Thor’s Hall

So the Obama’s played the political game in their choice of a dog.  Accepting a puppy that from the Kennedy’s.  Ok, I can live with that it is part of the political landscape.  Two things that I am a bit concerned about.

1.  The Obama’s do not strike me as “pet people”.  What happens when they leave The White House and have to care for the dog themselves?

2.  Over the years we have seen many photos of various president’s in casual, relaxed situations.  In all of those occasions there has always been the gravitas and command prescence that you expect from the POTUS.  BHO, is out of place, and out of his league.  I recently caught a National Geographic piece on Air Force One.  BHO was uncomfortable, out of place, and showed no sense of command prescence.  Between walking on and off the aircarft with his hands in his overcoat pockets to hold it closed, and his obvious discomfort with the situation.  He was just another commuter like you would see in any urban area.   Hell, I see business men getting on and off commercial aircraft with more command prescence that BHO displayed.

Let’s compound this observation with three other photos.

The man needs some serious help with his image.  These photos present an image that is not helpful to his ability to command the respect that is due to the Office of the President, and will be erode the abilities of those that follow him.  Don’t even get me started on the flinch in Turkey, the staging of the Bagdad event, the dis to our WWII veterans in France OR the FRACKING BOW TO A FOREIGN MONARCH / LEADER.  WTF!

That is a fine looking dog though.  I sincerely hope that the Obama’s get some obiedience training the Bo, and for themselves in handling the dog, and they truely make him part of their family and not a political accessory.

There are any number of really really good blogs out there. Usually, I read along for a while thinking, “Yeah, this is someone that I can relate with”. Then something comes up, and the blog turns a corner into something that you just don’t buy and you continue reading but without the same level of affinity.

Well there is a relatively new blog out there that I have referenced before. That I can’t believe:

a. How well written it is.

b. How closely it mirrors my own thoughts and feelings.

c. How closely each of the posts (so far) hit home.

For instance, if you have been reading this blog for a while you would know that we recently have had to put euthanize both of our Labradors. They both lived into old age, it was a totally heart rending decision to have to make, and in each case the pet went through a rapid decline (matter of days) that was surprising. Since that time, we have a new pup and continue to make the best of things.

Well a couple of days ago Brigid through up a post titled “ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE DOG BARKS . . . IT BARKS FOR THEE”. It popped up in my reader and I read it thinking, “That’s nice”. Today I clicked through to the actual blog post, and lo and behold I find another Labrador tribute. Now, instead of this blog veering away from interests I find it drawing closer and closer. It’s just much better written than mine.

Nothing deep and meaningful in this post. Just need to vent a little bit as I am really depressed about my dog’s (Tasha’s) deterioration.

Tasha is over fourteen years old, and a black Lab. She is not a show dog, not a breeding dog just my friend. We got her from a breeder halfway across the country that was a family friend of a colleague. Reputable, champion dogs, all that good stuff and she has been with us a long time now. When I picked her up after a plane ride across the country (14 yrs, and 2 months ago) she sat in the car next to me howling for her siblings and the farm. A bath, and a few hours on the floor with her curled up next to me and she became an integral member of the family. A year or so later we got a second lab to round out the clan. His life’s path was shorter than Tasha’s but no less joyful. The decision time with him was not this hard.

Given Tasha’s age I think I have known that this day would come sooner than later but she has deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of weeks, and days. She is not able to walk without pain, she is incontinent and her quality of life has been drastically reduced as has that of those around her.

The kids don’t really understand (they are all 6 and under). Tasha will be the fourth pet that we have had euthanised in the oldest one’s lifetime. I knew that this would happen, and I know that it is the right thing to do under the circumstances too. It just isn’t easy to know when. Is there anything reasonable left in the veterinary arsenal to try or are we really at the decision point?

Personally, I think we are to the point where the pain cannot be controlled. She cannot keep her legs under her sitting or standing. Yet a week ago she was playing and running (as best she could) with the rest of our canine pack.

Damn it, why do I become so damn attached to my pets? Why can’t they just pass easily in their sleep, overnight?

The doc just changed her meds around. Not sure if we will be able to control things any better or not. If we can, we’ll have to evaluate her quality of life. If she is not able to get around the house, and around the yard I know what the decision has to be. I am ready to make that call. I just need to know that we are at the end of the road when I do. I just need to give the meds sometime to work some magic, or not.

I am going to be relatively rude here and keep the comments closed. I am sure that everyone has wonderful thoughts and comments but right now I will not enjoy them.

UPDATE: 22 May – She stuck with us for a while longer. But today was Tasha’s last living day on this planet. We’ll meet again old girl, it will be a while yet but I will see you on the other side.

Well here it is, another early Sunday morning.  It’s -3 F with a wind chill approaching -36F.  The dogs have been out for their morning constitutional already.  A bit abbreviated, as the puppy kept getting leg cramps.  The Grand Ole Pup (14 yrs old) she was none too excited about going very far or long this morning either.  But, that’s ok it’s not a good day to be out.

As you might expect the dawn this morning is glorious.  A deep orange glowing band on the clear horizon.  As I have written this it has made it’s way into a pale pink shade.  Not a cloud, or wisp there of, to be seen anywhere.  As much as I dislike being cold, I love mornings like today (so far).