Furby Wranglings

Welcome to 'Bella Noir',

2025-03-08T04:49:23Z

our new(er) car, a 2017 Toyota Camry SE. My soul is in hock, again.

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Sigh! Riza Has Been a High-Maintenance Vehicle since the Beginning ......

2025-03-03T02:00:27Z

But this most recent pending repair, added to the imminent collapse of the exhaust system and the on-going transmission drama has tipped into the area of diminishing returns....

Husband and I are in talks with our local dealer in regards to a 2017 Toyota Camry.

Riza, love, you are a wonderful little Malibu -- it's not your fault that your manufacturer was a money-grubbing moron; maybe you'll find a new owner who can afford consecutive multiple repairs at $2000.00+ per pop, or is mechanical engineering genius enough for DIY.... I could not have made it thorough the past nine months without you, but seriously, the financial stress of keeping you on the road and functioning was almost as bad as the stress of my sister's terminal illness.

We made a good team, kiddo. I'll miss you.

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Just a Short One, More Later

2025-01-01T22:28:28Z

If anyone is still reading, either here or on the original Live Journal:

My Elder Sister Lynn passed away December 23rd, 2024; lung cancer and COVID. She turned 70 last October, beating the doctor's predictions by almost three years! Lynn opted for cremation; at some point, probably this Spring, the family will hold some kind of ceremony. She had mentioned several times that she would like her and her late husband's ashes scattered somewhere 'where they could hear wolves' -- still working on that, maybe something could be arranged at the Wildlife Refuge Park near Peoria (not to be confused with the Wildlife Refuge Tree in our backyard).

It's been just over a week; things are gradually getting back to normal. If anyone could spare some good vibes for my Mom? Muchas Gracias.....

I'll be okay. I know she's okay. I hope she's with Dad and Michael and all her kitties on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

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Setting Up my New Laptop

2024-10-29T02:42:47Z

...what a pain in the rearend. Unfortunately, LeLouche is getting too close to being unusable as he is Windows 2008 and is no longer supported by Microsoft. Kaname gave us one heck of a scare last week, hence the new Windows 11 compatible Shiny. Have spent the evening setting up the currently nameless. Darn good thing I was able to get my passwords from Kaname this time....

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Older Sister has had two Bad Days in a Row,

2024-09-22T21:52:47Z

with blackouts and seizures. Friday it seemed to be connected to unusually high blood sugar, as the episodes seemed to respond to a strong dose of insulin. They (doctors and nurses) had discontinued regular insulin shots as the diabetes seemed to be under control with being in the hospital and then the nursing homes where she had controlled diet, regular meals and her prescribed medications in a timely manner. Saturday they weren't certain what was going on, they gave her shots of something (Mom doesn't remember the name of the drug) and she eventually settled in a restless sleep.

Mom thinks I should keep my phone handy. Just in case, because if Allure can't reach Mom, they'll call me.

If anyone out there can spare good thoughts for my dear sister, and strength for my Mom?

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First Time Since Mother's Day Weekend I've Actually been Home the Full Weekend...

2024-07-15T03:48:45Z

Since mid-May I have spent at least part of each weekend in my former hometown, helping my 84-year-old mother deal with the logistics of dealing with Medicaid, the OSF hospital system, the Illinois Department of Aging, nagging Hospice aids and trying to convince my older sister that she had to face reality... due to dizzy spells, blackouts, and too-frequent falls which were a result of her stage 4 lung cancer and the medications she was taking, it simply wasn't safe for her to continue living alone in her apartment. Memorial Day weekend, she was moved to a nursing home; Mom, younger Sister, and I were basically working for entire month of June clearing the apartment, because the lease (which we finally found) expired on July 1st. It was exhausting, heart-breaking, frustrating.... and even now, Older Sister still seems to think that she might be able to 'go home' eventually... she keeps wanting more stuff brought to the nursing home.... but there's barely room for what she already has there....

More books, even though she's barely able to read the ones she insisted on me bringing; wants me to buy more books, because she saw a good review in the Locus Magazine, or its part of a series she'd been reading -- and I don't have the heart to remind her that most of the many many books she used to own ended up in the dumpsters because we couldn't save or store them all (my book-lover's soul screamed in pain for days)....

and I am so tired, still. And that's not even mentioning Riza's repair work.

And being gone so often these past six weekends has wreaked havoc with Loki's training and its like starting all over again from when we brought him home over a year ago....

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R.I.P. Leah Rosenthal - April 16, 2024

2024-04-18T13:38:27Z

Found out last night that one of my longest fandom friends had passed away following heart surgery. Leah was funny, sarcastic, warm-hearted and incredibly talented. Her serious artwork was so beautiful it could take your breath away, and her cartoon caricatures were rolling on the floor and laughing out loud hilarious. She and her partner (later wife Ann Wortham) were responsible for a good half of the many boxes of fan-zines in my attic. Her fannish activities spanned a galaxy of Fandoms: Stargate, Highlander, X-files, The Professionals, Mag7, MCU, Game of Thrones, Star Trek OS/NG/DSN/Voyager -- probably the re-boots as well, Beauty & the Beast, B7 --- so many many more....

She and Annie also bred, raised and showed Somali cats for many years. After a self-imposed hiatus of 20+ years from fandom on my part, they were some of the few people I looked to re-connect with; and I sincerely wish I'd done it sooner.

Leah, you were one of a kind! You will be missed by many people!

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Life with Loki - Day 66

2023-07-25T12:47:53Z

Have started a version of obedience training designed to correct some of Loki's bad habits, especially when encountering other people, dogs, and the gray cat (who is apparently a Momma cat, who likes to use our front porch to sun herself and orange kitten). Dog breeder/trainer friend Rez recommends a pinch-prong collar, which is more complicated than I thought.

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Day 45 of Life with Loki

2023-07-05T23:53:54Z

Silly us... we thought because Loki didn't overtly react to the sporadic pops and bangs of the weekend that he would be okay with the fireworks on the 4th. Well, it was actually Monday, the 3rd... our house is well insulated so normally we don't hear a lot of the outside noise.... so, around 9:30-ish Loki is acting like he needs to go outside, I attached the leash, open the sliding glass door onto the back porch and immediately become aware of a strong gunpowder odor... we head down the ramp and suddenly there is a barrage of firework activity somewhere past the levee to the east -- approximately half a mile away. Loki stops in his tracks, whirls and head right back into the house!!!! I then spent about five minutes looking for Jethro's ThunderJacket, which he never really got much use out of (didn't fit right) but it DID fit Loki well enough that we managed to endure the next two hours reasonably well (Loki under the computer desk and/or the kitchen table while I puttered around doing the evening chores, making odd distractions and feeding him half of my evening banana. Around 11:30 we tried again and managed the nightly business before heading for bed. Not at all surprised that Loki joined Husband and I in bed for about half an hour.

Pretty much the same routine last night; I expected things to be worse on the actual night but they really weren't. Except for whomever decided to keep shooting off rockets until almost midnight....

And now I feel bad about all those years before Covid when Husband and I went to visit his aunt over 4th of July weekend and left Jethro home, not by himself of course, with Daughter and later BoyfriendZ to take care of him.... poor baby. Fireworks bothered him dreadfully; Bel was always rather blase' about the whole thing.

We will do better by Loki.

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Re-Adapting to Having a Furry One

2023-05-25T03:33:16Z

Last Saturday we brought 'Spar' home; that same afternoon we renamed our Chow-Retriever mix "Loki" and made it semi-official by getting his dog tag engraved with his new name, our address and phone number. Officially, we are 'fostering' him, but as I e-mailed to the lovely Chow Rescue lady, unless something goes drastically wrong in the next few weeks, we're 90% sure he's a keeper. There have been a few hiccups, but nothing that can't be overcome with patience -- he's a strong one, and has had little to no training, but we're already walking better (at least until he gets distracted by the neighbor's cat, a squirrel, or another dog!). It WOULD be easier if he was a red boy, as I have caught myself calling him 'Jethro' a few times...

Wish us luck!

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Saturday We Drive Halfway Across the Neighboring State ...

2023-05-19T00:32:00Z

... in hopes of securing a new family good-luck Chow. Well, part Chow, like Jethro, except in this case the Rescue people are pretty certain the other part is flat-coat retriever...

I have some vacuuming to finish.

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We have Made Inquiries at the Local Rescue Sites...

2023-05-05T00:34:58Z

... Lots of Pitbull types. A Dalmatian mix that was already spoken for. A husky-mix with Goblin King eyes.

Further afield, Eastern Iowa Peke and Chow Rescue has an Adult Male mix that sounds like a good match for our household, but they haven't responded to our e-mail yet. There was no picture posted, though, so no clue if he even vaguely resembles a Chow -- So many 'chow-mixes' on the PetFinder site don't. So I would like to at least meet the boy first....

Two hours drive over in Iowa, there's a cream colored female chow-husky mix that we're debating. Again, would like to meet her before committing. But that's a long drive....

On the other hand, remembering the drive across the better part of two states with puppy Chani in my lap in 1985...at night. Husband was driving. So there is precedent.

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Doing Better, with the Occasional Lapse...

2023-04-29T15:33:32Z

like last night while working on the Baby Blanket for Pastor Katie's upcoming offspring, when I suddenly experienced a 'could have/should have' guilt trip over BOTH Jethro and Bel, and had to stop knitting for a while because I was crying and couldn't really keep track of the yarn overs/knit2 togethers...

Probably triggered by the county's postcard reminder that Jethro was overdue for his rabies vaccination that arrived in the mail yesterday.

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Various Activities in April

2023-04-12T01:26:42Z

Easter Week is always hectic, plus those lovely (NOT) thunderstorms and tornadoes that visited last week.... so not a whole lot of non-work related stuff happened. A lot of my spare time is taken up with trying to finish knitting a baby blanket prior to the Baby Shower on April 23rd. It's about halfway there.... since we don't know the presumed gender of baby-to- be, I'm working with a nice variegated blue/violet/pink/white.

Other news: Mom's arm is mostly healed, she's doing rehab for mobility and strength. Elder Sister is back doing chemo and experiencing exhaustion, arthritis pain and an odd combo of diarrhea/constipation.

We are NOT actively looking, but are keeping our ears open re: potential furry friends. Hopefully resembling a Chow.

P.S. The raccoon currently living in the garage attic need not apply...

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Its Been over 20 Years Since We were Last Chow-less....

2023-03-11T16:55:27Z

It certainly doesn't feel like its been that long. We didn't realize how much still having Jethro helped when Bel passed until this week.

And Timmain the Wolf plushie isn't helping as much this time. She's still huggable, and I've cuddled her more than once but its not the same. I actually miss the walks at O-Dark-Hundred with Jethro - you can learn a lot about your neighbors just by walking the sidewalks and alleys at odd hours, although I'm not sure I want to know WHY the people two houses down have a habit of scattering fresh produce around their front yard on weekends -- unripe strawberries twice,spinach greens and tomatoes another time. I had to keep a close eye on Jethro when passing that house - once he snatched up a half-eaten chicken Nugget, and another time I think a discarded hamburger bun which he carried halfway around the block before I realized he was chewing on something... That house also supported a grey cat (don't know whether it was actually theirs, or if they were just putting out kibble for it) -- Jethro always perked up if he saw that cat, even those last two days when he was increasingly confused as to where we were going and what we were doing....

I miss him so much.

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Update on Jethro

2023-03-06T19:54:25Z

Jethro passed away early this morning in his sleep. We're taking him to be cremated this afternoon after Husband gets home from work. Cancer is now five for five when it comes to my Chows.

My heart hurts.

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A Long Two Weeks

2023-02-05T17:20:11Z

Ref: my Last Entry.

On top of Jethro's re-currant cancer and the hassles of trying to keep the main site clean, dry, and not licked into a bloody mess -- yes, we have a 'cone', but when Jethro wears it he can't get at his food or water, so we have elected to try other methods of keeping it protected -- none of which have proven completely effective! -- um, I digress.

Wednesday, that same week, Mom fell in the kitchen and broke her wrist, ended up in the ER and came home with a temporary cast and a referral to the Rockford orthopedic surgeon. Mom's travel buddy of many years, Thelma, passed away that day. Closer to home, the church music director missed Wednesday night handbells and choir practice that night and attempts to reach her at home, including a call to the village police department to do a welfare check were not successful. A second welfare check Thursday morning which was instigated by a neighbor and a second neighbor who had a key discovered that Charla had passed away sometime either Tuesday or Wednesday (we weren't privy to the coroner's report). The fate of Charla's elderly beagle Skippy was up in the air until late last week, when the friend of one of our members agreed to take her. Cue the scramble to find Charla's brother (northern Iowa) and sister (Georgia), and a substitute organist for Sunday worship on Jan. 29th.

I feel horrible about Mom's wrist; sad about her friend Thelma, who I've heard about for years and finally met on our trip to Michigan and Canada a few years back; devastated about Charla, who was easily my best friend at the church and my back-up advisor when it came to Presbyterians and church office details, for over 22 years.....

Like I said, a long two weeks. At least Mom got to attend Thelma's visitation last Monday (she hadn't heard yet from Rockford, so everyone told her that if they hadn't called her by 11 a.m., she should just go).... And later in the week, Younger sister took her up to the doctor where she had more x-rays, was fitted for a more flexible temporary cast and was told it looked like a 'good' break (meaning no surgery required to correct misaligned bones), and come back in a week for a better cast....

Obviously, Pastor Katie got a hold of Charla's family and the past week was spent in clearing out her home and her office at the church. We found the organist that Charla had been talking to about subbing for her later this month, he fell in love with our sanctuary organ and has stated that as long as we want him, he will play for us (we're still looking for a formal Music Director, though, because we don't know yet how well he will work with the choirs), and Charla's Prayer Shawl ministry, which was one of her passions and which I have been a part of for the past three years ... is currently in limbo. Everyone talks about how keeping it going would be a TRIBUTE to her memory, but no one wants to take charge and do the work.

Sigh. Me, I'm still learning PowerPoint, one mistake at a time. And dealing with Jethro... one long-sleeved t-shirt at a time.

So effing tired.

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Last Week was Not Good, to put it mildly.

2023-01-30T04:53:07Z

Jethro had developed a sore on his right rear leg. I was desperately hoping that it was an infection from an undiscovered cockle burr or cone flower seed, which were the bane of our existence back in December when Jethro would cheerfully drag me through a mess of dried weeds whist on our thrice daily walkabouts (and I would spend half an hour picking them out of my pant legs, and at least that long carefully combing out the silly half Chow's fur) -- yeah, no. Cancer, as were the lump under his right armpit and the one on his left side mid-back. And its the fast spreading kind. Nothing really to be done, except love him, try to make him comfortable, no idea how long he has left, and cry. He's still bright-eyed and bushy tailed, except for the two days following the biopsy procedure -- when he could barely walk without someone supporting his back legs with a makeshift sling, and totally lost his appetite... He's pretty much back to normal except he keeps licking at the spot on his hip and the only way to prevent it is The E-Collar, or somehow keep it covered -- and the location is not conducive to bandages -- we've had some success with backwards tee-shirts (tail goes through the neck hole, legs down the sleeves and tie the bottom slack up around his waist.... but the whole thing has to to come off when we take him outside to do his business.

At least he's now eating enough that he actually HAS business to do.

Exhausting.

But wait, there's more!

Except, I'm tired and sick at heart. and it's bed time.

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2023 -

2023-01-01T17:51:03Z

"hello, KONE, my old friend,
I've come to ride with you again..."

(Or, what happens when you get into the elevator at a convention hotel following the filk-sing - and you've lived the past 40 years in a community where the 5th largest employer is an internationally known elevator manufacturer).

This is vaguely apropos, as one of my 2023 resolutions is to find another Science Fiction/Fantasy/Anime convention that is NOT in downtown Chicago (sorry-NOT Sorry, CapriCon!) that I can accompany Older Sister to this coming spring, hopefully before the pain get too bad for her to function.

It's not the cancer, per se -- that's sort of in a holding pattern; it's the arthritis pain, and the waiting to find out how much damage she did to her liver taking too much tylenol for we're not certain how long.

If we can't find another convention, at least we had WindyCon last November! Elder Sister was so happy to go and see people and be with her tribe.... Shout out to Bill Roper, who cheerfully sold both us scads of filk CDs (I joked that she was going to buy one of each -- she didn't, quite, but between us it was close.) And the booksellers got quite a bit of business, too.

Unfortunately, since then, Elder Sister has had more bad days than good. On the other hand, this time last year, we weren't certain if she would still be with us 12 months later.

Back to the resolutions:

2. Continue to strive for healthy living -- even if that means walking Jethro around the block a minimum of 3 times a day. He's gotten a bit better about going out on the tie-out by himself, but he DOES love his Walks! and I have to admit they're probably as good for me as they are for him.

3. Reduce the amount of yarn in my stash -- even if that means giving some to the Prayer Shawl ministry at the church....

4. Read more of the books in the "To Read" pile -- mostly books that Elder Sister has 'loaned' me, since she WOULD like them back eventually... Also to make use of the 'Book Journal' that Youngest Sister gave me for Christmas 2 years ago....

5. Learn how to use Power Point and EXCEL -- this is non-negotiable, as it's for work.

That's it for now, I guess...

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Update on Jethro

2022-10-29T16:27:58Z

The stitches are out, Jethro is allowed to use the porch steps again but has become accustomed to being walked around the block several times a day!!! Spoiled rotten half-Chow ...

The 'Grapefruit' was biopsied: apparently there WERE cancer cells detected; Dr. Jenn is reasonably certain they got it all, but suggested we keep our eyes open in case it comes back. We are still on the Kidney Function diet... I've wondered if at this point it would be helpful to have Jethro's DNA analyzed so we might have some idea on how long he might have left -- he's already pushing the upper range of Chow life expectancy.

(Hugs Jethro gently)

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The Week is Finally Over!!!!

2022-10-15T03:41:44Z

Since a week ago yesterday, we have not had Da Internetz at our humble abode. Because Husband thought the new internet provider actually had their act together and cancelled AT & T. Surprise! (They didn't) Plus said same new internet provider has been dragging out the installation up at the church as well... needless to say, we now have our home connection restored!!!! Much rejoicing!!!

During all this was a great deal of fretting re: the Grapefruit growing out of Jethro's chest. To be specific, scheduling the surgery and figuring out how to pay for it --- mainly by pushing back various previously planned expenditures and hope Riza the Red Malibu doesn't blow a gasket before Christmas. So Wednesday morning, Jethro was delivered to the vet's office bright and early, and surprisingly they allowed him to come home that same afternoon. He is not allowed to use the stairs, and therefore one of us (usually me) has to walk him down the ramp and around and around the yard until he pees and poops, then back up the ramp again several times a day... for the next two weeks.

I can't complain too much, as I was terribly afraid that Jethro wouldn't be coming home on his own four feet. Why do I love these silly Chows so much?

Because I do.

And it's time for Mama Chow to indulge her whiny boy --- again. I'm going to catch pneumonia at this rate because its cold and rainy out....

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Still Here, Still Alive....

2022-09-25T20:17:21Z

But lots of things happening. Like Daughter and BoyfriendZ getting COVID, and Husband and I somehow managing NOT to; like Husband going to the hospital for a colonoscopy and coming home the next day with a pacemaker; like Older Sister having a set-back with her chemo, but still trying to make plans to attend a Science fiction convention in November; like my 92 year old mother MAYBE having heart valve surgery sometime soon; like my darling half-Chow having a growth on his chest that is getting bigger and the vet doesn't know what it is yet....

And my boss wants me to take a PowerPoint class....

Oh, yeah, I am now officially a Senior Citizen. I have the Medicare Card to prove it.

Later, 'Gators.

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Hey...

2022-05-01T16:09:24Z

Good News: Older Sister has completed chemo (for now) and is doing 'immune-therapy'; her doctors are very pleased with how she's been handling things although they'd like it if her blood-sugar was better controlled. Bad News: she has blood clots in her legs (this is not new; our entire family is semi-prone to blood-clots. SO far I've escaped the problem, but one of my biggest fears is my luck in that area running out).

Mom is back from Antarctica (lots of picture of penguins!), and is getting ready to go on a European river cruise. I'm planning to visit Older Sister for a few days during the two weeks Mom is gone. Younger Sister has a cat show sometime during that time frame.

Other than the usual stuff, nothing much to see here... move along.

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Half a Month Late...

2022-01-16T17:57:08Z

So it's past time for resolutions. Pretty much the same as last year:

1. Actively pursue good health. Thursday I had my Annual Physical, and while the labs weren't back yet so I don't have an A1c reading, Dr. seemed pleased with my almost normal Blood Pressure and slight weight loss, as well as my respiration. Got a flu shot. Told her I'd added cinnamon and chromium picolinate as well as CoQ10 to my daily pills; she approved and suggested more calcium and Vitamin D as well. We are trying to avoid going back to the ridiculously expensive diabetes drug. I have drastically reduced the amount of diet soda I drink and am trying to incorporate more fresh vegetables.

2.Practice patience, particularly with family members.

3.Stay in touch with friends and family. Reach out to my on-line friends more often.

4.Work on my fan-fiction. Seeing "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" 'jossed' the story line for my RGB/The Shadow story, but I plan to continue and call it an Alternate Universe. Also my Yu-Gi-Oh stories need to come out of limbo.

And now: Some not so good stuff.

1. My Older Sister, who I love dearly (even when she is exasperating) and has been my best friend for most of my life, has lung cancer. It's a type that tends to target non-smokers, and thanks to the COVID shut down on non-emergency procedures for the past two years, it had the opportunity to spread. Older Sis started chemo just before Christmas -- not a cure, but it could buy her some time -- and so far she's been handling it well. She has stated that she is NOT 'going quietly into that good night'...

2. We are fairly certain that Jethro has lost his hearing, probably due to that nasty ear infection back in November. Pets, children and spouses are all notorious for 'selective hearing', but its been pretty obvious for the past month that Jethro just isn't hearing us. Poor silly half Chow... we have to be patient and give him extra love and attention.

Work has been crazy, what with the holidays and the January madness that is the ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING (next Sunday), plus we've had our share of the latest COVID surge in the area. Husband's co-workers are still idiots, and proud of it ("why should I get the vaccine? I've had COVID; I'm immune now, right?"). *Sigh*

At least our new furnace works! Yays!

Y'know what would really make my month? If Publisher's Clearing House stopped being a tease and actually gave me that $10,000 check on the 31st....

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Not a Good Week

2021-12-05T19:01:04Z

Last week and a half was crammed with bad news: Thanksgiving went all right, had a nice visit/meal with Husband's Aunt. I'd planned to go visit Mom on Saturday, but Riza started acting up about 20 minutes into the trip. It started with the Cruise Control suddenly conking out; I tried a couple times to reset it, but it didn't take. A little later Riza started experiencing odd jerks and surges; my immediate thought was transmission problems (I admit it, I'm paranoid about my cars' transmission systems). While I might have made it to Mom's, I didn't like the idea of driving 90 miles home in the dark under those conditions. So I pulled over at the next exit, stopped the car, turned off the engine and called both Mom and Husband to let them know I was turning around and why. I was very disappointed, because as I told Mom, 'I had a cooler full of Thanksgiving I wanted to share with her'. Oddly enough, there were NO problems during the trip back, which leads me to think (and my Goodyear mechanic to provisionally agree) that it may have been my cruise control still acting up, because I did try to re-set it several times before pulling over and turning off the engine, which would have cancelled any CC commands in the system. My mechanic advised me NOT to take any trips out of town until he could check it out, which will be this coming Wednesday.

One good thing that resulted: Husband took me to see "Ghostbusters-Afterlife" that evening to make up for my disappointment. Great movie! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cast, Director and Special Effects were all A +....

The REAL bad news starts here.

Older sister is in the hospital. Before Thanksgiving she'd finally gone in to get those odd masses in her lungs biopsied. Still don't know what they actually are, other than slightly larger than five years ago. But following the Biopsy procedure, Older Sister was in almost constant pain and occasionally coughing up blood. Mom and Younger Sister basically forced her to the doctor's office Wednesday (after she tried to cancel the follow-up visit 'because she hurt too much') and she was admitted. Several scans later, they discovered fluid not in her lungs, but in the lung cavity. The plan was to transfer her to a larger hospital where they could drain the fluid, and maybe start treatment for whatever is going on with the lungs. But, larger hospital had no beds available, so Friday local hospital did their best to drain the fluid with some success, but Older Sister is still in some pain. Mom is worried, I'm worried, Younger sister is Worried. Maybe by Monday the doctors will have some idea on how to go forward.

Thursday, we heard about college friends: Rafe, who was on the college radio station staff, bookstore frequenter, Friday night D & D player, and one of the founding members of our local SCA chapter, and his 2nd wife were apparently murdered by her adult son sometime over the Thanksgiving weekend. One of their local friends had asked the county sheriff to do a welfare check, and the bodies were discovered Wednesday. I actually was not that close to Rafe (Husband barely knew him outside the SCA), but he was one of the core members of the group I tended to hang out with in college; Bree, Emtae and Cobett had all reconnected with him over Facebook in the last five years or so and would occasionally share news with the rest of us. We had supper with Bree Friday night and reminisced about the college days; she plans to go to the services on December 18th.

From Bree we heard details about our friend Julie, who is in the hospital in St. Louis with seizures. About 10 years ago she'd had surgery to remove a tumor from an optic nerve, with the immediate result of seizures (they had to go in through her brain) and blindness. Eventually she regained vision in one eye, and the seizures were under control, and for the past five years or so she'd been doing really well. From what we were told, the doctors were trying to reduce one or more of her meds to alleviate some unwanted side effects. Poor Julie! Her husband (another college friend) has been a rock of support. It just isn't fair that they have to go through this again!

Aaannnnd, closer to home: Cobett's general health has deteriorated to the point where he is actively considering going into Assisted Living Care.

Can we start the month over??? This is too much for the beginning of December!!!

At least Jethro's ear infection has finally cleared up.... and I thought Bel was fussy about the daily ear drops!

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