J's Cafe Nette

Archive for September 29th, 2007

Today I said goodbye to my best four-legged friend Silky. She was a chocolate cocker spaniel who had gone through many medical problems like a champ, but just couldn’t fight off this latest illness.

Almost 14 years ago we lost our male cocker spaniel very suddenly. He was our second cocker and this time I wanted a chocolate female instead of a black male.

We got her when she was but five weeks old, although the breeder told us she was six weeks old.

She was the most kind dog we have ever owned. She actually owned our hearts. She stayed beside me all day and all night and slept beside my bed at night.

Three and a half years ago she was diagnosed with anal gland cancer, a very aggressive form of cancer.

We took her to the veterinary teaching hospital to have her treated and rented a corporate apartment so she could come home every day after her radiation and/or chemo treatments.

For two years we took her back for check-ups and she was declared in remission.

A month or so ago she became ill with a mystery illness. After a week of hospitalization she came home and was doing fine. She had her last check-up last Wednesday and had regained all the weight she had lost when she was sick.

Last night she seemed restless but was still eating well. I noticed it sounded like her foot was flapping when she walked, but I had heard that sound before. Unfortunately, it was when she got sick the last time.

Today I heard her in the next room, panting very hard. I heard her bump into something twice and still heard the panting.

I called my husband and went to the room where she was, only to find her just standing with her head down, shivering and panting.

I wasn’t ready to go anywhere so I called the vet’s office to see if our vet could see her and my husband carried Silky in to me to say goodbye just in case. Her eyes were spaced-out.

After the exam I spoke to the doctor and my husband had told me she couldn’t even stand by then. We found out her temperature was 107 and 101 is normal. A neurological problem such as a brain tumor was suspected.

Euthanasia was recommended. I asked for a clipping of fur from her leg as that was the longest hair on her body.

She was given a sedative and my husband said she was already asleep when she was brought back to the room. He held her as her leg was shaved and as soon as the blood went back into the needle she had quietly slipped away. He kissed her goodbye and we both knew we had done the right thing for this wonderful pet who had loved us unconditionally.

Now we deal with the hurt and grief of losing such a fine pet who got into our hearts the way only she could.

I’ll be away from the blog for a couple of days. Sue will do her usual fine job. I wish to thank Sue and Guss for their posts.

If dogs go to heaven Silky is there with the other pets we loved just as much and will be waiting for me when I cross the chilly Jordan.

Sue adds I am bumping this post back to the top as it was late yesterday when J entered it. J is doing okay today, just missing her wonderful companion. You and hubby are in my thoughts.

Welcome Anchoress Readers.

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The suit filed by Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich against Congressman John Murtha was advanced yesterday by US District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer.

WASHINGTON – A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition about his comments alleging “cold-blooded murder and war crimes” by unnamed soldiers in connection with Iraqi civilian deaths.

A Marine Corps sergeant is suing the 18-term congressman for making the charge, which the soldier claims is false. Murtha, who opposes the Iraq war, made the comment during a May, 2006 Capitol Hill news conference in which he predicted that a Pentagon war crimes investigation will show Marines killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

The Congressman took it upon himself prior to any investigation in the Haditha case and before any charges were leveled against even one Marine to speak out as to their guilt.

Now the Justice Department argues he was acting in his official capacity when he made these accusations, therefore the suit should be dropped?

The Justice Department wanted the case dismissed because Murtha was acting in his official role as a lawmaker. Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Henault said the comments were made as part of the debate over the war in Iraq.

Who was he representing in this official capacity? Was he speaking on behalf of the citizens of the United States, or perhaps the whole of Congress?

I prefer the Judge’s logic:

“You’re writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?” Collyer said, adding later, “How far can a congressman go and still be protected?”

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

Congressman Murtha took it upon himself to be judge and jury, however, now that the Haditha case has begun to unravel, his office has no comment and he declined to answer questions posed recently by Jason Mattera of the Young America’s Foundation. The Congressman seems to be under the impression that if one Marine is found guilty his early accusations will have be corroborated.

Congressman, instead of continuing to use this case for political gain, why don’t you take a moment to apologize to the Marines who have been exonerated? And while you are at it, say you’re sorry to the families whom you caused great pain with your accusations.

Or you can just hide in your office and hope that one Marine, any Marine is accused of any crime in the Haditha case so you can inform us you were right after all.

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There is a short quiz available at WQAD which aligns the taker with the Presidential candidate it finds to be the most suitable match.

I ran across this while reading Jules Crittenden and must say I agree with his thoughts no matter what the results of this quiz produce.

In fact, I’m a one-issue voter. Whoever is not the Democratic candidate. And I expect to vote in the primary for whoever I think has the best shot, regardless of their position on ancillary issues.

There was a time I did not feel that way. If a Democrat presented a platform which I felt would do well by America I would give that person an equal chance to secure my vote. No more. I do not want to see America governed by those beholden to Moveon.org and George Soros.

Anyhow, the quiz is kind of neat so if you get a chance, take a look..who knows maybe you’ll be surprised by the candidate it selects for you. It was dead on right with the candidate I lean towards at this moment.

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