Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

When my colleague, Brent told us he was going to get marry, we had a little party for him at another co-worker’s home.  The party was for him and his wife to be, Angie.  The folks from the benefits group bought some cute sexy corsets forAngie.  Do you think we had a good laugh?  Yes, we did, it was funny seeing how red Brent turned.  He blushes really easily anyways.   My department got him a gift certificate to an Italian restaurant in Denver (that’s where they going for their honeymoon).  It was a small little gathering amongst us colleagues, and I know he really appreciated the gestures from us. 

Brent, you were such a sweetheart, helpful and the clown in our HR department.  It has been 3 years since your passing and I still think of you.  Thanks for being my friend.

We have so many computers in this household it is really absurd.  DB bought a new computer last October because his PC which he put together konked out.  He bought the barebones computer and was hoping that it would be better.  Unfortunately, it only lasted for 2 years and he put in so many hours building the PC where it was really fast that I wanted it for myself.  I was the one who actually gave him the idea of putting his PC together; something to occupy him during the day when he was done at work.  Back then he was working night shifts.  It worked out perfect for him.   He is currently trying to fix it but no-can-do.  Looks like it is going to join the other 3 PCs collecting dust in the basement.

The time of the year for my annual physical came and I went for my it.  I had to see a different doctor this time, but she is not a doctor.  She is a PA, a Physician Assistant.  My doctor who I like so much left for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  I am not driving 1.5 hours just to see her for 40 minutes.  Aall the other female doctors in the clinic I go to were all booked up and some do not accept new patients.  

I can’t say this PA is the best, but I had better ones at other clinics I have been to.  This particular PA seems a little rude, rough and not friendly.  She did ask the entire medical histories on both sides of my parents.   She commented how good my blood pressure was, how active and a shaker and a mover I am, but there is something missing about her.  I feel she is missing the doctor/patient interaction thing.  No signs of being caring?

I was waiting for her to ask me about my bloodwork done two years ago.  She didn’t, I had to ask her.  She then logged in to the system, pulled my records up and said I don’t need to.  Then I asked her about my glucose which at the back of my head, I’m a prime target with family history with diabeties and my love for carbs and desserts, I ought to get my glucose check out.  She looked around my records, that was what it looks like to me, and told me “I will send along the blood work form with you after this.”  Was it really necessary?   Since she is the professional, at least tell me yey or neh if I need to test for glucose, or asked me if my diet changed, or some thing to that effect.   The only thing she asked if I was fasting.

I told her about my knees, she bend it, sort of twist it here and there, and did the reflex thingy and both knees work fine.  She said I have runners knees, in other words tendonitis, no torn ligaments.  Again, she said her nurse will give me a physical therapy appointment form on my way out.   And finally I had to ask her if my shots were up to date.

I got both sets of forms from the nurse on my way out, walked downstairs for my blood work, registered with the nurses and they asked the time I last ate which was approx 12 hours ago.  It was a quick draw of blood.  Results will be mailed to me in 2 days.

Overall, my physical exam was just ok, not very impressed with this PA.  Will never go back to her again.  The bloodwork for my glucose came in on Friday.  The result was…..a little bit shocking to me. I’m at 97mg!  Normal is between 67-100mg.  Yikes!!!!!    My last glucose test done two years ago was 72mg.  Holy Hannah, it went up 25 mg.  Time to cut down on my carbs.  Arghhhhhh, NO!!!!!!  I Love My Carbs! (And I still wanna make more cakes and kuih :)  )

DB and I did give the thought of getting another puppy, but I shoved it off.  The two big boyz are more than enough for me to walk, bathe and split my attention-giving for them.  DB insisted that we should at least get a puppy within the smaller breed category, but I was persistent, No means NO. 

Having another puppy right now is not the right time for us.  If I want another puppy I would check out other dog breeds besides Labrador Retrievers.  Labs are great dogs, but they are high maintenance dogs.  I love all kinds of breeds and especially the one our friend, Dorothy has, a miniature Dachshund name Greta.  Greta is such a loving dog, so affectionate and very playful.  Probably she was still a little pup then when we last saw her.  (Dorothy and family have moved to South Dakota.)  Greta has long hair and she is black with tinge of brown patch on her paws and belly. 

I remember my cousin has a Dachshund dog, too, named Sparkle, a brown colored pure bred with smooth short hair.  I remember dogsitting Sparkle for a day or two.  He was the most well behaved dog I have ever encountered.  He obeys all voice and hand commands so well.  Bathing and drying him was so easy, and it could be because he was an older dog, he was around 8 years old then, he stood still for me to wash and dry him, no fuss at all.  All I can say now is Sparkle was a very loved dog.  At his age, he was still very playful – loves to play fetch and enjoyed all his walks.  My cousin maintained his weight so he wouldn’t be overweight.  Dachshunds should not be overweight.  When trained from a pup, Dachshunds will enjoy their exercising time.  My cousin tossed a tennis ball and Sparkle would run for it for hours.  That was one of the ways he stayed so slim and maintained the muscles  that made him looked so fit and trim. 

My cousin told me training him was very easy, too.  Dachshunds and with any other puppy, when train from young they will be happy and so will the owners.  Sparkle was trained to stay at a position, either sit or down, when he was only 8 weeks old.   Dachshund puppies are very smart.   When training a dachshund puppy, Dorothy told me she used quite a bit of food to motivate Greta, but once she got it, she can make to without the food and she did very well too. 

Caring for the Dachshund puppy is the same as caring for all other puppies.  Patience and consistency are the keys to successful training them.  Initially they will at a lost when they set paws in your home, but once they get their surroundings checked, they will start looking towards you for everything from food, play/walk, bathroom, and attention.  Do not misjudge their short legs.  These Dachshunds can run with those short legs of theirs.  I remembered chasing Greta in the backyard, and that backyard was a huge .5 acres, she was able to run the entire yard, zig-zagging all over the place.  Dachshunds are hound breeds, they are bred for hunting.  They know how to dig holes, a burrow in your yard if you are not careful of execising them enough.  They can be very noisy when bored.  That was why Greta was able to run me down, a human who is so much bigger, taller than her, to run her energy off!

DB has been asking me if I know how to make steamed rice cake?  In Cantonese it’s called “Fatt Koh”.  He tried them at my parents’ home, I think on one of those 15th day of the month on the Chinese calendar.

Since he was pestering me about it, I hopped online and found this website call Chowtimes, a couple who resides in Vancouver, BC, food blog.  Suanne and Ben blogs about the restaurants they went, and the food Suanne cooked.  I found the steamed rice cake recipe from their blog. 

I will have to think about it should I attempt this recipe.  It sounds quite easy, but for me, anything easy can turn out to be the hardest!  I should ponder on it more!!