Wednesday:

I took off from work in order to take Atley to Animal Trustees, the place that Elizabeth had recommended.  They were nice and saw to him pretty quickly.  Typical, he was really hamming it up there.  They did 2 x-rays.  Bad news: he needs surgery to repair it.  Even worse news: estimate of $500-600…wow!  After I returned home with him, Bryan and I went to see the animal shelter we adopted him from to talk about the results and what they could do to help him/us out.  We felt pretty strongly that they should have never put him u for adoption in his condition.  They should’ve been more in depth with his diagnosis.  Of course, it wasn’t even there vet that made this call but a vet from another shelter.  They were really nice and felt extremely bad about the whole thing.  They asked us to bring him on Thursday morning so there vet could examine him.

Wednesday night I went to TKD and Jiu-jitsu.  That was most likely my last Jiu-jitsu class as I just don’t find it all that fun or interesting.  I know it could be useful, but I really just don’t feel it.  It doesn’t have the same appeal that I felt instantly with all of my other classes.  I have a lot on my plate anyway so, it’s quite alright.

TKD class was fun.  A high ranking student from another school came to take class with us.  It’s always fun when a student from another school shows up.  It makes class interesting.  We are really drilling for test – lots of test type sparring and forms.  Sparring was okay until I had to match up with the 4th degree black belt visitor…ugh.  He totally owned me.  However, I did manage to get one awesomely sweet roundhouse to the head which made me feel victorious even if I totally and without question lost the match.  That’s what I love about sparring.  I can find some much pride in one attack that I don’t even care who won because I delivered something I never expected to.  This only helps me realize that I am indeed getting better at sparring.

Forms were awesome too.  I don’t know why, but when I went up to do mine in front of the class, I just nailed it.  It was just…well, the best I have ever done it.  I shocked myself!  I got lots of compliments from several people after class that really lifted my spirits.  It’s nice when others see something in you on a night where you’re feeling great.

We ended class with some stretching which I always appreciate and love.  I have become much more flexible over the past month surprising even myself with some of my stretching.

Thursday:

The dog woke us up at 4:30 and neither of us ever went back to sleep…yay.  I worked today…middle school…double yay.  It was a school I had been to once before.  It was an okay day. The kids where a little rowdy.

Bryan took Atley to the shelter this morning for the their vet to look at.  He was gone all day.  We picked up after I arrived home from work.  Boy, was he worked up – too much cage time all day!  They had some bad news.  The vet agreed with ATA that a surgery was a must.  Unfortunately, it will have to be done in a clinical setting meaning that the vet can’t give it to them at a super low cost.  They said the ATA price was quite reasonable, but we still can’t afford it.  The director of the shelter said she had one last option.  She would call a vet’s office that will sometimes help them out in cases where they get to try something different or exciting.  Let’s just hope that they think Atley’s case meets this criteria.  If not, then the shelter will have to campaign for the money.  If that happens, we’ll have to give him back, and he’ll become a poster dog for their projects.  Either way, there’s no chance of him being put down.  Both will be great lives for him, but of course, we’d prefer he stayed at home with us because we are attached.  The shelter would prefer this option too.  This blows…  Hopefully, we’ll hear something tomorrow.  He has another vet appointment tomorrow to see about a little infection he has.  This dog is falling apart!  I just want to make him well and happy.

I promise whatever happens – there will be no other dog.

I’m going to the Pop Princess Sing-Along tonight with Shelley, Amy, and Bubbles.  It will be fun and just the thing that I need to get my mind off of Atley’s situation.

Songs I’m digging at the moment:

Day and Night – Kid Cudi