Hump Day - Better Day

Because a new reader, Laura, asked (and you know I always comply - hahahaha!) for an official sympathy pic - here ya go!

Sunday - before

Wednesday AM - after

He's being happy and content to just wait it out - so am I (on many levels).

We resume to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow!

Happy Hump Day all!

Stormy skies

BUFFLEDOG UPDATE (10:40pm): The boy is home. The boy is sleeping. The boy did wag his tail in a drunken/drugged sort of way when I came in from work an hour ago. The Bear (boy) has no fur on his right hindquarters. The boy is pitiful. I'm sleeping downstairs with the boy - a Buffle slumber party. Tomorrow will be a better day. Tomorrow needs to be a better day. Tomorrow has to be a better day.

Nitol :)

BUFFLEDOG UPDATE (3:48pm): I just talked to the surgeon and he wants to postpone the surgery for 2 weeks. When they shaved his leg they found some remnants of a skin infection (at the site of the incision) that occurred while we were on vacation and the doctor doesn't want to chance it. So he's going on yet another round of antibiotics. The agony may be prolonged, but I know that I've got the right surgeon to not take any chances. So the Buffledog stays in "couch potato mode" for a while longer.

I really appreciate all of your kind words and support. All of you are truly wonderful! :)

BUFFLEDOG UPDATE (12:28pm): Taylor is scheduled 2nd in line for surgery - so it will probably be around 2:00pm PDT. I don't expect a call until 5:00pm. :/

First - I wish safe passage for all those fleeing the hurricane Katrina. This is a very big deal for a major metropolitan area to take a direct hit from a category 4/5 storm. Our hearts and thoughts go out to each and every one of you.

Second - I am grateful that we got some much needed rain for our very dry area.

Third (and very close to home) – The Buffledog goes in for his surgery this morning. Yes, I am a complete wreck this morning. He’ll be in excellent hands, but it’s going to be a long day until he’s in recovery…and a long six weeks until he’s fairly mobile again. Right now he just wants his breakfast...I wish that he understood why that's not happening. :(

Have a good week out there and safe home to those that are displaced!

The End of the Road - part 1

Here are some snippets from the Hawaii trip and the travel prior to:

TSA and other oddities

“Ma’am, you’ve been selected for a full scan search.”

HA!

“Sir, you have also been selected.”

Bwaha!

“There are first class seat available at the desk for those who are interested.”

YeeHa!

“Sir, we are going to have to search your bag.”

Bwahaha!

“Sir, you cannot take these items aboard. You can either check your bag or mail the items.”

?!!!!!!!!!!!! Bwahahahaha!

“Have you seen my laptop?”

!!!!!!!!?????????Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

“Yes, you have to x-ray the luggage again. (groan…) We’re checking for fruit.”

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

First Impressions

I like any place that you have to board the plane on the tarmac. There is a nostalgia about that activity that strikes my very core and an excitement that comes from actually seeing the cattle car you are about to board in its full, naked shiny-ness.

I also like anyplace that doesn’t find the need for total enclosure of public buildings – like the open air airport terminal and the open air hotel lobby. I also like anyplace that has NO, read NO, snakes, poison ivy or poisonous bugs. I liked it that we could sleep with the doors open to the ocean without the screens. Did I mention that I liked Hawaii?

“It sure is dark out here,” we said in unison as we drove north to find the resort. I realized then how much I HATE the city lights and how much I LOVE the amazing star field in the clear night air. The Milky Way was so dense that we had mistaken it for a cloud at first. It was just as awesome as it was the first time I had seen it in the desert.

The resort was recommended, but we were dubious…until we drove up to the portico. It proved to be a four star surprise - valet parking and all. We whined a little about being too close to the smoking rooms and they moved us to the non-smoking wing with an upgrade to boot – yes, Virginia, whining does work! I highly recommend the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort.

Check out was interesting. We looked over the bill and there was a $270 dinner charged to our room from the sister resort. WHAT??? They showed us the signed check and at first glance it did look like my signature…but we’d never eaten there! It was legit, but turns out that it belonged to my “other brother Darryl” and the signature was so close to mine that it was just creepy. I mean, what are the chances that your “doppelganger” is staying in the same place at the same time on a speck of earth 2500 miles off the mainland. I would have loved to have met “me”! A bit Rod Serling don’t you think?

I remembered how much I liked fresh pineapple and other tropical fruits. We ate well!

There are 13 defined ecological zones on the planet – the Big Island has 11 of them!

I really needed and appreciated the pace of the islands – I now understand why my friend moved there so unexpectedly after he visited.

I’m ready to return!

More Hawaii in the next post

Its Hump Day!!!

• One day closer to setting the alarm and telling work to “piss off” for the weekend!

• One day closer to getting the Buffledog repaired!

• One day closer to finishing the Hawaii Post!

• One day closer to finishing the “Shell on our backs” series!

• One day closer to middle kid coming for a visit!

• One day closer to hitting the “eject button” on the “shrub” and his administration!

• One day closer to figuring out the conundrum that is my life!

• One day closer to the next Hawaii trip!

• One day closer to losing the clutter from my basement!

• One day closer to resuming climbing again!

• One day closer to a sustainable lifestyle and housing!

• One day closer to understanding my head!

• One day closer to saying how I really feel!

• One day closer …………….

• One day ………….

• ………………to the dream!

Happy Hump Day!

What are you closer to???? Hmmmmm?

Short Tuesday

The Buffledog continues to be his happy, stable self. He also continues to scare me occasionally by climbing the steep stairs to the bedroom so I’ve had to put a “baby gate” up. He is doing better about getting around on 3 legs and that will help during his 6 week convalescence.

For the lack of wit in these wee hours of the morning I’ll leave you with some “Sunday at the Buffle Ranch”.

Happy day before Hump-day!

Spam schmam

I don’t know why this happens – other than sheer, unmitigated greed – but out of nowhere, SPAMMED. I could rant on for hours about this insidious disease, but instead I’ve activated Word Verification in my comments. I know it is a little more work for you – well, me to, because I have to do it to – but it will save my sanity and prevent dents on the keyboard.

On a brighter note, this Word for Blogger plug-in works like a champ. If you’ve ever lost a post to the “Blogging Black Hole” you might want to check this out – not revolutionary, but saves a few steps!

Happy Sunday!!!

A calmer day! - ( pdate for loth! )

loth's alled p utt - een n awaii - ever ifted (-a) law - urumph!

(??? - ee lothera's omments oday)

As you can see the Buffledog is mostly whole and seems only minorly concerned with his current predicament. The pic was taken right before the consultation visit with the surgeon.

The visit with the surgeon went very well and Taylor was his usual affable, stoic self. The Doc did confirm that the cranial cruciate ligament snapped in two and we've scheduled a TPLO to be performed a week from Monday - 8/29. Meanwhile he's on a short leash regarding activities and is getting better about being a tripod. Last night and today were a little rough and I had to support him with a towel sling wrapped around his abdomen for his pooing pleasure. I put the ramp back up on the steps to the front porch and it makes it easier but I had to use the sling earlier to help him negotiate the ramp.

He is still grinning mostly and doesn't complain despite the obvious discomfort.

Hump Day - Shmump Day (or S*#T - P*%S - F*@K and Damn)

Well, you remember the "Whither Come the Horsemen" post a couple of weeks ago?? One of them just parked their hoofed self right at my doorstep this morning at 4:30. I knew something was afoot - I just friggin' knew it.

I just got off the phone with the Buffledog's vet and she confirmed that he did indeed tear the cruciate ligament in his right knee while we were doing our morning routine play.

*excuse me while I bang my head on the desk for a few minutes*

Surgery will have to happen very soon - looks like a TPLO (TIBIAL PLATEAU LEVELING OSTEOTOMY) will be in order. Yep, it's as bad as it sounds - saws and screws and plates.

*sorry - have to bang my head on the desk some more*

I'm now leaving to pick the Buffledog up!

Shit!

Weird stuff!

I’ve been panhandled a bunch in my urban existence but never like what happened yesterday morning.

I was running late and the Explorer decided to tell me in no uncertain terms that it was thirsty. So I dutifully pulled into the nearest house of extortion and began to pump “Bush Liquor” when a very raggedy Andy approached me. I knew by the approach and the tone of voice what was about to ensue – I was mostly right. He started going on about having to make a downtown appointment and I began to think he was going to ask for a ride and as late as I was Sandra Bulloch would have had to beg – there was no way! Then he holds up a 2 gallon plastic orange juice container and asked for gas to put in his RV. Hmmm. This was novel enough to go along with so I removed the nozzle from my tank and filled his container. He left sputtering thanks, praise and exultations. I finished filling my guzzler and as I pulled away I spotted Raggedy Andy pouring the “liquor” into his thirsty, raggedy RV. I pulled out of the station thinking, “…at least he couldn’t smoke or drink that get.”



This sign went up in a vacant store in our neighborhood – I love this hood!

Coat explosion - and this was right after his bath!!! There's a whole other Buffledog in that pile!

Happy Hump Day - Yay!

Contemplations

It occurred to me as we flew over the vast expanse of the blue Pacific, tightly nested in our silver cocoon, the treachery of the waters below. I can imagine the bravery of those ancient mariners setting sail over the uncharted waters – where lay their fear? What monsters imagined lurked in their consciousness. What dreams of power, riches and glory fueled the desire to set out on such quest? Did they honestly believe they would survive the journey or was it a faith that we know nothing about – strong and enduring enough to quell the mounting fear as sailing day came? Perhaps it was the adrenaline rush of adventure that spurred them on to a destiny beyond all reason.

Do we now set our sails for that which is unknown and into uncharted waters with the same ancient fears? Are our monsters just as real as we approach something new and different? What fuels our desire to change that which is familiar – to give up the relative safety of the shore and set sail? Do we seek to find a renewal in the adventure or are we seeking the safety of a new familiarity?

A reluctant return

Apparently everything gets a "Hula Skirt" here!

Seen on Route 250 - here is a comment I got from someone on my Pbase photo site: "Funny. I travel this highway daily to get to work but never thought to take a picture of the post. I hope you enjoyed the scenic beauty of the mountain road."

I think I've found a new love and tearing myself away Thursday night was ... well ... traumatic! It was such a great time and for the first time, in what seems like years, I found myself relaxing into the island pace and finding some peace. It is all such a dichotomy on the island; there is the obvious tropical atmosphere and laid back ambiance - AND - there is the volcanic and seismic activity that is ever present! So, one can go from the Shire to the cauldrons of Mt. Doom in a lot less time than it took Frodo and Sam - it was Nirvana for me!

I'm uploading to my photo site - Seamus's Galleries - and will post some of the more interesting ones here. The upload is being a slow go, but should be complete tomorrow!

Aloha!

Finally - Hawaii!

Our View on final into Kona

...and this is what I woke to!

There is promise!

The little shop of horrors...er...humor!

*I do wish I had time to go through the blogroll - but I know you all understand - maybe by this weekend before launching off the the Big Island and far more fun post =)*

Picture walking into a curiosity shop, an antique store and a 100 year old time capsule all rolled into one and there is this crotchety old curmudgeon peering out at you over the top of his half rimmed glasses or surreptitiously watching your every move out of the corner of his eye. Now picture yourself, after discovering the curmudgeon has the eyesight of a mole demanding that you describe each and every item you pick up to the infinite detail and you know you must pick up each and every piece in the shop. Now picture yourself having to help said curmudgeon decide whether the piece is worthy to reside in his new domicile – with constant questioning as to why you would choose that and then being contradicted at every turn. Now picture being instructed on how to pick up said items, how to pack said item and how and what to write on the package – all this done to the background music of “This is the story of this piece.” Now picture yourself doing this for 12-16 hours a day for four days with 2 days to deadline.

Welcome to Seamus’ vacation. Somewhere on our flight from Seattle we passed unknowingly through the Seventh Gate of Hell. It is not just me who suffers this demoralization but a brother, a wife and a daughter as well. We have taken to playing the You Distract Him game so the others can get something done. He is a wily little bugger though and will escape the clutches of the distracter and make his rounds and deliver his vitriol.

I suppose I should back up here a bit for the sake of those who don’t know the back story. My mom died rather unexpectedly 18 months ago leaving my recalcitrant, sight challenged and manners challenged dad behind…for us to deal with. Honestly mom, if we knew you would stoop to this we would have been better kids – honest! He wasn’t always like this…well, yes he was, but to a much more tolerable degree tempered by the constraints of mom – in short, he was manageable back then. In the span of one telling of a great cosmic joke we lost both mom and dad’s muzzle.

Everyone, including them, was planning on mom surviving him. He’ll be 89 in October and she was six years younger and seemingly in better health – ha! I’m sure there is a lesson here (thought to the tune…”You don’t always get what you want…”) – patience (of Job) seems the obvious.

He simply has to move out before the house can be put on the market and he’ll move in with my saintly brother and his saintly family (although I suspect a saint to demon transformation happening in the very near future). He’s stays there until his condo is finished in a multi-care facility in November/December ’05. I truly hope that he will find stimulation and activity that is so lacking in his limited world right now. That the burden will be lifted from the shoulders of the 2 “good sons” and their families is the greatest hope that we can have right now with his move. Meanwhile we are living the axiom of “the only way to the other side of the pain is through it.”

My ass hurts!

Vacation??? Whaddaya think?

Vacation? I probably will relax into it by the time Hawaii gets here, but we had to make an obligatory family stop (for a week - blek). Well, one member of the family that is and will visit with the rest as time allows. So this week we help pack up a household that has nearly 40 years worth of accumulation. Mix that with a generous helping of a cantankerous dad person and no real solid plan and it's a volatile mix.

So here I am in a Kinko's to get out of the house and to visit the blogosphere. So, go from 1 brain deadening activity to another...work to vacation part 1. I'll probably be more of my sarcastic self myself in a couple of days! Meanwhile.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!