Near Death Experience

With Charlie, whatever could possibly go wrong will most assuredly happen I have learned. I had asked Mom to retrieve another roll of PetSafe wire from the garage while I continued stapling the wire to our fence. I heard a strange sound behind me, turned on my knees and took in the sight of Charlie lying next to an apple tree, motionless and quiet. I ran to her and worked feverlishly at removing the string leash and removing the slip collar that was holding her down and making it really awkward to help her. She was limp and not really seeing anything, her tongue was out slightly and her mouth had bits of dirt and barkdust in it. I was beyond scared because it seemed that I was just too late. When I finally got the collar off I watched her chest carefully and she began to move ever so slightly in my hands, but it was a kind of slidy movement of her body. I would have given her artificial respiration in another two seconds but her chest began to slowly move.
For the rest of the night she was slow, shakey and shivering, and retreated to her rug whenever she wasn't being held by Mom. All of the fire was gone from her eyes and the bounce had run away. I slept with her last night and this morning she was pouncing on Katia and getting scratched by Mina.
Charlie is curled up on the fur rug here in the computer room. I need to bath, eat, and read the next section in Calculus before departing at 10 so have a good day, kiss the wife and pet the dogs and cats. Love, Dad

Bigger Fence

Well, I read Mom's post. Charlie has been running across the road to many of our neighbors, followed a Golden Retriever down the block to the corner, has gone under the fence into two yards across the creek, and has started running up the hill to the chain-linked fence to bark at the two hunting dogs, and has tried repeatedly to get through the chain-link fence by the raspberry plants to play with the kids next door. Their little girl is afraid of dogs so Charlie can only stand on two paws and plead to get in. Mom has wanted me to fix this problem with a fence, but the cost for an appropriate and property enhancing fence would be really expensive and the physical layout of our yard would require and awkward partitioning of space, etc. I wanted to use our underground fence and had just replaced some components trying to solve problems started by my breaking the wire out by the apple trees in front. We decided to get Charlie an Ultra-light receiver at Coastal Farm Supply. I was worried that I might not have enough wire, but it turned out I had three 400 foot rolls. Anyway, I put wire up to the chain-link fence in back, stapled it to the fence out back, pinned it to the ground along our property line, and included the rock garden, before reattaching it at the driveway. Last night I showed Charlie the flags that Mom put in and she got three short exposures to the fence ( I really should have waited a day but was really worried that even one day might be too late given her running away behavior). This morning I took both dogs out, Katia had been exposed last night; she crossed the bridge while Charlie was investigating the creek this side by the rock garden; heard the warning and shot back. Charlie then took off towards the bridge at a full run and was rocketing towards an escape point under the fence when she hit the shock zone. There was a yelp, a turn around, and a bee line back to the house.

Irresponsible Pet Owners

We had a very near tragedy yesterday. I tied Charlie to a small fruit tree near where Dad was working while I went to the garage to get some wire for him. She ran around the tree and choked herself nearly to death. As I was coming back out of the garage I saw Dad running to her. She was limp, not breathing and tongue hanging out. When he got the collar off her, she gasped and began to breath again. I pretty much held her the rest of the evening and she was a very sad, shaky puppy. This morning she seems okay. You can imagine, the owners were pretty sad and shaky themselves.

Diet is going okay. I ate a little too much this weekend but didn't totally blow it. I am fairly determined and mostly into a routine now, packing my lunch, etc.

For me birthday, a visit would be very nice. As a gift idea, how about a not-too-expensive pedometer. Just something that would remind me that I need to walk in the evening if I haven't moved around enough during the day.

Other big news - we are getting DSL. They were having a good deal so went for it. Will be nice to get a little more speed on the old Internet.

Jennifer never blogs, but they have bad pet news. Brody has bad joints, but worse than thought. Probably won't last long. Also Chloe died after convulsions.

Must go to work.

Don't know who I signed in as, but this is Mom (aka Janice)

Mom's birthday

So mother, what do you want for your birthday?? Any ideas for us?

I will be gone for your birthday, mother, but I was wondering what you were doing on the weekend of Mar 19th. I get back from my trip on the 18th and Greyson will be in Lousiana so I will be hanging out alone. When is your spring break?

Diets and Exercise

So I also want to know how the dieting and exercising is going? Greyson said he and my mother were making some sort of pact or support group or something. I was terrible on my last trip. I brought a bag of chocolate Easter candy from costco with me for everyone in the trailer and I definitely ate my share of it. I will need to find a healthier snack for this trip.
I also have a hard time finding anyone that will go for a walk with me on my trips and often find myself heading back to my room and vegging out each night after work. I need some inspiration. I thought about bringing my bike but I already have a ton to pack. How is everyone else doing, swimsuit season will be here before you know it.

Are you blind??

So I need to know if I need to work more with Ada on her guide dog skills? How did it all come out dad? Did your eye get better, are you still having problems, how long did it last??

Back to the guitar

I decided to get started on the guitar again. I haven't played really for about 6 months and figured I needed to get going again so I didn't lose what I have already learned. I started up the dvd that my sister got me and found that it was a really good dvd but somewhat technical and advanced. After about an hour of playing Ada got up and came over to lick my hand and the guitar. This is her way of telling me that she has had enough guitar playing for the day and wished I would finish up. Greyson said that she also will do this to him when he is playing the drums. I do think I will take my electric guitar along with some headphones on my next road trip.

Speaking of my travels, my last trip was uneventful. The weather was beautiful and allowed for the trailer door to be opened every now and then for some fresh air throughout the day. I have become quite the tagger and now feel competent with the ear piercing gun that we use and would like to volunteer for any piercing needs you may have. I can also help out with radio tagging of your children for tracking purposes if you like.

I avoided all of your sickness thus far. However Greyson was complaining about a scratchy throat. But he always gets stressed out towards the end of a term and is prone to illness. Hopefully I will be gone on a trip if he does come down with anything so I can avoid coming down with it myself.

straight for jugular

Ada has a knack for finding the soft underbelly of both man and machine. I may have told you, but I received our refurbed Eureka the other day. I couldn't wait to get started sucking on our beautiful carpet. The thing fired up with a roar. Thought there was a 4 banger in there at the very least. Slow and low, that is the tempo. The brush pulls so strongly. Had to reign in the power, show it who's master and creator. On thrust #2, the wheel rolled off, and with that the mission failed. I went today to purchase a new hubcap for my baby, and tapped her into place like a seasoned mechanic. It's on now. So with the flip of the switch, ada goes absolutely nuts. Having been roller burned on the kisser, she immediately lunged for the air hose, a shark in national geographic attacking the man in chainmail. Didn't notice any "bleeding", but I think for the safety of all involved, Ada needs to stay outside during the operation of big powerful scary machines.