off to the neurologist

For Achilles of course. During the course of this week Achilles has gone from falling during walks on Monday and Tuesday, to barely being able to walk at times. Sometimes he gets a burst of energy and can get around relatively fine (only stumbling/falling over when he looks back or tries to turn too quickly) and other times he stumbles around like he's drunk out of his mind and has no energy to move his limbs. We were afraid he tore the cruciate ligament on his other leg, since there's a 60% chance of that happening. That would have been bad because we've already reached the pet insurance limit for that condition. Fortunately, the vet said that since it's clear that all of his limbs are having problems the trouble is likely to be neurological.

Needless to say, the phrase "Achilles' last year" is being heard around here again.

Also, David had the rest of his thyroid taken out on Wednesday and the surgery went well, so hopefully that's the end of that issue.

worst year ever

Is it just me, or was this the worst roll-up the rim year ever? I only rolled-up three free donuts. Last year I rolled-up more than that in the first two weeks. Brutal.

It's nice to be finished my first semester. Now it's time to learn French. I had my first class last night. I was surprised how much I could comprehend, but I can't say anything in return.

Now it's time to look for some work and volunteer opportunities.

the latest

Well, just as Achilles' leg has healed up, he's embarked on a new medical problem. He's started to have mini-seizures. At least, that's what it looks like. That means he's going back to the vet today and will likely be put on more medication, brining him up to four daily prescriptions. The funny thing is that people who meet him still think he's a young dog. The other day (at the vet) a lady asked me if he was full grown. At 11 years old I sure hope so.

exciting news

The most exciting things to happen in a while have been:

a) discovering a quarter-size crab in my tank, which I didn't buy. It must have come in on a piece of coral. When I first saw it I thought it was dead, but that must have been its moult. I've only seen it one other time. I have no idea how long its been in there.

b) re-discovering my Super NES. I actually found it when I cleaned out a storage room to become my office, but with some free time over Easter I hooked it up, and got it on. I can't believe I was using that system when I was a teenager, it looks so pathetic.





Two more papers to go and I'm free for a few months, somewhat.

first time for everything

I was tagged by Dave to share six non-important things/habits/quirks about myself:

1. I got my first cell-phone in 2007
2. most days (~5/7) I have two eggs and 3 or 4 slices of cheese on toast with Frank's hot sauce for breakfast
3. Lost has won me back
4. I've never been skiing
5. my first real job was at Zellers in the toy department
6. Yesterday I read the "how to remember your dreams" article on wikiHow after it showed up on my gmail rss feed. Last night I dreamed that Dave (Ideajoy), a couple of other guys, and I rode our bikes to Kingston. Today Dave "tagged" me and a friend from Kingston whom I've spoken to one other time in the past four years called me and asked if he could stay here over night tomorrow because he'll be in town. Weird, eh?

Being tagged was way harder than I thought it would be.

more medical updates

It's finally been confirmed that David does have thyroid cancer - papillary carcinoma. The surgeons think it's all been taken out but they're going to remove the rest of his thyroid anyway and he'll have to have some radiation therapy. Hopefully that'll be the end of it.

Achilles has been doing really well lately. I haven't heard any talk about this being his last year for a few weeks now. A couple of days ago he even tried to chase a tiny little Ontario rabbit and even though I didn't let him he was pulling with all his might. The next day he didn't seem any worse for the wear.

Everything else is pretty much the same.

year of the dog

Lynn has declared this "Achilles' last year." His back leg doesn't seem to be healing very well and it's taking a huge toll on his front two legs. A few days ago he wouldn't put any weight on his front right leg so we took him to the vet the next day for x-rays. By then he had slept it off and was fine.

A few nights ago when I was walking him around the block I thought I was going to have to carry him home because he just didn't want to move. Every step looked painful.

Yesterday he stopped putting weight on the back leg that was operated on. So we're going to the surgeon tomorrow - for more x-rays. I feel bad for Achilles because he's obviously in a lot of pain. I think we should just put a brace on the leg and keep him doped up but my opinion doesn't really count.