* * *
I find it close to impossible to believe that it’s been one year since Katrina. One year? ONE?
It seems simultaneously like it’s been at least three years, and also like it just happened yesterday.
* * *
I’ve been watching a lot of TV this week. I got caught up on all the episodes of
Secret Lives of Women I’ve taped in the last month (the weirdest episode:
Fetishes. I just don’t get the whole idea of being turned on by “training” another person who’s dressed up as a horse, but you know. Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.).
I also watched the two-hour series premiere of
China Beach, which I tape and watch every few years. That part where McMurphy is trying to take off her scrubs and the back of her shirt is glued to her back with dried blood brings me to tears every single time I watch it.
So many of the actors and actresses from that show will always be their China Beach characters to me.
Dana Delaney will always be McMurphy.
Brian Wimmer, Boonie.
Jeff Kober (who I’ve seen all over the place in small parts on shows like The Shield, CSI, ER, 24), Dodger.
Marg Helgenberger might be Catherine to an awful lot of you, but I still see KC, the hooker with a heart of gold.
Ricki Lake, Holly.
And what the hell ever happened to
Nan Woods (Cherry)? According to Internet Movie Database, the last acting she did was China Beach, and she hasn’t been seen since.
MAN I wish they’d put China Beach out on DVD.
Although now that I know how to work that whole BitTorrent thing, I wonder if I could find episodes to download?
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Earlier this week, Fred talked to our insurance lady (we get all our home, life, and car insurance through the same company) about the new house. She’d apparently made a trip out to the new house to look it over, over the weekend, and she told Fred that she thought that the fact that there were no stairs outside one of the doors meant there was going to be a problem with the appraisal. So Fred called the mortgage company and the woman he was dealing with there said the insurance lady was right, that it was a liability issue, and she’d call the appraiser and see what they had to say, so naturally we spent a day and a half worrying about it.
Eventually we’d like to put a small deck outside that door –
this door, for the record – but we didn’t want to do that quite yet (it’s pretty far down on our list of priorities), and we bitched and moaned about how idiotic this was, that we might be forced to put steps outside that door so that someone coming over to visit (“Can we sign a piece of paper stating that we never ever have anyone over to visit?” I offered.) wouldn’t say “Hey! A door with no steps! Let me see if I can fall out the door and harm myself!”, and then do so.
The answer came back from the appraiser that any old set of steps would do, so Fred called the owners Tuesday, and they said they’d have something in place by the end of the day.
Last night we went out and drove by the house just because we wanted to see what the drive was like at rush hour (answer: not bad at ALL) and we were wondering if they’d gotten anything in place for the stairs, and we drove by the house to see a set of concrete steps in place.
Then we came home and Fred emailed the owners and asked if they were going to be at the house on Saturday, because we’re going to be in the area for Fred’s father’s family’s family reunion, and we thought we’d eat and then leave and go over to the house and walk through it again.
“They’re going to refuse to sell the house to us, because I keep harassing them,” Fred said.
“Hey, she
said they were glad to be selling the house to us because we obviously love it,” I reminded him.
“Oh yeah.”
We’re now down to less than 30 days ’til closing. Once the appraisal goes off without a hitch (which I expect it to do), I think that’s really the last big hurdle and there’s nothing else that would prevent our buying this house.
I can’t WAIT.
* * *
Last night we got into a discussion about whether or not we really want goats or sheep in the back part of the property. Fred wants them because he doesn’t want to have to cut back there every week. I don’t like the idea of having animals whose sole purpose is to eat grass so we don’t have to cut it; if we were raising animals for meat or milk and they also kept the grass short, that would be another story.
Of course, I don’t necessarily want to raise animals for meat or milk, either.
“We could just have a 4 1/2 acre garden,” Fred said.
“By all means, let’s not start out small and work our way up,” I snarked. “Let’s do something that will completely overwhelm us so that we give up and go running back to the suburbs.”
We’re definitely going to have chickens – layers, at least at first, and then possibly later on we’ll raise chickens to eat. Fred doesn’t think he could possibly kill a chicken. I think I’d have no problem – at least that’s what I like to think. When the time actually came, I can’t guarantee it’d be easy.
Fred is obsessed – OBSESSED, I tell you – about making it so that the cats will be able to see the chickens. He’s talked about putting up a fence in the back yard that will be privacy fence on two sides, and a chain-link fence on the back. He’s dying to see the cats all lined up, staring at the chickens.
He’s also obsessed about bring a goat or sheep into the back yard so he can see the cats react. I keep telling him I expect that after a while of the cats being freaked out, we’d end up looking out back to see Mister Boogers riding on the back of the sheep or goat, bitching the entire while.
I suggested last night to Fred that I can see a whole new section of my journal coming into focus. I think it’ll probably be called “Today’s ‘goddamnit’ moment.” As in, “Goddamnit, how did that CHICKEN get on the roof of the HOUSE and how do I get it down?”, or “Goddamnit, what’s that racoon doing trying to get into the chicken coop?”, or “Goddamnit, how’d that fucking sheep get out of the pasture AGAIN?”, and so forth.
* * *
Okay, I just got back from my appointment with the surgeon. My appointment was at 10:15; I actually saw him around 11:30, but I was okay with that, because I got all Zen within my tiny little brain before I stepped into the office, saying “I have a book, I have a bottle of water, he’s going to be running late, what’ve I got planned for today? NOTHIN’.” And so when he walked in, I was perfectly happy to be sitting there with my book (though I was a little worried, because I was coming to the end of it, and to be in there without anything to read would have been BAD).
He checked my incisions, told me they looked good (especially my belly button incision), asked if I was having any pain or nausea (I’m not), and looked to see what the pathology results about my liver said.
Basically, the pathology results favor either
drug-induced cholestasis (one of the drugs that can cause it is oral contraceptives – which I’m taking) or, less likely, a virus. He told me to follow up with the GI, and I told him I had an appointment on Tuesday.
He also said that my gallbladder was sandy and sludgy and inflamed, but that there were no actual gallstones.
Eh. Who needs a gallbladder, anyway, right?
Then I got his okay to start exercising again (which I’ll be doing as of Monday morning.), but he told me no heavy lifting until six weeks after the date of surgery. Which means Fred will be cleaning out the litter box until then.
And my heart, my heart is broken. Because I SO adore cleaning out the litter box, as you can well imagine.
Luckily six weeks past my surgery will take us right up to closing on the house, so I’ll be okay to do any heavy lifting that I need to do at the house.
Naturally I’ll report back and let y’all know what the GI says on Tuesday.
* * *
Miz Poo was laying in this bed minding her own business, when Tommy walked across the desk and settled in next to her. Miz Poo sat and fumed for a few long minutes before she got up and stomped off, muttering cat swear words under her breath.
“Miz Poo! You going to the vet? You going to the vet, Miz Poo? Because *I* am *not* going to the vet!”
“Shut. Up.”
No trespassing, you hear me? No trespassing on the median! Or else!
“Hellew.”
All of today’s uploaded pictures are
hither.
* * *
Previously
2005: Is it just me, or does Eric Schaeffer play an inordinant number of characters named Sam?
2004: My day, in progress.
2003: This entry is comprised of nothing but cat pictures, because I’m clearing off the memory stick to start September fresh, with an empty memory stick.
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: He said “Maybe you’re losing slower than me because you BELIEVE you’ll lose slower than me!” ]]>
So glad to hear you’re feeling better! Here’s to having more great news from the GI next week!
Glad the doc visit went well. You aren’t on bc anymore are you? No real need for it now.
Audri: I am, because when I went off the pill after my weight loss surgery, my period started coming closer and closer together, and since I had 6 months worth of birth control, I decided to go back on the pill to regulate my period. I’ll continue on it ’til I see the GI, anyway, and if he says to go off it, I will.
A potential new tagline:
Bitchypoo: A sandy, sludgy and inflamed place since 1999
Mmm. K.C. mmm. (okay. i’ll stop now)
Have you guys considered getting a ride on lawnmower?
I am glad to hear your visit with the doctor went well.
How about pygmy goats? I’ve always wanted one as a pet, but I live inside the city limits.
I didn’t have stones, either, but loads of crystals when they did my test (ERCP). I think what triggered it for me, was after having lost a lot of weight using a low fat diet and still on it, I met my soon to be husband. I started eating greasy food and eating out a lot, and got on b/c pills. Only took a few months before I started having g/b symptoms.
I wouldn’t worry about your housework. It’ll get done when you’re able to do it. It’s not going anywhere. 6 weeks of not doing the cat boxes sounds good to me, too.
I wanted to mention that male goats can have an absolutely horrific smell. I don’t know how sheep are. I think your husband should just buy a big ass tractor to mow all those acres of grass 😉
I’m glad to hear the pathology report sounds good. Now all you need is for your GI to confirm it. Good luck on your appointment next Tuesday 🙂
So glad to hear/read everything is going well.
My parents had a door like that, it’s off of their bedroom. They didn’t have anything on the outside until one of my stepdad’s kids told him he should for insurance reasons. So they threw up some old wooden stairs that they actually had in their shed from the previous house. Looks extremely tacky but the insurance company is happy.
It’s been a year since the hurricane, a full year seeing my name all over the place, but it still catches me off guard sometimes when I see it. Especially in places I don’t expect to like here.
I think getting a goat/sheep is a great idea and I wouldn’t worry about “using” the animal just to eat your grass. The animal will be plenty happy to have lots of stuff to eat. The only thing I was worried about was sheep. I don’t know if you know, but they have a particular odor about them and it tends to permeate. The smell bugs me, but it might not bug you at all. Honestly, I don’t know if goats are the same way.
Can you rent goats? In CA you can rent them for large jobs. They use them a lot to keep the grasses down during fire season.
I’m excited to hear about your new home projects! Have fun!!
If you get goats, do research them first!
The females are great pets — full of
personality, mischievous, playful — but
they can get through or over fences in a
second. I once had an old VW Bug with a
canvas sunroof; a goat named Mopsy decided
to jump on the car and do a little dance and her sharp little hoofs went right through the sunroof and she landed on the
backseat in a shower of little goat-turds.
As for male goats — they don’t just smell
bad, they absolutely reek! They attract
females by doing this thing where they stick their head down between their legs and pee on their beard — pheromones, I guess. But if you’re not a nanny-goat, it
is less than attractive.
I don’t know a thing about sheep, except that they are very stupid and smell like
lanolin.
Congratulations on having nothing really
nasty going on in your liver — that’s
good news!
When are you going to post new pictures of
yourself? You’ve been looking soooo nice!
I said it on Fred’s site and I will say it again. You 2 will LOVE goats. I got a goat as a companion for my horse a few months ago and I can’t believe how much FUN this little guy is. He is sweet, loving, peppy, fun and entertaining as hell! He can stand in one spot and then POW he has done a total backflip and landed in the same spot. My horse will stand and watch him run and play. He is a doll! When I get my USB cable back (read:FIND) I will send you a pic of the lil devil.
Glad to hear you are feeling better. I had my gall bladder out 8 years ago. The surgery was a piece of cake but I can’t eat like I used to. Nothing rich or fatty or I pay for it later! You would think I would be as skinny as a rail but oh no, not so!
OK- I am now reading the posts about male goats and mine doesn’t smell. He has been banded (neutered) and dehorned and he has no smell. He will sit in my lap (he is a pygmy) when I read a book and he has no odor. I bought him from a girl here in NY who has bred them as pets for years. She said the boys, once they are banded are much friendlier than the girls. Now that I have had him for a while he has become much more bold and he will butt me in the knee cap but he is so small he has very little impact. I guess if I were you and you decided on goats find a breeder and have them help you decide. (Like Fred hasn’t been online researching it for hours and hours!)
Oh yeah- I don’t like sheep. Very little personality. And3rson’s need critters oozing personality!
I am always amused by your snark, but I laughed out loud for the first time ever imagining “Mister Boogers riding on the back of the sheep or goat, bitching the entire while.” Thank you!
I hear Neverland Ranch needs a new home, maybe you can do that? And who cares what your neighbours think about you going out in your nightie… you’re moving!! Woot!
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to a “godammit moment” in your journal. 🙂
Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
I had a desexed male goat, and he didn’t smell. I adored my goat and can’t wait until I can get another one 🙂
Hello!! FYI…I live on a farm. Always have. And…this is just info from my experience. I dont’ claim to be an expert. Or want to be one for that matter. I’m just a country girl. Have been my entire life.
So…..my thoughts?
As for goats. NO UNALTERED MALES OR YOU WILL BE SORRY. Stink? Let me tell you about stink. We have had goats for years. For a long time they were all mixed girls and UNALTERED boys…and they’d have babies (there is NOTHING cuter!)…but the boy babies we fixed.
Some are full size…some pygmys. And our farm STUNK. STUNK bad. A few years ago a full size UNALTERED male….took me out. Literally. I did not think he was physically capable of doing what he did. It was bad….and I’ve had large animals my entire life. He cracked some ribs and literally tried to kill me.
Key? UNALTERED. Don’t get between a boy and his woman and then…..try to get between him and his food too. The nerve! It will turn out bad. It DID turn out bad…..and I hand raised him from a baby.
Anyway, I digress….
After the cracked rib incident my husband hauled off ALL the UNALTERED boy goats. All. Gone. Done. Only girls and FIXED boys left. Shortly afterwards….the stink was gone too. COMPLETELY. It was amazing. No more stink. None. Unaltered boys do nasty things to make themselves stink. Won’t go into that here…trust me. Nasty.
So we lived in unstinky land until last summer. When…horrors….a neighboring farmer called (whom I’d never met!)and asked if I’d lost a goat! Not sure how they knew we had goats!! But. We hadn’t. All accounted for.
Well…they called back. Could I come get this goat? They didn’t know where it came from and their horses were trying to kill it. So….notice my name…OF COURSE I went and got it.
Um…just how do you lose a goat? I’ve never been able to figure that out.
Anyway….he…an UNALTERED he…..is a TINY pygmy goat….but an adult. To my knowledge (but I admit I don’t know everything!) it is extremely difficult to ‘fix’ adult goats…so we didn’t. He was not big enough to do any damage (if you know what I mean!) to our full size females. Or me or my girls either. But. Stink? He may be a tiny pygmy…but he has a FULL SIZE STINK. It’s bad. Bad, bad. One TINY UNALTERED male goat. Who knew? The entire 10 acres STINKS.
But. I’m attached to him now. Have nursed him through a broken leg (um…that MY horse caused…but my horse was NOT trying to kill him! The mud was just too deep for the little guy to get out of the way like the others. He’s not out with the big horses anymore. )…and won’t get rid of him for anything.
But…just don’t go there! Get GIRLS. GIRLS or altered boys. Probably pygmys would be best…but you can decide on that. I just want you to avoid the STINK!!!
And…FYI…Goats can…and will…get out of anywhere if there is anyway they possibly can. That is their nature! They live for it. They are not like having a dog (we have EIGHT) or a cat (we have TWENTY-FOUR )…they are DIFFERENT!
Sheep? Sorry. Know nothing. And. I intend to keep it that way! 🙂
Whatever you do….have fun in the country! And….I can’t wait to read your posts about it!! You are going to have a blast!
(Sorry for the long post too!! )
One last thing…that I included before….but somehow it didn’t come through in my comment…
ALL MY CATS ARE FIXED. No kittens here. At least not anymore!! That’s an entirely different story! 🙂
Have a great evening!!
Your liver was freaking me out a little bit so I’m glad to see you’re posting and ok. xo
Goats and sheep? Does “mucking out” sound like fun? You will spend your entire life mucking out or cleaning crap up off the property…or else stepping in it and dragging it back into the house… just get a riding John Deere and have fun and a pretty yard! Lifestock will drive you both to drink! And the cats probably won’t speak to you again!
I love your picture of the Miss Poo in the carrier… your captions are the best!
PS: Think about an IUD if you can’t take the pill anymore. Email me if you have any questions.
I second the goats. BUT, I also agree that they can be pains in the asses. We had a goat that would demand a biscuit every evening and you knew when they were ready because he was right at the door! Ahem, he was SUPPOSED to be tied up!
Sheep SMELL and think about shearing the little bastards. BUT they are mostly gentle in nature.
ALSO, see if the house is zoned for farm animals. THAT would be a pain in the ass. I know our local humane society had to have their land zoned that way before they could start construction on the shelter.
Maybe you could be foster parents to goats too? Then you would not be completely committed to them. If your local Humane Society even accepts them.
Bobbie
As a gal brought up on a hobby farm I have a few suggestions for animals to keep the ‘back acres’ tidy. Goats. Are you thinking milking goats (great for making homemade soaps) or just goats that forage for a living? (They are sneaky and escape artists! But will eat anything).
Sheep… a sheep needs to be shorn once a year (perhaps buy a speciality breed, sell the fleece and pay for the sheep shearer? (Or just send it to me, avid spinner weaver 😉
How about a couple miniature horses? Of no use whatsoever but are cute, much like large dogs..
Chickens for sure. Was such fun as a kid to gather the eggs. And you cannot beat free range eggs/chicken.
We (my dad) had a Jersey milk cow which he milked 2x a day. Luckily he decided to sell it and the farm or I am sure we would all be dead from all the whole milk and abundant CREAM that cow produced! Mom would make a dessert nightly featuring whipped cream dabbled on top 🙂
A beef cow? Try not to become too friendly and you will have a grazer and a full freezer come fall…
I wish we could move to a house with some acreage. Very envious and looking forward to hearing about your life there. So much more freedom, privacy and quality of life when you have some land to call your own. So very happy for you all..
We had goats for years and also a few sheep for the girls 4H clubs and shows.
What they say about sheep being dumb is a fact. They will run from you every time where a goat will race over to greet you. Also, if you get a sheep, the wool over their backend becomes “nasty” and flies lay eggs which turn into maggots which..well, need I say more?
Nubian goats are what we raised (with the long floppy ears) and I just loved them. If they did get out of the fencing or barn or shed (and they did!), invariably they hung around and came running at feeding time. We never lost a goat in all the years we had them. Spud would love one, I bet. 🙂
Female goat of course. The stench of a Billy is not something you need to experience. 🙂
So glad you are better Robyn. Yep, that belly button was the worst for me too. I guess it gets stretched the most during the operation.
As far as the farmlette goes…..I vote a couple of little sheep! Especially since I’m a spinner and I’d be glad to take all the wool off your hands after you shear them hehehe! Besides, you can get the COOLEST sheep these days and they don’t stink like goats nor do they jump and climb all over the damn place. And they are SO sweet!
Oh, and don’t forget a couple of bunnies. Bunnie poop makes THE best garden fertilizer! The cats would freak!
I second getting sheep or goats to harvest the wool. You could do a llama farm. You can sheer the sheep, spin, dye or hand paint, and sell the product. I think there may even be places that do a lot of that for you.
I believe the comments today are the most entertaining ever! The goat stories crack me up, who knew?? The only thing I would add is that sheep poop is awesome composte for growing things, no idea about goat poop. Frankly they both sound like a lot of work to me, I will stick to scooping litter pans, that I can handle.
And SO GLAD you are feeling better, and please be careful when you move not to go from lifting nothing to lifing sofas or something, OK????
And last, I would surely love to see a picture of the Boog riding around on a goat while complaining, that might actually be worth the work of having the goat in the first place!
do you really have stalkers? you have mentioned it a few times. i find it so odd if its true that because people read your on line journal that would want to stalk you. what’s wrong with people.