Sep 19 - Merlin

I got out of the house after 5:00 a.m., certainly later than the 4:00 a.m. that I'd been thinking of, but in the final analysis didn't need to make my life so difficult.  To get out at 4am means getting up at 3 ... you get the idea.  I resolved to get up when I woke up and ride when I was ready, and that was 4am up and 5:10-or-so out of the house. 

It was hot.  Contrary to the weatherman (i.e. internet) the wind was not NE, it was SE.  At 5am there was an East wind and by the time I was heading back, it was a cross wind into my face.  Oh well.  It was good to be riding nonetheless.

Jim Brendel showed up while I was out, as expected, and collected his notarized form for the permit along with a starter check, as in money.  Things are starting to flow ... or at least the money is flowing ... out !

Jeff didn't show up, which was unexpected.  I'll give him a call this a.m.  He's doing the tiles and I want to go over timing with him.

George was on his way from Hilton Head and called after they stopped at the rest stop south of Jacksonville to say that they needed to get Merlin to the vet.  He's been out of the coach to do his business, came in and then threw up and pooped, was lying there with his tongue lolling out.  As it came out later, basically they thought that he was dying. 

Sandy got on the phone to our vet and we met them as they came east on 44, going straight to the office right at the Publix Mall on 44.  The RV park where they were headed is at the next light, so that was the most expedient way.  The vet normally closes at 5pm and didn't want a dog arriving that needed hospitalization just before closing.  They'd given us alternates so we agreed with them that we'd try and have Merlin to them at latest 4:30.  It worked out well ... sort of. 

Merlin was in trouble.  After x-rays and blood tests they determined that there are a few things going on but the cause of the two-ended discharge was pancreatitus.  He wouldn't be able to keep anything down and so they took him to the emergency care facility at US 92 just west of I95 to stay overnight on IV to keep hydrated.  All that took time so they didn't arrive at our house until after 8pm.  We'd brought Maya, their other dog, with us, so Abby had company. 

They'd come straight to our place from the emergency care facility, hadn't even been back to the RV park where they'd literally parked the coach and left.  They stayed at the coach last night and will move in with us today, once they have Merlin squared away.

The emergency care facility is only open from 6pm to 8am so they will have picked up Merlin by now and be headed back to the vet for another look-see.  Hopefully he's doing ok. 

We had a good dinner, in Merlin's shadow.  Sandy had prepared her lamb ribs; I ate way too many.  We tried two of Peter's Cab's; I wasn't impressed by either.  Perhaps my taste buds are off.  So far 3/10 are drinkable but I won't buy more.  Hopefully I'll find something to drink in the remaining 7 ?  Stella Artois is my fallback.

Today's agenda remains to be written, depends on George and Geri or depends on Merlin.

Onward !