I was doing the usual multitasking today, writing a blog entry and three emails, when Orange decides I am not paying him enough attention.  So he waltzed up and plopped down right in front of the monitor.  Since my keyboard is on a slide-out, this wasn't a big deal, and I kept working. 

However, after a couple of minutes with me continuing to type on the computer (I still had the three emails open and the blog article), Orange became very unhappy.  So he jumped down on to the keyboard.  He scampered off just as soon as he did it--like he knew it made me very unhappy.  I lost everything I had written.  Now I will have to do it again.

Orange a few months ago, resting (what he does best!)

Orange is really an affectionate cat.  Just sometimes too affectionate.

Oh well, cats, dogs, horses, chickens, turkeys, peafowl, guineas, and emus are meant to make a person's life interesting.

Ronald finished the deep (rather than long) horse pole barn, 24'x16', about 10' tall at the short end and 12' at the tall end. (It is tall enough to park the sailboats in, with their masts down, while they are still on their trailers.) All except the primary poles were purchased used (and there is still a great deal of the external metal siding remaining).  I am not sure how much this would have cost us to build otherwise, but I figured this cost less than $250.  And there are enough materials left over to build a carport and a good set of dog kennels, with the addition of some fencing and posts.

The two large beams on the ground will be raised up to the midline and be attachment points for pallets--which will be covered with plywood--and which will act as kickpanels for the inside.  Eventually, the barn may be split into two stalls, but for right now, we needed something to get them through the winter.

The "extra" beam hanging off the side isn't--Ron is eventually going to extend the side so there is a place to leave the roll bales the horses are currently chomping on.

He built this barn very quickly, in somewhat less than two weeks, even though he works 70 hours per week.  When he puts his mind to something, it always gets done.  I wish I could do that.

I am going in for Lap-Band surgery by the end of this month.  I have been going through the processes prior to the surgery for over a month now.  I tried for this back before my dad died in May of last year, but fell ill shortly thereafter with gallbladder disease and it just never got done.

I am not that heavy, though I am the heaviest I have been in my entire life.  Rather, I am at increased risk for an early death due to my diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, so I don't have to be quite as heavy as someone who is much healthier to qualify for this surgery.  My husband's insurance is all for me getting it (it is one quarter the price of one of my visits to the hospital for angina--of which I had six last year), my doctors all want me to get it, and I am tired of being sick and tired.

Time for me to do something about it.  I was given the name of Dr. Mason, the bariatric surgeon who will do my Lap-Band, by a friend who was happy with her surgery.

Though it can be done as an outpatient procedure, I will staying overnight at the hospital.  Alyssa is taking leave and flying over to help me out for a week while Ronald works.  (She is due leave and really, really wants to see little RoseMarie--her namesake, and I really, really need her help.  We both benefit.)  After the first few days, I will be using the new Intex aboveground pool we bought from Wal-mart to recuperate.  I really love to swim too. 

I am worried. I am excited. This is one more tool to help me get healthier and live longer.  I have found that the longer I live, the more important it becomes to me to see any future grandkids I might have; my mom and dad told me I would feel this way one day.  Like grown kids everywhere, I find that what my parents told me when I was younger is coming true.

Dumb fucker. 

Don't mean to sound pissed, but hey, I am....