I'm Dreaming of a (less) White Christmas

Snow Cardigan

There is a Subaru under there...somewhere...

There it is!



DogTrail along the house. My cardigans are wimps about cold.


Notice the pristine clean backyard snow?


DogTrail #2 -

Over to the front fence to bark at the mailman. Every day. You would think they would get to know the mailman and stop barking. Nope...but he does call them by name by now as he makes his way along. Kind of cool having a guy who walks house to house and gets to know you...and your baddogs.


















And now just a couple cool things outside...
Have a Safe and Merry Christmas!

Snow Pictures

Well, I was able to get a few pictures of our snow. I really don't like snow...I thought it was ok until living here. Growing up in the Rogue Valley, we would get maybe an inch and it would melt.

Thursday I guess we had record snowfall - that was when they closed work - with something like 27" in town during that day/night. We didn't get the additional snow they forecast over the weekend (THANK DOG), so this was taken Sunday evening to give you a clue of what we did get...so far.


In this first photo is my yard waste can and the Subaru out on the street. Not sure if we will have a garbage man this week - they haven't gotten to the side streets yet and it was difficult getting out the 3 blocks to the main road even with the Explorer's 4 wheel drive. The front right fender is the only visible part of the car itself.

This is the tree/bush out back. I didn't prune it this year because the dogs enjoy the shade and place to play under during the summer. Of course now it just looks totally wild with no flowers or leaves and clumps of snow stuck in it.





And the neighbor kids play/fort thing...funny thing is we haven't seen the kids out playing at ALL in the snow. Of course they are like 3 and 4 so that's probably an improvement as all summer they were outside starting at like 6am with no adult supervision. Let's not discuss what I think of the neighbor's parenting skills. But I'm shocked at the lack of snowmen.






The start of some lovely icicles.

These are the days I think I understand why the landlord goes to Phoenix every winter!

Snow Day

So here in Spokane sometimes we get REAL snow. Not wimpysnow like at mom's house.

Yesterday when I went to work it was snowing, we had maybe an inch or 2 before that.

By the time I got off traffic was backed up the entire way home due to deep unplowed roads and accidents. Perspective - it took over an hour to get home 2-3 miles...

We have maybe 2 feet on the garbage can out front for the moment - I can't see the car color at all and the truck has enough on it that you wouldn't be able to see out. I wish I had a camera right now (my power supply burnt out in mine)...is is much deeper than Wally and Alice.

Our service center, which in 10 years has NEVER delayed or closed, did today! I got a text, email and auto call at 5:30 about a 2 hour delay and at 8 got notice of a closure. SO cool to have technology like that! So today I'm just going to catch up on more Alias (the current TV show rental) and play games and veg out

A new doctor...some light in the tunnel

So I met my new endocrinologist about a month ago. I really liked how positive she was. A good mix of bedside manner and honesty about what we need to do to work on my blood sugar and thyroid.

After a month of continuing my meds with a 25% up in thyroid (and I feel SOOOOO much more alive and with it!) and slight adjustment in insulin I met with the nurse today for an hour to discuss going on some newer immediate acting insulins. Long term goal is not only better control (I still get bouncy highs and lows) but possibly go on an insulin pump.

I have to say I was impressed and am excited (and nervous!) aboout the new regimen. It's a total change of what I've done for 16 years. Wow, I've been a diabetic for almost half my life and I still am mostly ok...guess old Dr Nasty doesn't know what she's talking about with her disabled in 5 years stuff...

I meet with a dietician next week and get a refresher on carb counting (rather than using an exchange program) as that tends to work better with immediate insulin. I'm also going to fax my blood sugars to the nurse weekly so I don't have to schedule as much time off work to go in and can consult via phone.

Next step (now that I'm feeling more perky) is to rejoin the gym and start going at lunchtime to work out. There is one right across the skywalk from work so I can easily fit a half hour workout in at lunch or go in before or after work. Maybe next year I'll be up for a weight loss challenge (or maybe a new year's resolution?)

Yeah, Wrath of the Lich King! Finally something to amuse myself!

(for those who don't know, this is the newest expansion in World of Warcraft).

I've been "dinking" around in-game with 3 level 70's (I never play the 4th) and quit my top ranked (in the top 100 worldwide) raiding guild because there isn't anything left and I do want to have a "little" life...but now I'm probably going to be totally involved again until all my toons are 80.

For those who DO play and ever want to talk in game I'm on Moonrunner and alliance...Kumalie, Taralen and Sariareyn are the toons I am on most :)

Supported show...

I'm a little too tired to chat about it right now...

However, is it weird that my puppy went RWD and I think that was WRONG?

ok, he's got the frame, head and can move...but he is STOOPID scarey skinny and immature. I wouldn't reward it. He needs several months and some fat balls.

Other than that, yes I am proud...but he's NOT ready to win. The only reason he was there is to support the club.

Oh well, I will take it and run....

What is wrong with this?

Eugene, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Charleston, West Virginia
Frederick, Maryland
Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Salem, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Salisbury, Maryland
Hampton, Virginia
Alexandria, Louisiana
Medford, Oregon
St. Helens, Oregon
Baltimore, Maryland
Olympia, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Providence, Rhode Island
Danbury, Connecticut
Roanoke, Virginia
Bend, Oregon
Little Rock, Arkansas
Santa Cruz, California
Hartford, Connecticut


omg...the last on the list is the insurance capital of the country...

And don't Danbury and Providence have, like, SNOW?

I Hate Doctors - don't read if you like them...just a rant.

I just need to rant for a second...

I've been working a lot lately. OT is over now for processing changes (new trainees are doing it now) which hurts the paycheck, but I can finally take time for appointments and such.

And I've been very good attendance wise - when I broke my back I missed 2 days, and I've taken scheduled days almost every days since.

So I finally take time to go to the Dr today. Mind you I've been working long days this week so I could take a day off early and not get docked for missing time or have to use PTO.

Along with this I didn't particularly get along with this Dr when I saw her before...no bedside manner at all...but of my other PPO plan providers the soonest I could get in for a new patient appointment to establish a relationship was late November. I'm now eligible for intermittent FMLA for my dr appointments, etc. She would just have to sign some paperwork stating when she first saw me for my chronic medical issue and that it was episodic/non curable/etc...diabetes is specifically on the list of conditions.

WELL....don't you know that signing something stating I have diabetes is bad medicine?

Because I haven't seen her in 10 months or had blood work since then she wouldn't even certify or LOOK at the papers to say I have diabetes. I'm not asking for specific waived absences or a dr's note. I'm asking her to just say (in case) that yes I have this condition. To certify that would give me more flexibility for appointments. Jeeezuz christ. How many jobs give intermittent FMLA? If she signs the papers I have a much easier time to go to appointments and lab tests (done by an outside lab so takes a second appointment) and just be protected...in case...

I worried this would be a problem - this was the same woman who told me she didn't like mail order pharmacies so wouldn't fax prescriptions to Express Scripts - making me pay about $10-20 more per perscription because I have a mail order only plan so for maintenance meds (aka Insulin, synthroid, etc)

Instead I got a lecture about needing to be under care and good control (DUH) and that if I wasn't very lucky I'd be disabled within 5 years. Gee Thanks. I've lived with type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease over half my life now. I know the issues. I know the long term health conditions and the kidney damage (last test was less than 50% kidney function). I've had this longer than this gal has been a doctor I'm sure. And as my (much nicer) Oregon dr used to say I obviously knew about my disease and as long as I was doing ok he wasn't going to mess with my care. Also I haven't had an episode where I needed to go to the hospital in over 10 years. (unless you count the kidney infection)

Ok I'm ranting. I know I should test more, I know I should work out, I should do more to be pro-active. I actually eat pretty good most of the time these days but I'm not loosing weight (well do ya think if I had a new thyroid prescription it would help, dr bitchy?)

So she will look at the papers (which have to be in next week) if I get monthly blood work with numbers that she likes, come in for a pap (which has NOTHING to do with my diabetes) and meet with her monthly and get 2 bloodworks done in a row with improvement in between (this said without even looking to see if it's really off).
However, she she finally gave me a referral to the endocrinologist - that she was supposed to do LAST year. Maybe I'd respect a specialist more than a family doctor who doesn't beleive in mail order pharmacies. So why if I see a specialist would I need to get more bloodwork for her?

How is it bad medicine to certify I have a chronic, incurable disease?

How is it good medicine to try to upset me by saying "all this will happen within 5 years".

hmmm

Oh, just an interesting point - I first saw her last year because my feet and legs were swelling painfully (edema a typical side effect) - and I've improved enough since then that it's only a very occasional problem now. Must be doing something wrong.

Maybe I can find a new doctor (in November or December) who will give me some kind of anti anxiety pills so I don't stress over the bad things that will happen. Oh wait, then I won't want to take care of it...

Obviously this woman never heard of using the carrot before the stick.

Happy Birthday!

And just a day after Hux...

Carolyn turns....something! *unlike her I am NOT going to post how many years ago someone was in labor*

Happy birthday mom. Even though the rest of the world honors terror day, some of us remember its your birthday!

The International Show

Pictures made at today's IABCA show. UPDATED!
I've never really been a fan of the whole national/international title thing - it's very confusing. We didn't have any breed competition, however the judges do write ups and score your dogs. Even without competition they don't have to give a set rank or placement. We did very well considering that none of the judges were corgi people. Herding was the most competitive and long lasting bunch with a literal ton of mini-aussies entered - they only can compete in this type of show as they are not AKC (more on what I think about them another time)

What a pretty girl. Clementine earned four SG-1 certificates in the 4 shows, which is the highest award that a puppy can earn. This means she can get both her national and international puppy titles! Not bad for a totally untrianed puppy.

In addition at show 4 she earned bred-by-exhibitor puppy group 1 - and overall puppy group 3. The groups were decent sized and we were the only 2 corgis (no pems) so I'm happy she got a little recognition. The write ups were wonderful. Not a single judge mentioned the head white. All of them mentioned her type, wonderful front, tail, and nice flowing movement from all directions. Note: she actually got better comments than Hannah the Slug from a couple of them! Not that Hannah was bad - but Clem was better!

Clem is a brindle version of her half-sister Hannah. Hannah herself earned four V-1/CACIB awards (top ranking for adults) and therefore qualifies for her International title.
She can now enter the Champion class and earn the National title
(you can earn either title first but have to apply for it before getting the other title on an adult).

I have to say that Keith and Jo were real troopers. Dog shows are confusing at best and they were there early and stayed all day both days. Poor Jo looked something like a tomato from the sun! They are wonderful dog owners and a real assett to our show community. And Keith says he's going to show Clem himself...now that I trained her!

Finally...and the community speaks....

Justice

This has affected everyone who lives here.

We all remember when Shasta and Dylan disappeared. And when she was found. People (including myself) still tear up when they hear or talk about it.

On one hand I am torn on the death penalty. Truly on the fence and my opinion can change. I like to look at say there is beauty in everything if you just look at it different, and the world is not simply black and white - everyone sees even the littlest thing a different way.

Ever watch "The Life of David Gale"?

On the other hand...there are some people who probably can't be redeemed.

Holy cow...been awhile

Ok, time to catch up. I've been without a computer half the summer and it's finally fixed (yeah! no more cell phone emails or stealing Henry's computer for WoW!)

In brief...

Hannah and Wally made dog seks today. That puts puppies at possibly 2 days after Jamie's wedding. This should be fun. I have secret hopes to leave her somewhere to have puppies as I can't have them in the rental (the owner doesn't know there are 4 dogs here at the moment, btw).

I have entered Hannah and Clem at an international show Labor Day weekend. Wally was too bald still, Pilot is too scrawny. But this will give Clem her shot to shine. As pups don't ever compete with adults I shouldn't have issues handling both.

Went to Denise's and saw Mountain Dog Babies. Managed to not steal one...very hard! They are darn cute. Did end up bringing home a cute black thing called "Kate" to babysit for a couple weeks (keeps Hannah company while she's in heat/keep's Pilot company while he can't play with his sister).

Still working at Travelers. Too much. Somehow still broke.

For those who missed I bought I newtome Explorer. Note: I hate fords. I was raised a chevy girl. Really. BUT I love this truck, and I loved my Winstar. I'm conflicted.

Ok, more on life and WoW later, just wanted to say I'm not dead yet. I promise to blog more because I am so bad at calling or responding to email when I have to play WoW in my spare time.

PS all cats still here, even the mean one.

Clem at 4 months

Clementine visited yesterday and we were able to get some stacked pictures. We're really pleased with how she's looking.