Maisie

 Trish brought her home from UT 2 days ago.  Parker hadn't been her usual bouncy, happy self since Artie's demise.  Although we weren't planning on getting a second dog, we couldn't stand seeing Parker so down in the mouth.

Her coloring is called 'phantom'.  Why?  Beats me.  Trish's last 4 dogs were all red poodles, so this a break from tradition - although she (Maisie, not Trish) is a poodle.  Maisie is 11 weeks old, high energy, into everything like a 2-year old kid.  Our bedroom closets all have full-length mirrored doors.  She sees her image in the mirrors, and barks at that 2-dimensional dog at every opportunity.  Her eyes are actually quite dark, the light spots in the picture are because I used the camera flash.  We think she'll be close to Parker's size when she's fully grown

Parker's much happier.  The two of them chase each other around and wrestle a lot.  Life is good again.

Cataracts

 Over half of US citizens will get cataracts (cats), usually starting around age 40.  Initially, cats are very small and of no consequence to one's vision.  They enlarge gradually over time and may become problematic around age 70 or later.  That was the case with Trish, various friends of ours - and now me.

I've had annual eye exams for several years and was always told my cats were small.  Until this year.  Several months ago, my eye doc said I should have cat surgery on my right eye.  So, off I went to visit the local eye surgeons, who, after many checks of both eyes, said I should have both eyes done.  The right one was done last Wednesday, the left will be done in 10 days.

The operation only takes about 7 minutes.  They give you an intravenous drug to relax you, but you're otherwise wide awake during the procedure.  Trish said the drug was wonderful; I think she was given a more generous helping than I.  Next time, I'll ask them to increase the dosage because I felt something less than wonderful.

So, now my right eye has the best replacement lens available (there are different types and different prices), and the left eye still has cats.  The difference in vision is remarkable: right eye is much brighter and whiter; left eye is duller and yellowish.  Before the operation, I had no idea how much the cats negatively impacted my vision.  I'd used reading glasses for years and prescription sunglasses as well.

I think vision is the most critical of the senses.  Life without it would be tough, less valuable.  If and when, your eye doc says you need the surgery.  Do it!

To be honest, there is one drawback: when I look in the mirror, I see a lot more wrinkles in my face.  I look like an old man, for cripes sakes!

RIP ARTIE

My favorite picture of Artie, all ready for his burger on Mackinac Island.

A fine little pooch he was.  Artie was a certified therapy dog and visited elementary schools with Trish numerous times over the years. The kids loved him, nearly wore him out doing high fives, a trick I taught him early on.  Trish taught him several other tricks as well.

In Sioux Falls, S D.  He didn't like the cat statue a darn bit, felt put upon.

He liked to spin around in circles - counterclockwise only - before meals or going outside or doing anything he enjoyed.  I often wondered if, someday, he'd totally unwind, spinning around the other way for hours and hours.

In Monterey, CA with big brother, Ranger.  Was Artie embarrassed or focusing on an ant?

Every evening after dinner while we were watching TV, Artie and Parker would conduct a loud wrestling match, sometimes so loud we paused the TV for several minutes.  They'd merrily chase each onto the recliners, the sofa and the floor, growling like it was a fight to death. 

He had cancer, was off his feed a lot in the final days.  He passed away at home early one morning, the same day we had planned to have him put down.  He always hated going to the vet.

Rain Chain

My first rain chain was on my last home in Oregon, 30 miles northwest of Portland, overlooking the Columbia River and Mt St Helens.  It got lots of business.

The next one was near the front door of my current home in Lake Havasu City.  Although it didn't get anywhere near the amount of business as my first one, it (and the gutter that fed it) did keep folks from getting soaked when they entered the house during infrequent downpours.  I recently retired that one.

Here's the new one.

It's copper, named Origami by the vender.

It'll likely turn green in time.

ODORIFEROUS OOPS!

 For non-RVer folks, I'll set the scene.  Larger RVs have 4 tanks: fresh water, shower and bathroom sink used water, galley used water, and black (toilet) used water.  Those larger RVs have 2 water inlets to which you connect a hose: one to fill the fresh water tank, and one to flush the black water tank.  In our fifth wheel, those two water inlets are right beside each other.  

When flushing the black tank, the gate valve must be open and the sewer hose connected to allow the flush water and filth to escape.  If the gate valve is closed, one or more of three things will happen: the tank will burst, the filthy water will escape through the ceiling vent, or it will fill the toilet and overflow onto the bathroom floor.

Pendleton, OR 2 days ago, tired from driving, I intended to fill the fresh tank.  By now, you can guess what happened: I connected the hose to the black tank flush inlet instead of the fresh water inlet.  And let it run for 5 minutes.  Was the black tank gate valve open?  No.  Did the filthy, stinking, toilet water overflow the toilet?  Yes.  Did it create one helluva stinking mess?  HELL YEAH!

Not only did it flow on the bathroom floor: down the heat vent into the duct, and into the basement.  Trish was less than totally delighted, loudly proclaiming my stupidity, while cleaning up inside, as I worked on the basement and outside.  Afterwards, deep six the stinking mop-up towels, bathroom rug, gloves.  Spray 409 on everything, wipe hands with alcohol.

Once was more enough for this 'adventure'.  Never again.

On the bright side, I think the tank didn't burst.  We'll see.

My Ducks Are In Line!

 It took nearly 8 decades but I finally got my ducks in line. Never mind that there's always an odd duck (I named him Ralph) that just has to face the wrong way. This is on Lake (a shallow pond, actually) Quinevere, looking out the back window of Tiny.

The pond attracts lots of birds: ducks, geese, herons, blackbirds nesting in the bordering growth, bald eagles snarfing up baby blackbirds. Also turtles and frogs - including Canadian frogs that croak out a deep bass 'EH'.

Tiny is Done

 Yup, all completed.  Finally.

Although it took 3 times as long as we hoped, we now have a covered entry deck.

Washer and dryer to be installed this week.  Supposed to have been last week, but: they didn't tell us we had to run the dryer vent line and vent.  I've just about completed it.

Tiny

 Here are pix of Tiny, done inside but not outside.  First 2 pix were taken 180 degrees from each other.

The skirting is done but the covered entry deck is not.  Should be done in a few days.  The contractors have been plagued with illness, injuries, rain, sick dogs (not ours) and everything else possible.  What could have taken 8 workdays has taken 3 weeks and will take at least one more.  Hopefully.

Park Model aka Tiny Home

 Here's Tiny (my name for it) as it pulled up to our lot yesterday at 4:30.  It came from Indiana.

Starting to back on to our lot, had to move our mailbox.

The guy on the left, one of the Wide Load car drivers, is directing the truck driver.  We had the exact area marked with string, stakes and flags.

Big rig!

In place!  The setup crew comes Wednesday, will deflate the tires, remove the tongue, build skirting, entry deck and roof, do utility hookups.  Will take about 8 days.  Meanwhile, I'm putting together the bedframe, chairs, table, etc.  Trish is cleaning, picking storage shelf areas, doing all the domestic stuff.

We like it: bright and airy.  Quiet.  Will do another blog when we're in and have it furnished.  We're off to Minnesota on the 16th for the 30th family reunion, should be done by then.

My Complex

 

The sign reads MIKE DELANEY Pickleball Complex  At Dick Samp Park.  The picture includes the LHC mayor, city manager, city council members, parks and rec manager, chief of police and me.  It's the City's thank you for my donated $ to build the last 4 courts.  

The City planned to have 16 courts, 12 of which were completed.  City management said there'd be no more funding for the final four courts for some time.  

I wanted to see all courts completed while I was still able to play.  So, I met with the City and told them I'd fund the last four.  It cost a lot more than anticipated, but I went ahead and ponied up the $.  

The big sign and my name on the entire complex was a nice surprise, and the sound of people whooping when they hit a great shot and groaning when they miss an easy one is music to my ears.  Love the game and the numerous friends I've made playing it.