Poke At A Pig

We have a new President and a new Congress but some of the absurdities from the previous will haunt us for some time to come. I'm wondering how Lisa Jackson, new head of the EPA is going to handle things like the following.

The National Pork Producers Council has filed suit against the EPA. Not the kind of pork Senators add to bills so those like Robert Byrd can have every structure in the state named after them, but pork as in pig.

It seems there is a rule now in effect that requires livestock producers to call state and local emergency response authorities with estimates of livestock emissions then verify the estimates in writing!

Now, I'm not a farmer, but I am assuming there is a way to make these estimates. Ms. Jackson has degrees in chemical engineering from Tulane and Princeton (not exactly farm country) so she may know how these things are done. I'd really like to know how you estimate emissions from your pigs and cows! And why do emergency response authorities need to know? Are they afraid pig farmers are going do declare gas warfare on the citizenry?

Failure to comply can cost up to $25,000 a day! I suppose it's a way to generate funds to start refilling the coffers after the bailout drainage, but really.

It would seem the rush to green up the country is enough to make livestock producers blue!

Borrowed Time

We brought Bacchus home last night with a pharmacy under one arm and a book size set of instructions under the other. Hub made up a chart this morning so we don't miss a dose. We go back Tuesday for follow up testing and adjustment of his meds as necessary. We're still a bit stunned but coping.

Bacchus seems a bit stunned too though the staff at WSU fell in love with him and spoiled him even more than we have - if that's possible. I knew that would happen. What's not to love about that big old furry face! Plus the sweetest disposition a Saint could have.

If he responds well to the drugs he could have up to a year. He could be gone when I look out the office door to see if he wants to come in. We have no idea. But we'll give it all we've got.

As Hub said to me after the cardiologist told us the time frames, "At least now you're prepared." And so I am. He'll let us know when it's time.

To all of you who responded with good wishes on yesterday's post, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how much it has meant.

It's time now to get things in order. Get the house picked up and the emotions settled down. We've already scoped out the new routine. I've been given what I had hoped for; some time. It will be well spent.

Whammy!

What began as a routine visit to the vet ended up a sprint to the vet med school at Washington State with one very sick Saint Bernard.

Bacchus was due for his six month check up. He had been coughing a bit. Nothing unusual because he's had allergies. He fell a couple of times. Having hip dysplasia, being old and trying to navigate the heavy, wet snow we thought he had pulled something.

Our vet gave him a good going over then got out the stethoscope. "Has he had any heart problems?" she asked. "No," I replied, anxiety rising.

"He's developed an irregular heart beat." She had me listen. It sounded, as she described it, like tennis shoes in a dryer. It did.

"I'm going to take an x-ray and do an EKG to see if I can see what's going on then I'm sending you to the cardiologist."

Shortly she came back with the x-ray in which the heart should have been visible. It was not; obscured by the fluid surrounding it. His heart rate was racing at 200 beats per minute. She gave him a shot of something to stabilize him, called Washington State, made all the arrangements, gave me a map, and sent me on my way.

I swung by, picked up Hub and we were off. Two hours later we were greeted at the door by a vet med student who would be working on the case. Within five minutes she had the information she needed and the cardiologist and a team of students were explaining to us what Dr. Prince had phoned ahead and what they would be doing.

A couple of hours later she came out and explained what they had found and what they planned to do then sent us home.

Today is the day of reckoning. They've called twice and we're waiting for another update. So far he's stable, eating, expelling water like crazy and enjoying the fawning of the staffers who think he's so "cute"!

He's not out of the woods. The heartbeat is still elevated but they're working on it. We're doing "stuff" to keep busy as the time passes. I'm barely functioning. It was so sudden. We didn't see it coming nor did the vet who knows him well. But such is the way things go.

If he makes it I'll treasure every minute more we have. If he doesn't, I'll know we did everything possible. He's had a great run. I'd just like it to last awhile longer.

Two Faced?

Remember during the primaries when people wanted to be snarky about Hillary? They posed the "does she or doesn't she" question about Botox. She probably did and in so doing sure set a trend!

According to USA Today Cosmetic procedures pick up prior to Obama inauguration. Dermatologists in cities across the country have seen an upswing in requests for no down time quick fixes in anticipation of inaugural parties, be they in D.C. or their own home towns! Even men. What! They look great with crows feet and gray at the temples!

This stimulus package of Obama's certainly is far reaching. He's encouraged those who can do so safely to go out and spend. Who'd have thought that in so doing the government will not have to dole out bailout money to cosmetic surgeons?

I'd have thought the increase might be due to all our local TV anchors paring years off their appearance with the onset of hi def television. Now there are numbers that would save an industry. Add to that journalists, politicians, lobbyists and lawyers who have inundated one cosmetic dermatologist, she ought to be in fat city for years to come! The key here, of course, is the fact the treatment wears off. Brilliant!

Ah, you who doubt Obama can pull off this economic recovery really need to "face" the facts!

New Beginnings

It was a picture perfect winter morning as Bacchus and I started out on our walk. The sun was just coming out, highlighting the edges of the fog hovering over Hayden Lake. The breeze was just enough to stir the neighbor's flag and we knew the sky was going to be a brilliant winter blue.

It got me to thinking about how much we humans and Mother Nature reflect one another. We are both capable of creating breathtaking beauty. We are both capable of wrecking horrendous, ugly havoc. Today is on the side of beauty. As is the upcoming week.

A President will be leaving office, resolute in his beliefs that he did his best. He will begin a new life outside the microscopic scrutiny of the media and the public. I wish him well. What else can you wish a person most of us believe is delusional at best.

A new President is taking office. My nature would be to belly ache about some of his appointments and the cost to taxpayers of all the inauguration hoopla including yesterday's train ride. But not today. Not this week.

It's a time that should belong to the Obama's. And the country. Not the Democrats; the country. Putting aside his race, Barack Obama is an extraordinary young man. He has achieved the American dream and then some yet he is still a very human man. A husband. A father. This photo, to me, says it all.

It's a new beginning for the country. We have matured to where we've elected a man for his qualities without qualification. How wonderful is that? At times I wonder if we elected him more for the man he would seem to be than for his policies. Quite probably.

Next week the hype will begin to subside. The pundits will ratchet back up and start picking apart everything Obama. The realities happening around the world will again make the headlines. For now, though, it's a time for the celebration of new beginnings.

No matter what may lie ahead, I'm going to take the week and rejoice in the fact that this infant of a nation, which has been crawling for years, has taken a huge first step.