Jul 11 - the good and the bad

First of all, the good.

Abby started her anti-inflamatory medicine yesterday.  This is likely a long term thing, long term like lifetime.  Sandy had wanted to wait until after the de-worming medicine, which ultimately did nothing, especially once Sandy realized that the monthly medicine that she takes for heartworm etc. stops worms anyway. 

Anyway, Abby had continued to leave food in her bowl and it was getting worse.  She'd eat at breakfast and dinner but always leave some, which is very unusual.  Only once when I coaxed her back mid-morning did she eat some of what was leftover.  She just wasn't interested.

The anti-inflamatory is a suspension, which is more difficult to deal with than a pill, but whatever.  It also needs to be stored below 25C, which means refrigeration.  We either have to give it to her on her food or on something else.  Yesterday I gave it to her on a small piece of bread, before her breakfast.  As the initial dose is supposed to be double the maintenance dose, it was more liquid than I expected and some dripped on the floor ... she ate the bread and licked it up from the floor, which is a good sign.  If it takes good it's going to be easier to get this into her on an ongoing basis.  If she tolerates it well we can start putting it on her food.

I then gave her breakfast, the usual heaping cup of food.  She must have left half of it.  I sure hope this A-I helps her !

Later in the a.m., I checked her bowl and lo and behold, it was empty.  Sometime in between she'd come back and cleaned up her breakfast !  That's an excellent sign.  We'll see what happens today.

So that was the good.

I did some puttering around, cleaning up the raked piles that Sandy had left, finishing up after the plumbing downstairs -- ceiling tiles back under the kitchen and vinegar wash for the hot water heater.  I'll do that monthly for a little while to clean out any buildup.  I wonder if it helps to do it hot ?  What would be more effective ?  Is there a way of getting anything stronger than 5% acetic acid ?  Does it matter ?  I really cannot tell if there's any significant buildup.  Theoretically, the soft water would help remove any buildup anyway but this is something that you'll only know that there's a problem as the unit starts to fail.

Later in the day I did some major trailer juggling, pulling the Bayliner out of the barn.  Rather than head straight to the ESS Narrows to launch the boat, I thought that it was prudent to get it running here, good decision.  I ran a hose up from the house and using the muffs, started it up.  It started immediately and then stopped.  That's not so unusual.  However, that went on and on.  I can keep it running for a little while if I keep hitting the choke.  This is not good. I checked the plugs and they look sort-of ok.  I've got new ones to install and I will also see if I can clean the carb (if there's a carb) and/or make some rich/lean adjustment to get it running consistently.

I guess that gas sitting in it for 18 months wasn't a good idea.  I'm hoping that I can get this running for when Angela and Russ are here on Monday but the more significant issue is having it running for when the gang is here at the end of the month.  My chances of getting Mike in Port Loring to look at this in the short term are likely slim.   


So that's the bad.  Hopefully I'll have some success today.  I had to abort yesterday to clean up and head into Port Loring for Mass.

The Thompsons were there again, my Aunt Ruth, Christine and family, Anne and her Paul.  I have to say "her Paul" because I've also got a cousin Paul.  Anne said that she might stop by this coming Friday but they were rushing off so I don't know any details -- who, when etc.

Back home, it was time for steak.  That's because fishing in the a.m. was unsuccessful.  I'd caught a crop of minnows but they are huge, probably could eat some small bass themselves (slight exaggeration, of course).  I'll try again today. 

Gavin was up there while I was fiddling with the Bayliner / Merc.  We were measuring the 4x6 trailer as they need to pick up two motorcycles / dirt bikes that they have purchased and I think are now sitting in North Bay awaiting their pleasure.  We're not sure if the 4x6 is big enough -- might be more of a height issue than anything else.  The 5x8 would certainly work. 

Onward !