After a heart attack you find yourself in more doctor’s offices than normal. I look forward to the reading material, especially catching up with celebrity news in People magazine. And it’s always nice to affirm actions in medicine — a drastic change in diet, exercise medication — are working. As my doctor scoured blood test results and data from the cardiologist he pronounced me in good shape. I was fortunate — after the heart attack part of my heart was not functioning. Only time would tell if the muscle was stunned or dead. Turns out I was like the chipmunk caught by the cat and dropped — too stunned to run at first and then bingo, off I go. So it was with my heart. Muscle function is pretty much what a normal heart would be.
Moving forward it turns out living with two dogs will be helpful to my long term exercise regimen. The dogs need to walk, but I’ve determined they must be walked separately.
The scene when I left the doctor’s office.
How often do you see a Vespa scooter and old Cadillac convertible together. Never around here. My oldest daughter would probably like to buy that Caddy.
A lot of odd things showing up lately. The earth must be passing through some odd energy field. A more anxious or superstitious person would be thinking zombie apocalypse.
Or worse.
At the end of the day the light this time of year seems dazzling. Kim says it feels cinematic. I imagine myself a dashing hero. Gary Cooper. Or one of the Three Stooges. Things are changing — I can feel it in the air, smell the beginning of decomposing plants, the fragrance of fall.
Lily was with us while Junior languished at home — sad, depressed, alone. At least that’s where my mind races. In reality he probably sleeps until we return and wonders if he’s going to get a Milkbone. I’ve noticed lately an energy mix between Junior and Lily that makes them less than social. I suspect Junior’s vigilance at other dogs and people triggers a reaction from Lily that Junior feeds on creating an escalating cycle of energy between them which results in barking and commotion.
In the dog owning world the technical term for this situation is “a pain in the ass”. So I’ve started walking and exercising them alone in public to see if anything changes. And it has. Not a peep out of Junior when he sees another dog and he’s a big teddy bear with people. Same thing with Lily. So for now I’ll exercise them apart and train Lily alone before uniting them again on walks.
An unlooked for advantage of this change in plans is I get twice as much exercise. Good for the dogs, good for my heart. Maybe I’ll make it to retirement and that URAL motorcycle that Dom Chang keeps telling me I need.
Junior goes to college for his training, pausing here to watch the completely tame squirrels than are everywhere on the University Park campus of Penn State. Several came within three feet of us. He didn’t start to drool so he probably didn’t think they were dinner. During our walk across campus and through State College Junior said hello to half a dozen dog lovers, absorbed a lot of cuddles and petting, and made his way through the local bookstore that welcomes dogs.
And I chalked up another mile or so of quasi-aerobic activity.
Living with two dogs is a fine way to pass the days…
Your dogs must have some wolf genes in them…..their profile reminds me of one.
As to double the exercise, that sounds like a good plan for everyone involved!
I seem to remember Junior didn’t like riding in the sidecar you once rode for a review, how about Lilly?
Haven’t tried Lily in a sidecar but if she’s as smart as Junior she’ll want no parts of such nonsense. I’ll try her out the next time I have the opportunity.
I suspect there is some wolf genes in their makeup from long ago but so far neither has howled.
Before you buy that Ural you have to get a Ducati and go on an epic trip with Paul. Nothing less will be expected.
No Ducati for an epic trip that doesn’t involve the Vespa. If I was planning an epic trip not sure what I would want to ride. Assuming no heavy offroad riding I would lean toward a Triumph Bonneville or Scrambler, a BMW K75 or R90, a Honda Nighthawk 750, Harley Sportster 883, or maybe even the 650 V Strom.
Oh, and I have four crazy, unruly dogs. Each trip out doors causes my heart to get all the exercise it needs.
I don’t need that kind of cardiac work!
Let me just quickly agree with the most trivial (apologies for choice of word) part of your blog: I, too, secretly enjoy People Mag’s celebrity news. They are easy to understand,, digest and forget (most of the time). Unlike most other news these days which leave me puzzled, anxious and with a profound feeling of powerlessness. So here’s to Kim Kardashian and company!
I’m with you. Something comforting about People mag stories. Maybe that’s why they’re often in doctor’s and dentist’s offices — to distract from the approaching discomfort and anxiety.
I’ll take the Cadillac for $400.
As for your four-legged friends, I”ll take my cat thank you. At 18 years of age, he knows where and when to pee and poop, and then buries it…Dogs were once poop and walk on ;these days it is poop and scoop, or varieties. My St. Bernard dog Sassafras, who lived for well for that breed died at eleven years, would do a dump which would equal a large horse .(come to think of it, Sassy was about the size of small horse).! And she would do her dump in a hidden area, where in the winter it would freeze solid and then some poor unsuspecting soul would trip over the frozen pile and wonder who put the rock there…
I’m a cat person Steve, however dogs are just as gentle and friendly; i just prefer cats.
And as for that Cadillac; anything goes I guess. Looks like a summer only vehicle.
For many years I was a cat person. And then I was a dog person again. Love them both actually but don’t tell Junior or Lily. They have fragile egos…
My desire for old cars is gone and I’m not sure I would have ever wanted a Caddy. But for some, it’s the thing to have.
Steve. This was my favourite recent post of yours. Glad the old ticker is back. It sure picks you up when we get good health news. Love your dog comments and all your pics. Brent.
Thanks Brent. Sometimes the day unfolds and a little story just emerges from the actions of the day.
Taking the dogs for a walk (or run?) would be a good way to get some aerobic exercise but is it enough? Ten years ago when I was walking a lot, I soon outpaces our dog’s willingness to move and he would just stop and lie down in the middle of the road unless I turned around and headed back for home.
The dogs serve for a twenty to forty minute warm-up before I head to the exercise equipment. I try and get an hour of aerobic exercise 3 to 4 times a week and walking on top of that.
It’ would take more walking than I can handle to wear out Junior or Lily.
I, too, have been considering a Ural rig, both for winter riding and summer road trips. Dom Chang has an impressive record with the Ural, as do others, and the whispers of the Irbit motorworks continue to invade my thoughts. You should go for it!
Someday maybe but not soon. Still want to feel like flying on two wheels!
Cheyenne is slipping into old age and an hour long walk today spells hardly a walk tomorrow and afternoons are reserved for sleeping. I have exercise tools at home so I don’t burden her with my expectations but I miss the days of her middle age. I exploited her while I could!
Having a dog grow old is almost too much to dear anymore. They live such bright, intense lives but it passes far too quickly. You know the drill.
I think I need to give one of my dogs a hug…