Friday, May 29, 2009

This Must Be the Place

Jake has two houses. Here he is in front of both. At first I wondered if it would be confusing for a dog to live in different places but he’s completely fine. He’s so excited when he arrives at either one. You open the car and he runs right up to the front door. I guess as long as he knows where the food dish is, he’s happy. Plus, he’s usually at a particular house because one of us has a few days off, so I bet he has more quality time with his owners than a lot of dogs do.


Unfortunately this morning he could not keep his breakfast down. His appetite was great but a few hours later, I saw him vomiting in the back yard. He threw up on the walk, too. Not a great sign.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Cool Drink of Water Blues

Dan and I finished up the landscaping this afternoon, filling the few remaining empty spaces in the garden with flowers. Jake loves yard work days, especially when we’re in the front. Our neighborhood is always full of activity. Dog walkers, bicyclists, kids in strollers. He lies in a shady patch under a tree but he gets up to greet pretty much everyone that passes by. I forgot that when it’s time to hand water something, he comes over to get a drink from the hose.

Big Decision

Paul and I took Jake to see his oncologist, Dr. Glawe, at VRCC today. There are 3 options we’re considering:



1) Radiation: He would receive 3 treatments over a 21-day period. It could slow the growth of the tumor and it might add a couple months to his life. They have to do these under general anesthesia but he seems to handle that pretty well. It’s possible that the radiation could cause further skin breakdown of the tumor, which is already looking pretty raw.

2) Chemotherapy: He might be a candidate for a clinical study involving a drug called Liposomal Clodronate. He’d get 4 to 8 injections over a 10-week period. He’d be at the hospital for a few hours but would at least be awake. During the study he’d need to go in twice for punch biopsies of the tumor, which would require anesthesia. There is a concern that those procedures might cause problems if the wound won’t heal. Like radiation, this might give us a couple more months with him.

3) Nothing: We can also forego any treatment and let this run its course. Last weekend, we started wrapping his leg with bandages since the skin is beginning to rupture. We would continue that and keep him as comfortable as we can in the meantime. Right now, he is acting like his usual self. His quality of life is actually pretty good but, of course, that could change at any time.

We’ll try to make a decision early next week.

Denver Parks #21

Right by a huge enclosed dog park.

Denver Parks #20

In the Stapleton area, off Quebec.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Safe Trip Home

Dan was visiting family in Alabama for the holiday and flew back to Denver tonight. Jake and I drove out to DIA to pick him up. I forgot how much fun it was to take him out there to greet someone. He gets so excited when he recognized a familiar face, just like people do when they spot a friend or relative walking out the door.

Denver Parks #19

One in the Park Hill neighborhood, off 17th Avenue.

Denver Parks #18

Large space at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Lunch Break

Jake has been coming to Tokyo San Bowl on Colorado Boulevard for a long time. We stopped here today for a late lunch. As a puppy, he was as soft as a stuffed animal. We kept expecting his coat to turn coarse but it never did. Almost 8 years old and he still feels as soft as the night we brought him home. A couple years ago, we came here to eat without him, and the guy who always brought out our food asked, “Where’s that soft dog?” So now you know.

Denver Parks #17

And one more for today…

Denver Parks #16

The tour of sister cities continues…

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

Jake’s burning up a vacation day today. No new pics but here’s a gratuitous puppy shot for you.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Waiting for the Rain to Fall

Spring storms all day but that added a perfect touch to the atmosphere. Watching gray clouds wrap around the mountains, in between sheets of rain, from the couch. I caught up on some reading. Jake curled up on his bed by the fireplace, slightly snoring. When the weather let up, we went on an afternoon walk. It was such a wild experience to pass through the Westin lobby several times a day with a well-behaved dog. The staff always greeted Jake by name. He learned quickly that the front desk had dog biscuits, even at 1am. Everyone here is amazing…reception…valet…housekeeping…room service. (Special thanks to LaVerne!)

It's also wedding season, with big receptions at the hotel on both days. Tuxes and satin dresses everywhere. We bumped into the bride in the hallway on our way back to the room. Standing there with a dog on a leash, I told her she looked beautiful. I wanted to ask for a picture with her and Jake but figured it was too complicated to explain on such an important day for her. But wouldn’t that have been a surreal photo?

No one was out by the pool and we hustled out there to snap a few pics. We’re heading back to Denver tomorrow morning. This place is incredible. What a perfect weekend.

Take Me to the River

The setting here is so beautiful. This river is right behind the hotel and when I open our patio doors, I can hear it rushing by. So relaxing. Jake wanted to swim but I just couldn’t do that to the Westin's housekeeping staff.

Train in Vain

Back at home, Jake’s morning routine never varies: He gets up when we do. Bolts to the front door. Runs out to pee on a bush and then fetches the paper. (He used to make two trips but, sadly, Denver is now a one-newspaper town.) Brings it back to the kitchen. It’s his only real job and he is paid with one scoop of dog food. It’s the canine version of “Groundhog Day”…rain or shine or snow. He woke me up at the hotel 6:15 am this morning, probably wondering how this was going to work at the Westin. I threw on some jeans and a cap, got his leash and plastic food dish, and headed outside to a grassy area on the side. Breakfast al fresco on a crisp mountain morning. We walked across the street so I could get a coffee and a pastry. I took this photo on the railroad tracks on the way back.