Post Op

Well, here she is 36 hours post op. The ear is dirty looking, but that's due to dried blood, but we're not going  to fuss just yet in order for any swelling and tenderness to reduce.

Due to the nature of the ear and the location of the sites stitching was not an option. As you can see by the photo, things look raw, but rather looking raw for 10 - 14 days than a complete amputation of the ear structure. Until this I never knew the little out flap of a dog's ear was called 'Harry's Purse'? How bizarre.

But today Darcy is brighter and not fussing with her ear, and as the photo below shows, she can still turn on the cutsie charm :)

Another Operation

Darcy sporting bling in the

form of Troll Beads - just for 

fun. Copyright © 2013 Mark Kelly.

Being an owner of a pet is a wonderful thing, especially when the pet concerned reciprocates love and affection and is like one of the family. But then there are hard decisions that have to be made which are upsetting for owner and pet alike, especially when it involves the pet's health, and potential quality of life.

So it goes with our lovely girl, Darcy. Two more potential mast cell growths have been discovered inside her left ear, and a possible third on her gum lining between two back teeth.

Yesterday we discussed with the vet the best way to deal with these issues. The least and simplest would be to aspirate a sample from each lump with a fine needle. But, as the vet pointed out, these have been known to be inaccurate and to lead to a false diagnosis. The downfall to this approach is that should the samples prove 'positive', then poor Darcy would have to return again for further surgery, and of course, stress.

The other option is to excise the areas, send off the removed parts for screening and wait, which means the areas cannot be stitched and will be left as open wounds to heal. Basically the dog's ear is like a skin sandwich with a layer of cartilage between the skin layers, so we will be able to see this layer of cartilage.

This is the option we have chosen for Darcy. Our only concern is that should the two removed pieces show to be cancerous, then the vet has said the total removal of Darcy's ear (or pinna, as the floppy part of a dog's ear is anatomically termed) is then likely. My wife has just come off the phone to me, upset and crying, as Darcy is really her baby, and I have to be calm and positive for all of us, even when my wife is describing to me how Darcy wouldn't stop trembling at the vets and trying to pull towards the exit.

I can't help but have a little weep for our little Darcy, but I'm alone, so it's ok.

Bye Bye Google+

Couldn't fathom it out, couldn't stand it and found all the spam bots and junk overbearingly infuriating.

So I no longer have a Google+ account - sorry peeps if you were in my Circles - and dragged my blog back from the void.

Don't do it, leave Google+ alone, don't bother with anything Google+ related.

Transferring to Google+

O2varvara.wordpress.com

Well, I did it. I made that slightly edgy and precarious transition over to Google+ with the DM's Screen.

And you know what? I'm still confused? I've looked on my Google+ account and see no signs of my blog anywhere, but it has changed my blog profile info, so something must have happened? If only I knew what?

I just hope this hasn't screwed anything up, blog-wise. Oh well, I suppose I'll find out soon enough... I think?

My New Love...

Now this is a car that I have fallen in love with. Saw this ad for the first time last night whilst at the cinema waiting for 'Oblivion' to start - which is, by the way, an average kind of sci-fi flick. Sorry to disappoint - and for the duration of the ad I just could not stop grinning from ear-to-ear.

Turn up the volume and enjoy. THEN play it again, but second time round, close your eyes - it's scary, but in a good way ;)

That engine growl and the exhaust note - I'm definitely in love!

YAY! I think I've found my midlife crisis! 

:)

Chill Time

Copyright © www.bandwidthblog.com

I love YouTube, really I do, possibly more than is reasonably healthy for one supposedly 'mature and sane'. Saying that, it does deliver some lovely trips down that early evening sun-kissed tree-lined place known as 'Memory Lane'.

I have to admit, there are times I find myself strolling through its dappled sunlight, revisiting friends and loved ones gone and no longer with me. At times it's comforting, and other times it's melancholy, and then there are the times of pure face-splitting-grinning (can I say that?) nostalgia.

So here, for your listening, and possibly viewing pleasure, are three tunes that help me chill out and send my brain spinning into alpha wave mode. I hope you enjoy :)

Blog Spring Clean

Copyright © Games Workshop.

Today I spent the good part of three hours going through my list of blogs that I originally started following.

To my surprise several had decided to shift their blogs to an 'invite only' readership, thus locking me out. Fair play - they were the first to be deleted. I then turned my attention to those blogs that hadn't posted for a year, and from there it was a simple process of working backwards. Some had even been removed by their creators, which made my job easier.

Question time: Google+ - Share or not to share?

Been looking Google+'s option for sharing/connecting your blog posts directly into your Circles account.

What I'd like to know is:

1) Have any of you done this?
    1a) If so, how successful has it been?

2) How much traffic has it generated for your blog, if any?

3) Are there any negative aspects to doing this?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies :)

Oh...

Darcy trying to be 'gangsta'.
Copyright © 2013 Mark Kelly.

On looking over my posts and going back to the very beginning, it would appear I've missed my blog's birthday in March - it is now 2 years old. Hmmm, does this mean I'm a bad blogfather for missing it? Bugger.  I suppose I'll have to get something on the go to make up for it, plus this month is going to see me turning 49... where has all the time gone?


Sometimes I do envy those of my friends for whom life has been a clear and direct path to their future and any, and all, success it brings them. Unfortunately I've been like a rubber ball, bouncing my way through life going from one job to the next, then out of work, then back into work and on, and on it has gone.

Time Away and Return

Just a quick note to say 'I'm back'.

I had hoped to revamp my blog whilst in its down-state, but alas, life and all it entails has kept me occupied elsewhere. But I'm looking forward to posting slowly but surely and hopefully get back into my blogging stride.

Sorry to the folks who hadn't a clue as to what I was doing or why, which accounts for around 98% of you. Hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me :)

And it's April, so the very best of luck to all you A-Z Blogfesters out there - I look forward to reading your 'stuff' as the month rolls by.

Love, hugs 'n' ... well, we'll leave it at that, shall we? I think that's best :)