Doggy Boo Boo!

Gandolff is getting older, as can be recognized by the gray on his muzzle. However, it has a few bright points. He doesn't have the problems with allergies he had when he was little. He also doesn't require walked as often as he used to as a puppy (much to the pleasure of my sons). It isn't as if he is old yet, more like middle aged at 7 years old.

However, he injured the top of his foot about a month ago. It started a little bump almost like he got bit by some bug. Then he started licking it..... and licking it.... and licking is somemore. After about a month where it wasn't going away and he kept bothering it, we took him to the vet. The vet takes one look at it and says "yup, he has irritated the bite so much he has given himself and infection." He explained that dogs will get bored and just randomly lick at a sore until it becomes an obsessive complusive behaivor. I have an Obessive Complusive dog!!!! ( I think I must attract the behaivor because sometimes I swear I have an obsessive complusive husband and kids too.) Anyway, the vets remedy.... antibiodics for the infection and cast the foot to make him not lick it. I just laughed. It probably shouldn't be funny but I could just see my dog running around with a cast on his foot.

I explained to the vet if they are just trying to keep him from licking the foot we would put him in a bootie. (Gandolff has booties for when we are on the boat... don't want his nails to cut up the upholstry.) Jace went out the car got the bootie and the vet was real impressed because Gandolff just walked around like it wasn't even on. He explained that dogs usually chew off a cast so it was a great idea.

Gandolff has been in his bootie for about 2 weeks now. He doesn't appear to mind it but it is really irritating to Jay. We are accustomed to the click of the dogs nails on the tile all day long. We aren't accustomed to click, click, click, woosh. Even when he is walking on the carpet we still hear the woosh. I don't think I have slept in the same two weeks without getting woke up when the dog walks around at night.

Joys of Arizona!

We haven't added in a long time as not much is going on in Arizona. However, we have recently found a few scorpions in our house! Jay being who he is really enjoys playing with them. He hasn't been stung..... yet!

Everything here is busy with Jay at the rail and Jaron is school. Jace and I are the only ones not to busy. Jace is looking for a full time job and I will be doing the same soon. My work is supposed to be completed at the end of this month, however, I have been extended every month since August. I found out in June that I would be laid off due to positions in Phoenix being eliminated. My last day was supposed to be in August but have been asked to extend ever since. I am just too nice sometimes because I really didn't want to go through another open enrollment. However, I agreed anyway. Open enrollment has begun! The joys of living in Arizona.

News, News, and More News!

So, since I haven't added anything in a few months does that mean no news is good news? Just food for thought of course..... Actually, a lot has happened since November. We have been busy with the Light Rail for Jay and Open Enrollment for me. It seems that December and January are always this way but this year was 10 times worse.

In December we sighted our first Scorpions since we have moved to AZ. Jace walked in his room and saw one crawling across the floor. We caught it, played with it, then they squished it. hee hee hee! That same week we saw one in the garage. We had people working on our trees around the yard so I think they got stirred up and found their way inside. I am sure the scorpions were always there, but we didn't notice. What we don't notice won't hurt us....

December also brought Christmas, of course. Jay and the boys got a salt water aquarium set up. It is actually for Jay but the boys enjoy working on it as much as Jay does. I am surpised at the amount of time they spend playing with it. We had one in Utah and really missed it when we moved here. Jay has done an amazing job with it. When it gets more of the set up done I will post a picture of it.

The end of December brought the opening of the valley Light Rail. Jay has been crazy busy, working 12 hour days, but it was worth it. The opening went off without a hitch. Normal service now has been good if you could stop all the idiot drivers from trying to turn in front of the train. There have been 11 intersection accidents since opening. Considering that the system her has 140+ intersections that really isn't bad. The good thing is the design of the train worked out perfectly and pushes the cars off the track instead of demolishing them.

In January Jay is still busy at work with all the events happening. He spends a lot of time at it while the boys and I just relax at home. Sometimes I think this is really the good life. I know the boys and I need to get over the wintertime blues and start expending energy but we haven't yet. It is a great life though.

February has so far been more relaxed. Jay is working a lot still but it is slowing down. Jay and I did see Air Force One land yesterday. We were on our way home from work and it flew right over us. We knew it was coming into town, they stop all air traffic and auto traffic around the airport for a few minutes. It was fun to see though, a much bigger plane than I thought it would be. Now we have seen the Space Shuttle and Air Force One in person. (We saw the space shuttle flew over our house in Utah years ago.)

Not much else is going on..... For Now!!!! Knock on wood!