Michigan » Getting There…

Bucky Has Cancer

08.28.09

Travel

Am in Traverse City now. It has been a cool summer here. Tomatoes haven’t ripened yet! Everything is late. Personally I don’t mind the mild temperatures, but the cool weather hasn’t been good for tourism.

Music

I went to an open mic last night at a place called The Hayloft on M-72. They had several acts nearly all was blue grass and gospel! Everything we played would go good over well in NC. I was the only bass player, so I was invited to play most of the night Last night I sat in with a group of local musicians that were short a bass player for a local radio broadcast called The Round Up. It was spontaneous. Went well and I’m invited back for next week’s session. Might even do some sidebars with a few of the players.

Bucky

Not all good news though, the vet here has diagnosed Bucky with an aggressive cancer quite common with Boxers. I stopped in Ypsi and hung a couple French doors for my friend, Joe. While there, my dog suddenly didn’t want to do anything. She slept constantly and needed help doing everything, even getting up. I found I had to give her pain medication to even get her to go outside. The only thing normal was her appetite.

I’ve talked to other Boxer owners that told me about their dogs suddenly getting sick and being gone in a month. Good news is that the vet pumped her up with steroids so her last weeks will be happy. She went to sleep crying and woke up a new dog— dancing around and wagging her tail— wanting to do everything.

I took her to the beach. She went swimming a few times and played in the sand all day. Lucky Bucky— she doesn’t know it, but she’s getting an Indian Summer of her own.

Michigan often gets what’s called an Indian Summer. The first big blast of cold hits and then it warms again. Tradition has it that’s when the Indians would migrate south for the winter. Seems like the colors are all brighter, the smells stronger, and the rays of the sun reach more deeply. Knowing winter is next makes it easy to appreciate each of the last warm days in a way that is obscured by spring’s promise.

Bad News Bucky

08.21.09

Bucky has cancer

Bad News Bucky

Greetings from TC

Bad news first: about 2 weeks ago Bucky got pretty sick. Suddenly she couldn’t climb steps, became very lethargic, and the glands her neck and elsewhere became swollen. She began panting constantly even when it wasn’t hot.

I took Bucky to her Vet in Lake Leelanau. Dr. Harrison has diagnosed Bucky with a fast acting lymphoma common in dogs, but especially in Boxers. He also said that she probably had about a month to go before she would have wasted away.

I’ve heard of these fast cancers. Other Boxer owners have told me about their dogs being fine, then dead in a month. The news made me pretty sad and I barely kept it together in the doctor’s office. I asked him if it was time to put her down. I have friends that put their Boxer through chemo, spent a fortune, and not only did the dog die anyway, it was miserable the whole time. I told him I wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her miserable just to keep her alive.

Dr. Harrison showed me an article about the latest protocol just published in July. Good news is that cancer doesn’t seem to have spread and her appetite is good. He assure me we can make her feel better— at least for a while. Decided to pump Bucky up with steroids so she can enjoy her last weeks in comfort.

That was a couple days ago. The transformation is amazing. Bucky went to sleep crying and woke up a brand new dog, dancing around, wagging her tail, and wanting to do everything. Yesterday we took her to a sunset beach (Good Harbor) on Lake Michigan where she went swimming and played in the sand. The medicine has her running around and obviously feeling very happy.

Ron & Jann

Ron and Jann like having company. They don’t travel much, so Jann likes to bring the world to them. Ron likes taking folks fishing, but doesn’t have a captain’s license, so can’t make a business out of it even though he is very good at it. Ron is a hard working guy employed by a builder. A few years ago, Ron quit drinking. Most of his friendships revolve around church and fishing.

I met Jann about 25 years ago. She was a young mother with a toddler that had just extricated herself from an abusive relationship. She was in a desperate situation, so I invited her to stay at the farm only insisting that she buy her daughter some books. Jann is industrious and it didn’t take her long to get her life back together. Right away her daughter, Rachel took to the books and eventually became her high school valedictorian. I can’t take a lot of credit, but do like to count it as one of the good things I’ve done in my life.

Anyway, Jann and Ron have invited my friends from NC, Tim and Diana Glasson to visit and go fishing. Jann also likes playing music and is an aspiring banjo player. They have a place where Tim and Diana can plug in their RV.

The weather here has been mild. Long range forecast is for a warm September (warm here is like mild in NC). There is something sublime about being surrounded by a sweet water ocean. Once visiting here, like my friends from TX, people often find themselves wanting to come back…

Music & Fishing

There are open mic nights somewhere just about every night of the week here. I’m looking forward to performing with Tim while he is in MI. I’m sure Tim will like doing some fishing on Grand Traverse Bay. The weather is great. Plenty of room for the RV.

Ron sez the best of the Salmon season is over by Sept 15, so he thinks they should try to get up this way before then if they can.

I figure I’ll be in TC for a few weeks— or until it gets cold.

Joe’s French Doors

Noisy Front Porch

08.17.09

Travel

I’m just leaving Joe’s and heading north to TC. John and Jerry say they’ll be in Traverse City today. The past three days I’ve blitzkrieged a project for Joe because I need to leave today. Actually, yesterday would have been better. As it is, John and Jerry are going to reach Jann’s house before I will.

Joe's French Doors

Doors for Joe’s Porch

Decided to stay a couple extra days and do one more project for Joe. Joe found some heavy duty french doors doors at the Ann Arbor Reuse Center. Putting the big doors up on the open end of his porch will finish enclosing the porch space and make it more useable. The problem with his porch is that it is so close to Washtenaw Ave that the noise from the traffic is unbearable. The configuration of the porch makes it like a ‘big ear’ that channels noise right into the house.

I framed in the entrance on his front porch, made a door jam, and hung those big suckers. A door jam is a simple structure made out of 3 boards, but to get the doors hung right, those boards require a lot of math!!

I also used three colored panes from the church windows over the doors. The colored glass ties the look of the doors together with the rest of the front windows. Turned out great.

Joe's New Front Doors

Old Bucky 2009

Bucky

Bucky isn’t any better. She doesn’t act like she is in pain, but if I give her pain killers, she moves around more— a lot more. I’m anxious to get her to her vet in Lake Leelanau. Dr. Harrison has treated her for her thyroid deficiency, and provided an improved treatment for Bucky’s incontinence problem that began way back when she was four. I trust he’ll give me the best advice and her the most up to date care.

Bucky Worry

08.11.09

Travel

John hasn’t arrived yet. Looks now like we’ll just be meeting up in Traverse City and then maybe doing something from there.

Am enjoying seeing my friends here in Ypsi, but I am looking forward to leaving soon. Other than helping Joe put in the windows, I have resisted getting involved in anything else!

Bucky

Bucky has taken a turn for the worse. She was looking good before I left NC— and was fine in TN. But since getting to Ypsi, her hind legs aren’t working right. I’ve been carrying her hind quarter up the steps while she still uses her front legs.

Some days are better for Bucky than others, but she is trending down. Her regular vet is up near TC, so I’ll get him to look her over. I’m afraid it’s time to do something. I certainly don’t want to see her miserable just to keep her alive.

Thinking T.C.

08.05.09

Music

Todd Servalish called from Chicago and is planning to meet me at Cathy’s for the Moon Squallor on Friday. Other old friends are planning to make it and the evening seems to be shaping up into a nice reunion.

Joe Golder

Window Work at Joe’s

Meanwhile, Joe has got me to putting in some more windows for him this week. Last year Joe bought a bunch of rectangular metal frame windows with colored glass out of a church somewhere. He had Kurt Foote install most of the across the front of his house enclosing the porch. On the end of the porch is a narrow area where a big window would not fit. The only windows left in the metal frames have some busted panes. I cut one of the big window frames in half to frame into the end of the porch. I’ll be able to make it match the work Kurt already did across the front. Joe is very carefully heating the remaining metal frames to recover the rest of the colored glass panes that haven’t been broken. Be good to have them safe somewhere in case he needs to replace on sometime.

John Rike, 2004 Melissa, TX

Travel

Middle of the month, have some friends from TX who are going to meet me in TC. John Rike and Jerry Hoag have been coming up from TX every summer for a golf outing. John has been talking about arriving in MI early, maybe next week (around the 10th). Not sure yet how much time he has. The golf outing is in Lewiston. In 2007, John and Jerry met up with me at Jann’s in T.C. John did some fishing with Ron Hines, then John and Bucky and me went for a ride with his pick up camper. We spent a few days meandering as far as Sault Saint Marie to watch the big boats locking through. John is talking about doing some like that again.

Bucky

Bucky

I’m worried about Buck. She hasn’t been feeling well and isn’t rebounding. She’ll be 12 on Christmas, which is generally considered very old for a Boxer. All I need to do to make myself very sad is start thinking that she may be coming to an end.

Writing

Joe has a morning routine that gives me plenty of time for writing even while I’m helping him with projects. It’s a nice arrangement. Am still experimenting with the style of story architecture I want to use for my writing project. I’m doing my tests with a series of short stories. The second of those has also done well in a competition. Though this effort takes time away from my main project, it feels like a necessary part of the process. You may look at the story here:

RedBubble Link

TN to MI

07.31.09

Route taken to Saylersville, Ky

Salyersville, KY

Spent my birthday in the coal hills of eastern KY. After visiting with the Dougherty clan in TN, I stopped there to surprise my friend, Kim Hoskins. Kim is good company and has a sparkling intellect.

This was my first time in that neck of the woods. Eastern Kentucky is pretty country. From there I drove north on US 23. Nice road! Think I’ll go that way again sometime.

We had an impromptu birthday celebration— just sitting on her big rap around porch and talking. I really enjoyed Kim’s new home. It’s a great place. I even got

Very nice wrap around porch

I didn’t get to enjoy any exploring on foot. My knee is still stiff, but feeling much better. Stopped taking pain meds. Most of the pain is gone and it doesn’t get worse when I sit for a few minutes. My cousin, Mark in TN said I hurt it sleeping on his couch which is too short. He said he’s done the same thing.

So I just took it easy so it would get feeling good enough to drive without pain. But I did get some good writing done which is always a plus to me.

North to MI

Route up US 23

Left Kim’s place at 0400. Drove up north on US 23. Hit rush hour in Columbus instead of Cincinnati, which was shorter and less stressful. The drive across the farmlands of OH was very picturesque. Stopped in a mid OH town for breakfast.

The roads through the farmlands were in very good condition, and I found if I wasn’t careful, I get rolling along above the speed limit. As of my birthday, my plates are officially expired. So that was even more incentive than usual not to get pulled over.

I drove behind a truck for quite a way because he wouldn’t go faster than 55, but at a light in a small town, I lost him. As I got back out in the country again, there was a woman in a car behind me that was right on my ass. I got annoyed and pulled over and let her by.

It was a beautiful sunny morning. Bucky’s head was in my lap. Had a good classical station on the radio. Looked down and had let my speed get up to 70 mph! I immediately slowed back to 55. As I decelerated around a curve, there was a State Trooper turning around! The trooper roared off ahead of me and pulled over the lady I let by.

Joe's House

Ypsilanti

Arrived in Ypsi just after 1100.

Ypsi is the loudest place I’ve been since I left Ypsi. It’s really quite amazing.

Joe is in good spirits. Had a pleasant first evening. He cooked a steak birthday dinner for me and invited a few friends like Frank and Sandy.

Preparing For Travel

07.19.09

Travel Prep

I should be on my way to MI to update my license info. All my stuff is packed and I’ve been ready to go for days.

Weather

All of the sudden, the weather has been great here. Usually by July the heat here in NC is oppressive, but the past few day it’s been great and has made it hard to pull away, but I’m certain it will change shortly.

House Sitting

One thing I’m doing is leaving things so I don’t need to come back here for a while— unless the place sells. Depending on how things go, I’d really like to do a tour that includes time in northern MI and maybe a swing through TX.

I’ve also used the good weather to get things done around the house so I’ll have less to deal with if I have to come back to Sanford and decamp Club Todd in a hurry.

Learning To Write

07.08.09

Writing

I’m still learning to write— probably always will be, but I feel I’ve struggled to a new plateau from where I can see how to better manage story elements and layers of meaning. I am experimenting with short stories to gain some feedback and also feel a sense of accomplishment— which is a long time coming on a novel project.

House Sitting

Had a good visit with Todd. Yard sale business was slow, though we did sell some. Seemed like most of our sales were to the neighbors— some Todd never really met before.

Bob the Kitty was glad to see his old pal Bucky. Bob likes to head-butt Bucky— and everyone else he likes.

Todd brought a batch of his homemade Jerky. Man was that good! If he gets tired of tooling, he could do jerky!

Was pretty sorry to see Bob and Todd heading back to Chicago. I don’t mind living here alone, but it sure was fun having them here for company and sharing some meals.

Travel

In other news, John Rike called me from Texas yesterday. We are planning to meet in MI during the first or middle or late part of August. Told me he has a pop up camper. We don’t have an itinerary yet, but John has always wanted to explore the UP.

I’m getting ready to pack for the trip to MI. I plan to go to Knoxville, then stop in Ypsi before going on to TC.

The Hill Beautiful

07.01.09

The Hill Beautiful

Hill Beautiful

In summer, I always feel drawn to the place where my early childhood summers were spent. My family had a farm high on a hill near Eastport with an astonishing view.

I was about 2 when I first went there and can still remember my first time walking in the place— the look of it, the smell, the wind— even calling out the name of the woman my parents bought it from wondering if she was still there. That was early 1957. Ten years later, my parents sold the farm to my mother’s mother and her husband.

My step-grandfather, who was Dutch, named the place for the view and put it on a sign at the head of the driveway. ”De Schoone Heuvel” Grandpa called it in Dutch: ‘The Hill Beautiful’

House Sitting

Todd is driving down for the 4th. He’s bringing Bob the Cat. Along with having a yard sale to get rid of stuff, we’ll also chill and have some fun.

Travel

I am headed to MI before the end of the month to tend to some personal business. I don’t know if the winds of fate will blow me all the way to Mass City, but I sure would love it if they did.

Another part of my mission is to visit Knoxville. I fear I may be saying good-bye to a favorite uncle afflicted with aggressive brain cancer. My itinerary may change suddenly.

Bucky & her Stuffy Bear

Bucky

Bucky is still limping some, but better, though she does seem lethargic. Her regular vet is in Lake Leelanau, MI. I plan to go to TC while up north and will take Bucky in for a check up.

Mayfest

05.04.09

Escort

After diving the little truck for a couple months, being back in the ‘Scort feels more like driving a Caddy!

Mayfield, KY's 2009 Mayfield Poster

Mayfest

One of my illustrations called ‘Midway @ Twilight’ is selling pretty well in the stock galleries. Most of the time, I don’t get to see how the buyers use my images. However, one artist contacted me and even offered to send a sample for my portfolio! How flattering

The image was used to create a poster for the town of Mayfield, Kentucky’s annual Mayfest. The poster has a nostalgic small town feel to it! I think the artist did a very good job. Part of the nostalgia is that small town carnivals are disappearing, caused by a combination of high liability insurance and the draw of mega parks.

I’ve never visited the little far western corner of Kentucky where Mayfield is located. Looks like a lovely town surrounded by some lovely country! I’ve been through most other parts of Kentucky and even sailed all the way up the Tennessee River to Pickwick and down the Tenn-Tom to Mobile. Been through southern IN and IL, through north TN, and up and down the Mississippi corridor, but never through that particular area.

Now I’m intrigued to go there.

Family Farming Days

From my early childhood I remember the chicken butchering parties at our old family farm in Eastport, MI. Easport is located on 31 between Traverse City and Charlevoix. Our farm was way up on the hill along Farrell Rd.

The chicken parties were just one of the many seasonal gatherings. In those days, there were many family farms in my Mom’s clan. As things came in season, there would be different harvesting gatherings at all the farms. Everybody picked and processed strawberries, or green beans, or beets at one farm, then do the same thing for a different crop at one of the other farms.

Each gathering always had a feast and usually a campfire with singing later. And when it wasn’t for crops, the family all got together to cooperate on other projects like building things like barns, additions, or even a whole house if needed. Somehow they all got along and got things done. Wonderful memories of a nearly lost family process.

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…my destination is the journey

Travel

Music

Bucky

Bad News Bucky

Ron & Jann

Music & Fishing

Travel

Doors for Joe’s Porch

Old Bucky 2009

Bucky

Travel

Bucky

Music

Window Work at Joe’s

Travel

Bucky Bucky

Writing

Salyersville, KY

North to MI

Ypsilanti

Travel Prep

Weather

House Sitting

Writing

House Sitting

Travel

Hill Beautiful

House Sitting

Travel

Bucky

Escort

Mayfield, KY's 2009 Mayfield Poster Mayfest

Family Farming Days

Personal

Recent Posts

Categories

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Art & Photography

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Bucky

Bucky

Mayfield, KY's 2009 Mayfield Poster

Mayfest