Snow!

This morning, I was surprised to see white stuff falling out of the sky when I awoke. I expected our first snow tonight or tomorrow morning, but we got 1/4 inch of the cold stuff this morning. I have to say that I don't remember another time that I was so happy I could just go back to bed and sleep some more (I wasn't due to walk the Rs until 10 a.m.). That's just what I did, I curled back up with Lovey and Nedi and slept for another two hours, surrounded by purr-fect stereo. Even while walking the Rs today, small flakes occasionally fell upon us even as trees dripped snow melt. At least it wasn't a true over-night cold spell: we had a high of 83 degrees Wednesday and 51 yesterday. It was 30 degrees at 8 this morning, and right now, it's all of 39, with the humidity at 65%, so it definitely feels chilly! Luckily, too, the apartment management turned on the boiler Tuesday, so we could have heat "if necessary" early this month. When I catch the bus at 7:30 tomorrow morning to go feed Peach, you can bet that I'll have my water-proof snow boots on!

   The swelling of Lovey's face has diminished considerably, but she is still just a little puffy under her eyes. Nedi wants to go out, but as soon as he does, he runs right back inside because several apartments are being vacated and/or moved into, with some new folks piling heir stuff on their patios - which means it will be wet and frozen in the morning, if the snow comes as predicted. And it looks like snow right now...

   I need to go care for Peach this evening, letting her in and out and making sure she gets her meds tonight, so I'll probably take the late 205 bus home; which means I need to take a flashlight with me, so I can "blink" at the bus driver. The 205 stop has no lighting, and the bus can (and has, in the past) blow right by a person. If I start playing the light around my feet, as the bus turns onto US 36, the driver will see it, and be able to pull over for me... Otherwise, it'll be a 3.5 mile walk home in the dark and the cold, and the possible snow (which I really don't want to do).

   I'll see my friend Patrick tomorrow morning, but I have to remember that we're "friendly enemies" for the day, as the LSU Tigers and the Gators play at 1:30. - And, Brett is back at the bakery! Today was his first day back at this location, and he said he'd had hundreds of people tell him how much they missed him this morning He was overwhelmed by his support from us patrons. Too bad I can't eat his pastries any longer...

Seen in Albania

Along the coast of Albania

 

The Kuks region of Albania

 

Near Lake Ochrid, a horse-drawn cart in front of concrete bunkers

 

A vacation cottage in front of the Prokletije Mountains - the Albanian Alps

 

A Cool Day...

Our high today was 51 degrees - and I thought my ears would freeze and fall off while I was walking the Rs this morning. The wind was still when I left the house this morning, so while I had a coat and gloves, I didn't have a scarf, hat, or ear warmers. I'll know better for tomorrow morning, when it's to be even cooler; and the weather gurus are saying there will be snow on the ground Saturday morning. I'll definitely be well-wrapped for Saturday and Sunday, when I'll be walking and feeding Peach, and staying with Finn and Skippy. The weather guys just said that it will be in the mid-20s Friday and Saturday night - better get out my wool socks!

   Lovey's face is still puffy, but the swelling has gone down considerably. Nedi is spending the evening outside, although he keeps running back in to get love and attention. I'll get him inside and close the door for the night between 8 and 8:30 tonight, before the temperature drops too much. Tugger and Sasquatch were very loving today; they really miss Kristin and Steve, who luckily, returned early this evening. I took Rosie out for a good 5-mile walk on Wednesday, as Remy was seeing the chiropractor during our usual walk time. Rosie and I walked over to Wonderland Lake, and around it; it was nice to really stretch our legs again.

   I must say that I am looking forward to Monday, when I don't have to get up for anyone or anything, except Nedi and Lovey. I plan on spending those next two weeks doing what I want, when I want, and paying no never-mind to the outside world. The only exception is Tuesday, Oct. 16, when I take Lovey back for a vet check for her gums and sinuses. I count that as a very necessary event, and something I'm very willing to do. I hope to read and research as I desire, and start back getting my brother-in-law's family tree fully on-line.

   I've got to go find my scarf and snow hat!

Freeze Tonight

Well, the temperature got up to 83 degrees today, but we're expecting a low of 32 in the morning. The weather folks say snow is possible Friday night or Saturday morning. That's quite a change; even though the predicted high for tomorrow is 57. However, the weather guys also say we'll be warming back up on Monday. We'll see...

The Presidential Debate is about to begin in Denver. Kathy and Jim are in Denver tonight, but they are at the "Last Days of Pompei" exhibition at the art museum. Poor little Lovey. Her face is very swollen from the extractions yesterday, and it looks terribly painful. All of my other charges are doing well, as is Nedi. More tomorrow.

A Visit to the Vet

I got Lovey to the vet's on time this morning - we were the first patients to arrive.  She and Nedi had not been happy with me because they wanted food at 5 a.m., and, of course, Lovey couldn't have anything because of her surgery.  Once I got her inside the car, I ran back and fed Nedi and gave him a kiss.  Lovey weighed in at 11.2 pounds; the same as when she was checked back in July.  I left Tugger and Sasquatch's phone number as the emergency contact number, and went to spend the day with the boys. 
   I was at the office 15 minutes early to Lovey up - so they gave me her paperwork, and the 4 teeth that had been removed.  I did laugh:  at the bottom of the report was a note that all of her claws had been trimmed while she was under general anesthesia.  Two molars were removed, one on each side, one on the top and one on the bottom.  The big problem had been her upper canines - the roots of both of them had grown up into her sinus cavities, and they were terribly infected.  In any event, they came out, and I was given the choice of a long-acting antibiotic shot, or giving her 10 days of antibiotic pills.  I went with the shot.  Since they had to do extensive suturing where her canines were,and due to the infection, they also gave me 5 days of pain meds to give her.  I have to say that I like these pain meds - it's a gel/fluid in a syringe (without a needle), and you just place the stuff in her cheek, next to the gum.  The mucous membranes absorb the medication.  Three cheers for the advancement of veterinary medicine!!

A woozy Lovey

   Nedi, of course, is not happy with Lovey.  She smells like the vet's office and anesthesia.  He hisses at her all the time.  But he keeps on approaching her...
   I'll see how she is before I allow her outside tomorrow.  Nedi will have to stay inside until then.

Seen in Canada

A Gourdy Nash

 

Along the shore of Prince Rupert's Island, British Columbia

 

Totems at Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia

 

Drooling Over Dog Treats

Since I've been without refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup for the past two weeks, I had to laugh at myself this morning. I've, sort of, gotten used to the taste of diet sodas. This morning, before walking Rosie and Remy, I opened their bag of all-natural doggie treats - and was surprised when my mouth started to water. Yep, the smell of dog treats made me slobber... They are Newman's Own, made with beef, vegetables, barley, and molasses. The smell of molasses was so sweet when I opened the bag, I wanted to stuff my entire head inside of it. I didn't. I realized what I was doing, and I laughed; then Sasquatch and Tugger wanted to investigate, but they weren't impressed with the odors.

    After walking the Rs, I went to pick up my meds, as I had taken my last doses on Sunday morning. Since I had called the prescriptions in to the pharmacy for renewal on Friday, I hoped to just waltz in and grab them. No such luck. First, I was told to come back in 15 minutes or so. When I did, I was informed that I had already renewed my Atenelol earlier in the month. I denied it. The pharmacist checked again, and said, I can give you the one drug, but not the other. I told her I had an extra two weeks supply of the drug she was offering, but I needed the Atenelol. I told her that I had last re-filled the drugs at her pharmacy, and I hadn't purchased them elsewhere, and to please check with the insurance company that was denying me needed medicine. I stopped back at the pharmacy 5 hours later, and was handed my meds - my GP had called in the new refills for the Atenelol to a different pharmacy, which had filled the order, and just left it lying on the shelf. Grrrrr...

    Lovey goes to Pet Menders in the morning to have her teeth cleaned, and at least one removed. She hasn't been under anesthesia since I adopted her, almost 7 years ago, and I'm nervous. I keep telling myself to remember how refreshed I always feel after general, but it's not working very well. (And I'm having a great time watching Demarcus Ware repeatedly sack Jay Cutler of the Bears, right now.)

    I shouldn't have laughed when I read the headline, but, as usual, I did. A 70-year-old farmer in Oregon went out to feed his hogs - most of them weigh 700 pounds or more - and didn't return. His family found his dentures and bloody bits of him in the hog pen. It's thought that either (a) the farmer had a medical emergency and couldn't get out of the pen, or (b) one of the larger hogs has been known to bite and attack the farmer in the past, and attacked him that time. I'm certain the medical examiner will come up with something like "death by heart attack", or "death by misadventure." I hope the farmer's death certificate doesn't read "death by hog."