Dackel Princess

Never Wordless

A few bloggers I know do a Wordless Wednesday Meme each week. I knew that this wasn’t one for me. Since the day I was born I haven’t been wordless. In fact, my parents considered naming me Chatty Kathy.

All through my childhood, I was one of those kids who just talked. I drove my sister crazy. We would be lying in bed at night and I would start talking and asking her questions and I would go on and on and on. She would kindly tell me, “Good Night”, and I’d reply, “Good Night”, only to go right back to chatting all over again.

As the years passed I moved in with my Grandparents. I would sit and talk to my Grandmother for hours. I would tell her about school, about my day, and go on and on.

She once told me, after I had married and left home, that the worst part of my moving out was the silence. The one and only time anyone has said this to me.

A few years ago a friend of Jack’s’ was driving me across Florida to meet Jack at another airport. We were driving along and I was doing my usual chatting, hardly taking a breath. Finally, he interrupted me and said, “I bet you can’t shut up for 10 minutes”.

Ten minutes? Not a problem. We started the clock. One second, two seconds, three seconds…It was the longest ten minutes of my life! I did, however, make it, although I felt slightly queasy afterward. My reward? A dinner of fresh Blue Crabs at the Crab House!

I don’t think I talk as much as I once did. At least I try not to. In my “Golden Years” I have learned that it is best to listen, more than to talk.

Although sometimes if I am nervous or self-conscious, my motor mouth starts and I admit to being upset afterward that perhaps I’ve said the wrong thing.

Still, there is a lot of beauty in words, and I can appreciate that. I just need to remember to keep my mouth closed and my ears wide open!

Back In The Saddle

After several weeks of madness and mayhem with my eating, I reigned myself in on New Year’s Eve. I planned my meals, started to weigh and measure things, and removed all sugary things from my diet.

The first couple of days were hairy, but I am back in the groove again and this week I lost 4 pounds. Now I am sure most of that is water weight, but I will take it.

My goal this year is to get to my goal weight and stay there.

It is so hard to admit that you are not only a sugar addict, but that the things you love to eat are laden with sauces, breading, and are calorie and carbohydrate filled.

So yes, I am a sugar addict and a carboholic! I need to become a bunny rabbit who eats their leafy greens! Or an eagle that swoops down and grabs a fresh fish for its meal!

How did you all do over the holiday? Did Santa leave you with more pounds than gifts?

Next year I do not plan to indulge the way I did this year. I will limit my celebrations to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That really is enough.

So for now, on this 5th day of January, I am Back In The Saddle Again!

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 4th, 2021

The weekend seemed to fly by despite it being a rather long holiday weekend. Neither Jack nor I stayed up to welcome in the New Year. After 2020 tricking us into believing THAT would be a good year, frankly, we both feel it’s almost best to ignore the change of the year. Who knows what 2021 will bring.

Jack watched his usual crime shows all through the holiday weekend, and I worked on my Genealogy. Quite interesting, as my sister and I finally found our finals links to John and Priscilla Alden who came over on the Mayflower. We’re so happy about this. Both our Grandmother and mother had worked for many years sitting in Libraries trying to find this link. I cannot imagine doing what Mel and I have done without the aid of computers!

I got a fantastic flashlight for Christmas from Mandy’s brother! I have never had such a good flashlight. It is small, so it fits in my purse, but has a really bright sharp beam! It’s made by Tactical Outfitters! I use this every time I take the pups out at night.

On the doggy front, Arnie’s tests are still cooking. The good news is that it is not a bacteria that is antibiotic-resistant. The next result will guide us to the right drug to get rid of this bacteria.

So in the meantime, I am shoving these horse-pill size antibiotics into Arnie, which he hates. The little bugger has figured out how to eat the treat, and then spit out the pill!

Anneliese is hanging on. The antibiotics for her UTI have helped. I am grateful for this.

Tomorrow is my first weigh-in for the New Year. I weighed myself last Tuesday and well, let’s just say that my celebration of Christmas, which lasted the entire month of December, put on a few pounds. However, at midnight on January 1st, I was back on track! Fingers crossed for at least a little weight loss.

Winter Is Here!

Well, I woke up on Saturday morning, January 2nd to more snow falling! It was pretty, but right now with Arnie having an infection on his back, all that “wet” was not welcome at all!

I managed to get the pups to go outside and do their business before they turned around and rushed back into the house! After giving them breakfast, the day dawned and I took them out once again. That’s when I shot this video of the snow and our back yard!

In the end, I think about 3 and a half inches fell. Enough so that I asked Jack to get the snowblower out and clear paths for the pups.

The rest of our day was spent doing some prep work for dinner and of course, spending time taking care of our pups.

Arnie is doing better. For an old man, he still has so much energy! I’m so thankful he is healing so well!

Maribeth

Weight Watchers ~ Day 2

Yesterday was Day 1 of my going back onto the WW Plan. I think the first week is probably the hardest. You want sugar, fries, bread, chips…..but you also know that you need to set those all aside and eat healthfully.

After eating my yogurt and berries for breakfast, I made a huge salad, and also prepared some roasted eggplant for my lunch. I had fish thawing for dinner and apples to fill in those hours where you just want something to crunch!

I have 30 ounce Tervis Tumblers (they keep your drinks hot), which I keep full of first green tea and then chamomile.

But it doesn’t make me stop missing all those wicked good foods, that somehow pack on the pounds when I eat them.

I sort of wonder how skinny people, who eat the way I wish I could, stay so slim? It doesn’t seem fair, does it? I bet you it’s because they aren’t good cooks, right?

So, here I am, Day 2! I have my day’s menu planned and then I just keep going forward.

It’s not easy, but seldom are the things that are most important in life! I am determined though, so let the tea-drinking begin!

The Friday Five ~ January 1st, 2021

Well, here we are. A New Year! I recall last year thinking that 2020 would be all sweetness and light, and WOW, was I wrong! So good riddance to 2020 and Welcome 2021! Please be kind, gentle, and full of health for us all!

So as I sit here on the very last day of 2020, here are my thoughts on the last year and my wishes for the year ahead!

My New Year’s Resolution in 2020 was to eat healthfully and lose weight. I did this. 2020 saw me lose 60 pounds and several clothing sizes.
I still have more to lose and so I will start a new New Year’s Resolution once again, get back on the weight loss journey and work the WW Program.

I think 2021 will be the year I finally will reach my goal! I will admit that I “enjoyed the Christmas Season” like crazy with all the sugary delights (It was delicious!), but now it is time to go on the sugar-free wagon and get down to business!
2020 was the year I had to face the fact that the “twins”, Arnie & Anneliese are frail and coming to the end of their time on earth. Anneliese more so than Arnie, although in June we nearly lost Arnie to Leptospirosis.
Arnie was vaccinated for this disease, but occasionally the vaccines will fail and such was the case with Arnie. I noticed he was not well immediately upon getting out of bed. I took him out, and my little man couldn’t even lift his leg to wee. I came in, took his temperature and it was over 104.
It was on a weekend, so I called the Emergency Vet, and off we went! He was examined, and at first, they didn’t know what was wrong. Then the on-call Vet decided to give him a “Snap” test for Lepto and sure enough, that was it.
He stayed there overnight and into the next day while they loaded him up with the antibiotics and then he came home where I tended to him for a good six weeks during his recovery.
With Anneliese, she has one UTI after another. Her kidneys are also not doing well, and I think she is probably close to making her last, long, ride to our Veterinarian. At 14 we are not going to take any extraordinary measures to prolong her life if it doesn’t get her a good quality of life.
It’s been a wonderful journey with these two siblings from Greta’s first litter. But this part, the end part of their lives is the hardest part to deal with.
The Covid-19 Virus changed everything in our lives. At first, we knew very little about this virus, and so we went to extreme measures. Jack stayed home, I would wear clothes, I could take off and wash in the basement when I came in from going to get groceries. I also wore a mask, gloves, and washed and washed.
From March until June, I was so nervous, I clenched my jaw. In fact, I clenched it so much that I could barely eat a salad. This virus got the best of almost all of us. So much unknown. So much fear!
I took over going to the Recycling Center, I took the car to get gas. If something required someone to go out into the world and do it, I did it and Jack stayed home.
I was fortunate that Mandy and Matt and the kids were also isolated at home and so during the year I was able to get down a few times to see the kids.
However, I miss seeing people smile. I miss hugs and handshakes. I miss just being able to pick up and go shopping when and where I want!
I had surgery this year to remove three tumors from my face. The surgery went well, and the nicest part was that I was awake for the entire procedure.

However, my insurance company is challenging the charges as they say it was cosmetic surgery which they do not cover! Ah, no!
Not cosmetic at all. Quite necessary as the tumors were quite large and painful! I have appealed their decision and if they refuse to pay, I will hire a lawyer. It is not right that a medically necessary surgery should be denied like this.
My hope for 2021 is that we will all have good health. I know it will be a while until we can return to not wearing a mask in public, and to be able to go shopping where you’d like without fear or worry.
I will take the vaccine when I am offered. I have taken Flu shots for over 30 years and I am hopeful the Covid-19 Shot will become a safely used vaccine to prevent the craziness that has engulfed the World in 2020.
Many people I know do not want to try this vaccine, as it is so new. But looking back in time I think of the Polio Vaccine, the Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine, and all the others that made it possible for me to grow to the age of 62 without becoming sick from very serious, yet preventable illnesses.
I will take this Vaccine for you. Maybe if I do, you will feel safe to take it as well. We all need to do something to end this terrible Pandemic.

So, my dear ones, may 2021 be a year filled with great happiness, a return to good health, and for the World to be filled with Joy!

Happy New Year, Dear Readers!

Maribeth

So Long 2020! Welcome 2021!

A Big Sigh of Relief!

Tuesday was a really pleasant day. Arnie and I had slept well the night before, and upon getting up, I decided right then and there that I needed a day off from the stresses of the sick!

Fortunately for me, both Arnie and Anneliese were responding well to their antibiotics and pain meds. Both were comfortable and Anneliese was no longer crying!

I kicked back and watched a few comedy shows on Amazon Prime, and a few episodes of “The Incredible Dr. Pol”.

You know I have learned so much from that show! Things I wouldn’t have considered before immediately come to mind when my three pups become ill.

Meals were easy. I have leftovers from Christmas and the weekend, so tonight (Tuesday) I asked Jack, “Which leftover do you want?”

Easy. Seafood Lasagna.Yum!

I did some paperwork, a load of dog laundry, and just sort of hung out. It felt good to relax and rest up a little.

I have great hopes for the New Year! I have faith we will find a way back to good health, happiness, and hugs!

Monday, Monday…

My Monday was stressful! What else can I say? Nothing was as I had thought it would be, but somehow, somehow I got through the day. But it’s a good thing I have naturally low blood pressure because much of the day found me feeling pretty frustrated.

So in order not to get lost in the minutia, I will simply bullet list my days’ events!

Jack and I had spoken and decided to bring Arnie in on Monday to our Vet. This skin problem is something we are both very concerned about and we wanted to be sure he knew about the latest events and saw it in person.
I happen to notice that both Arnie and Anneliese were due for their yearly shots. So when I made the appointment for Arnie to be seen, we planned to give both dogs their vaccines.
But as I drove out to the Vet’s Office I was thinking about Anneliese and all her fussing. I started to wonder if she had another UTI.
Upon my arrival at their office, I called them and explained my hunch. They brought out a small bowl and we walked Anneliese until the magic moment.
Arnie went in first, was checked out, and brought back after his shots.
Next Anneliese went in, had her exam and shots, and then she was returned to the car.
The Vet came out and we spoke about Arnie and the plan of attack for his recovery. A spray was included to help with the healing.
Then the subject came to my little girl. Yes indeed, she does have another UTI!
She was prescribed another antibiotic and then we were off.
At about this time, heavy snow began to fall! It was incredibly pretty, but fairly quickly, the roads became slick. Thankfully, by the time I reached our hometown, the snow had stopped and all was good.
I dropped them off at home and then went and did our grocery shopping. I stopped to get the mail, as I knew that Anneliese’s pain medication was there. But once again the US Postal Service let me down.
It actually arrived here on December 26th at 12:01 PM. Of course, that was too late to be delivered to be on a Saturday. But surely today, Monday, the package would be there! Ah no. Not sorted.
I told the Postal Worker I would be coming back. This package was very important to my pups!
Once I unloaded the groceries, had a quick lunch, I returned to the Post Office with my Tracking number. The Worker was not thrilled about finding this box, but I wasn’t leaving without it!
Let’s just say that I am one very determined woman, especially where my pups are concerned.
The box was found and I was able to give them their medication with their dinner!
I also had a weird thing happen with Lili. She’d gone out and was in the yard for a bit, and I called her to come in. She looked almost skittish like something had scared her. I went out and called to her again and she finally came in.
Dinner was made and cleaned up and it’s finally 8:15 on Monday night and I am able to sit down! Going to bed will be next and very soon!

Yes, it was a very long day!

Christmas Happenings 2020

This year, after a year of isolating and being cut off from so many of my friends and family, I prayed for one thing. I just wanted to spend Christmas Even and morning with my two grandchildren.

Well, I was blessed because I got to be with grandchildren on Christmas Eve, make cookies, play and visit and share, and then wake up on Christmas Morning and see their wide eyes as they surveyed all that Santa had brought to their home!

Stockings were opened and enjoyed! My former husband made us all breakfast and the friendship between us, his wonderful life partner, Rachel, and I made the entire event feel like life in this crazy world, we were all family! Bob’s son was also with us and his daughter was there via Zoom!

Family. Blended and working. I am ever so grateful for this!

After breakfast, we began the herculean task of opening Christmas gifts! So much fun and so much shared happiness and joy!

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Then I called Jack at home to say Merry Christmas and he told me that there was something wrong with Arnie. He wasn’t eating, or drinking, and it seemed his skin infection had returned.

Try as I might to not let this concern me too much, I was overcome and I said my goodbyes quickly, packed what I could in my car, and in almost record-breaking time I was home!

I grabbed my doggy thermometer and Arnie was feverish. He also wasn’t moving much, although I got a little tail wag with happiness upon my arrival.

I called the Emergency Clinic, which is just down the street, and brought Arnie right in. Because of Covid, I had to wait in the car, while they took him in.

Yes, bad fever and infection are on his back. (skin) He was also dehydrated and needed an IV and antibiotics. We decided he needed to be admitted for the night at least.

The next morning I went to pick him up, and although he is better, he is hardly well. I’ve been sitting with him, also doing laundry and feeding him, and making sure he is drinking.

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So, Christmas was full of blessings and a lot of love and in the end, it seemed I was right where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.

Maribeth