March of the Rantoneers (March mini-rants)

The BBQ Pit
41

I went to drop off my son at daycare. He recently graduated to preschool. He can’t drink from an open cup yet so we provided them with a plastic straw cup for him to use at daycare. This has been the case since October.

Today the teacher said to me, “You need to bring him a new cup everyday because this one smells and I’m worried about bacteria.” The cup she handed me did indeed look disgusting. It had bits of milk in it.

For fuck’s sake, did that mean they haven’t washed the cup for months? Or that the new teacher refuses to do so? Both possibilities seem fucking weird to me.

42

I had booked through Expedia for a trip down to the Gulf Coast area. The week before I fell at a grocery store and broke my shoulder and was not allowed to drive. I could not get a refund from wither Expedia nor the hotel. both told me to contact the other one.

43

We had a very nice weather day last week and a friend messaged me asking if I’d kayak a local stream/creek with him. I told him I’d never run the stream without first knowing whether it is clear, either by hiking it or talking to someone who paddled it very recently. The stream is too narrow at spots and the chance of a strainer (blocked stream with tree limbs, etc) is too high.

My friend lamented that I’d become a pussy. Maybe he was correct, I’m less adventurous than I was 15 years back.

So, he ran the stream solo. Sure enough, he hit a strainer in fast current and was catapulted out of his boat. He lost his kayak, but had his phone in a dry-bag on his belt. He texted me and I came and helped him get to his car. He was banged up pretty badly, possible broken rib, lots of bruises.

I got a nasty text message yesterday from his wife, who despises me. Can’t blame her, my friend has used me as an excuse a few times over the years. He told his wife the kayak adventure was my idea. She blamed me for him missing two days of work, nearly getting killed, etc. I ignored her rant.

44

WOW! My first appointment was March 10 last year and the first surgery on my right eye was March 30, with the other eye done on April 14. I can’t believe you had to wait that long!

45

I think that’s a pretty shitty thing for your friend to do.

46

Right? Sounds like he’s the pussy. Won’t stand up to his wife.

47

In the past month I have had three iron infusions, four doctor appointments, and an endoscopy. I’ve got another doctor appointment this Thursday, and next Wednesday I’m going in for Left atrial appendage occlusion - Wikipedia treatment to have something installed in my heart so I don’t have to take blood thinners. And just now I was told I need to go in for another endoscopy next month.

On the bright side, I got the external optical drive today, and was able to install the Canon app on my computer.

48

Either this guy has them lined up outside the door… or he thinks he’s ‘Dr. Joe Cool’.
But, he’s my referral and he’s in my network.

49

Yay on the CD drive.

Empathy on the rest. I’m getting a port installed this coming Tuesday and will be starting biweekly chemo infusions starting the next week. Yay.

50

I’ve had anemia for several years, so I’m used to going in for infusions. But last April I was diagnosed with tachycardia and A-fib, so they put me on Eliquis to stop clots from forming and giving me a stroke. So of course the Eliquis exacerbated the anemia by apparently increasing bleeding in my stomach (hence the endoscopies).

It’s like a Red Queen’s Race. Take the green pill, then start taking the blue pills to offset the side effects of the green pills, and then take these red pills to offset the side effects of the blue pills - or maybe switch from the red pills to the pink pills because the red pills decrease the efficiency of the green pills.

I have a friend who was on chemo, so you have my empathy on that. Fortunately she’s off it now, and it looks like it did the job.

51

Got my fingers crossed I’ll be a unicorn on that. Biopsy says it’s Stage 4 pancreatic, and the best they can do is treat it.

On the other hand, one of my good friends tells me her aunt was diagnosed with the same thing 40 years ago and she’s still kicking around. So you never know, right?

52

Yes, be a unicorn. I knew someone who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and IIRC only lasted a year or so (this was thirty years ago, so my memory is a bit foggy). On the other hand Stephen Hawking was given two years to live when he was diagnosed with ALS in his early 20s, and he lived to 76.

53

He had the NHS, too. We’re not so lucky here in the States.

54

I have an oldtime friend who, last I was in touch, was 20+ years beyond his diagnosis.

55

Sending you sparkly purple dust (I assume that’s what powers unicorns). I got it from the old jackboots.

56

This morning, I saw a patch of daffodils on a piece of property owned by the shelter, but down the street a bit. I called over to the kennels and suggested that it might be a nice spot for some dog photos. The KM (kennel manager) responded enthusiastically and suggested that we try Fargo, a great Pyrenees mix with a history of aggression issues. He’s been making a lot of progress and she felt that it was time to “put him out there” and just make sure he went to someone “familiar with the breed.”

So she brought him down, like… ten feet away from me, had him sit facing her, I adjusted my bag of treats in my fanny pack to prepare to ask him to look at me… and he charged me. Went from happy and waggy to Cujo in a split second with zero warning. Trampled the daffodils. Bit me in the arm, then just kept coming. He’s a massive, strong dog and ripped the leash out of the KM’s hand and just… wouldn’t stop. I threw the bag of treats a bit away and went “turtle,” curling up in a ball to protect my arms, neck, and face. He got me on the side of the face, on my belly, and on my back. To make things worse, I can’t really walk without crutches and we were on a muddy/rocky hill, so I was pretty stuck. After a while and a lot of scrabbling, he finally went for the treats and the KM got control of the leash and called on the walkie for someone to come down with a car and drive him back up to the shelter.

I’m okay. No stitches or medical attention needed. Just a bunch of punctures and bruises, a bloody nose (probably my own fault), and a whole lot of mud on my clothes and hair. It could have been much worse. I mean, he could have killed me if he’d really wanted to.

I hate to say it, but this dog should have been euthanized a long time ago. He’s a favorite of the KM, though. So while we’ve had several others put to sleep for much more manageable/predictable issues, this guy keeps going. And the longer he keeps going, the more the staff gets invested in him. The whole thing just sucks. They’re going to be heartbroken and furious if he gets put down because of me. But also, this is not a “normal for the breed” kind of behavior for a great Pyrenees. Or, frankly, any kind of dog. It’s just a matter of time before he hurts someone seriously enough that they can’t put it off any longer.
But for now, the KM is still on the “people just have to understand that he’s a guard dog” train. So if I wanted something done about this dog, it would be on me to push it/raise a fuss and then it would REALLY be my fault if he got put down. It’s not that I want him hurt. I know he has people who love him and it’s not his fault something in his brain is broken. I just… don’t think any of the alternatives are okay either.

And as for me… I mean, I’m glad I’m not having plastic surgery and didn’t get my carotid artery ripped out, but still… owwwwww.

57

But how would you feel if he took out a child? Because he’s going to take out someone. You know what the right thing to do is. Especially a “guard dog” has to know not to attack a human. Your kennel manager is a misguided idiot.

I’m so glad you weren’t hurt worse than you were. You’re an inspiration around here.

58

Pancreatic treatments have improved by leaps and bounds in the last decade or two. I hope your treatment keeps it at bay. Mr. Legend was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostatic cancer (with full skeletal involvement) almost two years ago, and his oncologist told him the same thing. But his treatment has been doing a bang-up job, and the cancer hasn’t advanced in those two years. We’re hoping his luck holds, and I hope yours will do the same.

59

You - and your idiot of a kennel manager - both need to acknowledge that this is FUCKED THE FUCK UP.

60

attention :
rutabagas are the devil’s feces and need to be eradicated from the earth for all time

that is all