Friday, March 05, 2010

The Latest Conspiracy Theory

African Violets add cheery color to this depressing house of illness.

"You have iron deficiency anemia."

So sayeth the frustrated doctor who only sees me when I'm on my self-diagnosed death bed. After I've exhausted all efforts to heal myself ~ a credo that almost always gets me into trouble.
Polka Dot Moth Orchids are winding down.

I don't know why I'm so allergic to doctors. Perhaps because their ideas for a speedy recovery rarely sync with my own.

"Relax, keep quiet, take your pills, get strong again."

Indoor seedlings stretch toward the sun.

So, I did what I was told. (A first!) I laid quietly on the couch, watching Days of Our Lives, in high hopes they'd spot the obvious clues and quickly solve the disappearance of poor baby Sydney. Think time drags when you're under the weather? It moves considerably slower in a soap opera.

That got me thinking that fresh air was precisely what the doctor forgot to order.
Off to Round Valley, where Bad Dog and I took a short jaunt along a favorite trail. 
Savoring the unmistakable signs that spring is right around the corner.
When we came home, the stiffness kicked in. Not me, him. By the following morning my beloved Bad Dog could barely move. Off to another doctor to see what's what.

"He needs to relax, keep quiet, take his pills, get strong again."

And, that's when it happened. The breakdown. The tears. The devout belief that everyone and everything is conspiring against me.

Blubbering, weepy Kate cried like a fool right in front of Dr. Dreamy.

Bad Dog and I are falling apart at the seams. My faithful companion agrees that Days of Our Lives is a sad way to waste an afternoon.

Whatever shall we do?

39 comments:

Noelle Johnson said...

Oh, going to the doctor and/or vet is never fun. I do hope that you and your dog will not have to wait long to feel better. Maybe some warmer weather would help with your recuperation ;^)

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh... Kate, I'm so sorry to hear that you and your faithful companion are so far under the weather.

You need a masseuse and so does Bad Dog. Home delivery.

Sending you serious recovery thoughts!

OmegaMom said...

Oh, no! Poor Bad Dog! I have heard, from various owners of older dawgs, that chondroitin glucosamine--the stuff that's supposed to help with joint pain--can help. For what it's worth.

And poor you, too! But you still get purty pictures...I am envious of the spring hints.

Anonymous said...

Both of you...
"relax, keep quiet, take your pills, get strong again"

and here's a big hug thrown in for good measure {HUG}

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Noelle;
Warmer weather can cure most anything. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Titanium -- A masseuse -- fab idea. We'z climbin' the walls. No fun sitting still.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Omega;
Hmmm... that's a good idea. I use that stuff for my sore knees. Thanks for the tip. :)

PS: Titanium, commenter up above, is also in Alaska. I gotta get you kids together.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Jeannie;
I will happily accept that hug. And, some short story/new book ideas to get me through this dull ordeal...

thx, for the kind thoughts.

Victoria said...

Hi Kate! May you feel sparkly and new very soon..and full of vibrant energy and life! And your pup too..hang in there..receive all you need..trust that all blessings are on the way! get well soon!
Kiki~

KC said...

I'm sending more hugs to you, pets and loves to Bad Dog. I'm missing you both today:(

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks, Gals!
It's a comfort to have such great friendships...

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate - I hope you and bad dog will get better soon! You already have crocus! We still have some ice & snow on the ground. We had our first 50 degree day yesterday. And a high 40 day the day before. So, since I can't garden yet, I painted and cleaned the little pink and yellow garden house. It now is pink, yellow, green and a little bit of purple. Not a painted lady, more like a painted child. You'll see it when you come to Hot Springs! Get well!!

Carol said...

Oh Dear Kate, I understand and highly recommend Netflix ... did I spell that right... I could not have survived these near three weeks now of being invaded without this escape. You can simply watch on your computer ... some great movies... hopefully you have a comfy chair to recline in. I could not sit up at the computer much at all. I should get worse if i had to watch the soaps... but since I do not have a tv ... not a worry. I hope you can try to rest more and that you feel better soon. Your doggie too! Take care! ;>)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Gloria;
I'm excited to see your little cottage and positive that purple added the right finishing touch! I have seeds for you. Just need to motivate and get over to the post office.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Carol -- Sounds like you're feeling better and I am so happy to hear it! Can't have my favorite photographer cooped up watching movies forever. Thanks for the tip, though. I think that's a marvy idea.

Anonymous said...

Poor ol' Bad Dog! Oh, and you too I suppose, sort of, maybe...
Anyway, just give him a hot bath and a shot of bourbon, he'll be fine; (might work for you too.)
-your brother

Granny J said...

Oh, my, can I ever sympathize! Get well last week, both of you.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Not only am I not a doctor, but I don't even play one on TV. But I think you have to honor who you are to get well. If you're not someone who likes to sit around, doing small more active things (while not pushing yourself) is probably good. Well, unless it hurts and you can't move. In which case, um, I dunno. Drugs? But not Days, good gravy, no!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Brother Dear... your caring comments know no bounds... :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Granny!
Guess what! The coolest thing happened today. I was accepted into the Caballos del Sol trail ride which originates in Prescott AZ of all places. The horsie and I depart in 2 weeks - and we're going - anemia be damned. Would love to see you while I'm in the 'hood. Lemme know.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Monica!
I've got your fab seeds all ready to go. I just need to get out of my jammies and pay a visit to ye olde post office. And while I fully intend to follow Carol's advice and sign up for Netflix I can't give up on Days of Our Lives just yet... not until they find poor Sydney! :)

sweetbay said...

You need some good DVDs! And for spring to hurry up and arrive.

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

A cup of tea, Bad Dog by your feet, and Carol's suggestion of Netflix. Springtime will help as well and never fear, it always arrives sooner or later. Lovely photos and Bad Dog doesn't really look like his namesake.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Jean;
No, no, he's evolved into the best of all dogs with tons of faults I have learned to ignore.

Hi, Sweetbay -
Am madly ordering Sci-Fi movies as we speak...

Wendy said...

aaww, you'll feel better soon. Maybe you need to watch a seedier reality show on VH1 or something??

Liisa said...

Kate,
Hugs and get well wishes are being sent your way. I hope that you and Bad Dog are feeling much better soon! Ah, I just love Netflix... if it weren't for them, I don't think I would own a TV. I hope that you are able to enjoy some more adventures and signs of spring very soon. :)

Rose said...

Kate, I hope by today you are feeling better. I gave up soaps years ago, so I'd have to be awfully sick to spend an afternoon watching any of them:) I highly recommend Netflix, too--I'm still trying to figure out how they get such speedy mail service when everything else takes days and weeks--and lots of naps. Some signs of spring will surely perk you up, too. Take care!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Rose;
I got into soaps back in college when General Hospital was all the rage but I gotta say... either I'm getting smarter or they are worse than ever! :)


Thanks, good Friends:
Netflix is saving the day. And Wendy's idea of a bad reality show might help me pass the time, too. :))

Johnny Nutcase said...

aw, these are all great! i really love the one with your pup - what a sweetie! and the photo of the vegetation poking out of the snow/ice- all are great!
thanks for your kind comments on my blog, by the way! :)

Melanie J Watts said...

Hi Kate, Hang in there, and yes movies are much better than soaps to recline with. I'm glad you got out, though, to see spring on it's way. Be kind to yourself.

Lona said...

Oh Kate girl how I love your polka dot orchid. Soooo pretty. Looks pretty with your violet. I got a yellow miniature rose this weekend. Yeah! I loved your little roses so. Do you mind copiers? LOL!

Now you mind the doctor and get well. We cannot have our blogger friends getting sick.
Lona

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks Gals.

Lona -- I'm so thrilled to hear you're joining the indoor rose club! :) They're so cheery. And, lots easier than they look...

Will said...

Sorry to hear you are not well. "Bad Dog" though looks like a lover though. Should help having that sort of company. Eat healthy, whole food, get lots of sleep, and keep on with the walks with your dog. A sure recipe for recovery!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks for your kind words, Will. :) I tried to link to your blog but got an error... have you moved it?

Liza said...

Hi Kate! Hey, I hope you are feeling better. Did your doc really say you have low iron? There's an easy fix for that - cook with a cast iron pan. I'm not a doctor. But every time I would go to donate blood, it was always iffy on whether my iron levels were high enough to donate. Once I got a cast iron skillet, the problem has gone away completely. I'm not sure what iron deficiency anemia actually is, or if a skillet can fix it, but I hope you feel better soon.

Anonymous said...

Oh those doctors, what do they know? Laying about on the couch watching those excrutiating soap operas sounds like punishment, your conspiracy theory is believable. As a younger woman, I had to take iron, in with a giant vitamin pill. It worked wonders for the energy level. Do get better soon, both of you. :-)
Frances

joey said...

From me to you, *healing hugs* :)

Gail said...

~~Know that your pals are here for you! Now put your feet up and switch to General Hospital~~ it will be a long time before they figure out what's going on over at Days! xxgail

Linda J-H said...

A glucosimine supplement for Bad Dog. A notable online pet pharmacy carries a house brand you can get without a prescription. Sophie has used it since we brought her home from the doggie adoption center. Now we need to go to something stronger, but she has a timid tummy and we are working with tag-team vets to see what can be used.

A stiff drink for you, or maybe a glass of wine. Actually, for my anemia I started eating oatmeal in the morning, lots of spinach, and cooking more in my cast iron pans. Next doctor visit, and the blood workup showed "vastly improved". Just saying.....