“Get an Alaskan husky” they said. “It’ll be fun”. It is 10, feels like -6 (-12/-21) and in fact we did have fun on our walk.

About a week and a half ago, I tripped while walking Pickle and landed on my newly repaired knee. After getting a fancy knee photo yesterday, my new ACL remains intact but badly sprained. I simply do not have the patience. 2025, you have certainly been a test.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, friends! I’m so thankful for all of you. Have the cutest reindeer (no cats bc I value my life).

Please consider helping! Pickle is related to both Watty and Snoots so she’s going to send her DNA for science. Developing a test means this breed that I love so much will remain genetically healthy for a long time and can continue being some of the coolest pups out there.

On nights that I have orchestra, Pickle has maybe an hour between getting home from school and me leaving. So, on these nights, I make up for leaving her alone after being gone all day (even though she’s having fun) by having the cutest bed companion.

Scenes from the weekend. First time back on the (very easy side) river trail. Walked more in the last two days than I have in the past…threeish months. My knee is sore but it felt so good to get back out, and it was cool all weekend as a bonus.

Happy Halloween from the Pickle pickle! She had the time of her life seeing all the children out and about.

One of the best things about fall is being able to just sit in the sun with my girl.

Smallest man, biggest bed.

Buy a house, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.

WHYYYYYY. I have approximately twenty three things that are a better use of my money.

Pickle’s foot is currently vet wrapped and to cope she is sitting on my lap in the recliner.

Four years ago (yesterday), this goof officially went from sled dog to best friend. She remains the best friend and adventure bud I could ask for, and I’m so ready to see what year five brings us. As always, big big thanks to @otterrunkennel.bsky.social for trusting me with this girl. 🖤🖤

Very brave girl at the vet. Hopefully the bravery continues for getting her icky foot wiped twice a day with medicine and being bootied.

Tiga made it back up to SEVEN WHOLE POUNDS. We are very proud of him. Fisher, meanwhile, is mad about being examined and is going to be even madder since he needs a dental. Sorry Fish.

The peaceful sleep of a dog who is finally home, saw both her grandma AND her grandpa, and sat through ceiling demolishing. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I have similar sleeps

Someday I’m going to get a decent nights sleep again. Someday.

So a small update re my surgery. TW body. When the surgeon got in, he found that the damage was worse than we initially thought. While *technically* still a partial tear, my ACL was only holding on by a couple of fibers. Very thankful I opted to fix this now. Also I got post-surgery cupcakes.

New ACL loaded.

Lol more ceiling fell between Friday and the insurance guy coming today. Add to the list of Things I Don’t Want To Deal With!

And if everything else wasn’t enough, now this. Somehow this has to get paid for too, because naturally this is in my bedroom. Where I will need to sleep. After surgery. I might just cry. This is a little too much and too many demands and I am only one person.

Well, after my appointment today, I’m officially scheduled for surgery next week. While it is not going to be fun, it’ll be the best option for being able to safely continue adventuring with Pickle for many years.

Pickle has been SO good with my walking limitations (I can walk her but it’s slower for sure) and she got a trip to the bar today as a reward.

After imaging and a follow up with the regular ortho, my knee and I get to go to the surgeon next week to discuss how we want to treat the injury. This is very tiring. Pickle, however, is delighted to be spending so much time at her grandparents’.

This creature has decided this week that eating his diabetes pill is optional. He also gets so offended when I have the audacity to pill him. If only there was a way he could prevent that.

My body has no sense of timing and waited until the new insurance year for what seems to be a fairly serious injury. This is the work setup for ✨elevation✨ purposes for the next week or so, until I have my fancy knee picture. I think I’m going to hit my deductible and out of pocket early this year.

It’s so hot in my house that the cat has taken over the crate bc there’s a standing AC pointed at it. The ACs are just not keeping up—we’re staying right around 85 degrees indoors. 🙃

Happy birthday to my best friend! Another year of adventures, down, another year of adventures coming up. Forever grateful to @otterrunkennel.bsky.social for giving me the opportunity to love this girl.

Happy lady who went to a birthday party today for our 80 year old neighbor—at the neighbor’s specific request.

Bravest girl at the derm today. A million dollars later, we don’t have to be back for six months. Hopefully everything will be paid off by then, no thanks to insurance.

School captured Pickle looking particularly like people today. Too bad being people like will not get her out of her derm appointment tomorrow.

Espy and Mac continue to be examples of what the best humans look like.

I would like to please know why everything continues to cost money. You mean I have to spend money to “feed” “myself” and “take care of” “myself” etc??? Unneeded.

Free shaping Pickle to hang in the pool while it feels like 104 (40C).

Morning watching

Our beloved family dog crossed the rainbow bridge tonight. She was ours for over twelve years and spent all that time being the best girl. Hug your pups extra tonight pls.

Not pictured: the fight they had not thirty seconds later about sleeping positions which resulted in me asking “do we really need to be fighting about this friends” (apparently they did, but it was resolved after a small beatdown by Tiga)

Time for another pet insurance scream. After our visit with the vet derm, Pickle was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. I submit, they deny, and I appeal. They come back today with a denial. The reason? “PF can be a complication of allergies”. BITCH??? IT IS. AN. AUTOIMMUNE. CONDITION.

Cuddles after I finished planting today.

A good girl being very brave at the vet derm and also cleaning up every morsel of peanut butter from her muzzle.

About to scream into the void here… Pickle has pet insurance. Ofcs. They covered the biopsy of her skin thing and some of the treatment, but then wouldn’t cover the subsequent treatment because “she had signs of skin issues when she was enrolled.” Which, she did.

I was able to get Pickle in for an urgent care derm visit in two weeks 😭.

My boiler is leaking. Of course right after I’ve spent a bunch of money on care for the critters and everything. I weep.

Pickle’s allergies are ongoing and Tiga was just diagnosed with diabetes. When the FIV+ cat is the healthiest of the bunch…🥲

Pickle was absolutely fascinated by the swan pedal boat.

Every Easter since I got her, Pickle and I have gone hiking. Today was no different. We stayed a little closer to home due to rain but the woods were still peaceful.

Airplane ears cause the cleaners are here.

Sometimes fueling your body looks like cosmic brownie yogurt. Literally cannot believe this is a healthful choice that has a bunch of protein.

Oh to be a distinguished gentleman cat sleeping in the sun.

When in the twin cities area, you have to stop for the superior banh mi. It’s just a rule.