More Prattle from Povey

I know because I slept last night for eight hours with only a fifteen minute grieving break.   It will never go away, but will become part of who I am. I've done the rounds of Walgreens; of the Pet Food Store (Beneva and Webber) where the staff wept when they saw his photo'  "He was a true gentleman" said one;  and of Trader Joe's where one staff member would sneak a break if he knew that Z was outside. ZiZi gave much.   He brightened the days of oh so many.  It was a cruel shock when a CTScan for one condition revealed the others -  the advanced cancer in his spleen and lungs.   Thank God he never showed signs of suffering.  The decision to bring his life to an end was painfully wise.  As one Veterinarian said "otherwise he would have suffocated at home since there was so much blood in his lungs". Yes, I noticed that he had been panting a bit. And yes there has been a outpouring of love and care from my neighbours who thought the world of him. Zion love

 

  You can purchase a photo' here (if you live in the U.S.A.) Or simply view the pics if you live elsewhere https://www.jenniferjoywalker.com/Client-Portal/Michael-Povey-Zion/n-76hVGd We had a wonderful photo' shoot at Arlington Park in the early days.

It was nothing to do with me.  Zion came to me from Lafayette La. as a  ready made  dog on a mission -  to spread love and joy 24/7/365.  He did it so well. It was his vocation. After his death I drove to my friends D and A who live on my route home from the Surgery.  They loved Zion/ZiZi/Mr. Z so much.  But they were taking afternoon naps and did not hear the doorbell. I continued my journey home - tears rolling down my cheeks.  I 'phoned two other "friends of Z" -  ( F and D)  who loved my boy so much.  We'd been together on Christmas Day. They telephonically shared their tears with mine.  En route I stopped at a local Drug Store to buy some of my frenemies (They come in packs of 20).  D was on duty.  She asked "where is Zion?"   I told her. She hugged me.  We shed tears together. D asked if I had some photo's of Zion to send her.  That I did.  A bit later she asked me to stop by the store today (Monday)  That I did.  Dear and beautiful D had a gift fo

  I could not have handled  lots of 'phone calls.   You respected me! That's why I asked the wonderful  Dr. Raz Peress to give me a written  medical synopsis of Zion's condition. In that way you were able to read what he told me.  Dearest Zizi was in bad shape. Of course I miss him. Miss him painfully.  As I returned home from a shopping trip this morning I talked to myself at the front door saying "but he is not here".  I cannot wish him back to life.  I will in time let his memories be a blessing. I once wrote a silly poem to the effect that I want to have a bowl of steaming mussels to be my last meal in life.  Of course I am currently off mussels due to my propensity to gout.  But I'd still like to have them at the end.   Tell me please -  there is no gout in the life of the world to come n'est pas!    When Zion emerged from the mild anaesthesia he needed for the C.T.  scan the staff fed him with Vienna sausages. He was so hungry 'cause he refused h

  Please no 'phone calls.  PLEASE!  (but this news is not private) At 8:00 this morning I took Zion to a local  Veterinarian for a scan of a mass on his jaw. By 12:30 the Vet phoned me with this shocking and unexpected news.  (see below)   How odd that a scan for a lesser issue should reveal the bad news.   I think that the scan was providential. I could have taken him home for what would have been his last two to three possible miserable days but I  decided to say goodbye to Zion there and then.  I stayed with him to the end at 2:00 p.m. I am in shock.  I am grateful for six fantastic years together.  I rejoice that he brought joy to so many people. His remains will be returned to me to be buried near my home, with a flowering shrub planted over them. Thanks for your care John Michael Povey Hello Michael,   I will show you the images when you arrive but essentially what we see on the CT is that he has multiple masses on his spleen and several in his lungs, additionally he has flui

  Old Wisdom and Skill in Stone. Pont du Gard, France  52 km Roman Aqueduct (First Century C.E.) Landwasser Viaduct, Switzerland 1901/2   (Photo' via Wikipedia) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Modern Hubris in Reinforced Concrete. Cracked Bridge over Badminton Road, near Bristol, U.K   1966

I am told that to help clear up gout, and to help to prevent future outbreaks I must avoid foods that are high in Puritans.

  As of  Friday last I was happily confident that my old enemy - gout- had run away.  Pain all gone. Walking was comfortable. O Sneaky Gout.  You came back with a vengeance on Sunday/Monday night.  Yeow! I'm hobbling  around  like an old man.   Darn it, I am an old man! Double darn it; my  left s houlder is also painful.  It's the side on  which the famous Mr Z tugs me as he seeks the ideal place t o pee and to poop.  Why t he return of the gout?  Here is my  diagnosis .     (1)     I've b een eating  all too much of my favourite German ham.  It's very  salty.  (2)    I missed the recommendations to drink eight  glasses of water per day.   Good for the crystals which cause gout pain.  Not so good for overnight sleep.                             Not a beauty spot!

  YES! Zion and I took a walk this afternoon at the local Nathan Benderson Park. Back at home I opened my fifty years old kitchen cupboard to find him a treat. But the Ghosties and  Goolies had been at work in our absence. The door shelves  had detached themselves, only  to land safely in the main cabinet, upright and steady.  Remarkable! The contents landed safely and undamaged inside the cabinet.                                Door sans shelves                                     Shelves sans cans                                  Temporary resting place

  I flailed around a lot after leaving High School (1960) and commencing in Seminary (1972). I spent one year as a low level Civil Servant in a branch of the U.K. Ministry of Defence. Today as I was looking for something else I came across this lapel  badge for the Inspectorate of Armaments, I once wore it with pride.

  Zion and I were able to be at Bayfront Park again this morning now that my gout is all but gone.  I was looking forward to a grand walk to celebrate our sixth anniversary. We'd no sooner arrived than Z spotted his friend Matt, who is in charge of City Parks Irrigation systems . Z likes Matt and Matt likes Z Matt is a towering six feet plus and a big all round guy.  Z spotted him and ran t'wards him.   Matt took his leash and off they went, with never a look back at me. Yes, Matt had treats in his City truck.  I waited patiently for my cheating dog.  Soon he zoomed - back to me without a trace of contrition! ------------------------------------------------------------------- "Whom having not see you love"   (Quotation lifted from scripture)' Thank you for loving my friend unseen.   ( A week or so ago I talked with my dear friend D. in Vermont and mentioned that Z was under the weather).  Her partner M. was so concerned that I was led to thank her for the concern

 

  Adele She and her husband Eric often take early morning walks at the Nathan Benderson Park.  So do I, with Zion. Our paths cross once in a while. A, E and I have developed a nice rapport.  We once had lunch together (sans chien). I was at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Clinic (University Parkway)  this morning (at 6:30 a.m.) for a routine test.  I had an appointment so I was first in line to register, I returned to my seat and looked across the room.  There was Adele. She scooted over and sat alongside me.  We chatted merrily.  I hadn't recognised her -  for I had never before seen her hat-less! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eddy City of Sarasota trash and re-cycling truck (stock photo' with a T.V. reporter when the semi-automatic system was new).  Semi automatic is fine, but there are drawbacks.  In the olden days when Eddy  ( the finest trash collector in the world) had to get out of the truck,  he and I would exchange fist bumps

  His name is Jose Santiago. As I left the consulting room I said  Thank you  Doctor St. James. He was momentarily confused  -  then he got it!

  My face is still a mess! I have lost my contract with CQ! But in the face of misunderstanding (truly!)  this was a medical not a beauty treatment. I'd need a tummy tuck for beauty!

Please forgive me if this sounds pompous or self serving. It was probably in the 1990's that I persuaded the good people of St. Stephen's, Pittsfield, MA to forgo their usual 10:00 a.m. Eucharist in favour of joining in the Week of Christian Unity service at Pittsfield's First United Methodist Church. All well and good, except that the sermon from a Congregationalist Minister was pure pablum. Like eating pureed steak! Later that day as I retrieved my car George Crane - a Roman Catholic Lawyer with an Ecumenical spirit cycled up to me. "What did you think of this morning's sermon" he asked.  I muttered polite words  (There is honour amongst Clerics!). George said "Let me tell you something.  You ministers are always telling us that God loves us. When are you going to tell us what we are supposed to do about it? " From that moment I decided to be honest and courageous in St. Stephen's Pulpit.  Some of this had to do with my ego. Sometimes I went al

  Friday 12th January 2024    Three Hours in my Dermatological Doctor's Office Monday 15th January 2024  Three Hours in my Pulmonary Doctor's Office, I can hardly bear the excitement. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Good recovery from Dermatological Procedure Good reports from breathing tests

The latest craze has a history which is rooted in the Berkshires of Western MA. where I  lived and served for 16 years. The History of the Cup The Stanley brand has a rich 100+ year history. Born from inventor William Stanley Jr. who forever changed the way hot drinks were consumed, in 1913 he fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel in one portable bottle, inventing the all-steel vacuum bottle we know and love today. In the century since, his vacuum bottle evolved from concept to icon and has become an essential part of workdays, road trips and outdoor adventures. The Industry    So much more than insulated cups and bottles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stanley_Jr.

                                 https://www.milamboghtartderm.com/our-team Dr. Bogart attends to me.  I like her! I was there this afternoon for some infamous Red Light treatment (to help to clear up pre-cancerous spots on my fizzog).   My face was first anointed with something or other; then I waited for two hours in a cold and lonely room. I  looked  like this. I'd forgotten this part of the procedure, so I was sans book or i-Pad. So I slept. Then came the treatment. It ain't fun. RED HOT HEAT.  Fifteen minutes on the left; then fifteen on the right.  It's like placing one's head in an Air Fryer,   (I think). I was given a device which I could use to shoot cooling water to ease the heat. All well and good but my fine motor skills are dismal.  My shirt got wetter than my face. I survived.   My face is now glowing! (Thank you Jesus!) Of course I worried about Zion in my long absence.   Thankfully my good neighbour Cheney Green who holds my house key is a friend of Z. H

She awarded him a tie He gives me a Fish Eye  (I'm not sure about this) Ah well.  I suppose that I can live with it

At the traffic lights. Six lanes.  Two for a left turn, two for straight ahead, two for a right turn. I was in the right of the two straight ahead lines. In the right of the two left lanes was a car with a gorgeous olden Retriever who looked out and saw Zion.  The two dogs enjoyed a friendly barkversation. The woman behind me saw what was happening and moved to my left and the Golden's right. Her Spaniel joined in what was now a three way barkversation. The traffic began to move,  But not before the three drivers exchanged broad grins, and thumbs up. At a traffic light! Then I went into Trader Joe's  (Sarasota friends - the new one at UTC) He was maybe two years old,  He sat in the front of his mother's cart. He saw me, called out, and grinned from ear to ear.  I responded with my own grin, and a "Hi".   We had a grinversation!  Mum said that he did so for every customer. A wee lad who is a bringer of joy and abundant smiles. That's impossible to beat. In a Su

 

                                Cauliflower Cheese with Rib Eye Steak

  Sarasota Orchestra                             Sunday 7th January 2023   2:30 p.m.                             Conductor  Miguel Harth-Bedoya He conducts with his whole body, almost dancing on the podium.  First:    A new acquaintance      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarice_Assad Her wonderful "Bonecos de Olinda".  Rhythmic, percussive.  A wild ride.  Like a thrill giving Roller Coaster Ride. Or like a first date which fills one with nervous excitement. https://youtu.be/u70_XSq-dWQ?si=yqCgc12YU7l9GFfF World Premiere in Boston Second:   An old friend.   You think that you like him, but you are not sure.    You listen.  Yes,  you do like him.  Thanks old pal! Sergei Rachmaninoff  "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" A superb performance with pianist Sir Stephen Hough. Such a well deserved crowd pleaser.  He gave us a brief encore. I knew the gentle solo piano music, but I forget its composer -  sounded like Mozart or Beethoven. Lo and behold.  Approx. 10% of the au

    Elgar Rachmaninov                                 Much more tomorrow.

  Aunty's Spotted Dick steamed pudding.  These measly specimens were made in New Zealand, and sold in Sarasota's German Foods store.   Where else you might ask? Mum made the real thing.  It looked something like this It was served bathed in the (in)famous Golden Syrup - a sugar syrup. Note the biblical reference on the tin. Here's a bit about Spotted Dick (amended from the web) Spotted Dick is a pudding, in both the usual British senses - that is, it’s a dessert, and it’s a suety thing, usually but not always cooked by boiling or steaming (steaming, in this case). Think of it as a damp, open-textured cake dotted with currants and raisins  You eat it hot, with Anglo/Irish type custard or golden syrup. In the cold U.K./Irish winters, in homes without central heating (or running hot water), we bulked up on starches such as Spotted Dick, and  Potatoes. In quarters with an excess of prurience it is sometimes referred to as Spotted Dog.