Today I started my new volunteer job. I am working at the Food Bank. Really big bags of mixed donuts, muffins, and other baked sweets come in and we have to dig out off that sloppy mess, putting 3 items into smaller bags. After that was done, I was given 2 bags of sugar and some 'zip lock' type bags.... put the sugar into a big bucket and then scoop 1 1/2 cups of sugar into each zip lock bag. Next was rice... same bucket, same zip locks, 2 cups of rice into each baggy. Then, a big bucket of peanut butter (not the 'natural' kind I like with just peanuts, this is the more common kind with huge amount of sugar and chemicals to preserve it and to keep the oil from separating out). I scooped this into plastic containers and put lids on. Before I left I washed all coffee/tea cups and all the counters. There were 2 other women working too, though they left earlier than I did, and other were others in other areas. I actually enjoyed doing this, though did most of it standing so my back was killing me. I did grab a chair and sit down later on, but too little too late. I find it hard to work while sitting on a chair, especially at a counter. Anna, the lady in charge, suggested I put the bucket of peanut butter onto another chair beside me so I can reach it better. Good idea... or maybe take a tall stool from here to sit on each time I work there. I am happy to be doing something to help out.
Monday is one of the days I do Aqua Therapy. I am done at the Food Bank at noon and go to the pool at 2, so figured I'd be able to work on my speech for tomorrow night and be on time for therapy. Then I left without my pool bag, so no bathing suit and not towels, shampoo, etc. I drove home to get it and decided to lay down for a bit to rest my sore back.... by the time I work up it was too late to go to therapy. Dang!! Sleep wasn't in my plans. I also didn't work on my speech. I must get to it.
Senin, 26 April 2010
Reba... etc.
Yesterday I was out at Tuggy's working on my trike. I painted the rearend and some other parts, so it's starting to look better. Tuggy has the mufflers on now, so all there is to do to make it ride-able is to get the back brakes working properly. There is some unplanned problem with them, so Tuggy will be pulling them apart in the next couple days to see what the problem is and fix it. The box for the back also needs to be finished, though I can ride around in the yard, learning to ride it, without the box.
While I was out at Tuggy's, I had Reba in the truck and went out to give her the chance to go potty. While I was doing that, and while she was on the tailgate of my truck, up high where I could work properly, I took off the bandage from her surgery. It was not pretty and I felt a bit sick having to look at it. It is wide open! There was a thin strip of stitches with a bit of skin laying loose in the open wound, and the wound was seeping/oozing blood. Thankfully, when I told Tuggy about it, he dug out some bandages that he had there and came to the truck to hold Reba's head for me while I worked and got it wrapped up again. I don't know if I should take her back to the vet or not as I don't think there is anything they can do that I can't. It has to be wrapped up to keep dirt out of the open wound and I feel like I should put some kind of ointment on it but know that I can't be putting the bandaging on and off all the time so will have to be something that only needs to be put on every 3-5 days when I do a bandage change.
Ahhh, sometimes I wish I could just do a "click here" kind of thing to be led to the right answers for the questions I have at any given time. "Want to talk to God? Just click here!" or something like that. I have several questions I could use a good answer to, lots of issues I'd like guidance in solving. Yup, normal life here.
While I was out at Tuggy's, I had Reba in the truck and went out to give her the chance to go potty. While I was doing that, and while she was on the tailgate of my truck, up high where I could work properly, I took off the bandage from her surgery. It was not pretty and I felt a bit sick having to look at it. It is wide open! There was a thin strip of stitches with a bit of skin laying loose in the open wound, and the wound was seeping/oozing blood. Thankfully, when I told Tuggy about it, he dug out some bandages that he had there and came to the truck to hold Reba's head for me while I worked and got it wrapped up again. I don't know if I should take her back to the vet or not as I don't think there is anything they can do that I can't. It has to be wrapped up to keep dirt out of the open wound and I feel like I should put some kind of ointment on it but know that I can't be putting the bandaging on and off all the time so will have to be something that only needs to be put on every 3-5 days when I do a bandage change.
Ahhh, sometimes I wish I could just do a "click here" kind of thing to be led to the right answers for the questions I have at any given time. "Want to talk to God? Just click here!" or something like that. I have several questions I could use a good answer to, lots of issues I'd like guidance in solving. Yup, normal life here.
Selasa, 20 April 2010
Reba: So Far So Good
Well, Reba is home. When I went to pick her up, they brought her out to me and she seemed happy to come to me, then lay down with my foot as her pillow. She is still very sleepy. She is also very not her usual self. While still in the vet office I was told she'd gotten snarly with them... then when I just petted her head she growled at me. One of the gals there offered to help me lift her into the truck, so I had to coax her all the way to the truck, then we lifted her up onto the tail gate and that is where she decided to lay down and go back to sleep. I was trying to get her to move into the truck far enough for me to close it so I could drive away and I very nearly got my arm ripped off. Wow, this supper lovey dovey dog sure can turn into a snarling, ferocious, dangerous dog when she wants to. I never saw this side of her in all the years I had her until this problem with her foot, now this is the 3rd time. Each time though, I must admit, even though she snapped at me, snarling and growling, if she had really wanted to she could have gotten me and ripped me to shreds... and she didn't. Too close for comfort though, for sure. Finally, she did go into the truck and I was able to close it up.
I was given a bottle of antibiotics to give to her for the next 2 weeks, as well as some anti-inflammatory/pain med stuff, and one of those cones to put over her head if she starts licking at the bandaged foot. I must try to keep it clean and dry for the next 3-5 days, then can take the bandage off. Providing the stitches don't rip out, I have to take her in in about 2 weeks to have them taken out. Apparently, they had a bit of a hard time closing the area after removing the toe. I have to try to keep this hyper active dog calm for the 2 weeks to lessen the chance of the stitches ripping out. Gee, sounds like fun. (ya right).
Will keep you updated on Reba's recovery. We hope she will soon be able to return to her blogging though with a toe missing it may now be more difficult for her to type.... guess I'll have to take dictation. haha.
I was given a bottle of antibiotics to give to her for the next 2 weeks, as well as some anti-inflammatory/pain med stuff, and one of those cones to put over her head if she starts licking at the bandaged foot. I must try to keep it clean and dry for the next 3-5 days, then can take the bandage off. Providing the stitches don't rip out, I have to take her in in about 2 weeks to have them taken out. Apparently, they had a bit of a hard time closing the area after removing the toe. I have to try to keep this hyper active dog calm for the 2 weeks to lessen the chance of the stitches ripping out. Gee, sounds like fun. (ya right).
Will keep you updated on Reba's recovery. We hope she will soon be able to return to her blogging though with a toe missing it may now be more difficult for her to type.... guess I'll have to take dictation. haha.
Reba News
Just wanted to let you know that Reba is in 'the hospital' today having her surgery. The cancerous toe is finally being removed. The vet would have liked to do chest x-rays and blood tests before doing the surgery, to make sure the cancer hadn't spread anywhere and I said no. I just don't have the extra hundreds of dollars to do this. The surgery is costing $3-400 and these tests would cost at least another $200. Just can't do it. So, she gave me a talk that basically was 'don't blame us if your dog dies' kind of thing, and she said Reba has already out lived her life expectancy, any age dog has risk with being put out for surgery... yadda yadda yadda.
I held her while the vet & assistant gave her a shot to make her sleepy, then stayed with her until she was a limp old dishrag. She couldn't even get up to walk into the operating room, so had to be carried. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and told her I'd see her in a while, that I'll be back to pick her up this afternoon. One way or another I will go back and pick her up this afternoon, I just hope and pray she'll be leaving there on her own 4 feet, healthy and happy again though likely sore for a few days while things heal up.
The vet & assistant were really impressed by Reba and how good she was while getting that shot. They said it would hurt some, so I held her head while the vet held her back end and the assistant gave the shot into the muscle. Reba didn't even flinch. The vet said what an unusually good Rottweiler she is.
I'll let you know how she's doing when I know anything.
I held her while the vet & assistant gave her a shot to make her sleepy, then stayed with her until she was a limp old dishrag. She couldn't even get up to walk into the operating room, so had to be carried. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and told her I'd see her in a while, that I'll be back to pick her up this afternoon. One way or another I will go back and pick her up this afternoon, I just hope and pray she'll be leaving there on her own 4 feet, healthy and happy again though likely sore for a few days while things heal up.
The vet & assistant were really impressed by Reba and how good she was while getting that shot. They said it would hurt some, so I held her head while the vet held her back end and the assistant gave the shot into the muscle. Reba didn't even flinch. The vet said what an unusually good Rottweiler she is.
I'll let you know how she's doing when I know anything.
Senin, 19 April 2010
Awesome Day!
What did I do yesterday?? Did I go to Sunday Service like I usually do?? Nope, didn't go to Sunday Service, though in a way I did do something Spiritual. I went for a ride.
Yesterday was Tuggy's birthday and it was the 51st birthday in a row that he went riding his motorcycle. This year was the first year I went with him on his birthday (I just met him May 31 last year). It was a beautiful, sunny day and absolutely perfect for a Sunday ride on a most beautiful Harley trike. We rode a ways out one side of Okanagan Lake, then back and out the other side as far as the road goes... back in and through town to ride out past Kalamalka Lake and through the Coldstream area. Back into town, and stopped at Canadian Tire where we got a new brake line for my trike and a hot dog (from vendor in front of the store) for my chauffeur. Usually I would have had a hot dog too, but am eating mostly raw foods these days (healthy) so nibbled on some raw nuts & seeds I'd taken along. Next we went to McDonald's as I wanted a nice hot cup of tea. I also bought a chocolate muffin (hey, I said mostly raw, not totally) and took it all outside to join Tuggy. I sang Happy Birthday to him and ripped the muffin in half, giving him half and eating the other half with my tea. We had driven past his daughter's home and talked to his nephew as his daughter wasn't home, then after McD's we drove to his son's where I was introduced to his son, wife and really cute 3 year old (going on 15) daughter. From there he brought me home and stayed to hang out for awhile before going back to his son's for supper.
I was introduced to Tuggy last May because I needed a ride on the Memorial Ride for a friend, Gord. Wendy (Gord's wife) & I both wanted me on the ride, and Tuggy agreed to 'pack' me on his trike. This was far from my first ride on a motorcycle, yet it was the first time I ever rode on a trike (3 wheeled motorcycle). We rode about 250K, stopping at Gord's favorite 'watering holes', taking about 8 hours. It was awesome!! Tuggy took me for a few more rides over the course of the summer and we ended up agreeing that he'd build me a trike of my own. Over the course of the the winter, we have gotten to know each other better and become even better friends. If anyone had told me before that something romantic would happen between Tuggy and me, I would have said "no way"... and yet... well, it is kind of going that way as of the last couple days. (Is there any good way to change men's clothing?? I don't mind jeans & t-shirts, that's cool, but the jeans he wears leave a lot to be desired... hmmm.)
A couple weeks ago, Tug was talking about moving from where he is living now. He rents a room in someone's home. I said that I want to clean up my home and once it is done I could rent him a room. I said this just as a plan to make some money, thinking a roomer could be a good thing and the we seem to get along well when working on the trike together. Now, if something romantic is going to happen it could really confuse the 'roomer' issue. I've lived totally on my own for 20 years straight, and before that most of my adult life has been living alone. To share my home with another person could be a real challenge for me... and if it is with a boyfriend, even more of a challenge. Am I ready for a committed relationship with one man?? To give up my other boyfriends?? I don't know... I just don't know. We'll have to see how the spring& summer play out I guess.
Yesterday was Tuggy's birthday and it was the 51st birthday in a row that he went riding his motorcycle. This year was the first year I went with him on his birthday (I just met him May 31 last year). It was a beautiful, sunny day and absolutely perfect for a Sunday ride on a most beautiful Harley trike. We rode a ways out one side of Okanagan Lake, then back and out the other side as far as the road goes... back in and through town to ride out past Kalamalka Lake and through the Coldstream area. Back into town, and stopped at Canadian Tire where we got a new brake line for my trike and a hot dog (from vendor in front of the store) for my chauffeur. Usually I would have had a hot dog too, but am eating mostly raw foods these days (healthy) so nibbled on some raw nuts & seeds I'd taken along. Next we went to McDonald's as I wanted a nice hot cup of tea. I also bought a chocolate muffin (hey, I said mostly raw, not totally) and took it all outside to join Tuggy. I sang Happy Birthday to him and ripped the muffin in half, giving him half and eating the other half with my tea. We had driven past his daughter's home and talked to his nephew as his daughter wasn't home, then after McD's we drove to his son's where I was introduced to his son, wife and really cute 3 year old (going on 15) daughter. From there he brought me home and stayed to hang out for awhile before going back to his son's for supper.
I was introduced to Tuggy last May because I needed a ride on the Memorial Ride for a friend, Gord. Wendy (Gord's wife) & I both wanted me on the ride, and Tuggy agreed to 'pack' me on his trike. This was far from my first ride on a motorcycle, yet it was the first time I ever rode on a trike (3 wheeled motorcycle). We rode about 250K, stopping at Gord's favorite 'watering holes', taking about 8 hours. It was awesome!! Tuggy took me for a few more rides over the course of the summer and we ended up agreeing that he'd build me a trike of my own. Over the course of the the winter, we have gotten to know each other better and become even better friends. If anyone had told me before that something romantic would happen between Tuggy and me, I would have said "no way"... and yet... well, it is kind of going that way as of the last couple days. (Is there any good way to change men's clothing?? I don't mind jeans & t-shirts, that's cool, but the jeans he wears leave a lot to be desired... hmmm.)
A couple weeks ago, Tug was talking about moving from where he is living now. He rents a room in someone's home. I said that I want to clean up my home and once it is done I could rent him a room. I said this just as a plan to make some money, thinking a roomer could be a good thing and the we seem to get along well when working on the trike together. Now, if something romantic is going to happen it could really confuse the 'roomer' issue. I've lived totally on my own for 20 years straight, and before that most of my adult life has been living alone. To share my home with another person could be a real challenge for me... and if it is with a boyfriend, even more of a challenge. Am I ready for a committed relationship with one man?? To give up my other boyfriends?? I don't know... I just don't know. We'll have to see how the spring& summer play out I guess.
Jumat, 16 April 2010
Wednesday April 13
Wednesday was a great day for me. I went out and spend a good part of the day with Tuggy, 'pulling wrenches' on my trike... or as I sometimes refer to it, 'my broom'. We first had a cup of tea at his place, then decided to go in to town for lunch before getting to work. We shared a hamburger and fries, he had coffee & I had Rooibos tea.... then back to his place and to work.
Here they are bolted together and the shocks are in place.
One set of coil shocks, and one set of air shocks.
When I had hauled Big Red on my flat deck trailer (Big Red story is on Reba's Run: Big Red, Big Red 2, and Big Red's Resurrection), a fuse in my truck burned out. I had this happen before with this trailer, so know it's a wiring problem on the trailer. I remembered it was a 20 amp fuse that Larry had put in at Quality Auto Electric, but didn't know for sure where or how to find the fuses and change them. I took it to Quality on Tuesday and Larry is not back from Arizona yet, and the guy there wouldn't even take 2 minutes to do the job... said 'Bring it back tomorrow.' even though I told him how important it was I have it that evening, and couldn't drive it after dark with no tail lights. Anyway, Tuggy & I changed the fuse, so now I know how to do it if it happens in future. Tuggy will help me find the problem on the trailer and fix that too before we need it.
Yes, Wednesday was a busy day, and a wonderful day. A lot was accomplished on my trike, my truck was fixed, and I so much enjoyed 'pulling wrenches' again after years of not doing so. When I was married I wanted to take a mechanic's course and my husband totally forbid me to do so. It's too bad as I think it would have been a good career for me... and that is another very long story that we'll not go into just now.
After we pushed both trikes back into the shop and closed the door, we said our good-byes and I drove home. Fed Reba, washed up, got changed, then drove in to town where I went to the Army Navy Air Force club with Nancy. I also got a call from Mark, long time friend who lives over in the Kootenays now and is coming over here next Wednesday.
This is how 'Broom' was looking when I got there. Tuggy had to pull it all apart recently to get the drive shaft hooked up properly, and had to take one of the wheels apart to fix it, replacing the axle seal.
We moved the rear end (from 1974 Datsun B210 car) over and into place, then got it all lined up and bolted the manufactured trike frame to the bike frame... and bolted the drive shaft in place. In this top photo, they are not yet bolted together.
Here they are bolted together and the shocks are in place.
One set of coil shocks, and one set of air shocks.
We pushed 'Broom' outside and cut off excess metal as well as shortened some too-long bolts.
Last fall when we took it too the welder, he removed the pipes. Since then, they were put back in place, sort of, and we had to take them off to sort them out and figure out which one went where as they aren't a 'one pipe fits all' type of thing. We got 3 of them in place in the engine and the other part that I don't know what to call it but it's one piece that all 4 pipes have to fit into... part of the exhaust system. The 4th pipe was giving us a lot of trouble, not wanting to fit right, so we called it a day. Sometimes you just have to say 'enough' and go back to it another day.
When I had hauled Big Red on my flat deck trailer (Big Red story is on Reba's Run: Big Red, Big Red 2, and Big Red's Resurrection), a fuse in my truck burned out. I had this happen before with this trailer, so know it's a wiring problem on the trailer. I remembered it was a 20 amp fuse that Larry had put in at Quality Auto Electric, but didn't know for sure where or how to find the fuses and change them. I took it to Quality on Tuesday and Larry is not back from Arizona yet, and the guy there wouldn't even take 2 minutes to do the job... said 'Bring it back tomorrow.' even though I told him how important it was I have it that evening, and couldn't drive it after dark with no tail lights. Anyway, Tuggy & I changed the fuse, so now I know how to do it if it happens in future. Tuggy will help me find the problem on the trailer and fix that too before we need it.
Yes, Wednesday was a busy day, and a wonderful day. A lot was accomplished on my trike, my truck was fixed, and I so much enjoyed 'pulling wrenches' again after years of not doing so. When I was married I wanted to take a mechanic's course and my husband totally forbid me to do so. It's too bad as I think it would have been a good career for me... and that is another very long story that we'll not go into just now.
After we pushed both trikes back into the shop and closed the door, we said our good-byes and I drove home. Fed Reba, washed up, got changed, then drove in to town where I went to the Army Navy Air Force club with Nancy. I also got a call from Mark, long time friend who lives over in the Kootenays now and is coming over here next Wednesday.
Minggu, 11 April 2010
Volunteering
A couple weeks ago, March 28 to be exact, I stepped down from the Board of Trustees at the Okanagan Centre for Positive Living. I also stepped down from the volunteer employment I was doing there. I felt it was time for a change. After 4 years there I felt like I needed to have some distance in order to gain some respect back. I have put in applications for volunteer jobs at the BC SPCA and at the local Food Bank. I have heard nothing back so far and I think it is time to do more follow up on these jobs. I have done some, though I guess not enough. I didn't think it would be hard to get a volunteer job in a city that is crying for volunteers. I find it rather odd, in fact, that they aren't a little more 'johnny on the spot' with following up when people apply to work for them for free. The lady at the SPCA said yes, they have work for me and will be very happy to have me, that she & another lady would figure out where to put me, what would suit me with my back problems. I have never heard back from her, though she has now stepped down from manager of the SPCA. Hmmmm.
There is a Volunteer Bureau here, so I guess I'll go talk to them and see what they have to offer. I want to get my 10 hours in before this month is ended and that is coming up all too soon. My disability pension gives me an extra, much needed, $100 each month that I do volunteer work for a non-profit society, so it is very important that I get too it.
There is a Volunteer Bureau here, so I guess I'll go talk to them and see what they have to offer. I want to get my 10 hours in before this month is ended and that is coming up all too soon. My disability pension gives me an extra, much needed, $100 each month that I do volunteer work for a non-profit society, so it is very important that I get too it.
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