...I've got
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Posted:Jul 21, 2014 7:41 am
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2014 10:25 am
9169 Views
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I was watching an older TV show the other day in which Sonny Bono was playing the mayor of a large city, and during a press conference he answered every question with a song title from the "Sonny and Cher" days. A little later the kitty came in with her little kitty megaphone to let me know she was hungry and a blog title was born. I can't quite figure out if I'm "that good" or if Mom's kitty-cat is just very forgiving about taking her pills.
The first week in June, the kitty was diagnosed as hyperthyroidal. I had taken her to the vet because I was concerned about her eating like a (and filling the litter box twice as fast), but she wasn't gaining weight. In retrospect, there was a lot more going on than that ...but it's still good that I got her in before the other nasty stuff started in.
...a big problem is that nearly two months later, and I've still not quite got a handle on the treatment. I love my vet to death, but in this case I think he gave some very poor advice. Even my sister, who has used this vet for two decades, agreed that the orders didn't seem to make sense. Rather than argue with the vet, I've read copious amounts of "stuff" online about the treatment and condition and have been working on my own hybrid plan that although I'm still sweating a bit on, it showing signs of success at least.
Two pills a day was the initial order. She lasted just over a week before getting extremely ill; she started throwing up everywhere, and quit eating completely. The vet said to find something she would eat, and cut the dosage in half. Yeah well ...I quit giving her the pills until I found something she would eat (which has now turned into a problem all its own), but then within just a couple of days of starting her again, she got sick again.
After another outrageously expensive vet visit, his solution was to force feed the cat and up the dosage to two pills a day again, and adding another pill for tummy upset.
Because nothing says "I love my cat" quite like giving it three pills twice a day while force feeding them for an indeterminate amount of time.
I tried to cut the dosage even more and she got sick yet again, and these sick spells are UGLY! She generally won't be able to eat for three to five days afterward and barely even holds down water. I finally found something that appears to be working so far (knock on wood), but I'm treading carefully. Oddly enough, the prescription he gave me for her tummy is just plain 'ol Pepcid; I give her that at bedtime, and in the mornings I had been giving her a quarter pill, but moved to a half pill as of yesterday. So far so good ...I'll probably try the half pill for 10 days or so, and depending on what her appetite is like, up it to a whole pill. From what I've read, the really ugly side effects shouldn't last more than two months, but I'm going to need to watch her appetite. As long as she's being hungry and overly demanding, then she's okay. If she gets lethargic and/or stops complaining, then I need to get concerned and cut back on the dosage. That's the plan and I'm sticking with it.
What's amazing me is how the cat takes her pills. Originally I was giving her pill pockets, and she loved them; she wolfed them down quickly and easily. I'm pretty sure she started putting two and two together about getting sick though, because she quit being so gracious about it after the third sick spell. Now I just give her the pills the old fashioned way: put her in my lap (after checking for weapons) pry open her mouth and toss it to the back of her throat. The amazing part is that not only does she take it (and not wait a couple minutes and then spit it out; yeah, this isn't my first time on this ride), but she's even forgiving about it afterward.
Don't get me wrong, I still close my bedroom door at nights so she can't get at me while I'm sleeping; one can't be TOO trusting in these situations, but still. A cat that doesn't appear to be holding a grudge is pretty suspicious.
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What in blue hell?
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Posted:Jul 18, 2014 6:40 am
Last Updated:Aug 23, 2014 6:34 am
9742 Views
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So I've had my last two posts' denied due to hate/weapons/ topic transgression, and I can't figure out if it's talking about my fourteen year old watching 50's sci-fi movies during stormy weather or my eighty-plus year old mother and Aunt trying so hard not to wake me up, they end up making more noise than a Michael Bay movie.
...because if writing about my sex-life is a new requirement or something, then I'm going to be silent for a long fucking time.
...or is this just a sideways hint by "the powers that be" that I'm never going to get laid EVER AGAIN if I confine my blog to anecdotes about the maternal unit and muttifers? I admit that I did make a not so subtle threat to make my watch "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" but does it really qualify as a "weapon?!"
Holy fucking cow.
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The really needs to find some better movies
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Posted:Jul 17, 2014 7:18 am
Last Updated:Jul 18, 2014 7:13 am
9250 Views
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A lot going on in my neck of the woods. At the moment, a thunderstorm of considerable size is passing though, and I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night as a result.
I've been finding out a few things about myself lately; the first is that I can sleep through damn near anything except two little old ladies trying not to wake me up, and a who IS trying.
With all that's been going on, it shouldn't be a huge surprise that I haven't been sleeping very restfully. I have a chronic medical condition, and sometimes when I overdo things for a little too long, my body decides to let me know that I need to slow down a little bit. Generally, I tend to catch naps when I can get them, but it doesn't always work out when my mother and AuntiE are trying to live out an "I Love Lucy" sketch in the other room.
*pulls back the recliner and closes eyes, just about to drift off...*
Then from the kitchen:
Crash!!! ...Clang!!! ...Thud!!!
"SHHHHH ....BE QUIET, WE DON'T WANT TO WAKE CANUS!!!"
Rattle!!! Clank!!!
"OKAY ...I'LL TRY TO KEEP QUIET!"
Pow!!! Smash!!!
I have literally taken to putting action movies on the TV so I can sleep. I can sleep through Bruce Willis blowing shit up all day long, but a couple 80-plus year old ladies "trying to be quiet" is apparently somehow beyond my abilities. The fact that AuntiE doesn't like to wear her hearing aids and Mom isn't able to wear hers at this point in time doesn't help.
The is another matter. He was always such a laid-back little guy; he used to trot beside me when I would mow the lawn with an old gas mower (*no problem!*), snore loudly through thunderstorms (*I ain't skeered!*), utterly ignore action movies in blaring 5.1 DTS (*go get 'em Bruce!*), brave new-age German nuclear polka music (*oh HELL no Dad, ...a has to have some standards!*).
The muttifer is somewhere around fourteen years old now, his tolerance level has been dropping like a rock in a lot of areas and he's been getting a little worse about anxiety every year. When we have to leave him alone for the better part of the day, he'll be wet all down his chest from the panting and salivating that accompany the anxiety. This last week I gave him anti-anxiety meds for the first time and it seems to have helped a little bit. I believe it was three years ago when he first began having trouble with thunderstorms though. It wasn't the thunder and lightning that woke me at 4am this morning, it was the hot, vibrating, panting and slobbering little mass of nerves that pressed into my back in the wee hours of the morning with his "magic fingers massage" that did that.
If you have dogs that have this problem, I've give you a little tip that works like a champ with my little guy ...but you probably need to be a little more selective than I was last night.
Turn the TV on. Yep, oddly similar to the "little old lady" solution, but from a different direction. One drowns out, the other distracts.
I have an absurd collection of b-movies and old 50's and 60's sci-fi; I find them awesome for those nights I have trouble getting to sleep (and ponder the merits of an age where at the first sign of danger, women were apparently incapable of moving without a man to carry them). With the TV going, the doesn't care about the lightning, and the volume distracts from the thunder. The trick is to find something you can sleep through, and I picked the wrong movie to put in. I went with "Dr. Cyclops" and the nefarious machine that shrunk the hapless victims made such an annoying sound, it woke me up every time I was just starting to drift off. The last time, even the was lying flat on his back snoozing away ...but after about the third time I was wide awake, so I finally just got out of bed around five or five thirty.
The was less than thrilled about not getting his morning walk because of the rain (*make it STOP, Dad!*), but he'll live.
...or else I'll subject him to "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" or something equally atrocious.
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Oh, my aching kitty
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Posted:Jul 2, 2014 11:53 am
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
9549 Views
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I'm supposed to be enjoying what was to be an uneventful week before what may or may not be "the storm." It just seems as though one or the other "old lady" around here keeps getting sick ...since the last post, AuntiE has been sick twice (and one of those two times was "emergency room" level "sick") and has had two falls that could have been quite serious (luckily they weren't, but make no mistake: it was only by sheer luck that they weren't). Next week we have to do another bone-marrow biopsy and find out what the "state of the cancer" is with Mom. I'm trying not to think about it too much, but we've always thought the worst and she's invariably been much better than expected. Although I'm certainly hoping that will be the case this time, I also think there are only so many times that sort of thing happens (not to mention the host of mitigating problems we are currently having that weren't here before). This started out being the first week since February that there wasn't at least one doctor related event on my calendar (actually, probably closer to two).
BUT, then comes the latest: The cat. More specifically, Mom's kitty that is about 12 years old. I'd been saying for a while that I thought we needed to take her in to see the vet; she's quite the kitty-cat ...at her age, and she's always been very playful and more than a little hyperactive. Her regular kitty-food brand changed formulations (or at least, that's when I first started noticing the change), and her appetite suddenly jumped up wildly. Her litter box began filling up three times faster than usual and she was eating like a ...but she was LOSING weight. Of everything that was going on, it was the weight loss that was the big red flag of course. Apparently I'm the one gaining weight from all the cat's overindulgence and something needs to be done about it!
I was talking to my sister one afternoon and she mentioned taking their newer pup in to see their vet of nearly 20 years, and while it was fresh in my mind I called and made an appointment for the cat as soon as I got of the phone with her. I'd been procrastinating for a while on the issue, but not all that bad.
I really like this vet ...I've been using him for about 5 years for the muttifer and have been nothing but impressed. My Mom had used him for some time as well ...we know him and really like him. He's simply never given any reason not to think the world of him.
Back to the kitty though ...we took her in, the doc did a check-over, performed blood tests and the culprit was a tiny little cyst on her thyroid causing hyper-thyroidism. All the symptoms fit; even a few that I hadn't really taken note of, but in hindsight was able to say "Oh yeah ...that TOO!" To give you an idea, on her previous visit she weighed 8 pounds ...the diagnostic visit she weight 5.8 pounds. That's a pretty dramatic weight loss for such a tiny little thing to begin with. Her heart-rate was around 250bpm ...kinda up there (although I'm still not convinced it may not have been partially due to being at the VET).
Treatment (ugh): pills ...twice a day (double ugh). Because nothing says "I love my pet" like cramming pills down their throat twice a day. This is a first for Mom's kitty but I've had cat's in the past and a week or two of pills is NO fun at all. This stuff: erm ...rest of her life. I'm already having doubts, and I haven't even started yet. Researching kevlar may be in my future (suits of iron are sooo "yesterday").
SO ...I started her on the meds, and this was no small thing. The vet sent us some nifty little "pill pockets" to wrap the pills in and initially it was great ...kitty-cat wolfed down the pills with no issue. Note the use of the word "initially" there ...after a week or so, she started to smell a rat or something and decided she didn't much care for the pockets anymore (or so I thought) and I had to resort to a bit more drastic means: making her take the pills. I made a few minor discoveries while she and I "worked to achieve an understanding (hah! ...not quite the terminology the cat would use, I'm sure)." First was that the pill pockets were a little bit too big for such a tiny cat ...when she still had the appetite of a , she wolfed them down eagerly. Unfortunately the gradually started the transformation to a mule, and I sort of missed out on putting two and two together until she began vomiting like mad for the first couple of days and then just quit eating altogether. ("she began vomiting like mad for the first couple of days and then just quit eating" ...sorry for the random "Airplane" reference that probably nobody will get anyway)
I quit giving her the pills and called the vet to ask if maybe the dosage was too high and he said to cut back to a single pill a day. Once her appetite started coming back again (and I had to switch to a canned food even then), I went to a single pill a day. She started being much better about taking the pill if only given once a day (I only had one time that she bit into the pill and spit half of it out), I was a bit happier about only having to herd the cat once a day. I guess the muttifer missed out on feeling superior one extra time a day, but even he seemed mostly indifferent.
The other kinda sad part of the whole story is that the generally playful, energetic kitty became lethargic ...no longer played with her toys and seemed generally "blah." This is the part that initially (and still to some extent) gives me a bit of "crisis of conscience." I had a very happy kitty ...playful, energetic, affectionate (but not overly so), and now I'm giving her medicine that is by all appearances, taking all that away. I looked around online a bit (my search criterea based on "should I even treat my cat for hyperthyroidism?" ...one thing I've learned is that if I'm asking it, invariably somebody else somewhere will have had the same concern) and found an article by a veterinarian that was very good and addressed all my concerns quite well. Not treating leads to organ failure and a host of secondary issues that become more and more unpleasant over time. In fact, if I had waited much longer to have taken her in, the odds are quite strong that I'd have been bringing her in for more serious stuff.
Around the end of last week things started sliding down an all too familiar path once again. First I started noticing kitty vomit (isn't that the name of a band?) in small amounts, then all over ...then she quit eating altogether (again). I took her back to the vet and he said he was completely mystified because it was such a "textbook case" of hyperthyroidism he wasn't sure what to do except start from scratch and do all the bloodwork over again and see what it showed. He gave her an injection to stop the vomitting, and yet more pills to easy the troubled tummy. He said he'd never seen anything quite like this (remember this one for later).
Okay ...I'm down with somebody who can admit they don't know and have a lot of respect for that. What I wasn't quite down for was the call that came in about the blood work.
vet: Yep ...thyroid is definitely the issue, and one pill a day isn't cutting it either; the thyroid numbers are still way too high. We needed to up the dosage to two pills a day again.
me: (thinking this very loudly) ...you mean the pills that by all appearances, seem to be damn near killing her?!? Umm ...yeah okay, but if the pills are making her THIS sick, what are we to do about the fact that she keeps throwing up and won't eat?
vet: Well, the pills for her tummy should stop the throwing up, but as for the loss of appetite: you'll just need to force feed her.
me: Umm ...force feed?! REALLY?! ...you do realize that the original reason I brought her in was because she was overeating (while still losing weight).
vet: Well, the side effects should only last for a month or so before her body adjusts to it, but it's really important that she take the meds even if she's vomiting half of it up.
I really have to keep in mind that this guy is someone my family has used for (literally) decades, because forcing the family pet to do something that not only is going to make her sick, but may be something I'll have to do for the rest of her life isn't exactly something I'd want to do to my worst enemy (I might consider it for the crack team of writers for "24" though).
Okay ...I get off the phone with the vet feeling a little bit less than thrilled about the whole situation. First step for me is to try to get a little bit more information. As I said above, the odds are pretty good that if I'm questioning it ...somebody else has probably asked the same thing somewhere down the line. The first step was looking at the two medications, and what the possible side effects are. The very first search: common side effects include vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy (go back up to the "I've never seen anything like it" remark, and I'm suddenly thinking that factoring in his inability to even consider that the cat's overeating issue might be related to my own weight gain, that this guy might be a quack!). The second medication I'm not sure about still, because it's for the high pulse which is common to hyperthyroidism, which is treated by the first medication. The second medication appears to be redundant.
I also found a host of sites extolling the virtues of the "in the short-term = expensive as hell" radiation treatment that has the benefit of being a one time only, no medications, no long-term commitment with over a 95% success rate. The vet barely mentioned it, but at least he DID mention it. On the web, just about everyone said that if you can afford it, to go that route. In the plus column for the medication though, most everyone said that the side-effects dissipate reasonably fast (within three months). In the minus column for my vet, almost across the board, everyone said if they got the harsh effects, to lower the dosage drastically and slowly work your way up to the full dosage over a period of weeks (and not a single article/vet called for "force feeding until they got over it").
I've called the (sole) place that does the radiation treatment and got an estimate. Not pretty but not too horribly ugly either. If I have to repeat the bills for the last 30 days more than once a year, the radiological option would pay for itself fairly quickly. ...and I haven't even priced the kevlar suit of armor and the accumulation of hard feelings (or the possibility of being smothered in my sleep) by the cat.
I called the vet and he said he'll send over some literature on the radio-iodine option and send a referral to see if he can get us a discount if we go that route (gotta admit that part is pretty cool of him), so we'll see. Sad as it is to admit, if it was the muttifer I'd have scheduled it already. Mom seems to like the radiation option too though (even though it's not her running the assassination risk), so I guess we'll see.
As for the blog title ...I REALLY considered something different, but given the location ...what the hell! 
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ISO: bad influences
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Posted:Jun 14, 2014 10:41 am
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
9950 Views
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Wow, but I really wish that I had a little more time to dedicate to writing; I keep trying, but always seem to get sidetracked before finishing.
This blog goes back a few years, and I've been through a lot of upheaval since starting it. Some days the gravity of all of it hits home in a major way, but most of the time it's more of "I knew what I was walking into, so so be it."
This previous weekend two of AuntiE's 's and their spouses came down for a long weekend; we ran out to my Sis and BIL's country home for 4 days and I got an opportunity to "semi-rest" for a weekend. I also came up with ideas for about a zillion blog entries (and even wrote down quite a few ideas that I can hopefully come back to later).
One of the parts that sort of amused me though, was a full-on not so subtle reminder of what I've been doing here. I almost feel dirty for saying this because it seems like I'm asking for pats on the back or something ...and maybe I am, but I just have to write this down for the sake of posterity. Maybe just because I want to get it off my chest (I think "vent" is the term I'm looking for).
I gave up my apartment and moved in with my mother a couple of years ago. I'm the same person who when offered a place to stay here after my relationship ended about 7 years ago responded (in private to my siblings) that I'd rather live out of the back seat of my car than live with my parents again.
I make no apologies for that pronouncement, and one needs to understand that it wasn't made from anger or a lack of love for my parents (hell, the last five-plus years should be enough to dispel that notion). It came from the fact that my father was a retired Southern Baptist minister (his only profession), my mother was not only a preachers wife, but also the of a Southern Baptist minister. My grandfather died before I was born so I can't really speak too much about him or his belief structure, but since my Dad met my Mom studying under her Dad I can assume they shared pretty similar structure: fire and brimstone, Biblical inerrant, young-Earth creationist (at least in the earlier days ...I suspect after he achieved his Masters and later, his PhD, that he relaxed his rigidity on at least the last part).
And I'm atheist. As well as my two brothers (one of whom is also homosexual). Granted I don't tend to be exceptionally vocal about it (good survival technique in Texas), but I am a science geek, and have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when something too off the wall presents itself. In a fundy household, those things do have a tendency to pop up from time to time though (to their credit, seldom if ever from my parents though).
Alcohol has never been allowed in the household (or at least, not in the open ...like any good Baptist, for the most part even the bad stuff is okay as long as nobody openly sees it). This applies only to the "household" and as long as it's away from here, it's fine for the most part; I have no compunctions about ordering a beer in a restaurant or even keeping beer in the refrigerator ...I just won't drink it in front of Mom. I tend to file it under "respect" and leave it at that.
In essence, when I moved in with Mom, I gave up alcohol, sex and even dating (not due to any strictures in that regard, but simply because it's a "complication" that I'd just rather not deal with under the circumstances).
Now ...back to the weekend, and AuntiE's . AuntiE's had this thing every night we were down about making a cocktail, and I guess it shouldn't have surprised me, but AuntiE without fail always had at least one. Rum and coke one night, Blue Hawaiian the next, Hurricane another and I forgot what the other was, but they were pretty good. I also noted that AuntiE really liked Shiner beer (and BIL bought about 4 cases of it). One evening, AuntiE, BIL and two of the cousins were doing shots of bourbon while playing poker.
I get a lot of mileage out of the fact that my Grandmother (Mom and AuntiE's mom) was in the workforce before women had the right to vote and was born well before Wilbur and Orville flew their first plane. I know that Grandma had similar views on alcohol, and have little problem seeing her being all for abolition and most likely against women's suffrage at the time.
So basically, seeing how much AuntiE enjoyed a good drink was at least mildly surprising. Her oldest boy going on about the evils of marijuana was a bit more of a shocker since if I were to go back and count the last five times I smoked pot, at least two of those times would have been with him.
So yeah, hypocrisy and my family are pretty well acquainted. My siblings have been able to provide a bit of financial support when needed ...my contributions have consisted more of giving time. I have to bite my tongue a fair bit, but for the most part I do fine. If anything, I tend to be amazed that both AuntiE and Mom respect my lack of religion and if they feel a need to pray, they tend do it in another room and the subject of religion simply doesn't come up outside of asking how church was when I drive them to and from. BIL and the cousins, I just tend to feel fortunate if they don't go off on rants about how "atheists' and lib'ruls are destroying the country" just to try to pick a fight with me.
It isn't always a walk in the park, but I do okay.
I about fell over Thursday when driving back from a doctor appointment when AuntiE leaned over and asked if I could do her a favor while I was out later in the day, and pick her up a bottle of bourbon. It really amazes me at times how Mom will let me get away with doing things that nobody else can; it also escaped me how stressing it can be for AuntiE when she tries to help and Mom snaps at her.
"Of COURSE I would be happy to grab you a bottle and will share it with you as well."
So I bought a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of rum, and AuntiE and I have a drink in the evenings now ...we just hide the bottles out in the garage and the code-word is to ask her if she would like a glass of coke.
too
freaking
funny
When speaking to my sister the other day, I told her that our cousin was being a bad influence on our Aunt. See-ster laughed so hard, she dropped the phone.
...gotta admit, it's kinda fun being a booze-smuggler for the first time since my teenage years though.
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attack ducks and other pet stories
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Posted:May 31, 2014 2:36 pm
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
10106 Views
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I've been amused when taking the out for the last few weeks because there have been a few (a "gaggle?") of ducks hanging out by some of the neighbors' of late. Mostly male, but every now and then there will be a lone female hanging out with all the dudes. It isn't really "usual" to see the ducks, but it isn't all that unusual either ...I believe there is a duck pond nearby, and it could be they're just looking for some peace and quiet from all the baby ducks being springtime and all.
They WERE all hanging out at one house, leading me to believe that either the family was feeding them, or that perhaps one of the home security services that canvas the neighborhood from time to time may have been offering some sort of new "guard duck" service to augment whatever other services they've peddling. Main reason I might "go there" is that the ducks are pretty fearless. The muttifer wanted to bark and go chase them a little bit, but they weren't especially intimidated by him beyond walking a few feet away (made me wonder: did they use their super-duck vision to get the length of the leash, or the duck telepathy to discern that limits of his aggression is the damage he has the ability to inflict on a cheeseburger). The ducks appear to be pretty tough in any case ...that, or the rabbit that stared down the a couple of weeks ago has been drinking with the ducks and telling tales.
I mentioned to one of the neighbors across the street that I had mused on the "attack duck" idea, and he said he may have to look into it so as he could get in on that action ...and the very next morning, the ducks were in HIS yard! I figure either he hired them away, or there is a shortage of qualified attack ducks in North Texas (I may have to find the duck pond and check the bulletin board).
So AuntiE is still here and has extended her stay until at least mid July. Mom's last oncologist visit did not go well ...if the chemo had been working at all (that part isn't entirely clear), it isn't working now; her blood levels are almost to what they were when she was first diagnosed, but the blood levels haven't always corresponded with what's actually going on in her bones. She (the oncologist) is giving Mom a month to rest and will then perform a bone-marrow biopsy to find out exactly where we stand. If it's our "worst-case" then AuntiE will stay the duration, if not then we'll see after the results of the biopsy. Mom's mental health has gone from bad to worse, and it's difficult to even have a conversation with her anymore. It used to be mostly her ability to remember words, but it's deeper than that now ...she no longer understands many concepts and her comprehension level is dropping rapidly. The neurologist said "chemo-brain" isn't enough to account for the drastic change in such a short amount of time, but won't speculate further (nor are we asking her to).
I've found AuntiE's camaraderie with my little mutt to be pretty dang amusing; the two of them have become quite taken with each other. AuntiE has never been a big "dog-person" but she's apparently starting to lean that way now. She's always sneaking treats to him and of course he follows her all over the place (little traitor). It's really cute to watch the two of them in any case.
One of the other neighbors a few blocks over has two new puppies that are sooooo cute. She said her 74 year-old Mom took one of the neighbors litter of pups ...and she had to tell her Mom "NO!" ...74 year-old women have no business getting puppies. She offered to help her pick out an adult if she wanted the company, but nixed the puppy thing.
...but of course when she saw the neighbor's remaining puppy, she adopted it as well herself and now has TWO puppies. She swore up and down she had intended to adopt them out at a rescue she volunteers at, but after her got hold of them, there was just no letting them go (and they very recently had to put down one of their older dogs). They are Chihuahua-something or other mix and just way too cute.
I have a few more stories to tell about my sister and BIL's new puppy, but that's going to have to wait until I have a bit more time. I seem to be at feast versus famine with time of late; at a specialist the other day, the receptionist asked if I'd prefer that she just call me with the next appointment (she was in the middle of something); I turned my calender application around so she could see what my typical month has been like, and she said "Oh ...yeah gotcha. Why don't you just have a seat then."
...such is my life.
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consider me "whelmed"
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Posted:May 19, 2014 2:41 pm
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
10054 Views
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I suppose that it's been a little bit "interesting" in my neck of the woods since my last post. Lots going on, lots to hurry up and wait on; at this point I think I'll talk about techie junk.
One of the nice things about living with Mom is that I've been able to concentrate a little harder on my debt situation, and I'm largely out from under the worst of it now. One of the nice things is that with a little bit of disposable income again, I've been able to spend a bit of money on stuff I've either not been willing or able to afford spending on. My first purchase was on a new home theater receiver ...my old one had a bad channel that was annoying at worst, but I'd been keeping my eye out for some time. The "just right" deal came out of the blue, so I upgraded that (and to a 7.2 system no less).
The second I just went through with this weekend. My laptop is a bargain basement job that works really well for what I use it for, but of late it seemed to be getting slower and slower ...and I guess just a bit buggy. Eventually I'll break down and get a new one, but I'm still not quite to that point yet; I just wanted a bit of fresh life for it without the expense and hassle of shopping around.
And once again, that "just right price" leapt out at me and I bought a SSD (solid state drive); it was $60 for a 120-gig drive, and I figured for that price it wouldn't be a huge loss if I hate it.
Today makes day two I guess, and the vote still isn't quite in. I spent the better part of Saturday working on it; the 120-gig is considerably smaller than the one I took out, so it wasn't practical to image the old disk and try to clone it. Also, if part of the performance issues were due to bloated software or whatever, a fresh install would fix that as well, so I just made a set of recovery disks and installed it back to the "right of the shelf" state.
Except for the fact that the DVD drive on this thing is painfully slow, the install went fine. The problems started popping up when I put on the anti-virus and then started all the upgrades that have come out since I bought the thing in 2011 (heh ...I think I bought the laptop around the same time as I made this account). Up until this point, everything had been smooth as can be. The FIRST thing I did was install anti-virus and I got a first hand experience in why that is crucial. In all my years of working on computers, I can't EVER recall such a clusterfuck of malware, bloatware and outright virus attempts in such a short period of time! I got caught with my pants down ONE time and accidentally clicked the "auto-install" instead of "custom" or "advanced" and had to spend the next two hours cleaning all the crap that installed along with the intended program. To make matters worse ...I didn't even get the initial program on since the antivirus went berserk 2/3 of the way through. I really want to gripe, but I'm so glad it went off at all since none of the unwelcome visitors were technically even "illegal."
Before undertaking the whole "swap drives and re-install" of course I backed up everything on an external disk, so after cleaning out the malware I spent a fair amount of time deciding what was going back on, and that part is still largely a work in progress that I don't need to be in a huge hurry about at least.
So the vote isn't quite in yet, but so far I think I'm liking it. One of the big selling points for SSD is that since there are no moving parts, access time is MUCH faster and I can vouch for that already. Boot-up time from the proprietary splash screen to (fully into) Win 7 is about 19 seconds; that's less time than it was taking to wake up from hibernation mode before. I'm still using the hibernate just from force of habit I guess, but it's almost instant from where you hit the login.
The downside is that programs don't really appear to run any faster, and it's still a bit too soon to tell about multi-tasking. Not sure if the programs not running faster is really all that much of an issue when files load so fast though. This laptop was super-duper bottom shelf, but a 10-gig video file loaded and started playing instantly (and it irked me a bit that I had to go off and delete it because now I have to be a bit more conscious of space). I have little doubt that editing wouldn't go any faster than before, but the fast loading is still pretty "wow" inspiring. One of the little quirks that I almost immediately noticed was that the pop-ups and banners seemed pretty "way-out there" compared to what it was like before. It took a bit, but I finally remembered what the fix was. Ad "Be-el oh see kay" plus. Look it up ...I had forgotten that I even had it installed before, but dang sure noticed once it wasn't there anymore. It's free and it's nine kinds of awesome.
The other downside to having an SSD that I hope I won't have the privilege of having to deal with is that if it crashes, recovery is nearly impossible.
My other project was kind of a new one for me. I recently got a new S4 phone and I've already dropped it and cracked the screen (small and along the top, so barely even noticeable). My previous phone was an Evo 3D and had a similarly cracked screen, but it never quit on me; it never even occurred to me to look into what it takes to fix a broken screen.
When I first checked the price for the S4, a new screen glass was $7 (shipping included). Yeah, I ordered it (looks awesome in the box they delivered it in too), and while I was at it I checked the price for the Evo screen as well; it was a whopping $12, so I figured "what the hell" ...and since the Evo was relatively expendable I thought it would be a good practice run before trying anything with the S4.
Good call on my part. The S4 screen shall remain in the box unless something drastic happens. I learned a lot about swapping cracked screens ...mostly just not to fuck with it, but a learning experience is a learning experience (not like I don't have the time on my hands either).
Taking the phone apart is simple. The trouble is the glue they use to hold it in. I'm pretty sure it may be made from the stuff that holds the universe together. The videos I watched of people separating the screens from the glue were obviously doctored at least a little bit. I utterly destroyed the edges of the case trying to pry the screen out ...I broke the LCD display as well although that part didn't bother me so much (from what I've read online, they can rupture just by looking at them wrong). I had planned on just throwing the thing on the trash heap, but then I figured that just the high-definition 3D camera and camcorder was probably worth the added expense, not to mention the mini-computer attached to it that still works awesome over a network. Oddly enough, the case was more expensive than the lcd screen (and worth every penny to not have to attempt removing the glue that is capable of sucking small planets into its orbit), but I still managed to get out for about fifty bucks. Most places charge $100 to replace just the screen, and I put it together this morning myself in about a half hour, so I'm still ahead of the curve.
No chance I'm going to tempt fate on the new phone though.
Plenty more to write about, but no time left to do it in.
cheers all!
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...put your hands together and squeeeeeeeze!
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Posted:May 6, 2014 3:46 pm
Last Updated:May 12, 2014 2:45 pm
10604 Views
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Erg ...interesting that after the long absence, I remarked in my entry yesterday about a comment my sister made about Mother's Day that sorta pissed me off a bit.
I'm not going to bother going back to see if I have mentioned some of the promises made by my sister regarding my Mom's care. Around the end of last year, it began to occur to my siblings that caring for Mom was beginning to turn into a full-time job for me. I have my own health problems to deal with, but "my stuff" is at least familiar and not something I put much thought into. Sometimes it sucks, but as I've always said: "If anyone is in charge, they're sure not asking my opinion on the matter."
Meaning, life can be a bitch, but I'd rather worry over shit I can do something about.
Anyhoo ...seeing that the little brother has his hands full, they thought it would be nice if they started working towards giving me a weekend a month where they could take Mom out of town for a weekend and give me a little "me-time" and a chance for some peace and quiet. The minor caveat added of course: "I know we said that 6 months ago and haven't done it yet, but this time we mean it"
So anyway ...that was somewhere around October or November (around the time hunting season started last fall, but that's a story for another day). The number of times they've followed through on it since that initial time: once.
Since the apparently somewhat grandiose offer, Mom has fallen and broken her arm, she's had to quit her job, her mental health has deteriorated to the point that I'm extremely reticent about the idea of even leaving her alone for any significant amount of time (once again: thank you AuntiE), and the number of doctor visits has roughly quadrupled since her fall (that's not even counting physical therapy). Before the fall, Sis often offered to take Mom to the doctor from time to time, just to give me a break. It was nice ...I appreciated it. *yup ...those were the days, when Mom could still drive and before she actually needed the more constant care!*
To be fair, that one weekend a few months ago was still one more weekend than I would have had if they hadn't taken them out of town, but still. It's a bit of an aggravation that as my workload has increased, the offers for a little bit of relief and support have actually either decreased, or simply been turned into "we're still happy to help but you need to tell us, and we're not going to take the initiative and make the offers anymore." That sounds a little cruder than the reality; I *do* appreciate what they do (when they do it), but I still miss the "old days" when they'd say "Hey Bro! ...how 'bout we take Mom out of town this weekend and give you a break!"
Now ...with that background out of the way. Sister has said she didn't want to do Mother's Day in town because she thought she and AuntiE would have to do all the work and that would suck for Mother's Day. Yeah ...I was a bit aggravated; Mom doesn't exactly like heading out to their country home all that often as it is, and spending Mother's Day there also decreases the odds on Mom being willing to take another trip out there anytime soon. AuntiE asked about Mother's Day the other night and so I said I assumed we'd be heading out to the country house (probably needs no mentioning at this point, but my sister and her hubby are loaded; hence the country house and home in the city). Given the earlier conversation, I had no reason to think otherwise.
Fast forward to last night: sister calls Mom and asks about "Mom Day" plans, and Mom says we're heading out to the country house with them. I can only gather from what Mom said, but she said that sister was extremely excited (presumably, that Mom actually wanted to go out to the country home). I think Mom was either a bit confused and unable to follow my sisters response, or her ear was bothering her ...but the phone got handed off to me any case. The sister says "Wow ...so Mom wants to come out to the ranch?!"
me: "Well, you said you didn't want to do Mother's Day here in town, so when they asked, I said we were going with ya'll to the country home" *I tactfully left off the part about "because you said you thought you would get stuck doing all the work if we stayed here"*
see-ster: "Oh gosh! ...I feel bad now! I didn't mean to corner you into going out of town if that wasn't what you wanted to do."
me: *dead silence* ...try as I might, I can't seem to come up with a tactful way to verbalize "well if that wasn't what you meant to do, then exactly why in the fuck did you say it?
see-ster: "I had already told the hubby that we would be staying in town for Mother's Day ...do you want to go ahead and tell Mom that we'll be staying here?"
me: Umm ...at this point, trying to explain any sort of change to Mom would be more trouble than it's worth. *while thinking really REALLY loud ...gee, next time you have a fucking "change of heart" about this sort of thing, perhaps informing the person you had the change of heart about would be a good first fucking move*
see-ster: "I'm SO sorry ...it sure feels like we've forced you into this!"
*how amazing ...it feels just about like that on my end too!*
me: Well, it probably won't be the last time we have a breakdown in communication.
Around this time, she started sounding an awful like one of the grown-ups in a Charlie Brown cartoon with the apologies that, while heartfelt I'm sure, were just a little bit late.
*grumble*
*grouse*
Ah well. Just needed to ventilate a little bit about it. I'm aggravated, but it's all good.
just ...aggravating.
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Oh, why not?
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Posted:May 5, 2014 2:07 pm
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
10198 Views
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Wow ...so it's been well over a month since I've graced blogland with my presence. My role as "caregiver" has expanded a great deal, and I sort of doubt it'll be slacking off until that event happens that I really don't want to think about.
AuntiE is still here, and at present course will probably remain until the end of June. Unfortunately, a LOT can happen in a couple of months time, and so even that time frame is up in the air and wholly dependent on how things go with the maternal unit. There is just SO much to write about and I really ought to be taking advantage of it, but I'm so conflicted about so much of it, it all just feels weird.
AuntiE made a remark to me on the weekend that I must admit, I really appreciated. She said "when I came down, I had every expectation that I'd be helping to take care of both your Mom and you ...and since being here I've felt a little bad that it has seemed a whole lot closer to you taking care of the two of us instead." I appreciated the comment mostly because just a few days before, my sister (who is not known for her abundance of tact) remarked about not wanting to stay in town for Mother's Day because "she and AuntiE would end up having to do all the work."
The fact is, I do all the driving, cooking, and nearly all of the housework. AuntiE is awesome ...she most often loads and unloads the dishwasher, and generally handles a very light lunch for she and Mom (I don't eat lunch); she also handles their laundry. The MOST important thing is that she somewhat keeps Mom busy and keeps the "modesty retention" alive and well with Mom. I like having her around, the extra help is certainly appreciated, but the fact remains that I have a 78 and an 81 year-old under my care now. The amount of work remains about the same ...but it's certainly not less work by any stretch of the imagination.
No illusions and no real resentment even if I choose to blow off a little steam talking/griping about it from time to time ...it's what I "signed up for" when I moved in with Mom and I don't regret the decision for a moment. That doesn't mean I don't miss my life from before a little bit either though. My best friend remarked "Dude, you really need to get laid!" last week after a minor incident of road rage.
But yeah ...the "vow of celibacy" has certainly been the part that has sucked the most out of this whole thing. It didn't really start out as that, but that's just how it's turned out. No FWB's, fuck-buddies or even one-night stands while I'm with Mom ...she doesn't have long, and I don't need the distraction. Maybe that's why I haven't been writing all that much either ...I don't want a bunch of people reminding me of the time I said something to the effect of "quit distracting me with SEX!" (I may have to change my name or something)
So anyway though ...the cast came off Mom's arm a few weeks ago and she's starting her third week of physical therapy. Her cancer numbers are a bit weird and the oncologist has been a bit vague about them. The worst of it is that Mom's mental health has exponentially gotten worse and I don't think the oncologist has quite caught on that Mom no longer has the mental capacity to ask competent questions anymore (although when she reads the notes from the recent neurologist visit, that will probably be an eye-opener). The neurologist said that the level of deterioration in just the last three months couldn't even be explained away as "chemo-brain" but is more likely dementia or even possibly Alzheimers. There's no history of that on Mom's side of the family, but some of the stuff she's going through is just a little bit too familiar with what we went through with Dad. Hard to say, but it's difficult to watch someone who was once so intelligent waste away like this.
Okay ...muttifer is informing me it's walk time, so time to log off for a bit.
Cheerio for now!
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...assimilate THIS!
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Posted:Mar 12, 2014 11:02 am
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
11066 Views
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...and once again, the fun and frolics of phone intervention on the behalf of the maternal unit play out to a conclusion that falls somewhere in between frustrating and amusing.
Mom recently showed me a letter from her credit card company saying that her card number had been compromised, and that they had issued a new card. Mom asked me what the letter meant, and I said that it meant that she either had received a new card, or that she would be receiving one soon. I had thought that it looked a bit more like a reminder than an initial notification, and told her that when she got a chance, she might want to make sure it hadn't already been sent. I seem to vaguely remember her saying she found the replacement card, and also vaguely remember telling her she needed to bring it to me so I could activate it, but it never made it any further than my telling her that. (*oh look ...a shiny object!*)
Fast forward a few weeks, and she gets another notice from the credit card company yesterday. Mom tells me that she was sure that we had already activated the card and I said "uhm ...no; I'm pretty sure you found the card, but I'm equally sure it has not been activated."
Yeah, there's a reason why I was so sure ...mostly because any of "her stuff" I haven't already attached my name to tends to be a real pain in the ass. She went back and looked, and sure enough ...there was her unactivated card.
*sigh*
Since the instructions are to call from the primary phone number, I kind of hoped that would be enough to make it simple, but noooOOOoooo ...we can't have that. I called, the friendly automated voice asked the usual questions, but when it came to "password" I was a bit stymied. I gave what I thought might be her password, but it wasn't correct. So it transferred to an operator.
I think all of us have bad dreams about this particular operator that stereotypes are made of. She wasn't foreign or anything ...she just had "that voice" that was really hard to understand ...almost like a cross between a Borg drone and a slightly higher pitched Fran Drescher, only with a bit more "nasal" (if that is even possible). I gave her the name on the card, gave her my name, and then she asked for the password ...I told her what I thought it was, and she said no ...it started with another letter that I will call "F" because the word that kept going through my head the entire time began with that letter.
The other obvious choice for a password that Mom would choose started with that letter, so I gave her the other, and she said no ...she needed the password that began with the letter "F."
me: Umm are you sure it isn't~insert password here~ (thinking that perhaps she misheard me)
Borg Drescher: No, I need the password that begins with the letter "F"
me: Well, we have a bit of a problem then because my mother doesn't remember what it is if it isn't~insert password here~ or~insert other password here~.
Borg Drescher: Then I'm afraid I need to speak with your mother to verify the password that begins with the letter "F"
me: I can put my mother on the phone if you like, but I'll tell you now that she won't be able to tell you the password
Borg Drescher: Please put your mother on so that she can verify the password that begins with the letter "F"
*hands the phone off to Mom* I have no idea what Borg Drescher was actually saying to Mom; the kind of amusing part was that Mom didn't either.
Mom: You want what?!
Mom: could you please say that again
Mom: I'm sorry, but I really can't understand you
Mom: Yes, this is "Canus2011's Mother"
Mom: You need what?
Mom: could you say that again
Mom: what?
Mom: I'm sorry, but I can't understand a word you're saying
This goes on like the above for a little bit TOO long, and most of the time I'm trying to get Mom to just hand me the phone back ...but she's as stubborn as ...well, my mother maybe. Finally I get her to relinquish the phone as it begins to occur to her that she's simply talking in circles.
Me: Sorry, but I tried to tell you.
Borg Drescher: I need you to verify the password that begins with the letter "F"
Me: I understand that and all, but if you HAVE to have that password, it just isn't going to happen. Mom has been on chemo for 4 years and she simply doesn't have that level of recall anymore.
Borg Drescher: Please hold while I transfer to my supervisor, whose name begins with the letter "S" (I made that last part up, but it still sounds good)
The supervisor was a lot less Borg-ish. She was as thorough as I would warrant she really needed to be under the circumstances. She asked to speak with Mom, but assured me it would only need to be for long enough to verify that she was who I said she was. Although I considered doing my best Terry Jones impression (not so obscure Monty Python reference) for a moment I grudgingly handed the phone over to Mom ...she gave her name and birthday, then handed the phone back to me. The lady had us get the bank account number that she paid the bill with, then added my name to the account and had me give a new password. Once finished, she transferred me back to Borg Drescher.
Borg Drescher: Thank you for your call, your name is added to the account and if asked for the password the hint will be the password that begins with the letter "H" (as in "Holy Shit, this is finally over with")
me: Ummm yeahokay ...have a nice time assimilating the quadrant.
Borg Drescher: excuse me?!
me: nevermindthanksandbuh-bye *click*
I think the truly amazing part is I didn't really exaggerate all that much with Borg Drescher. We've slowly got my name added to all but just a few things, but there remain a few still yet.
...I have to wonder if the Borg "Swedish Chef" will be next?
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I blinked
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Posted:Mar 6, 2014 7:02 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2014 5:57 am
11314 Views
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Amazing how quickly a week can flash by without even noticing.
AuntiE has been really nice to have around; my siblings have been checking up on me a fair bit to see how the house guest is doing, and I have been able to easily say that it is absolutely no more work than before. I'm not going to go so far as to say that it's all that much less work either, but it's most certainly less stress and that goes a LONG way.
I had the weirdest thing strike me a couple of days ago ...Mom and her younger sister are very comfortable around each other. AuntiE came down for about a week one other time since I've been living here; she's really the only remaining Aunt that I'm even somewhat "close" to. Mom's family lived out of state during my childhood (and she had a BIG family), so we only saw them maybe once a year (or so) when I was a . We WERE near my Dad's family, but nearer doesn't mean "closer" by any stretch of the imagination; I never cared much for Dad's family ...even my DAD gravitated to Mom's side more than his own. Watching Mom and her little sister though ...I was marveling at how patient AuntiE is with Mom; Mom can get bogged down in trying to tell a story and forgetting what she's saying and her sister will gently remind her and truly enjoys being here with her. I was struck by a bit of deja vu when listening to them the other day because it seemed really familiar to me...
...and then it struck me!
"Oh yeah ...that's kind of how *I* am with my siblings!" Mom was one of nine , and her relationships with all of them are slightly different (wow, just like mine). I love all my sibs even though I don't always like them very much (depending on what they are doing or saying at the time), and there is little I wouldn't do for any of them if push came to shove. Even (perhaps even "especially") coming to stay for a while if their health were to nosedive.
The last time AuntiE was here I think I learned more about my mother than I had in the previous 40+ years ...that much is for sure. I imagine that most people I've known probably get a lot of insight into me after seeing me around my siblings as well. That family "bond" can mean a lot ...especially when your childhood probably wasn't the happiest. I never quite "got" that with Dad's side of the family since they were around more when I was young, but they didn't really seem to even like each other very much; only one of his sisters (driven by her ...my cousin whom I hadn't seen in probably 15 years) even came to Dad's funeral (and they were the only ones from his side of the family to attend).
Odd stuff family. *sigh* I've always compared us to the "Addams Family" but I guess I've seen crazier; I would't trade them for anything though.
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no uhm ...solitude, for the wicked
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Posted:Feb 27, 2014 7:20 am
Last Updated:May 24, 2024 6:54 am
9156 Views
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Well ...I now have a bit of help with the irascible maternal unit; Mom's younger sister decided to come down and stay for a while after attending the funeral of a cousin just a little ways north of here. I absolutely LOVE my Aunt E (hmm AuntiE maybe?); it will be great to have her around for a while, and a little help with the madre is always welcome. She and Mom are somewhat close and she has a TON of patience ...so we'll see.
The weekend after Mom had her fall was supposed to be a "Canus-weekend" ...my sister and her husband were set to take Mom out of town with them for a weekend just to give me some "me-time" and let me decompress a little bit "Mom-free." I don't drink around Mom (don't drink much anyway), but on a Mom-free weekend I might just overindulge a little bit for a night or two and break out a marathon of movies I'd never watch with Mom in the house (maybe even stuff that's rated R! ...gasp!). The last time I had a "me-weekend" was last fall, and that was me going camping (I should write a blog about that weekend some time ...it was, uhm ...interesting)
But anyway, Mom ...in complete contempt for my schedule, decided that falling and breaking bones (without giving me advance notice or anything) was more important than me time ...in fact, it may have been a "double-down" on it since we've been together 24-7 for three weeks today.
Of course, falling and breaking bones to avoid a weekend with my sister and her hubby might not be as much of a stretch as you might think.
So anyway ...they tried to throw out the idea of taking Mom and AuntiE out of town this weekend, and Mom shot down that idea. Initially under the idea that AuntiE has been travelling and probably wasn't going to be in much of a mood to do anything but rest for the first weekend, but I kind of suspect it might be a bit closer to "I just don't wanna go" (maybe even "my hand hurts and I don't want to be stuck in a car two hours two times over three days" but I suspect it goes a bit deeper than that). When they asked me ...I said I didn't think Mom would be down for it, but the ultimate arbiter of that question needed to be AuntiE; if I need to wait a few more weeks for some down time, that's okay with me (sheesh ...it's been nearly six months, what's a couple more weeks?).
One thing with Mom ...trying to push an idea too hard is a really bad idea. My sister understands that, *I* understand that ...I'm not quite sure what it is that gives my brother-in-law such difficulty with the concept (he's been married to my sister for how long?!). He was the one to pick up AuntiE, and he really pushed the idea to her about going with them for the weekend; AuntiE was fine with the idea. When they got here to the house, my BIL announced to me that the weekend was "settled" ...AuntiE and Mom were coming with them for the weekend (notice the bolded word ...I should increase the font and add some glowing lights to highlight it).
Feeling secure in his assessment of my mother's compliance with what AuntiE said (since he had that bolded word and all), he remarked at the dinner table about how much fun they were going to have this weekend.
...aaaand Mom said ...uhm ...no. (huge shocker here for anyone who has known her for ...well ...BIL should have known better).
I mentioned to AuntiE later that she shouldn't worry about it if Mom didn't want to go, and AuntiE said that she had planned to "work on her a little bit" about the idea, but after that emphatic of a NO, there wasn't much use at this point (it's almost like she knows my mother or something).
So anyway ...at least I can zoom out this afternoon and go have lunch with a buddy of mine for the first time in three weeks. Even that part is worth quite a bit!
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...this is a VERY IMPORTANT message!!!
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Posted:Feb 25, 2014 8:40 am
Last Updated:Feb 25, 2014 8:46 am
7981 Views
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Hmmm ...just noticed that it's my 100th post, but it still isn't even remotely "important" by any stretch of the imagination. *move along ...nothing to see here*
When I moved in with Mom, I was extremely appalled at the volume of calls she was getting from people wanting money. I managed to get the number down from 10 or so a day to closer to 3 to 4. Now we're getting political calls and some of the scam calls again ...putting us back up to 10 or so a day. The last two weeks have been bonkers that way.
The scam calls are crazy ...recorded message (of course) saying to please hold for this VERY IMPORTANT message from ...you can almost fill in the blank with all the variations I've been hearing: "YOUR credit card company" "YOUR bank" "YOUR healthcare provider." I think most people know better these days, but I guess they wouldn't do it if they didn't have at least a bit of success (and face it, to the scam places ...even one out of 100,000 even listening to the message is considered a success rate). Kills me that anyone would bite if they can't even say who they're with though.
Interesting trivia: when P.T. Barnum said there was "A sucker born every minute" ...the common usage of the word "sucker" at that time was more synonymous with a "fan" than "rube" (I even saw campaign poster for Abraham Lincoln with "suckers for Lincoln" as a positive grouping) ...it might be interesting to see if Barnum's saying had an effect on the change in usage over the next century.
I have certainly learned to be rude since being here ...it's a shame that I feel a bit conflicted about being a jerk when I get a real person since I'd much rather (be rude to) talk to a real person over a recording, but I'm starting to think it might be about time to extend "do not call" to charitable organizations as well.
Time to start getting ready for a day of doctors. *happy happy joy joy!!*
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