Not All “Lost Dog Stories” End Badly for the Dog!

I love dogs.

I believe, with all my heart, the closest thing to God’s love on this earth is found in a dog. They love us unconditionally – just like God does.

With the uprising of social media, I see posts to "help find lost dogs" on a weekly basis.

It totally breaks my heart.

Back Surgery - The Recovery

This is part-2 of a 3+ part series of my TLIF back surgery for spondylolisthesis. 

Find part 1 here.

I woke up and was extremely happy I survived the anesthesia.

My right foot was still numb.  Not cool.

I asked the time.  It was 7-1/2 hours later.  My brain was having issues computing this info.  

7-1/2 hours.  

I was “out” for 7-1/2 hours.  The 5-hour surgery took longer than expected.  Oh no.

My right foot was still numb.  I got a little rowdy.  Actually, “rowdy” may be sugar coating it just a tiny bit.

Back Surgery - The Before

Part-1 of a 3-part series on my TLIF back surgery. 

Has your life ever changed in what seems like an instant?  Either in a good way or a not so good way?  It can.  It does.  And it probably will at some point.  Mine has several times.

Circumstances, life events, illness, death, job changes, etc. can all create a “WOW, it seemed like just yesterday I was...….” kind of moment.

The good, the bad or the ugly could possibly happen “today.”  We never know.

It is just the way life rolls.

My life made a change in 2011 which began waaaaaaay back in 1997 in my cousin’s brand new house.  When I first visited, the great room was so large that I immediately announced that I could do a cart-wheel and a back bend and land in a split and still have room left over. 

Life & Death - The Unstoppables

Way back in the day President Benjamin said "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  I am going to beg to differ with Pres. Ben.

  

In the present day I say, "Death and taxes will haunt us forever but if we look around, "life" abounds.

Valentine's Day? What?

As the world prepares to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I just realized that I don’t.  Really?  You heard that right.  I do not celebrate Valentine’s Day. 

Yes, really. 

I do like Valentine's Day cupcakes.

I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day with the "love of my life"…but…but…but…after seeing a commercial that says the average Valentine’s Day gift costs $130.00, maybe I should re-think my decision.  Hmmmmmm.

Once Upon a Time It Was

This morning I awoke to the most disturbing email I have ever received.   The feelings of shock and denial took over my emotions as I tried my best to process this devastating news.  My heart was broken.  My brother’s mountain top cabin had burned to the ground.  The chimney was all that remained standing.

This mountain top cabin has been a like family retreat for many years.  It is a place of beauty and scenery and a place that takes you back to the days of simplicity.  

A Big Fat Blury Mess



"A Pair of Diamonds"  My little niece and I.

I lived most of 2001 in a blur.  I was informed about the HCV virus in the late 90’s after St. Jude Hospital called me.  They had tested some of my old blood specimens from 1975 when I was diagnosed with AML leukemia.  The HCV virus was alive and living inside of me.  I did not like receiving this news.

I tried waiting it out in hopes of a better treatment but the FDA was just too dang slow.  

They started getting on my nerves.