Sunday, September 29, 2024

 Sunday, September 29, 2024

   I texted Nina to find out how Dean was doing. He was worse. He had a bad night. 

  As I went for my morning walk, it was so cold that I not only needed to wear a sweatshirt but also pull up the hood.

   I completed my morning activities, walked, ate breakfast, did daily puzzles, and got dressed a bit early. I headed out. I would be at church earlier than usual.  I remembered I had a load of cardboard in my trunk. I had the time. I stopped off at the transfer station on my way and got to church at my usual time. 

  Monica came up to me after Mass to ask how I was doing. She is a loving, caring person who can cheer up anyone with her enthusiasm. Two other people, Sue Biro and Don, said hello to me. Everyone else ignored me. I didn't even see Judy or Paulette. I spent time organizing the church bulletins and programs for the next Mass; I was content doing that. 

    Judy's car was right in front of mine as I pulled out of the parking lot.  I called her number, but it went right to voicemail. She called me back later.   She had been driving a young man from church and couldn't answer. I didn't see her after Mass because she was consulting the priest about the training classes for people wanting to come into the church. The priest is often close to a saint in his dedication to the church. We all love him. However, when he feels stressed, he snaps at people. Stand clear. It was one of those days.  He told Judy to consult the deacon he had appointed as the head of the program. Sandor is in Miami fixing up houses for rent and tending to his ailing parents. Judy says he doesn't even answer his phone anymore. He must be on overwhelm.

   Paulette had not attended the nine-a.m. Mass. The usual musical director was out, so Paulette would lead the one-p.m. Mass in song.

   I had an appointment with fourth-grade MH. She chose to continue reading Stuart Little rather than write another story. I checked that she wasn't avoiding writing because she was afraid she had nothing to write about. I reminded her that I was very good at helping people get good ideas. Her older sister wrote several stories with me, and she became very good at it. 

  MH was in a great mood today. We covered new vocabulary in Stuart Little's passages. I used the opportunity to teach her how to use context clues to figure out a possible meaning for the words. She was completely off the mark on one count but easy to redirect when I reread the passage, pointing out the relevant words. Then, she aced it.

  I stopped by Petco after church to make a grooming appointment for Elsa. I got the same woman I got last time. She's the one who gave Elsa only a light grooming when I asked for a puppy cut. Come to find out, a puppy cut is long and fluffy. I was upset when I saw it. Then, I learned from both the groomer and Judy that that was what a puppy cut was. 

   Shirlane asked me how I treated Elsa's skin. I told her I washed her every other day. She was appalled. Frequent baths strip her skin of its natural protection.  She said she would give me suggestions when I came to pick up Elsa after the grooming.  Before I left, Shirlane spent time figuring out a good hair length for her.  She tried several razor sizes and advised one long enough so the razor wouldn't scrape along her infected skin.

   I magically checked my phone for messages a few minutes after receiving a text from Petco telling me Elsa was ready. I collected all the soaps and conditioner I had to show her.  

  I had switched to a different shampoo than the vet had recommended because that one wasn't working. I tried the one Judy had used on her dog for seborrhea. Shirlane told me to go back to using the one the vet recommended. It was an antifungal and antibiotic; the one I had switched to was only for a bad smell.  She said I should only wash Elsa once a week. After applying the conditioner, I should only do a light rinse, leaving some of it on to soothe the skin. I had been rinsing it off meticulously.  The vet never told me to do that.   Mid-week, I should fill the sink with water,  put half a cup of brown Listerine, and soak Elsa in it.  The Listerine would work as an antifungal and antibiotic. She also suggested I buy an antibiotic cream in the pharmacy section and apply it to infected sites. She always recommended I consult the vet about her suggestions. I knew the vet was going to prescribe steroids and antibiotics. I wanted to avoid that.  I was willing to try anything. Her skin was a mess.  I was so upset about her condition.