The Return of Geordie

>> Saturday, July 28, 2007

Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts for Geordie. He is now home again, although I was reminded again that he is "not yet out of the woods", due to the fact that his intestines were opened up, potentially releasing strong bacteria into his body. He is on a special diet for the next fourteen days, along with two kinds of antibiotics... And of course he is sporting the ever fashionable "buster collar" which he has been using as a sort of snowplow to push things out of his way... If he can make it through the next few days without developing an infection, or tearing his internal stitches, or losing any of his stomach staples (there are twenty-three, he kind of looks like frankendog) we should be on the home stretch. Since bringing him home from the vet's yesterday afternoon, I've called no less than four times to ask questions about things (is his poo supposed to be technicolour yellow? what time should I give him his pills? how much can he eat, 'cause he thinks he's dying of starvation?). They've been very nice to me, and haven't (overtly) laughed at any of my questions. But then again the bill was $2099.40, and I think that at that price clients should get a free pass on as many dumb-ass questions as they like, for at least the next three years...
I know that all three of my quasi-regular readers must be thinking how crazy I am to have spent so much money on the pup. But what can I do, I didn't know how much it was going to cost. And to be honest if told at the beginning, I would have said go for it, even knowing that there was a good chance that the surgery might fail. I guess the way I look at it is that I chose this dog, he didn't choose me. That being the case, I feel that it's my responsibility to do everything within my power to ensure that he is healthy and happy.
I got a new camera the other day, and the battery's charging at the moment. As such there will be no photo for this post. Instead I thought I'd share some facts about Geordie that you would never guess just from looking at him:

  • his ears smell like honey
  • he loves to sleep beside the toilet (I don't get it either...)
  • he has ten nipples (which I previously didn't know or care about, but now that his belly has been shaved they are very obvious)

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Poor Wee Geordie

>> Thursday, July 26, 2007

Yesterday morning I noticed my young dog was not feeling so good. I called the vet and made an appointment for the afternoon, but within 15 minutes of hanging up the phone he was so sick he couldn't stand up. Realizing there was something seriously wrong I rushed him to the vet and asked if they could see him as an emergency. After sitting in the office for 10 minutes or so, the receptionist turns to me and says: "you know, we really can't see him you should take him someplace else". So I did, in fact going to three more clinics before I found a vet willing to listen to me (the receptionist at the first place said "he doesn't look all that sick to me"). He examined wee Geordie and realized his intestines were knotted up, which as I am sure you can imagine is very, very serious. So serious in fact that he didn't want to waste time taking an X-ray, which only takes seconds. The vet had actually left a surgery to come and see my pup, and literally picked Geordie up and carried him into surgery to try and sort things out. He made no promises that it would end well. Miraculously we got him to the doctor's in time to save his intestine, as the vet had originally thought that he'd have to excise the knotted part and then join the two healthy ends. Unfortunately he had developed a raging infection in his intestines from the blockage, and he is still in hospital getting fluids and antibiotics intravenously. I went to see him this morning and he seemed so much better than he did yesterday after surgery (when he could hardly blink his eyes). The vet has told me he's not out of the woods yet though, so I am asking my three quasi-regular readers to please pray to whatever gods or deities that they might believe in that my poor wee Geordie recovers soon. We are in your debt...


The irony of the whole thing is what had blocked his intestines was the ear off of his little lambie squeak toy, which according to the label is an "approved dog toy". For all you dog owners out there, please be careful what you give your dog, even though rawhide bones are gross and smelly and disgusting, at least your dog can digest them if they get ingested. This the ear the doctor removed from Geordie's insides:






And on a final note, even though I really try not to say unkind things about others in my blog, I would very much like to tell that dumb bitch at the first vet's office that if she knows that the vet there cannot see an animal on an emergency basis, she should bloody well say so when they walk in the door, and not ten nerve-wracking, is-my-dog-gonna-die? minutes later.

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The Truth As I See It

>> Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Someone forwarded me this email the other day. At first I just deleted it, but really it made me angry, and I feel that I have to speak out. What this person (whoever the original sender may have been) is proclaiming as "truth" is nothing but racist intolerance.

Subject: FW: Australia now - Canada tomorrow? Australia Now, Canada Tomorrow?????? Excerpts from an on going debate in Australia. This is true and can be checked at http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp Muslims who want to live under Islamic Shari law were told onWednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in abid to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty toAustralia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister JohnHoward, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face acrackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard,hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if theydid not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made byparliament "If those are not ! your va lues, if you want a country whichhas Shari law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he saidon National Television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two lawsgoverning people in Australia: one the Australian law and another Islamiclaw that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independentcourts, democracy, and would prefer Shari law and have the opportunity to goto another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a betteroption", Costello said Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, hesaid those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to theother country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters thatMuslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off.Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, tolive by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basicallyclear off", he said. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday bysaying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or LeaveIt. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending someindividual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we haveexperienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians." "However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that ourpatriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do Ihold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming toAustralia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recentlycome to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.""This idea ofAustralia bei! ng a mu lti-cultural community has served onlyto dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, wehave our own culture, our own society, our own language and our ownlifestyle." "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles,trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom" "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese,Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to becomepart of our society .. Learn the language!" "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, rightwing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, onChristian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. IfGod offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world asyour new home, because God is part of our culture." "We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we askis that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment withus." "If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go",then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep yourculture, but do not force it on others. "This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allowyou every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining,whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, orOur Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other greatAustralian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'." "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to comehere. You asked to be here So accept the country YOU accepted." Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, Canadians will find thebackbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths ! This could apply to all of our Immigrants' both Legal and illegal If you agree , please SEND THIS TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW! If you disagree hit the delete button.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me.
-Martin Niemoeller

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Happy Birthday Nathan (old man)

>> Tuesday, July 17, 2007

So. Apparently all I've been doing lately is staying in Deroche alot, kind of cut off from the real world, and acting all hermit-ish and reclusive. But Sunday was Nathan's 30th (ha! you were mad about the sign on the wall. now my three quasi-regular readers know how old you are too), so off I went to the Big Chill to help celebrate. By eating macaroni salad, ice cream cake, shooting the shit with friends, dodging balloons launched by Bodey and sadly declining the cinnamon schnapps and all other alcoholic offerings as I had to drive myself home. Which is just about the most excitement I've had in weeks. Ever since the haunted house incident now that I think about it. And yes, upon reflection, I realize just how truly pathetic my life seems thank you very much for thinking that thought just now as you read this. Feel free not to comment. It would just be too depressing.
But anyways.
Nathan thinks he's old now, and is mourning the loss of his twenties. Which makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing going back to school at an even older age... I swear to Gitche Manitou that nothing makes you feel more decrepit than a younger person complaining that they're old...
I suppose I should count myself lucky that just about everybody I meet thinks I'm at least a decade younger than I actually am... But in my experience all that means is I get carded when I try to buy a carton of milk, and really, I don't get the respect I deserve.
But I shouldn't whinge. Time will cure all I suppose.

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The True North Strong and Free?

>> Sunday, July 01, 2007

A small preface: I usually steer clear of any political stuff in my blog, not that it doesn't interest me, not that I'm not informed, just that I think diversity is good and people should form their own opinions. But.

Did anyone else listen to good ole Stevie make his Canada Day speech today? I almost choked on my honey-nut shreddies when he started mentioning God... Not that I don't believe, and not that I care what he believes (or anyone else for that matter). But do we really need to bring this up in official government speeches? In a multi-faith, multi-cultural country? Are we turning into the U.S.? Is no one else concerned?

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