It has been a crazy year so far. At the beginning, I thought "2009 is gonna be fine" and it started off that way. But, then it derailed. Lance and I broke up, my dad had a heart attack, I got gout and stress-related TMJ from clenching my teeth together. I got the flu and viral bronchitis. Ben had to have surgery and now...after 5 months of trying to be super supportive and amazing understanding ex-girlfriend, I'm finally completely breaking ties with Lance.

*sigh*

The gout is gone.
I am taking steps to deal with the TMJ and the clenching.
The flu is gone, although I still have a gross cough.
Dad is doing well.
Ben is fine. Tumor gone and never to return.
I will finally stop making myself suffer at the hands of my own kindness and generosity.
It is time to figure out how to properly take care of me. And, I mean business this time.
I am grateful for the lessons I have learned.

Thanksgiving is next week.
I am grateful for the support from my Friends, Family and Framily. Even my bosses have been more than giving and generous during this difficult time.

I am not going to Baltimore to see my family, but I will not be alone on Thanksgiving. A few of my friends have also experienced painful ends to long-term relationships. I will be having an "Orphan's Thanksgiving" this year, where we can be together and support each other.

There will be a turkey and some side dishes. There may be Scrabble. There may be tears. It doesn't matter. As long as we are not sitting home alone, feeling lonely and sad, we will be OK.

So, my friends, would you mind telling me some things you are grateful for?

Love,
Grateful Mullet

The Paw Chronicles

My boy is home. He is not excited about having to party with this lampshade on, but he is handling it. The tumor is gone and off to the lab.

Dr. Fullerton said that I could take the lampshade off as long as I put it back on when Ben is unsupervised. Problem is: I can't figure out how to take it off without destroying it, so....it is staying on.

Poor Ben.
Ben.J.Min.
Bensome.
Ben.A.Dryl.

He is better at the cone management and navigation today than he was last night. He kept running into the walls and getting stuck in corners.

Before I could help him, Ben shoved his face, lampshade and body through the doggie doors to get outside. He didn't pee. He walked directly to his favorite tree and sat down.

And then he got lost and couldn't find his way back to the door. I had to lead him by holding the lampshade and pointing him in the right direction. (sadface)

When we got home from the vet, Charlie ran away from Ben, looking at me as if to say, "What the hell did you do to him, you bitch! What is wrong with his face?!?!"

Now, Charlie thinks it is fun to chew on the lampshade and drag a limping Ben around the living room. Oh, boy, is Charlie in for it when Ben gets the lampshade removed. Holy Shit.




Tonight we are going to watch movies together. Tomorrow, we may go to work together. I'm worried about Monday. I'm worried that he will get stuck in the doggie door while I'm at work.

So, maybe I will keep him in the bedroom and Charlie in the kitchen while I am gone. I'll come home at lunch and lead him outside for his peein' and poopin' -- I guess I feel bad doing that since he has had indoor/outdoor freedom for so long. But, maybe he won't mind so much for a couple of days.

OK. It is time to give him another treat. Oh I have "bad" ones: Pupperoni's and other "Made In China, McDonald's for Dogs" snacks that I don't normally give them.

He is a big fan of the Pupperoni.

And, I got him some cans of yummy wet food. He loves that. He is going to have a tasty dinner.

Put Your Paws Together

This is Ben. He is my Old Man. Here is another cute photo of him.

Today Ben is having surgery on his lovely paw. He has a tumor on it; right around where your wrist bone sticks out.

Dr. Fullerton says it should be easy to remove, but needs to send it to pathology because he has not seen something like it before. Scary.

Anyway, to all you dog peeps (and non-dog peeps), can you put some paws together today and think good thoughts about my boy?

Thank you.

Love,
Emotional Wreck Mullet

****

I Repeat: Really?

TMJ and now? The flu and viral bronchitis?

Really?

I had the flu shot ages ago, but tested positive for the regular flu (not the swine flu) on Tuesday. I'm on Tamiflu, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim and an inhaler.

I was also prescribed Claritin and Robitussin. I was told to stop taking NyQuil as it may interfere with my crazy pills. oops.

So, let's recap the additions to my pharmacy over the last two weeks.

TMJ:
2400 mg of Ibuprofen
800 mg of Skelaxin

FLU AND VIRAL BRONCHITIS:
1600 mg of Bactrim
150 mg of Tamiflu
4 puffs of ProAir HFA

Plus: Claritin and Robo.

Plus: all my other crazy pills.

Needless to say: I am freaked out.

I haven't taken the muscle relaxer for the TMJ since I got on the funk meds. It freaks me out.
It also freaks me out to take the crazy pills with all this other stuff, but everyone on my "med team" has promised that everything is A-O-K.

Holy Moly.

But, tomorrow is my 72 hours clearance from flu house arrest and I am now feeling up to worrying about work, so I guess I am better.

My chest rumbles and it sounds like a growl after I cough, AND when I talk I sound like a squeaky, wheezy teenage boy going through "The Change" BUT I don't believe that I am contagious anymore.

I am going back to work tomorrow where I will be ridiculed and probably shunned. But Chester suggested I put up a sign announcing that I am not contagious, which is probably a great idea.

Next week: Healthy City

.stay tuned.