Reliving The Past (Four Weeks)

So it has been a week since back in McCord - back to the old grind.  Lambing is in full force, so the dogs get to work everyday - which is good for them.  Of course, I don't bring the young guys out - the old ewes can be quite the dears at this time of the year. 

During the time in which I am waiting for lamb bottles to warm up, I thought I would reminisce of the events of last month.

Kelly met her niece at Louanne Twa's - a striking family resemblence does exist.

 On slow days of the clinic, I would take the phone and the dogs and go train - this day was at Jerry Kubatoff's

 Louanne and Michelle Bryan was there that day as well.

Louanne being bossy.

I had brought the young dogs out to go through their paces - backup was needed.

 These shoes were made for walking.

 But a nice walk it was.

 A photo opportunity existed at every moment.

Very keen students.

 Louanne and Gus - showing off.

 On one weekend I was asked to judge the Highland Stockdog Trial - there were a lot of new faces and dogs present.

Then of course, there were the old faces.  Oil of Olay Chris....Oil of Olay.

But the old farts showed the youngsters the way it was done.

 

 Another old fart - Jill Brodie.

 Corey Perry was there - he paid me enough to allow him to win the day. 

 Louanne and Isla, showing how it is done.

 The famous Stormy Winters, showing us....

 ....us how to pen into the exhaust pen.

 Doug Finseth came out with Maude.

 Louanne made sure that she brought her favorite sheep for Meg to do her runs.

Naomi Shields and Nim came out to play - it is always a good day when your dog doesn't grip the sheep. 

On one of the last days while in Alberta, I went to train at Louanne's, and she showed the secret weapons of a trainer.  Behold, the scary flag.

 As you can see, the flag helps in keeping the dog out of the sheep...and in this case...out of the picture.

 If the flag doesn't work, then the next step is the paddle.  And barring that, the shovel - and if you hit the dog hard enough, you can use it to bury him.

 The youngster that Louanne was working with, needed a little paddling.

 I did not stick around for the shovel exercise.

Have Vet Licence - Will Travel

So I have this gig that I have been doing for the last 10 years or so, doing locums at various vet clinics.  I have found that it works out quite well - people don't get sick of me and vice versa.  Since moving to Saskatchewan, I have found a more permanent home at Poplar Valley Animal Clinic at Mankota.  My old dog Fly gets to come to work with me - and she spends a busy day sleeping under the desk - a clinic dog if you will.  I barely see Alan the boss - while I am there he is off doing what has to be done at his own place.  The same goes for me - when I am not working, I am doing what has to be done - whether that be working sheep, working cows, working dogs, or working at getting the gumption to clean the house. I recently renewed my Alberta and Saskatchewan licences, since you have to have a licence in each province you work in.  I have only a few demerit points on them...oh, that might be my driver's licence I am thinking about - easily done when you drive the miles I do. 

There has been a clinic in Alberta that has been a regular stint for me.  The owner and his wife make their way for their annual winter holiday for a month in Hawaii as I look after the clinic, and their dog Kiera.  I have been doing this for the last ...oh my gosh....9 years!  How time flies when your having fun (paying bills).  When doing a locum, sometimes the clients will question your abilities, or be leery about making an appointment.  As I get older, it gets easier, since I look older and obvious with age there should be experience.  Then there are the clients that try to pull the wool over your eyes, stating that "Dr. So-and-So aways gives me a discount." or "I came in two years ago for my dog's ears, and I can get medication at anytime." If I could have got paid a dollar every time I heard these comments, I probably could have retired already.  Sorry people, I worked very hard for my licence...I follow things to the letter.  Next time, ask your pharmacist if you can pick up some antibiotics without seeing your doctor - I am sure you won't walk out with any medication either-unless it is Chapstick and Preparation-H (please read directions on how to administer-don't want to mix up the ends).
While I was here, the excitement started when when I woke up and just about stepped in Kiera's diarrhea - yup, the little dog was upset about her owners leaving her.  I practiced my placing intravenous fluids on her, and a few days she was as good as new (as new as a 12 year old, blind Miniature Schnauzer can be).  Puppy vaccines, spays, neuters, a fluke infested Catahoula hound, preg checking, a horse that got killed by a kick to its head by its pasture mate, an exciting hour of trying to castrate a horse (which ended up having enough drugs to drop and elephant, but not enough to drop this pig), and a week of caring for "Maple", the 13 year old Cocker Spaniel who got ran over by her owner and broke her pelvis - she is trucking along quite well now-it was all in a days work.  James Herriot eat your heart out. 

As I worked in Alberta for this month, I have decided it will be the last year I will work away from home.  Nineteen years of going to clinics away from home can be placed in the annals of history for this vet.  It has been a ride, but I have run out of gas.

One bright note - I bet I won't get any speeding tickets going to Mankota from our ranch!

February Foto

Okay, time for picture of the month. If you aren't a regular to this blog - SHAME ON YOU!!!  This year, I am putting a picture of old derelict things I find in southern Saskatchewan.  At first I thought I would put this picture up...

 ...but I then remembered I was going to go for old barns, and other old relics.  So, here is the picture for this month.

The caption - I Feel Like I Am Dragging My Ass.



The Toughest Road Of All

I have been in many roads in my life, some roads are quite winding - you never know what is at the end of the curve until you finish it.  My trek to become a vet had its road involved - an eight year travel which saw me wind my way through a B.S.A. degree in Saskatoon, followed by a stint of driving on the opposite drive of the road in England for a few months before driving my way to a chicken plant in Wynyard (I can tuck a turkey tail in less than 10 seconds - you had too, that was how fast the line was going), then to a feed company in Saskatoon for half a year before the Vet college allowed me to park my vehicle outside its hallowed halls.  The trip through vet college had quite a few late night drives - either driving back from studying for the next exam, or driving from a dance on the weekend, or driving from my friends after a night of "Supper and The Simpsons" - and The Simpsons is still on television, as is my friendship with Dr. Dave and his wife Penny - 23 years and counting-a long trip.

Some roads can be bumpy at times, such as that road of marriage.  First it is full of fun hills and sharp curves, exhilarating at times, then for many miles it can be a flat drive, where there are no curves, or hills in the horizon, and you can put the vehicle on autopilot.  Often, there are the bumpy bits- some more bumpy than others-where you have to slow down, take off the cruise and maybe even stop to determine a better route for your destination.  There may be some discussion on the best route to take - you may have to take a road that you may not think is the best route, but since your spouse is sometimes in the driver's seat, you let them take the wheel.  Sharing the driving is important so that your partner does not get overtired.  As well, you don't want to get too distracted and hit the ditch - so know when it is time to allow your spouse to take the wheel-and be prepared to take the wheel if your heart is not in it to drive- we all have to take turns.   Sometimes the marriage vehicle you drive may have a complete breakdown - and it has to be put in the shop to have it fixed.  It may be a minor fix that takes little time- or it may be a major fix which takes months -but often it takes the two of you to get it done, sometimes with the help of a mechanic.  Often when you're driving with your spouse, you may go on a road that you have been on before-sometimes they may be the fun hills - and sometimes they may be routes that lead to the same familiar, bumpy trip- in which you know the exact bump which can be hit which causes a slight case of whiplash.  Yes, a pain in the neck it can be.  Sometimes you are smart enough to drive around those bumps so not to test the shocks, and other times -you get forgetful-and find yourself riding those same bumps again. You try to remind yourself not to repeat that trip again...but once in awhile you have that urge to go on that same, bumpy route - testing those shocks again.  And once again, the neck brace comes out.  You would think you would learn.

 For a few marriages, you may get into separate vehicles and drive your separate ways for awhile - not that you want to, but because you have to.  The road may not be the same road, but may be a parallel road - and you meet up again miles in the distance - ditch one of the vehicles and jump in together again travelling again on the road of life. There are other marriages where spouses jump into separate cars and make their own trips, and their roads never converge again - each taking different journeys that lead to different places.  Unfortunately, the insurance policy runs out on these marriages and the vehicle is left on the side of the road-with the engine out of oil and a few flat tires.  Often a new driver gets the engine going again, and a new trip is planned, and a new journey is taken.

This is Chris and my 20th year of driving -the anniversary will be this August.  We have driven many miles together, some bumpy, some smooth.  There have been a few separate trips which we have made - a few that seemed to have been provinces apart for a period of time, but mostly we are in the same vehicle.  We have had to top up the oil, overhaul the engine once and fix a few tires along the way - but the vehicle is still running fine.  I don't expect this vehicle to mile out until we have miled out ourselves.

For new couples starting this journey, remember a few things.

1.  Occasionally, you have to drive on the bumpy roads to get to where you have to go.

2. If you get on a bumpy road - slow down and save your teeth.

3.  If you are on a highway, you may want to slow down and enjoy the view.  Heck, stop and take a few pictures along the way.

4. Whether you think you need them or not, don't forget the tune ups -they are needed to keep that vehicle going.

5.  Renew the air freshener often, you may have to cover the stench once in awhile.  The Pine Tree Air freshener or Febreeze - it doesn't matter which one.

6.  If it seems like the same stench is smelled time and time again - make sure there is not a dead fish caught between the seats.  If there is one, throw it out the window and clean vehicle interior thoroughly.

7.  If you are the one driving, you may have control of the radio and the air conditioner - within reason of course.

8. Check the air in your tires.

9.  If you hear a squeak - don't turn up the radio to tune it out - find out what it is.

10.  Don't worry if you have to stop and ask for directions along the way.  If you don't, you may find yourself hopelessly lost.