Due to overwhelming demand (2 requests) I may have to keep updating this blog. The challenge that I have is that "Jake's Rehabilitation" doesn't really apply anymore. His rehab is pretty much over. I figured he was fully recovered as soon as he started ignoring us again. Sure, he still has a few procedures ahead, but the worst is definitely behind us.
So, what to do? I could simply keep going with a slight name change to this blog; "Jim and Denise's Rehabilitation" seems like it might be appropriate. We could certainly use some rehabilitation after spending the previous 21 years raising kids.
The nest is now truly empty; Nick left for Davis on Tuesday, planning to head up to Lake Shasta for a houseboating trip with his waterski team buddies. Little brat! I paid for a Shasta trip I couldn't attend and he gets to go twice in one season. Oh well, I'm probably getting too old for that kind of stuff anyway. I should probably take up Bingo or some other age appropriate activity.
We still have Leo, of course. I spent a significant portion of the day today installing a new "Extra Large" doggie door into the garage so that this big idiot can get in out of the weather when necessary. The old door that we installed for Dannielle was way too small. That didn't stop him from getting in through the door when he wanted, but it must have been quite a struggle for him. The drywall and framing around the old door were completely torn up from him clawing his way in. Once inside the garage he would force open the door into the house and spend the day comfortably reclining on our bed until we would come home.
Naturally, now that I spent $85 and most of my afternoon installing the new door, he is afraid of it and won't go in or out. I even crawled through it (that will give you an idea how BIG it is) to prove it was safe, but he remained unimpressed. I suppose he will eventually figure it out. Next time there's a big storm he'll probably decide that the doggie door is less frightening than the lightning.
Since living vicariously through my children is no longer an option I'm trying to find something new to keep myself entertained. Consequently, there is a "Brewer's Best Deluxe Equipment Kit" sitting in our family room awaiting my first foray into the art of home brewing. I bought the "Bold Series Imperial Blonde Ale" ingredient kit, because who doesn't like blondes and also because they didn't have an IPA kit in stock. I'm going to wait a couple weeks for the weather to cool off before actually brewing my first batch, which will give me time to empty a bunch of beer bottles so they'll be available for refilling. I will keep you all posted on the brewing progress.
In reading through the kit and the recipe I learned a new little tidbit, which I'm glad I discovered. Apparently hops are very bad for dogs, causing malignant hyperthermia (whatever that is), usually fatal. Even small amounts, including spent hops from the brewing process can cause a deadly reaction. Who knew?! Since we would probably have thrown the spent hops into our compost pile, and since Leo has on occasion taken to munching stuff in said pile, we might very well have committed involuntary dogslaughter. (I actually think Dannie was the instigator of the compost munching.) Anyway, NO BEER FOR LEO!
Which is OK. MORE BEER FOR JIM.
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Yipee!yipee!yipee!
ReplyDeleteWell hello you, and how great is this news on a monday morning.
I have said to you that I love your style of writing and have become rather fond of you and your family, so I am over the moon that you are planning on sticking it out.
Who cares what you call your blog, I just want you to keep writing.
I have a funny picture stuck in my head now of you crawling in and out the dog flap while Leo sits there, shaking his head and yawning.
Mind you when it comes to who gets through the dog flap first in the middle of a lightening storm, I somehow think Leo will wipe the floor with you, then sit on the other side laughing at you as you crawl through, with a smug look on his face that says, "See i could do it all long" while rolling his eyes at you.
For Leos sake please be very careful with the hops, even if he only ate an 1oz or 2oz it could be fatal. Basically this is what malignant Hyperthermia does to dogs
they over heat, temperature can rise by 2 degrees every 5 mintues and continue to climb,rapid heart beat, up to 200 beats per minute and extremely heavy panting. While there are treatments for a dog, most vets don't know about this and so often dogs are then lost. Basically, I hate to say this but your dog will boil from the inside out. Kind of like if you leave him in a car in the heat and the windows all up.
Seal the spent hops in a container and throw them in the trash. If your wondering how I know all this, well,Dad owns a few pubs and a brewery. No you can not marry me, you are already married and anyway there is a long queue, would seem that when ever I mention that he owns a brewery, people want to marry me, I just don't understand why!!!!!!! lol.
Anyway, I'm glad you are sticking with it, was missing you all.
much love,
Lia xx
I forgot to say, I hope Jake is doing well at college. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you decided to keep this going. It's extremely entertaining--and I learn something new all the time.
ReplyDeleteGood to know not to leave any hops around--you know Labs, they'll eat anything!
Perhaps you with bags o' treats on one side of the doggie door and Leo on the other will convince him to try it. Worked for Indy, but, then, yes, Labs are foo motivated.
See you!
Please continue to write.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm so sorry that Jake was hurt, but am delighted he's healed and I've been able to read your musings. Laugh out loud fun.
Our mantra with Leo has been that "cheese trumps all fears" but, alas, even cheese did not lure him through the new doggie door. But, I left the door unlatched when I went to work and "ta-dah!" he was in the house when we got home. We have actually NEVER seen him go through the doggie door. Perhaps he knows some magical spell.
ReplyDeleteOh, and speaking of Jake, he is coming down first weekend of Oct. It's about the time his orthodontist wanted to do a follow-up. He's probably only coming because his roomate's mom wants him to come home and he figures to hop along on the plane with him. It will be the most expensive orthodontic visit ever.
Thanks Lia! You have just given Jim reason to divorce me! At least your dad's brewery half the world away so it will be impossible to fill his growler to bring home!
Well, when I told Jake the cost of flying him home for 3 days to see the orthodotist, he said "That would be a pretty expensive orthodotic appointment." So we are forgoing the trip down here and he will plan to see an orthodontist near school for a check-up or adjustment and then will see his regular ortho over Thanksgiving. Seems sensible.
ReplyDeleteI'm over the moon too.
ReplyDelete(I really am! :-))
Oh Denise,I am so sorry!!!
ReplyDeleteI promise that if Jim ever makes it over the Pond and to my door-step that I will take him on a tour of all the independant beweries around.
That way he will have such a bad hang over that he won't realise I have stuck him on a plane home. Therefore having no idea what has hit him.
As for Leo, I think he has a pocket somewhere with a key to your front door, which would explain why you have never seen him come through the door.
Much love,
Lia xx
Ps excuse spelling dsylexia is really bad at mo.