Letter to Izzie

Saturday evening

Dear Izzie,

After such glorious weather since my arrival, it's turned cloudy and cool.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow.  I did some work on my thesis project, got a little exercise in (hope you did too—remember you're supposed to lose a few pounds) and spent a lot of time talking with David. Started Anne Lamott's Imperfect Birds. Not much more news today. Be a good girl. Miss you, sweetie.

Love

Mommie

Doggie Spa

I think she sent me to the spa this week to lose a little weight.  I have my own room with a bed and chair (and I brought my favorite pillow).  I have to go out and take walks with the other dogs twice a day and I'm supposed to play in the yard.  SHE only left kibble for me to eat and some cheese to put on it.  I'm trying to be sweet so the nice spa lady will let me sit on her lap.  Oh, and I don't have a thyroid problem.  The vet said after she comes home they need to check for Cushing's Disease, but we can't do anything until I settle back down at home. That's all the news from me.

News from HER

Dear Izzie,

I went to see my advisor at CDSP to suggest an addition to my thesis.  I don't think the data I've gathered is enough for a good paper and Rob Voyle gave me the idea of asking people he's trained in Appreciative Inquiry and are doing Transition Ministry (Interim) work to use my protocol and give me feedback.  I will meet with another professor on Monday to see if she will serve on the committee since the third member is no longer at CDSP.

I spent the first night at my friend David's house and after going over to CDSP I drove up to Sebastapol to see Rod and Mary.  Rod has just retired.  We talked and reminisced about our classmates in seminary and shared wonderful meals together.  They're great hosts.

I'm now back at David's.  When I returned I convinced him to get a Wii Fit so he can work on his balance.  I've found that to be really helpful for me.  We're going over to All Saint's for the 8 am service and Sausalito for the late service tomorrow and then lunch with Liz.

I'll be back late Tuesday and pick you up Wednesday morning.  Be a good girl.

Mommie

It's Stopped Raining

It was still raining this morning when we went out for our walk, so I had to wear my coat.  SHE says I don't have to wear it for a while.  It's supposed to keep getting warmer every day this week and no more rain.  Yea!

I'm not producing enough tears in my right eye (and I have a little infection there too), so SHE has to put two medicines in it every day now.  We'll see if I let HER.  I'm pretty strong you know and have a neat trick.  I put my head into HER lap so SHE can't get at my face.

We haven't heard from the doctor yet about my results, so SHE will have to tell you about them later after we hear.  I need a nap, then dinner.

UPDATE:  It doesn't seem to be a problem with my kidneys so the doctor lady is sending my blood out to be tested for a thyroid problem. (From Izzie's mom.  As I was about to publish the post there at the bottom was an ad for low thyroid.  Weird!)

The Doggie Spa

I spent a very rainy day at what SHE calls a doggie spa.  It's not too far from where we live.  The lady who owns it met us at a parking lot because the causeway to her place is flooded and the lady didn't want HER to get our car stuck. There were only two other dogs there today and we all got to go out on walks.  SHE made me wear my red raincoat cause I don't like going out in the rain, but I did like to go out with the other dogs.  SHE makes me wear the coat so I don't get my tummy so dirty.

The nice lady sat on the floor to play with us dogs and I liked to sit with her, but I didn't want the other dogs to horn in on my time.  I just growled at them.  Nothing particularly nasty, but just enough to let them know who's the boss.

Tomorrow SHE wants me to see our vet again.  SHE's worried that I'm drinking too much water.  I don't know what's the problem, but we'll see.

UPDATE (31 March 2010):  It's not diabetes.  They took a bunch of blood from me to see if my kidneys are working ok.  If that turns out negative then they'll send some of my blood out to see how my thyroid is working.  It's a bitch getting old.  Oh, I'm a bitch.

SHE Has Spring Fever, I Don't

I don't feel like going out for walks very much these days.  My left back leg is still a bit weak.  After we come back from our walk, I have a hard time going up even the two steps into the house.  SHE hopes that with such good weather, my leg will get stronger.  I do like going out with her though.  Trips to the dump and to the grocery store are great, because I only have to walk to the car.  SHE's threatening to go to Dodge Point and do a real walk sometime soon, but I have to get stronger first.  Right now just going to the end of the road is enough.

Is it SAD?

SHE and I have spent the last two weeks watching LOST.  HER excuse is that needed to catch up so SHE can go over to a friend's house on Tuesdays and watch the last season.  I think the real reason is that SHE's suffering from what people call SAD.  It happens a bit every year, but this year we don't have a church and SHE's not busy enough.  Of course I'm not either.  I like going over to church and bossing people around and getting lots of treats.  I miss sharing people's lunches and seeing who comes and goes.  I even miss listening to HER sermons.

At one of the meetings for the Haiti dinner this big dog who belongs to the choir director was there and I chased him downstairs.  That was fun.  He's a nice gentle dog, so it's easy to chase him away.  I know he was just trying to be friendly, but I wanted him to know who was boss.

I also went with her to a church that was a long drive away.  We talked to some people and SHE and the priest there went out to dinner and left me alone with some woman.  The woman tried to give me a snack that SHE left for me, but I wouldn't take it.  I didn't know her. Then they came back and more people came and there was lots of talking, mostly by HER.  I did my usual sleeping under the table and then we left and drove home.  Only SHE took the wrong road and it took a while.  I think SHE said something about consulting, whatever that is.

SHE is not spending much time on the computer.  I think that  bright light SHE's been using all week might help cheer her up.  I noticed SHE's starting to exercise again.  I still don't do long walks, but I'm getting better.  My back legs are still a little weak, but they sure are better than before I had that awful surgery.  My hair has grown back in very well, but the hair over the scar is brown.  SHE says it looks interesting.

I think that in a week or so SHE will be back to her usual self and will start reading other people's blogs again.

All They Did Was Talk About Food

I went with her to a meeting at the church last night.  They were talking about this big dinner they're having for Haiti relief next week.  People from other churches were there too.  They talked a lot about food.  I heard something about a salad with avocados (I like avocados) pork (yum) and rice and beans (ok) and  a coconut custard.  The problem was there wasn't any food there.  They talked on and on about who was cooking what and how many people they need to serve and how many tickets they've sold.

I wandered about and greeted everybody.  Inspected all the open rooms.  Greeted people again and then did my famous trick of lying on the floor and snoring.  For some reason PEOPLE find that funny.  I think it helps to speed meetings along.