We are babysitting John’s mom’s dog, Chibi, who is considered a “toy dachshund” but I think is likely a mix of dachshund and chihuahua back at some point in her ancestry. She does look very much like a tiny lil’ dachshund, except she doesn’t have the typical long hound dog ears. She is quite sweet, but you would think that the CATS THINK that a PIT BULL was visiting us. Sigh. Nikki has been hiding out in the glass studio and absolutely refuses to come out, so we’ve moved her food/water and litter box in there. Wylie has been outside this whole time, so we moved her food/water out on the deck. (Wouldn’t surprise me to see raccoons on the deck as a result of that…) Unlike our dogs for the last few years that we had them, Chibi can hear! And so when Wylie tries to sneak in through the pet door in the middle of the night, Chibi knows and barks! Frightening Wylie to turn tail back out through the pet door. Sigh.
So, John’s mom is in the hospital. She has fallen several times recently, and she has some major ongoing (serious) pulmonary + heart issues that have caused her legs and feet to significantly swell, which has likely contributed to her imbalance. Her feet are especially bad (and she has been hiding that fact from John, who has been visiting her every week). There is even discussion that she may lose some toes. Sigh. We haven’t heard much of anything today while they were waiting for test results, but we suspect that she’ll be in there at least a few days and depending on what happens, then a rehab center for a while. She’s talked to John about being ready for Assisted Living, so he’s been looking into that. But until we know more, we’re not sure what level of care she will need, and all of those facilities vary in what care they provide. And communication with the hospital and doctors absolutely SUCKS. (And John can’t visit her because of Covid).
I do have next week to look forward to: Helen is coming to visit next Monday and Tuesday. And on Tuesday we are planning to visit our favorite (Olympia) nursery and pick up some flowers for our various needs (for me, my deck pots!) Woohoo! Last year, John picked up some plants at Fred Meyer (I think) and we simply dealt with very basic and non-fancy flowers that were absolutely just fine, thank-you-very-much. But this year, being fully vaccinated now and feeling more adventurous, a few fancier things will be fun, and I’m looking forward to finding varieties of thrillers, fillers, and spillers! Woohoo! This house is a PIT (including cobwebs!) and I have a mission to do some major cleaning this week. Yeah, I’ve been too lazy, too long. Now I pay. I wish we’d hear about our neighborhood plan to have that wonderful window-washer come and attack our windows! The sun has been out lately it shows just how horribly bad they are! Ugh.
I got my hair cut last week and THE JURY IS OUT. Hmm. For the price I have to pay for a “curly cut & style,” I am so far not feeling the value.
The back is much shorter and blunter (which is a good thing), so from the front it looks longer. It’s sort of an “inverted bob,” but due to my fine low-density hair, I feel it’s not rockin’ it. Or else I haven’t figured out yet how to f-ing deal with it. Sigh. Honestly, it’s just a matter of having to deal with the cards I’m dealt. (It will never ever be what I hope for, or imagine in my dreams. You know, like back when I “dreamed” of Farrah Fawcett hair).
And yes. Since I’m on the cusp of turning 65 (and flailing to figure out Medicare…), and seeing friends and family facing frightening diagnoses (or unexpectedly dying), I realize that me and my friends and cousins (let alone aunts and uncles) are entering the realm of Russian Roulette.
Meaning, every single day is a gift. Right?
Sigh.
