Tag Archives: animals

Day 155 – Sunday – On to Lodi

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Actually, we exited Highway 99 at Lodi and drove over to Woodbridge where we checked in to the Lodi Elks Lodge RV Park. Yes, the Lodi Elks Lodge is located in Woodbridge. I was a little confused, too, but got over it.

We planned to stay two nights, but the weather north of us is getting pretty bad so we are changing plans. Chico was in our sites for day after tomorrow, but the weather report for tomorrow will dictate our path.

Other than getting to the Lodi Elks safely, stopping in Turlock for fuel, and getting our holding tanks dumped, nothing has happened. So, let me share some photos I took at the Merced Elks RV Park.

First, the park is situated on somewhere between 20 and 75 acres. That’s as close as I can get by just eyeballing it. It’s a huge piece of property. Max and I walked to the fence line where I took a picture toward the left …

Straight across to the RV’s …

and to the right down the fence line.

Just ahead of us in the last photo are a few olive trees loaded with olives. Sorry I didn’t get a closeup photo for you.

While standing there, just looking around, a little brown chihuahua came running for Max from across the field.

We don’t know what his name is but he and Max acted like they were long lost friends. Since they were both off leash, they took advantage and ran all over the place. I did my best to keep up and wound up over by the orange trees by the laundry room.

The orange trees, 5 of them, are on the other side of those buildings. You’ll just have to use your imagination.

Another photo I got a kick out of was this one …

He likes to spend time outside, so we tether him to the RV. Since we spent so much time in Tucson where he had to walk on similar color-coded rocks, he chose to lay on the cement pad for the power connection. I suspect the pad was nice and warm and much better than laying on the rocks.

I’m struggling for things to add to this, so I just better quit and call it a day.

I’m done. Time to watch another Hallmark movie.

See you tomorrow.

Day 133 – Saturday – Surprise, AZ #2

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Today we met Brian,

Annie, and Kelly

at Dillons KC BBQ Wildlife World Zoo where we had a nice lunch next to the flamingos. There were no flamingo choices on the menu. I didn’t see any other zoo animals either. I looked twice.

Brother Jack, joined us at the venue making the group complete.

For those of you unfamiliar with the family associations of all these people I’ll enlighten you. Jack is Brian’s grandfather and my (I think) grandnephew, Annie’s grandfather in-law, and Kelly’s great grandfather. I think that’s it. Anyway, it was interesting to have a meal at the zoo where they can grow their own menu items.

That’s not true, of course. I just added that so Diane will talk to me about it.

After lunch we drove back to Jack’s house in Surprise where we visited with Pat and Carolyn, cousins you met yesterday, in the driveway, in the sun. The sun was nice and warm. The mornings here are really cold – 38 degrees or so. Thankfully, once the sun comes up it warms quickly as long as the wind doesn’t blow much. It is my experience, that the wind doesn’t have to blow very hard to make it cold.

We spent a good amount of time visiting outside before moving into the house where we went to work on the puzzle Jack was working on. Kelly took Max on several long walks around the neighborhood and I know for sure he had a great time. He loves his walks.

I think it took about an hour for the six of us to finish the puzzle. It would have been eight, but Pat and Carolyn went home before we started. We had a good time getting it done. There was only one piece missing.

Jack provided dessert in the form of lemon Oreos. Those are really, really good.

Just before it started to get dark, we excused ourselves and headed back to Luke AFB. We would have stayed longer, but Diane doesn’t like to drive after dark, and I’m not allowed to drive her car unless I’m alone. It’s a rule.

Visiting with the family is always awesome and we treasure the time spent with all of them.

Once back on base, I immediately took Max for another walk because he was pretty insistent about making his rounds. He’s really serious about maintaining a routine.

Now I lay me down to sleep…..

Day 33 – San Diego Zoo

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A few days we went to the MWR office on the 32nd Street Naval Base and purchased two tickets for the zoo. Having gone to the zoo many times in the past when we lived here, it was a huge shock to me when the bill wound up costing $120. Amazing. But it included a bus tour of the entire zoo, and a trip on the aerial tram, whether or not you want to do those things.

This is us going over the Bay Bridge on our way to the zoo. The fog has become the morning event lately.

Our memories involved a slow walk around the zoo with the kids, looking at all the displays on the way. It was a lot of fun. A quick look at the zillions of people who were wandering all over the place. Really! Zillions of them! This prompted us to take the bus tour right away and see what was changed. Turns out the hills are steeper and the canyons deeper so walking anywhere in the zoo was not optimal for us old folks.

Amy was our driver and tour guide, full of information about anything you might want to know about the displays. It was very informative and validated our choice to ride vs. walk.

But we wanted to see the panda bears before going home and the bus ride ended where it started – at the top of the hill. We know Max would want to know about the panda bears because he’s seen them on the news, so there was no way we could NOT go back down that hill. That was going to require a lot of walking, mostly downhill. Fortunately, one end of the tram was near the panda exhibit, so we had a way to get back to the entrance without walking all the way back up. Knowing Diane’s knees wouldn’t last for that trip down, I parked her on the edge of a planter and went to get her a wheelchair. Fortunately, I remembered where I left her and was able to get her situated for the ride.

Going down was pretty easy except for a couple spots where it got very steep. There was danger of my feet slipping but I was wearing a grippy pair of sneakers so that didn’t happen. I was concerned that if I slipped, she was pretty much on her own, at the mercy of whoever got in her way. In my defense, I asked her specifically if she could stop it by herself if necessary and she said yes. That gave me a little relief, but it was still a concern. All the way down. We made it just fine, by the way. In all, I walked just under 4 miles today. Diane had a nice ride and was very grateful for my help. I was totally honored to be able to help her without mishap. That’s my job and I take it seriously.

Here’s the best photo I got of one of the pandas. The other options for photos were through a glass barrier that mainly showed the reflection of whoever was taking the photo and all the people around them. But I’ll put them in anyway.

Diane got nuzzled by a leopard.

On the tram.

On the way out.

On the way home we stopped at a small theater in downtown Coronado to pick up tickets for a play we’ll be seeing at a matinée on next Sunday afternoon. Diane saw it advertised and thought it would be fun. I’m sure it will be and I’ll be sure to recap it for you. Or, at least, to let you know how much we enjoyed it. I hope they have popcorn.

This is Max poised on the stairs to pounce as soon as someone opens the screen door.

Now it’s getting late, and Max is asking for another walk before it gets dark. He’s bored and a bit depressed due to lack of activity, so we have to fix that.

Nineteenth Day – Max had a Date

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Today Max’s little left eye was giving him fits and a close observation revealed that it was terribly inflamed. Yesterday we thought it might just be some sand or something got in it to cause the irritation and saline drops seemed to help. Today it’s worse. So, Diane made an appointment with a clinic in Chula Vista. At one point in our married life, that was once our place of residence, a long time ago. Bed hair and all, he’s ready to go.

The appointment was at 1030, and it wasn’t a minor drive from where we currently live. The quickest was south through Imperial Beach because Chula Vista is south of San Diego. It’s a logistical thing.

We found PetSmart with no problems. The Banfield Vet Clinic apparently is an integral part of PetSmart wherever PetSmart is located. There are lots of them. The doctor greeted Max who just discovered one of the best friends he never met.

Max loves his doctors, no matter where they are. They are always a little bit taken back by the joy he demonstrates when they come into the room. Actually, he’s pretty ecstatic whenever he sees a stranger or someone, he sees every day. He’s pretty consistent about that. What a guy, right?

After the doc visit, we went back to Camper World to get another piece of equipment that will allow us to get wi-fi connected to the dish receiver so we can watch Netflix. That’s really important.

While I was making that purchase Diane stayed in the car with Max and found a good place to eat lunch near the center of San Diego proper. It’s called “Lazy Dog” because they actually cater to dogs. Interesting place.

When we were shown to our table, we got water all around. Max got a big bowl of it.

Diane had fish and chips, I had yakisoba noodles and shrimp, and Max had a chicken bowl on brown rice sprinkled with peas and carrots. Pretty nifty. He gobbled it right up, all the way down to the rice. He probably at some of it, but our waiter said the dogs usually don’t eat the rice. Still, he really liked it. When he was done, he just sat under our table and watched all the activity around us.

After lunch we returned to Fiddler’s Cove where we remained the rest of the day.

Ciao

Me & Louie

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Hi there. It’s me, Max. I have a complaint.

My home has been invaded by a cat. His name is Louie. He’s a very friendly guy and I’d like to get to know him better but every time I try to get him to move, by lunging at him, he hides under the bed. He apparently doesn’t understand that I need him to run so I can chase him. That’s what cats and dogs do. The dog chases the cat until the cat’s had enough and simply stands his ground all humped up, ready for a battle. Louie doesn’t do that. He just gets out of the way.

I went to see my doctor the other day for my one year check up. Yup, I’ve lived in the same home for a whole year. It’s been pretty sweet. My humans told me my ‘Gotcha Day’ was February 14 last year. That was Mother’s Day in 2023. I know that’s true because I’ve heard them talking.

Going to the doctor is fun and I have a really good time there. I’ve noticed that most dogs that go there aren’t appreciative of the trip and the opportunity to collect a whole library of new smells. Sometimes my nose gets to going to hard it makes me sneeze. I guess that’s nature’s way of clearing my nasal passage, making room for me to collect new nose treats. I love those.

While waiting for the doctor, who I adore, I cleared the waiting room perimeter a couple of times then I waited longingly for her by the door. I don’t get to see her very often which means, I guess, that I’m in pretty good shape.

That’s my doctor on the left. She loves me and lets me lick her nose.

After a couple of shots I was dismissed and we departed the facility. I think one of the shots was for rabies which I needed so my humans can keep me legally licensed. It turns out that the shots knocked me down for a few days so I didn’t do much.

Now I’m back. So, keep an eye out on what’s been going on.