First of all, I think my brother and his wife spent this weekend talking -- and he goes back to work tomorrow -- and he has been sober for about 10 days now, so things are really looking up there. We are all so glad.
Mia is still really clinging to me (except, of course, whenever a rabbit gets involved and in that case she could care less about me). I wish I knew what was going on with her.
Now, here's my Match.com story. I've been toying with the idea of joining Match for a few months now. I talk to so many people who say they met someone using Match. But I didn't bother looking up actual reviews. So on Friday I bit the bullet and joined for 3 months ($83).
I got one email and it didn't interest me so I thought I should be polite and let him know. So I replied and said "no, thanks." He replied and said he never sent me an email. So he did some checking and evidently -- according to him -- Match steals sign-in names and emails and sends them out randomly to generate activity. Sheesh! I'm glad I'm using Marshall's old email address to do this.
So this morning I canceled my subscription, which basically means (I hope) they deactivate my membership and make me "invisible" (I hope). They won't refund any money and they stress that I will still be a member until January 28, 2018 so I can reactivate any time between now and then. I will have to watch my credit card carefully in January. So basically I have spent about $40 a day to experiment with Match!
And this morning I also decided to check reviews. I found one site that covered reviews for Match and there were 2550 reviews and every one of them talked about emails and passwords being stolen and used to generate false activity. And their refusal to refund any money. But to be very fair, as I was signing up I read every single paragraph of the "Terms and Conditions" and they do make it very clear that they do not refund money and that in order to cancel the subscription a person needs to follow certain steps, which I did. So the people who are complaining most likely didn't read all that fine print.
I probably wouldn't have canceled so quickly except for the fact that my very first encounter was bogus!
I just checked the Better Business Bureau site and Match is NOT accredited by the BBB. The BBB website has a little blurb on the information about Match saying that Match has been very cooperative with the BBB to try to straighten these issues out -- the latest post was in August 2017. The BBB says they will monitor Match carefully to see how they do in the coming months. That made me feel a teeny-tiny bit less taken advantage of (smile).
I'm posting this information just so anyone reading this will see my experience with Match. I think I'll just let the Universe decide my fate....
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Camp BowWow
Usually when I take Mia to Camp BowWow she can't wait to get out of the car and she never looks back at me, doesn't seem to care at all if I'm there. She can't wait to get in with the other camp dogs.
But yesterday and today she acted scared to death to go in and she was clinging to me like crazy. Very disturbing. So I discussed it with the trainer and she discussed it with the staff. They said that Mia had had a mild "tiff" with another dog and they think that could have made her a little leery. So I left her there today and she basically just worked with the trainer today and didn't go into the regular population.
I'll take her back on Monday for another training session and I'll leave her for a few hours. We'll see how it goes.
I was going to go see Bruno Mars (who I LOVE) at the Pepsi Center with some friends on 10/30, but this walking pneumonia thing made me bow out. I am so bummed. I could wear a mask but that wouldn't stop my coughing and, frankly, wouldn't really do much to comfort any concert-goers sitting near me. So I don't get to see him.
My brother goes back to work on Monday and he is now living back at his house. I'm not clear on whether or not his wife is with him or whether she is still moving out.
But yesterday and today she acted scared to death to go in and she was clinging to me like crazy. Very disturbing. So I discussed it with the trainer and she discussed it with the staff. They said that Mia had had a mild "tiff" with another dog and they think that could have made her a little leery. So I left her there today and she basically just worked with the trainer today and didn't go into the regular population.
I'll take her back on Monday for another training session and I'll leave her for a few hours. We'll see how it goes.
I was going to go see Bruno Mars (who I LOVE) at the Pepsi Center with some friends on 10/30, but this walking pneumonia thing made me bow out. I am so bummed. I could wear a mask but that wouldn't stop my coughing and, frankly, wouldn't really do much to comfort any concert-goers sitting near me. So I don't get to see him.
My brother goes back to work on Monday and he is now living back at his house. I'm not clear on whether or not his wife is with him or whether she is still moving out.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Brother going back to work
I didn't get the long story yet, but the short story is that my brother has been released to go back to work and is scheduled to start on Monday, October 30. Good news indeed.
As for me, my doctor says I have walking pneumonia. I am so tired of coughing. It's been over two weeks now.
As for me, my doctor says I have walking pneumonia. I am so tired of coughing. It's been over two weeks now.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Progress
Well, between my sister and my brother's best friend, over the past four days they got my brother sobered up enough to make his doctor appointment so that he can hopefully get released to go back to work. At some point today I think he got results but I don't know yet how it turned out.
So there is a chance my brother will go back to work on Monday. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.
I still have some lingering flu symptoms -- can't stop coughing.
So there is a chance my brother will go back to work on Monday. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.
I still have some lingering flu symptoms -- can't stop coughing.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Things are relatively quiet the past two days
I didn't get any updates yesterday or today regarding my brother so things appear to be quiet.
But with regard to Mia it's been an interesting/scary time. She goes bananas over rabbits and we have tons of rabbits around here. Yesterday I had her out for a walk and two rabbits ran by. Normally I try to watch and I see the rabbits first and can get prepared for her unbelievable reaction but yesterday I must have been daydreaming. Anyway, these two rabbits ran by and she backed out of her harness and was out of sight in under 5 seconds. And since we are on a VERY busy street, I just knew it was all she wrote for Mia. I called her and called her and even though I could hear her barking, she didn't come when I called and when I tried to locate her she was running around so fast (in Rabbit Utopia) that finding her was impossible.
So I called my neighbor Janine, who has a big dog named Conner who Mia does not get along with, and Janine came over and brought Conner with her. We started walking around and all of a sudden we saw Mia a few blocks away doing cartwheels over those rabbits. She looked our way and saw Conner and she came running wanting to get in her usual battle with Conner (I guess Conner trumps rabbits -- good to know). When she got close enough, Janine was able to pick her up. I wanted to punish her and kiss her at the same time. I was so glad to get her back.
Now I have to try to find an escape proof harness and since I've already bought about 25 allegedly escape proof harnesses, I don't hold out much hope. What I really need is a yard and that is out of the question right now.
But with regard to Mia it's been an interesting/scary time. She goes bananas over rabbits and we have tons of rabbits around here. Yesterday I had her out for a walk and two rabbits ran by. Normally I try to watch and I see the rabbits first and can get prepared for her unbelievable reaction but yesterday I must have been daydreaming. Anyway, these two rabbits ran by and she backed out of her harness and was out of sight in under 5 seconds. And since we are on a VERY busy street, I just knew it was all she wrote for Mia. I called her and called her and even though I could hear her barking, she didn't come when I called and when I tried to locate her she was running around so fast (in Rabbit Utopia) that finding her was impossible.
So I called my neighbor Janine, who has a big dog named Conner who Mia does not get along with, and Janine came over and brought Conner with her. We started walking around and all of a sudden we saw Mia a few blocks away doing cartwheels over those rabbits. She looked our way and saw Conner and she came running wanting to get in her usual battle with Conner (I guess Conner trumps rabbits -- good to know). When she got close enough, Janine was able to pick her up. I wanted to punish her and kiss her at the same time. I was so glad to get her back.
Now I have to try to find an escape proof harness and since I've already bought about 25 allegedly escape proof harnesses, I don't hold out much hope. What I really need is a yard and that is out of the question right now.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Alcoholism
Well, I have had the flu and stayed in bed all this week. First time I've had the flu in quite a few years. But I think I am on the upturn now. Didn't make it to any exercise classes, though. We'll try again next week.
And now I have decided to share what's been going on in my family for the past three months. It's public knowledge so I'm not telling any secrets.
My brother is an alcoholic and in the past three months there has been an escalation of his desire to drink. His wife kicked him out. His job put him on probation and told him not to come back until he's sober. It's been three months and there has been no sign of sobriety so I guess we all know what's bound to happen with the job situation so I guess it won't be too long before he will be without any prospect of income.
When his wife kicked him out, my sister took him in with the promise that there would be no alcohol at her house. It took him less than an hour to break that promise.
He went to rehab in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but released himself after 30 days and was drinking within a day.
He fell and hit his head on a rock and fractured the spine in his neck. He was told to wear a brace and he won't wear it, so who knows what will happen there.
He has fallen three more times and was transported to ICU in an ambulance. Two of those times they kept him long enough for him to detox but as soon as he got out he went to one of his secret places and got some booze. Boy, he can be so very clever in finding hiding places. My sister went out and cut some weeds on the side of her house and found a bottle hidden in the weeds.
The other time he fell was two days ago and he was taken by ambulance to ICU again. They did a CT scan and x-rays and found no changes in the fracture. He demanded to be released so he could get to his bottle. And the sad thing is, he does not appear to feel any gratitude whatsoever for my sister staying by his side throughout all of this.
When she brought him home from the hospital yesterday he went straight to where the weeds used to be and got a bit upset that she had cut the weeds.
My sister has an old trailer out in the middle of the woods. It hasn't been used in ages. But my brother has now been banished to that trailer to drink himself silly. Someone will go out and check on him periodically to be sure he hasn't fallen again and my sister will take food out there. She's going to take the most nutritious things that she thinks he might eat. We were told that alcohol depletes the good stuff and that in addition it might be helpful if he would drink some Boost every day to help replenish some nutrients. Supposedly, at the very least, that will help the alcohol absorb slower. Other than that, he is now on his own and he won't do well on his own and that is sad. And he appears to have no idea how lucky he is to have a place to go.
In the meantime, his wife is moving out of their house and as soon as she is gone, he will go back to his house. But since it won't be long before he won't be able to pay the mortgage, he'll probably lose the house and the trailer will be his only option.
The doctor said that he is a danger to himself and others but that no one is to blame but him. We tried to get my brother to go back into rehab and stay the full 90 days but he refuses.
The doctor wanted to keep my brother in ICU for 3 days to detox but was again met with refusal.
There's lots more to this story, but you get the gist. My sister has been a saint. And the irony is that she is the only member of our family who has never touched alcohol in her entire life, not even a sip.
This is incredibly emotional. He is 15 years younger than me so I spent a lot of time taking him to Cardinals games, Bob Seger concerts, just stuff that my dad didn't want to do. So I have all these memories of an adorable little blond-haired, blue-eyed boy and wondering where it all went wrong.
I will update regularly for anyone who may read this who is interested in how "end stage alcoholism" progresses.
And now I have decided to share what's been going on in my family for the past three months. It's public knowledge so I'm not telling any secrets.
My brother is an alcoholic and in the past three months there has been an escalation of his desire to drink. His wife kicked him out. His job put him on probation and told him not to come back until he's sober. It's been three months and there has been no sign of sobriety so I guess we all know what's bound to happen with the job situation so I guess it won't be too long before he will be without any prospect of income.
When his wife kicked him out, my sister took him in with the promise that there would be no alcohol at her house. It took him less than an hour to break that promise.
He went to rehab in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but released himself after 30 days and was drinking within a day.
He fell and hit his head on a rock and fractured the spine in his neck. He was told to wear a brace and he won't wear it, so who knows what will happen there.
He has fallen three more times and was transported to ICU in an ambulance. Two of those times they kept him long enough for him to detox but as soon as he got out he went to one of his secret places and got some booze. Boy, he can be so very clever in finding hiding places. My sister went out and cut some weeds on the side of her house and found a bottle hidden in the weeds.
The other time he fell was two days ago and he was taken by ambulance to ICU again. They did a CT scan and x-rays and found no changes in the fracture. He demanded to be released so he could get to his bottle. And the sad thing is, he does not appear to feel any gratitude whatsoever for my sister staying by his side throughout all of this.
When she brought him home from the hospital yesterday he went straight to where the weeds used to be and got a bit upset that she had cut the weeds.
My sister has an old trailer out in the middle of the woods. It hasn't been used in ages. But my brother has now been banished to that trailer to drink himself silly. Someone will go out and check on him periodically to be sure he hasn't fallen again and my sister will take food out there. She's going to take the most nutritious things that she thinks he might eat. We were told that alcohol depletes the good stuff and that in addition it might be helpful if he would drink some Boost every day to help replenish some nutrients. Supposedly, at the very least, that will help the alcohol absorb slower. Other than that, he is now on his own and he won't do well on his own and that is sad. And he appears to have no idea how lucky he is to have a place to go.
In the meantime, his wife is moving out of their house and as soon as she is gone, he will go back to his house. But since it won't be long before he won't be able to pay the mortgage, he'll probably lose the house and the trailer will be his only option.
The doctor said that he is a danger to himself and others but that no one is to blame but him. We tried to get my brother to go back into rehab and stay the full 90 days but he refuses.
The doctor wanted to keep my brother in ICU for 3 days to detox but was again met with refusal.
There's lots more to this story, but you get the gist. My sister has been a saint. And the irony is that she is the only member of our family who has never touched alcohol in her entire life, not even a sip.
This is incredibly emotional. He is 15 years younger than me so I spent a lot of time taking him to Cardinals games, Bob Seger concerts, just stuff that my dad didn't want to do. So I have all these memories of an adorable little blond-haired, blue-eyed boy and wondering where it all went wrong.
I will update regularly for anyone who may read this who is interested in how "end stage alcoholism" progresses.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Rec Center
Today I took the Friday Silver Sneakers class and it was different from Monday's, but still wonderful.
Monday was more aerobic and active (but still within my abilities). And today was much less aerobic, but more balance, stretching, resistance bands and relaxation. I left feeling very good.
The weather has been colder and colder and I hear snow is around the corner.
Monday was more aerobic and active (but still within my abilities). And today was much less aerobic, but more balance, stretching, resistance bands and relaxation. I left feeling very good.
The weather has been colder and colder and I hear snow is around the corner.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Silver Sneakers
First of all, this massacre in Vegas is unbelievable. I have been praying all day for the dead and injured, as well as their families and friends. This world has gotten so scary.
******************************
This morning I went to the Rec Center and did one of their Silver Sneakers classes. It was a perfect hour of exercise for me. Just strenuous enough. And the instructor was a ton of fun. And surprisingly, there were quite a few men in the class. Anyway, I plan to go to these classes regularly.
I may have mentioned in the past that my cats are scratching the heck out of my furniture. I got rid of the leather couch and recliner before they had a chance to totally destroy them. And I got a new couch and recliner that has a microsuede upholstery that supposely cats don't like. NOT. So I've been experimenting and finally came up with a goofy setup that seems to be cat proof.
First, I put a cheap protective cover on the couch (which did not deter them). Then I laid throw rugs over the protective cover and that worked to a degree but the rugs kept moving. So I found some "Smurf Blue" faux sheepskin rugs over the couch. I put these rugs out about a week ago and the cats like to snuggle in the rug but so far there have been NO attempts at scratching. I think I've got it...
So here is my Smurf City:
As you can see, my cats pretty much now own the house.
******************************
This morning I went to the Rec Center and did one of their Silver Sneakers classes. It was a perfect hour of exercise for me. Just strenuous enough. And the instructor was a ton of fun. And surprisingly, there were quite a few men in the class. Anyway, I plan to go to these classes regularly.
I may have mentioned in the past that my cats are scratching the heck out of my furniture. I got rid of the leather couch and recliner before they had a chance to totally destroy them. And I got a new couch and recliner that has a microsuede upholstery that supposely cats don't like. NOT. So I've been experimenting and finally came up with a goofy setup that seems to be cat proof.
First, I put a cheap protective cover on the couch (which did not deter them). Then I laid throw rugs over the protective cover and that worked to a degree but the rugs kept moving. So I found some "Smurf Blue" faux sheepskin rugs over the couch. I put these rugs out about a week ago and the cats like to snuggle in the rug but so far there have been NO attempts at scratching. I think I've got it...
So here is my Smurf City:
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