One Foot on the Path Called Hope in Everyday Ramblings

Fresh wild sweet peas are the symbol of summer here. Even though it is rainy and will be for most of the rest of the month it is so much summer that there is even a hint of fall in the air.

With the test results back on the blood panel it looks like Diego basically has a major food sensitivity or allergy that has led to irritation in his gut and digestive system in general. I am going to hold off having the expensive ultrasound unless he starts trending worse. This is something I have pretty much “known” but not known for at least six months.

Although I am thrilled it is nothing serious or life threatening the prospect of an elimination diet has me feeling quite discouraged. I’ve ordered the expensive prescription food through Chewy and the recommended probiotics, but I don’t know how I am going to handle 6 to 8 weeks of him (and Carlo) eating only this food and nothing else.

And this morning I read this long article in Medium by a woman who has managed this type of condition on her own for her adorable cat without using vet food with natural supplements and trips to the butcher once a week and I am… oh gods, really?

What did I sign up for here?

He is such a sweetie. But after days of calm we had a lot of throwing up today.

Wish us luck for him to keep the new food sensitivity food down.

Although the case rate for Covid-19 is rising in our state, specifically in rural areas with outbreaks in food packing plants we are venturing into a limited opening on Friday in my county.

The owner of the studio I had just started teaching at before we went into lockdown checked in and said that at some point, she is going to reopen with two new bathrooms and a new floor in the studio I was using.

Eek. Our Health Authority is saying in this little chart about what we need to be doing that if we are 65 (and not Merlin and aging backwards) that basically the lockdown continues.

Of course, no one I know is fully staying home. I went to the grocery yesterday morning early with Charity. It was empty! No one in lines at the check stands. I kinda liked that. :) Tomorrow I am going for a walk with a student. Masked of course.

I got confirmation that my first Social Security payment will come through next month. This means in my eyes I am officially retired. I have been supplementing my small pension with savings and I will be thrilled to stop doing that soon.

As long as I stay healthy, I am going to be alright. I can stay engaged and active on the social justice causes that speak to me and keep teaching and doing the things I enjoy.

Now if we could get Diego to settle down and feel better… things would be very good indeed. I wonder, dare I hope, we can find out what his triggers are and maybe a year from now I can actually consider replacing the carpets in here…

There is much to hope for in these dark challenging times.

Last updated June 10, 2020