Wiley update

He was having some pain this morning; I didn't want to wait until it was as bad as last time before getting him some help. The lipoma under his left elbow is significantly larger; it might be affecting his shoulder and gait. He may go in for x-rays next week; there's a chance we'll consider surgery, depending on how fast it's growing and how much it's displacing his leg, and how well the pain meds can help him cope with it. Apparently the growth, while benign, is in a bad place and could be difficult to dissect from between muscle walls. Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure without opening him up, and that's gonna be pricey.

He's probably got two or three more good years left, at most. Both Australian shepherds and Huskies only go to about 12-15 years, and he's at least 12 and change now. We want his golden years to be comfortable and as easy as possible for him... if we can manage with drugs (up to $50/month) instead of surgery (maybe several grand and a lot of unhappiness on his part), then we'll do that.

On the bright side, he's lost five pounds on the new Wellness food he's been on, and if we can keep that loss going, his shoulder will be under less stress.

More updates...

I just finished reading "The Beekeeper's Apprentice," by Laurie R. King, and I totally loved it. I've got several really bright reading lights set up through the house, and it's helping with my abysmal vision these days. Anyone else read this book?

We moved the ginormous dining room table out of the dinky dining room, and the old oak table that belonged to my mother's mother in there, which fits so much better. The paint on it is definitely fading, though, and I'd love to eventually learn how to restore it. Until then, I think I'm going to use tablecloths on it and try to keep it from getting worse.

We put all the leaves into the big table downstairs, just 'cos we could, and now Bill and Clay are all jazzed about hosting a big ol' LAN party here in mid-October. We'll fly Clay back here for it from California if we have to... then maybe Linc and I could meander up to Spokane and pester Bill's folks for a while?

Sunny, bright, open house... new van... biking again... reading a bit, writing a bit... planning a road trip... visitors coming... this is the good part of all the crud we've been slogging through. It feels so good to intentionally put down some roots, to create a space that will be ours for a while, to have dependable transportation, to have Bill so jazzed about his teaching, to have so much potential all over the house. There's space for sewing and beadwork, peaceful corners for reading and writing, parks and a graveyard to wander through and explore... this house just has such a good, solid, safe and clean feel to it.

It's not all perfect... but it's the first house I've been in since Davis where I felt like I could settle in and get comfy. And I think at this time in my life, having just lost my mom and my KC support system... that's going to be a really good thing for me.

Well, I didn't mean to get all sentimental and stuff. Just wanted to update the last update. So. There it is.