Happy Birthday

 Today is November 10, 2021. 

 

The United States Marine Corps is celebrating 246th Birthday today.

     Happy Birthday to all Marines everywhere. !!

Here he is

 

A brief moment when Nigel is not moving.  He has been with us for two and half weeks and seems to be settling in.  He responds to is name, knows the sit command. Loves to go on walks.  Is a great lap sleeper.  This week-end will be a interesting one.  Our Ten Friends are coming for our annual get-together, so there will be lots of strange people moving around, making noise, laughing out loud,  It should be a challenge for Nigel. 

Nigel asleep on my lap

 

My Left Foot -- Actually right foot

 I have been dealing with a spur on the little toe of my fight foot for several months.  I had one removed on the left foot last year and I guess it was a matter of time before one appeared on the right.  Finally, it was taken care of last Wednesday.  The podiatrist uses an independent surgery center for his surgeries which seems to be the "norm" now.  Actually it worked quite well. 

   We arrived at 10 am.  They took me back to prep almost right away.  They came and got me and I was wheeled into the operating room at 10:55.  The room was brightly lit, which is probably a good idea.  I remember the nurse hooking up the IV for my anesthetic.  I remember there was music playing.  That's  about all I remember.  The next thing I remember is someone was moving my feet and I thought, " the surgeon shouldn't be moving my feet while he's operating.  Then I opened my eyes and I was back in the recovery area.   

   An hour later I was in the car on the way home.  My right foot is wrapped up.  I cannot get it wet for two weeks.  I have two backup appointments, the last one to get the stitches removed.  Then I will be able to shower again.  Yipee !

I sent this photo to Eric and he asked if my Halloween costume was a mummy

The Hunt for Fido ( AKA Nigel)

 The Hunt for Fido has ended.  At least the "Hunt" part has ended. Romeo ( now Nigel) arrived at the drop off point ( the Tualatin Fred Meyer) at 8:20 on Saturday evening.  We were waiting at the key making kiosk in the parking lot.  The van with the "pups" dropped Nigel and Broccoli and zoomed off to their last stop.  Nigel was in the crate that he had spent the day in.  We carried him to our car and lifted him out.  Randa, Hunter, Nigel and I walked around the parking lot to give the boys time to get rid of bodily fluids and we loaded up and headed home. 

   The four of us stayed up for an hours or so to give Nigel time to look around.  We showed him the house and sat with him for a while before going on a walk around the block which is part of our evening ritual. 

 The next day went well.  More exploring. More training.  More getting to know each other.  Nigel got a well needed bath.  His crate received a much needed cleaning.

Nigel's first bath

Asleep in one of Hunter's beds

Happiness is a safe warm place to nap.

 

Fall

 

Fall colors on the ground.  Fall colors all around.

A few of our Dahlias are still blooming

Some neighbors too.

The Moon

 Last night on our evening walk about 9pm., I could hear a commercial airplane coming from the south on it's way to the Portland Airport.  It's a normal sound and I normally check out the flight as it passes just east of us.  The night sky was most cloudy but the portion of the sky near the moon was almost clear.  

   As I gazed up at the partially full moon, the silhouette of the approaching plane emerged from the clouds and passed in front of it before disappearing into the gloom.  It was a split second happening, yet one I will remember for a long time.  

   Life is made up of those flashes that are there and gone.