11.29.10

Confirmed my appointment for tomorrow with Dr. Angelise.

I usually get a call the day before my appointments from her assistant. The reminder phone call came in to my cell this morning at 11am. I didn't get to answer it so it went through to my voicemail. Her assistant is very nice. Monique is her name. But today she didn't sound very good on my voicemail. I'm guessing it's just a Thanksgiving hangover thing.

Went to Kroger to get my flu shot today. Johnny Dog seems to like riding in the car so I brought her with. She stayed in the car while I ran into the store. Got to the pharmacy, but there was a sign posted there that read "No Flu Shots Today".

I'll try again tomorrow after my appointment with Dr. Angelise.

11.28.10 Description

I am enjoying Johnny Dog's companionship more and more. I find myself sleeping better now that she is around. Last night I didn't bother putting her in her crate, and she ended up sleeping at the foot of my bed. She woke about 7am, came around to my side of the bed and sat and stared at me until I woke-up. Must have been time to start the day, according to her.

Dr. Angelise will want to know what she looks like. Johnny Dog has a black coat, with the exception of her tail, which is tipped white. She has a white chin (looks like a white beard), and a white spot on her right hip that resembles the Greek letter "omega".

She can't get enough of playing fetch. I'm glad I found my tennis racquet to hit the ball for her to chase rather than throwing them. My arm would be worn off if I had to throw it.

I'm wondering if I continue to feel better with Johnny Dog around if I can wean myself off the Zoloft Dr. Angelise prescribed for me. Sometimes I can't handle how nauseous I get after taking it. I might sleep even better, too.

11.26.10 Thanksgiving with Johnny Dog

It might seem strange that I am journaling on a blog site rather than on a moleskin. Although the journaling I'm doing is really supposed to be for my own purposes (according to my psychiatrist), I thought that using a blog would make it a more permanent record, in case I lost my moleskin. I also decided that if I am going to spend time writing this journal, it would be ok for others to read if they happened to stumble upon it. Not going to advertise it.

I think I will still need to read some of my entries to my psychiatrist when I see her on Tuesday, so I'll print it just in case.

My psychiatrist's name is Doctor Angelise. I am tired of trying to spell psychiatrist. I wonder if I need to get her permission to use her name in this blog. Doctor/patient privilege and all. But that is supposed to protect me, not her, right?

I didn't get invited to dinner by anyone yesterday. Johnny Dog and I enjoyed a turkey sandwich. I gave her half. The good news is that if the same pattern holds true I won't need to buy presents for anyone this year. No need to go out and shop today.

11.23.10 Distractions

Johnny Dog makes my mood much better. I don't have an appointment with my psychiatrist until next week, due to Thanksgiving. Not sure I will need to see her next week. I will probably still go.
No invitations for Thanksgiving yet. I thought the Holidays would put my family in a more forgiving mood. But there is still one more day before Thanksgiving.
I was going to get a flu shot today at the Kroger pharmacy near my house. Sometime I wonder if those things do any good. From what I have read, the pharmaceutical companies pretty much have to guess the strain of flu that will be most prevalent when the season arrives and then produce the formulary, so it can  be a crapshoot.
But Johnny Dog distracted me and I didn't get to Kroger. I took her for a long walk, followed by me hitting a tennis ball with a racquet (I couldn't throw it far enough) so she could fetch it. We must have done this for two hours as she never runs out of energy.

11.22.10

I decided to name the dog "Johnny Dog". She seems very smart. Not picky either. Went to the local Petsmart and bought the cheap dog food. Johnny Dog seemed perfectly happy with it.
I am curious as to how she ended up at the local SPCA. She doesn't jump on my furniture or my bed. Slept through the night without a crate. Laid at my feet while I was watching television.
We took a walk. She seemed to be leash trained. Wasn't upset about other dogs that passed us on the sidewalk.

So far, good dog.

11.21.10 Dog Acquired

Got a dog yesterday. Was bored in the afternoon and was driving by the local SPCA and decided to drop in. They told me she is about 2 years old. Looks like a lab/pit bull mix. Real friendly. Might have been a mistake, but I was looking for some kind of companionship. They found her wandering the side of the road. Maybe she had alienated her family too.
Trying to figure out what to name her. Something badass maybe.
Rover? Rufus? Grinder? Cesar? Does it have to be a female name?

Johnny Dog?

11.20.10

It's Saturday. Didn't sleep well again last night. At least ESPN Gameday starts an hour earlier this season so I can kill time watching that.
My psychiatrist also told me I ought to exercise more. It would be good for my mental health. So I am going to go for a walk later today.
I wonder if I am going to be invited to anyone's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Seeing as how I pretty much have alienated most of my family and friends over the last year I doubt it.

11.19.10

Second day writing in my psychiatrist prescribed journal. My next appointment with her is next Tuesday. She says that journaling will allow us to have more meaningful dialog the next time I visit.
Haven't quite figured out what I should write about. My day? Get up, shower, shave, turn on ESPN radio and listen to Mike & Mike, go get a coffee at an overpriced coffee joint (today Starbucks). Look for a job.

This should make our dialog more meaningful.

11.18.10

My psychiatrist told me I ought to start keeping a journal. Don't know why I started going to her. Probably because I haven't been sleeping well.
I have read other people's journals. They usually like to end each entry with something cute like-
JOURNAL OVER AND OUT