Ginger passed away on the morning of May 10, 2013.   It was a Friday, at 9:10 AM.

She had spleen cancer and was really struggling to breathe with a softball-sized tumor in her chest.  She also had anemia and a rapid heartbeat.   The vet said the tumor could explode at any moment, so we decided to say goodbye to her and have her put to sleep.

It was heartbreaking.   One second your dog is alive and the next, she had gone to sleep and stopped breathing.   Forever.     It was the most difficult moment in my life.

Each of us had our own special piece of Ginger’s life.   A 2-year old Brittany welcomed her into our home.  I have to say that Ginger was the most tolerant puppy ever.   She loved and loved and didn’t even growl or do anything untoward when her tail was pulled or her ears were made into rabbit ears by the little girl, who would be her best mate for 11 years.    They ran through water sprinklers together and ran through the park, played with Frisbee’s and balls.

Ian met Ginger roughly 5 years ago.  She was his workmate, since he worked from home, his (and her) lunch break at the dog park every afternoon, the person Ginger could pretend she was a lap dog with and cuddle up to and learn from.    She laid so close to him during the day that he almost ran over her with his work chair countless times.   I think Ian’s favorite thing was when Ginger found someone else’s tennis ball or toy at the dog park and decided it was going to be hers now.  And the hugs, which he trained her to do.   They had a very special bond.

To me, Ginger was my faithful companion.   She protected me, whether I was causing the (fake) problem or someone else was.   I was always in the right, no matter what.    She would stand and bark at Ian, if I was pretending to smack him, for example.    She followed me everywhere I went when I was home.    We went for walks when I was out of sorts, or not, and she was my comfort always.   Anytime I needed a hug or just wanted a hug, she was there, ready to give one, and some kisses.

She was a joker and the most reliable, well-mannered dog ever.   She liked to play catch with the parrot.  She hated water.   She SO LOVED to run like a mad hatter, with her “kangaroo legs”.   When Ginger sensed she was going somewhere, she wanted to get there quickly!

Ginger would often spread out in the yard, like a frog, in the sun and watch everything around her… the trees blowing in the wind, squirrels, bunny “labbits” and other dogs.     She was always so happy to see us and wagged her tail everytime she saw anyone she wanted to say hello to, and hug in her special way.

I shall miss my sweet dog.  There won’t be anyone just like her again.   She has a bit of my heart with her at the Rainbow Bridge.

One of my favorite puppies.  

Dear God – You seem to want to see Susie soon.  I don’t blame you.  She is a wonderful person with lots of caring friends and family, and we all love her deeply.    I know Susie feels your amazing love at the moment, and the love of her friends and family.    Please attend to her gently and help her to find peace.   Love, Lisa

Even though I have not attended Mass for awhile, I feel a sort of happiness when a new Pope is chosen. There is something about tradition and ceremony, and I guess my religious affiliation, that makes it an inspiring event.

I just like this song. I don’t know why, except that even though I don’t like folk music, I’ve always loved the sound of Allison Krauss’ voice.

Brittany would have been in 2nd grade.   Her teacher was Mrs. Asmus, and she was already getting a feel for excelling in math and spelling, and learning to hone her reading skills.   She had best friends, a group of girls she’d already known for two years.   She was in brownie scouts and loved to sled in the winter snow and romp around with her dogs at the park.   She brought home self-painted Valentine’s Day cards and loved to dance and sing.

It pains me to see the Connecticut school shooting.    Six and seven year old kids were murdered.     The Principal and other adults, psychologist, teachers, were also killed.    I don’t think anyone will ever make sense of how a 20 year old boy could end their lives.   How could he look at them and pull the trigger?        It is even more annoying that we can no longer ask him questions about what possessed him to do such a senseless thing or do anything to him to make him pay for what he’s done.    He’s taken the easy way out.    He is dead at his own hands.

I think we are all so touched by this tragedy, because we remember our own children’s (or another child’s) face and eyes and sounds of their voice as they play a game or see something interesting on TV around Christmastime, and can’t imagine them not being there anymore.    Someone has turned the lights out, and it shouldn’t have been their choice.

As we contemplate what can be done to avoid this sort of situation, I know the easy answer is to eliminate guns.  Full stop.     I don’t think that will do much good.    Plenty of drugs are illegal, but still utilized… by the criminals.   Do we really want guns only in the hands of the criminals?      The question is:  How many of the shootings are carried out by people who are utilizing a gun that doesn’t legally belong to them?    How do we stop those people from  getting those weapons?      If the gun legally belongs to them, then how is that possible?   Were they sane when they bought the weapon?

I think that people need to be screened somehow.   Been on drugs that treat a serious mental illness?   No gun for you.    Have a gun, and then have developed a serious mental illness, then maybe an annual check is in order for those situations.     Anger issues?   No. Is the applicant ok, but people in the house have mental issues: Just say No.

I don’t know…    How can you stop the insanity that ends an innocent child’s or an innocent adult’s life?

SMISHING
Gift card Smishing is when someone receives an
unsolicited text message directing them to a dummy
website where they have allegedly won a $1,000 gift card to
Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.
Instead of a gift card, scam watchdogs say the site asks for
your personal information and that of your closest friends.
By responding to the text, you’re also confirming your cell
number is real, which scammers then compile into a list and
sell on the black market to other scammers.
To protect yourself, ignore the text message and
immediately contact your provider, which can block the
scammer from sending you text messages. Scambook, an
online complaint resolution platform, says the scam will
likely peak between Black Friday and Christmas.
*********************************************
Area Codes 284, 649, 809, 876
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
recently learned that an old long distance phone scam that
leads consumers to incur high charges on their phone bills
may now affect wireless consumers. Wireless consumers
are now receiving similar calls from phone numbers with
three-digit area codes that appear to be domestic, but are
actually associated with international pay-per-call phone
numbers. While wireless companies are working to block
suspicious numbers on their networks, some consumers
may become victims of this scam. The scam works
something like this:
• Your wireless phone rings once or twice and then
disconnects the call. When the number appears in your
wireless phone log as a missed call, it appears to be a
typical domestic telephone number starting with a “649”
area code; or you get an email or voicemail (on your
residential wired telephone) telling you to call a phone
number with an “809”, “284”, “876” or some other threedigit
international area code.
• When you return the call, you assume you are making a
domestic long distance call – as “649,” “809,” “284,” “876”
and other area codes involved in this scam, appear to be
typical three-digit U.S. area codes.
• When you dial the three-digit area code plus the number,
however, you are connected to a phone number outside
the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and
are charged expensive international call rates, and may
be charged for pay-per-call services as well. (In this case,
“649” goes to the Turks and Caicos, “809” goes to the
Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin
Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)
You don’t find out about the higher international call rates
until you receive your phone bill. To minimize the risk of
this happening to you, if you do not regularly make
international calls, ask your local or wireless phone
company to block outgoing international calls on your line.

Goodbye screwy week.  I’m glad your (almost) over with.    Take your “painless endoscopy” (ha) and your painful stomach full of gas and fearful panic from my enflamed chest and ribs with you.    Shove off.    And good riddance!

Just to celebrate, I’ve skipped my last Carafate dosage of the day so I could eat when I wanted and take my sleepy pills when I felt like it.    :P

Hard to believe the 2012 Olympics are drawing to a close.   I just wanted to note a few of the athletes I’ve been avidly following with our abbreviated coverage:

Usain Bolt… one of the fastest men in the world  

Allison Raisman – impeccable floor exercise in Women’s Gymnastics

Rebecca Soni – Amazing swimmer

Chad Le Clos – Who just narrowly beat Michael Phelps in the Men’s 200m Butterfly Final – The look on his face said it all. 

Michael Phelps – Things started off not too great for him, but he may have one a few medals (22 medals, 18 of them gold)

The men’s Marathon was won by Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda to win Uganda’s first medal of London 2012 and their first gold medal since 1972.

Well, done London.  What an amazing show!   So proud of everyone who obviously put such hard effort into the 2012 Summer Olympics.

My birthday was wonderful.   My parents called at 7:00am (easier for them to call, I bet, because it’s 2pm where they are) to sing the birthday song and chat a bit.  It was good to hear from them.

Next, presents and spending time with Brit and Ian, including going to breakfast, watching “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” (a wonderful movie) and a visit to the park downtown to watch the ducks and geese.

…followed by yummy salmon for dinner (courtesy of my husband) and some yummy birthday cake.

It was an awesome day!