Yeah, Another Picture our Trip
Sorry, but I took quite a few shots that I was happy with - you don't haveta look if you don't wanna. I've been posting stuff from the digital - this is the first from the film camera. Backlit marsh grass from the waterfront at Shallowbag Bay in Manteo. You can't tell from the shot but this is in the middle of a heavily trafficked area along the boardwalk - nice to be able to focus on serene little shots like this in the middle of bustle.
Last Minute Christmas Shopping Ideas
In case you're having trouble finding a toy appropriate to that less-than-brilliant nephew, niece or grandbaby, Bush Baby Toys has probably got what you need! "Brain Food for the Average Child" I love the Terror Alert Xylophone and could have used the mono-colored Rubik's Cube myself 25 years ago.
Damien Post-scan Update
Took Damien in this morning for an ultrasound and other tests to determine whether the cancer has spread to his spleen, liver or heart. I got a call from the vet around 10:30 to let me know that the radiologist had taken another look at the chest x-rays from a couple of weeks ago and had seen something that his regular vet hadn't noticed - he does appear to have small lumps in his lungs. With that news, they decided that it really wasn't necessary to put him through the sedation or me through the cost of the scan - there's really nothing they can do. I asked about Prednisone as a palliative, but apparently they can't take both Pred and Rimadyl and the vet feels like the Rimadyl will help keep him more comfortable. Yes, I am aware of some of the negative postings around the Internets about Rimadyl, but he's had a blood screening and was on it for a couple of weeks previously with no adverse reactions, so I'm pretty comfortable with it.
So that's where we are - just trying to keep him comfortable and happy for as long as possible. His hips continue to get weaker fairly rapidly but he's mostly pretty patient with himself. He's gotten very skinny but he's eating better and I think he's starting to fill out his ribs again. We'll just need to pay attention to what's going on with him and love on him as much as we can.
Sunday's For Fishin' and Sailin'
Okay, I don't fish myself and I don't sail (yet), but when I see scenes like this, I can understand the attraction to both. Back at the Edenton waterfront park for this one.
Castle in the Sand
If you spent much time on the Outer Banks 20-25 years ago, you probably remember the miniature golf course that was just to the south of Jockey's Ridge - the tallest sand dune system on the East Coast. By the time JennySlash and I started going out to OBX regularly in the mid-80's, the mini-golf course had entirely disappeared, covered by the moving dune system. But with the constantly shifting dune, the old castle above made a reappearance 6 or 7 years ago. For all the times we've passed the castle or shopped right across the highway at Kitty Hawk Kites, I'd never walked over to check it out. Finally did so on our last night out there at Thanksgiving, catching Jockey's Ridge and the castle at sunset. It's definitely worse for wear but still hanging in there. Thanks again to Carolista Baum, for standing in front of the bulldozers lined up to knock down the dunes for a development in 1973 - without her one of the most unique aspects of the Outer Banks (and one of its primary tourist attractions) would be gone.
My Independence Patriots won their 6th straight state 4-AA championship in a row today, overcoming 5 turnovers to beat New Bern 38-19. They've now won 92 games in a row - their last loss coming early in the 2000 season. That's the longest high school football winning streak in the country. Not bad for a team that only won 8 games the entire 3 years I went to school there. Go Big I!
Sorry, but I took quite a few shots that I was happy with - you don't haveta look if you don't wanna. I've been posting stuff from the digital - this is the first from the film camera. Backlit marsh grass from the waterfront at Shallowbag Bay in Manteo. You can't tell from the shot but this is in the middle of a heavily trafficked area along the boardwalk - nice to be able to focus on serene little shots like this in the middle of bustle.
Okay, I don't fish myself and I don't sail (yet), but when I see scenes like this, I can understand the attraction to both. Back at the Edenton waterfront park for this one.
If you spent much time on the Outer Banks 20-25 years ago, you probably remember the miniature golf course that was just to the south of Jockey's Ridge - the tallest sand dune system on the East Coast. By the time JennySlash and I started going out to OBX regularly in the mid-80's, the mini-golf course had entirely disappeared, covered by the moving dune system. But with the constantly shifting dune, the old castle above made a reappearance 6 or 7 years ago. For all the times we've passed the castle or shopped right across the highway at Kitty Hawk Kites, I'd never walked over to check it out. Finally did so on our last night out there at Thanksgiving, catching Jockey's Ridge and the castle at sunset. It's definitely worse for wear but still hanging in there. Thanks again to Carolista Baum, for standing in front of the bulldozers lined up to knock down the dunes for a development in 1973 - without her one of the most unique aspects of the Outer Banks (and one of its primary tourist attractions) would be gone.
