Feeling better. My sinuses are in full-out mutiny, and my wingstubs continue to make writing an exercise in masochism (like it isn’t anyway), but I’m better. Hobkin is sleeping beside me, his little paws twitching as he dreams. Doses of skunk cuteness always helps my general outlook.
Yesterday, the doorbell rang–the mail carrier. But instead of her scampering away before I could open the door, she was still there when I answered. She had a package I needed to sign for. I was worried about Hobkin. He was wide awake and following me around avidly, and I didn’t want to lock him away. But we haven’t experimented a lot with a prolonged open front door around him. So I kept one and a half eyes on him while I signed and took possession of the mail. Hobkin surprised me by being really good. He didn’t try to bolt or seem at all inclined to explore the wide open in front of me. He hovered at my ankles, peering (myopically) around me. He didn’t stomp or tail-up, just clung to my ankles. He was shy! The mail carrier saw him, but I wonder if it even registered with her that he was a skunk and not a cat.
10 min/day
6
Yoga. I like yoga. And ballet.
Writing Stuff
New words: 1038
On a new Chinese folktale. Halfway through it. Nothing like instant gratification. Well, nearly instant.
500/day
40
he’s got rather a different body shape than a cat, I think, from the pictures I’ve seen. Thinking about it, my assumption would be a general avoidance of all small fuzzy creatures on principle, just to prevent complications, considering how many of them she must see in any given day. Though cuteness does do much for misery. Maybe the US postal service should see about getting small personal animals for the carriers.
I bet you’re right about the prevent complications thing. They’re probably rigorously trained to avoid any and all contact with household beasties.
I’d be very amused to see mail carriers toting around little companion beasties as therapy. I’m seeing hedgehogs and sugar gliders in my mind’s eye for some reason; I’m not sure why.
I’m sorry you’re still hurting, Eugie! Isn’t there anything that the doctors can do, or anything? A writer who can’t write…that’s got to be frustrating!
Have you tried Vicks Vapo-Rub for your sinuses? That’s what I’m using right now…I’ve got it smeared all over my throat and chest.
Hope you’re feeling better soon, and congrats on the new story! (So, when does it go through Critters? 😉
I’ve seen a fleet of doctors–neurologists and repetitive motion specialists. My current one prescribed me clonazepam as a muscle relaxant on an “as needed” basis, but I don’t usually take it unless I’m in excrutiating pain since it knocks me for a pretty solid loop.
“Have you tried Vicks Vapo-Rub for your sinuses? “
Is that the stuff which really stinks? I don’t think skunk or hubby would get near me!
“So, when does it go through Critters?“
Hee! As soon as I get it written and in first draft shape! *scouts honor*
:cheers: Just so long as it doesn’t go through Critters before the Thursday after Mother’s Day, as that’s the first chance I’ll have to rejoin.
Hehehe. I think Vicks probably is ‘the stuff which really stinks’; it definitely has a pungent, lingering odor. I grew up with it, though, so the smell is one of my favorite in the world. All the happy thoughts of feeling better are tucked into it.
I’m really sorry about the wingstubs. That’s got to be horrible.
Thanks, sweetie. The wingstubs are annoying, but they could be a lot worse. I’ve read about other people who have TOS who are in constant agony no matter what they do. I get periodic bouts of aches and pain, but if I take it easy, they go away. So at least I do have times when I don’t hurt. I take that as a blessing.
Hee. I suspect Vicks is probably not an option unless I want to be a pariah in my own home.
have you tried any kind of voice-dictation software? could probably find some online and download a free trial and then find the registration key on astalavista.com…
and shy Hobkin! that’s so cute!! i really want to meet him now, heehee
;o)
Re: Voice recog. software
Yeah, I tried a trial version of the Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software. Even when I managed to get it to over 90% accuracy, I still found it too frustrating to work with. The errors slowed down my writing rate and interfered with my creative process. I kept having to pause and backtrack to fix errors, and that would pull me out of my storytelling mindset. Plus I write (and generally prefer to function) in a visual and tactile fashion. I have a really hard time getting into an auditory mode.
I wonder what skunks dream about?
Chasing spiders and crickets, maybe? Hobkin also tends to smack his lips together when he dreams, which suggests to me that he’s fantasizing about eating something yummy.
I’m picturing a shy skunk clinging to his mistress’ ankles and dying from the cuteness.
Hobkin’s cute is lethal! And fuzzy.
Capt. Clueless, on deck!
Hi, you posted in a thread a while back where Takhisis posted the mood icons she created for Two Lumps.
I just noticed the skunk in your icon, it was a massive “D’oh!” moment for me.
We had skunks (3) when I was growing up. Just not an animal you see as a pet much.
Re: Capt. Clueless, on deck!
You had three skunks? Neat! I always love hearing from people who’ve shared the house skunk experience. Were they all black-and-whites? Hobkin, as you can see from my icon, is a brown-and-white, a “chocolate chip” actually.
Re: Capt. Clueless, on deck!
Flower was chocolate, and from a pet breeder.
TB & Dancer were “rescues” – there was construction next door to this woman’s house and she ‘rescued’ the baby skunks she found, they were maybe 3 weeks old. We would up hand feeding and carrying for 6 of them. We made arrangements for all of them but one we decided to keep, Dancer. TB’s owners kept dicking around with getting him descented, and he wound up spraying in their apartment and they “had” to give him back.
Re: Capt. Clueless, on deck!
People who put off descenting deserve what they get, I figure. Gah. I’d think that would be a number one priority considering how much ‘tude skunks have. Sounds like they were crappy pet people anyway. If they put off the descenting surgery, they probably would have put-off-unto-criminal-neglect other veterinary procedures if TB needed them. I’m just glad poor TB had a home to return to.
So you had three lil skunkies running around your house at the same time? I’m in awe of people who can manage multiple skunks. Hobkin is quite a handful all by himself.
Re: Capt. Clueless, on deck!
I think it served as great training for dealing with people in a corporatin…