Facing challenging times with the Tobster this week. Between the sudden and extreme heat that moved in for a couple days and a recent difficult spell with his diabetes and/or Addisons, he had a rough week. As in not being able to go for a walk kind of patch, definitely not his style, and extreme G/I disturbances. He did walk last night and seemed interested again, so hope is not lost. He is not feeling his best, and I have to be prepared for him not bouncing back like the Toby the Immortal Dog he has become. As I wrote this he suddenly got up, holding one paw up, and hobbled aimlessly down the length of the kitchen on three legs, then returned to bed. Yup, poor Tobes. I fear his end is near. :(
This dog has caused me massive amounts of stress and frustration, but he has taught me equal amounts of patience, and has been one heck of a role model for maintaining a lust for life despite not having optimal health. My little guy and I have shared a Prednisone prescription but sadly I've never mastered his almost carefree way of dealing with physical losses. Blindness, deafness, and weakness from not one, not two, but three rotten long-term diseases can't stop his tail from wagging and his happiness at receiving a belly rub. When all is said and done, my little canine shadow has taught me so much that I am actually grateful for his destructive presence in my home. And man, has he been destructive!!!
Am trying not to dwell on the physical stuff but suffice it to say the Remicade is not doing much of anything, or if it is, I can't tell. Unlike Toby I feel like going to bed for say, a year or so, to encourage the pain to take a break. The joint swelling is pretty much constant. The expression "Listen to your body" is false -- if I did, I'd never move again!
The one thing that keeps me going mentally is the potential of art. Even if I can't put the time in right now to consistently pump out all the ideas I have, at least I have the ideas. Such an exciting time to be into textiles -- the ability to create digital textiles at home and combine them with other media provides unlimited possibilities. My brain is firing off ideas daily, and many of them do make it to my sketchbook, where they will sit until time comes for me to delve into materials and make them happen. So many thoughts, so little actual time. Such is life.
The wide format printer is working great and has made a set of fabric pages for my first digital fabric book. The larger size is dramatically different and I can't wait to get into the image and explore possibilities. The resource photo is one that I've considered making into a large piece, and playing with variations of it this way will either help me refine my idea or make me tired of the image altogether. We shall see. Onward!