I knew he could do it!

I'm just surprised it took him two days!  Rocky got the snaps open on the cone and was in his crate chewing on one edge of the cone!

The rains have been pretty hard today.  There was a brief period of sun and I'm sorry I didn't take Rocky for a walk at that time.  I really don't want to go out at all - for one thing the streets are littered with leaves from the trees, and they are slippery.

After dinner I took the cone off and gave Rocky a break from it.  We were both sitting on the couch so I could keep a close eye on him.  I'm still not getting a good amount of sleep at night, so I think I will go to bed early tonight.  We should get a break tomorrow and get some sun, which will make it much easier to walk Rocky and maybe reduce some of his energy.   

Here's to a good weekend.  I'm hoping to get to Costco where I will probably spend way more money than I want to, but haven't been there for a while so I don't mind. 

A little update:  This morning Rocky never heard of the words "heel" or "easy".  Yesterday must have been a fluke!  He was awful and never once loosened the tension.   As often, one step forward, two steps back.

The patient is doing well!

He keeps trying to brush off that silly cone from around his neck, but so far he's fairly good about it.  It's difficult when he tries to go out the door and down about 5 steps, and then the return trip back up.  The cone definitely gets in his way.  Last night neither one of us got much sleep - we stayed in the living room and I tried to sleep on the couch.  I think the sedatives affected him as well, but we both survived until this morning.  I hope to sleep better tonight.  He whined and cried nearly the whole night long.

The vet's office always calls after a visit, and today they wanted to know if the patient was doing okay.  I told them that he would never get to the 10 day mark with that cone.  I looked at the surgery site and to tell the truth it didn't look bad at all - I couldn't see any stitches, but they may all be internal.  I'm just glad we have the first day behind us.

It has been drizzling or looking like rain all day long, but we have been able to get in a few short walks between the raindrops.  The cone sure gets in his way when he wants to taste something on the ground!

I haven't been able to duplicate Donald's skills with the TV so far, and I'll have to ask him to give me another lesson, which I will write down.  As remotes go it looks fairly easy, but I haven't had any luck. 

The days go by pretty quick lately with the shortest day of the year coming up in a few weeks.  I wish we could slow time down a bit.  I hope you all enjoy the rest of this week and the end of November.  I just can't believe December is almost upon us!

Rocky lost a bit of weight!

Joe drove us to Banfield Pet Hospital (Petsmart) this morning at 8am, and got Rocky admitted.  His surgery has been performed and he is resting and doing quite well, as of when the vet called me a while ago.  I will pick him up around 2pm, and I'm grateful to have been able to get some things done while he isn't here to distract me.  I dread the cone, and when I asked the vet how long she thought he would need it she said a week to a week and a half!  I think they are giving me the worse-case scenario, and he will no doubt have some say as to how long he puts up with it.  They asked me if I wanted them to give me a course of sedatives and I jumped at the chance.  I told them if he didn't take them, I would!  Fingers are crossed  that this makes him settle down a bit, but I've not been encouraged by anyone that it will change his behavior.

After a couple of dry but cloudy days, we're having off and on rain today.  Temps in the 50's all week is fine by me.

Jeannie picked up a big tube of Icy Hot for my aching muscles and I'm surprised at how well it works.  I used it sparingly when I got it, and haven't had to use it since.   I'm glad to have it on hand, but I have to get down to business when it comes to training.   I can't have a dog that acts like he does when we meet anyone out on our walks or when the family comes over to visit.  I'll have to study up on works with labs, as Rocky thinks whatever they taught at the pet obedience class doesn't apply to him.

I think I'm going to try an every-other-day schedule of posting.  I said I would quit when I reached 1 Million views, and I have about 20k to go.

I need to go across the street to pick up my last load of laundry before leaving to pick up my baby!  Have a great day, and I'll be back soon.

My baby is 41 today!

Joe  is 41 today, and the Sacramento family is joining up at the Thin Line to celebrate his, plus Quinn's 2nd birthday (last week) and my great nephew Romeo (18 yesterday).  I'm looking forward to it, but terrified of the damage Rocky can do while I'm gone, especially with the new TV.  I'm leaving the big box it came in sitting on the floor in front of it, and hope if he chews anything it will be the box.

Jeannie & fam. are picking me up and I asked her if they could stop at a store on the way where I can get some Ben Gay.  I ache all over and it doesn't ever feel any better - I hate to smell like Ben Gay but it's better than suffering!  I'm also going to get an adjustable hiking pole for use on our walks and hope it will stabilize me and reduce falls.  I probably am more likely to fall where a walking stick or pole wouldn't help me anyway, but I'll try to reduce the risks that I can.

I enjoyed hearing all about Jeannie's trip to Jamaica and seeing her photos.  They stayed on a Sandal's resort - there is more than one in Jamaica but this one is especially for families.  She couldn't say enough good about their visit and they are planning to go back some day.

I just took Rocky for a rather long walk and he was pretty good until a lady met us with her two (well behaved) dogs.  My own dog humiliated me.  I realize a walking stick or hiking pole would be a real hindrance rather than a help.

I need to start figuring what I can put away while I'm gone so that the dog doesn't destroy everything.  The door to  my spare room doesn't stay closed, and I discovered the papers I had left sitting on top of my shredder were torn to bits.  I have an electric shredder, and then there is the "other" one.  

It's the end of the holiday weekend, and I hope those of you who are driving home stay safe. 

Another day of wind & rain!

It's really not a very nice day out there, but I'm glad to see the rain anyway.  We haven't had lightning here, and I hope there is none near the forests.  I haven't walked very far with Rocky today - just too cold, wet and windy!

I talked to Jeannie last night after they arrived in Sacramento, and I'm so glad they had such a good time in Jamaica.  She said the employees at the resort were so sweet and attentive - going the extra mile for them.  They just loved Jeannie's girls and gave the family extra good service.  I'm relieved they are back, and that Joe made it to the Grand Canyon and back to celebrate his 41st birthday on this coming Sunday.  Maybe I can relax for a while - it seems like I've been waiting for the end of the world lately.  I hope it's not the end of my world because I don't know who would put up with Rocky until he "grows up" to be a good dog!  He is absolutely the sweetest little thing, while at the same time the most destructive and irritating little thing.

 So while my kids have been traveling all around, I still haven't gone anywhere lately.  I was looking forward to the trip to Napa Valley for mine and Jeannie's birthday, but the fires and smoke nearby made us decide to skip it for the time being.  I still hope we can get there later on this winter.  When I try to think of someplace I would like to go for a mini vacation, I come up with a blank.  There are places I'd like to go and people I would love to visit, but I don't think I could do that anymore.

Thanksgiving sure flew by this year.  I don't think anyone planned much for it as Jeannie and Joe were both gone during days preceding it.  I don't worry about holidays much any more but I usually enjoy being with family.  We are all getting together on Sunday to celebrate Joe's and Quinn's birthdays.

I hope the Thanksgiving holiday was a special one for all of us who celebrate it.  And I hope everyone has something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, with good cheer, good food, good people to be around.

Everything outdoors is wet this morning but right now the sun is shining.  Rain is in the forecast though.

Rocky was acting strangely yesterday, looking up at the ceiling and seeming to see or sense something that I could't understand.  He was nervous and edgy, and then when the rain started pouring down, I understood.  He has never seen rain before - good thing there wasn't lightning and thunder.  I think he was a little frightened at first and he just didn't know what to make of it.  I put on a rain parka and walked him in the rain several times and I think he enjoyed it!  I had a difficult time at first wondering why he was looking so intently at the upper walls and ceiling, and thought maybe he saw spirits that I coudn't see.  I guess he saw the spirit of rain!  With a dog's acute sense of hearing it's probable that they can hear rain coming in their direction before it actually gets here.  It's like watching a child grow and seeing their wonderment of the world around them.  

My daughter and her family arrived back in the U.S. yesterday and spent the night in an airport hotel in Miami.  They will be arriving in Sacramento in a few hours, and I'm glad they are safe and sound.  I've traveled in so many parts of the world and loved it, but I'm nervous when any of my kids go far from home.  Having one go to the Grand Canyon and another go to Jamaica in the span of about 10 days, I nearly worried myself to death.  Actually I'm proud of their desire to explore the world, and I think they got at least a part of that from me.  As I told one of them, "It's a mother's job to worry".

I wish everyone a good day!

Out and About This Morning!

I have already been to the dog park at 7:30 am, dressed in my bathrobe & pj's.  I had taken the dog out to the back yard and he didn't want to come back indoors because he saw one of his favorite people in the dog park.  She waved me over, so I took Rocky, hoping no one else would show up this early.  We only stayed about 15 minutes, but it was long enough to wear Rocky out and he's sleeping with his head in my lap right now.  I still haven't gotten dressed!

If I thought all this wonderful exercise would calm Rocky down I was so wrong.  He is still destroying everything in sight that has a cotton type stuffing, and I see little wads of it all over the place.  He's nearly ruined the comfy pad in his crate, the throw pillows for the sofa and chair, and several of his stuffed toys.  I will definitely need new furniture when he's grown out of the destructive stage!

It looks like we are in for about 3 days of rain which I welcome.  I'm glad Joe put the cover back on the swamp cooler a few days ago. 

Jeannie and family are leaving for home today after a week's vacation, and I'm hoping to hear from her soon.  They arrive back in Sac tomorrow.  Monday is Joe's birthday and I'm looking forward to us all getting together to celebrate.  I sure need something to celebrate!

I have to get dressed and start my day, but this little doggy sleeping on my lap is so sweet I hate to move him and break the spell.  This is partly why I never get anything done - I'm either cleaning up after him, taking him outside, or relaxing with him on my lap!
  

My Wandering Boy is Back!

My youngest son, Joe, had last week off work and he and a friend went camping at the Grand Canyon.  I believe they camped 3 nights in the G.C., and then decided to go to the beach for a day or so, and ended up in California at Pismo Beach.  He took lots of pictures and it seems he had a great time.  Now I can stop worrying about him falling over a cliff, and spend the next week worrying about Jeannie & her family who are on vacation!  A mother of four is always worried about one or the other of them - in this case I've been fretting for a while about 2 of them!

I am so disappointed, worried, irritated, and a lot of other emotions - I was so happy Rocky had such a good time at the dog park socializing with other dogs and getting some great exercise.  However, every single time I've ever taken him inside those gates he gets the same condition back.  The vet is blaming it on food, and I was convinced that it was what and how I feed him.  I'm sticking to the special (and expensive) food for gastro-enteritis, but I do  like to give him treats, for training as well as just because I love him and like to see the joy he gets from anything and everything he eats.  Sometimes I use the kibble as treats, but sometimes I sneak in a special packaged treat that might be contributing to what ails him.   To be truthful, I don't think a treat now and then would have this sort of effect, but I'm wondering if there is a problem in that park with giardia.  If there is, then I'm sure to hear of other dogs that have it as well.  I'm really stumped, and don't know why a healthy 6 month old pup is having the problem he has. 

His other problem is that he chews anything and everything he can get by with.  And he is so clever he gets by with a lot!

Much of today wasn't as hazy as it's been, but late afternoons have been weird.  I wonder what lasting damage this smoke is doing to people as far away from the fire as we are in Sacramento. 

I forgot to publish this yesterday, so I'll just make it Monday's post!

The Dog Park

There were about 3 women there when I took Rocky outside and they called to me to bring him over.  As soon as we entered through the gate he was off and running!  There were several large dogs who could handle him fairly well, but the little dogs tell him in no uncertain terms when he's being obnoxious.  I loved it!  Actually he learned to play a little better by the time we left and he certainly got some great exercise.  I think he really needs the socialization, and maybe he will learn some doggie manners as he gets a chance to find out what is acceptable to the other dogs.

I rarely close him in his crate but wanted to mop the floors this morning, and was amazed how easy things can be without a puppy underfoot.  I really need to clean the driveway as he "goes" on it most of the time, but just haven't had the energy in the past two days.  It's a daily job!  I do manage to douse it with the hose frequently to keep the odors down.

I finally bit the bullet and bought another TV.  After being without one the past few years, I decided I needed to have one, although I do keep up with the news on youtube.  When I last had a tv there were very few programs I liked to watch, mostly on NPR and Animal Planet.  I like the science shows as well, but little else.  The tv will be delivered Monday and I need to talk to someone at ATT about service, and how it will work if I move in 5 or 6 months.  I suppose I'll have to pay for installation here and at the new location.  I would probably rather get an antenna that will allow me to get local news and PBS, as it's hardly worth the money to pay for all those channels I would never watch. 

My desktop weather tells me that rain is predicted for next Wed. & Thurs.  I haven't looked at a longer term forecast yet, and hope we get some decent cleansing rain.  I hope the areas that have been burning in the state also get some rain, although no lightning, please.

 

Falling Apart!

I had hoped all the aches, pains, and ailments would hold off at least  until I reached 80, but I'm getting a glimpse of my future!  It's my left knee, that sometimes gives me a pain and then it wants to buckle up under me.  Scary when I'm a few blocks from home with a dog that is pulling on the leash!  I wish I knew what I might do about it, but I'm certainly not going to mention anything I don't have to mention to a doctor.  They are delighted to order tests, xrays, scans, multiple visits, etc.  I'm just not having any more of it if I can stand the pain and aggravation!  It might just be the cold, and it might be having a strong puppy nearly pulling me over while I'm trying to brace myself and hold on to the leash!  I sure don't see an easy life ahead of me these days.

Steve took me to my cardiologist appointment yesterday, and then we made a trip to Home Depot.  We went to a store that neither of us is familiar with and it was difficult trying to find things.  Next time I want to visit the store in Rancho Cordova, where if I can't find what I need, a store employee notices the perplexed look on my face and rushes up to help me!  They have the best employees of anyplace I've ever shopped!  So far Steve has repaired or replaced several door handle sets that were not operating properly, and we are working down a long list of fixes.  I have the tiles to replace the kitchen floor, and am going to order a butcher block countertop for the kitchen.  Little by little the place will start to look better, and I can enjoy it for a few months before I move.   It's not going to be easy to get things done with my nosy little pal hanging around.

Speaking of the "pal", I made the appointment for him for Nov. 27th to "lose his jewels"!  I don't recall 20 years ago that Smoky had to wear that cone for an entire week.  I just don't see how I'll be able to control Rocky for that time.  I forgot to ask if he will have to keep it on when he sleeps, but I would imagine it will be necessary.   I should look into the cost of a puppy motel for a week and drop him off, or maybe find a doggie caretaker and drop myself off at a nice motel for a week! 

The poor thing isn't getting enough exercise but the hazy air makes me worry about our lungs.  I didn't realize that there was as much still burning as there is.  I know the story and explanation for how it started, but something about it just doesn't ring true to me.  

I'm getting ready to eat dinner.  If I wait until a normal dinner hour I will lose my appetite completely!

Take care everyone, as we move up towards another weekend!

Glad That's Over With!.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but if you didn't see it I will repeat it.  I get absolutely TOTALLY depressed about my birthday.  It is an irrational dislike for getting older, but it's been that way for me since I turned 21, which probably didn't have anything to do with aging.  Thirty was the worst.  Ten years later I went to the store or something on my birthday and came back to find a surprise party, with a banner emblazoned with the words "Oh Lordy, Marty's Forty" outside the house for the world to see.  So about a week before my birthday I get really irritable, depressed, and just plain nasty sometimes.  The very next day I'm back to my old self.  So that's my explanation for my erratic behavior the past week.  And while today is the dreaded day, I feel I'm over the worst part of it and can get back to normal.

Rocky is his old self which includes getting into whatever he can get his paws on, and chewing it to bits.  He chews EVERYTHING, and I'm about to go crazy about it.  He has even thrown up twice at which time a rock came up.  I really watch him like a hawk because he tries so hard to pick up every rock around and chew it, but it's almost impossible and I have to stop numerous times on our walks and pry those teeth open to remove a stone.

I've decided to get him neutered shortly after he turns 6 months old.  I had planned to wait until he was closer to a year, but my son Steve said they did that with their dog and have regretted it ever since as he still has the male behavior that neutering usually takes care of.  I'm hoping it will calm Rocky down a bit.  I had Smoky (my other lab) neutered at about 6 months and he was a delight to be around all his life.  That probably had more to do with genetics than neutering, but I've made up my mind.  All the vet staff have strongly urged it each and every time I take him in, and they no doubt see something in his behavior that could improve.  For my own sanity I'm going to do it.

Steve came over yesterday to take us to the vet, and he's coming back this morning to take me to my cardiologist appointment (so Rocky will have to stay home, and I cringe to think of what he can do to pay me back for leaving him.)  We have gone over a number of things that need to be done before I try to sell this place and move to the duplex and will shop for some of the smaller items after the doctor appt.

I'm back at home and there is a lot to be done, and I wear myself out just dealing with a puppy.  Steve has already replaced 3 door handle sets that were bad, and we're working with a long list of to-do's.  After my cardio appt. he took me to Chipotle for a birthday lunch.  Chipotle is about the only restaurant where I really enjoy the food, so it was my choice.  When we got back the house was in better shape than I dared hoped.  Rocky chewed a few insignificant things, but all in all, I'm learning to do a better job of getting things out of his reach. 

This is growing way too long for a blog post, but I have to mention how horrible the air is here.  The haze is unbelievable and the sky has an ominous look to it.   We stopped in Home Depot after the doctor, and I heard one of the cashiers saying they were out of face masks but that the police were giving them out.  I'm trying to hold Rocky back as I don't want to be out walking him, and I don't want his lungs messed up either.  My heart goes out to anyone who lives in the area of Paradise, as well as those affected by the fires in the south.

A Brief Hello!

I just want to say hello and to tell you that I will be back in full force one of these days.  I haven't been feeling all that great lately, which of course, affects my mood.  I'll be back as soon as I can get an attitude adjustment, or maybe a new lease on life.

Meanwhile, I hope you all have a good week ahead.

Music!

I have been feeling a little "down" lately, and when I came across a 2-1/2 hr Youtube video from back in the 50's, featuring Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, plus a lot of other fine musicians, I decided to listen.  So I've been watching and listening part of yesterday and today.  Surprisingly, I can remember a lot of the words of most of the songs, so I was singing right along.  It is SO nice to hear music played on acoustical instruments, no wires draped everywhere, and the simplicity of TV back in the day.  The forward that accompanied this video apologized for the lack of hi tech sound and video taping, but to me, it was beautiful and just like old times.  And it's the music I love - Appalachian, bluegrass, hillbilly, or whatever you want to call it.  I also love the way they look - suits and ties, combed hair, clean shaven, sometimes a cowboy hat and sometimes not.  I never outgrew the  preference for that look!  And continuing in my favorite music, I'm now listening to Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mtn. Boys!  

I have been cold all day until I took Rocky out around 2:00.  I was warm with a fleece shirt and fleece jacket over it! 

I walked into the living room this afternoon to see Rocky by the side door which was wide open.  It isn't closing properly lately, but I doubt he tried to open it.  I was so proud of him for not bolting out into the wild blue yonder! 

I went with Jeannie to Target this evening and bought two inexpensive floor lamps which I desperately needed.  Rocky had chewed the plug off both of my floor lamps and I haven't been able to use my living room after about 5:30, so I'm really happy to have light.   It will also be nice to have it early in the morning when Rocky decides it's time to greet the day!  Gone are the days when I conduct my life to suit me.

An outing without Rocky!

Joe picked me up this afternoon so we could go shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse.  He is planning a backpacking trip with a friend, of about 4 or 5 days.  He brought his pack over and showed me all the items he was taking - some I agreed with but I don't think anyone needs a big air mattress to get a good night's sleep under the stars.  They will be "cowboy camping" (no tent) in an area where the weather will be below freezing, so I made sure he had an extra layer of warm clothes for "in camp".  Now I've got the bug and want to go hiking/camping.  Joe's birthday is in a couple more weeks, so I was glad to have the opportunity to get him some things he really wanted.  And I can borrow them from him if I ever get away on a camping trip!

My hair looks absolutely awful the past few weeks and I have no way to get to my regular hairdresser, so Joe stopped by a place he takes his girls to get their hair cut.  My head must be several pounds lighter now.  Oh, and I bought a squeaky toy for Rocky at Sportsmen's Warehouse!  I thought he might completely destroy the house while I was gone, but it wasn't too bad.  

I had another dumpster brought to the front of my place and I think I got rid of the last of the recent tree/bush trimming frenzy.  There are still some leaves on the rocks and driveway, but they will be easy to sweep up and throw out with the trash.  I still have a tree in front that needs a couple of branches taken off, as well as another large bush that should have at least half of it taken off.  I'll spring that on Joe after he gets back from his camping trip.

If my furnace was turned on and the pilot lit, I might have run it for a half hour or so this morning to take the chill off.  But as long as I can manage without it I will be happy to not spend money on the gas to run it. 

I'm getting hungry and I will not be able to wait until the normal dinnertime.  I figure that is a good sign for me because I never want to eat much, if anything, in the afternoon or evening. 

I hope you are all having a good day, and can keep smiling.

I ran!

No, not for public office.  I ran with Rocky!  I sort of surprised myself - didn't over do it, but I ran for a short stint, then walked, then ran agan, and so on.  Rocky really got into the spirit of it all, and took his cue from me when I needed to slow down.  He is a delightful little boy, but I can't possibly recount the things he chews and destroys in just one day!  I have been losing a ballpoint pen a day, as well as bank statements,  and papers I can't even recognize when I catch him.  What he really wants is to get away with a sock from my laundry basket, and it has become a game for us - well, it's a game for him and an exercise in quickness and being alert for me!

I am expecting a grocery order today, and  it includes a couple of containers of plain yogurt, which I'll spoon out in small amounts for Rocky.  I hope he likes it because I sure can't stand the stuff, plain or flavored.  I'll only give him a small amount each day as I don't want to upset his digestive tract, although yogurt probably wouldn't be any worse than some of the stuff he picks up everywhere.  It speaks to my nimbleness that I can constantly pry open his jaws and stick my fingers in among those sharp teeth to remove things he shouldn't be chewing on.

I ran out of half & half this morning so I had to use whipped cream in my coffee to lighten it up.  That meant holding the cup out of sight of a certain member of my household who would be on me in a second if he knew I was holding whipped cream in my cup!

I think one difficult thing about the time change is meal times.  I usually eat when I'm hungry, mostly before 2 pm, but try to keep the dog on more of a schedule.  He can't tell time, but his stomach will be on daylight savings for a while.  I feel like I'm punishing him with the looks I'm getting.

Have a good day - it's a beautiful day here although the skies are being messed up by the chemtrails.  I noticed one joker this morning made a tick tack toe image - all the skeptics tell me how jet contrails can make that pattern, and jet contrails evaporate within minutes anyway.

 

Beautiful Day!

It has been a really nice day so far, the first of days in the 70's this week and 40's overnight.  My favorite weather.  Last night the sky in the west was almost a dark maroon color - I've never seen anything like it before.  It was beautiful but I don't think it seemed natural either.

Joe came by this afternoon and trimmed two additional bushes for me.  I filled two large bins the park provides - and still can fill another one with what I still need to rake up.  We haven't done much trimming for the past two years and everything is so overgrown.  Rocky helped by chewing twigs when he could get by with it.

It's almost pathetic - I try to make all our longer walks go past the park clubhouse as there is such a huge grassy area.  Rocky loves to just lie down in the grass sometimes, and I try to let him as it is better than pavement or rocks.  I took a look inside the dog park yesterday evening, and it is a total mess where the dogs have scratched up the grass and it gets muddy when  watered.  I am getting more and more enthused about moving to a duplex with a huge grassy backyard. 

This evening will be the last of Rocky's meds, with just one tablet remaining for tomorrow morning.  I drip a little peanut butter on the tab and add it to his food bowl.  He would no doubt eat it even without the peanut butter, but I spoil him with it.  By the way, I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I give him a special peanut butter for dogs, with no additives and just two ingredients - peanuts and flaxseed, and free of hydrogenated oil.

It's "walk time", so I'll check back in another day.  Remember to vote!

Time Change

How do you get a dog converted to standard time from daylight savings time?  He loves his food and doesn't even want to wait until meal time to start putting on the act that he's starving.

I didn't post yesterday because I spent a lot of the day in tears.  We must be reaching a particular mark in his maturation where he is exceedingly annoying.  And enjoying it!  He isn't much better today. 

I desperately need to get new glasses and hope they improve what I can see.  Reading is becoming more of a problem, as is recognizing people from any distance.  I hope none of my neighbors thinks I am ignoring them - I just don't always make out the features from any distance at all.

That's all from me for today!

Something is changing!

It's probably to do with my age, but my legs ache, especially when I get up from the couch or a chair.  You would think the extra walking I'm doing with Rocky would make my legs stronger.  I probably should look for something to rub on them to relieve the aches.  My old grandpa used to use Absorbine on farm animals, himself and his family.  He could treat almost any kind of injury!  If I didn't dislike the smell of that stuff I might look to see if it is even on the market!

The results of the blood tests I took last week were mostly good.  I may have mentioned the oncologist wants me to start taking B-12.  I've taken it in the past and didn't notice a difference. 

On our walk this afternoon I could hardly get Rocky off the grass down by the Park entrance.  I stopped for a minute and let him enjoy it.   I think he's getting antsy for his final meal of the day but he has some time to wait.  

I'm seriously thinking about getting a small TV - nothing big or fancy, and I won't pay for cable as I just would like local channels for news and maybe PBS programming.  I'd prefer to subscribe to the newspaper but the ink is so hard for me to read - sort of a grey color rather than black.  I still haven't replaced the two lamps in my living room that Rocky chewed the plugs off.  I don't want to buy anything expensive because he might do the same thing again, but I end up going to bed so early because I can't just sit in the dark!  Sometimes I sit for a while in the kitchen but that isn't really what I want, so I end up going to bed.  It's a good thing because I'm up early as well.   My kids used to determine how I lived my life, and now it's a puppy!

I have no plans for this weekend, but next weekend I'm going to a winery in Napa with my kids and a brother & his wife.  I'm really looking forward to wearing something other than sweat pants or jeans!  I'll probably be overdressed!

I wish you all a good weekend.

 

Odds and Ends

I haven't accomplished much but I did get a few things done.  I returned my iPad for one, and hope I never get excited over anything new in the computer world again.  It's all updated so fast and they have to do something that is noticeable - even if the reasoning is incomprehensible.  I will never understand why simple and easy is so frightening to techies and developers.  Change for the sake of change is pretty dumb, in my view.

Rocky managed to tear up a lot of things while I was gone for the short while it took to return the iPad.  I thought I had pretty much dog proofed the house, but the bathroom door just wasn't closed tightly enough and he had access to one of his favorite things to do - chew a roll of toilet paper!

I mailed my ballot today and feel relief that it is done.  I hope a lot of young voters cast their ballots - they are the ones who will be living with the results for the long run and they should turn out to express their choices.  

Rocky seems to be doing well on the special food I'm feeding him for about 10 days, although he accuses me of starving him!  He's not allowed to have any treats, but the vet did say I could use some of his food pellets as treats.  He's trying to make up for the lack of food and treats by eating paper!

 I have a problem that someone might have a solution for, although I can't imagine there being a solution except to get rid of my dog!  I have a very small and narrow electric stove in my kitchen - with 4 burners on top.  Because it is so small, two of the burners are close to the front edge, and I have a puppy that loves to put his 2 front paws on the stove while he's standing to see what he can possibly snatch, or maybe he just likes to see what is going on.

I am extremely careful when I have turned one of the burners on, although anyone who cooks with electric knows that they don't provide instant heat, nor do they instantly cool down when the burner is turned off.  Every time he jumps up and puts his paws anywhere near the 2 front burners I am terrified that the instance will come when I can't stop him in time. 

You can buy metal covers for the burners, although I wouldn't put a cover on until the burner had cooled down.  Any ideas?

I can remember the days when I longed for the weekend to arrive, and it always seemed that time flowed at a snail's pace.  Tomorrow is Friday, but yesterday was just Monday!

These were taken with my jitterbug phone which isn't really a very good camera!  I had a 6 pack  carrier with a couple of empty bottles that I had rinsed.  Evidently he can taste what was left after the rinse because he was fascinated with the bottles!  Click to enlarge the pictures.  Like a very young child, he likes the empty box more than what had been in it.