Last Tuesday of 2011

[Colliemom]

Good Morning all,

Hard to believe that we are now in the last week of 2011. Where did the year go? Actually, for that matter, where has the last decade gone? Seems like we were all anxiously awaiting Y2K and nothing happened after all the predictions of doom and gloom. And now we are 11 years past that mark. I'm sure that for most of us, we are going to be glad to see this one go. too. Hopefullly 2012 will be better. Course the world is predicted to be coming to an end next year too according to some, so that will probably generate a bit of excitment as the time draws near. And then it's an election year and .... Hmmmm, can we skip to 2013 please

Cloudy here this morning. I guess there's a mix of snow/rain/sleet/freezing rain moving across the state to the south of here. Not predicted to come up here. Fine by me. It's very mild out and expected to get colder however. Yesterday was beautiful, plenty of warm sun and around 42. The snow has settled down, not that there is much anyway. And the dogs and I enjoyed a really nice long walk through the woods, following some two tracks and the snowmobile trail. Didn't even need my gloves.

Chiropractor appt. for me this morning and then to check out the gym and head for home. Thinking of calling my cousin and seeing if they are going to be home this afternoon, and head over for a visit. I called my one cousin and his wife on Christmas Day night and we had a nice chat. Lo and behold, they were both on Facebook chat last night, so we yakked again for awhile. They aren't on their computers much, so it was a surprise to find them on there.

Time to be off and running here. Wishing you all a wonderful day.
s

[kdmac]

Morning All,
Yes, Sue, this should be an exciting year in some regards, certainly for all the authors and marketers of Mayan calendar doom books, T-shirts, and endless paraphenalia. I suspect these things are dreamed up by a think tank somewhere so money can be made...same as small towns thinking up "festivals" to have so tourists will come. I lived in Leavenworth WA for eight years and we had a festival for every quarter of the year...was fun though.

Another day in the desert, should be about 70 today. Sun hasn't come up over the mountain yet but as soon as it does it hits the trailer and instant warm.

On Christmas Day I went to church then drove down toward Yuma to check out the Senator Wash, another LTVA at the Imperial Dam area. It was sooooo nice to see water and the associated bird life. . It made me realize how much I miss WATER!!!! LAKES!!!! and BIRDS!!!!!!. The desert is a tough enviornment and you don't see too much animal activity. Just my hummer (1) and my woodpeckers (2) and the occasional coyote and roadrunner. These coyotes are not skitterish like they are around ranchers and farmers...they have a relaxed unconcerned countenance. Thought it amusing that on my Christmas Day drive I saw a roadrunner cross the road than soon a coyote crossed with a tired gate and tongue hanging. A scenario as old as time itself; probably just what the cartoon writer saw that inspired him to create.

Well, off to do something constructive....like take a bath and wash my hair.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING SUE AND ALL!

It is so hard to believe that 2011 is nearing the end of its longevity. By the way, what on earth did those letters and number, Y2K, mean, anyway?? I just assumed it meant we were coming to a new century, but have no idea where they came up with those assinine letters and a 2.

Anyway, although it's still sunny here this morning, the weather forecast is for a cold front to come through this afternoon bringing a 60% chance of rain and perhaps a storm, or two. We need rain, for sure. Tomorrow morning they say it will be in the 40s when we wake up, making it half as warm as what it's been down here. Interesting to see what develops later today. I did clean out my downspout yesterday to handle the rain coming off the huge roofs adjacent to my screen room, and, hopefully, there will be less leaking out there with that free to drain. I also need to climb onto the sloping roof to free up the spinning air vent up there that the hurricane tossed some flying object into, causing part of it to get bent and stop the whirling. I will wait for the kids to be here when I climb up there, in case I can't get back down without help!

I will call the vet today to make an appointment for Molly to get her blood work done so she can get her heartworm meds renewed. It makes me angry that they insist on that addded cost of bloodwork when she's been on the meds year 'round, but, although I argued, both vets, north and south, insist it be done. Sometimes you just can't win! Later in the new year, she will be up for some shot renewals.

I am waiting to hear from the gastro doc to talk to me today about trying to find out, prior to the reaming exam, what can be done for me in the meantime. There must be something I can do to be able to function half-way normally again.

Hope the Christmas rush left you all happy and contented----have a nice Tuesday!

[asirimarco]

Good Morning All - Another sunny day here in Aticama. This morning we are doning long pants and shirts getting ready to take a boat ride into the mangrove forrest. Bug protection. Should be fun. See lots of stuff to take pictures of I hope.
Yesterday we fooled around in town. As always saw lots of interesting things. There are lots of families here on the beach this week as everyone is on vacation.

[Redetotry]

Good morning all. we had a light snowfall during the night and it was beautiful this morning. It's the good snow, one that will soon be gone as it is warming up quickly.

Soos, and anyone else with a dog do have the heartworm test. The reason they are insisting is the heartworm meds are not working as well as they used to and the incidence of heart worm is alarming!!! Even if you have religiously given your dog her medicine every month ON TIME, she could still be infected. Horrible situation made worse by the fact that they are running out of the treatment for dogs who do get them. I think the only company that made it closed.

Off to get my new Garmin nuvi ready to return, DH ordered the 1490T instead of the 1490LMT. I really want one that you talk to but the ones I've seen with that feature cost over $200. Does anyone have any suggestions? I swear you need to take a class in buying one of these little jewels! I'm going to have to rent a kid once I do get one! Already sent a help wanted ad complete with job description and rate of pay to my friends son! The pay is lunch at a restaurant in a nearby town requiring he set up the GPS and guide us there

[Acadianmom]

We finally have some sun. Yesterday it rained most of the day and I mean it really rained. I never did hear how much. Looks like our temperatures will be in the upper 60's. My friend and I went to the Mall yesterday in all the mess and I think it was worse than before Christmas.

Soos, we had a heartworm scare with our dog 6 months ago. They did the blood test and it came back with a slight positive. He was on the Heartgard monthly dose. The vet ask me if he swallowed it whole or chewed it up. He pretty much swallowed it whole. He said there seemed to be a problem with the Heartgard. He is now giving a shot that has to be given every 6 months. He was going to give me a refund on the Heartgard I had but I ask if it would hurt to give Hank that also and he said no. I started cutting up the once a month treatment into little pieces. I looked on line and found that we aren't the only ones having trouble with Heartgard. Anyway, he just had another test and it was negative.

I think the Y2K meant Year 2000. It had something to do with a computer programing problem about using the last 2 digits of a year in programs. Computers wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 1900 and 2000 and some thought it would cause systems to crash. And by the way, stay off the roof.

Martha

[Irmi]

Good afternoon ladies!

We left MD 9:30 yesterday morning and drove as far as Haw River NC and spent the night at a Flying J. We left there 5:30 this morning and are at another Flying J north of Atlanta GA. We'll get up around 3:00 tomorrow morning to make our way through Atlanta and will arrive at our friends house southwest of Atlanta. I can't wait to see them, as they are such a fun couple. We met them in a campground in MD many years ago and have stayed in touch since then. Sometimes they would stay in our driveway in their fifth wheel and then we would head south to visit with them.

The weather today going down the road was very rainy and never let up until we drove into GA. The sun was out for awhile but it is overcast now and it is getting quite windy.

Take care and have a good day everyone.

[AlmostThere]

Morning,
Spent Sunday afternoon till yesterday late afternoon at my DDs. We opened gifts, but it was a bit quiet as my SIL worked worked the night before and slept most of the day yesterday, and my DD was up all night throwing up. Caught the stomach flu, so I brought the 2 GDs home with me, only to arrive to a sick dog. I have left Choco alone overnight before without any problems. Leave patio door open enough so he can go out. Left plenty of food and water. He hadn't touched either, but did potty soon after we arrived. He was/is very lathargic, tail down, shaking, acts like he hasn't the energy to do much. Won't even try jumping up on the sofa. His nose is dry. Doesn't seem to hurt anywhere. So we have a vet appt in 30 mins.
Will check back later.

[Nasoosie]

Lenora looking forward to an update about little Choco. It sounds as if your Christmas has been pretty stressful for all! I hope things go better from now on.

Molly had her heartworm blood test today, which was negative, so she got another 3 months supply of heartworm meds----not Heartguard----something new and different. Hope it works as well as the Tri-Heart has worked for Molly in the past. Interesting news about the failure of Heartguard----I think we haven't used that in a long time, thank heavens. They also confirmed that Molly has antibodies for Lyme Disease, which I have known since I adopted her. They don't treat that unless symptoms develop----like joint pains and arthritic-like symptoms. She has twice gone on a regimen of Doxycycline to remedy that, and her last attack was several years ago.

Waiting for a Choco update.

[AlmostThere]

Choco update. Thanks for asking, Soos.
Vet says he hurt his back. She found the spot that was painful during her exam and said it's the typical area when dogs get back injuries, and was pretty certain it's only in the soft tissue, not his spine. He's on Rimadyl (sp?) every 12 hrs for 4-5 days. If he doesn't seem to get better, or get worse, I'm to take him back asap. I will get a follow up call tomorrow, per usual. I love my Dr Wendy and Choco does, too! Also no fever and ears are nice and pink so no infections (I saw him scratching in his ear so wanted that checked, too).

While I was there I asked her to express his anal glands. She said they were still doing well since his surgery a year or so ago. Also refilled his flea and heartworm meds.

[dayspring39]

Time for sick animals... my friend Janie has 8 dogs... one has been violently ill all day vomiting blood and pooping blood... she took him in after hours and he got a shot to stop the vomiting... the neighbor says it is from eating turkey... has anyone heard of this before?
It was a slow day here except for the poor dog...
Kathleen

[Bethers]

Kathleen - got this from another website:

Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin and dark turkey meat are difficult to digest and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and can be lethal for your dog. Mini Schnauzers are particularly predisposed to pancreatitis.

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes, and when inflamed the natural production and release of these enzymes is upset. When the digestive enzymes are produced and there's no food to digest, the enzymes will start digesting body tissue instead. This causes further inflammation of the pancreas - the severity of the pancreatitis, and your dog's prognosis, will depend on how he reacts to this inflammation.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. If you suspect your dog has helped himself to a turkey dinner and is showing any of these symptoms, then I suggest you take him to your vet as soon as you can.

[dayspring39]

Thank You Beth... Janie is taking the dog to the vet this morning... I sure hope he does not die... there was so much blood... the doctor ordered a shot to stop the vomiting and will see him this morning... they have way to many dogs...
Kathleen