Another year is history

It's a new year, seems as one gets older time quickly slips by.

Hope everyone had a good holiday season, we send our wishes for a bright New Year.

The latter part of 2014 was rather calm for us.  After our early cruises we figured we'd stay grounded until Fall.  Not!!!!

Lee's nephew is marrying this year in February.  In August (2014) we attended a couples shower in Ft Worth, Texas.  You may be asking what the heck is a couples shower.  I asked the same thing.  From what I understand, seems those invited to a bridal shower felt sorry for their significant others not being able to attend due to it being an all girls affair.  So someone thought up the "couples" shower so the guys wouldn't feel left out.  Sure wish someone would have asked me, I would have assured them that guys don't like these sorta things, so the bridal shower venue was just peachy with us.

As it turned out the shower was an okay event.  Of course there were a few things that made it acceptable.  Food and booze all free!!!!!  No foo-foo opening of gifts etc.  It was a party setting where families and friends of the to-be bride and groom could meet and mingle.

A highlight for this trip was a visit to the Ikea store;)

Only home for a few weeks before we boarded a flight to Lubbock, Texas to visit Lee's nephew.  He is employed with the Texas Tech University's sports program and provided tickets to the TTU vs Arkansas football game.

Spent about four days, had a good visit and a great time.

We were on slate to attend a zoo conference in Milwaukee, WI, however due to some pet medical issues we cancelled.  More on the medical issues in bit.

I went on to Branson, MO to attend a Marine Corps unit reunion.  Lee stayed home and babysat our pets.  The reunion was nice, hard to believe it had been fifty years since we were in in that unit.  This year in August we, Lee and I, will attend the reunion in San Antonio, TX.

The pet issue.  Simon our Boykin Spaniel was diagnosed with mast cell.  He underwent four surgeries to remove five cells.  Once the surgery sites were semi-healed he began chemo treatments.  Simon is pretty special to us.  He is about 11 years old and has quite a few years ahead of him.  Our pet policy has always been no heroics for any of them.  As I said Simon is special.

After about the third chemo treatment Simon lost control of his hind legs.  Just collapsed while doing his business outside.  A frantic call to our Vet rendered an answer that chemo should not have this type of side effect.  He called Vet a friend of his and concluded it may be something neurological.

After a CT scan it was found Simon had a bulging disc.  Obviously so bad the Vet was surprised Simon had any mobility at all.  Straight from CT to the OR.  About five days later we picked him up from the animal hospital.  Now the fun began.  Simon had to be confined for a period of eight weeks.  So much of our holiday season was spent caring for Simon.

He is such an amazing dog, one would never realize the boy has been through all that he has been.

Our house was built in 1943 and other than adding on and remodeling the main bathroom, nothing much has been done to it. The kitchen was in dire need.

After our experience with the bathroom we learned remodeling is never easy or inexpensive.  True to form.  A slow leak was found in the sinks drain pipe, who knows how long it had been leaking, there was no exterior evidence.  So long story short, the kitchen was brought down to the studs and rebuilt.  I'll post a link to photos.

Looking forward to an easy new year.

Link to photos of Simon:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/60827930@N05/sets/72157650234564941/

Link to kitchen photos:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/60827930@N05/sets/72157647790481455/