10th Anniversary, and what did we do???? Got Indy Spayed, of course!

 

Here we were, February 25, 2011.  We had ONLY met in person earlier in the month, but we both knew we wanted to be together.  It was a cold, windy day in Pine Bluff, and the only person there was a preacher, fellow Rotarian, Library Board Member, and Friend, Robert Thompson; who married us and took this picture.  Yes, in Arkansas, you don't need witnesses.

How did we meet???  Online, of course.  Dating Site???   Nope.  It was a gaming site, we both were playing a 'war game'...we were on the 'same team'.  The team would have Skype meetings, which at the time meant you can talk but not see due to the number of people in the Skype, but you could private message during the meeting, which is what we did from time to time.  One night everyone left the Skype room, so we started our own Skype room and actually saw each other.  One thing lead to another and we decided to get married...but thought we should at least meet each other in person first.  So Marcia came out to see me, and two weeks or so later she flew out again and we got married.  Gave my one year notice to the Library Board, and our RV part-time adventure began at the end of March 2012...as did this blog.

Yes, yesterday Indy was finally spayed.  Back in July the Vet in Citrus Heights would not do it because she was in heat...although she never did bleed.  In November, around Thanksgiving, she really went into heat.  I called our local Vet's office at the end of January, and the first appointment we could get was for February 8.  After a $47 new dog exam, we scheduled the spaying for February 25th, again, the earliest date they had available.  Unlike most businesses here in Florida, they won't let you in the door...you call when you get there, they come out and get her, they come out to talk to you and you sign papers, they do the exam, they come out and get your credit card, the Vet comes out and talks to you, they bring back your credit card and your dog and you drive away.  So personal, but as 'they' say, safe.

I dropped her off at the Vet at 8:00 am yesterday...but it was more like 8:15 when they came out to get her.  Of course, I had a few things to sign before I could leave.  WOW, that was a hard day...we both felt like something was missing.  When I picked up Indy at 4:30 she was a mess.  She knew me, was happy, but her face was sopping wet, she had this large, awkward, heavy plastic cone around her neck, she looked very tired and beat-up, and she SCREAMED when I picked her up to bring her inside the condo (my bad--need to pick her up at neck and butt for a few days).  We immediately took the cone off her, gave her a body wrap so she won't lick the incision (reason for cone in the first place), and put her on her bed next to me.  For the next hour she rotated, got down, moved from place to place trying to find anywhere where she could lay down comfortably.  Finally, she slept.  About 6:30 she wanted outside, did her business (both kinds) and came in and drank a lot of water.  She would not eat anything, and she was coming out of the daze.  Overall, she had a good nights sleep, and so did we.  We did wrap an additional Ace Bandage around her to be sure that the body wrap would stay in place, and so far this has worked well.  This morning she did eat, but only part of a hot dog.  She has what amounts to one hot dog per week normally as a 'treat'.  She would not eat any pork, her daily food is pork and dry food, so I gave her a little more hot dog and her pain pill...which knocked her out for most of the day.  We 'were' planning to have dinner at Mama Maria's with Marcia's brother Mike and wife Sandy for our anniversary, but Sandy got ill.  Looking back, that was all for the better because Indy, who would have stayed in the car while we ate, did much better being at home.  We did have Mama Maria's for dinner...to go though, and it was good, with lots of leftovers for tonight too!

In the next couple of hours we will get a delivery from Amazon which includes one of these 'Recovery Suit for Dogs/Cats After Surgery' to help keep her from licking the incision.  The back part comes off (Velcro) for potty breaks, and it also adds a little cushion when she lays down.  ANYTHING is better than the cone of shame.  Here it is 4:30, and it still says "Out for delivery, Now estimated 4:15 PM - 6:15 PM" from Amazon.

Wednesday, knowing she would not be able to go to the Dog Park for awhile, I took Indy there.  We make it over there at least once per week, normally on a Saturday or Sunday.  Last Saturday there were nine dogs in the small dog park area, and she had a ball...she was tied with another dog in speed and agility, and those two played and played and others joined in from time to time.  But on Wednesday, she was all alone until this dog arrived.  

'He' is 8 months old, weighs 10 pounds like Indy, and they both were equally fast and agile.  'He' had been neutered, so nothing to worry about (not that she was in heat anyways.)  Just as I was getting ready to leave, another two dogs arrived, so I took her leash off and let her play another 10 minutes or so.  As we were getting into the car, two more small dogs arrived, and as we were pulling out another one pulled up.  Well, she had her 40 minutes worth, so we continued on our way.

Marcia has now finished all her Doctor's appointments, and now it is my turn in late April.  I had been thinking about getting a Recumbent Exercise Bike for some time now, but since we are not home but three months or so, I have always used that as my 'not yet' excuse.  But last year, due to Ryan's wedding which was delayed by COVID (they married in a private service), we were here for six months, and this year, due to Ryan's hopeful Wedding Reenactment Celebration, we are here for at least six months.  So I talked to Marcia, and she agreed and encouraged me to get one, and it arrived last week.  What I like about it is that you sit in a chair, and not a bike seat.  I have used it each day, two to three times per day.  I feel my legs getting stronger, and don't over do it ... so far, my knees have held up fine to it.  A few times Indy wanted to help, so she jumped right up on my lap as I was peddling away.

So that has been our 'month', and no, I have not got the camera out just yet.  Still working on that one...

 

Long Drive Today - Lennox South Dakota

We started off this morning early, on the road by 8 am.  Yes, the sun is just coming up around 8 am, and I am not going to drive in non-sunlight because the Deers are jumpy, and I "HOPE" I have hit my last deer in my lifetime...having hit one between Little Rock and Pine Bluff back in or around 2007.

Indy getting her early morning air again, and again, and again, and late morning air, and early afternoon air...I think you got the picture.

We sure like looking at the trees...fall is in full force in the Dakotas, and soon the cold air will be moving in.  So down south we head.  Nearly a 400 mile drive today to get to Lennox, South Dakota.  Countryside Convenience Motel and Campground was our target, and we pulled in at 3:15. 

Thirty eight camping spots, of which 25-30 seem to live here full-time.  Although it is along I-29, and there is a gas station/convenience store, it is quiet enough that I am sure we will have a good nights sleep.  Last night in Dawson it was very quiet, except for a train or two which passed through the town about 3 blocks away.

Although there is this nice play area, I have yet to see any kids.  I think they need to put a doggie park in instead of a play area.  😁

 

Which reminds me, we stopped at a TA Travel Plaza on I-29, and they had a doggie park.  On left is Indy, and on right is Bubba, and YES, the doggie park was that big and had grass...lots of grass.

We are here for the night, then off to Kansas City area for a 2 night stay at the Blue Springs Lake Campground.  We have to make some decisions because the Gulf has a huge surprise in store...

Hurricane Delta came to life and quickly grew into a Category 4 storm.  Above is the storm's predicted path as to Tuesday night, but a lot can change in the next 24-48 hours.  So we will watch things while in Blue Springs and decide what to do by Friday...which is when the storm is predicted to get close to landfall.

In The Middle of He**, I Mean Nevada

 

The road from Reno to Winnemucca is so ugly, even Indy couldn't stand it!  She spent much of her time laying down between my chair and Marcia's chair.  She got up on Marcia's lap a few times and immediately wanted down.  I had her up on my lap twice for short, remote parts of the drive, and she even wanted down from my lap.  Yep, that is how Nevada is for Indy, and frankly, the same for us too.  Now I have driven this stretch of road more times than I can even count.  During winter when the mountains have snow on them, it isn't as bad.  Many times when I lived in Utah going to school, we would drive Nevada during the night...easier on the young children, and easier on the eyes.  But I am not in my 30's any more...driving at night is not like it use to be.  Anyway, we got the motorhome washed in Fernley, and arrived in Winnemucca around 2 pm.   We are at the New Frontier RV Park, Passport America rate of $19.50 plus tax for full hookups.  Just wasn't worth driving any further.

Last night near Truckee the road noise calmed down around 10 pm, and I had a reasonable nights sleep...Marcia not so much.  Around 6 am I turned the motorhome heater on to 60 degrees because it was 35 degrees outside.  Indy did not do so well with that new noise, but finally adjusted to it.  At 7:30 I turned it up 65 and started our coffee on the stove...that old fashion peculator style takes about 40 minutes to produce decent coffee (better coffee than the Mr. Coffee style maker makes), so we were ready to leave by 8:30.  No issues driving all day except trying to get gas at the busy and narrow lanes of the Flying J in Fernley.

Bubba is a pro at finding and enjoying the smells of the new RV Parks, Rest Areas, or other places we stay.  Indy is learning fast.  If there was only grass...

They have a Doggie Park, with no grass, and I took the dogs there one at a time.  Indy had a ball.  She first chased out a white/yellow lab who is 6 years old, but the lab had just had leg surgery a few months ago and was not up to the play.  Then two Scottish Terriers arrived...one a boy who was around 8 years old, and a female who was 2 1/2 years old.  The two girls had a ball playing with each other.  After Indy's initial bark, she calmed down and played very nice.  I think the lack of grass kept her from running too fast, and gthe male came and joined in for a bit before he went his own way.

Bubba was off on his own, like usual.  A Irish Setter came and Bubba ignored him the entire time.  He smelled every inch of the west side of the doggie park, and that was enough for me since 30 minutes had expired. 

Tomorrow we will probably get into Idaho, or right at the border...depends on if we want electricity or not.