And Now Simon

Simon

2000-2011

Presumably a fast-growing cancer; it probably started around the time of the blue jay dive-bombing five weeks ago.  We had since then been regular visitors at the animal hospital. His blood work showed very elevated calcium.  His prognosis was poor.

My favorite colors: gray, black,  gold, and white.  

He was the brother of Howard, and they died within 6 days of each other.  They were two distinct personalities, more like black and white than black and gray as they were.  Howard was
 outgoing yet a homebody; Simon was more shy, yet decidedly adventurous.  He was the one who usually volunteered to accompany the dogs and me on a promenade.  He even dared to cross dangerous streets to stay with us, while being very careful, though, to look both ways.

 He was a friend to Nicholas (died 2000).

He was a friend to Alice.

Simon in happier days with his catnip mouse. He was buried with it in his paws.

Unlike her name, Dr. Savage was warm and compassionate.  Simon's little heart lingered on after the first syringe.  Dr. Savage gave him a second and then he was gone.  I held his lifeless body tight.

Together to the end

It was back to the boxes of Emily's doll clothes in search of another little pillow and some sheets and blankets.  Now next to Howard he rests in peace.  Little did I know when I bought these Mexican river rocks for putting in a fireplace interior that I would use them for initializing graves.

In the stillness of the garden graves, a robin appeared.  He danced on the newly dug soil, his beak filled with wriggling worms.  And so life goes on.  The mourning dove coos and the great horned owl in the pine tree hoots.

In cat heaven...


Is there such a thing anywhere as an ordinary housecat?

Pink Lemonade on the Rocks

Winter in St. Louis never seemed to end; the crocuses, daffodils, and flowering trees were given a cold reception with late and persistent snowfalls.  Very pretty, I must say, and unbelievably the blooms seemed not to suffer. 

Spring snow

When is one truly grateful for a snowfall? When it helps to diagnose a beloved pet's medical condition of which you had no idea!

Pink Lemonade

Oh, this could be the composition of an abstract painting, but it's not. Thank heavens for the snow, I observed there to be pink snow cone rather than the desirable yellow variety. I took Chewy to the vet right away. Cystotomy surgery was immediately called for. He had stones in his bladder.

This stone was almost the size of a nickel  It is composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate 90% and calcium oxalate dihydrate 10%.  I think it is ferocious and interesting at the same time!  One can imagine that it might have caused Chewy some discomfort.

Vile vial

I asked the vet to save me the little culprits.  There were about 10 of these small, gravel sized pieces.

Poodle Puppy

Here is the happy boy after his operation, looking part poodle with his shaved forearm to better accommodate the IV.  He really does seem happier, and is playful with Alice as he never was since she joined the household  a year ago.  He hadn't appeared to be in pain, but if not for the tell-tale snow, a crisis of blockage was averted.  Must have felt like this...

Rene Magritte

Le monde invisible (The Invisible World)

Oil on canvas, 77 x 51 5/8 inches

1954

Aahh...a beautiful painting about a handsome rock...or is it about something else?  Illusion or allusion?

"Bareback Mountain"

The OTHER problem with Chewy was a wretched hangover of steroids to treat his skin allergy issues. His appearance was downright embarrassing.  Chewbacca's new name became Bareback Mountain; seeming to be half orangutan and half dog.  I was ready to consult with Dr. Dogskin, the dermatologist, but his regular vet, Dr. Loehnig advised, "Let's treat one problem at a time."  So we fixed the inside and then worked on the outside.  Fortunately now the patch is all grown in with a new crop of silky fur. 

Speaking of stones, here is a home that likes to rock and roll!  The entire yard is filled with indiscriminate rubble.  There are Zen gardens and then there aren't...but I do believe the homeowner is proud of her creation.  I usually reserve making judgments about what some may call ugly, gross, or disgusting. In nature, I am  in awe of the endless variations in form, color and design. I would argue that ugliness is impossible; interesting, perhaps.  In art, too,  it is important to keep an open mind.  It's not always just a pretty picture that is determined a masterpiece!  

Designer and Dogs Do Diet

Taylor scale tell-all

This is this

And that is that

And altogether

We are fat!

In "fat pants" - the holidays have taken their toll - I waddled in to Millis Animal Hospital to take Chewbacca in for a booster shot.  Alice came along for the ride.  As Alice's halter seemed a bit tight, I commented to Dr. Loehnig that perhaps if was too small for her, or did he think she was overweight?  He didn't even hesitate, he emphatically replied, "Yes!" and picked her up like a pot-bellied pig to be weighed.  The report:  10 pounds over what she weighed when she was adopted in May.  Chewy was next on the chopping block - only 3 pounds increase since our last visit a few months ago.  Fortunately I wasn't the next one to have to get on that big scale. 

Remains of the Day (Emily's Dec. 24th birthday)

Ah, if it were only so easy to get someone to control my personal intake portions of food and libation! Alice isn't going to like this new regime one bit. She may attempt to make up for it with dining out adventures: a full 5 course meal can be had on our streets and boulevards, in the bushes and down the alleys. People regularly drive buy pitching chicken bones and pizza rinds from their car windows. Last week an entire Dunkin' Donuts was enjoyed by Alice on her morning walk, still in the box! She did not share it with Chewy.  Half a burger was fare for the evening walk, followed by a nice cold draught of  melted snow. This morning Chewy tore open a bag and enjoyed an entire Egg McMuffin, untouched! Was he in heaven or what!

Doggie Dining Out - A la Carte BBQ

One of my mottos is "Never Pass Up Free Food" and I am a card-carrying member of the Clean Plate Club.  My current weight problem started in New Orleans this past Halloween, when I spent 10 days gorging indiscriminately on their delicious cuisine.  My daughter, Emily, can eat like a lumberjack and it has no effect on her metabolism, but then, she's 22 years old!  Honestly, I think I eat like it might be my last meal due to growing up with six siblings to compete for "the good stuff".  To this day, I will eat just about anything and everything, because of the insecurities I suffered as a child.  I can more easily reject food and drink that is mediocre, but if it is really good, I have no self restraint whatsoever! Hence these 5 plus pounds that have crept onto my frame must melt away or my clothes will be entirely too tight in 2011.  So here we go, Alice and Chewy, to a thinner 2011! 

   

Alice enjoying an afternoon nap with full belly - perfect!