(no subject)

i think Max will be going to the vet today. He's been scratching at his ear for a few days now. They are so big, i wouldn't wonder if something got in there. There is no oder, and he hasn't scratched till it's bled, but i don't want him to, either. So, off to the vet we shall go this morning.

He may suffer in the next few days. Since Master has been gone, i've let Max sleep on the floor in the bedroom. i put a blanket down for him, by the wardrobe, but he dragged it over to Master's side of the bed. It comforts me to know he is there. If he would only stay over by the wardrobe, i don't think Master would mind, but i know He doesn't like stepping on dog carpet when He gets up at night, so back into the kennel Max must go. At least when Master is home. And home He will be in about three more days. Unless He is flying Comaire or U.S. Air. i hope not.

One thing that must be done on Thursday, take Max to the desert. City runs are fine, but every once in awhile he just needs to git out and go with the wind.

max and the vet and my thumb

i got a 10:30 appt for Max at the vet. There is a new Italian doc, seems very nice and not afraid of my poor sweet baby. Couldn't find any reason for the scratching. Gave him an injection and some cream with prednisone to help stop him from itching. Then i decided he needed his nails trimmed, as long as i was there, may as well have the groomer do it for me. Wrong. It took longer to trim him than to visit the vet including the trip out and back.

Max got nervous, slipped the muzzle, snapped at the groomer, and got me. Didn't break the skin but i now have a big purple spot under my right thumbnail, in the form of a blood blister. The thumb still hurts, i feel woozy still, and typing is painful. If the blister grows and the thumb becomes more paiful with the pressure, i may have to have visit the doc for me. It hurts all the way up to my shoulder. i'm going to lay down now.

the earthquake

The water in the gulf yesterday was three different colors. At first i didn't give the quake being the cause any thought. Then i got an email from Ellen asking if we were affected.

Up near the shore, most noticeably in the little bay in front of the apartment, the water was very sandy looking. This morning i noticed the little sand bar that shows in low tide was larger. Actually, it appears that the bay at low tide is almost sanded in. The boats that sit out there, may be totally grounded, even at a normal high tide. The constant movement of the water must have trapped the sand near the shore as the waves pulled back. Each wave would deposit more sand. The waves didn't appear to be violent, or any higher or stronger as they hit the shore. There was just this line of very dirty water. The dirty water is still there. The tide is out, still, or maybe coming back in. i just checked the tidal chart, i've missed low tide, the next one is at just past 6 pm. It is not very low, only about 1/3 meter lower than high tide today, which is about 2:10 this afternoon. Just after midnight tomorrow morning is the highest tide, and just after 7:30 in the morning is the lowest tide.

A bit farther out, past the navy boat, there was a definite change in the color of the water. It was almost as if someone had drawn a line in the gulf and said this is where the sandy water ends, and this blue water begins. i watched a fishing boat go across the line, and as i watched i wondered if the movement of the boat would disturb the line, or cause it to disperse or waver. It didn't. At least, from where i was looking, i didn't see any change in the line. The line that separated the dirty water from the darker water was constant all along the coast, as far as i could see. And it seemed to be set at a specific place, not an even distance from all jigs and jags of the coast, but rather at a specific point on the earth, maybe a line of latitude. It didn't appear to waver.

After the second line, it was difficult for me guess the width of that band of water, but i saw a third definite change in water color. This may have been the normal difference between the deep and shallow water. Today i'll try to pay more attention to this farthest line. It appears way out, not near the pumping station, but past where the big ships anchor at night.

After thinking about this phenomenon and seeing it, i am amazed at the power of the oceans. The Arabian Gulf is well protected. In my six years here, i've never seen the water get so wild as i saw the oceans in Taiwan. The thought that an earthquake so far away can affect this body of water is amazing. I wonder if the quake affected the fishing waters? It seems to me that the fishing boats were in closer yesterday than i have seen them in the past. It may just be a seasonal change, i can't remember from this time last year.