Tag Archives: vaccinations

Update and What’s Eating Aunt Debbie?

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Work on the house was slowed for a couple of weeks. Our contractor was sick and had some other difficulties. This past week, work resumed. I wish it was going faster. I am so sick of this old crappy house. It’ll get done, I know. Patience. I know. I don’t have much patience in my 60s.

We took BobCat to the vet earlier in the month. He had lost weight, 2 lbs. to be exact. I don’t think that’s accurate. He seems heavier to me. Anyway, he got his vaccinations. He was not happy with me until we headed home. They always know. They cry all the way and then not a peep out of them on the drive home. I was a bit worried about the poor thing afterward, though. He was lethargic for 2 days and he felt like he might have had a little fever for the first day. He snapped out of it. It’s not unusual for cats to have those symptoms after vaccinations. There are worse symptoms so I am grateful that his symptoms were mild.

I’ve just about had it with the USPS. I am signed up for Informed Delivery and receive an email daily letting me know what mail and/or packages I have coming that day. But what good is it when it’s wrong? I’ll get an email that says I have 2 packages out for delivery but they don’t come. When I check tracking on those packages, it says that they are “moving through the system” or “on its way to the next facility” or even, “awaiting sender” and I just blow a gasket! If it says “out for delivery” that tells me it’s in our mail carrier’s car. So how can it go from that to “moving through the system” or “on its way to next facility”? One package I tracked since Jan. 8th, when it was ordered. Every few days tracking would say something different, even “out for delivery”. But I never got it until Feb. 7th. Wtf? It just chaps my hide that the USPS continues to raise rates while their service declines.

Do you ever feel like you’re speaking a foreign language? Every single time (and I’m not exaggerating) I have to contact a business for some reason, the response is always wrong. It has nothing to do with my issue and it infuriates me. It could be a phone call or an email. I always have to explain the problem again, as if I’m talking to a moron…hey, maybe they are morons, I don’t know. I go round and round with sometimes more than one person. Turn me over. I’m just about done.

I’m not even sure what to say about what’s going on with our government these days. Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut. I think eventually none of us will be able to speak out against Trump. Freedom of Speech will someday be a thing of the past. I’m thinking of deleting my Facebook account. That’s the first place that will be scanned for “radical liberals”. I hate to leave Facebook because that’s the only way I can connect with family and friends. I deleted my accounts on Twitter (X) and Instagram, and I tried BlueSky but it’s so much like Twitter that I am deleting that account, too. Social Media has ruined this country. Ugh.

On a brighter note, Dad and I are having a “Super Bowl Party” tonight like we do every year. He and I are the only ones invited! Haha! Just a funny thing we do to amuse ourselves. I’m going to make hot wings and some kind of bean dip, not sure what recipe to use yet. I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. Sometimes they are hilarious!

Well, I just wanted to let y’all know I’m still alive and kicking, well not kicking. More like having a seizure. Ha! Have a great week, my friends!

Never Again…

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It’s been a rough week. Physically and mentally. Draining. Not that busy mind you, but for my pain-laden body it’s been a bit too much.

On Tuesday, I had a curbside order to pick up and they must’ve had troubles that day because after I checked in, I had to wait for 20 minutes before they even acknowledged I was there. Then it was another 10 minutes before my groceries came out. No big deal really. I know shit happens. It’s just the waiting. I’ve never been good at waiting. On the way home I must have got behind every slow driver in the county! Good grief. I’m sure most of those people think it’s safer to drive slow – FOR THEM maybe, but not for other drivers. Other drivers, like me, will sometimes get impatient and pass in the wrong places. I have passed where it is not advisable but I only pass if can see far enough ahead that there is no oncoming traffic. I just hate getting behind someone doing 25-30 in a 55!! Anyway, I finally made it home only to have to unload the groceries I just picked up. Now my knees were killing me.

Wednesday began with me trying to figure out how I was going to get Alice to the vet for her yearly check-up and vaccinations without her hiding from me. Last month, she knew something was up because the carrier was out and she saw that I was getting ready to go somewhere. She hid under my bed so I took Jack to the vet instead. No big deal, but she had to go eventually. So, in order to trick her, I wore my sweatpants and I didn’t style my hair. Boy, did I feel like a slob! The carrier has been sitting out since last month so she was used to seeing it. She didn’t have a clue what was going on and she came right to me and I picked her up and put her in the carrier. Of course, she put up a little bit of a fight but I got her in there! She weighs 16 lbs. now and Dr. Missy gave her the dewormer I brought because I could never get pills down her throat. She would always gag them back up. Too expensive to waste them! I was able to deworm Jack and BobCat with no trouble. Anyway, that was the end of that but by the time I got home, I was exhausted.

Thursday was by far, the MOST aggravating day of the week! Dad and I had our appointment at the Health Department for the newest COVID-19 vaccine. That went pretty smoothly but then Dad saw the sign that read “Get Your Shingles Vaccine Today” and we both needed to get the shingles vaccine so I inquired at the window and a nurse took our insurance cards so we could set up an appointment, but my insurance won’t cover it and they are out of the state-provided vaccine (that would be free for me) so I have to go somewhere else. Dad has an appointment next month because his insurance covers the vaccine. After an hour of waiting and being informed of this and that, we were finally done and left. That’s when the fun started. Ha. I decided I wanted to pop into Walmart to pick up ONE thing and get some cash back. I haven’t been to Walmart in a couple of years! And maybe only twice since COVID-19 began. Luckily they had scooters available and I grabbed one with 100% power, if you can believe that! But the POS kept stopping as I was moving along. Do you know how irritating that is? Then as I was headed to the front of the store, some guy walked out in front of me as if I wasn’t even there! He didn’t even acknowledge what he did. I should have just ran into him instead of being the “nice guy” and stopping abruptly. After picking up more things than I really wanted, I was ready to check out and Dad was tired as hell. Check-out went smoothly. Afterward, we headed out the door but the fucking scooter decided to STOP again just as I was going through the doors. I had people behind me wanting out the door but the scooter wouldn’t budge. I was furious! And then to make me nearly come unhinged, a Walmart employee yells at me very loudly, “You have to use the controls!” I just about lost my shit! I yelled back, “I AM using the controls! How the hell do you think I got to this point? You moron!” I know. It was rude of me but geez, do these people think that disabled people are stupid or something? He could have assisted me since he was aware that I was having a problem but no, he just yelled at me. I was so painfully aware of people behind me wanting out the door and I was extremely frustrated. I told Dad to give me a push to see if the damn scooter would move and it still wouldn’t budge. Somehow, I did get out of the door and to the edge of the parking lot. I knew that if I tried to cross the lot to get to the car it was just going to stop again and I didn’t want to be stranded in the middle of the parking lot waiting to be run over! I asked Dad to grab the shopping basket that someone abandoned parked to my right. I got off of the scooter, loaded my stuff into the shopping basket, and Dad pushed the cart while I hobbled on my crutches to the car. I hope to never HAVE to go inside a Walmart again as long as I live!

I am so worn out today and in pain, too. My arm is sore as hell from the COVID-19 vaccine. I can barely walk and I still had to fix lunch. I also have laundry and other chores to do but you know what? It can all just sit and wait until I feel like doing it. On the bright side, I managed to finish my latest grandbaby’s baby blanket so I can send it home with my son today when he’s done working on the new house. I actually finished the blanket last night but I had to wash and dry it before giving it away! I’m adding a couple photos to this post. I don’t know how good they are since the lighting is shit in my house. The colors are Light Sage, Blue Spruce, Gray Mist, and Antique White, and are much brighter than the photos show! The lower left-hand corner looks a bit wonky but I just didn’t have it spread out properly.

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Switch-a-roo

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Yesterday, Alice was supposed to go to the vet for her yearly vaccinations. I brought out the carrier and sat it in the living room days before so she would get used to seeing it and not be so worried about it. FAIL.

Alice is too smart. She knew. As soon as she saw that we were getting ready to leave the house, she ran and hid under my bed. I knew she wasn’t going to come out and she didn’t. Not even for treats!

So, I called Jack, Jack came, and I helped him into the carrier. What a dirty trick, I could almost hear his thoughts. He cried and cried all the way to the vet’s office, which is about 30 miles away. It took us an hour to get there because I had to drive slower to avoid cat puke clean-up later. Poor Jack. At one point, he meowed this great big exasperated meow as if to say, Fuuuuck. By the time we got there, he was covered with slobber and had strings of slobber coming off his chin!

I let him out of the carrier as soon as they put us in a room, which was quick. I appreciate that they don’t over-schedule and make us wait. Jack was happy to get out of the carrier but quickly decided to hide under the cabinet. I can’t say I blame him. I wish I could hide under the cabinet when I go to the doctor!

When Dr. Missy came in, Jack immediately came out from under the cabinet. I was shocked that he would do this because he’s afraid of his own shadow at home. If the UPS guy knocks on the door, Jack runs. If he hears a car door slam, he runs. If he hears someone’s voice other than mine or Dad’s, he runs. He rarely comes out from hiding if we have visitors, even if it’s someone he knows like my best friend or my son. So for Jack to come out for Dr. Missy without coaxing, is extraordinary!

Dr. Missy picked Jack up and put him up on the exam table. Jack was calm. Dr. Missy was gentle as she checked his teeth, and his ears, and listened to his lungs and heart. She said he sounded a bit rattly, due to his asthma and probably the ragweed in the air. She gave us a refill of his prednisolone that he gets when his asthma acts up. Dr. Missy talked softly to him the entire time. Jack then got his vaccine and we were done!

After that, we were on our way out the door. Dr. Missy took Jack out to the car for us, saving Dad the work of lugging the carrier down the steps. I appreciate that as much as anything because I worry Dad will fall and I sure can’t carry anything with 2 crutches in my hands.

At check-out, my bill was $50.00 even. The well-check and vaccine was $40.00 and the medication was $10.00. The lady checking out beside me had a total bill of $347.00 and I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell she was paying for!

We never heard a sound out of Jack all the way home. He knew we were headed home, I imagine. Poor thing. He was exhausted when we got home. After he bathed himself, he went to sleep in the corner and never came out until later when it was cat-dinner time. I think going to the vet really let the wind out of his sails, so to speak.

Next month, Alice is going to the vet even if I have to flip my mattress to get to her! I’ll have to go at it differently, I think. In the next couple of weeks, we will go out several times and I’ll be leaving the carrier out in plain sight. She’ll get used to us coming and going without her. By the time her appointment rolls around on the 4th, I’ll be able to put her in the carrier because she won’t be expecting it.

Fingers crossed.

To The Vet We Go

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My furbabies are used to getting kibble first thing in the morning but this morning, I picked the bowl up and didn’t give them any. They are mad at me and Alice and Jack are sitting by their eating area, waiting. They keep giving me the evil eye. BobCat is watching my every move but he’s not too concerned.

I feel bad but Alice (black kitty) is going to the vet today and since it’s a 45-minute drive on a not-so-straight road, avoiding food is best. I should have picked up the food bowl last night when I went to bed but that would have been asking for trouble. They would have kept me awake all night! So, I have to hope for the best and pray that Alice won’t puke/pee/poop in her carrier on the way to the vet! I’ll put food down for Jack and BobCat once I get Alice ready to go.

It’s just a check-up and vaccinations. Next month, it’s Jack’s turn. November, it’s BobCat’s turn. Then we’re good for another year. I do it this way so it doesn’t cost so much at once.

Poor babies are going to starve to death.

Tool of the Week

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The Tool of the Week award goes to Mr. Ted Cruz.

Last weekend, Big Bird tweeted: 

“I got the COVID-19 vaccine today! My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy,” and Ted Cruz lost his damn mind! 

Ted Cruz responds, “Government propaganda…for your 5 year old!” 

Sorry, Ted. If it’s true then it’s not propaganda. Follow the science! Big Bird and Sesame Street have been helping kids understand things since November 10, 1969 and Big Bird has been there all along. Vaccines are nothing new to Big Bird: 

High profile figures have been involved in campaigns to encourage people to get vaccinated for a long time. Elvis Presley encouraged people to get the polio vaccine in 1956. In 1988, Roald Dahl, author of children’s books, advocated for the measles vaccine because he lost his daughter to measles in 1962.   

Why attack Big Bird? Wouldn’t it make better sense to take your argument to the makers of Sesame Street? The producers or writers, perhaps? Big Bird is a muppet, for crying out loud! When you attack a beloved children’s character, you’d better believe people are going to make fun of your dumb ass. The Late Show hits back with:

You’ve got to read the comments on the You Tube page for this video! Hilarious!

I just have one question: Why does Ted Cruz follow Big Bird on Twitter?