Do What?

As my little fluff ball gets bigger and bigger(now <25lbs), my chronic knee pain gets worse and worse. So........I have finally done soemthing about it. Week before last I picked an otheopedic surgeon from my insurance company's list of providers and made an appoitnment. When I got there he was running 1 hour and 40 minutes behind. An HOUR and 40MINUTES! Are you crazy? You want me to sit there for that long to wait for a doc? Now I know that emergencies happen but can't someone cover for them? So I reschchedule for the following week. (I'm reminded of a Sienfeld episode where George asks for payment when his doctor doesnt show up! ) So now it is a week later and I can bearly walk. Suzanne tells me I look Fred Sanford when I walk! I personally think I look like some gimp!"Run, Forest, Run!" Needless to say this doc takes X-rays and manually examines my knee (which hurts like a bitch!) and in no time flat he has handed me a Rx for an MRI and says once that is done we should schecule the Arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem. WHOA! Hang on!

Bring on the second opinon. I survey the women in my neighborhood who all tell me to go to Anderson Clinic-close by, easy parking, all in one facility. So I call and make an appointment. A week and half later they can "fit" me in. Well, as if just before a hair cut, my knee gets steadily better and is almost bearble. So I show up today, early to fill out paperwork, and wait, and wait, and wait, 55 minutes, in these wierd hospital gown short things that they tell me I free to take home with me. Gee Thanks! Then my five minute appointment occurs-this doctor, diplomas all over the wall tells me the exact opposite thing. "You have athritis, you dont need surgery, no going to the gym, thanks for coming in". Basically after I questioned him about what to do, he said, not in so many words-"deal with it".

So what does one do. One Doc is ready to cut you open and had he had a knife in his hand would have done it right then and there and one doc who says it is arthristis (hello-I'm 42 and not an ex-football player) and that there is nothing that he can do to make it better. The only thing they both agreed on is that I shouldn't do any deep knee bends. Uh......Yeah.......Then YOU come over and get the crap out of my lower cupboards and pick up the dog-cause she can't go down the stairs, and change the toner and clear the jams and all that other crap I do every day that requires me to bend down to see. Perhaps, I should lay on a skate board and get around like that? Bitter..........party of One please!

Do you get third opinion? No wonder our insurance rates are climbing! I wonder if the third opinion guy will be exponentially less hospitable than the second opinion guy was? Are we wasting thier time consulting thier expertise?

So meanwhile I hope, against all hope, that Lexi in her expedited growth stage of life doesn't pull me right off my feet!

Today, I hate old men doctors!

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

Mommy come back!!!! I need Kibble!

Crossing Guards are Cool!

Mommy bought me this cool new harness, it is NEON PINK and is a nice conrast to my Blonde hair! Mommy's neighbors keep saying I look like a crossing guard or a hall monitor............not sure what those are but I am convinved they are the popular kids in school 'cause Mom is so happy that I walk better when she puts on my cool new Pink Halter-Just like Daisey Duke!

Springtime in Paris.......er......DC

Springtime in DC has got to be the most beautiful time of the year. Though majestic at all other times with the old architechture, gorgeous monuments, and histroic sites the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom attract more people in DC than any other time of the year!

Suzanne, Dennis and I went to see the cherry blossoms (and, of course, to make fun of the tourists) last weekend. Well, we got our butts handed to us on a plate! There were so many people wandering the paths of the Tidal Basin; in trying to avoid the tourists who didnt know where they were going, the little kids running and darting in and out of the trees unsupervised by any form of parental unit and scoffing at the masses of people who find it necessary to BREAK FULL BRANCHES OF BLOOMS OFF THE TREES and shake them overhead for that perfect photo op, that we couldn't even enjoy them ourselves.

Next year, we'll go at sunrise when the tourists are still enjoying thier continental breakfasts and still burried behind the maps trying to figure out exactly how to get to the Tidal Basin.

Thankfully we were able to get some great shots of the blossoms so we can enjoy them in print. And share them with friends from afar!
They really are gourgeous! What a gift!
Ahhh............. Springtime in DC!

Stink Eye.

I love to tug!! Puppies are amazing. One minute this puppy is sweet and licking my face and snuggling with me and just all around so cute I could eat her with a spoon! The next minute she is like Cujo. Growling, sneering and biting non-stop. I really think as they grow, they just get crazy while their little bodies stretch and expand.

When she is in one of these growth spurts, which seems more often than not, I try to play games with her and keep any toy in her mouth at all times, otherwise I suffer holes in my hands, thights and lips. He favorite spot to "get me" is that little pice of skin and cartilege between your nostrils-youch!

Above is that face she always makes when I just won't let go of the tug toy! If she could talk........" let go of MY damn toy Mom, it's mine, mine, mine!!"

Stink Eye.

Today, I ran FREEEEEEEE!

Today turned out to be a beautiful day. The health department came to my house and laid enough trapps to erradicate the whole of the Alexandria rat population! I feel safe again and have a cell numberof the head RAT trapper, if I see any evidence of a rat! Thank God for the City Employed Rat Hunters! They love their work! And Damn the Condo Board!

So with that issue not wieghing so heavily on my mind I trun my focus back to my little furry love! All my neighbors, like curious little girls, wanted the Scoopon the Rat story...so we congregated a new spot in the neighbohood and as we stood kavetching, more and more folks came out with thier doggies. So we let them all off leash and Lexi got to play, untethered for the first time. Every other dog was exponentially bigger than Lexi but she trumped them all inthe engery department! She was body slammed anumber of times by Maggie, Humped (at an attempt at one) by the Senior man Jake, and chased around by Nakita and Moses. All the while I thanked my lucky stars for this "session" of play. I stood there tasting a full night's sleep in my future.

She now, Keeps gettin up and walking around and then ends up sitting at my feet.......... so tired she can not sit still. I dont think she understands what exhaustion feels like-Lexi it is your turn now!

Sleep tight!

Some say attorneys ARE rats.....My rat has one!

In response to the visit from Stinky Templeton on Sunday, I had part of the condo board, one from Charlottesville and the condo attorney in my house searching for signs of rats....

Why is it that a condo board needs to "search for signs of a rat" and why does an attorney need to be involved?

Perhaps because I called the Health Department? ooops, I hate when the code enforcers get involved!

Stay tuned to the Rat Channel! Up one, on your dial, from Lifetime!

Sometimes I am too cocky.

Alright, alright..................

Templeton is NOT dead he DID check in to Chateau Laurel and now he is ordering room service! As I sat enjoying my Sunday afternoon watching a movie, surfing the net, and loving that little Lexi was asleep beside me-snoring-so cute...............it happened, my worst nightmare!

Something caught my eye in the kitchen. I looked up from my screen and there he was. He was sauntering toward me as if to say "Hey lady, what's to eat? I'm starvin' here!". Well as you can imagine, I let out a few choice words and as I did....... I...... startled HIM! He jumped straight up in to the air, turned and headed back toward the kitchen. He stopped......... turned and looked at me........Again a few choice names came spilling out of my mouth............ he then turned and ran from whence he came...........under the stove; back to his nicely appointed suite.

Mr. Health Inspector got a call on his cell phone on a Sunday!

Who knew that one little call on a non-work day (especially for those hard working gov't folks) VM would cause such a rauccus! Apparently, this day in age, you need to retain a lawyer AND a government entity in order to get your condo association to get rid of a rat that has litterally taken over your home. Again, I remind you I do not live in the ghetto, in fact a unit my just like mine recently sold for over 400K!!!! Presidents have lived here, diginiatries have lived here.......etc.

Hint to those of you have rodent problems........do not pass go; do not collect $100; go directly to the Health Department! They rock! There is talk of brining in the "LARGE" snap traps---Whoo hoo!

Stay tuned for more Rat Chronicles!