Thursday, December 31, 2009

Lady Wasserkopf


Dies ist Kendalls neuer Hund, Lady Wasserkopf. Sie ist, eine Pfundrettung färbte so fast vor gestern den Tag.
Wenn Sie diesen blog läsen, macht niemand, wissen Sie schon, daß Kendall einen der Woche Weihnachten Dudley genannten Hund verlor. Er ging und holte diese Woche Lady ab habend geplant, die ganze Woche zu gehen.
Er nahm sie zum Tierarzt und fand daraus, daß sie in schrecklicher Form war. Ihre Leber und ihre Niere nahmen den Raum, den ihre Lunge gewesen sein sollte. Sie teilten es ihm mit, sie würde nicht überleben, Deshalb machte er ein sehr schmerzhaftes zu lassen, ihr gehen Sie. Es gab dort einen Vertreter einer x Strahlgesellschaft, die sich entschied, sich zu lohnen, zu sehen, wenn sie sie bewahren könnten. Arme Dame hatte Gehen den Schuß schon, sie vor dem tödlichen Schuß zu lockern. Es war dieses nahe.
Der Tierarzt führte die Operation durch und fand, daß der Schaden in der Tat reparierbar war, und machte damit. Sie nennen dem Neuen Jahreswunder Lady. Kendall nimmt sie heute nach Hause. Sie hat eine schreckliche Narbe, aber sie wird erwartet, jetzt ein "normales" Leben zu führen. Und wenn ich Kendall kenne, wird sie ein nachgegebenes Leben führen.
Sie hatte einige Hungerfragen, aber er wird sie gut füttern lassen. Willkommen zu Lebens Lady Wasserkopf!

Goodbye and Good Riddance!


Never in my life have I had such a bad year. If there was a way that I could be hurt, I was.

2009 started with the loss of my job as the greens keeper and weekend fees collector at the golf course. The year had been rough of the course, so I was able to see it coming a very long time in advance. I had paid bills and was able to tuck some back. I spent all of January congratulating myself on being so clever. But loss of a job was already straining me. I do not care what I do, I just like to work.

February started with the death of my longtime companion and friend. George and I had been through so much over 14 years. He had been suffering from a few ruptured disks in his back, was in constant pain, and started to have periods of paralysis. I had to let him go. My heart still aches for him so badly. King George of the Jungle was my one eyed Pekingese. He was my old man. I love him still.

March started with Grandma's stokes that left her dependent on help for just about everything. I guess it was really okay that I had lost my job at this point. Two days after Grandma's strokes Aunt Charlene died after her 4 year battle with lung cancer. Her death was not easy nor kind. I walked away from that experience a non smoker. I now have her Town Car and tons of junk, but really do wish I could visit with her just one more time.

April was no kinder. Bubba, my 8 year old Brussels Griffon suffered a massive heart attack and died even before I could get him to the vet, at midnight by the way. Just torn away with no warning or chance to stop it. It was in April that I started to howl in pain. I just wish that was all there was to be for me.

June saw my Aunt Gail die of complications of diabetes. She did not have an easy time either. Her funeral was tough.


In October Grandma had some more strokes and lost most of her ability to speak. Her skills at simple tasks were slipping away as well. She fell and broke her hip. She spent a lot of time in the hospital and I think was just ready to go to God. We had her at a a so called rehabilitation facility that completely mismanaged her diabetes. She then had a couple of more strokes and lost the ability to swallow.

The week of Thanksgiving, we brought her home to die. Kendall and I were both with her. I still scream in my head every time I think of her. I miss her and hurt so bad for her. I want my Grandma back now.

The week before Christmas, Kendall adopted an dog named Dudley. Poor thing had not been treated well. After months of abuse and starvation, he developed parvo and died. Not my dog but I cried for days, and then lived with the 15 days that could see my remaining dog and Tessa develop it. They didn't.

This week, he went and adopted another abused dog that had been hit by a car and it's liver and kidney were in the space her lung should have been. Kendall was sure she was his and after surgery it actually looks like Lady may be the turning point. She gets to come home today and see in 2010 with us.

Please God, have mercy in 2010.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Day 2009


First time in my life that there was snowfall on Christmas morning. Oh now, we've had ice over snow and sleet, but never just powdery fluffy snow. What a great Christmas gift for us in the South.

Christmas Eve Snowfall 2009


This was pure joy for an old Southern boy!

2009 Ornament


This years ornament from my Baby sister.

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Best Carol of the Season

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send ,
on without end,
their joyful tone to every home
Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Rest in Peace Dudley


Dudley was not able to survive the neglect and abuse that he had suffered in his very, too short life. He passed away yesterday in the animal hospital.

I feel horrible. I could not save Grandma from the strokes. Dudley could not be saved. This is a picture of him sleeping at Kendall's house the night before he died. At least the last moments of his life were lived with comfort and warmth.

My rage comes because some person did this to him. I just don't know who. So I cannot do anything. I'm so sad and mad.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Dudley


Here is a photo of our new friend Dudley. As you can see, Dudley has a few problems with neglect and starvation.

The vet says he will be okay, but that will take awhile. He needs to be a lot heavier before we can call him out of the woods.

Tessa, grandma's dog and my MiniMe are trying to make him feel like he has a pack. I know already that boiled chicken is going to be a favorite food. Today that will be his and some bland ole rice.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Goodbye Grandma, I Love You


Yesterday morning at 7:30, Grandma went to heaven to be with God and her favorite beau Pete. Kendall and I were with her and held her as she closed her eyes on this world. I love her so much and miss her terribly. Rest well Grandma, and please never forget me...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Waiting with Grandma



We've been sitting and looking through Grandma's photo albums. It has been one of those laugh until you hurt, cry until you're sick things.

She is resting peacefully. It does not look like she is suffering or in any pain at all. Sometimes while I look at her, I expect her to open her eyes and ask me what I'm looking at. Funny, and sort of heartbreaking.

Saying goodbye to her is hard, but I am so glad that I am getting to be near her now. I love her so much...

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Grandma and Pete


If Grandma lives through tonight, she will finally get her wish to come home. I have been getting the house ready so we can make her as comfortable as possible. We are putting a hospital bed in her living room and the rest of us are going to camp out on the couches and the floor. We are going to have family around her 24 hours a day. Chris and Carol are bringing the new baby. She will really like that. She thinks that Carson is cute.

At noon today the hospital stopped her IV, and she is not getting a feeding tube put in her. There will be no more medicines save what she may need for pain. She got her last shot of insulin today. I only wish that she were aware of the fact. At last she is free from diabetes.

The last time I was sure she knew it was me holding her was yesterday morning. She put her hand on the back of my head as I cried telling her just how much I love her. I really hope that she does not forget me when she is in heaven. I am never going to forget her. I have not ever hurt this bad.

I have known that I was going to have to face a life without her. She and I have talked about it, but it was always that far off thing that was going to be many years away. Not days. Maybe not even hours. I caught myself begging God for just one more year today. It would of course be torture for her. And she really wants to be with Pete. She was the one true love of her life. Is it really so selfish that I want him to wait longer?

She will be so happy to see him again... I just hope she doesn't forget me...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Grandma is in the hospital...


She was taken to the emergency room with a blood sugar count of 500 and almost comatose. She was also very dehydrated. After an exam she was admitted and is currently in serious condition.

Today her urine output has dropped to almost nothing and they are concerned that she has entered into renal failure.

I am making this short as I am going to cry myself to sleep now. I am unable to think very clearly and all I want is my Grandma happy and healthy again.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Grandma gets to come home!


After about a month or so of being in the nursing home, Grandma has her parole date. She will get to come home the day before Thanksgiving Day. Now, that is really something to be grateful for this year.

It is going to be a little rough for us all until we get the new swing of things. Life will definitely be different. All of her liquids will have to be thickened so she will be able to swallow. All of her food will have to be pureed to a consistency that will make it easy for her to swallow.

She still has some problems standing, but it will be east enough to work around. I was already helping her go to the bathroom. It was not any problem to get her in or out of bed.

Life will not be too easy, but whatever it is, it will be good to be home again.

I love you so much Grandma!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Christmas Decorations


I've decided this year to NOT decorate for Christmas. Coming from me, this is almost heresy. I cannot honestly remember a year since I have lived on my own that I did not put out Christmas. The photo is of my tree last year, during it's long decoration period, lol. But 2009 had taught me that this year it has to be Grandma's for Christmas.

In February, my long time companion George died. He was a 14 year old Pekingese that had been my friend since he was a little furball of two months old.

In March came double tragedies. Grandma had several major and minor strokes, and has needed constant care. Aunt Charlene took a massive turn for the worse in her 4 year fight with lung cancer and died.

Then on April 21st, at 11:30 P.M., my friend Bubba died of a obviously painful heart attack while I could only hold him and scream. Bubba was an 8 year old Brussels Griffon, and my strongest "psychic" link to any creature in God's creation ever!

My Aunt Gail left me this summer. I cook in cast iron because she was the one who taught me to cook and strongly urged it!

Then last month Grandma fell and broke her hip. Her condition is really worrying me. I decided to skip Christmas at my house and am instead going to do it all at her house using all of her stuff. Trust me, Grandma has enough to decorate three houses, so I will have plenty to work with this year.

This year has been the most painful year I have ever lived. Not one thing about it has been good, or even just okay. Christmas celebration is going to be filled with sadness and fear of coming loss. But I also have the feeling it is going to be the most precious one I get for a long time.

I love you so much Grandma.

Monday, October 26, 2009

In MY house...


IN THIS HOUSE

(author unknown)

Here in this house...
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs "out there".
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house...
I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve people's images of themselves.
I will be loved because of who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, my teachers will blame themselves, not me.
Here in this house...
I can trust the arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, or too unruly, or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that my humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.
Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Presidential Prize

It has been announced that President Obama has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize. It is an amazing pat on the back for the new president. I'm not so sure that it is going to do much to change the minds of those that are rabid haters.

Listening to HLN, there are already people around the world screaming and acting like it is a tragic mistake. That he hasn't accomplished a thing. That it is a political move to appease the Americans. The selection committee should be tarred and feathered.

In my lifetime, I have seen one or two presidents come and go, trust me, this one is by far and away not the worst one we have had. Personally, I am still reserving comment on his job performance, as he hasn't been in office for one year yet. Nor do I think he deserves such a prize.

The Nobel committee did think he deserved this prize. It is obvious they wanted to praise his work to date, and make sure that he is encouraged to continue his effort. I was not asked to be on the selection committee. It was not my choice. But it is this years choice.

Be American people. Our President won the Nobel Peace Prize. I am proud of that.

I still remember 8 years of that Bush idiot.

Congratulations Mr. President

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Storms

Right now there is a sort of severe thunderstorm going on over my house. What is really cool, are the lightening strikes going on everywhere. So many, and so beautiful. But common sense says turn off the computer and unplug it, so goodnight!