Category Archives: Dogs

Dogs, Elk Run, Mountains, Writing

An Approval I Care About

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Big news. My LTC claim. A thick letter from Allianz. Your claim? Approved. Big news because it should pay most, if not all, of my Elk Run bill. It’s a big one.

When the house sells, I will fold up that phase of my life and put it in a lower dresser drawer. Maybe take it out on holidays.

With those complex hangovers from my Shadow Mountain life resolved I can concentrate on organizing my books. Will take a look at my last three novels Missing, Jennie’s Dead, and Superior Wolf. The first draft of Jennie’s Dead, three quarters finished, makes sense as a place to start.

Shadow went to play with Annie. An afternoon of running, running, running.

The sun has begun to disappear behind the spinning earth. Bergen Mountain slopes toward Elk Meadow. Grasses move in a gentle wind. I’ll finish this and in about a half an hour walk to the elevator and go to dinner.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, The Move

Transition

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Not sure how I missed yesterday. But, I did. I’m here now.

To chatgpt: My dog, Shadow, an Aussie Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix, moved with me from Shadow Mountain to Elk Run. She gets walked at least 5 times a day from caregivers. They love and treat her with kindness. She learned pooping and peeing while on a leash quickly. She no longer pees inside at all. She has regressed on pooping, now pooping in my bedroom and not outside. Looking for help to get her back on track.

A transition for both of us. For me: meeting new people. Regular meals. Smaller space. Much less daily responsibility. Getting help with dressing and showering. For her: many new friends– caregivers, staff, other residents. Regular walks on a leash. Less personal freedom.

We’ll get it worked out.

Yesterday Robin worked away while I chatted with Alan. I saw both Rubin’s this week. They leave next Thursday for a luxury cruise featuring Athens, Istanbul, and several Greek islands. They will have a butler. Of course they will.

Long term care claim working through its process. My house is very popular on the MLS. That’s fine. Though. I need one of the lookie loos to commit.

 

Dogs, Feelings, Memories, Minnesota, Travel

Good Dogs

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Friend Rich Levine came by for breakfast. He asked me what my most exciting outdoor adventure was. I thought: screwing up my courage so I could traverse “fat man’s misery” and do the Mammoth Cave tour. Maybe running through the rain at Turkey Creek State Park in Indiana.  Hiking up the switchback trail of Haleakala’s caldera and down into its cloud-filled basin.

Nope. I remembered. The whiteout on Lake Saginaw. On a dogsled trip in the Boundary Waters. Coming back from seeing petroglyphs, our teams following Arlie, our guide, heavy snow and high winds blinded us to each other. No guide. One day into dogsledding and I had no idea where to go or what to do.

Trust the dogs. That was it. They knew where the camp was and they wanted to get fed. Took my foot off the brake. Yelled, hike! And off they went. I stood on the sled and let them carry me through the whiteout and back to camp. Good dogs!

Cancer, Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health, Shadow Mountain

The Dark

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A bit of a kerfuffle right now over Shadow. Nashay, the caregiver who described the dangers of the dark-bears, racoons, rabid foxes-with such quavery passion refused to take Shadow out. l protested. She said nobody would take her out. Devolved into her “calling her supervisor.” Who has not showed up. Gonna be a bigger issue as we move toward Samain, then the Winter Solstice.

Telehealth call has me a little anxious. How far has my cancer advanced? Could be minimal; could be a lot. Affects my longevity.

Lunch with Ginny and Janice and two of their friends from Milwaukee. One of them, Janice’s former student at the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, has become a well-known costume designer. Looking forward to it.

Feeling a little down today. Nashay, whom I dislike. The only staff person here I don’t like. Since she’s my assigned caregiver on certain nights… Then, come to Jesus time about cancer. As well as selling my house and still in the midst of unpacking, settling in.  A lot. Glad I’m talking to Tom today and having lunch out.

 

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health

Now

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All the book boxes have been unloaded and their content shelved. Thanks Ginny and Janice. This means my living room has begun to take shape. The chairs have been moved back so there’s more room in front of them, yet enough space to access my books.

Ginny will pick up Shadow sometime after nine for doggy time with Annie and Luna. Shadow has a chance to run, visit friends. I’m grateful for that.

Still very weak, but as Janice pointed out, “Yes, but consider where you were two months ago.” Two months today I had just gotten out of rehab, tripped coming into the house, and felt like I should have stayed in rehab. So, fair enough.

I can navigate with the cane. As I said, stamina and leg strength are priorities. In rehab the standard line for recovery had a formula: 3 days recovery for every day in a hospital bed. Roughly 3 months for me. This is the end of month two. As Janice rightly pointed out, I’m much further along now than then.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health

Hearing

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Settling in at Elk Run. Until the place gets put together, a while yet, that process will continue.

It will take longer to settle in with the people. In part due to a fundamental problem–poor hearing. In the dining room the clank of glasses, rising and falling chatter, the ping of silverware on plates, makes hearing a challenge. It also interferes with thought. Hard to think with all the noise. As Mike said, waving his hands over his ears, distressed, “I can’t think with all this.”  Bothered me, too.  As a result, we often trail off mid-sentence, giving over our conversations to the chaos.

Shadow seems happy. She likes her walks, her times with Annie, and playing with me.

Alan and Joanne came by yesterday. We spoke of many things. The marginalization of creativity; whether an AI doomsday await us all, my doggie. It was a delight to have them here.

Stamina sucks. Need to workout in long hallway. Thighs are weak. Strengthening my legs and increasing stamina: priorities.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Judaism

Polynesia?

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Yesterday we had the last cookout for the year. A Polynesian theme. If you call tikka bar themed decorations, paper leis, and fire dancers Polynesian. Not my thing. The former elementary teacher, Marsha, though leaned toward me and said, “We’ve got a lot of action today!” Different strokes.

Working my regular zoom calls into the breakfast schedule: 7:00 to 8:30. Makes things tight for an 8 am call. Probably going to a 9 am MT start time. Depends on others.

Ordered Starlink yesterday. Only 100 mpbs available in Evergreen. Should be adequate. Also ordered a new duvet. Thinking winter.

Braelynn did my laundry. Nashay helped me get dressed for bed. Both of them walked Shadow. Good people. The staff here.

Discovered that Michelle, head of health services, served as a nurse for Kate. She remembered Kate’s signature red glasses, her J-tube wound, and how lively she was. She also remembered me as Kate’s caregiver. Mountain world is a small town.

Ginny picked up Shadow for a playdate with Annie. A chance for her to run, play. At least once a week. Ginny and Janice also opened and cleared out six boxes, when they brought Shadow back. Coming this morning to help some more. My sisters from another mother.

Rabbi Jamie’s coming by this afternoon. First time I will have seen him since he got back from Alaska.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Shadow Mountain, White Supremacy

She Ate With Delicacy

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My first weekend at Elk Run. Very quiet. Still eating meals at home so Shadow can settle in. Plan on breakfast out this morning after Shadow comes back from her morning walk. Out, of course, meaning in our dining room.

Shadow got back from her walk with Lizzy. I’m headed up for breakfast.

Rich Levine’s coming by today. Haven’t seen him since July. I always enjoy talking to him.

Meals, Shadow, sleeping have that still adjusting feeling. No routine. Which is fine for now.

Hopefully Robin gets the house cleared out this week. Ready to get it on the market. Be completely out from under thinking about it. Once Robin’s done my priority will shift to getting this place in shape. Lots to do. Matt (realtor) will be in charge of the house.

Back from breakfast. Sat alone, admiring the mountain view overlooking Jeffco county 74. I will gradually engage Elk Run. Slowly. This is a long term stay.

Had a treat yesterday. Looked out my living room window as an Elk bull walked by. Confident. In charge. A bit later, three cows, one with a calf. The third stayed behind, enjoying hill side greens. She ate with delicacy. A mouth full or two then she would move on to another plant.

In the mountains. Still.

Dogs, Elk Run, Fourth Phase, Shadow Mountain

Elk Run. Shadow Mountain.

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So Shadow peed, a little bit, on the carpet. Going to call housekeeping for their advise, help. Not with her, with the carpet. She’s doing so much better than I feared. This is a blip.

I’ve taken all my meals in the apartment since she came back on Thursday. Wanted to give her a few days where I was with her around the clock. Today I plan to eat lunch in the dining room. Leave her alone for a while. A process.

The staff has been diligent about taking her out though due to their other duties walk times have fluctuated by as much forty-minutes to an hour. Dogs like routine so this isn’t ideal, but it’s the best I can expect.

Most of the staff love dogs so she’s getting good care from walkers that appreciate her. Only one hesitated in the doorway, insisted I put the leash on her. An urban gal, Mashay explained that since it was beginning to get dark it would soon be dangerous, “You know. Bears. Raccoons. Mountain Lions.” Her fear was palpable. Bet she knows how to deal with a city night, one many would find intimidating.

Several of the caregivers drive up the hill from Lakewood, Denver. That means early morning drives on I-70. Right now that’s not too bad since they’re driving against traffic. Come the snow, however, it will clog up with ski traffic and/or accidents. Would not surprise me if November, early December finds new caregivers at work.

It has been a September of yesteryear. Cooling gradually. The days grow shorter. Some rain. I find it nostalgic.  A reminder of how far we have strayed from back to school, football evenings. The slow slide from cool nights to cool days, harvest weather. How wonderful it’s been.

Robin and Connie worked Friday getting Shadow Mountain organized. Move to storage. Donate. Consign. Haul as trash. Four different paths.

Marina Harris, of Furball Cleaning, my long time house cleaners, comes on Monday to see where rooms might need touch up painting. She will also schedule the deep clean that will precede staging. The locksmith who will rekey the house will come this week, too. Will be glad when the house returns money to me rather than laying out cash here and there, everywhere.

 

Dogs, Elk Run, Shadow Mountain

The Move and Its Sequelae

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Learned something odd yesterday. Shadow is the only dog here. Lot of cats. No other doggies. Thanks to her walks taking her past the lobby on the way outside she has become, according to Michelle, head of health services, “A big hit!” Shadow’s a friend to women and will tolerate men she’s come to know. Lotta women here.

She continues to pee and poop while on her walks. This is a great relief. l worried she might pee on the carpet. Not so far.

Having her here comforts me and she seems ok with lazing around the apartment. Her favorite spot is in front of the door. l think she’s figured out that’s the choke point for intruders. She guards it, barking at any who come near. Sort of like Iran and the Straits of Hormuz.

Been burning through money. Roof. Packers. Movers. Melissa’s last two weeks. Storage unit. Packers and movers for that. Security deposit plus other move in costs. Eleven grand on that one alone. Gotta get on the long term care insurance. As the stress level reduces. I’ve decided that Elk Run will be the best experience I can make it.

Meanwhile Robin clears out the stuff not going into storage or coming here. After. Deep clean. Staging. On the market. A lot of headwind for a home sale, but I feel good about Matt Bachus, my realtor. The house has good bones and a workable layout plus the four car garage and the loft. A short flat driveway. Near to both Conifer and Evergreen. Lot of pluses.

Meanwhile I’m learning the ways of Elk Run. Example. My caregiver J said I could have a grilled cheese sandwich instead of the weekly menu’s dinner item. Sam, the chef, grouched about it, but since I was new, agreed. There are other ways to get alternate food choices which require advance notice. Learning curve.

Next week’s focuses: long term care insurance and starlink installation.

Right now getting the house ready to go on the market is the number one priority and I have Robin and Matt to handle that, so I’ll pay attention to priorities here at Elk Run.