by Judy Handley | Sep 24, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 267: Meetings, Even When Not Scheduled
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Weather: Rain, finally; High Temp 68, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Even when I don’t meetings scheduled, I seem to have a propensity for conjuring up meetings out of then air. So, it was a busier day than expected. At least I am never bored! The really good thing about today was the rain. It really rained for a couple of hours, rain that was desperately needed. But it let up to a mist by evening and Jonah’s soccer game was on. I didn’t make it until halftime because I thought it was cancelled. But Ollie and Jed let me know it was on, so off I went.
There is no visible improvement with Shadow today, but he is no worse. So, I’ll take it.
by Judy Handley | Sep 23, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 266: Shadow Update and Field Trip to South Boston
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Weather: Partly Sunny to Cloudy, Warmer; High Temp 71, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Today’s Newcomers/Encore field trip to the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in South Boston was great.
Moakley became known as “common Joe” because he fought for the common man as a US representative from Massachusetts from 1973 until his death in 2001. He was responsible for securing funding for Boston’s Big Dig project and the federal courthouse was part of that project. So, Congress named the building for him. It is an architecturally rich building with the side facing the Boston Harbor a wall of glass.
We were given a tour by a private group called Discovering Justice and US Justice Richard Stearns invited us into his chamber to talk with us about the clean up of the Boston Harbor.
After having lunch in the federal courthouse café, we returned to Castle Island via Uber. We parked our cars near the fort on the island where parking is free and Ubered to and from the courthouse. It was a stress-free and cheap way to visit Boston. But those of us in the car I was in had a bit of stress as we drove out to the island. There was an Ice raid taking place right in front of us, so we pulled over to document and call LUCE to inform them of the incident. We were in front of Boston College High School and the young man they handcuffed and put into the ICE vehicle looked like a student. As we sat there documenting what was happening, suddenly the young man was invited to get back out of the car and was set free. All good, but still stressful to watch.
A Boston-famous ice cream establishment, Sullivan’s, is right next to Castle Island Fort Independence. So, upon our return, we were free to explore the grounds surrounding the fort and have an ice cream cone to celebrate a good day. Today’s granite fort began in 1634 as an earthwork and 2 platforms with 3 cannons serving as the sea defense of early Boston. It has gone through 7 rebuilds from wood to brick to granite and was named Fort Independence in 1799 by President John Adams.
I was able to leave Shadow at home and go on the trip today as my neighbor, Andy, came over to check on him a couple of times during the day. Since the doctor prescribed rest and relaxation for Shadow, a quiet day alone was just what the doctor ordered. He seems a little more responsive today, but not much of a change from yesterday.
by Judy Handley | Sep 22, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 265: First Day of Fall 2025
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
Weather: Perfect Fall Weather; High Temp 69, Low 59 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
I spent this first day of fall focused on Shadow. He was a slight bit better this morning than he was last night, but I woke up very early this morning worrying about my best buddy. When I finally got up, I put him in the car and went to his veterinarian’s office. It was 8:30 am and there was not one car in the parking lot and no one inside. I waited about 10 minutes, still no one, so I drove to Joanie’s house to pick up Archie to walk with me and my Shadow. We did a short walk and I called the vet halfway through the walk. I could not get an appointment for today, so I called a new vet in town. I was desperate to get a doctor’s opinion on Shadow’s condition today. Joanie had sent me the number of this vet after I picked up Archie. They could see Shadow at 2:30 pm, so I made the appointment.
I took Shadow home, delivered checks to the library as part of my job as Treasurer for the Board of Trustees, and went to the Coonemessett Inn to pin down details for the Encore Holiday Luncheon in December. At 2:30 pm, Shadow and I arrived at Vista, the new veterinarian’s office. After a multitude of tests, I learned that Shadow does not have Lyme disease, does not have an invasive blood infection, does not have heartworm, does not have . . . His blood tests were described as ‘perfect’. The doctor examined him inside and out. He does have swollen scent glands, but that is not the problem. Who knew dogs have scent glands? He tests as a super healthy dog. The doctor says it could be a pancreatic issue, inflammation of the gut lining, or that he strained for sprained something jumping and running while playing fetch. This first set of tests cost $600. So, he suggested a 4-day medication to calm his gastrointestinal system along with 4 days of rest, no long walks. After that, we can determine if an ultrasound is necessary. So this is a continuing story.
Tonight, I was sitting on the sofa talking to friend Lynne Kirwin and Shadow jumped up and sat on my lap for the first time in 4 days. I hope this means that whatever is wrong is righting itself. I hope, hope, hope, that is true.
Lynne is flying back to New Zealand on Wednesday, so this was our farewell talk. Of course, I can still talk to her once she is back in NZ. But that is so far away. Safe travels, Lynne. Shadow and I hope to see you next summer!
by Judy Handley | Sep 21, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 264: Happy Birthday to Shadow
Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Cool; High Temp 65, Low 51 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Shadow turned 6 years old today, but it was not a day for celebration. I fear Shadow is really not well. In fact, I think he is seriously unwell. I have no idea what is wrong, but over the past week or so, he has changed from my rambunctious ‘bad boy’ who jumps on everyone and everything, to a quiet dog that can’t even get up on the sofa to sit with me. He is still eating and drinking water, but otherwise, he doesn’t move. He stopped playing fetch on Friday and that is his favorite thing to do in the whole world. Our once-a-day ball games are a fun time that both of us look forward to. Yesterday I thought he was better. We walked our two miles in the morning with Archie. Shadow was not energetic but seemed okay. But then last night, he couldn’t jump up on the bed to sleep beside me. Instead, he slept on the floor beside the bed. This morning, he was able to get in the car to drive over so we could pick up Archie and go for a walk. I drove Shadow over so that our walk would be only one mile. He seemed so lethargic, and I didn’t want to push him too far.
Shadow was able to walk the mile, but then he was not able to get up on the back seat of the car without my help to come home. It is breaking my heart to watch him and not have a clue what to do. I will take him to the vet or to the animal hospital emergency unit in the morning. I love my Shadow and can’t imagine life without him, so I sure hope to have better news tomorrow night.
by Judy Handley | Sep 20, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 263: Soccer Saturday, Rally on the Green, R&R
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Weather: Sunny, Cooler; High Temp 68, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
After walking with Shadow and Archie this morning, I headed to Falmouth High School to a home soccer game. It was a good game, ending in a 1-1 tie, but Jonah didn’t get as much play time as he had hoped. There is another home game on Wednesday, so I’ll return and hope to see more of Jonah on the field.
I left the game as soon as it was over to hurry to the Green to catch the last 45 minutes of the Saturday rally. I was delighted to see that we now have Indivisible Falmouth banners, but I was disappointed as there were a couple of verbal battles with passers by with a different point of view. Indivisible’s stand is that we should never engage, just smile. But today, people seemed a little testier and did engage. All the more reason for a focus on nonviolent conflict.
So, I was then off for home to spend time viewing some of the films we are considering for the nonviolent resistant film festival. I have not had a chance until today to start watching some of the possible choices. I’m calling the film viewing R & R time. I have been fighting what I thought was just a sinus issue. But it has gotten worse and worse. My voice is raspy and octaves lower than usual. And it is now feeling more like a bronchial asthma issue as it has moved into my chest. I don’t feel bad and have had no fever, but it is starting to zap my energy level.
I stopped by Heather and Jed’s to trade cars. I had theirs, and they had mine so they could haul Ollie’s Sunfish to and from Woods Hole. They did not get to sail it yesterday, but Heather and Ollie returned today and had a wonderful sail in Great Harbor. Hurray! Even though I took my car back this evening, Jed is hoping to use it again tomorrow to go sailing with Ollie. He watched as Ollie and Heather sailed it this afternoon and thought it looked like great fun that he wants to enjoy.
by Judy Handley | Sep 19, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 262: Another Meeting, a Boat Lunch, Mingle and Mix
Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Warm. Beach Weather; High Temp 76, Low 54 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Somehow my days just busier and busier. I had an almost two hour Newcomers/Encore meeting this morning reviewing the results of our member surveys from last spring. Those results guide our decision making going forward and it was great to compare our results.
I spent the afternoon baking a flourless chocolate cake to take the Mingle and Mix tonight and also spent a couple of hours hitching Ollie’s Sunfish on its trailer to my car and taking Ollie and Heather to Woods Hole to launch the little sailboat for the first time since Ollie purchased it this summer. I have the only car with a hitch that can trail it. And with lot of help from Ollie and Heather, I was able to successfully back it down the boat ramp in Woods Hole to get it into the water. It was the first time I have ever down that, and I was very pleased that it went smoothly. I have not hear a report on what happened after I left, but I do hope they got it off the dock and sailed it.
I left my car in Woods Hole with Heather. Jed, and Ollie, and took Heather’s car to go pick Jonah up from soccer practice and head to the Mingle and Mix. The weather was wonderful, so we were outside for the evening, warm and no bugs. The hosts have a wonderful fire pit and I stayed after most everyone had left and had a great conversation sitting around the fire with just the hosts and one other person. The wonderful thing about Newcomers and Encore is all of the wonderful opportunities to constantly get to know different people.
