Monday, June 10, at home in Arizona
It’s a windy day when I come home and find the back gate open.
Oh, darn. Where the heck are Reggie and Roger?
I park the Perfect Tow Vehicle, get out, and the boys dart out of the yard through the open gate to greet me. Before I can herd them back into the yard, they take off up the side street.
At that moment the neighbor’s big, black, lab-type dog comes bounding down the side street.
He heads straight for Roger.
Roger reacts defensively, baring his teeth. This triggers Big Black Lab-Type Dog and a fight ensues. Out-sized and out-weighed, Roger soon loses ground. He yelps in pain and runs toward me, zipping past on his way to the back door of the house.
I let him inside, shut the door, and then turn to fetch Reggie.
I guess wind lifted the gate latch enough that the gate opened. Since then this hook has been installed on the OUTSIDE of the gate.
Going through the open gate, what do I see?
I don’t believe this! Mr. Love Ambassador!
Reggie’s up the street making friends with Big Black Lab-Type Dog! The two of them stand nose-to-nose, tails a-wagging.
Just them Big Black Lab-Type Dog’s owner appears with leash in hand. I call Reggie and, wonders never cease, he runs to me.
I carry him into the house and turn to Roger.
“Well, Rog, let’s see the damage.”
Not likely. Roger is in full-blown paranoia. He won’t let me near him.
Later, when he calms down, I see he has acquired two puncture wounds in his shoulder.
A while ago, aware of Roger’s uncooperative nature when it comes to any kind of treatment, I bought hydrogen peroxide in a pump spray bottle. I didn’t set out for it, but when I saw that it was available in spray form, I figured it might come in handy someday with Roger.
I want to disinfect those wounds!
Do you think Roger would let me anywhere near him with the spray bottle? I even tried sneaking up on him when he was in a deep sleep and he nearly took my gall-darn hand off.
Not funny, Roger.
Okay, have it your way, Rog. Get infected. Sheesh.
“Why not take him to the vet?” you ask.
“How would I get Roger The Paranoid into the PTV?” I reply.
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Early the next morning . . . .
The boys trot after me as I pad to the back door to let them out for first potty break. While Reggie is in mid-leg-lift, Roger notices a cottontail rabbit across the yard.
In a nano-second he shifts from sleepy-groggy to super predator. He takes off at high speed and, after a run of about ten feet, flops to the ground.
Seizure!
(Roger has seizures quite regularly, usually about two months apart. He’s probably had them all his life.)
I run for the hydrogen peroxide spray, grab it, and shoot out the door. Fortunately the wounded shoulder is on the upside. I give the punctures several good sprays until they’re foaming.
Roger doesn’t know what’s going on.
Another 30 seconds or so, he jumps up with a look of “Let’s see, where was I? Oh yeah” and off he goes in search of the rabbit which is long gone.
Roger’s wounds healed well. They were twice as long and wide as shown in this photo.
Great timing on the seizure. Like I say, wonders never cease.
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Porch project!
The big news this week, other than Roger’s incident, is repair work has begun on the front porch.
Over a year ago . . .
When I first toured this property the realtor pointed out that the fascia all along the front of the porch needed to be replaced. This was confirmed in the home inspection report.
Well, anyone could see it was in bad shape just by looking at it. I should’ve had it repaired right away. Instead I went crazy with the privacy fence and there was the decorating to do and, you know, time goes by.
Long overdue, finally the work has begun!
Dennis, who you may recall put up the fence with Gilbert, purchases the lumber needed and drops it off on his way to his regular job. I give the boards two coats of paint with primer. Then on the weekend Dennis comes by with his two young sons and they begin the work.
Part of this job is removal and replacement of the ugly ceiling of the porch.
Imagine old, warped plywood painted the red color of the trim, its ugliness bearing down like a very bad mood.
“Get rid of it!”
Gone!
The new ceiling will be white beadboard. When the job is finished, I’ll post more photos.
rvsue
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