Saturday Afternoon With Walter

Walter burrows

everywhere.

This happens to be his favorite 

downstairs blanket.

Just a Saturday snooze

Was that the garbage truck?

A huge yawn, and he's up,

checks out the truck, scans the 'hood, and he's ready 

for the next nap on the chair under the window. 

 

To Walter

Were you around two years ago to remember

this sweet baby boy?

Two years ago this week I discovered him on a rescue site.

And knew instantly he was my dog. 

This is the photo I saw on the site shortly after it posted.

I will still grieving losing Howie and was still very raw,

but Hannah said mom check out these sites.

It was meant to be. I got to him first.

Three weeks later I brought him home

He perched on my shoulder for almost the entire first year

                                 

He's getting me through the pandemic isolation

and is my love, never more than a few feet away from me.

Sleeps under my bed covers all night every night,

usually pressed up against my back or leg.

He is incredibly smart.

Seems to understand everything I ask him to do.

Waiting under my makeup table chair.

and is still a weirdo

To Walter

such a blessing.

Z

 

Random

Random 

My hair will never look this good again.

wedding hair- professionally done, why 

it will never be again.

Jenny, Hannah's writing partner, and very dear friend, dog sat for me

the entire wedding weekend.

He sat mostly ON her- A bad habit I allowed since a wee pup.

 

I unpacked and someone said

"nope, not again"

"The writers"

Hannah and Jenny

They just won the fellowship starting in October

 and now semi finalists in slamdance

Perpetually parked here or ON the keyboard.

Walter making it impossible to type so good day!

Z

 

Two Months Flew By

Two months have gone by since my last post and I

honestly cannot think of what news to share.

It's hot in Vegas- we broke a record of 118.

Monsoon rains came, but not nearly enough, or often enough.

There was a shooting, early evening just before the fourth, 

5 houses down from me out in the street.

Four people shot, one died. I heard the shots and thought "Was that gunfire?" then

chastised myself- only fireworks I'll bet. The sirens a few minutes later 

meant I was right the first time. 

The video is on my IG account.

 We learned Walter is terrified of storms, his screaming

reminded me of those movies with wailing women hired for wakes.

It was awful, especially as he wanted to be on top of my head and shoulders,

 and I have many scratches and bruises, even with a thundershirt,

 to prove it .

Walter has also graduated to sleeping in my bed-

some of the time-

He does tend to roam, which of course has added to my 

long list of reasons that

I don't sleep.

Wedding is coming up fast, if the Delta variant and Lamda variant

don't wreak havoc. NV now going through another uptick.

Diagnosed with another medical issue. Yep 

Was attending a class last week to learn about it, and nearly

told an old geezer where to go, or suggest he have sex with himself,

 when he started ranting at me about the glory of #45 

and bitching about vaccines and being forced to wear a mask. 

I basically said I no longer suffer fools, and left the area.

Dumb shit

My house needs a good cleaning, the yard needs help, a lot of help,

but it just doesn't seem to be getting done.

I have a smoke alarm that has been beeping for weeks

 but I cannot get high enough to get the wee little door open to change the battery.

I have a door that takes me 10 minutes to lock  (for the past 2 years).

Ben will be here end of the month- he told me to make a list-

 there are 16 things on it

 thank heaven!

The days creep along and also speed by, if that makes any sense at all.

Perhaps it does to those of you who have also been quite isolated.

I've got another birthday coming up fast 

and I'm grateful to have one, though I haven't celebrated in years.

I'm within spitting distance of 70.

How can that be?

I purged another full car load and promptly donated,

no garage sales in my future. Partly too tired and 

partly the dumb asses that come and make me crazy.

More empty drawers and closets though, so hooray!

Now streaming Acorn and doing a lot of Netflix

Currently watching  Delicious- fluff but fun.

Almost through Marcella, loving it.

Anyone else watching?

Sorry it's a lumpy, grumpy post

but that is kinda where I am.

Is it age, circumstance, or weariness of illness...

Perhaps a little of each?

Never you mind

I'm still here,

and grateful for it all.

Talk to me

Z

 

California and Contemplations

 

Walter and I headed for CA around 8:30

on a Wednesday morning. I was already tired before 

I got in the car after packing for several days.

I had to get the many table floral arrangements for the wedding in the car: 

yes, it's been rescheduled for the fourth time.

 Remember these from Feb 2020?

I knew there would not be room

in the car come Sept with four adults, Walter and all the crap

 we would be taking down.

Just like this trip I have to pack many medical supplies, 

medicines and backup meds, a concentrator, 

portable tanks, nebulizer and meds, extra tanks, 

c-pap and cpap cleaner, Walter, kennel. bed, toys, food, dishes, treats, 

plus a few Christmas presents that were too heavy to send after 

they didn't end up coming last year, and of course the reg stuff -suitcase etc.

All of it had to be at one low level, so I could easily see out the windows, because 

I hadn't driven on a freeway in 15 months and I was NERVOUS.

Walter whined/ cried and whimpered the first 90 minutes.

OMG!

He was so upset that I stopped in Barstow and bought him a burger,

he wouldn't touch it, but he finally did settle down.

I was going to be the first parent to see the kids new house. That is

how Ben enticed me down there. I am often the last to see or know stuff,

so smart guy, it worked.

Now for point of reference, Walter has not seen another dog

except through a window or on tv 

since he was 8 weeks old, and had only briefly met

 one other human about 8 months before.

I was concerned, but hoped for the best.

Walter and I have been totally alone for 15 months.

We were throwing him into the deep end of the pool.

He was meeting 6 adults, 3 other dogs and staying in a strange house 

and yard. We had our moments but we muddled through.

He never did warm up to David, Hannah's large husky, 

in fact Walter was often aggressive toward him, but

David just ignored the 3 small ones, Mr Mellow. 

The damn video of the first meeting won't load onto the blog!!

 grrrrrrr blogger

so go here to see it if you'd like

https://www.instagram.com/p/COo0XW2Hi4F/

Anyhoot -so wonderful to hug other people and be with the 4 

best folks ever and 2 of their besties. 

We just hung out, laughed, talked for hours, 

 and ate lots of great food.

I helped them plant their huge raised garden that Ben built,

and went to a gorgeous nursery in Culver called Rolling Greens.

My dear blog friend Carole had given me a Christmas gift certificate there

in 2019 but with covid, last month was my first chance to go.

I bought this gorgeous pot and succulents. 

It's right outside my kitchen window so I think

of Carole every day. 

Contemplations Part

It was fairly overwhelming to be around folks.

I found that commotion, even the good kind, was unsettling.

I stayed until the following Tuesday and though sad to leave, I also

found I was anxious to return to my solitude and my small world.

I told my daughter that I was proud that I got through those months

 without going batshit crazy

 but I've come to realize that difficult time alone affected me far more than 

I ever imagined.  I no longer have tv on as background company - ever.

I am very selective in what I listen to and watch, 

and still read about a book a day.

Instagram and all the influencers are wearing thin for me. 

I enjoyed them. I like many of the gals, and admire their stamina for 

doing what they do, but... nope it takes too much of my time and

my energy to think about their lives. I have kept several cooks, DIYers, vintage

and animal sites, and of course friends that I regularly correspond with.

I stopped following so many before my trip, and quite a few more when I returned.

It is not a negative thing, I think of it the same way as I do when I purge anything.

I want the time I have left to be conscious, selective time.

Does that make sense? Well, it only really has to matter to me I guess.

 

I love writing to folks that I have real relationships with,

and of course chatting with very old chums

 is always a pleasure, but I have no desire to go out and about

or shop anywhere but on line.

I'm open to meeting new folks and making real connections,

if that happens, terrific!

The politics of all this just has me shut out any desire to engage

too far out into the world,

though I do keep knowledgable about facts, the REAL ones.

I've found a lot more peace in this new method- the opposite of what 

most folks felt these past 15 months

who couldn't wait, cannot wait, to get back out among the masses. 

I'm happy here and content is not a bad word.

BTW

The weekend after I left, Ben's MIL came to visit, and the following

weekend his dad had to fly in.  LOL 

They couldn't stand it

 but I still was there first hehe

Good Morning

Walter loves his little bed.

It is a flexible crate lined with a crate bed,

and then two very fluffy throws inside,

bought just for him.

Since it is near the garage door which is drafty

because of doggie door I threw

 a double layer of a throw over top to keep cozy, 

and a rug beneath because of tile floors.

90% of the time he naps with me on the couch under my covers 

tucked in behind my knees, but now and again

he retreats into here, and ALWAYS does if caught being naughty.

Just like me he is slow to rise from a nap.

He cracks me up. There were maybe an additional

four or five yawns in there I did not show.

Then he's out like a shot and does not slow down

 until the next nap or bedtime.

Still no side effects from shot other than being tired 

the next day. Back to normal yesterday,

 which means normal tired from lack of sleep,

always an issue.

Z

 

10 Months Old

 Walter is 10 months old

He is loving, funny, goofy, curious, demanding

clever, smart and wonderful.

When I adopted this wee little tyke

back in February I had no idea that he would be 

my only companion for a year, or perhaps longer...

I am his world, all that he knows,

so he has been loved and loved and loved

and he gives back to me even more.

More times a day than I can count,

he jumps, leaps, dives onto my lap, places a paw on 

either side of my neck and leans in cheek to cheek.

He holds there and then switches sides 

and then licks kisses till I make him stop. 

When he is not playing, he is either lying on my left leg while

chewing on a bully, lying between my ankles sleeping,

 tucked behind me on the couch sleeping, 

or perched behind my head on the couch 

with his chin on my shoulder.

Never more than 6 feet away from me.

Howie was the same;

remarkably the same.

Howie had something to do with

 Walter and I finding each other.

I just know it.

Z

SO HERE'S THE THING

We are all so weary of this damn year, it's worries, troubles,

 loss and sadness. I was getting lost in it all.

I had to make some tough life decisions, financial and otherwise,

while still mourning the loss of dear Howie.

I start and end each day with a prayer of gratitude that 

my little family is safe and well for another day.

Many are not permitted that privilege, so I really

do acknowledge that blessing in my life.

I've come to accept my illness, my distance from the kids, 

which I had hoped to change, (not to be) and welcomed

sweet weird Walter into my heart.

I had to swallow my pride and accept help, boy, that was tough.

I am trying to focus on small pleasures,

by planting herbs, watching Walter's antics,

and then there are the "what a wonderful world moments."

I've been tweaking the porches and late one night,

 I heard what sounded like a drone approaching.

I stepped out to look at the dark sky

just as the sound clarified into extremely loud honking. 

Just then hundreds of Canada Geese 

in V formation flew low, over my head.

 I could only make out their outlines and

white underbellies in the pitch black sky.

The sounds blasted the air.

 I was squealing with delight,

then clamped my hand over my mouth 

as it was around midnight. I no  

sooner saw the last one disappear, 

when a second larger group flew over to my left.

The tears started flowing as I was ever so grateful to 

be alive, to be a witness, and to see the hope in the spectacle.

I went back onto the porch and then wait, what?

They had done a u turn and flew back over,

 the way that they had come.

It took me hours to not feel the buzz,

the exhilaration, again the hope, I so desperately needed.

Two days later my friend Sue returned some borrowed items,

and brought me goodies (what a baker she is).

Walter is still not socialized to other humans or animals due 

to COVID so he was very scared.

Sue, who does not own animals, patiently tried, and tried again,

while we visited out back, and he would get close,

then run whining and barking.

She knew how I've been worried about this.

I was watching like a parent concerned and 

embarrassed for their child.

90 minutes 

She tried for 90 minutes, with such kindness.

Then he came to her, licked her hands and placed his paws

on her knees, while she scratched his ears.

I started weeping.

He then was obsessed with her and cuddled and wriggled and

it was so damn glorious.

We all need to be brave and fight the good fight

for decency, equality and dignity. 

BUT

we also have to find the goodness, the kindness

the joy that is happening in wee small moments.

If you haven't watched The Way I See It with Pete Sousa.

Please find it and watch.

Remember those THINGS we hold dear, are being destroyed.

Z

Oh and if you are interested I am videoing nearly my entire home

and putting it on Instagram 

here

What Pie?

You have to be careful and quick around these parts.

I was having a slice of key lime pie 

while seated at the coffee table, when I noticed

Walter licking his face. Hmmmm? 

I turned around and looked at my plate and

Yep, a small section was a little squished and flattened.

Don't know how he did it.

I do know that even the slightest bit of dairy

will later on send odiferous plumes into the air,

that are ridiculously unpleasant. 

He is not yet used to the process, and when it happens, 

he jumps up, checks his posterior area, 

and searches for the source of 

the sound and odor.

My darling daughter early on 

dubbed him a little weirdo.

he is he is he is

and he appears to be channeling the FLASH

AS for everything else in the world

WTF?

It's all been said in a myriad of ways, 

by a million folks,

and me saying anything more feels like 

throwing a stinky, tar covered, hole riddled pair of

tennis shoes on top

of a steaming pile of manure.

It doesn't hurt it, help it or make any difference.

sigh

Z

 

Idiot Thy Name Is ...

A comment to my post

"you truly are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

https://oldgreymareprimitives.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-all-else-fails.html

A fairly benign post for what my true feelings encapsulate.

My first negative comment in over 10 years.

I could post the comment so that you all could see 

who it was, but that would be unkind to her, and I choose to be kind.

I did respond with a gentle reminder of what her deity truly preaches.

As I age, I've learned that most folks when faced with a 

counter point to their beliefs, close their ears and refuse

the challenge to learn and expand.

flat earthers unite

My instincts said ignore- do not take the bait,

but I'm still 3/4's optimistic these days.

I expect a ration of %$#^ in return- what she does not know 

unless she returns to gleefully see my response, is

that her deity preaches what I believe;

 I can prove it.

now Walter says : 

I choose to burrow in as close as possible to mom's leg

and enjoy some fall

Z

View From A Couch

Watched the news

There are no words

There are not enough words

Dream of better days

Z

Did you spy the recorder on the table 

in the first photo? It was Ben or Hannah's

from school - I use it to call Walter back inside.

Dogs Dogs Dogs

Without dogs, this quarantine 

would be much harder

for many of us.

Found this shot of Walter and his brother

on the rescue site. This was right after he was found.

I adopted him several weeks later.

There are days I wish I had taken both, but after

thousands in vet bills the last couple years I was 

concerned about cost. 

Here's the little bugger now.

Yep that's a rock in his mouth.

He brought this one inside.

How he's grown!

He is still a weirdo.

Insists on sleeping this way, tip of nose far right.

Someone is in time out.

New grand-dog Rilo on the left- Tubbs on the right.

Rilo was a quarantine rescue. They're adjusting well.

Everyone everywhere has had their say 

about everything going on.

I don't feel I have anything new to add.

If you've followed me for any time,

you already know where I stand.

You know I would like to clobber a few idiots 

who are too selfish, too ignorant, too lazy to 

be educated with scientific facts, or are

too evil to speak any truths.

Of course if I could clobber em, then if #45 

gets the affordable care act repealed, then they 

too would suffer insurance issues as their

existing conditions (my flattening their heads)

would no longer be covered.

Now, where is my cast iron skillet?

Z