I Really Don't Know What to Call This Post and I Can't Think Because There is A Dog Barking at Me to Go Let Her Outside

I should be working on my 'week in photos' post if I'm going to be blogging, but ...... instead, I'm going to ramble a bit about my last couple days.

One of the good things about being one of the few fools who venture out in -30C weather is that the parking lots are almost empty.  I mean, yesterday and today I was able to park my big truck in a pull-through space quite near the door of the various stores I was shopping at.

Unheard of - I mean, that's normally how I get my exercise, walking from the far end of all the parking lots.

Another thing about being one of the only people who leave the comfort of their home to brave the frigid temperatures....... no line ups at the tills.   YAY!
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Note to self:  Next time you buy a new extension cord for your truck and it is -35C, take the temperature into consideration before you think you have a defective cord because it won't slide into the outlet in the garage.   Maybe next time use a cord that is already plugged in to power your hair dryer to warm up the outlet a bit.   Might just work and then you wouldn't have to leave your truck run all night - you could plug it in!
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Attempting to keep my poor old dogs from freezing in this Arctic blast has been a challenge.  Jim set the dog house up pretty well before he left for work, but with 3 heat lamps going 24/7 the temp was only coming up to about 8C during the day.  Not too comfy for the elderly.  (They've been coming into the back entry at night - which is the coldest place in the house, but much warmer than 8C.)  Today, after being told the temp in the dog house was barely above 0C, Jim suggested, I purchase another heat lamp.  In less than 1/2 an hour after I 'riggied it up', the temp was up about 4 degrees.  By evening, though, it was still only about 12C.

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Which brings me to the sad news that Riley is in the 'hospital'. 

When I was in the dog house adding the lamp, I noticed he was not acting 'right' so called the vet and asked if I could bring him in.   Blood tests show his diabetes is out of control (37) and also shows other problems that could be a symptom of the high blood sugar or could be something else altogether - Addison's Disease.

Our vet talked with me for at least an hour, explaining the situation, talking about options, the future, Riley's personality, etc.   Bottom line - They want to keep him for 48 hours to see if his glucose count can be brought under control and if doing that will bring some of the other 'counts' down to normal.    Right now, we are in a 'wait and see' stage but we do not want to prolong his life if he is going to be feeling unwell all the time. 

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I left the Vet in her office and went to my truck to call Jim and give him the news.  I put my phone away about a half hour later and began my journey home.   I was about 20 minutes down the road when my truck started 'acting up'......it would lose power and 'chug', running real rough and soon not going forward at all.  I stopped and let it idle for a minute or two and went forward again.  It would go, slowly for awhile, making me think that I might just be able to limp the rest of the way home..... and then it would die again.  After 3 of these cycles, it just died and would not start again - just below the crest of a hill.

Great.

It is 30 below freezing and I'm stuck at the side of a gravel road, in a spot that is anything but safe considering the way folks will come flying over the hills on this road. 

First call - the towing company in Wetaskiwin.  They were great!  She dispatched the driver while I was still on the phone.  No 'estimated time', just 'he's on the way'.  So glad for that. 

Wait.......Stop for just a second and consider that.......It is very cold outside.  Anyone needing a tow truck is in danger because of the temperatures.  Cold weather usually keeps tow truck drivers working around the clock, getting frozen vehicles started.  Yet, a truck was available for me RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT!

Thank you, Jesus!

Second call - my ever patient, ever available, brother Ken.   He put his supper aside and got in his car immediately.   (Well, as immediately as you can in this weather - the car would have had to 'warm up' for a few minutes)

I guess -30 weather and 'my truck won't run' are reasons enough to make people move quickly to your rescue.

Thankfully.

They were both there quickly enough that I was only just beginning to feel cold.

The tow truck driver cracked a joke or two about "I know this truck......I pick you up at least once every winter". 

Hardy Har Har Har.

And he doesn't even know the half of it.

Like I just used a tow truck - what......2 weeks ago?  (A different company, though, so he couldn't know.)

As he walked around the truck after writing down the license plate number, he said "This is an '03, isn't it?"

I looked over my glasses at him and said "You do NOT remember that!"

He laughed and admitted it was just a guess.

Ken and I only had to stand outside long enough for him to fill in the AMA paper work - he offered me the 'customer copy' saying "Do you want this to add to your collection?"

A real comedien.

As soon as I'd signed my name ("You know the drill...." he said), he told us we could be on our way - we did not have to wait around to watch him get my truck up on the flatbed. 

Thankfully.

My diagnosis as to what is wrong with my truck - an oil hose blew off again.     I guess we'll see.  

The guys at the dealership are going to groan when they see the big Ex sitting in their back yard tomorrow morning.

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Ken plugged my car in for me when he dropped me off.  Hope overnight plugged in will warm it up enough to start tomorrow.  (It doesn't actually have a block heater - Jim has a couple things rigged up under the hood that does the job - usually)

If my car doesn't start, I'm hoping the dealership can give me a loaner and my wonderful son-in-law will have to come get me in his new SUV to take me to pick it up.

"Vinj got a new SUV?"  You ask    Visit Kathryn's blog for that story - it is their's to tell, after all.

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On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt my feelings too much to have to stay home all day.

Except that I don't like the feeling of being stranded, and I don't think it is too wise to be in the middle of nowhere without some kind of transportation - especially in dangerous weather.

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Oh!  One more thing.....I got some boots!   If you read my post from last week about my quest for boots, you know what I'm talking about.  I gave up on the 'FitFlop' brand and decided to just go to the shoe store that we frequent and get a pair of good boots - comfort  being my prime criteria.

I thought I was feeling pretty good yesterday (Oh, have I mentioned that I've been sick for a week plus?  Same bug that put the Muyaba's down, I guess) But after trying on 3 pairs of different boots, I realized I'd been decieved - I was not feeling as good as I thought.

But I pressed on.......I don't know how many boots I put on, walked around in, took off..........I finally decided on a pair - not at all what I was looking for, but I kind of re-thought my objectives.   (I'll post a photo either on my Friday's Favorite post or on the Week in Photos for this week)

After wearing said boots literally all day today - and being in and out of stores, my truck, the house, working outside getting the dog house warmed up and my truck cord working........I can say that my feet stayed warm (even while waiting for Ken to rescue me) and there was nothing about the feel of the boot that brought my attention to the state of my feet.

This is a very good thing, since both my other pairs of boots begin to be very uncomfortable within an hour or so of this kind of activity.  Plus, neither of them would have kept my feet warm while I was outside so much.

So, to end on a positive note, I'll leave you with my warm and comfy boots.

(Updates on the truck and Riley will be along sooner or later)