A few days ago, all of a sudden, we noticed that Ruki's fur looked... Bumpy. It looked like maybe she slept on it wrong. So when I reached down to smooth out her fur, I felt bumps. And I freaked. I dug around under the fur, but couldn't really see anything. I eventually found very small, pinkish bumps--all in all maybe 20 of them, each maybe 1/2 a centimeter in diameter, about an inch or so apart from each other.
I figured that maybe it's just an allergy, and so decided not to worry about it. But then we couldn't sleep because we *were* worried about it. We wondered: What might she be allergic to? We fed her some table scraps recently... Was it the soy in the soy sauce? I just Swiftered... Was it that? Were they fleas? We've been having centipede problems... Was she being bitten by centipedes?
After a day or so, I then noticed that some of the bumps were turning into scabs. I never saw her scratch them--they don't seem itchy--and she doesn't seem to mind when we root around, looking for them. So it doesn't look like she's bothered by these bumps under her fur, nor the scabs.
So we took her to the vet, Fresh Pond Animal Hospital. The vet said they weren't fleas or bug bites, and probably not allergies. Just "pyoderma"--a generic term for bacterial skin infections. Might be allergy-related, but who knows? He said it might be seasonal, too. And that we should watch out next fall and see if it re-occurs.
So then he charged us an arm and a leg for some antibiotic pills, some oatmeal-based shampoo, and some non-smelly fish oil to help with her "dry fur." Thieves praying on the ignorant, I tell you. But what can we do? We're at the mercy of their expertise.
Now, it appears that all's well. She's fine--she always has been. It's more that we were worried that she was dying. Hopefully it will all go away soon.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Slow Steps for Greening Our Lives
So we've been in the slow process of greening our lives. One of the big problems stems from our living in an old apartment in an old city: there's already so much built-in inefficiency that we can't do anything about.
Maybe this then gives us greater imperative to do what little we can to reduce our impact. And so here I'll catalog the steps that we've found to be feasible given our lifestyles and housing circumstances.
Install CFLs. CFLs are cheap enough these days and easy to get. We even get brighter light with a lower wattage. For example, I replaced the 60 W incandescents in our standing lamps with 23 W or 25 W CFLs--equivalent to 100 W incandescents. They're brighter and now use less than half the electricity.
Insulate, weatherstrip. Insulate for all seasons. In the summer, it keeps the cool in; in the winter, it keeps the cold out.
Use less water. I filled three 20 oz. plastic Diet Coke bottles with water and placed them in the toilet tank. This reduces my water usage with each flush by half a gallon. Not so bad. We also follow the "if it's yellow (but not too yellow), let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down" rule. Turn off the faucet while your soaping your face or brushing your teeth. When doing dishes, I wet all the dishes, turn off the water, soap everything up, then rinse all the dishes at once.
Use more green cleaning products. I'm stil a bit wary of using non-Lysol-type cleaning products when cleaning up after cutting meats, etc. But for everything else, I use green cleaning spray.
Use dish rags instead of paper towels. Honestly, I use paper towels when I want, but I at least try to use the washable dish rags when I can--and when they're hygienic.
Use corn-based biodegradable poop bags. I know there are a lot of biodegradable poop bags out there--but when they all go into the landfill, there's not enough sun and water for the darn things to actually decompose. So I buy the corn-based ones: at least I'm not using oil to make plastic, and I'm supporting a company that implements eco-friendly production methods.
Unplug all power cords and switch off power strips when we leave for vacation.
Re-use paper. I always bring home and re-use any paper that's only printed on one side. I have an ink-jet, and that lets me use used paper. (Laser jets tend to have lots of trouble with used paper.) I also make little notepads by cutting used paper in quarters and eights and then stapling them into pads of 10-odd sheets for notes and to-do lists.
Use rechargeable batteries. I also have a Tivoli radio which runs on an internal rechargeable.
Buy organic and fair trade. Honestly, right now we only regularly buy organic eggs and coffee. When we can--financially--we'll buy other things organic and fair trade, but honestly it's tough when they're so much pricier.
Don't buy bottled water. Occasionally, we'll buy it out of convenience--for carrying, etc. But at home, we just use tap water, through a Brita filter.
Replace your shower head. I screwed off the old shower head and replaced it with a more efficient shower head that uses less water. Not a big deal. And then when we move out, I take it with me. Neat.
Ideas for Things to Do:
Have more house plants. These clean the air. Then I can also collect rain water or gray water to water them. Occasionally, throw used coffee grounds in for fertilizer.
Maybe this then gives us greater imperative to do what little we can to reduce our impact. And so here I'll catalog the steps that we've found to be feasible given our lifestyles and housing circumstances.
Install CFLs. CFLs are cheap enough these days and easy to get. We even get brighter light with a lower wattage. For example, I replaced the 60 W incandescents in our standing lamps with 23 W or 25 W CFLs--equivalent to 100 W incandescents. They're brighter and now use less than half the electricity.
Insulate, weatherstrip. Insulate for all seasons. In the summer, it keeps the cool in; in the winter, it keeps the cold out.
Use less water. I filled three 20 oz. plastic Diet Coke bottles with water and placed them in the toilet tank. This reduces my water usage with each flush by half a gallon. Not so bad. We also follow the "if it's yellow (but not too yellow), let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down" rule. Turn off the faucet while your soaping your face or brushing your teeth. When doing dishes, I wet all the dishes, turn off the water, soap everything up, then rinse all the dishes at once.
Use more green cleaning products. I'm stil a bit wary of using non-Lysol-type cleaning products when cleaning up after cutting meats, etc. But for everything else, I use green cleaning spray.
Use dish rags instead of paper towels. Honestly, I use paper towels when I want, but I at least try to use the washable dish rags when I can--and when they're hygienic.
Use corn-based biodegradable poop bags. I know there are a lot of biodegradable poop bags out there--but when they all go into the landfill, there's not enough sun and water for the darn things to actually decompose. So I buy the corn-based ones: at least I'm not using oil to make plastic, and I'm supporting a company that implements eco-friendly production methods.
Unplug all power cords and switch off power strips when we leave for vacation.
Re-use paper. I always bring home and re-use any paper that's only printed on one side. I have an ink-jet, and that lets me use used paper. (Laser jets tend to have lots of trouble with used paper.) I also make little notepads by cutting used paper in quarters and eights and then stapling them into pads of 10-odd sheets for notes and to-do lists.
Use rechargeable batteries. I also have a Tivoli radio which runs on an internal rechargeable.
Buy organic and fair trade. Honestly, right now we only regularly buy organic eggs and coffee. When we can--financially--we'll buy other things organic and fair trade, but honestly it's tough when they're so much pricier.
Don't buy bottled water. Occasionally, we'll buy it out of convenience--for carrying, etc. But at home, we just use tap water, through a Brita filter.
Replace your shower head. I screwed off the old shower head and replaced it with a more efficient shower head that uses less water. Not a big deal. And then when we move out, I take it with me. Neat.
Ideas for Things to Do:
Have more house plants. These clean the air. Then I can also collect rain water or gray water to water them. Occasionally, throw used coffee grounds in for fertilizer.
The Towel Burrito
The great book "The Dog Bible" by Tracie Hotchner made a recommendation of a home-made dog toy: the towel burrito. I actually made one out of an old t-shirt, folded in half long-ways, and then rolled up and duct-taped tight. Ruki loves it. She can play tug, chews on it, throws it around, and plays chase with it. Best toy money can't buy!
Links for First-Time Home-Buying in Cambridge
So we're also looking to buy a place in Cambridge. Here's where I'm going to put a list of useful links for the process.
- First-Time Buyer Education Programs from the City of Cambridge
- First-Time Home Buyers' Guide to Taxes - From Boston.com and Bankrate
- First-Time Home Buyers Blog - from Move.com and Realtors.com
- How Much of a Mortgage Can You Afford? - from Fannie Mae.
- How much house can I afford? - from Yahoo! Real Estate and LendingTree.com.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Dog-Friendly Stores in Cambridge
I just figured that I'd start making a list of dog-friendly stores in Cambridge.
If a store sells food, then I believe by law pets aren't allowed. Otherwise, I won't enter a store with Ruki unless they welcome her in, or I see dog biscuits or water bowls inside. Also, if they sell dog items, they're *probably* dog-friendly.
I've excluded from this list the obvious pet stores.
Confirmed
Seems Not
If a store sells food, then I believe by law pets aren't allowed. Otherwise, I won't enter a store with Ruki unless they welcome her in, or I see dog biscuits or water bowls inside. Also, if they sell dog items, they're *probably* dog-friendly.
I've excluded from this list the obvious pet stores.
Confirmed
- Tags, Porter Square. Doggie biscuits at the customer service counter.
- Porter Square Books, Porter Square. Caveat: Pets shouldn't go into the coffee bar area.
- Greenward, Mass Ave.
- Mint Julep, Harvard Square.
- American Apparel, Harvard Square.
- Black Ink, Harvard Square.
- Evergreen Cleaners, Mass Ave.
- Harvard Wine Shop, Mass Ave. But it may depend upon who's in the shop.
- Joie de Vivre, Mass Ave.
Seems Not
- Nomad, Mass Ave.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Infant Day Care in Cambridge
Haven't had much change on the Ruki-front. She's just great as always. But there's new news on the family front: We're having a baby. So, yeah, I'm researching infant day care in Cambridge. And since it took me so damn long to find these places, I figure I'll post my results on the Internets.
Here's a Google map with all the day care agencies that provide infant care in Cambridge:
View Larger Map
I also compiled a list with more information of all these day care center:
Associated Early Care & Education - Central School
43 ESSEX ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-2647
Capacity:67
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Associated Early Care and Education /Children's of Cambridge
243 HARVARD ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-2640
Capacity:68
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bigelow Cooperative Day Care Center
ZERO GARDEN ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138
Capacity:32
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Botanic Gardens Children's Center
26 ROBINSON ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1404
Capacity:59
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons @ One Rogers Street
1 ROGERS ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142-1209
Capacity:62
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons Children's Center University Park
129 FRANKLIN ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4160
Capacity:61
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons Childrens Center- OKS
ONE KENDALL SQ BUILDING 1500,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139
Capacity:97
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Children's Village
55 WHEELER ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1192
Capacity:75
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Harvard Yard Child Care Center
25 FRANCIS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-2009
Capacity:58
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Moppets
7 CAMBRIDGEPARK DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02140-2309
Capacity:170
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Mulberry Child Care Center
725 CONCORD AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1040
Capacity:86
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Our Place
402 MASSACHUSETTS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4132
Capacity:38
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Oxford Street Day Care Cooperative
25 FRANCIS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-2009
Capacity:39
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Peabody Terrace Children's Center
900 MEMORIAL DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-6237
Capacity:83
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Radcliffe Child Care Center
10 DEWOLF ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-6098
Capacity:60
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Technology Children's Center - Eastgate
60 WADSWORTH ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142-1317
Capacity:43
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Technology Children's Center at Stata
32 VASSAR ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4309
Capacity:82
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
The Henry Buckner School
85 BISHOP ALLEN DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-3407
Capacity:79
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
TSC Tot Child Care Center
55 BROADWAY DTS 94,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142
Capacity:56
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Here's a Google map with all the day care agencies that provide infant care in Cambridge:
View Larger Map
I also compiled a list with more information of all these day care center:
Associated Early Care & Education - Central School
43 ESSEX ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-2647
Capacity:67
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Associated Early Care and Education /Children's of Cambridge
243 HARVARD ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-2640
Capacity:68
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bigelow Cooperative Day Care Center
ZERO GARDEN ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138
Capacity:32
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Botanic Gardens Children's Center
26 ROBINSON ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1404
Capacity:59
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons @ One Rogers Street
1 ROGERS ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142-1209
Capacity:62
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons Children's Center University Park
129 FRANKLIN ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4160
Capacity:61
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Bright Horizons Childrens Center- OKS
ONE KENDALL SQ BUILDING 1500,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139
Capacity:97
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Children's Village
55 WHEELER ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1192
Capacity:75
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Harvard Yard Child Care Center
25 FRANCIS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-2009
Capacity:58
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Moppets
7 CAMBRIDGEPARK DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02140-2309
Capacity:170
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Mulberry Child Care Center
725 CONCORD AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-1040
Capacity:86
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Our Place
402 MASSACHUSETTS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4132
Capacity:38
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Oxford Street Day Care Cooperative
25 FRANCIS AVE,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-2009
Capacity:39
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Peabody Terrace Children's Center
900 MEMORIAL DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-6237
Capacity:83
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Radcliffe Child Care Center
10 DEWOLF ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02138-6098
Capacity:60
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Technology Children's Center - Eastgate
60 WADSWORTH ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142-1317
Capacity:43
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Technology Children's Center at Stata
32 VASSAR ST,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-4309
Capacity:82
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
The Henry Buckner School
85 BISHOP ALLEN DR,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139-3407
Capacity:79
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
TSC Tot Child Care Center
55 BROADWAY DTS 94,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02142
Capacity:56
Infant:Yes
Toddler:Yes
Pre-School:Yes
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Ten Important Things Your Dog Wants You To Know
I got this from the Bulldog Domain, and even though it's cheesy it rings so true:
"If your dog could talk, these are some of most important things she would like to tell you...
1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years. It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.
2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.
3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together. If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.
4 - Don't stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me. You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!
5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible. Even if I can't comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you're telling me by the tone of your voice.
6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.
7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently. Maybe I haven't been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can't do what I used to do.
9 - Take good care of me when I get old. Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.
10 - Be there for me through good times and bad. Never say you can't handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side. Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life.
Judith Howard Toronto Ontario CA"
"If your dog could talk, these are some of most important things she would like to tell you...
1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years. It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.
2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.
3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together. If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.
4 - Don't stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me. You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!
5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible. Even if I can't comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you're telling me by the tone of your voice.
6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.
7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently. Maybe I haven't been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can't do what I used to do.
9 - Take good care of me when I get old. Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.
10 - Be there for me through good times and bad. Never say you can't handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side. Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life.
Judith Howard Toronto Ontario CA"
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