Farewell Old Buddy

It is a sad day in the household today, we lost our buddy Zep (Led Zepplin) last night, Zep was the older of our two dogs and came to us from one of Andy’s girlfriends as a pup in 1999, he was raised by Duke, the Yellow Lab Husky mix we had at the time, and after Duke passed away a year ago, He became the mentor of Rigg’s our younger dog when he came as a puppy. I think he was more of the kindly Grandfather figure than a dad. He would put up with all of Rigg’s puppy shenanigans but of course there were several rules, one was Zep ate first, and two was when he had enough he would growl and Rigg’s would assume the submissive position and then Zep was happy again. Rigg’s wants to tell you about it, he is really upset.

“My buddy Zep wasn't feeling good again, He's been awfully sick, that's why for a couple of weeks I wasn't getting into anything, I

was sitting by him all the time and trying to make him better.  I would lick him and give him as much love as I could....Then a week ago he started feeling better so I didn't have to stay by his side all the time...But yesterday he started feeling bad again.

He even let me eat first, in fact he didn't eat at all and he  looked awfully sad.

Then last night he got worse, I was so scared, he started coughing and trying to throw up but couldn't.  He let me lick his face

and show him I loved him, then he started crying and then I was really scared and I started crying.

Then about 930 he laid down and he didn't wake up.  I tried kisses but he wouldn't move and I was so sad.  Zeps man Andy was sitting on the floor and crying so hard, I tried to lick away all the tears, but they just came too fast, so I just sat and looked over my buddy. I think of that song. I'm going to miss you my friend, I'm going to miss your smile, even knowing how it ended I'd do all over again.

So play it sweet in heaven because I know that's where you need to be. I'm going to miss you my friend.

Bye Zeppy (Led Zeppelin) Andy loved you so much, as did Mom, Dad, Adam and me.

                 

               

                             Zep in healthier days.

               

                                           Zep & Andy

               

                                     Adam & Zep

Yes good bye old buddy hope you are with your buddy Duke, boy the companionship and memories you have provided this whole family with, money can’t buy. We’ll miss you,Love Sam, Donna,Andy,Adam,&Riggs.

Sam’s Back

Yep, got back from my latest bus adventure at 0600am I was supposed to be back at 2200pm Sat according to the work order, but the team played three games instead of one so we didn’t leave Conway AR. until 1930PM Sat which to go almost 400 miles takes you eight hours of driving time not including a rest stop every three hours so they can stretch their legs and use the facilities. So I dropped them off at the college in Fayette MO. at 04:30am Sun and then it was 45minutes to the terminal about 45minutes getting the bus ready to park and then a one hour commute home. Donna had the coffee ready and two plain cake donuts since I can’t have the good ones.

I may have said this but these college kids I have been taking are really great, this group was the ladies fast pitch softball team. Remember way back when President Nixon’s “Silent Majority”was his theme. Well these kids are like that, the face of America’s best, Just good kids, values, responsible, Polite, just really fun for an old guy like me to be around, don’t forget in my 30 years as a cop I saw many of the other side that were getting the headlines and the kids I have been meeting make you glad to see we still have a pretty good bunch of young people they just don’t get the headlines like the trash does. And for all my Canadian friends I know your colleges are producing just as many great young people, and really who do we have to thank for this but the Silent Majority of parents out there that took the time to instill these values.

Ready for another Riggen adventure , as usual after two days away when I hit the door my buddy was overcome with gladness to see his Dad, I got the full body wag and the licks and cries that go with it, it usually takes him 5 or 10 minutes to finally settle down. I  hate to see what he will be like in March when I have a six day trip scheduled.

Anyway there was a package waiting for me that arrived in the mail. It was a small box and inside packed and surrounded by Styrofoam was a rechargeable battery pack for my scanner from scanner world.

While I was downstairs in my office trying to compose something for this post Riggen stole the box off the kitchen table and proceeded to shred the Styrofoam all over the kitchen so it looked like it snowed in there , Boy was Mom happy.

                

                                  Here is with the box.

                     

                   

                       He just realized he’s in trouble again.

That's it for today, I have to catch up on reading the blogs I follow and then wishing I was sitting in the Pool like Rick, from Rick & Paulette's Blog. Or meeting other bloggers like the Bayfield Bunch have been doing. Until later, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Another Trip

Started the day as usual, coffee with Donna, she then left at 05:30am for the truck company, she also has restaurant duty tonight, a double shift for her. She hopefully will sleep in tomorrow as no truck company on Saturdays. Sam will be leaving shortly to pick up the bus and then take a girls college softball team from Fayette MO to Conway AR. Same school as last week but softball instead of baseball, don’t kid yourself as these college girls can throw a mean softball, I wouldn’t want one to hit me in the face.
Rigg’s wanted you to see an e-mail he sent his Mom after he got a present the other day Dad brought him home a new Ducky, his favorite toy, must be the bird instinct in him when he sees a bird on the ground outside he points and then inch by inch stalks them until they take flight then its run and bark. Here is his e-mail.
“Mom, Look what I got, Dad came home from the store and when he was emptying the bag he said he had something for me, it’s a new ducky mom, dad said it was from you and him for at least trying to be a good boy, you should here it,  It quacks when I bite it and I have been carrying it around showing it off to Andy and Zep. Oh boy, thanks Mom I knew you loved me but I really love getting presents and now I have a new ducky to play with. I love you mom”, Riggen…..

This was my first Ducky when I was a baby,playing tired me out then.

This is my new ducky, boy I sure grew in a year.
He really enjoys his duckeys but now they only last about a month before the head and wings and legs are chewed off.
Well I guess I better get going. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Another Rigg’s Adventuring and other memories

I will start today’s blog with another Adventure of Riggen the wonder dog, first I have to lay the groundwork as there needs to be a little ground work so it can be better understood, First every fall Donna bakes Christmas cookies by the thousands to take to her work and mine,  This year (2009) was little different as we had to leave on a trip to my hometown in Scranton Pa. to visit with my younger brother Rick who was suffering from terminal colon cancer.(He passed away December 30th leaving a 17 year old daughter, Rick was 56 years old and a single father with his daughter at home with him.). Sam of course since he was very close to Rick wanted to see him alive versus at a funeral.

 

          Rick and his daughter Barb on a visit to our house in Mo.

             

When we returned from this trip in early December we found out about Riggens latest adventure.

Here it is. As related by Mom.

This fall has been really hectic and then with going out of town, my annual Christmas cookie baking

marathon has not materialized.

Riggins was so thoughtful while we were gone. He knew people would be disappointed if I didn’t have holiday cookies

that he went into the pantry and got out 2 bags of chocolate chips, 2 bags brown sugar (1 light 1 dark just like I like to use)

powdered sugar, brownie mix. choc and yellow cake mixes and some walnuts.

I guess he got really bummed when he discovered without the flour eggs and oil he couldn’t make those cookies, so he

ate some ingredients, others he shook until they flew all over.

now isn’t he just the most considerate dog you've ever heard of ? cleaning up all the vomit and diarrhea wasn’t so bad knowing

his heart was in the right place

We have always been a dog family, we have been blessed with some really memorable animals, Sam when he was a police officer had two Shepherds, Sir Coal and Heidi, both were exceptional and great family dogs as well, Heidi was killed by a car trying to save a puppy who had strayed into the street, Duke was the puppy and he turned into a very large Yellow Lab and Husky mix. Donna still cries when she thinks about Duke, he lived 14 years thanks to Heidi’s sacrifice.

Now we have Led Zeppelin,(Zep) a Rott and shepherd mix inherited from one of my sons girlfriends, he is 8 years old, Riggs the Black Lab who we got after Duke passed, he is one year old.

One more thing, on my trip to Visit Rick, he asked if I had ever had a colonoscopy, I told him no, and he said Sam when you get back get one your 62 and my doctor told me if I had gotten one when I was 50 I wouldn’t be laying here today, well a week after we got home Donna had made the appointment and I got it, luckily I only had two very small benign polyps that were removed and the doctor said come back in 5 years for another one. He stressed men over 50 should have this and a PSA test done at regular intervals to stay ahead of the game and detect cancer at early and hopefully treatable stages.

Well that about it for today, Be safe out there, Sam&Donna

Cars & Trains

The day started at the usual 04:30am reveille in the Weibel household, Donna & I had our coffee, and then Donna left for the truck company at 05:30am, Sam got Adam off to school and then when he got back he started on figuring a blog for today, Ladies you might as well take a break or go to a quilters blog because today's blog will kind of be a guy thing, Like the title says trains & cars. Sam has always been a train nut and motor head, Having built street rods, Harleys and dune buggies as the different phases would hit him, My son Andy has a car now that I think some of you guys will be interested to see

                                1995 Camaro Z28

Carbureted LS6,1000hp,2stage 200 shot NOS,9.00sec in 1/4 mile.

This is one go fast auto, of course it is not really practical for everyday use, but he enjoys taking it to car shows and the track.

You should hear this thing when it is fired up it sounds like a low flying bomber.

Sam’s model railroading is done in HO scale, since my grandfather, Bill Weibel worked for the Lackawanna Railroad and then the Erie-Lackawanna I have always liked to model these railroads, The  top passenger train of my youth was the Lackawanna Phoebe Snow witch

was the premier train of the road, it had a distinctive tail car that was really lettered Tavern Lounge on the sides, now that sure sounds good, kick back and have a cold one while relaxing and watching the scenery go by.Wish you could do that today. Here are a couple of shots of my Phoebe Snow.

 

I enjoy modeling passenger trains and I included a shot of a Union Pacific train I made. All of the above were taken at the St Charles Model Railroad Club in O’Fallon MO. which I am a member of. The trains are radio controlled and also sound equipped. Anyone who is planning on being in the St Charles Mo area before we leave on our journey can e-mail me and I will arrange a tour for you. They have visiting hours for the public on Saturday and Sunday.

Nothing much else going on I have to wait until Friday for a bus trip,nothing like being semi-retired. Be Safe out there. Sam & Donna

Cold again

Well it was 21 degrees when we got up at 04:30am another week and it will be march but we are still getting January temps, Donnas heading for the truck company and Sam is off again, he is scheduled to take the same college group as last week to Kansas this Friday-Saturday, Grandson Adam is going to spend the night so Sam will pick him up from school this afternoon, Riggs wants to say something on the blog so here it is,

“I know my mom works hards so I try to help her out whenever I can.

Christmas day I noticed the white thing in the bathroom looked uneven, so I grabbed one end....well, it spins ! so I ran through the kitchen

and down the hall to find Mom, but turns out she was in the living room, so I ran in there to show her how I was helping make

the roll of white stuff more even.  Dont know why but she didnt seem to happy about it.  so then I got that stick with the brush on

the end, it just clutters up the bathroom.  When I showed her how helpful I was all she did was say something about typical male didnt

know what to do with a toilet brush....after she chased me for a while yelling that's yucky I gave it back, I guess she's right as I've

never seen dad with one.   Dad's always complaining about taking out the trash , so I thought I'd help him out...He wasnt happy either

doesnt taking out trash out of the can count ?

Oh, well maybe tomorrow I can think of something else to help out around the house”.

Thanks buddy try to do better next time, Thats it for today Be Safe out there,See Ya. Sam & Donna.

A Day Off

Sam is off today, Donna went in to the truck company, Not much going on so far, we had a ton of rain last night and the alarm went off on my septic pump, it seems whenever we get lot of ground water the septic pump for the city sewer goes off, the pump still works okay and we have sewer service but you have to walk out and hit the rest alarm switch with something wood or you get a shock, this tells me something is probably wired wrong but I hate to mess with it when it is pumping okay. Want to say hi to Kenny and Angela, also Susan Bidniak who signed on as followers ,I hope you don’t get bored, but it will be life as usual for a few more months until Donna retires and we get the house sold, then let the adventures begin. I only have one errand while Donna is at work and that is a grocery run, course that doesn’t include several loads of laundry I am doing while I play around here on the computer. Yeah I am a little domesticated but when both spouses work we have always shared the good with the bad, no such thing as traditional male or female jobs in this household. Of Course Donna has always been the brains of the outfit and Sam the brawn. So until tomorrow I will say, see yah, and Be Safe out there.