January 20th, 2012 by admin

To the dog rescue community at large, foster home providers, transporters, activists, and vets involved in rescue: keep up the good work. It makes a difference for both people and dogs.

 

Special shout out to the non-profit rescue organizations that have touched my life personally and through which I have found and befriended some of the most actively caring, nurturing and capable people I know.

In particular:

• Retrodoggy Rescue in Michigan – Yorkie, Maltese, and small breed rescue with expertise in dogs with liver disease and other special needs.

 

 

My Yorkie Halle is from RDR. This is an active and compassionately run rescue that is known for taking in dogs who need immediate medical care or have liver disease or other health issues. The donation asked for the healthy dogs they adopt out are higher than the special needs dogs in order to offset some of the costs for the latter.

 

• Operation Roger Truckers Pet Transport – An amazing rescue organization and mission that provides free transport to shelters, rescues, and individuals who need help reuniting with their dog or other pet. This is an unusual rescue in that all the members are either truckers who do the actual pet transport, or people who provide layover homes or short distance transport from a trucking plaza to a layover home.

 

 

After many failed attempts to retrieve my dog Willie from Colorado, I found ORTPT and they put Willie on the board for transport. Sue, the founder, is a retired trucker herself. Roger was her dog. You need to see her site to understand why it is a godsend.

 

 

• DLD (Dog Liver Disease) Yahoo Support Group –They have help hundreds of dog owners improve the quality of their dogs’ lives and manage the liver disease and symptoms to the point where many of dogs may live a full natural lifespan.

 

I was an active member when I was applying to adopt a dog with liver disease from Retrodoggy Rescue. That little Yorkie ended up with a lady who didn’t travel as much as me, but I got to adopt Halle, who is physically healthy but had behavioral problems from being a breeder kept in a kennel with little socialization with people, other dogs, or the world outside. This support group provides valuable information for your dog as well as community, support, and compassion for the people.

 

There are some outstanding humanitarian vets and others whom I would like to mention, but will need to dedicate another post to in the near future.

November 28th, 2010 by admin

I haven’t posted in quite a while, but I have responded to people who have found the blog looking for info on how to care for their dogs with liver shunts and liver disease. See the last recent comments and replies at the end of the post:
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A Tale of Two Liver Shunt (LS) Yorkies
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A series of related and difficult life events took me out for a while, and many times I wasn’t sure I would make it back. I can hardly believe I am writing now, so the frequency of my posting will likely be erratic.
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Aside from the Humans whom I owe my very existence to, Halle showed me just what a service dog can do for a person in need.
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She may not be as bright as other dogs and people have made fun of me by saying she’s so timid that it’s I who am her “service person”. In the end she never left my side.
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When I felt broken and couldn’t get out of bed, she wrapped her little body around my neck. When I wept, she crawled up on my head and and laid her cheek on my brow. When I woke from night terrors I felt the little spot of warmth next to me.
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I’ll never feel awkward or embarrassed again about having a service dog. She’s earned the title and I’ve learned how much of a difference having a steadfast companion can be.
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Sometimes I look her when she’s stretching and blinking at me and realize she is in fact a tiny and adorably furry little ewok or live-stuffed animal of some sort, not even seeming to be a “dog” in particular.
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I smile to myself because I worried how she would survive if I fell apart. In hindsight it was I who was gently comforted through thick and thin, and thinner; day after day after unending day until I could finally hug her again, feed her regularly, and trim her bangs.
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For a human to do such a thing for another would be saintly and at a conspicuous emotional cost. For a devoted and loving dog, it seemed like second nature – and that is like a thing of Grace.
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Here is a smile from me and Halle:
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December 15th, 2009 by admin

It was one of the best “first” days out of the season for me in years. Beautiful, fun, no lift lines and I actually got to ski with Ron as well as get a bunch of good shots of me with Winnie, the Race Department Boxer (mom: Sarah E.).

December 6th, 2009 by admin

This is the big daddy of the World Cup events at Beaver Creek Resort. It was sunny and clear, and I wasn’t alone for a second day in a row! I brought my local buddy Rhett with today. Hung out with the World Cup Banner Crew boys again, watched the races with Susan Johnson, and generally had a good time.

Here are the pix:

Team Swiss (above): Didier Defago

December 6th, 2009 by admin

In past years I’ve taken either Willie and/or Russell in a discreet dog bag. I may take Halle today, though it’ll be a long day and I’m not sure she’ll like it. We’ll see.

The first day of the World Cup events at Beaver Creek Resort was Friday, December 4, 2009. It consisted of the Men’s Alpine Super Combined events: one Downhill run, followed by a Slalom run. I had only been back in Colorado for a week and still hadn’t skied yet myself. I was feeling anti-social but went to the event and ended up having a good time.

The best part for me that day was to see old friends from the ski industry and see what an amazing job the Beaver Creek Race Department and other crews did this year. It looked great live and on TV. It was a world class World Cup.

Here are some photos I took on Day 1:

December 1st, 2009 by admin

I met with my doctor again about my mood disorders. Right before going to bed last night I took a new drug for which she wrote me a script. According to the literature, the effects are typically not experienced for at least a couple weeks, but after almost five years of emotional turmoil, I actually woke up singing at 5:30 am when Ron got up to prepare for work.

No kidding. I opened my eyes and started singing “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me” from the 42nd Street Broadway musical along with a smattering or other random songs and arias.

Then instead of speaking, I sang all my communications to Ron and suggested that we treat our lives as a musical for a day and sing everything.

He said: “No”.

I asked “What?”

He said succinctly that he didn’t like musicals to begin with and that it would be like a living hell for him.

I told him it would be funny for a day especially if we sang to everyone we met even while running errands.

He said people would think I’m strange.

I said, “Like that’s ever stopped me before” (all in song of course).

After he left, I recorded a couple versions of the first song of the day to document this day marking the distinct absence of darkness in my life for so many years.

WARNING: I am not Frank Sinatra, Doris Day or Ruby Keeler, and there is a schmaltz factor to this song, so listen at your own risk. I’m so happy right now about being functional like I used to be that am sharing this song at the risk of certain ridicule.

You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me

October 29th, 2009 by admin

I’m in Hawaii for my sister’s wedding, but those photos will be put up elsewhere and sadly didn’t include any four-legged family members.

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This is my favorite surfer dog in Hawaii. Her name is Malu, she’s going a little gray and doesn’t get out on the water as much, but she’s still a star.

If you want to see a video of her surfing in Waikiki with her surf-instructor owner Erik Lillmars, you can go to the DCX Surf School link at: wwwsurfingoahu.com. Or see the video embedded below. The video is pretty cool.
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Aloha from Hawaii!

P.S. – Little dogs are very popular here. So far I’ve seen Shihzus, Pugs, long and short-haired Dacshunds, Min Pins, and Chihuahuas. I am planning on going to the Dog Halloween Parade.

October 7th, 2009 by admin

Gus, or “Gussy” as I often call him, is still a young dog. He was hit by a car last year and had to have his leg amputated, but like most dogs, he has adapted, and now hops along on three legs. When I took him for walks, he would walk-hop with enthusiasm, his ears flopping up and down with each stride.

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He has learned to balance on one leg in the back of the truck, jump fences with only three legs, and generally doesn’t seem to make a fuss about his disability.

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My girlfriend Sarah went on trip with her two boys and husband and I brought Gus up to our place in the Vail Valley. Here are a couple pictures of Gus at my place.

He doesn’t bark and is a mellow and loving dog.

The photo below is pretty much the same one as above, but taken with flash.

Here’s a photo of Sarah finishing a grooming job on a cute dog that is part poodle and I can’t remember what else, but maybe Old English Sheepdog?

I love the cut she did. It’s adorable. Go Sarah!

September 8th, 2009 by admin

Coleman is the most amazing Pit Bull I have ever seen … EVER.

Sometimes when I look at him he doesn’t look like a real dog. His features are so pronounced, he looks more like a caricature of a Pit Bull than a real-life Pit.

Look at his huge head and his heavy-set muscled body. If you didn’t know how sweet he was, it wouldn’t be hard to be scared silly and lapse into a cold sweaty paralysis when you hear his low deep growl and bark while he steadily looks you in the eye.

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However, once you met him, you would soon discover that he lives to be hugged, kissed, petted, patted, rubbed, scratched, massaged, cuddled and lavished with attention. In the small-dog world, this type of dog is often referred to as a “cuddle-bug” or “love-bug.

He’s patient, warm, strong, solid, loving and very well behaved.

He can smile too.

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Ken, my new friend and house-mate, selected Coleman for his gentle and stable temperament. He let me know that looks without a good disposition is no small matter when it comes to Pit Bulls, which is why he searched for a long time before finding Coleman.

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When Ken tells people that Coleman is a calm, friendly Pit who likes cats, children and small dogs, I don’t think anyone believes him at first. I know I was skeptical as I casually glanced at the solid mass of dog with big  jaws.

Later, when Willie, my spazzy Min-Pin, was trying to provoke Coleman while my Morkie and Yorkie were projecting nervous energy during their first meeting with the Pit Bulls, Coleman hardly blinked. He just stood there until the little ones got the jitters out of their systems.

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Since I have known him, I have not once seen him agitated, aggressive or display inappropriate dominant behavior. He’s like the 500 lb gorilla: he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. He is quietly self-confident without being arrogant or insecure, which I find to be attractive not just in a dog, but in people as well.

The angle of this photo is a bit silly because it makes Coleman’s head look so much bigger than his body that it appears he may fall over.

The camera is playing tricks here too. The black Pit Bull’s name is “Baby”. She is substantially smaller than Coleman, but appears bigger in this photo because she is closer to the camera.

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I will put up a separate post on Baby because she deserves her own post. If you let her, she will jump onto your lap, spoon with you on the couch, or wiggle her way into full-body teddy-bear hug. She’ll even stand up so that you can hold her paws and dance with her.

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Suddenly my whole perception of a Pit Bull’s potential as a pet has been changed forever.

FYI – Due to his good looks and excellent temperament, Coleman is available as a stud for qualified bitches. Contact me and I can put you in touch with Ken.

August 30th, 2009 by admin

This is a new record for me. Two hikes in two weeks. People who live here often hike every possible day, but it’s taken me a while to overcome the following things:

1) No bathrooms on the trail
2) No instant way to stop and go home
3) Intermittent feelings of breathlessness, heart pounding, dizziness, and muscle failure

Am I the only person willing to admit that even on a beautiful hike I sometimes don’t want to keep going, I think I’m going to pass out or I wonder why I agreed to go?

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The amazing thing is that so far I have enjoyed hiking in Colorado and have not once regretted going when all was said and done.

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The Ptarmigan Lake hike is both easy and gorgeous. So far it is the most beautiful hike I’ve done in Colorado, though I am hardly a veteran hiker.

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For me, hiking in the Rockies or the Southwest can’t be beat because I like the dry air and distinct lack of mosquitoes. You just have to carry a lot more water. You will rarely be drenched in sweat or humid air, and if you do get wet, you dry out in minutes. Also, there is no mud to speak of.

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Here are the photos:

The trailhead is quite fancy compared to some of the others. It has a small paved parking lot and an outhouse, both of which are in excellent condition. It is also not hard to find. Buena Vista is a one-stoplight town as of today. When you at the cross-section of Highway 24 and Main Street (aka County Road 306 on the west side of Hwy 24), the trailhead is clearly marked by a brown and tan Forest Service sign 13.3 miles on the left side of the road.

The first section of the trail is mostly wooded. The Spruce pines are fragrant and the ascent is gradual for the most part.

Along the way, there are areas where you can see out over a valley.

Fellow hikers and dog-lovers stopped to chat with us or pet the dogs. Our small dogs  are always a curiosity because toy breeds are an anomaly on the trails. The typical Colorado hiking dog is a Lab, Retriever, Heeler, Border Collie or some mix thereof.

Although Willie is the skittish one, she is a sucker for attention, as you can see with this hiker we met on the trail.

Once you come out of the wooded part of the hike, the landscape opens up into meadows with small lakes and ponds.

Before I go on, I should say that Ptarmigan is pronounced with a silent “p”, so it sounds like “tarmigan”. This is one of those hikes that is considered a delight to photographers. It is known for its wildflowers and colorful ground foliage, as well as the stunning lake and mountain views.

The open meadows dotted with spruce, ground firs and low lying foliage smelled and looked amazing. The photos can only convey some visual sense of the experience.

In a few areas the trail led us through thickets of bright meadow bushes.

Just when we were starting to wonder where the lake was, we met a couple ladies coming down the trail who informed us the lake was just beyond the two knolls ahead of us.

Sure enough we went from the meadow scene to a full-on alpine lake. The water was clear and pristine. I was fully enjoying myself. Although I still stopped for breaks, I only whined once to Ron near the top when I was getting winded: “Do I like to hike?” He ignored me.

We decided to sit on the rocks by the lake. As soon as Ron pulled out the bag of beef jerky, Willie and Halle were waiting. Russell was off chasing alpine prey.

Willie rarely stands still or isn’t pulling on her lead so I quickly snapped this photo of her. We were above treeline, but not to the point where the ground was barren of plant matter.

Russell came back from one of her romps when I started to crack open the pistachios.

I got this picture by baiting them with the nuts.

We continued to walk around the lake. The dogs were in heaven.

It was a happy moment for us too.

A few more photos of the lake:

Finally we gathered our four-footed troop and headed down the mountain. Here a view of one of the little lakes on the way down.

Willie and Russell ran through this little brook both times.

I had to carry Halle over the water on the way up, but she too ran through it going down.

Even Halle couldn’t resist this view.

I took more notice of details as we descended, especially the flora.

Ron took this photo because I gave up trying to get the right angle. It was also Ron who alerted me to the tree below so that I would take note of its character.

I’ve mentioned our dogs chasing pikas before. I never knew what a pika was until I started hiking in Colorado, which is understandable since the rock-dwelling American pika (Ochotona princeps) is primarily found at high elevations throughout the western mountains of  North America.

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The one in the photo below looks like a big fat mouse to me, but in fact, they are not rodents at all. They are lagomorphs. The order “Lagomorpha” also includes rabbits, hares, and guinea pigs.

Within the Lagomorpha order, pikas comprise the family “Ochotonidae”, pronounced ′äk·ə′tän·ə′dē. The little guy above was about 7 inches long, had the defining egg-shaped body, prominent thin round ears, small high-set eyes, and no visible tail. Pikas are herbivores, so they only eat plants, mostly hay, I believe.

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We’ve seen and heard pikas while hiking in mountain meadows, rock fields, and talus.

Definition of “talus” from ucjeps.berkeley.edu/interchange/JM_glossary.html: “Relatively stable, sloping accumulation of large rock fragments, often at a cliff base. (see scree).”

Elsewhere in North America, the collared pika (Ochotona collaris) can be found in the mountains of Alaska and the Yukon. I wonder if the pika in the picture is actually a “collared” pika as it seems to have a distinct collar.

Reference: Much of the info on pikas in this post is from: www.answers.com/topic/ochotonidae-vertebrate-zoology

And then there were the raspberries. I somehow missed them on the way up. On the way down, Ron and I picked only a few ripe ones and ate them. They were perfect, exactly as one would imagine God’s fruit to be.

Though they were tiny compared to the raspberries from the grocery store, each little wild berry was divine.

I thought it would be fun to get a picture of Halle in a hollow tree stump, but she hated it and I got yelled at because Ron said Halle cut herself escaping. He told me where the blood was on the jagged wood from where she leapt before I could grab her. I couldn’t believe it, but there it was: a crimson smear on the wood edges and a distinct droplet just below. I went from silly to upset in a second.

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I was sullen in my guilt and agitation while Ron examined the blood and announced that it wasn’t blood after all. It was sap that had hardened into a maroon resin that looked exactly like blood. Phew.

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So we went merrily on our way: Ron with Willie, and I with the two terriers.

Since Halle ended up being fine in the tree stump incident, I decided it would be even more entertaining to put Willie in the next hollow stump.

This was the shot I was looking for. Willie was a better subject than Halle, though not much more willing. I was laughing, but Ron didn’t think it was funny even though he later agreed the photo was pretty good.

No more shenanigans, just a few more photos of moss, flowers and foliage.

We ended where we began, at the bridge just yards from the trailhead parking lot.

The dogs waited for me while I got a shot of the creek from the bridge.

Finally we arrived at the Suburban, which I often refer to as “the mobile dog-palace”.

Another hike ended with the two terriers fast asleep and Willie alert by the window.

Her motto is: “It’s not over until it’s over”. Isn’t that the truth.

August 28th, 2009 by admin

The Buena Vista area where we live has seventeen (17) peaks over 14,000. They are called “fourteeners”. People from all over Colorado, the US and even the world, come here to climb, hike, and boulder. Some people come with a list and tick off the fourteeners as they summit each one.

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The well-known peaks that can be seen from our property are the “Collegiate Peaks”, which should really be called the “Ivy League” peaks. They are: Mt. Princeton, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Yale and Mt. Columbia.

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But there is no Mt. Dartmouth!

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My sister went to Dartmouth, where I also spent a substantial amount of time, and I am here to attest that Dartmouth is the most sporty-outdoorsy-nature-loving-mountain-climbing Ivy League of them all. Others were left out, but Dartmouth? Probably happened because some Yalie or Harvard guy did the naming.

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Anyway, a couple years ago Ron, Russell (Morkie), Willie (Min Pin) and I summitted Mt. Yale. I pretty much thought I was going to die. At the end of the 7.5 hour hike everyone was tired except Willie, who was pulling on the leash and ready for more action. I just stared hard at her while my mind screamed: “Are you serious? What does it take to calm a Min Pin down!?”

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This time I asked to do a shorter, easier hike, but I don’t think people in Colorado process the “shorter” or “easier” part when it comes to outdoor activity.

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Mount Huron is a more beautiful hike and more shaded (i.e., comfortable) until you reach the treeline, but easier and shorter? The only reason it was easier and shorter was because I refused to spend two additional hours hiking up the giant scree field to the summit, where I probably would have laid down until they took me out on a stretcher.

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Look, I’ve been laptop-jockeying for the last two years with no real physical preparation before hiking Mt. Huron. I asked Ron why we never work up to the big hike with progressively more challenging smaller ones. He said: “I don’t know”.

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Enough blather. Here are the photos from the hike:

The Suburban is a fine 4WD vehicle, but it’s mine and I decided that I would rather walk the extra 2.2 miles to the trailhead instead of subjecting my car to the rocky “road” that is really better suited to ATV’s, jacked-up trucks, dirt bikes, or people who don’t mind having to replace undercarriage parts of their vehicles.

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So even though I didn’t really want to add a total of 4.4 more miles to our hike, it was the better choice.

Dogs are supposed to be on leash in the “Wilderness” as the signs state. The photo above shows us getting ready to hike after parking the car at the beginning of the four-wheel drive road leading to the trailhead.

The dogs were so excited and raring to go. Willie is saying: “Mom! C’mon, what are you waiting for!” And Halle is saying: “Yeah, Mom.”

Willie is such a funny dog. Unlike other dogs I’ve hiked with who turn their attentions to their immediate surroundings, Willie would stop all along the trail to take in scenic views in the distance. Actually, my parents’ Min Pin Bumper is like that too. We took her on the architectural boat ride in Chicago and she literally looked up to view the buildings just like the people. Min Pins are both visual and cerebral. I personally consider them to be “sight hounds”.

Look at the chompers on Russell! This photo was the result of me having taken a dozen photos of her trying to get a good shot because she refused to look into the camera. I think she’s trying to tell me I need to stop so we can resume hiking.

Here’s another photo of  Willie stopping on the trail and turning to take in the view. Meanwhile the terriers romped along the trail looking at stuff within pouncing distance.

Only Halle and I had to stop to catch our breath. I took this photo of Halle during a break we took, but she wouldn’t move, so I had to pick her up and set her on her feet.

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Ron and the other two were like hiking  MACHINES. Ron and Willie would stop to take in the view or drink some water. Russell didn’t stop per se, but would go off the trail to tree a squirrel or chipmunk. It’s pretty funny to see Russell run to he base of a tree and bark up at it like a real hunting dog. We heard a lot of screaming marmots, pikas, chipmunks and squirrels as Russell was in hot pursuit.

I didn’t count the switchbacks because there were so many and I was trying to take my mind off of imminent muscle failure. This would not be considered a difficult hike by the hiking crowd but I kept wondering why I would allow myself to go from virtually no exercise to an 8.4 mile hike up a fourteener. Everyone kept saying this was an easy one and I believed them.

Willie jumped up on this log to get a better view.

Thank goodnes for official “water breaks”, because those don’t count as “wait for Ming to catch her breath” breaks. I made sure we drank a lot of water, because, you know, it’s dehydrating to hike, especially in dry climates like Colorado.

Mount Huron is a much prettier hike than Mt. Yale, but Mt. Yale is one of the popular “Collegiate Peaks” and a household name in these parts. I actually fully enjoyed hiking Mt. Huron and plan to summit it when I am better prepared.

“Hey look Mom, we’re above the treeline! The air is so crisp and clean up here and there are lots of pikas to chase.”

There is no way to tell from this photo the scale of the peak. It’s actually another 1.75 hours up a giant field of scree with no shade. And it’s steep, very steep. We are well above treeline here so from here on up it’s mostly rock and gravel.

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Of course three seniors stopped during their decent from the summit. The kind lady with pure white hair assured me that it was steep and she had to stop a couple of times. A couple of times! Hahahaha. This is what makes me smile in Colorado. I’m probably less than half her age and was laughing inside because she had no idea how many times I already stopped. Plus I had no intention of summiting that day.

I turned to Ron and said: “No – not this time, unless you and the dogs want to carry me down.”

Russell and Halle ran after some pikas. Willie was on high alert, but was tethered, so she could only look on while the terriers gave chase.

If you look closely, you can make out the squirrel that Russell ran up this tree. She treed several small animals both on the way up and the way down. She would chase the chipmunk or squirrel up a tree, then stand at the bottom of the tree and bark until we acknowledged her accomplishment.

Wille and Russell ran across this log foot bridge without a problem. It’s hard to see, but there is a little brook here. Going up, Halle, the Yorkie, could not be convinced to walk across the log even though we were all on the other side calling to her. I finally had to go back across to retrieve her. However, right after I took this photo she surprised us by running across on the log by herself.

We’re off the “wilderness” trail and back on the 2.2 mile 4-wheel drive road that leads to the parking area where we left our car.

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At this point, Halle was on a split lead with Willie, which was a tough proposition for Halle because Willie was practically dragging her along.

This photo shows Halle deciding she is not going one more step hooked up to Willie. I thought she didn’t want to walk anymore because she was too tired, so I put her in a front-pack.

Halle is in the front pack now.

Putting Russell with Willie was a better match. Russell thinks she’s a Min-Pin because she was only 6-weeks old when we brought her home, and she was convinced that Willie was her mother. Willie wasn’t happy about the new puppy, but Russell never gave up on clinging desperately to Willie. Now they are pretty tight.

Of the three dogs, Halle was the most wiped out. She did not move from this position until we got home.

Even Willie took a nap in the car. I didn’t get a good photo of Russell snoozing, but she had her one eye closed too.

On the drive down we drove past Clear Creek Reservoir.

Willie rarely misses a picturesque view, so she was up and taking in the sights. The two little terriers remained sacked out.

Willie stayed at the window until we pulled into our property. This photo was taken less than a mile from our place.

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All the dogs ate and went to sleep without much fuss that night.

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Ron and I were sore for a couple days afterward, but it was an enjoyable and beautiful hike. I would even be willing to do it again and climb the scree field to the summit next time.

August 25th, 2009 by admin

Here’s the “after” photo of Cec when he returned home a week after his triple-bypass surgery. He remarkably looks not that different to how he looked “before”. The hospital actually released him four days after the procedure, stating he didn’t need to be in the hospital anymore.

August 16th, 2009 by admin

She is a precious 8-month old, 5-pound Yorkie who currently lives with two lovely little girls.

Her family is traveling too much to give her the life they wish for her.

If you would like more details and are interested in Gucci, please contact me ASAP.

They are looking for immediate placement most importantly a loving and attentive home.

Asking $600 (paid $1200; she is spayed, has all shots and has PetSmart insurance; all medical and purchase documents available).

Gucci is in Parkland, Florida (Broward County), in the Tampa Bay area.

August 9th, 2009 by admin

Here are photos of Halle and my friend Cec in the car before the drive to the hospital in Colorado Springs. I was nervous because my dad had quad bypass surgery in 2000 and it was a traumatic experience for our family.

When I showed up to pick Cec up for the drive, he presented me with a box of chocolates and to my delight and surprise, they were frogs! Delicious caramel and pecan-filled frogs.

I emailed some of Cec’s friends yesterday and was relieved to read their description of him as “doing [..] cantankerously well” just two days after the surgery.

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Today his voice was strong and full of life. The hospital wants to release him tomorrow, which I personally feel is much too soon.

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During Cec’s absence, I have access to his piano, and after two decades of not playing the, I went to his house the other day and made it halfway though a Bach invention and a Chopin Waltz. Halle was curled up by my feet next to the bench.

August 6th, 2009 by admin

My girlfriend is having her first baby in about a week. I just drove another friend down to the city for his quad bypass two days ago. Halle and I completed another cross country trip to get back to Colorado two weeks ago. My little nephew Bo had a mishap with his feeding tube several days ago that was scary because those kinds of mishaps can be fatal, but the hospital rectified the situation where the tube was accidentally disconnected and he is back to his terrible-two’s like any normal terrorizing toddler.

I arrived home to find Willie and Russell partially emaciated. After a vet visit, ruling out worms and disease, then giving them daily fish oil, vitamin E, Vetri DMG, Hepato Support capsules and putting a couple drops of GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) in their water as well as feeding them more food, they are back to normal after two weeks.

I probably went a little overboard, but everything I gave them supports general well being and detoxification for good health.

LIFE has been demanding in other ways that preclude me from posting regularly, but I will still check in here and there.

Photos to come later.

July 9th, 2009 by admin

Sheree and I drove from Ann Arbor to Olga’s house in Bloomfield Hills yesterday for a get together that had been in the works for months. Halle went with us too and immediately curled up in Gabby’s fabulous dog car seat for the ride. After we arrived at Olga’s place, Collette arrived.
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The highlight of the visit was seeing the little two pound Yorkie, Lucy, who was previously lame and awaiting surgery, walk, run, roll over and sit on her own. She was only able to sustain this activity for seconds and move no more than a couple feet, but for a dog who had no use of her legs when she was first rescued by Olga, this is just short of a miracle.
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You can see read about Lucy’s story, see a video and other photos of Lucy under “Adoptable Pets” on the Retrodoggy Rescue site:  http://www.retrodoggyrescue.com/
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Or go directly to the page for Lucy here: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13780214
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You can’t tell from the photos, but this tiny Yorkie is feisty and full of life. While I was there I saw her take every opportunity to move and be active.
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Olga showed us the compression massage she does on Lucy’s legs. She has also been taking Lucy for acupuncture. Under Olga’s care, this puppy went from seeming like a lost cause to a bundle of energy who is clearly exerting her will to live.

I fell in love with all her dogs. The personalities are all very pronounced. Chico, shown here with Olga is like a little person or a big baby. He loves  human attention, especially Olga’s.
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Even though Olga admonished me not to pet him for fear that he might bite, he jumped up on my lap when I first sat down. Later I did pet him after he continued to nuzzle me. Colette petted him too. She shrugged off the biting thing saying that it wouldn’t be the first time she was bitten ;-)
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Here are a couple more photos of Chico snuggling with Colette:

Louie, Olga’s other Bichon was my personal buddy. He’s soft, cuddly and sweet as can be.

Clara, like most of Olga’s dogs was a rescue with multiple health issues that no one else wanted. She has been nursed to health and is enjoying her senior years much loved and part of the family. Look at her beautiful eyes.

This photo of Clara is blurry, but it’s too cute to leave out.
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Finally (below) is a photo of Chico and Halle. Halle is on Colette’s lap.

I didn’t get a photo of Scooby, the Coton de Tulear that will be going to his forever home soon, but he is a rambunctious and beautiful puppy.
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I don’t get out often so the excursion was a treat for me and it was nice to be among friends and dogs.

June 27th, 2009 by admin

With Halle by my side I undertook my first real physical project since I’ve been well. I made these fitted pillowcases for my mom’s shaped Tempurpedic memory foam pillow.

It would have been an impossible task just a couple weeks ago. I haven’t started exercising yet, but hopefully I can start soon with something easy.

I got a Tai-Chi video from the library and a Hip Hop dance move DVD too.

I’m humbled (again) by the fact that my greatest achievement in the last two months is being able to make these pillowcases.

The photos below are of the same essential pattern I made, but with the Teddy Bear material.

June 22nd, 2009 by admin

I was sick from May 16 – June 16. I, my family and my doctor all feared I might have something chronic. I was finally agreeing to get a battery of tests done when I woke up on June 17 and felt markedly better for the first time.
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I feel like I am now 100% and even weathered an afternoon of manual labor and some late night work.
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I can’t tell you how great it is to be able to get out of bed and not have to depend on others to do everything for you.
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After four months of cadiology rehab, my dad is feeling 100% and his last set of tests confirms he has made a full recovery, so Father’s day was particularly celebratory this year.
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Enough babbling. Here are the Father’s Day photos:
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June 6th, 2009 by admin

I got the dreaded call tonight. When I answered the phone, a young female voice said, “Hi, do you have a dog named Willie?” She was calling from a campground in Colorado near our property.

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I’m currently in Michigan but all our dogs’ tags are printed with a toll-free number that forwards to my cell phone. It was after midnight in Michigan when I got the call.

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“Do you have her in your possession?” I asked.

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“Yes. She’s on my lap.”

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I called Ron. He was asleep and unaware that Willie was missing. Russell our Morkie was curled up in bed with him.

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He immediately got in his car and retrieved Willie, but I felt angry that he had fallen asleep without making sure Willie was secure. She has run away on my watch too, and I’m not mad at Ron anymore. I just felt so helpless being in Michigan fielding the call from Colorado.

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Here is a photo of my 8.5 pound escape-artist runaway:

She loves to run like the wind, but is usually on leash or hooked up to her 100-foot runner, because if you know anything about Min Pins, letting them off leash is like letting a sight hound off leash in a field of rabbits.

Now that Willie is safely back at home, I can go to sleep.

June 6th, 2009 by admin

Due to the sudden onset of chronic fatigue along with the sore throat, head and body aches, it’s probably the flu. I just never thought a flu would last two weeks with bedrest.

A friend at Princeton told me last night that it seemed like a third of the university was out with a similar lingering flu lasting three to four weeks.

It took everything in me to get out of bed and take my immune support supplements.

The dogs are fine and keeping me company.

June 5th, 2009 by admin

Here’s Halle at the hotel in Denver right before our road trip to Ann Arbor:

After I drove back to Michigan from Denver with my sister, I thought I was just sleeping to recover from the long drive, but that was twelve days ago. I have since continuously experienced the following symptoms:

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-Extreme fatigue. My head feels like a ton of bricks. Having been an insomniac my whole life, it’s very strange and kind of awesome to not have to take sleeping aids and be able to fall asleep in seconds, but now I can’t stay awake and fall asleep at all times of the day and night.

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-I have a low grade sore throat and low grade headache all the time

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-I have mild but constant body aches

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-I feel like I have a very low grade cold or flu, the way I would feel right the full-blown version kicked in.</ul>

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I can’t believe how debilitating this chronic fatigue is. It is not the same as regular tiredness. I’m unable to focus or concentrate on cerebral or mental tasks. I do better with mechanical and physical tasks but get exhausted easily and quickly.

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I started taking supplements yesterday to boost my immune system. And today I started taking another supplement to cleanse my system of toxins.

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I had some energy for the first time today, but crashed at the end of the day.

The vitamins and supplements must have helped because it’s the first time I’ve had enough stamina to even put a post up.

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My dad bought me a book on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome today and I scheduled an appointment with a care provider later this month.

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Halle keeps trying to wake me up. She has even left her fluffy down dog bed to cuddle right up to me when I am sleeping.  It’s nice to have her company and presence.

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If dogs sleep on average about 16 hours a day, perhaps I’m becoming a dog.

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Even though I feel like a zombie, the extra sleep seems to make me look younger and younger. That’s the only silver lining I can find so far, though I have to say that the absence of the migraines with nausea (that was plaguing me in May) is incredibly fabulous.

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I’m procrastinating on getting the prescribed blood tests done because of my phobia of needles.

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Speaking of phobias, today I walked in lumpy unmowed grass full of mushy-looking geese-turds. I felt anxious and naseous because of the textures and poo, but kept telling myself everything would be fine as I tiptoed through the minefield. It was unpleasant, but more productive than building up the terror and running away screaming.

May 26th, 2009 by admin

May has been a tough month full of family, financial, moving and health obligations and issues. It definitely could have been worse. I’d fill you in, but to do that I would have to relive it all, so I am opting to move forward.

Now I strangely feel I have little to say. Unfortunately the obligations that May brought won’t actually be over until the very end of May, so I may not post again until June.

North Dakota struck oil, so it is probably the only state with a surplus and not a deficit. I’m only mentioning it because I was half-tempted to drive up there and start a new life when May’s events and pressures threw me for a major loop.

I finally caught up on sleep, so I feel much better now.

My dad’s recovery from the heart attack in February is now officially complete! Yay! I am grateful to everyone who emailed me about his health. It made a difference.

May 8th, 2009 by admin

Date day was Wednesday. I’m finally loading the photos from the hike.

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Per my request, we went on an “easy” hike. Ron and I and our three dogs walked up the game trail that goes through the foothills at the back of our property. Mostly Big Horn sheep and deer created that trail but bear, bob cats, mountain lions, horses and people use it too.

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The hunters that come in the fall always tell me not to hike up the trail without a firearm. And one day my friend’s mom came by the property and the first thing she said was, “there are mountain lions here”. I usually just nod and smile.

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Then last year, after the bear broke into our RV and the mountain lions mauled a number of deer on our neighbor’s property, I finally asked Ron to teach me how to use a gun this summer, but I won’t have time to train until the end of July or August.

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Ron brought a firearm on the hike on Wednesday. I saw fresh bear poo as well as mountain lion scat, but didn’t see much wildlife besides birds. Maybe having three dogs helped.

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Russell and Halle, the two little terriers were great off leash: Russell lead the way and Halle followed just behind us. Ron had Willie on a leash, but she’s the best rock climber and jumper of all. Y’know, she’s a Min Pin!

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I didn’t get any photos of Russell because she was running around scouting, but here are three photos from one of our last breaks on the top of a rock outcropping above our property:

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May 2nd, 2009 by admin

The weather was supposed to be good, but it started to rain as I put the last load in the car. It was so packed I couldn’t see out the sides or the back. Finally I began the two and a half hour trip to our summer home. As I neared the curvy and steep mountain passes it started to snow. Soon afterward I felt so sleepy I had to slap myself a couple times (hard) before I found a safe place to pull over.

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I was so tired I barely remember turning the engine off. I woke up about an hour and a half later with a migraine, nausea and intense light-sensitivity, but I was no longer sleepy.

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When I drove through the old mining town of Leadville, one of my windshield wipers snapped off. “Of course this would happen,” I thought to myself. I stopped and snapped it back on.

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Half an hour later, still in pain and squinting, I managed to drive right past the county road I live on. Upon finally arriving at our property, I stumbled out of the car and straight into bed where I debated (again) what was worse, the stabbing pain in my head or the nausea that always seems to define the word “misery” when you re-experience it.

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Ron brought me migraine medicine, unsalted saltines and ginger ale, all of which seemed to me like divine medicine. Nothing could be better than those three things, a quiet dark place to recline, and especially Ron’s care.

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Later, when I was able to have coherent thoughts, I thought about people who experience chronic pain daily and felt gratitude for my relatively pain-free life as well as for the opportunity to not be ignorant about physical pain.

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Thank goodness for my little dogs too. I never felt alone or scared because of them. When I was lying in bed feeling miserable, Halle the Yorkie slept on my head, with legs draped over every side of my head. I felt like someone cracked a warm furry egg on my head. Russell the Morkie licked my face lightly and Willie was nearby too, except I seem to remember her leaping over me like a little deer practicing for an agility competition.

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She’s a Min Pin. Need I say more?

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Oh yes, there’s my worry-wart sister. Even if I didn’t have the dogs, if I took any longer to make that drive, she may have called the local fire department to do a manhunt (person-hunt?) for me. I’m not even kidding, but that’s another story.

May 1st, 2009 by admin

I’ve always been adept at cleaning, packing and moving, so much so that I often help my family with their moves. However, this particular move has been enormously time-consuming and torturous. I almost hated it except that now that I’m done, I feel very satisfied with my work.

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The best part was painting the red tail hawk on the living room wall. The rest of the wall and trim painting was strenuous at best and makes for pretty boring pictures.

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I’ll just show the sketch of the hawk with Ron in the background. Yes, he is wearing something like five hats stacked on top of each other.

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Here’s the completed red tail hawk. It’s a gift from me to the hardworking international raft guides who will be living in the apartment this summer.

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I haven’t painted in years. It felt good to paint the hawk. There are tons of red tail hawks in Colorado. I can spot them easily now. Ron loves them. The downhill (alpine) ski racing course he works on is called “The Birds of Prey Downhill”.

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Six years ago I didn’t even know what a Red Tail Hawk looked like. Now they are a meaningful animal for me.

April 27th, 2009 by admin

Every little thing is taking twice as long. Equipment isn’t working or isn’t where it’s supposed to be.

No major snags, but lots of little ones. It’s all too tedious to write about.

I will officially be done by this Friday, though unpacking and organizing on the other end will take some time as well.

April 25th, 2009 by admin

We just returned tonight from taking another truck load down to our summer place. I didn’t realize I was sore until I got out of the car and was suddenly aware of every muscle in my body. I wondered aloud why I was so sore. Ron said something about “manual labor”.

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It actually feels good to exert myself physically after a long period of laptop jockeying.

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Today I was the foundation of a trifecta dog-pile:

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1) Russell was on my lap

2) Halle had her head on Russell

3) Willie had her head on Halle

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It was the first time all three of them piled up on one another like that. I was happy that everyone was getting along so well.

April 23rd, 2009 by admin

I can hold Halle the Yorkie with my left hand and clip all her nails with my right hand, which I did today.

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Russell the Morkie was the wiggliest one, but the worst thing she ever does is try to escape. Ron held her while I snipped all her nails with just a little effort.

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Willie the chocolate Min Pin is the only one who has be tied with a ribbon. She hates the dog muzzle we bought her. I think I threw it away after she had a total melt down when I put it on her. She shook,  furrowed her brows and widened her eyes to the size of saucers in a look of worry, fear and bewilderment. She actually managed to tear the muzzle off with her paws the midst of a frenzied panic attack. Poor Will. I know now that she tolerates the ribbon.

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Ron held her today while I gave her a treat. I told her she was a good girl and petted her. Then I gently wrapped the ribbon on her muzzle and tied a bow at the back of her neck.

I hastened to cut quickly and carefully because she gets more anxious over time. Success!

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Afterward I brushed all three dogs’ teeth. The easiest way for me to get sustained brushing done is to use the gloves with tiny bristles built into the index finger and thumb. I use a vanilla-mint dog toothpaste because it smells sweet and fresh. I slowly pull up one lip at a time with my left hand, stick my finger (or thumb) into the mouth and move it back and forth with a slight circular motion.

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It’s always satisfying to see the difference it makes to brush their teeth. They always look cleaner and whiter. It really works!
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IMPORTANT: if you have a liver compromised dog, do not use toothpaste or anything with protein or anything that will put a load on your dog’s liver. A dog liver support group like the DLD (Dog Liver Disease) Yahoo support group is a good place to find out what can be used in lieu of “toothpaste”.

April 22nd, 2009 by admin

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All humans and dogs are tired from all the packing and moving that had to be done. We moved a truck and trailer load of stuff from our current place to our summer location.

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Of course the person who did the most heavy lifting and moving was the person with the broken ribs (Ron).

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The dogs didn’t really help much but they had a great time since they got to go for a ride through the mountains and then run around the property. Willie was outside too, but had to be leashed.

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We almost got hit by a lady who was driving in the opposite direction while taking photos of the snowcapped Rocky Mountains. I probably should have taken some photos of the gorgeous scenery too, but was immersed in “dog photo opportunities”:

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I went to see my doctor today because of the chronic headaches and nausea I’ve been experiencing since I returned to Colorado. My sister convinced me that I should check my apartment for toxins like carbon monoxide, gas leaks, etc. I let everything slide for the last couple weeks, but today I called the fire department to ask how I could check the apartment without having to install permanent sensors since we are renting.

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The fireman I spoke with wouldn’t let me off the phone until they convinced me to allow them to come test the unit themselves. He assured me:

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1) They would not be invasive.

2) They would only take five minutes to do the tests.

3) They had to drive by my place to go get dinner anyway (What?!).

4) Even though they would be required to bring the fire truck, they wouldn’t sound the sirens or flash the lights.

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Finally, I acquiesced and they arrived fifteen minutes later.

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Ron held Russell and met them outside. I had Halle in one arm and Willie in the other.

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The tests did not turn anything up, but the firemen told me their tests were not meant to be sensitive and were more for determining if there was a situation that required evacuation or immediate medical attention.

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At least we’ll be out of this place in a week’s time and that there is no emergency due to:

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1) Inadequate oxygen

2) Carbon monoxide

3) A gas leak

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They also let me know that there may be other causes from mold, chemicals, etc., and that I should call 911 if I have another bad episode of debilitating migraines, nausea and body aches.

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Thanks for visiting my dog blog!

April 20th, 2009 by admin

Tomorrow we’re taking another truck and trailer load of stuff from our winter home to our summer home.

Since Ron’s truck blew up, he spent half a day finding parts all over the valley to put together a proper hitch and tail light integration for my vehicle so that we can use my car to pull the trailer.

Ron finally agreed to go to the hospital to be seen for a couple broken ribs and check to make sure there was no damage to his lungs. He sustained the injury on the trip, but true to his machismo, didn’t tell me about it until after he had rowed our boat through all the whitewater rapids, de-rigged the boat, loaded up the trailer, and moved all manner of heavy things on at least three separate occasions.

The doc gave him a script for pain meds and said there were no complications.

All three dogs were particularly cuddly today. Maybe they felt a sense of accomplishment in working together as a group to trick me into feeding them dinner again after Ron already fed them.

April 18th, 2009 by admin

Willie, you are a good dog. I get stressed every time I leave you alone because I know you suffer from separation anxiety.

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Thank you for watching over me today like you always do when I don’t feel well. Ron made sure I had fluids, was comfortable and had a cold towel on my forehead when I was incapacitated by a migraine with extreme nausea today, but only Willie could stay with me the whole time.

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She seems to always know when I’m unwell and stays with me until I recover.

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That’s why I write and sing all those silly songs about you, Willie!

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As you can see, Russell is in the foreground.

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She is funny because she usually wants to be wherever Willie is. The breeder said if I didn’t buy Russell she would just sell her to someone else at six weeks old. I felt awful that Russell had to leave her mother prematurely, but she ending up thinking Willie was her mother.

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At first Willie was a reluctant mom to Russell, and found her to be supremely annoying, but Russell never gave up on Willie. Now the two of them are deeply bonded and enjoy each others’ company daily.

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There’s something comical and sweet about a furry messy little terrier who thinks she is a sleek, long legged Miniature Pinscher. She does her best to mimick Willie, but her legs will never be as long or springy, and as much as she believes she is Willie’s child, her good-natured, friendly and accepting attitude give her away.

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Willie is a Min Pin through and through, so she is high energy, always on high alert with her eyes, ears and nose, can jump straight up into the air from a stand still and gets antsy if she is not intellectually challenged. Min Pins are definitely type A in the dog world. Terriers can be feisty, but they can also be model cuddle-bugs.

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Willie is AKC registered from a champion lineage, including “Sir Bounce-a-lot” and “Sparticus Lightfoot”, which is probably why she prances and trots like a little show dog. But there’s nothing she loves more than to run like the wind. She sprints with the intensity and single-mindedness of a sight hound. Unfortunately she can’t be off leash for that exact reason.

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Min Pins are cool little dogs, but not for the weak of heart. If you can happily manage Jack Russells and Border Collies, you should be ok with a Min Pin, otherwise you may think your dog has been put on this earth to personally try your patience. Trouble starts the moment you stop being the boss of him or her.

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We bought Willie from her first owner when she was a year old. She couldn’t be a show dog because of a seam of white fur on her chest and a botched tail job. We still think she’s beautiful.

April 18th, 2009 by admin

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We got back from the annual Westwater Rafting trip last night. This year was unusual for a number of reasons:

1) Ron’s trusty 1988 F350 decided to breakdown just minutes after leaving. Here’s the loaded truck and trailer before the engine died:

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AAA took the truck to our mechanic’s garage after Jodi came back to our place, picked up her truck and transferred the trailer people and gear to her truck.

2) It was snowing and windy on a trip that normally is warm enough to wear a bikini top on during the day, but the sporty people I was with said: “the worse the weather the better the stories”.

3) I had migraines for half the trip. Thankfully I only went for the last two days and I had medication with me, and when I was pain free, I was able to enjoy the scenery and company.

4) We didn’t have enough vehicles to comfortably run shuttle. Some vehicles are left at the “put-in” (where you get into the boats at the beginning of the trip). Other vehicles need to be driven to the “take-out” and left there so that there’s a way to transport everyone back at the end of the trip. Then the people “running shuttle” drive back to the put-in.

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If there aren’t enough vehicles at the take-out, people and cargo have to ride like sardines until they reach the rest of the vehicles at the put-in.

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The crew didn’t complain about the cold, the snow, the freezing rain, or even flipping over into cold whitewater rapids, but there was definitely griping about having to squeeze into vehicles for the ride back.

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Ground zero for this trip is usually our place. It’s my husband’s departmental trip at the end of the ski season. He plans and functions as the trip leader. As an experienced raft guide and trip lead he’s a great person for the job.

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When I first met him I was impressed by how many people told me they would completely trust their personal safety to him. He has a highly developed sense of responsibility and concern for others’ safefy as well as as the competence to back it up. It’s one of my favorite things about him.

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We had a total of sixteen people, four dogs, four oar boats, one paddle boat, eight vehicles and one trailer this year. There have been as many as 21 people on this particular trip. The duration of the trip is five days and four nights. I joined them for the last two days.

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I apologize in advance for not taking any photos of the rapids. I wasn’t feeling well enough to be a good photographer except for the times on land or during calm stretches of “flat” water.

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My photographic goal was to document the small dogs on this trip. Russell is our seven pound Yorki-Maltese (Morkie) and Halle is our five pound Yorkie. There were two other dogs on the trip: a sweet and submissive lab-mix named Josie, and a dominant aggressive Rotty-mix named Libby, who probably should have been named Cujo or Killer so that people could manage their expectations. I mean that in the best way.

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I actually like Libby, she just scares the living daylights out of other dogs, both big and small, and her growl inspires images of a punctured jugular.

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Here’s Libby enjoying the trip with her significant others: Scottie and Melissa:

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All the photos in this post are from the last two days of the trip.

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Russell and Halle are both wearing Neoprene as a base layer to keep their core warm in the even they fell into the water. Their second layer consists of a hooded waterproof breathable rain coat. The third layer is their PFD (personal flotation device). Usually bigger dogs or double or triple-coated dogs only need a life vest. Our little ones are just more susceptible to cold.

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I thought dressing the dogs in three layers was a bit much, but after the trip I realize how it was both practical and functional. The dogs didn’t once appear uncomfortable or try to remove their clothing.

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Sadly, I have no photos of what happened during the most exciting part of the trip: the whitewater section and the paddle boat flip in the biggest and muchiest rapid called “Skull”, which also features “The Room of Doom”.

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Running Skull successfully is fun even though you typically get wet.

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Unfortunately the paddle boat with five people in it took a line that threw the boat into a vertical position and then flipped it over. Everyone went into the water.

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Of course every person in that boat was fit and accustomed to outdoor “situations”, so it didn’t take long for someone in that group (Rob) to flip the boat back over and for everyone to climb back into the boat.

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Three boats including ours went before the paddle boat and pulled over under the rapid to prepare for a rescue if needed. Ron was on a rock with his throw bag. As soon as they flipped, Ron threw the bag to people in the water, but we weren’t close enough.

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The paddle boaters were cold and wet, but unharmed and the only material loss was Alex’s hat which we saw sinking as we passed it.

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We made a stop for a quick lunch where most people changed into dryer clothing and then cruised the rest of the flat water to the take-out.

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It takes a little time to get everything off the boats, rigged on the trailer or stowed in various cars and trucks and organize the shuttle back. Everyone was pretty tired and hungry. Last year we didn’t get home until midnight because we stopped for a sit-down Mexican meal. This year we just grabbed $5.00 footlong specials at a gas station Subway and got home by 9:30 pm.

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I asked Ron if dogs are allowed on commercial trips. He said typically they are not allowed. Plenty of dogs go on private trips where people secure their own permits row or paddle their own boats, and take their own gear.

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Some rivers allow dogs, others do not depending on the national parks policies. All dogs are supposed to be on leash at the park locations, but may be off leash at the campsites along the river.

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The ski season is officially over for us and the whitewater season is beginning. Ron works as a whitewater photographer on the Arkansas River in South Central Colorado. We move next week.

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Today I was laid up with another massive migraine/nausea attack. Ron, Jodi and Alex spent the afternoon cleaning and unloading gear from the trailer.

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Now that I am pain free for the moment, I am surrounded by four snoozing bodies: Ron, Russell, Halle, and Willie.

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Willie is the Min-Pin who had to stay home because she can’t ever be off-leash and has a low tolerance for cold weather. She didn’t seem as upset as she usually gets when we “abandon” her. I think the terriers told her she wouldn’t have liked being wet or cold. My buddies fed her while I was gone. (Thanks Rhett! Thanks Paul!) I left the TV, night lights and heating on for her, as well as full access to the down comforter she loves to crawl under at night.

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You’re ok Willie!

April 15th, 2009 by admin

Russell, Halle and I are getting picked up early tomorrow morning to go on the last two days of the raft trip. The two little terriers have no idea they will be running whitewater rapids on a raft. I know Russell will have fun. She’s been on three times more rafting trips than I. Halle will have a brand new life experience.

It doesn’t matter how much I travel, I still feel anxious the night before a trip. Often I can’t sleep or feel stressed. Tonight is no exception, but I will manage it by taking a hot shower, making my todo list for the morning and reading to prepare for a good night’s sleep.

I will be back Friday night and will put a post and photos up about the trip. I’m so glad I can take two of the dogs, but sad that Willie will experience separation anxiety while we are gone. She is a wonderful Min Pin who hates being alone. I just can’t risk having her run off while we are on the river.

If I finally figure out my stubborn, diabolically smart, escape artist Min Pin who is so dexterous with her paws and mouth that she doesn’t need opposable thumbs, I’ll take her everywhere with me. I promise.

Willie, you know I love you and would never abandon you. I do not favor the other dogs over you. I just want you to be safe. I will be back on Friday night and will spend quality time with you.

April 15th, 2009 by admin

Now is a time that the saying “when it rains it pours” seems to describe the sudden deluge of mechanical problems we’re having.

In the last week the following things have happened:

-Our hot water heater failed and required a new thermostat and heating element.

-Our truck engine blew up seven minutes from home.

-The turbo stopped working and the check engine light came on in the Beetle.

-My sister popped her car tire and is leaking fluids from her car, her clothes dryer stopped working and now the electrical panel in her apartment needs to be repaired.

-Today I took my car in for a routine oil change and the mechanic let me know that I am leaking fluids in both axles and the rear transmission.

The above repairs total about $6500. Ouch. At least I don’t have a deluge of vet bills at the moment!

I noticed there were about 20 cars in my mechanic’s lot. He confirmed that he had very little work until recently when he suddenly got flooded with repair jobs.

I’ve been at the mechanics so many times in the last three days that his dogs wag their tails when they see me coming. One dog is a giant yellow lab puppy named “Piston” who must be pushing 90 lbs at a year old. He carries a yellow tennis ball made of solid slobber in case someone will play with him (like me). The other dog is a friendly, sweet and mild mannered black Cocker Spaniel named “Winkie” who just wants lovin’ of any kind. He is so lovable and cuddly. If he weren’t so dirty I’d give him a bear hug.

I pet them, play with them and tell them they are good dogs in English and Spanish every time I go to the garage. They are on the grimy side since they are auto garage dogs, but I can tell they are loved and well cared for.

I need to remember to bring them a treat tomorrow when I drop off my car.

April 13th, 2009 by admin

I don’t know why I’m not getting all my email. If you have sent me email and have not received a reply, please post here.

I also don’t know why I’ve been having migraines every day for a couple of weeks, but it’s killing me. And it’s accompanied by nausea, as if the stabbing pain in the head weren’t bad enough on its own.

I used to get migraines a couple times a month, but this is ridiculous.

I didn’t go on the river trip today in part because of how I’ve been feeling.

Hopefully I’ll be well enough to join the crew for the last day, which is the day with the rapids. If I go I will take two of our three small dogs with me.

In the meantime, I will be drinking soda water and eating unsalted saltines until the nausea subsides.

Thank goodness for Excedrin Migraine. It’s the best over-the-counter relief I’ve run across so far.