OMG, Tort Baby is so crazy!

OMG, Tort Baby is so crazy!  There is a Wii keyboard laying in the floor and he could SO EASILY walk around it - yet he tries and tries and tries to climb over it.  He eventually does get up on it and then slides right back off into the floor on the other side.  Apparently, the corner of it is just SO in his way and walking around it is NOT an option.  I just love how stubborn he is.  He takes after his mama.  😃

I am nothing short of WIPED OUT today.

I am nothing short of WIPED OUT today. Even though there are a ton of things I'd like to do before I go to bed  I think I'll be calling it a night here shortly. Just hanging out with Shadow for a bit before I do.

I am really looking forward to the warmer weather that's headed our way.

Also, I'm really sad to hear about Leonard Nimoy. 😢 Live long and prosper, friends.  ❤

I'm glad it's Friday.

Dr. Edmond just prescribed me some Folic Acid and Zofran. Hopefully that will be enough to fix my nausea. If not - I'll have to ask for shots which doesn't excite me. 😕

I'm eating Chex Mix in my car. About to get a Coke because it's what my grandmother always gave me when I was sick and either it helps or I think it does. 😂

Heading to work shortly. Will pick up / try Zofran later. Not a huge fan of taking new things when I am not home. Sometimes things make me feel weird.

I'm glad it's Friday, but I'm not super excited for the weekend anymore. I think my big plans to see Laurel and Emily have gone to hell because we're all sick right now. You know that's love - we're all miles apart from each other, but manage to be in sync somehow. 😂 Anyway. Getting on with this day. Later, friends. ❤

I am not even ashamed to admit...

I am not even ashamed to admit that today I spent like $20 on sweat pants at Wal-Mart.  I bought 6 pairs - all in different colors.  They were on clearance for $3.  IN PETITE size.  I tried a pair on to make sure they weren't wonky and they weren't.  I'm probably wayyy more excited about this than I should be.  😂

I also got some Spin Pins for my girl hair since it's still on my head.  When I put my hair up in a bun (or 2 smaller buns), I use approximately 19573045 bobby pins and they usually start sliding back out halfway through the day.  I can do the "bun with a stick" thing, but I found that I have re-do that one every other hour or so.  Spin Pins, though, are holding my shit in place.  I'm super happy about those, too.

To be honest, though - those two things have been the highlight of my week.  I have felt like complete and utter shit for several days.  Makes me kind of grateful for the weather and having school and work cancelled.  I am going to the doctor in the morning.  I have been nauseated in a big way and that's no good.  The longer I'm on my new medicine the better my hands feel / work and the clearer my skin gets, but the sicker my stomach gets, too.

I've read that folic acid will help with that and that the doctor can also prescribe me some anti-nausea medication so I'm going to ask him about those things.  And if that won't work I can start stabbing the medicine into my leg.  I'm not super excited about that option... I guess I'm getting squeamish in my old age, but I'll do it rather than be so barfy that I'm not functional.

Anyway.  That's been my week.  I hope everyone else has been staying warm and doing well.  ❤

She hopped up right after I snapped this.

She hopped up right after I snapped this. I could see it on her face: "NOPE."

I don't know why she won't just snuggle the shell-kid. 😂 Poor rejected Tort Baby.

I am quite surprised to see that Tort Baby wants out...

I am quite surprised to see that Tort Baby wants out despite how cold it is. He's busy walking around. Such a weirdy. 😂

Can anyone in Saks tell me what the roads are doing?

Can anyone in Saks tell me what the roads are doing?  I'm at work in Oxford.  Can't tell if I need to leave now or if I'm ok to wait.

I am slow to start today.

I am slow to start today.  I wanted to be at work already, but I can feel this cold in my bones and it aches.  I am also not entirely sure I want to leave the house after what happened last year.  You know - that time I walked 7 miles home in the snow with Shaun.  Sounds like a story that your grandparents would tell to guilt you into thinking your life now is easy, but that shit really happened.  I didn't know I had arthritis back then, either, so I wasn't on anything for my joints and the pain was pretty bad.

I guess I'm putting on my brave face and leaving.  But at the first sign of trouble I'm heading home.  In my car.  Since it's not beautiful and shiny and new I don't give a shit if anyone runs into me as long as they don't hit me TOO hard.  😂😂😂

When I was a kid...

When I was a kid I would share my popsicles with them.  I've always been this way.  😂

Help the bees.  Help everyone all the time.  ❤

I fed the Bruce. o_O

I fed the Bruce. o_O

ALMOST made myself late for English class.

ALMOST made myself late for English class. I had to stop and pick all of the earthworms off my porch or they would have dried up and died. I don't know why they always get on the porch when it rains... unless they can't help it. I need to Google that. Maybe I can help them not do that, or help them not need to do that...

I found out today...

I found out today that my hair is long enough I can bun it with only a stick.  Thanks mom.  🙂

I think the last profile pic I posted where my hair was visible my head was half-shaved and bedazzled.  😂  It might be time to update that.  I'm over here lookin' like a girl.  😳

Heading to Taco Bell...

Heading to Taco Bell with my guys! That is becoming my Friday night thing. 😃 As long as they keep those potatoes - I'm all about it. 😃

Sweet little tortoise snuggles.

Well I guess it's Shaun's turn for some tort snuggles. He's wedged himself between Shaun's arm and the couch.  I bet he goes to sleep now. 😂

My goodness this child is wild right now.

My goodness this child is wild right now. I looked over and saw him climbing the bars of his house, but couldn't get to him before he fell over on his back. All I saw at that point was his little feets waving slowly in the air. 😂

Even though it's past his bedtime (his lights just went off) he's out climbing around. Right now he's wedged himself between my right shoulder and the couch. He's still moving around so I don't know if he's goofing off or trying to wedge in to go to sleep. Either way I'm happy to see him. It's so cold lately that all he does is sit under his heat lamp. I totally don't blame him.

I am not supposed to have coffee...

😳

I am not supposed to have coffee, but I'm making some coffee.  I flopped around in my bed for HOURS last night.  I was SO SLEEPY, but just couldn't sleep.  That does not happen to me often - thank goodness - because it SUPER SUCKS.  I bet I slept a whopping 2 hours.  🙁

Today was a mixed bag.

Today was a mixed bag.  The morning was rough - was crazy nauseated and had a terrible headache.  Got to work wayyy late - thankfully it was pretty quiet when I got there, but that sucks for my paycheck and I always feel like a great big douche when that happens.

Later I had lunch with Shaun and finally started feeling human again.

Went to school and felt like a total rock star.  I am on top of the Algebra we're doing so I might finally have a weekend off of studying.  In computer class I turned in an assignment that is due on March 3rd so I've got that class under control.  I'm working in Excel now which is my favorite program EVER.  So excited about that one.  Then we get to start on Access which is the one I'm really looking forward to getting to know.  😃

I have English first thing tomorrow morning and we're working on a draft we started Monday.  I REALLY love to write, but I got a 17/25 on my Dahlia paper so that's like, a D.  🙁  I spliced some commas so I know to look out for that and I referred to Dahlia as "who" rather than "that" and got points off for that, as well.  I asked the teacher about that, but she said that only humans get to be referred to as "who."  After a ton of research everything I've read says that if I've establish her gender (I did, "her ribs," "she choked," etc.) then "who" is appropriate, but I'm not going to be argumentative.  The only place I've found that "who" is not ok is the ONE book I have for the class so I guess that's what we're going by.

I thought English would be my best subject, but so far it's not.  I do remember the teacher saying that our first essays wouldn't count as much as our later ones so maybe that 17/25 won't hurt my grade too much.  I really wanted to make all A's so I guess I have to try harder.  It's just so hard because I type a lot faster than I write by hand and we have to get so much done per class - almost none of it is homework which is nice on one hand, but makes me feel rushed, on the other.  😕

Anyway.  I'm calling it a night.  Trying not to stress too much over here.  😖  I hope you all are doing well.  ❤

So glad to be home.

So glad to be home.  I'm not a fan of being out in the cold weather, but add water to that mix and it just super sucks.  I can't even.

I've been nauseated for most of the day so that hasn't been great.  I am eating more bread and pasta now that I'm on the new medicine because it settles my stomach.  I came home and made spaghetti noodles with Parmesan cheese and butter - a childhood favorite.  It's still as good as I remember it being.

I don't know what is up lately, but my arms hurt.  Like - not even the joints, but the whole of my forearms and even the backs of my hands.  I don't know if that has anything to do with Psoriatic Arthritis, but I kind of doubt that it does.  Anyway it feels hard to do anything when your arms AND hands hurt.  I'm gonna make sure to tell my doctor about that when I see him again.

Anyway.  I feel like I might be crashing out.  I wouldn't argue with taking a Monday evening nap...

It is really unfortunate...

TRIGGER WARNING:  Animal Death, Neglect
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It is really unfortunate, but this happens. It is the main reason I FREAK THE HELL OUT anytime one of my dogs gets loose. Hokes Bluff PD is investigating, but I am not sure that this person did anything illegal. 

Just because you love your pets and think that everything they do is cute does not mean that everyone will be amused by their shenanigans.  Same goes for your kids. Please try to respect other people's property and space. 

For the record - I am NOT condoning the shooter's actions, but the owners should be held responsible for their hand in this, too. Everyone likes to ignore it because this is "the country," but there ARE leash laws in this state.

Feeling pukey again. Time for breakfast!

Feeling pukey again. Time for breakfast!

I learned in English that I like commas too much, and also that I end sentences with prepositions too often. Things to work on!

(How bad am I?! I can't stop!) 😛

I am not all about this cold, wet day.

I am not all about this cold, wet day.  SO wishing I didn't have to leave my house.  Yuck.

Well, thanks to something Jennifer posted...

Well, thanks to something Jennifer posted I Googled some stuff on being ambidextrous because I am to a point.  I came across this article on Mental Floss, which led me to then Google cross-sensory perception.  I will post a link to that article, too.  I am going to admit now that I have NOT put a lot of time into reading about this, but I might because it seems interesting.

What really hit a nerve with me is this line from the article I read on cross-sensory perception:  "A sound-color synesthete describes her perception of her husband’s voice as “a wonderful golden brown, like crisp, buttery toast,” while a sound-taste synesthete describes the voices of people she knows as “barbecued pancakes,” “spaghetti with M&M’S” and “peanut butter.”"

^  As weird as that shit sounds - I get it.  It wasn't all that long ago that I told Shaun his Java Chiller from Sonic tasted "roundy" which made (and still makes) perfect sense to me.  (Btw, I like roundy flavors).  I have also told him that the small chocolate chip cookies from Panera Bread taste ignorant and I stand by that.  They taste ignorant and I do not like them.

I so love the Shaun for trying to understand me, no matter what weird crap I say, but this makes me feel 1000% better that I am not the only one who does this.  If I'm crazy, at least I am not alone in it.  LOL

11 Facts About the Ambidextrous

Synesthesia:  Another World of Perception

Tort Baby is awake today! 😃😃😃

Tort Baby is awake today! 😃😃😃

He ran Shadow off of the couch into the floor with a snoring Booka. 😂

Tort Baby is too busy for snuggles right now. He's got some exercising to do. 😃

He was stomping around the couch too much while Shadow was trying to play a game. I think they have switched places now. 😂

Snoring Booka

I slept late.

I slept late.  SUPER LATE.  Like - I got out of my bed at 1:30 pm.  LOL  Happy Whatever Day to me!  😃

Plans for the day:

Feed Everyone 

Finish Homework

Clean the House

Take a Shower

Call Shaun

Go to Wal-Mart & Tractor Supply

Eat Some Chocolate (and not that shitty shit they sell for today)

Hang out with My Guys & the Ani-Pals

Do My Nails

Sounds pretty much perfect to me!  😃

I took my pills last night and though I'm a bit nauseated today it's not horrible.  I'm gonna go and snack on something to see if that helps.  I also slept about a million hours last night and I don't even have a sleep hangover so I guess I needed it.  That's so weird, but I am NOT complaining.   Sleep hangovers suck.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a lovely day!  ❤

They call this one Short Bus.

They call this one Short Bus.  😂  Reminds me of my Lowrider.  I hope someone can take her home.  Look at her precious jankey leg!

I need this...

I need this since I suck at ACTUALLY keeping live water animals.

Laurel and Emily and Jennifer, look at it!  😳

Y'all - check this out.

Y'all - check this out.  Teyla knows her man-cats apart even though they look really similar.  She will kiss Harley, but not Scar!

She's like "Nope, stahp, you're the wrong one!"  😂

Man I got home and Teyla was looking all perky.

Man I got home and Teyla was looking all perky. I'm guessing that the Shaun-Daddy filled her up with worms. Happy girl! I love it when everyone feels good! 😃

I am super happy this evening.  Having gotten all of my first college tests out of the way AND getting good grades on them AND being ahead (by about 2 weeks!) in computer class - I feel freaking accomplished. I could work ahead in my Orientation class, but I have to do that at home and it's a good bit harder to concentrate here than in a real class. I'm just keeping up with it for now, but would like to sit down this weekend and see what I can knock out. 

If we go back on short time at work over the summer I am considering taking a full load of classes. I know that classes get harder and harder, but maybe I can handle it... this year, anyway. I guess we'll see!  🙂

I just bawled my way through English class.

OMD.  I just bawled my way through English class. 😂 We had to write a descriptive essay about a day. Man, I have lots of things I could describe, but a great many of my stories are gross or sad. I ended up writing about the day I found Dahlia. 

For those who don't remember - this was Dahlia when I found her. 

THE FEELS. 😳

Last one out of class, but...

Last one out of class, but... I made a 100 on my Algebra test! 😃😃😃

Turned my alarm off and slept to my heart's content.

Turned my alarm off and slept to my heart's content.  I woke up feeling ok, but we'll see how long that lasts.  I had a pretty restful weekend, but was crashing out by noon yesterday.  🙁

Today is my long day - work and then classes until 8:15.  Also, my first Algebra test is today.  I hope I'm awake enough during it to not make a bunch of dumb errors.  😳

Later, friends.  Getting ready for work so I can get this day started.  ❤

Today has been exhausting.

Today has been exhausting. Nothing out of the ordinary - I'm pretty sure it's just me. 🙁 You know how when you feel like you're getting sick and you're just drained? That's how I feel. I think it's because of my new medicine. 

Too bad it's not helping anything yet. I guess the last of the Diclofenac is getting out of my system because my knees have really been hurting all day and I haven't had trouble with them in a while. Blegh. 

If I wasn't out of toothpaste and could get out of going to Wal-Mart I'd go to bed right now. I am not even kidding. 

I hope your Monday went better. ❤

Snuggle buddy makes it better, though.

Made a 94 on my first English test.

Made a 94 on my first English test. Yay for A's! We start writing on Wednesday. 😃

Grabbing some breakfast and then heading to work. Still having waves of nausea off and on... I guess from my new pills. Food seems to help. I might need to start keeping crackers or something with me. 😕

Just had Olive Garden with the Shaun.

Just had Olive Garden with the Shaun. I ate so much and it was awesome. 😃 We'll just call that early Valentine's Day. 😂

I kicked ass on my "To Do" list early in the day...

I kicked ass on my "To Do" list early in the day so I spent the rest of the day mostly relaxing. I did my nails and hung out with Shaun and Shadow and the ani-pals. Tort Baby DEFINITELY got his exercise in today. 😂 Harley got to spend some time with Teyla and the dogs got to enjoy the nice weather. So that was all pretty nice. 🙂

I was so lazy that I ordered House of Chen for me and Shadow and had them deliver even though they are close to me. 😂 Oh well. It was worth it. 😃

The only complaint I've had would be periodic nausea and tiredness. I'm attributing that to my new pills. Since I only have to take them once a week I think I'll stick with taking them on the weekends. As much as that sucks I think I prefer feeling this way at home rather than at work or school. 😕

My plans for tomorrow include putting away all of the laundry I washed and studying for my Algebra test that is coming up on Tuesday. Woo. 😛

Anyway. I'm so very sleepy so I'm calling it a night. Yep, at 11 PM on a weekend. 😂 Have a good night, friends. ❤

So most of my dogs are outside enjoying the weather.

So most of my dogs are outside enjoying the weather.  I looked out and saw that Lowrider was stretched out on her side on the ground in the sunlight.  It was so adorable.  She looked like she was falling asleep.  🙂

I went to the game room to get Tort Baby and he was in front of the door so when I opened it it flipped him over.  😂  I looked down and he's just sprawled out on his back - not even trying to get up.  I have a feeling he knew he was about to get picked up so why bother?  😂

I think we're gonna have one of those nice, lazy, sprawled-out kind of days around here.  I am SO VERY ok with that.  😃

Well I got up wayyy early on a weekend. Someone congratulate me.

Well I got up wayyy early on a weekend.  Someone congratulate me.

I had some stuff to do so when Scooter woke up me at 8 doing the "Someone's gonna pee in the floor!" bark (he's such a tattletale!  😂) so I just stayed up.  I've been pretty productive considering that it's only noon-ish.  Woo for getting things done!

So far I guess my pills haven't affected me in a horribly bad way.  I've had waves of nausea hit me, but they pass and then I'm fine.  I feel pretty sleepy right now, but I don't know if that's from the pills or because I got up early so whatever.  Maybe I'll take a little nap later.  🙂

I gotta say that my hands don't hurt as much today - BUT, I think that's due more to the weather being nice than because of my pills.  I don't think they are supposed to help right away, but I'll take any relief I can get.

Anyway, so far, I'm ok.  Woohoo!  🙂

Saw Dr. Edmond. I feel good about that.

Since everyone is dying to know... my visit with Dr. Edmond went well.  The wait was more than reasonable - my appointment was at 9:30 and I think I was done around 11.  He's also SUPER close to work so both of those are huge pluses!  🙂

Dr. Edmond was really nice and even though our visit didn't take long I didn't feel rushed.  The main thing I went for was my psoriasis / psoriatic arthritis and while I didn't get a referral to a rheumatologist (like I was so determined to do), I am ok with that.  Dr. Edmond explained that he normally doesn't send patients to a specialist unless the medicine that he wanted to start me on doesn't help.  Since it sounded like he had a plan I felt comfortable with that.

SO... I am going to start taking Methotrexate tonight.  It is an immunosuppressive drug so if you're sick - stay the hell away from me.  😂  (But I'm not kidding.)  It sounds like it's a pretty serious medication... which to me is kind of scary, but I'm serious about keeping my joints healthy.  Thankfully I only have to take it once a week so I will like that better than twice a day like I was having to do with the Diclofenac.  I had to take Diclofenac with food so even if I wasn't hungry I was eating just so the pill wouldn't upset my stomach.  I was NOT a fan of that.

So according to the page I linked below this seems like the right course of action.  Diclofenac (an NSAID) isn't controlling my inflammation so now we're moving on to DMARDS, (which actually treats the psoriasis and arthritis rather than just the symptoms).  I think I like that better.  The only down-side (besides the host of serious side effects that I'm going to try hard not to think about) is that it can take several weeks for me to notice a difference.

Anyway, Dr. Edmond wants to see me again in a month so that is my plan.  🙂

https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/treatments-for-psoriatic-arthritis/dmards

Harley and Teyla

Harley and Teyla

Sitting in a tree

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Kiss in progress.  If only I'd been fast enough to switch to video.  LOL

Sorry for the washed out-ness of the photo.  It's hard to get a good one under leezard lamps.  I  am late for work, so I didn't have time to edit.  If you feel like trying, go for it.  🙂

Another one of the kissing kids.

Another one of the kissing kids. 🙂

Man - what a week.

Man - what a week. I'm so ready for it to be over. 

I've felt so run down. I think I've been fighting off that killer crud that Shadow had last week. Blegh.  I might have even had a fever this morning because I was so hot (in the winter!) that I wore jeans instead of snow pants today and I regretted it.  A lot.  🙁

My skin is also getting really bad again. I will admit that I haven't been using the steroid cream that Dr. Hamer prescribed, but medicating as many spots as I have right now twice a day is unrealistic - especially since it's not even a cure. 

My hands are also still not good. I'm super glad that I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, but if he does what I want and sends me to a specialist I probably won't be getting any treatment tomorrow. But at least it's a step in the right direction. 

Despite all of that I have been keeping up in school, but I've missed some time at work. I guess I can't do everything, but I have to try. Speaking of... I have a thing due tomorrow. I have to really not forget to do it after work or I'm in trouble. 😳 I am too tired to attempt it tonight.

Anyway. Goodnight, friends. I hope your week has been better. ❤

Other feelings I have:

About to take my English exam. I feel pretty good about it. 

Other feelings I have:  Nausea. Blegh. 🙁

Also, happiness. Nappy has a hair appointment today. She's a mess and I feel like a terrible pet parent. I just didn't have the money to keep her up like I wanted to last year. 🙁 I feel so relieved that she's getting shaved today. And maybe she'll decide to not resist coming back in every time I let her out if she can feel that it's actually cold out. Doofy dog. ❤

Well, on with my day!

So I hear that Harley...

So I hear that Harley had his first lizard kiss tonight while I was in class. He's super nosey and always gets close to the lizards when I'm feeding them. I guess tonight was no different when Shaun was feeding them. He said that Teyla licked him twice in the face. 😂 I just love my kids! 

As for me - I'm so sleepy and tired. I have been feeling run down and I think it's because I've been trying to fight off the crud that Shadow had. I have been feeling a little congested, have had a slight cough, and am head-achey off and on. Boo. 

I had my first computer test tonight, will have an English test first thing tomorrow morning, and will have my first Algebra test on Tuesday. So far I think I am doing ok! 🙂

Later, friends. I'm beat. ❤

So very cold...

So very cold - even in my house. There were stupid snow flurries coming down when I left school this morning. My hands are really not interested in cooperating with my and they hurt. 🙁 The cold only makes it worse.

I have an appointment with Dr. Edmond on Friday. It's hard enough getting to work and class during the rest of week so that's the soonest I felt I could go. I'm really looking forward to it.

Sitting down to study Algebra...

Sitting down to study Algebra and Tort Baby is making laps in the floor. He's being super nice to the dogs - not trying to snuggle them against their will so they are getting to relax instead of being chased around by a friendly tort that just doesn't understand their rejection of him.

No worries, Tort Baby. I'll give you all the snuggles you want. You just let me know when you're done walking. ❤

Went to Taco Bell...

Went to Taco Bell in Oxford earlier.  I'm really digging their potato tacos.  I get them crunchy, without all that yucky orange sauce, and with tomatoes.  It's really good!  😃

While there we witnessed a selfie, heard someone call someone else "Bae," and saw an ass-ton of leggings.  It was like being in the TV.  😂