Category: Life

The Neurology Department at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center currently has the most advanced MRI equipment in the nation.  They like to use it.  They need to pay for it.  An MRI for Coco will cost $1500.00. 

Yesterday a headache.  Today hives.  What gives?  Two seconds of internet research tells me medications like Advil are a common cause of hives.  There you go.

I’m not sure which was worse; the blizzard or the headache.  I really didn’t want to miss tonight’s dinner party, so I took two Advil and an Advil Cold & Sinus every four hours.  Which is probably as much Advil as I’ve taken in my entire life.  I laid around all day to make sure I was well rested.  I enjoyed the dinner party at Lake and Beth’s.

I’ve got an Application Software Technician in the office today working on a major upgrade and clean up of our system.  My plan/hope is the upgrade is done about 1:00 pm at which point Tim, Tech and I go to lunch while everyone logs on and gets to work.  We’ll return about 2:30 to find everyone happy as clams.  The Tech assured me this was a reasonable expectation.  But, as of 10:34, there’s a snag.  Something about a service pack.  I went up town for Subway sandwiches.  3:00 pm and we’re about ready to test.  5:00 pm and I’m outta here!  I finally heard from the Neurology Department at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center.  Like our regular Vet, they would like to see video.  Coco had another spell this evening.  The Vet says to rate them, I would call this one a 4 and yesterday morning an 8.  She wobbled but never went down.  We were able to get some video.  She had this one just after eating, same as her morning ones. 

Coco was really bad this morning.  Once she steadied a bit, I took her out in the yard to take her last picture.  Walking around the yard with her, I lost my resolve.  I just can’t do it.  Not yet.  Coco doesn’t appear to be in any pain.  She twitches, her feet curl up, her legs slide out from under her, I don’t think she can see right, yet her tail is wagging the entire time if I’m with her.  I don’t understand why she doesn’t just lay down for a while.  This morning I stood at the upstairs landing and watched her stumble around the first floor.  She was crashing in to furniture.  It was like she was getting lost.  She went into the bathroom and it seemed like she couldn’t find her way out until I went down there and helped her.  She was sorta stuck there, with her head in the towel basket.  Wedging her head against something is one of the first things she does.  On a happier note; I drove the mCoupe today!  It’s been a long time since I’ve had an experience as humbling as today’s first flute lesson.  The flute goes back to the Deephaven house, but I don’t recall having taken lessons.  The fact that I could actually produce sound indicates I may have had a lesson or two, but I’m thinking high school band exposure to the flute could also account for that.  Just when I had given up on the Vet, he called.  He’s never encountered a presentation quite like Coco’s.  He would like to see a video of the episode.  I’ve changed the battery in my video camera and reacquainted myself with its use.  I am also awaiting a call from the Neurology Department at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center.  There are a gazillion ants on the sidewalk near the dog door!  Solution:  Torch & Ant Poison.  Yes, poison is out of dogs’ reach.

Well I’ll be damned!  The iPodTouch syncs to my laptop while docked to the office network just fine.  That means there must be an issue with iTunes on the MediaPC at home.

After early Mass we went to the Apple Store at Ridgedale to retrieve the iPod and iPodTouch that I dropped off for repair on Friday.  I never did receive their promised email confirming receipt of my devices and my 10:30 appointment with the GeniusBar, so I was happy to see my name #3 on the concierge screen.  After way too much time discussing the battery condition, the Minions were awful excited about my report of the iPodTouch only being seen as an iPhone by my computers, seems this was an error none of them had encountered!  I suspected a software upgrade gone amuck on both of these devices.  All the GeniusBar did today was polish them up and hand them to me with the comment; “If we didn’t solve your problem, you didn’t bring us the problem.” I started with the iPod.  They formatted it to Apple specifications, so the first thing I need to do is reformat to Windows.  At which point iTunes stops responding and the machine needs to be restarted.  Ugh.  OK, so I’ll try the iPodTouch.  Error Message:  “An iPhone has been detected, but it could not be identified properly.  Please disconnect and reconnect the iPhone, then try again.” It would seem I made TWO trips to the Apple Store for nothing.  After just an hour and a half with a rake, I’m grateful for the front-mounted thatcher on my little John Deere tractor.  I met my new neighbor. 

Coco-Stubbs/Maxwell Loop:  104 minutes, 6.02 miles, 3.5 mph, HR=100. Coco only stumbled once and at that point we were less than a half mile from home.  While dying asleep in her bed at home would be preferred, dropping dead while out on a walk is the next best thing.  The worst case scenario remains taking her to the Vet, hoisting her up on that stainless table and trying to keep her relaxed and comfortable while they get the needle.  Her stumbling seems to be a daily event, though typically a morning thing.  Coco seems to be getting better at anticipating the spell and managing her footing.  There is a pair of Loons hanging around my shoreline.  I’ve heard Geese don’t like Loons and I’m wondering what I might do to encourage the Loons to nest on my property. 

I couldn’t stand the whiteness of my legs and am very happy with how this product is working.  I missed Avery today, she’s spending the day at a book fair with her Mom.  Hanna and I got up and did the Stubbs/Maxwell loop first thing.  It was dreary, but I’m glad we didn’t wait for better weather, as it only got worse as the day went on. 

Real Estate Taxes 101 from the Assessor this morning.  There was an awful lot I didn’t know about that.