October 2023 Newsletter Edition
I am very sad to announce the death of Rocky The Hamster. Rocky died on October 14th. I wish this hadn't happened. I have really enjoyed his company with all the trouble my legs have been causing me. I am glad he made it to his second birthday. The abscess in his cheek very quickly expanded. This caused his body to become septic. The last time I held Rocky he didn't know who I was. He died the following day.
I know what I want to do for when I have my next hamster. I have purchased a two story guinea pig cage and a spot welder. My intention is to add a second set of bars and make a hamster a very special home. I prefer the Syrian species of hamster. With a Syrian hamster you have done well to have it live 2 years. They are able to live up to 4 years before their little bodies wear out. Ideally you want to provide a Syrian hamster with at least 900 square inches to live their hamster life. My idea of creating a hamster village would give a precious hamster a home and something to share my life with.
My right eye has now been troublesome for several months. I don't understand what is causing it. The emergency department of my local hospital referred me to one of the top eye specialists in this area of Ontario. Some how it is going to be resolved. I now have a specialist that very clearly has the skills to figure out what is going wrong and help me resolve it.
I recently had an appointment with a social worker to start the conversation of how to make my life easier to live with how my knees are deteriorating. This resulted in a referral to a community resource officer. Once again I am finding myself in the situation where I have the challenges of a 70 year old but I am in my 40's. There are no programs for someone my age to be needing the help a 70 year old is expected to require. Any help I have will either need to be a volunteer or I will need to raise the money to pay for it. I need some time to think. I haven't been happy with my family doctor. She has been obstinate towards me. I am in the gathering evidence stage so I may make a complaint against her and hopefully have a doctor who will advocate for me and partner with me in my health care treatment. I still feel that I am needing surgery and that my knee issues warrant surgery. I need time to think about what now.
My gaming controller needed to be replaced. I wore it out. I am not disappointed by this. My controller wearing out represents meaningful friendships happening in my life. I don't know what I would do without my friends. I don't feel alone in life without their love and support. Earlier in October I organized another movie night. I am so grateful for this sense of community in my life. The group of people that have come together has been very special.
We are at the start of the heating season. My furnace broke. There was no air coming out of the heating ducts. The motor on my furnace died. This was a manufacturer defect. Thankfully it was replaced under warranty. On account of this my furnace should last me an additional 4 years since this hits the reset button on it's usage. There are very few things I worry about. One of them is being cold. My system of using an oil filled electric space heater has come through to provide me with heat while I waited for my furnace to be repaired. I am thankful for this.