Windshield Woes

My new car has now been out of commission for one full week. Last Tuesday we took it in to get an upgraded rear view mirror put on the front windshield. In removing the old (perfectly usable) mirror, the installers cracked my windshield. They then placed the order for a new windshield, which finally arrived today (6 days later). When they opened the box, my replacement windshield was shattered. So we are currently waiting for a replacement for the first replacement windshield. Luckily we had the foresight to take up the offer for a free rental car.

Today's lesson: Don't replace perfectly good parts on a car.

Calvin update

Things have calmed down a little in the household. Dagny has improved in her behavior from yesterday and is no longer restricting access to the office (and guinea pig). I did have to put a baby gate up to prevent her from entering the room and jumping up on my desk. I'll keep you posted...

Crazy Canadians

Canadian Pharmacists granted prescribing rights

In what is seen as a very controversial move by the medical (and veterinary) community, Alberta, Canada has granted extended authority to pharmacists concerning the ability to prescribe medication. Basically what it means is that pharmacists there will have the ability to:
-authorize prescription renewals (as long as current lab work is available)
-dispense medications in an emergency situation
-give a short supply of medication to a patient with a known/long term condition until the patient can see a doctor
-adjust the dosage in cases where the pharmacist deems the dosage as inappropriate or not the option for the patient
-give therapeutic alternatives (generic medication, change the formulation)
-dispense stop smoking products
-dispense medication for common conditions such as sore throats or heartburn

I can see many problems with this new policy concerning its effects on the human medical field, but it also has implications for veterinarians as well, most notably the option to adjust dosages without doctor consent. Many of my colleagues have already run into problems with this, even in the United States.

There are certain human medications commonly used in pets, and the doses will vary according to species sensitivity. I always thought it would be common sense that different species of animals can react differently to medications, but apparently those in the medical field focused on humans don't always realize this. In fact, that is one of the reasons that animal poison control centers exist-animals don't always react the way humans do to many medications, and the centers have better knowledge concerning these differences than general practitioners, pharmacists, or human poison control centers.

Another implication these changes (freedoms) in pharmacists' responsibilities has on the medical field is that it may cause a delay in humans seeking advice of a physician for conditions that may need further diagnostics. This can complicate treatment for serious conditions and jeopardize the human's health.

The prescribing of medications, in the United States at least, is usually only allowable by physicans, nurse practioners, veterinarians, and other medical professionals with extensive medical training (dentists, chiropractors, etc). These people have the ability to DIAGNOSE conditions (something pharmacists are not allowed to do) and determine the most appropriate treatment. I don't think it's a good idea that pharmacists are allowed to bystep this process (even in temporary situations).

All in all, I don't think these changes are in the best interest for human or animal health.

Making more waves

Ok...so maybe I underestimated the impact that one little guinea pig would have in the house. It's not exactly been smooth sailing since I last posted. Dagny has claimed Calvin as her own (I guess in case he escapes, maybe he'll make a tasty treat...hmmm...better not go down that road).

She has been guarding the office where Calvin is now housed, and will not let the other dogs near that area. She even tried to attack Macy when they were both standing by the door to the office. I heard this awful growling/snarling noise while I was brushing my teeth, came running out of the bathroom, and attempted to help Chuck separate the dogs while holding my toothbrush in one had (toothpaste sure does make a mess on the carpet). Luckily no harm done to anyone (human or pet) involved.

I decided the best course of action was to start crating Dagny once again-all the dogs have been doing so well together that I haven't crated Dagny for quite some time, and now I'm taking Macy to work with me every day. This worked out well today, but when I let Dagny back out, she figured out how to jump onto my desk to reach the top shelf in order to have contact with the pig.

So now I'm busy coming up with plan "C". I'm hoping it's just a matter of time, and am going to wait it out. Any other suggestions?

The guinea pig leaves in T-minus 25 days and counting....

Calvin

We added yet another pet to our happy household (grand total of pets right now is 6). I don't believe Dagny has ever seen a guinea pig before, and thinks it's some kind of rabbit we got for her amusement. She spent the first hour or so just barking at the Calvin. I finally had to move him so he's no longer eye level. Now that he's perched on the highest shelf of my desk, I think things will work out just fine.

Fall is in the air

With the end of August fast approaching, I can't believe how much it is starting to feel like fall is approaching. With the start of fall comes football, students returning to campus, and cooler weather. Chuck's been excited for the past week and a half because pre-season football is finally on TV. Our football season tickets for the Illini arrived last Thursday. This weekend was official move-in for all the college students at U of I (luckily we escaped for the weekend). And tonight for the first time in quite a while, I was chilled while sitting outside watching a softball game.

The weekends for fall have already filled up fast. The first Illini football game is in a little less than 2 weeks. Since I only get 2 weekends off a month, all my off weekends are home football games, and for the rest I have to work. My next unplanned free weekend is likely going to be the middle of November. We already have big plans for a few of the games-Chuck's cousins will be joining us for the Iowa game, and my family will attend the Purdue game as well.

With all the students returning to campus this weekend, we could think of no better way to spend it than to get out of town ourselves. In fact, almost everyone we know fled CU this weekend. Chuck, Andrew, Jason and I went out to the lake house, which was nice and relaxing. The weather could have been a little nicer. Yesterday in the afternoon it drizzled a little, but was still mostly warm (although not quite as warm as it has been).

Another end of summer tradition: retiring the tube. Out at the lake house, we usually go through 1-2 tubes a summer (ie, the plastic breaks down, and the air starts to leak out, making the tube unusable). This weekend, we had to finally retire the newest of the tubes. I got to ski a little, but when I went to hop onto the tube, noticed it was a little flat after Chuck, Jason, and Chuck's cousin Todd were on it. Sure enough, we could hear the hiss of air leaking out as I was sitting on it, getting closer and closer to the water. We pulled out the old standby, the sea biscuit (a little 1 person tube that has no padding on the bottom and flips at the first hint of a wave), but the only two people brave enough to try it (Chuck and Todd) called it quits after only a few minutes on that tube.

While at the lake house, it was cool enough to keep the dogs outside all day. We brought all three dogs out, and Oscar rode the boat for most of the afternoon yesterday. Macy got a short ride-she doesn't like the water nearly as much. After we tired of boating, we let the dogs out by the water, and discovered Dagny loves the water. She was even brave enough to jump off the dock willingly to swim after a stick. Unfortunately for her, her long coat took a very long time to dry (we couldn't squeegie her off like Oscar), and we couldn't let her swim today.

We only have one more weekend this year that we'll be out at the lake house. Next weekend, Chuck, Dave, Eric and I are going out for one final time. Hopefully the weather turns just a little warmer (although tonight's perfect camp fire and s'mores weather). Today was sunny, but the water was starting to cool off and it was a little chilly floating in the water on rafts.

I just can't believe how fast the summer went.

When it rains, it pours

Had a bad day. Start off sleep deprived (of course that's my own fault for starting a new book last night). After lunch I get mean callers, irate callers, and ignorant callers. Only spoke with 2 nice people all afternoon.

I get to look forward to getting up early tomorrow on my day off.

And to top it all off, when I got home from work, I ripped my new skirt while walking in the door, then the dog ripped it on the opposite side.

I give up today and am going back to bed.