Almost like losing a human family member...

It has taken me a week to be able to write this entry.

Our dear friend, Bailey, left us a week ago.  She was 16-1/2-years old and was the most loyal, faithful, loving dog two people could have.  As part of our prayers before meals, we would often thank God for her and wonder how we were so lucky to get such a friend.  But she was old, her back legs were giving out, and in the last week,  her arthritis was causing her to fall down frequently.  She was diagnosed as being diabetic about 4 years ago and the vet told us that she might lose her eyesight because of that.  But we were able to nurse her through these last 4 years.  But now, she just had too many ailments to overcome and still have a good quality of life.

As you can probably tell, this came over her (and us) rather quickly.  We had been to NY to see the kids and she had been in the kennel for the three days.  This was nothing new for her, but this time, when we went to get her, she couldn't walk and I had to carry her out and put her in the Jeep for the ride home. She didn't move the whole way home.  There have been times when she would be a little worse for the wear while there, but we have always been able to nurse her back to good health.  Well, this time, she didn't come back well.  We made progress for a couple of days, but I could tell this time was different.  Her right front leg also appeared to be uncontrollable and she would lose it as it slid out from under her, causing her to fall.  She also started to run into things around the house that she had been able to maneuver around before.  She would run into doors and walls, and I could tell she was just so disoriented.  I knew these had to hurt as she would sometimes just backup a couple of steps and stare at space.

It all boiled down to I didn't want her to suffer.  She didn't deserve that.  So Pam and I took her to the vet's office and talked to them about options.  They said that maybe they could try a localized laser treatment program but there were no guarantees that it would do any good.  And they said they could give her a pain pill for her arthritus, but the side effects would cause her to be sick and possibly have loose bowels, and again there were no guarantees.  Basically, they were telling us that there was nothing they could do for her.  So we had her put down. God, that was one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time.  I haven't felt that much loss since I lost my parents.  Needless to say, we cried quite a bit that day and have once in a while since. 

I told Pam that Bailey sure had a bit footprint in our house.  Just about everywhere we would go, there was something of hers -- her food and water dishes in the laundry room, her treats in the cupbard, her milk bones in the pantry, her toys in the bedroom, her insulin in the refirgerator, etc., etc.  She sure had a big footprint on our hearts too. 

We first got Bailey when we lived in Troy.  As soon as we got her, Pam took her to obedience classes.  She didn't want anything to do with discipline, she was there to play with the other dogs.  Needless to say, she was not a graduate with high marks.

I remember one time after we moved to Anna that we took her for a walk over at Lake Loramie (that and "flying" in the Jeep were two of her most favorite things to do) and we were walking down a trail when a squirrel ran across the path just behind Bailey.  Pam had the leash at the time and Bailey bolted after the squirrel pulling Pam down and almost dragging her a couple of feet.  She was a strong dog.  Funny thing was I had our camera on taking a video of the two of them -- one of those nice woodsie videos -- and caught the whole thing.  We could laugh at it a couple of days later and thought of sending it in to the "America's Funniest Home Videos" show. 
When Bailey was younger and could see, she loved to swim in the pond.  She could retrieve pond toys two and three at a time and would also swim beside me when I took the canoe out in the water.  She was such fun to be with.

When I was gone to Iraq, Afghanistan, and when I was assigned to the Pentagon, Bailey was Pam's companion and I always felt better that she was there to keep Pam company.  She would sleep on our bed with us, curled up next to Pam, keeping her warm.  Boy that bed seems big now.

There are lots of stories I could tell you about her.  She was the most gentle dog when little kids would try to pat her (more like hitting), and was really smart.  She just seemed to smile and walk away and never growled or appeared to be angry.

If you have had a "friend" like this, you know what we are going through now, and the loss we are experiencing. At times, something will come up and I will think she is right there.  I know that is silly, but she was such a part of our lives.  We really miss her.  She will be buried out back beneath the Bailey's Harbor sign next to the pond -- her pond.

We'll probably get another dog at some time down the road, and it too will be a good companion.  But for now, we mourn the loss of Bailey and are glad she didn't suffer. 

There was once a guy (and I can't remember who it was) who said all dogs go to heaven when they die.  But he added, if there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they go.

I put these lines in a blog entry a long time ago, but I think they really need to be said again at this time:

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........
1. My life is likely to last only 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Good bye, dear friend.  You are truely missed.

 My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.

Hooah

Running the Sunday night radio net...

Each Sunday night, the Shelby County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (SCARES) tests its operating net to ensure operator proficiency and check out equipment.  There are four teams who rotate running the net, and tonight was my night (I have it about once every third month).

Since I had the camera out anyway, I had Pam take some shots of me running the net, just to let you see this "Old Ham" in action.  These nets are run on the 2-meter frequency over a repeater system which expands the usually small reception radius (simplex operations usually only cover a few miles at best) by two or three times.  Even with the repeater working at peak performance, we usually just cover a one or two-county radius unless we put up our big antennas or jack up some power for the radio.  That's usually too much trouble and the net normally only lasts about 10-15 minutes anyway.  If we were running a high frequency (HF) net, that would be another story -- the higher the tower and the more amplification the better.  Oh, and just a note, modern equipment that is correctly installed and grounded seldom, if ever, interferes with today's new modern TVs and AM/FM radio systems.

So anyway, here goes...

You'll notice I have an armed guard in the room in case anyone tries to forcibly interrupt our net.

 

We are getting into the time of year when I spend a lot more time on the HF rig, prowling the 20- meter and 40-meter bands trying to make contacts throughout the US and (when the bands are good) overseas.  So far, I have made a contact in every state east of the Mississippi River, and most of the states in the Southwest US.  But I do not have enough power or a beam antenna required to do the far west states, Alaska, or Hawaii.  And it's just every once in a while that I get thru to Europe or beyond.

This is a neat hobby, and I usually meet up with some pretty interesting people.  I operate on the "phone" system (i.e. actually talk to someone via a microphone and they talk back to me).  This year, however, I think I am going to redouble my efforts and learn enough "CW" (radio slang for Morse Code) to make some contacts with that mode this year.  All the real "Hams" know and use CW, and being able to use that transmission mode opens up way more possibilities for contacts and operating space on the bands.  It was kinda like knowing when I flew all real pilots were "VFR" rated and not just "IFR."  You get just a little more respect when you have that higher rating.

I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is exactly the same, except that there is no cat.  (Attributed to Albert Einstein)

Hooah

Christmas treats...

You may have seen this same kind of entry last year, so this may not be such an interesting entry.  But I just wanted you to see that the two happy elves from McCartyville Road were busy this year getting our pretzel treats made.  Last year's entry only showed the finished product, so just wanted you to know who really made these delicious Christmas tantalizers.

I had to check the camera to see if the timer would work and focus correctly.

Now that that was done, I brought in my beautiful, happy assistant.  She handles all the cholcoate because there probably wouldn't be any left for the pretzels if I had landed that job.  I, on the other hand, am the "Keeper of the Sprinkles" (that's because they don't taste good by themselves and turn your tongue different colors if you try to eat them).  I've been told this is a pretty important job!!

 

This really is a fun project and isn't that hard.  I gave up all the hard jobs a long time ago!  One thing, though, that is somewhat exacting is trying to get all the sprinkles on the pretzel and not all over the counter, the floor, behind the counter things, and so on.  Also, those little rascals are hard to sweep up afterwards.  You go after them with the broom and if you are too aggressive, they go flying all over the floor and you don't know where they all went until you see Bailey trying to lick them up.

Here are the finished products, in the drying chamber, awaiting inspection.  I also used to be in charge of taste testing  a select few to insure quality control, but got fired for testing too many!  So now we have no quality control, but then again we also haven't heard of any dissatisfied customers either.  They probably don't last that long.

We've been doing this for a number of years now, and each time we learn a little bit and improve the product.  All the little guys (and even their dads) around the neighborhood seem real happy to get them, and we really have fun doing it.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.  (Peg Bracken)

Hooah