Patches poop

Last weekend I found blood on the floor. I thought one of the birds must have broke a blood feather perhaps flying into something. I checked all the usual suspects and couldn't find the source. Meanwhile Charlie and Patches (gay bird couple) had been vigorously "feeding" each other. I didn't think too much about it.
The next day, I found more blood in the same area near Patches cage. I noticed Patches hadn't been touching his food. The blood had to be coming from Patches. He didn't break a feather so it had to be coming from his mouth or bum. Needless to say I took him to the vet.
He wasn't eating or pooping. Anything he tried to eat he threw up. He was dehydrated and weak. Something was wrong. He spent the day at vet in ICU. The blood tests showed 'something" but was inconclusive. He did have a bacterial infection but something else was going on. He was prescribed baytril for the infection and metacam for inflammation. I was hoping the next day I would see some improvement but he kept throwing up and not eating.
The next day we got a "jackpot" of snow localized to our region. Everywhere else got a few little inches but we got at least 7 inches of heavy wet shit snow.
I panic every time it snows. I have this fear of being buried alive in it.
I hate the shit. I hate the winter.I don't think it's "pretty". I hate stupid fucking snowmen motif. I got up at 5:00am shoveled, snow-blowed, and pick axed the snow and ice for two fucking solid hours. And thank God I did and cleared the driveway because when I got the birds up for their morning routine Patches was not doing well at all.
I called the vet and thankfully because of the snow they had cancellations and told me to come right down. So I bundled Patches up and drove through the snow to the vet's office 20 miles away. They did more tests checking for possible lead poisoning and an x-ray. They tube fed him and put him on oxygen. The tube feeding forced him to poop and they found he had avian gastric yeast. It's a nasty fungus and difficult to detect.
The medicine to treat it is specialized so I had to go to the only compounding pharmacy in the area over in Beverly another 20 miles away. I was still cursing the friggin' snow even though it had stopped....briefly. I got Patches his meds: Amphotericin. This is the same pharmacy I got my pigeon's specialized meds as well .He has to take this medicine for a month (along with the baytril for two weeks) and I have to pick up his second dose of amphotericin in two weeks because since it is a compounded med which becomes unstable after two weeks.
Ah! The things I do for my birds!
Well after his initial dose, he started to pick at his food. No vomiting. The next day, he ate more, pooped and called out  to Charlie. I feel confident that he is on the road to recovery.
I am worried about Charlie since Patches had been "feeding" him. (It is form of affection when they barf up food into your mouth ) Charlie will go to the vet next week for check up to make sure he doesn't have the same illness. I will have to keep them in separate cages as well.
I just feel relieved (and grateful)that the vet found Patches' source of illness.

gym rat

I've worked out for years in my basement gym I've affectionately called "cell block 9". As of lately I just couldn't achieve the muscle mass with the equipment I had. If anything, I was re-injuring old injuries.
One of the Zumba teachers at the senior center suggested (and gave me a 10 day pass) that I should go for a more advance Zumba class and that her gym offered kick boxing as well.
I figured I'd just try out the 10 day pass for fun. At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the gym and it's facilities. I had been a active member of a similar gym in Sudbury but it wasn't as big or as diverse .Regardless, at the time, I was bit of a gym rat. Well after using the pass for 10 days I decided to join.
There are two weight rooms : one massive one with every kind of machines, weights, etc..that the serious muscle guys (and girls) work out in. And there is a smaller one for "ladies only" that I like. All the machines in the "ladies only"are pretty much adjusted for smaller ladies. This gym has a pool, basket ball court, racket ball, boxing area, a million and one tread-mills and bikes, and an indoor track. I prefer indoor tracks over treadmills. I hate tread-mills because they make me nausea.
I've been trying out pretty much all the classes they have to offer. So far, I like the kick boxing Zumba and pilates classes the best. I tried the step classes and core building classes and they are torture. The spin classes I think are just stupid and gross (but they are soooo popular). Spin classes consist of riding really fast on a stationary bike squished together in a small room. I don't get the attraction.
All of the classes incorporate push ups, crunches and squats in the mix. I noticed in less than one month I no longer have any "loose change" on the back of my thighs. I'm getting back the hardness in my arms as well. There are some serious fit people at this gym. And as I trot around the indoor gym I check out all the "Vin Diesel" types lifting weights.
I have an appointment with a personal trainer in a month (she is booked up far in advance) but so far I am achieving what I set out to do.
Yeah, I'm a gym rat.
It really makes the winter months pass by.

happy 2017

Happy (belated) New Year!
I haven't had time to sit down and write so now I am doing it.
2016 has surely had it's ups and downs.
The "downs" of 2016 were:
1) My health conscious cousin getting diagnosed and undergoing chemo therapy for stage 4 ovarian cancer
2) Dive buddy Fred diagnosed and treated with chemo at his ripe ol' age of 81 for leukemia
3) The sudden passing of my dear pal Marilee
4) The sudden passing of my super fav 80's icon Prince
There were other not so happy moments as well. Some of them I probably blocked out of my head.

On a more positive note for 2016: I went to Bonaire twice, tried paddle boarding, kayaking, joined a church reading group, worked out doing Zumba classes and completed three paintings.

My 2017 "New" years resolutions I hope to complete are as follows:
1) try kick boxing class
2) eat a better diet (less chocolate cake /eat more protein instead)
3) drive a corvette
4) visit Paisley park (Prince's house in Chahassen, MN)
5) dive more

I hope with the new US president everything will be ok. I hope for peace, unity and prosperity.
My cousin had endured her chemo treatments and as of today, she is fit and clear.
My sister worked and lived in Thailand, but it wasn't what she had hoped. She was isolated from friends and family and kept getting attacked by native monkeys. She is now without a job and a house. The good part is she applied for jobs in the US. That would be a big help for her to live with my mum. Life changes so you make the best of things.
As far as my New year's resolutions I've already completed two on the list.
I joined a local health club for more advanced Zumba classes but more importantly that they have kick boxing classes! I am now an official gym rat. I am having a blast at the classes!
With that, I've tweaked my diet. I try to stay away from sweets and focus in on stuff I'm suppose to be eating rather than stuff I shouldn't eat.
Since I've been working out constantly in the gym it makes the winter more bearable.
In the spring time, I plan on going out to visit Paisley park.
Stay positive, stay safe, stay healthy.