8/24/2008 - Shuga RIP

I have been trying to think of the best way to post about this, but I guess I just need to do it.

Shuga had a slipped disk that was putting pressure on her spine. The vet told us that the good news about Shuga was that she was still feeling her hind legs. The best way to try and fix a slipped disk was to give her large amounts of steroid injections in hopes of decreasing the swelling and have it pop back into place. We hoped that by morning she would improve by morning.

In the morning we got a call from the vet saying that she had lost feeling in her hind legs which means that we were looking at surgery, which was unlikely to fix the problem or permanent paralysis. After much trepidation and crying we decided that she would be put to sleep. My wife took it the hardest as she had never been in the room during a euthanization. Shuga went peacefully and in the company of people who loved her. We buried her in Placitas at her parents property that afternoon.

Our three year old took it really well until he finally realized that she was not coming back. We told him that she is here with us in our hearts and we ca talk to her any time we want. He seemed content with this, although sad

The cool thing was that night at sunset. I went out on her parents' patio to take in the view and saw a dachshund shaped cloud almost running out of the sunset with ears flapping and a big smile on her face. I brought out my wife and she instantly started to cry. I know she is much better off now!

This song makes me think about Shuga:

"Oh Kay" by Pop Unknown

Hush now
Don't you cry
I'll be right here with you all the way
I'll catch up with you up there
Someday
I beg for you now
As you fall into nothing
All the way, all the way
Hold your head high
As you fall into nothing
Hold my hand as you slip away

I beg for you now
As you fall into nothing
Always

And i'm better
Better
Now that you've gone home
And i'm better
Better
Now that you've gone home

8/23/2008 - Dog Emergency

While my wife and I were out in the garage this evening, we heard horrible shrieks coming from the other room. We ran into the hall to find our Dachshund, Shuga, whimpering and taking deep breaths. After only a few minutes she started dragging one foot behind her. By the time I got her to the pet hospital both legs were being dragged. The vet told us, as most people know, that this breed tends to have spinal problems. They were going to attempt intense steroid therapy in hopes of relieving the swelling which was putting pressure on the spine. The good news was that there was still feeling in her toes. Once feeling is absent the prognosis goes south quickly.

8/20/2008 - Perception

I was reading an article on perception. The article stated that since the perception of our environment is built through the collection of information by our various sensory organs translated by our brains, we can never really know for sure that the object we are seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and/or tasting actually exists. Basically, we can only know that our brain has collected the information and interpreted it based on previous experience and deduction and presented to us what it feels the object is. The article was careful to state that this does not change the fact the the object is in fact real and is (most likely to be) what we perceive it to be.

This hit me in a familiar way. Many year ago I was contemplating this subject and wrote the following in my Book of Shadows:

"In previous times of deep thought I imagined that the world was a conspiracy to conceal the acts of an intellectual genius. That all the people in this world were setting up all the scenes that I viewed. Essentially it was all an act. Everyone was just playing their part in a play to make these environments seem real.

Upon further contemplation I determined that I was the one who was doing this. Wherever I went I, without knowing it, set up the environment using what I have "learned" was reality. A room has four walls, a ceiling, a floor, furniture, etc. I am conspiring with myself to keep the world real. I must relearn my perception devices and 'see through reality.'"

8/17/2008 - One Bike at a Time

I went to a friends house tonight. He has recently started his own business as a mobile bike mechanic. He has a great idea and has everything he needs to fix a bike on the back end of his truck and just drives around town.

He was showing me his insignia, a dragon in the shape of a car attaching a biker who has a bike wheel as a shield and his throne as a sword. He picked up a shirt and showed it to me. Below the insignia it stated "Solving the world's problems...one bike at a time."

I was amazed and told him the whole story about Leo's ideas of global secular education. He, being a teacher, was intrigued and stated "this is the Age of Aquarius after all!"

8/16/2008 - Dragon vs. Eagle

I was sitting outside my house and saw a cool set of clouds. One looked like a black dragon (not lit up by the sun at all) and the other like an white eagle (nicely illuminated by the sun), talons out, falling at full speed to attack. I did not think of taking the picture until after it started breaking up, but you should be able to get the general idea. Not sure what it might mean, if anything, but it is interesting none the less.