Road to Recovery

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well wishes for Daisy, our 4-legged baby. We still don't know what was wrong with her... but she's improving and that's all that matters. GUESSES have ranged from snake bite or spider bite (although we really couldn't find anything that looked like a puncture would) to some kind of fungus or infection she might have picked up from her romp in the swampy area up in South Dakota.

The top pic is 'healthy' Daisy. Below that is a pic of Daisy from last week... the infection manifested in her eyes first, and then she proceeded to break out in hives and her whole body swelled up. Her poor legs and paws were so swollen in was hard for her to walk, and her normally-thin ears were puffy as marshmallows. She was just miserable. Two different antibiotics and steroids plus benedryl helped knock out whatever it was... but we were plenty scared for a few days. She was such a trooper - always sweet during the multiple visits to the vet's office - I'm sure she must have known we were trying to help her, despite the shots and poking/prodding.


She seems to be out of the woods now. Swelling has gone down, and she seems back to her chipper self again. Her poor eye, though, is still really scabby, and the hive/lesion thingys that appeared on the bridge of her nose and top of her head are all scabby as well... so of course she is wanting to paw at them and rub them on every bumpy surface - I'm sure they itch like hell... we all know what it's like to have an itchy scab!! aaaaggghhhh!! So, I'm sure it's going to take a while for the eye to heal up, and I'll be surprised if she doesn't have a little scarring from the ordeal. Thankfully, the eye itself seems to be very healthy - just the soft tissue surrounding it is goobered.

Again, thanks to all of you for your well wishes sent her way. We love her to death and don't know what we would have done if she hadn't pulled out of this. Her 4-legged sister Molly is happy to have her back to normal as well. PHEW!

Carpe Diem

Not a good week if you are someone who: a) fears death, or b) lives life by the "I'll get to that tomorrow" philosophy.

Found out this week that an incredible lady from one of our advisor offices in Atlanta was just diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. They gave her 6 weeks to live, but based on her rapid decline, she'll be lucky to make it three. Completely blind-sided her. Healthy as an ox up to the diagnosis, and only in her early 50s. Will leave behind a thriving financial practice and husband/kids who will miss her dearly. Yikes.

Then, I heard yesterday that a dear, dear friend of our family was also just diagnosed with a very invasive form of cancer. TWO weeks to live. It's slightly less of a blow because this fine gent is well into his 80's and has led a wonderful, full life. But, nonetheless, he didn't see it coming.

Just found out today that a good friend of mine and fellow supper-club member is in the hospital through the weekend while they try and determine why she has clots on her lungs. This gal is mid-thirties, a marathon runner, and just finished riding the week-long bicycle trip across the state of Iowa. Meaning, she has, up to this point, led and incredibly health lifestyle. We're hopeful it's nothing serious, but I'm nervous as hell until the test results come back.

And then a fucking bridge in Minneapolis falls into the river during rush hour. I can't think of how many times I've driven over that bridge. Those poor sons-a-bitches, just trying to get the hell home after a long day of work and WHAM!!!! A gazillion pounds of concrete and steel comes smashing down around you and next thing you know it's via con Dios.

All I'm sayin' is it's time to take stock of your life. Today. Call your mom this week and tell her that you love her. Hug your spouse for no reason and when they give you that "what the hell is wrong with you?" look, just say, "I'm thankful you're my partner." Buy that stupid guitar or belt sander or shotgun or pair of leopard pumps or leather jacket that you've been coveting for a year and kept telling yourself, "oh, that's just silly." Kiss your kids and your dogs. Buy a bouquet of flowers and put it on your nightstand...

Life is short enough as it is without having to be mired in regrets when your number gets called. CARPE DIEM!