I can't wait for the cooler weather. I bet everyone is feeling that way. I think most of the country is getting hit with a heatwave. It's days like this that I don't mind being stuck in an air conditioned building all day! (and that's the only reason, lol)

I want to get out and hike. Can't wait to get into the mountains. We've got a lot of beautiful countryside here. We're searching for that perfect weekend getaway spot in No. Georgia. I'm sure we'll find it :o)

We have been in this house two years already, and I look around me and there is still so much to do. The interior (and probably exterior) needs a good paint job. That is my one complaint about the builder. They contracted a horrible painting company! I'm trying to pick colors for my rooms. I'm terrible at picking good colors - habitually, I've left my rooms white, and in this house everything is beige - but I'll give it my best shot. We need some color in this house! I'm really not in much of a hurry, although every time I look around I ought to be!

The new job is very busy. It makes the days fly by, but that in turn makes the weeks fly by, and I sure don't want my life to pass me by so quickly. Why is it every time I plan on slowing down a little, it speeds up??

It looks like rain today. Good. We need the rain. With my luck, however, it won't rain today while I'm at work... it will wait until the weekend!!

Well, that's enough random thoughts for the a.m. Time to go. Have a good one everybody!

Cassie 2/7/02-7/19/06

Not nearly long enough.

crunch goes the sheetmetal

The one thing anyone who knows anything about Atlanta will tell you is the traffic is horrible in and around the city.

Since I've started my new job and, thus, a commute, I see on average two fender benders a week. Typically, it's people following too close at excessive speed and unable to stop abruptly.

Today, on my way home, I was stopped at a traffic light. I wasn't looking, but heard the screech of tires and the *POP* of two cars hitting. I looked up to see one car stopping near me. It was two teenagers in what looked to me like a brand new car. A truck hit them and, needless to say, there was a lot of damage.

It brought back memories of my teenage years and I was a passenger in a car that got hit. How many people do you know get into an accident SITTING AT A GAS PUMP???? This was the type luck BnT had, but I think her luck has improved since then (?)

You Are Cherry Pie

You're the perfect combo of innocent and sexy Those who like you enjoy a contradiction

What Kind of Pie Are You?

When I was younger, I wasn't big on chewing gum. I just remember kids would disgard it under desks or chairs and I thought, "ew, gross." Okay, so kids will be kids, right? Uh...... recently I pulled up to a drive-thru window, and I glance over at the nicely pruned bushes ... only to discover people spit their gum out the window into them. Totally disgusting.

What's wrong with you people???

This one is for animal lovers...

Our Dog "C"

Hubby left for NC Tuesday afternoon and when I got home from work, "C" was a little weaker than usual. She ate, but not with that "intense" hunger like she had been. I didn't feel it was a good sign, but I tried to stay optimistic.

Wednesday morning she didn't eat and was not cooperating when I tried to give her her pills. I put her food in her crate with her, hoping she'd eat during the day while I was at work. But, it was still there when I came home. I gave her fresh food, which she didn't touch, and it was tough getting the pills down her. That night, as she lay on the floor by my feet, it looked like she was dying.

The thought did cross my mind that she might be dead when I got up Thursday morning. She wasn't, but she was very weak. (By now she is extremely thin, too ... spine showing, ribs showing, sunken head, hip bones starting to protrude.) I dropped her off at the vet on my way to work. I brought all her medication and hoped they could get both some food and medication in her. Either way, I figured it was the best place for her to be.

That afternoon, I called to check on her and they said the vet wanted me to come in around 5:15-5:30 so he could talk to me. I figured it was bad, because they usually just told me what was going on over the phone. When I asked if she ate or they got any medication in her, they said they didn't have the chart in front of them. All they would say is she is sleeping.

I got to work half an hour late that morning and made up my time at lunch. I was afraid to ask if I could leave half an hour early, but they didn't have a problem with it. I got to the vet's office around 5:30. The vet told me it was not good. Her blood tests showed a decline again .... that she wasn't producing healthy blood cells. He starting talking next steps ... which include blood transfusions and chemo. I told him hubby and I had discussed what we would do if it got to this point and that we'd put her down -- especially since there is no guarantee that her quality of life would be any better after putting her through all of that. I said I'd have to talk to hubby that night when he got home, before I could give him a definite answer.

Hubby returned home from his business trip that night. I felt horrible that I did not bring "C" home with me so he could see her, but I didn't want to make her climb in and out of the car. It was hard enough for her to walk at that point.

Friday morning I went into work a half hour early to make up for leaving early the day before. Hubby went to the vet as soon as they opened to say his goodbye to "C". He called me around 9:15am. He was sitting with "C" outside the vet's office and was feeding her leftover london broil and small dog biscuits. I asked him if he wanted me to call the vet and have them come out to get her so that he did not have to go back inside. He said no.

He called me again at around 10:15. I thought he was home by then ... but he was still at the vet's office! When he finally went inside and the vet learned she devoured everything he had given her, plus a handful of meaty treats one of the assistants brought out to him, the vet decided to do one last blood test. When the technician started to take "C" into the back, she tugged hard back towards hubby, knocking the tech off balance. (that had to just about kill hubby ... she must have thought that was the end!) Hubby fully expected the results would seal "C" 's fate and he was ready to let her go.

Surprisingly, there was a jump in her blood counts. Not huge, but significant enough to let her continue to fight. The vet even said she's too good a dog not to give it one more try .... although he was very clear he did not want to give us any false hopes. He changed her medications, giving us a really expensive drug for free (!!). "C" has most definitely won over every heart in the vet clinic.

So, "C" is home with us again. We see incredible improvement. There is life back in her eyes, and she is carrying her head high, standing strong, and wagging that stubby tail with vigor. All things that have been missing for the past couple weeks. Her diet now includes red meat for the protein .... which for anyone who knows me knows this is something special, as I don't give animals people food! (She has been getting an iron pill every day.)

We are cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, we have the weekend with her to say our goodbyes.

Attached is a picture I took last night. She often walks around with one ear down and one ear flipped up like in this picture. She is such a goof!

Give your pets a big hug. Our animals are precious.

Antiques Roadshow

I don't watch this show often but, when I do, I have to laugh at some of the appraisers' reactions. They put a select few on t.v. to discuss their heirlooms/possessions, and sometimes they get so excited and worked up over an item that you expect they're going to announce the object is worth a million dollars, only to find out it's worth maybe $1,000 if you're lucky. These appraisers crack me up. I imagine the person standing there, a camera zoomed in on their face -- with that dumbfounded look of disappointment and a smile pasted on their face -- really just wanting to smack the appraiser for getting their hopes up, and probably does when the camera turns off. LOL

Happy 4th of July!

fireworks

Today we drove by one of those store signs that flash the date, time and temperature. It said 101 degrees. What? I didn't think it was that hot, but I have a massive headache which I attribute to the heat. Needless to say, I don't have time for this. Too many things still to get done!

Interesting (?) tidbits....

• Two "classics" I've never seen: Casablanca and Gone with the Wind
• I once drove cross-country... from New York to San Jose, CA
• As a sixth-grader, I tutored 1st graders in math
• I have never smelled perfume, flowers, scented candles, .....um, skunks ..... NOTHING .... EVER.

What are some interesting things about you?

All weekend I've had thoughts racing through my mind. Great topics for blogging. Some funny, some serious. But for the life of me, I can't remember a one! Isn't that always the way?!

Hubby and I were going to do some furniture shopping today. We were on the road when I received a call on my cell phone from the vet. We had two separate sets of blood tests done on our dog last week, and the vet asked that we bring her in to check her blood again to see if the medication she is on is helping.

This dog is costing us a small fortune at the moment. So far they have ruled out any tick-related diseases, and her liver and kidneys check out fine. I hear about family dogs being poisoned for one reason or another, and I must admit the thought of some sadist doing that to our dog did cross my mind. But, signs are pointing to an auto-immune disease ... her own body is attacking her healthy red blood cells. Today her platelet count is on the rise. The vet prescribed two more medications and baby aspirin, making the total now at: 3 meds, prednisone and aspirin. --- one pill once a day before a meal, two pills twice a day with meals, one pill twice a day after meals, 1/2 a pill every other day, and 1/4 baby aspirin every other day. How, I ask, am I to cut this baby aspirin into quarters?! Oh, and can you guess who is steering clear of the pill giving duties?? Yes... hubby! lol

We'll go back out tomorrow to shop for furniture We are specifically looking for an entertainment unit to house our new t.v. in the family room. Although, any savings earmarked for the entertainment center realistically should go toward the vet bills!

This is life, and it's really a small price. Friends and family members are going through so many hardships, my pet issue does not compare. My aunt is showing early signs of dementia, her sister underwent a mastectomy last week, our friend's sister died suddenly a couple days ago - at the age of 47 - from an infection (as a result of medical malpractice), my friend's wife has 6 more months of chemo and radiation - it will be two years total when she's done this time (yes, she was in remission for 3 years), I can go on and on.

Okay, that was depressing. Why on earth did I have to go on that tangent? Just keeping things in perspective for myself, I guess.

Happy 4th of July