Cinnamon was my best buddy for 14 years. Cancer sucks.
Morning all, lotsa catch-up for me.
Pilot: Glad the eye is better, can attest that mono vision is do-able but there’s a reason we gots two of 'em. Hope it continues improvement and rapidly.
I lurve all my dogs, but will concentrate on the one I have now. She’s a hoot, and is constantly shoving my phone out of my hand and presenting me with balls/toys/etc. demanding I go outside and play. I’ve (literally) lost weight since she joined us, both from playing ball outside and chasing her when she steals my tools.
Recently, Lucy has discovered her reflection in the TV and it fascinates her.
As to me…
Last week I took the new RV down to S Texas and was in the path* of Beryl. Although that wasn’t the real purpose, it gave us a great test of the RV with 65 mph winds and torrential rain for most of a day. Didn’t leak a drop anywhere, which was a welcome result. Youngest’s apartment complex took some hits though, and I spent part of an afternoon sweeping glass and retrieving roof/siding from the parking lot. Youngest’s actual apartment suffered zero damage, but next door was not so lucky (windows blown out and lotsa water damage). Funny how capricious storms can be.
The good news is everything worked (almost) perfectly in the new camper. One minor issue with the remote-controlled outside lighting which isn’t really important to us (Seriously? Who uses this?). Tested both A/Cs, furnace, microwave, stove, water heater, fireplace, entertainment center, and both internal and external utilities. All checked out OK on the shakedown cruise, and we’re making reservations for our first month-long trip in it.
As of now, youngest is back from “the continent” having completed one segment of the work on her dissertation, and will be teaching classics at university this fall (Greek and Latin). Eldest is quite comfortable in new job and is happily enjoying the summer. In a few days, our stint as the family “kennel” will be over and we return to a 1-dog household. Ashamed to admit how much I’m looking forward to a return to normalcy.
PT is noticeably improving my spine/back/nerve issues, and I’m really glad it finally got started. I have some annoying procedures this week, but only one requires anesthesia and the accompanying limitations on eating drinking. After that I’m cleared (I hope) and we can start traveling.
Obligatory pic of new RV, cuz I’m excited about traveling again 
*60 miles west of the actual path, and 150 inland. Not actually in a “hurricane”, just the remaining storm.
Never mind
Yep, it’s always been Bubba.
The long time love of my life, my furry child. He’s been gone for 5 years now and I still miss him so much.
Yes, of course I love my girl, Annie, but somehow it’s just not the same. (Just don’t tell her I said that!)
Pilot, I’m glad to hear that your eye is a little bit better this morning.
I love seeing everyone’s furry friends today!
I’ve had countless pets, so I should probably focus on the current crew. No favorites there, they’re all lovable mental health hazards in their own way.
Felix and Ava (previous pets, now at the Bridge) were definitely interesting characters. Felix was easily the smartest cat I’ve ever known. I’m pretty sure he could read and tell time. He generally warmed up to new female acquaintances faster than new male acquaintances, with a few minor exceptions. We had one friend a city ago who was a bit allergic to cats but was fine if she didn’t handle him, so I’d remind him before she came over that he couldn’t cuddle up to her or she’d get sick. He’d sit at her feet and give her adoring looks, but didn’t try to cuddle as he would with other friends we had. He loved dogs to the point of snuggling up to a Rottweiler he’d never met before, got along fine with Ava, disliked other cats.
Ava was our previous dove, who showed up injured on our doorstep one cold night and never left. She would actively tease Felix, who responded by calmly ignoring her. Her favorite perch was my head and she would fly from room to room to follow me around.
Lost both of them to old age, Felix in 2011, Ava in 2019. Picture below.
Today’s fun involves hauling Buddy to the vet for a further checkup. He is definitely fed up with being medicated, but is nowhere near done yet. Getting stronger (DH wonders about the steroid he’s on), and is at least not hiding on top of the dryer. He’s on the fridge, which is progress from the socializing POV. Allie’s labwork came back great, she’s a healthy little old ladycat. She also thinks Buddy getting medicated is great, since they both get treats as a result.
All my pets have been my favorites for different reasons. Except George, the Siamese cat I had in high school. He was the meanest SOB. Bob, the wonder pony will always have a special place in my heart. I had him for 25 years and lost him to old age. He was beautiful and a gorgeous mover. I never fully understood him. We could have gone a lot further up the levels had I been a better rider. I know he has visited Ariel and imparted words of wisdom along the lines of “if you want treats do this.”
Really bad storms moved through the area last night. The tornado siren went off and I hightailed it into the powder room under the stairs. The power went off at 11 PM and just came back at noon.
Here is Bob. I can’t figure out resizing.
I love all of my furkids equally! All four of them. Target, who is normally Airman’s cat, and for that reason, is occasionally called Jolene because she is a green-eyed hussy who stole my man, has been spending a lot of time with me. To compensate, or more likely, to take advantage of the downstairs air conditioner, Bethany has been spending time downstairs in Airman’s presence. Noob is hanging out with the sprog and Rooney has turned into a stage three clinger because I had the audacity to spend a week away from her at summer camp and I was gone again this weekend.
My first pets, though, were Mitsi and Oliver. Mitsi was a Yorkshire-poodle mix who raised me and kept me out of trouble until she died when I was 12. Oliver was a cat we got to manage a mouse problem that popped up after my parents got horses; with horses come grain, and with grain comes rodents. As a mouser, Oliver was useless, but he was a great companion.
Motorcycle painting update:
I called Technical Support at Color Rite, and now I have a plan. She said to wait five days for the paint to completely cure, then sand out the runs. At that point I can sand the entire cowling with 1500 grit sandpaper to ‘open up the pores’, spray the colour coat over where the runs were (or will have been), and then do the clear coats after about 20 minutes. But right now, I have to wait for the paint to dry before I can do any sanding.
Watchin’ paint dry in the MMP. How exciting!
Buddy’s home from his checkup. PCV (test of how his blood’s doing) has gone from 10 to 23, so we’re definitely on the right track with him. We arrived home to a delivery that included a tub of cat treats, so as soon as I picked up that container, I had two cats INSISTING that it be opened and contents dispensed. Yes, I followed orders.
We just got our first water bill, how exciting! When we looked at the breakdown, it didn’t show any sewer charges. This confused us because the listing specifically said sewer (we are kinda tired of dealing with septic) so Hubs called our water company who said that they didn’t supply sewer service out here, only water.
There is the Chapmanville water and sewer company which might be the company we owe, but we didn’t sign up for billing with them. Can they shut the sewer off if we don’t pay our bill?
We started looking at our neighbors’ yards and are seeing what looks like septic pump outs but there is no sign of anything like that in our yard. We went to the county website to see if we could find the plot map for our home, but it looks like we will need to take a (short) drive to Logan for that.
Tis a mystery indeed.
Howdy Y’all! We went to the hog trough GC and picked up the ‘script. Then it was home for nappage. After that, I spent some time dealin’ with the little fender bender I was involved in on Firday. I haven’t mentioned this before, but on Firday I was makin’ a right hand turn (I was in the outer left lane) and the car next to me was doin’ the same in the inner right lane. She decided she needed to be in my lane, the only problem bein’ I was in my lane, so I got hit on the passenger side. We pulled off the road, called the police, they did their thang and she was charged with failure to maintain her lane. Anywho, went to the police station this afternoon after nappage and got a copy of the report. Called my insurance agent to get stuff started. Fortunately we both have insurance with the same company (different agents however), so the claim has moved right along. I uploaded and emailed the accident report to my insurance folk, who got it over to the other person’s insurance folk and now I have a claim number. Tomorrow mornin’ I shall get an estimate from the repair place I want to use. I said at the start Charlie’s is the only place I intend to use and nobody has a problem with that cause Charlie’s is that good. With any luck within the next week to ten days I can get poor twuck repaired once again. I won’t go with a rental cause I hate dealin’ with that and OYKW is happy to be chauffeur for a few days. So, that’s been my day. RDOS plus activity. How do I manage it all!
BooFae apparently even the weather app needs an occasional RDOS day. I’m glad Shadow still knows when the fancy albacore tuna is bein’ opened. Loved the story about Orly.
MetalMouse so sad about Tina.
Pilot glad you slept through the night. Hope the optho can provide some relief.
shoe I’m not real techno myself. I was proud of me for scannin’ in and sendin’ a doc by email today. Only took me a half hour tops to do it all! I’m sure you’ll figure out the sim card swap.
talky glad you are on the mend. Good idea to meet with the optho. It’s optho day in the MMP!
JtC Steve was a handsome boy! Hope the mystery of the sewage is resolved soonest. Mystery sewage would be a great heavy metal band name!
doggio I loved Gordie and I never met him.
Cookie reads like Shad had the best life. So sorry it came to such a tragic end.
VanGo Cinnamon was a handsome boy! They are never with us long enough.
Yanker good on Lucy for makin’ you exercise. Glad the RV passed the test. Also glad youngest’s apartment didn’t suffer any damage. Yay for PT and improvement! I am sure Lucy will be glad to be an only child again.
Sticky_Buns I remember Bubba Schnoodle. I understand you love Lucy, but it’s not exactly the same as with Bubba.
Nettie Alex was a handsome boy and Ava a pretty girl! Glad Buddy is gettin’ stronger and hopefully all better soonest. Yay for Allie’s good bloodwork! I see Buddy’s appointment went well and that treats have been dispensed as ordered. You are a good hooman!
WetOne glad you’re safe from the storms. I am sure Bob has let Ariel in on all the secrets of how to best train you.
Robyn how dare you leave Rooney alone all that time! Amends must be made forthwith. Love Target’s nickname. Mitsi sounds like she was a good girl and Oliver just did not have the mouser callin’ but made up for it.
FlyBoy is anything more excitatin’ than waitin’ for paint to dry!
Part snuggle-monkey, part demon. This is from a few moments ago:
You can clearly see his thumbs, and how his thumbs have their own bonus thumbs.
And how, yes, they are fully and very functionally clawed.
He has extra toe-beans on all four feetsies!
… and yeah, need trimmin’.
Time for another nap. This long lasting Lyme is kicking my ass.
I can’t wait to tell The Missus. Y’see…
Back when I was still in L.A. and she was recently divorced in Hoquiam, WA, she was working on her house. She opened up a wall between the stairs and the living room, installed sconce lights on the living room side, and… refinished (or replaced – I forget which) the stairs. She was very meticulous with them, and now it was time to varnish them-- very carfully, because she wanted a perfect finish. I called her and she told me that she’d just finished painting the steps, and she’s keeping her eye on themto ensure there are no bubbles or anything. I said, ‘So… you’re sitting there watching paint dry?’ She was not amused. In fact, she was very offended.
So now whenever I’m waiting for paint to dry, she’s like, ‘Oh. So you’re watching paint dry?’
Afternoon all. Eye’s doing better, and ophtho visit went well. It still doesn’t like real bright light, and it’s still distinctly sore, but the bad focus has improved a bunch already and the bright sensitivity is a little reduced.
I do have my cataract process moving forward and will meet w the surgeon in 3 weeks to begin lens selection & set surgery dates. Meantime I have a lot of fussy eye care to add to my domestic bliss.
We had by turns a dog, a cat, then a dog while I was growing up. Once I left home for college I’ve never had nor wanted a pet. They’re OK I guess, but IMO the effort / reward ratio makes no sense. Then again, I’m a raging selfish shit and very much a human chauvinist.
I have enjoyed seeing everyone wax happy about their various critters past and present.
Happy to hear that overall most folks have been having a good last couple of days. I have read everything since Sunday afternoon in snips and bits on my phone.
How did you all wind up in Birch Bay?
I hope that the distortion goes away, but am glad that you’re feeling better otherwise.
Steve was a beautiful cat.
RIP Gordie. I still miss stories about him.
He looks like such a happy dog!
Don’t you love it when they’re a little goofy!
Bubba looks like a little bit of a smart@$$.
I’m just glad that twuck was the only one injured. Hope it’s repaired soonest with minimal fuss.
Monkey is a unique cat!
Got stuff done and am now treating this as the pre-irk evening that it is.
To add a couple of pics of my big boy, Nelson, who I’m going to have to temporarily evict from my arms so’s I can do KP and mess around in the studio.
