Sad weekend, October 15, 2006- 5:30 a.m.

Hello, everyone,

Well, the numerous "porn sites" listed on my guestbook have been removed. I did contact the local Sheriff department too (besides the FBI), and printed out the seven (7) pages of them for evidence. There sure are "sickies" out there. But, I figure God will take care of them eventually. There is so much evil in the world, don't you agree? Kinda reminds me of "Sodom and Gomorrah times" does it not? I try to look for the good though. I can't ignore the bad, because it does exist, but, I do not dwell on it.

On a lighter note, my last book sales and signing went well. I was able to see a woman I knew a long time ago when I had my dog shop and I used to groom her sweet dog, Lacy. She came with her grandchildren, (sweet kids), and bought my second book. She looks great. A very lovely and classy lady. She is retired now, and enjoying life.

The weather has been very cold and very windy, and the chill factor was very brisk!
Even though the sun has been shining, it is still frigid! It is supposed to warm up starting Monday. Did New York get enough snow! Wow!

The leaves are turning and soon the autumn colors will be showing up their glorious panaramic displays everywhere. I love fall and all the neat smells that go along with it. I try not to think of what is to follow. I do not do winter as well as I used too. I have a tendency to become "hermatized" during winter. As I am getting older, sleep seems to come very early in the evening, as does the lack of light. Bummer.

On Friday, when I got home from work, hubby let the dogs loose for their romping and playing exercise. We had noticed the day before that one of the beagles, Hank, was having trouble going to the bathroom. I gave him some oil, to help him out, (not sure what he ate or got into), and thought this would fix the problem. Well, on Friday after I got home, changed clothes, and went outside to be with hubby and dogs, I noticed Hank was having trouble urinating and moving his bowels. This was not good. I called the vet's office right away and they said to bring him in immediately. When I got there, the poor little guy peed in the foyer of the vet's office before I could get him outside. He was straining and then I saw the blood in the little bit of urine on the foyer floor.
Again, outside, I could see more blood coming out, but not much urine. Finally, we were able to see the Vet, and she did not have good news. After she examined him, she said his prostate was quite huge, (about the size of a baseball.) Wow! She said it was very possible he had cancer and it was probably all through him. Well, this was a shock! He really had been okay up until the day before. She suggested putting him down, as there was not a lot that could be done. (This dog was one that we rescued over two years ago and brougth him to our place. He was an intact male, and because he was so old, maybe around 14?, we did not get him neutered.) I asked if getting him neutered now would help his situation, but she said, "Not likely, as the tumor was very large and advanced. When you can feel the prostate enlargement throught the abdominal wall, it was very advanced and very possibly in a short time it would explode his bladder." She said, "He was probably in a lot of pain, trying to urinate and not able to hardly at all, plus all the blood, and putting him down was the best thing."

I called hubby at home, and he said to go ahead and have the vet euthanize him, then bring Hank home as he would bury him out back with the other beagles in our pet cemetery. I said I would. I stayed with little Hankie while the vet gave him the shot. It did not take long and he was gone. It was very sad to do this. I cried for little Hanker, and felt bad at the same time that hubby could not be with him to say his good-bye.

We buried him and I put flowers-marigolds on his grave. For the short time we had him, he had a good life, running and playing with the other dogs, exploring and just being a dog. He was a sweetie. Someone, at some time, beat this kind little dog, because if you raised your hand/arm,(even to throw the ball for Clara), he would cower on the groung like you were going to strike/beat him. He never really got over this. Very sad. He is not suffering anymore.

Until next time, enjoy life, it is a gift. Be blessed.

Becky