Is my cape fluttering?

A little perspective

Generally I'm pretty good about maintaining my momentum in posting... I tend to keep things moving forward with only an occasional backwards glance to make sure my hair isn't on fire! And while that works most of the time, I really need to go back and pick up some threads I've left hanging... otherwise next week isn't going to make much sense to y'all!

Remember the tonsil abscess K2 endured? The one that landed her in the ER on morphine? Yeah, that one. It's back. It started up last week and the consensus is that the tonsils are now the source of infection instead of helping to filter infection. Basically, stick a fork in them, they're done. While they could keep the infections at bay with antibiotics, it's really a better idea to remove them... during her last quarter of nursing school... while she works in a hospital. Add to that, if she doesn't get them out this month, she loses her insurance because....

TOG changed jobs. He was hating his and found another engineering job at a hospital five miles from us. Which means his insurance is over the end of this month and doesn't kick in at the new job until November... by which time K2 will have graduated nursing school (if the tonsil thing doesn't throw a wrench in the works) and not be eligible anyway. So it's now or never for her. Surgery is Tuesday. TOG in the meantime, is happy as a clam in his new job and his commute time is down to zip.

The leg continues to do well and surprisingly has shown no new signs of infection in 6 weeks or so. Believe me, the celebrations have been legion! The ankle from last weekend is... well... there. The swelling is almost non existent in the morning after being elevated all night. It's puffy and pasty when I get home at night from being on the floor all day. Driving is still a little painful. So, no hiking this weekend. But TOG wants to try it on a bike ride. If I can stabilize the ankle, it could work. I am walking with full weight on it even though it's a little uncomfortable.

Remember the security issues? Some guy came to the door a couple nights ago peddling alarm systems. I was making dinner and paid little attention. TOG spoke with him and announced he was coming back last night. I didn't ask why. Apparently it was to finalize the deal. TOG.... Mr. Consumer Reports, comparative shopper, lets looks at three more before we decide up and bought a system from these guys we've never heard of. No references.... just signs the contract. Then the guy announces it that his installer is "in the neighborhood" and can be there in a half hour. How convenient. So now we have an alarm system, complete with shrill beeps that make the dogs howl. I forgot how to arm it last night and I think I set it but it started beeping like crazy so I disarmed it and went to bed. Apparently I'm going to need more training!

Finally, thanks for you comments regarding my little munchkin yesterday. She's a unique kid. Some of you were correct in your assessment that we could ask for a Power of Attorney which would protect her in certain situations such as legally binding contracts. That actually is the middle step as we understand it. However, retaining custodial rights would allow us to continue to insure her and unfortunately would erase her right to vote. I'm leaning toward that. I spoke with K3 last night and even though she thinks voting is "dumb" and something "that parents do" (much like buying flowers for the yard which she thinks is the dumbest adult behavior) she would like to retain as many rights as possible. But she also wants to be able to go to the doctor.... so more discussion for sure.

Remember my car window and the guys in Canada that clamped the window up? Not covered by my extended warranty. Oh they covered the work done when I got back, but they have a bazillion reasons why they won't cover the work in Canada. The dealership didn't call first, they don't reimburse tools (vise grips), they don't reimburse private parties (me), they didn't actually "fix" anything.... What it boils down to is that they just choose not to. I've already written the first letter. I'm considering a letter a week until I grow tired of it. Why? Because the guy actually told me I should have left the window down the entire time we were in Canada. Yeah... It pissed me off.

I still have more, but must get ready for work... I'll try to get more posted with food porn this weekend. I actually cooked something and photographed it for the cooking blog last night, I just didn't have time to download the shots.

This shot is one of my favorites from Canada. The weather was so calm, there was no point in even putting the sails up....

Rocky path...

... or "how Asthmagirl's brain works"!

As I was laying in bed this morning, I pondered the number of times I have pretended to be better at something than I actually am. And then I quit counting because in my imaginary world, the numbers don't matter! I am achieving miracles daily, dang it! It's not that I want to be famous, but sometimes I would like to have the skill set that goes with fame, only use it on a very small scale!

Like when I ride my bike and my lungs are whining, I wish I could ride like Lance Armstrong. Of course, I can't but for a few moments, the lungs get distracted and I get another half mile out of them before stopping to medicate!

Sometimes in the kitchen, when I'm filleting onions with my mandolin, I'm convinced I might be Mario Batali. Except without the tummy and orange crocs. And not balding. And I can't say half the things he creates on Iron Chef, but other than that, I'm practically the same person. Right? Whipping up amazing dishes that dazzle the eyes and delight the senses. Or just getting dinner on the table on a week night!

And when I'm working on computers at work, I wonder if I'm a moronic version of Bill Gates. The kind of technician that understands the problems but isn't sure how to fix them sometimes! Nah... if I was Bill Gates, I would have never dreamed up Vista! But I would give buttloads of money away to charities!

I don't have a persona when I'm hiking. My big goal when out on the trail is not to become famous. I don't want to be that news story at 11PM... the klutz that slipped off the snow field and broke their leg... the asthmatic that had to be air lifted off the mountain... the direction-challenged hiker that uses her cell phone to call for help and says "I have no idea where we are, can't you find us?"

So when we were walking down on Saturday, I didn't have delusions of grandeur to keep me moving. I had fear of exposure! No one gets famous for hiking well. To be a good hiker is to be unknown, unheralded and uninjured! Well, two out of three isn't bad!

What do you want to be known for?

A mile a minute

This is one of those posts that I really gritted my teeth over before posting... but in the end, I felt like sharing. I took the day off from blogging yesterday. I needed it. This was one of those weekends that I did absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, the gears in the brain are turning a mile a minute. Here's some of what I've been pondering.

I love the blog. I love the way it compels me to consider, my life... relationships... experiences... loves. Without the blog, would I be less observant, less defined? I think to blog is to know yourself better. Sometimes to blog is to admit out loud that which we think and leave it open to the public for examination and comment. Healthy but occasionally uncomfortable... kind of like wearing jeans that are too tight and not wanting to admit it! (and then eating the ice cream someone offers you because you love it so!)

I get embarrassed sometimes about the blog. Sometimes when TOG tells people "oh, she has a blog" it sounds like (to my ears) "oh, this is that cute little thing she does when I'm not around". And sometimes, the response sounds like (again to my ears) "oh, that is adorable... I bet she owns Chihuahuas too"! I actually find humor in this. The words may be more like, "Wow, I could never do that" but they have the little facial things going on that say "And who in their right mind would want to?"  Now, I don't mind being taken lightly as a blogger. I feel comfortable in my writing and my intent. Besides, I'm a blond. I'm used to being taken lightly from time to time! [Asthmagirl deeply regrets any issues that comment may have caused other blonds]

But bear with me here... You read a lot of blogs, right? Me too! I'm following a number of really great journeys written by interesting folks, some with asthma, some with cancer, some with deafness, some that home school, some that cook, some that make me laugh out loud, some that parent, some that tell great stories, some that are trying to get published, some that are just doing their daily stuff with every day joys and concerns over gas prices, and the environment and what they'll cook for dinner that night. Ironically, some of what I've been reading lately kind of confirms that as a community, maybe we've let people take us lightly. When I read about careless comments purposefully posted that cause hundreds of responses and hurt feelings and sides being chosen up, I think that as a community, it reflects poorly on us. And because we are so public, other people reading us may take us at less than our best.

I've read a number of posts in the last year about bloggers wanting to be taken seriously and wanting to be paid decently for the privilege of allowing advertising in our space and wanting to be respected for our word of mouth capabilities. And all that's true, we do reach a lot of people... we're very visible. But if I wanted to be taken seriously and be respected by businesses as an industry that has intrinsic media value and worth, I'd be careful to present myself in a business-like way to all eyes, all the time.

Certainly there's more than one segment to the blogging world and I'm totally speaking for myself here. But I'm assuming that even if we blog for fun, we still want respect for the time and thought we put into making this medium flow, yes? We're the ones that stare at the blank computer screen each morning and bring our thoughts to life! And this little mirror we call a blog that the public gazes into so intently... It should reflect what we want people to believe about us. Perhaps that we have something worthwhile to say.... that we're articulate and entertaining... that we're connected to what's important in our world.

Comments are welcome. Look for a return of goofy pictures and other asthmatic adventures tomorrow!

 Asthmagirl out!

Crossroads

Over the last few weeks, possibly months, I've been considering some changes in my life. While I'm not wretchedly unhappy, I have noted that there seems to be a gap between what I'm currently spending time doing and what I'd like to be spending time doing. Or... maybe there's just an overabundance of what I'm currently doing and I can't see anything else!

For those that aren't in the know... I work full time as a grant writer/IT person for a disability agency. When the opportunity presented itself, I also started my own business doing the exact same thing for a separate entity. Mostly, this was a way to fill my dance card when TOG began working evenings. It certainly keeps me occupied. I've been living this crazy plan for over 4 years and I've been fine until lately.

I'm just beginning to realize that as long as I continue to do this, I'm limiting my ability to do anything else... take a photography class, improve my IT skills, explore additional writing opportunities, the list goes on. So yesterday, I let my client know that I will no longer be doing free lance grant writing. I will continue to do IT work... mostly because I know his systems inside out and I think he'd have a hard time finding someone that would take him on. He's kind of difficult.

I have not yet figured out how to absorb the financial blip. I suspect it will be a month or two before he finishes paying my invoices for work in progress, so I'll have some time to figure it out. The money from my business mostly goes into savings. Occasionally I take a chunk out and buy TOG a computer or take him to Canada. It's also my shoe money and hair money! And in a way, it's independence because I don't have to account to anyone for it. TOG and I consider this the "don't ask/don't tell" portion of our finances! But it will affect my ability to save and I'll likely reduce some expenditures (not hair)!

Mostly, I'm looking forward to taking a deep breath and asking myself what do I want to do? I'll have time now to think about it. What would you do if you got an additional block of time? Inquiring minds want to know!

Crazy Eights...

The Beautiful and Talented Mental Pause Mama tagged me earlier this week with a crazy eight meme. I got a little sidetracked the last few days but want to tackle this with enthusiam and lies veracity! Below are the less than surprising answers!

 

Eight Things I have a passion for:

1. My family 
2. Peanut butter
3. My little doglets
4. Cookies (homemade)
5. Hiking and biking
6. Sincerity
7. My hair
8. Technology

Eight Things I Would Like to do Before I Die:

1. Visit Ireland
2. Hike the Pacific Crest trail
3. Subdue my asthma
4. Climb Rainier
5. Ride the STP
6. Become published
7. Start a foundation 
8. Make a difference

Eight Things I Say a Lot:

1. Nicely Done!
2. Are you going to be home for dinner?
3. Whose laundry is this?
4. Where are my little dogs?
5. Can I get you some coffee, dear? 
6. Who has to go potty?
7. I have no idea what you've done to your laptop... can you be more specific?
8. I've never loved you more

Eight Books I Have Read Recently:

1. High Noon
2. The Photoshop book
3. Outlander
4. Creation in Death
5. Up Close and Dangerous
6. Northern Lights
7. Innocence in Death
8. Costco Cookbook

Eight Movies I Have Seen Eight Times:

1. The Incredibles
2. Christmas Vacation
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Princess Bride
5. Young Frankenstein
6. Robin Hood- Men in Tights
7. Second Hand Lions
8. Apollo Thirteen
9. Tombstone

Eight People I Have to Invite to do This Meme: (as if I'd make eight people do this....!)

1. Tammy 
2. Mamahut 
3. The beautiful Baroness 
4. My Favorite Evil Chef 
5. Felicia's Friend Snooty! 

That should do nicely!

Closure

Because I was thrown so far off course with K2's tonsil the last couple days, I'm abandoning my blog plan for the day and just letting this one flow.

So last you heard, we were getting cleaned up and heading for the doctor yesterday afternoon. No... I posted a comment to say I'd seen the tonsil. Girlfriend could open her mouth far enough. OMG! It was huge. It was no longer pushing her uvula over, but it was all out in the middle of her throat. Her face was swollen, even her ear and neck hurt. This next bit is going to have some detail so skip down if you don't want to read it. There's no way to say this stuff delicately.

*graphic paragraph*Tuesday, the tonsil had been completely coated in white pus. Wednesday morning it had a localized circle of white. The steroids had helped to shrink the tonsil and apparently the infection as well. We were dressed and getting ready to leave when Girlfriend grabbed her little kidney shaped dish from the hospital and started.... emitting. Stuff. Lots of it. And the smell! Horrendous. OMG. Her tonsil abscess ruptured before we could even leave the house. I've never seen anything like it. She checked on the way to the doctor's and the white circle was gone. Thus the doctor declared that it was not an abscess, just tonsillitis. We tried to explain what had happened, but I think we came off as a little dramatic and overly concerned (you really had to be there to see what had come out). However he did note that he would be willing to remove her tonsils later this year after everything had cleared up.

The lungs appear to be back on track after missing the one dose Tuesday night. I'm a little surprised that they even reacted because they're usually so stable in the summer. But even last week when I tried reducing the inhaled steroids, they were complete toads so I guess I'll be nurturing them for a while yet. I was just really surprised to blow a yellow zone peak flow yesterday morning. I did it three times to be sure. So I used my stronger inhaler yesterday and this morning I'm back at the top of my green zone. Where is my stability? These things used to be like a rock in the summer. Now they're like a rock sinking to the bottom of a pond! Stupid lungs.

And the leg. It is the best it's been in months. Seriously. I didn't want to rush to that conclusion, but I've completed the antibiotics and it's doing well. I no longer walk like a cast member of Deadliest Catch! So I tested it Monday and took it for a bike ride. A quick three miles at 12 miles per hour. No, I'm not a big dummy. I just figure if it's going to act up, lets do it now while the surgeon is waiting to hear. Because if the leg is going to behave, I'm going to start working it... bike rides, hiking, and I plan to start running. If it can't hold up to that level of activity, now is the time to address it, not mid July when I plan to be using it a lot more (assuming the lungs are along for the ride!). The last thing I want to have happen is to plan a big alpine hike with TOG and have the leg wimp out.

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank someone for helping me out. When I called her on the way to the hospital, she totally had my back. Got on-line, found the map to the hospital, helped me make some decisions about keeping other family in the loop and made me laugh! K1 can really be a rock. And she probably doesn't get the recognition she deserves for being level headed. Truly, she ought to be bronzed. Except that might hurt!

Hopefully back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. (such as it is) And I'm really going to try to get food porn this week! Have a wonderful day!

Asthmagirl out!

Father's Day

The really great weather that Seattle's been missing showed up just in time for Father's day! I offered to take TOG on a hike which would have been much better weather than the Mother's Day hike we went on, but he turned me down. Later in the day he was saying "what a mistake"!

So we took the doglets down to the beach. The tide was way out and they had a great time except for Maddie who doesn't do water!

 

I also wanted to include a shot of the progress on the side of the house. Sometimes I think we're stalling because the back is going to be such a huge job! But we really do want to finish this... so hopefully this week! All that's left is the path... and it's a huge improvement from where we started!

We did stop by the pub yesterday for a Father's Day pint. I couldn't help myself and had a cup of the Basil Pesto Chicken Chile. It definitely had some bite! Finally, we ended the day with a cookout with the girls in which my infamous potato salad made an appearance! TOG said he had a wonderful day!

In other news, I'm still researching alarms and haven't decided yet. I appreciate the feedback I've received... Now I just need to finish the research and get it done.

Have a great day!

Asthmagirl out!

More on security

Following the raccoon invasion, TOG was telling me that someone had been in our back yard that day. We barricade the gates with bricks at the bottom on one gate and a board secured with a fairly large rock on the other...because little dogs can get under the fence like no one's business. Thus, we've taken pains to make the back yard chihuahua proof. Someone pushed and pushed on the gate with the board and rock and they were able to reach their arm in and pull the board away which gave them enough room to squish through since they couldn't reach the rock.

It's not the first time we've been invaded. A year and a half ago, K3 and I went into the village for fish and chips. While we were gone (maybe 45 minutes) someone pried the handle off the slider came in and stole my laptop, a bunch of software from work, the kids DVD players and some other electronics. It was pretty traumatizing for the brute squad. Since then, we've discussed getting an alarm system, but we've also really focused on securing the house. Since then, we've only been invaded by Raccoons.

TOG put a lock on the gates yesterday which seems silly to me. I mean, it's a 6 foot wood fence. I'm sure someone could get over it if they were determined. But yeah... if they come back for an encore, at least they'll know we're onto them. It just seems silly to have to padlock the gates to protect a rusty wheelbarrow and a barbecue grill.

I keep thinking about the brute squad though. I'm sure that person looked in the slider and that must have raised the brute squad alert level to def-con 5. The sad thing is, they aren't a deterrent. After the break in, they were hiding when I came home and wouldn't come out. I don't know what was done to them.... they didn't seem hurt. I'm sure they were frustrated that they couldn't kill the bad guys. I was just relieved that they were probably so roudy and intense that the thieves couldn't catch them to steal them. Thank goodness I didn't have them crated.

So my question is, do any of you have alarm systems? Do you have one you love? Do you have one and hate it? Can you help me to make a good decision about this? Our neighbors have alarm systems, and the signs in their yard and I'm betting they haven't had the issues we've had. I just want the invasions to end.

Sorry about no food porn today. We didn't go to the pub last night. K2's guy had a birthday barbecue and he asked me to make Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes. I did and they were magnificent! I also made him my deviled eggs because he's a huge fan! So we got to his house, and I forgot to put the smart card back in the camera. Dang! Trust me, it looked great!

Time for one more cup of coffee before the yard work starts!

Asthmagirl out!

The Brute Squad

Assuming it's not jaw clenchingly cold, we keep the sliding glass door slightly open in the evening in order to let the doglets run out in the back yard to do their thing. It's not unusual for one of them to pop their head up and growl at the slightest noise and assume we're being attacked by a band of rogue squirrels with semi automatic acorns. This incites the other two into a frenzy of barking and posturing until unable to contain themselves, all three rush out the slider and make known to the intruding wild life (and thus the entire neighborhood) that they are on job, hip to the diabolical invasion plan known to squirrels everywhere as "Taunt the Chihuahuas"! To be honest, it's usually Cassie (the tiniest one) who sounds the alarm and leads the charge and all too often, what lights her fuse is no more than a bug flying into the window or the wind blowing. Alternatively, in visual reconnaissance mode, the sighting of a robin gathering dry grass for her nest is enough to trigger the invasion alarm.

So last night, I'm sitting in the recliner with Cassie watching Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares (my newest addiction) and Cassie lifts her head up and starts the deep growl. Its dusk, and I haven't shut the blinds yet. I look up into the back yard and yes, there are shadows moving on top of the back fence line. They're kinda big though... I tighten my grip on Cassie who is going berserk as she makes visual contact with the perps. I look closer and I recognize "the walk".... Raccoons! We've got raccoons walking on our back fence! And the slider's open!

Forgetting the leg, I leap out of the recliner holding the whirling dirvish formally known as Cassie and hobble race for the slider to try to get it closed before either the raccoons come in or the dogs rush out. The rest of the brute squad (Maddie and Fiona) are sounding the alarm from upstairs and scrambling out of TOG's office in order to respond to Cassie's now maniacal howls. My greatest fear is that A) the Raccoons will drop by for dinner and B) dinner will consist of three bad ass chihuahuas.

It's not the first run in we've had with the raccoons. We leave our garage door open about 3 inches in the evening so the boy cats can come in and out of the garage. Believe it or not, 3 inches in an invitation to a raccoon to come in for some cat food. One night. I closed the garage door not knowing there was a raccoon in the garage! Talk about a disaster! I don't recommend trapping a raccoon in your garage. Lots of noise and howling (cats) and things getting knocked over... Our poor cats were terrified! These are the same two boy cats that have decimated the mice, rat and shrew population in our neighborhood. Apparently they will not take on a trapped raccoon. Punks! However, our dogs were going nuts trying to get into the garage,,, Fearless but tiny, just my luck!

 

Behold: The Brute Squad!

  

 

And a special thanks to Krysta for allowing Roxy to play with us yesterday! We had so much fun with her!

 

 

Have a great day!

Asthmagirl out!

Things she's not talking about today...

In an effort to perk up her posts, Asthmagirl has compiled a helpful list of things she won't be discussing today.

She will not discuss the following:

• That we broke the record (previously held in 1891) for the coldest first week of June since they started keeping track
• That the spring storm that blew through last night had 45 mile per hour gusts
• That it only reached 53 degrees yesterday (only half as warm as other areas of the country, I know)
• How thrilled she is to go back to wearing sweaters to work (cough)
• That she had to resort to a second blanket at 4 this morning even with the window closed and the heat on
• That her herbs are probably dying a slow painful death on the patio
• That she's not at all heartbroken about the tomato crisis as she has always suspected they were poison
• That she also suspects those people that keep emailing her from the Canadian pharmacy don't know she doesn't take viagra
• And they can't spell pharmacy right either
• That she continues to ponder the peg-leg solution to her leg difficulties (would she have to wear an eye patch as well?)
• That the more she considers lopping off her hair, the better behaved (and time consuming) it becomes
• That the spell check has crashed her post twice... once yesterday and once today. Today she saved it as a draft first so she wouldn't have to recreate the whole thing... again.
• Thus she apoli appole apologizes for any spelling errors...

In other news, she thinks a certain Chihuahua named Roxy is an absolute muffin cup.

Is there anything you are not discussing today? Perhaps we could 'not discuss it' together.... Do tell!