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.