Yep, that fungal meningitis scare was surreal. I am glad you are fine too Mayve and Vinnie's Mom I'm sorry your friend got ill. I'll never forget the day I heard the news 2 clinics in Texas got the tainted medication, then the news reported one clinic in Dallas- and I just knew it was the one I went to! I don't blame the doctor at all- he's actually a very well-respected pain medicine specialist in town; however, I do blame whoever in his office purchased the stuff all to save a few $$ by not going with a more conventional manufacturer of the medication. I didn't wait for the clinic to notify me- I called them that first day after I heard the news. The surgical assistant was very informative and up front letting me know exactly what I needed to watch for and what I needed to do if I experienced symptoms.

I will follow the criminal trials and the class action suit(s) carefully! If it weren't cruel and unusual I'd be happy to give them a dose of their own medicine and forfeiture of all their money, if it isn't already spirited away somewhere the Feds can't reach.

__________________


Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

Bad = Hurricane Sandy (that *****) and all the local devastation and heartache she brought.

Good = Still employed

Good = Angus born 5/1, home 6/24

Good = Axl turned 5 and no sign of slowing down.

__________________
Axl doing what he was BORN to do...

My memories:
Toby, my Golden recovering from FHO surgery.........
Then my brother suddenly died of a heart attack..........one of the worst days of my life.....
My labmix, diagnosed with fibrosarcoma on his left hind leg, two surgeries, clean margins, holding my breath........
Toby positive for Ehrlichia, limping again, diagnosed with arthritis in every limb....

The one truely happy occasion was when my youngest sister and her youngest son visited us in July.

I am already holding my breath to see what 2013 will bring.............

__________________
My boys from left to right:
Thunder Dachsi Toby




http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...is-issues.html

My Toby, my heart dog 3/12/2003 - 3/30/2013, I miss you Toby!


Christa

This year has certainly been a bumpy one.

I turned 25.... still feel like an 18 year old who doesn't know ANYTHING yet.

My best friend's wife died suddenly and dealing with that has been the hardest thing I've faced.

My father's health has deteroriated. We're going on year 5 (i think) of battling the same cancer over and over and over again, and I think it's finally taking its toll

My DH and I bought our first home and we celebrated our 5th anniversary this fall.

We got BEAR!

My dad came down to visit (he lives a few states away so visits are rare but always enjoyable!) and got to see the house and the puppy. I got to take care of him and bond w/ my step-mom some.

We're both employed. (Thank the gods!)

I'm excited to see what 2013 has to bring us.... hopefully less death and more happiness. I'm hoping my Dad will live at least a few more years. I'd like him to see his grandchildren that I'm not yet pregnant with (we're looking at a few years before we start trying) but realistically, I just want him to stay for as long as he is happy. When it's his time to go, it'll break my heart but I understand I cannot keep him here. No matter how much it'll hurt and no matter how much I'll miss him.

Cheers to the new year! Y'all remember to stay safe and no drinking and driving.

__________________




Follow Bear on Facebook!! He's Growing Up, Bear!

2012 Memories
The Good
Casey is doing great, sleeping more soundly and one eye seems to be bluing, but he is still joyful and bounds about, climbing onto the bed etc

Faelan earned his JH, NJP, OJP, OAP and AXP titles. He has matured into a loving, gorgeous dog, first up to greet me in the morning, last one to snuggle good night. The only time he willingly leaves my side is for hiking with my brother and for field training.

Towhee had a wonderful litter of 4 boys & 4 girls. She loves working, playing and enjoying her life. She is very patient with son Brady and I do look forward to her having a full tail once again! While she earned no titles this past year, she is poised to start accumulating them – she loves retrieving now and even will swim. Snow is a perpetual delight.

Brady came into my life, has begun obedience, agility & field training. He is now tall enough to jump onto the bed and (knock on wood) very clear on his signals to go out. He is a snuggler and eager learner although nibbling on my earrings is a trait I could live without LOL He has already shown an affinity for Therapy work in the days following the Sandy Hook shootings - not in Newtown but more locally helping my state.

My family is healthy and I have learned to not let bad neighbors push me around.

I remain employed at a good job with wonderful co-workers.

I have incredible friends and very few enemies.

The Bad: honestly, not so much and nothing I care to dwell upon for the personal.
Sandy Hook
Super Storm Sandy
The seeminging spiraling violence and people becoming either desperate enough or unprincipaled enough to increase robberies, stand-offs, home invasions, etc
Thinks that make me go hmmm:
The Sandy Hook shooter's body has finally been claimed for burial, but by someone who wishes to remain annomynous - another news station reports it was claimed by his father. To not even have a father want to claim your body or have it public knowledge to me is .. well .. indescribable. He had to have loved his son at some point in time, wouldn't you think?

__________________

Golden moments shared with
Casey, Faelan, Towhee & Brady too !

and forever in my heart, my golden Bridge boys
Rowdy & King

The good: Zoey was born and came into my life. We lost our last Golden during the middle of my mother's terminal battle with brain cancer. For years my father and I have been in a fog and Zoey has made all the difference. I can't imagine life without her! She's my dog but has also been so good for my father. Also good that my dad survived a health scare earlier this year. He was having trouble hearing and went in for tests. Unrelated to his hearing they found he had a growth the size of a baseball on 1/2 if his thyroid. Half his thyroid was removed and thank God not cancerous.

The in between: My niece had surgery to repair her eye sight- she's 9 and has been seeing double / triple for years. This has made her very self conscious and not want to do sports. She can see fine now but an MRI before her surgery showed some kind of cyst by her brain. Monitoring it to see if it changed and they are pretty sure it's not cancer but given that my mother died of a brain tumor I've been very stressed out over it.

The Bad: Sandy Hook: As a preschool teacher in New England it has greatly effected me and us not something I will forget anytime soon. One of my students mother actually went to Sandy Hook and her family and friends still lives in the town.
Also every single case if cancer I hear about. We have made so many strides medically but it's just not enough.

The Good: That I have my health, happiness, love of family, friends and my furbabes.

Chloe. I am thankful for everyday and for every goofy, pain in the a$$ thinks she thinks of doing that day. Mozart (Cat) is still with me
My family – they drive me crazy and sometimes I wish I was truly switched at the hospital and not related to these nutcases but I love them and really appreciate all that they have done for me.

My friends – I had to lose some friends this year but found some other ones up along the way

The opportunity to go back to school to finish my BA

A roof over my head, food in my fridge, a reliable car and a dependable job.

The Bad: In retrospect the bad isn’t so bad this year… my biggest complaint is not winning the Lottery

__________________

The Good .....my DH kept his job when others in his place of employment lost theirs (so sad). Then he got promoted, a bigger office & several great people to work with ......trip to America to visit son, his wife & 2 young grandchildren .......Loki born 6th August & with us September 26th .......hot summer (thus far) ........did not require spinal surgery ........new car fit for travelling with a large dog ........two sons with us for Christmas.

The Bad ........Sept 11th attacked by patient on ward I nurse on & herniated two discs with sciatic nerve compression ........off work for three months in constant pain ........nerve damage from knee into foot could be permanent & makes walking & working painful & difficult ........my DH lost a second brother in two years to cancer ( both in early 60s) .......my much-loved brother diagnosed with prostate cancer.