Later January, Hello February

I’m excited for what 2010 holds in store for us, but I’m kind of relieved January is over. Sometimes things just take on a life of their own and all you can do is hold on to the ‘Oh Shit!’ bar and hope the ride ends better than it started.

My BelovED has been working long hours, weekends, and holidays. I miss him. Sometimes I feel we’re two ships passing each other in the night. He has an incredible work ethic and feels a profound sense of obligation. I pray to God that he continues to provide me and Ed with strength and patience. In this unstable economic time, I am grateful we are gainfully employed. At the same time, I pray some of the work pressures are alleviated, even if by just a tad bit.

I got some kind of a nasty bug this past weekend and actually stayed home sick from work for the first time in I don’t know how long. I’m feeling better now, but I’ve been coughin’ up those little green aliens from the Mucinex commercial like you wouldn’t’ believe. Lovely.

January was also the month I tore up our evidence garage door at work. I was pulling in when I saw the garage door coming back down on top of my car. I panicked, and instead of driving straight through to avoid it, I did this--

Pepper (yes, that’s what I named my car) didn’t fare so well either. It broke my heart to see her damaged and I haven’t even had her for a full year yet. :-(

While Pepper was at the beauty shop getting all did up, I had the unfortunate opportunity to drive this beast of a truck. We had severe rains San Diego that week and this is the only car available at the rental car agency. It was an “adventure” driving this beast. The very first day I drove it to work, I opened the door to step out and promptly fell out of the truck. I had yet to get the hang of how high the truck was off the ground.

Falling out of the beast didn’t help my injured left foot. Thankfully, Pepper’s beauty salon makeover was completed before I could kill myself or anyone else while driving the beast. Pepper got a brand new door and everything. Right about the time I picked up rejuvenated Pepper, I was notified that Black Magic (my Honda that was stolen last March) had been recovered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Holy Cannoli. That is waaaaaay over there on the border with Texas. My poor baby Black Magic!!!

Don’t laugh, but I actually teared up when I heard what had happened to my little car. I kind of hoped some young teen had stolen it and Black Magic was now enjoying life as a resurrected race car or something. But no, he was used in a variety of criminal enterprises and when the driver was arrested, the police found out Black Magic had been stolen. Apparently, it is more expensive to ship the car back to the US than it is to simply leave it there, so my insurance is writing it off. Black Magic is out there all alone, missing me, wanting to be home, and it shall not come to pass. I know it is only a car, but it weighs heavy on my heart. So sad. (((sigh)))

Speaking of my left foot, January was also when poor Milo had to get surgery on his own left foot/paw. He’s had a small brown lump on his paw since we adopted him in 2007, but over the past few weeks this lump grew to more than 5 times its size.

His vet didn’t thing it was malignant, but if it continued to enlarge, he wouldn’t have been able to walk. If it got too big, the removal would have meant removing a toe as well simply because the vet would need enough skin to close the site.

So, this past Saturday it was time to say goodbye to Milo’s beauty mark.

We were grateful he didn’t have to be completely anesthetized, but even the minimal sedation put a goofy, loopy look on my Milo Bear’s face.

He sported his green bandaged foot like a champ. When he could focus that is. He had the spins and didn’t actually fall asleep until last Saturday night. I could tell he was really nauseous. Poor thing. I wish I could endure his pain and confusion for him. I hope and pray he will one day understand we’ve only done this for his own good.

I had to get the bandage off last night to let the suture site dry and heal. Gosh, their nails look like giant bear claws without the fur covering it, don’t they??? But, the growth is gone and it looks nice and clean at the site.

Now the challenge is to prevent him from licking or chewing his sutures off until next week Saturday. His vet sent the removed growth in to the labs to check & make sure it wasn’t cancerous. Crossing our fingers and paws.

To help with keeping the site dry and preventing a lick fest, Milo will be sportin’ his mama’s running socks. He’s not too thrilled about having to wear girls’ socks, but papa’s socks are way too big for his little paw.

We sure do make a sight to behold, hobbling down the block together on our walks. Milo limping along with his girl-socked foot, and me with my boot. At least we’re both moving at the same slow, bumbling pace right now.

He was all confused at first with the introduction of the sock.


In one respect, January wasn’t so bad. I made a resolution that I wouldn’t buy lunch while at work for the month of January. I didn’t want to make it a whole year resolution because I didn’t want to set myself up for failure. I figured I’d take it a month at a time. January was great. I made it a point to eat what I actually brought to the office. Lunch in downtown San Diego is $12-$15 easy. Not only does that add up like crazy over time, but it doesn’t allow me to control the amount of sodium and bad stuff I take in, and I know better than that.

My debit card breaks down purchases for me by categories, and just at one Greek deli alone I spent over $800 last year on lunch. That blew my mind. I also spent over $400 at Subway in 2009. Craziness!!! I’m not going to tell you about my other favorite lunch spots. The insane thing is that more often than not I actually do eat what I bring for lunch. Grrrrr! Pissed me off at myself, especially when I love to cook and make dishes that I prefer to have for lunch. Sometimes I’m just tired and lazy, and other times I’m just not prepared. Well, I made it through January without spending a dime downtown. Let’s see how February pans out. One month at a time.

Another great thing about January was getting together and having breakfast with Sue. She is my Blogistani friend turned real life friend who blogs over at Random Ramblings. She has three Goldens, just like us, and three great kids. Oh, and one cool hubby. (Sorry Rob!) When we went away for Christmas, she took in our pups, plus her three, and one more guest, she had 7 Goldens in her house for the holidays. Couldn’t think of anything better, ha!

Sue and I enjoyed breakfast and a couple of hours of chick chat at the Broken Yolk in Pacific Beach. It was special to learn about what we have in common and what makes us unique. We’ve decided to make it a point to get together for breakfast on a regular basis. She runs the Golden Retriever Meetup Group of San Diego, so we both have packed weekend schedules, but we’ll find a way to work it out.

I figure February can’t dish out anything more than January already did, but I am praying for more of the good-for-the-soul stuff this month. I have my work cut out for me at the end of February, but I’m so looking forward to it. I’m teaching a 2 hour spin class to raise money for charity with my gym. Dear left foot, you need to get better and stronger ASAP!!!

I wish for you all a Fabulous February as well.

Gosh, it felt fabulous to get all this off my chest. (((biiiig sigh of relief)))