9/8/24

My back has graduated into only hurting when my hip gets tight. Solution….stretching the crap out of my hip. It also gets sore when sitting. So I have avoided sitting today.

Ethan needs to report his wages to the social security disability office. We have already given access to the SSA office to view his paystubs to confirm his earning amounts TWICE!

I keep receiving notice that he is going to receive more than he should and if the information is not correct (which it isn’t) we need to log into his account online and update his wages.

Friday, I logged into his account, I got an error message that says I am not able to use the function on the website and that I have to call. 

But wait! There was an option on the website to request a callback. Sweet! That seems logical, then they can call you and you don’t have to be on hold for HOURS. What a great idea!

When I clicked on that, the service was “not available”.

When I called, there was “unusually long wait times”. The automated message encourages you to log into your account online. 

Now I was in that fun little circle of un-productivity. But if I don’t report these things Ethan gets in trouble. It really makes it quite tough to get anything done. Tomorrow I will be back at it again.

I have been working on some things with Mossimo. He is TERRIFIED of the nail clippers and getting his nails clipped. He sets his teeth on me when I touch them to his paws. I have purposefully ignored his nails to build up his trust in me. 

I have been touching and playing with his feet for the past two months and have encouraged everyone in the house to do so. He tolerates that well. Today we graduated to touching the clippers to his feet. Just touching.

This did not go well at all. My hand was in his mouth multiple times. I had to trust he wasn’t going to hurt me (too bad). He was flipping out, alligator rolling, scream crying. I had an endless supply of treats and stuck to the mentality that he had to EARN them. 

We did a 10 minute session. By the end, he was letting me touch the clippers to his feet. He was not enjoying it, but also remained calm and let me do it. This has given me hope. Yay! He has hope of being a pretty ok dog.

He was all tired out from his tantrums that he and Jiminy rested together.

Paul and I went to visit Avery at her job at Blodgett farm. 

We decided to get a few decoration pumpkins for the house. I discovered today that the pumpkins I bought last year and tossed in our side yard produced two little pumpkins. Yay!

We purchased a few more pumpkins for our splash of color this fall.

We then went to a friend’s house to watch the Bill’s game. We were a little late, but watched the second portion. I mostly chatted with friends I had not seen all summer.

Afterwards I came home and made some chicken and rice as well as mini apple pie-type desserts. Yum!

Liam spent the day here with us. 

I am so glad I called in to work tonight. There is no way I could bend, lift, stand  and twist for 12 hours.