I haven’t done quite as much on the computer lately. I have cataracts in both eyes and my eye sight is going downhill. The cataracts still aren’t quite ready to be removed surgically. I got a notice from our local humane society this week that it is time to renew Angel’s dog license. I don’t think they could have used a smaller font! I wish people would think about those of us who don’t have perfect eye sight when they are sending out statements/letters etc. It is a good job I keep a magnifying glass in my computer desk.

I just got my Christmas cards and letters done and mailed out. I haven’t put up a decoration yet. My thyroid medication needs adjusting again so I am am struggling with a lack of energy again. I am hoping to get my Christmas tree up this weekend. It is somewhat of a pain to put it up but I do enjoy the lights – they are so relaaxing.

If I don’t get another post done in the next few days, I hope everyone who celebrates this Christian holiday has a blessed Christmas and Angel and I wish all of you a Happy New Year for 2012.

My computer friend and his wife did get moved to another State to live with an adult child. Sadly, his wife passed away not too long after they barely were getting settled in. As you can well imagine, my friend has many things on his mind now and I would think he is going through a whole range of emotions. I am hoping he will eventually get back to working on his Gallery but I am leaving the timing up to him. Only he will know when the time feels right to again work on this project. I did edit the third tutorial only slightly and have it ready to go if needed.

I have been spending my time lately getting outside work done before the snow flies. I have most chores done – the only chores left are to get my small back garden ‘put to bed’ and then rake the leaves when they have fallen off the trees. I am usually out raking the middle of November. One of the last chores is to get my vehicle in for maintenance and have the snow tires installed.

Till next time.

Gail and Angel

Tutorial using MSR Pro by DeskShare

I did get the tutorials done (3 in total) and overall, I am very pleased with them. I would like to clean up the narration a little in a few spots and I think I can do this using my Corel Video Studio program. This program separates the video from the audio so hopefully I can figure out how to cut out the ‘bad’ spots and redo those few words. I purchased a book on how to use Corel Video Studio so that should be helpful. I think considering this was my first attempt at doing a tutorial, even the narration would get a passing grade. I had done some planning prior to doing the tutorial but there is nothing like experience as they say. Each time I do a tutorial, I will get better.

Did my tutorials help the elderly gentleman that I often help? Not so far – however, he informed me that currently he has a lot on his plate. He and his wife are leaving their home where they have lived for a number of years, and moving to another State to live with an adult child and her family. This of course is enough stress for anyone regardless of age. I suggested that we leave Gallery and learning how to use an FTP Program on the back burner and perhaps get back at it in the autumn when things will have settled down for him. That will also give me time to clean up the narration.

I cleaned up my personal web site some a few days ago. I am starting to get more enthusiasm re the idea of using WordPress for both my web site and my blog. I don’t think many folks look at the web site now but I enjoy a challenge. It certainly keeps the brain active.

Till next time.

Gail and Angel

I think I am suffering from depression – this is understandable as I have lost all of my immediate family – 3 out of the 4 members within a few years. I do have 2 nieces but they don’t bother with me – now that I have been around to help pay up front funeral costs, loan the youngest niece my van until she bought a $40,000. plus vehicle and was on welfare – let’s hear it for WELFARE!! – they don’t give a damn anymore. I am no longer handing out money. Little do they know – there will be no money handed out after I am dead either. That is written into my Will.

My daily routine seems to be the same almost every day – whoopee!! Nothing changes. I do continue to spend time at the computer when time allows. Of course some of my time is spent looking after my house inside and out. Angel takes up some of my time also – she has just had 2 skin growths removed and still has the sutures in. I got good news yesterday – both lesions are benign and the area around the lesions are clear. Poor Angel – she has had her share of surgical procedures it seems. She is currently wearing t-shirts to help her from getting at the sutures. Here are a couple of photos:

Do you like my shirt?

Do you like this shirt better?

I have been spending considerable time at the computer lately looking for a good screen recorder program. I help a couple of computer friends doing tasks on the computer and I want to be able to do some tutorials. I have done a fair number of screen shots over the years and these are usually helpful. However, there is the odd time when a tutorial is needed. I also plan on using the software to do the odd small tutorial for myself. Like many others I guess, I tend to forget how to do certain steps in a task if I don’t do it often enough. This way – I can simply view the tutorial to refresh my mind. I have finally found and purchased a program and I have spent time learning the ins and outs of the program. The gentleman I am helping at present is an older person (82 next month) – I am anxious to get the tutorials done and then see if they do help him.

Hopefully my next post will be sooner rather than later and I will report back on my success or lack of success in creating the tutorials and whether or not they are a success.

Gail

I think my walking is a little more brisk than what it has been. Some of this could be due to the cooler weather as well. We have been having some beautiful autumn weather this year. My blood sugars are coming down – I would like to see them drop even lower. I have lost perhaps one more pound but I haven’t gained weight so that is a positive.

I am currently watching Game 5 of the baseball playoffs – Tampa Bay vs. Texas. I don’t have any strong feelings as to which team wins. I just hope that some team beats those damn Yankees!! Wouldn’t it be nice if all the teams even came close to the Yankees payroll.

Time to hop on the bike.

Gail

About a month ago, I wasn’t feeling well and decided to check my blood sugar (which I haven’t been doing for months – I should know better – I was a nurse). I thought perhaps the sugar level may be low. Well I was wrong – it was 17.1 which sure isn’t low. I think this was a wake up call for me. I have now been checking my levels more closely and I started doing some biking on the exercise bike on a regular basis. I try and do 20 to 30 minutes per day. I also had not weighed myself for some months. I got weighed about 10 days ago and I have lost 10 pounds since the last time I got on the scales (a few months ago?). I think the biking is helping plus I do cut my own grass still and I am sure that helps as well. I don’t have a big property but walking up and down the lot pushing a lawn mower is bound to make a difference – it is exercise I wouldn’t get if I paid someone to cut my grass.

I don’t walk much now – I would like to walk more but my lower back gets so tender. I spend a lot of time sitting with an ice pack against my lower back. Of course all of the extra weight I am carrying is not helping my spine and the arthritic process. I am hoping my walking will improve as my weight slowly decreases. I am not naive – I know it is a long slow process and I know I will never weigh a nice 150 pounds or whatever. I have always weighed about 20 pounds more than what I look. Even if I lose another 20 or 30 pounds – this would be great. If I keep up the biking during the winter months – this should help.

Off to do some biking now – I have some outside work to do but it is hot and humid again. We have been having some nice cooler temperatures but the warmer weather has greeted us again. I believe this is to change and it will be back to cooler temperatures – thank goodness.

TTFN

Gail and Angel

Angel – please, for my sake – SLOW DOWN a little. Your ligaments can only take so much wear and tear.

Your Mother.

It was back to the Vet again this week – Wednesday to see the Vet and Thursday for more surgery. Angel now has a hot spot on her neck which required anesthetic and lancing. She also had her teeth cleaned at the same time. I do give her dental chews (as recommended by the Vet) and her regular diet is food designed to help with plaque, tartar, etc. I do wonder if any of this does any good.

Angel is wearing the dreaded cone again to keep her from scratching the area. Mother has the job of doing her treatment and dispensing the medications. Hopefully I never mix up Angel’s medication and my medication.

Yesterday, I cut my grass and then had Angel outside to enjoy a nice cool breeze while I pulled some more weeds.

It is now getting warmer and more humidity is on the way. The good folks at the Vet’s office told me they have seen more allergies and skin problems this summer – in part due to the high heat and humidity.

Off to check on Angel now.

Gail

I didn’t know if I would make it through the 10 weeks or not – 2 weeks after she tore the ligament and then a further 8 weeks following surgery. I was really getting tired the last 3 weeks – especially the last trip of the evening before bed time. I was tired and I had to carry her up the stairs – the Vet did agree I could let her go down stairs by then if I had her on a short leash and she went slowly. Apparently there is more pressure on the dog’s back legs climbing stairs as opposed to going down the stairs. It was particularly challenging if the deck steps were wet due to rain – I really had to be careful then. I hung unto the deck railing for dear life!!

It would have been nice if I would have received some help during this time but that was never to be. Everyone I know seems to be considerably older than I am so they are unable to do much except give advice.

Angel is sure enjoying her new found freedom again. It didn’t take long before she was finding her way down to the recreation room – this has been her favourite room for a long time. She loves to go down there and relax on the chesterfield. If I don’t see her upstairs, I know where to find her.

Time to get some supper – I have discovered my blood sugars are elevated lately so I am watching the sugar readings more closely.

TTFN

Gail and Angel

I have spent about $2000. on Angel since the day she had her annual exam. The surgery alone was $1200. The treatment is pain patches for the initial couple of weeks, rest (which Angel doesn’t understand), cruciate surgery of course, ice pack on the suture line, manual exercise of the affected leg, (I feel like I am back nursing again) NO STAIRS, no jumping, etc. I have carried Angel up and down the deck stairs for the past 6 weeks and I have 4 more weeks to go – I don’t know if I will survive. It doesn’t matter which way I go when I leave my house – I have stairs to contend with. Thank goodness she isn’t a large dog and thank goodness it isn’t winter time. It is bad enough going up and down the deck stairs when it has rained – I hang on to the railing for dear life! I have slipped a couple of times but I haven’t fallen yet.

I am getting weary of the days and I am sure Angel is as well. I have the inside stairs blocked off with a baby gate that I used when she was a puppy. I have a piece of plywood on the love seat in my living room to stop her from jumping up. She did jump on to the love seat about 3 days after the surgery – I was ready to kill her! I came home with 2 pages of instructions following her surgery – they really stress the importance of the first 2 weeks and the dog not doing anything that will undo what was done at the time of surgery. Try and explain that to a dog. I am so glad when bed time comes again – this is how I felt when she was a puppy. When I get into bed – I am thankful I made it through another day.

Angel is now putting her leg down when she walks and bearing some weight. When she runs – she still holds her leg up. I tell her not to run but I might as well talk to the wall.

Speaking of bed time – it is time for me to take Angel out for her last trip and then off to the bed room to watch some TV. I think it is raining again – we didn’t have rain for a long time and now we are getting a fair bit. Angel is making good use of her yellow raincoat these days.

Goodnight from Gail and Angel