Showing 38 posts from December 2008
... but some evenings I feel like it and that's why this blog's been sporadic of late. I owe the Big Doofus a Blind Dog story, but first, let's update you on the homefront:
* My good wife whom I love dearly went back to work today for the first time in six weeks. It exhausted her--having to stay off your foot as much as possible after surgery does no wonders for your stamina, especially when the boot you have to wear to meet your job's ESD prevention requirements feels like it weighs 50 pounds--but she made it, even had some of my dinner made for me by the time I got home (which she did not have to do). I'm glad she's back at work, because she needs the purpose and bluntly, we need the money. I'm fortunate to have purchased several shares of stock since our employer went public and had to sell a significant chunk of them to make sure we stayed afloat, because the "we'll-pay-within-one-week-of-your-claim" promise of our work-promoted short-term disability policy turned out to be total hogwash. We did not and will not see a dime because they want my wife's doctors to prove to them that her condition wasn't pre-existing. Excuse me, but don't reputable insurance companies ask for that stuff when you apply so when you have the nerve to make a claim, they already know it? It makes me glad I didn't waste my money on the damned thing for myself.
* As is, she gets the bandage taken off next week, and a fresh one put on, and will probably require The Bionic Boot for work for at least another month. She's not thrilled about that. There's also other health issues I will not blog about because frankly, she would kill me if I did. And my last words would be "I don't blame you, sweetie."
Thank you for tolerating that venting of my frustration. You have your own life issues to deal with, I'm sure, so enough said. Smile, Jeff. Smile!
On to the Big Doofus's DiDi question: What was DiDi like in the car?
Shockingly sedate. DiDi apparently had ADD--they say crying babies who won't calm down until you take them for a car ride are prime candidates for ADD. DiDi, a total spaz threatening to spontaneously combust in practically all other situations, was an angel riding in the car. Once you started moving, she would smile and lay down and make no fuss at all. Until you stopped. Then, she'd spring up and get right in your face and ask "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" A question which dogs ask by licking your face, something DiDi could do rather sensuously (especially after a long ride).
Two things happened this weekend that have really turned my mood around. One of them I choose not to blog about except to say, it's good to have someone's full trust (and give it in return). Enough said.
The other I'll blog about: Last night, two young gentlemen went through their Eagle Court of Honor without a hitch. You might remember from an earlier post they asked me to emcee the event (exactly why I'm still not sure). I did a competent job moving the program along as they asked.
But it was their evening, and they made it happen and happen well. I've been to several Eagle Courts of Honor. This was by far the best one. It's the first I've seen for two Scouts instead of just one--something that should happen more often than not. It was the right mix of dignified and laid back. It was not pompous, nor airy, nor show-offish, nor obviously adult-planned. It was fun. And we had peach floats at the reception.
Peach floats have deep significance for anyone who's attended summer camp at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Missouri. Just east of the Reservation is a very small town called Iconium, with a general store called Scott's, which serves soft-serve ice cream with Peach Nehi. Tradition dictates that first-year Scouts fulfilling their five-mile-hike requirement for First Class Scout hike two and a half miles from camp to Iconium, enjoy a peach float, then hike the two and a half miles back. My stepson, his second and third years at Bartle, volunteered to help the adults escort the first years to Bartle so he could enjoy this treat. I have no idea how many he consumed while on staff this year, but I suspect it could be measured in gallons.
The critical ingredient is Peach Nehi. In all of Missouri, only Scott's General Store in Iconium carries it. While very good chilled, the best way to drink it is warm. Warm, it tastes just like drinking a peach off a tree and the first sip feels like a soft kiss from the girl of your dreams. Added to soft-serve ice cream, it is impossible to think an evil thought while consuming it. For the five minutes from start to finish, all is right with the world when drinking a soft-serve peach float made with Nehi.
The father of one of our new Eagles informed me that one does not have to go to Iconium for Peach Nehi if he lives in Kansas. Nay, I've learned, I only have to go a few precious miles--to a fine place called Aunt Jean's on 11210 Johnson Drive in Shawnee, Kansas. The proprietor is an old Scout with fine memories of Bartle and Iconium, so he and his wife decided to bring the tradition a bit closer to home. I'm already planning a pilgrimage.
With the trouble my good wife whom I love dearly has gone through, these two things have helped me summon my courage. Maybe this blog will be a bit less gloomy. Heck, I've even got a DiDi story to tell you courtesy of the Big Doofus's questioning mind... but it'll wait a little while.
We found out, finally, why my sweetie has not received any of the disability she applied for: the insurance company claims never to have received the paperwork. Seeing it was supposedly sent three weeks ago, that's irritating to say the least. It's been sent again and it's supposed to be followed up on today.
Meanwhile, the same virus that nailed my stepson last week is nailing my sweetie this week. She's miserable, but tolerating it.
Somehow I stay healthy. This is a good thing, because if I were as sick as my sweetie or stepson, we'd all starve and die. As is I can run errands and keep things clean as well as my male DNA will let me.
I want to write about DiDi but can't think of anything I haven't written already. I need the distraction. Anyone got any good "tell me this about your dog" questions? It's been awhile since I've written about the blog's namesake. Feel free!
As you might know if you're one of the two or three souls who read this blog regularly, I've been working on writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days as part of National Novel Writing Month (click the "Participant" box if you want to know more about NaNoWriMo; click the link to my novel blog above it if you want to actually read the thing).
Now, the first to know about The Blind Dog Blog were some friends at work. But I'd noticed their readership had lapsed of late, probably because they work with me and are sick to death of me as it is. So, I didn't tell anyone at work about my NaNoWriMo novel. I wanted to see if I could bring it in under the radar.
Nope. Today, I received generous complimentary words about the novel from Ben, a great guy, who's been following it religiously and so far likes what he's seeing. Bus-ted! :-) Seriously, I'm glad he likes it. He's an ordained minister and hence (hopefully) possessive of a decent moral compass, so his like of the work tells me I'm on the right track.
For anyone else I know at my work who chooses to read it, as I've posted a few times now, please remember it is a work of FICTION and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. I'll admit cribbing some real-life experiences and real-life personality characteristics, but I've cribbed no real-life people in their entirety.
And that's all I've got tonight. It's been a long weird week and I think all who work with me will agree with that assessment.
Now, the first to know about The Blind Dog Blog were some friends at work. But I'd noticed their readership had lapsed of late, probably because they work with me and are sick to death of me as it is. So, I didn't tell anyone at work about my NaNoWriMo novel. I wanted to see if I could bring it in under the radar.
Nope. Today, I received generous complimentary words about the novel from Ben, a great guy, who's been following it religiously and so far likes what he's seeing. Bus-ted! :-) Seriously, I'm glad he likes it. He's an ordained minister and hence (hopefully) possessive of a decent moral compass, so his like of the work tells me I'm on the right track.
For anyone else I know at my work who chooses to read it, as I've posted a few times now, please remember it is a work of FICTION and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. I'll admit cribbing some real-life experiences and real-life personality characteristics, but I've cribbed no real-life people in their entirety.
And that's all I've got tonight. It's been a long weird week and I think all who work with me will agree with that assessment.
Today, probably by about 9 p.m., I should top 25,000 words on my NaNoWriMo novel--halfway home, three days ahead of schedule. As one of the privileged two or three who read this blog on a regular basis, you're most welcome to check it out the latest installments. Just scroll down and look for the link under "Websites and Blogs a Blind Dog Would Love." And if you know me beyond this blog, as always, please realize this is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is ENTIRELY coincidental. (That's legalese for "Don't read too much into a character that strangely resembles you." ;-) )
In the meantime, another DiDi story. Didn't I promise one of those?
This is our first fall without DiDi. The back yard is slowly recuperating. Grass and weeds have pretty much filled in the ruts she made between the gates, and between the fence posts at the rock garden in back. Every year, rather than give them to the fair City of Olathe, I mulch our leaves--all 326 billion of them, over four weeks--and put them in the rock garden to naturally rot and create soil in the winter. Now that DiDi's gone I can plant some flowers in her memory, and I know they'll grow like no one's business.
For her, though, the leaves were simply another comfy bed. She loved to go lay in them as soon as I put them in the rock garden. And she played in leaf piles like a hyperactive child, smashing into them and making them fly. A real child playing in the leaves might find himself surprised by a suddenly impacting object with a cold wet nose.
DiDi was always more relaxed in the fall than at any other time of year. I think it's because she had a natural release for all that pent up energy threatening to make her spontaneously combust at any time.
Any suggestions for flowers to plant that would memorialize a dog? You have the picture to the right for inspiration. Thanks in advance!
In the meantime, another DiDi story. Didn't I promise one of those?
This is our first fall without DiDi. The back yard is slowly recuperating. Grass and weeds have pretty much filled in the ruts she made between the gates, and between the fence posts at the rock garden in back. Every year, rather than give them to the fair City of Olathe, I mulch our leaves--all 326 billion of them, over four weeks--and put them in the rock garden to naturally rot and create soil in the winter. Now that DiDi's gone I can plant some flowers in her memory, and I know they'll grow like no one's business.
For her, though, the leaves were simply another comfy bed. She loved to go lay in them as soon as I put them in the rock garden. And she played in leaf piles like a hyperactive child, smashing into them and making them fly. A real child playing in the leaves might find himself surprised by a suddenly impacting object with a cold wet nose.
DiDi was always more relaxed in the fall than at any other time of year. I think it's because she had a natural release for all that pent up energy threatening to make her spontaneously combust at any time.
Any suggestions for flowers to plant that would memorialize a dog? You have the picture to the right for inspiration. Thanks in advance!
