Sunday, May 27, 2007

Styrofoam Cups

Today while dumpster diving, I found two brand new tube packages of 8oz Styrofoam cups! They were imprinted with the logo of some mortgage company, but what do I care...

Now this is indeed fortuitous, as I need disposable stuff now more than ever. It is much easier to throw something away than wash it, not being able to stand on both feet at the moment. I don’t have ‘disposables’ that I can do without as they are just not part of my budget.

I also found two very ripe avocados. Since I do not like avocado, I left them there for the next diver! There was also a small bag of toddler clothing, and since I do not have a toddler...

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The Sisters: New Collars

They have needed new collars for a couple of months. Ethel’s collar was severely frayed. Lucy’s collar was losing the ID tag. Both were faded and had lost their bells. Finally, Lucy’s ID came totally off, and I made the trip to the local pet store.

Keeping to tradition, I got a bright red for Lucy (the alpha cat), and a bright blue for Ethel. Safety collars of course! The collars included a ‘jingle’ type bell of the same color. (I need them to have the bells so I can keep track of them; I do not want to run over a kitty with the wheel chair!). I also purchased TWO SETS of ‘Buddy Tags’, one for now, and one for an extra set.

These ‘Buddy Tags’, made in the USA by ‘Buddy Cat’, they are the best pet ID’s I’ve ever found. I love them. They are simply a piece of paper you write your info on, and another, trifold piece of waterproof adhesive, see through, wrap around plastic material to put over it, which wraps around the entire width of the collar. You can see them at: http://www.buddycat.com/tags.php They stay on! There were only 3 packages left on the shelf, and I got two of them.

The total cost of these necessary ‘Sister’ items: $22 + tax!!! But barring a broken or lost collar they will probably last a year or two, I hope!

They have worn collars since they were tiny kittens, so I had no problems exchanging the old for the new. I had wondered if perhaps they would dislike the bells, as they have not had them for a long time, (they do come off easily). But no, they actually seemed to enjoy their new their new attire! If I had a digital camera, I would have taken pictures of them in their new collars to post here, and I am sure they would have ‘posed’ appropriately...

Monday, May 21, 2007

May Gray

We have been ‘socked’ in by a heavy Marine Layer for days! If we are lucky, we will get two or so hours of sun mid-day. Most days we are not lucky!

Not only that, but it remains cool, if not cold if the wind is blowing. People are walking around in the middle of the day in jackets and with their hands in their pockets.

The May Gray is typical (until the Pacific Ocean Warms up), but it has been particularly heavy this year. The cool weather is NOT typical for May! Seems like fall. In fact, it feels like we have had one long fall season, no winter rains, and now no spring.

I really dislike it because it does affect my mood. It does not take much of this for me to get depressed (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I am definitely having the early signs of depression. There is nothing I can do about it, as my BRITE LIGHT has three bulbs totally out that need replacing ($30 each + shipping!) http://www.apollohealth.com/index.html. I was planning on getting them this summer...

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

New 'clicker'!

Finally went to the 'new' Walgreens today (it has probably been open two years now!).

What spurred the trip was that I needed a new lancet device. I test my Blood Glucose 4 - 6 times a day, day after day, month after month. This seems to play havoc with lancing devices. I have yet to have one that's lasted much over a year.

They always 'break' at the screw off cap area, OR worse yet, the 'spring' mechanism slows down greatly, leaving the actual lancet in your skin! This is what happened to my 'last' one.

I actually have old, extra lancet devices on hand. But now I carry the oh so small, Freestyle CozMoniter Case in my waist bag. It requires a very small lancet device.

I checked Long's, and they only had the 'standard' size, so it was off to Walgreen's.

There I found a great Lancing Device! Just the right size, has 5 depth settings, easy to load and unload the lancet (by hand), and it was only $10! It was 'Walgreen's' brand.

This is the first time I have used a 'generic' Lancet Device (in all these years!). I have always purchased them from the companies that make the Glucose Meters. Since I am now using the Coz Freestyle Meter, I could have gotten one from them. But I hadn't particularly liked the one that came with my CozMoniter, it wasn't in & out fast enough, and the depth settings didn't seem to be any different, one from the other. I want a drop of blood and I want it NOW!

I bought it home and began using it immediately. It is great! The only drawback is that it is only for 'finger testing' not forearms, etc. That is fine for me, as I have never had much success with anything other than my fingers.

Now I am a happy 'clicker' I would recommend this little Walgreen's Lancet Device to all. (BTW, I think I am the only person that calls them 'clickers', after the sound they make!)

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Ethel: Surgery Postponed

Got a call from the vets office today. They have decided (and I agree), to wait to do the spay till Ethel is is full estrus again. This could be 3 weeks from now, or next spring (seasonal). Now it's a waiting game...