Magic caught a squirrel on Thursday. Whose dog ever actually succeeds at catching the squirrel? They all try, but they don’t often get them. I’m still unsure exactly what happened leading up to it as it was one of those things that just occurs so quickly that you can’t quite process it all or retain… Continue reading Squirrels

Everyone in general practice (GP) has their favorite types of appointments. For me, it’s the preventive care appointments, especially when they really are preventive. In theory, these should be pretty low-stress appointments for everyone because the pet is (supposed to be) well. You shouldn’t feel too rushed because there isn’t a major problem you need… Continue reading These are the things I feel I say on repeat every day

I might have mentioned this before, but I would not identify as a “cat person.” Despite that, I’ve lived with quite a few cats in my day. Of them, none will ever come close to Rickie aka Beautiful aka Rickipod (or just Pod) aka Rickapotamus aka Kotuchna (my Polish grandmother, Babcia, always had a particular… Continue reading “Goodbye” is always hard, but sometimes you’re extra not ready

Our 50 degree weather is gone for now. It’s fine because it is January, afterall, and it’s supposed to be cold in January where I live. This time of year is always quiet and bit slower, I feel like, than any other time. People need some down time after the holiday rush, and most people… Continue reading January doldrums, compounded by disease all around me

New Year’s Eve 2021… Wow. As I sit here taking that in, my drugged (in anticipation of every idiot within 5 miles of my house setting off fireworks tonight) dog curled up next to me, I am struggling to believe it. Two years ago, none of us every day people had any idea what was… Continue reading Thoughts at year’s end

What do you do when you feel like you just can’t win? I just had my third work day in a row where I felt constantly behind. I let myself get overwhelmed by the stack of charts with blood work to review, messages to return, estimates to put together, reports to write up and phone… Continue reading I’m not sure, but I might be losing my mind a little bit

Nina was not my dog. She was my youngest sister’s dog, for far too little time, but in that short time, that dog won the good life jackpot. Today is one year since Seanan and Adam (that’s my sister and her fiance) said their final, “Good-bye,” to a little dog who meant well, but boy,… Continue reading Nina: a tale of love, trials and loss

People are complicated. And often disappointing. I think that’s why I prefer dogs in many cases; they’re pretty straight forward more often than not. Don’t get me wrong. I have plenty of people that I do like just fine and consider myself lucky in that regard. I have friends, family and coworkers that I have… Continue reading The Good and the Bad in Human Interaction

I cannot believe we’re into November already. This time last year, Justin kept saying that he just needed to get out of 2020, that 2021 would be better. It’s definitely been different, and I guess a little better in some ways. In other ways, I feel like 2020 has just dragged on. And on. As… Continue reading Reflections on the Year’s Upcoming End

Although I was just on vacation a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t come back feeling refreshed. At all. Vermont was perfect and beautiful, but I wanted to be at work even less when I returned than just before I left. Usually, I come back from a trip and feel at least a little bit… Continue reading Finding a Little Peace in South Carolina