A Dog's Life

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2009-04-10T03:15:00.002-05:00

I was gone for a bit, visiting my family in California. This usually dislocates the doggies a bit, since they have to do without me, Giver of Walks and Provider of Snacks, for a few days.

However, I love it when I get back, because I gain two lovely, furry shadows when I get back.

It's good to be home, with two doggies who love me unconditionally.

Spring Has Sprung in Texas

2009-03-05T09:23:00.000-06:00

Today was a very warm day. Tomorrow might be cloudy. No matter. It looks like the cold days might be behind us. Trees are blooming, grass is greening out (goodbye brown!), and the doggies are happy. All is well.

Hefty Doggies Make Life Fun

2009-03-01T13:12:00.002-06:00

Honey has struggled with keeping her weight for the past two years. She should be around 40 lbs, but she got to be about 34 lbs a while back. This was kind of scary, since she was skin and bones, and we had to trick her to eat her food.

The culprit, it appears, was the Prednisone she was taking. The doc upped her meds, and I have been feeding her all the food she wants. The result? As of last Thursday, her weight is 45.9 lbs -- and she looks rather healthy and I know she is pretty happy.

Life is good for all.

It's been a long time

2008-12-11T13:43:00.003-06:00

It's been a long time, but life is good. There is now a new dog in the house. Her name is Ginger and she came into the home back in May. She's a little tank - part pitbull terrier and part chow. Her name is Ginger, and she is becoming a good dog. Pictures will be uploaded soon.

Honey has finally learned to accept Ginger as a member of the pack, and she is no longer jealous of the puppy. Life is good at home. Her health continues to be good, even though her hearing is starting to fail (or maybe her desire to be left alone is what dominates).

End of Summer Update

2007-09-25T21:05:00.000-05:00

It's been a few months with no updates, but it's all been good. Life continues for Honey the dog, and it continues to be a comfortable, safe life for her. Here are a few high points from the last few months:

1.) Visited Ron's parents in Arkansas, and Honey spent a few days running all over the property. There was a lot of squirrel chasing, bush smelling, and plain old exploring. She was a very happy pooch at the end of the visit.

2.) The medications for the Addison's disease had to be adjusted, as Honey was going slowly bald. Her hind legs and underbelly were the first ones to lose their coat. The vet changed her meds, and now she's got a lustrous coat all over again.

3.) We had some fleas this summer also - because the massive rains of earlier this year caused a flea infestation. A couple of flea baths took care of it.

4.) Honey had to go off her regular food for a bit, because she was throwing everything up. After being put on a really bland diet and taking an antiacid every day, she finally recuperated.

5.) We had a doggie visitor stay with us for 10 days. It was a 3-year-old Border Collie by the name of Angel. She is a very sweet dog and mighty friendly, but Honey was tolerant of the younger dog and more than a little jealous.

In other non-doggie related news, Ron finished his college degree and is currently looking for work in project management. Marco became a citizen and continues to work towards his MCSE.

More later.

Quick Update

2007-06-14T10:01:00.000-05:00

Honey is doing great. She has been put on the proper medications and she's getting the hormones and cortisol she requires.

She's now the dog we were meant to have. She's happy, energetic, and fun to have around. She continues to be a loving, happy dog, and she's even doing better at the dog park!

I'm very thankful for our vet, since she has been able to get Honey's ailment managed properly.

Not Old - Ill

2007-02-18T12:17:00.000-06:00

Honey has not been feeling well for the past few days. She was not showing signs of age, she was getting sicker. Turns out that she has Canine Addison's Disease. She was lethargic, tired, and unable to eat.

We got her to the Animal Emergency room in time, and the vet that took care of her really knew the disease, so we got the right diagnosis right away. She's been in the animal hosptial since yesterday afternoon, and we will get her back sometime today.

Sleep was hard last night. I missed her laying next to me.

I will update you once she is back home.

Sunny Afternoon, Long, Slow Walk

2007-02-12T23:08:00.000-06:00

In what seems to be the pre-spring start, we had a pretty sunny afternoon today. Around 5 or so, Honey and I took a long walk together to take advantage of the nice weather.

The long walk (about 2.5 miles) usually takes us about 40 minutes, and Honey usually leads the way. We haven't done it in a long time, since this winter has been so cold. It's been hard to take her on long walks because the cold really gets into her bones.

We headed out and started in our usual jaunty way . . . with Honey in the lead. About one third of the way through, Honey began to slow down. I think it was the arthritis.

We still took the whole course, but we went about it very slowly. It took us nearly an hour to get it all done. I had to encourage her a lot, and I had to fight the impulse to carry her for the last block. She is now curled up in her little bed, fast asleep.

Aging is not a pleasant thing, but seeing your dog begin to show that she is getting old is downright sad -- especially when she's trying to show you she still can keep up to please you. I'm sure things will get better as we adjust, but right now, things are not well in our world.

Doggie Gets Old, Doggie Needs Help

2007-02-09T22:51:00.000-06:00

Well, the day has finally arrived. Honey can't jump on the bed anymore. Last night, after an evening of watching movies with Honey laying by my feet, we headed to bed, and I asked her to get on the bed, as always.

Usually, after I point to the bed and say "up, up," Honey jumps on the bed, curls up and lays down for sleepy time. This time, she tried to jump and ended up halfway up, with her front paws on the bed, gripping the edge, and her hind legs trying to push up. She slid off the bed, and gave me this look that said both "I'm sorry" and "I really want to get on the bed." To say the least, she was a little anxious.

I helped her get up on the bed, and she proceeded to lay next to me and to seek my comfort. I spent about 30 minutes holding her, petting her, and making her feel that it was OK. For some reason, I got the idea that she thought I wasn't happy with her not being able to jump on the bed. I knew this day was coming for a while, but it still broke my heart nonetheless, because instead of being glad that she was helped on the bed, Honey was trying, in her doggie way, to let me know that she was sorry for not getting up on the bed on her own.

After a lot of hugs and assurances, Honey finally curled up and let out a big doggie sigh. All was well with her again.

Let's Ride in the Car!

2007-01-23T21:19:00.000-06:00

I was getting my car ready to take some equipment to a client, and I had to get all the stuff I had inside and fold the back seats to make room.

Honey, as always, followed me outside as I started to clean the car. I went back into the house, loaded with stuff that needed to come in. When I came back out, she was sitting in the trunk, with a very expectant look.

I had to take some pictures, because as I kept unloading the car, Honey just got comfortable and laid down to wait for me to get ready so we could go out and have some fun.

Imagine her disappointment when I had to ask her to step out!

All in all, though, I thought it was cute how she just invited herself to the ride.

Rain, Snow, Cold, Go Away! Dog Park!

2007-01-21T22:02:00.000-06:00

For the past couple of weeks, the greater Dallas Metroplex has been buffetted by rain, sleet, and snow. Sub-freezing temps have been the norm, and since Honey is an older doggie, walks have pretty much been put on hold. Walks are becoming painful in extreme cold due to her growing arthritis.

Today, the sun finally came out! Temperatures were nice and warm (low 50s), and the day was just so great, that I decided to treat the Honey Bunny to a treat: The dog park.

We hadn't been there since the end of summer, and she was jumping out of her skin when we finally pulled into the parking lot. She jumped, she ran, she had a ball. She walked around the whole place, sniffing the ground, greeting other dogs, and walking all over the place. Her tail never stopped wagging, and she loved every minute of it. I almost couldn't get her to come back home.

When we finally got to the car, she crawled into the back seat, laid down, sighed in contentment, and let me driver her home. She has been resting since then.

Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas Visit!

2006-12-27T23:57:00.000-06:00

Ron's parents visited for the Christmas holiday. They spent a few days with us, and Honey got seriously spoiled. Before their arrival, Ron and I spent a few days wrapping up the last of the decorations, wrapping presents, cleaning the house, filling up the fridge, and trying to keep Honey from panicking, since there was an awful lot more commotion than usual.

They came in Saturday night, and Honey recognized them from the start. She's usually pretty welcoming of the few friends that visit, but she went out of her way to make sure Ron's parents knew she was truly happy to see them. I was wrapping up her bath when they came in, and Honey could barely contain herself in her excitement about their arrival. She was a little damp when she went over to say hello.

Honey was thoroughly spoiled the entire weekend. She got lots of hugs, kisses, and petting. She got so much attention, that she slept like a log every time she had a chance to finally rest.

When Christmas day arrived, Honey got a few presents. She got a new bed and a coat for going on walks from me, some really tasty treats and a new toy from Ron's parents, and more attention than any dog ought to receive on a single day.

To say the least, Honey really enjoyed the holiday . . . which is kind of good since she's only a doggie, and each day is the same.

Christmas Spirit in Full Swing! House Is Decorated!

2006-12-21T16:50:00.000-06:00

After much toil, the house is decorated. It looks completely decked out with Christmas cheer, and Honey approves.

I have heard of dogs getting into the decorations, or trying to play with them. Honey just likes to watch things, smell them a little, and then just walks away from all the action.

Pictures of the house shall be posted later. It looks good.

The Boxes Are Out! The Decorations Are Coming Up!

2006-12-11T16:43:00.000-06:00

Well, Christmas is just around the corner, and it looks like the boxes are out. Honey has spent the entire evening smelling all the boxes and getting a little nervous over it. However, it can be confidently said that Operation Decoration is well on its way. For the next 10 or so days, we will be decorating the house, making sure that it looks like the Christmas wonderland it is meant to be. Honey, of course, will have to put up with not having a bit of space or peace to herself, but I am sure she'll like the end results.

Giving Medicines to a Dog

2006-12-07T01:16:00.000-06:00

Honey takes daily supplements to keep her coat lustrous and curtail her shedding and another one to keep her joints lubricated. Once a month, she a pill that protects her against heartworm. To Honey, these pills are just treats, so she takes them eagerly.

Now that we're treating her eye allergies, there's a gel that needs to be put right on the open eye twice a day, and a Benadryl pill that needs to be swallowed twice a day also. But since neither one of them is a treat, she does not approach her ministrations with the same enthusiasm.

The eye medication is fairly easy. I ask her to lay down, open her eye, and squeeze the gel on the eye. I let her lay down for a bit so the gel will spread to her eye, and we're pretty much done. The Benadryl pill . . . that's a completely different story. She has to sit down, and then, time to lean her head all the way back, open her mouth, and drop the pill as far down her throat as possible. Then, the fun begins. I gotta keep her mouth closed so she will swallow the pill, and then I gotta feed her treats right away so that the pill will stay down.

As hard as this might sound, it is a walk in the park compared to trying to give medicines to a cat . . . that is an ordeal.

Allergies and the Vet

2006-12-06T00:55:00.000-06:00

Honey's right eye waters whenever there are the right kind of allergens in the air. It happens for a bit, and then her eye is normal again.

For the past couple of weeks, her eye has been more sensitive to light than usual, and has been watering non stop. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that her eyelids were swollen and that the hair around her eyelid was thinning, due to scratching. I called the vet and set up the appointment, as I feared that she might have scratched her cornea or worse yet, had an eye infection.

Ron was home the day of the appointment, and so we both took her to the veterinary office. As usual, she was shaking so hard that she was vibrating when we got into the office, and she kept wanting to get off the examination table when the nurse was doing her work. By the time the doctor arrived, Honey was more nervous than ever. I think having Ron there made her feel even more nervous, her canine thoughts being, "Both of them are here! It must be serious."

The vet arrived to check on her eye, and being the gentle dog Honey is, she let the doc check the eye out. The vet wanted to check and make sure Honey had not scratched her cornea, so she left the room to get some stuff to check the cornea. When she returned, armed with a couple of containers in hand, Honey buried her face between my arm and side. The doctor said, "Now, that's a bright dog."

The examination was pretty neat. The doc put a clear fluid in her eye, turned off the lights, and then shone a blue light to her eye. The fluid was now optical green, and the doc didn't find a single scratch in her eye, as the fluid would have pooled and thickened on any scratch.

Bottom line: For the next week or so, she is getting steroids in her eye twice a day, and she needs to swallow an adult Benadryl pill twice a day. Her eye is looking better, and she can see from both eyes again.

Honey Does a Double Take!

2006-11-30T01:30:00.000-06:00

I just finished my Thanksgiving trip to California a few hours ago. Ron picked me up at the airport, and since a big winter snow was coming, we went to the market to stock up on supplies.

Once we made it home, Ron went in first, greeted Honey, and he put her out in the back yard to let her do her business while we brought the stuff inside.

After all the supplies were in, I came in, sat down at the entrance step, and waited silently while Ron opened the door and let Honey in from the back yard.

She greeted Ron, and started heading to the kitchen to grab a bite, but on her way, she looked at the front door. She kept walking. She stopped. She looked at me. Her face lit up, and then she charged me. Next thing I know, I am the object of much happy whinning, barking, and licking.

The image of Honey doing a classic double take made it all worth it.

Virtual Pets Create a Commotion

2006-11-14T21:42:00.000-06:00

I am a big Sims2 player. I have families that have grown to the fourth and fifth generation. I usually play the game at night, after the walk with Honey. She usually rests on the futon while I play demi-god to my little virtual families.

EA Games just released the new expansion pack, which allows you to add pets to the game. You can create dogs and cats . . . and being the kind of dog owner I am, the first pet I created was Brownie, which looks an awful lot like Honey.

As I was creating Brownie, Honey was doing her usual lay-down-behind-Marco thing, and I guess she had a clear line of sight to the event. All of the sudden, she started growling, got up a little, and started crawling and sniffing towards the computer screen.

She saw Brownie, the virtual dog.

My roommate came into the room after I beckoned him, and we both had a good laugh as Honey kept trying to figure out what that dog was doing on the computer.

Honey is a smart dog, isn't she?

The Greeting Game

2006-09-06T22:32:00.000-05:00

Honey and I have developed a new game. Whenever I get home, and after the initial greetings are done and over, Honey follows me to the bedroom. While I am starting to change, she jumps to the bed and starts rolling on it, barking, wagging her tail, and daring me to play with her.

Being the softie I am, I usually join in. For the past few days, that has been the new thing . . . to play for a few minutes. Here I am, trying to change from work clothes to home clothes, and I have this doggie jumping around, rolling on the bed, getting up and pawing my arm to get my attention.

So far, it's been fun for both of us. She gets the validation she always craves, and I get to forget about whatever happened at work, going into home mode.

Life's good for both.

What's the Deal with All This Glass on the Floor?

2006-08-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

Honey and I went early to the dog park, and as usual, she had a great time.

On our way back to the car, I noticed that the passenger's side window appeared open. As I got closer, Honey and I discovered that the window had been smashed. Someone did a smash and grab job on my car, and they had stolen my iPod Shuffle and other paraphernalia.

Honey was eager to get home, but she was pretty good about waiting for me to call the insurance company and get things taken care of. On the drive back, she was pretty nice about laying down and resting away from pieces of broken glass.

Home Improvement, or "Where Can I Lay Down?"

2006-08-21T18:32:00.000-05:00

My roommate and I decided a few weeks ago that after watching all those DIY (look it up) shows, maybe we should challtenge ourselves and take care of a small project. After much deliberation, we decided to work on my bathroom, which is the smallest room in the house, and the one that would pose the least amount of challenges.

The project started with just repainting the walls . . . and moved to repainting the bathroom cabinets . . . and included after changing the bathroom faucet.

We had to remove all the bathroom cabinets and clear out the bathroom. With paints and tools and stuff out of the bathroom, the house has become a bit of a mess. Honey, in her near saintly patience, has pretty much put up with all the mess. To her, it has been a fun time, because she gets to follow us everywhere to see what it is that we're doing. She's smart enough to know that if we're carrying something, she needs to get the heck away from us, but she's always around to see what is up. She's managed to get more head pats, hugs, and "good girl" comments in the past few days than in a couple of weeks put together.

The only major problem is that her usual resting places have been invaded by boxes, tools, and assorted home improvement paraphernalia, so she's had to improvise . . . and that has been a little incomodating. She's a good girl, though, because I get the sense that for her, this is sort of an adventure.

We have a couple of more days to go, but I think the results will be great. In the meantime, the little lady continues to bask in the constant affirmation and attention she gets while we work. Somehow, she's figured out that if she walks by us while we're working, she's more likely to get a casual pat or caress than if we're just resting, watching TV.

She's got us figured out.

Teeth Cleaning

2006-07-28T18:17:00.000-05:00

Honey is a pretty healthy dog, all things considered. All her shots are current, she gets her preventive medicine regularly, and I pretty much keep an eye out for anything that might be off with her. The one thing that I hadn't done since she came into my life was to get her a teeth cleaning.

I got ready for work, got her in the car, and headed to the vet. She figured out pretty quick that this was not a fun trip at all. Honey was quiet and subdued in the car, awaiting her fate. When we finally made it to the vet, she was whinning, because she knew that we were going to That Place.

I guess the procedure is the same as for a human, with one added blessing . . . they put doggies to sleep before the cleaning begins. I had to sign release forms, authorize IV lines, catherers, and even bloodwork before the vet would get started with the procedure. We were lucky because her last bloodwork, taken on her last visit, was still decent enough, so Honey was spared one more prodding.

I dropped her off at 8:30 in the morning, and blessedly, I was able to pick her up by 3:30 p.m. She was groggy and out of it, but she was happy to see me . . . and now she has gleaming white teeth.

Once again, all is well in her world.

Hall Monitor and Protector

2006-07-27T17:17:00.000-05:00

In the past few months, I've noticed that Honey will sometime chase dogs and try to get them to stop running . . . or fighting. I guess it's all part of being an Australian Cattle Dog mix.

As of late, I've been a little bit more observant of her behavior. I have noticed that she doesn't chase all dogs . . . she usually chases bigger dogs following smaller dogs, and usually nips the bigger dog in the butt to give the little dog a chance to get ahead.

She is definitely the hall monitor and the protector of the weak. Such a good girl.

Posing for a Picture

2006-06-20T22:54:00.000-05:00

Last week, Honey went to the doggie spa for the full treatment: Bath, hair trim, nail clip, the works. When she got out, she looked different. All the excess hair was trimmed out, and now she looks pretty nice, but not the same.

Today, I took my digital camera, so I could get a picture of Honey to post here.

I forgot how hard it is to take the picture of a dog or cat, because they are always looking somewhere else when the camera clicks. I took about 20 pictures, and from all of them, I think the one posted here is the best. I won't say more. Just check the doggie with her summer 'do. I hope you like it.

Back to the Park

2006-06-19T22:33:00.000-05:00

I took Honey back to the dog park after being absent for almost two weeks. When we pulled into the road that leads to the park, the little lady got all excited, barking happily, whinning excitedly, and running from one side of the car to the other. By the time I pulled into the parking lot, Honey was ready to jump out of the car and run to play with the other dogs.

She actually managed to walk by my side, without her leash, all the way to the transition area. By the time I opened the door into the dog park, her tail was wagging so hard that her butt was almost ready to lift off the ground. No longer was she shy or eager to stay by my side. In a show of pure doggie happiness, she took off and started exploring the entire park again. She played, ran, and explored the entire place all on her own.

After she tired of it, she spent a few minutes looking for me. Once she found me, she hovered around, but I was happy to see that whenever doggies ran by her, she went and followed them.

I'm very glad that her shyness about the dog park has finally disappeared.

To Shed or Not to Shed . . .

2006-06-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

Honey sheds. She sheds when she shakes. She sheds when she walks. She sheds when she stands still. She sheds when she lays down. She sheds in her sleep. She sheds a lot.

On our last visit to the vet, I asked her if she had any advice on the shedding problem. She told me to get some fatty acid pills to give her on a regular basis. They would improve her coat, help keep her skin from drying, and curtail the shedding.

I went to the pet store and bought some fatty acid pills under the name "Shed B-Gone." It's been a week so far, and her coat is looking mighty nice. I have noticed that she's shedding a little less. According to the bottle, the shedding should be under control (as much as it can), within a month.

The best part about the pills? Honey thinks they're special treats, and she gobbles them up happily.

No Means No!

2006-06-02T17:13:00.000-05:00

As part of our week-long crusade to get used to other dogs at the Denton dog park, Honey and I did our usual thing yesterday.

There was one dog there who was trying to show he was boss by mounting other dogs. Some dogs just laid down, some others tried to get away, and a few actually growled and tried to nip at the dog, to show him he was committing a major social faux pas.

He eventually got around to Honey. While a little worried about the big dog's intentions, I let Honey deal with it herself. The dog tried to mount her, and Honey immediately turned around, growled, barked, and even nipped at the big dog! She let him know in no uncertain terms that she (1) wasn't that kind of girl and (2) wasn't going to allow him to be so rude.

After the dog stepped away, she came to me, tail a-waggin', mouth a-grinnin'. She got a big hug and lots of "Good girl!" affirmations.

Who says Honey can't take care of herself?

Visiting the Denton Dog Park

2006-05-29T20:59:00.000-05:00

Honey and I got in the car yesterday afternoon and visited the spanking brand-new Denton Dog Park. It is a very nice facility, and all the dog owners are very conscious of their dogs, wchich makes it a pretty safe place for all dogs, from the shy and skittish to the overtly friendly.

Honey whined and stayed close to me on Sunday, as she wasn't too sure about what to do about all the dogs around. Today was a little better. She finally managed to calm down to where she only whined if there were more than two dogs near her.

I hope that she will get better as we visit more often. She's now laying down on her little bed, getting ready to chase rabbits in her sleep.

All is well in her world.

Cleaning My Room

2006-05-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

Some of you might not know this, but Honey's one flaw is that she sheds. She sheds a lot. She sheds so much that when the last vaccum cleaner broke, my roommate bought one of the bagless ones to save on bags -- even recycling the bags didn't help. The poor doggie sheds and sheds and sheds . . . even with daily brushings.

My room needed a major cleaning, as the lady sleeps with me every night, and with all the shedding she does, it gets gross. So, today, I treated my room to a top-to-bottom cleaning. The room is looking great, and I even moved my bed, just to shake things up.

Well, Honey came into the room and smelled everything! I guess she got a little confused with the new layout, but I am sure she will adjust.

The Ear Alignment That Ended Up with Shots!

2006-05-23T22:01:00.000-05:00

Honey's right ear has been lopsided for a few days, and after examining them myself, I didn't see any crawling little critters inside. Since she wasn't scratching her ear, I assumed it wasn't a big deal. I'd wait a few days and see what would develop.

The lopsided ear didn't go away, and she started to hang her head a little lopsided also . . . and would shake it as if to dislodge something stuck in the ear once in a while. I decided it was time to head to the doctor.

The vet office was very accomodating, and they were able to see her on the same day. We got in the car, drove to the vet office, and Honey was taken to the back office to get a swab done in her inner ear.

While we waited for the results, the nurse pointed out that the little lady was due for her shots (including rabies and boosters) the week of June 11. I asked her how much trouble it would be to get the shots done now. She went back to ask the vet, and told me that it would be OK to do it all in one visit.

The vet called us in to do a quick physical which the lady passed with flying colors. The ear problem is an ear yeast infection, and so she gets antibiotics twice a day for 14 days. It's really a torturous procedure, as I must massage the ear to make sure the ointment spreads through the entire ear and ear canal. Honey endures it with eyes in half slits and a huge doggie grin. I guess it's a good massage for her.

The shots were easy. She didn't even blink when the vet injected her with all three needles. I guess she is used to them. So . . . she is current on all her shots and her ear infection is being treated. This dog's life continues to go well.

Dog Park? Are You Nuts?

2006-05-13T23:44:00.000-05:00

I have been watching "The Dog Whisperer" for a few Fridays, and I have picked up one thing from the show: Dogs are pack animals, and they need sometimes to be around other dogs to behave properly. They need to be socialized.

Armed with that knowledge, I decided to take Honey to the dog park on a Saturday. After researching the Plano Dog Park, I realized that I needed to have Honey registered with my city -- which I did. I also went to the garage and looked for a plastic bowl we had bought for her when she first came into our lives, and even got bottled water from the supermarket.

We went this Saturday to the dog park. It was a very warm day, and my car's AC was working, but not as well as I hoped. By the time we reached the park, Honey was a little warm and panting, but she nearly jumped out of her skin with excitement when she saw and smelled a new place to explore.

We made it to the dog park. We followed all the instructions. After watching the Dog Whisperer, I made sure I was calm when we got in, so that Honey wouldn't panic or start growling at other dogs, picking up my energy.

The excitement of going to the new place quickly evaporated when the leash came off, and she was approached by strange dogs. She started whining and looking up to me, as though she was saying, "OK, we need to go. I don't like it here." She'd walk about 3 feet away from me, look behind her, and head back to my side. She was so stressed, she started panting and slobbering all over, but I didn't worry because she wasn't the only slobbering dog in the place.

I walked with her around the perimeter of the park, and she would run to me whenever any dog would come by to greet her. To her credit, she never growled or tried to bite any of the dogs that came by . . . which made me feel confident that she would eventually warm up to it.

Long story short, we were in the park for about 45 minutes, and I met more than a few nice people, all dog owners, who said the nicest things about Honey, petted her whenever she approached, and were eager to reassure me that the behavior was normal for a first-timer. She never did manage to venture far, but her whining eventually became less insistant.

We headed back to the car to her great relief, headed home, and pretty much shelved the dog park issue until we visit the soon-to-be-opened Denton Dog Park. More on that later.

Honey Ain't No Toto!

2006-04-30T22:11:00.000-05:00

We had a tornado watch last night. The wind was fierce, and the sky turned green. My roommate, born and bred in Tornado Alley, took over and told me what to do, so we could be prepared in case of a touchdown.

The lady picked up on our nervousness and the changes in pressure, and she got a little stressed out. At one point, we ended up in the laundry room, which is surrounded by rooms and has no windows. Honey sat with me on the floor, shaking a little, while we waited for the cells to pass through the area.

No touchdown and no rain. All was well. We did fine, and Honey was asleep by my side, in bed, chasing rabbits in her sleep about an hour later.

Stormin' Weather and My Dog

2006-03-20T20:38:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, the Metroplex was blessed with constant rain from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. As it is the usual in this part of the nation, the storms are accompanied by thunder and lighting.

It was a good thing that I was home for 95 percent of the weekend, as Honey was almost glued to my side the entire time I was there. Each time a thunderstorm would roll by, she would lay next to me and wait for me to hold her.

She'd sit there, shaking, but content because she wasn't alone. To say the least, I didn't get much housework done, but I managed to rest.

Magical Time

2006-03-15T10:37:00.000-06:00

Once in a while, it happens . . . and it did to me last night.

Honey and I were out on our walk. It just happened to be the twilight hour, that time of day when daytime and nighttime mix, letting us know that the time has come to cease labor and relax.

I found myself enjoying the walk for what it was, a time to relax. All worries and thoughts fell away. I entered a state where it felt like everything was perfect as it was at that moment.

The magic lived in the moment, and I enjoyed every second of it. Honey must have sensed it, because she stopped, turned around, and came back to me, so I could pet her.

Faithful Dog

2006-03-10T16:06:00.000-06:00

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday, and I decided that things would go best for me if I stayed home, curled up on the couch. Ron, my roommate, encouraged me to get a shower before I made a final decision, as getting cleaned up might just remove the last of the early morning blahs.

No such luck. The shower only made me feel worse. I got ready for spending the day on the couch, which meant putting on some comfortable clothes, firing off a couple of e-mails, and making sure that I had liquids nearby. Ron was kind enough to check on me a few times before he left for work, and even cooked lunch.

After lunch, I started drifting in and out of sleep, wondering if I would be OK on Friday.

The one remarkable thing? Honey was glued to my side all day. From the moment I got up, she refused to leave my side, and when I finally laid down on the couch, she jumped in, siddled up to my side, and laid down.

I am sure that she got up a few times during the day to eat and drink, but whenever I woke up, she was right there, looking at me or sleeping nearby.

Now, that's what I call faithful.

Chemotherapy Stopped Until May

2006-03-07T22:58:00.000-06:00

Some of you might know that my dad has been going through chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. My dad went to his check-up before his next chemo treatment today, and the doctor gave him good news . . . the blood didn't have any traces of cancer.

They will stop the chemo treatments and my dad will be on his own until May 30. The doctors then will evaluate him again, to make sure all is well.

For the time being, we are all holding our breaths and waiting for the recovery to begin. Life is good again.

Snow Dog

2006-03-07T14:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture I took of Honey after the terrifying, bone-chilling snowstorm that blanketted the entire state of Texas for hours!

If you expand the picture, you will see that part of her muzzle has a little bit of snow on it. She had been exploring in the bushes behind her for rabbits and who knows what else.

What I recall of that day was that I could not get her to come back inside. She was just so taken by the snow, she wanted to play for as long as it lasted.

It definitely was one of the best afternoons we both had. A copy of the framed picture sits in my living room.

The Little Lady Meets the Little Girls

2006-03-05T01:04:00.000-06:00

The time came to pick up the mail, and as it is our custom, Honey led the way out to the mailbox, frolicking and jumping in sheer happiness at the daily game of walking out to the driveway.

Two of the neighborhood little girls -- neither one more than 5 years old -- were out playing. The moment they saw Honey, both of them noted how pretty she is.

The bolder of the two asked if they could pet the doggie. I said OK. The girls proceeded to run on the lawn to meet Honey, and the little lady let them approach. These girls, used to boisterous dogs used to jumping on anyone who approaches them, were very apprehensive when they saw the 41-pound ball of fur.

I reassured them that Honey would not jump on them, and true to my word, the little lady behaved. She approached them with ears perked up, tail down, and quite slowly. She got close to them and let them pet her.

The girls said thank you and headed back to their game. Honey and I went back inside. Once inside, Honey turned to me and gave me the "Did I do good?" look. I told her what a good girl she was and proceeded to show her how good she was by petting her for about five minutes. I think it was a great reward for a job well done, and so did she.

The Stitches Came Off at Last!

2006-03-01T22:14:00.000-06:00

Today was the day Honey went to the vet to get the stitches off.

I took Honey for a ride in the car, and she was just so excited to get in for a ride. She loves her car rides. We got into the shopping center where the vet office sits, and she started to whine. I guess she figured out where we were going. But since she was with me, she didn't get too excited.

When we got in the office, the ladies there said, "Look! Honey's here!" and they promptly proceeded to shower the little lady with pats and tons of attention. She was still a little freaked out, but she didn't resist too much when they took her to the back room for the procedure.

Ten minutes later, out came the stitchless doggie. She was just so happy to not have that bandage around her leg, and overeager to get home.

We made it home, and after much affirmation, a thorough brushing, some treats, and a walk, Honey was once again laying down, resting. All was well in her world again.

The Attack of the Chihuahuas

2006-02-27T23:26:00.000-06:00

We went for a walk tonight, in the beautifully warmish night.

As experienced walkers, Honey and I are pretty familiar with the canine denizens of the borough. We know about the big barker five houses down the road, the three medium frantic guards two blocks down, and the old guy who barks as a mere formality about halfway through our walk. As a rule, we are rarely surprised. We even know when the young golden retriever will gallop out of his driveway to greet Honey.

As we were walking tonight, we had our first surprise in a long while. About a third of our way in our walk, we heard ferocious barking. Two little bolts of lightning in the shape of Chihuahuas ran towards the little lady, showing that they were masters of their domain.

Honey, in her usual fashion, was entirely unfazed. She just looked at me for the lead on what to do. I proceeded to put myself between the mini-dogs and Honey, and as I waited for the owners to come fetch them, I petter Honey's flank and reminded her of what a good girl she was. The dogs, crazed with desires to protect their turf, were viciously barking, and I was afraid one of them little dogs would jump and try to bite Honey.

The owners called the Chihuahuas back, and they let Honey know that it was only because they had been called back that she didn't get her butt kicked. The little lady, again, was completely calm, sitting by my side, following my lead.

As we walked away, she kept looking back at me. We finally were about two houses away, and we stopped. I petter her, let her lick me a little, and told her she was the best girl in the world.

Texas Weather Strikes Again!

2006-02-24T19:47:00.000-06:00

After a warmer-than-usual winter that lasted all the way to the beginning of February, the powers that be decided to make sure winter went out with a bang.

While the daytime temperatures continued to steadily increase to the high 70s and low 80s, people in Texas began to divide between those who loved the warm temperatures and those who felt cheated because winter wasn't cold enough.

The newscasts started saying that a cold snap was coming . . . and it sure did.

Wednesday, the high was around 82 degrees. The high on Thursday? It was about 30 degrees.

It's been a whole week. The temperatures have started to slowly climb back up, and while they're at a balmy 60-something degrees, it's been raining for a while.

Texas weather strikes again. I've learned my lesson . . . I gotta prepare for all the eventualities.

Removing a Growth

2006-02-17T21:57:00.000-06:00

Being 10, Honey is a senior dog. About 4 months ago, Honey went to the vet for her six-month checkup, and the vet discovered a growth on her right front leg. After doing a quick little biopsy, the vet recommended that we remove the growth.

I was finally able to get her to the vet on Friday. I dropped her off in the morning, and the last thing I saw was her little face with this "You're leaving me here?" look on her face. Since I had to work and my roommate was home for the day, he took care of all the calls that came from the vet, including, but not limited to putting in a catherer. Her liver enzyme levels were off, and the vet didn't want to overtax her liver.

Ron picked up Honey around 3:00 p.m., and from what Ron told me, Honey moved about the house, looking for something. She finally went to her little bed and laid down to sleep.

When I got home from work, Honey went from dead sleep to full "Hello Daddy!" mode in no time flat. She ran over to me and whined and whined, instead of her usual barks. She showed me her front legs, on which there were two bandages (one for the IV line, and the other one where growth was removed). I petted her, hugged her, and showered with reassurance . . . letting her know that everything would be OK. After much hugging and loving, Honey proceeded to get in her little bed, and slept most of the rest of the afternoon and evening. She was still pretty out of it.

On Saturday, I tried to get her to drink water, as she had had none on Friday. She had a few gulps, and ate a few treats, but that was it. She spent most of the day in bed again.

By the evening, she was definitely much better. After I did her daily brushing, she thanked me profusely, laid in her little bed, and sighed . . . her first real sigh since Thursday night.

All is well again.

"Why Can't I Say 'Hello,' Daddy?"

2006-02-11T12:29:00.000-06:00

My laptop, which I use to update this blog, was having problems, and after a long talk over the phone with customer support, Dell decided to send a tech to replace the defective parts.

The tech arrived within 24 hours with the part. Honey heard him coming and as usual did her song and dance. After all, she had the opportunity to meet a new friend.

The guy was pretty cool about this 41-pound doggie wanting to say hello. I held her back by her collar, told her to lay down, and as she waited, I gave the tech my laptop. He sat down and started working on the laptop right away. He was very professional.

Honey kept looking at me and at him. She managed to get up a couple of times and walked over to him, and tried to put her little head on his knee. I kept calling her back, as I didn't want her to keep him from doing his job.

Every time I called her back, she would look at me dejectedly, wander back sadly, and give me the "How come I can't say 'Hello!' daddy?" She finally decided to lay down at my feet and waited for the tech to finish his job.

When he was done, the tech packed his gear away, and gave me my fixed laptop. On his way out, he gave her a little pat on her head . . . and she was in heaven.

Christmas in February

2006-02-08T20:18:00.000-06:00

Due to scheduling conflicts and the sheer busyness of life, Honey has had to endure living in a winter wonderland way after Christmas.

Today, my roommate and I have packed away all the Christmas stuff (at last!), and the Honey Bunny has been a little bit farklempt (look it up, it's Yiddish). All those boxes out and stuff being put away put her in a state, because she always get a little scared when the boxes come out.

She is adopted, and her first family had to give her up when they had to move from their house to an apartment. If she still remembers the ordeal, I am sure that having boxes would definitely have her a little freaked out. There might be an implication in her little brain that boxes mean being sent to the pound again . . . but I might just be reading too much into her little doggie actions.

Since she is thoroughly loved and seriously spoiled, she got more than a few hugs, quite a lot of affirmation, and a greater-than-usual share of treats.

She is well, all the Christmas stuff is put away . . . and peace abounds.

Stormy Nights for Scaredy Dogs

2006-02-02T00:57:00.000-06:00

As breeds go, Australian Cattle Dogs are great. They're smart, hard-working, and get along real well with people. In competition, they're members of the working breeds . . . which means that as a breed, even if they're born in the city, they still have pretty strong instincts and can herd cattle, if you drop them in a farm.

There's one thing that these dogs can't stand: thunder. It scares them viscerally.

Honey is no exception. She is scared of thunder, and she doesn't know where to hide or what to do when a Texas thunderstorm hits. If I am home, I usually call her over and hold her in my arms while I reassure her that it is going to be fine. The poor little pooch shakes so hard, it feels like she's vibrating.

The other night, a thunderstorm rolled in, and I was woken up by Honey, who was running around all over the room, looking for shelter. It took me three times as long to calm her down, because without the lights, every lightning strike would light up the room.

I finally managed to hold her down, and started to tell her how everything would be OK. I spent about 30 minutes with her, soothing her. After what seemed like an eternity, she was still vibrating, but as we drifted off back to sleep, I heard her give a big sigh of relief, because I was holding her.

Honey finally drifted off to slumber land, and all was well in the world.

To the Hospital Once More

2006-01-30T18:03:00.000-06:00

I went to California last week to do some consulting work, and as I was waiting for the plane, my mother called me to let me know that my dad was back in the hospital.

He had gone in for his chemo treatment, and he complained of chests pains. This set the hematology team in motion, and he ended up getting admitted for observation. They kept him from Thursday to Sunday.

During that time, the attending looked at my dad once and said, "You are not using oxygen anymore." While it was somewhat upsetting to hear that my dad was being removed from having the assistance of oxygen to breathe, the doctor's assessment was definitely right.

When my dad arrived to the hospital, he was depending on the oxygen for just about everything he did. By the time he left, he was able to talk without much coughing and shortness of breath. Walking still leaves him out of breath, and sitting up can also be troublesome, but he has improved.

The hope is that by the time that chemo ends, he will be completely off oxygen, or very close to being completely independent. Hope springs eternal.

Of Children and Dogs

2005-12-30T20:54:00.000-06:00

My roommate, Honey the Wonder Dog, and me travelled to my roommate's parents' home for Christmas. It was a family reunion of sorts, as my roommate's sister and her kids were also visiting. We found out on Christmas Eve, shortly after arrival, that my roommate's niece and nephew are scared of dogs. This brought to my mind some of the following names for my sweet little dog:

Honey the Terrifying
Honey the Scary
Honey the Ferocious
Honey the Eater of Children

On Christmas Morning, Honey the Lovey-Dovey was securely on her collar and leash, while we waited for the children to come into the living room for the opening of the presents. My mind was filled with thoughts of Honey running over to meet her new pint-sized friends, and the children running out of the room, screaming in horror because the "beast" was out to get them.

We heard the sounds of children walking down the hallway, and I proceeded to hold Honey near saying "Good girl" and "Be good" into my curious doggie. Like us, she heard the sounds of approaching people, and she was eager to make new friends.

As the children entered the living room, I kept holding Honey close, petting her, and asking her to be good. She gladly obliged, even though her entire little body was shaking with eagerness to meet her new friends.

The kids, upon seeing the pooch, proceeded to get a little shy, but everyone told them that Honey was a good dog and that it was OK to pet her. Honey was introduced, the children petted her, and all was well. She was very happy to meet the kids, but she didn't jump up or try to get rough with them. She was gentleness personified.

By the time we parted ways, both Honey and the children were friends, and all was well once again in the world.

"Daddy! I got something stuck in my paw! Help!"

2005-12-14T14:41:00.000-06:00

The other day, Honey went out to let the squirrel know once again that it is rodentia non-grata in the back yard. After much barking, while I was cleaning house, Honey came back to the door, and started barking again to be let in.

I let her in, and she sort of limped in and rolled herself over, exposing all four paws to me, giving me this "look it!" face. I proceeded to check her paws for mud or needles or cuts, and sure enough, a piece of walnut shell was stuck between her toes. I removed the walnut shell piece, and Honey got up and started showering me with kisses and little barks of thanks. She then ate some and went back to her squirrel vigil.

Has she got me trained or what?

"Squirrel in My Yard? Not If I Can Help It"

2005-12-04T22:39:00.000-06:00

Honey, whatever life she had before she joined our household, has it pretty darn easy. Her bowl is always full of food. There is always water for her to drink, and she gets regular walks. She can even lay down and patrol the back yard, as she has a full plate window facing it. And to top it all, she's never in want for treats -- she has a variety of them every day.

We have a tree in the back yard that is right now shedding all the nuts it produces before winter sets in. Wherever there are nuts, there are squirrels.

Honey sits for hours, looking out the window for the neighborhood squirrel. Whenever it shows up, Honey's ears perk up, she sits up, whines and barks. It's time to defend the perimeter.

Last time I was home when the infamous squirrel showed up, Honey barked and whined until I let her out. She proceeded to run under the tree, barking, for a long time. At one point, I opened the door to hear what was going on . . . and sure enough, Honey and the squirrel where in the middle of a very heated argument. I could hear the squirrel chittering away in what I could only call as serious anger, and Honey trying really hard to climb that tree to get the fluffy-tailed nut robber.

About half an hour later, Honey the Valiant Guardian finished her job of guarding the perimeter. She barked to me a few times to let her in, and as I opened the door, she gave me this look of pure, sheer joy. I petted her, hugged her, and told her what a good dog she was. She got a drink, ate some, and then proceeded to continue her vigilant stance, laying on her pillow, looking out of the squirrel.

Wind Blows! Does It Ever!

2005-11-27T23:01:00.000-06:00

Honey and I went for a walk today. It was windy. This wasn't your average light breeze -- this was the kind of wind that made me hold on tight to my doggie, as I was afraid she might fly away.

As always, Honey was determined to do her walk. So, she put her ears close to her head, hunkered down, and proceeded to walk with determination, to do her duty.

It was a great walk, as the wind and the dropping temperature made for a brisk, energized time. We both enjoyed it.

"What a (cute, pretty, cool) dog!"

2005-11-22T08:25:00.000-06:00

Honey and I like to take long, leisurely walks around the neighborhood. It's part of our daily routine. With her tail wagging high, her ears perked up, and her mouth in a smile, Honey is the picture of doggie happiness during her walks.

As we walk around the neighborhood, we run into our neighbors, both the animal and human kind. In the animal kind category, we have squirrels, rabbits, cats, random birds, and even other dogs. All in all, Honey is always excited to see other furry critters, but she never barks. The most she ever does is whine a little. The reaction of the others, however, varies. The rabbits freeze until the Big Bad Dog has passed by, as do some of the braver cats. The squirrels scamper away, as do some of the more cowardly cats. The birds ignore her, for the most part, and the dogs, well, they just want to say hello and play -- which can be troublesome if I'm not ready for their visit.

The humans, on the other hand, have a singular reaction: admiration. Every single time someone sees Honey, the usual comment is "What a nice/pretty/cool/cute dog!" and it develops from there. I have had little kids run from their driveway to the sidewalk to "pet the cute doggie." One time, a senior couple, on their evening constitutional, gave Honey and me the right of way, but they asked to pet the pretty dog before they let us pass. Teenagers have stopped their touch football game to give us room to walk, and some have even asked, "Is it OK to pet your dog?" But the most memorable happened recently, when a car full of college students pulled next to us, windows rolled down, and all the dudes in the car said, "Dude, that's a cool dog."

Honey takes all the attention in stride, but doesn't get affectionate with these strangers that pet her. Like a movie star, she takes the adulation with quiet dignity.

After we have moved on from these greeters, she usually looks up at me with a look that seems to say, "Yeah, they might think I'm cute, but I like you best."

My Second California Trip

2005-11-14T20:47:00.000-06:00

I was in California for another two and a half weeks. I got back to Texas on Saturday, November 12.

Unlike my last trip to California, this voyage was definitely more serious. When I arrived, my dad had been in the ICU unit at the LAC-USC medical center (or County Hospital) for about 4 days. The night after I arrived, my dad's condition took a turn for the worse, and I found myself explaining to my dazed and confused father what the consequences where if his lungs or heart failed and he refused to be intubated. He had been intubated just a few days before.

When I left California, my dad had been out of the hospital for a whole week, was using oxygen to breathe whenever he got too excited, and required the help of a walker for short distances . . . and a wheelchair for whenever he went out (like to doctor's visits).

The prognosis is good. My dad will get better. We only have another 4 months of chemotherapy. If all goes well, he should be back to full health in another 6 to 8 months.

Here's to hope, which always springs eternal.

Downtown Denton

2005-10-17T21:07:00.000-05:00

I have lived in Corinth, Texas for nearly two years now, and I had never ventured into Denton unless it involved visiting the county Tax office to take care of my vehicle registration or to take care of my driver's license . . . or take my car to the mechanic.

Well, I had a chance to visit downtown Denton the other day, and see the main square. It's a nice, old-timey kind of downtown. Reminds me of Downtown McKinney.

If you ever get a chance, visit Downtown Denton. It's a fun place.

Honey . . . Guard of the Domain

2005-10-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

The other night, I didn't close the door to my room all the way by mistake. I fell asleep to the sounds of Honey the Courageous snoring lightly.

I was brought out from my deep sleep by the loud barks of Honey. These weren't the "Marco's home! I gotta greet him!" kind of barks . . . these were the "Wake up, you dolt! There's an intruder in the house!"

It's amazing how quickly I went from being completely asleep to fully awake. I jumped and staggered out of bed, and ran in the dark, following the loud barks of my pooch.

As the guardian of her domain, she had seen something outside and was doing her darndest best to draw attention to it. I couldn't see anything outside through the back porch, so I turned on the porch light.

The enemy was spotted in the light . . . frozen by the sudden brightness:

A big, menacing, scary, prehistoric . . . possum.

At this point, all my fears melted away, and a sense of relief flooded through me. Honey proceeded to whine and bark some more, letting me know that she wanted to go outside to take care of the trespasser, to show it that no one should trample on her domain.

I made a big deal of thanking her for pointing the critter to me, petted her while telling her to stop barking, and asked her to follow me back to the bedroom. She had a huge doggie grin and her tongue was lolling happily as she followed me back to bed.

After I got into bed, I heard her sigh in contentment. The perimeter was safe again.

The Perils of Honey Bunny

2005-09-21T15:02:00.000-05:00

I returned from California on Wednesday, September 7 at night, and Honey met me at the door and was so happy to see me she almost jumped out of her skin. However, she would not get on her hind legs to greet me, which she always has done.

I took her to the veterinary doctor on Thursday, who said Honey was having trouble with her hind legs . . . and it might be either a pulled muscle or the beginning of arthritis. She's 9 years old, and she's getting on in years. The doctor gave her some meds, and we proceeded to get home.

My car had broken down, and in order to get to the vet (a whole couple of miles away), I had to walk with Honey, in the Texas summer heat, to the vet and back. By the time we were halfway back, my poor doggie started limping.

It took us three times as long to get home, because we took constant breaks so that Honey could continue walking . . . and I ended up carrying her during the last quarter mile.

I left for my vacation to Walt Disney World on Saturday, and I had to drop off Honey at my friend Heather's home on Friday night. I felt like a complete heel for leaving my sick doggie and going on vacation. However, I didn't feel too bad because I knew that Heather, as a certified dog lover, would care for her in style (which she did).

Honey and I got reunited on Friday, September 19. She was jumping and getting on her hind legs to greet me! She has not left my side since I returned from my vacation.

To say the least, everything is fine in her little world. I might have been gone for long, she might have spent a whole week with someone else, and she might have been sick, but now that I am home, all is forgiven and everything is fine.

Doggie perspective . . . it's a good thing.

No Gnus Is Good Gnus

2005-09-16T09:19:00.000-05:00

I have been away for a few days. Between wrapping things up with my parents before returning to Texas, doing some work, and going on vacation to Florida, I haven't had a chance to sit down behind a computer screen and update my blog.

I will do more entries this weekend, so I can share about my trip to Florida.

My Extended Family's Dynamics - Dad's Side

2005-09-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

As most immigrants, I have extended family in the United States. One uncle of mine lives with his wife in Upland, about 40 miles from my parents' house. I also have two aunts (one single, the other married) who live in South Pasadena, less than 5 miles from my parents' place. They're all my dad's siblings.

My dad's family is very much into the family dinners where one of them shows up with a dessert and an unresolved childhood issue. As a result, I never get to see all four siblings together. My uncle has had words with my aunts at times, and they've also have had words with him too . . . so that they don't see each other very often.

My dad and mom have learned to be neutral and play the role of the Swiss in the family dynamics. After much trial and practice in the old country (where the dynamics were the same with the other siblings), my parents discovered the secret: Keep It to Yourself.

This simple policy allows them to visit everyone, share with them, enjoy great times of playing dominoes (a favorite of ours), and leave without leaving behind bruised egos or hurt feelings.

It's a good thing for all.

Less Than a Week to Go

2005-09-02T19:10:00.000-05:00

I will leave Los Angeles for Dallas on September 7. Ron, my roommate, tells me that to this day, Honey still prefers to sleep on my bed and wait for him there (she can see the outside from my bedroom window). I think she misses me some. I can't wait to see the little lady, as I know she'll be twice as happy to see me as I'll be in seeing her. I also miss hanging out with Ron. We've talked on the phone a lot while I have been here with my parents, but it isn't the same.

I am torn between returning to Texas and staying in California. These five weeks have opened my eyes to how much of an Angeleno I still am. As the day to board the plane gets closer and closer, I keep wondering how I will manage to get on board. But I will get on board, as it is time to return to Texas.

A big factor in that ambivalence is leaving my parents behind. They are managing fine, and they will continue to thrive even with my dad feeling as sick as he does. The chemo is tough on him, but it hasn't thrown him completely in bed yet. I will have a hard time returning because I will not be here to be available for them, but if anything, I know they're resilient. They will call me if they need me, but only after they've done all they can on their own.

On the other hand, there's my home in Texas. I am very fortunate to have Ron as my roommate. He is my best friend, and I am his best friend. We get along real well, and for a pair of bachelors who are getting set in our ways, we do pretty well. Our likes and dislikes, our quirks and habits overlap enough to where we really don't annoy each other much. In a way, it's almost like the Odd Couple, without the comedic situations. Honey, of course, rounds up the household . . . with Fish playing a small part. Can't forget about Fish, the resident Betta. He plays a minor role since all he does is swim in his tank, eat, and sleep.

I am very thankful to be able to work where I do. They have been very gracious and allowed me to work remotely while I was in California, so that I don't burn through all my vacation time. As it stands, I will have eaten away some of my time, but it would be much less than what I originally thought.

Going back to work will be good, but I will only be there for a couple of days. I start a vacation the Saturday after I return. The tickets and reservations were bought and confirmed months ago, so I will not be missing that time. I will miss Honey and Fish, but they will manage.

Service with a Smile

2005-08-31T22:44:00.000-05:00

I realized something today. The nursing and doctor staff at the LAC-USC Medical Center are very dedicated professionals who will treat you like a human being with all the care in the world if you take the time to treat them in kind.

My parents always have their paperwork prepared, their notes ready, and their questions at hand. They always say please and thank you, and they offer all the people who tend to them a smile, even when they don't feel like smiling.

The result is a caring, responsive attitude from all the staff they encounter. I believe that it is their attitude married with a lot of intercessory prayers from friends and family that open the right doors for my folks.

I think there's a lesson for all of us to learn here . . . which Jesus himself told us a long time ago . . . which Christendom calls the Golden Rule. My parents live it daily, and they reap the rewards.

Washing Pets - Frankie

2005-08-29T19:15:00.000-05:00

This here cat is Frankie, a Red-tip Siamese mix cat. He's called Frankie because he's got this beautiful blue eyes, and my dad is a fan of Frank Sinatra (Old Blue Eyes). For the most part, he's a shy, small, fluffy cat, who'd rather do anything else than attack someone else.

Except, of course, when it comes to the evil, dark time of The Bath.

You must understand that Frankie is a rescued cat. Yes, every pet that we have had in the States has been a rescued pet. For the most part, it makes for a very sunny disposition. Frankie, however, belongs to the shy type of pet. He prefers the outdoors and only comes in when he's hungry, hurt, or cold. He'll spend a few minutes inside, and then head out.

He's very pretty, with a beautiful coat. And he's small, all of maybe 8 pounds. His coat gets dirty quickly, though . . . so my mom likes to bathe him. And Frankie is thankful for the baths -- after -- because he feels better clean.

Here's what happened:

My mom asks me to wash angelic little Frankie, and so I put out all the towels and get the bathroom ready. I even take off watch, because Frankie might latch on to it. My mom suggests that I get in the shower area with him and close the door behind me, but I don't heed her words. After all, it's only 8 pounds of shy, innocent, sweet kitty cat.

As soon as I grab him and take him into the bathroom, lil' Frankie goes from nervous shy cat to Tasmanian Devil (as in Warner Bros). This beast begins to howl, spit, twist, scratch, and attach the offending Human (me) for the indignity to follow.

Then the water gets turned on, and the ferocity reaches a new crescendo. I have to grab this spitting, fighting, twisting wet blanket by the scruff of the neck so hard that I am afraid I might hurt him. With the kitty thus inmobilized, I beging to wash, soap, and rinse Frankie.

Amazingly enough, he only nicked me in a couple of places, and my T-shirt only has two tears by the time the towels come out to get him dry.

The drying treatment is similar to Honey's . . . a complete rubdown from head to tail, and puts up with it. After a while, I let him go, and he proceeds to sit in a corner, drying himself up, looking at me with this "how dare you!" look.

About 30 minutes later, feeling fresher and cleaner, the furball siddles up to me and begins to purr as I pet him for a few minutes. All is well again.

Washing Pets - Honey

2005-08-28T22:28:00.000-05:00

Honey and I have a routine when it comes to her bath. We both have tacitly agreed that she will be civilized about her bath if I do one thing for her before I let her loose. The agreement stands, and we both enjoy the transaction with no hurt feelings or wet walls.

I usually lay out the towels that I will need ahead of time (this is important, as it signals to Honey that the Bath Game is about to begin). After I have the set that I will use on the bathroom laid out, I grab two beach towels and lay them out in the living room, along with a few other regular towels for general drying.

Honey's collar comes off, and I ask her to get into the tub. She gets in all on her own, a little reluctantly, looking at me with those big brown eyes quietly asking that we get this done right away. I soak her in water, lather her, and then rinse her. While this is happening, Honey is the perfect lady. She stands there with quiet dignity and endures the treatment.

Once she's fully rinsed, the water gets turned off, and the hand rub down to get rid of excess water happens. After that, the first towels take off as much water as possible, and she usually shakes after I put the towels to the side. Then, I ask her to come out of the tub, and she does. I then give her another rubdown with more towels to dry her further. She might shake once more, but the water is minimal.

Then, I tell her to follow me to the living room . . . and she knows the big treat, the reason for enduring the rest, is at hand. Her tail wags, her tongue lolls, and you can just see the expectant doggie smile on her face.

I tell her to play dead on the beach towels . . . and then proceed to get her completely dry by rubbing her down with the rest of the towels. She wags her entire body as I dry her up, and she is clearly in doggie heaven. By the time I am done drying her, beads of sweat cover my face, but I have also happen to have the happiest, most satisfied dog this side of the Rio Grande. And then, she proceeds to thank me the only way she knows how . . . wet doggie kisses.

All in all, it's a good experience for both of us.

Next blog . . . my harrowing experience with Frankie, my parents' Red-tip Siamese Mix.

Perspective, what a beautiful thing.

Namaste . . . Indian Music Videos

2005-08-27T14:38:00.000-05:00

I have been a fan of the Indian music videos that show on Saturday morning in one of the UHF channels in Los Angeles.

I haven't seen them in a while, but I have been hearing on the BBC that India's culture is changing and slowly moving away from the rigid traditionalism of the past. If the videos are any indication, it is true.

Most the videos feature a male and female singer, each singing their own part. The guy has a troupe of male dancers, and the female a troupe of female dancers. It is really fun to see . . . and the music is upbeat. They're longer than American music videos, and they're well choreographed.

In the past, all the videos resembled productions close to the golden age of the musical, with elaborate sets and everyone dressed in traditional Hindi attire. There was a playfulness to the videos, where both male and female leads flirted in a very innocent, coquetish way. There was titillation, but the idea of "not until we're married" was inferred by the body language alone.

I've seen a few videos this morning. While there's still a whole crop of the old-fashioned traditional videos, there is a whole new crop of sexier ones. On the new crop, the flirting is still there, but it isn't as innocent. The sexuality and sensuality has been increased, and while it isn't up to American or European standards in it's overall sexuality, the women are showing more skin and moving in more suggestive ways.

It's pretty interesting to see how the women are being objectified also. They're thinner than they used to be, while the guys can be as fat and unfit as they want -- something that American music stars can't afford anymore. Whether male or female, if you sing in the American market, you must strive to be fit and look perfect.

I still enjoy watching the videos, because the music is fun, and the videos are well put together. However, I think something has been lost by showing more skin and moving towards more obvious sensuality.

My Old Cat, Baby

2005-08-27T00:37:00.000-05:00

Back in 1989, a teen black cat came into our lives. I named him Baby because he answered to the name, but he soon grew to be about 16 pounds . . . so he grew to be a big guy.

Baby was a great big cat, loving, and tough. He loved us very much, and knew that we always would take care of him, no matter what. Whenever he was feeling ill, he'd come to us and ask for assistance.

He was the alpha male of the neighborhood, and all the other cats gave him plenty of room . . . as not a single cat (nor dog) wanted to mess with him. He was so tough, he didn't even let skunks walk around his turf. He once attacked a skunk, and albeit he came in stinking to high heaven, we never had problems with skunks again.

Baby left my parents' home back in the spring of 2004. After 15 years of living with a loving family, Baby decided to die alone. We still miss him.

Cobblers and Shoes

2005-08-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

I took my 10-year-old boots to the one guy who's been working on them since the beginning to get them resoled and cleaned up.

This gentleman from Mexico has had this little shoe repair store for a very long time in El Sereno, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. He's been working on shoes and all kinds of leather articles, making a living and providing an essential service to his community.

I paid less than 40 bucks to fix my boots, and they'll be good for another 18 months. My mom reminded me that he's bought a house, provided for his large family, and is currently putting all his children through college with that little shoe shop.

I have yet to meet someone else who is always as happy in his chosen job than him. He does his job well. He clearly loves his work, and it's quality craftmanship.

I wish I were so lucky to know my craft so well and derive as much satisfaction for a job well done as he does.

Bureacracy Lives! I've Seen It

2005-08-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, we went to the local office of the Social Security Administration to check out some rights for my parents. The office atmosphere is a mix between DMV and social services offices. To say the least, it's an interesting place. But it is efficient.

One of the reasons for the efficiency is Mr. Nguyen (not his real name), the SSA clerk who took care of our queries. He is a small, fit, graying Vietnamese gentleman with the true heart of a bureaucrat. His desk was efficiently clean, very exact. His interview with my dad didn't deviate from the questions in the form he was filling out, and he didn't smile once or make the usual small talk you encounter when meeting someone new to make them feel comfortable.

While it was a little shocking to find someone so devoted to getting from point A to point B in the form, I had to admire his thoroughness and professionalism. By the time our interview was finished, we had a very detailed list of the materials we needed to bring in to finish the application, and how he wanted it to expedite the process.

I am glad that there are still people out there who keep the bureaucracy going.

Eating Out with My Friends

2005-08-21T01:39:00.000-05:00

I had a great dessert tonight. It was Thai shaved ice at Noodle Planet in Alhambra. If you ever get the chance to have some, bring $3.00 in cash, and come ready to partake of the goodness.

This dessert starts with a base of coconut milk, and then you can add three ingredients (I chose almond jelly, lychee, and green noodles), then they add shaved ice, colored syrup, and condensed milk.

To say the least, it was a delicious experience.

They also serve a variety of soups and delicious Asian delicacies, but I really enjoyed their dessert. They're on Valley, between Atlantic and Garfield.

If you get a chance, visit them. They're good.

Humor in Times of Trial

2005-08-19T03:44:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, I am in California for a month, helping my parents as my dad begins his chemo treatment to fight Hodgskin's Lymphoma.

Today, at the hospital's cafeteria, my mom, my dad, and I sat down to have lunch. As my dad was injecting his pre-lunch insulin, the needle hit a sensitive area. This is the conversation that ensued:

Dad: "Ouch! I think I hit a nerve. This shot really hurt."

Me: "Well, dad, think of it this way: That pain is just one more note in the symphony of pain you're feeling right now."

The three of us started to giggle, and then to laugh out loud. My dad pointed out that it was a rather rude comment between fits of laughter, and I said, "Well, better to laugh about it. The alternative is to cry." At which point, we laughed even more.

It's all about perspective.

California Climate, Texas Weather

2005-08-17T02:27:00.000-05:00

I have been visiting my parents a couple of weeks, and since it is "summer" here in California, I have received a minimum of bed sheets to sleep in, since it is so hot around here. And by the time 2 a.m. rolls around, I'm shivering . . . looking for something to warm me up. I dream of polar bears, penguins, and arctic lights, and wonder why I wake up feeling frosty.

I am quickly discovering that hot is a very relative term. Now that I have lived in Texas for over 4 years and have shed a lot of my Californian mentality about weather, I realize that what is hot for Los Angeles in mid-August is very different than the same term for someone in the Dallas area.

Right now, I have to wear a jacket or at least another shirt if I dare step outside in Los Angeles at night . . . since the nighttime ocean breeze kicking from the Pacific is keeping the Alhambra area in the low 70s with low humidity. If I were back in Corinth, Texas, I'd be running in and out of air conditioned environments because the combination of rain, humidity, and heat would have me boiling over all day and all night long.

California, clearly, has climate. Climate is predictable, stable, and you can actually set your day to it. This is a good thing, as it allows everyone to roll down their windows, go for those great jogs, and look fit, tanned, and great . . . while the rest, the less fortunate, experience weather. You can wear short all day, and pack a sweatshirt in your car, because you know that you will need it around 8 p.m.

Texas, on the other hand, has weather. During summer, for example, one can easily expect a hot, dry day turn into a hot, stormy morning, capping off with a humid and oppressive evening, with rocking thunderstorms at night. Your attire should be light and airy, to help you withstand the humid heat, and your car should be packed with a rain jacket, an umbrella, and a towel -- and just in case, you should also park in a structure or in your garage, because it might hail!

It's all a matter of perspective.

Honey the Dog

2005-08-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Honey is an Australian Cattle Dog mix, and she's 9 years old. My roommate and I rescued her from the Plano animal shelter in July of 2004, and she's taking living with two bachelors like a fish to water.

She's very smart, completely trained, and even does tricks. To say the least, she's changed this hard-core cat person into "one of those" dog owners. I have yet to spoil her completely rotten, but she has made a major change in my life. Her sweet disposition and loving heart has made my life better.

Musings on a Saturday Night

2005-08-14T01:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a long week. My dad is fighting cancer, and while it is going just as scheduled, it has been hard seeing how the disease is messing with him.
I'm very happy that I have friends and family that have shown major support, and I hope that by the time I have to return to Texas, I will have done all the footwork necessary to have my parents set up with as much state-sponsored help as we possibly can.
I am trusting that the Lord will help us next week, as we begin the second round of treatment, as most of the stuff we've read on the Web shows that the second round is pretty rough.

Eight Months Later . . .

2005-08-11T12:41:00.000-05:00

Amazing! It's been over 8 months since my last (and only) entry. Much has happened. For one, my doggie is not by my side. She's back in Texas, while I am in California.

I have been promoted to chaffeur and overall Boy Friday to my dad, who is under chemo treatment for Hodgskin's Lymphoma. The cancer was caught on time, and although he feels pretty bad most of the time, the prognosis is pretty darn good. He's pretty much going to make it.

I will be in California until the first week of September, and my doggie will certainly miss me. My friends in Texas and my co-workers miss me too . . . but family is first, as the adage says.

Personally, while I am happy being at home with my parents, I miss my bed, my home, and my roommate. I sort of miss my job, but since I am telecommuting, it's not much of a miss. The team is great, so they just throw me morsels once in a while so I can feel useful.

In the Beginning . . .

2004-12-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

Four days to Christmas, and here's this new blog. With my dog sleeping by my side (and what a cute dog she is), I am embarking on a new venture. Let's see how it goes.