24Apr24: Andy’s ‘nipped…

He’s got the blank look of a ‘nip user, and he stayed there like this, immobile for several minutes.

He’s really twitchy now, my next clue.

He moved over to the lapboard and slept it off. Good ‘niip!

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I couldn’t access the Internet on my laptop yesterday. It looked pretty grim because Spectrum tech support’s Jaimie wasn’t able to come up with a solution. I decided it was a good time to stand away from the problem and come back the next day. I have exactly no idea what I did differently today, but I have WiFi again. I hate computers! And I love them to death. 

01Aug20: What’s up, Doug?

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Andy’s curious. Why won’t I let him come around to the other side? 

Maybe it’s because he has “Itchy Paws” and all I need to start hyperventilating again is Andy to wipe out what little hard won progress I’ve made on the nightmare configuration issues on my new laptop and photo sharing from my smart phone.

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Seems like I resolve one issue and bring up twelve more. I’m not kidding about hyperventilation! ( I hope the person who cuts my beard and hair is operating again soon or I might be tempted to do it myself. >self to myself< “Don’t do it, Doug!”) 

 

Post 1896: The kitty boys are back!

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We’ve had a grumpy few days, thanks to a laptop giving up the ghost, but my new laptop means the kitty boys and I can return to regular posting.

What’s going to fall apart next? I suspect it’s time for the smart phone to go belly up. I mean, don’t expensive things always fail close to expensive holidays like Christmas? And it’s about the only bit of technology I use that’s left to croak!

01May26: sorting things out…

Andy’s at peace with the world.
Cute, eh?!
I, on the other hand, am trying to
sort out which days I go in an hour earlier for wound care and which…
….OK! This settled the question!
Yes, Monday is foot care, early before dialysis.
As an old quality guy, I know that once you establish “normal” variation, randomly tossing in little changes increases variation beyond expected levels. You destabilize the process! Yep!
So, when trying to sort out one appointment, I get a call to make another! I’m not by my white board with future apppoinents. I managed to make one I can make.

Now, arranging a ride.
Andy’s awake now. He must have heard me making loud mouth noises while sorting appointments out.

30Apr26: a very domestic day…

Andy’s asleep on the
little table he claims that I bought to put a CD player on. I may just order a second one!
I don’t feel like washing clothes, but can’t wear the same clothes indefinitely! Oh well, the machine does the hard part.
Andy didn’t grow a half-fu-manchu mustache. He is working front to back to remove his winter coat. He tried to eat this hair but gave up. I pulled it off the poor kitty’s face when I got the chance.
That brownish-light- colored puff of hair on his back is where he’s pulling the sheddable hair off. If he’d let me brush him more, we could get the job done faster! I think, though, he’s going to have gigantic bald spots until his hair grows back. Jeez!
Today’s the day I order oxygen supplies and groceries to be delivered. That leaves me a few shreddable pieces of paper. I have an office sized shredder, so that doesn’t take long. I bought it years ago when I was still working. It handles huge stacks at a time, cross cuts, and is especially appreciated over the one I had before. Thar one was good for one or two sheets at a time.

Multi-colored kitty cat. Andy is more than black.

He’s working on this side today.  Poor kitty. He looks so ragged these days.

29Apr26: the appointment…

This is what Andy was doing when I got home.
…but not for long! Kitty food time!
Bret took me to my oncologist’s appointment. Afterwards, we ate huge Mexican meals at Rosita’s in Scottsbluff. The blended lime margarita I had was very alcoholic, so I’m glad I wasn’t driving.  Bret had a safer lemonade.
Barb and Dr. Tzan. Barb guides patients through the complexities of breast cancer, and is very good at it. Dr. Tzan is the oncologist. She explained options I had coming…radiation or lower-strength pills because I’m a dialysis patient, too. Both ladies are lots of fun while doing a serious job. I appreciate that!
I can be serious for a moment.

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It may be flat around Alliance, but, man, the skies!!
Whew!

28Apr26: 8a little snow…

Andy likes snow.
He’d like a lot more than this, though.
Hmm.
Snow!
I like the fresh air, so put the window up a little bit. Andy takes advantage of that crack to enjoyasounds, smells, and sights outdoors, too.

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Nebraska isn’t flat…except where it is….

27Apr26: very sleepy…

Eventually, Andy opened his eyes for a moment.
Mostly, he shifted a bit on the wheelchair seat.
I, of course, documented it.
Side view?
Had to do it!
He didn’t wake up. Dreams of “mommy time?”
That would be sweet!
He almost woke up.

26Sep26: so far, Saturday has been for relaxing…

We woke up a bit out-of-focus…
…but slowly got it together.
Well, very slowly!
After taking a food and water break…
…we fel5 tired and ready for a nap.
I washed clothes, though the nap sounded good. And baked lemon bars.

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Lunchtime, Andy!

I try to wake him gently. He’s really snoozing!
Laughing at his wake-up looks! LOL!

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Time to change.

25Apr25: the weekend, finally…

I left Andy at home. Off to two appointments, late for the first one because of a bus scheduling error.
Left at this door by the HandiBus and signed in to the wound care appointment. My edema is getting in much better control after 23 years of fighting it!

The wound care person is very good and got me into a pair of compression socks that are comfortable yet efficacious.

My dry weight after dialysis dropped below 100 kilos for the first time ever! I feel (physically) the best I have on years.

It’s nice being able to put my shoes on without a tussle!
After wound care, I went straight to dialysis.

I make myself handy by pushing the door openers along this walk and inside the entrance. I would hate to be the bus driver pushing me up this small hill!
After an exhausting day, I waited for the HandiBus to take me home.
Here it is. Hooked into a safety system, I can’t wait for the “wheels on the bus go ’round and round’!”
My driver signs in on the computer system so others waiting for rides – a very busy day – are assured to see the HandiBus come around their corner, soon.

Yesterday, one new rider turned out to be my old friend Robert and younger brother of my friend Larry. We caught up on things, yelling at each other over the noisy bus. It was a fun ride!

It amazes me how I can live in a small town and never cross paths with old friends who also live here.
Yep, lots of Alliance scenery over the short two mile ride. The drivers drive around the schools to avoid the students and 20 mph speed limits. I do the same when I drive.
Home sweet home! If Andy doesn’t meet me at the door, this is what he’s up to.

Next week, I have appointments here and in Scottsbluff every day. Ugh!

The problem of not being able to attend my Class of my 1966 lunch Friday is taken care of, sadly, because our hostess called it off due to being ill. Best wishes for quick recovery, Donna.
I was just about to wake Andy when he hopped out of my wheelchair. Whew! Don’t piss the cat!!

24Apr26: cat interrupts television viewer…

First of all, there are no Greenies, Andy protests…
I see none!
It upsets me, Doug.
RAWR!
You must suffer for this.
Ready?
I try to scroll on the television…
…but Andy is blocking the signal.

Trump’s not the only one having problems with Persians!

23Apr26: home from the hospital

The best part of home again after dialysis is I get to be with my kitty!
He’s usually napping, of course.
So…
..I wake him up…
…with some of….
…his…
…favorite…
…”scritches.”
Yeah. And a few head pats to top it off.

Now, time for kitty food!

22Apr26: what I prepared; what he ate…

“Andy!”
“…kitty food time!”
What!
Oh, the “empty” dry food bowls.
Hide your head in shame, Andrew!
That’s better!
Now a kitty bath, and…
…if I leave him alone,  a kitty nap.