Sometimes science is no consolation – like when scientists decide to tell us that saber tooth tigers hunted in packs.
I had a La Brea tar pits book as a child; the sabertooths always gave me the cold collywobbles. I had the same reaction when I visited the museum there as an adult! they’re scary beasts!
Category Archives: Dogs & Cats
Lord of all he surveys
I’ve been slow about uploading pictures lately – I just put up some on Flickr from my stay in Chattanooga last month.
Here’s Luc, 18 and still pushing people around, enjoying a shady moment on the back patio of my parents’ house – which was uncharacteristically uncluttered. When I was home last summer it was simply too hot to ever sit out there, but that was in August. This year, and in May, it was quite lovely – and I got a good signal from Mother’s wireless.
What would snow be without a DOG to walk?
I’m dog-sitting over Thanksgiving break for a new colleague who went off to California. Teddy, an American Eskimo, seemed unimpressed by the first dusting of winter. He’ll learn!
An AWWWWWWW moment
Talk about the melancholia of everyday life! Not only did I have to say goodbye to my entire nuclear family today, but for the first time in years I wasn’t greeted on my return to the Pulteney by a bouncing Airedale, delighted to see me and READY for a LONG walk.
Oh, well. I guess I understand why some folks get involved in rebound relationships a little better now.
Thank you.
Thanks very much for all your kind words and comments – Argyle was an affection-sponge and would have loved to know she had so many well-wishers and friends.
The Argyle the Airedale Flickr set.
In memoriam – Argyle, a good dog.
Argyle – a good dog. Picture taken July, 2007.
Everything was peaceful in the end. Our vet, the wonderful Dr. Barbara Kauffman, noticed a lump on her liver or spleen back in May. It became more clear as time passed and the lump grew that it was her spleen.
Argyle was twelve – there was no point in putting her through the risks and questionable benefits of surgery. We managed – she managed – until very recently. The precipitous weight loss started about 2 weeks ago. I’m glad that Jeff George, who got her from Airedale Rescue originally, was able to come see her last weekend – and I’m sure she recognized him. Argyle still held on, game old girl, and took a walk around the block this morning, even. She didn’t have enough urine to bother passing, though – her kidneys were shutting down.
So, this afternoon I said goodbye, along with my upstairs neighbor and chief deputy dog care person Sandy Van Cleef.
She had a good life and a peaceful death.
Nanobooks
I think that this is the longest in a while that I’ve gone without downloading my audiobook of the month from Audible.com on the first day permitted – the 21st of each month (for me). It’s a combination of work and shorter dog-walks.
This month – Thomas Perry, Silence. I haven’t liked any of his post-Jane books as much as the Jane Whitefield ones, but he’s still pretty good. The Jane novels also have the hidden benefit of being regional – she’s a Seneca and I live on Seneca Lake, after all.
I haven’t read a novel in a long time when I wasn’t lying in bed. Life is hard.
Last month was my second Simon Winchester self-read books: A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906. He’s a good writer and a good reader – and the two are not common together. I really liked The Professor and the Madman, so I tried the geology book. Turns out that Winchester has a degree in geology!
Study in Frustration
I walled off the enormous opening between the living room and the kitchen to mop – and suddenly Argyle insisted that she just HAD to lie on a cool floor.
What you can’t say
You can’t say that dogs aren’t overbreeding. Read the whole thing – it’s an interesting study of moral fashion.
Disclaimer – I don’t have any idea to what extent Mr. Scheie is correct or incorrect, but I hasten to add that he isn’t morally wrong. If you disagree, go argue with him.
Does the Placebo Effect work on DOGS?
Medical science never ceases to amaze me.
So chondroitin may not work. Fine.
But one of the doctors says: “If patients say that they benefit from chondroitin, I see no harm in encouraging them to continue taking it as long as they perceive a benefit.” In other words, let ‘em placebify.
But what about the DAWG? Does that work for her? Believe me, I receive more annoyance from trying to make her take her glucosamine/chondroitin than I perceive benefit.
Weird Phenomena of Modern Living
I just walked in the door at 1.30. The TV was on but not doing anything. I mean that the picture from the Weather Channel was frozen. You see, I leave the TV or a radio on for the dog’s amusement (poor girl – she’s having to hang out in the crate when I’m away because of some housebreaking issues that were driving me nuts). So I change channels. Another still picture. And another still. And another.
So I fire up my browser to see if the cable modem is working. I’m having no problem creating this entry.
Modern life is sometimes very odd.
Week of firsts…
It’s a week of firsts, and it’s only half over. First flowers. First dog walk with rain (she HATES rain – would really rather hold it than go in the rain). First (and second!) grillings! Last night (Tuesday) I grilled marinated chicken thighs on the balcony. My neighbor, Sandy, had made salads (potato and green salads) and we ate on the balcony! Tonight isn’t quite so balmy, so I grilled my steak and brought it back downstairs to eat.
The grilled meat isn’t quite what I had this time last year in Argentina. I’ll live. I’m grateful for the better weather and a tank of propane.
Argyle amid the first flowers of spring!
I thought I saw some color in the courtyard behind my building yesterday evening, so today Argyle and I went out to explore. Click and see! There’s hope!
I guess . . .
I guess I should be glad someone is enjoying the weather.
Argyle has fans!
Someone picked up the Argyle picture and Airedale fanciers and rescuers have been visiting . . . . I’m sure Argyle would send a happy woof out to all of you, but one of her many excellent qualities, surely instilled in her days as Sam, is that she’s a very quiet dog. Thanks, Christine Sheffer and the Airedale Rescue folks!