I started this blog to keep track of what’s going on in my life, and in the world, and I have not been keeping up lately. So I’m just going to write up a quick overview of my last couple of months, even if some of it is repeated from other more in depth posts.

A few weeks ago Felix spent 3 nights in the hospital. He wouldn’t swallow anything – no food, no drink, and after a couple of days he was incredibly dehydrated. Despite getting him checked out locally and finding no strep throat or anything, I ended up taking him to an ER in Des Moines. He was admitted because they started to suspect that perhaps he had something lodged in his esophagus that was causing him enough pain not to swallow. They kept him on IV fluids, and did a few tests and procedures to check him out thoroughly. The only thing found was a positive Rhino/Enterovirus test. Nothing more. After 3 nights of fluids and under observation he was eating and drinking again and was able to go home. It was a very stressful situation for us both, and I really hope that the next time he gets sick we don’t have to repeat the entire process. This was the first time he’d ever been hospitalized for anything, and I certainly don’t want it to be a regular thing for him.

As for me, it has now been nearly 3 months since my right hip replacement. It feels incredible the majority of the time. Every so often there’s a little ache, but nothing terrible. However, taking that intense pain away has made my other aches and pains a lot more prominent. My left hip is hurting significantly, but the osteoarthritis has not progressed far enough to qualify for another hip replacement. My lower back and neck also have arthritis, and all I can really do is take ibuprofen. I cannot express how much I hate having my body slowly deteriorate the way it is. I’m only 45. I should be able to be more active, and I should not experience so much pain all the time. But those were the cards I was dealt. All I can do is make the best of it, I suppose.

Since “giving up” on Facebook dating, and the whole dating scene, I still chat with 2 of the men I found through the experience. One of them I was able to meet this week. He took me out to eat, and then came back to my place to just hang out and chat. It was a friendly, innocent meeting. I enjoyed his company, and I’m glad to have had that experience. Though we haven’t discussed it since.

The other man is a state away from me. We chat every day, but we have no plans to meet right now. I’d like to, but he’s very hesitant, and I am respectful of his boundaries. He’s a native Spanish speaker and chatting with him continues to help me with my Spanish learning. Especially with some of the deep conversations we get into. I read/learn vocabulary I would never otherwise encounter.

Other than those updates, not much else is happening in my life right now.

This weekend is PRIDE weekend in Des Moines, and I’ll likely attend the parade. I’ll post photos when I have them.