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Saturday, February 8, 2014

Red Tape–Hurting Dog

redtape
It seems like you can’t even replace your HVAC system without having a bunch or red tape to go through.  Sometimes one has to wonder why our government feels it needs to be so big and intrusive.

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFKkwNie7hgVS9nkCiudM_bUirb0-gIearIIYXp3zybP6P41dOllTRIyRFv3VH4IqnGZdnVNUG5RTcrKnVUv_c_Zi48WF43KZwkFAbMsNJmChvDNpO0O8JHVXjXi5DnVqek0wugn3VfI/s1600/heat-pump-saves-money_01.jpg

Our system is on a concrete pad on top of a flat portion of the roof (over the enclosed patio area), as are all of the other systems on other condos in our complex.  You can see the concrete in the example above, although above is one that sits on the concrete on the ground.

http://www.smartclima.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/air-conditioner-roof-bracket-1.jpg

The local code now wants us to put the system on a stand, similar to the one above, which “must” be attached to the joist under the roof deck…just in case a hurricane comes through which is strong enough that can blow the concrete pad from under the system.  Now I am thinking that before that happens, the entire roof, joist and all, is going to fly away.  But some bureaucrat feels differently.  So now we have to get a roofer involved in the replacement of our HVAC system.  So much of Friday was spent getting the permit, and work was going to start today….but then we got a call.  His mother, who happens to be a good friend of Marcia, had a heart attack last night.  He wondered if we might delay it until Monday.  I told him to delay it as long as his mother needed….the permit is good for six months, we leave in less than three.  I am sure it will get done way before then…probably next week unless his mom takes a turn for the worse.

1a

So, look who’s back…even going to have a sleep over tonight, perhaps tomorrow too.  I wish I could say it is just because we miss her….but it is not.  Almost as bad as having a young child who is sick and can’t tell you what’s wrong is one of your dogs not feeling good, and they can’t tell you what it is.  Four and a half years I have now had Skruffy, after saving her off the streets, and she is having her third bout of having a sore back, sore groin mussels, sore something or another.  The last time this happened to her was during our trip last year.  Not sure how it happened, what spurred it…could have been a fall trying to get up on the couch (after all, she has very short legs and we have seen her, on a rare occasion, get only partway up on the couch and gently fall back to the floor.)  Could have been playing outside.  Perhaps one of those arch villain Squirrels jumped on her back and tried to ride her like a rodeo star rides a bull.  At first I had to help her up the steps into the motorhome.  Eventually she made it up the steps just fine, but would not jump up on the bed or couch.  Then one day, knowing she was going to get a treat, she ran up the steps of the motorhome and jumped right up onto the couch…but later that night she wanted, needed help getting back onto the couch.  Eventually, she was back to normal.  Yesterday when I went to visit her and Bubba she was being very whiney (not like her), and needed help getting into the car where I spend some quiet time with them and give them their meds.  This morning we get a call from Mike’s wife Sandy (not to be confused with my sister Sandy out in California) and she said that Skruffy is still not being herself.  So I went to get her.

1b

She is acting much like she did last year.  I think the “whines” yesterday is like a child going to a parent and saying, “Mommy/Daddy, I’m not feeling well…..”, as the tears stream down their face and they curl up into your lap.  As you can see, it has not affected her appetite.  When I took her to the park first thing this morning after I picked her up, she walked around, sniffed, and barked at a few of the dogs that were there.  When I got her back to the car, she was back to her subdued nature.  For the most part, she has just by laying around today, and sometimes I cannot even get her to react when I say, “What’s that?” (which normally ends in a growl and often a bark or two).  So far we have snuck her out to the car and back in without anyone knowing a thing, and without her complaining about it.

1c

The hardest thing is that every time she gets like this, we cannot isolate exactly where she hurts.  I rub her legs, her back, her tummy, her groin and get no reaction, and feel no lumps or bumps.  We know it is not the front part, it is somewhere in the back part of her body.  We rarely can get any reaction, and when we do, it is hard to isolate where the hurt is.  Of course, the Librarian in me causes me to do research.  Dachshunds commonly have back problems…and there is no doubt that she has Dachshund in her.  She has two, perhaps three of the seven to eight symptoms that I saw on websites for Dachshunds having a bad back.  Treatment is rest, lots of rest.  Which is why she is going to be here tonight, perhaps tomorrow night….we are just going to keep a close eye on her.

11 comments:

  1. So glad you are able to have Skruffy with you when she isn't feeling well. Wonder if she pulled a muscle. Guess pain killers, rest and lots of love will be the recipe. I'm sure sorry you have to sneak around with her. Is this your condo? Or are you renting it? No dogs in your neighborhood? I'm just baffled at this rule. Makes less sense than a hurricane rule to me. Although why an AC system would be better on a stand than anchored to concrete also makes no sense. But then I'm not a structural engineer either.

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    1. It is our condo, it is in the Home Owners Association Rules. We could get in good size trouble if they found out....which is why we are so careful. We did give Skruffy a coated baby aspirin. The biggest thing is to not aggravate it again.

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  2. Nothing is ever easy. Good luck with your air conditioner!

    That's hard part of having animals. They can't tell you what hurts. Their brave face is hard to take when you know they don't feel well. Hope Skruffy is all right:) On the bright side, she does get to be with mom and dad:)

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    1. Yes, we are lucky to have her here for a few days, and feeling as she does the chances of her barking is not very big. She is sleeping a lot, which is the best medicine she could have right now -- outside of being with us, of course :)

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  3. I just hate it when that happens. You know something is wrong, but don't know what. I hope Skruffy feels better soon. She's such a cutie-pie. :)

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    1. She does not look as Skruffy now as she was when I first got her, that is for sure. Hope she will be back to herself real soon.

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  4. I hope Scruffy is feeling better soon...Joe says pups are like babies, they can't tell you what's wrong.

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    1. Skruffy seems much better today (Sunday), is going to stay with us one more night for sure. Took her to church where she waited in the car (60 degree weather, and I checked on her twice for the 90+ minutes we were there) and was so happy to see us when we came back to the car (first sign of happy emotions was this morning when she woke up). She is going to need a lot of rest and relaxation, that is for sure.

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  5. When I pull my Skruffy muscles, the only thing that helps is rest and Southern Comfort. But, who has time to rest??

    I've tried to join your blog, but Blogger keeps telling me they can't help me, quit whining. Other blogs, no problem. Is it maybe something with your settings?

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    1. Rox, You are the first who has said they could not join the blog, there certainly is no setting that would not allow you or anyone from joining. I do weed out the spam posters, but I do that personally. It might be something in your browser...bad cache or cookie or something. If I find anything on my end, I will let you know. Hope you are enjoying your Southwest Winter. --Dave

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    2. Follow up...it must be a Blogger error, I got that trying to join myself in another browser. Google has sure had some problems lately....

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