Hobby recomendations

[sundial]

Would he be interested in helping pets get to their forever homes?

I am active in german shepherd rescue and often I transport dogs to their homes or meet another volunteer that transports. I can't tell you what a real charge I get knowing some family is eagerly waiting for their new family member. Often these dogs are castaways and were sitting on death row. But because of a brave soul that canvases dog pounds, these dogs are sprung from jail and are on their way to their new families.

Pets are very therapeutic and the rescued ones are even more grateful and try even harder to please.

Here's one that I transported. Look how happy she is!



To become a volunteer for transport, check with your local rescues and find out if they need someone to help transport. You can google a specific breed to find a rescue in your area or check for a specific breed rescue on www.akc.org

[Zen]

Rescue transport is a great idea.
Anything that will get him out of the house and actually interacting face to face with people.

A rescued dog isn't necessarily a definite breed. The organization I foster for goes to shelters in West Virginia and Ohio that have high kill/low adoption rates and rescue dogs according to personality.

[sundial]

I suggested purebred rescues because they are more prevalent than all-breed rescues. Any good rescue is a worthy cause and they are often in need of good volunteers.

[Mr. Bloom]

leukemia? What's the prognosis?

Are there meds that slow him down and lead to depression or is this totally separate from his other maladies?

[Hub]

you folks are great! You've given me a lot of great ideas- we go to Jackson today to the hematolgist. We'll have the day together & hopefully good opportuniteis to shaare some of your ideas.

A couple folks had questions- I want to try to answer- HE does have some stenosis-mostly in his neck- He had a double laminectomy in the lumbar region in 2002- when that incision healed, the scar tissue grew back quickly, thick and ropy. Now the scar tissue puts more pressure on his spine than the original bulging discs. We go to a pain clinic to monitor and administer his pain meds.
He was diagnosed with acute promyleocytic leukemia in April. He spent 45 days in the hospital this spring and summer. ( I spent this summer on Hwy 49 going back and forth from home- work & the puppies and UMC in Jackson). He is in remission at the moment- his type of leukemia has a very good prognosis. We are 2 months into his 18 month course of maintenance treatment.
We have done some woodworking stuff together in the past, it usually degenerates into me assisting- being Gilligan to his Skipper. . . . but I will try again. Right now he is sort of jealous of any time I spend away from the house doing something by myself- like riding Old Blue. It hurt his feelings that I went to LR to ride avross the Big Dam Bridge and he soen't want me to ride the TOur da Delta- but I'm working on a plan for that.
ALl that said, I know we have a lot of issues . . . but I thank all of you for your ideas and support (especially the cooking ideas!)

I will update y'all on our progress

Thanks bunches!

Hub

[SouthernBelle]

Having just bought a home-built teardrop trailer for the purpose of going camping and taking my bike, would the 2 of you be interested in building something like that?

If so, I can direct you to a forum and some websites.

[PscyclePath]

The Central Arkansas HAM operators supported the Big Dam Bridge 100, and and are supporting the Arky 100 down at Sheridan this weekend. THey also work closely with the state's Department of Emergency Management in setting up networks during the frequent storms and post-tornado activities around here. I went to HAMFest here for several years when I was the local FidoNet BBS cooridnator, and was looking into getting into HAM for awhile, until I figured out that carbon fibre bicycles were cheaper, and ultimately better exercise ;-)

The geo-caching idea has merit... and if you figure that might help, the Big Man has a birthday & Christmas coming up, and I've got a guy who works for/with me who's a GIS/GPS wizzard...

Pscyclepath
currently cold in Kentucky)

[Mr. Bloom]

we go to Jackson today to the hematolgist. We'll have the day together & hopefully good opportuniteis to shaare some of your ideas.

How did the discussion go?

[Hub]

Well, not so well- He got a neutral report at the doctor's office- not good, but not bad- he is not responding to the maintenance treatment the same way most folks do-so doc took him off the metyltrexate, mercaptopurine &
vesenoid for the next 2 weeks. He did another bone marrow biopsy- and we should have the results today or tomorrow- He had to have a transfusion as well. SO instead of shopping for a sofa like we planned- he stayed in the clinic all afternoon.
We spent the trip home talking about why doc did the biopsy & asking what if the cancer is back. - I just didn't get around to asking him to cook.
I plan to try again after the report.