A little off subject

Not that I have a subject usually, but this caught my attention.

I am running a poll. Which car would you rather drive? Which looks more appealing to you? I've done my best to hide their manufacturing, but if you know which is which that's OK. I'll post later with what I think and why I have a problem with both of these cars. Because there is a problem, a big one. (besides the fact that one is a hatch back and one is a sedan)

Which do you choose?

Car A

Car B

PS. Just for every one's info, I'm not looking to buy one of these. (My little Honda still gets 40mpg. Only 5 miles per gallon less than the Prius.)

Staler than five day old bread

I wish I had some type of encouraging news, some interesting story to tell anyone that wanders by. Even some interesting pictures like those of a forever family turning two, a naked gardener or a little guy who could give Kobayashi* a run for his money. I don't. I have trouble with asbestos and companies who don't do their job.

Here is a quick definition of what Asbestos is (thanks to Wikipedia) (this sounds awfully familiar)

Asbestos is a group of minerals with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word "asbestos" is derived from a Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the "miracle mineral" because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat.
Asbestos became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century due to its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage, its sound absorption and tensile strength. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos is used in brake shoes and gaskets for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals.

This "miracle material" is now known to be highly toxic. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Since the mid 1980s, many uses of asbestos have been banned in many countries.

Ok now that we have covered the basics here is the problem.

The lady who we are trying desperately to buy a house from, hired a company way back when to remove the asbestos from the pipes in her basement. She tried very hard to make it safe for who ever was going to buy the house. The company did not do their job and actually made the situation worse. Asbestos is fine* if it is not in a "friable" state. (Friable is a term used by the asbestos people to say falling apart) Once it becomes friable it gets into the air and then into your lungs. I don't think I have to say that, that's not good.

The company that was hired actually left friable material sitting on the sill of the basement, left large amounts of asbestos dust, and forgot to remove whole sections of the stuff from the pipes. She called the company back three times. This wasn't once or even twice but three times and they still managed to F#!K up.

SO......
Now the basement not only needs to have the rest of the asbestos removed, but it also needs to be thoroughly washed and cleaned to remove all the asbestos dust, which thanks to some incompetent boob, is everywhere!

At least I know which company to go back to should I develop Mesothelioma. Cha Ching$$

* Kobayashi is a famous Japanese fellow who can eat enormous amounts of food.

* By fine, I mean it will have a very hard time getting into your lungs unless you bump it and make it friable.

insult to injury

Or rather injury to insult.

This is what the Vet thinks might be wrong with me.

Lumbosacral Stenosis (Cauda Equina Syndrome)Holly Nash, DVM, MSVeterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


Lumbosacral stenosis has also been termed lumbosacral instability, lumbosacral malformation, lumbosacral malarticulation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbosacral spondylolisthesis, lumbosacral nerve root compression, and cauda equina syndrome. All these terms describe arthritis of the joint between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum, which is one of the bones that makes up the pelvis. This arthritis narrows the canal through which the spinal cord and nerves pass through. The intervertebral disc between the vertebra and the sacrum is often abnormal as well, further narrowing the canal. The arthritis and disc disease put pressure on the nerves coming off the spinal cord. The symptoms of lumbosacral stenosis, then, are a result of nerve injury.

Which means I hurt here every now and then.

Which also makes it hard for me to sleep, poop and be happy. I have some super duper pain pills (hope I don't have an episode like those Hollywood types) that help me to get by while its inflamed. At least I think that's why they give them to me, its all gets real hazy when I take them. I only have to take them for a couple days when I can't wag.

Now this is just a suspicion, there have been no real tests to determine if that is what I really have. The test involves injecting dye into my butt and them x-raying it to see what shows up. I'm not really up for that right now.

a series of unfortunate events

The white spot in the picture is a paper towel wrapped with a plastic bag. While at my other grandmother's house I managed to step on something very sharp and cut the pad on my right foot. It was a pretty good cut too, I left bloody paw prints on the patio. Scared my parents almost to death, but I'm brave and it didn't bother me at all. I let them check me out, clean it and wrap it up so I didn't bleed on the carpet (or the couch).

Now they make me wear this boot that my mom got from LL Bean. (I don't like it at all it's not even water proof and makes me all slippy) But while I wear it I can run around outside again. Inside I have a cool looking ace bandage thing instead of a paper towel.

I also found out that our realtor mixed up a few details for us (we thank her very much for that) and so it will be a lot longer now before I have my own yard to run around in (hopefully glass free).

A difficult time

Over the weekend we lost our little girl Nora to kidney failure. We were lucky enough to share the six years she had with her. We will miss her very much.

Any thing yet?

Is there Anything?

A bit of hope?

Please?

Sorry Nothing Yet. (yet)

So we are waiting a little longer?

This does not make me happy.

I'm not coming down.

How long this time?

I can't take it much longer.

This non-news is making me angry. I may have to bite someone.

Hopefully it wont be much longer. No news is good news at this point.

Knock Knock

I'm not saying anything, but just trying to keep my luck moving forward. I'll update a little later.
This is Tony Worsley "knocking on wood" 1966

This is how my Dog likes to sleep

Any Questions?

So, what am I doing now?

I'm looking....


for my next project.


Add a grey water recycling system and you're set.

Hopefully this wont take as long as the last project. But I'm not going to hold my breath.

Guess What?

I'm homeless. And it feels good!

Nap Time

The Dencennial Ice Storm

I feel like this has happened before.

I was lucky enough to be there for another Ice Storm. It is really hard to chase squirrels when you can't get your feet to stick to the ground, I felt a bit like Scooby Doo after he sees a ghost. Looks like I'll be asking mom for crampons for Christmas this year.

Love, Ruby.

Take that Frosty

This is for all of you that might be sick of the snow. (I'm not not yet, but is hasn't really snowed here)

Fun in the Snow

Not sure what Frosty did to Ruby, but it wont happen again.

PS. sorry about the rough video, I didn't have time to edit it.

The stress of life

This is just a bit of fun to past the time.

Did some-one say Water?

Ahh just the right tempurrrature.

Snow Day!

See Ya!

I thumb my nose at fate!

OK, so its not my thumb but it will have to do for now.

I love take out.

Cats v.s. Dogs

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices around family.



But I really wish they would start making a "dog tree".


Because that looks like a lot of fun up there.

Love, Ruby