BIG DADDY REGRETS MY INCONVENIENCE

I would have been a rool American today if it wasn't for unforeseen circumstances...dang it!

Got the letter, last Wednesday, telling me to get my butt to Phoenix on the 20th, which was a lot sooner than I expected but was pretty happy about it. I had to do some swapping of days at work and Rob even wrangled the day off to come with me. Then I got the letter informing me it was off, 3 days before it was supposed to be on. Sad face.
Oh wells. It will happen eventually.

The timing was going to be perfect too.
On Sunday we leave for 17 days rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. What a way to celebrate!
I don't think this slight set back will mar the trip one iota. By day 3 I won't even know what date it is, let alone what civilization is up to.
We are just a little bit excited. Rob is grinning like a grinning thing.
I have mostly packed all my needs into a dry bag. Want to take the minimum of stuff but the right stuff. No shops down there to restock. The days will be hot and the nights warm. The water is freezing. So quick drying loose clothes that protect you from the sun but won't overheat you.
Spare sunnies and hats, cause I know I'll end up in the water at some point. Some of those rapids look pretty crazzzzy.
Books, games, ipod, goon, vegemite, camera and the will to mess about in boats. We gots it.

It is a private trip and pretty much everything is being taken care of by Cieba. We are paying for The Whole Shebang they supply the shuttle, boats, gear and food. The menus all look pretty yummy. This will not be a trail mix and 2 minute noodle fare.
There will 16 of us. 6 will hike out after 7 days at Phantom Ranch and 6 will hike in for the last 9. (including Mike and Laura)




Doesn't look thaaaaat scary...right huh!?!



I hope the election is going well. We got to postal vote at least.

ALWAYS INTERESTING..

Rob wrote that heart breaking post on For Battle about our poor fosters who died of distemper. We lost two from the same litter...our first losses.
Poor Rob, it hit him hard....
It's funny in a non funny way, but I knew Bats would be put down as she was getting worse not better. It made me want to cry. Once she was dead, as horrible as it was....I was kinda ok with it. I took her to work and put her in the freezer and accepted it.
Till I read Rob's post and then cried like a big sook.
I had done quite a few euthanasias of dogs and cats. My shelter only does it for severe medical or behavioural reasons, never for space, so It does make it easier. (We also do public animals...gawd just looking at the owners makes me blubb)
We always give them a last meal of Maccas, or cheese and crackers or whatever nommy stuff we have, let people say good bye and try not to sniffle as they lick our face.
The trust and love they give you can be just too much sometimes.

So in other work news....

After the crazy Shultz Fire, which we had to evacuate for 4 days. Which I think was a big factor in the distemper spread. We did have a room just for clinic animals but, there was more mingling than there should have been and I think it bit us bad.
Now we have the Monsoons... that great summer thunder storms that come out of no where. Its been a great year and a sucky year for rain. We need rain. But due to the fires, the properties that surrounds work are now flooding due to the excess runoff from the burnt mountains. We have have alot of rain....which is great except....
We thought maybe we would be evacuated again, but so far I think we will be fine. We are taking in owned animals from evacutees and we did move them out the Fort Tuthill last weekend, just in case. They are back at the shelter now. Many houses are under mud so I'm not sure how long we will have them...oh yeah and now they all have kennel cough..blahh.

There seems to be a positive changing of the guard at work....I probably shouldn't say too much in case they are watching, they are always watching.
I think everyone at work is a little bit in love, so all I can say is ' big K...don't break our hearts'

We still have Narvarre, ( I named him from Lady Hawk) the only surviour from a litter of 5. The PCR test came back positive for distemper...damn. It means he has it but is not sick but can still shed the virus and pass it on...damn. So he is staying with us for a while longer. Such a awesome pup, he is great with us but not good with strangers, so he really needs more social interaction.
We don't want or need three dogs....though with this one, it will be a tad harder to give back. But no, we will once he stops shedding manky virus.



My song of the week