World's Best Dog Resting At Home (Day 3)

We are on day 3 of Madison being ill. She is beginning to eat again but she has developed very expensive taste.

Since most know I gave up factory farm meat almost 4 years ago this May, I went to my butcher to get her some chicken breast (skin on).

Once home I roasted it and then had Chef Michael place it in the food processor pulsing it to a dough like consistency.

This serves two purposes.

1.) Since Madison has lost her appetite for all of her other food and this provides a good mixer to add to it
2.) She adores Chicken.

Today she is sleeping a lot, taking a senior citizen supply of drugs and finally getting her fluids & now solid food.

The latter is a good thing since appetite loss would not be a good sign at this point. We do not know how long we will have since they have given us no guarantees. But who comes with guarantees in the area of life.

As for us, we are exhausted. I feel like I am walking in a haze. You know the feeling one gets after they have completed an all-nighter working on a term paper.

But an opportunity presented itself and last night I was literally shaken out of it for a moment.

My friends Randy and Steph's son Zach was in the East Grand Rapids musical production of Beauty and the Beast. Since Michael wanted to stay home with Madison, he insisted I attend. "Zach will be happy you attended," he said, "It will mean a lot to him even if one of us shows up."

I have been around Zach since he was born and was later at the birth of his sister Anna. But I still cannot believe how fast time has flown by. The reality was sprung on me recently when attending the Tanglefoot Private Sale he said he could drive now.

"With a Parent, right," I added.

"No'" Zach exclaimed, "I am 16 and I can drive anywhere on my own."

After the show we all went back stage, Zach towering over the rest of the kids in the room spotted his family and raced over. And just as fast as he is on the football field he gave me a quick hug and then hoisted me in the air.

At first I was a bit embarrassed as I caught the eyes of many people around the room. You see all I wanted last night was to show up, say my congrats and then be on my way. I did not expect to be tossed about for all to see.

But I am glad he did. He had no idea how sad I was these past few days as I watched my dog struggle to walk while having a seizure like episode. This one act of friendship shook me out of my funk and reminded me that not all is bad in my life.

So, Zach, if you ever read this know how proud I am of your accomplishments both on the field, on the stage and most of all with those in your life you have extended the hand of friendship. Your timing was perfect.

You make your parents so proud....and me, too.

Some day Zach and I will have a chuckle or two as we talk about the time he actually danced on stage to a silly obnoxious "Be Out Guest" tune while dressed as a peppermill. It still makes me laugh the day after.

He did not know the pain of my week,

World's Best Dog Released From Hospital

Today at 3:45 PM Madison was released to come home. We decided against more testing after weighing in heavily on the pro's and con's of this next round.

What we do know is she has elevated liver functions that could be related to a past problem.

She is on a new round of pills, a restricted diet and no car rides for a while.

For all those who have seen her old lady walk, according to the X-ray this is not due to her hips which look fine, it is her arthritic back that is causing the funky walk.

So over the next few weeks we will try and keep her comfortable as we enter yet another phase of dealing with an elderly dog. We have had the big conversation that all pet owners have at some point and we know her days with us are few.

She is truly an amazing dog. (Love the fashionable bandage?)

Thank you to those who called to wish her good health including Jacqui - who even offered to fly in. A big big thanks to Linda who was there when Madison had her third spell yesterday. It really means a lot when someone cleans up after your sick dog while you are off to Kinko's for work.

World's Best Dog Admitted To Hospital

I am not sure why I posted this entry but my dog of 13 plus years had series of spells today that placed her in the hospital.

It is so hard to not have her around this evening.

So maybe this is just my attempt at an altar or a vigil or whatever...in the hope that she comes home soon.

I miss her so much.

Daytrippin' - My Space FOUND Entry

Ok, I know it is terribly trendy, but I signed up for a My Space site and have spent the last 20 minutes trying to navigate around through all the band ads and long lost friends who have also jumped on the new online community wagon.

But the real fun came when I allowed myself to just wander about by hitting link after link after link.

My nephew, who insisted I get on My Space, has a long list of friends.

As a good uncle I was curious as to what kind of friends he has been hanging out with online. I decided to randomly check out a few of his friends when I stumbled on one his friend's site where I found what I think is the funniest entries I have read in a long time from a member named *~NiKkI~*

So today I present " *~NiKkI~* " who posted this touching note to her friend. I think after reading this note I would have to add a tag line, "Friend without the benefit of language."

"4/21/2006 2:24 PM

Dear Fucker.... You are my fuckin friend... And i hope u know thats fuckin true....No matter what the fuck happens.....I will stand the fuck by u...I will fuckin be there for u...... Whenever the fuck u need me....to lend a fuckin hand......to do a fucking good deed...so fuckin count on me....whenever the fuck u need me...fuck, I will always be there.....Even to the bitter fuckin end....send this promise to all your fuckin friends to show your fuckin friendship and watch who sends it the fuck back to u....and if they dont send it back.........FUCK THEM! 88888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888888888888____8888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888888888______888888888888 88888888888____888____888___8888888 88888___88______8______8_____888888 8888_____8______8______8_____888888 8888_____8______8______8_____888888 8888_____8______8______8_____888888 8888_____8____888888888888888888888 88_8_____8___88________________8888 88_8_____8__88__________________888 88__888888888_________888________88 88_________88_______8___________888 88____________8888888____________88 888_____________88_______________88 888_______________88_____________88 8888______________8_____________888 8888_______________8___________8888 888888_____________8__________88888 8888888_____________________8888888 8888888____________________88888888 "

LINK: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=56208531

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Garagefest: An East Hills Benefit

Saturday was the East Hills Council of Neighbors 1st Annual Garagefest.

The all day event took place at Bazzani's garage just behind his Wealthy Street office.

As the tunes poured out from the garage, the parking lot was buzzin' with activity as neighborhood folk milled about with beer in hand.

Mangiamo!'s pizza cart was there and people stood in line to secure the homemade 5 dollar pizzas.

Mark was funny with his big glasses. I asked him if he was challenging Rebecca Hoffman for the coolest biggest glasses.

When East Hills' ED informed me no one was introducing the Icicles, my favorite local band, I said I would do it.

Joining me in front of the mic was Rachel Lee. As we stood up there waiting for them to cut the pulsating disco music, Irene Cara's Flashdance theme song, What A Feeling Came On"

It was just too tempting to not pass this up...so I just started to sing with the music.

"First...when there's nothing but a slow moving dream...."

By the time Rachel and I got to the chorus, the band had begun to back us up as they played along to Ms. Cara's popular theme.

Realizing I am not a singer I just rolled into my introduction.

"This is the best band in the world. They are better than any other band in the world that is playing at 6 PM tonight."
People danced and danced and danced. The crowd which normally would wander about in the parking lot had come inside and for the entire hour, the band held their attention.

We ended up staying until they closed. Everything was so great as my former neighborhood put on a festival that shows that they have succesfully emerged from its growing pains to become the hip neighbrohood of the city.

East Hills Garagefest was a wonderful celebration of community.

And Ms. Cara said it best, "What a feeling!"