December 22, 2007
Poor Mitts
So, no, my cat is not doing well. I spoke too early the last time! 
For several days, he ate very little and wasn’t very active. Then one night he stopped eating altogether. He’d still ask for his food, but when I put it down, he wouldn’t touch it. When I spooned out the sauce from the can, he’d lick the spoon, but he didn’t eat it on his own. So, I got very worried. I took him to the vet thinking that he must have a toothache. The vet looked at his teeth and pointed out the obvious – they were dirty and disgusting. So, he was going to give Mitty a cleaning, and he was going to pull out the rotten teeth. But, he said, there may be a different problem, so he was going to do some blood work to test for kidney function.
Well, it turns out, the numbers in the blood work were pointing out a kidney failure. So, he had to stay at the vet’s for two nights. He was put on IV, and dental work was done on him the next day. And because the numbers were staggering, the doctor wanted to see if there were any improvements in his blood count after the IV and some medications. Well, there was very little improvement. His kidneys are still functioning only at 30%. But he was sent home to recover at home, since he’d be more comfortable there. He was going to be given new food, pain medication, some antibiotics (for his teeth), and IV every other day. He’ll be taken back to the vet’s after a week.
The thing is, I’m in the Philippines right now. I didn’t even see him after his surgery. BF and my boss’s wife and daughter – they used to own Mitty, all went to pick up Mitty and were all trained to give him the care he needs. When my boss found out about Mitty though, and all that the vet was doing for him, he called the vet’s office and settled the bill! That was such a nice gesture. I didn’t expect it and didn’t ask for it, but given the holidays, I couldn’t really not welcome it either. It was very sweet of them. It is certainly very much appreciated.
I can’t wait to see the Mittman again! He really is an old sweet.
December 16, 2007
6 months
It’s been that long. I think I still know how to do this.
It’s cold and snowy out, BFM is shoveling, I’m backing up my files in my old machine, house has been cleaned. So, what else is there to do? I need to be by my computer anyway, so I might as well update my blog… and read everyone else’s.
A few updates:
1. I’m now an owner of a sweet iMac. So, I’m on my computer a little more than I used to be with my 7-year-old Vaio with the crappy power source. Unfortunately, the power source that I and J put in last year is now shot too. Oh well. 7 years, it wasn’t too bad.
2. My cat is still doing well. Below is a picture of him in the snow. Someone needs to take it and put it in LOLCats.
3. I’m still at the same job, only doing something slightly different.
4. Friends are still good. Will attempt to do some reconnecting with old friends.
5. Work-out routine has all but died, but will be resurrected with the new year, just like everyone else’s.
6. Things with the BF are great.
7. I’m going home for Christmas next week.
8. I’m sporting a new look.
9. Life is good.
June 13, 2007
The Mighty Mittster
I can’t believe I haven’t told everyone about my cat yet. Here’s my boy. Actually, he’s an old one (12 years). So… here’s my old man.
He’s a cutie though and he makes it up in personality.
**Make sure to click on the thumbnail for a better picture. 
June 5, 2007
I think I can(‘t)
Last night, Mark made me do a swim workout. He used to be in the swim varsity in college. When Radka and I mentioned that we were training for the tri, he said he’ll help us out on our swim training.
Well, I took a long break from my swim training. My last swim was in January. But given that the tri is now only a month away, I’ve had to pick it back up again. So I went for a swim on Saturday. I am in really bad swimming shape (and bad running shape at that, but that’s a different story). I had to stop and catch my breath every 25 yards – the length of the pool.
Anyway, yesterday afternoon, I ran into someone from work who’s doing the swimming leg of the tri for his team. He said he checked out the race last year and watched how people struggled through the swimming. It’s a 400 meter swim, and some people were still in the water after over 30 minutes, some having to stop and tread water while they try to catch their breath. I started to panic. That would be me, and I’d be rendered useless even for my stronger event – the bike leg, which comes after swimming.
So, I asked Mark to work with me and on my stroke that night. Nice guy that he is, he freed up his evening. He did as I asked, and then some. He showed me things I can do for exercise, what to focus on with my stroke, and how my workouts should be structured. 3x the length of the race is what I need to be doing every time I go for a swim, he said. Holy crap, I thought. 1/3 of it for warmup, 1/3 for workout (with sprinting!?!), 1/3 for cooldown. Prior to that, on my own, I barely did the length of the race at all. 20 minutes max was the time I spent in the pool, with 1/3 the time spent catching my breath in between laps.
But I was so tired last night and uncomfortable in the water that I just seemed to face a wall. I couldn’t do it, and I didn’t want to. When he’d ask me to go, I stalled. And I whined. Like a 10-year old spoiled brat. I think that surprised me more than anything. I’ve been proud of my suck-it-up attitude that to find myself acting so against that whole philosophy was painful.
At one point, Mark kept saying “go” when I didn’t want to that I was ready to throttle him from 20 yards away. But, the desire to throttle myself for whining was even bigger. “I can’t, I don’t want to”, I heard myself say. Mark told me, “Yes you can, dig deep”. I must’ve dug deep. Deep down my spoiled little self. “I can’t”. Ugh.
On Friday, when I go again, I’ll suck it up. I’ll go by myself, but I’ll make myself do what he tried to make me do. I’ll drown if I have to. But I won’t, because I can swim. I think it’s just that I’ve spent too many summers away from home.
It’s nice to have a coach though. Thank you, Mark.
May 17, 2007
911
Those are numbers I never wish to dial again. I did, once, to not so good results.
But I digress… already. Wait, can I digress if I haven’t started yet?
Whatever.
I was in the emergency room today. For pink eyes – bacterial conjunctivitis. That’s right. I went through the whole process of checking in – being asked about my family’s medical history, if someone’s been hurting me, what my marital status is, what my allergies are, and so on for about 10 minutes, and within earshot of, oh, about 6 people. I mean, seriously, would anybody say, “Yeah, so and so punched me in the nose”, if other people could hear? Anyway… and then I got my blood pressure checked, my temperature, my ears, throat, breathing, etc. All because I have pink eyes. On one eye.
All I wanted was to get a prescription for eye drops. Well, it turns out, you can’t just walk in the hospital if you don’t have an appointment, and don’t have a physician, and don’t have a record of you being alive. I guess it serves me right. I just never needed to see a doctor before – given I have third world antibodies and all.
I should really stop saying that. As soon as I say, “I never get sick”. Boom. I get sick. I’ve been sick 3x this year, and it’s only May. That’s so bizarre. Nothing serious though, mostly just colds and feeling run down. It at least gives me a good excuse to stay home from work. I’ve only taken 3 sick days in 3 years, counting this one. One time I went to work in the afternoon because I felt better and got bored at home.
Well, nuts to that. I am feeling better now, but I’m still staying at home. With me and the cat living together, there’s always something that needs to be cleaned around here. But I’m also resting.
Oh yeah, I adopted a cat… whose picture will be up soon.
So, anyway, I guess the big deal with the emergency room visit was that it typically costs more than an office visit. But the lady who attended to me said that I won’t get charged the usual emergency room visit because it’s not a serious case (yeah, no sh*t), so it would only cost a little more than an office visit. Paying didn’t even occur to me – having insurance and all. After all, I have been paying for the higher than standard benefit for 2.5 years now without having to use it. Oh well. I guess I’ll find out when I get the bill.
And yeah, I’m getting a primary care physician soon.
April 13, 2007
Brownies
Three of my girl friends (they are in my inner circle) and I got our periods on the same day. I know. It’s gross. Bear with me here, it gets funny.
Background info: So, tomorrow, we are having a horse warming potluck party at Els’s and Todd’s house. Yesterday, Donna consulted with me about what kind of brownie to make. We decided on mint with frosting. Mmm.
This morning, upon hearing about us getting our periods on the same day, Todd talked about building us girls a red tent, because he’s already built a goat pen, a garage, and a horse stall + paddock. Here is the resulting email conversation.
Donna: That’s EXACTLY what we needed! Thanks Todd, you’re the best.
Me: Poor Todd. How about we all just drink to our new level of inner-circledness with red wine on Saturday?
Donna: Either that or Vicodin.
Me: (look up Vicodin on Wikipedia) Mmm… sounds good.
Donna: Yummy … Vicodin brownies.
Me: With frosting!
Donna: yes!
Me: Excellent. It’s the only way to have Vicodin brownies.
Donna: Otherwise they’re a little bitter.
Me: Exactly.
I think it’s funny. Or maybe you had to be there.
April 5, 2007
This morning
There are only a few things more stunning and heartbreakingly beautiful than going through a narrow winding road with the overhanging trees on both sides coated and heavy with fresh snow. The fact that its perfection only lasts for a few hours but adds to its beauty.
I am in awe of this place.
March 14, 2007
Beat this
So, this is how my email has looked for about 3 weeks now. I don’t even intentionally make it so, but it’s funny that it has stayed this way for a while.
March 13, 2007
On (pre)biking
Biking is taking over my life. I go spinning 3x a week. All the teachers know me because I hardly miss a class, they ask about me when I’m not there, and I’ve become friends with all the regulars. I guess I’m considered hard-core.
I’m not though. I’m still pretty weak. At one point two weeks ago, I felt really, really strong. I was able to do all the workouts without cheating on the resistance, without giving myself recovery time, etc. I was doing everything the instructor said. But last Saturday, that ended. I had to go easy. 10 minutes into the workout, and I had lactic acid flooding my muscles. But I’m still at it. I went last night and did all right. I think I could’ve pushed harder, but the fact that my legs are sore today says that maybe I did give a good effort. Although having wine following a hard workout was probably not the smartest thing.
Anyway, so I finally went bike shopping last Sunday, and JH came along with me – fortunately. It made it fun, and the store people could tell he was there for a reason. So, they talked to him more than they talked to me, and discussed technical stuff with him. Which was just as well, because he’s there to help me decide and pick out a good bike.
The highlight of it all was getting to try a bike out on the road. I tried a Jamis and a Specialized on the trainer, but the Jamis didn’t fit me. The Specialized Dolce did. And I got to try it outside. They even lent JH a bike so that he could go with me – again a good thing, because I don’t have any experience with road bikes. It was very wobbly (I’ve been told that ‘responsive’ is a better term). But it went fast. And it was quite comfortable, despite the more aggressive position compared to a mountain bike. As a bonus, it was remarkably, about 40 degrees outside. It was glorious. I had a big smile on my face when we got back to the shop and I almost bought the bike right away. But I held off. I’m trying a Trek on Friday, and then I’ll decide.
At one of the stores, the lady asked whereabouts I would be biking. And JH chimed in saying “We’ll probably be biking in Fitzwilliam, Troy, etc.” We. Yikes. He’s a really good biker. I’m already nervous about keeping up with him and holding him back. Maybe he’ll just show me the routes so I’ll know where to go. Either way, that would be really nice. I need to be riding with someone in the beginning to get comfortable on the roads.
I can’t wait to get my bike!
March 3, 2007
New music
+/- (Plus Minus)
I love this song. I love the video too. They have a better quality one on their website: http://www.plusmin.us/media.php
The two guys are Filipino too. I didn’t even know. Cool.
