Good Morning, Ms Frazzled

My first thought when I got out of bed that morning was that Lily was to be dropped off between 7:30 and 8 a.m. at the veterinarian to be spayed.  My tendency to worry was not in high gear.  Indeed,  I felt, well, OK.

The surgery instructions were no food after midnight.  I went outside with Lily when she did her business to be sure she didn't eat a clod of dirt or something .

For the next couple of hours,  I avoided all the dogs, with little success.  They kept staring at me, clearly not onboard with the whole not-eating-in-solidarity-with-Lily's-looming-surgery plan.

It was time to leave.  Lily and I got into the vehicle.  I wouldn't start.

Luckily, The Handsome One was off of work that day so he took us in his truck.

Inside the vet office, an old man was telling a bored looking doctor and receptionist that 16 pills is a lot of pills to take.  He glanced at me and added, "for a dog."  He maintained eye contact, so I answered, "yes.  Sixteen pills is a lot."

Lily weighed in at 68 pounds and we went into a room to do paperwork.  Lily seemed delighted to go with the nice vet tech.  Interestingly, I was not feeling terribly nervous about the whole major surgery thing.  In fact, I was encouraged that maybe, just maybe after a dozen or so spaying adventures, I was calming down about it.  Maybe this frazzle free style living could become a habit!

I had to walk past the old man to exit the building.  He was telling the doctor who looked about to cry and the receptionist who was violently filing her thumbnail about the time he forget to give his dog her 2 o'clock pill. 

Suddenly, he turned to me and said, "your hair looks good."

I thanked him and made for the door.

He added, "it looks like you French kissed a light socket."

Oooookay.

"Seriously"  he said.  "It looks good."

I really thought I was doing OK.

Pop Culture Frenzy, Round 42

Welcome once again to Pop Culture Frenzy.  Today's question involves Therapy Animals.  We usually think of dogs in this role.  Most of us have seen a dog helping a blind person navigate, a dog helping a disabled person in various ways such as reaching a door handle, a dog offering support to children learning to read, and so on.

Nowadays, not only do we see more kinds of animals doing therapy work, such as horses helping developmentally disabled children improve strength, balance and confidence, we are also seeing a curious expansion of the problems eligible to be assuaged by Therapy Animals.  Now we have Comfort Animals and Emotional Support Animals that purportedly offer succor for all sorts of woes.  Indeed, to be permitted to take this animal say, on an airplane,  pretty much all you need is a doctor's note saying you "need" your ferret in your jacket pocket ALL THE TIME because he soothes your angst or whatever.  Thus, people managing their lives without Therapy Animals are bumping up against people with Therapy Animals more and more.

Recently a news article featured a picture of an unusual Comfort Animal accompanying a Delta Airlines passenger.  

What kind of animal was photographed on board an airplane doing therapy?
Fluffy?



A parrot?

 

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.  We parrots are too mercenary for such work.

Bryan?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read something about a guy

in a restaurant upsetting other

diners with his Boa Constrictor

Comfort Pet...

A snake?

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.

Cyndi?

 

 

 

 



 





A Meerkat?

 

 

 

 

 

 



For crying out loud! 

Meerkats are wild animals.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

But they're so cute!

 

 

 



 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.  Well, maybe not the cute part.  Ah, who cares if they are cute.  No.  A meerkat was not the Therapy Animal pictured on the Delta flight.

Molly?

 

 

 

  



 A monkey?

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.

Bryan?

 

 

 

 

 

 

An alpaca?

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.  

Cyndi?

 

 

 

 

 

A hedgehog?

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.

Fluffy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rat?

 

 

 

 

 

Hostmaster:  incorrect.   This round is taking forever and I have football to watch.  It was a turkey.  Those interested can see the picture here.

 

 

 

So ends another round. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round 42

Fluffy/Molly  18

Bryan/Cyndi    16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard gets a New Roommate

Leonard and Pearl knew each other at the pet store.  Their bond grew stronger when they came to live with us.  They groomed each other.  They slept nestled each night in their grit cup.  Then Pearl died.

 

 

 Leonard was alone.  Since finches are not loners, I obtained a new roommate for Leonard.  You always worry a little.  Not all roommate situations work out well. 

Happily, this one has.   Indeed, these two may turn out to be more than roommates.  Hudson layed an egg.   Leonard has been seen, er, mounting Hudson.   Can a Spice Finch and a Society Finch produce a brood?   Spociety Finches, perhaps? 

We'll see.