Neck and Back Update

Exactly a week ago today I had my second nerve root block in my cervical spine. You may remember that before Christmas I had my first nerve root block, and at the time I was very concerned that the doctor had injected the medication in the wrong spot. It turned out, thankfully, that I was wrong, and the doctor did indeed block the right nerve, but I was so worried he had gotten it wrong that I didn't even think about whether or not the procedure actually worked as intended until two days later. When I reported in with the surgeon about the results all I could tell him was that for perhaps five days after the procedure I felt about 50% less pain, and then maybe 20% less pain for a few days after that. The surgeon told me that, based on my report, if he went ahead with the operation there was a good chance I would have 50% less pain as a result.

I told him I wanted to have another go at the nerve root block because I wasn't sure of the results, he agreed, and that is how I ended up getting another injection.

When I showed up at the pain management office last Monday, I told the doctor that I was there to verify the results of the last nerve root block because there is a possibility I might have surgery on my neck again, and I was looking for some reassurance. The doctor told me since that was the case, he would perform the block a little differently. He said instead of coming in between my shoulder blades and running a catheter up to the site and administering only steroids, (an anti-inflammatory,) he would come in through the side of my neck, and he would add an anesthesia along with the anti-inflammatory. He said doing that way would offer him more precision in getting the meds right on the nerve root that is giving me trouble, and the anesthesia would give instant results as far as my pain level was concerned.

Before we went into the operating room I was again offered an I.V. of sedatives. After the first go around I swore if I ever did this again I would take the I.V., but after learning the doctor was going to do the procedure without the use of a catheter I decided I would be OK without any sedation. So, off we went to do it again.

The second procedure wasn't as bad as the first. They had me lay on my left side, and strapped me to the bed. They told me to bend my knees a little, and to keep my right arm down along my side. After I was given a local anesthesia I never really felt much pain at all. The first time I had done this I momentarily felt a great deal of pain radiating from my neck down through my right arm when the catheter reached the nerve root. This time, however, all I felt was the slight pain you typically feel whenever a needle breaches the skin, and before I knew it the procedure was over and I was being helped off the bed.

The doctor told me that I should be feeling relief from my pain inside five minutes. We waited for a moment, and then he asked me how I felt. Believe it or not it can actually be kind of hard for me to tell whether or not I feel any difference in my level of pain. For one thing, my condition comes and goes; one day I may have a great deal of pain, and the next day not so much. That morning I was having pain, but while I sat in the waiting room my pain had subsided, so just before the procedure I wasn't in all that much pain.

Another problem is that pain is relative. My pain just before the procedure might be more than a normal person is used to, but since I regularly have a lot of pain, what I had that morning wasn't all that bad. In other words, after living with a lot of pain for a long while it gets a little tricky trying to discern between somewhat normal pain, and pain that indicates a serious problem.

My medications also are a factor. I take some very strong pain meds, and I have to take these meds regularly whether I have any significant pain or not. The reason for that of course is because I am taking narcotics, and your body doesn't like it much when you abruptly stop taking narcotics after you have been taking as much as I have for as long as I have. My first dose of the day is typically an hour before I get out of bed. That way I have a fresh dose of medication already in my bloodstream when I get up, and that makes the beginning of my day a lot smoother than if I were to take it just as I get out of bed. That morning I took my meds at around 6AM, so by 8:30 my pain was fairly well masked. The word "painkiller" is a misnomer because the medication never really eliminates, or "kills" the pain, it just changes the way the brain perceives pain. After the medication has worked it's magic I don't feel much pain, but I do feel what I can only describe as the shadow of the pain. In other words, I still feel something, but it just isn't all that painful.

Anyway, after thinking about it for a moment I was able to tell the doctor that my pain level did seem to drop, and in fact I felt like it had dropped significantly. It remained that way for maybe two hours or so. Since then I have enjoyed much less pain than what I have become accustomed to, so I guess it is time for the $64,000.00 question.

Do I want another surgery?

Another Webcam Update

I was able to get the IP address at home, so The Official Angel and Jackie Webcam is up and running.

In more news, I thought I would try out a whole new webcam for Thalia, Salem, and Ebby. You can access that webcam here. It's actually the old webcam I used for Jackie and Angel, but I moved it, and pointed it at the couch in my living room where Thalia and Salem like to take their day-long catnaps. Ebby is rather antisocial, so you probably won't see much of her, but Salem has recently been camping out just at the foot of the couch between it and the cedar chest. If you see what appears to be a black hole in that area you can pretty much assume it is Salem.

Thali likes to snooze on the back of the couch on the sheepskin throw, or on the old robe I draped over one end of the couch, so keep a look out for her at either of those two spots.

Pretty soon I will have my own television station.

The Official Angel and Jackie Webcam

The usual link for The Official Angel and Jackie Webcam is down today because I forgot to check the IP address at home before I left for work. But never fear, you can access the camera directly by clicking here. Remember, to sign in you will need to use following user name and password: Username: Guests, Password: athena. Remember also that it is case sensitive.

A New Camera For the Angel and Jackie Webcam

One of my favorite Christmas presents each year is the Amazon dot com gift certificate that my brother sends me. I love few things as much as online shopping, especially when I don't have to pay for it, so I always look forward to receiving my brothers gift, settling down in my big ol' easy chair with a hot cup of coffee, and browsing through the thousands of choices over at Amazon.

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to buy this time around, but after sorting through page after page of online goodies, I finally landed on the Panasonic BL-C131A Wireless Pan/Tilt MPEG-4 PetCam Network Camera . I ordered it last weekend, and it came last night. I was so giddy with excitement that I actually stayed up late setting it up. So, you may now tune into the world famous Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam with slightly improved graphics, and control over the direction of the camera!

You can still use the link over on the right side-bar to access the camera, and depending on which method you choose to view the camera, (Java, ActiveX, or Media Player,) you should see some directional control buttons. Using those buttons you should be able to point the camera up, down, left, or right. Don't worry about returning the camera to it's original position because it will do that itself after a few moments of inactivity.

In the past it seemed to me that selecting the Java appellet was the best way to view the camera, but the ActiveX control has been improved, and now works on Vista as well as XP. Using any of the choices with Firefox is kind of a crap shoot. I prefer Firefox for my web browsing needs, but Internet Explorer is still the best way to view The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam.

However, with the new camera comes a new way to view Angel and Jackie in their natural environment! By clicking this link, you will be taken directly to the webcam software. You will see a better picture, but instead of streaming video it simply refreshes the image every three seconds. The control of the camera is also different. Instead of buttons that allow you to point the camera with fluid control, you will find buttons that will point the camera at preset locations. (So, you can see my carpet, and doors if you like.) The only catch is you will need to sign in. When prompted, use the following: Username: Guests, Password: athena. It's case sensitive, so get it right!

Go ahead and give the new camera a test drive, and I hope you have as much fun watching Jackie, Angel, and Mariah sleep as you do when you watch paint dry.

As always, thanks for your patronage.

More dogs can be found at the Friday Ark at The Modulator. Please go check them out!

A Bit of a Nerve Root Block Update

This morning I had my second nerve root block procedure, only this time it was a little different

Last time the doctor ran a catheter from between my shoulder blade up to the C3-C4 area of my cervical spine where they then introduce some anti-inflammatory steroids directly on the nerve root. The idea was to reduce the swelling of the nerve that was causing my pain, and therefore positively identify the spot for a possible surgery in the future.

Because I was looking to verify the results of the last nerve root block, the doctor told me that this time around he was going to do a slightly different method that would be a little more precise, and that would give me immediate results. This time he injected the medications going in directly through the side of my neck, and along with the anti-inflammatory medicine he included an anesthesia that would literally numb the nerve thereby giving me immediate, if only temporary relief from the pain.

After the procedure I was wheeled into recovery, given a juice box of apple juice, and waited for the doctor to come check up on me. When he arrived he asked me how I felt, and I was happy to report that I did indeed feel less pain! It wasn't 100%, but it sure was damn close. He told me that the effects of the anesthesia would last about an hour, and then the anti-inflammatory meds would kick in anywhere from today until a few days later. At least we know for sure that the spot that is giving me so much grief is at C3-C4, and should I elect to go under the knife I have a good chance of finding permanent relief.

Now, you would think such a decision would be a no-brainer, but then again I bet you have never had a anterior cervical discectomy with fusion before, either. Let me tell you from first hand experience that is not a surgery you want to take lightly. It was incredibly painful, and the next three days I spent in the hospital were brutal. I couldn't swallow, eat, or talk, and I was terrified that I would drown in my own mucus should I fall asleep. I have a condition known as dysphagia, which is, simply put, a difficulty with swallowing. What I didn't know going into my last surgery was that this trouble, at least in my case, is brought on by an extra large piece of cartilage in my throat. We all have this particular piece of anatomy, but in my case it is abnormally large, so when they intubated me they ran into this piece of cartilage over, and aver again. It caused some swelling and irritation in my esophagus that prevented me from swallowing just about anything, including liquids. I tried to drink some water when I woke up from the anesthesia and the water literally bounced off the back of my throat and went up my nose.

Hopefully that won't happen again this time around because the doctor's will be aware of the problem, but as I said before, it is a very painful surgery, and I will need to overcome that fear of pain before I can commit to gong through with it.

Another difference between this surgery and the last is that last time I had the benefit of my wife staying with me in my hospital room 24 hours a day. At the time she worked at the hospital in the oncology wing admitting patients, so they bent the rules for her so she could sleep in the room with me. Should I go ahead with the surgery I am afraid having there with me won't be possible. I have hinted here on Athenamama before that my marriage sort of hit the skids a few months back, and while my former wife and I are amicable toward one another, I believe it would be asking a lot of her to stay with me like she did before.

The first time I had surgery I don't think I fully understood how had the recovery was going to be. I was pretty nonchalant about the whole affair right up to when they put me under, but when I woke up some three hours later I had a whole new perspective concerning neck surgery. I had initially told my wife she wouldn't have to stay with me in the hospital, but that first night after she fell asleep on the portable bed they provided for her I was very grateful she did. I honestly don't know what I will do this time around without someone there with me 24 hours a day. But, I guess that is what nurses are for.

In any case, we'll see how much relief this injection brings, and for how long it brings it over the next few days. Thanks again for all your kind words of support. It really does mean a bunch to me.

Back For More

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 I head on back to the Pain Management Specialist for another shot at the nerve root block procedure.

The reason for the second try is because I wasn't real sure of the results the first time around. I thought I felt some relief, but I wasn't absolutely sure, so after speaking with the neurosurgeon that might ultimately be the guy operating on me, I decided to have another go at it.

It isn't a very pleasant procedure, but I rather be sure of the results before making such an important decision regarding my health. Should I find significant relief from the nerve root block there is a very good chance I would equally, and permanently, benefit from surgery. However, if there isn't any real relief, then I face being on narcotics for the rest of my life.

I have pretty much exhausted all of my options when it comes to the problems with my cervical vertebrae, and my doctor and I agree that this nerve root block and possible surgery are my last hope in the quest of ridding myself of pain. I have tried physical therapy, the use of aTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, several types of medication, different holistic approaches, (including acupuncture,) and was once even offered to have a morphine pump installed inside my body that would keep a steady flow of medication to my spinal cord. I ultimately turned that solution down because no matter how much pain I might have, I don't think I have it that bad often enough to warrant such drastic measures.

Anyway, I am just rambling on... over the next week or so I will be keeping close tabs on how much pain I am in, and for how long. Then I believe I will have enough data to decide what I want to do next.

As for tomorrow, after the procedure, I will be engaging in one of my favorite activities...

Yup, hanging with my crew, watching movies all day long.

In other health news,

Thalia is doing much better. Today she sneezed only once, and has been eating regularly. She has also been taking her meds like a good girl, and has been getting lots of rest.

Thalia and I would both like to thank everyone for their kind comments wishing her well. It really means a lot to both of us.

My Handsome Little Man

It's been a while since Angel has seen the groomer. In fact, he hasn't been since we moved into the new house a little over a year ago.

The main reason he hasn't been is because I am too sensitive. I know that he doesn't like to go, and that he gets pretty stressed out when he realizes that's where he is headed, but on the other hand I know it is in his best interest to go, so usually I end up taking him at regular intervals.

During the summer I cut Papa's hair myself. It had become rather unruly, but I didn't want to take him to the groomer's, so one day I gave him a bath, broke out some scissors, and trimmed Angel's hair as best I could. I did a half decent job, if I do say so myself, but I didn't do nearly as well as the groomer. I also couldn't trim Angel's toenails, and they were getting to be quite long.

I was contemplating taking Angel to get his hair and nails done this weekend, when out of the blue the groomer called me! She said it had been a while since Angel had been in, and would I like to make an appointment, so I did, and now we can see the results of her work...

When the groomer first got a look at Angel she said, "Angel! What happened to you!", clearly a shot at Angel's daddy, but she was right, I had let Papa go to seed, and I knew it.

The groomer went to the computer, and in the section where she puts in what kind of cut and other services she was to do she simply wrote, "Do what you can."

Three hours later, Papa came home.

Now Angel is all cleaned up and looking good. I guess I should keep the before pictures handy to remind me of how shaggy Angel gets when I don't take him to be groomed like I should.

Thalia Update

Thalia's health continues to improve after she contracted an upper respiratory infection. She now eats without my having to heat her food in order to make it more stinky appealing, and she has been playing with her favorite sister Jackie. I keep her segregated from Ebby and Salem so that they don't get sick, too, and because Thalia gets a little skittish around them when it comes time to eat. She still sneezes, but other than that you would never know she is sick.

Jackie has been helping her big sister to recuperate by offering the occasional ear bath, and by running off Angel should he get too close.

Jackie also ensures Thalia gets enough rest by taking several naps with her throughout the day.

At this rate Thalia should be her old self in no time.

In other news, the Official Angel and Jackie Webcam has been off-line for a few days because of server issues. I intend to have these resolved by this evening sometime. Please check back tonight or this weekend to see our two favorite pups in their natural habitat.

Please also check out all the other critters at Friday Ark at The Modulator.

Toughest Part

I originally wasn't going to write about this, but something happened yesterday at the vet's while I was waiting for Thalia to be seen that upset me. I am having a tough time shaking it, so maybe if I write about it, and get it out, it will help me feel a little better.

After I checked in with the receptionist, and took my seat, a woman came in with a small Pomeranian loosely wrapped in a blanket. I didn't notice her until she sat across from me with her dog in her lap. The little dog was looking at me, and so I smiled at her and said "Hello little doggie." It was just after that that I noticed the woman's demeanor. She was obviously sad, and when I looked back at her dog I realized the little Pom was rather old. She kept looking at me with her little brown eyes, and was shivering just ever so slightly. Her owner noticed me looking, and when our eyes met she gave me a small smile.

I asked if her dog was cold, or just nervous, and she replied that it was a little of both. I could tell she wasn't at all interested in talking, and in the back of my mind, I knew why.

Soon the receptionist came out and asked the woman about her dog, and one of the questions was about her age. The woman replied that she is fifteen years old. The receptionist asked how long it has been since she stopped eating, and the answer came that she stopped last week, and has been going down hill since.

Obviously the little dog was at the end of her life.

The questions ended, and the receptionist told the woman the doctor would see her soon. The woman just bowed her head, and gave the slightest of nods.

I couldn't help but notice the little dog staring at me. I returned her gaze and could feel her touching my soul. She seemed at peace, she really did, but who really knows what was going through her little mind. I broke our connection just long enough to sneak a look at the woman.

She was stroking the nape of her little girl's neck, and a tear had found it's way down the woman's cheek. I got up and went to the restroom to get the woman some tissue. I returned and handed the tissue to her, and she whispered her thanks. Of course I wanted to offer some comfort, but of course there was none that would heal this woman's breaking heart. All I could say to her was, "This is the toughest part." She barley acknowledged me, but I fully understood why.

When I have seen such dramas play themselves out before in other veterinarian waiting rooms, it has always been all I can do to keep myself from breaking down. Often, I am not successful, and will leave the room so I don't further upset the people who have brought their pet for their last goodbye. But this time, I was strangely calm. The little dog was still looking at me when I took my seat again, and even though I knew I should be more upset, and I knew my own heart should be breaking for this pretty little dog, I somehow also knew she was fine. I could see in her eyes that she wasn't sad, she wasn't in pain, and she wasn't afraid. She was just... ready.

Things in my own house are to the point that I will one day face the end of my pet's days alone. One by one I will have to take Angel, Jackie, Thalia, and Ebby for their last trip to the vet, and I will have no one to accompany me. I will have to be strong for them all on my own, and that will be asking a lot of me. Yet, I owe it to them to be with them at the end. As hard as it will be, I will be there for each of them, just as that woman was for her dear little dog, holding them in my arms, and being the last person they see on this earth, and in this life. I will do that for them because they have done so much more for me in terms of love and companionship. Each of them deserves to be comforted until their last breath, and they deserve to have their "daddy" be the person giving them that comfort.

OK... I do feel a little better now after all.

Feeling a Little Better

Thalia saw the vet yesterday, and what I had presumed earlier is true, she has an upper respiratory infection.

The vet told me to do all the stuff I have already been doing, such as warming some wet cat food to make it all nice and smelly for her, rub some on her mouth to try and stimulate her appetite, and keep her away from the other cats. He said if she doesn't start eating in two days he wanted me to bring her back in, and gave me some antibiotics to prevent a secondary, bacterial infection. He said the meds might also entice her to eat again, but I had my own plan as far as that went.

On the way home I stopped by the market and bought Thali her favorite food.... strawberry yogurt. She absolutely goes CRAZY for the stuff to the point where whenever I have some for myself it is everything I can do to keep her away from me. She will literally climb up my chest and try to lick the yogurt right off of the spoon!

When we got home I put some of her cat food on a plate and warmed it for a few seconds in the microwave, and then she and I sat down in our favorite chair. I offered her the food first, and while she seemed more interested in it than she had for the past couple of days, she still wouldn't eat. I popped the top off of the yogurt, and she perked up right away. I held out the little foil top, and she licked it clean. I dabbed a little more on her plate and she ate part of that, and some of her food. This morning when I got up I didn't have to even look for her because she was waiting for me, and her breakfast.

So, Thali will soon be back to her old self, harassing the other cats, and playing with her brother Angel, and little sister Jackie. And most likely stealing my yogurt.

Thalia is Sickie

My sweet, beautiful Thalia has come down with the sniffles.

She started sneezing late Friday afternoon, and continued to sneeze all weekend. I was holding her when she sneezed a few times and I felt a fine mist on my arms, but their was no real substance or color to the discharge. I also saw her eat Sunday evening, so I decided we would just wait it out together and see how she progressed.

Yesterday, however, when I came home from work my roommate told me Thali seemed worse. I examined her and she did appear to be a little more congested, and even had trouble meowing. The sneezing seemed to have subsided a little, but when she did sneeze there was more of a discharge which was still without color or any real substance. What really concerned me was she refused her food. I boiled a chicken breast and set the broth in front of her to see if she would take some of that, but she wasn't any more interested in my home made kitty soup than her normal food.

When cats get an upper respiratory infection they will fast one or two days because they can't smell their food, and while that is normal it does leave them susceptible to dehydration. That, of course, can be dangerous. So, I made her an appointment to see our vet at 4PM today. She's always been quite healthy and active, but she also has always been rather lean. I don't know if that is just her body-type, or if she has aspirations of being a runway model one day, but I figure I should get her some medical attention as soon as possible just to be ion the safe side.

She has been following me wherever I go, and sits on my lap every chance she gets. I don't play favorites with my pets because, like children, they each are special in their own way. However, Thalia is absolutely the most gorgeous animal in the house. Seeing her in the condition she is in now breaks my heart, but I am confident she will ultimately be fine. From what I have read on a few different websites these sorts of things run their course after a week to ten days.

I'm just a worried father is all.

Goodbye, Germina

Back in September I wrote about our trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

The Santa Barbara Zoo has been around for many years, and for the past 21 years what has arguably been the Zoo's number one star is Gemina, The Crooked Neck Giraffe. Germina was born at the San Diego Zoo, and brought to Santa Barbara when she was very young. Sometime during her development her neck took a detour in the form of a sharp angle just a short distance down from her head. According to zoo officials, and from what I have seen personally, Germina never seemed to be in any pain despite the severe angle of her neck.

Yesterday the zoo announced Germina was euthanized. She had started refusing food a couple of weeks ago, and stopped eating all together this week. Twenty-one is considered old age for a giraffe in captivity, but she will still be very much missed by all who knew her.

I am glad I got to see her one last time.

Please check out all the other critters at Friday Ark at The Modulator.

The Surgeon Calls

Earlier today I got a call from my prospective surgeon's office following up on the nerve root block procedure I suffered through endured just before Christmas. It went as I expected; the doctor wanted to know how much, if any, relief the procedure brought me, and I responded as best I could. It's difficult for me to judge such things because my perspective of my own pain level is skewed by modern pharmacology, but I told them that I think I felt perhaps 50% better after the procedure for about five days, and then maybe 20% better over the next few days after that, but then I was back at the same old level of pain as usual.

The office relayed the information to the surgeon, who in turn told them to tell me that the results mean there is a chance with surgery I could feel 50% better, but the decision to operate is of course up to me. I told the person who called, who's name is Jackie, by the way... a good omen there if I ever saw one, I told Jackie that I was hoping the surgeon would recommend another nerve root block. I told her that I wasn't real sure about how I felt afterwards because I had been so focused on the possibility that they had injected me at the wrong spot in my spine, and that I would have a better feel for my pain level if we were to do it again.

Jackie relayed that to the surgeon, and he thankfully agreed. So, because the first nerve root block was SO much fun, I have elected to do it again!

Go me.

There's a Storm On The Horizon...

And I can't wait for it to get here!

California is known for it's great weather, but that is a true misconception. For one, California has all sorts of weather depending on where you are in the state. There is always snow on our highest peaks, searing heat in our deserts, and warm sunshine on our coasts. The other common misconception about California weather is the notion that the warm sunshine of our coasts is actually "great" weather. It all depends on your point of view.

Being that I live in one of the best beach communities of the state, Ventura, California, I can tell you that the best sort of weather as far as I am concerned is rain. I love the rain, and it has been all too infrequent in these past several years. When I was just a kid in the late 1960s and early 1970s, we would get a good deal more rain than we have since the mid-80s or so. It just doesn't rain all that much anymore.

But it looks as if we are in for a good storm this weekend, and for me that is almost the best kind! (The "best" being a true thunder storm, even more rare in this part of the country." I can't wait for it to start raining, and I plan on spending my weekend planted in front of my television in my big robe with my three favorite critters on or about my lap.

Usually I watch the Godfather I and II on such days. For some reason those two movies fit wonderfully with a rainy day. This weekend, however, I would like to try something different, so hows about one or both of you loyal readers suggest a great rainy day movie for me and my crew to watch? Just leave your suggestion in the comments and I will let you all know on Monday which I chose. I may watch more than one, in fact I can guarantee I will, so don't be afraid to make a suggestion. The only restriction is that it must be a movie YOU think makes for great rainy day watching.

Thanks for your participation.

A Word, (or Two,) about The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam

I wanted to take a moment this morning to talk about The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam.

Every so often I get an e-mail from one of you fine people mentioning you were able to connect to The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam and how you saw Jackie and/or Angel snoozing away there in front of the camera. But, more often than not I get e-mails from frustrated readers who weren't able to enjoy the same wonderful, warm moment. I also have had trouble connecting to The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam from my computer at work, often seeing the colorful "offline" test pattern instead of my two lovely pups. I figured this had to do with the fact that I host The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam on my personal computer at home, and if users stay connected for too long, (and lets face it, who wouldn't want to sit at their computer all day watching Papa and Jacqueline sleep the day away,) the webcam broadcasting software shuts down, and needs to be restarted.

I tried limiting the number of users that can connect to the The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam at one time, and also limited the amount of time they could remain connected. I figured if the software shuts down because people stay connected too long, then it would stand to reason that if I cut them off at a certain point that might keep The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam online all the time.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. During the week I tried out this new system I tuned into The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam from work periodically throughout my day, and on average the software stopped working right around noon my time. I needed to find a new solution.

Starting today I can now control my computer at home remotely from my computer here at work. So, should the The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam software fail at anytime all I need do is connect to my home PC from my work computer, and restart the software. I am confident this should pretty much keep the The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam up and running consistently every weekday from 6:00 AM until around 4:00 PM Pacific Time. I usually don't run The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam over the weekend because the software chews up a lot of my computer's resources, and can sometimes make it rough to do much else while it is running. Besides, Jackie and Angel are usually inside with me on the weekends, so my two little Internet stars wouldn't be available for your viewing pleasure anyway. However, I did get a new Toshiba notebook for Christmas that I just love to use while sitting in my big cushioney chair watching TV, so maybe I will keep the The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam on more often on the weekends. Just be aware that instead of Jackie and Angel you will most likely seem Mariah commandeering all the good spots usually occupied by Jackie and Angel.

To connect to The Official Angel and Jacqueline Webcam, you click on the thumbnail over to your right on the Athenamama Sidebar that looks like this,

As always, thanks for your patronage.

More dogs can be found at the Friday Ark at The Modulator. Please go check them out!

New Year's Eve, and the Next Day

Well, for the first time in many years I spent my New Year's Eve, and a better part of New Year's Day, alone.

Perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration, so let me rephrase that. I spent my New Year's Eve with my two favorite little dogs, Jackie and Angel, my three favorite cats, Thalia, Ebby, and Salem, and one of my favorite people, my stepson Rodrigo.

But for most of the evening my stepson spent his time watching television in his room while Jackie, Angel and myself watched television in my living room. We watched "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" until our bedtime, which turned out to be 9:30 PM, and then we hit the hay.

I haven't stayed up to ring in the New Year in ages. When I was much younger I would stay up because it was "the adult thing to do", but once I reached a certain age, (27 or so,) I no longer saw any point in staying up late, so I just go to bed when I get tired. That doesn't stop my neighbors from celebrating well into the wee hours. Nor does it prevent them from doing so LOUDLY, so I am often awoken at midnight whether I like it or not by the revelry of others, but I am soon fast asleep soon after so I guess there's no harm done.

Last night was different for some reason. I thought for sure Angel would start losing his mind by the sound of firecrackers, gunshots, people beating assorted cooking wear, or just screaming their silly heads off, but the next time I woke up last night it was already 2:00 AM. I remember because when I awoke I immediately looked at the clock to see how close we were to checking off another year, and I was a little surprised to see that it had already happened. So, I hugged Papa and wished him a happy new year, kissed little Jackie the top of her little head and wished her the same, and then nodded off until morning.

Today I spent my time fooling with my new laptop while Jackie and Angel lazed around and watched more television. After a while I decided we should get up and get a little exercise so we did something we have hardly done at all since we moved here into the new house a little over a year ago. We went for a walk.

That's Papa deciding if this is a good spot to, er, leave a message. Jackie wasn't as enthusiastic as Angel about the walk. She would plant her little but on the cement like this back when we would regularly go for walks at the old place. She doesn't do it all the time, but when she does she means business. It takes a LOT of coaxing to get her going again. Not Papa, though. He's more than happy to see what the world has to offer. I hardly have time to get the door open once I get his leash on him. He's at the door rarin' to go. They do have something in common when we go on our walks, however, and that is scents. If it smells bad, they're all over it. Jackie seems to be particularly attracted to bird poop for some reason. She sees a spot of bird poop and she'll stay there all day drinking in the odoriferous wonders it has to offer. Every once in a while she will run across a spot of white paint that someone inadvertently spilled somehow, and she stands there with her little nose glued to that spot wondering why it doesn't smell like regular bird poop. It must be wonderful being a little dog.

So, that's how we spent the beginning of the new year. I sense big changes for us over the next year, so stay tuned and see what 2008 has in store for Jackie, Angel, Thalia, and the rest of our little menagerie.