Resolutions

1. Start re-learning Ukrainian. A lot of family is coming to visit from Poland soon and I don't want to be an ugly American. I know it won't take very long because I start thinking in Ukrainian pretty quickly if I'm exposed to it enough.

2. Try to figure out what's wrong with Bish - get that urine sample somehow. Good times.

3. Mini make-over - I started using the Crest strips and I really need to figure out something to do with my hair. I'm so bored with it. I can't go darker because my eyebrows are too blonde but I've never had a hair STYLE. and I'd really like some STYLE. But I'm lazy - so it needs to be wash and wear because my getting ready routine needs to be less than 10 minutes including make up - but not including clothing. Any ideas?

4. Volunteer more. I failed at that this year. I'm really lucky and need to give back more.

5. Take more pictures.

6. Lower my BMI. It's currently normal - but at the far end of normal. Difficult to know since I don't believe in scales (I lift weights and muscle weights more than fat....blah blah blah) so I'll have to go by the way jeans fit.

7. Read one book/month.

8. Try to be less jealous - I'll never be one of those skinny chicks with thick hair - and I should accept that.

9. Try to be more positive - especially about my job.

10. Dress up more and take advantage of the youth I have left.

Christmas 2007

The emotional roller coaster that is 2007 Christmas is over. It was a roller coaster indeed. Friday night before I couldn't sleep and heard my Bishy drink two full bowls of water and was woken up by him three times to let him out so he could relieve himself. I realized this wasn't normal and started researching "increased urine canine" in google. Thirty minutes later I was rushing Bishop to the vet with Gus by my side waiting to find out what was wrong. He has elevated amounts of BUN in his blood - this most likely means kidney problems.

The vet made it sound like it wasn't a big deal, could be he's dehydrated. But I knew better so the panic slowly set in over the next couple of days til I was breaking down and crying at work for seemingly no reason. You see....the doctor doesn't know that he's been having accidents for a month and he never ever has accidents. This is called leakage and is a symptom of kidney failure. The doctor also doesn't know has lupus, one of the main causes of kidney failure in both humans and animals. I researched more and more and found many websites that say once the symptoms are visible, there is no way to reverse the damage or treat it and death is around the corner.

This does not a merry Christmas make.

I don't know what I'd do without my Bishalish! I love him so much and he's been through so much with me. I know he's going to die before me. I know they say the only problem with loving animals is they die to soon. But I'm just not ready to let him go yet. No way.

I finally panicked enough and called the vet back and almost cried on the phone - she talked me down. Even if it is kidney problems, he can live for a long time if I get him on a low protein low phosphorous diet, and quite comfortably. This was on the way home from work Christmas Eve. I'm so glad I called, my Christmas was saved. I only cried at my parents' house once but the fun of decorating the tree with my brothers soon let me forget it.

Decorating the tree at my house is kind of like a barbecue. You can be in a bad mood and bicker all you want, but eventually, everyone is either moving a picnic table or tending to the food or beer and eventually you open your eyes and realize you're having fun. My brother quit smoking again which makes him irritable usually but even he was fine. It didn't take though. I really hope he quits soon.

Despite the fact that I thought I was going to die on the way to and from my parents' house on Christmas day, Christmas this year seemed more enjoyable than it had in a while. I got awesome presents, especially from Gus. There was no fighting in my family. My parents couldn't find a way to get carp - sorry!

Now I just have to collect a urine sample from Bish. That should be fun. I wish I could just bring in some yellow snow in a cup.

Bah Fucking Humbug!

Right now I hate Christmas. I went shopping today and got many of the people on my list knocked off - which is mostly family. My little bro is a big mystery but I guess something will pop up before the big day, which in our family, is Christmas Eve - because something always does. But in some cases, I felt I was getting some people a gift just for the sake of giving them something rather than gifting something that they truly need, or would fall in love with. You know me, you know that I'm not a big fan of this type of gift giving, but I guess it still tells someone I thought about them and care about them.

The drivers are out of control. I don't know how many people did stupid things today. I have one motto when it comes to driving - well ok many - but today the one that applies is "If you're going to be a moron, and do something stupid, at least signal before you do it". I don't get why you can't just signal. It's so darn easy. The makers of the automobile, have even put the signal switchie thingie right by the steering wheel where you're holding your hand anyway, if you're not putting on make up, texting, or masturbating while driving. Also, maybe you're retired, and you don't work, and it seems like every day is Sunday; but I assure you, it is not Sunday every day, and I have the 2007 calendar to prove it.

I don't know how many people I saw cheating while driving too and waiting til the last second to get into the busy lane which is the real one they wanted to be in while I'm stuck behind their pathetic ass waiting with their signal for someone to let them in. I almost got t-boned by a person who was at the stop sign way later than me at one of the kajillion of stop lights of the parameter of Park Meadows. At the same intersection I saw a blond Highlands Ranch, $160/month highlights kind of bitch get in the straight going lane and then do a big circle around while we all wait at stop signs and then turn where she wanted to go. They should call it Highlights Ranch by the way.

The walkers are out of control too. People stopping as soon as they walk through the entrance of a store and creating a huge bottle neck behind them are morons. People that cut in line and go to the open register before the next person in the communal line that feeds ALL the registers gets to go are morons.

This is all sooooo in the spirit of the holidays. Unfortunately, I have no talent. I have tried 3 years in a row to make presents for people. However, I have few skills to make anything that would be of any use to anyone, and most people I know have enough crap to move, to clean, to maintain, to sort, to file, to box that I don't think I need to be making anyone clay angels or egg carton caterpillars.

Ugghhh - I could puke right now.

And last of all, I mail some presents every year. With one of the boxes, I went over some kind of weight limitations and had to write a novel for customs. On this form I had to disclaim what was in the box - and fearing that perhaps the contents were illegal to send over the border I panicked and lied. Ugh....you should have seen me, the beads of sweat on my skin after walking to the post office on an unseasonably warm day while carrying a box that was over some kind of weight limit....then rushing to fill out the normal customs form in line fast enough trying to make sure I didn't hold the other procrastinators up....then finding out that I have to fill out some kind of novel that might as well have asked as many questions as one of those questionnaires when you're a "new patient"....I think they asked if I flossed or used practiced safe sex...and I panicked and lied. Now, I'm worried the package won't make it. What if they open it and realize the contents were lied about and wonder about small p0cks???? Oh my.

Ugh.