Saturday In the Car With Mina

Mina as we drove through Halway, VA in 2006

Mina loves to go for car rides. She especially loves it when I can drive under 40 miles per hour so she can stick her head out my window. Sure, she could use the passenger side window and not deal with my seatbelt, but she always chooses to put her head as close to mine as possible and sniff the air of its possibilities.

Yesterday, we drove over to Marshall to the IGA for some chicken Chow Now and local dead animals. They had some local ground cows, so I got those, but were out of local dead chickens. Mina likes driving through Marshall and The Plains where the speed limits are 25 MPH.

Next, we stopped at the Bloom for antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken. I need more today, though, because she’s eaten almost everything I cooked last night (only about eight pieces). Mina enjoyed the trip out and back, and spent her Saturday mostly resting on the tile entry way. We took a couple of walks but they were short because Mina does not love humidity the way I do. I’m sure she’ll enjoy Monday through Thursday, though, as we plunge into winter temperatures before summer returns. I wonder if, someday, I’ll move back home to Florida? I miss the weather more every year.

Today, I’m off to the Sanctuary for morning chores. I plan to leave as soon as chores are done so I can stop at Whole Paycheck and not leave Mina for too many hours. I’ve asked my neighbor to check on her but no response so far. I think she’ll be fine, but it’s the first time I’ve left her in a long time for more than four hours by herself.

Chemo on Tuesday. Last one.

s.

 

Day Before Chemo

I’m home today with Miss Mina Bean because I injured myself yesterday at my volunteer job and because I need to use vacation time so I don’t lose it come next month’s rollover cut off date.

She’s doing fine, quiet and resting. She ate a half jar of baby food this morning with the Forti-Flora, had all of her peanut butter-coated pills and supplements, and some liver treats from Auntie Lolo. She hasn’t eaten breakfast yet but I’m not worried. Yesterday she ate more after 5 p.m. and it was a satisfactory amount.

While visiting Auntie Lolo early this morning in the leasing office, Mina got a new toy – a small stuffed elephant with beans in its feet. I’ll have to monitor her play with this one because she’s been trying to get to the beans. On our way home, she carried the toy in her mouth and started trotting when she saw two dogs up ahead. She cracks me up.

s.

 

Fourth Day and Quiet

Today is the fourth day after Mina’s Vincristine IV treatment. You probably know by now that chemo drugs tend to peak around 4-5 days. She’s quieter today, but still interested in taking walks, and she’s still eating, just not as much as yesterday. Today Mina’s eaten two meals of boiled chickens and ground cows, a jar of organic baby food as a snack, and a half jar of baby food with the Forti-Flora mixed in.

We took a nap earlier in the afternoon and now I’m getting ready to boil water for chicken desecration.

One thing I’ve learned recently that entices Mina to eat – I give her the peanut butter-coated pills and supplements right by her food dish. So far, it’s worked every time.

s.