Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

I live about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego and about 120 miles south of LA. It is in the inland Valley. That means it's hotter than downtown San Diego in the summer and colder in the winter by about 10°. It still is quite beautiful here 95% of the time. It would be a dream to come to New Zealand for about a week or so. I never went anywhere unless I could take Buddy with me. But I am obviously just dreaming now. Not that It ever could really happen.

Well you can google Napier, New Zealand and see where I am!! Probably cheaper at the moment because it is off season! Ohhh am I tempting you??

Yes Trish you are tempting me if you're serious. I don't have anything to keep me here and I haven't really been anywhere.

Even a 12 hour flight is tempting. As sad as that sounds I would be away from here for 12 hours. I see Buddy everywhere.:(

I just googled a flight, LA to Auckland return USD, at end of July (was cheaper then!!) $1,222.72

I would have to fly from San Diego to LA first. The price is not unreasonable. I am not an adventuresome type of girl. Flying off to New Zealand to stay with a friend that I found on online, is so not me. It is has been fun dreaming about it though and has helped my mood. Thank you so much for that! You are amazingly awesome. I am so glad that you and Mel are there. The man in the white coats would've taken me away by now. I think that the white vans are still circling my block.

Well think about it, I promise you I am not an axe murderer :D:D I am presuming your not either :D:D I have heaps of leave owing so could take a week off to show you around!

I have ordered a curry, so popping out to pick it up, be back in a half hour or so :D

What is a curry?

I would love to come to New Zealand for a week Trish. No I am not An axe murderer. I work in a local public school in special education. I work in a fourth through sixth grade combination special needs class.

Well in this case it is Chicken Madras curry which is Indian with rice and garlic naan bread with yoghurt cucumber dip!! AND poppadoms :D and some salad so I can pretend I am being healthy :D

I am serious Kathy, you are welcome here!! I told Flynn Aunty Kathy might be coming!!! He gave a yip of approval :) Do you have a passport??

I have never been anywhere. I do not have a passport. I would have to get one and I don't know how long it takes.

Flynny reminds me so much of my dog Spot when I was a child. I would love to meet him. Remember the photo that I scanned for you and put in my photo album under check it out?

I am in no way dangerous. I am a big softy who misses her little dog more than life itself. I let him go because he was in pain. Now I am the one that is in pain. I really could use a change of scenery. My home is so solemn right now. It is like a funeral parlor. There are reminders of Buddy everywhere.

Just finished my dinner, that was delish!! Well you can think on it a bit, I am a long way away but my house is open to you my friend :) Maybe see how you feel in a few days, but planning something different and getting away might be just what you need... you might have somewhere closer (and cheaper!) you could visit to get a change of scenery for a bit!! But my offer stands for whenever you would like to take it up! Flynny loves visitors and houseguests even better :)

Well Trish, it is 1:30 AM here. I probably should try to get some sleep. I haven't really been able to sleep since Buddy passed. Your offer is very tempting and very sweet. I planned to spend this summer with Buddy, thinking it would probably be his last. That is why I didn't sign-up to work summer school this year. Now he's gone and I am floundering. I haven't been eating or sleeping much as I've had no appetite and feel very sad. Sad that he's gone and knowing that I can't get a new fur baby at least for now. Enjoy your curry. I've never had Curry or even heard of it before. See, I am definitely a Native Southern California girl. I'll talk to you tomorrow or later tonight if I can't sleep. Thanks for being there. XXXXXXXX

PS My mom was up looking for something and I told her that I might go to New Zealand.:D You would have enjoyed that reaction.:D

Thank you so much for your offer Trish. It means a whole lot.:D The firecrackers have finally stopped, so I should try to get some rest now. The sun will be up in three hours. I guess I didn't realize just how special Buddy was until I lost him. I will probably never be the same again. Big hugs to you and Flynny boy. I'll chat with you later.

Of course you realised what a special little dog he was, we could tell that by your posts about him... your pride and love for him was so evident to all who read your stories. He was such a little character and so well loved!! That is why you have such a big hole in your heart right now.... Sleep well Kathy, Your poor Mom probably thinks you have flipped your lid, one minute bringing in a new puppy and the next jetting off to NZ hahaha..... life is short though, do the things that make you happy! Night, I will be here a while yet if you wake xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Maybe that's the answer! I wouldn't need to escape if I had a new puppy who needed me. So, either they let me bring a puppy home or I take off for New Zealand. Who knows, that could work!;):D

Ha now there's an ultimatum, let me have the pup or I am off to the bottom of the world!!

Mel, I think we need to do a food intervention... our friend Kathy does not appear to know what a curry is!!!

Sorry I have a site down, that's the worse thing that can happen so it happens today!

I don't like curry. I am English I promise :D

I only had a few words

GO TO NEW ZEALAND:D


Kathy, they have penquins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I think a trip to visit Trish and Flynnie would be WONDERFUL!!!!

But I also want to say something about your parents and the dilemma about a new puppy. In truth, I think they are being very selfish if they are putting their own needs/wants above yours in this situation since it is you and not them who would be responsible for the puppy's care. I realize that you do not have the power to change their minds or attitudes, and it is certainly to your credit that you do not want your parents' issues to make life hard for a little puppy.

But I do not think it out of line for you to tell your parents that their attitude is making a hard situation even worse for you. In truth, if they are in their 80s, you are the one who is likely to be left totally alone in the years to come -- not them. Would it not give them some peace of mind to know that instead of being left alone, their daughter would have the companionship of another beloved dog? Perhaps they just do not truly understand what a huge role Buddy has played in your life, and it would help if you explicitly tell them. Maybe this will make no difference at all in their thinking, but at least you will have had the chance to express yourself. Because you are absolutely right that this summer is the perfect time for you to adopt a new puppy if you are ever going to do so at all. If your parents want you to wait past this summer, then they are effectively making it impossible for it to happen at all. And that means they are placing their own wishes above yours, which seems very sad to me in this situation. It that is really the way that things turn out, of course we will be here to support you. But you give so much to so many others, Kathy. I really hope you will be able to claim some happiness for yourself.

Ok, here's the solution - go to NZ and visit. Then on your way back home, stop by, pick up the puppy, and tell your folks she was a gift from NZ! :p

Kathy:
I think if you asked the person with the puppies if you could bring the puppy back if your parents won't budge you could chance it. Since all of your hearts are broken, once they see a small puppy it may melt their hearts, and change their minds. Just take him for a look see to your house for a hour or so and see how it goes. I am thinking of you and Buddy, couldn't sleep well last night thinking of all that has happened. Just know a puppy has some big paw prints to fill from sweet Buddy.Blessings
Patti

Thanks for all the love ladies.:) You have all made excellent points as usual. However, I like Leslie's plan the best. :D Trish is very kind. That would probably be my only chance of ever seeing New Zealand. Plus she would take a week off to show me around and share Flynny with me. It is very tempting!:cool: Buddy can never ever be replaced, and I wouldn't want to. What I need is another fur baby that needs me. One that the sun will rise and set on just like Buddy. A little critter to spread joy and make everything okay. Although a trip would be a dream come true, what I really need is a puppy. Some little being that is happy to see me when I come home.xxxxxxxx

Hi Kathy,

Thinking of you and Buddy today.

I like Leslie's idea too. Take the opportunity for a trip if possible. What the heck, live wild! Get someone to check in on your parents and go for a week at least or two (and take the train and see New Zealand) Then when you come back, bring a puppy home and see how your parents react. :) It doesn't hurt to see how they react, they will have had time to be alone without you or Buddy and miss you both.
I'm full out ready for you to go have a grand adventure! We would all be soooo jealous!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

:eek::eek::eek: I just realized that I lost my purse! My ID, cards, cash, all of it! I am so distraught that I can't think straight or even take care of myself. I am going to continue to do what my parents need me to do for them, but I am no longer going to pretend that everything is okay, because it sure as heck isn't!:( I am not one to make waves because I strive for a calm balance, always being the peacemaker, so I usually give in. Not this time! This is too important! I am not going to be the accommodating, cheerful daughter they are used to having around. I can't even remember where I may have left my purse!:eek:

Okay, stop, breathe, deep breaths and lets retrace your steps.
Where did you last have it?
What have you done or where did you go since you Knew you had it?
Did you go out anywhere and pay for something? That is a place to start too, if you paid you had it.

Breathe.
Sharlene

Kathy:
Thinking of you and hope you find your purse. Blessings
Patti

Please tell us that you have found your purse and ID's etc.
You don't deserve having this happen to you so I hope it was just misplaced or you hung it somewhere unusual. I am praying you have not lost it!!!
Barbara

Good morning Kathy, hope you got some sleep.

Oh no, I have those senior moments all the time, lose my keys, glasses, phone and yes purse regularly :D:D:D Has it turned up??

Gawd Addy, nothing like a bit of pressure, you will have me hunting out penguins haha.... I have only EVER seen one on our beach and it was dead!! I do know there are rescue penguins at our aquarium just up the road... so we could visit them :D:D

Hi Trish,
I was leaving a message on your thread while you were leaving a message on mine.:D I'll let you refer to that when you get a chance. Sounds like you're having a spectacular Saturday already! You may need to get out sleeping bags because there are other angels that want to come too!LOL:D That would sure be a hoot!:D XXXXXX

By the way Trish, you will not have to hunt out penguins to entertain me, although that might be fun! LOL We have plenty of penguins here in San Diego in the penguin encounter at sea world. I've seen many penguins of all breeds, shapes and sizes.

Excellent, I will worry about the penguins when Addy comes then :D:D I will have to find you a Kiwi though, our national bird and I bet they aren't in San Diego Zoo!

Kathy, I just read about Buddy. I am so heartbroken for you. :(

Kathy
Just checking in to say hello and let you know you're in my thoughts.About a week after I lost Fella,I couldn't stand to be in this house a minute longer-it was just too painful.I packed up and went to an inn in the mountains for the weekend.I was heartbroken but a chance of scenery was just what I needed.Of course,the white van was waiting patiently for my return but that's another story!:D:D.If you can't make it to NZ,perhaps a few days away somewhere to just relax,take deep breaths and begin to heal would do you good.

Looking at pups online gets you everytime!I find after a loss, its a comfort to look at all the babies that need to be rescued.I realized a part of me was looking for my little Fella but it gave me hope that there was a little baby out there that I could pour all the love I had in my heart to another and make me happy again.I adopted Romeo only 6 wks after losing Fella but I fell in love with him immediately.Although he never can replace my love for Fella,I needed to breathe life in my house once again and I do feel that I am honoring Fella by loving another little boy.That being said,go for it if you truly think it will make you happy!!Sometimes you need to stop being the peacemaker as you said and do something that makes you happy!I'm with Trish,sneak her in/lie about "finding" her,whatever-get your girl if that's what you really want!She will be one lucky pup having you as her mom.
Love,
Patty

Hey Kathy

Just wanted to send you a big big hug before I go away, given how much is left to do I may not get on here in the morning

I will be thinking of you and if I can get on I will at least once

Love
Mel
Xxxx

Mel,
I am so sorry I missed you before you signed off for your trip. I really would've liked to have sent you off in a blaze of glory, fitting such a worthy angel.:) I hope your holiday is everything you would love it to be. Rest up, recharge your batteries and spoil Boyce to death. I will miss you babe. Big hugs and kisses.

Trish,
The San Diego zoo is the world's largest zoo! Yes they have kiwi birds, but I have never seen one in the wild. LOL :D:D I think if the animal exist somewhere in the world, our zoo has them. They might even have some kind of mutant never been seen new hybrid beast. ROFL. We also have the San Diego wild animal Park here. It is a huge park where there's free Range animals in environments as you would see them in nature. I have to say it is very cool!;)

Would I need to book a separate flight from Auckland to Napier? :confused: xxxxxxx

Well I have never seen a Kiwi in the wild either so that makes two of us!! :D:D They are nocturnal birds and only in the native bush! I have been to San Diego Zoo and Sea World too, but not the wildlife park!! Maybe if I visit there again you can take me :)

Yes you would have to take a separate flight Auckland to Napier, the only airline is airnz.co.nz Otherwise it would be a 5 hr drive for me to come pick you up in Auckland!