Simon's First Birthday...

Today I was going to celebrate the birthday of my youngest nephew Simon at my sisters. I was torn when it came to that event. Of course I agreed to go. Of course I looked forward to spending time with my Sis, since I haven't seen her since January. Of course I was looking forward to seeming my Mom and getting a chance to catching up with her. The chance of seeing my allegedly biological sperm donor was not exactly something I really cared about. And then there of course was Gina. This will be the second time Gina is at my sisters and the first time went fairly well. Gina is still very young and has way too much energy. She is still quite a little undisciplined and acts in some situations just like a puppy does. And big crowds were the big question mark. I just wasn't sure how she would be doing with that.
We got there just in time before the entire thing was going to take off. And of course Gina was way too overexcited. New surroundings, smell of food everywhere and way more people than she is used to. And she just wants to say hello to everyone. And I didn't let her do that, since saying hello to someone in Gina's mind means jumping up on everyone and inviting everyone to play. Gina still plays like a puppy. She is still quite mouthy and sometimes she doesn't know her own strength. When she plays with me, that is no problem since I know how to handle her. But with all the kids around she had to stay on the leash an next to me. And that was a little overwhelming for poor Gina. She was panting way more than she usually does and she just didn't understand why she couldn't play with all the kids running around. But slowly she got the point and stayed next to me.
I did get the chance to talk to my Mom and catch up on things. And of course I was telling her how I was doing and what's going on in my life. How Gina is progressing and that at this point taking 2 classes at the same time is a little crazy. But that's life.
While at Simon's event it occurred to me that apparently my brother did receive yet another "help" financially. Not that I really care. This guy just takes the cake. He's 48 now and still can't take responsibility for himself. I just thought, when is he finally going to start to grow up and take responsibility, instead of running back to daddy to have his own problems fixed. On the other hand since he's already 48 chances are that's never ever going to happen. Regardless if we're related but this guy is just a looser in may book.
I'm an accountant and I was watching this event unfold with a certain distance. I just found that this was a ver peculiar group of people. Odd, warped even bizarre you might say. I was almost like watching an odd religious cult. Interesting to a certain degree. But definitely not my group of people. And that has nothing to do with all the kids. When I was listening to my sister I just couldn't help but thinking WTF are talking about. Who are you? And what the heck happened to my sister? I stand with both feet on the ground and look at life and possible choices in life  very dispassionate and with the professional distance of an accountant. I just can't deal with people building imaginary castles in the sky. I don't have any use for that. As far as I'm concerned someone who feels the need to do that should get off his ass and get a life. This event has definitely been one of the strangest experiences in quite some time.
By about 7 pm I decided to head back home. On the one hand it was getting chilly and on the other hand we still had about 1 hour before we would be getting back home. Once back home Gina found herself her usual spot to chill and was once again completely relaxed.

Appointment with the Ophthalmologist...

Well, I've noticed lately that I have been having problems with the left eye. First I wasn't sure if I just needed new glasses, but as time went on I was pretty much convinced that this wasn't the issue. In the morning I started out fine but during the day my vision on the left eye got worse. But I did remember that it started exactly that way before I had to have cataract surgery. So I ran a few tests my self and it occurred to to me that this was most likely the issue. At first I wasn't going to do anything about it. It just wasn't bothering me enough and my work schedule and my classes at WIFI were keeping me busy like hell. But as time went on my left eye sight was getting worse. There had been times when I was barely to make out anything with my left eye, except shapes and shades if color. So I called the office of the ophthalmologist who had done the surgery on my right eye. After all you don't want to every Tom, Dick and Harry do your eye surgery. Had to wait for about 6 weeks for my appointment. And today it was time to face the ophthalmologist.
My ophthalmologist is not exactly around the corner. Is about ab 1 1/2 hour drive from my apartment. Since I don't have an car and wasn't sure if he was going to do a background examination of my eye what would have prevented me from driving a car for about 3 hours I choose to take the train. Had to figure out the train schedule first. But the Austrian Railway Administration has an App for that. figured out when I had to leave work. It meant that I had to leave work on a Thursday at noon. Took bus and subway to the train station at Vienna Spittelau. Got there with about 1/2 hour to spare. And waited for my train to arrive. Got on the train and off we went. It is one of Austria's oldest railways. Named after emperor Franz Joseph I. And it was interesting to travel through some of those landscapes. Taking that trip by car would never ever allow you to see those landscapes. And everything considered I wouldn't have been any quicker by car. But traveling by train is much more relaxing. And paying 16 bucks for the ticket there and back is something I could have never ever pulled of while traveling by car.
Got to the ophthalmologist with about 20 minutes to spare. So I settled into the waiting room, since I knew there was going to be some waiting time. But in the end it turned out that I really didn't have to wait as much as I thought would have to. Within 30 minutes I saw my eye doctor. A few basics exams and it was pretty much clear that I would have to have cataract surgery on my left eye as well. They left with me with two option. Having surgery on the next regular appointment what would be by the end of the year or taking advantage of one of their "emergency" appointments, what would have been about 1 month later. I thought it over and opted in the end for the appointment at the end of the year. I really didn't to have my eye surgery in summer, when most of my co-workers want to go on vacation and I have already planned a vacation for the beginning of September. And a having to call in for at least 2 weeks or maybe even longer after surgery during summer isn't going to be very helpful either.
So I'm pretty happy with having my Pre-OP exam in the week before XMAS and I'l be having my surgery appointment on January 8th.
On the positive side it gives me the entire summer to take Gina hiking and getting here use to the mountains and going with her on my planned vacation to northern Germany.
After my appointment had ended I walked back to the train station of Eggenburg. I was expecting a waiting time of about 20 minutes. But my train was running late and so the waiting time increased to 40 minutes. Then I boarded the train back to Vienna. Apparently I was really tired, since I slept almost through about 3/4 of my train ride. And I got back to a very excited Gina just about 1/2 hour later than I would be back during a usual work day.

Removing Gina's bandage...

Today, was the day that I would have to remove Gina's bandage by myself. Not exactly a task I was exactly looking forward to. Considering the drama she pulls off when the VET does it. Of course it had crossed my mind that it mind be easier for me to just put the muzzle on her. But I really didn't want to do that unless I have no other option.
I figured that we do have a different relationship and Gina lets me do things that she would never ever tolerate with anyone else. So I set down in the bathroom with her and slowly started cutting on the bandage. Gina was not exactly a happy camper. Not exactly putting her chaps up, but being a little more mouthy than usual. So I gave her a break. And started once again. So within 3 minutes the bandage was off, and that without the use of the muzzle.
I checked the paw and it was dry and looked fairly good. I really had hoped that Gina would allow me to clean the paw a little of the drainage fluid. Well that was just a little too much. She really didn't want that. So I left it alone. I really didn't want to have to do that by force. But now she's using her pas as if  nothing had happened. And I'm very happy about that.

VET control appointment - Round 2...

After todays dentist appointment I had another control appointment with the VET. After all today the bandage was supposed to come off. We just had to wait for about 10 minutes or so. Gina walked into the Examination room without problems. But she figured out what was going to happen. So she hid under a chair. And she was not particularly happy when got her out of there and put the muzzle on. Otherwise she's almost certainly gonna bite the VET.
Of course it was the usual drama with her. Everything is dry and looks very well. But in order to avoid Gina licking her paw, she got another bandage for the next 2 or 3 days and than I will have the fun task of having to remove the bandage. Of course my VET offered that I can come in and he will do it for me, in case she doesn't let me do it.
So the VET bill from the Labour-Day weekend tally at 250 bucks. Not exactly cheap.

Dentist Appointment...

Well, I had gotten notice from my dentist, that it was time for my 6 month control appointment a couple of weeks ago. But this being a busy time for me I really didn't get around to setting up an appointment. So I finally got around to setting up an appointment. And that meant that I had to leave work a little early. Got to my appointment with about 15 minutes to spare. I did expect to have to wait for at least 15 minutes. So I was quite surprised, when they called me in about 5 minutes after I had arrived.
There were to issues I wanted to address. On the one hand my lower jaw dentures were a little loose and sometimes bothering when eating. And the second thing was, that I wasn't sure if I didn't have a cavity on one of my teeth in the lower jaw.
My dents looked first at the issue with the cavities and he didn't find any problem there. And that made me quite very happy. The next thing that he addressed was the issue with my lower dentures. Took him just a couple of little adjustments and the dentures were a perfect fit once again. And that made me very happy. Since having dentures that come loose while eating are no fun at all.
But he did suggest that I should think about setting up an appointment with his dental hygienist. But other than that the appointment lasted just 10 minutes. Can't even remember a dentist appointment that went so quickly and with so little issues.

VET control appointment...

Today I had to take Gina to my VET for the control appointment, regarding the  claw injury. And I really had a bad feeling with that. Usually when I get home Gina is excited and jumps up on me. Not so much this time. Still came to the door, tail wagging, but really holding her injured paw up. So I knew something must really be hurting her. On the way to the VET I pretty much had a 3-legged dog. So I was pretty sure this claw had to be pulled.
Putting off the bandage was pretty much a drama. But when I saw that paw, I knew it was bad and no wonder she didn't want to step on it. It was wet and draining from the claw and the claw itself was standing away in an odd angle. Of course it had to be pulled. But my VET didn't want to do that without anesthesia. If he hadn't offered it, I would have insisted on it. So she got the anesthesia, and Gina and I waited for the anesthesia to kick in. Took about 10 minutes and Gina was pretty much out. After that the VET carried her into the OP area and I had to wait outside.

I don't like waiting outside. After all you're working on a family member of mine. And with most of Daisy's ambulant procedures I was part of. Of course it didn't take long. about 15 minutes or so. Than I got called in an Gina was laying on the examination table with her tongue sticking out. I had a little chat with the VET. He told me that he rather doesn't want to get her out of the anesthesia premature. And that Gina will be sleeping for the next 3 hours. And I was fine with that. He gave her a Antibiotics booster shot and gave me the Antibiotics that I will have to give to her twice per day beginning the very next morning. Now it was up to me to carry Gina back home to my apartment. good thing that my VET is less than  1/4 mile from my apartment. Although Gina just weighs 20 kg (50 lbs) that dog is really heavy and everything hanging limp down isn't exactly helping either. But I did hold her tight. The first 2/3 of the way wasn't the problem. The last 1/3 was pretty much a fight. Boy I was sweating and there was know way that I would let her slide out of my arms. When I got to my apartment building, I had to put her onto the doorstep to open the door. Good thing on of my neighbors came home at the same moment and offered to hold open the door and fetch the elevator for me. I found that to be very sweet. Once in my apartment I put Gina down on the couch right away. And of course I checked frequently on her. I was supposed to learn for my two classes this evening, but there was no way that was going to happen.
By 9 pm Gina raised the first time her head, just to put it back down right away. She slept on the couch without moving till 2 pm, that's when I heard her walk into the kitchen to drink some water.

Gina got another Claw injury...

Well, Gina isn't having much luck with her claws lately. Knowing her temper and her energy...well, neither of them are helpful either. Gina can be somewhat protective of me when it comes to other people. If she doesn't like someone she will let me now right away.
But an ground-level apartment is even worse. That brings out the guard dog in Gina and she thinks she has to protect the property. Not that that is something particularly bad, but having vases and wooden pots standing on the floor might look pretty, but with Gina that's just and accident waiting to happen. And that was exactly what happened. Gina jumped on one of those wooden pots and must have hit one claw that was a little longer just right. She howled and I saw her put up her paw and start to lick it. Went over there right away and it started to bleed. I know that this claw was most likely broken. Good thing Roger knew the phone number of a VET emergency weekend clinic. I called there and made arrangements that I would be stopping by within the next 30 minutes. By the time I got ready to head out, the bleeding had pretty much stopped and Gina was using her paw pretty much normal, but I still was going to have the VET check it out.
Roger had agreed to go to the clinic with me, without me even asking. But when we got to the bus, he pulled out his phone and told me that he had gotten a WhatsApp from his neighbor that Angie was barking and whining in his apartment. While that is a possibility, since we left very abruptly, it somehow felt as if he was just looking for a way to get out of the entire situation. I really didn't care about that since I had more important things to worry about.
I got to the clinic and had to wait there for another 1/2 hour, since the were really busy. When we got called in the VET looked at it but for some reason didn't want to pull the claw. Without anesthesia it's very painful and with anesthesia I takes quite some time for Gina to get out of it or I would have had to take a cab, since I was all the way across town. The VET just cut her claw back, and Gina pulled of a drama, that you thought someone is trying to stab her. Then she got the dressing on and I will have to take her to my VET on Wednesday for a control appointment. I'm still convinced that my VET will have to pull that claw in the end.
So we slowly made our way back by public transportation to my apartment and Gina spent the rest of the evening relaxing next to me on the couch. This is not exactly how I pictured this weekend.

Dating Mr. Small...

Today was big dating weekend. And having a having a 3 day-weekend should help with things. This seemed definitely a good way to spend my Labour-Day weekend. Of course on Friday I didn't get an start as early as I wanted to. I had planned on leaving around 1 pm, but until I got everything ready including Gina it was about 2 pm. And getting to Roger's place was going to take me about 1 hour. So the entire things started off substantially later than I had planned. Good things my plans are never ever set in stone.
Of course this was a different meeting for the 2 girls since that was Angie's home turf. And she was a litte more protective of it. But it was not that difficult to talk Gina down, when she was getting a little too excited. All in all the two gods were getting along fine with each other and Roger and I were enjoying each others company as well.
Over the years I've dated a ton of guys and I certainly had a lot of sex. So I do know the difference between good and bad sex. And this was for me the worst sex I've had in a very long time. But on the positive side it wasn't the worst sex I've had. While I'm certainly not a size queen, there is something as too small. Every bottom gay man and every woman know what I'm talking about. I found myself thinking are gonna put it in any time soon? And then I realized it was already in. And I couldn't help myself of thinking that this was very disappointing. But I could have dealt with it. Since size isn't everything. If a guy is small but has the necessary moves it can just be great. But this guy was too small as far as I'm concerned and he so didn't have any moves. The thing that popped into my head was a song from the 90's "Short Dick Man"..."an extra belly button isn't that cute..." and I really couldn't get it out of my mind. This was just bad. And considering that the BJ was really great and enjoyable, this made this even more of a disappointment. And I just couldn't help myself, but i really couldn't see that go anywhere than possibly a friendship. But this going anywhere on a intimate level was pretty much a no go as far as I'm concerned. Besides that Roger is more vanilla and I'm way more kinky. So that would eventually become a problem as well.
And on a personal level he is way more the relax and stay at home time kind of guy and likes to go regularly into the gay scene. I do occasionally go into the gay scene, but I'm way more active and love to do way more outdoorsy stuff. Even on that level it really wasn't a fit either.
And especially since that one night there were so no butterflies anymore. And that when I knew this was just pointless. I just didn't exactly know to tell that to him, since he just had gone through a bad break up. But somehow Gina knew how to get me out of that pickle, by doing something she is occasionally "particularly" good at...
To be continued...