Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Which way should I go?
Either direction leads to sorrow.
One way takes me down the same road I've been on. One of lonliness and torment.
The other, unknown.
Is the grass greener?
Is there any grass at all?
So I sit, unmoving, praying for guidance, begging for help.
One way takes me down the same road I've been on. One of lonliness and torment.
The other, unknown.
Is the grass greener?
Is there any grass at all?
So I sit, unmoving, praying for guidance, begging for help.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Fox River Wildlife
These guys were about 40 feet up in the top of these trees... only about 20 feet above where the Bald Eagles were perched - I was amazed.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Back home again - Ginny
The operation went well yesterday. The leg she broke is completely shaved and has stitches and the other is shaved where they put the IV in. I think she's glad to be home. I know that Dakota, Harry and the rest of us are.
Ginny
This is one of our new baby Silky Terriers. Thursday I stepped on her and broke her leg. She had surgery yesterday and is back home with us.
This picture was taken before the accident.
This picture was taken before the accident.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
My poor baby girl
this is the last picture I was able to get before I accidently stepped on my little Ginny... OH MY GOD! I feel sick about it.
I knew it was bad right away. She was SCREAMING and scuttled under the kitchen table.
I was able to get at her and it was pretty apparent immediately that there was something wrong with her front leg. I had NO IDEA of where to take an injured pet for emergency treatment. I called my vet clinic and of course all of the vets had left and they were closing and and the person who answered the phone was no help.
I did a yahoo search for vets in my area and called the first one listed. He couldn't help, but he gave me the number to a hospital in Downers Grove. I called them up to make sure they had x-ray capabilities, which they did, and got to the car and made my way to DG.
The little baby must have been in shock. She didn't make a noise most of the way there and either drooped her head over my finger or nuzzled her head under my chin...
So after the x-rays the Doctor said she had broke her "elbow" and that the only chance of her having a functional leg was surgery. On one hand I was glad that she didn't have any internal injuries and that her life wasn't in jeopardy. On the other hand, I now faced that moral dilema that I never wanted to face and make a decision that my wife had always made clear her opinion on.
I called my wife, but she wouldn't help me make the decision "do what you think is best". OK....
So, Ginny is scheduled for orthopeodic surgery tommorow morning to have a plate and pins put in her leg. There's a 75% chance for full recovery and fortunately I stumbled upon a hospital that has 3 ortho's that have done this procedure.
This is alot of $$$ and fortunately I have the means, however painful it is, to do this. My wife had poked fun or criticized people for doing this when we saw such stories on Animal Planet.
I just couldn't make the decision to leave her lame, or put her to sleep (not an option) if the chances were as high as they are for her to live a mostly normal life.
This was the perfect topper to an already rotten day.
I knew it was bad right away. She was SCREAMING and scuttled under the kitchen table.
I was able to get at her and it was pretty apparent immediately that there was something wrong with her front leg. I had NO IDEA of where to take an injured pet for emergency treatment. I called my vet clinic and of course all of the vets had left and they were closing and and the person who answered the phone was no help.
I did a yahoo search for vets in my area and called the first one listed. He couldn't help, but he gave me the number to a hospital in Downers Grove. I called them up to make sure they had x-ray capabilities, which they did, and got to the car and made my way to DG.
The little baby must have been in shock. She didn't make a noise most of the way there and either drooped her head over my finger or nuzzled her head under my chin...
So after the x-rays the Doctor said she had broke her "elbow" and that the only chance of her having a functional leg was surgery. On one hand I was glad that she didn't have any internal injuries and that her life wasn't in jeopardy. On the other hand, I now faced that moral dilema that I never wanted to face and make a decision that my wife had always made clear her opinion on.
I called my wife, but she wouldn't help me make the decision "do what you think is best". OK....
So, Ginny is scheduled for orthopeodic surgery tommorow morning to have a plate and pins put in her leg. There's a 75% chance for full recovery and fortunately I stumbled upon a hospital that has 3 ortho's that have done this procedure.
This is alot of $$$ and fortunately I have the means, however painful it is, to do this. My wife had poked fun or criticized people for doing this when we saw such stories on Animal Planet.
I just couldn't make the decision to leave her lame, or put her to sleep (not an option) if the chances were as high as they are for her to live a mostly normal life.
This was the perfect topper to an already rotten day.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Holidays ranked by those I hate the most
ok - so I was going to rank them, but as I started looking them over, I really can say I like any of them, although the fact I get 1 or more days off is pleasing, that's about it...
how about these - any good ones here?
Life sucks
- New Year's Day, January 1st.
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, third Monday in January.
- Inauguration Day, January 20th every four years, starting in 1937.
- Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February since 1971; prior to that year, it was celebrated on the traditional date of February 22.
- Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May.
- Memorial Day, last Monday in May since 1971; from 1868 to 1970 it was celebrated on May 30, and was called Decoration Day for part of that time.
- Flag Day, June 14th.
- United States of America's Independence Day, July 4.
- Labor Day, first Monday in September.
- Columbus Day, second Monday in October (federal holiday since 1971).
- Election Day, Tuesday on or after November 2.
- Veterans Day, November 11th (except from 1971 to 1977, inclusive, when it was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October; formerly known as Armistice).
- Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November.
- Christmas Day, December 25th. I have finally included this since it is a federal holiday, although it is not based on a secular holiday.
how about these - any good ones here?
- Groundhog Day, February 2.
- Lincoln's Birthday, February 12.
- Valentine's Day, February 14.
- St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
- April Fools's Day, April 1.
- Earth Day, April 22 (since 1970; see Earthday.net)
- Administrative Assistants' Day, which once upon a time was Secretaries' Day, is the Wednesday of the last full week of April (that is, the Wednesday before the last Saturday in April) since 1955; see this site for more information.
- Arbor Day is often the last Friday in April (since 1872), but since planting conditions vary, it may occur from September to May; please consult the National Arbor Day Foundation's list of Arbor Day Dates.
- Mothers' Day, second Sunday in May (36 USC Sec. 142).
- Fathers' Day, third Sunday in June (36 USC Sec. 142a).
- Parents' Day, fourth Sunday in July (36 USC Sec. 142c).
- Grandparents' Day, Sunday after Labor Day (36 USC Sec. 142b).
- United Nations Day, October 24.
- Halloween, October 31.
Life sucks
Monday, February 13, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Fox River Bald Eagles
I was driving around today contemplating life, and why I continue to drive around looking for things to photograph and to my shock, I saw eagles along the Fox River. Never would have expected it. I saw and photographed at least three and another bird I have not identified yet.
Red Tail Hawk
This is one of the largest Red Tail Hawks I've ever seen. Too bad I couldn't get any closer and the sky was so overcast.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006
Afternoon cloudy sky and moon
Been sick the last 2 days - actually felt well enough to hang out in the back yard with the dogs this afternoon.
Been reflecting on last weekends trip to the SuperBowl. It was really good to forget everything at home for a couple of days. I was really pissed before I left and half the drive there.... I tell ya, after Friday night I didn't think of one problem at home until I actually got back home. What a great feeling.
Been reflecting on last weekends trip to the SuperBowl. It was really good to forget everything at home for a couple of days. I was really pissed before I left and half the drive there.... I tell ya, after Friday night I didn't think of one problem at home until I actually got back home. What a great feeling.
