Dog food $30, Vet bill $400, a happy and healthy dog, PRICELESS!

My poor Maddie... every night before bed Maddie runs around and likes me to catch her. She jumps on the bed.. or more like waits for me to help her on the bed, and she runs around in circles, grabs my fingers and tries to use them as chew toys. One night we started to play and when I went to rub her shoulder she yelped.. she had a huge lump.. I was hoping she just banged it or something and she'd be fine in the morning but no luck. The next morning she was still in pain so off to the vet we went. After an extensive examination (and a thermometer up the butt), the vet said Maddie had a boil that needed to be lanced so she was taken into the back where they could perform the surgery. The vet assured me Maddie would have freezing and wouldn't feel anything.

For a dog who couldn't feel anything she sure did kick up a fuss! I've never heard her in so much distress before and I just about went into the back to make sure they weren't taking anything more than they needed to!! Then I heard the vet say to Maddie "I'm not even touching you! Why are you so upset?" I would have been really shocked if I had heard Maddie reply, however it was a bit reasurring to hear the vet talking to her in such a gental manner and trying to calm her down. When she came back into the exam room to explain how things went she told me that while she was performing the surgery, Maddie was quiet and as soon as she would walk away she started to put up a fuss.. the vet said that Maddie has "high anxiety". Good Grief!!! 

When we finally got home (head cone and all), Maddie would not even look at me. She kept on walking into the wall, couldn't get to her food or water dishes so I took the cone off.. the wound was on her shoulder.. unless she's an owl, she can't lick it!!! She was a bit better after that but not by much. It took almost 2 full days, numerous treats and a lot of baby talk before she would look at me, let alone forgive me.

I'm happy to say she is back to her lovable, licky self.. boy, being a mom is stressful! God help me if I have human kids!!

Roast WUT!

I did it! I made a perfect roast, with perfect gravy, perfect potatoes and perfect carrots!! And let me not forget the yorkies!! I LOVE yorkies!! They weren't perfect but still mighty tasty! I did one of those Club House package kinds which I think is why it wasn't perfect but like I said.. it was still tasty!!

Cooking use to be the equivalent of doing laundry for me.. don't like doing it.. but it's a necessity. Now a days cooking is enjoyable.. often times fun and every time rewarding!!

I'm not sure if I'm enjoying my cooking more than my diva dog or if she enjoys it more.. not that she's getting a lot of what I make but she normally gets a taste.. makes me feel like I'm cooking for more than one that way! Yes.. my hot date companion is my diva dog.. the dog whose hair stylist costs three times as much as mine! But lets face it.. she keeps the bed warm at night.. doesn't make much of a mess and NEVER argues with me! Who could ask for more!

And the big question.. what's for dinner tonight?

Bon Appetite!

When I was in the hospital I started to watch The Food Network.. seriously folks.. if you aren't watching it.. tune in! Almost every show is great! Namely.. Iron Chef America, 30 minute Meals, Guys Big Bite, Dinners Drive-In's and Dives, Smack Down with Bobby Flay and the list goes on! I couldn't eat without throwing up so I just dreamed of what I would eat when I could stomach food and what I would make when I got home.. my grocery list grew and grew!

Considering I haven't cooked since before my mom passed away (two years ago!) I was in heaven once I did get home and started to experiment.. I've tried things that I've never tried before.. nothing too elaborate yet but I'm having fun and getting so many ideas from.. The Food Network!!

Another source I owe my new found inspiration from is "Julie and Julia".. awesome movie.. I went home and ordered Julia Child's "Mastering the art of French Cooking".. which I am still waiting for from Amazon. Who knew drying meat could help it brown so much better! I can't wait to make some Beef Bourguignon!! It looks so good!! But something I can wait to make, for the colder weather... maybe.. but doesn't it look scrumptious!!

My diet before the hospital.. McDonald's, Pizza, KFC, White Spot, Red Robin, Earl's.. and I weighed over 175lbs. My diet after the hospital.. Ribs, Steak, Chicken, carrots, potatoes, asparagus, corn, tuna melts, anything home made and now I'm under 130lbs!

Me, before the hospital

Me, after the hospital!

Who knew food could make such a positive impact! I'm happier, healthier and hotter! LOL Bon Appetite mon amies!

Update on the TV/DVD

I must be the worst blogger alive! Okay, so I ran out the same day my bedroom TV died and bought a beautiful Toshiba! I LOVE IT! The one I was going to get was an Insignia.. NEVER HEARD OF IT! But it came with a DVD player built in and well.. anyone who knows me knows I am a marketers wet dream and wanted the pretty one with the DVD built in.. I went to Future Shop.. the land of the of the missing sales persons... that is until you pick up the item and start to walk towards the cashier... can anyone say COMMISSION! Three guys came running after me.. only in my dreams and in Future Shop.. and wanted to ring up my purchase.. then one guy said "excuse me ma'am (do I really look that old!), can I ask why you aren't buying the Toshiba for the same price?" I explained how I wanted the one with the DVD player and he said that he would give me a deal.. ran away (as they all do), and came back with a DVD player.. he said he'd give it to me for $20.. so with the $15 4 year warranty.. I got a great DVD player that I know I'll have for at least 4 years.. the TV, as I said, is beautiful.. it's bigger than the Insignia was and was on clearance for the same price of the Insignia! So in the end.. I got a mighty fine deal.. now.. a digital box for my bedroom and I'll be all set!!

Does everything really happen in 3's?

I really hope the 3's rule won't apply in this case.. first my convection oven died.. and now my TV in my bedroom! Please.. nothing else!! I need to eat this month! Obviously the TV must be replaced.. TODAY! The question is.. what do I go with.. LCD HD or without HD? With or without a DVD player and then the question rises.. should I go ahead and order another box from Shaw? If I get a swanky new TV it only makes sense to have every channel in the history of channels to watch on it! OH the decisions one gal has to make!!

Then of course faced with do I buy a new convection oven right away or wait? And where do I get it from? Do I buy brand name or not? Do I spend over or under $100? The one I have now, I've had for 3 or 4 years and it even had a rotisserie which made kick ass roasts! I think I bought it at Wal-Mart so I'll start there but what if I can't find the same one? How am I expected to make all these decisions on my own!!!! LOL

And the biggest question of all.....

What to make for dinner??

Long time no blog!

Forgive me bloggers, it's been 2.5 years since my last blog... so there was a little hiccup in the blog department. My trip to California with my mom was so awesome! It was better than I could have ever imagined but sadly, two months after we got back, my mom passed away from congestive heart failure. Grief is a strange thing to go thru. I would never have thought I, of all people, would have a breakdown and end up in a mental hospital! But, alas I did. Accepting that mom was gone was too much to bare... it's still hard even now, but in a much healthier way. I was put on anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs that not only masked any grief I should have gone thru, it screwed up my memory something fierce! All I can say is thank God I have the family and friends I have, because what I put them thru is something I wouldn't wish on anybody!

The shrink had me so over-medicated and the only reason things changed is because I ended up with kidney failure and a severe pressure sore (not related to the drugs) that was almost lethal. I ended up in the hospital for 9 months!! The hospital doctors changed the doses and discontinued most of the meds I was on and thankfully after two years I'm finally back to myself.. pissyness and all! LOL

It's been a long haul in hospital.. after being so close to losing my left leg and half my pelvis, along with my life, I am close to being fully repaired again! After everything I've gone thru, you'd think going home would be the most exciting thing but let me tell you, it was one of the most scary things I had to face. Sounds ridiculous considering what had been going on in the last two years but when you are so drugged up and out of it, being clear-headed and having to face life again in a whole new context was frightening! At least when I was in my 'fog' as I will now refer to it, I didn't have to face reality.. or I did but chose not to.

But the train of life goes on and I need to make sure that I'm on the right track this time. I have so much to do and God only knows how much time to do it in... all things happen for a reason.. and I think I've found mine.

Here are a few pictures to encapsulate the last two years.... from weddings to births to rehab.. what a couple of years it's been!! LOL

Mom at Universal Studios April 07

Disneyland April07

La Jolla April 07

Wild Animal Park April07

SeaWorld April 07

(Nephew) Matthew and Mira's wedding May07

(Nephew) Rob and Tor's wedding July 07

(sister) Sandi and Roy's wedding Sept07

(Great Niece) Raeya Claire July 08

(Great nephew) Joshua November 08

(Sister) Carollyn and Mike's wedding May 09

And finally.. me, after losing OVER 60 lbs.. it took a 9 month hospital stay but there's always a silver lining somewhere!!