gonzai | Entries tagged with roxie

CJ went back to the doggie dentist today for her followup. She's lost a pound (I think Roxie found it) and the dentist thinks her mouth is almost healed, but he wanted her to wear the cone for another 5-7 days. Wanna guess what CJ did today? If you guessed split the cone in two trying to get out of the crate, you would be correct. No more cone. I suppose I should try to buy another, but I'll see how she does tomorrow first.

Current Mood: drained
Current Location: home
Current Music: String Cheese Incident, 'Naive Melody'

Voluntarily. The TPTB went in after the curfew against driving was lifted, found power on and no damage, but told us footsoldiers we could take the day off anyway. I told them I was coming in anyway. Yes, I'm insane. But I was out yesterday and this morning, and I took vacation back in April for Thursday and Friday, so I didn't want to come in for just one day. More importantly, Mom and I were getting on each other's nerves, mostly because Roxie flatout refuses to leave the bedroom. I was given permission to bring CJ to the office (where she promptly pooped in the middle of the floor; sheesh) and even with CJ off the property for 3 hours, apparently it took over 2 of them to get Roxie to go outside. Mom feels this is my fault.

Anyway, there wasn't much going on, just 2 days' worth of mail and few pieces to prep for outgoing. So CJ & I were there about 3 hours, got work done, CJ visited the boss (she knows who keeps treats in his desk!) and hopefully earned brownie points against being out half the week.

Now I need to get some sleep - I had to sleep in the basement thanks to Sandy, and my body/mind just didn't like being in a bed that wasn't mine. Only got a couple hours in as a result.

Current Mood: satisfied
Current Location: home
Current Music: Violent Femmes, 'Blister In The Sun'

No gaming and not a lot of things that interest me this weekend, so it's been a stay home, sleep and putter around the house. I've gotten a few things done and plenty more I'll do tomorrow, mostly bathe Roxie and vacuum the house. I already bathed CJ, did tons of grocery shopping and a lot of computer stuff.

Also working on clearing off the DVR - watching a pile of movies this weekend. We've already watched 16 Blocks (good little film) and The Hurt Locker (good, but a bit overlong) and now we're watching Giant. Talk about overlong, all 3.5 hours of it. Don't know how long I'll last with it, but so far it's just confirmed for me that I would never live in Texas.

And of course there was Doctor Who last night - I wasn't spoiled for it in terms of plot, but my expectations for it were raised by what I did hear and of course then it's not what I thought it would be. Good thing I don't expect the show to make sense, there were some serious plot holes and Huh? things, but enjoyable all the same.

Current Mood: lethargic
Current Location: home
Current Music: Giant

Except for a couple short errands with Mom and Roxie, both of whom needed out of the house, I'm staying put today. Too stiff from driving/sitting yesterday, plus I've had enough sun for the week. Just playing with the computer and watching movies (Inception is making more sense this time) and probably go to bed as soon as it's dark.

Current Mood: blank
Current Location: home
Current Music: Inception

That's where my day has gone in the last two hours.

First, Mom calls me at work freaking out because 'the computer is broken'. It's not broken. Microsoft sent updates last night and the computer restarted, of its own accord and wanted a password before finishing the startup. A pain, but not broken. This led to 10 minutes of me, on my cell, in the office, when I'm supposed to be working, trying to explain to my mother the difference between capital letters and not capital letters because she was bound and determined to put in the password her way, not the computer's. (And now the whole office knows my personal password, so I have to change it on everything.)

On the way home, I was pulled over by a cop. That hasn't happened to me in two decades. Wondering what the hell, it seems my car's registration expired. 10 weeks ago. I never received a notice about it and with all the mishegas over my mother's car reg and the van's reg, I never noticed the Mazda was expired. I got lectured at great length about how he could tow my car, right now. He settled for me driving straight to the MVA Express...which was closed. What's the point of having an Express, with a kiosk in the lobby, if it's open even fewer hours than a real office? Anyway, now I have 24 hours to get my registration renewed. Who knows how much the late fees are, although if I have to go in I'll protest mightily since I never got a notice.

Went to the gym. Discovered my last 3 workouts never registered with the computer system. Then I couldn't get into the system to work out for the life of me. 3 machines and 2 employees later we finally got the computer to accept that I'm a member and it should record my workout. Cripes.

Come home and let CJ out - she immediately sought out Roxie's poop and started eating it. Much yelling didn't dissuade her, so I went out after her. She saw me coming and...rolled in it. That little...

Anyway, things are going to hell. See you there.

Current Mood: cranky
Current Location: home
Current Music: John Hiatt, 'Something Wild'

Yup, that time of year again. The biggest dog shows of the year in the area came to the State Fairgrounds this weekend and of course, I went. It didn't go smoothly - usually I park at the light rail and walk in the back, and I've never been asked for an admission fee. But I knew I was going to have a lot of bones and such forth this time as I was buying for my friends' Dobie Dexter as well as my own pups, so I thought maybe I could park closer if I went in the main lot. WRONG. Turns out they don't charge admission because they charge for parking, and spectators...park in another zip code. First thing in the morning, that wasn't a problem. After the show, when I'm lugging four bags of doggie goodies? Way too far. I am in pain. The feet from walking and the arms from hauling. Sheesh. Back to the light rail for me. But Dexter should be well-stocked, my mutts are well-stocked, I met lots of lovey-doveys and except for the walk back, it was a good day.

Anyway, we're not here for my griping. No, we're here and waiting patiently.

( for Dog Photos! )

Current Mood: mellow
Current Location: home
Current Music: The Pheromones, 'It Ain't Easy Being Green'

Mom decided to drive me further nuts by losing her credit card; after many calls and attempts to determine just what she's done this week, the card turned out to be at the Japanese restaurant we went to Sunday. She insisted on going to get it herself. I gave her a copy of their menu and a map to the restaurant and told her a half dozen times, including less than an hour before she went, that her card was at the Japanese restaurant. She went looking for it at Applebee's. I got it on my way to gaming, and boy did I need the gaming by then.

Then today she changed her mind, both about me handling her paperwork and about working with the dogs. She refused to get the training items the trainer recommended (specifically a gate and a Thunder Shirt for CJ) and doesn't want to move forward with the training. I can't afford to pay for it myself, esp with the iffyness of my job, so if she won't pay it won't happen. And she doesn't want me paying the bills for her or keeping track of the bills. Plus plenty of stuff about how I never told her any of these things, when of course I told her at least once a day for several days in a row, but of course I must be making things up to confuse her.

And oh yeah, had a general doctor's appointment yesterday - my weight is up and my cholesterol is WAY up. Just great.

Current Mood: frustrated
Current Location: home
Current Music: Patti Labelle, 'Lady Marmalade'

We had a professional trainer/behaviorist come over last night for a consult. Interestingly, after the initial outrage (there is a stranger in our house!) CJ was fine with the trainer and even gave her face licks. It was Roxie who wanted nothing to do with her and wouldn't even accept treats. Anyway, the bottom line is going to be expensive. DAP & thundershirts for both dogs, at least one gate in the house (an extra layer of security against both being loose at once) and training, probably once a week but we were so tired after a 3 hour consult we weren't up to discussing it. And then Mom demonstrated she no longer knows how to write a check. Meep.

Then today she called me at work because she doesn't know if she paid property taxes last year. (I paid them online.) I told her I'd paid them in July and had given her the invoice with the date of payment noted on it for her to put in her records. Oh, was I suppose to keep that? she says. *headdesk* Well, I thought, I can at least get the amount off her bank statement. You guessed it - she threw those out as well, after I specifically told her to keep them in the file box I bought and organized specifically for important papers. I guess it's time for that box to become MY box and for ME to keep everything and not let her have anything if she's just going to toss important stuff. For an encore, due to the switch from Wachovia to Wells Fargo, her bank statements aren't online anymore. I can't get them back online unless I sign an agreement that from now on her statements will only be online, which both sounds wrong to me and will not go over well with Mom, who has no concept of anything not on paper. Blecch. Fortunately my brother now agrees it's time for me to completely take over day-to-day bills and paperwork, not just supervise it, and is willing to set up an appointment with an elder care attorney.

I really need a nap.

Current Mood: frustrated
Current Location: work
Current Music: Melea McGuinness, 'Sweet'

The last 12-15 hours have been pretty rough at my house. We were getting ready for bed last night when Mom let Roxie out of the bedroom while CJ was still downstairs, which is a huge no-no. Keeping the two dogs apart is priority. CJ attacked Roxie, driving her into the bedroom and into a corner behind the bed. Mom went in after them. The only way for me to get anywhere near either dog was to climb over the bed. So while lying on my stomach, I grabbed Roxie’s collar with one hand and tried to get CJ to let go of Roxie with the other. This wasn’t good for back or arms. Finally I got them apart and Mom tossed CJ out of the house. Meanwhile, Roxie bit me instead of CJ. (She also peed on me but that I'll get over.) She sliced up the soft part of my wrist and one tooth got into my wrist around the hamate bone. I’m not sure if she injured a nerve, cracked the hamate or just really bruised it, but my hand & wrist are killing me. By the time my injury and nerves finally got to a point where I might get to sleep, a windstorm kicked up, and CJ started in with her crying fits. I think I might have gotten 2 hours sleep, just enough for the back and hand to stiffen up and really hurt.

This morning, Mom wants CJ gone. As in put down. Needless to say, I object. And Mom has been getting worse mentally and her moods are swinging all over, so I’m afraid she’ll do something to CJ if they’re left alone together. So now I’m at work, trying to type despite a lot of pain, with my dog in the back seat of the car and probably rather chilled out there, but the alternative is to risk Mom either dumping her on the road or trying to get someone to put her down. (Legally, only the owner can do that but only our personal vet knows for a fact that CJ isn’t Mom’s dog.) I don’t know what I’m going to do moving forward, CJ has so many issues it would be near impossible to rehome her, and if I either give her up or let my mother put her down, I’d never be able to adopt an animal again. (The rescues are crazy strict about that.) It’s also as much Mom’s fault as CJ’s, she knows better than to let the dogs out together but she did it anyway. And there’s been a lot of close calls lately from her doing that. Mom is as much of a problem as the dogs as she can’t tell what room she’s in or what day it is any more. And I’m exhausted, stressed out, physically hurting and very likely to be laid off soon.

Current Mood: stressed
Current Location: work
Current Music: X, 'Burning House of Love'

And naturally it decided to get started while we were in the supermarket. So we came out to rapidly falling and blowing snow landing on sleet and ice. By the time I had the groceries loaded in the trunk, there was almost as much snow in there as bags. Then when we got home the side stairs were completely iced, unloading the car was distinctly unamusing. And Roxie won't go out in such weather. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, I went to the library looking for material for the report I have to write for my class. Came up empty - none of the books had anything related to canine parasites. I have plenty of sources I found online, but no print things. And I'm reminded of why I don't miss school. I'm having a heckuva a time actually getting started on writing the report. I have the info, but actually writing the sucker is another thing. I need to at least have a draft done tomorrow, as I'll be at Euroquest most of the week and can't work on it then. Yippee.

Current Mood: lethargic
Current Location: home
Current Music: Psychedelic Furs, 'The Ghost In You'

The rain & wind started around noon, but they picked up in a major way around 7ish. The wind is definitely kicking in, the treetops are in full motion. Not so bad closer to the ground, but I'd rather the treetops didn't join us down here. CJ left the porch just long enough to pee, but Roxie won't even leave the house and hasn't all day. She's going to be hurting tomorrow, I think. Irene is presently in the Hampton Roads area and approaching my uncle Rick's place; Rick called a couple hours ago to let us know it's mostly so far so good for him, except that a tree came down and landed in his brand new swimming pool. Better than on the house, methinks. I'm just worrying about that ancient oak in our front yard. Partly because of that - if that tree comes down, its options are across the street, on my car or on my bedroom - but mostly because of the noise, CJ and I are going to bunk down in the basement tonight. And with any luck, sleep. Yeah, right.

Current Mood: restless
Current Location: home
Current Music: The Weather Channel, of course

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A dancer. CJ does like to get on her back legs and twirl about!

Roxie would be a carnival barker. Because, well, she's a barker.

Current Mood: cold
Current Location: home
Current Music: CJ barking

Been busy today - went to the gym, trimmed Roxie's nails and gave her a bath, continued the cleaning project in my bedroom (including hauling a half dozen heavy crates down the stairs), took out a ton of trash, and vacuumed the entire upstairs. The hands, knees and shoulders are already achy breaky and I hate to think what it'll be like tomorrow. Meanwhile, I took the Mazda to the garage for an oil change...and got hit with an $1,100 shock and strut job. Which left me begging Mom for money, since that bill is oh, about 10% of my annual take home pay. The only bright side is the new stuff is lifetime-guaranteed, so I don't have to fork over $700 for struts again. But right now, ouch.

Current Mood: working
Current Location: home
Current Music: 'The Wild Bunch'

Literally. I forgot to close my bedroom door this evening, and CJ decided to help herself to items in my room and carry them downstairs. First, my dirty socks. That's par for the course with CJ. Then she found the 'bag o' swag' I picked up at a dog show last year. Things started coming downstairs by doggie express - a chew toy, a granola bar, a leash. Then she found something she didn't feel like carrying, so she dropped it down the stairs, to very loud and rattly effect. It was a measuring cup and tape measure for putting your dog on a diet.

Well, dear, if you're that sure you need to drop a few pounds...

(OK, CJ has no weight available to lose. Roxie, on the other hand...maybe that was the hint.)

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: home
Current Music: Talking Heads, 'Naive Melody'

So far I have, in addition to normal things:

Straightened out a billing dispute with my mother's health insurance
Cut Roxie's nails
Went to Best Buy and scouted out computers
While there, managed to talk Mom into finally getting a flat screen HDTV for her bedroom (19" w/ DVD)
Went to the library and returned many things before borrowing 3 dozen more CDs
Did the grocery shopping
Stopped by a liquor store (!) and bought a bottle of Crown Royale (!!) because I want the bag for the tiles in my new Carcassonne set
Got everything inside

Plans for the evening include putting away laundry, cutting CJ's nails, giving her a bath, and setting up the new TV.

Yup. Gittin' er done.

ETA: CJ bathed, new TV up & running. Time for the original True Grit.

Current Mood: busy
Current Location: home
Current Music: Real Time With Bill Maher

So I figured I should give you a quick rundown on who you're dealing with :)

Female, 40(!) and in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (for my new UK friends, I'm about an hour's drive northeast of Washington DC). I'm a klutz who keeps breaking bones and tearing ligaments, and presently I'm finishing up therapy for a shoulder injury. I'm an administrative assistant for a very laid-back debt collection law firm (we wear shorts, bring our dogs and get paid very little), and I live with my mother, who needs someone looking after her as she has Alzheimer's and is steadily declining. Her older brother had a serious stroke in March and will never leave the nursing home, so this isn't helping her state of mind. I also have two cute, awesome nephews who I don't get to see much unless their father wants free babysitting. Our other residents are my mother's dog, Roxie, a beagle mix and my mutt, CJ, who both the love of my life and on occasion the bane of my existence. They're both lovely dogs, but they hate each other's guts. So half my home time is devoted to keeping the dogs away from each other. Spiffy. Roxie on the left, CJ on the right.

I am, at least nominally, an artist/crafter and make some extra money from it, but between stress, the economy and a very arthritic drawing hand, I've done very little art in the past year. I have a web site with most of my art on it, but the web host changed their interface last year and I absolutely cannot figure it out, hence it hasn't been updated in over a year. I love dogs, the Baltimore Ravens, good television and playing board games. I worship the ground Joss Whedon walks on and the Lord of the Rings trilogy are the alltime best films on this Earth, but after that there's no knowing where my taste might run. My musical tastes are all over the board, I can't stand gangsta rap or really over-commericalized gunk but I'll at least try just about anything else. If the radio is on, it's on local public station WTMD, whose tastes largely match mine. Unless I'm listening to NPR, whose politics largely match mine. I gladly voted for Obama and I'd do it again, though I'd prefer him left of centrist pragmatism instead of right of it.

That should cover the important stuff. Proceed at your own risk :)

Current Mood: awake
Current Location: work
Current Music: The Cars, 'Let The Good Times Roll'

Made it down to Alphabet Soup, almost for the entirety this time. Problem was, I was taught Stone Age - and it took 3 hours. Followed by a round of TTR Europe with the world's slowest player, which made it a 90 minute game. I skeddaddled on home but too late to catch Rick on his way back home, so no visiting. Mom is rather depressed from visiting Jim, his whole right side is paralyzed and he can't talk. It didn't go very well, apparently. But she's back safe & sound, which, given the weather, is a plus. Watched a couple movies last night - 'Spiderman 3' could have benefitted from a few *less* villains, I think; and 'Dreamgirls' wasn't what I was expecting, I thought it was just about the sixties girl group and didn't know it was going to cover several years worth of their lives. And the lip synching was painful. Going to knock off early tonight, as Roxie kept me up half the night last night. And back to the grind tomorrow.

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: home
Current Music: Aimee Mann, 'Isn't It Enough'

The one good thing about the awning coming down - it's the only thing here that really could come down. The roof is pitched, and everything else around here has 4 points of support. We need that, because Mom dug a small pit in an attempt to get Roxie to do her business. Within an hour it was completely gone. I had to dig a new one so CJ could do her thing. Half an hour later it's almost gone. It's about 4 feet deep on the deck now. The van has disappeared again. No photos, because the awning blocks the steps - we can't get out. The kid who dug out us out Monday, I've asked him to come tomorrow. I sure hope he can, so I can get out Friday. But I'm giving up on Thursday already.

Oh, and Mom is sick of watching Spooks.

Current Mood: worried
Current Location: home
Current Music: Spooks

Still coming down. And it took until a few minutes ago to get CJ to poop or Roxie to leave the porch, at all. The good thing is I discovered TCM has some beauts on today - which may derail my plans to get cracking on Spooks, but can't really complain either. Just finished 'The Magnificent Seven', which I'd never seen. 'The Great Escape' is on at 5, I saw that one a year ago and I own it on DVD, but my mother adores the film and of course, James Garner, so looks like we're watching it. Then there's 'Bullitt' and 'French Connection', neither of which I've seen. Should keep us well occupied today.

Meanwhile, I did try some snow photography, to give some idea of where we are. I think there's about 2 feet now.

( Our cars as of 3pm. Mine is closer to the street. )
( The neighbor's cars. I think. The mirror is the only clue. )

( The porch railing. Bear in mind this is under an awning. )

( My van. Maybe. )

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: home
Current Music: The Weather Channel

Bleah. Mom is babysitting the boys at their house most of the week, so I get double-dog duty. And they're not cooperating.

Last night I had called AAA to replace the van's battery, and the guy was supposed to be there by 6:30. He showed up at 8. In the meantime, besides me getting absolutely nothing done, CJ drove me batty with barking, jumping, and trying to destroy anything I tied her to or put her inside in hopes of keeping her from going after the AAA guy. Then when he showed up, she really went nuts and tried to break down the door to get at the guy. After he left, CJ finally chilled out - and then Roxie went nutty. She started barking and didn't stop. Still hadn't when I left for work this morning - that's over 12 hours straight. (I know she barked all night, because my stomach was icky and when she didn't have me awake, that did.) This morning I tried to coordinate the doggy-outings, but CJ attacked Roxie the first chance she had and breaking up the fight hurt my back. And Roxie is still barking. I give up.

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Location: work
Current Music: Flaming Lips, 'I Can Be A Frog'

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Entries tagged with roxie

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