It is Really Tough to get GOOD help these days...

Seriously. It is really hard to get good help these days.

Fr’instance. Yesterday, Mom goes on a hike with this group of people from the RV park, partially because she wanted to go hiking, and partially because the hike leaders have “wintered” at this same park for the last several seasons and she wanted to pick their brains about places that I could go hiking. Because dogs aren’t allowed in National Parks. Someone jokingly suggested that Mom get me a ‘Service Dog’ vest to wear, and then I’d be allowed in, but Mom said that I wasn’t “well behaved enough” to get away with it. Me? Not well behaved? The nerve! So Mom goes off on this hike (which was in Zion National Park, and so I couldn’t go along…), and comes back with a bunch of pictures, and is all fired up about hiking.

Cool. Because hiking is good.

So today, Mom and Dad took me on a short walk around the RV park, and then Dad said that he wanted to go on a short hike. He hasn’t been hiking since his ankle surgery (over a year and a half ago), and wanted to ease into it. Ease is fine. So we drive the Box on Wheels (Mom says it’s a Jeep, but I think it looks like a box on wheels, and so that’s what I’m going to call it) just a little bit up the road and parked and went on a two mile hike. Which was great fun, as I got to get all dusty, and sniff things (although Dad pulled me away from this spiky plant thingy before I got too close). BUT. But, my secretary and photojournalist DIDN’T BRING THE CAMERA. Hello? McFly?!?

It was a great hike. Really. And Mom promises me that she’ll bring the camera next time.

Uh-huh. Sure, Mom. I think I may have to get a backpack and carry it myself to make sure that it goes on every hike.

Note from Fi’s Mom: Yep. You may very well be getting your own backpack – so you can carry your own water and dish.

Okay. Whatever. So. We get back from the hike, and Mom decided to test out the pool and hot tub. So far, this RV Park has 5 paws from all parties involved.

Then Mom had to go grocery shopping. I declined to go along, because I saw Mom’s list and she had a lot of stuff to get. And because some of the stuff on the list was non-grocery, she decided to go to Wal-Mart in Hurricane. Before Mom and Dad left Park City, three separate people told Mom that one form of entertainment in southern Utah is to go to Wal-Mart and watch the polygamists shop. Mom kind of laughed, knowing that there are polygamist colonies down south, but didn’t think much of it.

Note from Fi’s Mom: For those of you who don’t live in Utah/Idaho/Arizona, yes, there is a fairly sizeable population of fundamentalist Mormons who still practice polygamy. And unless the local church leader is actively marrying 14-16 year old girls to 40-something year old guys, law enforcement pretty much turns a blind eye. Heck, there was a town a few years ago where the Sheriff/Chief of Police (or someone like that) was a polygamist. I think he got arrested mostly because the state felt that having someone sworn to uphold the state laws, who was actively breaking one was probably not the legal representative they were looking for… Anyhoo, while the ‘mainstream’ Mormon church has officially stepped away from polygamy, there are plenty of people who practice polygamy. The women are readily identified by the long-sleeve, floor-length dresses they wear and long hair (either in a braid or bun of some sort).

So, Mom goes to Wal-Mart, and before she even got out of the car, called Dad to tell him that all the people telling her about the polygamists at Wal-Mart weren’t kidding. Apparently Mom saw a bunch of polygamists, but since her phone battery was dying, didn’t attempt to sneak any pictures. Because Dad has never seen a polygamist. Mom says that’s because the only place in Utah that Dad has ever lived is Park City, and there aren’t obvious polygamists in the Park City boundaries.

After coming back from Wally World, Mom decided that she wanted to get a map of the hiking/biking in the area so they could pick hiking trips that I could go on, and so they could also scope out road biking routes. A bike shop in Springdale (right at the entrance to Zion Nat’l Park) was recommend as a good place to go for advice, so Mom loaded me up, and we drove the 15 or so miles to the bike shop. And the closer you get, the more stunning the scenery gets.

But did Mom bring her camera with her? Say it with me… Of Course Not!!!!

I swear, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get good help these days!

The only plus is that Mom got this great map that shows all sorts of places that Mom and Dad can go hiking with me. And Mom found some good places for them to go bye-sickling, so that made Mom and Dad happy.

So, I will leave you with pictures of Mom’s hike from yesterday. The one I wasn’t allowed to go on because it was in a National Park. And what is up with that? Am I not a part of this great nation? Why can’t I get to see the wonders of the world, too? I’m going to have to talk to my congressman. Assuming that he’s not dining with the local polygamist leader…

(Biggify these for the full effect.)


*sigh* I guess I can't fire my own mother, huh?

*kissey face*
-Fiona

Picture-less Friday

Okay, so maybe Mom will get a REAL post up soon, but in the meantime, here's an update:

1) My Granny is out of the hospital (YAY, Granny!!!), and it sounds like she is doing much better. I am certain that all of your healing thoughts helped her immensely. She says thank you, BTW.

2) TaiChi had to go to the vet, two days in a row. A few days ago she started being all squinty-eyed, and since she didn't have her pirate hat on, I knew she wasn't playing Pirate. Our regular vet checked her eyes, and determined that she hadn't scratched the eye, but that she had more 'pressure' in her squinty eye, suggesting that maybe she had "glaw-coma". So they suggested that she get to a vet that specializes in eyes (they've got some big long name for them, but I can't spell it), and Mom was able to get her an appointment The Very Next Day. The specialty vet checked her eyes and determined three things:

a) she didn't have "glaw-coma" (Yay!)

b) she does have an inflammation in the middle and inner part of her eye, but they can give her medications for this, even though she has heart and kidney problems, and it should be all better in a couple of weeks (Yay, again! Although I want to buy her a Pirate hat in the meantime... I may have to see what Photoshop and I can do...)

c) she has "senile cataracts" (which has nothing to do with waterfalls, I found out); this means that while she can see, she can't see well enough to drive (or read, but she's more of a teevee person anyway), so Mom has finally had to take her car keys away. TaiChi's bummed about this, but since she can't see over the dashboard in the Big Yellow Car, she's not too sad. However, since I'm not old enough to drive yet, TaiChi and Bufus and I now have to rely completely on Mom and Dad for our transportation needs. I'm not sure what I think about this, as TaiChi was always up for a midnight Frosty Paws run...

3) Mom and Dad are "taking the day off" (from bye-sickle-ing) because they are Very Tired from their ride yesterday. In my experience when Mom and Dad take the day off, I either get to go on a long hike, or I get to go to The Park. And I think today is going to be another Park day!!! I hope Maggie is there! And I saw a box from Petco come in, so I bet there might be something for me to chase in there!

Anyhoo, that's the non-photographed excitement for the day. Maybe if we go to The Park (hint, hint!), Mom will get some pictures.

*kissey face*
-Fiona, the unphotographed

Yes, I am still alive

Although if you had to rely on my Mom's typing, you'd never know it. *sheesh*

She has been (and I quote) "super busy the last couple of days". Yeah. Clearly. No pictures. Short walks. Fetching in the backyard rather than at the park. Hello?!? Remember me? Your Daughter?!?

*sigh*

And now she's getting ready for a car race tomorrow. At least we are taking The House With Wheels, so it's not like I'll be left behind. And TaiChi and Bufus will come with me, so I won't be lonely while they are off doing their silly car thing tomorrow.

Mom PROMISES me that she'll give me some computer time to catch up with everyone, and to get a better post up, but, well, I'll believe that when I see it. In the meantime, I'm going to go see if I can sneak up and eat the cat food!

*kissey face*
-Fiona