Seeing It Again and Again

Reticular activation has kicked in. As I understand RA, once I see something, when I see it or something like it again, I am more likely to notice the second sighting because of the initial viewing.

Saturday, when Steve let the dogs out of the barn in the morning, it was obvious that something was seriously wrong with our 13 year old yellow Lab. Now my friends know that I'm not too wild about our three dogs because the three form a pack and the pack is not well-behaved. But if I could have one dog, it would be the Lab, Gable. He is a lover and an all around nice dog. (In this picture, he looks like he is snarling, but actually is getting ready to smile.)

Steve said that Gable had vomited and I could see that he, Gable, not Steve, was stumbling around as if he had no control over his body. When this proud dog urinated in the house, I insisted that Steve take him to the vet. I was sure he'd had a stroke. Luckily, I was wrong. He didn't have a stroke, but has idiopathic (no known cause) vestibular syndrome. This is an inflammation of a nerve in the ear which causes him to have one big hangover -- or at least the symptoms of such. The course of care is keeping him quiet, giving him prednisone for the inflammation and Dramamine to help control the nausea. He is much better already.

Okay, here's where the reticular stuff starts.

1. Hubby, Steve's buddy that he grew up with, had the same thing within the last year. He is an orthopedic surgeon, so you can imagine the fear that set in when he awoke with the symptoms.

2. Saturday I was reviewing a list of new chamber members, and sure enough there was the Vestibular and Balance Clinic that had joined.

3. Then Sunday in the paper, the veterinarian's column was also about this syndrome. Weird, huh?

I know that I am just noticing this word because I have been exposed to it. It has visibility with me.

Gosh, I hope Certified Networker of Ohio is striking people in the same way! (in a good way, that is!)

Do you have a crazy reticular activation story?

Passion for Pedro

My beach dog!

He is still there at the wonderfully isolated San Josecito Beach.

In fact he looked so good that I almost thought he was a new younger dog.

I've named him Pedro, which gains a lot a of laughter back at the lodge, because the manger's name is Pedro. I don't think Costa Ricans give their animals human names.

I must admit that I'm totally smitten over Pedro. I think he's waited for me for six years now -- or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

One year I didn't think he'd be there when we came back, because he had obviously been in a terrible fight and the whole side of his temple was a huge, swollen, open wound.

Each year I take dog treats for sure, and some years I must admit that I've taken both flea and mange treatment! Pedro has the softest mouth of any dog I've ever been around. If offered a treat or food from the picnic lunch, he takes it very gently from my fingers. (Our dogs that get fed everyday, grab treats like there's no tomorrow.)

Pedro has earned my trust. On the relationship scale, I would rate it at the highest level, profitability! The love goes back and forth equally.