The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[DogMa]

Thanks, Sue. I figure pretty much everyone's worth at least a couple of tries, you know? I'll just see how it goes.

Meanwhile, my poor Mojo. They had to remove the dew claws from both hind paws (the one foot had two of them, both not properly formed and attached). So now I have to take her back every two days for the next two weeks to get the bandages checked and changed, and then at the end she'll need to have the stitches removed (from the feet AND from her spay). In the meantime, because she was/is in heat (I'm not clear on how she still can be, but I guess the hormones are already released and floating around?), she has to be kept apart from all male dogs, which means Teemu. So she has to stay penned, the poor baby, and I'm probably just going to walk her for now, since she's not supposed to run or jump. I set up a smaller configuration of the pen (one ex pen instead of two together, for anyone who knows what that means) in the family room so that she'll still be in the same room with me and Teemu, and I'll keep her in her crate when we go to sleep (it's right next to my bed).

And I'm going to send a copy of the paperwork by certified mail ASAP to those awful "rescue" people so that there's no way they can try to take her back. But I'll be highlighting all the stuff I had to take care of because they didn't (including some shots that she didn't get). Even at the low-cost place, I spent over $400 on her today. Granted, that includes stuff like heartworm medicine. But thankfully I already had an E-collar and the pens and crates and stuff that she'll need.

Meanwhile, jdate guy suggested heating up a towel or blanket for her to lie on. He said when his dog was spayed, it really seemed to help her. So I'm off to get a nice soft blanket out of the dryer for her.

[dede4wd]

Hi Robin,
Just catching up, sounds like you've had an interesting few days!

DeDe

[bikipatra]

Awww, he is sounding thoughtful! When is the big date again???

[DogMa]

129.2. No sleep, because I slept out on the couch so I wouldn't have to put Mo in a crate (the pen is bad enough). And I just heard that my uncle is back in the ER with slurred speech and some trouble moving around. His incision is infected, but they've been treating that for a couple of days, so we don't know what's up yet or if he's bleeding again. He HAS to be OK. For a million reasons, but also because there's no way I can leave town right now, with all the care Mojo needs.

And meanwhile ... OK, so jdate guy called last night and we talked awhile. Again, mostly small talk, but whatever. So today he e-mailed and was able to find tickets to the skills competition at the NHL All-Star weekend this month in Dallas (which I'd mentioned that I really, really, REALLY want to go to but couldn't find tickets - at least not for less than a few hundred dollars). Apparently there's some ticket agency they use through work, where they get a discount or something. So he said there were tickets available and asked how badly I want to go. I said I really, really want to go, and he said he'd get tickets. So I didn't just promise to sleep with him or anything, did I???

[alpha femme]

no, but you should take him to dinner to even that up.
on the other hand...

[DogMa]

Ha. Oh, yeah, I figured I'd take him to dinner or offer to pay for my ticket or whatever.

[alpha femme]

if he's smart, he'll take the "whatever."

[DogMa]

Cut that out!

[bikipatra]

I hope he had big hands. Otherwise there might be vienna sausage fingers all over you...eek!

[DogMa]

So the neurosurgeon doesn't think it's the infection causing the other symptoms. The home-health nurse (a family friend) thinks it sounds like a mini-stroke. No one knows WHAT the surgeon thinks, other than it's not the infection, because apparently my aunt had stepped out of the room and didn't get a chance to talk to him. And he hasn't even spoken with the primary care doc, so no one knows WHAT the deal is there. Carol's on her way out there again.

If anything happens, I don't know what I'll do. I guess I'll have to get a sitter for Teemu and board Mo at the hospital for a couple of days. This is all just so crazy.

[casma500]

wow ~ get sick for acouple of days and look what happens! so glad mo is doing well after her surgery AND that you had a good date. and he must really like you! taking you to the sporting event AND giving you get well dog advice! i like thi sguy already~ sounds like he is very nice!

but i'm sorry to hear about the job change being delayed! i'll talk more late r -- off to bed.

[DogMa]

Just wanted to post this. I got it from Margot Kenley, who makes Blue Dog Bakery dog cookies, the best dog cookies ever (if my dogs are to be believed).

“Just a Dog”

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a
dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand
the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a
dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did
not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought
about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch
of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably
understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a
promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of
friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the
compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the
future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an
embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories
of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out
what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the
worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just
a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just
smile, because they "just don't understand."

Written and sent to share by Bob Patch

[casma500]

wow! very cool!!

[DogMa]

No real weight to report. It was way too early, after another night on the couch. And one of the scales was off, so I think I'm down into the 128s but it wasn't registering quite right. Had another decent treadmill workout today, too. Crammed it in even though I had to take Mo to get her bandages changed and then we stopped off for a new E-collar and a second one of the inflatable ones (we're going to give it one more try, this time attaching it to a regular collar so it won't come off as easily; yesterday she pulled it off and chewed it to shreds).

On the second front, my uncle is supposed to have an MRI today to see if he had a stroke or what's going on. At least he didn't have any craziness overnight like he did the last time he was in the hospital. Carol says the slurring is mostly gone, but he's definitely very weak on one side (the opposite side from where the blood/surgery were; the one doc says he doesn't think the two are related, but that seems pretty ridiculous to the rest of us).

[DogMa]

New features start date: Jan. 29. I'll believe it when I see it.