I'm sort of depressed at the moment, just a little. In true me fashion I went overboard with the dog fostering. I picked up a chihuahua from the pound who had just suffered a stillborn birth and been spayed. I had to wait 2 hours at the pound for her due to the rescue folk not letting me know that she couldn't be picked up until 4pm. While I was there I met a woman who had picked up a stray little bichon frise (cute little white fluffy dog with poodle-ish curly hair) who had turned out to be pregnant. I thought it would be a great experience to have puppies in the house for a little while. The chi was only here for 3 days and then I drove her to West Hollywood to be fostered by someone else. She actually got adopted that night, so yay. I took the Bichon to the vet because she had a really red paw. Turns out there was a little stone wedged in that I hadn't found the night before so they got it out, gave her antibiotics and asked if I wanted x-rays to know how many puppies and a progesterone test to know an approximate delivery date (so that I'd know when it was late and to bring her in). She had 2, rather large, puppies in there and naturally the vet recommended a c-section. I was thinking enough to at least ask what the estimated price on that is and it runs between $1000-1200.- Yah, I'm already going into debt on a monthly basis. I write the rescue I'm working with and let them know, but got no encouragement to go ahead with the c-section or to not. She went into labor Monday night at 9pm. I had spent the weekend reading everything I possibly could on "whelping" and the bichon frise breed. I stayed up all night with her, took the girls to school Tuesday morning, came back and napped on the office floor. When I woke up an hour later she had half a puppy sticking out feet first. Totally normal having the feet first, but she was definitely distressed and it wasn't progressing. It took me another hour of encouraging her and even pulling on the pup for it to come out, but it was dead. I felt terrible, but hopeful for the second one to deliver easier. It was her first litter, of course delivery was going to suck. I took the pup away but then read to let her have it til she realized it was dead so I gave it back and as I'm reading again on anything I can find to help with delivery, she started to eat it. Literally skinned it. It was disgusting, smelly, and I got up to take it away from her but she growled something fierce so I backed off. I couldn't get it away from her until she went into labor with the second one a few hours later. Timing sucked on that because I had to take my other foster dog to the vet to get a health certificate so that he could fly to his new home in canada the next day. When I got back with him she had another puppy half way out and this time I was more aggressive in "helping" her get it out. She was so tired by then that she couldn't even keep her eyes open. He came out a little faster, but again, dead. I put him in a towel and tried to rub life into him for 20 minutes, watching the clock the whole time because I was already late in leaving to pick up my kids from daycare. The dog had no interest in him so I figured my trying couldn't hurt anything. No luck, and I still feel as if I had just spent 2 more minutes he would have started moving. I can't stand that feeling! I was 5 minutes late to pick up Rowan and have no idea what that is going to financially cost me, but emotionally it was too much. Thankfully the Bichon is doing good and healing up quick, though she's engorged with milk and now I'm worried she'll get a fever from it, UGH!
So, I feel like I failed on my first pregnant dog foster.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
School Lunch Duty
I volunteered to help out at Rowan's school on Mondays' this month. Today was my first day on the job there and it wasn't so bad. The kids were great, the lunch looked more decent than the other ones I've seen (today was grilled cheese sandwich day) and the weather was hot. I was disappointed, however, in the school administration yet again. The principal "thanked" me for coming to help without even the hint of a smile and the "on staff" lunch helper (in hind sight) bullied me in to saying I would help the other classroom kids instead of my own. I told Rowan I had to go with the other classes and that bummed her out so much that the staff lunch helper from our class sent someone back to get me and told the other "helper" that I was here to help my kid's class and not to ask me to do anything else. Wow, I totally let myself get bullied by an adult I was already predisposed to not like. Damn I'm weak sometimes. Seriously! Why the hell do I try to "help out" for people who are just plain nasty to me? Freaky!
So next Monday I have no intention of even speaking to the unpleasant staff helper (who, by the way, spent the entire lunch gossiping with the principal in the corner and neither helped out with the children at all, though that is exactly what they are being paid to do - sheesh!)
On a more positive note... though you may think I'm even more crazy.....
Another Facebook plea from a friend about a preggo chihuahua at the pound needing a foster/rescue. I've ignored a few of those, knowing that I just couldn't handle more, but I'm feeling pretty good now so I answered this one. I'll be "pulling" the preggo pup from the pound tomorrow and bringing her home for a month (yes, I told them I could only watch them for a month, I'm learning). As I answered that I could help, the woman who runs the rescue typed in that she may have found a home for little Nube (our current foster dog), which is pretty awesome. I hope it happens. I worry about the little guy getting too attached here and suffering more in the long run.
Ugh, which reminds me.... Evelyn let Nube out of the house after it got dark tonight and didn't say anything until he'd been out for at least 5 minutes. I thought, "Great, just when he finds a home he's gonna get killed by a car." Nope, I caught the little guy... and then I see a car slow down on the road as I'm waiting for it to go by so I can carry him home. .... and then I see Evelyn running into the street! Damnit that kid is going to give me a heart attack! I grabbed her and pulled her to the sidewalk and the couple in the car stopped and said, "We saw her and thought, was that a baby? No, couldn't be." Wow! I thanked them and explained what happens which made them laugh and the drove off. Thank goodness they were paying attention or she would have been splat and I would probably be dead from a heart attack right now. Try explaining to a willful 2 year old that they have to listen to mommy and are NOT allowed in the front yard. I gave it my best shot. If I catch her trying to get out again I'm going to either install an electric fence or some sort of baby lojack that hobbles her if she tries to escape. "Action baby", it isn't just a cute name for her, it's true!
So next Monday I have no intention of even speaking to the unpleasant staff helper (who, by the way, spent the entire lunch gossiping with the principal in the corner and neither helped out with the children at all, though that is exactly what they are being paid to do - sheesh!)
On a more positive note... though you may think I'm even more crazy.....
Another Facebook plea from a friend about a preggo chihuahua at the pound needing a foster/rescue. I've ignored a few of those, knowing that I just couldn't handle more, but I'm feeling pretty good now so I answered this one. I'll be "pulling" the preggo pup from the pound tomorrow and bringing her home for a month (yes, I told them I could only watch them for a month, I'm learning). As I answered that I could help, the woman who runs the rescue typed in that she may have found a home for little Nube (our current foster dog), which is pretty awesome. I hope it happens. I worry about the little guy getting too attached here and suffering more in the long run.
Ugh, which reminds me.... Evelyn let Nube out of the house after it got dark tonight and didn't say anything until he'd been out for at least 5 minutes. I thought, "Great, just when he finds a home he's gonna get killed by a car." Nope, I caught the little guy... and then I see a car slow down on the road as I'm waiting for it to go by so I can carry him home. .... and then I see Evelyn running into the street! Damnit that kid is going to give me a heart attack! I grabbed her and pulled her to the sidewalk and the couple in the car stopped and said, "We saw her and thought, was that a baby? No, couldn't be." Wow! I thanked them and explained what happens which made them laugh and the drove off. Thank goodness they were paying attention or she would have been splat and I would probably be dead from a heart attack right now. Try explaining to a willful 2 year old that they have to listen to mommy and are NOT allowed in the front yard. I gave it my best shot. If I catch her trying to get out again I'm going to either install an electric fence or some sort of baby lojack that hobbles her if she tries to escape. "Action baby", it isn't just a cute name for her, it's true!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Foster Dog Nube
So 3 weeks or so ago I took on a foster dog. This means, a dog that would otherwise have died at the pound or been put back into a pound or whatever, that I have taken home so that a dog rescue group can find it a new home. Ours is Nube, which is totally appropriate since I'm a Newbie with this whole foster thing. Today was his first "adoption event" at a petsmart out in beverly hills and, sadly, he didn't do so well. Decided to bark ferociously at every dog and some of the men who walked by. Ad to that, he was the only dog there and the Petsmart is new so there wasn't any advertising about it... ya, he's back home with us again. At least the head of the rescue got some good pictures of him so she can try the online means of pet adoptions. Naturally Nube is completely pissed off at me now and has gone from "perfect dog for obnoxious children" to "food aggressive scary, feisty dog who needs to stay outside for an hour or so til he calms down". Ugh!
I really hope she finds the "right" home for him. He's got some issues that most people would dump him because of. For example: pees on everything, digs through the trash, runs away if he can get his nose out the door, chews up the kids toys (hey, they have like 950 little plastic toys, I say, thanks for helping me get rid of some) and barks at 4:30am at something I haven't determined yet. Ya, he needs a dog lover with a nice backyard and a lot of patience :)
In other news...... my mother arrives this Thursday to watch the kids for the weekend. I am going to Wyoming for a spinning/knitting retreat and am seriously looking forward to it. I'm tempted to bring the laptop to write, but we'll see.
I've cleaned my room and the girls room sofa this weekend and am hoping to get them organized and the hallway cleared by the end of tomorrow. That would only leave the breakfast nook as a cleaning challenge and some time left over to work on my editing and book. :) Cuz' ya know, I'm all about the relaxing.
How do people do all this and work a full time job? I know I sure fail on the house stuff while working, and I'm soooooooo not looking forward to going back in 3 weeks. I could totally do this "stay at home" mom thing if someone would care to donate $2 mil (after taxes) to my bank account so I could retire :)
I really hope she finds the "right" home for him. He's got some issues that most people would dump him because of. For example: pees on everything, digs through the trash, runs away if he can get his nose out the door, chews up the kids toys (hey, they have like 950 little plastic toys, I say, thanks for helping me get rid of some) and barks at 4:30am at something I haven't determined yet. Ya, he needs a dog lover with a nice backyard and a lot of patience :)
In other news...... my mother arrives this Thursday to watch the kids for the weekend. I am going to Wyoming for a spinning/knitting retreat and am seriously looking forward to it. I'm tempted to bring the laptop to write, but we'll see.
I've cleaned my room and the girls room sofa this weekend and am hoping to get them organized and the hallway cleared by the end of tomorrow. That would only leave the breakfast nook as a cleaning challenge and some time left over to work on my editing and book. :) Cuz' ya know, I'm all about the relaxing.
How do people do all this and work a full time job? I know I sure fail on the house stuff while working, and I'm soooooooo not looking forward to going back in 3 weeks. I could totally do this "stay at home" mom thing if someone would care to donate $2 mil (after taxes) to my bank account so I could retire :)
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Meh!
Epic failure on the cooking front, but whatever! I did get Rowan excited about making some homemade mac n' cheese by showing her a clip of a cooking show. We tried it last night and she was a great helper. Both girls loved it for the first 3 bites or so and then decided it was gross and fought to not eat any more. Naturally their desire for candy left me the winner. You don't eat a reasonable dinner, you don't get any candy, period! I may have to keep using that tactic to get them to try new foods until we find some healthy ones they'll eat without manipulation.
I've been dealing with a lot since the last post. Work issues, massive school issues, family issues and a minor nervous breakdown. Ain't been fun, can't say I want to repeat it. The results of all these dramas sofa include my decision to learn a different career path, namely animatic editing. My good friend Anne has fiercely agreed this is a good transition for me and is acting as my mentor. She's very determined that I be ready as quickly as possible to get me out of checking and off my current show posthaste. Shya, all for it. Bring it on. I'm currently on a 5 week unpaid hiatus and am using it to do 5 practice animatics and get myself comfortable and up to speed on the editing program. School issues have made me realize that the 10 year commitment I was making to them is bogus and the tiny bit of stability that gave my world gone. I HAVE to work one more season in my current job to get my health benefits locked in for retirement. After that I can literally go/do whatever I want. There is no longer anything holding me tight to California (other than my awesome friends and this glorious sunshine). Family issues, meh, they'll always be there. I need to learn to ignore them.
Another glorious outcome of the nervous breakdown is the drive to write the damn book! I've come to the conclusion that nothing is my life will ever get to a "norm" until I get at least one of the stupid books in my head onto paper. So, weekdays I learn editing... weekends, I write! You know, as long as the children will allow me to.. teehee. I almost feel like doing a hiatus diary to show myself if I'm using my time wisely...lol. Day 1, mildly successful. Got a lot of errands done, cleaned a bit (since destroyed by said children), edited and figured out some of the buttons on my own. Day 2, also mildly successful. Went to the DMV, post office, picked up a prescription (that I still need to get filled) from the doctor, spun some yarn and hung out with the kids. Day 3, again successful. DMV again - got the car registered and have the new plates, edited a lot and asked Anne what I think are good Newbie questions. Day 4, slightly less productive, but still successful. Took a nap and had a 3 hour park playdate with Rowan's classmates, then went to the market and bought ingredients for mac n' cheese. Day 5, success but I really need to be more productive. Cleaned, cleaned and cleaned (though you really can't tell), made home-made mac n' cheese with rowan and hung out with the girls til they fell asleep.
Today is Day 6 and if I manage to get the damn book started AND do something fun with the girls (looks like it may be a little too chilly for the water balloon fight I promised in the backyard) I shall call it successful. I'd like to keep cleaning and get at least 1 room finished today, but the book is first.
So, here's to writing.... and eventually learning how to post pics on this blog thing so I can share something more interesting than my cleaning and cooking failures. :)
I've been dealing with a lot since the last post. Work issues, massive school issues, family issues and a minor nervous breakdown. Ain't been fun, can't say I want to repeat it. The results of all these dramas sofa include my decision to learn a different career path, namely animatic editing. My good friend Anne has fiercely agreed this is a good transition for me and is acting as my mentor. She's very determined that I be ready as quickly as possible to get me out of checking and off my current show posthaste. Shya, all for it. Bring it on. I'm currently on a 5 week unpaid hiatus and am using it to do 5 practice animatics and get myself comfortable and up to speed on the editing program. School issues have made me realize that the 10 year commitment I was making to them is bogus and the tiny bit of stability that gave my world gone. I HAVE to work one more season in my current job to get my health benefits locked in for retirement. After that I can literally go/do whatever I want. There is no longer anything holding me tight to California (other than my awesome friends and this glorious sunshine). Family issues, meh, they'll always be there. I need to learn to ignore them.
Another glorious outcome of the nervous breakdown is the drive to write the damn book! I've come to the conclusion that nothing is my life will ever get to a "norm" until I get at least one of the stupid books in my head onto paper. So, weekdays I learn editing... weekends, I write! You know, as long as the children will allow me to.. teehee. I almost feel like doing a hiatus diary to show myself if I'm using my time wisely...lol. Day 1, mildly successful. Got a lot of errands done, cleaned a bit (since destroyed by said children), edited and figured out some of the buttons on my own. Day 2, also mildly successful. Went to the DMV, post office, picked up a prescription (that I still need to get filled) from the doctor, spun some yarn and hung out with the kids. Day 3, again successful. DMV again - got the car registered and have the new plates, edited a lot and asked Anne what I think are good Newbie questions. Day 4, slightly less productive, but still successful. Took a nap and had a 3 hour park playdate with Rowan's classmates, then went to the market and bought ingredients for mac n' cheese. Day 5, success but I really need to be more productive. Cleaned, cleaned and cleaned (though you really can't tell), made home-made mac n' cheese with rowan and hung out with the girls til they fell asleep.
Today is Day 6 and if I manage to get the damn book started AND do something fun with the girls (looks like it may be a little too chilly for the water balloon fight I promised in the backyard) I shall call it successful. I'd like to keep cleaning and get at least 1 room finished today, but the book is first.
So, here's to writing.... and eventually learning how to post pics on this blog thing so I can share something more interesting than my cleaning and cooking failures. :)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Sheesh!
Not sure if the food thing is an epic fail or just an opportunity I haven't fully committed to yet. Ya, cooked one day, haven't really done much since. Even finding somewhat healthy lunch food for Rowan has become a challenge and I'm resorting more and and more to having her buy the school lunch. I'll get there, eventually.
The house is getting a little better organized at least and that's making it easier/faster to clean, you know, when I can muster up the motivation...sheesh!
We rescued two new pets last weekend and they are both a joy and a bother at the moment. Gonzo, the new dog, is a love but seems to be scaring Megan, the old dog, into a self imposed exile. Megan has always kept to herself most of the time, but now I rarely see her at all and I'm concerned that she may not be getting to the food and water dishes. Hedwig/Snowball the kitten is taking all the pawing from the children really well, but my allergies to him are starting to kick in. I'll have to ask my brother which medication he uses for his. Evelyn dumped the kitten into the bathtub tonight and that has me thinking that I really no very little about cats or how to know when they get sick. Guess we'll find out.
The writing is going okay on premises. I managed to finish one and run it by the creator of the show I work on. I still have to finish the rewrite and show it to the head writer, but my friend and I will be meeting with her next week, so the deadline will help make sure that gets done. I think about the book alot, but haven't managed to get anything written. Turns out I have a huge bag full of written ideas, dreams I've had and shows I've either pitched or should pitch. Gonna take me a little while to get all that filed into some sort of useful package. In the meantime, my first idea is percolating in my head, though it is still without title or direction.
The house is getting a little better organized at least and that's making it easier/faster to clean, you know, when I can muster up the motivation...sheesh!
We rescued two new pets last weekend and they are both a joy and a bother at the moment. Gonzo, the new dog, is a love but seems to be scaring Megan, the old dog, into a self imposed exile. Megan has always kept to herself most of the time, but now I rarely see her at all and I'm concerned that she may not be getting to the food and water dishes. Hedwig/Snowball the kitten is taking all the pawing from the children really well, but my allergies to him are starting to kick in. I'll have to ask my brother which medication he uses for his. Evelyn dumped the kitten into the bathtub tonight and that has me thinking that I really no very little about cats or how to know when they get sick. Guess we'll find out.
The writing is going okay on premises. I managed to finish one and run it by the creator of the show I work on. I still have to finish the rewrite and show it to the head writer, but my friend and I will be meeting with her next week, so the deadline will help make sure that gets done. I think about the book alot, but haven't managed to get anything written. Turns out I have a huge bag full of written ideas, dreams I've had and shows I've either pitched or should pitch. Gonna take me a little while to get all that filed into some sort of useful package. In the meantime, my first idea is percolating in my head, though it is still without title or direction.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Another project started
It's official. I have finally started writing the book I've been talking about for the last 6 years. The characters are set, the outline written and I think my life has finally calmed down a bit to allow me to get into a writing groove. Whew!
Of course I can't just do one thing soooooo..... I am starting this blog, writing some premises with a friend for the show I work on, and am starting a very serious "food storage" kick.
I ordered a 1 month supple kit from Augason Farms and am determined to teach myself to cook actual meals for me and my kidlets using ingredients from it. I don't cook at all, unless you count frozen chicken nuggets in the toaster oven or grilled cheese in the microwave, so this is going to be a HUGE challenge. If I can manage 2 "real" meals a week through December I may even get ambitious about a garden in the yard. Fresh food? OMG!
Now if I could also finish one of the 50 million other projects I've already started to make room for these life would rock! I've got a chemo cap I need to finish knitting (I wasn't taught using patterns so they tend to tax my brain a bit), a baby blanket to finish crocheting, about 72 granny squares to sew together for a lap throw, 1/2 pound of roving to spin and a sweater to knit by Thanksgiving, and another 45? hours of volunteering to do by the end of the year to get a $1000 donation from work for my daughter's school. ( I'm ignoring the 100 pounds of wool in the garage and the mountain of already spun yarn in piles around the house, the 6ft tall weeds in the backyard, and the general clutter I can't seem to get rid of no matter how much I donate.)
Sounds doable, except that I am so beat by the time I get home every night that I'm proud of myself if I get a load of towels folded. Real food should give me more energy with less sleep, in theory, so let's see how it goes. :)
Of course I can't just do one thing soooooo..... I am starting this blog, writing some premises with a friend for the show I work on, and am starting a very serious "food storage" kick.
I ordered a 1 month supple kit from Augason Farms and am determined to teach myself to cook actual meals for me and my kidlets using ingredients from it. I don't cook at all, unless you count frozen chicken nuggets in the toaster oven or grilled cheese in the microwave, so this is going to be a HUGE challenge. If I can manage 2 "real" meals a week through December I may even get ambitious about a garden in the yard. Fresh food? OMG!
Now if I could also finish one of the 50 million other projects I've already started to make room for these life would rock! I've got a chemo cap I need to finish knitting (I wasn't taught using patterns so they tend to tax my brain a bit), a baby blanket to finish crocheting, about 72 granny squares to sew together for a lap throw, 1/2 pound of roving to spin and a sweater to knit by Thanksgiving, and another 45? hours of volunteering to do by the end of the year to get a $1000 donation from work for my daughter's school. ( I'm ignoring the 100 pounds of wool in the garage and the mountain of already spun yarn in piles around the house, the 6ft tall weeds in the backyard, and the general clutter I can't seem to get rid of no matter how much I donate.)
Sounds doable, except that I am so beat by the time I get home every night that I'm proud of myself if I get a load of towels folded. Real food should give me more energy with less sleep, in theory, so let's see how it goes. :)
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