Shiva, my beloved spastic boy, is healing up just fine. He was pretty sedate the first day and a half, probably from having been put under, but he’s pretty much back to his usual spazzy self now… with perhaps the subtlest touch of mellowing out.

I am as always amazed at how much pain dogs can tolerate and how quickly they heal! I check his sutures once a day, and the evening of the first day there was a splotchy area near the incision where blood had leaked under the skin, and which in a human would turn into a nasty bruise and last for days. It’s gone already. I gave him pills for pain the first day, then half doses the second day, and then just quit giving them to him since so obviously isn’t bothered.

But how can that be?!?! I mean, he’s been surgically castrated and he’s hardly even noticed! …makes one ponder the issue of pain: Is it really helpful? Wouldn’t we get along just fine with half the number of pain receptors? I’m being utterly serious here: is there any real biological benefit to being able to feel pain as acutely as we do? (Other than the corrolary: the ability to feel pleasure as keenly as we do.)

My co-worker’s phone is ringing off the damn hook. I’ve been pretty busy today, too. I love a busy day at work! It flies by.

I’ve lately been working with the network person at Hickenbottom’s, trying to get one of their DSL connections working again. The folks there are so nice! (At one point, I tried to call over there and dialled a 0 instead of a 6, and got someplace else, and I asked for my contact’s name, and someone else came to the phone, and I started in with, “So I talked to her and rebooting didn’t help so I need to know if I can get you to reboot the Megabit modem in the basement that goes to her–” and the lady on the other end said, “I believe you have the wrong number.” Hah!)

Brett and I went to Walmart to deal with his phone – the display is broken, but I’d insured it – and all we got for our efforts was a long wait and a brochure with a number to call. The gig: they’ll process the claim, mail out a new phone, then Brett has to take it in to get the number transferred to it. The deductible is $35.

Brett got all hot about that and starting going off on how we should just go re-up and get new phones that way, but I fail to see how re-upping will make any difference. I’d end up with a cheaper phone than I have now because next time I re-up I’ll be getting the free phone, whatever it is, instead of believing those bitches when they tell me I’ll get a rebate they’ll decide to reject later. (I’m going to conveniently leave out the fact that I’m probably the person who drove over Brett’s phone. Shhh!)

I made one of those instant pies the other night. You know, the ones on the labels of the graham cracker crust pie shells? Ingredients: 2 pkg. instant white chocolate pudding, 1-1/4 cold milk, 1/2 8 oz. container non-dairy whipped topping, 2 Tbsp. instant coffee powder. Blend in a bowl for 1 minute. Pour into shell. Top with other 4 oz. non-dairy whipped topping, serve or chill.

It was terrifyingly sweet and cloying – and yes, I was surprized, thank you very much! I remember loving those Cool Whip freezer pies when I was little! (Brett remembers loving Spaghetti-O’s, but they’re too disgustingly sweet for an adult to eat.)

I’d better get back to work. Ciao!