Perfect time of year for walking dogs

Back from the ranch and walking Zoe and Toby. My watch says 9k steps. And my hip is definitely feeling it but still mobile. I've got an appointment today with the ortho so we'll make some decisions.

Nothing on the schedule tomorrow. I love empty days.

Dana will drive back from Tyler tomorrow morning. It has been nice and quiet being here but I miss having her around too and Toby will, of course, go crazy.

It was a lovely day for walking dogs. Perfect temp and overcast. Duke agreed:




I'd actually never seen him run up the ramp to the table but it was fun to have him at my height. He and another pitty by the name of Grace - here's Grace --



came to the Ranch at the same time. They were skittish and not really onboard with the experience having been bait dogs and forced to fight and live in crappy conditions. But they are both changing a lot now. They are getting used to being loved on and their personalities are increasingly social with people. It is so nice to see. They will never be on the lovable level as Khaleesi but they are obviously happy to clean my face and would jump in my lap if they were a bit smaller.

I'm checking boxes to organize the trip to Jacksonville.  The dog care is going to be a lot.  $500 for the two of them to have someone come to the house four times a day.  Feed them and let them out.  If it was just Toby I wouldn't worry but Zoe has to go out frequently as she drinks a lot of water.  But I think we've found someone.  She's coming over to meet us on Thursday so Dana can meet her and she can talk to the dogs.  

It's way too much money but these two have never been left alone before.  One of us is always here.  And it is kind of a one time deal.  

So dogs, check.  To/from airport, check. Air travel, check. I still need to reserve an Uber/Lyft from the Jax airport to our VRBO house but I've checked a few times and there is always availability.  The blues festival is not so big that it will much impact transportation.  So we have a place to stay and VIP tickets within walking distance.  And plenty of places to eat in the area.  One advantage of staying at the beach is it is set up to walk to food.  Add to that the vendors at the festival and we're in good shape.  We leave in three weeks.

Junteenth

Because we live in a suburb that contains a Sun City we gots lots of oldies.  And they need a lot of after market hardware.  So the hospitals in this area are experts and very busy with joint replacement.  Plus they have to wait three months from when I got a cortisone shot before they can do anything.

So my hip replacement is scheduled for 19 June or, as we call it in Texas, Junteenth. 

I'll be ready.  I had a good talk with the ortho guy.  He's ex military too so we have similar thinking styles and connect really well.  He listened to what I had to say and fully agreed with my reasoning.  The cortisone worked and when it was working my leg pain receded to very near zero and I could reach my toes and get in and out of the car with no pain.  Then it was no longer effective and I'm back where I was.

The leg problem is hip.  And it is not going to go away with anything less than a replacement.

I'll be so ready by June.