How'd I Get So Old?

On Sunday, we had Grandpa Merc Man over to celebrate his 84th birthday. As it turned out, my MercNephews, Chris and Ryan, and Ryan's fiance' Beatriz, also came by to visit. Chris works for MoDot and is stationed in St Louis to work on the Highway 40 redo, and Ryan and Beatriz were in town from Midland, Texas, where they are employed by Haliburton. Ryan and Beatriz will be married in November in Puerto Rico, so best wishes to the happy couple!
Before everybody left, Mrs Merc Man took a picture. That's me in the back trying to peek over everybody. I remember when the boys were just little guys in a crib! How'd I get so old?!

It's Chili Bean!

While Froggie Girl and Gimlet explore the Badlands of South Dakota, Mrs Merc Man and I are Chinchilla-sitting Chili, who is recovering from some scrapes she received in an encounter with another "little friend". Everything's gone pretty well, and Chili seems to have really settled in. Daisy, our Golden Retriever, is fascinated by her new housemate, and spends much of each day peering over the baby gate into the room housing Chili's cage.
Yesterday morning, Daisy piled lots of her toys outside the room in the hope that Chili would come out to play. Apparently, Daisy thinks Chins are just really small dogs, especially after hearing Chili "bark" the little noise Chinnies can make.
Who'd have guessed Chinchillas would like being on vacation?

Rants, Raves, and Whatever

Since I haven't actually been keeping up a weekly column lately, I decided to remove the word "Weekly" from this posting's title. Between work, work, and just not leading a very exciting life, I haven't had enough new things to post about. Then again, maybe it's better NOT to have too much to write about!

*As noted in my last blog, Daisy the Golden is now one year old. She continues to gain energy and stamina in inverse proportion to the loss of energy and stamina suffered by Mrs Merc Man and I.

*The photo accompanying this post shows our garden bench after I replaced all the rotted wood slats. By the time I purchased the lumber (red oak) and new hardware, I think the rebuilt bench cost more than it did to originally purchase, but at least you can sit on it now without worrying about crashing through to the concrete on our patio!

*Our basement waterproofing was completed in June, and except for trying to eliminate all the concrete dust that was stirred up when the work crew jackhammered the basement floor, everything's pretty much back to normal. Our checkbook, however, will take a lot longer to recover.

*Mrs Merc Man and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary on May 25, and Gimlet and Froggie Girl celebrated their first on June 3. Best wishes all around!

*I'll pass another milestone on Monday, July 16. I will officially turn 55, the dreaded DOUBLE NICKEL"! The best part of getting older is that now everybody EXPECTS me to be a crabby old fart. The worst part is that there's nothing you can do about it. Your too feeble to fight it, too tired to enjoy it, and too forgetful to remember it! Wait, what was I talking about........?

Everybody take it easy during the upcoming dog days of Summer. Before you know it, we'll be freezing our heinies off while scraping ice off the windshield, shovelling the driveway, and praying for a warm front. I can't wait!

Happy First Birthday Daisy!

It's Saturday, July 14, and Daisy is celebrating her first birthday. Somehow, she knew it was her special day and got us up at 4:30 a.m. to begin the day's festivities! We finally got her calmed down, sort of, and she went back to sleep until about 'sixish'. I took the no-longer-a-puppy on a nice, 2 mile walk in Sunset Park in Florissant, where she got to sniff every plant, road sign, and telephone pole, as well as visit with another Golden Retriever.
We got home about 8 a.m., and she got her birthday presents from Mrs Merc Man and I, consisting of a new "Air Dog" oversized tennis ball, squeaker-equipped pheasant, and floppy toy in the form of a garbage man named "Mel". She quickly dragged all of them to her couch to add to her collection of toys.
Later today it's a trip to Grandma Gimlet's house for dinner and more fun. Froggie Girl and Gimlet are also coming by, so Daisy will spend her special day with all her 'peeps'!

Zeppelin attacks North County!

So there I was, in my own backyard, playing with Daisy the Golden Puppy, when a strange noise drifted down from the sky. It sounded like a small plane with a lawnmower engine, sort of like a person playing a kazoo. I looked up to see a blimp coming in for a ground run.

I ran to the house, eager to haul out my Remington 30-06' deer rifle and score my first enemy aircraft. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for the pilot, when I looked up again I could read "Outback" on the side of the airship. Not having heard anything about an outbreak of hostilities with Australia, I figured it was probably not a threat.

Nevertheless, I'm keeping the artillery close at hand for the next encounter with an unidentified flying object.

Daisy Finds a New Friend

Well, it's Saturday morning and a good day to sleep in, so Daisy Mae Retriever deceided to get us up at 5 a.m. A couple hours later, as I stumbled around the backyard sloshing a cup of coffee, Daisy suddenly became VERY interested in our neighbor's backyard. I walked over to the fence to see a very aggravated possum baring his teeth at our inquisitive Golden. Luckily, both critter and canine decided discretion was the better part of valor and stayed on their own turf. The little possum scurried behind a tree and looked annoyed while I snapped his picture. After that, Daisy and I retreated to the house to leave the marsupial to enjoy his hidey-hole.

This has been an interesting week for dog-watchers on Torero Lane. On Thursday night, the neighbors on the other side of the lot kept us entertained as they tried to extract their dog from his entrapment between the fence and their lawn shed. Somehow, Sky-High, the Potted Puppy, had managed to wedge himself (and I mean WEDGE!) in tightly enough that his owners had to remove a section of their privacy fence to get him out. This all happened at 1:30 in the morning, and of course Sky barked, whined, and screeched the whole time. At least it kept his peeps away from weed and beer for a little while.

As soon as I finish this post, Daisy and I are going to venture another patrol of the backyard. Hey, what's that funny smell coming in thru the open window?

Life in the Windy City

What a difference a few weeks make! Regular readers of this site may remember that the small pharma company I've worked for the last couple of years was purchased by a big pharma company in December 2006. On February 28 of this year, I was informed that I was being retained by the new company. Happy ending, right? Well, not exactly. As part of the transition, I have to be trained on the 2 new products I'm picking up, so I'm stuck in Chicago for 3 straight weeks. In contrast, if I had not been retained, my severance would have provided me almost a year's salary and health benefits, plus my bonus and unemployment compensation. Sort of an all-expenses-paid 12-month vacation.

So, here I am in the Windy City at a renovated hotel near O'Hare Airport. Unfortunately, the hotel's redo is not quite complete, so many of the amenities of the hotel, like sports bars, restaurants, and gift shop, aren't open. The places that are open have prices like Beverly Hills without the plastic surgeons and implants!

The new company seems to be a little suspect of it's newest employees, which isn't surprising since our products were direct competitors and we hated their guts. They don't provide bottled water during our breaks (too expensive), the breakfasts and lunches they provide are weird perversions of normal food, and we never get a straight answer to our questions. All in all, it's, "Welcome back to Big Pharma".

The worst part is being away from family. You get to a certain point in your life where time with loved ones is more precious than a few extra bucks and a title. Many times a day, I get the almost overwhelming urge to jump the next plane to St. Louis and chuck the whole thing. With only one week completed, I'm sure I'll be getting that feeling a lot in the next couple weeks.

The great thing is that I do get to fly home for the weekend on Friday, God willing and the creek don't rise.

Still, it's not something I should really complain about. Lots of people get separated from their families and end up getting stuck in a war zone, so my complaints are really pretty minor. Still, after spending some time here on Bryn Mawr Avenue, I can appreciate why the Cubs suck. They're from Chicago!
GO CARDS!!!

Here's to Beer!

Here you see me admiring a frosty glass of Gimlet's 'Coffee Beer". To celebrate my new job with Abbott Labs, I'm in the process of BBQing on the propane grill while indulging my brew tooth. For some reason, everything seems to go better with beer. OK, OK, maybe it just makes it SEEM that way, but that's all good.

Funny thing, when Mrs Merc Man was pregnant, I never thought that one day I would be enjoying my child-to-be's home brew. I was just hoping he would be happy, healthy, and feel driven to support his Mom & Pop in their dotage! Now as I sit here half blitzed, wondering how many million miles I'll drive in my new territory, it hits me: I forgot to turn the #!*%@ brats and burgers on the barbie!

Sorry, gotta run. Gimlet, this brew's for you.

Even the Dogs in North County are Tough!

Let me introduce you to the newest "thang" in No' County: Day-Z the homegirl retriever. Raised on a steady diet of Ice Cube, Luther, and classic MoTown, my Fuzzy sista is ready to rumble, from CastlePoint to the Riverview Circle.

The Hip-Hoppin' Golden never leaves home without her Beretta 9 and a bag of doggy treats (extra spicey, natch). Day-Z invites all her 2-and-4-legged homies to rap to her courtesy of this blog. And if you're ever north of the Lambert Airport and the Lindbergh "chunnel", stop on by the crib. We'll cover you from the hooptie to the front door! Peace out.

Golden Retriever--Dishwasher Extraordinaire!

To all those who think dogs are lazy bums who lay around all day thinking of new things to destroy or interesting places to relieve themselves, I submit the accompanying picture of the world's most talented Golden Retriever. As you can see "Domestic Daisy" is always eager to pitch in and lend a hand when chores, like dishwashing, need to be done. Sure she cleans the dishes by licking them, and her shedding hair covers every scrap of free space in the house, but that's just a minor inconvenience to the joy of owning a dog that is always there whether you need her help or not.

Now, who'd like a piece of fluff-covered pie?

Cardinals in Spring Training--Daisy can't wait for season to start!

Although it's cold and snowy in St. Louis this Saturday, the 2006 World Champion Cardinals are in Florida preparing to defend their title. Daisy the Golden, the RedBirds fuzziest fan, is so excited about the upcoming season, she's resorted to carrying a ball around with her all day.

Like all true baseball fans, she supports her home team, and wags her tail furiously whenever someone wearing a "Birds on the Bat" jersey shows up on TV. But like all students of the game, she snarls and growls at the sight of a Cubs fan. She even destroyed a CD that was playing the Sinatra hit "Chicago", and attacks anyone who smells of Wrigley chewing gum.

In honor of the team's Latin players, the rollicking retriever is now a bilingual barker, and her favorite band is Los Lonely Boys. When asked how hard it will be for other teams to beat her beloved "El Birdos", Daisy answers "Ruff, Ruff!".

GO CARDS!!!!!

Have Drugs, Will Travel!

Back in November of 2006, my employer, Kos Pharmaceuticals, was purchased by Abbott Labs. Since that time, my counterparts and I have been wondering whether we would be retained by the new company. Just last Friday, we participated in a webinar where we were informed that this Wednesday, February 28, we were to stay home and await a call that would tell us if we had been hired by Abbott or were being "severed".

I had ambivalent feelings re the possible outcome. On the one hand, it's always nice to have a job, especially one where you get to drive a new car, make a pretty decent salary, and work with a lot of great people. On the other hand, the severance package was pretty sweet, with almost an entire year's salary, bonuses, and health care. Did I mention the part about not working?

Anyhoo, when the call came at about 9:30 a.m., it was my new manager from Abbott informing me I had been retained. I keep my present salary, and am eligible for Abbott benefits immediately. I get to keep selling Niaspan, and pick up Tri-Cor and Synthroid. Abbott's headquarters is in Chicago, so national meetings will be a short trip, and maybe I can sneak in a game at Wrigley. Boo Cubbies!! Go Cards!!!

The biggest change concerns my sales territory, which is a LOT different. With Kos, I covered West St. Louis County, St Charles County, and a part of North County and South St. Louis. My new geography starts at Eureka in the West, and heads down Highway 44 to Waynesville. In the East, it starts at Affton and meanders down Interstate 55 to St Genevieve. It appears I'll have a lot more "windshield time", but on the plus side I probably won't have to contend with the hoard of reps I saw in West County, and it will give me a chance to explore another part of Missouri. We've been considering moving anyway, so maybe the opportunity to get closer to my territory and cut down on my drive time will be the push we need to relocate from Florissant.

Weekly Rants, Raves, and Whatever

This is one of those "in-between" weeks. No football until the Super Bowl next Sunday, no NASCAR races as the 2007 season doesn't start until February, and no baseball 'cause Spring Training is a few weeks off yet. There is still NHL hockey, which has recently gotten a LOT better with the resurgent Blues. Still, about all there is to do this Saturday is complain about the state of the world.

*The US Congress is bending itself into a pretzel trying to oppose President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq while not appearing unsupportive of the military. Somehow, the pols are claiming you can call the plan a failure even before the commanding general who devised the plan gets settled in-country. At the same time, his appointment was approved unanimously by the same chameleons who are criticizing the plan. If we spent as much time fighting the jihadists and their sponsors as we do fighting each other, the war would be well on the way to being won.

*The 2008 looney season is well under way as numerous Democrats and Republicans are already running for President. We've got newbies like Obama and Huckabee, retreads like Biden, McCain, Dodd, and Gore, to the really scary ones like Hillary and Hagel. If we're lucky, somebody new will come out of the fog and actually make sense. And if THAT happens, I have some residential property in Times Beach you may be interested in.

*My new company, Abbott Labs, has announced the integration of my old company, Kos, will be complete by March 5. Sometime between now and then "Kos Nation" will find out where we'll end up: on a new team or on the street. I have to admit to ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, it's nice to have a job. On the other, I left AstraZeneca a few years back because I was fed up with all the "Bravo Sierra" of Big Pharma. Now if I could just win PowerBall....

*Poor Michael Devlin, his lawyers are concerned for his safety in the Franklin County jail after a college student posing as a friend got in to visit him. I agree he should be moved. Just place him in the state pen at Jefferson City and put him right in among the general prison population. I guarantee it wouldn't be long before he wouldn't have to worry about anything ever again.

*I'm picking the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl, 35-17. I admire Bears Coach Lovie Smith a lot, and wish the Chicagoans well, but Indy's defense has played very well in the playoffs, and the Colt's offense is superb. This was a tough year to pick a favorite, and I'll be happy for whichever team emerges the victor.

*Here's hoping the families of Ben Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck get a break from the round-the-clock media coverage of their rescue. More than anything else, these folks need a lot of downtime and a lot of counseling. Here's hoping the reporters and editors can put themselves in these families shoes and just let them be.

Everyone have a great weekend, a successful and productive week at work (or play!), and remember the immortal words of Homer J Simpson on how to get by in life:
"It was that way when I got here!"
"Great idea, Boss!"
"Cover for me!"

Daisy's New Couch

After her spaying surgery, we were advised that Daisy not be allowed to jump on furniture, at least until the stiches are removed on January 4. Since our little nutball loves to launch herself at our sofa, bed, and every other piece of furniture in the house, it was a real tussle trying to keep all four of her paws on terra firma.
Fortunately, I was skimming the Cabela's (hunting and fishing) catalog before Christmas and came upon an item called "Beasley's Couch". As you can see from the accompanying photo, it really does resemble a couch, and Daisy claimed it as her own the moment we pulled it out of the shipping container.
We hope to use the couch to replace the crate now that puppy is housebroken, especially since she now fills the crate from stem to stern (or should I say nose to tail?). Ever since we first got the couch, Daisy sleeps through the night in it, and that's made our nights much more peaceful. Ahhh...no more 'rattle, rattle, rattle, clang, clang, clang' every time she moves around at night in the crate. Now that's priceless.
I wonder if they have a "Beasley's Dinner Table"?

Weekly Rants, Raves, and Whatever

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year's to everyone. 2006 is about shot, so I thought I'd hit a few of my personal highlights and lowlights from the past year.

*By far, the biggest highlight of 2006 was the wedding of Gimlet and FroggieGirl on June 3. During a year of some especially bad weather, the wedding day itself was bright and sunny, with mild temps and a crystal-blue sky. The ceremony was well-done, beautiful, and quite touching, and a good time was had by all at the reception Saturday evening. Here's wishing a prosperous 2007 to the newlyweds and all the friends and family who made the day the event of the year.

*Getting to know the happy couple's friends was a close second in highlights of 2006. If you're truly known by the company you keep, Gimlet and FroggieGirl have a lot going for them.

*Another big change for Mrs MercMan and I came over the Labor Day weekend when we picked up our Golden Retriever puppy Daisy. After an extended time since our last Golden passed away, Mrs MercMan and I finally took the plunge and brought home a 7-week-old bundle of fur who is now a 45-pound holy terror. After all that time without a dog, we'd forgotten all the energy puppies possess in spades, and how many times a puppy has to be taken out (especially in the middle of the night!) in order to become housebroken. Still, laugh-a-day Daisy has so many redeeming qualities we wouldn't trade a single moment. Well....maybe a few.

*A new stadium, new players, and a World Championship by the St. Louis Cardinals. The most storied franchise in baseball (sorry, Yankees fans) added another chapter with its amazing playoff and World Series victories over heavily favored opponents. What's not to love?

*Like 2005, I spent a lot of time, and money, acquiring more tools. It's gotten to the point that people think I work at the Sears Hardware store. My prize possession is a Craftsman 2-horsepower, 150 psi, 26 gallon air compressor, along with the attendant air wrenches, ratchets, hoses, and sockets. In fact, it's so prized that it's sitting here next to me as I type this entry! Hey, it's the best-looking piece of furniture we own!

*Biggest bummer of the year would be my surgery for a detached retina. The operation itself was not that big a deal, pain wise, but the thought of losing my sight was a little "off-putting", as the British say. I've always thought of myself as a very healthy and durable individual, but that went by the boards along with my retina. Fortunately ,the surgery went great and I still have my sight, although I'm more nearsighted as a result of the reconstruction. Did I mention the doc says I'm beginning to develop cataracts? D'oh!

*Weather was a lowlight a couple of times this year as well. In July, T-storms and hurricane-force winds knocked out our power for almost 8 days, and a late-November-early-December ice storm put us in the dark another 24 hours. Luckily, our house suffered no damage from either storm, but we've developed a greater appreciation for electric lights, air conditioning, heat, and a working refrigerator. During all that time without TV/radio/CDs/DVDs/etc/etc, Mrs MercMan and I found out we still enjoyed each other's company, even while living in the basement and sleeping on an air mattress. Who'd a thunk McDonald's by candlelight could be so romantic?

As the clock winds down on 2006, my wish for the New Year is peace, happiness, and lots of laughter for all people of good will. For you Cubs, Astros, and Mets fans out there, better luck next time (but not when playing the RedBirds!).

Daisy Turns 11---Weeks That Is

Daisy the Puppy has now been part of our family for one month, and is celebrating her 11th week of life. She is growing by leaps and bounds, and although she sometimes sends Mrs. MercMan and I crazy, we wouldn't trade her for anything. She is shown with one of her favorite outside toys, a plastic flower pot. For some reason, the crazy way it rolls around when thrown, and the number of small holes available for grabbing with puppy teeth, have really endeared the pot to our crazy canine.
Daisy has also discovered rabbits and squirrels, and chases them out of the yard with great gusto. Needless to say, the bunnies and yard rats are NOT amused. She tries to bark at and intimidate the bigger (for now) dogs in neighboring yards, but they mostly ignore the new kid on the block. What really fascinates her are the Mastiff and Great Dane that live across the circle and look like horses from a distance. She only woofs at them from behind her human Mommy and Daddy, so apparently she's learning the rules of survival pretty quickly!

Bubble Boy

This photo is a little deceiving. Although it shows me standing by the Mighty Mercury Grand Marquis, I'm still not able to drive after my recent eye surgery. I've made a few attempts, but with the gas bubble in my right eye, I've discovered how difficult it is to drive using only one orb. That being said, I guess it's clear now I'd never make it as a pirate.
The good news is I am getting better. The eyesight, except for the bubble, is improving every day. My right eye is a little more nearsighted than before, but that was expected and can be corrected with an adjustment in my eyeglass RX. Compared to being blind, it's a small price to pay. I just wish the bubble would hurry up and get absorbed ASAP. I'm tired of being a human level!

Daisy at the Veterinarian's

Daisy the Puppy had an interesting week, visiting the vet's office (Howdershell Animal Clinic) three times in 5 days. It all started innocently enough with a routine visit and puppy shot. Her stool specimen showed an organism called "coccidia", which the doctor explained was fairly common in puppies raised in kennels, and was spread through feces. He started Daisy on a sulfa-drug, gave her a parvo-distemper booster shot, and sent us on our way. Everything was hunky-dory until the next morning.
On one of our trips outside, Daisy stopped to pee, then stopped to squat again, and again, and again. We figure this isn't normal, and call the vet. The office is concerned it might be a bladder infection, and asks us to bring poor puppy in.
The vet asks a few questions, does a quick exam, and diagnoses a case of simple vaginitis, a condition she says female puppies are especially susceptible to. We get an ointment to put on Daisy's... uhhh... affected area. At the same time, she recommends we bring in a urine sample to confirm the diagnosis. We leave reassured,but also a little bewildered. How do you get a urine sample from a puppy that squats down within an inch of the ground? And exactly what makes the dog stand still while you do this?
We finally come up with the lid from a coffee can, and Mrs MercMan trots behind Daisy and slides the lid under her backside just as she squats down. Eureka! Success! Mrs MM gets the sample into a small glass bottle and hurries off to the vet's in order to get the sample analyzed. Thankfully, the UA is negative.
Friday morning, a new problem. Daisy's stools are getting soupy, and blood is mixed in. Another call, another trip to the vet. Fortunately, the stool is now clear of coccidia, and there are no other pathogens found. Diagnosis: colitis, an irritation of the colon. This time Daisy gets a shot of antibiotics, a pill to soothe her intestines, special food (canned), and a form of Maalox! The vet starts joking that they're going to open a "Kyle" wing of the clinic.
Relieved that everything is going to be OK, we decide to celebrate by going out to lunch. Unfortunately, after the vet bills, all we can afford is a $6.52 tab at the local McDonald's.
Thank goodness the week's almost over. Daisy is going to be fine. It's Mrs MercMan and I that I'm worried about!

Ahhhh....the Puppy Life

During recovery from eye surgery, the antics of our new puppy have kept me from going a little bonkers after being cooped up in the house since September 7. As you can see by the picture with this post, taking care of me has had an exhausting effect on Daisy the Puppy.
Luckily, Gimlet, FroggieGirl, and Grandma Gimlet came by on Saturday to visit and break bread, and Gimlet and I went to Schnucks to pick up some stuff for dinner. It was my first real trip out since my surgery, and I started things off by climbing out of the Gimlet/FroggieGirl-mobile and stepping in a big wad of pink bubble gum! I was able to navigate around the store, although I sort of listed to one side like a one-eyed pirate due to my bionic eye.
Mrs MercMan has been handling most of the household/home improvement/yardwork chores since my illness, and is developing a knack for using all my assorted power tools. She's really enjoyed the ability to saw. drill, mow, cut, etc, etc, using various high-powered Craftsman tools, and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll have to struggle to get them back once I've recuperated. Still, there's something very appealing about a pretty girl wielding a high-rpm reciprocating saw or cordless drill!

Dasiy In Her Yard

After having to look at my bruised mug on the last entry, I thought I'd post some new pictures of Daisy Mae. Mrs MercMan and I have been trying to break her from the "biting/nipping" stage she's been going through, and we've actually had some success. The dog training manuals recommend everything from growling to exaggerated yelps of pain to holding the dog down to prove dominance, but they were only partially successful. Plus, it looks pretty weird for a 54-year-old man to yelp like Little Richard every time a 10-pound puppy attaches itself to your ankle.
What really seems to be working is just walking away from her and ignoring her any time play gets too rough. Typical attention hound Goldens are, Daisy just can't stand being ignored. She is quickly learning that "bite" behavior gets her left to her own devices, and has responded with much better behavior. It's hard to believe she's only been with us for a little over a week, especially while standing outside in the rain with her at 2 a.m.!