Someone gave me some help.
Opossum development chart:
birth- 1 week: about the size of a bumblebee. Teir hind legs are not developed but they have a special claw on their front legs for climbing into the pouch. I have only ever seen one litter this tiny and they are under 1 gram and fit on a penny. There is absolutely nothing you can do for them.
2 weeks: Still tiny, almost embryonic, eyes and mouth closed. Sexes can be distinguished
3 weeks: Their hind legs and ail are becoming functional The babies make a sneezing sound when they are hungry or looking for mom.
4 weeks: They weigh about 25 grams. They are beginning to show the first signs o skin pigmentation and fur growth. They will cry aloud when upset.
5 weeks: Whiskers begin to grow around the mouth
6 weeks: The fur begins to grow on the neck and back- You can now formula feed every 3 hours
9 weeks: They should weigh about 30 grams. Their eyes and mouth are beginning to open. They start to become more active and explorative.
10 weeks. They begin to thermoregulate, but still need a heating pad (he can come out of your bra now Should start taking to a lap bowl. Give formula 4 times a day
11 weeks: They can start to wean onto bits of soft food and yogurt
12 weeks: Need to move to a larger cage and begin climbing and making the clicking possie communication noise.
13-14 weeks: They have all their teeth and should be weaned. Can thermoregulate well.
15 weeks: They start growing fast (like most baby mammals) and are ready to start spending time outdoors in a cage.
To be quite honest, I think that the beginning stages are even slower than this chart shows. So many people just euthanize the tiny ones due to lack of time, money, or success and I don't know how many people have actually kept track of their development. I had my little one for a week and he still seemed to fit the two week old description. It may have been that he had issues or they could grow up slower. This chart is a good guideline though.
I think your guy is probably 3 weeks now because he had hind legs the whole time
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Biopsy
Things have been a bit hectic. Recently Muttie went in for a surgical biopsy of the breast and then underwent another surgery to create a new fistula so that she can be ready for the chemo and subsequent removal surgery.
At first they told her that she would probably undergo a few weeks of chemo before they removed it but after the initial biopsy results they modified that to three months (give or take what the final biopsy says and how the treatment goes).
Right now we are awaiting the results of the final biopsy which should not only pin point the type of treatment/drugs but get a more accurate duration time. We should know by the end of next week.
Pictures taken on Saturday of the breast in question.
Do NOT look if you are squeamish. GRAPHIC pictures:
http://hoshi-picspam.blogspot.com/2008/11/biopsy.html
At first they told her that she would probably undergo a few weeks of chemo before they removed it but after the initial biopsy results they modified that to three months (give or take what the final biopsy says and how the treatment goes).
Right now we are awaiting the results of the final biopsy which should not only pin point the type of treatment/drugs but get a more accurate duration time. We should know by the end of next week.
Pictures taken on Saturday of the breast in question.
Do NOT look if you are squeamish. GRAPHIC pictures:
http://hoshi-picspam.blogspot.com/2008/11/biopsy.html
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Clarifications
Seeing as how I was projecting my personal feelings and such about being given information that I either already know or could look up (My "I'm not a gorram idiot" reaction that I generally get when people try to explain things to me cause I can google just fine); here is a complete educational 101 on dialysis as well as a re-iteration of some of the points of the situation and the public health care system here in Alagoas to help paint a complete picture of the whole mess.
First off: explanation of what the Kidneys do
They remove salts/waste as well as water from the body. They also do other functions like produce hormones that signal the need to create red blood cells or absorb calcium. One of the possible signs of deteriorating kidney function is high blood pressure, otherwise it is fairly silent. Other than hypertension (high blood pressure), slight puffiness and a bit of lethargy; most people won't even notice their kidneys are going bad until they have less than 10% function left. At which point the water retention compounds and one feels/looks bloated and one gets side effects like nausea or cramps, and elevated Creatinine/Urea in a blood test can be detected as well as anemia and possibly osteoporosis (weak/soft bones) due to the kidney's function in Vitamin D production/absorption balance. As it gets worse the urination decreases until it stops completely, at which point it is deadly. As long as you have urinary function you are not in immediate life threatening danger. The public hospitals are so full they generally won't take you unless you are critical, are a transfer, or you are on the top of the list diagnosed as kidney failure within a month (space allocation is given in that order so transfers, who may actually live a few months when removed are still given higher priority)
Cancer:
The system here isn't that capable of treating early stage cancers immediately. Now if some of you can recall, before the biopsy, I mentioned that it was painful. Traditionally the onset of cancer isn't painful so that alone cause a major delay in my mother's treatment; the doctors weren't too concerned about a biopsy so delayed scheduling it. The list is usually so long and cancer growth vary from patient to patient that they can't even do a proper triage. After a few months of appointments my mother was told she would have to have dialysis first to make her healthy enough to undergo surgery as she wasn't a good surgical candidate and couldn't be placed on the list until she was. The cancer however has been painful since it was a small little lump and has grown very fast (currently the size of an orange and has broken the skin) - the pain has had her crying, unable to sleep, and at times bent over incapacitated.
Dialysis:
When Kidneys fail one must have their blood cleaned in another filter. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is done by less than 10% of Brazilians. Not only is the infection rate a problem (and PD isn't as effective and as long term), the medical system prefers hemodialysis (HD) as the cost is spent on hospitals, doctors, nurses and orderlies (over PD, whose costs go mostly to the main surgery, the chemicals/drugs, and lab tests).
HD means your blood is extracted and cleaned by a machine then returned to your body. Blood must be removed which means they have to access it somehow. Arteries are protected by nerves and one can cause permanent damage on these nerves if not handled properly. Veins are fragile and don't hold a lot of volume, they tear easy and get irritated (constricting/narrowing the passage and possibly blocking) after being poked often (most medical dramas/books/movies will stereotypically refer to junkies-IV drug users as the patients they have a hard time putting in lines, taking blood, etc). Multiple canulations ("sticks"/pokes) can cause the vein walls to harden and reduce volume, which in turn make it harder to "stick" again and pull into the machine (patients can literally run out of access). Also Dialysis needles are large bore gauge (thick) to accommodate the speed and volume drawn and all of this means a regular vein couldn't handle it 3 times a week (dialysis standard in a hospital all around the world; even in the US/UK - twice a week is for those with substantial residual kidney function and every other day is recommended for obese people). On a positive note, here in Brazil the free system pays for 4-5 hours sessions, a little longer than the US.
An access is created to allow for HD to occur. An AV fistula is a vein that has been joined to an artery which, due to the difference in pressure and volume, causes the vein to expand to accommodate the higher pressure/volume. This vein is not only made larger but stronger by this; making it perfect for multiple canulations. This however takes 30-45 days to mature before it can be used. (The free system doesn't deal with grafts as they are costly so I won't go over what they are) The final option is a catheter. They are the most risky as they clot easy and aren't as effective. Generally they are only used when a fistula doesn't/hasn't matured yet.
Yes dialysis is dangerous/risky. Clots, bleedouts, heart attack, air bubbles, etc can kill you. As well as increase risk of infections (sepsis (blood), endocarditis, (heart) and osteomyelitis (bone))
Since the wait to get into a hospital was quoted as over a month on the free system we chose to start on the private system and become a transfer. (This is why we requested money from family and friends to aide in paying for this in June) We did receive promises to help from friends and assumed family would help too so we pawned family jewelry to come up with some of the rest of the money ourselves and started my mother on HD via catheter (on June 18th). The system paid for the fistula surgeries (the first one had failed within 10 days and the second (created July 14th) has just gone into use as of Sept 1st). She has since been transferred (Aug 8th - They were nice enough not to suspend the treatment at 5 weeks when I thought they would and allowed us to go 2 more weeks with an outstanding bill while we waited for her to be transferred to the system) so there are no more dialysis bills being incurred (Only the outstanding R$1500/US$1000 for the three weeks we haven't paid for yet; Though it would be nice to get the jewelry back too but right now that is secondary) The catheter was removed on the 5th so no more unsightly tubing sticking out of her neck.
Back to the cancer:
The two months of dialysis has made her a surgical candidate and she had been quoted 6-8 months until she can get it removed via the public system/list or R$15,000/US$10,000 privately. However because the system is a bit corrupt (powerful people influence the list), people can pay some money (R$1000/US$670) under the table to the doctors to get placed on the top of the list. It looks like one of the politicians we have contact with (it is election time) may even foot that bill which means she could go under the knife as soon as there is an opening in the hospital (probably this month or next) - the doctors would use the hospital government supplied equipment and be paid by the system so the money is a bribe to have it done quickly/soon.
The chemo/radio therapy (about 6 months) would be paid by the system and if successful, in two years (if no re-occurrence of cancer has emerged) she would be considered a candidate for transplant. I still have to undergo testing to see if I am a possible match/able to donate at that time.
That, in a nut shell is the whole kitten-kaboodle. Hope that helps clarify things.
First off: explanation of what the Kidneys do
They remove salts/waste as well as water from the body. They also do other functions like produce hormones that signal the need to create red blood cells or absorb calcium. One of the possible signs of deteriorating kidney function is high blood pressure, otherwise it is fairly silent. Other than hypertension (high blood pressure), slight puffiness and a bit of lethargy; most people won't even notice their kidneys are going bad until they have less than 10% function left. At which point the water retention compounds and one feels/looks bloated and one gets side effects like nausea or cramps, and elevated Creatinine/Urea in a blood test can be detected as well as anemia and possibly osteoporosis (weak/soft bones) due to the kidney's function in Vitamin D production/absorption balance. As it gets worse the urination decreases until it stops completely, at which point it is deadly. As long as you have urinary function you are not in immediate life threatening danger. The public hospitals are so full they generally won't take you unless you are critical, are a transfer, or you are on the top of the list diagnosed as kidney failure within a month (space allocation is given in that order so transfers, who may actually live a few months when removed are still given higher priority)
Cancer:
The system here isn't that capable of treating early stage cancers immediately. Now if some of you can recall, before the biopsy, I mentioned that it was painful. Traditionally the onset of cancer isn't painful so that alone cause a major delay in my mother's treatment; the doctors weren't too concerned about a biopsy so delayed scheduling it. The list is usually so long and cancer growth vary from patient to patient that they can't even do a proper triage. After a few months of appointments my mother was told she would have to have dialysis first to make her healthy enough to undergo surgery as she wasn't a good surgical candidate and couldn't be placed on the list until she was. The cancer however has been painful since it was a small little lump and has grown very fast (currently the size of an orange and has broken the skin) - the pain has had her crying, unable to sleep, and at times bent over incapacitated.
Dialysis:
When Kidneys fail one must have their blood cleaned in another filter. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is done by less than 10% of Brazilians. Not only is the infection rate a problem (and PD isn't as effective and as long term), the medical system prefers hemodialysis (HD) as the cost is spent on hospitals, doctors, nurses and orderlies (over PD, whose costs go mostly to the main surgery, the chemicals/drugs, and lab tests).
HD means your blood is extracted and cleaned by a machine then returned to your body. Blood must be removed which means they have to access it somehow. Arteries are protected by nerves and one can cause permanent damage on these nerves if not handled properly. Veins are fragile and don't hold a lot of volume, they tear easy and get irritated (constricting/narrowing the passage and possibly blocking) after being poked often (most medical dramas/books/movies will stereotypically refer to junkies-IV drug users as the patients they have a hard time putting in lines, taking blood, etc). Multiple canulations ("sticks"/pokes) can cause the vein walls to harden and reduce volume, which in turn make it harder to "stick" again and pull into the machine (patients can literally run out of access). Also Dialysis needles are large bore gauge (thick) to accommodate the speed and volume drawn and all of this means a regular vein couldn't handle it 3 times a week (dialysis standard in a hospital all around the world; even in the US/UK - twice a week is for those with substantial residual kidney function and every other day is recommended for obese people). On a positive note, here in Brazil the free system pays for 4-5 hours sessions, a little longer than the US.
An access is created to allow for HD to occur. An AV fistula is a vein that has been joined to an artery which, due to the difference in pressure and volume, causes the vein to expand to accommodate the higher pressure/volume. This vein is not only made larger but stronger by this; making it perfect for multiple canulations. This however takes 30-45 days to mature before it can be used. (The free system doesn't deal with grafts as they are costly so I won't go over what they are) The final option is a catheter. They are the most risky as they clot easy and aren't as effective. Generally they are only used when a fistula doesn't/hasn't matured yet.
Yes dialysis is dangerous/risky. Clots, bleedouts, heart attack, air bubbles, etc can kill you. As well as increase risk of infections (sepsis (blood), endocarditis, (heart) and osteomyelitis (bone))
Since the wait to get into a hospital was quoted as over a month on the free system we chose to start on the private system and become a transfer. (This is why we requested money from family and friends to aide in paying for this in June) We did receive promises to help from friends and assumed family would help too so we pawned family jewelry to come up with some of the rest of the money ourselves and started my mother on HD via catheter (on June 18th). The system paid for the fistula surgeries (the first one had failed within 10 days and the second (created July 14th) has just gone into use as of Sept 1st). She has since been transferred (Aug 8th - They were nice enough not to suspend the treatment at 5 weeks when I thought they would and allowed us to go 2 more weeks with an outstanding bill while we waited for her to be transferred to the system) so there are no more dialysis bills being incurred (Only the outstanding R$1500/US$1000 for the three weeks we haven't paid for yet; Though it would be nice to get the jewelry back too but right now that is secondary) The catheter was removed on the 5th so no more unsightly tubing sticking out of her neck.
Back to the cancer:
The two months of dialysis has made her a surgical candidate and she had been quoted 6-8 months until she can get it removed via the public system/list or R$15,000/US$10,000 privately. However because the system is a bit corrupt (powerful people influence the list), people can pay some money (R$1000/US$670) under the table to the doctors to get placed on the top of the list. It looks like one of the politicians we have contact with (it is election time) may even foot that bill which means she could go under the knife as soon as there is an opening in the hospital (probably this month or next) - the doctors would use the hospital government supplied equipment and be paid by the system so the money is a bribe to have it done quickly/soon.
The chemo/radio therapy (about 6 months) would be paid by the system and if successful, in two years (if no re-occurrence of cancer has emerged) she would be considered a candidate for transplant. I still have to undergo testing to see if I am a possible match/able to donate at that time.
That, in a nut shell is the whole kitten-kaboodle. Hope that helps clarify things.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wishlists
Here are the christmas wishlists for this year,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/H4ZYXCE508TU
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1UC4FWW6FMXO6
You don't have to actually buy them from amazon, you can do the used, ebay lots, or buy at the store and mail it yourself route. the registry is just to give you an idea with pictures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/H4ZYXCE508TU
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1UC4FWW6FMXO6
You don't have to actually buy them from amazon, you can do the used, ebay lots, or buy at the store and mail it yourself route. the registry is just to give you an idea with pictures.
Monday, October 22, 2007
TV and Me
Since I said this blog is going to be updated more often here is a ping in the internet sphere of life.
I know plenty of people make fun of me and my TV obsession but I have always found it inspiring. Be it good or bad, tv has helped shape my life. It is where I first heard the Marine Corp hymn (and thus lead me to pick Marines over any other branch) and why I read the Stargate related spam link which lead to an entry that was similar to my own. (see: http://hoshi-reed.livejournal.com/61794.html) Wish I could share the more profound recent link I read but it is flocked so you have to be content with mine.
It was re-watching this episode, and reading someone else’s meta/take on it, as well as a few other shows (Supernatural for instance) that gave me the courage to step up to the plate (and ask certain questions).
I had tried to keep my fandom squee out of this family blog but after analyzing myself I figure that would be impossible (why this blog was so dead and my LJ is so active in the past year) So I will just keep out the major squees, rants, fic, recs, and pure fandom ramblings to LJ instead of ALL TV/movie related stuff.
So beware in future, if there is a family connection, I will try to update this more often with TV related musings. If you get confused, feel free to ask questions.
(And sorry no new pics so the GJ is still un-updated for now)
*The Stargate episode in question, if you don't follow my LJ link, is related to two siblings that grew apart and played by real life sibling actors. My LJ entry gave an overview of how the episode affected me when I first saw it. The blog entry I read was to someone else's musings who was already down the same path that was depicted in the episode and their entry was more profound but has the same feel that mine does in general.
I know plenty of people make fun of me and my TV obsession but I have always found it inspiring. Be it good or bad, tv has helped shape my life. It is where I first heard the Marine Corp hymn (and thus lead me to pick Marines over any other branch) and why I read the Stargate related spam link which lead to an entry that was similar to my own. (see: http://hoshi-reed.livejournal.com/61794.html) Wish I could share the more profound recent link I read but it is flocked so you have to be content with mine.
It was re-watching this episode, and reading someone else’s meta/take on it, as well as a few other shows (Supernatural for instance) that gave me the courage to step up to the plate (and ask certain questions).
I had tried to keep my fandom squee out of this family blog but after analyzing myself I figure that would be impossible (why this blog was so dead and my LJ is so active in the past year) So I will just keep out the major squees, rants, fic, recs, and pure fandom ramblings to LJ instead of ALL TV/movie related stuff.
So beware in future, if there is a family connection, I will try to update this more often with TV related musings. If you get confused, feel free to ask questions.
(And sorry no new pics so the GJ is still un-updated for now)
*The Stargate episode in question, if you don't follow my LJ link, is related to two siblings that grew apart and played by real life sibling actors. My LJ entry gave an overview of how the episode affected me when I first saw it. The blog entry I read was to someone else's musings who was already down the same path that was depicted in the episode and their entry was more profound but has the same feel that mine does in general.
Friday, October 05, 2007
REFLECTIONS
I have neglected making profound posting about my family/friend oriented real life (and therefore THIS blog) for a LONG time. - I actually forgot I had this blog but in the chance that you still read this one I'll update it now. (I hope to get more pictures to post in the pic-spam GJ I linked a while back.) I hope you don't think I've fallen down a well or something. I HAVE been updating the LJ sporadically, but it is intended for fandom and not in the same mind set as this one.
ANYWAYS:
It is amazing what assumptions can do. In one of my last posts I got a comment link which I assumed was spam and ignored it. When I rediscovered this blog this year I grew curious and followed the link (yes It took me over a year - I'm sorry If I never thanked the anon commenter, now you know why). It was a link to someone's blog and I'm glad I did because what I read has made me reflect on my life and the things I've done in it.
One of the big reflections is my sister.
My mother is of the schooling that parents and children stay in contact and know each other's lives. She always called us/or expected a call at least once a week and usually a few emails in between. To her there is no such thing as disowning one's child, not even when dead.
The last time I talked to my sister I was nervous. She had been on a leave-me-alone state of mind and had been incommunicado for a while (to my mother a week is a while). She went so far as to cut ALL contact including not updating her blog and it looked like we had been given a reprieve, a missed call on the cell told us she may be willing to communicate. Now she is not known to do this (reach out) and since very little time (in her world it can take YEARS to forgive/forget and it had been 10 days) had passed she was probably still hurting; if you say or do the wrong thing while she is in that state it will send her further into her shell.
I returned her call to bridge the gap but I kept stepping in it. You see, I was a nervous wreck. Anything I said could possible screw the relationship up even further. So in my infinite wisdom I chose something that wasn't pertinent to me, our mother, how you doing/living? (cause it would look like we were nosy and could possibly convey in her mind that we were stalkerish/clingy). I chose our grandma. Unfortunately the only thing I had was "You missed calling her on her birthday, and the old bat isn't happy." I was hoping to get a normal, 'I was too busy/couldn't afford the calling card' small talk and let her lead the conversation to where she felt most comfortable; She sounded like I was chastising her instead and I cringed. I knew I made matters worse so I finished the conversation hoping not to sound hurt or self-blame that I may have ruined it for my mom and got the important information my mother wanted before hanging up.
I hope she at least saw I was trying and was fearful of screwing up.
When the whole mess settled down and she no longer hated us, she has resumed cordial, almost professional contact but I long for the days when we would IM about nothing in particular; her making fun of my fandom obsessions and berating my choices could sometimes hurt/make me feel like we were pulling further and further apart but it was a connection I miss and doubt will ever have again. As time goes by, as we grow further apart in not only location but our hobbies, our movie/music preferences, and our desires in life, I can't help but long for those days when we shared our dreams as little girls. We may not share the same ones any more but I still miss the connection from sharing them with her.
ANYWAYS:
It is amazing what assumptions can do. In one of my last posts I got a comment link which I assumed was spam and ignored it. When I rediscovered this blog this year I grew curious and followed the link (yes It took me over a year - I'm sorry If I never thanked the anon commenter, now you know why). It was a link to someone's blog and I'm glad I did because what I read has made me reflect on my life and the things I've done in it.
One of the big reflections is my sister.
My mother is of the schooling that parents and children stay in contact and know each other's lives. She always called us/or expected a call at least once a week and usually a few emails in between. To her there is no such thing as disowning one's child, not even when dead.
The last time I talked to my sister I was nervous. She had been on a leave-me-alone state of mind and had been incommunicado for a while (to my mother a week is a while). She went so far as to cut ALL contact including not updating her blog and it looked like we had been given a reprieve, a missed call on the cell told us she may be willing to communicate. Now she is not known to do this (reach out) and since very little time (in her world it can take YEARS to forgive/forget and it had been 10 days) had passed she was probably still hurting; if you say or do the wrong thing while she is in that state it will send her further into her shell.
I returned her call to bridge the gap but I kept stepping in it. You see, I was a nervous wreck. Anything I said could possible screw the relationship up even further. So in my infinite wisdom I chose something that wasn't pertinent to me, our mother, how you doing/living? (cause it would look like we were nosy and could possibly convey in her mind that we were stalkerish/clingy). I chose our grandma. Unfortunately the only thing I had was "You missed calling her on her birthday, and the old bat isn't happy." I was hoping to get a normal, 'I was too busy/couldn't afford the calling card' small talk and let her lead the conversation to where she felt most comfortable; She sounded like I was chastising her instead and I cringed. I knew I made matters worse so I finished the conversation hoping not to sound hurt or self-blame that I may have ruined it for my mom and got the important information my mother wanted before hanging up.
I hope she at least saw I was trying and was fearful of screwing up.
When the whole mess settled down and she no longer hated us, she has resumed cordial, almost professional contact but I long for the days when we would IM about nothing in particular; her making fun of my fandom obsessions and berating my choices could sometimes hurt/make me feel like we were pulling further and further apart but it was a connection I miss and doubt will ever have again. As time goes by, as we grow further apart in not only location but our hobbies, our movie/music preferences, and our desires in life, I can't help but long for those days when we shared our dreams as little girls. We may not share the same ones any more but I still miss the connection from sharing them with her.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
New home
Oh my GOD!
When my mother said it was time to move I figured, okay, no pool and the business won't be ready and I'll have to paint the walls myself, but oh well, we will save on the rent. When I got there I was shocked.
Lots of Plywood and a chain with padlock is what greets me, (yes, you guessed it, no doors or windows). No electricity but for two outlets and two lights that light the property for the construction workers. The wiring isn't compete. The shower is outside, the bathroom at least had a working toilet and LOW sink which needs to be raised. The kitchen has no sink, counters, cupboards, etc. Basically it is barely floored (Incompletely as it still needs to be grouted).
So here I am day one and we are living like a squater on our own property, down to the cooking on the gas stove that is on cinder blocks on the floor (only reality check is that the fridge and freezer is plugged in)
I drive myself crazy for a half hour of boredom without Clark (my computer, which IS my life). After pondering how to survive the time I canabolize batteries from the tv remote to run my CD player and survive the night.
The big dog is afraid of heights so when night falls he needs the candle to climb the stairs. The puppy and cat however are happy.
As there are no window coverings, (remember plywood door here with plywood over windows on ground floor) the bedroom is open to all the light and sound of the world. (Let me just tell you now that little monkeys are DAMN loud and buses run at 5am right in front of the property)
Day two, not much better as it is a holiday after all. I rearrange/reassemble furnishings, and my mother helps bring the second load (we have so much crap that one truck couldn't hold it all), she also buys more batteries so I can survive Fat Tuesday.
Day three, explore neighborhood a bit, though not too far as padlock is only so trustworthy.
Day 4. Lights in Kitchen. Yeah
Day 5. CLARK. I get electricity upstairs and I can FINALLY turn on Clark. No phone, let alone internet yet but I don't care. I've stored up enough fan fiction to survive a week (and I'll pass the time viewing supernatural which I have but have yet to see)
Saturday, Yeah, 2 doors and 3 windows are being installed. It is amazing what can be acomplished when you are watching the workers instead of leaving them to do it alone.
Sunday of course was boring but at least I still have a fic stash to survive on.
Mon - DIRT, nice fertile dirt. scared the crap out of me since it arrived at night but hey.
Tue. - Shoveled said dirt into the proper place and got phone line installed. YEAH! depressed that I'm stuck with dial up between midnight and 6 am, but after no internet what so ever, I'll deal and bitch until they install broadband in the area.
Since the weekend is the time I can access the internet at better hours I'll upload pics then.
When my mother said it was time to move I figured, okay, no pool and the business won't be ready and I'll have to paint the walls myself, but oh well, we will save on the rent. When I got there I was shocked.
Lots of Plywood and a chain with padlock is what greets me, (yes, you guessed it, no doors or windows). No electricity but for two outlets and two lights that light the property for the construction workers. The wiring isn't compete. The shower is outside, the bathroom at least had a working toilet and LOW sink which needs to be raised. The kitchen has no sink, counters, cupboards, etc. Basically it is barely floored (Incompletely as it still needs to be grouted).
So here I am day one and we are living like a squater on our own property, down to the cooking on the gas stove that is on cinder blocks on the floor (only reality check is that the fridge and freezer is plugged in)
I drive myself crazy for a half hour of boredom without Clark (my computer, which IS my life). After pondering how to survive the time I canabolize batteries from the tv remote to run my CD player and survive the night.
The big dog is afraid of heights so when night falls he needs the candle to climb the stairs. The puppy and cat however are happy.
As there are no window coverings, (remember plywood door here with plywood over windows on ground floor) the bedroom is open to all the light and sound of the world. (Let me just tell you now that little monkeys are DAMN loud and buses run at 5am right in front of the property)
Day two, not much better as it is a holiday after all. I rearrange/reassemble furnishings, and my mother helps bring the second load (we have so much crap that one truck couldn't hold it all), she also buys more batteries so I can survive Fat Tuesday.
Day three, explore neighborhood a bit, though not too far as padlock is only so trustworthy.
Day 4. Lights in Kitchen. Yeah
Day 5. CLARK. I get electricity upstairs and I can FINALLY turn on Clark. No phone, let alone internet yet but I don't care. I've stored up enough fan fiction to survive a week (and I'll pass the time viewing supernatural which I have but have yet to see)
Saturday, Yeah, 2 doors and 3 windows are being installed. It is amazing what can be acomplished when you are watching the workers instead of leaving them to do it alone.
Sunday of course was boring but at least I still have a fic stash to survive on.
Mon - DIRT, nice fertile dirt. scared the crap out of me since it arrived at night but hey.
Tue. - Shoveled said dirt into the proper place and got phone line installed. YEAH! depressed that I'm stuck with dial up between midnight and 6 am, but after no internet what so ever, I'll deal and bitch until they install broadband in the area.
Since the weekend is the time I can access the internet at better hours I'll upload pics then.
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