DonnieBrook's Subtropical Adventures 2

I think both of you better watch your fengs and a few more parts!!!! LOL I agree, Bill, gotta go for 5! An even number won't do! How's the NH weather today? warming up here.....will go up to Punta Gorda for supper with CT friends. I have a splitting headache and puffy eyes from the concrete dust that must still be in the house from cutting through that exterior wall. yuk. Hank is going to turn on the a/c....rain tonight though.

Victor - are you guys getting any early spring temps yet there? How's the knee?

We made it to 47 today, which is spring-like for us! The grass is green where the snow has melted---more stuff on the way however---looks like rain-snow mix----yipee! Can't believe the vet made a house call----

snow supposed to hit tomorrow and later in the week - lots of melting right now and for the past few days.

my knee is killing me

oooh, Marilyn - those temps sound very Springy....the snow won't last long now and bing, bang, boom.....you're there!!! LOL As to the house call, yeah....she lives next door and is a really nice vet. The girls LOVE her and she is very good with them. We are lucky to have such great neighbors. She and I exchange tomato seeds and plants every fall.

Sorry to hear that, Bill....all that weight from those stones may be too much???

Yes, mid-40's here. Slushy mix tonight. I was on the elliptical today with no problem. Thanks. One of these days I will attempt the treadmill.

I get motion sick on the treadmill! She sounds like a very nice vet & neighbor, Louise. Robs had a seizure yesterday---just a mild one, but it knocked him out for the rest of the day---better today, back to his very bouncy, barky self.

aaaaaawwwwww poor baby.. hope he is ok

Oh, No, Marilyn! Was that his first seizure? How old is he? I know it is upsetting to his Mom! Hugs to Robin!!....and Hugs to you too!

Victor - glad to hear you are doing ok on the elliptical! That's progress!

Robin, has this happened before? My friends dog has seizures once in awhile and they have no idea what cause it.

Everything looks great DonnieB. I eat uncooked cc cookie dough all the time ^_^ Sometimes I make 'cookies' just to eat the dough because I can and because no one can stop me. I purposely leave some food on my plate too sometimes for the same reason. Oh and I will snack right before dinner to prove that I didn't 'spoil' it! These are HUGE perks about being grown up methinks. Although I have conceded on some things. I no longer run around with a sharp gardening tool in my hand cuz you will too 'fall and stab yourself' sigh.

RD that's scarey.

Love your philosophy, Dahlia!! There's just nothing better than cc cookie dough!

I, too, love your philosophy, Cousin Nut. A great way to be. I love cookie dough, and I, too, love to make it just so I can eat the dough, as well as make cookies. I have fewer cookies, but oh, is that dough heaven or what?????!!!!!!!

Marilyn, sorry to hear about Rob's seizure. Glad to hear he is doing well today.

Karen

Robs had his first seizure 5 years ago while we were wintering in FL---he seizured for 36 hours---didn't know if he'd make it---turns out he was bitten by something carrying anaplasma---the doggie park was across the road from a cattle farm, think he was bitten by a fly. Anyway, he'd already had Lyme , so the combo was bad. Our vet put him on phenobarb when we returned home---he still has a few seizures every year, but they are milder than the first one. He usually seizures when it's hot out, but the day he had this last one, he was riding in the car with DH who had the heat on full blast, & no window open for him---I was a little upset! Anyway, thanks all for your concern---living with Robs is a daily adventure!

Oh dear, Marilyn. I'm so sorry that the poor pup had to go through all of that. It sounds like you are really lucky to have him. At least you know what the issue is. That must be some comfort! I had a wire-haired terrior for 14 years who developed epilepsy after a kid jumped over the fence in our yard to get his basketball and landed on my terrier's head. He had a serious concussion and 6 months later he had his first seizure. He had them about every 6 months his whole life. There was nothing to do for them, and like Robin, afterwards he just slept for hours. It is upsetting to see even if you know what is going on.

Poor Robs. I'm sure it's more upsetting to you than to him, though. Dogs don't think of those things. They live in the moment and never obsess over that we humans obsess over. That's a good thing for them.

Karen

True---he doesn't understand his sickness, but Suey gets very upset, just like Skip's sister, Jazz did---they know something is wrong & want you to fix it---Jazz would wake me from a sound sleep to let me know Skip was seizuring---Louise, I can't believe what happened to your wire-hair! That child may have meant no harm, but asking you for the ball back would have been the better solution!

Trouble is that kids can be afraid of adults, even when they know them I was.

True---

Actually, he was one of my students and was a great kid. He was playing basketball with the kid next door and the ball went into our yard and he didn't give it a thought about just jumping over the fence to get it. He was so upset. He was the one who came and told me McTavish was hurt and that he had done it. He also went with me to the vet hospital and held him in his lap while I drove. McT peed on him while he was holding him, and he didn't blink an eye. The neurological impact caused McT to lose control for a short time and then we thought he was fine. I felt terrible for the kid because he was such a good kid and did the right thing when he realized he had hurt him.

Thats a good boy, it was an accident but he could of kept silent.

That's what I thought too, Celeste. Also, he didn't have to offer to help me take him to the hospital. I believe he was in 10th grade then. I had him in a few different English classes throughout 4 years of high school. We had grades 9 - 12 in that school.

What a tragic accident. I bet he really felt bad about it. That's hard to get over for some people, as they can beat themselves up about it. Some people have a hard time forgiving themselves for accidents they've caused, even though it was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a good thing McT was not worse off for all of that.

Karen

Oh, now I feel bad for him! I would be devastated if I did something like that!

So would I.

Karen

Good kid! When I was young we were throwing around the football and I broke someone's side mirror by accident. Being really young, I was afraid I would get in trouble. One of the older guys convinced me to go tell the man and he came with me as I did. I apologized to him and told him I would tell my parents and they would pay. He was so impressed that he said - no, don't even tell your parents. From then on, he treated me like a grandson! He was a real nice man - Mr. Miller. Steve Miller, like the rocker!

That's a nice story, Victor. I felt the same way about Jimmy. It took courage and honesty on his part, and I told his parents how proud of him I was and what a good kid he was. It was clearly an accident and I didn't blame him at all. That was such a good school where the parents really supported the teachers. It was an excellent teaching situation. That's where M.L. Carr from the Boston Celtics and I became good friends. He did his student teaching there and he and I had the same planning period and were the only two teachers in the teachers' lounge that period. Years later after we had moved to Connecticut, he was making an appearance in the area after they won the championship. He gave us front row seats to a game and had Mike come into the locker room with him after the game. All of the players on the championship team signed a pennant for Mike. I stood out in the hallway and saw Michael Jordan naked getting a massage. He came out into the hall when he got dressed and gave me an autograph for Mike because of my reaction to seeing him. The door was open to the dressing room and I was just strolling around. Eek. I think that was his first year with the Bulls.
During my first year of teaching, I was one of 8 white teachers in an all-black school in Charlotte, NC. during the first year of desegregation. I was also the cheerleading advisor and went to games where I was the only white person in very hostile stands since it was during the very heated desegregation wars in the south. Around the same time, M.L. was the only black player in Boston, so we had both experienced racial bias and hatred and even fear, but from opposite ends of the spectrum. We had lots of long talks about our similar experiences after we got reunited and when he was writing his book. That teaching experience was one of the most valuable of my life.

What a wonderful memory Louise! Are you writing a book of your memoirs? You should.......

How cool is that, being friends with someone famous?!!!! Great! I love that story.

Karen

thx for sharing lousie - i only saw ml once on a flight to somewhere - he was not in first class and had the ailse seat by the boarding door with nice leg room - this was after the earlier championships so when i saw him i just said thx ml as i walked by:) real good guy

Great story, Louise! No one in my teachers' room like that!

No memoirs, Celeste! I don't have the energy. Hank is doing another writing project (his third) and I am his editor. That's enough for now at least. Maybe when I'm 100, I'll change my mind if I reach the point where I wouldn't rather be putting my energy into the garden! LOL I got pretty burnt out in my last career, so I'm just taking it easy these days......no deadlines, please! I've had enough of those to last me a lifetime.

Karen - it's funny....I don't think of ML as being famous. He's just a good guy to me. Now Michael Jordan is another story! LOL Bill - that was cool that you did that when you saw ML on the plane. I'm sure he would have appreciated it. He went through a lot of tough stuff and I thought he handled it with class. Some of his stories were outrageous!

Marilyn - LOL! I made a lot of close friends at that school and I still keep in touch with some of them. We were all young with young kids and we had lots of fun together. We all vacationed together at Myrtle Beach every summer and those are some fun memories too. One of those friends has a son who lives here now, so I get to see her when she visits her son and his family.

How are things in your worlds??????

OK--had lunch with my cousin, Jim, and his wife today. Then went to the doctor's next door so he could evaluate Doug for a walker---he knows Doug can't walk, but Medicare has rules! Picked up the walker---it has 4 wheels & a seat, so Doug can practice walking in the drive, & sit if he tires! Heading up to Maine in a few weeks to see stepson. Was able to walk today, so I'm feeling less stressed, but I NEED to get into the soil & plant---I even want to rake! Can't wait until plants start blooming. Post more photos of those 2 cuties of yours, Louise.

A seat is SUCH a good idea.

Yes, a seat is a great idea.

Karen

Good news, Robin!

Yes, anything that helps Doug feel less isolated is good news for me---I know he'll never get any better, but he needs to get out more.

Sounds like it may be very liberating for Doug when he gets used to it, Marilynn. My friend in NH has one and it has allowed her a lot more flexibility and confidence when we go out to dinner. At 100 she is still filled with "get up and go" willingness at the drop of a hat, but her mobility is a challenge, so this has helped her a lot. I hope it helps Doug as much!

Yesterday we took a day trip with the girls and our friends, and it was a great test of their ability to do the car for 11 and a half hours. They really did great, and we took them for a number of walks that helped a lot. We drove all the way around Lake Okeechobee and stopped at several points to walk along the shore. We counted 28 species of birds we saw. We're all tired today, but it was a very nice day with perfect weather. Of course, they were ready to roll and rumble when we finally got home at 8:30 last night. Here's a shot of Lake O.

I will try to get some more recent shots of the puppies - if they'll ever stand still long enough. LOL

Nice, Louise! Sounds like it was a lot of fun. The pups sound like they're doing well.

Oh, I have news. My niece Chrystal, my youngest sister's DD who lives with us, will be getting a mini dachshund pup next month, a girl. My SIL's friends dog just had pups, and she's giving them away. Full blooded, but not papered. She has 3 girls and a boy. The boy is spoken for, so Chrystal can pick one of the girls. We're all excited. I told my sis I'd get Chrystal Ceaser's book on Raising the Perfect Puppy (isn't that the name of it?). The only thing I don't like about dachshunds is that they tend to be yappy and hard to house train, but we'll see. I'm sure there are things that can be done to curb the yapping tendency. Nip it in the bud while they're still babies.

Karen

Louise... I might need another cutting

:(

it's not looking too good all of a sudden