Update on Vettie

Just wanted to update everyone on Vettie's condition.

I have good days and bad days. I have learned (most) of my boundaries of what I can and cant do. I spend (way too much) time in bed or on the couch laying down.

As many of you know, I was accepted by the Kirklin Clinic at UAB (The University of Alabama Birmingham)as a patient and possible transplant candidate. I will know more after my initial appointment in mid March.

Overall, my spirits are good and I try to keep thing light. These are troubling times for everyone and our household is no exception. We have had a couple of offers on our house and we have accepted one of them. The buyers were pre-approved for the loan and we will close later this month. This is good and bad. We really loved that house and put a lot into it. It is selling for more than asking price, but we wont make much off th deal because I have been out of work for 6+ months. Even so, we would have had to sell because I could no longer easily move up and down the stairs from level to level.

My dog, an Alaskan Husky named Big Sy, has adjusted to apartment life. He is basically rotten and spoiled for sure now. He has a big pillow in front of the fire place and a patio to wander around on. He goes on frequent walks. He has a few rules that he is having to adjust to that he really didnt have before. No peeing on the furniture or crapping on the floor, he is really good about this and lets us know when the urge is upon him. No chasing the cats, this is a tough rule for him because at the house he was the ruler of the back yard (nearly 1/2 to 3/4s of an acre fenced in) and any creature that entered did so under the threat of attack from a 50+ lb Husky that runs like a Greyhound and is strong as a bear. No eating the cats - again refer to the previous rule, humans like the cats and humans feed the dog, if you eat the cats there will be no more meals for the dog.

Another rule that Big Sy is adjusting to pretty well is No jerking me around while on a leash. See Huskies are bred to pull very heavy loads over very long distances very quickly for a long time. This is pretty important, yet I cant seem to remember that bit of info at 5.15am during the week. That is the time that Big Sy generally goes for his initial relief walk. I typically roll out of bed and put on clothes warm enough to walk the dog and grab my smokes and the leash. I attach the leash and open the front door only to remember that Huskies are bred to pull heavy shit real fast over long distances. Its a good thing that it is only about 12 to 15 feet to the 1st bush. Big Sy makes this dash in record time dragging my arm and body the short length. When he stops to relieve himself, I re-attach my arm, stand up straight and light the days 1st smoke. After that, he is much more relaxed and taqkes his time going from bush to tree to bush, examining each one near the roots while I look down from the top side.

So we are adjusting and hanging in there. I miss my fun at the keyboard getting blasted by all you mechwarriors, but maybe that will change if I get a transplant.

I understand that my team mates, The Blood Pearls, have donned new "tags" in my honor. The now go by "VV" for "Vettie's Victors". All I can say to this is thanx so much and that I am not worthy *Vettie bows as best he can with arms out stretched in an up and down motion*. I hope to rejoin the ranks and get a few good shots in real soon. I miss the guys and the fun.

I will post again as soon as I can folks.

Vettie