New to the family

Well, we have some new additions to our household. Daisy, a Harlequin Great Dane is currently our Foster Dog. She's been with us about one week. She came into rescue with Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League in August. She is about 2 years old and was Heartworm Positive upon arrival in Rescue. She's received Heartworm Treatment and is waiting to fully recover from that before she is spayed. After that, she has a new home waiting for her. The boys, Cooper and Riis, have adjusted well to Daisy. She's very demanding of attention and can be a bit intrusive at times. Overall, she's a sweetheart and we'll miss her when she goes to her "forever home".

There is also a new orchid in the crowd. I think this makes 18. It is a Paphiopedilum Raisin Pie Hybrid. I actually found it in a gourmet shop. It was so unique that I had to add it to my collection. I have two other Paphs. as well. One that blooms in pink and green and one that hasn't flowered yet, so it will be a surprise. These are known as Slipper Orchids because of the pouch that forms the lip. They are related to the Lady's Slipper that grows in the wild in North America.

All in all, I'm doing pretty well. I did have bad cravings to get high yesterday, but I made it through without a slip. I'm feeling a little down, but that may be the shorter days more than anything. My doctor tells me that my Lithium, which helps to stabilize my moods, may be causing some kidney trouble. If so, I'll have to change meds. Lithium has worked really well for me and I hate the thought of trying something different, especially if it means go through more mood swings while we find something that is effective. Well. Daisy has come in to tell me that I've been on the computer long enough and it is time to give her some attention. Bye for now, Lisa

Hopelessly devoted

In addition to the Bipolar Disorder and my hopeless devotion to my dogs and my orchids, I am also in recovery and am learning to become hopelessly devoted to that aspect of my life as well. Now, I haven't had a drink in five plus years, but I just started a recovery program for both alcohol and drugs recently. Recovery seems to be a full time job. There are meetings to attend, literature to read, service work to do, prayers to be said and phone calls to make. Add all of this to keeping up with the various needs of my orchids and taking care of the dogs and I keep pretty busy. I also have to keep up with my relationship with my partner of 12 years; any good relationship takes some tending for healthy growth. Then there's the monkey wrench of mental illness. During a recent hospitalization, a doctor reduced my anti-depressant by 2/3. This increased my depression immeasurably and when I left the hospital, it took a week to get enough medicine back in my system so that I felt human again. Why that doctor felt the need to mess with something that was actually working for me, I'll never know. What I do know is that with the depression came paranoia and auditory hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. I'm glad that is over and if I can keep my stress down, I should be able to avoid another occurence for several months. This should give me the much needed time to tend to my recovery, my relationship, my dogs and my orchids.

State of the Orchids

I never have been one for tending to plants. Until recently, I have had only one houseplant for the past seven years and I can't remember any before that (of course, I can't remember the 1990's either). My Mom had a few orchids when I was a kid. Big, pea green plants with leathery leaves and shriveled bulbs (pseudobulbs, actually) that never had any flowers and never seemed to grow. So here I am with little (and that's being generous) experience with plants and a family history with orchids, which represents less than a green thumb, and I decide on Easter, 2007 to start growing orchids.

It started out simply. I bought a Harlequin Phalaenopsis (Phal. for short). It had fleshy, deep green leaves, a stem (known as a spike among Orchidists) and a cluster of white flowers at the top with abstract raspberry colored blotches on them. A psychedelic, floral ink blot test-what a great plant for the truly psychotic among us!

Well, it has been 4 mos. since that first purchase and I now have 16 orchids, 8 books about orchids, I belong to 2 online forums on Orchids, have made 2 trips out of town to the nearest orchid nursery, have 3 Excel spreadsheets and an Access Database to track my orchids' care and I've won a second place photography award online for one of my pictures of my orchids, of which I have many. Lisa

Meet the Dogs

dealing with the Psychosis since I got sick is a near daily occurrence despite the medication. I've had very good family support and a few understanding friends, both old and new and, of course, I have had my dogs. Until May 1, 2006, there was Autumn, a fawn, female Boxer, Cooper, a brindle, male Boxer and Riis, a male Boykin Spaniel. We had to put Autumn down due to spleen cancer in May, 2006. Since then, the 2 boys have been companions. At 10 and 11, they are old guys, but they still have plenty of personality in them. Cooper spends most of his days holding down the couch, while Riis wanders from one spot to the next looking for the most comfortable place to stretch out. Bring out the food and these boys jump into action. Their favorite junk foods are Cheetos and Marshmallows. For healthier snacks, they like yogurt, bananas and frozen broccoli florets. Cooper stands at attention while he begs; he's a former show dog and still remember how to strike a pose. Riis sidles up as close as possible and will put his nose in our food, if given half a chance. when it is meal time they become very animated. I don't have to look at the clock to know that it is getting close, Cooper will pick up a tennis ball and start prancing around the house to inform me of the approaching meal. Riis attaches himself to my heels and follows my every move.

It's not just food, sometimes it is joy or goofiness or the presence of a dog out front that motivates them. Riis loves to run around with a tennis ball in his mouth, "happy growling" and wagging his butt. Cooper loves to rest his chin on the front windowsill and gaze out at the world or go out on the back patio and Sunbathe until his coat gets hot, then he goes and rolls in the grass and snorts. More on the boys later; they are good for my heart and my mind.

Life starting over

When I was 38, Life started over. I had a breakdown, went into the Psychiatric hospital 6 times in 6 months, underwent 13 rounds of ECT (electro shock), took countless pills and was kept from voting for anyone but Bush in the 2000 election. I used to work as a Psychiatric Social Worker, ironic; now I spend my days with dogs and orchids and often hallucinations and delusions. I have little memory of the 1990's and parts of the 1980's due to the ECT. I can't even remember Graduate School, thanks Doc. They say I'm Bi Polar or I may be Schizoaffective. In either case, I take a lot of medicine and without it (or when I get really stressed), I get pretty crazy. Lisa