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In human years, being a Newfie, Norway would be 96 now. He's had a long, beautiful life, and chased many squirrels and barked at many moose.

That doesn't make it a lot easier to say goodbye.

He's been having trouble with his back legs since early this spring, and we've been trying to keep pace with pain meds. This last week, the problems got worse, and we knew that his time was coming. Sunday morning, he couldn't stand up by himself, and when lifted, his front legs gave out. He got out of the house, with help, took a few staggering steps into the grass, and found his spot to lie down for good. I spent the day brushing him and telling him what a good dog he was, and saying goodbye. (And ugly crying, and explaining death to a 5-year-old.)

It's hard, seeing where he loved to lie. I keep listening for his bark. I will undoubtedly walk out 'to get him' out of habit for a while. I'm going to miss him. I'm even going to miss vacuuming up his ridiculous fur.


(Click through for a larger version)

What follows is truly gratuitous picspam:
( Cut for those reading on Dreamwidth who do not need to see seven hundred photos of my dead dog. )

Aging pets are hard. Just, hard.

A few nights ago, Norway tried to get up the front steps and failed. There are only two, and they aren't that steep, but he was having a bad back legs day. We put out the truck ramps for him, but they are metal, and although strong, sort of rattly. He looked at them, he looked at me, and said nope. I did finally get him up them with a firm hand on his collar, but it wasn't much fun. The next day, he ignored them and hopped down the steps. That night he got up the steps with effort. The following night, he walked right up them. It's so variable!

He's not the only one having issues with steps. Velcro's catbox and bed are on the main floor of our house, and her food and second waterdish are upstairs, where Norway can't help himself. I've pondered moving her food down because she clearly doesn't enjoy the stairs anymore, but figured it was the only exercise she was getting at this point. Yesterday, however, I watched her fall down them twice, and that's the end of that. The first time was just a few steps as she was going up. She picked herself up and powered up them, so I figured it was just one of those ungraceful cat moments they pretend you don't witness. But shortly after, she came down them and sort of got away from herself and ended up upside down at the bottom rocking in shock with her little extra toes in the air. She mewed at me in a very disappointed way when I came to help her up and spent the rest of the day sulking in her bed.

She's been missing the catbox more regularly lately, too. Oh, she tries! There are no accidents around the house, but sometimes she just barely gets into the catbox and the important parts aren't there yet. I've got puppy pads down, so cleanup isn't bad.

Poor old lady cat. Poor old man dog.

It seems like a lot of friends lately are losing beloved fur family members; Facebook seems to show me a few each week lately. I suspect it's just that I'm hyper-aware of them right now, because I know that my time with my own fur friends is not going to be a lot longer.

Have some art!

I recently did this for Portrait Adoption:


This one started life as a Sketch Fest sketch, in very rough form, and got refined at a gaming session.

A little over 800 words yesterday, slogging onward. The not-a-book is about 16k. I do not anticipate getting writing time today, as we have a playdate over quiet time. I've also got two more #junicorn pieces done (but not scanned), and am 1 behind (not counting today).

In less thrilling news, I finished the laundry, cleaned out the toaster with the air compresser, vacuumed upstairs (downstairs, too, but that's daily), and Guppy helped me measure and cut wood blocks for the woodshed.



And when I say helped, I don't even mean that with air-quotes! She fetched the blocks and drew the lines while I held the square. (She's wearing gloves because it's splintery treated lumber, not because it's cold.)

We made GREAT progress on the shed over the weekend, and we had our neighbors over for dinner, which was simply delightful, and we got a date night to go watch Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and have sushi. There have definitely been good times.

I'm growing on my bangs, and the irritation level is about a 6 right now. I've promised to try it until September.

My dog smells like roses and feels like a baby duck.

Seriously, I'm not sure he's ever been so clean and beautifully brushed before in his life. I took him to a local groomer, and she did a STUNNING job on our big tangled oaf. She filed down his toenails and brushed his teeth, even. If anyone needs a smelly dog fixed, let me know. I highly recommend this gal.

New coloring book proof is ready to pick up, but that won't happen until tomorrow. I got orders out and updated my laptop and did no writing or artwork. Itching to remedy that last. Did get some client programming done.

Yesterday was pretty much a scrub, because of Things. I didn't even answer or delete any emails, which means I have a lot to do there this morning. (244 this morning, I'd love to get that down under 150...) (And of course, that WOULD be the day that ALL my freelance clients get busy, and all my project partners finish their bits, and my printing client runs into trouble uploading...)

In writerly things, I am slowly, SLOWLY working on a story I am utterly in love with. It's been a long time since I had inspiration this deep.

Have a brief Guppy story with pictures while I try to catch up and jumpstart my morning:



"No, no, don't take my picture!"



"Okay, I'll just take a photo of the kitty, then!"



"Smile, Kitty! You have to smile!"

I won INKtober! I did it! Yesterday, I did three final ink pieces as part of Sketch Fest:



And lo! There was poop in the catbox this morning! I've never been so happy to see turds.

Here is a shot of Guppy in the costume she loved trying on, but would not actually wear ANYWHERE we went yesterday. Ah well. It will continue to fit her for some time!



Working on my review of October, and will post a full image of (almost) all my INKtobers at that time. :)

Just back from dropping Velcro off at the vet's. When I told Guppy we were going to the doctor for the kitty, she said, very solemnly, "Yeah. Because the kitty has to have more bandaids." She thought about it a little and then added. "Maybe they have ice cream for Kitty!" (Her last visit to the doctor ended with a popsicle, which left a very favorable impression.)

[Velcro's off her food and and incubating a large stuck poop - it has to be manually removed, and we're checking kidney and liver levels while she's there. *throws money in the air like confetti.*]


Aren't those the darlingest gloves?

We did storytime this morning, and it was half-successful. She bolted around for the first half, loudly announced that she was done with storytime, and then, miraculously, spent the second half snuggled in my lap watching raptly. She charmed people at the post office on the way home - everyone loves her Anna hat and she was also wearing her purple Batman/Anna cape and velvety red boots with white pompoms and she cavorted shamelessly.

Filling Kickstarter orders now. Not many - I haven't got the brains for it - but a few every day will get it done in good time.

In Guppy News

I am astonished how fast she's growing. It's easier to see when I spent a good chunk of two weeks away from her than it was when I was constantly with her.

Her speech is getting clearer - milk is no longer gum, blankets are no longer boppies. (Each blanket, in fact, has a name, and must be put on her in order: Pink Blanket, Guppy Blanket, Rose Blanket, Kitty Blanket. And heaven help you if one of the blankets is missing!) She says 'please' if barely prompted, 'thank you' nearly always, and 'you're WELcome' all the times in between. 'Do it myself!' is one of her favorite things, and she drew an 'H' and identified it correctly this weekend. Her counting is still hit and miss. ('One, three, one, two...') 'Build a tower!' is still a favorite. Reading never goes out of style. A few weeks ago, she made a drastic change and began personifying her things. Suddenly Kiko, her rag-doll, has to be fed and have her diaper changed and take naps, where before I think Kiko's little blanket meant more to her than Kiko. Even her 'Little Green Person' (a Duplo figure) is addressed as a character now. She cannot seem to sit still through storytime - today she bolted across the library (just to be chased, as far as I can tell) five times before I finally just pulled her out and went to play with Duplos with her.


Growing up is hard work!

In pet news

I need to take Norway for more walks! But as he's gotten older, he seems more content with hanging out at his house and doesn't bolt around quite like he used to. Long walks sometimes wind him now. His weight is down at a healthier place for him, and he seems in good health.

Velcro, on the other hand, had started grooming bald patches down her sides, so I took her in for shot updates (just rabies - she's not at risk for anything else, being an indoor only cat) and to get an opinion on that. $300 of bloodwork later (and two draws, because they LOST the first one...), it turns out she is hyperthyroid, poor kitty. We're trying prescription food for a month or so, before resorting to medicine. No improvement yet, but it's only been a little over a week. She's definitely showing her age these days, but remains tolerant to toddlers who cover her with towels and try to stack books on her and convince her to eat duplos.

In house news

We got the lights up in the garage, and they are fabulous! The fan is also purchased, but not yet installed.

In weather news

More %^*##@ rain. I don't want to talk about it.

In project news

Sketch Fest was a little bit slow this month, and the Torn World Muse Fusion (which runs the entire month) is shaping up to be a bit of a flop. I suspect that my being offline and largely out of touch plays a role.

I am all kinds of inspired over Shifting. I have, in fact, reserved a domain for it, because I have no sense at all. It is now required to make me $15/year. Sketch Tarot is still moving forward - Empress is inked!

Going to draw now, and then make banana bread. Inbox: 117 (urgh!) and I've got Sketch Fest payments to get out.

While I was in my shower this morning, the cat threw up a nasty wet hairball all over my clothing.

I hope this isn't an indication about how the day is going to play out...

I got a good night's sleep on Friday night, which helped overall. Sunday, little monster wanted to get up earlier than I was ready to (but not HORRIBLY) early, and last night we were up at 4. Still, even just that one really good night helped a lot and I feel better facing this week than I have in a while.

Today:

*Bills
*Writing - finish next installment YES
*Post at TW The next segment of South Meets North is up! Read it here at LJ or at at Torn World!
*Invoice prints
*vacuum
*shower
*eat - big breakfast finished! Giant lunch!
*Sort art
*clean shower (outside)
*walk dog (check on fasting!) - no food after midnight
*TW mass-email
*email to Dapwood
*call contractor about paying for hardpack plowing
*fold laundry


Tomorrow Norway goes in for x-rays and very minor surgery (a skin tag right on his eyelid). We've been getting out for a good walk almost every single day, which I think has helped his hip/knee/back pain considerably... it didn't at first, but I think we've made very good progress on strengthening some of the muscles that support the area, and his weight is lower, which helps, too. He's loving the extra attention, and it's turned out very good and healthy for me, too - especially with the sunlight returning. I get a good dose of outside, exercise and 'not responsible, for a while.' We shall not speak of the embarrassing encounter with a very well-behaved Irish Setter, wherin my oaf of a dog dragged me into a hip-deep snowbank trying to say 'hi'.

I don't have a handy photo of Norway to accompany this report, so have Velcro on a giant stuffed bear:



The bear is also a huge hit with Elsa, who was giggling outrageously when she did this:


(And I admit, the bear is also a big success with me - it is the perfect shape and weight for cuddling with, and I took a brief nap with him in my chair on Saturday. I foresee many bear battles in our future...)

Off to do stuff now. Happy Easter and April Fools!

A little cleaning, a little writing (very little), a little coding, a little administration stuff, and a lot of baby-wrangling later, it's 3:30 in the afternoon, and I haven't blogged yet!


Usually she's quiet when we're out walking - just looking around and soaking it in, but not today. We were overflown by a chatty raven, and I called back to it (I like to mimic ravens, and I'm very good at it. I will only do it outdoors, because it can't be done quietly...). We had quite a conversation, and as it flew off, Elsa started gurgling in imitation. She had comments the rest of the walk - ahhmaaamaaamaaaah, blaahBLAAHblaahblaah and ooooOOooooOOOOO are some of her favorites right now, but that particular gurgle was very definitely an attempt to talk with the raven and I.

If you have not yet caught wind of haikujaguar's recent scuffle with Games Workshops over the term 'space marines', you should look into it. Copyright - in this case Trademark - legalities are of particular interest to me, and this is a pretty clear case of it not working the way it ought to. Scalzi and Gaiman and Wheaton have weighed in, so geeks of my circles have probably already seen this. http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/1208235.html

Also, I weigh .4 lbs more than my dog right now. This probably isn't particularly good news for either of us. I'm going to go eat some more food.