The loss of a pet.

Shadow as a pup the night we brought him home

He was just a dog, a pet as some would say.   While today when I took him in to the vets office for the last time to be put to sleep. He was nothing but family.

You would never put down your kid's or your parents/ grandparent.  But why your dog.

For "Shadow" at age 16 years and two months it was the end of the road.

My son Shawn with Shadow at Killbear Provincial Park 

He was almost totally blind , about 90 percent deaf.   He had dementia , and would pace a room for hours on end totally lost till he would collapse from exhaustion.   His bladder could not hold pee for more than 4 hours, so almost every night he would pee on the kitchen floor and then walk and sleep in it.  We would cut off his water and food around 8pm for the night and take him out for a pee at midnight and he would still pee.   When he would go out for a walk which was almost every day, that evening and the next day he would be sore and exhausted, wining from pain.

It was time to do this, just not today or any day.   I did not want to do this because it did not feel right in my heart.

Shadow  today with his tin of Salmon

Today his last day he slept in till about 10:30am.  At lunch time Deb made Salmon sandwhiches and she gave him the tin ...  which he just loves.   He was in heaven early.  Around 2pm I took him out for a longer than normal walk, it was cool but sunny out ( he loved the sun) and let him sniff everything he wanted.  He was happy.   I brought him in and gave him his favorite treats " Snasages"  a few of them ...   what the hell.  Then he was off to sleep till about 3:45pm and I woke him up to take out for a pee as we were getting ready. 
At 4 pm we put him in the car for the 10 minute drive to the Vet's office.   When we got there , I took him out on the gorgeous property with a small lake out from for a pee and maybe a poop.   He never did a poop, but pee he did at least five times.   At 4:30pm we were in the vets office in the little room with my wife the vet and an assistant. They had to shave his leg to find a vein but could not so have to move to another leg.  This time she was successful.  We both gave Shadow a kiss as she pushed the plunger on the needle.  In seconds he stopped squirming and while looking up at us he passed away.

I was devastated along with my wife , I decided to head out the front door and have a good cry on my own.

That dog was family and we loved him like our own children.  It's been only two hours now and my eyes are still welling up.



We love you Shadow    we will miss you always!  

Muammar Gaddafi Dead !!!

Muammar Gaddafi  killed in Libya this week by rebels, now the UN wants an investigation to see if he was murdered.  Come on, the guy killed tens of thousands of his own people.  It was time to let the people he terrorized for over 40 years to decide his fate. If that was a bullet to head, so be it. I was proud that we offered air support instead of boots on the ground to the rebels, now it's time to let them decide their future on their own.   I hope they get the freedom and democracy they fought so hard for.


My thoughts.......
Bill

Change the next generation ... Riots in London !!!! Flash mobs in Philadelphia ....

I think the time has come for my kid's generation ( in their 20's) to rethink what the last two generations have proven to be wrong.  Time Outs !!  and negotiating with children does not work.

  Kid's don't respect their elders nor themselves anymore. They have a total sense of entitlement and a right to do what ever they want.

 Bring back the wooden spoon and the belt or as they say corporal punishment.

   People know what child abuse is...   a belt on the hands or ass is "Not" child abuse.  A smack in the head or a punch in the body is....

  My parents raised me with corporal punishment and "never" remember getting it when I did not deserve it.  I am glad I got it because I have good moral and strong abilities and  I'll tell you I deserved it. I was the definition of a hell child as my friends can attest.

  I raised two children who are strong, kind, educated and independent. Neither of whom would be on those streets in London as a rioter.
  But both know what a wooden spoon (plastic made in China now ! ) and a belt is.  My daughter never got the belt but was good friends with the wooden spoon, my son talked to the belt a few times.

  Do "NOT" just use corporal punishment. It is meant as a last resort when you give them three warnings ...   number four is time.

  The time has come to make the changes and let parents raise their kids and not expect society  or teachers to do it.

It time for parents to be parents and not friends.  Become friends when they start post secondary education.  They will appreciate it and so will society.

What I think !
Bill 

Bill & Deb's Awesome Adventure - Day 14

Well here we are 14 days in to our trip and we are camping in Port Richey Florida.

Very welcome change in the weather.   Nice area, the people are great but dam those little no seeums (gnats).  Got many bites on my arms

As you can see from the pictures we are happy with the change.

Bill & Deb's Awesome Adventure - Day One

Well after a 12 hour drive we made it to Lexington Kentucky.   The roads were great so that made it easy.  And Deb kicked in some  hours driving....  thanks Deb. 
Here it is 11 PM EST and we sit in the hotel getting ready to rest up for our next part of the trip down I75 to Florida.

Retired !!!

Today is the day.... my last day at work.   It seemed like such a long day even though it wasn't. 

I sort of feel like I'm on vacation, I just need to figure out that I'm never going back.

Well this real long trip should do just the trick. 

Now to the next adventure !!!!!

The Time has Come !!!!

Next week I finally hang up the keys !!! After working for 38 years, I'm finally going to be free to do what ever I want !!!

Retirement .................

We are heading south to Florida on Sunday the 16th of January.

I'll post pictures an story's of our travels which should last up to four months.