fizzawrites

So, in what is likely an expression of early arthritis (likely psoriatric) my wrists are being absolute jerks. I still refuse to see a rheumatologist because I've been doing doctors appointments one after the other for the last year and I am tired. Also, hate the way we have to go back to not getting diagnosed with shit until 400K% necessary. Yay.

BUT. The positive thing is that there are a whole lot of adaptive tools that I just ordered to help me navigate my goddamn kitchen. Yay, jar openers and things that pull the little plastic bit off the milk carton spout! I also found a countertop vacuum on sale along with a 32oz widemouth Thermos. I don't need one often but am always grumpy that I don't have one, and it was only $20. I also finally pulled the trigger on an herb stripper and an extra bowl for Wink.

Speaking of, my friend gave me a bunch of ~Digestive food for herself, so I don't have to buy her catfood this week. I legitimately am spending ~$130/month on food for her ALONE. My own grocery bill is ~$150-200 depending on if I run out of a pantry staple. Tea's food bill is ~$60. Thank god I got both of them 3-year vaccines so I don't have to drag them in to the vet (again) this year.

In other news, my plans for tomorrow include ear plugs, possibly making papusas or gorditas from scratch, deep cleaning my kitchen. I want to make gorditas because I bought one with huitlachoche at a food truck a few days ago and desperately want another. I know I'll have to sub a mushroom filling because I don't really want to go on a huitlachoche quest, although I can probably get some at the grocery at Belmont and Pulaski. I would also just absolutely body some bean and cheese pupusas with cordito. Cabbage is, by volume, my favorite food. Or, if they're still having that sale on shortribs, I might make those with "polenta". (Grits.) I'm in the mood for something mildly complicated that I can make myself.

Blergh, the weather is taking me out right now. Turns out, when you manifest asthma, breathing is harder? Especially when it's wet air? -5k/10, do not recommend.

I'm also majorly grumpy that I have to be an adult this weekend and can't just HIDE in my apartment with my AC. Doing CHORES and picking up cat supplies and reading the book club book. *grumpy stomps* Maybe I'll give myself a treat and wake up stupid early on Saturday to go swimming at the lake. If I go early enough, I can hit up the Trader Joe's/Pet Supplies plus on Lincoln that's always a bad idea after 9am. It's always weird to be woken at 5am with the sun. That's going to be going away for a while now, but still!

In other news, I should probably go visit my mom. It's been ~a month and I really should got utilize her free laundry. At least for the rugs the cats repeatedly puke on. Maybe I'll go next Sunday so we can hang out and go swimming. *shrug*

UPDATE: She scheduled an appointment in the medical district (near my job) tomorrow, so we're getting dinner. LOL. She legit called me ~20 minutes after I hit 'post'.

I'm also impatiently waiting for my new insurance card. I had to switch plans at work and July 1 is the switchover. I STILL don't have a new card to bring to my medical practice. Mind, this is the first time I've switched plans in, like, 20 years (legit), so this is a new experience for me. Luckily, I got my benefits statement showing that I'd switched to the correct plan (whoo!) but am grumpily waiting for the damn card. Mind, they didn't send me one last time they upped the copays, so that was a whole kettle of fish.

HOWEVER. I did make some acupuncture appointments and plotted out my massage therapy appointments for the next six months, so huzzah there. I find it deeply entertaining that I've been going to both of these providers for over a decade at this point. I'm also glad that I've been a good patient for both of them to the point that they're always excited to see me. The positives of being pathologically terrified of inconveniencing the people around me by canceling an appointment are unmatched.

On an unrelated note, I've managed to damage myself with doors twice in the last week by not paying attention to what my limbs are doing. I accidentally punched a door frame on my way home from work on Monday, and then yesterday, managed to bash my shin against the train door hard enough that I skinned it on my jeans. 1.) OUCH. 2.) WTF? Both incidents hurt really bad. No bruises though. I remain stumped how I can be so goddamn white and yet don't bruise? You can legitimately see capillaries in my arms I'm so fucking transparently white, but I only regularly bruise when getting blood draws where the phlebotomist blows a vein. *shrug*

I know this is a small thing (and weirdly tied into a bunch of other shit politically), but it sucks that even though something on me hurts A LOT (for real, my shin is really hurting) and there's no outward proof. IDK. It probably says something that even my body won't always let me show the effects of damage I take. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee, mental health!

Blergh, I hate when it's August in June. Especially when it's MUGGY August in June. I'm just giddy we finally have something approaching a working HVAC system at work now. Otherwise I'd take unpaid leave. ISTG.

In other news, Wink went to the vet this weekend and got some so-so news. (She remains a Delight as a patient.) I mean, the main issue is that she is 15, almost 16. She's in great shape for a cat that age, but the consistent puking and the fact she's gone down another 1/2 pound since she went in back in April are concerning. The vet suspects kitty-ibs or cancer. Unfortunately, both present in an incredibly similar way (thickening of the stomach lining), and have the same treatment plan (oral steroids), so unless I want to do the stupid-expensive imaging to tease out the nuance... bleh.

So! She's started on oral steroids for the foreseeable future. The vet is also interested in transitioning her to prescription food. Which. Look. I'm already chunking out $4/can for what she's on now. If it's reasonably priced, I'll jump on that, but I also need to see if she's ok with the meds + current food first. She's actually perked up quite a bit since starting the oral steroids (no shock there) and has only puked twice! And that was closer to when she started the steroids. Nothing (knock wood) in the last day. I still have to wash the rugs I washed on Saturday AGAIN because of said puking, but. I'm just glad she's feeling better.

Mind, Tea is getting her ass kicked more consistently. Before it was mostly just warning yelling. Now Wink thwaps her repeatedly before running off. Mind, it's her own fault because Tea's dim little lightbulb has interpreted bodily thwapping as affection. Now Tea does it to Wink. (They're fine. Just grumpy.)