WOW! Does time fly! Just to catch-up:
Jan 2011; Work Injury, tested for everything - (X-rays, MRI, EMG) diagnosis ended with CHRONIC TENDONITIS in multiple locations of my right (primary) arm.
Feb - July 2011 are a BLUR because of doctor visits and physical therapy with modified (light) duty at work, sitting around trying to keep myself busy as best as could be without using my right-arm. Still not healing.
April 2011; Suddenly and unexpectedly got custody of my daughter. Due to her mom's boyfriend doing unmentionable things from the time she was 8 years old! So this spewed out a bunch of trips to Martinez, for court hearings and modification to my child support! YAY! I'll probably pay for it later, but this has been the biggest blessing since being on light-duty means no overtime or bonuses.
Late July I received notice that my days at Dish are coming to an end as of August 10th, since they cannot have a 'permanent' modified position. So, I succumbed to my career being at an end, trying to use all my insurance before it runs out. We all went to the Dentist and Eye doctor.
My daughter has a melt-down sometime around here, causing ME (Mr. make-it-all-better) to take her to our local animal shelter for puppy-therapy. Of course she got her heart set on this little Terrier. My wife also has been wanting a dog forever, so I gave in and my wife agreed to 'look' at this Terrier. The next day, after work, I get home expecting to go 'look' at this Terrier and my wife is kinda hymn-hawing dragging her feet about it and shows me an ad in the paper she found for the kind of dog she REALLY wanted; English Springer Spaniel pups... Curious if they would be willing to make a deal, I called. They were located in Merced, which I couldn't think of where it was when I said we could go look at them...2 HOURS away! So we all went and looked at the puppies, which my wife picked one out - we bought him but couldn't get him until Aug 14th, on the way home from Bodie Day 2011. When I got home, I had a message to call the H.R. lady at work, which was good news; I am qualified for FMLA so I am still an employee and get to continue my seniority/status for another 120 days! YAY!
It's a boy. We named him 'SCOUT' taken from the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" (the little girls' nickname) He is a HANDFUL! Constant puppy-sitting, watching his every move so as to avoid ANY accidents. Playing in the backyard has been fun. He chews on every twig, bushes and grass there.
As of today, he knows his name and responds to "COME" and "LEAVE-IT". He knows "SIT" very well and starting to get "LAY DOWN". He responded to "SPEAK" right away. He LOVES getting fed of course, and wants to be right with me when he sleeps at night. He's a pleasure to have in our family.
That's about it, almost 8 months of time wrapped up into 5 minutes of typing...
