Monthly Archives: July 2005

This is what happens when you get old?

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I’m 29.

My thinking framework is completely changing.

Things I used to be against, with every fibre of my being, are now looking appealing.

I used to make SO much fun of people who camped in a trailer. “It’s not camping unless you are in a tent!” I used to shout. Now I flirt with the idea of camping in a trailer. “It’s just because it’s easier with dogs”, I say. But is that really why?

Then there is the grass. It’s been over 30C for more days this summer than I can remember. Grass is dead everywhere. I’ve flirted with the idea of putting my sprinkler on to water my back yard. I even have a sprinkler. If I could find it, I’m quite confident I would have used it by now. What is happening to me??

AND THEN! Yesterday I bought the 3rd last air conditioner in town from Leon’s. A nice Whirlpool 5300 btu model. Oooooo baby I love it. It’s going to be 33C plus humidity for yet ANOTHER day in a row, and it’s forecast to be this way for the next 10 days. I just couldn’t do that to my dogs. I had to buy them an air conditioner. Yeah, that’s it. I bought it for my dogs. And oooooh man it’s nice to be spoiled. I slept with a blanket on, and you?

Giddy! It’s that time of year again!

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Hurricane DennisI hate CNN. Biased reporting, missing the big picture, repetitive, ridiculous. But on days like today, I just can’t peel myself away from it.

It’s hurricane season kiddos. That’s a fun time of the year for twisted Canadian’s like me. A time to sit around CNN, gathering with friends and family, to take gambles and bets on which reporter is the next to go.

I’ve even fallen asleep with the tv on during the last couple hurricane hits. It’s addictive coverage. When will that road sign finally give? When will the flooding reach the satellite truck? How waterproof is that jacket? I love it.

Nothing makes better reality TV that watching reporters trying to ride it out on the beach. Live coverage of category 4 hurricanes is very important to the well-being of their nation, so it’s understandable why they do it.

I’m lucky to live in Canada. I just can’t see myself ever living in the path of so many hurricanes. Although it’s a ridiculous 30 degrees Celcius here, with a forecasted 40C humidex this afternoon, I can comfortably pass the day away, hidden in my closed up house, watching Hurricane Dennis beat the pulp out of an abandoned Florida and Alabama coastline.

Thanks CNN.

War of the Worlds

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We escaped the heat by going to see War of the Worlds this evening.

I liked it. I’m not much of a Tom Cruise fan, and as my brother warned me, he is not only in every scene, he’s in almost every SHOT! There are some really unrealistic twists in the movie, but I do admit to hiding my eyes a couple times. Okay I jumped a few times too.

It’s much cooler now. Well down to 27 or so. I kept the curtains and doors shut all day and it kept it quite reasonable in here. I can’t believe the heat waves we’ve been having. I hate it. My ideal summer is one where the temperature never goes over 24C. Do I have to move farther north? :-)

Hey, anyone see my new favorite commercial? Makes me howl in laughter everytime I see it. It’s a McDonald’s commercial – with the dog – “don’t forget the ears!” HAHA I love it!

Chickens!

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WingerYou tell the blogosphere your dog has cancer, and everyone is too chicken to post a comment!

Well Winger is doing well. I’ve done lots of reading. I’ve read stories from people who have treated their dogs with radiation when not all of the mast cell tumor was removed, like Winger. Some of them send their dog away for 3 weeks to receive treatment. These tumors respond very well with radiation, but still some of these dogs had them regrow. I’m not taking this option. Winger is 11.5 and is healthy right now. Something is going to have to end his life. I don’t think expensive radiation, and who knows where they even do that up here, if anywhere, is worth it.

It’s assumed it will grow back. It might not too, but it probably will. We will just have to deal with what happens. Of course it’s going to rip my heart into pieces, as anyone who knows me, knows how attached I am to Winger, and vice versa. I know he can’t live forever, with or without mast cell cancer.

Mast cells are part of a normal immune system. They release chemicals into the body, including histamine. Some dogs with mast cell tumors begin taking benedryl everyday to ward off the allergic symptoms the tumors cause in their dogs. I believe I’ve been seeing this for a few months. Winger’s eyes have been secreting muscous for months, as if he’s really allergic to something in the air. I don’t think I’ll treat him with benedryl daily at this point yet. Winger has always been an itchy dog, always had problems with allergies and hotspots and skin problems. Interestingly enough, I came across this quote:

“There is some suggestion that mast cell tumor development may be associated with golden/red coat color and with chronic immune over-stimulation that occurs in dogs with allergies or other inflammatory conditions.” (source)

Wish I read that before! I would have tested the lump on his head when it was little! It would have been far easier to remove with clean margins! Can anyone remember how long Winger’s had that bump on his head? It was little before – I’m thinking at least a year, maybe 2? Anyone?

So what else is going on here…. I took today off. It’s been a draining week, didn’t get lots of sleep. It’s a sunny day, so I’m home. I brushed Surf and removed about 10 pounds of undercoat! Now she needs a bath. I cleaned the house a bit and now I think I’ll work on my big web project I’m excited to get up and running (and earning me money!!)

Have a good weekend!

Winger: Not so good news

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Winger went to the vet today to get some fluid drained from under his incision. He’s healing really well, probably because I’ve made him keep the cone on.

The results are back from the histopathologist. It was a mast cell tumor (cancer). They are rated on a scale from 1 to 4, with 4 being the worst. His was a 2a. The analysis of the margins show that not all of it was removed.

The vet said if it was a 4 he’d reoperate right away, but being where it is, it would be difficult to get wider margins because there is only so much skin available on the back of the head. For now he suggests we wait and see if it grows back. Winger is 11.5 so that plays a factor as well.

I had the vet take a sample of small lump Winger’s had for a long time in the skin over his shoulder. I should know tomorrow if it is the same thing. If it is, it’ll be much easier to remove when it’s small and not large and bleeding so bad as this one was.

I suspect I’ll be googling ‘mast cell’ all afternoon!

Update:
Here are two good links if you want to read more about mast cell cancer:

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/mastcelltumor.html

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/mct.htm

You’ve got to be kidding me…

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I tried to turn my laptop on this morning, but the power button is pushed into the laptop.

In a small flicker of luck, I was trying to pry it back up with a paper clip, and it must have made contact with something because it turned on.

I guess I’ll leave it on until after work to remove all my files.

Last time I sent away my laptop for service, it took 3 weeks to get back.

Seriously, what did I do? This has been a wild ride of bad luck. I have a leaning tree in the backyard, should I just assume it’ll be falling on my fence and garage soon?

Canada Day Long Weekend

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My brother Brian and his wife Leanne came up for the Canada Day long weekend. We had a weekend full of fun and entertainment.

Marina

We went to see the fireworks at the waterfront on Friday night. Saturday was the annual Tugboat races. We had assumed they’d go on all day, but when we got there, they were all parked in the marina! Apparently the tugboats are SO fast that we missed all the races! Luckily the night before we saw them parade up and down the river.

So with no race to watch, we let ourselves be entertained by the cutest little ducklings.

ducklings

After soaking up the sun a bit, we relocated to the Holiday Inn patio for a few cold ones!

Brian

Last night we went to see “The Longest Yard”. I really enjoyed it. Lots of laughs!

Brian and Leanne left this morning. Zeus was sad to see them go. He curled up in their suitcase for awhile, and then found comfort in Brian’s sandal.

Zeus in Brian's shoe

Are the Gods Pissed with Me?

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I just experienced a bout of projectile vomiting. Remember how I figured I was good to go with vodka again? Well I only had one! Guess that’ll be the last.

So I flushed, washed up, and went to feed the dogs their nightly banana and pills. Then I hear this noise coming from under the house. The cat started freaking out. It sounds like the fan has come on the furnace! whaaa? It’s a warm night! Maybe I hit the thermostat up by accident. Nope, it’s turned all the way down. My cat is freaked out! So I listen again and I can hear it at a couple of my vents. Maybe the furnace is doing something goofy so I went over to the electricity panel and flicked off the breaker for the furnace. Still hear it. So I flipped off the power for the entire house. Still hear it!!

So I grabbed my flashlight, put on a sweatsuit and dashed outside to crawl under my crawl space. I looked from the door but didn’t see anything so I ducked in a bit more and I see WATER!! AHH! I dove in and turned off the first two water shut offs. Still gushing water EVERYWHERE. So I had to dive into the thick of things, crawling over the gravel on my knees, and find another water shut off tap. As soon as I touched the pipe it started gushing more!! I turn and turn and turn and finally it slows, and finally stops. AHHHHH. I quickly made an exit from under my house, soaked, scared of all the spiders I just got in my hair probably, with massive dents in my knees from diving across the gravel.

So I have a broken water pipe. Right where the grounding wire is attached to the water pipe.

If you recall. I had just puked. I have no water to drink. My brother and his wife are coming in the morning. Tomorrow is a National holiday. And I have no water. And no connections with a plumber.

Bets on how much this will cost me?

And no Dad, I’m NOT trying to fix this myself.

So should I check my PayDay numbers against tonights draw? Nah, I don’t think I need to. I know the answer. Maybe I’ll just go to bed and hope this was a crazy dream.