Except for my cholesterol levels. Despite my modified diet they're just as high as they were nine months ago, so I've been put on medication to lower it. I haven't actually taken it yet as one drugstore said they didn't accept my health insurance, and a second drugstore said my plan didn't cover the particular version my doctor says is the best and that'll be $55 for a month's prescription please. So I'm not on it yet because I'll be damned if I pay money for something I don't want to take in the first place.

Still, I'm sure it'll be sorted out soon. I wish I could say the same for Dixie dog. Her blood pressure is back up even though we upped the dosage of her meds. She's even more reluctant to walk far these days, and she has a lot less energy compared to last year. I'm worried about her. We have to talk to Dr. Koga again about what to try next. I'm still strongly opposed to surgery. John is less sure. All we know is the tumor on her adrenal gland is now growing steadily if slowly, and she's not feeling as well as she was.

I hate this situation more than I can say.

But that's the only black cloud in my sky since I'm not too worried about the cholesterol at this point. I'm much more concerned about the need for new glasses. My prescription hasn't changed, but the times have moved on past these large round frames. I look like a Buggle. I need modern styling. Unfortunately, I can't find anything that doesn't scream "constipated German intellectual" or "retro loser." Ech. This is going to take a while.

To celebrate the summer, Sei came by last night and took me for a ride in her brand new car. It's a beautiful thing to be cruising down the highway at night, convertible top down and hair blowing in the breeze, shrieking like monkeys, and being completely comfortable thanks to individually heated seats. So decadent! So indulgent! We had sushi, talked until the owners turned off some of the lights to make us leave, and then cruised home under the stars on the most beautiful freeway in California, I-280, talking all the way. We are going to buy individual opera tickets, not a series after all, starting with The Ballad of Baby Doe. We are thinking of going to Ecuador in November to do our Christmas shopping at the Otavalo market, depending on when finals are as we'll both be at SFSU.

Afterwards, I walked the dog in my nice, safe neighborhood with all the interesting houses and thought about how lucky we were to have a house there. I settled her for the night, then fell asleep next to my husband with the two cats snuggled up against us. It was cool enough to use a light blanket. I heard a ship blowing its horn far out in the bay.

Did I say generally? Life is good in a lot of very specific ways. I love August.

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