Looks Like WE Made It!

Nearly two weeks later, and here we are - Relieved that the past two weeks are behind us, and we can, knock on wood, slow down a bit.

~Charlie and Jameson~

On the work side, co workers have been out with the flu, leaving the rest of us germaphobes waging battle on doorknobs, computers, telephones, and any and all other surfaces in the office to try and avoid any germs and remain healthy.  Its been a good fight. But as this week comes to an end, I have my concerns that I could become another casualty of the flu. Time will tell.

Last Thursday after 20 days with us, I returned the lovely Molly to her family. She was happy to see them, and we were sorry to see her go. She is a perfect house-guest, and our dogs all like her.

~Molly seemingly confused and wondering where she was going?~

With Molly's return home, she goes back to work as a therapy dog at the "Memory Care Center"  in the retirement community where Dick and Judy live. (A Memory Care Center is specifically for individuals living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia who can't live on their own any longer). Molly's gentle personality make her perfect for the job.

Along with me for the little road-trip to take Molly home, was Max. Max is still available for adoption through the rescue, and after we said good-bye to Molly, we met someone who was interested in meeting him. I will elaborate more in a future post, but will add a picture (below) of how Max and I felt about the visit.

~Max's opinion of our visit~

The day could have ended there, but I was asked to come into work afterwards to cover for our "front desk girls" in the afternoon who were both out. The doctor I work for lets me occasionally bring dogs into the office.  But since Max's coat is considered "hypoallergenic" and does well with allergy sufferers, he was allowed at the front desk with me.

But the doctor asks that I not take the dogs into the operatories.

A rule I follow.... Until no one is around. 

Back on the homefront, Todd is much better. His limping comes and goes, and we're still working on those confining and no-jumping rules given to us by the vet two weeks ago. 

Todd's not so good at following the rules either!

There is still more news to post about, but I will end this post for now with a picture from the very short-lived show fall last weekend, and tell you the rest of our news in my next post.

Thank-you for stopping by my blog.  Your friendships, visits and your comments mean a lot.

~Rhett~

The Stars Eddie and Todd

My week ended with a fun night out with a good friend, that began at a local restaurant.  I've only one word to describe dinner - Delicious! 

~Part of my dinner - parmesan crusted mac and cheese with smoked ham~

After dinner, we went to see Eddie Izzard who is celebrating his book, "Believe Me."  In his trademark comedy style, he frankly and honestly recounted the highs and lows of his personal and professional life.  I was taken by Eddie telling about how being lousy at something didn't stop him from doing it. In fact, it often had the opposite effect, especially when it was something he felt strongly about; it drove him to work harder and to become better at whatever it was. A lesson to remember!   My friend has been a devoted Eddie Izzard fan for a very long time, and this was the second time I've gone with her to see him. And I have to admit that the show left me with an understanding of what's at the core of who Eddie Izzard is, and (Vicki) I’m becoming one of his devoted fans too.

It was a late night, but it was an early start on Friday because it was Todd's turn to be the star.  He returned to the vet. 

~A prisoner inside the mobile crate~

The staples in his neck have been removed, but his back-leg is still an issue. On Wednesday he started crying and holding up his leg again after he'd been jumping up. So, I made sure the vet had enough time to take a second look. But of course at the vet, he didn't show any signs of limping or favoring that back-leg.  My thoughts about what it could be and the vets are totally different because she's unable to illicit any kind of response when she examines Todd.  But he's been put on an anti-inflammatory medication for two weeks, and if that doesn't help, we'll take it to the next level of taking x-rays to try and figure it out.  Until then we're to keep him crated, and not allow him to jump up.

I think we'll be doing those x-rays. 

The Worst of Times, The Best of Times

Setting aside that both Carl and my brother were both sick last week, there were other moments that were the best and the worst of times.

~The full and beautiful blue-blood moon this past week~

The best of times began with Lucky finding his new forever home. Priscilla came and loved Lucky, as did her Yellow Lab, Gabe.  At the end of their first week, aside from Lucky doing a little cat-chasing things have gone pretty well.

The worst of times was after Lucky left.  Looking back at it, I think there was relief that Lucky was gone, leaving the dogs all feeling a bit frisky and playful. Whatever it was, Todd's Napoleon complex reared its head when Jameson stood over him to get him to play, and Todd took offense to it. I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but Todd ended up with a gash in his neck.  By Monday it seemed to be healing nicely, but there was some redness on the edge of the wound, and Todd was limping.  Off to the vet on Monday evening after work.

The best is that the vet thought that Todd's wound will heal without any problems, but to make sure, she put 5 staples in it and put him on an antibiotic. I think he's looking a little bionic-frankensteinish.  .

Todd's limp was a whole other topic. He didn't limp a single time at the vet. But he did when I got him home, and set him onto the ground. Thinking that it's a soft tissue injury we have put Todd on crate rest.

There were a few other "worst of times" that I won't bore you with that included having to work the two days I'd scheduled to be off.  It left no spare time.

~On my way to work~ 

However Saturday was a reminder of the best of times.  We celebrated two years with our boy Jake. Two years ago he left a county shelter where he'd been taken to be euthanized because he was unable to walk.  Jake is slower now than he was even a few months ago and needs more help getting to his feet than he did before. But even at about 14 years old now, he still has that same spark that the shelter saw and felt should have a chance.

And speaking of spark - Long time readers will recall that when I first met Jake, he accompanied me to see Selma mansion. This 110 year old mansion is a pristine picture of the Old South. At the time I got Jake, Selma was a victim of time and severe neglect and vandalism. But like Jake, it was also "rescued."  The new owners of Selma have spared no expense whatsoever in its rebirth. Two years later, work is still continuing, but it is once again a beautiful and stunning home.
(click here to see for yourself on their Facebook page)

And Selma, like Jake is full of spark and life on the inside and out.

Finally, despite the really cold temps, Jake and I celebrated the milestone with an ice cream cone.  It was a good day that gave me a much needed reminder to remember the best of times and not to dwell on the worst. 

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