House Warming Party

Scott found an invitation to a house warming party tucked behind the "No Trespassing" sign on his gate. Scott is very good with people. He has the charm and personality and can hold his own in any situation. On the other hand, mom and I prefer to avoid social get togethers. We are just uncomfortable in that type of setting. We did decide to meet the neighbors.

I have never been to a house warming party. Keep in mind I have always lived back in the woods and I am a little socially behind. I do know this, you need a gift. After pestering my daughter, Hannah about what do I buy, I drove to Hallmark and bought a photo album. If there is one thing that can be used or regifted it is a photo album. I know a bottle of wine would have been a better gift but the only wine I know is Strawberry Hill and do they still make that?

We decided to drive there even though we could have hoofed it. We met just one of the owners - the husband. He was gracious and told us to look around. We left our gift on the table designated for gifts. I will have to say there was enough wine there to keep me happy for a year so I was happy to gift a photo album. It was definitely unique.

The first room you walk into is the living room. Tastefully decorated with beautiful tile work, the fireplace was lit, and the overall feel was homey. You can look out the windows and see the mountains. The art work was beautiful. The kitchen was custom and the again the tile work on the floor, backsplash, was gorgeous. Their caterer had set out enough food to feed an army. Fruit, veggies, luncheon meat (sounds better than flat meat), crackers...... We didn't eat. We had already decided to grab lunch at the Greek sandwich shop down the road. When we stepped out into the courtyard and saw the custom swimming pool with hot tub all done in natural rock we were amazed. They had a little casita for guests that over looked the pool and courtyard. It was an amazing home. Of course the Porsche in the garage caught Scott's attention.

Since I did get a little witchy with the last neighbor I met I felt it was necessary to go to this. To show the neighborhood we can be polite and that they are not living next door to the Munster family..... After exchanging a few pleasantries we left

Folks, my house does not look like any of my neighbor's homes. There are two other homes, one of which is tucked away like mine, that are older. I will say with honesty that it was a beautiful home, HGTV would be proud but it is not for me. I can appreciate it and admire it but I couldn't live in there.

I don't feel silly for dancing a jig when I found my 1970s sunken bathtub could be saved and I was unpset when I found the matching sink and cabinet could not. I love my saguaro rib ceilings because the ceiling is older than the orignal part of the house. If you think about it, it is a 200 year old ceiling. I love the simple layout, the views from the kitchen, and bedroom. I like the fact that the house might be older than me. I love the true adobe feel of it. I can't wait until we finish up with it, hopefully at the end of this month. When it is done I will post pictures but I won't be having a house warming party. There is a reason for the "No Trespassing" sign.

Updates

It looks like we will be in Tucson until the end of April.  The doctor wants more blood.  This I do know, when we do leave we will be in GREAT shape and minus a couple of pints.

Today turned out to be the perfect day to take Lu on a hike.  Scott and Bernie went with us to Wild Burro Trail.  Pictures have been posted, link provided below.

Tomorrow is Fe's big day!  She receives her last Parvo shot and she will be going to the dog park!  Her world will broaden a little.  She is still to young to take on a hike. 

Hannah our temps here will be dropping too.  It looks like you will be getting snow on Saturday.  Take pictures.

Links Related To This Post
Lu and Fi's Big Adventures

House

 

  

The house is not painted yet so it is pink and grey

  

Where the washer and dryer is going, right off of the living room.

  

Redoing the small bathroom.  Rusty aka James when they removed the bricks the ground was hard as concrete!  

  

  

  

 

Wild Burro Trail Tucson AZ

Wild Burro trail is the gateway into the Tortolita Mountains.  My son Scott came with me and was wearing the wrong shoes so we only stayed out for about 3 hours.  I will be returning and taking longer hikes.

I see Donald Duck

UPDATE ON GRANDKID AND GRANDPUPPY

Jaeda was released from the hospital on Thursday.  I don't think they gave her a diagnosis just swollen lymph nodes in her neck.  They gave her antibiotics and that seemed to do the trick.

Bernie, aka grandpuppy, was released from the hospital on Sunday.  The doctors seem to think it was heat stroke.  He is on a strict diet of chicken, rice, potatoes.... very bland food.  He did go with us yesterday on our hike and did fine.  The only trouble we had was all I had was Lulu's water bottle so that was constantly being refilled.  I didn't think he would be able to drink from it since it was small but he did fine.  Scott is going to set his kennel in the smallest bedroom which only has two very small windows and stays cooler.  

Other than that it has been a boring week.

Sweetwater Trailhead

Wildlife!

Toucan in Horse Manure - For You Hannah

Happy Saguaro see it's eyes and mouth?

Flowers

 

  

  

  

  

  

Crested Saguaro 

 

Dead Saguaro

 

Views

 

 

Its The Sunshine Vitamin

You know it is not going to be a good conversation when you answer the phone and your doctor's nurse says, "Have you been taking your cholesterol medicine?" 262 folks and I am not going to go into the other numbers because it isn't good.

Then there was the final zinger....... "you have a Vitamin D deficiency " Wait, isn't that the Sunshine Vitamin? Then the rest of my life flashed before my eyes...... I am heading for a low fat no fun diet. I am going to meet up with a dietician that looks like Jill on "The Biggest Loser" and my days of french fries and carrot cake is over. I will have to eat all of my meals outside because I am lacking in the sunshine vitamin.

I am trying, really trying to remain upbeat and positive but it is so damn discouraging. I quit smoking and my breathing goes to hell in a hand basket. I wake up every morning feeling like I have an elephant on my chest. Then my blood test results come back really crappy. Truthfully I have several trails selected that I want to go on but I am afraid that I will have a heart attack and die. I am trying to make my son go with me.

As far as being low in the Sunshine Vitamin, I have a prescription waiting for me. As far as my cholesterol is concerned, a diet would probably do wonders for me.  I will be going on my hike tomorrow by myself.   Expect pictures.

Odds And Ends

Lulu Sit

About two months ago a very nice man stopped to chat with me while I was walking Lulu.  He gave Lulu a dog biscuit.  One thing about Lulu is she never forgets!  Everytime we walk by his RV she wants to drop in for a visit, which I will not allow her to do.  One time he dropped by my RV and gave her a biscuit.  He has become Lulu's newest and bestest friend.  She sees his truck and she is on point and tries chasing it, if she sees him from her doorway she will bark at him.  The other day her friend came out and in her excitement Lulu started walking on two legs, which was funny but not as funny as when her friend said "Sit Lulu" and intstead of dropping down to four legs she just squatted on two.

Pretty good explanation of the financial crisis

"Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Berlin Germany. In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi’s bar.

Taking advantage of her customers’ freedom from immediate payment constraints, Heidi increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Heidi’s borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank’s corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager (subsequently of course fired due to his negativity) of the bank decides that the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi’s bar.

However they cannot pay back the debts.

Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95%. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %.

The suppliers of Heidi’s bar, having granted her generous payment due dates and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor.

The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties.

The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied on the non-drinkers.

Finally an explanation I understand…"

Two Nights Two Good Movies

I love Silent Sunday and this past Sunday they had a fantastic movie, Nosferatu.  A vampire movie where the vampire, Count Orlock, is not the sauve debonair vampire we are all accustomed to.  The Count is truly a frightful creature but he looks like a rat because he fangs were so close together.  Frequently he was just a shadowy character in the film.  The symbolism, the filming techniques, and the characters made this a wonderful movie. 

Second movie was Show Boat.  The one filmed in 1936 and told the entire story.  As much as I loved the newer version this one is the best.  Paul Robeson, Irene Dunne, Helen Morgan, are just some of the actors/actresses in this movie.  

As always Life Is Good.

Links Related To This Post:
Paul Robeson
Helen Morgan
Nosferatu
Pretty good explanation of the financial crisis

Lulu's Day Out

Once again Lulu and I headed for the park for a little hiking. Fifi had to stay home, she is to young, to hairy, and hasn't had her second Parvo shot. She will be restricted from any hiking until she is at least 6 months old. I think Lulu needed a break from all that puppy love.

The walk started out well, until Lulu just stopped and laid down. Stupid me left her water bottle in the car. You know you love your dog when you share your water with him/her. I bought Lulu the "water rover" and it so much easier than pouring water in your hand. This was the first time I left her water bottle and this was the first time she wanted a drink. Anyway this situation made me think about heat stroke and how dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke than humans.

Dogs wear a fur coat and they do not sweat. They cool their bodies by paning or blowing out heat, which is much less effective than sweating. Always keep in mind that even if you are comfortable, you dog may not be.

Heat stroke happens when heat gain exceeds the body's ability to dissipate heat. High temperatures cause chemical reactions that break down body cells which lead to dehydration and blood thickening. This puts extreme strain on the heart and causes blood clotting and subsequent death to tissue. Liver, brain and intestinal cells are usually the first to be affected and this can occur quickly. Normal body temperature for a dog is about 101 F to 102 F. If his temperature reaches 106 F, he is in danger of brain damage, vital organ failure and death. Reducing body temp quickly is imperative. A dog who recovers can still have organ damage and lifelong health problems. Temperatures above 106 F are extremely dangerous.

Symptoms
Rapid, frantic panting
Wide eyes
Thick saliva
Bright red tongue
Vomiting
Staggering
Diarrhea
Coma

First Aid
If your pet is overheating, he will appear sluggish and unresponsive. He may appear disorientated. The gums, tongue and conjunctiva of the eyes may be bright red and he will probably be panting hard. He may even start vomiting. Eventually he will collapse, seizure and may go into a coma Heat stroke is deadly! Heat stroke is an emergency! Cool the dog, in whatever way you can and get him to a veterinarian immediately! Hose him off, immerse him in cool (not cold) water, use fans, take him to air conditioning, or sponge the groin area, tummy area, wet his tongue, place rolled up wet towels against his head, neck, tummy, and between his legs. When his temperature drops to 104 F or 103 F, stop cooling efforts. Cooling too fast or too much can cause other problems.

Treatment
If the dog's temperature is still high when he reaches the vet's office, they may give a cool water enema, cool water gastric lavage (rinse the stomach), and IV fluids, and draw blood samples. The dog will be monitored for shock, kidney failure, heart abnormalities, respiratory stress, and blood clotting time. The dog may be given oxygen, dextrose, cortisone, antihistamines, anticoagulants, or antibiotics. Once he is stabilized, he may require follow up treatment.

Prevention
As we all know, never leave your dog in the car on hot days but also never leave your dog in the car on warm days as well.

For outside dogs, provide shade, ventilation, wading pool, and cool drinking water. Keep in mind that shade moves as the earth rotates.

Make sure water containers are large enough to supply water at all times and secure so they cannot be turned over.

Make sure that tied dogs cannot wind their tether around something, preventing access to water. Caution: Chains will wrap around themselves and shorten when the dog runs in circles.

Crate only in a wire crate.

Clip heavy coated dogs to a one inch length. Leave one inch for insulation, and protection against sunburn.

Allow dogs unaccustomed to warm weather, several days to acclimate.

Do not exercise your dog on hot days.

Take precautions for at-risk dogs when the heat index reaches 75 F.

At risk dogs
Puppies up to 6 months of age
Black dogs (black color retains heat)
Dogs that have a thick coat, heart and lung problems or a short muzzle are at greater risk for heat stroke .
Overweight pets.
Pets that are overexerted during exercise.
Pets that are ill or receiving certain medications.
Pets with short, wide heads like pugs, English bulldogs, Boston terriers.
Dogs with airway obstructive diseases.
Pets with pre-existing fever.
Pets that are dehydrated.
Pets with poor circulation due to cardiovascular or other underlying disease.
Older pets (large breed dogs over 7 years of age, small breed dogs over 14 years of age)
Pets with heart disease.

And now for pictures.