Lambiedog

Quality of life

I'm poised to start an oral chemotherapy regime of Chlorambucil (Leukeran) combined with Prednisone.  These are strong drugs.  Just having them in my body is a scary prospect, although the web includes numerous reports from veterinarians attesting that this regime is both effective and generally well-tolerated.

Another element here is also alarming. Chlorambucil, a powerful drug, can actually be carcinogenic to those coming into contact with it incidentally.   Directions for the administration of Chlorambucil caution that it should be handled wearing protective gloves because it can be absorbed through skin contact.  And not only during the direct handling of the medicine: 

Because of the potential for absorption of the drug or its hazardous metabolites through the skin via contact with urine, feces, saliva, vomit, etc., you should wear gloves to clean these up.  Washable items coming in contact with these should be handled wearing gloves (and a protective gown if needed) and then washed twice. Use these precautions for a minimum of 48 hours after the last dose is administered. 

Saliva? 

I'm a licker.  Other dogs specialize in hunting, herding, retrieval, and so on. I specialize in licking.  I love to lick.  I emit probably two hundred licks a day.  My favorite spot to lick is the area around and including the human nose and mouth.  It is my way of connecting, and of expressing my joy in the world. When my licking is repulsed I feel like I'm being punished.   

So this is going to be a challenge for us. We're going to need to eliminate the cues that start me into my licking spiral, and add new elements to maintain my joie de vivre.  There are many ways to skin a cat [such an unfortunate phrase].  Although licking must be eliminated from my happiness lineup for the time being, I will endeavor to keep this from negatively affecting the quality of my life.  

I might take a page from Dolce, who has gotten into contemplation, eastern religion, inner awareness - that sort of thing.  She has a  favorite meditation spot on the edge of the bluff.  She seems so at peace.  I could try that.

Back from medical leave

    

A couple of weeks ago I had surgery to remove a mast cell tumor. It hadn't metastasized to key organs, but watchful waiting is the new world order.

   The experience brought me down.  All that poking and prodding. The pain. The anesthesia. The meds. The anxiety.  The Elizabethan collar.

 

    I was miserable.  For a while I lay low and let it all roll over me. 

Finally I rebounded.  On our 'walks' I stopped asking to be carried. I relocated the spring in my step.  Now I pal around with Snoopy, sniffing at this and that. I race down to visit Buggsy and Beverly.

 Sadly, however, Buggsy is actually no longer there to visit:  In July he had a fatal accident. His family misses him a lot -- he was dearly loved.  Below is a photo of him from 2014.  He's the dog on the left, standing next to Beverly and David.

    When I go to their house I still always search for him.  First Beverly gives me a treat, and then I do a check of the house to see if I can find him.

     

I make a friend

This will probably shock my readers, but the majority of the dogs I refer to herein as 'friends' would more technically be described as acquaintances whom I see regularly. Just like a toddler whose playdates are dictated by his parents' friendships, I have been thrown together with and become 'friendly' with the dogs of my owner's friends. 

Today, however, I made a friend on my own.  His name is Lou, short for Loup-Garou, and he lives on the next bluff over from us.  

We got along unusually well.

    Active friendships are rare for me.  I hope to see Lou again soon.  

I spied my doppelgänger in a window

Hard loss

 

Howard's beloved dog Molly died on Thursday, after twelve-plus years with him.

 

 

New dog in the neighborhood

This morning at the bluff I met Bella, the dog who has just joined Nene and Rusty's family.

I was intrigued by Bella's strikingly high social IQ.  She played with the big dogs, but was quite diplomatic about letting me sniff her as well.

  Also, she seems to have almost instantaneously established a deep connection with her new family.  It's a good augur.

Scheme Engine in town

    I just found this photo from my reunion with Thomas at the airport last month.  He was on the west coast with other members of the Scheme Engine crew documenting Beyoncé and Jay Z's On the Run concert tour.  

    While the team was in L.A. they stayed with us.  Though they were out at the concert venue for long hours, when they were back here we had some nice moments together.  

To the right you can see Ben and Yip enjoying our legendary Nespresso hospitality, as Thomas and I lead them to the end of the bluff to look down at the crumbling fire road.

An especially nice element of the visit was that T's 'old' friends -- Genny, Dustin and eb -- were in town, enabling him to introduce them and his 'new' friends:  Devin, Ben and Yip.    

One night eb brought a canine guest, Copper, along to dinner. Copper is a recent adoptee and got anxious when separated from eb by more than six inches. That made him my favorite kind of guest: someone with zero interest in grabbing  my stuff.  But I monitored the situation closely, just in case he got any ideas.

 

There were many more great moments, but finally the fabulous visit had to end.

  I was sad watching Thomas pack up, yet buoyed by the hope that he and his compatriots will find more reasons to come visit me again.  

I think my shimmering lifestyle could make a good topic for a Life+Times piece, for example.

Chronicle of a busy Sunday

My day started early with a trip out to the bluffs, as usual.

Next up: a walk into town with Ollie, Winnie and Dolce. We stopped to rest at the Village Green before walking back.

 

After that I rested, as I had another engagement coming up that I wanted to be fresh for.

The upcoming engagement was the annual Arbramar block party.  Dolce would be there, and perhaps some other dogs as well.  Yet I knew I would still have to fight my social anxiety.

 I am just never that comfortable in social situations.  Thank goodness for the refreshment table, which gives me something to act like I'm busy with.   

 

 I guess it could have been worse.

Finally, it was back to the bluffs to enjoy the twilight. 

Another Sunday appreciated by me.

Rusty

    Rusty died last week, after a series of medical hard knocks. He loved and was loved by his family, who were greatly supportive during his illness and are now shattered by their loss.

    When Rusty joined them, the family already included one dog, Nene.  But Rusty added a different form of canine energy. Watching him playing with Rambo across the street, you might have thought he was a tough guy.  Yet he was exceptionally gentle and sweet.  

    We are so sad for all of them.

Bone tired