@BarefootBliss Squid Game! If you haven't watched, the best way I can describe it is it's like the The Hunger Games but based in South Korea. I loved watching it! Some might find it too intense though. I can't get into much shows these days, but I've rewatched Season 1 a couple of times.

Well, I lied. I'm going to watch the first episode tonight. I got a lot of work done this week. A small reward!

Happy Sunday everyone! The sun finally came out today after howling winds and pouring rain in the early morning hours. After church and nice nap was enjoyed, a pancake brunch yum - and then - laundry. Will get to go to a fun Jazzercise class in the early evening.

Off from work for 2 weeks; going back 1/3/2025. Small reward for having worked so much uncompensated OT and every single holiday unless I take PTO except year end's. The natives are out at indoor Pickle Balling, LOL. Nice and quiet. My Mom and I enjoyed furry baby love, tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch. Furry baby loves Babybel cheese and carrots! Cleaning up and listening to Christmas music.

Changed the oil & filter in the truck. Now at over 340k miles. It's like a high score game. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Relaxing, and taking off another whole week.
Trying to tame a stray cat enough to get it inside before the bitter cold -29°C.
It's already cold enough but we can't approach it, it just hisses and gets away until we go back inside.

Well, it's about 9:45 pm now...hubby & I got in from the emergency vets about 7:30 pm. We took our dog Abe around 4:30. Our beloved 16 1/2 year old Abe crossed over the Rainbow Bridge this evening. He was failing slowly the past 6 months. Late this afternoon, something happened neurologically. All of a sudden he threw up, couldn't stand on his legs and his head tilted to the left. You could literally see the fear and confusion in his eyes. Our poor baby! After the vet examined him, she said how there could be no guarantees Abe would improve, and at his advanced age, it might be the kindest thing to let him pass over peacefully instead of fighting this to get well, with him maybe never getting well. So we let him pass over. Even though hubby & I have discussed the inevitability of this happening over the past several months, it still tore him up. Abe was his best buddy. Up until the past 18 months or so, that dog went everywhere with hubby! He loved riding with him. So it tore hubby up. He couldn't stay in the exam room, so I stayed with Abe, while hubby went and walked and cried and talked to God. It seems so strange not to have Abe home now. Hubby is doing OK. He's watching the Penn State Fiesta Bowl game and losing his thoughts in that. So that's what we did this New Year's Eve! Everyone stay safe!!!

@guysmom I almost never check this thread, but I believe I did tonight just to pass on my condolences and to tell you that it does get better. I am so sorry Abe is no longer with you and your husband. It is a terrible decision to have to make. I have no doubt you made the right choice. It is good that you talked about it over the past few months, but that doesn't make it easier, I know.

Us guys can really take it hard when we lose our dog. Please pass along my condolences to your husband and let him know there is a guy here on the forum that has gone through this grieving process. It takes time and that's okay. Sometimes folks who mean well want to run out and get another pet to help with the pain of the grieving pet owner. Personally, I do not want people to do that. You can't replace one dog with another anymore than you can replace one child with another. They are all different, have their own personalities. Those are not replaceable.

I'm shedding tears with you tonight.

@guysmom wrote:

Well, it's about 9:45 pm now...hubby & I got in from the emergency vets about 7:30 pm. We took our dog Abe around 4:30. Our beloved 16 1/2 year old Abe crossed over the Rainbow Bridge this evening. He was failing slowly the past 6 months. Late this afternoon, something happened neurologically. All of a sudden he threw up, couldn't stand on his legs and his head tilted to the left. You could literally see the fear and confusion in his eyes. Our poor baby! After the vet examined him, she said how there could be no guarantees Abe would improve, and at his advanced age, it might be the kindest thing to let him pass over peacefully instead of fighting this to get well, with him maybe never getting well. So we let him pass over. Even though hubby & I have discussed the inevitability of this happening over the past several months, it still tore him up. Abe was his best buddy. Up until the past 18 months or so, that dog went everywhere with hubby! He loved riding with him. So it tore hubby up. He couldn't stay in the exam room, so I stayed with Abe, while hubby went and walked and cried and talked to God. It seems so strange not to have Abe home now. Hubby is doing OK. He's watching the Penn State Fiesta Bowl game and losing his thoughts in that. So that's what we did this New Year's Eve! Everyone stay safe!!!

It's amazing how much of an impact our "best friends" in the animal world make on us humans. Watching them grow from adorable puppies, to well behaved adult dogs with learned traits that we as "owners" bestow upon them to please us. Some behaviors are all their own.

We most recently had two small dogs that our friend let us pick from a litter. My spouse picked a male that was last born and the runt of the litter. He always had a look towards my spouse like she was her mom. I picked a female from the same litter that had a habit of raising her right paw since being a puppy, as if a friendship gesture. Whenever I got close to her and spoke softly, she would raise her right paw then lick my cheek. I never had to teach her this behavior. She did it for me her entire life.

Making that decision to end that bond is heartbreaking for sure. We are fortunate enough to have the property size to bury ours in a small patch in the back yard with their bodies pointed North, towards our house. My spouse keeps flowers growing over their graves. I speak to them every time I mow the grass around them.

While I don't honestly believe in the afterlife, I hope that if there is a possibility...come that time...I will find our dogs first, then, with their help, search for parents, grandparents, and friends.

Thanks for letting me share what our dogs meant to me...and tear up a little too.

Thoughts are with you!

@ServiceAward wrote:

@guysmom ....

Us guys can really take it hard when we lose our dog. Please pass along my condolences to your husband and let him know there is a guy here on the forum that has gone through this grieving process. It takes time and that's okay. I'm shedding tears with you tonight.

Thank you so much for your condolences and kind thoughts, @Service...I have read your post to my husband, and he teared up and smiled and nodded his head.

@maverick1 wrote:

It's amazing how much of an impact our "best friends" in the animal world make on us humans.... Whenever I got close to her and spoke softly, she would raise her right paw then lick my cheek. I never had to teach her this behavior. She did it for me her entire life.
Making that decision to end that bond is heartbreaking for sure.

Thanks for letting me share what our dogs meant to me...and tear up a little too.

Thoughts are with you!

Thanks, @Maverick1, for sharing your thoughts and condolences...it means a lot!

Had a great brunch with family, limped home from last night's festivities...stocked up ahead of the pending storm, staying hydrated, tried watching the news....I can't stand all the violence, I might need a news break. Might escape with a movie and more lemon water...watch the flakes falling all around us. Wishing peace and love to all of us and our pet friends...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2025 10:27PM by BarefootBliss.

@guysmom You are welcome.

While I'm here, I'll post what I've been doing. I started inventory a couple of days ago. Re-organizing everything and re-numbering my bins now that everything is back in my garage. Also, getting rid of crap that nobody wants, and making sure everything I think is listed actually is. I've also found a couple of duplicate listings. That's not good. I have not been rolling out there until about 3pm. I am getting ready to head out again and will keep working until I can't stand the cold anymore. I do not have power or heat out there, but these dang hot hands I sell actually work. LOL

Service, do you set prices based on looking what other sellers are offering the same items for?
I ask because I have noticed wildly varying prices for the exact time...makes me wonder lol.

@guysmom I'm so sorry you are missing your pet. It's hard.

Came back from Orlando on the 30th. We did 4 parks in 5 days with 1 day as a breather because we were so exhausted. This was our first time in Disney, Universal, and Hollywood Studios. We have a Season's Pass to Six Flags and I haven't done any thrill rides there. I usually stand by the exit while my daughter and husband go on rides. But this time, I surprised myself! I went on all the rides that they went on. Of course, not the very extreme ones but the mid-thrill types. The most intense was Hagrid's motorbike ride. 65 mph tilting both ways and even went backwards for a while. Never seen anything like this before so it was fun.

So I noticed a stray cat. He looks fat and well fed. After a few days of seeing him, I put out shredded roast organic turkey and a bowl of water. He did not eat! Did it for 3 days. I hope he is OK.

@prince wrote:

Relaxing, and taking off another whole week.
Trying to tame a stray cat enough to get it inside before the bitter cold -29°C.
It's already cold enough but we can't approach it, it just hisses and gets away until we go back inside.

@guysmom. I don't know what to say other than I feel your pain, heartache and deep, deep sadness. Hugs to you and your DH.

@guysmom. Words are meaningless at this point of time. But, I would like to believe that our furry friend is free of pain and suffering and probably chasing butterflies and rainbows in pet heaven. Sending you and your DH hugs and prayers.

A virtual teacher workday.....been in the dining room with the computer all day long. Nap time.

House work.