robby

Tooth Extraction

2024-06-24T17:04:00Z

Yesterday, I had a molar extracted and prepped for an eventual implant. It cost $1000. They used bone granules from a cadaver to fill the socket, which I find a little disturbing. I hurt like hell between 2 and 4 PM, but am 90% better today.

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Minor Mechanical Victory

2024-04-14T05:46:14Z

My water filter was leaking at a fitting near the storage tanks. A replacement fitting would be hard to find, but it turned out the line was damaged. I just had to drain one tank, remove the line, snip the bit of bad line off, and reattach.

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Broccoli Update

2024-04-13T02:10:41Z

I transplanted the broccoli seedlings into the main bed, and dusted them with diatoms, just in case bugs are hungry. Rain is expected again. I still have 2 quarts of frozen broccoli from last year.

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Blind Cat Likes The Kittens

2024-04-10T03:35:34Z

He's awkward, and the older cats rejected him, but the kittens that were born in July, like him. The kittens are always hungry and he eats together with them. One is a tuxedo male, quite like his late brother, that he sleeps with, and another is meek little tabby female that enjoys interacting with him.

The adult cats are even nicer to him, now that he has a crew of young cats.

In other news, I cobbled together irrigation lines and hoses for the main bed. I have long soaker hoses for the onions, and individual emitters for the broccoli.

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Australian Brown Onions Transplanted

2024-04-05T23:37:35Z

Today, in spite of sprinkles, I planted 2-1/2 rows of a medium day variety of yellow storage onion in the garden.

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Halo Likes The Hot Tub Routine

2023-12-10T06:27:40Z

I'm soaking in the hot tub almost every night. Halo shadows me, and is usually right next to the tub, but will go down his ramp and out into the yard a half dozen times in a half hour. Tonight, he even was out there playing with Dinah. All this extra evening activity is good for him.

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A Warm Dry Winter?

2023-12-01T01:49:56Z

I saw a long term forecast that suggested the El Nino rains will be directed to the south and east. Here, our winter will be relatively warm and dry. The current 10 day forecast bears this out.

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Transitory Malaise

2023-11-29T17:20:44Z

I went shopping yesterday, but felt tired and out of sorts when I got home. I even took my temperature, which was low. I couldn't muster enough energy to do anything, and just went to bed early. I slept well, and feel fine this morning.

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Final Harvest

2023-11-24T22:15:34Z

I picked all the tomatoes and peppers remaining, and harvested the butternut squash.

I have a year's worth of squash.

The tomato yield was low, and I think it was because of cooler weather. The plants still have blossoms, but fruit can't form when the overnight temps fall below 55°. The first frost is early, probably Saturday.

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Greetings From The Rancho

2023-11-22T03:52:40Z

Halo and I have both been taking HMB which actually is the amino acid leucine. It builds muscle and improves cognition. My memory is better, and Halo is much sharper. He is eating well, and easily walks a mile a day.

I managed to finally get the hot tub water properly balanced, and I enabled the wi-fi feature, so right now I am remotely monitoring the tub's temperature. It should reach 104° in an hour. To save power, I have the filter on only about 6 hours a day, and the heater on for about 4 hours.

I'm seeing health benefits from my daily soak. My knee is just 20% better, but my hearing is 100% better. I guess the heat is keeping my ear canals clear.

First freeze may be Saturday, so I'll pick the last tomatoes and all the squash in the next few days. I will cover the peppers.

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Odd Dream About Need Fufillment

2023-11-13T16:11:20Z

I was wandering around, and found myself back at the university. As I entered the gates, I was hungry, and realized I had a paid for meal plan, and should be able to get something to eat. I didn't have the card with me, but guessed I could somehow pressure the cafeteria to identify me, and give me something to eat.

I looked in my bag, and realized that I had about $100 in cash, and could buy something to eat at one of the street cafes. I went into one, but saw that it just sold coffee and computer access. It was really crowded and they had 4 employees, who were a little grubby because they lived and slept in the cafe. The aisles were narrow and crowded, and I was blocked from leaving by a couple of East Indian guys who were on a computer.

There were a bunch of kittens for sale running around, and I bought one, even though I realized I didn't need another cat. Finally, the aisles cleared, and I made it to the exit, and found the kitten I had bought because it had a collar with my name on it.

Once I left, I don't remember the kitten, but I had a girl with me instead. I realized that I had an apartment some distance away, up in the hills, so we started walking towards it. Buses were not running, but in the distance I saw a McDonalds, so I planned on stopping there, on the way home, to eat.

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Hot Tub

2023-11-10T18:07:58Z

I've been soaking in the hot tub every night. If I don't engage the air jets, the water stays at 104° while I'm in it. The only chemicals I've needed are bromide, as a sanitizer, and sodium metabisulfite (3 oz) which reduces the well water alkalinity and pH.

I limit my time in the water to 30 minutes.

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Hot Tub

2023-10-30T23:00:25Z

I just set up an inflatable hot tub on the covered porch. It cost less than $500, but is well reviewed, and said to be durable. I may not be able to test it tonight, as it's slow to heat.

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Sunday Mornings

2023-10-22T16:26:01Z

We had unexpected rain about 6 AM, and two cats came in damp and jumped on the bed.

Halo had an appetite this morning before he had any meds. He needs help getting up, especially in the morning. I think that's arthritis.

We have had warm weather for a bit, and the tomato plants are flowering. Let see if they set fruit.

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Halo May Be Having A Vestibular Disease Relapse

2023-10-21T02:28:08Z

Halo is feeling a little off. It is probably vertigo or nausea, because Bonine tablets seem to help him eat. I put his harness on him, which he's not thrilled about. We did manage a short walk.

45 minutes later, he is now OK with the harness, and is walking around the house and going in and out of the front door. That means he's feeling better.

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Garden Update

2023-10-18T06:08:15Z

This fall has been cooler than normal, and I think my tomato harvest is over. The plants look OK, but the morning lows are in the lower 50's so the blossoms fall off. The squash is doing really well.

Halo is still feeling good, eating well and walking a mile per day. I have to build a ramp to get him in the car. I have also ordered a harness that will let me lift him if he needs the help.

The rains will start in about a week, and this could be a wet winter.

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The World On Fire

2023-10-10T05:07:37Z

The war in Israel is pretty disturbing. If Hezbollah attacks, Iran might get directly involved, and the whole region will be at war. It could go nuclear.

I find myself waking up at night, and just discovered that Diphenhydramine is better for sleep that melatonin.

Popeye cat and the orange cat are laying with me on the couch, and Halo the dog is pretty active right now, walking in and out of the house, but also constantly stopping next to me to be petted.

Popeye and the yellow cat, the two tom cats, seem to get along better now that mama cat is spayed. They were laying out together, near the garden today. One of the cats, (probably the yellow cat) has been hunting birds and gophers, and leaving his trophies in the common cat area.

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Halo Is 14 Now

2023-10-01T16:09:53Z

I've had him for 13 years. He's eating well, and pretty active. His hearing, sight and cognition have improved over the past 18 months. He sometimes has trouble getting up from the floor, onto his feet. That might be arthritis and hip problems.

We still walk about a mile every day.

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Feral Cat No More

2023-09-29T22:41:58Z

I still can't embed photos, but here is the big yellow tom cat with the tuxedo kitten. He looks something like a mountain lion.

robby.dreamwidth.org/file/39888.jpg

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Stress

2023-09-26T16:37:41Z

I waited all Monday for a confirmation call from spay clinic. It never came, and there is no way to call them. I decided to just show up today at the clinic, and which was fine, I had an appointment. The clinic is in the shattered city of Stockton, where many street signs are missing, but I found the place in time.

Other people were bringing in feral cats in traps, but my mama cat's surgery cost me $100.

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Mama Cat Is Getting Spayed

2023-09-23T00:01:07Z

I finally talked to the local clinic, and they gave me an appointment on Tuesday.

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Quiet

2023-09-15T04:52:12Z

The okra is about done producing, so I have peppers, tomatoes and squash in the ground. I plan to pick and fertilize the tomatoes.

I fixed an electric outlet where I plan to set up the hot tub.

All the animals are fine.

The weather is cooler, with highs in the low 90's.

Tomorrow, I need to get gas, a haircut, go to the bank and get groceries.

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Hot Tub Part 2

2023-09-07T19:35:12Z

I haven't unwound the AliExpress scam yet, but the seller blames Fedex for shipping a different item. Promises me a refund.

I back-ordered a similar hot tub from Amazon. It is $200 more and slightly smaller, but being only 67" in diameter it will fit neatly on my covered porch. The porch is a concrete slab, with an electric socket. So it's actually better.

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Good Eats

2023-09-07T04:56:50Z

I had chuck roast, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried okra and cornmeal.

The okra was fresh from the garden, and fried in lard. Lard is a replacement for canola oil, which may be causing inflammation. Everything tastes better with lard, as well. My joints will feel better tomorrow, for have eaten okra.

I've been buying boneless chicken breasts when they are on sale, and freezing them individually. It's really easy to quickly grill one with my George Foreman grill.

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Hot Tub

2023-09-03T04:37:39Z

I ordered one of these on AliExpress for only $280 delivered. Pretty large, 77" in diameter, and they are well rated. I plan to set it up on the front patio, and soak my aching joints regularly.

In related news, I switched from canola oil to lard, and hope that reduces my inflammation and joint pain.?

Editor's note: Our hero purchased this on AliExpress, and probably has been scammed. They are shipping a tiny unknown box to him, instead of the hot tub. They won't answer messaging. Our hero plans on refusing delivery of any substitute package and will dispute any charges on his credit card.

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