You, the loyal readers of this blog, seem well aware of my medical condition. You know that I was diagnosed with cancer and that I've had to undergo a course of radiation treatments and vaccinations that have taken a toll on my delicate Pit Bull constitution. Could one of you PLEASE inform my parents??? They did it to me again. They once again decided to go on vacation in the middle of my health crisis and toss me into a kennel. Oh, that's right, I forgot -- "Don't get sick in the summer!" Two vacations within the month? What are they all of a sudden -- FRENCH? This time they went on a short trip to, of all places, The Adirondack mountains. Now, I understand the 'Dacks are beautiful and all, but let's face it, when you think of my parents (not that you do, but if you had to), images of them hiking through the woods, "bagging peaks", canoeing and rock climbing don't automatically spring into view. More likely, and rightly so, this is the appropriate picture. They accepted a gracious offer from some friends to join them at a house they'd rented in "the middle of nowhere" (Dad's words). It was pointed out to them that while the house was situated on an unpaved road that was a turnoff from yet another unpaved road, it was closer to "the edge" of nowhere than the middle of it. I think Mom and Dad felt a little more at ease after hearing this -- until they were told of the recent Black Bear sightings, that is.
Here's a short video that was taken on one of the ledges on Pitchoff Mountain.
Dad went on the hike.
Mom went to the Art Fair.
Hungry after the hike (and the Art Fair), everyone gathered around the kitchen and dining room for a lot of great food... Leila's mini BLT's, Emily's appetizers and Marnie's corn salad and whole wheat fruit tarts (two separate items) were highlights. RR's breakfasts of apple pancakes, french toast and cheesy omelets were amazing -- so I'm told. So I'm told, because while they were relaxing up in the mountains, I was in North Plainfield freakin' New Jersey contracting Kennel Cough from that annoying Pomeranian in the next "suite". Suite? A quarter-inch thick, placemat-sized, artificial-lambswool-throw-rug and something called an "elimination patio" isn't exactly what I'd imagined a suite to be. ("Excuse me, Massimo, which way to the spa, per favore?)
Enough about them. As for me, I went for my last radiation treatment a couple of days after they got back. I think the combination of my being overly tired from the kennel coupled with the expected cumulative effect of the treatments left me kinda wiped out. I wasn't hungry (apparently a major cause for concern) and for reasons I won't go into, was put on a regimen of Pepto-Bismol and Immodium.
Thankfully, after a worrysome few days, I started eating again and was back to my "regular" habit of eliminating, not on the patio, but on the edge of the Bear-free woods just across the paved street in front of my very own house.
Patios, if you ask me, are best left for BBQ's and beer...
