News

August 2004

Richard passed the CFA Level I exam that he took in June - only 34% passed, the lowest passing rate ever. Congratulations!

Hunter graduated Good Manners I and is going on to Good Manners II and Agility Foundations in September.

The bale-o'connell clan will be expanding to four boys - Richard, Hunter, Scooby, and baby boy bale-o'connell, who is scheduled to arrive around the end of the year (edd 12/28/04).

May 31, 2004

Hunter is home and finally has a few pictures on his page. I'm finding it hard to take pictures of him as he is a very busy little guy. Our living room looks like the Puppy Toy Factory exploded. He loves all toys and - as those of you who have been to our house know - we have plenty of toys to entertain him. Current favorite is a vinyl spiky ball that goes WEEEDA -WeeeeeEEEEEEDA. It somehow squeaks not only when you squish it, but as it reinflates as well. Charming. He started Puppy Kindergarten last week and we were pronounced "advanced students." (It was really only because we already both knew clicker training, but still, it was nice.)

We celebrated our three-year anniversary with dinner at Dairy Queen and going to see Shrek 2. It was very cute, though I disagree that it was "better than the original" as I have heard reviewers quoted.

 

April 16, 2004

I am sorry to report that we had Kona put down yesterday.

We had cut short our Easter vacation to VA after both Kona and Scooby were taken to the animal hospital on Tuesday. Scooby had an acute liver problem and Kona had a UTI that was causing her pain. After antibiotics, our petsitter was able to bring Kona home on Wednesday. We arrived home late Wednesday night.

Kona could barely walk. She looked like she was failing a Field Sobriety Test. She went weaving down the narrow hallway and boinked off the wall. She fell down the concrete porch steps and cut up her leg rather badly. When she tried to sit down next to me, she fell nose-first onto the floor. She laid on her bed and talked to herself - "mmmmrrr, mrrrr, nmmmmrrrr." Four times during the night she had to get up and get a drink, and each time seemed to take her five to ten minutes to navigate her way out to the kitchen, get the drink, and return.

So, three months to the day after her brain tumor was diagnosed, we asked Dr. G to come out to the house and let her go. She passed on with her head on my knee on our living room floor. My husband and I bawled like babies, and still are.

Scooby got to come home today. What they thought might be a blocked bile duct seems to have been an acute infection, as antibiotics brought all his liver values down and his jaundice is gone. He was thrilled to be home. He stuck his head in every room looking for Kona, but they were never the best of friends and his primary thought is probably "I get the good bed now." (Kona was the dominant bitch of the house.)

The animal hospital sent us a lovely plant. We attempted not to faint when we received the bill. Oh well, what's a few thousand dollars compared to the wag of a stumpy?

As we grieve for Kona we think of all the beloved pets that have passed on. Know that we think of your lost ones as well, and hope that they welcome Kona and save her a spot on the couch.
*****

Hunter's arrival date is 5/02. The puppies are developing well, so I can pick him up at exactly 9 weeks. We have his sherpa bag, collar, leash, ex-pen, crate, and puppy Kong all ready!

March 2004

Hunter, our new Doberman puppy, was born on March 6, 2004. Jenn will be going to Seattle to pick him up in mid-May.

Kona continues to hold her own against her brain tumor. She's skinny and can no longer get up into the truck or onto the bed, but still cheerful and playing with her toys.

Oklahoma State (where Jenn spent three, um, "memorable" semesters) and Georgia Tech (Richard's PhD alma mater) will be battling in the Final Four. No throwing popcorn at the screen.

Picture of the Interval Until I Change It:

Some of our first crocus started up around March 20th and are now in full bloom. I shot this with the Canon 50mm macro lens.