Author: dimestorecoco

Dogs Day Out; Bowling and Bingo; New Friends and Doctors

A little over a month ago I decided it would be a good idea to climb up on the IKEA chairs in front of my living room to trim back the star jasmine that was growing out of control following recent rain. I was in a dress, flip flops, and being careless; naturally, I fell.

I knew immediately I had fractured some ribs, and likely could do nothing for them. I cried and crawled my way back inside my apartment, and it took several weeks for me to finally suck it up and go get X-rays. It was confirmed I’d broken two ribs, and the CT scans showed some other issues so now I get to follow up with some ultrasounds next week. Yay me! I am also now on meds for hypertension, though my goal is to be rid of those pills as I address some of my other issues.

I’m glad I’m doing this all now, while I have this insurance plan and can milk it for all its worth. Volunteering and being around unhoused people and their pets helps remind me that I should not take my health or benefits for granted. The last two years I’ve not shown myself the love I deserve, and my new friend Michele Wolf reminded me yesterday that I owe it to myself to be healthy.

My new friends Michele and Jackson

If I want to rescue more Dog Dog’s and Zorro’s and Frieda’s, and take trips with all them in the van to Prescott with Ryker and Ted and Zsusi, then I need to know my limits and take care of me.

Smore’s w/Ryker and Ted

I’ve been going back and reading old posts of mine and am reminded how much happier and healthier I am when I’m writing and giving thanks. I wanted to go to Bunco tonight, but I’m tired from getting up early and taking Georgie to the vet to get her tumor removed.

This was Georgie before…
Georgie sitting on my foot after surgery

And that’s okay. I’m going to take it easy and go for a walk with the dogs, and watch some Ted Lasso.

And then sleep like a baby…but first:

❤️ I am grateful Melissa gave me a reference for her OBGYN and next week I get this damn BC outta my arm after way too damn long.

🧡 I am grateful for Dr. Erickson who not only referred me to Dr. Holly but taught me something new and I always appreciate when people do that.

💛 I am grateful my Pap smear was normal, even if I have to go in for an extra mammogram and have a cyst on my left ovary and a fatty liver. All of this is manageable and none of it means I’m dying.

💚 I am grateful I get to see the ENT for the first time and find out some options for sleeping better at night.

💙 I am grateful for Monique who started Dogs Day Out and has given me a way to help others and now I realize I don’t have to do it all alone. I can go out to her house and get everything I need to help people, I just need to be patient and wait for the right day.

💜 I am grateful for Natalie, Tuesday, and Scotty for allowing me to join them every week for Gay Bowling and Bingo once a month. I had no idea how much fun I would have or how much I needed friends like them.

Let it Roll Bowl
Gay Bingo!

10. I ❤️ Father Boyle and his message of caring for the poor and marginalized

9. I 🧡 going to church with Beth for the Speaker Series…she’s the perfect date

8. I 💛 how I handled Finchem today after senate approps

7. I 💚 having Stacy and Zach to help go through bills and make fun of now awful everything and every one is

6. I 💙 Tribal Legislative Day at the Capitol and look forward to seeing old friends every year

5. I 💜 Dad’s joke “Better Living Through Chemistry” lol

4. I ❤️ Boschen and already know I’m gonna miss him

3. I 🧡 Bea and her friend for teaching me about EV battery fire risks over lunch today

2. I 💛 miniature dioramas

1. I 💚 my warm bed

State of the State; Artlink and Zipparitas; Missing Mama

10. I ❤️ Lesli’s invite to do set design for the Midtown Players Association upcoming performance

9. I 🧡 giant Zipparita’s made with with Chambord

8. I 💛 that I could come home to walk the pups at lunch and still listen to the state of the state and get back down town in time for cookies and a selfie

7. I 💚 the hell I gave B of A back in the day

6. I 💙 that tomorrow is the next speakers series event with Fr. Boyle

5. I 💜 that Caitlyn and Beth both texted to tell me Caitlyn started today at ADJC

4. I ❤️ all the old friends I saw at the reception today

3. I 🧡 that this week is light enough to allow us to catch up on bill review

2. I 💛 new friends like Molly made with common WTF enemies like Bobbi ps pronouns matter

1. I 💚 that I’ve kept so many momentos from Mama, including her hospital bracelet from when she was admitted before passing (just like she held on the the baby hospital bracelet they out on me)

Puffy Coats; Pain Meds; Rest In Paradise, Stella

10. I ❤️ that Dad loves his new blue puffy coat

9. I 🧡 that I had left over pain meds for Zorro and now he is doing much better

8. I 💛 my new Bad, Bad Hats shirt with the VW bug on it

7. I 💚 freshly laundered, clean,crisp sheets on the bed after a long day

6. I 💙 Chex mix

5. I 💜 the night view video of Dad and Kubbye going for a walk

4. I ❤️ that I’m slowly continuing to lose weight

3. I 🧡 Frieda snoring softly

2. I 💛 my ADOT colleagues

1. I 💚 that Laura’s Mama is now at peace

Papago Pups; New Lunch Spot; Here to Help

10. I ❤️ Papago Park with the pups

9. I 🧡 Uniq burger

8. I 💛 making home made dog treats with Bezozo

7. I 💚 Elderberry Manishevitz

6. I 💙 Shrinking on Apple TV

5. I 💜 that Dad asked to be added to my Costco membership so he can support their DEI efforts

4. I ❤️ that my Women for Trump stickers are still up on a few spots is Scottsdale

3. I 🧡 the sexy black robe I forgot left at Jason’s

2. I 💛 helping people and that will be my focus at work

1. I 💚 Zorro waiting patiently at my feet for his PB biscuit

Chamber Gossip; Tommy Lee Delivers; Bezozo has a Birthday (shhhhh!)

10. I ❤️ the convo I had with Nicole at lunch today

9. I 🧡 all the expected compliments I received on my caped crusader look at the AZ Chamber forecast luncheon

8. I 💛 the vegan ice cream options I picked up tonight for Bezozo’s bday 🎉😘

7. I 💚 Tommy Lee Jones in every film in which I’ve seen him star in my lifetime

6. I 💙 how soundly Jason is sleeping RN lol IYKYK

5. I 💜 that Ted goes to Olive Garden with the fam

4. I ❤️ Marcus for the serious legacy he’s left on our court system- even if the other old white dudes over there still don’t get it

3. I 🧡 Sam Thumma for asking me if I’d be interested in ,Access to Justice issues. Because my answer was and is HELL YES

2. I 💛 getting to start a brand new policy issue this session

1. I 💚 that maybe possibly folks aren’t all evil and there are allies where we least expect them

Needlepoint Canyon; New Year, New PJs; Cheers to Illinois

10. I ❤️ the art I got Bezozo for the cabin

9. I 🧡 that I calmed Sen. JK

8. I 💛 Zorro in his latest look

7. I 💚 Joe from Illinois- RR He can’t help it

6. I 💙 my new party nails and having a name for them

5. I 💜 finding the pot

4. I ❤️ my four new albums and T-shirt.

3. I 🧡 that Dad didn’t move to Santa Fe

2. I 💛 that Shope and Bezozo talked some shit

1. I 💚 tomorrow for it is my last day of freedom

Too Many One Liners to Count; Nibblers for the Win; Hell Week is Over for Me at Least

10. I ❤️ every person who showed up to fill the Mary Peter’s conference room today

9. I 🧡 Cynthia and Araceli and Mark and Jenny for all their offers to assist

8. I 💛 Sen. Payne for fucking GETTING IT

7. I 💚 Kristine Ward for a million+1 reasons but mostly cuz she’s fucking hilarious and brilliant and presents complex info in a way people can understand, even if they don’t like it

6. I 💙 that I get to tell Col. Rogers that ADOT will NOT be naming the SR 260 after TFG because it ain’t our job and I don’t get why every fucking dude today was afraid to tell her

5. I 💜 Frank Carroll and David Livingston for expressing their appreciation for me in this position to our director and others

4. I ❤️ Katy P. for fighting the good fight! Fucking GET IT girl we’re rooting for you and Nancy ❤️

3. I 🧡that tomorrow I will sleep in a bit with the pups and telecommute before dinner with Todd and Curtis and friends!

2. I 💛my new dress for Friday because ALL the legislators AND the governor will see it AND its Bezozo’s 55th birthday so he gets to unzip it afterwards #hubbahubba

1. I 💚 Party Nails and Bad, Bad Hats and Cameo for gifting me both 💅 🎩

Party Dress is Clean; Zorro’s New Look; Go the F*ck to Bed, AMY

10. I ❤️ that no matter what happens, after tomorrow our summit will be over

9. I 🧡 that Zach can appreciate my frustration and sense of humor simultaneously

8. I 💛 getting to know all the quirky people at our office

7. I 💚 being invited last minute to the AZ Chamber Lunch so I can see Bezozo on his birthday

6. I 💙 cinnamon gum

4. I ❤️ that Cynthia will be back tomorrow, rested and ready

5. I 💜 my new Hoka’s

3. I 🧡 our Director for being cool

2. I 💛 Coral and her journey from hockey player to bad ass elected to today- we need more Corals

1. I 💚 bedtime

Aunt Hilda is Cray; Dons’ all Love Me; Thanks, Maroney

10. I ❤️ crashing random fundraisers to promote our event this week

9. I 🧡 how fantastic all my clothes look back from dry cleaning

8. I 💛 how many folks seem interested in the summit Wednesday

7. I 💚 the new sugar free products I found for Kubbye and Dad

6. I 💙the compliments I got on my hair and sweater tonight when picking up goodies for dessert

5. I 💜 the cards I got Dad and Linda for their anniversary this weekend

4. I ❤️ that Barry Aaron’s went to school withJudge Ellie Finn

3. I 🧡that interns are beginning to infiltrate the Capitol again

2. I 💛that I’m really good at my job and people are happy that I’m there

1. I 💚 how many names I remembered tonight despite years of being away from this world