to work was Linds - so the rest of us went out to Potbelly for lunch. Excellent sandwiches! Toasted Goodness and then fresh made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies! Next we went to the grocery store - C picked up some Flank Steak for Christmas dinner and I picked up ingredients for Tuesday's Dinner - I'm cooking because C works all day. I also grabbed stuff for making mincemeat tarts and lemon tarts. :-) Today J, Linds, and C all had to work. T, K, and I went to Target - they have a Super Target close to their house - I wish we had a Super Target - big, fresh fruit, veggies, and meat - I would def be doing all of my shopping there. We then met up with C at Wendy's for lunch. When we got home we watched the movie UP - very cute! Thanks K for renting this one!

For Dinner I made my Stroganoff - Everything was going fine - hamburger cooking in the microwave, big pot of water on the stove to boil for the noodles, Muppet locked up in her area so she would eat her food. Then all at once everything happened - the water with the noodles started boiling over - the stroganoff mix was done and the microwave was beeping at me - Muppet was barking to get out. I let Mup out - stepped in to the area she had been - proceeded to slip on the water she had spilled all over the floor. You know what, bare feet + wet stone floor = almost falling on your a** !! I did some spectacular balancing moves and stayed standing! I think I scored 8.5 from all but the Russian Judge who gave me 6!

After dinner we watched the movie District 9 - I had heard really good revues on it and never had the chance to see it in the theater. Thanks K for renting this one too! It was not at all what I was expecting. The story was very interesting and causes you to think about segregation and how people who are different are treated some times. It is filmed in a documentary style -subtitles for when the Aliens talk.

I have gotten a few calls from L while I've been here - mostly just wondering what I was doing - who all was with me - and to tell me that she threw up three times yesterday but seems to be feeling better now. Not exactly sure what I am supposed to do with that information! She called me on Friday after her interview and wanted to know if she had any purses at the house. Uh . . . . . Yeah, I'm sure there are but ummm . . . . I'm in TX! She said Oh yeah - I know I'll have to wait for you to get back I just wanted to know. OK - Random much. She should find out tomorrow about the job she interviewed for at the Kindercare. Let's all cross our fingers, say some prayers, rub a rabbits foot, or whatever it is you believe in or do for good luck!!!

I have had a headache all day - woke up with it and now I'm about to go to bed with it. I may take a vicodin tonight and hope it is gone in the morning. The only plans set for tomorrow so far are to meet up with Linds for lunch over by her work. Dinner tomorrow is Leftovers and I think I am going to make the tarts tomorrow. I told Linds I would have Lemon Tarts for her!

OK - Muppet has been outside and I'm getting a little sleepy so off to bed.

De

Are You Ready For Some Football

Sunday Sunday Sunday!!! Football is the activity of the day!

The day starts with NFL Today - getting all of the reports, analysis, stories of the day. Once the games start it is Football all day. They have the NFL package so when one game goes to commercial then we switch to another game - if that game gets boring then it's over to another. T is in the playoffs for our Fantasy League so there was lots of switching over to track his players and his opponents. I don't think T did as well as he needed to.

During the first round of games I ended up falling asleep on the couch with Muppet - a normal Sunday for me! The only difference was - I wasn't on the couch looking at my cluttered house thinking I should really get off my butt and do some chores - Guilt Free Napping!! When I woke up the second round of games were starting - I decided to do some baking. I made Peanut Butter Cookies with either a Hershey Kiss or a Peanut Butter Cup in the middle - I think they were a hit. I Love C's kitchen! An island in the middle that has an outlet so you can plug in the mixer - lots of room for moving around - a thin tall cupboard next to the dishwasher where you can store the cookie sheets! I so need a kitchen like this. I have plans to do some more baking while I'm here - Mincemeat Tarts - Lemon Tarts - and possibly some Pumpkin Bread. I am also going to make dinner for the family on Tuesday - C works all day so I thought I would help out. I haven't decided on what to make yet - Chicken Potpie or Stroganoff.

I then spent most of the rest of the day playing the new Mystery Case Files - Dire Grove game on my computer. I think this might be one of their best ones so far!! It is very addicting - lots of secret things are hidden - lots of having to remember where you found things cuz you need to go back. Thank goodness for the walk-throughs posted on-line or else I would still be stuck on a few parts. I'm still not all the way through yet - something to do later this week.

Linds is getting ready - C is out making a Starbucks run - Linds is treating me to my Hot Chocolate :-) I think C must be back cuz the dogs are going crazy!!! They are a bunch of barkers!! Mup doesn't join in - she just sits and looks at them and then growls if they get too close to either her or me!

Muppet has decided that sleeping in is not part of vacation - woke me up at 730 this morning which is 530 WA time. I guess I won't have trouble getting up for work after!!

De

Vacation Day 2

Day 2 of Vaca opened with Muppet having a seizure at 8 am - I wasn't surprised - the plane ride probably stressed her out so I was expecting her to have one - it was pretty short. I put her out in the backyard to wander while I got ready for the day. When I came back downstairs Tess, Lexi, and Emma were gated up in the laundry room, C had left to go running, and T was off at lessons. I had breakfast and then sat down on the couch with Mup - which slowly turned in to laying on the couch with Mup and then sleeping on the couch with Mup. A nice 4 hours nap!!

After sleeping it was time to make a run to Target for some last minute items and then to Chik-fil-a for lunch!! Love it!! I wish they had this franchise up in WA. T met us at chik-fil-a because his last lesson was a no show so he was done for the day.

The "kids" were all off doing their thing. Linds is in Vegas - she texted her Mom that her BF gave her $100 gambling money on Fri and she turned it in to $457!! The BF then said she had to spend it so he sent her off shopping with his Mom and sisters! I don't know if she put any money down on her beloved Cowboys yesterday - if she did she would have made some money! K was in a wedding Saturday night - she headed out at 11 to go get ready with the bride, then pics, the wedding, more pics, then the reception. She got home around 1030 pm. J worked until 5 and then went to dinner with us then off to see Avatar with his friends.

Dinner was a trip to On The Border! Best Mexican food - I had the Border Sampler plate - Steak Nachos, Chicken Quesidillas, Chicken Flautas. Very, very good. I have leftovers that I will probably snack on during Sunday Football.

After dinner we came home to finish watching the Cowboys - Saints game. WTH!! Who would have thought the Cowboys could beat the undefeated Saints.

Headache is still here - although not as bad as it was at the beginning of last week. I had hoped that the plane ride with the change of pressure might miraculously cure the ringing in my ears - no such luck. If anything - I think it has made the ringing a little louder - more ringing now than high pitched whine.

I am now up - showered - dressed - and ready for vaca day 3. Probably going to be a Football Day.

De

And . . . . . Nothing Again

Long . . . long. . . . day. Started by getting to work at 630. Needed that quiet time before everyone gets there - uninterrupted heads down processing. I was able to get a lot done. But of course . . . . when you make perfect plans of how your day will time out . . . . . things always come up. Questions - please pull this - what about this! I rushed at the end of my day - hope I remembered everything. I had to leave the office at 230 this afternoon for my appt with the ENT Dr.

I won't bore you with all the details of the appointment - hearing is good - eardrums look great - ears withstand pressure within the normal range. So basically . . . . A Big Fat Nothing!!!!! Getting so frustrated and upset - all these Dr's and tests and still nothing. Bottom line right now - learn to live with the damn ringing in my ear! Call my primary Dr tomorrow as the headache meds aren't working anymore.

OK - I'm heading to bed.

De

Shhhhh . . . . Mom went to bed and left the computer on. I don't know what she's said about me lately but let me tell you my story.

Saturday she gets us up early . . .thought Saturday was the day to sleep in. She takes me outside and then starts talking in that high pitched excited voice - this usually means a treat!! I get really happy and start dancing around - which makes her laugh. We get in the car - I Love Car Rides! Maybe were going to go visit Nana! But No . . . . it's a very short car ride . . . . we're going to the groomers! I really don't like going to the groomers - when she hands me off I try to grab on to her with my paws - you know, cats with their claws are actually very lucky - then can really grab onto someone when they don't want to go. When I'm done getting my haircut - I actually smell pretty good! Sniff . . sniff . . . I smell like Sugar Cookies! Now that's different! It takes awhile but Mom finally shows up to get me. She really likes how I smell! I thought we would head home but instead she takes me in to the store next door. WTH! What are we doing here? I want to go home? Please don't put me down! I just want to be curled in tight! Phew . . .she's not putting me down. We go over to a bench and sit by this man dressed all in red with a white beard - I think I remember him from last year at this time. Another guy is trying to get me to look at him - he has a camera. I don't feel like being cooperative though so I just keep squiggling around. We're finally done there and we drive home.

Yesterday Mom came home early. I got all excited again - danced around - jumped in to her arms! She took me out to the car and we drove away. Maybe we're going to Nana's! Nope . . . short ride again - you would think I would have learned from Saturday :-P! This time it was much worse than the groomers . . . . . it was . . . . .the . . . VETS!!! Oh No!!! I started shaking and getting so scared . . . no good ever comes from a visit to the Vets!! There's lots of poking - pushing - prodding. Why does he always look at my teeth and then in my ears! I try to shake my head back and forth so he will let me go. Then I get weighed - and he says the weight out loud!! I don't need to know that! I finally get to climb back in to Mom's arms and I think everything is over. Then . . . . I feel him grab my tail . . . . .and then . . . in goes the thermometer!! Really . . . really . . . . is that necessary! I feel fine - I'm not sick. Finally we're all done - no shots or needle pokes so I guess it wasn't all that bad.

OK - Mom is moving around a bit - Niki is sleeping on my pillow and snoring - Buffy is off in the corner of the bed. I hope there are no surprises tomorrow.

Muppet

How Was Your Day . . . . Mine Was . . . .

Our Gingerbread House won Best In Show! Yay!! Winning is great - and it's even better because we had fun doing it! I don't know what our prize is yet - I'll post when I find out.

I accomplished a lot at work today - 1 day down 2 more to go! My work goal is to leave my desk clear and organized so that there are no "fire drills" while I'm in TX. I'm bringing my PC with me though so I can login and check things.

I accomplished nothing at home - My home goal is to leave my home clean and organized! So did not get close to that goal today. I'm going to blame it on my head - which has been hurting since yesterday morning. Had 2 hours relief today - thanks to KFC for the Vicodin! So the plan for home today was to fold clothes so I could start getting things ready to pack - yeah - not even close! Oh well - try again tomorrow. I think I will start making my packing list. Then try to do the laundry - folding thing tomorrow.

No L drama to report - which is a nice change for a bit. I am having a Christmas lunch with her on Thursday.

Muppet still smells like Sugar Cookies! Love It! She has an appt tomorrow to get her health certificate so she can fly.

Shout Out to my niece K - Straight A's!!!! Yay!!! So proud of her. Of course - she couldn't have done it without me - her paper editor! jk :-P

De

Almost Vacation Time

I am watching a rerun of Food Network Challenge - it is the Extreme Holiday Cakes challenge from last year. I really enjoy the challenges on Food Network - the contestants are fun - I enjoy seeing what they can come up with. Most of the judges are nice - good critics who give constructive criticism and praise. I do not like Kerry Vincent!! Her face is always pinched together - she never smiles - she is so over critical - her attitude is like she doesn't think any of these bakers deserve to be in the challenge let alone win! It amazes me that none of the contestants has ever told her off!

I only have 3 days of work this week!! Yay! I hope I actually go to work tomorrow - I have been fighting a really bad headache all day. I need to go in so I can get my desk in order and ready for me to be gone 6 work days. Ahhhhhhh - just thinking about it is making my head pound even more!

I wonder if we will find out the winners of the Gingerbread contest tomorrow. On Friday during the display time when we all voted one person - SC - made a comment that Finance was cheaters and that she had already complained to HR and wanted us disqualified! WTH! You've got to be kidding me! This is supposed to be a friendly, fun competition! It's not like we're competing for a huge cash prize! The complaint was based on the fact that Finance used 3 Gingerbread House Kits - which we were given by HR. We originally were going to be split in to 3 groups but there were people out on vacation - out sick - so we decided to be one group and combine our efforts. The rules were that you had to use all the items in the kits and then you could use any additional items you wanted to as long as they were edible. Well - our additional items were more gingerbread pieces and lots and lots of candy! I tell ya - I felt like I was back in elementary school on the playground! One group of kids doing well and the rest of the kids turning on you calling you cheaters - mainly because they didn't come up with the same idea we did.

OK - I'm heading in to bed - hopefully this headache will be gone in the morning.

De

Teamwork

We worked very hard at the office today - big project that started yesterday, continued today, had to be done by 3:00 this afternoon. It required everyone to work together so that it could finished on time. Everyone had a job!

Project Finance - MA
Project Manager - DS
Contractors - CV, KFC
Decoraters - IH, DB, AH, JC, KFC,
Landscaping - CV
Purchasing - NP, TC, DS, CH
Inspectors - RD, BP,
Movers - CV, JC

Here is what we accomplished:




Merry Christmas!
De

Fun Family Dinner

I had a really good night tonight! After work I went to J & A's house for dinner and survivor watching. It was fun - J is very lucky to have an A at home - kids are well taken care of - dinner is ready to be put on the table when he gets home - I need an A at home! A cooked Fajitas for dinner - I thought they were really good! Their 2 little boys are so entertaining - it's been awhile since I've been around little kids - let alone 2 rambunctious boys! J & A are really good with them - they know how to keep them entertained - played the game Hot or Cold with the boys looking for their McDonald's toys! You can tell that they are a team - A got the boys plates ready - then J got his plate ready while A held their 6 week old baby - another boy! - then J held the baby while A got her plate ready! Teamwork! When I was done eating I got to hold the baby so J could finish his meal - the baby is sooooo cute! I love babies!

Before Survivor we had dessert - Choclately Goodness - really . . . . that's what it's called . . .and it describes it so well! Picture layers of chocolate cake - chocolate pudding - whipped cream - crushed candy bar!! Yum!! Then it was time for survivor. I won't ruin the show for those of you that haven't watched it yet - the only thing I will say is that the gal I picked to take it all was almost voted out tonight but they switched it around again right before tribal so she is still in it!! Yay Me!!

After Survivor I drove home - not too bad - only took me 30 min. Muppet was very excited to see me. Now we are both snuggled up on the bed - it is extremely cold in here tonight and the bed and blankets are the warmest place to be right now! The cats haven't joined us yet - they are having a rousing game tag right now. Niki's favorite place to hide is my bathtub! She comes running down the hall - zips around the corner into my room and on to the bathroom - jump into the tub! I am sure my downstairs neighbors wonder WTH is going on up here! If Buffy doesn't come running after Niki she just sits in the tub staring - i don't think she's all there! Well . . . . . she is L's cat after all!

Yay - tomorrow is Friday! I only have 3.5 working days left until my Xmas vacation. The half is next Wednesday - I will leave work early to go see the ENT Dr I have been referred to. My MRA was normal so this is the next step. I decided I probably should go in and see her before I got on the plane. Also - my headache seems to be starting to come back :-( I'd been feeling fine with the Nortryptyline but I think my body must be adjusting to that dose and so the nerve endings are hurting again - that is my amateur diagnosis.

I Am Discombobulated!

On Monday we moved offices - we didn't change building we just moved up form the 18th floor to the 20th. We are still in the same corner of the building but it feels like a whole new world. The cubes have tall walls instead of short - I no longer have natural light coming through a window - I've unpacked everything but I feel like I don't know where anything is. I have this constant feeling that I'm forgetting something important. I only have 5 more work days before I head to Dallas so I need to get myself pulled together so I can make sure everything is covered. Ahhhhhh!!!!!

I Love Dr. Ben - my chiropractor! Monday I could barely move/walk/lay down - I went in to see Dr Ben and he adjusted my spine and hip bones - the popping/cracking of my hip sounded like popping bubble wrap - but it felt oh so good! The release of the tightness and the pressure. I could walk again! It was still tender and I still had a bit of trouble finding a comfortable way to sleep - I had another adjustment today - more bubble wrap! Feeling even better. I will go back in on Saturday and hopefully be back to normal.

My MRA results came back normal - so once again we are back to square one. Next step is to make an appointment to see an ENT. I was given the name and number of the one my Dr recommends but I haven't made the appointment yet. Not sure why - other than I am tired of them not finding anything. In my research I have found that it could be tinnitus - which is a fancy name for a ringing in the ears that will never go away. I will go crazy!

I needed to get myself focused tonight so I baked cookies! Lots of measuring - mixing - following directions - the only part of my week that I have felt any kind of control! So the office gets to enjoy M&M Cookies tomorrow.

De

What More Can I Say

So L is back in town and living with someone new - now known as E. E lives in an apartment in Bellevue with two other guys. When I picked L up at the train station I asked her if E had left her a key or how was she to get into the apartment. Oh - E's Mom will be there. I kinda looked at her and she said - oh - his mom has her own place but she comes by and stays every once in awhile. I asked her why - answer - To Party! She goes on beer runs for the boys. Good Grief - L's friend's parents are quite a different lot.

When we got to the apartment I got out of the car to help her carry things in. We got to the front door - she knocked - and E's Mom answered the door. Good Grief - she looked like a women who's been road hard and put away wet. We walked in to the apartment which smelled of cigarette smoke - dirty dishes piled around- and it was so dark - no lights on - blinds closed. She can certainly pick interesting places to live.

Today I gathered the stuff that L has left at the house and consolidated it all down to a few boxes. As I was going through one box I found a bottle with 6 unidentified pills and the paperwork for when she was arrested for DUI - yup, arrested! There was a case number and a copy of her breathalyzer readings. Let's see - legal limit if you are 21 is .08 - L was tested twice and blew a .132 and then a .147 - yeah - a little bit over the limit. Can you guess what date she was arrested on and where? If you are regular readers you will remember back in September L called asking telling me her car had been towed from in front of a friends house. That would be the day after the night she was arrested. Her car was towed by the police due to the fact she was drunk. You know - even after I received the notofication in the mail for her regarding the fact that she had gotten a DUI - she still lied about it. Oh no - I wasn't arrested - it was not the same day my car got towed - I was only a little drunk and they just talked to me for a bit and that was it. Sometimes I think L actually believes the lies she tells. She just doesn't seem to be able to tell the truth.

De

**Update - 11 Days Until I fly to Dallas**
**Update 2 - My hip seems to be feeling better today. Must be from the combination of ice then heat and the Shiatsu Massager I got last year for xmas**

In Her Shoes

We've all heard the saying "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". Meaning - try my life on for awhile and see what it's really like. Well, today I did that.

On Tuesday I was moving things around the house - boxes, clothes, etc - the next day it felt like I had pulled a muscle in my glutes - aka butt! As the week went on I thought it was getting a little bit better. Then yesterday at work we packed up our office for a move up to the 20th Floor this weekend - lots of bending, lifting, moving of heavy items. Throughout the day my hip started to hurt worse. It was no longer in my butt it was my actual hip joint - I've had problems with this joint for awhile - it gets locked up and I have had to go to the Chiropractor to get it adjusted back in. When I woke up this morning I thought it had worked it's way back in sso I didn't go by the Chiropractors - I got up - showered - went to go get L from the train station.

On the car ride to the train station it really started to hurt - sitting down was very painful! Thank God for the Vicodin prescription for my head. Of course - by this time the Chiro office was closed - I will have to deal with it over the weekend. After dropping L off in Bellevue - which I will have to blog about at another time - I went to Home Depot to get some shelves for a home improvement project. I found myself leaning on the shoppong cart and sliding my foot along - it hurt to put weight on my leg - shooting pain from the heal on up. It also hurt to move my leg so I found myself kind of waddling -swinging my whole hip and leg forward to eleviate the pain of actually moving my leg.

It was as I headed back to my car that it finally dawned on me - God was having me walk a mile in my Mom's shoes - showing me what Mom goes through every day - the shuffling of feet because the hip hurts so bad - the needing to walk a little slower - the feeling of getting up off the couch feeling fine until you go to walk and it hurts really bad because it stiffened up while resting. The pain is making me crazy!

Luckily for me - I can go to the Chriopractor on Monday and get the joint adjusted back in - Mom has to go through this every day.

I understand now and can empathize with her. Thanks for the lesson and the mile walk God.

De

Good Morning!

Yes - if you look at the time stamp it is correct - I am writing this at 430 am! Muppet woke me up at 3 this morning right before she had a seizure - which I think is kinda cool that she knows when it's going to happen so she wakes me up - but 3 is just a little to early for a furry face in yours going "Mom . . . . Mom . . . . . wake up Mom I'm about to do something scary"

The seizure didn't last too long - maybe 5 min - but then the wandering started. Last time she wandered a lot she ended up peeing on my bed. This time I brought her in to the kitchen - put a puppy pad down - and closed the baby gate. She traveled around in circles over and over again and then just randomly sat down on the linoleum kinda floppy like and peed - not anywhere near the puppy pad. I went to grab some paper towels to clean it up but by the time I got back to her she had already proceeded to walk through it and track little yellow footprints all over the floor and pad. She also then started walking right through her water dish - maybe she was trying to wash her paws? Anyways - I cleaned up the floor and wiped Muppet's paws as best I could - she was still in a very active wander mode - and decided to let her stay in the kitchen. When she is done wandering and has settled down a bit I will need to give her a quick bath. What fun for a Friday morning!

This morning I won't be heading in to work right away. My second test - this time an MRA instead of an MRI - is at 8:15 this morning in Bellevue. The insurance company didn't have any problem pre-approving the test this time. Again I have mixed feelings - it could be scary if they find something but if they don't find anything then we are still in the dark about what's causing everything. If nothing shows up on this test then the next step will be to go to an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat Dr). My mother-in-law gave me the name of the one she went and saw in Bellevue that she really liked and I have verified that the Dr is on the preferred provider list with the insurance company.

L called my last night to let me know that she was at the train station and getting ready to board for her 37 hour trip back to Washington. Long trip - but should be interesting.

It is now 440 - an hour before my alarm is scheduled to go off - so I think I am going to try and get 40 winks before the day really starts.

De

What? Are You Sure?

I am sure that most of you are aware of the great tragedy that occurred in Lakewood WA over the weekend - the murder of 4 police officers. I was saddened by this and couldn't understand how someone could do this - it's just something I can't wrap my brain around. After the murderer was found and killed the stories of how so many people were aiding this guy to get away and avoid being caught just astounded me. What goes through a persons mind when they make that choice? What kind of people would do this - criminals - thugs - gang members. That's what you would think. Tonight I discovered that someone I am acquainted with has been arrested for giving aid to this guy! From what I saw of this person I did not see them as a criminal - thug - gang member. This person seemed to be just like me. Now I am having an even more difficult time wrapping my brain around this. It was easier when I could lump all the people that helped into the same category of the accused killer - but this is someone that you could see walking down the street - shopping at the mall - standing next to you at the grocery store. It makes me look at everyone around me a little bit different. I got on the bus this evening and found myself being a little more alert - taking notice of the people sitting close by - getting on the bus with me. Any one of these people could be the type of person who would help out an accused cop killer. Not just the scruffy scary looking people but the people who look like they work in a nice office.

I have read on some news sites that this acquaintance has been arrested. I'm not sure what will happen after this - not sure how involved this person was. It makes me a little nervous to think about being around this person - not sure what to say - how to act. Just a lot of things to think about - my muddled brain just can't grasp all of this.

De

Creepy Stalker Guy

Who knew that drama could travel 1598.5 miles!! That's the distance between me and L right now. The drama is because of her ex Justin - who will be known as J from this point on.

Yes - J - the same person who tried to get her out of his mother's house multiple times. As far as I can tell this was the progression -

• L decided to go to MN and J was upset about that. Tried to convince her to stay here so they could work on things.
• Called L while she was in MN to talk to her and try to works things out. L told him that things were over and she was trying to get her life together. He was upset because that life did not include him.
• He kept calling L and yelling at her - telling her she was a horrible person and that he was over her - they were done. L told him to quit calling then.
• J started looking through L's MySpace and Facebook. Called her wanting to know why he wasn't a top friend anymore - who was this other guy she was talking with - this was it they are so over he's done with her. He told her not to talk to him anymore.
• L told him it wasn't any of his business who she talks to and that she's not the one who keeps calling - if it's over quit calling.
• Last weekend he called her and told her she needed to tell her friends that he didn't beat her up on Halloween because he is getting threatening calls. If she doesn't tell her friends then he is going to sue her for slander/defamation of character.
• J then called me! Asked me to come get the rest of L's stuff - asked me what L had said about Halloween. I asked him why he wanted to know - he told me what he had said to L. I asked him what he thought he could sue her for! She has nothing - he would have to get in line behind all of the other creditors she owes. I also told him that it was a he said she said and could never be proven. I told him to just let her go and to quit calling.
• J then decided to send a message to E - the new guy L has been talking to - and to tell him all of these things about L. Messaging her other friends and telling them that L is a liar and some other things that can not be repeated here.
• L's friends E & T told J to just drop it - to not call or message - if they didn't leave L alone then they would have to come beat him up.
• During all of this J has still been calling L non-stop and leaving voicemails telling her what a bad person she is and how he is so over her.

My take on this is - J is a very controlling person. He had control over L for so long - he controlled where she lived, who she saw, where she was. He now has no control and can't deal with it so he is trying to drag her friends into it - trying to get them to be on his side so that L has no one and will have to come back to him.

I called him tonight and told him that he needed to leave her alone. No more calling - no more trying to drag her friends in to this - he needs to just let her go. I told him that they are toxic together and both just need to move on. He tried to tell me that it was L and her friends that kept calling/messaging him and that he's just trying to get on with his life. I said if that's true then this shouldn't be a problem. He said that T had called and left him a death threat and didn't appreciate 1 - I don't think T threatened death and 2 - kinda funny that Mr tough gangster J is afraid of a gay guy who's in MN! What a nutcase!

My final words to J were that I wanted him to stay away from L and to not call her. If he kept this up I would go to the police to get a restraining order against him.

Good Grief ~

De