Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Recovering Slowly


First things first: an Olga update! She is still unsteady but seemingly improving. She walks with her head tilted to one side, which is funny to see and is apparently very characteristic of vestibular disease. This morning when she woke up she licked my face enthusiastically, as usual, and we did our standard back-scratching, bed-stretching routine. (She gets scratched and stretches, not me.) But she wouldn't stand up or climb down from the bed on her own, so I put her on the floor and she ambled out to her dog bowls, and there she scrabbled around a bit, trying to get her footing. She came out to the living room and laid on the rug, and I brought her the remains of last night's dinner, which she didn't eat in its entirety. She ate more of it this morning.

So, she's eating -- if in smaller amounts -- and she's moving around. She's able to go to the back garden on her own and seems interested in sniffing and exploring as usual. She still drinks water from plant saucers and the bird bath. I cancelled her dog walker again today. I'll try to come home at lunch.

Now she's lying on her bed under her pink blanket watching me type.


I sat with her on the couch yesterday morning and read "Bleak House" before going in to work around 11 a.m. It was kind of nice to have a leisurely morning, though I've course I'd have enjoyed it more in the absence of vestibular disease.

Dave is election-obsessed. Last night, when I paused a TV show to get something from the kitchen, he started playing a speech by Harris on his phone and I actually groaned. And she's my candidate! I told him I just can't stand to hear any of it any more. I can't imagine what the poor people in Pennsylvania and other must-win swing states must be enduring.

(Photos: The steeple of St. Andrew's church on Finchley Road, with some colorful sumac; maple leaves found on a recent walk home from work.)

66 comments:

  1. It sounds like many in the US have had a gutful of political advertising and will be very glad when it is over.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just wish we didn't have to hear so much of the US election over here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does seem silly when you don't even live there! I hate how US politics dominates global news feeds.

      Delete
  3. Trump? Harris? Olga? - I vote for the last one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad Olga is doing better now. And Kamala's final address on the Ellipse last night was iconic. But I'm ready to finish now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe that's what he was watching. If so, I feel better that it was an iconic moment!

      Delete
  5. I've had all I can stand. I just wish it would be all over next Tuesday but I know there will be weeks of post race analyzing, complaining, partisan bickering and more going on. I'll be downstairs by my fireplace reading a book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. That's part of what's so depressing -- knowing that it won't be decided anytime soon.

      Delete
  6. I'm so sorry Olga went through this. I'm glad she's recovering. I know it was alarming for you. As for politics, I delete their relentless texts. I've voted by mail and it was counted so I'm done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't get texts (fortunately) but I am DELUGED with e-mails!

      Delete
  7. Your post didn't show on my feed. I had to go in search of it, being sure you'd be posting an update on Olga, as you did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It disappeared from my blog reading feed as well....the whole lot!

      Delete
    2. That's very weird! A Blogger glitch, I guess.

      Delete
  8. I am glad that Olga is better. Now if she can continue to improve!
    Cheers Peter

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am so glad that Olga is doing better, and I hope it continues. I am growing very weary of all of the election hype. And I don't live in a battleground state! I heard yesterday that Trump has pulled ahead and it put me in a foul mood. So today, I am trying my hardest not to listen to anything (if that's even possible)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know what to believe about polls. They've so often proved to be wrong!

      Delete
  10. Harris's Ellipse speech was one of her best! I hope it causes some undecided to finally DECIDE! 75,000 came to hear her in person! That had to have the Orange Lump's tighty whiteys in a bunch!!
    Hoping Olga regains her footing ... getting older throws us a curve at times!
    50° in S. Colorado this Wednesday morning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ARE there any undecided voters at this point? Who are those people?!

      Delete
  11. We watched the speech in real time (on CSPAN) and it was really good! But yes, my nerves can't handle too much more of this.

    I'm so glad Olga seems to be improving!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good for you (and the others here) for watching it. I just can't stand anymore.

      Delete
  12. I don't think Olga's ready to let go of her beautiful life yet. She's just got to get over this ear thing and she'll be good to go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She certainly has reason to want to stay and enjoy it. She's not spoiled or anything. :)

      Delete
  13. good to hear Olga's improving. I got a text from a republican rep asking if I was sick of Democrat (list of lies). I responded I was sick of republican lies (specific about the border) and got a reply that I had been successfully unsubscribed. I got a big laugh out of that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Good for you for pushing back! They've got some nerve.

      Delete
  14. To be honest, Steve, I find myself streaming distant networks just to avoid the screaming political ads. It's all just rhetoric, repeated over and over and over again. I know who I'm voting for. Most people do. The democrats have some very dramatic ads out right now that simply shocked me. A couple is in bed, he reaches for a condom, and a grim man in a suit gets the condom. Birth control is now out lawed because he won the election. "Get out of our bedroom," they shout. He said, "I'm just going to watch to make sure you don't do anything illegal. Another shows a woman writhing on the floor as her husband calls for medical help. The same man says, "No. She cannot have that life saving abortion. I won the election." The husband says, "But this isn't an abortion, we WANT children, she needs help." The man in the suit says, "It's okay. You can still have children. Just not with this woman." There's a third, but I cannot remember it right off the top of my head. Really shocking stuff. Almost as shocking as hearing the Latino joke from the Republicans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They reflect a shocking reality. I never thought we'd see in our country. Praying Non-Stop that we remain America instead of a satellite of Putin's, Russia

      Delete
    2. They sound shocking and unpleasant but also true! I guess it's good that the Dems are hitting hard with ads that are memorable -- and after all they're effective, since they've gotten you to talk about them. :)

      Delete
  15. I'm so glad Olga is better and that it's definitely presenting as the ear problem.
    Both candidates' voices grate on my nerves.
    That's an exceptionally nice group of leaves!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine too! I think I've just heard too much from them. I would much rather read my political news so I don't have to listen to anybody.

      Delete
  16. I'm glad Olga is better today. Hopefully the recovery will continue.
    I'm also so very tired of all this political rhetoric. I want this election to be over even though I know it's going to be a rocky election. They are putting a lot of security into place here in Maricopa County.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you guys are really ground zero in Arizona. I do not envy you.

      Delete
  17. Best news ever about Olga. Let's hope it continues with more strength every day. And speaking as one of those swing state people, its insane. Just think how much they could send to Ukraine or to hurricane relief or anything with what is being spent. That said, I'm kind of election obsessed too. The speech last night was fabulous. I just hope it wasn't only to the converted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, the spending does seem nuts, doesn't it? So much spending that could make a big difference in people's lives.

      Delete
  18. Good news about Olga...and I've had enough of politics from anywhere...enough to make anyone despair!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our 24-hour news cycle doesn't do anyone any favors!

      Delete
  19. That is a beautiful photo of the seasonal leaves. We are all praying for your dear little friend. Olga! Aloha from Honolulu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enjoy the autumn leaves! You probably don't get many of them in Honolulu, I'm guessing!

      Delete
  20. These little critters really frighten us because they cannot tell us what's wrong. I hope you find out what's wrong and that it can be treated. Somehow I missed your last post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does seem she will recover, fortunately. We're treating her for a possible ear infection, but it's also just a matter of time with vestibular disease.

      Delete
  21. Poor Olga and how scary for you guys. I hope she recovers and feels herself again.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Olga Girl , You Do You There Girl - Wobble , Sleep , Eat , And Bark Whenever You Want

    Travis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That pretty much describes life at home at the moment! More wobbling and less barking.

      Delete
  23. It takes me close to a week to recover from vertigo, but I imagine dogs are faster. All the best to Olga! And thanks for more leaves!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, maybe. I read online recovery often takes 48-72 hours, but apparently it can also take longer.

      Delete
  24. It sounded very worrying. Pleased she seems to be on the mend.

    ReplyDelete
  25. My lab suffered from “old dog vestibular disease”. It’s scary in the moment. He recovered and lived three more beautiful years. I wish the same for dear Olga.
    Here in Georgia, the political ads are nonstop. We are hopeful, reflected in the last Harris rally we attended with 20K like minded others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thanks for telling me that. I'm glad to hear your dog lived a while after recovering. (Though I'd be amazed if we got another three years out of Olga!)

      Delete
  26. I had to Google vestibular disease and was glad to read that dogs will recover in a couple of weeks so it is good that Olga is showing improvement already. I did listen to Kamala's speech from the Ellipse and she did sound terrific. I can't wait for the election to be over and I hope for a landslide for the Democrats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Olga appreciates your learning more about her condition! Why ISN'T this a landslide, is what I want to know?!

      Delete
  27. Yay for Olga! I am so happy that she is better.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm glad that Olga is improving but it must be hard and worrisome to watch. The election, argggh. It's feeling never-ending and the aftermath might be too. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It just goes on and on and yeah, probably WILL go on and on. Unless something decisive happens.

      Delete
  29. I'm glad to hear Olga is feeling a bit better. She just needs a bit more time.
    The election is wearing thin on everyone. We'll all be glad when it is over.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Cheers for the doggo! Hope the trend continues.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sounds like Olga's on the way to recovery. Our cat had a few of these episodes and I remember how scary they were. Not only for us but also for him, that look in his eyes of utter panic! I suffer from vertigo myself (due to BPPV) but it has the same effect and it is extremely uncomfortable. I can imagine how very scary this must be for a dog or cat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's got to be strange when you don't know what's happening or why. Poor animals!

      Delete
  32. It's truly agonizing over here. I envy you in London. This election is just interminable.

    ReplyDelete