These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty

I got the 'vid AGAIN. I swear my immune system is now garbage. It never used to be. Pre COVID, I rarely even got colds. This is the third round since October. It just really goes for my throat, too. I've had variations of soreness for six days, with a couple of those pretty severe overnight. It's fine at daytime, but once I lie down it's like someone's shoved a handful of razorblades down my throat.

Anyway. Pretty sure I'm instantaneously impacted. On the 24th I went to pick up a friend at the emergency department - he's newly diagnosed with a-fib and had had an episode requiring care, and couldn't drive home. I had to go back into the unit to listen to the follow up orders, since he was doped up. When I got there, I got an, "Oh, btw, he tested positive for COVID." By the 26th I was feeling the sore throat.

Blargh.


^I have never seen goslings in the wild. They were so cute. Mama immediately deemed me a threat.


^Can't resist 'em.


^Not sure what this is, but it was kinda cool.


^You know, I miss her every day, but since Johnny died my house has been pretty peaceful. I wouldn't say the remaining three are besties, but there are so many less fights and often I'll find all three of them sharing the same window cushion. I guess maybe Johnny was a brat!


^No comment.

Speaking of windows, I signed a contract on 28 May 2024 with a promise of windows by end of summer. I ... do not have windows. And the abysmal communication continues. I emailed the contractor and said, "I feel I need to demand windows or my money back, please." The reply: gosh, sorry for not staying in contact. R's knee surgery recovery hasn't gone as smoothly as we'd hoped, we'll get to you in July."

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF...

I did all my usual weekend chores yesterday, with the idea today I would get out and do some maintenance to a couple of garden beds out back. Yeahhhhh, uhm. But I did walk 6 miles.

Now I'd really like to go to the grocer's to get a tub of Greek yogurt because I'm fresh out and it's a key component to my protein intake daily, but I'd also really like to take a nap.

Bet you can guess which is going to win.

My give a damn being broken has extended to lawn care. By now I'd have mown the lawn a couple of times, weeded landscaped areas, etc. Have I this year? Nope. Also don't care to do it.

The home next to me has been vacant for three years. On Friday, there was a for sale sign out front. It's a small house. Like, apartment sized. It's listed for over $400K ... and there's already an offer. This market, man.


^Once upon a time, Walter treed a squirrel. For a full year, every time we walked by that tree he looked for that squirrel. I fear the same will be the case with this pocket gopher. This weekend, he hit on a scent and tried to wriggle into a pocket between rocks. I had to yank him away.

On Monday, I spent about three hours shut in a room with someone. On Tuesday, she told me she tested positive for flu type A. On Wednesday, I had that telltale "I think my throat is sore" all day followed by full body, wracking shivers all night. Like painful shivering. Took ibuprofen, which was all I had on hand, and it helped but not much. Went to work today, Thursday, and made it about two hours and then had to amscray back to the sofa.

Tried to stay there all day, but W had me out walking nearly four miles. I had taken cold and flu meds, but halfway through they crapped out on me. Sometimes I make poor choices, but I have also found that I recover from things faster if I keep moving a bit. I am NOT doing my cardio or strength training, though. And to make it all the more miserable - hormone headache has been draining me all week.

This thing is nasty, is my point. Stay healthy, y'all. I thought maybe I could make it to work tomorrow but... yeah, no. Headache and body aches always seem liveable until you're up and about for a minute.

I should eat, but I have absolutely no appetite and last night I also had some intestinal upset. So, pass on that as well.

And then today when I was okay enough to be semi upright I have been reading about the increasing instances of avian flu in cats so now I'm fretting about that!

What a rotten month. I am glad it is over. May the following months only get better.


^Once again, my need to watch my footing caught something at just the right time/light. Considering I could not see a thing while shooting this, I think it turned out lovely.


^At one point, the historical society was trying to repair all of the vault lights that are installed downtown. Most are in poor shape yet, I don't know what the progress is or if it's halted. If I ever came into large sums of money, I might fund the remainder of the project, because I am infatuated with these.




^Since one of the buildings on the riverfront collapsed a few years ago and is no longer used, the sea lions have started camping out more and more. I'm enjoying them for now, I imagine at some point the city will try to discourage them from loitering.




^Roy has been very clingy since his sister left us. He's even started taking up some of her habits - jumping on vanity for kisses, knocking things off the counter, etc. *wibble*


^I knew it was our last night. I didn't want to admit it, but I knew. I've been mostly okay about losing her, in that I haven't had as many sad moments as I thought I would but I think that's because I haven't allowed myself to think about her. Then at work yesterday someone handed me a card that should have been on my desk at the start of the week, and I also got a sympathy card in the mail from the vet and it's been waterworks since.

Stupid January. *kicks dirt on it*

Recovery at first seemed like it would never fully happen. The first three days are a blur - I continued to work, but there are things that I did which I have no memory of doing. Like, days later I said, "Oh, I have to remember to go do that!" only to find it already done. In one case, I case noted one thing and did the complete opposite in action. It was particularly difficult, as to enter the building I have to go by the area. I still can't look at it without a visceral twist in my gut. I also did a LOT of mindless carb eating... and then mindless walking, walking, walking. Which was self care, but also not because even still I have pangs of illogical, "But what if there's a body?" when I choose a path. I can't seem to help it. Add in random moments of shakiness, tears and to date I have yet to sleep a full night... yeah. The sleep I manage to get is fitful. I do better at home, of course, as I don't have to see or think of it the same way as at work, so I am hoping this extra day off will help me break the restless cycle. But I am no longer a full on zombie, so that's good.

Still do not recommend.

My colleague is doing better as well. She found healing in learning more about the gentleman, but the more I learned about him the worse I felt. He was not unhoused and had, in fact, come to our office to catch some sun with his dog in the summer months. I chatted with him a bit then. He killed his dog. No one in his life suspected a thing. I think knowing those things make it harder, but I don't know why. I do intend on finding a therapist, which was on my to-do list anyway. I've weathered the worst of the trauma, but honestly it's been kind of rough for the past couple of years - mom dying, getting hit by a car twice, having my foster kitty deliver dead babies (seriously, y'all, I still sometimes see that little dead face staring at me from under the futon in the spare room), this thing. Plus my overall disconnected feelings at work and with family. I gotta figure some of this stuff out, and I'm not equipped on my own.


On a more positive note, every year our local paper (which is sadly not even printed here anymore - it shipped up to Washington) has a photo contest. I submitted a random shot I had taken on my lousy cell phone. There weren't many entries this year, so it likely opened the door a crack for me - usually it's littered with people who are clearly professional photographers. Anyway, got notification mine had placed. The email said it was to all - top three, people's choice and honorable mentions. I assume mine is honorable mention, but still - kinda cool.


It was this one.

As one does, fell asleep on the sofa at about 10, and was awakened at midnight by fireworks. I'm trying to look past my existential dread to find some optimism. LOL.


^Wake up to find this cat looming over...






Anna's hummingbirds, both. They're very concentrated around a nearby apartment complex that the dog happens to love sniffing around on weekend mornings.





Hope everyone has a peaceful day off, if you have it off, or just a nice day in general.

What a month.


^I love herons. I can't help it.


^Didn't want to be photographed.


^Same heron.


^Still objected to photography


^No, really, I kept walking along the river and it just kept flying away. Haha.

Spent Thanksgiving up at my nephew's house, and it was nice if a little awkward. Met great nephew for the first time and he's a bit of a tyrant - both because of his age (year and a half) and because, well, lots of hovering and gentle parenting. Kid smacked nephew in the face, no instant correction and then well after the incident it was very gentle - hands are for clapping and high fives, remember? - which doesn't seem to be super effective, but I'm not a parent, so eh.

Had pastelón for the first time and now am obsessed. Next potluck, I know what I'm bringing.

To be honest, I am not feeling too cheery but maybe that makes sharing a holiday card all the more important. I will send out cards this year again. If anyone wants one, please drop a line. Comments screened for privacy.

Got a new boss. I had an ooky feeling, and it proved correct. Someone who is a supervisor for another department, and with whom I have had very poor experiences, took the job as manager of my department. I was physically ill hearing the news. Blech. I genuinely can't tell if I have just hit a wall in employment land in general - I have worked in some form since I was 12 or 13 and I am TIRED - or if it's this place and I need to move on. I suspect it may be both.

I am also tired of the cats peeing. Toying with finding a cat behaviorist, because I cannot figure out why they are continuing to do it other than habit at this point. I have three layers protecting the primary target, and sweet baby Hank always alerts me when there's a fresh pee I can't see. He investigates and stares at the spot. Somehow these mofos manage to hit gaps in the coverage. Anyway, just another thing of which I'm tired, but I love these stupid cats, so what can you do?

Another wearying thing: awful communication from window people. In May: we'll check in when the windows come in. Didn't. In July: sorry about that, we'll let you know, should be end of summer. No further word. In September, after sending five emails and/or texts: gosh, sorry, personal issues are making me unable to function. Will get back to you to schedule, looking like mid-October. Check the calendar, folks. Sure would be nice to have double paned windows as the weather cools. Wouldn't it? There has been nothing further. And I am trying to determine how to ask either for my money back or the windows for which it paid so I can find someone who is actually interested in installing them.

I'm in a bit of a doldrums, apparently. I MAY have a bright spot in that I could potentially be putting a stamp in my passport next year, with a visit to Ireland. Fingers crossed. I jokingly invited myself along on a trip a friend is taking and she's amenable. I loved Scotland, so I would like to think a hop, skip and a jump over will also be wonderful.


^Yes. I sure did. It was a bit of a rough start for him walking with these on. I trimmed the legs by about six inches, but he still kept tripping and getting his front legs stuck. Like his person, he's wider than the manufacturers believe he should be at his height. ;)


^My sweet pee narc. Hank, such a good boy.


^Cat sit last week. This fella was blocking the stairs the final day, didn't notice him till I started up and he was way too interested in Walter. Made me very nervous! I shooed him off the steps, and then instead of leaving Walter on the porch, he came in with me that day!








^Heard rustling, looked out front window and saw this guy munching away on my lilac. They really went to town on it and the hydrangea this year. The hydrangea is so pathetic looking. Maybe next year I should net them. Eh.