Flying_Donny

Retired biostatistician. Covid-19 mitigation, DIY air purifiers, Iowa and U.S. politics, pro-democracy
Pronouns: she/her

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npub175a8ncjpk63meg5f45d8epazrm36tphllyqcpqg6q3jpwghc8qpqptjs9s

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[email protected]

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nprofile1qqs02wneufqmdgau52y66xnus73paca9smlljqvqsydqgeqhytursqspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43qtwndeh

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npub175a8ncjpk63meg5f45d8epazrm36tphllyqcpqg6q3jpwghc8qpqptjs9s

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Last Notes

2024-07-10 17:17:01

Good morning, Mastodon friends! The dogs are walked. Even though the temperature was just in the lower 70s, the humidity was high enough that it was *hot* in the sun. I always bring water for the dogs -- I should have brought some for the people, too, today!
There's nothing on our calendar today. I mailed a small batch of GOTV postcards this morning, and will take a short break before requesting more addresses.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-07-09 19:07:34

Seen while walking dogs this morning.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/757/623/266/064/779/original/b365f24031419bb4.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/757/623/248/768/232/original/2d6fde8dd6943ca3.jpg

2024-07-09 18:05:21

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I got the dogs walked and a few other things done this morning before settling down at the computer. I hope the day is off to a good start for each of you.
It's warm and very humid here, but certainly not the heat that many of you are suffering. We'll get hotter starting on the weekend.
I have some lovely peppers (bought, not home grown 😩), so we'll enjoy peppers stuffed with rice and lentils today.
Have a safe, good day, all!

2024-07-07 16:29:04

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@npub128a…lww3 Ick re the tick! Hope you got it off in time to prevent any disease transmission. Have a good day inside!

2024-07-05 22:13:58

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@npub16xr…qzyf We had that yesterday during the day and evening. So far none today. I'm hoping it doesn't resume tonight and over the weekend. Feeling for everyone -- human and animal -- who has to deal with it.

2024-07-05 18:15:58

On our walk this morning, Donny wanted to take the extra loop past the ponds. We had to wait while dozens of geese crossed our path as they went from the lawn into a pond. Many had already crossed when I got the first photo.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/734/756/083/466/891/original/2561987c42899bf2.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/734/759/541/212/203/original/cf873a6092ad3d0c.jpg

2024-07-03 00:54:53

In the basement for a tornado warning. Joule and Donny are not happy. I'm happy because all four of us are together rather than my husband still being on an upper floor of the hospital.

2024-07-02 05:03:39

Spending the evening at the ER with my husband. This is a recurrence of the same problem he had in April that led to the hyperbaric oxygen treatment. We're hoping he can come home tonight.

2024-06-29 16:46:00

On our walk this morning, I saw a tree with many of these lovely pink-magenta blossoms. I don't know what species of tree it was, but I want to share the bloom.
#BloomScrolling
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/700/442/081/381/363/original/414c9b1d9de1cdf6.jpg

2024-06-29 01:31:12

A tip that I learned a few years ago for pets who are terrorized by fireworks is to use pink noise to mask the sound. It is weighted more toward the lower frequencies than white noise and consequently works a bit better. Here's a site that can generate pink (and other types of) noise in 30-minute segments. I'll be playing some for my dogs in the next few days to reacclimate them to it before July 4. https://onlinetonegenerator.com/noise.html

2024-06-28 15:08:44

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I got back up at 6:45, and it wasn't raining (although the weather radar indicated that it was). I fed the dogs and then took Donny out to walk. He hates walking when it's wet even if it isn't raining, but he did finish his business. Joule happily did a normal walk, and we got home just before the rain started up again.
Not much on my docket today. I'll bake bread, train the dogs, and *write get-out-the-vote postcards.*
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-27 14:17:29

Good morning, Mastodon friends! And a good morning it is. I'm almost back to normal after another bout of vertigo that started yesterday early evening. This time I had meclizine on hand; I don't know whether that is what shortened the episode, but I'll take it. I will message my primary care doc to see what we can do about this.
It's a lovely morning -- 64F, the coolest we've had in some time. Donny and I may try for an obedience video this afternoon.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-27 02:31:29

Vertigo again.

2024-06-25 21:56:56

And I'm on the new laptop. My husband can enjoy his repaired and reorganized office without having me in there half the time using his computer!

2024-06-25 14:56:47

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@npub1fpr…lyph Oops! Did you pick up the spider or just the web?

2024-06-25 13:50:05

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I got up at 6:00 with the intention of getting the dogs walked before thunderstorms came in. Luckily they both got out in the yard and peed, but then the thunder started. I'll try for some walking between storms, but I have the feeling that the dogs will be doing treadmill today. It already was 84 degrees at 6:00, which makes me expect severe storms. We'll see. In any case, it's great to have it pouring rain outside and no "drip drip drip" from a ceiling!

2024-06-24 22:27:03

The Iowa City food pantry is running a major fundraising drive to try to meet the demand for food this summer.
"Iowa is one of 14 Republican-led states that rejected a Biden administration program that provides an extra $40 per child in federal food assistance benefits each month for three months to help cover the increased costs of feeding children who won’t be eating school lunches or breakfasts over the summer break."
https://littlevillagemag.com/community-launches-campaign-to-help-its-food-bank-meet-increased-summer-demand/

2024-06-24 15:24:59

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@npub128a…lww3 I'm hoping that neighbors will hold off on the fireworks until she really has settled back down. She's still on edge.

2024-06-24 14:00:27

Good morning, Mastodon friends! Today and tomorrow will be hot, although not as bad as many of you are experiencing. Then Wed. and Thur. should be more pleasant. My husband has been working hard to get the stuff that was moved into my dog-training room back where it belongs now that the home repair is done. It will be great to be able to train in air conditioning! Now it's time to zip out and get the dogs walked before it's too hot.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-22 22:55:43

Wow, I have been looking at pictures of the flooding in Minnesota and northwest Iowa. This spring, now summer, has been so horrible for so many. We're under a tornado watch, but I'm not worried -- just ready to head for the basement if needed.

2024-06-22 14:41:41

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's already warm and humid. I got Donny out at 6:40. We walked only a mile (half his normal distance) since I wanted to make sure Joule got a walk before the rain came in. She and I did get sprinkled on toward the end of her walk, but it felt good -- no wetter than the air but cooler!
We may get severe storms this afternoon, but we're ready.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-20 13:49:03

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I'm hoping the rain will move out in time for me to walk the dogs before the workman is due at 9:00 for what should be our last day of home repairs! We've had thunderstorms since the wee hours, and Joule hasn't come out of the basement yet. Donny was bothered only by the biggest boom that shook the house.
I ordered a laptop from Costco and should have it next Tues. It will be great to have my own computer again!
Have a save and good day, all!

2024-06-19 15:55:18

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I've walked both dogs and gotten Joule settled in the basement. The first workman has arrived for day 11.
Today isn't expected to be so hot, but showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon. Poor Joule is so riled after all these days of men in the house; she doesn't need thunder.
I think I wrote that my computer died a few days ago. I need to shop for a very cheap laptop.
Stay safe and have a good day, all!

2024-06-18 21:25:15

Hallelujah! We just got the final total for our roof and interior work, and it comes to a little *under* the original estimate. The smaller amount of work on hall and bathroom ceilings more than offset the unexpected work on the garage wall. Yay! And they expect to be done either tomorrow or Thurs.! As my husband just said, "We'll have our house back."

2024-06-18 15:35:55

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I got up early and headed out to walk Donny at 6:30. It was already warm, but not too bad -- a bit warmer when Joule and I got out at 7:15. Now I'm about to head for the dentist. I'm still not feeling quite right, but I think I can drive there and back safely. Today will be another day with workmen here. I'm so hoping they can finish up by tomorrow.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-18 01:24:43

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@npub16xr…qzyf Very smart. I hope you hear soon.

2024-06-17 18:39:24

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@npub128a…lww3 Mostly pretty normal, but occasionally dizzy. Crossing my fingers that I don't go back into real vertigo. Thanks for asking!

2024-06-17 16:56:34

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@npub150l…r96e I hope you feel better soon! I'm glad to find another person who makes tofu from scratch.😀

2024-06-17 16:11:51

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@npub16xr…qzyf Oh no. Do you have any way to cool off?

2024-06-17 15:57:49

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@npub128a…lww3 Sad about the eggs, but I guess that is nature. Good luck preparing for your trip!

2024-06-16 17:44:02

It's unbelievable that while so much of the country is sweltering, mountains in Montana and Idaho have winter weather advisories and winter storm watches. https://www.weather.gov/mso/
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/627/058/252/217/934/original/94eec2ce24426994.png

2024-06-15 18:09:04

"In search-and-rescue operations, every minute counts, but canine units can’t penetrate inside the debris, and camera probes and robots can only penetrate to an extent,” says Danielle Giangrasso, a behavioral research scientist and the head of Apopo’s rescue rat program. “The idea is to have rats that can go in and use their sense of smell to conduct a guided search within the debris. They're small, they're agile and they're very curious.” https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/06/13/g-s1-4277/rats-africa-heroes-search-and-rescue-mines-tb

2024-06-15 15:22:51

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@npub1fpr…lyph Adorable photos! Have a great Fathers Day celebration tomorrow!

2024-06-15 13:35:14

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a cool and cloudy morning prepping for a warm and cloudy day. The real heat hits tomorrow. 😩
I feel a little unsteady this morning, but am hoping I am continuing to improve rather than starting back into vertigo. I'm going to walk Donny, but my husband is up and ready to pick us up if need be.
I'm looking forward to a weekend without workmen. At least 2 more days of work will be needed next week.
Have a good day, all!

2024-06-14 14:40:56

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I'm hoping the Missouri folks are ok after yesterday's storms. We got nothing but a little rain here.
My dizziness of yesterday morning progressed into a full-blown vertigo episode, and I was flat in bed for the rest of the day, complete with dry heaves if I tried to move. I'm much better this morning, but a bit weak and faint, no doubt from not eating yesterday.
We'll have workmen again today. I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend
Have a good one, all!

2024-06-13 16:02:40

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I was up at 6:00 and got both dogs walked before it was too hot, then got Joule settled in the basement before 9:00. She will have a hard day. A workman arrived just before 9:00, and we'll have one or more here during the day. Then we're expecting severe thunderstorms in the late afternoon/evening.
I am feeling a bit dizzy this morning. I hope it's just slight dehydration -- that's easy to fix!
Stay cool and safe, and have a good day, all!

2024-06-12 19:51:23

Progress! The new insulation was blown into the attic this morning, and now a workman is putting up the last drywall in the ceiling of my husband's office. A plumber came ostensibly to give an estimate on fixing the water leak in the bathroom, but it looks as if he actually already fixed it! The toilet will be temporarily reseated this afternoon (yay!), although it will need to come out again for bathroom wall repairs. Estimate for entire project completion is the middle of next week.

2024-06-12 16:31:43

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@npub1fpr…lyph It's wonderful that Little Guy is doing so well! Stay cool! It's starting here today, too, but will get worse over the next week.

2024-06-12 14:47:58

Good morning, Mastodon friends! The day is off to a fast start. Today's workmen are expected at 8:00, so I was out before 7:00, first moving the car out of the driveway and then walking Joule. She now has had her calming supplement (which doesn't work all that well against her home being invaded) and is in her crate in the basement. I'll walk Donny after I see what the workmen need.
Today is the start of a long hot spell for us. 😩 I guess that's the new normal.
Have a good day, all!

2024-06-12 04:36:13

Here's more excellent medical news: "In a first-ever human clinical trial of four adult patients, an mRNA cancer vaccine developed at the University of Florida quickly reprogrammed the immune system to attack glioblastoma, the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor." https://www.uff.ufl.edu/your-impact/new-mrna-cancer-vaccine-triggers-fierce-immune-response-to-fight-malignant-brain-tumor/

2024-06-11 15:46:32

Good morning, Mastodon friends! Hurray! Donny is walking normally this morning after limping again at bedtime yesterday. Nevertheless, he'll get just very short walks today. Joule is stepping (literally) into the breach and got her longest walk ever just now. As a fringe benefit, I hope that will help her be less stressed when the workmen are here today. I still won't make my usual 3 miles of dog walking today, but I'm so tired that I don't care!
Have a good one, everyone!

2024-06-10 22:28:58

Please send some good vibes to Donny. He has done something to his leg and obviously is in pain. I called the urgent care vet and they said to wait until 4:30 (an hour and a half after I called) to bring him in. At least they can see him today!

2024-06-10 19:55:00

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@npub1fpr…lyph I'm glad you tried it! Did you use self-rising flour or bread flour? Self rising (which contains baking powder rather than yeast) is what you need.

2024-06-10 15:55:43

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a lovely, cool morning in eastern Iowa. Joule is walked and situated in the basement in prep for the arrival of workmen. I think they'll be painting the hall and bathroom ceilings today. I'm not sure what else. We're bracing for being presented with the estimate for the additional work on the bathroom and garage walls. We're tired, mentally and physically. I'm not even looking forward to walking Donny, but I'm sure he'll cheer me up.
Have a good one!

2024-06-10 01:31:50

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@npub128a…lww3 I picked up the groceries and, immediately upon getting home and before my husband knew I had ice cream, I mixed up the bread. So we got to enjoy the bread and now we have the rest of the ice cream left!

2024-06-10 00:49:12

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Ice cream bread update: Easy, delicious, nice cake-like texture! I will definitely make this again. I made two small loaves -- vanilla for my husband at his request and butter pecan for me. Both are excellent. My husband commented, "This is very good cake."

2024-06-09 18:23:50

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@npub128a…lww3 Dear Sharon,
I do not like baths at all! But my mom keeps doing them to me anyway.
Love,
Donny

2024-06-09 15:53:47

"Perfection is fleeting if even possible, but progress can happen with consistent effort over time."
-- Deb Jones in an online dog-training workshop

2024-06-09 15:15:58

I want to make some comfort food as my husband and I await the estimate for additional home repairs, the need for which the workmen discovered Friday. Has anyone made this? It certainly looks easy and possibly very good. I think I first heard of it from someone's Mastodon post. https://www.thespruceeats.com/ice-cream-bread-4797815

2024-06-09 14:43:51

Good morning, Mastodon friends! I plan enjoy another quiet day today before the workmen return tomorrow. I intend to bathe Donny to try to relieve his itchies. I've been very itchy the last week, so I know how he feels!
I hope Donny and I can get a good obedience video today since it would be hard to video in the yard the rest of the week with workmen passing through, and it's supposed to get hot by next weekend.
Have a good one, all!

2024-06-08 01:40:51

I lucked out in one regard this evening! All the stuff from our bathroom counter is now (along with everything from my husband's office) in my dog-training room. Joule loves to hang out in that room. I went in just now and stopped her just in time from getting the new tube of dog toothpaste. Years ago one/ of our now-departed dogs ate most of a tube of dog toothpaste. It was as if she'd done colonoscopy prep.

2024-06-07 23:14:23

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@npub128a…lww3 Thanks, Sharon! I think I'm going to propose that we go get Dairy Queen this evening.

2024-06-07 22:11:49

I hope everyone is having a better day than we are. Last night I figured out where the water in the bathroom was leaking from. I showed the project manager when he finally got here about 1:00. Long story short, a good chunk of bathroom and garage wall will need to be torn out and replaced. 😢 Also, Joule blasted through the basement gate and scared one of the workmen. I guess we needed to find out that that gate doesn't hold her -- my husband is reinforcing it. I'm ready for a quiet weekend!

2024-06-07 13:46:44

Good morning, Mastodon friends! Yesterday was a stressful, tiring day. Among other things, the workmen discovered another, non-roof-related water leak in the bathroom. We'll see today what needs to be done, but it definitely will be more work and more money. The main floor bathroom was decommisioned yesterday morning and will remain so at least until Tues. Thank goodness there is a bathroom in the basement. Otherwise, it's a beautiful day, and I'll enjoy walking the dogs.
Have a good one!

2024-06-06 15:26:04

Good morning, Mastodon friends! This is a quick message on a hectic morning. Today the drywallers will be here working in my husband's office, the hall, and the bathroom. I got in a short walk with each dog and will be heading for the dentist in a few minutes.
It's a beautiful day. Our new roof looks great. So there are very good things.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-06-06 01:26:09

The roofers are still at it 11-1/2 hours after they arrived. I don't know whether they're just going to keep going until they're done even if that's 8:30 p.m. or what. It's a Latino crew, and I've never seen anyone work harder. In the U.S., the construction industry, agriculture, health care, and so much else would collapse without immigrants.

2024-06-05 20:53:38

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Here's our obedience video in case you're curious. https://youtu.be/RqoqEzrUohY

2024-06-05 20:09:42

I got a pleasant surprise on this somewhat stressful day. I received the judge's report on Donny's and my obedience video, and she gave us a pass with a nice score. 😀 🦮 For something I'd done that I was sure would fail us, she just took off points for a handler error. I knew Donny had been great, and indeed, he didn't lose us any points. We need 3 more qualifying scores to get the title, so I put in the request for the next try. I should get the judge's instructions in a few days.

2024-06-05 14:11:37

Good morning, Mastodon friends!
We are off to a fast start today. The roofers showed up shortly before 7:00. I was just about to head out with the intention of getting Joule walked before they came when I saw their truck. They needed us to move the cars out of the way. I'll try to get Joule past them and walked; then she can be in the basement. It's a beautiful, sunny day -- perfect for roof replacement!
Have a good day, all!

2024-06-04 23:46:51

My husband and I did shampoo the rug in his sizable home office. To protect his back, he still isn't doing much bending, so my role was to fill, empty, and refill the rug shampooer's liquid container multiple times. My husband did the actual shampooing. I'm glad I'd done my exercises and walked both dogs before we started the project, because I'm *tired* now.
We got some rain this afternoon, and more is coming in, so it's good that the roofing and ceiling replacement haven't started.

2024-06-04 15:08:13

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The big project for today is shampooing the rug in my husband's office while all the furniture is out of there. Other than that, today is a normal day with dog walking and dog training and miscellaneous tasks. (2/2)

2024-06-04 14:59:19

Good morning, Mastodon friends! This roof replacement is getting real! The doorbell rang about 7:30, and a nice young man said, "Lowe's delivery!" I said we weren't expecting anything, and he replied, "Shingles." 🙄 Tomorrow is the day. I'm not looking forward to the noise, and Joule will be a basket case, but it will be wonderful to have a roof that doesn't leak! I probably will take the dogs to a park for part of tomorrow.
Have a safe and good day, all! (1/2)

2024-06-03 18:28:21

https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/553/625/152/513/231/original/465f2db646d2a7b3.jpg

2024-06-02 17:47:31

Good morning, Mastodon friends!
Wow, I can get a lot done when I don't sit down and get on Mastodon first thing in the morning! I did my exercises, walked both dogs, picked up and put away groceries, and mixed and kneaded the bread dough. NOW I'll finally settle down to Mastodon and Wordle. 🙄
Have a great Sunday, everyone!

2024-06-01 13:58:11

Good morning, Mastodon friends! We're getting a gentle rain, which is likely to continue through the morning, so walking the dogs is delayed. In 5 minutes, I'll go out and get the daily 7:00 a.m. rain gauge reading.
The asbestos-remediation team finished up mid-morning yesterday, and then another team came in and put up plastic where the ceiling had been to guide water that leaks through the roof into a pail. It's not clear what will be done when next week -- depends on weather. (1/2)

2024-05-31 14:36:42

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@npub1a25…l27u Thank you, and best to your household as well!

2024-05-31 14:30:50

Good morning, Mastodon friends!
The asbestos-remediation work crew has arrived bright and early. Here's hoping they can finish up quickly. The leaky roof won't be replaced until next week, and we are expecting a rainy weekend, so I hope they put up plastic sheeting or something where the ceiling used to be.
I'll start walking dogs shortly in this sunny, cool morning.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-30 19:02:24

Here's the view from the door of my workroom toward my husband's office. The asbestos-abatement folks have really sealed off his office as they work to take down the ceiling. There's a lot of noise and activity. Even from the basement, Joule is going crazy. I need to give her her calming supplement, although it may not do much. Donny is sleeping through it all -- his hearing loss is a blessing today.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/531/107/477/527/270/original/97c5c60bb92ce210.jpg

2024-05-30 15:01:44

Good morning, Mastodon friends! We are really underway with the home repairs now. A crew of 4 is here to start the removal of the ceiling in my husband's office. That's where the asbestos is, so there will be full mitigation procedures. They hope to finish today, but it may extend into tomorrow morning.
The dogs and I are lovers of routine, but we need to just accept a completely disrupted day (and more of them coming up). The weather is lovely, so we will walk.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-30 14:09:45

Joule usually hangs out with my husband in his home office, but everything has been moved out of there into my dog-training room in preparation for the asbestos remediation and ceiling replacement. So Joule went into the training room, found her bed, and curled up in it. Can you find her? #DogsOfMastodon
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/529/957/580/382/424/original/4054a43db0413eb7.jpg

2024-05-29 15:16:35

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a sunny, cool morning in eastern Iowa. I already had a pleasant walk with Donny and now am awaiting the arrival of workmen for the first step of our asbestos remediation, ceiling repair and replacement, and roof replacement. We're hoping against hope that there's no rain while all this is going on (through the end of next week). I'm looking forward to it all being done!
Have a good day, everyone!

2024-05-28 14:40:05

So, I need to get busy and do my already-established routine of p.t. exercises for other things, then mix up the bread dough and head out with Donny.
This afternoon Donny and I will try again for an obedience video. Watching the one we have last night, I realized that the heeling pattern I'd created has 2 left turns and no right turn (one of each is required). Donny was great, but I would have failed us for sure. Deadline to submit is 5/31 so...
Have a safe, happy day, all! (2,2)

2024-05-28 14:34:50

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a lovely, cool, sunny morning. I'll get out shortly to get the dogs walked before a physical therapy appointment, which I hope will be helpful. My balance has never been great and it's getting worse, which probably is part of the reason that I have tripped and fallen several times in the last year, once resulting in a nasty fracture. Since it turns out that I can't tolerate either usual osteoporosis drug, my doctor referred me for this p.t. (1/2)

2024-05-27 21:59:40

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@npub128a…lww3 Don't worry, Sharon! I made 6 big ones for the new dog and my friend's other dog, and 10 little ones for my two!

2024-05-27 15:22:25

Good morning, Mastodon friends! My project for this morning is to make "Welcome home" treats for the rescue dog whom a friend brought home yesterday. My friend had had three dogs for years, but two of them died in the last year, and she was crushed. I am thrilled for her to have found "the right one" to bring into her wonderful home. 🦮
Other than that, #today will be a normal day with dog walking and training and preparing for the workmen coming on Wed.
Have a safe and good day, all!

2024-05-25 14:35:17

Good morning, Mastodon friends! Today is expected to be sunny and not hot -- perfect! I'll walk the dogs pretty soon to get that done before Donny and I head for our nosework trial.
Wow, KS and OK are expecting horrible weather again today. They just cannot catch a break.
My husband and I continue preparing for the work to start Wed. on asbestos mitigation, ceiling repair, and roof replacement. We'll have some disrupted (and expensive!) days over the next 2 weeks.
Have a good one, all!

2024-05-24 15:47:50

Good morning, Mastodon friends! My morning has substantially improved since the tornado warning ended and I could get out of the basement and make coffee! Our location seems fine. We still have a heavy thunderstorm. Donny's hearing loss is a positive at times like this -- he's not bothered at all.
Donny and I have a nosework trial this weekend in Cedar Rapids -- just 25 miles away. Then it wlll be months before there's another in reasonable distance.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-24 13:54:11

Yuck. We're in the basement due to a tornado warning. Didn't get coffee made in advance. Hope you all are having a better morning!

2024-05-22 20:14:24

Now missing-dog posts are coming from Greenfield, IA, which the tornado hit yesterday. More and more grief and loss for people there.

2024-05-22 15:00:57

Good morning, Mastodon friends! And it's a lovely, cool, sunny morning in eastern IA. The reports of deaths, injuries, and property damage from yesterday's storms in other parts of Iowa are sad and scary.
I'll walk Donny, then do a Costco run. This afternoon, Donny and I will do one last try at our obedience video. If we don't get a good one, I'll submit the one from last week and see what happens.
Otherwise today has normal chores and prep for next week's workmen.
Have a good one!

2024-05-22 03:39:27

Today's storms turned out to be no big deal in our immediate area -- a period of wind and pouring rain, but the lights didn't even flicker. Not everyone was so lucky. You've probably seen the video of a path of destruction in the central IA town of Greenfield, and there have been power outages, river floods, and flash floods across the state. Now the storms are in WI. It's ironic that now there's too much water in previously drought-stricken IA while part of IL had a dust storm today.

2024-05-21 15:11:09

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It looks as if the first of the three rounds of storms moving across Iowa today will just miss us. I hear thunder to the northwest, but it's not raining here. The bad stuff is predicted to come through here late this afternoon and this evening.
Both dogs already got short walks and relieved themselves, so that's good. We'll do more later if we can.
Otherwise, my husband and I will keep preparing for next week's workmen.
Have a good, safe day, all!

2024-05-20 16:57:59

I was signed up for National Weather Service Virtual Advanced Spotter Training, which had been rescheduled for tomorrow evening. I just got a notice that it was cancelled due to prediction of severe storms for tomorrow evening in Iowa. I guess they need both the trainers and us spotters on hand.

2024-05-20 14:25:12

Good morning, Mastodon friends! And it's a wet and stormy one in eastern IA. I am not complaining -- overnight and now we've had just "normal" thunderstorms, not the destructive weather that so much of the country has been experiencing. (We may get some of that tomorrow.)
Today's agenda, other than sneaking the dogs out to walk in between storms, is preparing for the roof replacement/ceiling repair for next week.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-19 22:28:04

Donny completed his UKC Master Nosework Champion title today. The group that put on the trial awarded these gorgeous rosettes for champion titles.
#DogsOfMastodon
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/469/620/193/661/926/original/bdc28f83ec0f1277.jpg

2024-05-18 23:06:47

About half of the route that I take to drive from home to the nosework trial site is on U.S. Highway 6, also known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Some of the bridges are named after Union officers.
It's interesting to think about the Civil War history, but
disheartening to suspect that Iowa's leaders today would most likely be on the Confederate side. 1/3
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us6.cfm

2024-05-18 22:12:51

Thank you, friends, for the good wishes for Donny and me in the nosework ring today. We didn't do our prettiest or most efficient search, but we qualified. So ... if we can do it again tomorrow, he will have his UKC Master Nosework Champion title. Today is HOT and sunny, so I'm glad we had only a 40-minute wait in the parking lot after we arrived before we went into the ring. We didn't stick around afterward to find out whether we placed, as it doesn't matter.

2024-05-18 15:52:55

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@npub128a…lww3 Yay! It sounds as if things are coming along well on multiple fronts!

2024-05-18 13:55:59

Good mornng, Mastodon friends! I'll be heading out shortly (around 7:00 a.m.) to start walking dogs before it gets hot. Then it will be time to put Donny's and my things in the car and head for the nosework trial in IL. I'm glad I have shadecloth to put over the car when we're waiting in the parking lot there as it is forecast to be hot and sunny. Wish us luck -- if we can qualify both today and tomorrow, Donny will have has UKC Master Championship title.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-17 18:15:12

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@npub128a…lww3 Both my husband and I also hate making phone calls, but sometimes it must be done. I hope you get yours out of the way promptly and not too unpleasantly!

2024-05-17 14:43:10

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a cool and mostly sunny morning. I'll walk the dogs early because it will be hot by afternoon.
Donny did a lovely job with our obedience video yesterday, but *I* did a few things that might fail us. We may try again today or next week, and if we don't get a better one, I'll submit this and just see what happens.
I'm preparing today for Donny's and my nosework trial this weekend at the same location in Illinois as the last one.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-16 20:40:54

Ooh, I think I just got a good video with Donny. I have a Zoom meeting shortly. I'll watch the video carefully after it to make sure we don't ever go out of camera view or do anything else that would make it ineligible. Crossing my fingers ...

2024-05-16 19:23:06

Donny sometimes posts on Facebook, and he agreed to share today's story in a thread over here. Hershey is a friend's cocker spaniel,with whom Donny had many lively play dates when they were young, and Leo is a shiba.
"Dear World,
I made a new friend on my walk today, just at the right time cuz I needed some cheering up. Me and my mom had walked to Hershey's house, but Hershey doesn't play anymore and Leo was way too excited so her mom couldn't even open the door and let me love on her. (1/2)

2024-05-16 14:41:42

Good morning, Mastodon friends!
We have a pretty good chance at a mild, dry day (only 30% chance of t-storms), so Donny and I may try yet again for a passing obedience video. Yesterday he did some lovely work, but had one big blooper, so no go.
Yesterday felt like Saturday, probably because my husband didn't have oxygen therapy, which he'd had for the previous 20 weekdays. An appointment tomorrow may determine whether he needs another round. 🤞
Have a great day, all!

2024-05-12 19:01:40

Twelve years ago, we had adopted puppy Donny and were visiting him at the shelter daily while waiting for him to be neutered so we could bring him home. The first photo was taken by shelter staff when he first arrived, and my husband took the second one during one of our visits. #DogsOfMastodon
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/429/129/776/588/336/original/7191f4a7aff10013.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/429/176/049/037/542/original/03d043a3b1264943.jpg

2024-05-12 14:22:32

Good morning, Mastodon friends! Well, I think my phone got a tiny glimpse of aurora borealis yesterday evening, but there really is too much light pollution here to see it well. Friends who drove out into the countryside got wonderful views. Neither my husband nor I has good enough night vision that we wanted to try that.
I'll walk the dogs early today since it's supposed to get warm this afternoon, then try again for a good video with Donny.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-11 05:29:50

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@npub1alm…57vz Done. People submitting comments should note this instruction, "In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-1808-P"

2024-05-09 14:59:01

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a cool but sunny morning. I've dropped my husband at the hospital and will get out shortly to walk the dogs before rain and thunderstorms move in.
Bread is rising -- just plain old whole wheat yeast bread since, sadly, I dropped the container of sourdough starter a few days ago and it will take some time for the new starter to become usable.
I'll add vital wheat gluten to up the protein when I bake my husband's breakfast bars.
Have a good day, all!

2024-05-06 22:41:25

My favorite walking route with Donny includes a short stretch of bike path through a wooded area. A couple of years ago, a huge tree along the path was struck by lightning and had to be taken down. Someone used logs from it's branches to make groups of animal figures.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/396/059/067/629/603/original/c974abe4e55750cc.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/396/059/983/411/501/original/0e21cbfefbcd6b96.jpg

2024-05-05 14:12:20

Good morning, Mastodon friends! It's a lovely morning -- sunny but cool, -- and the rest of the day is expected to stay the same. This will be excellent for walking dogs and training outdoors! Otherwise this should be a normal day -- grocery pick-up, bread-baking, chores, postcard-writing. Wishing all of you a pleasant day!