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.