wizard-of-roz

7 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Roz, the winds have blown a lot of smoke clear to Arizona.  Our crystal blue skies have been hazy grey for over a week now.  Looks over cast but it's smoke.  It's coming from the Oak Glen fire.  I believe that is the one that started from a gender reveal party gone wrong!  What's wrong with balloons or confetti or anything but some kind of excelorant (sp) in the dry, brittle landscape.  😥 🔥

Nancy, some people are so thoughtless and selfish.  I hope that they are made to pay some sort of fine/or are made to work hours in helping to serve or assist our exhausted and hard working fire fighters.

14 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

Roz, the video stories on the news and photos from the West Coast are so shocking and heart-rending. I’m glad you and Horty are OK. Over here in the SW Florida coast, we had soaking rains all weekend from TS Sally. If only we could send it out west.

 

Raylene’s trainer from Dogs for the Deaf opened her own very successful dog training studio about 5 years ago in Phoenix, Oregon, which is one of the towns almost leveled by the fire - last I heard, they were feeling lucky that the fire stopped in her parking lot before reaching the building.

 

Being able to cruise again seems like an unattainable dream these days. We’ve moved two departures to 2022. Will try again then for Hawaii in Jan 2022 - soon after that, the three year validity for Raylene’s blood titer test will end.

Chris, I'm so glad that your friend, in Oregon, did not lose her training studio.  It's truly a nightmare for so many.  Where I live the national forests are on fire and the smoke is blanketing our area and changing our beautiful blue skies to brown.   We're looking for a change in the weather where a cool, windy condition will come in and blow all the acrid smoke off to the deserts.

My thoughts go to the displaced wildlife population of deer, rabbits, squirrels, bears, snakes, etc.  I wish I could rescue them all and feed and house them.  It breaks my heart to think of how afraid they must be!

Boy, what I wouldn't give to see a beautiful blue sky again.  The air and sky are gray/brown and have a smell to match!  My daughter lives in the mountains of Eugene, Oregon and although she has not been told to evacuate she and her family have to remain indoors because the ash flying around makes them choke when outdoors.

The challenges of this year, 2020, are reaching far beyond what anyone should have to face.

I hope and pray that we all get through this, come out the other side and can once again write about our wonderful days upon the sea!

Happy Weekend to Everyone!!!!!!

Is it just me or are the Friday's coming faster and faster?????

6 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Mornin' All,

I hope everyone is just busy and all is well.  I have had my hands full with Ms. Jezzy Lou, after surgery.  She has finally settled down and we have minimal chewing and licking of the wound.  So back to Vet September 21 for check up, stitch removal and blood work to check on the liver levels.  She has been on a med  for the liver function for almost a month.  There is a larger bed in the computer room for her.  She has most of her stuffies in it and she burrows in and snuggles up with them.  I actually think she is trying to hide from the mean momma that wants to check that bum out! ❤️

 

Busy, is a good word for keeping up with life these days.  😲

I'm so glad to hear that Jezzy Lou is recuperating well.  I hope she continues to do well and starts being herself very soon.

The fires are affecting all of us and I hope that no one has suffered too much damage and we all can get through this orange colored sky and ashes.  Just when I thought a pandemic would be enough to survive in 2020 something else comes up and creates hell on earth!!!!!

Stay safe and well everyone!  🌺

I hope that all pups and people are doing well. 

Horton is doing remarkably well on his partial people food and senior Eukanuba kibble, with the addition of senior multi vitamins twice daily, with a sprinkle of pro-biotics.  He sleeps longer and prefers to lay near me more, but he's enjoying each day with a sparkle in his eyes and I love every minute of his company!

It's been a very difficult year for so many of us.  Please take care of you and keep good thoughts of better days ahead in your sights. 🌺

1 hour ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Jezzy Lou had her surgery yesterday.   We also had her dental done at the same time.  Poor girl got it as both ends!  She had to have 4 teeth removed.  They were loose anyway and would have caused her problems.  She did pretty good last night.  Slept good for the most part.  Hasn't been trying to lick the sutures.  She seems uncomfortable right now.  Like she can't get comfortable.  I think it is time for another pain pill.  Its been 6 hours and they had already cut them in half and she told me to cut them again.  So she really only a quarter one of it this morning.  I hate when you don't know what to do for them.  Here's to fast healing and better health for my girl. ❤️

 

Nancy, I totally understand your feelings.  Horton and I are sending our love and BIG VIRTUAL HUGS to both you and our little Jezzy Lou.  🌺

We pray that she will have good health and total healing on both her ends!!!!! ❣️

4 hours ago, Algebralovr said:

First week went OK.  Now we are on Week 2.

I had a good giggle about your statement.  I'm so NOT a hugger.  

In fact, the best thing about all of the social distancing thing is that people DON'T want to shake hands or hug!

You know Barb, It's an interesting time in that this social distancing thing is working really well for folks who were always uncomfortable about touching and being touched by others.  

I'm a "touchy-feely" person and am slowly becoming a "self-soother!"

Our world has been turned upside down and to see the difference that this virus is causing in so much of our society is a bit scary, to say the least!
 

7 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

You too Roz and The Hort Man.  I'm on a Animal group on Facebook.  Someone asked everyone "What is your dogs true name and what is the nicknames you call them?". It was hysterical.  Some were shortened, some were close, some were not even close and some were naughty! It was fun reading them instead of the political down right nasty ones.  I skip over them.  Of course the animal one brings smiles to my face.  The Admins are really good and quickly delete snarky comments.  They definitely have a full time job there. Refreshing to only see mostly nice conversations, like on here. 

 

Everyone enjoy your time with you pets and loved ones.  Jezz y Lou goes in for surgery Monday morning.  Paws crossed for easy surgery and easy healing for my girl.  💖🐾💕

Nancy, Horty and I send our very best healing and cyber hugs to you and to our little Jezzy Lou.  I do believe that I get as stressed out and worried about my Horty as I do about my children.

Dear Jezzy,

Please be well and get through this with just a distant memory

Big, pawlight licks and doggy love,

Horton Jeffrey  💙

Have a safe, kind and good weekend EVERYONE!

34 minutes ago, Algebralovr said:

Goodness Linda - I'm just catching up.

  Hope you heal fast!

 

 

My university is having in-person classes.  Hoping it goes OK!  Classes start tomorrow!

Good luck, wear your mask and no hugging!

22 minutes ago, Mabbiez said:

Feel better Linda! I'm just getting caught up on posts. I hope you get to see the doggie!!!

 

I just found out I'm having foot surgery on Sept 11. It's nothing too invasive and I'll only be off work a week. I'm just ready to not be in pain! I'm also ready to burn this cast boot! 

Good wishes for your foot surgery and a quick and pain-free healing!

3 hours ago, rpclmc said:

I might actually be able to see my husband and get some dog kisses from Halo.  I can't have visitors here, but I have to be transported to the surgeon's office.  I told Rich when and he is going to try to meet me in the parking lot after my appointment.

 

I feel like a teenager sneaking around.  We are just trying to get 10 minutes, to say hi, dog smooches and a hug, we don't dare have a kiss, they are so strict.

 

Linda and Halo

Now, you kids try and behave!!!!! 😉

1 hour ago, rpclmc said:

I was feeling sorry for people in hospitals and rehabs alone with no visitors.  Guess I wanted to see what it was really like.  Last Sunday at 1:15 pm I was coming back from my short stroll around the acre and heading toward the pooper scooper; just 1 pile to get.  There was a wasp that didn't like me and was trying to get me and sting me.  It was being way aggressive.  I took 1 little step to avoid it; did not hit a hole, branch, nothing.  Managed to twist and break my knee and ankle on the way down to the grassy, soft ground.  No breaks in the skin, compound fractures, but my knee and foot were not facing the right ways.  

 

My brother, a doctor, said not only should I not have broken anything but the break on both ends of the bone are unheard of except in severe care accidents.

 

I had surgery on the knee with a plate and screws put in.  The ankle need plate and both the inside and outside, but is too swollen for surgery.  So it is in a heavy stabilizer.

 

I spent 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital and now in the rehabilitation hospital.  I have only seen nurses, doctors and the assistants.  No visitors, service animals- but since I can't get up at all I am glad he is home with daddy, I haven't seen any other patients; I am completely isolated.  Now I know and it is hard.   

 

Luckily I am kept busy with OT, PT, recreational therapy, swallowing therapy, nurses with meds and check ups, doctors with check ups, assistant''s with bed pans, etc.

 

I am 100% non weight bearing for 4 months.  To say the least we are not getting back to Florida this year.  I seem to have lost this round of Jumanji; I really dislike 2020.

 

Hope everyone else is doing well.

 

Linda and Halo

Linda, OMG!  I'm so, so sorry to hear of your terrible accident.  You have so much healing to do.   Your healing process is going to be long and hard, please take care of you and keep a positive attitude.  I hope your not in too much pain and can get to the other side with your strong will and good heart.

I'm sending you a virtual hug from both Horton and me. 

Happy, healthy weekend to everyone ❣️

8 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Jezz y Lou's blood tests all came back good.  They can't explain the elevated liver levels on surgery day, but glad they are good now.  Surgery has been re-scheduled for August 31.  She has an interim appointment today.  Fingers crossed we can this little girl all mended up.  After dogtor appointment we will cruise thru the Post Office to mail a letter.  She is such a good traveler when we are in the car alone.  If her dad and brother are in the car it is like a three ring circus.  She jumps from front seat to back seat back and forth!  Then tries to get in my lap while I'm driving! :O.  Finally she will lay down in the back sit with brother as long as he pets her.  They are impawsible!  

Here it is the weekend already. We are suppose to HEAT up starting this weekend.  Not looking forward to that.  Everyone have a great day and wonderful weekend. 

 

It's wonderful to have good news in these troubling times.  Take care of you, Jezzy and family.

5 hours ago, Plant said:

Really looking forward to those changes... .

 

It, of course, will all begin with a Covid Virus Vaccine.  I know there are lots of groups who are anti-vaccine but I'm a "high risk" person and I, personally, will be the first one in line.  I can remember when Dr. Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine for Polio and we children had to line-up in our elementary school auditoriums to get the shot that was going to save all our lives, and there were folks then who didn't believe it would help.  Much later it was a simple, tasteful liquid that my babies would have to swallow and that horrible virus is gone......as will this one.....be gone!!!!!!    

Take care of yourself, don't take risks, hang in there, we will see a solution and resolution and before you know it we'll be writing about our cruises and travels and good times once again!! 

17 minutes ago, springredheadsdd said:

Sad to say our trip to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are having to be canceled. It is just not safe to fly. This is our second vacation to be canceled this year due to Covid. 

 

Hope everyone is having a good day/ week. 

Sorry about this cancellation but not surprised.  Hopefully, by the end of this year we will see many changes in our world and by the beginning of next year we will be able to go back to a more normal life......which will include making some much needed travel plans.  ☺️

Good Weekend to Everyone!  

1 hour ago, springredheadsdd said:

I am flying to Yellowstone in September with Bella. I was told somewhere to bring something for her to chew on, on the flight. Her favorite things to chew on are antlers. Am I allowed to bring an antler chunk on the flight in my carry on? Not sure where to look to see if this is even legal. 

 

lindaler- I am also curious about this. I have not sailed since getting a SD but have seen several while on other ships. 

My dogs have flown many hours and have never had anything to chew on, except for ice cubes, of which you can always get from the flight crew.  I do bring my fold-up water dish and place the cubes in it.  Horton loves ice cubes, Brenda, not so much!

3 hours ago, lindaler said:

So I have a question about where the relief stations are on different ships. Has anyone compiled a list?  It is always so confusing. I was told on Zaandam it will be on the promenade deck at the rear. But on the other three ships(ones just leaving HAL) it has always been on that hidden deck in back on deck two(main). I don’t do good with stairs and especially before I’ve had my morning coffee so want to be fairly near the relief station and on the same level. It’s taken weeks for HAL to tell my PCC that it should be on the promenade deck according to the special service department. 

There are over 900 pages to this thread and I do believe that every single page could be filled with your good questions and we still would NOT have a clear answer.

Carnival:  Will put a metal potty box with wood chips on your very own veranda.

Holland America:  Will use a wooden box filled with actual grass sod, placed on a forward deck outside the theatre [that will be washed down every morning and could be slippery when wet.]  We had a suite onboard the Oosterdam and requested a box be placed on our very large veranda and it was.  It all depends on who's in charge!!!!

Crystal:  Had a wooden box filled with mulch placed on our veranda.  They offered to walk Brenda and exercise her for me daily.

NCL:  Used a crew work closet, near our cabin, with a large wooden box filled with mulch.  This was the best box I've ever seen on a cruise.

Celebrity:  Had a wood box filled with wood chips, placed on a deck in the very back of the ship.

Princess:  Uses a heavy-cardboard box filled with wood shavings or mulch, placed in a stair well or a crew work area placed on the same deck as your cabin.....sometimes it's close by some times it's at the very end of the hall.

I bring a folded-up piece of artificial grass [packs very easily in your carry-on], and I place it over whatever filler the ship may be using.  Sometimes their filler is so rough it actually injures my dogs feet [Labs can have very webbed toes, like a duck.]

Always contact the Special Services Dept. of your cruise line and let them know what your needs are for your dog and it never hurts to let them know where you would like the potty box to be placed.

You will still have to visit the Pursers Desk [Passenger Services] when you arrive to the ship to let them know what you would like for your dog.  It never hurts to request that the box be placed on your veranda.

Also:  Visit the Dining Room, after you board, to let them know about any special seating arrangements that you would prefer for you and your dog.  I ALWAYS like a table that is placed against a wall or divider so that my dog can be place against the wall and not risk being stepped on by either the crew or other guests.

5 hours ago, FolksOfMeans - ByNoMeans said:

How sweet is this!!!!!!   Never fails to bring tears to my eyes!

1 hour ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Jezz y Lou is home.  Did the blood test, now must wait for results.  About a week maybe sooner.  They had to feed her since she had fastest the night before.  She got puppy food and they sent home the rest of the can with her.  She was on cloud 9.  I fed her her cry  food and a little more of the puppy food.  The Vet Tech said they only had to feed her a couple of table spoons so she was still hungry.  She drank a good drink of water went out and pottied and is back in resting.  In the mean time hubby called me into our room to ask me a question, when I turned around to come back out there was a ginormous wet spot on my bed!  I guess she had to go out again and we weren't paying attention!  I'm not having a good year.  

Oh!  No!  Poor little Jezzy, she's not having much fun either.  I hope all tests come back O.K.  These dogs are really keeping us on our toes these days!

What ever happened to "normal?"  I'll take the good old days back again.  Just boring and normal!!!!  😉

5 hours ago, lindaler said:

Well we can’t go on an ocean cruise but Chavela and I went on a kayak cruise this morning on the river. Just the two of us. 

Looks like so much fun!  But, I think I'll wait for that cruise ship!!!!!!!

6 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Good to hear Horty greets his Momma with smiles.  I just love the sound of those big thumper tails hitting on something! Thump, thump thump and smiles to go along with it.  💖

 

it has been crazy around here, as usual.  Trying to get Travis all set up to "go" to school on line.  At least they got all the teachers on one page on how they were going to do it.  Some like Google classroom others like a different format.  I believe they are going to give assignments on Monday, for the week.  Then the kids can do it all at once or one lesson a day.  Then turn it in at the end of the week.  At least one of his teachers wants lessons on Monday, Tuesday turn homework in on Wednesday.  Then lessons on Wednesday, Thursday turn it in Friday.  Sounds like a better plan than procrastinating the whole week then having 5 days of lessons due.  We shall see.

 

Ms. Jezz y Lou goes in for her surgery Tuesday.  Took her to another Vet for second opinion.  I !liked her.  Very positive about the surgery.  She has done a lot of them. Used laser technology even though she has to still go inside.  Has a technic that seems reasonable for being as precise as possible.  So going with it instead of taking her to the Vet every 2 weeks for the rest of her life and traumatizing her.  

 

Hope everyone is settled down into the " new" normal.  We are still all hunkered down.  We have over 900 positive cases of Covid.  Seems really high for our small town. We are now required to wear masks when out and about.  I only go out when necessary and always wore my mask anyway.  Still disinfecting when I get home.  

 

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend. 😻

 

 

Good wishes to Jezzy Lou and an easy and quick recovery ❣️

I can't believe what school has turned into.  It all sounds so darn complicated.  I loved the time when the kids were out of the house and I could really get stuff done.  I know they loved the time away from me and with their friends too.  I feel so badly for the changes in their world right now.

Who knows what problems this will create in their world later on!