Sunday, January 30, 2011

IT WAS A SIERRA VISTA KIND OF DAY

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THIS COLORFUL MURAL WAS PAINTED ON A LARGE TANK AT SIERRA VISTA’S ANIMAL SHELTER

As I see it, I had two choices this morning.  I could stay home sitting in my chair reading all day or I could accompany Kelly to Sierra Vista on a shopping trip & sit in the car reading for part of the day.  I chose the second option.  At least that way I would get to see some scenery on the way to & from Sierra Vista.

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CHECKING THE PAPER ON THE WAY TO SIERRA VISTA

I finally clued in today on one of the reasons I like Sierra Vista.  It does not seem to have a definite downtown & there appears to be no buildings over two stories high.  That means all the surrounding mountains are visible just about anywhere you are in town.  Sierra Vista is spread out & not bunched up & congested like other towns/cities of that size & to me that makes it a nice place.  So, with scenic mountain surroundings, I spent about an hour all together in a couple mall parking lots contentedly reading my Muleshoe Ranch book.

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READING MY BOOK IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE DOOR OPEN LETTING A COOLING BREEZE BLOW THROUGH

However, I did not get out of the shopping spree totally unscathed.  About 25 minutes in a Target store proved extremely hard on me followed by 10 minutes in a Pet Smart.  About 3 minutes in a Dollar Store just about finished me off but at least I did escape Marshall’s, Ross’s Dress For Less & my longest parking lot wait…..Dillard's!!

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LOOKS LIKE MARSHALL’S HAD SOME BARGOOOOONS TODAY:))

Last time in Sierra Vista we had ourselves some good eats at the Texas Roadhouse so today we decided to head back there for lunch again.  And again, we were not disappointed.  I really like their daily baked & warmed homemade rolls with the yummy cinnamon butter that goes with them.  Crispy chicken with mashed potatoes & gravy with a side dish of apple sauce.  Yep, that sure works for me.  Two thumbs up for the Texas Roadhouse again.

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KELLY CHECKS OUT THE SURROUNDINGS & AL STRUGGLES TO STAY AWAKE AFTER A HEAVY SHOPPING DAY

I wonder why it is a set of written instructions can’t be included with a lot of things anymore.  Nowadays, if you want to find out how your new camera, musical device or whatever works, you have to fire up your computer, find a website, find your product & download some kind of  adobe software & start scrolling around forever trying to find the exact page you are looking for.  Meanwhile the urgency of whatever problem you were trying to solve with your camera, IPod or whatever has long ago gone the way of the Dinosaur.  I want to be able to put a camera manual in a camera bag, I want to sit outside & relax with some IPod instructions.  I want to read or double check a set up manual in the field & not have to go home, fire up the computer, find the readable program….well, you know what I mean.  Argument on the other side of course is having all the instruction booklets in one place & carry them all in a laptop.  Try carrying a laptop up a steep hiking trail.  Try checking out a products technical point on a laptop screen outside on a bright sunny day.  Try putting your laptop in your shirt pocket!!!!!!  I’m not against modern technology but come on manufactures, how about a little old fashioned & simple common sense for the consumer.

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It is sad watching our best friends age.  We all know life does not go on forever & for we pet owners it is particularly difficult knowing we only have our Pals with us for a very short period of time.  Our morning walks with the 3 guys were always brisk & far ranging up to just a few short years ago.  Both Max & Checkers would fan out blazing the trail ahead but always staying close.  Occasionally they would stir up a rabbit but luckily never had a chance of catching it.  It was fun watching them run when they thought they could.  Those days are in the past now.  Max’s running days are over & he walks very slowly.  Most mornings he prefers to stay at the Motor Home & not go too far.  He’s a happy Boy & wants to go, but he just can’t.  His boundless energy has been curtailed by aging arthritic joints.  Checker’s hips won’t allow her to walk fast anymore & she usually ambles along slowly behind us exploring this & sniffing at that.  She sometimes just stops & sits down telling us her aching hips won’t let her go any further.  It is difficult for Checkers to get up the steps of the Motor Home now so we always put our arms under her tummy & help lift her up the steps.  On the bright side, our little Motormouse seems to be holding her own against the ravages of age.  Her funny little face is turning whiter now but her energy has not diminished & she keeps right up with us on our walks.  She is still able to jump up & down off the couch & chairs & is always her little ‘Clown’ self stirring things up whenever she can.  She loves to snuggle up close to Max & loves playing ‘toys’ with Checkers.  All the guys are happy & we still have our zany play times every day. But sometimes the reality of the future slips in & just makes me very sad as I sit  here in my chair watching the guys contentedly snoozing their days away dreaming of long walks, startled rabbits, fetching sticks & balls, swimming in lakes, & RVing with Mom & Dad over the past few years to new & exciting places.  These are our best Pals of ever & sometimes lately, I just can’t help but feel a little sadder than usual sometimes.

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GROANER’S CORNER:((  Things You Don't Want to Hear During Surgery

  • Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy.
  • Someone call the janitor we're going to need a mop.
  • Accept this sacrifice, O Great Lord of Darkness!
  • Spot! Spot! Come back with that! Bad Dog!
  • Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?
  • Hand me that...uh...that...uh.....thingie.
  • Oh no! I just lost my Rolex.
  • Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500ml of this stuff before?
  • Darn, there go the lights again...
  • You know, there's big money in kidneys. Heck, the guy's got two of them.
  • Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!
  • Could you stop that thing from beating; it's throwing my concentration off.
  • What do you mean he wasn't in for a sex change...!
  • Anyone see where I left that scalpel?
  • This patient has already had some kids, am I correct?
  • Nurse, did this patient sign the organ donor card?
  • Don't worry; I think it's sharp enough.
  • What do you mean "You want a divorce"!
  • She's gonna blow! Everyone take cover!!!

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

19 comments:

  1. Your post brought a tear to my eye. Living with an aging dog, I know just where you're coming from and today was a bad day for her. She was very much under the weather today, don't know what it was, it happens now and then with her. But makes me realize that, like me, she has more behind her than in front of her. We can only love them and make them comfortable. Other than Ken, they are my best true and loyal friends.

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  2. It is difficult as our 'four legged friends' get older...they are on this earth for a short time..and they make the most of every day..hard to see them get older and we think of the days gone by..the walks and runs..and the RV adventures...your 'furlegged kids' have a great life..a new adventure everyday..be thankful for the days gone by and for the days ahead..we all know what is inevitable when we embrace the 'puppy' knowing they will touch our hearts for a limited time....unconditional love is what they give us!..even on a bad day..to see a tail wagging makes a not so great day that much greater..

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  3. While a printed owners manual is certainly preferable, it would be possible to print one from the .pdf file, wouldn't it? To minimize size one could print double sided or even two or four manual pages per printed page side.

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  4. We love Sierra Vista for the same reasons you do, plus it offers a lot more shopping choices than Benson. We never tire of the Huachuca Mountains either!

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  5. On the subject of the buyer printing the manual, it's possible but why should he have to? A company wants you to buy its product, you'd think they'd be willing to throw in instructions on how to use it.

    The groaner today is just what I needed to hear a couple of weeks before surgery. Fortunately, I don't think the doc can lose his Rolex in my eye!

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  6. The food sounds like down home cooking. We had to put our pet to sleep a while back so we sense your feelings.

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  7. Tech developers decided to stop printing manuals for a number of reasons not the least of which was to reduce the cost of iPods, cellphones, cameras and other tech devices.

    Since many of the tech consumers are younger than us, and perhaps more 'green' than we are, they saw all those printed manuals as a gross waste of paper.

    Lastly, companies realized that the high majority of their manuals were never read anyway. Just put in a drawer, or even left in the original box, and then thrown out.

    Personally, I'd rather have the lower cost and a .pdf file on my computer to browse whenever I want to know something about my camera, iPod or anything else. But, that's just me, others differ of course.

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  8. I understand your thoughts on your aging pups. I have been through it several times with dogs and cats. I now have only one cat left, she is 16 years old and has never been out of the house, she is my biggest concern about taking to the road. How do I take her with, how will she handle life on the road?

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  9. Al, I hope and pray you have many days left with your pal's, I don't know what I would do without our two.Give em each a pet & hug from all of us. Sam,Donna,Rigg's&Sadie....

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  10. Our Yellow Lab Samantha is pushing 12 years old. Everyday she seems a bit stiffer with arthritis, having more and more difficulty getting up and down and trying to negotiate our steps here at home and in our motorhome. She has been so much a part of our life, always here with us, wherever we go, always our faithful companion. Now it’s as you said, no more long walks for Samantha, only the long face as we leave her behind trying unsuccessfully to sneak out the door without her. Yes, it’s very difficult to see our best friend’s age in front of our eyes.

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

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  11. Have you tried glucosamine sulfate for the dogs. When we had Bib he reached a time at about 6 yrs of age where he couldn't jump on the bed anymore. After about a week, he was happily jumping around again.

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  12. I'm with you Al--I want a printed manual for my camera--lost the one for the main Canon I use--don't ask me where the thing went and when I tried to order a replacement, nope, not printed any longer. I feel your sadness with your aging doggers.

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  13. Your post made me sad at the end. It's hard to see our best buddies get older, but that's just part of life. As long as their life is full and happy, what more can you ask. Animals ask little of us, but give us so much.

    Funny picture of you sleeping in the restaurant. I guess all that reading in the jeep is tiring!

    It is -30 today with a -39 windchill. Not going to ever miss these winters once we get on the road!

    Cheers!!!

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  14. THanks for your posting about the furry pals. Ours is 13 and she also has slowed down. The great thing is that they love to be with you and tag along as best they can. We always love the pics of your dogs together.

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  15. At the moment, I am at the other end of the spectrum with Emma...just wishing she would slow down a little bit! :)

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  16. We are sure with you on wanting an instruction manual! Don't need one now on the iPod, but if I were also to put photos or videos on it, along with the music, I'd need someone to stand beside me and show me how!

    Last time you were at the Texas Roadhouse, you said the noise level was awful (and it is). Yet their food does make it more bearable, doesn't it!

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  17. It sure is hard to see your pets age and leave us, as they do ....But they give us sooo much while they are with us, and in such a short time...We are better for knowing them....We still miss Gypsy, our black Lab....
    Soooo, I guess Kelly is the only one who is up for my "commando shopping" trips, eh???

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  18. Our little friends and constant companions. It IS hard to not have them as long as we would want.

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  19. Wow, you have the premier Canon camera, which in my opinion, is the best point-and-shoot camera you can buy!

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