Mercury and Friendship

Today we took a journey in the WABAC machine.  We went back fifty years to 20 February 1962.  It was a time of great adventure and promise.  A time of "Friendship 7" and a man named John Glenn.  Dad is only four years old and living in northern Ohio.  He is sitting watching the black and white TV.  At 9:47:39 a.m. EST the Atlas Rocket roared into outer space.   The nation held its breath as an astronaut named John Glenn circles the earth three times.  As the capsule reenters the atmosphere there is a problem.  Walter Cronkite talks to the nation as events unfold.  After 4 hours, 55 minutes and 30 seconds the capsule lands in the Atlantic Ocean just north of the Dominican Republic.  John Glenn has become the first American to circle the Earth.

John Glenn Enters Friendship 7

Friendship 7 Lift Off

The risks were real.  The pride of being an American was there as well.  It was a time of great challenges.  It was a time when heroes were not athletes, they were men that were called astronauts, men that wore cumbersome shiny suits.

Mercury Stamp

As we journey back to our own time, we can see a look in Dad's eyes.  A reminder of a time when we tried to do things together.  A simpler time of three TV stations and shiny heroes.  A time we strove to do great things together.

Sherman's Cone Reminds Dad of Astronauts

Houston can you hear me

Essex & Sherman

Sherman Doing Well

Dear Cyber-Paw Pals, I am doing well.  Though I wish Dog Dad would take me to Angel Paws.  He is telling me Friday.  Dr. Waddell said 4-5 days, so Dog Dad makes it a week.  Sigh.

The pictures were taken Friday, when I returned home.  In the first picture you can see that I am out of it.  Doc gave me some good drugs.  You can see where they cut my handsome fur, so they could stick the IV in my leg.  Sigh. 

The last shot is of my shaved belly.  I was lucky only one incision was necessary. 

Back home, you can see my shaved front leg

The IV was attached here

Shaved belly

Tomorrow, I'll let Dad take a picture of me in my e-collar.  We will be using the WABAC machine to go back in time.  Do you know when in time we will be going?  Dad promised that we'll have a blast. 

Dog Speed,

Sherman

Good News From the Vet

We got a call from our vet's office at 12:54 PM, Sherman had a successful operation.  Only one incision had to be made to find his hidden dog-hood, not two.   After Dog Dad put down the put down the phone, he shouted out the good news and startled me.  Dad will go to pick up Sherman at 4 PM.  For the next several days Sherman will be a "Cone Head."

Dad getting a bit worried.  He had dropped Sherman off at 8:30 AM.  I came along to give my Great Nephew moral support.  We thought Sherman was the only surgery today, so Dad was starting to worry when the call hadn't come.  Actually, there was another operation in front of Sherman.  That he is okay, makes the Key West Collie pack , our friends at Angel Paws and cyber-paw pals all very happy.

We appreciated everypaws comments.  Your support eased Dog Dad's mind.  We will be sure to have pictures of Sherman in his "Cone-Head" costume.

Here are some pictures of Sherman playing with Tonks yesterday.

Dog Speed,

Essex

Sherman & Tonks at Play

Sherman and Tonks see something

Sherman this Morning

Sherman To Get Fixed

Sherman talks to Dad

I am going to get fixed Friday.  Dad had a talk with me about it, because he is a little worried.  You see I have something called cryptorchidism.  That means my testicles haven't dropped.  Dad has been hoping they would descend, but no such luck.  
Dad read up on it and dogs with crytorchidism that aren't fixed run a high risk getting cancer.  Then again because this isn't normal, Dad worry.  I licked his face and told him all will be okay.  I am a brave collie boy.  I will not like having to stay away from Angel Paws while I heal.  It is my favorite place.  Sigh, there will be no playing with Leo for awhile after tomorrow.  

Dad always does what he thinks is best, even if it doesn't make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  This is one of those times.  Think of me, tell Dad not to worry and that I'll be okay. 

Dog Speed 

Sherman

Red has a Hero Cousin

Red's Dad, Joel, bred Labrador Retrievers for a long time.  Every once in awhile he gets some good news. Recently he has been thumping his chest like a proud Dog Dad.  A family in Kentucky sent him a e-mail.  It turns out that Molly, their yellow Labrador Retriever was awarded the Kentucky pet hero of the year in February 2011.  Molly, woke up her family and the escaped a house fire. 
Here are a couple links if you want to find out more.
Newspaper Article about Molly
TV story about fire
TV story about award

Yes, we know this is a year later, but all of us just found out.  We know Joel was proud that a dog he bred received such an outstanding award. 

As for us, all is going well.  During our walk this morning, Dad noticed that Sherman lifting his leg.  It sure is silly that hoomans feel something like that is so important.

Essex & Sherman

Busy Days

We are still alive and doing well.  We have just been busy.
We miss having Dad's brudder around.  We enjoyed having him visit us during the Essexmas Holiday Season.  It meant more treat, more walks, more attention, did we say more treats.  Sherman was looking for him after he left. 

Sherman and Brudder Steve

Dad was busy weeding the yard and spraying for ticks.  We are definitely finding less of them.  Dad knows it will be an ongoing war against the evil ticks. 

Ollie, Leo and Sherman tugging on a stick

Bodie

Sherman was attacked twice by a yellow Labrador Retriever named Major at the dog park.  No serious injuries, just worried dog parents.  The second time, Sherman was trying to stay away and hiding under the park bench.  It might be because Sherman hasn't been fixed yet.  Major has definitely taken a dislike to him though.  Most of the other pups just love him.  We just practice avoidance.

Sherman resting

Sherman has returned to puppy prison.  He decided to not bother to hold his poop.  Dad figured one time he ran lots late, but several times made him decide Sherman didn't care.  So Sherman is now kennelled during the day.  When Dad comes home, he lets us outside before we go to the park.  If he sees Sherman go, both of us get a reward.  Dad hopes this sinks into Sherman's head to hold on till Dad gets home.

Cheddar Collies in the Oven

Cheddar Collies & Peanut Butter Labs

We will try to post again soon.

Essex & Sherman

2011 Review

We wish all our cyber-paw pals a barky New Year.  We hope 2012, the Year of the Dragon is kind to every paw.   For us 2011 was a difficult year, colored by the premature passing of Deacon.  On the bright side Sherman was introduced to our pack.  Good friends like Sasha, Max, Duke and Gino have left Key West.  New friends like Tonks, Kiana, Raman and Gibbs are new regulars at Angel Paws now.  Now for the Key West Collies 2011 recap.
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18 January – Silly hooomans incident at Angel Paws

09 February– Our Collie Chum Hattie Crosses the Rainbow Bridge



Our Chum Hattie

22 February  – Christchurch, New Zealand is struck by a 6.3 earthquake.  We read about it in the Bark-a-lot Lodge Shelties blog which includes a pawsome video clip.

27 February  – The Collie next door Kylie leaves to live with her Grand-Maw

04 March – Deacon gets tagged on the snout at Angel Paws over dog treats

09 March – Sasha, the Rat Terrorist. leaves Key West for North Florida

Sasha

11 March – Japan is struck by a 9.0 earthquake and struck by a tidal wave.  Fukushima nuclear power plant is damaged.  The confirmed death toll reaches 15,844 with 3,451 missing. 

26 April - Gracie Lou joins our collie chum Cassie’s pack in Ohio.

Gracie Lou

22 May – Joplin, Missouri is devastated by a tornado.

27 May – Great sadness descends on our pack as Essex’s nephew Deacon crosses the bridge in a freak tragic accident at our home.

Deacon

05 June – Essex’s great nephew, Sherman is born.

13 June – Christchurch, New Zealand is struck by a 6.4 Earthquake.

24 June – Essex’s great nephew Shiloh signs our guest book.  Sherman brother Dakota later goes to live with Shiloh 

Shiloh

04 July – Sir Oliver e-barks us from Maine and we post about him four days later. 

Sir Oliver

05 July– Dog Dad’s sisters dog Raffie Crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

Raffie

09 July – Shiloh starts his own blog.

18 July – Last Space Shuttle launch into outer space.

22 July – Great Uncle Bobby’s Mom visits Essex & Dog Dad

Great Uncle Bobby's Dog Mom & Essex

 03 August – Lucy the Smooth Collie Crosses the Bridge

Lucy

06 August – Sherman comes to Key West to join our pack.  One brudder Dakota joined Shiloh’s pack in central Florida, while his sable Brudder Duke went to live in North Carolina.

Essex, Sherman & Dog Dad

21 – 28 August – Hurricane Irene slams the east coast of the United States.

25 September – Sherman’sFirst visit to Angel Paws Dog Park.

04 October – Cousin Toby at Holmhaven Collies crosses the Rainbow Bridge

Toby

17-19 October – Heavy Rains hit Key West.  Lots of street flooding occurs.

21 October – Claudette, the Dog Mom of the Hudson Furkids crosses the Rainbow Bridge due to cancer.  She is greatly missed by many DWBers. 

27 October – 17 November – Lady I and her Dog Mom visit us in Key West.

Lady I

29 October – Snow and Ice storm hit the east coast.  Our pal Skye is without power for 4.5 days

05 December – Essex catches giardia, we get medicine from our Vet.

19 December – The beginning of the “Tick Wars.”

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We didn't realize so much happened in 2011 until we sat down and did this post.  May the lord protect and watch over all of you.

Dog Speed,

Essex, Sherman and Dog Dad