Got some encouragement from the vet yesterday about new things we can try in order to make Estro's vestibular ride go more smoothly. She is pretty much seasick, unsure of her center of gravity.
That vet also treats a German Shepherd who's had the same thing since the Fall. Yikes. So we are trying a vitamin concoction for humans called SAMe (pronounced sammy) which is supposed to be good for her.
And while I was in the vet's lobby, I overheard a dog owner say that his neighbor has been lighting fireworks that scare his dog. Since it's not even the 4th of July yet and you can literally buy one firework here and get eleven free around here, precautions are being taken. The dog was dispensed Valium, and so was Estro. Dogs are the new '50s housewives.
Some songs I played today:
Only Women Bleed - Alice Cooper
American Woman - The Guess Who
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
Glad to let the door hit June 2009 in the ass. It wasn't unbearable, it was just 80% jerk. Not because of the move (we're doing great in that area, seriously!) but because Estro is recovering from something called old dog vestibular disease, for which there is no cure. Like a virus, you just treat the symptoms and then wait.
For her, it must feel a lot like dog vertigo. It affects her balance and it goes away as mysteriously as it came. For some dogs it could take a week, but for an old girl like ours, it could take six weeks. It's been a few already, so we're seeing a new vet who was strongly recommended by friends who've been next-door neighbors all his life.
We're told that this vet is a real country boy (Old Boy? What do they call them in Texas?) who once had a pet snake come in as a patient at his clinic and he said, "That would make a great belt!"
Of course there are upsides to June, the house is coming together and we love it. We've had quality time with lovely friends who came out here already (thank you!) and the cool rain right now is super refreshing.
Within walking distance, I've got great coffee from an organic food truck, 2 pools to swim in, a place called Yoga Yoga and there is plenty more to discover, like the 3 bead shops within a two-block radius. Do that many people buy beads?
So I've decided that this summer, July is where it's at. It will be the beginning of me reading books and not getting lost every time I get on a freeway. I'll be figuring out what kind of birdseed that the backyard birds like, and seeking out drought-tolerant things to grow. I'll try to snap a photo of Estro with one of the frogs who come to listen to music with us in the yard at night. So cute.
And like in the movie Miller's Crossing, we're going to "start eating in restaurants."
Here's wishing a fabulous July to you! Below, fireworks.
1. Young Americans - David Bowie
2. Loving Her Was Easier - Chuck Prophet
3. Sidestick Eyepoker - Overwhelming Colorfast
4. Dumb Fun - Versus
5. Gleaming Auction - Snow Patrol
6. She's a Boy - The Adored
7. Leon's Space Song - Helium
8. Track 01 - Various Artists Live at Jackpine
9. Hair of the Dog - Bauhaus
10. Oh, Madalene - The Oranges Band
11. Names - Cat Power
12. Bored Teenagers - The Adverts
13. The Fake Headlines - The New Pornographers
14. You Set the Scene - Love
15. Green Eyes - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
16. Rub 'Til it Bleeds - Polly Jean Harvey
17. It's a Wonderful Lie - Paul Westerberg
18. I Had a Real Good Mother & Father - Gillian Welch
19. The Ballad of Bjorn Borg - The Pernice Brothers
20. Death Valley '69 - Sonic Youth (with Lydia Lunch)
21. Cyrano de Bergerac's Back - X
22. I am the Cosmos - Chris Bell
23. Hollywood Ending - Sleater Kinney
24. The Back of Love - Echo & the Bunnymen
25. Evil - Interpol
Or potbellied pigs? These are for sale on Craigslist here in Austin. Littles!
We moved to Austin a few hours ago and checked into a hotel while our landlord does the finishing touches on the place, so this still feels like a holiday. We've been road-tripping since Tuesday, (what?!) which is another thing people do on holidays.
Nick drove the entire time. I'm going to type it again. Nick drove the entire time. And now, we are here with Estro. YAY!!
The lease is signed! Pix below.
We are running out of things to do before we leave. The big truck comes this Monday to collect whatever we think we want to see on the other side of this move. It's the greatest pare-down we've ever had and it's all going well.
Took Estro for her last SF vet appointment this morning because her back legs have been looking a bit draggy lately, but at the end of every walk, she likes to sprint. I'm proud to say that at 15, she's still spry!
The vet recommended arthritis pills and after just one, Estro was chasing pigeons. This is progress. The vet is the same one who spayed her as a puppy, and he's seen her her whole life. He was very sweet with a tinge of melancholy about us going, and wished us a safe trip. I gave him coupons for organic pancakes and waffles in a can. He gets it.
I also collected my medical files (I know it sounds so old school: paper medical records?) from the same doctor I've been seeing for 14+ years. She'll retire in a year or two, so we said our good lucks and goodbyes while I folded my file into my purse. My ages were listed like "32" which looks so funny to me at 41. Forty-wonderful, that is.
But by far, the most enthusiastic person I've talked to about "the move" today was the chirpy blond man working at the Lush store on Powell Street. He said he's from the Midwest and almost leaped over the counter as he rang up my assorted bath bombs, shrieking "Six foot tub?!" That's right.
The grass may be greener (even if you're the person going to be on that particular grass on the other side) but the bath bombs are blueberry, pink, and chamomile. I am getting prepared.
We will terribly miss our dear friends, but we're going to be just fine. It's our '09 adventure, and you're looking at it.
We are so totally in the single digits phase of the move. We've got one week left before a truck parks all up in here. Crazy. I've been getting things out of the house like a madwoman. We're getting less stuff and more space, which is a winning combo.
I also scanned some stuff, including an invitation to Nick's college graduation party and an old pic of me and Estro.
Here's our SF house a couple of nights ago. Crazy moon, moon fou.
