Thursday, February 2, 2023

 Thursday, February 2, 2023

  For the second day, I took a longer walk than usual, well, a little bit longer. I go further, but it only adds two-tenths of a mile to my walk.

   Damon from Mana Mandela, the fellow who will stain and seal my cement wedges, called today to get more information about my project. He planned to stop by next week after he finished another project. It winds up he’s an artist who does cement staining on the side. We decided it would be best if I got my wedges back to the cemetery. He can do the staining there. He’ll lay down a tarp to protect the area from the stain. He would prefer to see all the components to determine the best color for the wedges.

      The base palettes are compressed lava rock, a grayish color more than black. The engraved stones are mottled brown granite. I am so relieved to have someone who knows what they’re doing regarding color selection and stain application. He recommends I put a sealer on to prevent mold. Someone else advised against it because it gives a high-polish shine. The wedge should be unobtrusive.

   I noticed some rough spots on Elsa. I gave her a medicinal bath. I’m supposed to bathe her at least once a week, preferably every other day, when her skin lesions are bad. I’m not very good about it. I used to think she hated them. She has to sit in the sink covered with the medicinal soap for at least ten minutes. It looked to me as if she hated it. I’ve realized she doesn’t run away when I start preparing the sink for her bath. She’s a smart doggy. She knows what’s happening and doesn’t fight me when I put her in the sink. I can walk away, and she doesn’t jump out. I always carry her outside immediately after the bath so she can pee. She always does. I think the water stimulates it. I didn’t make her go out the doggie door after the bath. I let her out the people door in the bathroom and set her down on the gravel.

   I called a friend about something else, forgetting he went to Honolulu today to get an MRI to check on his double vision. I’d been worried about a possible brain tumor but said nothing to him. I didn’t want to alarm him if he hadn’t thought of it himself. He’s fine. No brain tumor. No cancer. The growth in his eye was caused by overexposure to the sun, a common problem here, particularly for people with light-colored eyes. He revealed that he, too, had been concerned about a tumor or brain cancer when the doctor ordered an MRI and sent him to Oahu to see a specialist. He asked the doctor immediately. The doctor assured him he wasn’t concerned about a tumor or brain cancer. I wish my friend had told me this before.

     I saw Linear Notes. Poor baby is so worn out. Yvette is waiting for a vet to come to the house to put him down. She’s staying home with him until the end. He’s been a great dog. he was a bother because of all the dirt he dragged into the house, but he was the sweetest dog you could ever want.

  Linear came into Yvette and Josh’s life as a rescue. When we first moved in here, our neighbor moved to town to live with his girlfriend. He couldn’t have dogs there. He tied Liner to a fence with a two-foot leash. Yvette and Josh heard him howling. When they got to him, they found him hanging by his leash. They righted him and returned home.

   The following night, they heard him howling at the back of the property. They set out to check on him. They fought their way through three-foot-high weeds. This time, they brought him home and left his owner a note telling him they had him. The owner thanked them and explained the situation. Yvette and Josh proposed he live with them; the owner could supply the food and cover the vet bills. He was spotty with his contributions at best. When his owner surrendered ownership, Yvette planned to rehome Liner, whose complete name was Liner Notes. By the time that happened, there was no way they would give him to someone else. Liner had a good life here. He had his own bed; I mean a real human bed. He was always welcome in their bed. Also, he had B, who took him hunting and fed him treats. He was loved to bits and pieces and pieces and bits. And then there were all the friends he made in driveway yoga. Yes, we had yoga with dogs. It is one of Elsa’s favorite events.

   I watched more for The Morning Show with Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carrel, and Jennifer Anniston. I didn’t recognize Anniston when I first saw her. Her face shape is rounder than it usually looks. I see how she gets the effect of an oval face with her hairstyle.