Taking it easy

Hi everybody, Easton here. My Dad is making me chill out for few days. Last week I injured my right rear leg when an aggressive dog attacked me for no reason. I guess I was having too much fun. No bites or blood, just a leg twist when I wheeled around to put my big chompers on the attacker. All my toys are put away for now, because I always want to play and fetch. That is forbidden for awhile. Oh well, chow still shows up at the same time every day, so its not too bad! Dad said something about swimming in a warm pool - that sounds pretty good! I wonder if they serve doggy Mai Tais by the pool?

Goodbye Hamlet -

Our good friend Hamlet left for the bridge this morning. I know Lady will be waiting to show him around. There is not much to be said beyond the beautiful story Hamlet's family tells of his time with them.....Goodbye and God Speed to Hamlet

Hey Hamlet....

....Tee shirts are pretty cool. I like mine; it even says I'm a bleacher bum from Wrigley Field!! Wearing it today (thank dog it's only 68 degrees) in honor of your fashion trending Hamletness. Hope you are feeling spunky and want to go fetch the ball. Easton over and out.

Special Delivery from Big Red

Pet Food Primer Part-2

By popular demand - looking at ingredients of grocery store brands.

The care and feeding of your best friend is a personal decision. It never hurts to be educated on the finer points of what you are really getting when you purchase that attractive bag of food with the slick picture of the cutest dog you've ever seen.

Pet Food Primer Part-1

IMHO this is the finest overview of the options we have when it comes to feeding our dogs. Right up there with the work that Whole Dog Journal does. The presenter has impeccable credentials (she is a Vet) and is well spoken. You could easily watch this video 3 or 4 times.....really! This is Part-1 covering the best types of foods and their ingredients. Part 2 (I will post soon) is the horror story (my words) of supermarket brands. Do you want your dog to "just survive" or "thrive". That really is the question.

I think I've had this conversation before, just never on video!

Big Red

Hard to paint a picture with words about how TALL Easton is! Being a Golden, there is a certain "size" picture in most of our minds, painted by our dogs, Westminster beauties or encounters with this wonderful breed. Not sure where he inherited this, but he would be a #1 draft choice in the Golden NBA for sure.

It becomes comical when he decides to squeeze under my desk in order to help me attack all those bits and bytes during the workday. 

I can now trust him to play off-leash out front, fetching up the ball and exploring. Once he just couldn't control his enthusiasm and headed in the wrong direction. A sharp NAME and recall snapped his head back and he quickly trotted back to me, tail wagging and refocused. This was after only having him here for two weeks. I think that eventually he will be 99 percenter. Easton is a very good boy, eager to please, but just a little out of practice. We are so thrilled to have Big Red in our family.

Two months ago to the day, Lady left us for the Bridge. I wish she could have met this big guy. They would have been so good together. As I've said before, Lady LOVED the big Golden boys, especially when they didn't care who was boss! When it comes to other dogs, Easton has immense tolerance for pretty much anything. A certain Cocker Spaniel insisted on trying to mount his shoulder, not really knowing why. Once, twice, three....then on the fourth try, Easton turned on him, put him down with a growl and a flash of very big teeth.....and that was it. Never happened again. They went on to spend an enjoyable afternoon together.

Miss the Sun - Easton at the dog park

For those of you wondering about Easton's interest in the tennis ball he was trying to spirit into his mouth a couple of posts ago, here is how he REALLY feels. The sunniest day I have seen since leaving Arizona a month ago. Shoreline dog park, April 23rd. Notice he has a couple of angel kisses on his tongue...or....maybe he kissed them first. After the video is a rare picture of Andi who was "electric shock" surprised when I brought this big, lovable lug home 10 days ago. As you can see, she highly approves.

Metronome courtesy of Easton's tail.....

With me always

A surprise in the mail from our dear friends Sugar and  Mom Rosalyn.
The perfect place for Lady to always ride along. There was nothing she loved more.
This picture will have a place of honor on the Lady Lifeforce site.
Thank you so much.
KT

Wordless Wednesday - tennis ball gazing

Easton April, 2011

Venus and Mars are alright tonight - Easton

I must tell you all....the planets aligned in the strangest of ways on Tuesday, April 12th. Multitasking like crazy at work, I switched from protected, internal corporate network mode on my laptop, over to the Internet to search for a part number. Calling up iGoogle for a search, my eye caught a headline in "Google Reader" on Seattle Dog Spot that said an 8 year old Golden Retriever needed a new home and he was located in Lake Stevens, WA (15 minutes from the office, 35 minutes from home). SDS picked it up from a Facebook post by Old Dog Haven, who I contacted for the details and was put in touch with the owner. This handsome boy is called Easton; he had belonged to an elderly couple who got him as a puppy. Grandpa died recently and Grandma's health is failing rapidly. Their daughter took Easton in, but with their schedule, family members living at home and other dogs to care for, thought it was best to find a good home for him (lucky me).

The next day I dashed over on my lunch break to meet Easton. He was even more handsome, playful and loving than the daughter described. He had just returned from the groomer and was shaved on many parts of his body. At this temporary home, he roamed free on a few acres surrounded by an invisible fence, so he spent all of his spare time swimming in a good sized pond! I guess he had quite a few mats that could only be shaved off. He seemed to be in very good health, is long and lean for a Golden and weighs in at about 85 pounds.

His family liked me, I loved Easton, so I adopted him on the spot (didn’t want to take him back to the office, so I returned after work). As I left Lake Stevens after my lunch visit, knowing I was going to return 3 hours later to officially adopt him, I called Andi (who is my wonderful wife) at work, asked her if she loved me, asked what time she was getting home that night and proclaimed that I had a surprise for her. I returned to Easton’s temporary home after work on Wednesday and brought him home.... As you have already guessed, Easton was a complete surprise to Andi! Boy was she surprised. She hasn't stopped smiling since. Yes, Easton is that wonderful.

As I sit here typing, looking up at Lady's portrait; I can only think how much she would of approved....she LOVED the big Golden boys…. especially the good natured, goofy, playful ones. Oh Mrs. Magoo, I wish that I could have found him sooner. My friend Keith once said: “There's unlimited love for Lady's memory and unlimited love for a dog that needs a home.  Love is infinite!” I answered that “you are right, but it must happened organically”.

Well, it did. It was sooner than I expected, but it did happen organically and ….. It is FurEver. Welcome to our life Easton.

Enjoy the pictures….

A Golden Receiver

I can appreciate this sentiment...

Found this image by accident, but I'm not sure who to give the credit to. HKINCH cannot be found via Google!

Private detective needed....

....or maybe not!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

We could all use a laugh about now.....

Thanks to the List of the day

Run free Tanner

Our dear Golden Pines buddy Tanner left for the Rainbow Bridge today. A new star in the sky, loved by his family, missed by all.

Tanner

Our friends at Golden Pine

Bell Rock + The Hummingbird story

The trail leading to Bell Rock

People that know me well would be surprised that I am fascinated by the claims that such a thing as a Vortex can be identified and it's energy leveraged to enhance all sorts of spiritual navel gazing, meditation and conversations with the voices in one's head. Vortexes have been staked out in the red rock beauty of Sedona, Arizona. No surprise, the awe inspiring scenery opens the door for all sorts of speculation concerning energy concentration, crystal power centers and rumors of tee shirts dyed with red dirt from a local jeep's knobby tires. Allegedly some Vortexes are male, some female and some described as balanced. Several times in the last 4 years, I've hiked to the top of the popular "airport mesa vortex" right in the town of Sedona. Fantastic views, plus its always busy with tourists clamoring all over the rock formation and goofy locals reading palms and offering guided tours of the afterlife, courtesy of the energy concentration. I've never felt anything but annoyed!


Last Monday I was visiting friends in nearby Cornville. Yes, I was still feeling a little blue and knew there was some piece of business that wasn't finished. Then I remembered Bell Rock. A fickled Vortex according to the locals, but that's OK, I needed to vent. It was a very stormy morning and thank god, it kept the tourists away. I had Bell Rock all to myself, sitting about half way up on the west side, watching the storm clouds roll by. It was the perfect time to scream, praise, curse and have a damn good cry; proclaiming my undying love and final goodbyes to My Girl Lady. No questions were answered that morning (though many were asked), but on the hike back I felt completely cleansed and refreshed, ready to start another chapter of my life. I thought a lot about my Hummingbird encounter that had occurred just 3 days earlier (I really needed to make sense of it).....


Friday morning, March 4, 2011 - 3 days after Lady went to the bridge.

The weather has finally turned here in Phoenix. Mid morning I had the MDX parked, windows and back open, loading a few things for that day. I completed my task, got in the driver’s seat and reached for the key to start the ignition and head out on an errand. It was very quiet that day and then I heard it: a dull tight buzz coming from behind me. “Hmmm, my car doesn’t make that sound”. Then I heard it again. I turned my head to the right to peer into the back and there she was. A Eugenes Fulgens, yes a Magnificent Hummingbird (their actual name) perched on top of the passenger side rear seat. I learned it was a female when I looked up the species on the Internet. The seat back was now up in the “up” human position, but has spent the last three years in the Lady position (down). Miss Hummingbird didn’t panic or fly away; she just sat there looking around the inside of the MDX. I slowly got out, walked to the back, her little head following my path. I opened the rear hatch, then after about 5 seconds (which seem like an eternity) she flew out, never in a panic, no banging or touching anything inside the car. My Dad saw her perched for a second as I opened the hatch and of course, saw her fly out.

Wow, I just couldn’t make up a story like this. I’m not that clever.

On the hike down from Bell Rock, I allowed myself to believe the obvious - a messenger arrived to confirm that Lady has made it to the Rainbow Bridge and is running free with Mully, The Luke, Max, Cowboy, Devo, Cosmo, Sunny and so many more (it’s a very long list). Bless them all. We’ll see you soon.

I’m not sure why I am privileged to receive this communiqué, I've never had one before. The difference is (I guess) - I wasn't looking for it! Maybe its as simple as that.

Bell Rock's imposing neighbor "Courthouse Butte"

Remembering Lady - slideshow

My friend Brian's video school project

Rangers apprentice montage from John Hinson on Vimeo.

Just when you were beginning to give up on today's youngest generation, they go and do this! Some very cool stuff they are doing in the 6th grade as a school assignment. Brian is the director and his brother Kyle appears as the deer. Well done guys.

Run free my girl....

Yesterday afternoon Lady crossed over to the bridge. She began to shut down, her organs attacked by the evil cancer. The last and kindest mercy was necessary sooner that I had planned, but there was no doubt what I had to do for my dear, sweet girl. She passed in my arms, free of her pain, knowing how much she was loved. I will miss her and remember her for the rest of my life.
I can't thank you all enough for your kind words. So many questions and doubts flood your mind as you contemplate the gut-wrenching options. I found strength and light in every one of your sincere messages. As far as blog-land goes, I will always be known as KT and Lady; a lifelong reminder of my first, entirely digital Golden who inspired so many of these pages. Here is one of the many beautiful quotes and thoughts that were sent my way. 

"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle; easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan."  -- Irving Townsend 

A Young Dog Once Again

You're giving me a special gift, So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,

Your courage makes me proud.
But really, love is knowing when your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts Will only be in vain.
So looking deep into your eyes, Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic that will Once more make me whole.
The strength that you possess, Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done, For it's the only way.
That strength is why I've followed you,

And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...My partner till the end.
Please, understand just what this gift you're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost, And all my dignity.
You take a stand on my behalf, for that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right, for I believe it, too.
So one last time, I breathe your scent,

and through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you, to grant me this appeal.
Cut the leash that holds me here dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog, my pain and struggle done.
And don't despair my passing, for I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart, and memory I'll stay.
I'll be there watching over you, your ever-faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run….a young dog once again.a