Lots has been going on since last I wrote, and I don't really want to go into much detail now. Pene came down with some respiratory crap 11 days ago and hasn't done well. She's lost four pounds since we got her because she has no appetite (except for the occasional peanut butter blob or piece of turkey) and she's extremely congested. Oh, and she had tapeworms a while back, which are thankfully gone. She just went back to the vet last week and got on stronger antibiotics but they didn't do a thing. So this morning she was hospitalized and is receiving IV fluids, two kinds of antibiotics, breathing treatments, and hopefully lots of TLC. They are testing her for distemper and we'll know in a few days what the results are - keep your fingers crossed for 'negative' because otherwise she doesn't have much of a chance. Now that this info is up on my blog I'm somewhat obligated to keep my readers informed on the outcome, so I'll post what we learn when we learn it.
And the other thing going on right now is that grandmother Carolyn had to be hospitalized August 13 for pancreatitis. Enlighten yourself on the condition here. The doctor said something like "people stay hospitalized for pancreatitis to keep them from blowing their brains out because of the pain." It was really hard to see Carolyn hurting so much, and it was touch and go for a while. Cousin Lisa came up from Austin with Miles to help me and Mom and Dad take care of her, and Uncle Mike and Eric drove up a couple days later. After spending the night with Carolyn at the hospital, the stress and lack of sleep made me sick - I had to puke in my purse to avoid vomitifying Lisa's car but I got better. And luckily, so did Carolyn. After nine days in Presbyterian Hospital, she moved to a rehab/nursing care facility to regain her strength, and we're hoping she will get to go home soon.
So yeah, now you all know why I haven't posted too much lately. Blogging is fun most of the time but not really when all sorts of crappy stuff is going on.
I have some bright points to focus on, though. Leslie is coming to Dallas tonight for a visit, staying until Thursday, and Lisa and Miles return to Dallas for a much more laid back trip themselves on Wednesday. Now that Carolyn's feeling better we can enjoy each other's company rather than just wearily lean on each other for support.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
the dog
We wanted a dog and we were mostly just waiting for our Colorado trip to be over to get one. And then being in Breckenridge, home of some of the coolest and friendliest dogs ever, only added fuel to the fire. We decided we'd go check out the SPCA sometime this week during Matt's lunch break. And that's where we met Gracie/Penny/what have you. She was happy but calm, and when we took her to the private room to get to know her, she played very charmingly with her leash and pranced around. She has a tendency to flop at your feet when you've been stationary for a bit. And her white markings on her black body are quite adorable. Matt was concerned about getting a dog on our first outing, which I understood, but I also recognized that this particular dog met all of my criteria and we didn't need to delay. True, there would have been others. So how did this come about, you might ask? Well, as anyone with whom the topic of dogs had come up will know, getting the house was really just the first step in dog ownership. Matt and I both other dogs out there, but this one was right in front of us, needing a loving home and being so cute besides! So that was it :)
I took Matt back to work and returned to fill out the paperwork. Penny and I loaded up in the car and went to see her new grandparents, Marc and Susan. We hung out with them for a long time, first in the side yard and then in the breakfast area - Penny is not house trained so we were being careful. She was mellow but friendly, and was quite happy to just sit with us. And she was courteous to Murphy. Dad and I went by Cisco to say hi to Tom, Willy, and Erik. Then I took Penny over to meet some more family: John, Susie and Luke. She was well-behaved with them too, although she did want to frolic with Nellie. In the backyard, John pulled some weeds and Pen got them in her mouth and pranced around with them. She also got in their little pond and got a bit wet - yep, I think she's part Lab! They offered to babysit her while I went to Petco to get some supplies. When I returned she was laying at Susie's feet while she did e-mail. What a good dog!
As one might expect, a Penny album has been started on our picture web site.
Big Uncle Cemetery & Colorado
Topic #1: Big Uncle Cemetery
On July 28, Dad and I drove down to Richland Springs, TX to see Big Uncle Cemetery get its very own historical marker. It was also a family reunion of sorts and a board meeting of the Big Uncle Cemetery Association (of which Uncle Mike is treasurer). We met up with the extended family (we're talking like 4th cousins twice removed and stuff) at a restaurant for lunch and conversation. We sat with Uncle Mike and Eve as well as two of Granddaddy Bill's first cousins that he'd played with as a kid. You could see the Hall family resemblance in both of them, and they also happen to be very neat people and extremely intelligent.
After lunch we all headed out to the cemetery, which is tucked away in the middle of ranch land off a dirt road. We mingled and looked at the headstones - I got to see where my great great great great grandparents are buried - and learned how shaving cream and a squeegee can help one see the writing on old, eroded tombstones. Then we had a special little ceremony included boy scouts posting the colors, speeches by several people, and then finally the unveiling of the marker. It's a handsome black and silver historical cemetery marker you encounter as soon as you enter the cemetery. Very cool!
After the unveiling we had snacks and punch provided by a nice little ad hoc committee and talked with people for a while longer. Then Dad and I loaded up with Mike and Eve (they drove us in Mike's big truck from the restaurant). Mike took us back the scenic route where I got to see the 3 Hall Ranch (owned by my great great great great uncles or something along those lines) which was once as large as 40,000 acres. I also got my picture taken under the Hall, TX city sign, which is apparently a Hall family tradition. Then Dad and I cruised back to Dallas.
side note: Penny takes an unwholesome interest in shoes.
Topic #2: Breckenridge, CO
Mom and Dad picked us up at 5AM last Monday (July 30) to drive to Breckenridge. Matt and Dad switched off driving (I offered to help!) and the 14 hours went by very quickly. We got in to town, picked up some groceries and our fishing licenses, and went up the ski side of town to the townhouse Jim Collins was renting. He was waiting on the front porch for us, reading and smoking his pipe =D The house was more than adequate - plenty of space although not as fancy or well decorated as some of the places we'd stayed - and we were all spread out over three floors, which was nice for privacy's sake. We tried to get to bed early.
Tuesday's activity was a fly fishing guided event for M&D and me. Matt tagged along to act as packmule, camera man and fishing caddy. Our guide Kevin took us to the lake just off the main street of Fairplay. Mom had never fly fished before and Dad only once, so they learned about the gear and casting and stuff. We had waders and felt-bottomed boots, which was a first to me, so we could wade out into the lake. We all caught some fish, which were of an impressive size to me, as I was used to fishing in little mountain streams, not lakes.
On Wednesday Matt, Mom and I went on a hike in the mountains above Silverthorne to a place called Willow Falls while Dad golfed with Jim. Our hike was more challenging than we expected because we ended up going down some steep parts on our way to the falls. The hike was well worth it though, because the falls were really pretty. We had lunch by them and then Mom rested her feet while Matt and I climbed up and looked around. There were more pretty falls above, and it's always fun to get off the main trail and explore. Wednesday night we had a date night. Matt and I walked down to town and ate at the Quandary Grill and then walked around town while Mom and Dad ate (turns out at the same place) before catching a ride back to the house with them.
Thursday morning Dad played golf and Mom went to town while Matt and I rented mountain bikes. We started from the shop in town and rode up first through houses and new developments, then through an older mining valley. Our destination was an old mine, and we'd climbed at least a thousand feet by the time we got there. The mine was pretty neat, and the views were great. Especially the ones looking out back at town when it was impressively far away and below! This was my first time really mountain biking. It was hard! Going up in the easiest gear when you feel like you're crawling forward and your thighs are burning...it's challenging! Especially at 10,000 feet of altitude. Also, going down I was pretty nervous. I don't like all the rocks on the trail because they make me afraid I'll hit them and lose control. However, I was going pretty fast by the time we got to the bottom as I grew more familiar with my limitations (which weren't as great as they seemed). We rode back into town and had some crepes at the crepe stand and Mom joined us. We decided we wanted to go back on a second ride after lunch, so after arranging to have Mom pick us up from the store when we were done, we set out. Unfortunately it was sprinkling rain. By the time we were at the top of our road to get onto our trail, it was pouring. By the time we had picked up speed heading downhill and back to the store, it was hailing. We called it a day.
Friday - Dad golfed for the last time with Jim while Mom, Matt and I headed out to fish. We went to a spot that I'd been to with John the last two years which is pretty and has great fishing. Unfortunately, all the rain had turned our stream above the reservoir into quite the roarer and the fishing wasn't good. Also, it was hard to even get to the water because the bushes and grasses we had to go through were totally water-laden and the ground was soaked. So Mom and I were completely dripping in short order. But we did get some good casts in - Mom's turning into quite the caster - and saw some pretty scenery. And had an adventure, which is all one really needs. We met up with the golfing boys for a late lunch and then went home to finish our jigsaw puzzle (you didn't think we'd be in Colorado without doing a puzzle, did you?) Before it got dark, M&D, Matt and I drove up to Boreas Pass and wandered for a while. We were sad we didn't see any wildlife besides two deer, but Matt and I did see some bear poo. Then we got packed up and rolled out of town early on Saturday, making the drive back to Dallas in a new record of 13 hours.
We all had a really good time, and the two days in the car for four days in Colorado were totally worth it. Jim Collins was a fabulous host and it was cool to get to know him better, beyond the occasional encounter in the restaurants.
On July 28, Dad and I drove down to Richland Springs, TX to see Big Uncle Cemetery get its very own historical marker. It was also a family reunion of sorts and a board meeting of the Big Uncle Cemetery Association (of which Uncle Mike is treasurer). We met up with the extended family (we're talking like 4th cousins twice removed and stuff) at a restaurant for lunch and conversation. We sat with Uncle Mike and Eve as well as two of Granddaddy Bill's first cousins that he'd played with as a kid. You could see the Hall family resemblance in both of them, and they also happen to be very neat people and extremely intelligent.
After lunch we all headed out to the cemetery, which is tucked away in the middle of ranch land off a dirt road. We mingled and looked at the headstones - I got to see where my great great great great grandparents are buried - and learned how shaving cream and a squeegee can help one see the writing on old, eroded tombstones. Then we had a special little ceremony included boy scouts posting the colors, speeches by several people, and then finally the unveiling of the marker. It's a handsome black and silver historical cemetery marker you encounter as soon as you enter the cemetery. Very cool!
After the unveiling we had snacks and punch provided by a nice little ad hoc committee and talked with people for a while longer. Then Dad and I loaded up with Mike and Eve (they drove us in Mike's big truck from the restaurant). Mike took us back the scenic route where I got to see the 3 Hall Ranch (owned by my great great great great uncles or something along those lines) which was once as large as 40,000 acres. I also got my picture taken under the Hall, TX city sign, which is apparently a Hall family tradition. Then Dad and I cruised back to Dallas.
side note: Penny takes an unwholesome interest in shoes.
Topic #2: Breckenridge, CO
Mom and Dad picked us up at 5AM last Monday (July 30) to drive to Breckenridge. Matt and Dad switched off driving (I offered to help!) and the 14 hours went by very quickly. We got in to town, picked up some groceries and our fishing licenses, and went up the ski side of town to the townhouse Jim Collins was renting. He was waiting on the front porch for us, reading and smoking his pipe =D The house was more than adequate - plenty of space although not as fancy or well decorated as some of the places we'd stayed - and we were all spread out over three floors, which was nice for privacy's sake. We tried to get to bed early.
Tuesday's activity was a fly fishing guided event for M&D and me. Matt tagged along to act as packmule, camera man and fishing caddy. Our guide Kevin took us to the lake just off the main street of Fairplay. Mom had never fly fished before and Dad only once, so they learned about the gear and casting and stuff. We had waders and felt-bottomed boots, which was a first to me, so we could wade out into the lake. We all caught some fish, which were of an impressive size to me, as I was used to fishing in little mountain streams, not lakes.
On Wednesday Matt, Mom and I went on a hike in the mountains above Silverthorne to a place called Willow Falls while Dad golfed with Jim. Our hike was more challenging than we expected because we ended up going down some steep parts on our way to the falls. The hike was well worth it though, because the falls were really pretty. We had lunch by them and then Mom rested her feet while Matt and I climbed up and looked around. There were more pretty falls above, and it's always fun to get off the main trail and explore. Wednesday night we had a date night. Matt and I walked down to town and ate at the Quandary Grill and then walked around town while Mom and Dad ate (turns out at the same place) before catching a ride back to the house with them.
Thursday morning Dad played golf and Mom went to town while Matt and I rented mountain bikes. We started from the shop in town and rode up first through houses and new developments, then through an older mining valley. Our destination was an old mine, and we'd climbed at least a thousand feet by the time we got there. The mine was pretty neat, and the views were great. Especially the ones looking out back at town when it was impressively far away and below! This was my first time really mountain biking. It was hard! Going up in the easiest gear when you feel like you're crawling forward and your thighs are burning...it's challenging! Especially at 10,000 feet of altitude. Also, going down I was pretty nervous. I don't like all the rocks on the trail because they make me afraid I'll hit them and lose control. However, I was going pretty fast by the time we got to the bottom as I grew more familiar with my limitations (which weren't as great as they seemed). We rode back into town and had some crepes at the crepe stand and Mom joined us. We decided we wanted to go back on a second ride after lunch, so after arranging to have Mom pick us up from the store when we were done, we set out. Unfortunately it was sprinkling rain. By the time we were at the top of our road to get onto our trail, it was pouring. By the time we had picked up speed heading downhill and back to the store, it was hailing. We called it a day.
Friday - Dad golfed for the last time with Jim while Mom, Matt and I headed out to fish. We went to a spot that I'd been to with John the last two years which is pretty and has great fishing. Unfortunately, all the rain had turned our stream above the reservoir into quite the roarer and the fishing wasn't good. Also, it was hard to even get to the water because the bushes and grasses we had to go through were totally water-laden and the ground was soaked. So Mom and I were completely dripping in short order. But we did get some good casts in - Mom's turning into quite the caster - and saw some pretty scenery. And had an adventure, which is all one really needs. We met up with the golfing boys for a late lunch and then went home to finish our jigsaw puzzle (you didn't think we'd be in Colorado without doing a puzzle, did you?) Before it got dark, M&D, Matt and I drove up to Boreas Pass and wandered for a while. We were sad we didn't see any wildlife besides two deer, but Matt and I did see some bear poo. Then we got packed up and rolled out of town early on Saturday, making the drive back to Dallas in a new record of 13 hours.
We all had a really good time, and the two days in the car for four days in Colorado were totally worth it. Jim Collins was a fabulous host and it was cool to get to know him better, beyond the occasional encounter in the restaurants.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
the colorado post can wait
Maybe tomorrow I'll get to posting about my trip to Big Uncle Cemetery and then Colorado (they were both good)...but tonight I need to introduce you to the newest member of the Hall-Roberts family:
She's a three month old lab mix from the SPCA. She came there because her owner had too many animals, and she had to live outside. :( But now she's with us! :) Look at those big puppy paws! We're open to name suggestions. The one we're using right now is from Grandpa John - Penny.
Oh, but I should mention the latest on Murphy: he came home Monday with stitches from his left shoulder all the way down his side, but he's doing really well. Even with all the stitches you can tell he feels so much better. And he's lighter on his feet!
She's a three month old lab mix from the SPCA. She came there because her owner had too many animals, and she had to live outside. :( But now she's with us! :) Look at those big puppy paws! We're open to name suggestions. The one we're using right now is from Grandpa John - Penny.Oh, but I should mention the latest on Murphy: he came home Monday with stitches from his left shoulder all the way down his side, but he's doing really well. Even with all the stitches you can tell he feels so much better. And he's lighter on his feet!
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