Tag: Dogs

Another Busy, Sleepy, Whiney Pre-Christmas Bah Humbug Post

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized2 Comments

My GrandDog Findlay! Love her. Is this not pitiful, having to wait til Santa comes?

George fixed a good dish this week. Forgive if I have already posted it. I think I only posted it in Facebook though. It’s a KY HOT BROWN.

Why? Because we need gravy and bacon and bread. What else can keep you moving when your dog doesn’t let you sleep at night and you try to pretend you are a human being the next day?

Busy Week with Not Proper Sleep

This week has been so busy – working all day, running errands after work, and then wrapping or getting things addressed and off into the mail. Extended family gift cards have gone out now – well one will go out today, and Secret Santa took two stores last night but got that wrapped and put together last night for work today – not much notice given on that one but I wanted to participate as we need the cheer. We had another Christmas mission we accomplished last night as well but I have to put that together this weekend.

Drove to Columbia yesterday and got Mom to the eye doc. We had a good visit. You never know with traffic – especially Christmas traffic and sometimes construction- how much time it takes to get there. Yesterday it took barely over an hour. After work it usually takes upwards to two as there is usually a wreck somewhere or construction. But I got there with just enough time for us to go through a drive thru and get a burger on the way to the appointment. That was nice as I’d forgotten to bring anything to eat for lunch. So when appointment was over I took her home and headed back to Mount Juliet.

Got home around 4 ish and came home to Roger and his messes. He can no longer hold it – not that he was ever perfect. Cleaned carpet in living room with the carpet machine and took him out. He was so happy to see me. I mean OVER THE MOON happy. He was howling something awful when I got home. He is so lonely when we are away. And at night even when we are with him but trying to sleep. He was so happy to go outside. And he ran around like a little puppy and we walked around the house and as we were walking to the front again he stopped. He just couldn’t go anymore as his legs were giving out. So I had to carry him. But he had a brief happy playful moment. When George came home he was excited to see him too. George picked him up to love on him and put him in my face and he gave me the biggest kiss on the nose. Rogers kisses are sparse. He must have thought in his doggie dementia that we were gone forever, and he was alone now that Maisy is gone. His howls are so desperate and pitiful.

The nights are not going well. In a way it is worse than a newborn. We are not getting but an hour or two of sleep at any time. George has been the one to get up with him as when I start to get up he says “I’ll get him”. However, I had to get up once last night. But just b/c I don’t get up does not mean I’m sleeping. Matter of fact, I’m probably sleeping less than George b/c he goes back to sleep and snores while I lie there trying to go back to sleep blocking the snores. So it’s a double trouble night for me. It’s getting so bad I am starting to dream of getting a hotel room for a night just to have solid sleep. Not to mention the thought of buying my own house! ha. Can we have separate houses? Then I can have what I want in the kitchen, can have my color flooring, and a clean horizontal spaces and maybe an RV too? Just kidding – not really. Some things you just have to get used to – to stay married. But I don’t think I can get used to no sleep at night. Something needs to change and change fast. Having Maisy’s blanket in bed with us did not work.

I don’t know what the answer is. But when Roger is gone-I think I’ve about decided I don’t want another one for a long time. Between Maisy and Roger we’ve not sleep good for a long while. Add snoring on top of that.

I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with me today. It’s probably just best I put music in my ear and don’t talk to anyone today. I’m a bear when I don’t get sleep and we are several nights in on this one. I woke up angry this morning. Just mad. Stinking mad. And it’s not fun to start your day that way. I had to clean the carpets again this morning from the overnight where we just exhaustingly put him back in the kitchen/living area with doors closed off as he would not stay in the bed, and he howled until I finally just got up and made coffee, and he had gone on the rugs again. We are trying to limit the carpet area that he is ruining. I can’t live like this. Folks, when I don’t get sleep and have to clean carpets before the sun comes up and before I’ve had coffee – just know I’m probably not going to be the best of humor. And THAT is putting it mildly.

I’m just so over this already. I’m tired. I want to escape! I have a lot to do. But first I have to go to work and like I said – pretend I’m a human. I don’t want to work today. I just want to sleep. And I’m running late. I guess it was cleaning carpets and taking a longer shower because it felt so good to have steaming hot water over my shoulders and back. I’m now I’ve spent probably way too much time venting. But it is what it is. I’ve catered to the world and sometimes the world just has to be patient. I’m not requiring it cater to me. I’m just asking for patience. Being catered to would be nice though, lol.

How can one fend off a virus with little sleep, forgetting vitamins, and thus a reduced immune system? I also think I forgot to take my blood pressure meds yesterday and I don’t think I’ve remembered to take my vitamins in several days. Just off the routine, no time to prep or remember anything, just trying to meet demands of the season, work, deal with no sleep, and prep for company and get work done and and and and and and.

TGIF. Thank goodness it’s Friday. I’m going to do what I can to make it better.

Making Today Better

  1. Drinking my coffee x 3 cups.
  2. Listen to Max Lucado on the way to work.
  3. Pray
  4. Yes probably in that order. I should pray first but I’m too mad right now! NEED COFFEE.
  5. Listen to good music in my ear.
  6. Avoid people wherever possible, lol.
  7. Put on a fake smile.
  8. Go out and get lunch today. (I’ve made up yesterday’s hours in pockets all week so why not). Not to mention all the other times I worked extra, came in early, stayed late, skipped lunch, worked a weekend to get payroll done – plus the extra hours in a holiday week and before and after vacation that you try to get all your work done). I shall deserve to have a proper lunch today if it will make me less of a bear.
  9. I will drink my greens today and have oatmeal for breakfast. Take my vitamins my blood pressure meds.
  10. I will look forward to leaving today at a proper time having considered #8, the fact that it’s a holiday and I’m in dire straits.

The Weekend and Next Week

We have company coming tomorrow. I’m glad we decided to go out to eat. We are opening presents at our house first. Then going out for Thai. Their presents are wrapped and we’ll have time to pull the house together. And then Sunday I’ll have time to pull the rest of Christmas together – test George’s stocking, wrap the extra gifts bought this week, and do some special things I’m doing for our guests. We’ll go to the store (may just send George as I have to do our laundry too). So I think I have just about enough time to pull it all together. We have to work very long days next week. After long days of work trying to cram 5 days of work in 3, we’ll be grocery shopping for the fresh ingredients, I’ll be making sausage balls, getting the house clean as there are no off days before guests arrive. But we can do this right? We can if we can get some sleep. I’m hoping that more people in the house makes Roger less lonely and that he won’t keep everyone awake on Christmas Eve.

I’m trying to be excited about Christmas. I promise I will be. I just need to drink another cup of coffee and to plan to see that there is time to accomplish it all. And hope no one gets COVID before Christmas can get here. Right now I just need some sleep! But it is not to be. Duty calls. Got to go. But I’m not rushing today. Nope. Not gonna do it. The world is gonna have to wait til I get another cup of coffee. My Blog’s Name? There is a reason for it.

Much Accomplished, Another Baby Shower, and Planning for 2021

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized7 Comments

What a wonderful weekend it has been. Much has been accomplished. Having the extra day has been a God send. Most all of the gifts are wrapped except for gift cards and liquor/wine gifts. I do have stocking stuffers to get. And pretty much every day has been mapped out for the week as to what errands will be done when.

We have also planned out our Christmas Eve and Christmas Brunch menus. We are so ecstatic over the upcoming time with family.

I also need to mention that we DID NOT go the Ornament Party on Saturday (yesterday). As much as we really wanted to see our friends, we just didn’t feel it was good to be at a party with the virus raging as we go into the nearby Christmas holidays and in seeing our soon to be born grandson not long afterward. It’s risk enough being at work with family members of coworkers having the virus at times.

I snapped a few pics around the house for ya. So you don’t have to just focus on my words without some cheer around.

Roger again last night couldn’t sleep in the bed so George put him in the den/kitchen with doors to the rest of the house closed, like we normally do when we are gone. At some time in the early morning we heard him howling. He was put back in bed with us. But during the day he sleeps all day long. I’m not sure that he didn’t have a partial stroke the other day or a slight seizure of some sort. He was really acting strange and going sideways and holding a paw up in the air. I think I mentioned it yesterday. I just want him to go natural if he can. He’s just old and you can’t fix old too well. It’s a matter of time. I think he is losing some of his sight as well as he can’t seem to see where the water line is on the bowl. We have to keep it full. Or he will keep licking and standing there all day licking air til he quenches his thirst and finally gets it right. How sad is that?

George asked me if I was looking for a puppy? NOOOO. Not right now. Maybe after Texas, after spring, in warmer weather, after new pet friendly flooring. I can’t handle it right now. I need to get over this some more (losing Maisy) and let it digest and finish my grieving. Not that you don’t love another dog in different ways, as they all have such different personalities, but I just need to process losing her some more and certainly don’t need the headaches of another dog in Texas as that was an issue anyway. God and George must have known this was coming. I’m not sure Roger will make it long enough to go to Texas. I’m not sure even that he should go but can’t imagine anyone taking care of him either as he will be a hard one to keep – hard to pick up, won’t sleep at night, and so forth. He’s not going to like the trip very well either.

However, my heart is overjoyed that my friend Lisa, who lost her standard poodle, GiGi a year ago, has another one! His name is Reece (chocolate and peanut butter colors). I know she wouldn’t mind me sharing the love bug on my blog.

Did you know that hearing this news has helped even to heal my own heart some? It made me smile. I’m so excited for them. I can’t wait to meet him. They too had to wait to process some and also to do a few things before having another commitment. I want that for us too. Although I doubt we’ll wait a year. Our pets have always seemed to find us for some reason. So we’ll see what happens.

She’s about to pop!

Katy’s church shower was yesterday. And it was so nice just like the other one. I’m sharing the details. We also got a facetime from Katy yesterday to see all the things and to see the nursery coming together. Look at the shower details here. It was so nice. I’m real good at stealing photos at this point. What ya gonna do when you can’t be there in person and you are 14 hours apart?

Like how cute is all this? I know that the younger generation is really getting into these board displays. It’s awesome. I’ve seen recipe books on putting them together.

And of course all of this is perfect for Texas.

It is really getting exciting to realize that our little grandson will be here soon. The days are getting closer.

I spent some time this afternoon trying to segment all of my to do’s that were floating around in my head. My office is still a bit cluttered as the wrapping station is still in here. I have to keep it up until probably mid week or so, to make sure we don’t have something else spring up. But we can keep it at the bottom of the basement stairs and grab it if we need.

Having a few minutes in my office space at least on one side of the room, I was able to gather my thoughts, segment out what to do this week, next week, after Christmas, and after New Years. I’ve had some time to list everything out and prioritize. You know me and my planning. I have to have to have a plan! With or without COVID world, I WILL HAVE a plan. I’m coming out of the grief a bit more and concentrating on living and what all we get to look forward to for the coming year – EVEN IF much of it is spent at home.

So with all these things swirling in my head and looking at my current little small planner and how even with nothing going on, I’ve filled it to the brim – I decided to up my planner size. It’s a little bit bigger with enough room to write appointments or errands or reminders on one side and to do lists on the other for each day.

So I ordered this one. It has a flexible cover. I’ll never use a hardback one again. It’s 8 X 10 but much better for my needs.

And with all the “planning” and “learning” I’m going to be doing this year with camera and vlogging, I decided to go with a plain 3 subject notebook for note taking, planning, and keeping up with my thoughts and ideas. It’s also flexible, but I ordered a normal size notebook b/c I plan to learn a lot and plan a lot and those “big” ideas need to be parked where I can see them. This makes me happy.

I do have some thoughts rolling around in my head and it’ll be fun to see where God leads everything.

Baby Showers, Good Meals, Christmas Prep, and New Years Thoughts

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Oh they had the shower for Katy at her school yesterday. So sweet. Love the Christmas theme. I bought her that shirt, hoping with the open front she could wear it. It’s cute. Loving that belly right there. She has one more week of school and then she is out until after the baby is born.

It’s so awesome they can celebrate in this way. Our new normal at work is not celebrating anything, no sharing of food, nada. In remote places life seems a bit more normal. So I’m happy she could have a normal in person shower somewhere. I think the church one is today!

It’s getting closer! And closer!

Christmas Prep

I was able to get a lot of wrapping done, but still have some more to do today. Not much though. Now I’m moving into “stocking stuffer” mode for George. I’ve searched for hours on Amazon searching various ways. I did find a few things. I hope they fit in the stocking, lol. But some time this week after work I’ll go to the store for other things and then will pick up some things there that I know he will like.

We are also down to the final countdown list as far as liquor and beer run gifts, gift cards, and I will probably buy my two bosses something for putting up with my goofy eccentric self all year, lol. I love working with both of my immediate bosses in my department. They are good to me, nice to me, respect me, try to understand me, patient with me, laugh with me, talk to me, answer my questions, steer me correctly, look out for me, say good morning and good evening to me, generally seem to care. Who is not blessed to have this? They deserve something from me. We all hand papers back and forth all day so I think we’ve already shared germs – it’s like your work family you know. So yeah, I need to do a few things there. And I believe that will finish me up.

Then I’ll focus on the house and then Christmas will be here. Then we focus on getting our bag packed for Texas. And New Years which will mainly just be a good food eatin’ weekend, doing things in the house, watching shows, and getting ready for Texas, and hittin’ the reset button on goals and things.

New Year Reset Button

I love the New Year reset. It may vanish quickly for some, but for me, I DO tend to keep the things in mind I set to do. It seems like even though we may not always attain our New Year goals, we at least need that reset button to reflect where we have been and think about where we will go. IF nothing else, there is that. And I truly believe that our psyches move naturally in the way in which our internal directions (set by God or ourselves) have thought about or inquired. And as we know twists of fate, send us scattering in various off directions unplanned too (in my opinion as a Christian, these are God approved changes). So part God, part us, part fate, part universe – it all transpires somehow. And in 2021 much like 2020, I suspect that most plans will be changed unless you plan to not plan at all. lol But you know me and planning. I gotta give it a good try. That was a heavy loaded paragraph that did and could continue to go off in several directions.

Lunch Break

I fixed a pretty awesome spinach salad for lunch yesterday. It had a little goodness to it and a little badness to it. Spinach and carrots and peppers- oh yeah. But then Tyson fried chicken tenders, onion straws, and a dressing that probably was not the healthiest – was a mustard viniagrette but had some canola oil and sugar in it. :-O But I have been craving honey dijon dressing. I could not find it and didn’t really want to make it at home. But I ate this and watched a show or two.

Grief Update

I am getting behind on my YouTube shows. Part due to Christmas and part due to the fact that I was not in a place where I was in the mood to do so. My mind needed to grieve my Maisy girl. I just couldn’t watch happiness in a show. I needed to have that quiet time to release. It’s NOT ok that she is gone. But I guess each day gets easier in that I cry less, and feel a little less sad. I’m crying now b/c it’s still so raw just thinking about her not being here. Going to bed is easier but still hurts. At least I don’t have racking sobs, just a few tears or if tired just a sigh of sadness.

I have found that if I pick this little tiny dog up who has pretty eyes like Maisy, and rub it – strange as that seems – it mimics being able to talk to her. And it’s like she is in here with me. A far stretch from the real Maisy but yet it is comforting and a way to release my sadness. It’s much like my having the sloth that looked so much like Tugie – that sloth that pulled on my heart strings in Portland, Oregon – I passed it up and got home and realized I had to have it. Took me days to search it out and find it but I often pick it up and pet it or hug it when I need to be near Tugie, our deceased apricot poodle. See below middle right, my sloth, LOL.

We do what we have to do to feed and comfort our psyches.

Dinner Last Night – Chicken Rotel Spaghetti

So made this dish last night – as seen on my Instagram – give it a follow: @lesshustlemorecoffee

It was pretty good although for some reason it did not taste as good as Granny’s or Katy’s. Or as good as I’ve made in the past. But we still enjoyed it. George apologized when I arrived with my camera after he’d already sliced into it after it was done. I told him, “no worries – it’s perfect as you can see what is inside”. It’s making me hungry this morning. I haven’t had breakfast yet and it’s almost lunch time.

A New Shopping Website to Behold

Well, I have a new shop I like. It’s one of Katy’s favorites. I saw this while scrolling through instagram yesterday. Aren’t these tops cute? I could do without the reindeer though. But I like all the others. So cute. All of them. Yes one of each please and in big sizes so it’s roomy. I love baggy clothes!

Rogers Sleeping Issues

I’m running so behind this morning. But Mr. Roger has been something else the last two nights. He wakes up and is not happy and wants off the bed. He is continually waking us up and we have to watch and make sure he doesn’t jump off as he’s brave and he will hurt himself. Yesterday, I thought he was having a stroke -and he may have been. He was walking sideways, holding his paw up and losing his balance and his head seemed as if it was heavier on one side and making him lean if that makes sense at all. He is old, very old and not sure how long he will be holding out. I don’t think a trip to vet is worth it. I think we need to let him go naturally if we can until he is at a point where it’s just pitiful. I think we are almost there, but this is George’s dog. He will need to decide when Roger is not having quality of life anymore. It’s hard to let them go. So hard. But it’s hard to see them have a rough time.

Last night George had to put him in the kitchen and living room and shut the door – like we were gone for the day so we could get rest. At 2 or so this morning I got up and went in there. He was pacing back and forth from one room to the other. He finally got in his bed and snoozed after 30 min or so. I went back to bed after about an hour of being up. I slept in late. So my day started late.

My To Do List Today (Sortof):

I’m behind. But here is what is on today’s list – not necessarily in order:

  • Eat lunch and watch a show
  • Laundry
  • Pick wardrobe for next week
  • Iron
  • Finish wrapping
  • Do Vitamin refills
  • Update to do lists
  • Change bed linens
  • Look up a couple of addresses for Christmas cards (2 I didn’t have addresses for)
  • Clean my office
  • Pick up the house
  • Watch more shows (lol)
  • Work on iMovie stuff
  • Work on New Year stuff

I won’t get all that done and there’ll be stuff to pop up that I haven’t even remembered. lol.

Video Channel Update

Oh and future videos. I went to sleep thinking about how to handle the future videos, where I was wanting to go with the vlog and such. I really need to schedule some time to brainstorm a bit and map out all of the things I want to do. I’ve done some of it, but need to do some more. And make myself a schedule of sorts, in order for which to do and accomplish them and improve upon them, and continue learning how to vlog and video.

First things first, I’ve contemplated the absence of Maisy in them. I will need to address a real time update insertion into the next video segment. I will also need to be working on a new intro after the next couple of videos in which we catch up to real time. I need to do a better intro anyway. George and I need to be more up to date as I don’t color my hair anymore. And we don’t have Maisy. I think I’m not going to put Roger in it because I know he will likely not be with us much longer. I was thinking without our dogs and pets, we are just not very interesting. I know that is not true entirely, but I do need to vlog with more intention instead of just showing what I’ve taken pics of and such through the month. Yes those are things we’ve actually done and are part of it, but I DO need more intention and purpose with them and bring that value to others – this is the hard part – do I bring value to anyone through the videos – not a lot, lol. So MUCH improvement to make and I’m glad to pop back into this and see what we can come up with. It’s hard to work full time and do this though, as it takes a lot of time. But I’m enjoying all the process, even if no one else is. As said, eventually I’ll find “my camp” of people and will get better and will have more followers. But in recent days I just did not feel like doing any of these things with the loss of Maisy. It seemed to big of a task to redo the intro or how to even start to do videos without her. I still don’t think I can do a tribute video. It’s just too much for me right now. But these things are on my mind now that the wrapping is mostly behind us and this is coming up on my radar.

Photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels.com

The video life would be easier if I didn’t blog all the time. lol. Keeping all the hobbies going is tough sometimes. But in years like 2020 it’s made it easier except that there is little interesting to blog and video about. That is part of my thing for 2021 is to etch in some outdoor experiences and safe places to visit, video, and get pretty photos of. I don’t know, I wish we could go ahead and get a truck and pull behind RV so we could go out on the weekends or even the long weekends and get started with some adventures, but that is not to be. Wow if I could get these videos to be something worth watching and monetize them then that would help fund that project, lol.

Adventure Goals

Something like this is what I’m thinking will be affordable for us.

Love something like this with the Off-Grid solar package, and eventually the Winter Package Add ons

I started to ask Santa for one. But, I think it’s a bit too early for George. ha. I did ask for a wide angle lens and pretty excited about that as it’s easier to vlog with. We need the cold weather package and the off grid package both to go to the pretty places off the beaten path. But I’d be ok to plug in to the whole schlimazel – I’m afraid it would be for us city folk getting used to not using water, filling up the tanks fast, cooking without every utensil and spice on hand, small refrigeration, finding our comfort levels in a small space. I get it. A lot to get used to. But we minimize and enjoy the experience and get to go out and see things and be near nature. And see me panic when a storm comes, LOL.

Well enough blogging today. I need to get busy as this day is getting away!