Tag Archives: animals of the heart

Walking with Toby in the rain

Leave a reply
Share

We just got back from a pretty drenching walk through some wooded area between the VA, the golf course and the frisbee golf course. We took Toby with us this time, too, so he could have an adventure, but we didn’t want to wear out his knee, so we packed up Jackson’s wagon and a couple of blankets and put Toby in there. He got out to run and pee and sniff a few times. Beyond that, we pulled him in the wagon. The rain was coming down pretty solidly, though, by the time we got to the turnaround spot, so we got quite soaked, and we are home now, drying out.
I did my personal best, however, of 20 second blasts, which was 12 yesterday. Did 14 today, and I lost track of the number of side crunches because there weren’t exactly corners on this route we walked and, besides, when it began to rain so hard, we sort of hot-footed it out of there.
At any rate, I’m glad we did it and I know we both feel better when we get a good walk in. Toby is pretty zonked right now, though, and is asleep on his blanket on the couch, which looks more and more appealing.

Hey want to see something fun?  Stef & Toby in a wagon trip Stephanie Neyhart said, “Jody, Toby and I had a wonderful walk with an added accommodation for Toby’s back knees… he walks some, he rides some. Toby then said he wanted to take the hill, so we did. Love his spirit, and Jody’s ability to launch into the moment and catch it on video!!! My first video edit, lol…”

Share

Toby, Exercise, New Year

Leave a reply
Share

Just did our power walk. We took Toby, too, so he could practice walking again, but his leg would get tired and Stef would carry him for a block or so. I took the longer route, so I wound up doing 9-20 sec. blasts and 7 sets of side crunches. Gray and cloudy today and really cold, so I wore some different gloves and am glad about it, too.

Onward and upward now. Enjoy your day, everybody. JS

Share

Liberals are taking to battle on the 4th of July, 2018

Leave a reply
Share

Another 4th of July is upon us today, another day to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! and be grateful that we live in a country where we even have the right to spout differences of opinion about anything. That’s not true in all countries. The trick to it all, then, is remembering that we are still one nation and one people, all of us wanting the best for each other, in the long run. Or, we should be. JS

According to right-wing blabbermouth Alex Jones, the left is planning a civil war today. I didn’t get the memo – just read it on Facebook which, I must say, is rather disappointing. I mean, if it’s a potluck, too, we could bring all of this artichoke dip and watermelon left over from yesterday, but we have guests here, so, I just don’t think we can make it. Still, we’d like to be supportive – can we send a check? JS

After reading a funny facebook post that started with, “In the Civil War today, we lost Commander Betty White…” by Joseph David Dacus, I came up with my own July 4th action post:

STEF (Major Neyhart) CAPTURED A FLAG! I begged her not to go, but it’s hard to call her down when she’s determined.

Through the haze of gun smoke, she raced alongside Lt. Toby to what she thought was the home of a Trump supporter, scaled the back fence and yanked that flag off the pole. Lt. Toby bravely kept their dog in check by peeing numerous times along the fence line and barking at nothing in particular. Although bombs and grenades were bursting all around, they made it back through the smokey, shrapnel-filled night, both of them with big grins on their faces like they’d just won the decathlon.

I could see them running through the smoke and watched in horror as Major Neyhart sustained a wound to the right shoulder. Luckily, her arm was already in a sling from recent shoulder surgery, and, true to form, she shrugged off her injury and asked me for a Band-Aid. Equally lucky, I had swiped some from Walgreen’s earlier in the day’s battle. Imagine our surprise when the flag she stole turned out to be a RAINBOW FLAG! Our street is way cooler than we even knew! Gen. Jodybob

Share

A big bag of beef bones

Leave a reply
Share

Every few weeks, I trundle out to the highway toward Diamond Lake and buy a big bag of beef bones – they will cut them up for me (down to less than Brontosaurus size). I bring the bones home, throw them into a big pan, sprinkle with granulated garlic and a little black pepper, then roast them for an hour or so. These are special treats for Toby, especially if we are going somewhere and he’s going to be here alone for several hours. I want him to be occupied and happy.

Well. Last night, ALL the dogs got a special bone as a Christmas treat.

One of Sam’s giant dogs, Monroe, nailed Toby on Christmas Eve, so he was pretty traumatized and we decided just to keep them separated. I think it began as play, but escalated quickly and she grabbed him by the neck and pinned him. Of course, he screamed and screamed. We gave him some Medi-Cam and have been watching him. I think he is fine, just sore. And, the thing about Monroe is that she’s so lovable and so forgivable that I couldn’t give everybody a special Christmas treat bone and leave her out; besides, I don’t think it’s occurred to her that what she did was a bad thing.

Anyway, so that’s where we are with the animals today. Toby is eating and drinking and did fine on his walk yesterday, so our battered little soldier will live to fight another day. Sure shook him up, though, as it did us. Don’t want to take a chance on it happening again. And, now I have to go buy some more bones. JS

Share

Toby and I walking by ourselves

Leave a reply
Share

Stef has gone to Canada and will be back tomorrow evening. Sam and his two gigantic dogs arrived and we are keeping them back in the family room so Toby doesn’t get frantic and I don’t have to figure out how to break up a ruckuts, if there is one. For the moment, this feels safer for us all.

I took Toby for a walk by myself earlier today – first time I’ve done that since knee replacement – and my knee and my stamina held up okay. Bit by tiny bit, my new bionic knee is feeling more like it actually belongs to me, that it’s not something I have only rented for a long weekend, and it’s not as achy or sore today, for which I am grateful.

I am so impatient when it comes to healing, wanting to throw down my cane and run the 440 which, come to think of it, truly would be a Christmas miracle. I am not a runner, except when chased by something big and mean. Oh well. Bit by bit, on this slow-motion healing journey, I go. JS

Share

I am thankful…

Leave a reply
Share

I am thankful that the person I love the most is also the best person I know.

I am thankful that we have a dog who is still grateful to have been rescued from doom and dropped into paradise.

I am thankful that I have friends who make me laugh and make me think.

I am thankful that I have been able to be a rolfer for over 35 years, and for my clients who are more spectacular than they yet know.

I am thankful that I have been given a gift of being able to write and tell stories that, hopefully, mean something to someone besides me alone.

I am thankful that our mean cat is no longer a kitten.

And, horses, of course, I am always grateful for horses. Their power and beauty make my soul flutter.

You?

JS

Share

What would I do with $600,000

Leave a reply
Share

I saw a sign that read, “I’m in the mood to receive a check for $600,000.”

Yes. After taxes, even. I’d buy an adult tricycle and cruise around the neighborhood and Toby would trot along beside me. We would both smile in the sunshine. Our vitamin D levels would soar. Stef would take our picture and post it on Facebook. We would win a contest for “Cuteness.” I love it when my imagination runs away with me. JS

Share
Our Boy Toby

Our Boy Toby

Leave a reply
Share

Two years ago (actually 8/29/13) we adopted this sweet little dog, our boy Toby. My friend Susan McElroy brought him from Washington to Corvallis to make the hand-off. I was interviewing Susan that day on my TV show, BACK PAGE. So, the first half hour of the time I spent with Toby, he was on camera and, I must say, he was a perfect gentleman.

Stef took this photo right after Toby & I arrived in Roseburg on that day. It’s a good memory. JS

Share

Remind us that this is what we are here for…

Leave a reply
Share

An elderly cat died in our bathtub this morning. He belongs to our neighbors who are out of town and, clearly, not very aware of how sick their cat was.

Stef brought him home from an alley-way last night where he was dying, wasting away, and very, very old. We had him resting on blankets and towels in the family room, but I insisted we put him in the tub last night so I could get up and check on him or give him water if he cried out, which he did, a couple of times.

I talked to him about the Rainbow Bridge and told him that this house was a safe place from which to make that launch. I told him to look for Riley (who would show him the ropes) but to watch out for Tinker (who could get kind of snarky) and how much fun it will be to feel his body young and strong again and out of pain.

He made hi.s transition about an hour ago at 8:30am. I had gone in there about a half hour before to give him a little sip of water, stroke his head and talk to him. He has always been an outdoor kitty, so this might have been the most affection he’s ever gotten in his life, and I’m feeling really sad and weepy, reactivated in remembering all the animals I’ve carried in my heart and had to say good-bye to. I’m glad we were the ones to do it, though, the ones to be kind to him right at the end of this life, the ones to remind him that this is what we are here for – to love each other, to care for each other gently, and, when the time comes, to wish each other well as we strike out for the next great adventure. JS

Share