With one week to go, the packing and preparing is going full steam. I verified the appointments for the dog and bird. I'm getting them both health certificates before we travel.  I have containers with 1. Fun & Electronics, 2. Camping & Hiking stuff, 3. Pet stuff, and Kitchen stuff. It's hard to tell if I have too much stuff. I'll have to wait until I get the van to see what fits.  My foot problems continue. Some days my heel feels okay and other days it hurts to walk. I'm sleeping in a foot brace at night that keeps my foot perpendicular.  Lucky seemed better today a ..read more

After a long day working, I began packing for my trip. I have things organized by section: kitchen, clothes, pet stuff, etc. It is making it easier to see what I have. This evening I counted out and put my vitamins in ziplock bags. The bottles take up too much space.  My one dilema is whether it will be cold and do I bring my heavy ski coat. Or do I just use my hiking puffy. I don't know.  Until tomorrow ..read more

Nine days to go. My vacation is beckoning.  Today I took Sunny the bird to get his wings, nails and beak trimmed. He needed it a lot. I got a bunch of food to take on the trip.  I finished invoicing my client tonight, before I leave.  Today I dealt with the insurance-company-who-must-not-be-named. I was told to call a week after to get a vacation override. Did you think this was going to be easy? Then you'd be wrong. Five phone calls later it was the end of the day and I was told to call back tomorrow.  Until tomorrow ..read more

First thing this morning I got the call from my ex-foster kid. He was ill all night.  Last night after getting home from the train, he ordered food to be delivered. About 4 hours later he was super ill.  He didn't know what to do because this was his first time being ill. I had many phone calls helping talk him through. He wanted to go to the hospital but no one could take him. I'm sure he will be fine.  I invoices all my clients. It was hours of work. Each time I tell myself I won't let it go this long but then I get busy and forget.  Until tomorrow ..read more

After breakfast, I (we) cut up apples and bananas to put in the dehydrator for a delicious and healthy snack on my trip. I think I was more excited about it than he was.  Then we went to the store for containers. I decided after watching some videos, I want some of my stuff in containers in the van. Last thing you want is for your items to roll around while you drive.  When we got home, we played a game and then he asked me to drive him to another store. I did but I wished he had asked sooner because we drove back to the same area. Such a waste of gas! Plus they didn't have what he ..read more

My ex-foster kid arrived this evening. This was his first time taking both a bus and train to get here. I drove down to the bus station and picked him up.  We had a nice dinner of homemade vegan pizza. He says "it's actually pretty good". This time I bought the vegan pepperoni. He said "it tastes like the real thing ". Great praise.  We watched some TV before hitting the hay.  Until tomorrow ..read more

Tomorrow my ex-foster kid is visiting for a night. I had to order some food to be delivered. My ex-foster kid eats a lot of food.  I had acupuncture to help with pain and to relax before the visit.  Until tomorrow ..read more

Today was a weird day. After working a bit, I took Lucky on a car ride to the pet food store. We got some containers of dog food. I bought some last week but I bought the wrong flavor and she got a bit sick. I may try them again this week.  Then after working a bit more, I got a call that my taxes are complete. Just in time to make my IRA contributions.  Hours later my ex-foster kid called to say someone he knew passed away. I think it was his first person who died. He was very upset. We all have to go through our first death. I think it is part of life to learn how to work through ..read more

Today was our arthritis meeting. I was early to the meeting so I could set it up. I looked and looked for my link as a facilitator but no luck. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to log on does the facilitator then I went on as a participant. Turns out in the past couple weeks another member took the training to also be a facilitator. She figured out how to go on and host the meeting and then I went in as a participant.  We had a good meeting where people shared ideas of different tools to open jars and cans. It was very enlightening.  After the meeting the other facilitat ..read more

I am so happy! I finished one more big project for work. These projects are behind schedule but I'm getting them done before my trip.  Tonight I watched some videos of my camper van in the cold weather. It made me feel more confident about camping in very cold weather.  Lucky seemed better today. She isn't shivering like she was. She isn't cold, I think it is pain. I've also increased the gabapentin dose.  I walked 5,120 steps today and my foot/heel is feeling a bit better. I think I found something that makes it feel better: I'm using a facial roller on my calf. A facial rol ..read more