She seems a bit better...she's acting more like her normal self, walking better, falling down less. She's eating well, used the litter pan [though not easily, which is why I'm concerned]. Keeping an eye on her, vet's number is right on hand just in case...
New battery did the trick, though going to be cautious for a few days to be sure that there wasn't an underlying issue that contributed to the battery troubles. Can't say enough about East Bay MINI in Pleasanton...great folks, took good care of me, and best of all, their parts and service department is open on Saturday. Halle-frickin-lujah.
A very cool thing: got a call from my friend Susy this afternoon while I was in the middle of everything...she had seen the blog entries, and called to see how everything was going and to offer one of their cars if I needed it. Got text messages and email from a couple other friends, checking in and sending sympathies. You know, just when I am getting frustrated and start swearing at the universe, I get these little smacks upside the head reminding me that I have got some incredibly good people in my life. It's rare to find people that give to you as much as [even more than] you give to them, true friends that make it possible for you to ask for help by simply not waiting for you to ask for it. I'm very lucky to have found a few of those...
More updates:
Bean seems a little better [she's not crying as much, and is walking a little easier], but still not 100%, so need to keep a close eye on her. Have this awful feeling there is going to be a midnight trip to the emergency vet tonight..I really, really want to be wrong about that.
The bronchitis is getting better [to repeat: halle-frickin-lujah]. Voice still cracks like an adolescent boy, but a little more air is getting through and I'm coughing less. Need to keep medicating and take it easy to give my lungs a chance to bounce back.
Missing a champagne dinner in the city for a friend's birthday because of all the drama...though with the unexpected expenses, I couldn't have afforded the drive and the dinner anyway, so I guess it's a mixed blessing.
And now it's time to take my medication, check on Bean, and get some stuff done that had to be pushed aside while I was zooming my way to and from Pleasanton.
Thanks for the good vibes, everyone...sending hugs back at you.
AAA made it out in about half an hour, nice guy, great service from Ellison Towing. However...
...the battery for my car is dealer-specific [the way the battery is clamped down means the top is molded very specifically]. Okay, we jumped the car, got it started so I could take it to the dealer. However...
...the parts and service department is closed on the weekends. The nice woman at the dealership gave me the MINI roadside assistance number. However...
...the very nice woman on the other end of the phone told me that most California MINI dealership parts and service departments were closed on weekends, that I would have to contact my dealer on Monday. However [and this one is good, finally]...
...she called around, found a dealership in Pleasanton that was open, stayed on hold with them to be sure they had the part, and told them I was coming. She gave me the address, so while we were on hold, I printed directions...so now I'm heading out the door [the car has been running this whole time, since there is no frickin' way I'm turning it off].
Cross your fingers that there isn't another "however" in the story...
Bean is hurting. She is meowing a lot, and her hind legs aren't working very well...she's wobbling more, and she's falling down. Giving her meds now, and gave a bit of pain medication along with them to give her some relief. She's moving around, following me from room to room, so she's not totally incapacitated, but it's still not normal.
So now I really need to get the car working, in case I have to take her to the vet. Sigh. Just as I get a job, all these expenses pop up: the parking ticket, a new battery, getting stiffed on a concert ticket, the bronchitis and related expenditures, and of course it's also when bills like renter's insurance and car registration come due. Luckily I always try to pad for emergencies, but it would be really nice if they didn't cluster like this.
Going to go check on Bean, get showered and dressed, give a last 'pleasepleaseplease' try at starting the car, then call AAA. And put the sacrificial blanket on the bed, just in case poor Bean keeps hurting.
Whoops. Didn't see the 2-hour parking limit sign, got a Palo Alto parking ticket. Whee.
Parking in Palo Alto for the day is annoying...everything close to work is a color-coded 2-hour zone [and that's a daily limit, so you can't just move your car to another spot in the same color zone]. Most of us end up parking 5-6 blocks away, on residential streets, and even then it's tough to find a spot with so many people vying for them. And walking from/to the car to/from the office is fine when the weather is nice, but once it starts raining, I'm sure it will get annoying.
Looks like I'll have to look into buying a parking permit...
Voice is a bit more audible, though I now sound like a Florida retiree who has been smoking 4 packs a day for 40 years ["So I says to Gertrude, he's a BUM! A no-goodnik!" <draws deep drag on cigarette, then waves it around expressively, gesticulating wildly at Gertrude> ].
The flip side is that there is a bit less air coming through [lungs are constricted], so while I have more bass, there is less volume. But you know what? It's a change, it's different, and I choose to see it as progress...I'll beat this thing yet!!
