Good morning! Or evening, or afternoon...... Thanks for stopping by Two Dogs.
The boys and I took a little trip in Freedom; part business, part pleasure, but a whole lot of crazy.
I spent most of the beginning of the week getting ready to roll and since the first order of business was a vet appointment at the clinic down in the valley we headed out late afternoon so we could get settled in before nightfall. I wanted Charlie there the second they opened the next morning so if he did indeed need surgery they could do it that day or the next. That would save me another trip over the mountain.
We got there a bit early (meaning before dark) so we stopped at McDs to check out the wi-fi connection. It was there, weak, but there. And I discovered that the direction you park --- whether facing the building or not --- makes a difference in signal strength. You probably knew that, but I didn't, so it was something learned to apply for the next venture out. After a short stay we moseyed over the vet's office and parked behind the building.
The vet's office is right off a very busy street in Redding and between an International House of Pancakes and a Burger King. Actually there's another fast food joint in there, but I can't remember what it is. This was our first night staying in Freedom in any place other than my son's driveway. It was interesting. We still had some daylight and I walked the boys and cleaned up after them then settled in for the night. It was a bit muggy from recent rain and I left the windows down, the small vent windows pushed opened and utilized my little O2Cool battery operated fan to try and keep things decent. Since the sun wasn't beating down on us, it was fine. I read for a bit, then we went to bed. And the Night People came out. Teenagers, I assume, and transients evidently used this area for partying and sacking out, depending. At one point someone must have approached the van because Burger the Wire Hair Terror (I mean terrier) began growling. And whoever or whatever left. Whew. Good boy Burgie, good boy! The Chiweenie Brothers slept well, while Burger and I kept vigil until the wee hours of the morning when a bit of a cloud burst drove the Night People under cover or home or whatever. We got a wink or two.
About 6:30 a.m. I walked the boys and got Burger and Fries settled in then I took Charlie in for his appointment. The vet agreed that the screw that seemed to be working its way out of Charlie's jaw should be taken out, or at the very least he should be opened up and looked at. So Charles Barkley was left in the care of the vet and the other two and I had the whole day ahead of us to do as we pleased.
Coffee was definitely in order and we made our way back to McDs and spent a little time there before making the rounds at Home Depot and Walmart. We then drove to Caldwell Park and settled in under a huge shade tree. I called my sister who lives just a few miles from there and she came over and we spent the afternoon visiting and catching up on family events. My brother didn't answer his phone, but I left a message, however, he and my SIL didn't show up. We also used the new tie out. Adjustments need to be made, but it will be nice to be able to let the boys out and know they are safe and secure while I am busy with other things.
Once it was nearing 5:30 and not having received the phone call I was expecting regarding Charlie, I called the vet's office and they said he was out of surgery, doing well, and I could pick him up. Sis and I said our goodbyes and the boys and I loaded up and headed out to get our Charlie Boy. He was perky and eager to be out of there. I spoke with the doctor before we left and he explained that all the hardware and five screws were removed, the jawbone graft had filled in and was thick and complete and once the incision healed Charlie would be good as new. (this little guy is a rescue and a local animal welfare group had found him with a broken jaw. He had two surgeries trying to get it repaired; fund raisers were done for the cost. Tremendously expensive, but if you knew Charlie you would know why it was done for him). So after hearing the good news we had exactly 30 minutes to get to my son's for my grandson's 16th birthday party in Red Bluff. We just made it!!!
The boys and I took a little trip in Freedom; part business, part pleasure, but a whole lot of crazy.
I spent most of the beginning of the week getting ready to roll and since the first order of business was a vet appointment at the clinic down in the valley we headed out late afternoon so we could get settled in before nightfall. I wanted Charlie there the second they opened the next morning so if he did indeed need surgery they could do it that day or the next. That would save me another trip over the mountain.
We got there a bit early (meaning before dark) so we stopped at McDs to check out the wi-fi connection. It was there, weak, but there. And I discovered that the direction you park --- whether facing the building or not --- makes a difference in signal strength. You probably knew that, but I didn't, so it was something learned to apply for the next venture out. After a short stay we moseyed over the vet's office and parked behind the building.
The vet's office is right off a very busy street in Redding and between an International House of Pancakes and a Burger King. Actually there's another fast food joint in there, but I can't remember what it is. This was our first night staying in Freedom in any place other than my son's driveway. It was interesting. We still had some daylight and I walked the boys and cleaned up after them then settled in for the night. It was a bit muggy from recent rain and I left the windows down, the small vent windows pushed opened and utilized my little O2Cool battery operated fan to try and keep things decent. Since the sun wasn't beating down on us, it was fine. I read for a bit, then we went to bed. And the Night People came out. Teenagers, I assume, and transients evidently used this area for partying and sacking out, depending. At one point someone must have approached the van because Burger the Wire Hair Terror (I mean terrier) began growling. And whoever or whatever left. Whew. Good boy Burgie, good boy! The Chiweenie Brothers slept well, while Burger and I kept vigil until the wee hours of the morning when a bit of a cloud burst drove the Night People under cover or home or whatever. We got a wink or two.
About 6:30 a.m. I walked the boys and got Burger and Fries settled in then I took Charlie in for his appointment. The vet agreed that the screw that seemed to be working its way out of Charlie's jaw should be taken out, or at the very least he should be opened up and looked at. So Charles Barkley was left in the care of the vet and the other two and I had the whole day ahead of us to do as we pleased.
Coffee was definitely in order and we made our way back to McDs and spent a little time there before making the rounds at Home Depot and Walmart. We then drove to Caldwell Park and settled in under a huge shade tree. I called my sister who lives just a few miles from there and she came over and we spent the afternoon visiting and catching up on family events. My brother didn't answer his phone, but I left a message, however, he and my SIL didn't show up. We also used the new tie out. Adjustments need to be made, but it will be nice to be able to let the boys out and know they are safe and secure while I am busy with other things.
Once it was nearing 5:30 and not having received the phone call I was expecting regarding Charlie, I called the vet's office and they said he was out of surgery, doing well, and I could pick him up. Sis and I said our goodbyes and the boys and I loaded up and headed out to get our Charlie Boy. He was perky and eager to be out of there. I spoke with the doctor before we left and he explained that all the hardware and five screws were removed, the jawbone graft had filled in and was thick and complete and once the incision healed Charlie would be good as new. (this little guy is a rescue and a local animal welfare group had found him with a broken jaw. He had two surgeries trying to get it repaired; fund raisers were done for the cost. Tremendously expensive, but if you knew Charlie you would know why it was done for him). So after hearing the good news we had exactly 30 minutes to get to my son's for my grandson's 16th birthday party in Red Bluff. We just made it!!!
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
My grandson Fletcher
My newest grand baby, Patton Lea, celebrating her brother's special day in her own imitable style; grabbing every cupcake she could get her hands on!
And that leads to our last night in the valley, in the van......and Burger wouldn't settle down. This dog has a sensitive stomach and one of the kids or maybe several of the kids, must have fed him people food that is not good for him. I was in and out of the van with this dog a good portion of the night. When we weren't out, I listened to him moan and groan. The Chiweenie Brothers had no problem sleeping, the brats.
Two nights without sufficient sleep is not good for this gal. But there was still much to be done. We pulled up stakes and left as soon as the kids left for work, and we headed back to Redding to do our grocery shopping. A trip to the valley is never complete without stopping for groceries. Ever. Food is very expensive in our little town in the mountains and with only one grocery store, they take advantage. So, first was Costco and then it was Winco. Then we went back to the park and I got the dogs staked out and tried to nap. No dice. I kept worrying that I would miss my afternoon dental appointment so the decision was made to head back up towards home and stay in the parking lot of the dental clinic.
I had already made up my mind that I would feign vehicle trouble if it was too hot for the dogs, but we lucked out with some good-although-intermittent cloud cover and it was a good chance to try out the Reflectix window covers. They work so well to deflect the heat! With the front windows down to the point where no canine can escape, the Reflectix covering all the other windows, Reflectix in the windshield, vent windows open, and my O2Cool fan pulling in fresh air, it was good. Will be even better once I get some Elastomeric on the van's roof to block even more heat, but that's another post.
After two hours in the dental chair, we headed the rest of the way home, I off loaded the groceries into my Honda and headed to the next little burg to pick up a dog I was to pet sit over Memorial Day weekend, then finally, home! Home sweet home and the weekend to rest up and recover from our two day mad rush to accomplish so much.
If you got this far reading this long post, I thank you for hanging in there. Hugs, Shawna
